I'm baaaaaaaack!

This weekend P was away in Montreal playing in a hockey tournament, so I had the house to myself - not only the house to myself, but the bed to myself too. Since we moved into this house, I was beginning to think that I could no longer sleep in. On the weekends the lastest I would be able to sleep in was 9:30 am - and for me that was not really sleeping in.

When I was child, a teenager, and a university student I could easily sleep until noon - any earlier then that and I was not a happy camper. Now days, on a usual weekday we are up around 6 am - so sleeping until 9:30 on the weekend is sleeping in, but for me I still miss the 12 hour sleep days.

All this to say... that I was beginning that my 12 hour sleep-ins were just a phase that I had grown out of, but after this weekend I am happy to report - I'm back! Oh yeah!

Having the house and bed all to myself, I recorded record sleep-ins of 12:00 noon on Saturday, and 11:00 am today. It was the highlight of the weekend for me. I have come to realize that the reason I am up so early on the usual weekends is becasue of P - he must toss and turn or make some kind of noise so that I can't sleep in, even though my body wants to.

The funny part is .... after talking to P about his weekend, he told me that Saturday morning he slept until 11:00 am too - coincidence? I think not.

Perhaps we're just not comptable when it comes to sharing a bed. When it came to buying a bed for our house, we delibertly got a king size bed because of the fact that I toss and turn so much and P wanted to ensure he had enough room for himself so that he didn't have to put up with me hitting and kicking him in my sleep. However, I do recall the days when we happily slept on a futon that was a thin piece of crap and we felt it that it was the best thing since sliced bread because we were together - oh how things change once you're married!

At any rate.... I can still sleep-in ...it wasn't just a phase, it's me - and perhaps now on the days when I really want to sleep in, I might just have to venture into one of the other spare beds so that I can ensure 12 hours of peace and quiet!

In other news, our curling team bit the bullet late last night. We lost 8-6, but it was a well fought battle, considering our team was suppose to start the game at 8pm, but didn't get on the ice until 10 pm, and began drinking at 5 pm (you do the math!). As with any good bonspiel, booze is always the dimize of the game - we enjoyed ourselves, and I think I actually threw the rock better after a couple of shooters, so this is something I might try to incorporate into my game next year. If we had won last night, we would have played at 10 am this morning, which would have totally ruined my sleep in for today - so no complaining here! We had a good season and we are looking forward to next season - which starts in just under 5 months.

Why can't I convert?

This week in French we have been learning the vocabulary for measurements. Meters, litres, and everything else metric. However, when asked to measure specific items in the class room, my classmates (who did I mention are between 35 and 55) immediately turned to the imperial system, stating the hole punch was 9 inches by 2 inches. When it came to be my turn, I was all over the metric system, the kleenex box measuring 3.2 by 4.9 centimeters.

Although the metric system is the measurement system we use to educate our young Canadians citizens these days, I have come to realize that the large majority of Canadians are still using the imperial measurment system.

In class we were asked to explain the measurements of our property. For all my classmates they were happy to spout off that their lots were 70 ft. by 120 ft. (in French of course it's ...70 pied sur 120 pied) or something in that neighbourhood, however when it came to my turn I had no clue what to say - nothing, nadda, zip. The teacher tried to coax it out of me saying 'all we need is a rough estimate...please' - but I couldn't even do that. In my head I was thinking that 70 ft. didn't sound all that big, but apparently after talking to P it is a standard size lot in this neck of the woods.

The whole experience has led me to dwell on the fact that I don't know the imperial measurement system. I work in meters, centimeters and kilometers, none of this inches, feet, and pounds business.

I have to ask myself, why is my generation (or perhaps just me) so clueless about the imperial measurement system that many people use in Canada?

I started to have this conversation with my curling buddy, Yoshi (Alexis), and she said the same thing - she had no clue about miles, pounds, inches, etc. The men in our generation seem to be a little more equipped to talk the imperial talk, as I always hear P saying 'it's 2 & 3/8ths' ... or 'it's 8 and half feet'. To me that is jibberish. Its the same when someone says 'its about 12 miles up the road' -- in my head I am thinking, is that far?

I can remember when people would ask me how tall I was, I would confidentally respond 168 cms - because that is what it said on my driver's license. I had no clue whether that meant 5 feet 3 inches or 5 feet 9 inches (and apparently there's a big difference).

Thank god for this website, or else I really wouldn't be able to understand anything measured in imperial. I use it faithfully when shopping out of the IKEA catalogue, because they measure everything in centimeters, but when I want P to tell me if an item will fit on a wall, I have to tell him the measurements in feet and inches. Honestly.... why can't the construction world just switch to meters, and really make a commitment to the metric system. This way, myself and all the kids in school these days wouldn't have to go through the agony of trying to convert back and forth between the two systems. Or - perhaps the educational system should spend a few weeks teaching kids how to convert from one system to the other.

Seriously...do I have to come up with all the bright ideas in this world!!

What do you think...are the days of imperial measurement over? Do you use metric or imperial? Which system is better and why? and finally... What should be done about the education system we currently have that teaches metric only?

Comments, please...c'mon I know you want to!

Flip-Flop Obsessed

When I was young (actually I should start this post out by telling the truth), I mean, when I was in my teens (highschool years) I was obsessed with Winne the Pooh. I think it first started when a friend of mine in Grade 9 (Melissa Pritchard) had a Winnie the Pooh diaper bag (don't ask), then I decided to get one and use it for my lunch bag, and the whole thing just spiraled from there.

I know most of you are thinking:

Teenager + Winnie the Pooh = Weird

But, for me, Pooh and his friends (let's not forget Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore) were an obsession until my second year of University. Up until second year, I spent a lot of money on Pooh items....I had it all, the large stuffed animals, the pillows, the blankets, the key chain, the pens, the calendar - everything that was Pooh, I owned it ... you could say I was all Pooh-ed out!

However, somewhere in my second year, I decided to put the Pooh phase to bed and actually grow up. So I moved on from Pooh to flip flop sandals.

I have been collecting flip flops and flip flop items for a few years now. I have about 12 key chains all on the same large key chain. I have a flip flop cell phone charm, flip flop patterened pjs - you name it, I have it or will go to great lengths in order to own it.

Every time I go into a store and see either a pair of flip flops or something with a flip flop on it, I have to literally stand there and convince myself that I don't need the item that has the flip flop on it.

Last night, while browsing the aisles of Home Sense (a store I shouldn't be in when I just need to kill time because I end up spending way too much money) I came across these:

I present to the court Exhibt A:

Salt & Pepper Shakkers - THAT ARE FLIP FLOPS

(say it with enthusiam!)

They were so cute, I just had to have them, but upon further investigation of the store, I came across these:

Your honour, please see Exhibt B and Exhibt C:

A huge serving dish & smaller dishes - IN FLIP FLOPS

Now... here is the conversation I had with myself outloud in the store:

Obsessed Sara: 'I need these' .... placing all items them in the cart

Rational Sara: 'No, I don't these' ... looking intensely at all items in the cart

Obsessed Sara: 'But these are soooo cute - I need these!'

Rational Sara: 'But really you don't need them' ... taking all items out of the cart

Obsessed Sara: 'These would go so great with the flip flop placemats I bought here last month'

Rational Sara: 'If I bring home another chip and dip serving set P is going to KILL ME'

Obsessed Sara: 'Who cares, these are the coolest flip flops things I have even seen' ... placing all items back in the cart

Rational Sara: 'Perhaps P won't even notice the purchase, when he asks where these came from I will just say I got it at my wedding shower and haven't had a chance to use them yet' ... yeah - that will work!

Obsessed Sara: 'Sweet ... I can't wait to use these'

Rational Sara: 'Sweet... I probably won't use these much, but who cares - they're flip flops!'

It seems that Obsessed Sara & Rational Sara are sounding like one & the same person.... but seriously, who cares, we both agree... we're buying the set, there's no turing back now.

So, as you can see I am now the proud owner of flip flop salt n' pepper shakkers, a large serving dish, and two other smaller serving dishes. They definitely round out the flip flop place mats and napkins I have - all I need now is an excuse to have a party on a free weekend, and a hot summer day (yeah - like that combo is ever going to work out anytime soon).

I am flip flop obsessed and it doesn't appear that this obsession is going to wind down anytime soon. Pooh was just a phase, but flip flop obsession is here to stay.

On a side note, yesterday's curling game got off to a good start, but we had one bad end and had to chase to opposition in the later ends. We lost, which meant will played tonight. Tonight's game turned out to be a nail bitter coming down to the final rock on the final end. Luckily we had one point in bag and the opposition had to throw a hell mary to try and tie the game. We won 8-6 and now play Friday night.. its going to be a long road to defend the title because we are on the B side but we are definitely still in the running.

Final Spiel of the Season

Tonight, my curling team (Team Cafferty - Campbell Brook Farms) begins their quest to defend our Gordie Perry title from last year. Play begins tonight at 7 pm at the Ottawa Curling Club. Last year our team was formed at this spiel when we undoubtably blew away the competition! This year, the field is tough and given the fact that we haven't curled as a team in almost 3 weeks, its going to be challenging to take home the title again this year - however, I am optimistic that we can pull it together and give it a good run. I'll keep you posted on how the week unfolds for us.

Deals Deals Deals

The title of this entry may have you thinking that today's post is going to be about P and another adventure he went on in order to get a deal, but refreshingly (for me) its actually about a great web site I found.

Check out this link, I am surprised P and this guy have not hooked up at 7 am door crasher event. The author of Smart Canucks posts a shit load of deals on his blog each day. His blog is dedicated to finding deals in Canada. He highlights which stores are having sales, and what promotions are being offered on tons of different web sites. Even if you are not looking for anything particular, it is just neat to see what stores are offering what discounts and what items you can obtain for free.

Its definitely worth a look. I have also added it to my list of blogs I read on the sidebar. I have yet to actually let P in on this secret, as I feel that withholding the information from him is my verison of parental control!

However, if he does get around to reading this post, the cat will be out of the bag in no time!

On a sidenote, its been raining for 3 days straight, and the depression level is starting to rise here in the capital city. I can't believe that the weather man would bless us with 7 straight days of +20 weather, and then slaps us with cold winds and rain - only in Canada does this b.s happen.

And finally...today marks 7 months married for P and I. Plans for tonight's celebration include grocery shopping and watching Prison Break - two keys to a healthy marriage!

Patiences...where are mine?

This morning while getting ready for work and school, P was making his selections for a hockey pool. This hockey pool happens to be run by a friend of mine (shout out to Double D and her man Rob!) and she kindly emailed me the entry form and said that once P made his selections, I could email it back to her. So...since the pool deadline was today, I opened up the spreadsheet this morning and told P to fill in his picks on the computer, and then I would email to her once it was done.

I thought this was a simple approach to the task, but it turned out to be frustrating for both of us.

P and I have this ongoing battle when it comes to working on the computer. In some cases I know how to do more on the computer than he does. And although he makes simple requests for help, I can never just show him how to do it, I would rather grab the mouse and just do some click-it-tee-clicking and go back to whatever I was doing before he asked for the help.

This morning, he was filling out the spread sheet, and then I came and stood over his shoulder wanting to email it back to Double D when he was done. As per usual, P wants me to take the time and tell him what the email address is or where to go so that he can reply to the original email. BUT - as usual, I don't have the patiences to tell him 'click here, then click here, type in this, type in that, then click here' - he is frustrated that I won't take the time to show him how to do it, and I frustrated that he won't get the hell out the way so I can do it in a less time consuming fashion.

Oh the joy we experienced this morning at 7:30 a.m.

When I wasn't giving him the info on how to send the email (because I didn't know the exact email address off the top of my head) P jumped up out the computer chair mumbling something nasty to himself. I had the 'I'm a mean parent' feeling and took over the computer, sent the email to Double D, and then continued on with my morning.

Sitting in French today I was thinking of these battles that P and I expereince. The two of us are definitely not computer experts, but I like to think I have a few areas of expertise on the computer (...that would be the computer that I brought with me into this marriage). However, often times, its the same old story, P wants me to take 5 minutes and show him how to navigate his way on the damn thing, and I would rather take 3 minutes and just do it for him (and yes I realize, if I took the time to show him how to do it just once, then he probably wouldn't have to ask again - but let's be realistic, that would be too easy and make a far less interesting blog entry for today)!

I use to go through the same thing with my Dad when I lived at home. I would learn how to do something on the Internet, or computer, and he would ask me to show him how to do it. Sounds simple enough and I was more than happy to do, but 2 minutes into the lesson I would find myself easily frustrated with trying explain to him how to do something while watching him actually do it.

Whether its my Dad or P, or even a colleague at work, I get high blood pressure when I have to stand and watch the mouse travel around the screen well my student mentally thinks out where he/she should be clicking - this part is so frustrating because I know exactly where to click and I have the selfish feeling of 'if I were doing it, it would be done by now'.

These experiences have me realizing that I lack a lot of patiences when it comes computers and explaining how to do anything. I mean really, its not the so-called students fault that they want to learn how do something - and if I think about it, when I am taking instruction I am happy to be taught something - so why is it that I can take instruction, but can't give it?

Honestly, thank god I never tried to pursue the teaching profession as you want not me to be responsible for giving your kids an education. Come to think of it I didn't make much of a babysitter either back in the day - I guess that should have been my first clue considering the time I went to babysit with my friend Jamie and ended up having a major fight with the 7 year old kid she was looking after at the time because of my impatiences.

These thoughts are making me have some serious worries about later in life when I have kids - will this lack of patience transfer over into motherhood?

It seems that I lack a lot of patiences when it comes to work, French, and basically anything in life - where did this trait come from? Is it genetic? Years ago, were the Bellerose/Wilson ancestors known as the most impatience people on the planet? Please....tell me that I come by it honestly, or that it's just a phase -- because if not, I may seriously have to rethink the whole having children idea.

Either that or, perhaps the reason I married P was because he has a lot patiences (but the jury could still be out on that one) and so he is suppose to balance out my lack of patiences with his abudance of patience. YES - that's got to be it.

Thank god, I came up with some reasoning, or else I might have been setting myself up for some psychiatric help. Phew!

There you have it folks - it's Friday April 21st, and that's another mystery solved From the desk of Sara!

List of Fours

A while ago I received this email from my good friend Alexis whom I curl with. She sent her list of fours, and I have been saving my response for a rainy day (not exactly rainy outside today as its 23 degrees in the capital, but I consider it to be a rainy day in the blogosphere).

So .... Alexis in response to your email, here's my list of fours!

Four jobs you've had in your lifetime:

1. Paper Girl (the best damn one Algoma St. ever had!)
2. Newsletter Writer (those were the days working at TFN!)
3. GAP Employee (don't remind me...the discount was awesome, the job SUCKED!)
4. Communications Advisor (for CRA, speaking of which 'HAVE YOU FILED YOUR TAXES YET?)

Four movies you would watch over and over:

1. Wedding Crashers
2. Old School
3. Top Gun or Days of Thunder
4. Pretty Woman

Four places you have lived:

1. Thessalon
2. Sandy Hill
3. Ottawa
4. Embrun

Four TV shows you love to watch:

1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Prison Break
3. The Apprentice
4. Curling

Four places you have been on vacation:

1. Florida, USA
2. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
3. Mayan Riviera, Mexico
4. Brimley, Michigan

Four websites I visit daily:

1. Soo Today
2. Ottawa Curling
3. The Weather Network
4. TD Canada Trust

Four words you over use:

1. Honestly
2. Seriously
3. Exactly
4. F#%$

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Spaghetti
2. BBQ Steak & Baked Potato
3. Tacos
4. Greek Salad

Four people you admire most:

1. Terry Fox
2. Sandra Schmirler
3. My Grandparents
4. My Parents

Four things you ate today:

1. English Muffin with Peanut Butter
2. Apple
3. Banana
4. Chicken Pita

Four memories you will always cherish:

1. My Wedding Proposal
2. My Wedding Day
3. My graduation from University
4. The phone call to my Grandma before she went for surgery

Four stores you love to shop at:

1. Home Sense
2. IKEA
3. Jacob
4. Chapters

Four books you would read over again:

1. Shopoholic Ties The Knot
2. Something Borrowed
3. Summer Sisters
4. Tuesdays with Morrie

Four songs you love to listen to:

1. Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts
2. To Be With You - Mr. Big
3. Hold On - Wilson Philips
4. Like A Prayer - Madonna

Four things you couldn't live without:

1. Peter
2. The Internet
3. My flip flops
4. Shower Radio

Four places you would rather be right now:

1. The Cottage
2. Hawaii
3. Home watching soap operas
4. LCBO

There you have it, my list of fours. If you have any list of fours you would like to add, drop yours in the comment box.

Bye bye boots...hello sandal season

The photo that you are about to view may disgust those of you who hate feet, but for me, I love feet, and I love wearing sandals. Tonight I got my first pedicure of 2006, and it was the best hour of my day. Having someone massage your feet is the best feeling in the world, and an ever better feeling is having a gift certiciate to pay for the damage once the hour is up (thanks Mom).

Tonight while I enjoyed my fresh pedicure, P was busy doing this.... (like a typical man).

The good news is we are both happy doing things that please us....so I guess there is nothing to complain about! Life is good at 9:01 pm - so I think I will call it a day.

Game. Set. Match. Ouuuuuuuuuuuch.

Yesterday P and I decided to walk down the street to the local tennis courts and TRY to have a game of tennis. I must say I was pretty impressed with how we did.

Two years ago when we moved into the apartment we rushed out and bought tennis rackets as our apartment building had a court for tenants to use. I think we played twice, because:
A) we never had the time; and
B) we sucked.

Yesterday morning I mentioned to P about playing tennis, and he happily agreed to do it - so we got some breakfast and headed to the courts.

The first few minutes we were on the court, I remembered why we didn't utilize our rackets that often - because P was such a gorilla with his racket that he couldn't keep the ball in play! I would serve the ball and he would hit it so hard that it would soarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr into the parking lot.

Now I am no pro when it comes to tennis, but between P and I, I am the one with some instruction behind my skills! When I was young, I took tennis lessons at the local Community Center in Thessalon. Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 4:00 for all of July and August, I had a 30 minute lesson. I was never superstar material, but I did enjoy the game. I have never forgotten what I was taught during those sweltering summer days - and as soon as we got on the court my skills came flooding back to me.

However, what began as the worst tennis match ever, quickly turned into a lot fun. We weren't five minutes into the match when P started to get the hang of his power. Instead of killing the ball, he was pleasantly returning my serves, and I would return the ball back to him. We were both getting a pretty good workout, and I was pleasantly surprised by our playing ability.

We were on the court for about an hour when we called it a game. My exhaustion showed as my face was beat red, but that was probably the most enjoyable hour of the whole weekend. I was all gung hoe to play more tennis....until... I WOKE UP THIS MORNING.

Apparently yesterday's little workout had me utilizing some muscles that went into hibernation over the winter. These would be ass muscles, leg muscles, arm muscles, stomach muscles, and every other muscle known to woman.

Good god, who knew that a little 60 minutes workout could be so painful today. I didn't think to strech before the game (because personally I thought it wouldn't be be much of a game, judging from how brutal we were two years ago). However, since we were actually good this time out... I am definitely paying the price for not properly preparing myself for the aftermath. I can't even go to the bathroom today with out letting out a howl when I have to squat above the toilet seat in a public restroom.

It's brutal...I want to die when I take the stairs down to the ground floor of my French building, I walk like I have a tennis ball lodged in my butt because my lower ass cheeks are in so much pain that they forbid me to walk normally.

I think this a sign of getting older -- I don't remember going through this sort of pain when I was 16 and playing tennis for the first time of the year. It's pretty sad to be 26 and be thinking 'I'm not as young as I use to be' - oh the depression that sets in today as I start another gruelling week of brutal French.

On the bright side...I am getting a pedicure tonight.... which is a lot more exciting than whining about sore muscles...so I will definitely update you about that, because getting a pedicure means its sandal season, and sandal seasons means bye bye boots! Yeeeeee-haw!

The Real Easter Bunny

I thought this was fitting for the Easter weekend a head of us.

I think this is the real easter bunny. Check out Herman (the rabbit) to the right. His owner Hans Wagner from Germany claims he may be the largest bunny ever. He weighs 7.7 kg and his ears alone are 21 cm long. He eats over 2 kg of food a day (and I thought P ate a lot!).

To read the full article from BBC, click here.

Hope everyone enjoys the Easter holiday. P and I had this big plan to sleep in today, and we were awake at 8:15 - so much for that. However, we have nothing on the agenda today, so we are going to enjoy doing some things around the house, and probably end up being lazy bums for the day. I can't wait!

HAPPY EASTER

Potential Desperate Housewife

Lately I have noticed that I am being a freak about the neatness around my house. So freakish that I think Bree and I from Desperate Housewives would be best buddies if she we're a real person, and not just a character from television show.

When I was younger and lived with my parents, I could have really cared less about where I left anything. As my mother always said 'it's not hard to tell where Sara's been...her stuff is always right where she left it'. Although not consciously knowing this, I think my mother may have given me a complex.

These days, if one thing is out of place the Bree in me comes out and I immediately have to rectify the problem.

This morning when P got out of bed and into the shower, I immediately went into the bedroom, made the bed, fluffed the pillows, and straightened everything on the dresser as if we were going to be having company. I am in the frame of mind that even if someone broke into our house while we were at work I would want them to say 'wow...this place is really tidy' before they rummaged through everything we own.

I don't know why I have become like this....but everything in my house has it's very own SPOT. Each SPOT knows which item belongs to it, and when something is not in it's SPOT, it sticks out like a sore thumb to me. Literally, we will be sitting in the living room and watching tv, and I will notice that something is out of place, I immediately jump up and re-position everything back to the proper SPOT. I believe this disease is referred to as 'obsessive compulsive disorder' - but I like to refrain from thinking of it as a disorder.

Everytime I watch Desperate Housewives, I see Bree doing a lot of the same things I do. She often polishes and straightens the things on her coffee table and then gives a pleasant smile of approval when she has it looking perfectly. I do this 3 to 4 times a day (depending on how often P has decided to eat at the coffee table).

Bree and I seem to have a similar approach to house keeping, although I wouldn't take it to her extremes - like the time she politely asked her husband (who was having a heart attack at the time) to wait downstairs by the door, while she took her sweet time to make the bed and ensure that the corners of the sheets were perfectly tucked. You won't catch me doing that (or for that matter being polite about it), but the more I watch the show the worse it gets for me!

Does anyone else have the neat freak problem, or I have completely turned into a desperate housewife after only 6 months of marriage?

If you are not ordering coffee, get out of the drive thru!

As a loyal customer to Tim Horton's I am naturally frustrated when I have to WAIT for my coffee. The frustration sets in when I stand in line for a bloody large coffee half hot chocolate, while the 3 people in front of me are ordering bagels and sandwiches for the troops over in Afghanistan!

The Tim Horton's in Embrun seems to be a popular spot no matter what time of day or night you choose to go there. Usually I visit the drive thru at Tim's in Embrun when I am on my way into Ottawa, or when I am in my pj's and too embarassed to be seen by anyone else other than my husband. The last two trips I made to that drive thru took me 25 minutes to get through the line up.

I believe the drive thru was invented for the sole purpose of convenience - however, this does not appear to be the case in Embrun. Usually every 4th car decides to order a time consuming menu item such as a bagel. While each customer is entitled to their order....these people should be banned from the drive thru. These customers are what slow down the line...they tie up the pick up window for an extra 5 minutes and force everyone else to wait on their food. Once that car gets through the line, then it's rapid fire getting the rest of the line their coffee, but for that 5 minutes every one sits idle in their cars - it's times like these that I could literally scream (and trust me I have).

I believe the executives of Timmy's need to entertain the idea of having two types of lines at their coffee establishments. One line will be for dedicated customers, like me, who are only ordering coffee (and perhaps the odd apple fritter donut), and then the other line will be for the people who insist on ordering the time consuming menu items, such as double toasted bagels (seriously people is that necessary) sandwiches, and chili. This is not by any means rocket science...grocery stores and banks having been doing it for years.

In my opinion, Tim Horton's needs an Express line, both inside their stores, and a seperate line for the drive thru....just think how much time they would save their coffee-only customers if they created an Express line. After all, it's the coffee addicts who are keeping them in business...they should recognize this and reward us.

Seriously Tim's..... get with the program.

On a side note...if by chance anyone from Tim Horton's is reading this, it would also be extremely useful to coffee addicts if they had a swipe card for the Express line. The majority of stores have these cards where you can add money to the card, and therefore don't need to have the change on you! An excellent idea that I think would work well for Tim's - AND - if you're interested in hiring me to your organization...I can be reached at 555-...just kidding!

The award for best driver goes to....

Before I begin today's rant... I would like to annouce that P did use his ladder on Saturday morning to install the new outside lights. He was apparently offended by Friday's post, so on behalf of the editor I would like to say: 'sorry for the misleading post on how often the super dooper ladder is used in our household'!!!

Now...on to today (which I suspect might also require an apology from the editor tomorrow)!

For the next while P and I will be travelling to and from work together. So far, since we moved to Embrun, this has been a rarity, because either P has always drove in earlier with a neighbour, or as of late, has been working mostly from home so he hasn't had to leave the house at the same time as me in the morning.

In the past, there were many mornings when P was working from home that I felt like leaning over with a stick and poking him in the eye, because he was still sleeping while I was dragging my ass out of bed to go to work/school. I hated the thought of him lying there enjoying a bit of extra sleep while I had go battle my way through the Quebec drivers.

Now, P has returned to the office so he and I will getting ready at the same time each morning, and travelling in together each day. When I first heard about this change in our morning routine, I immediately thought 'great more QT (quality time) for us'... but this morning began at 6:10 am when one of us had to take the plunge and get up earlier then we are use to - and of course, it was me, because I take twice as long to get ready in the morning (according to Master P). However... let the record show that although I may take longer to get ready in the upstairs bathroom, P takes just as long in the downtstairs bathroom on the pooper.

At any rate...after standing around waiting on P for 10 minutes, we finally left the house and got on the road to work. I usually enjoy the silence of the ride in, listening to various radio stations...some mornings it can be rather pleasant, but I think those days are long gone, now that P drives the bus!

When you leave our house, there are two routes you can take into the city...some claim one route is faster than the other, but no one knows for sure. The last time P drove to Ottawa we took the other route (my route), and it was fast, but this morning, we took his route, and today it turned out to be faster (because of the sheer fact that he drove like Mario Andretti the whole way!).

The funniest part of the whole trip this morning was the satisfied look on P's face when he realized that his route was 'waaaay faster' - pumping his fist in the air like he just took the checkered flag at the Daytona 500.

I don't usually have a problem with P's driving, generally he is safe and responsible... but then there are the mornings where we hit traffic, and god forbid we just stay in one lane the entire trip...oh no...let's constantly switch lanes, speed up, hit the breaks, cut off other motorists, and then shake our heads when other cars do the same to us.

The stress level in the car always goes up for me when P is driving. Often times he gets so upset with my shreeking and squeeling, claiming that I am the one that is going to cause the accident with my behaviour (hello...I have a right to fear for my life). It's an on going battle between us... and all I can think is that I don't feel this stressed when I drive - although I am sure P has his stressful moments under my chauffering!

It basically comes down to the age-old argument on who are better drivers? Men or Women?

I know what my answer is.....what's yours?

The Money Pit

Money money moooooooney...... moooooooooneeeeeeeeeeeeeey (sing it with the high pitch...like the theme from the Apprentice).

If you are former member of 130-O the title of this post will definitely mean something to you.

In university the money pit was a name we often used to make reference to the money sucking house that we lived in during our last 3 years of school. It used to suck cash from us - every time we turned around one member of the 130-O crew was asking for everyone's share of cash to pay a bill - it was like taking your money, throwing it into a pit, and watching it burn. It was a never ending cycle. When I left that house, I thought I had escaped the money pit, but somehow it has followed me to our house in Embrun.

The majority of investment brokers in this world will tell you that buying a home and having a mortgage is one of the best financial moves you can make in your life. You're building equity, and making a financial name for yourself. What these brokers don't tell you is that a new home can the suck the life out of your wallet, faster than you can say 'I hate French'.

Since P and I moved into our lovely francophone neighbourhood we have been endlessly spending money to get all the necessary tools in order to take care of a home. First you need the little things, like a large garbage can to hold all the little garbage bags that you accumulate during the week. Then....it things like an outdoor broom and a garden hose. Next thing you know you need a $600 lawn mower.

Drop the money...watch it burn.

Each season that rolls around....you find yourself needing to buy something for that particular season. In the winter it was a shovel and bags of salt for the driveway. Last spring it was earth and mulch for the flower beds.

Is that smoke bothering you?

I swear....every time you purchase a new household item, you think you'll be ahead of the game, but the list of things to buy never gets shorter, in fact it is always growing....and growing....and growing.

I often thought we were lucky that someone actually lived in our house for a year before we bought it. They were responsible for growing the grass and creating the flower beds, we didn't have to spend money to do that, but the price of upkeep is atrocious. Every time I think we have some cash to spare...something else NEEDS to be done and in order to do that something, we NEED to buy the appropriate tools or accessories in order to complete the task.

Can you say 'drop it like it's hot...'

Let me recount for you...P's obsession with the NEED for a ladder.

From the day we moved in to the house P wanted to buy a ladder, but at that time I couldn't justify spending over $100 for a ladder (that's what neighbours are for); however, the NEED for this ladder didn't go away. I would ask P to move something out into the garage, and he would respond something like this: 'there is no room in the garage, and I can't put it in the attic because I don't have a ladder'

Boo hoo hooo.
Ladder smadder.....we were not getting one.

However... those you who know P will know that he can never pass up a deal (or like me, will never go without what he wants for too long, but it has to be a DEAL if he is buying it). Two weeks ago in the Canadian Tire flyer there was ladder on SALE ... but of course it was not just any ladder, it was the super doopper ladder, the ladder that you can do acrobatic moves on while at the same time doing work....simply incredible some might say! I arrived home from school one day to find the CT flyer strategically placed on the middle of the counter, open directly to the page with the ladder, and just so I didn't miss the sale, P had conveniently circled the super doopper ladder three times with a bright red marker.

I thought to myself: 'is this worth a fight? - probably not'

And...low and behold we are now the proud owners of the super doopper ladder.

Like any child receiving a new toy on Christmas morning, P used the ladder the very first day it was purchased to put the Christmas tree and the winter tires from the car in the attic. Now we stow it neatly beside the door of the garage so that when we have a party in there, everyone will see the super doopper ladder and know that we are the proud owners of it - what a conversation piece it will make!

It vaguely reminds me of the Step Master that Erin and I just had to have when we were kids. We mentioned the need for a stepper one November, and to our surprise on Christmas morning, Santa delivered it! I think we used it three times...Mom had to have 4 yard sales before she could get rid of the damn thing, and even at that, I think it probably went for a whopping $5.

However....back the whole money issue. We have now been in the house for just over a full year, and since spring has practically sprung....I grip my wallet and clinch my teeth when I think about the money we will have to pour into the flowers, the lawn, and just general outdoor maitenance (not to mention the fact that if we want to keep up with our French neighbours we'll practically have to start working on the lawn tomorrow morning at 6 am).

The money pit has grabbed a hold of us yet again, and I am just wondering - is this just a phase...when are we going to grow out of it?

C'mon all you experienced home owners....when will the madness end?

Don't Panic

You're on the right page - blog had a makeover tonight....just like any typical woman, it needed to be pampered, so it went to the salon and got a new look for spring!

The old template just wasn't working for me, so I decided to play around with other templates and this is one that I actually understand how to work, so I think it will be more beneficial for me, and hopefully it will work for you the precious reader.

I missed 20 minutes of the O.C. to do this....so I hope it was worth it.

Enjoy the new look.

Get it right RUSH!

Today's post is sort of a Dear Abby column....but seriously, it's killing me!

Dear Abby:

As a daily commuter in and out of Ottawa, I pay close attention to the traffic reports in the morning and on my way home from work. We live in Embrun, which is about a 20 minute drive to Ottawa, but the ride can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on how traffic is running. I listen to the traffic report because I want to know what areas to avoid, or what I can expect when I enter downtown Ottawa.

I am a faithful listener of the Hot 89.9's morning show, with Mauler, Rush, Laura and Josie - and while I generally find their show funny and entertaining, I want to scream at Rush every morning when I hear his traffic report. About every 20 minutes, Rush gives his little recap about how the roads are running. Generally he says something like:

'slow downs in your usual spots, it's running moderate to heavy from the split to Vanier Parkway...etc.'

The split to the Vanier Parkway is the area I am most interested in -- so this is where I pay the most attention, however there is probably only 1 of out 5 mornings where Rush's report is accurate.

In the last little while there have been a few days where traffic is backed up to Walkley (Walkley being the first exit as you enter the capital city heading West bound). If traffic is stop & go at Walkley....there is no way in hell that traffic is running moderately from the split to the Vanier Parkway.

Can you say FRUSTRATING?

What I want to know is, where in the heck does Rush come up with this traffic report. I realize that each radio station relies heavily on its listeners to call in and report accidents or slow downs on the highway, but why is it that every other radio station gets the traffic report right, while Rush continues to read the same report every morning?

If I listen to Hot 89.9 I would think I could reach downtown in 25 minutes, but when I switch to Bob FM or Y101, their traffic people are telling me there is stalled car in the right hand lane, or just high volume traffic near Walkley or Innes -- all the things a morning driver is interested in.

There is also the contrary, Rush will say its heavy from the split to the Vanier Parkway, when in fact you are travelling at 120 km/hour, while never having to think about slamming on your breaks. I don't know what kind of research is done in order to compose the morning traffic report, but in my opinion Hot 89.9 does a brutal job. I know that it is not Rush's fault personally, because Kenny B has a tendancy to screw up the report on the drive home at 4, but the behind the scenes person who complies this dang report needs to get some better sources. Thank god for Hot 89.9's Josie & the City Hollywood gossip section or I may have switch stations all together.

Maybe this is only something that happens to us East-enders, as I know that Hot 89.9's station is physically located in the West end, but seriously, does anyone in Ottawa know how Hot 89.9 manages to consistently get the traffic report wrong?

Yours Truly,
Frustrated in Ottawa

One cup, two cups, threeeeee.....addicted!

I don't know how it has happened, but it has happened. When I was in university, I remember looking across the classroom and seeing so many young students clutching their coffee mugs each morning - I proudly remember saying to myself 'how do people become so addicted to coffee? I just don't get it?'

Well it's a sad day for me when I have to admit that the addiction has come full circle.

During my early years, the only experience I had with coffee was that first summer my mother left my sister Erin in charge of me. Instead of looking after me like a good babysitter would do, we ate frozen raspberries and drank a pot of coffee every morning with way too much sugar in each cup. The coffee made me sick, as did the raspberries (I think Erin will recall the time I puked up the evidence and tarnished her babysitting record for life). At any rate...I was turned off by coffee at a rather young age.

As I proceeded to enter my university days, coffee continued to be somewhat of a foreign substance for me. I mean I had tried a few cups here and there, and I will admit that nothing cured a hangover in university quite like a few cups of coffee at F&S (I think many F&S faithfuls would refer to their coffee as the surprise cup of java as you never knew what you would find in the bottom of your cup). However, there was never a time where I felt dependent on this substance or any substance for that matter. When I would wake up for an early morning class (which was rare) - the most I would drink was a glass of water, and perhaps on a cold morning I would make a cup of hot chocolate, but nothing to the extent of what I am experiencing these days.

The source of the problem can clearly be identified as the GOVERNMENT (dun dun dunnnuh). When I entered the government work environment, I was a strong young woman, ready to take on the world. That go get 'em attitude dimished rather quickly though, and after 3 months of my first real gig in communications, I was relying heavily on my daily 10 am trips to Tim Horton's to get me through the the mornings.

No need to panic...one coffee every morning, it's not going to kill a person. Everyone has at least one a day...no problem here.....right?

As I finished my first year of full-time work, I began moving my coffee break up from 10:00 am to 9:20 am (right after my daily morning meeting). Still.....it was only one cup per day, and nothing to be worried about except that I failed to recognize that I had a stronger need for a cup of joe earlier in the morning.

I think we've identified two stages of the addiction so far:

Stage 1: Beginning the daily trips to Tim Horton's
Stage 2: Creating a dependency

Now for the third factor:

Stage 3: More stress = more coffee

In January of last year, on a cold Friday morning, P and I decided to buy the house, and then he decided to propose all within the same 24 hours. Can you say holy mother of god?....I was overjoyed, but moving into a new house less than 3 months away, and planning a wedding in under 9 months, I should have bought the Timmy's Pot to Go (a miraculous invention that brews a pot of coffee in under a minute), as I started to increase my coffee intake.....I was not only getting a coffee in the early morning, but then going back for a second cup. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.... 2 cups a day.

I told myself....that's the limit. 2 cups, no more.
But yesterday....I moved into stage 4.

Stage 4: The need to cut back on coffee.

For the first day in my government career, I had a third cup of coffee. These days, I am on french training (as the whole world knows), and so the stress factor is there. I now get a cup of coffee on my way to class, then a second one at the break, and now I have the urge to get a third cup of coffee in the late afternoon. This is when I say to myself - I need to cut back.

I am 26 for cryin outloud....it's usually people in their 50's & 60's who have the 'I need to cut back' thought because their doctor has told them its not good for their heart or some other body part that acts up when you get old! Definitely not a thought that a young innocent newlywed should be having.

What is going on with the world people? Have we hit rock bottom?

Unfortunately, I don't think this problem is about to go away anytime soon - but I sit here and wonder, how did I get to this stage? Obviously, it sneeks up on you. The scary part is that I've always had the same thoughts smoking as I do about coffee, how does someone get addicted to smoking?

Great...in 4 years time I liable to be on the patch, chewing the gum to get off the patch, and then smoking again to get of the gum. It's a downward spiral from here.

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp.

Okay -- so it's not that bad, but seriously...I am being extra conscious of my coffee intake these days....it doesn't help that it's Roll Up the Rim to Win season either......it's a damn lottery everytime you buy a cup of coffee....here we go, gambling mixed with coffee....bring on the cigarettes people!

Geesh...between this diagonosis of coffee addiction coupled with my theory on the late syndrome, I am a shoe-in for the expert seat on the next Dr. Phil....or even better Oprah! Perhaps the fact that I have recognized this addiction is the first phase to recovery. Althought I don't want to cut coffee out all together - I am bit a concerned with the role coffee plays in my life.

Someone once told me that in order to phase out an addiction, you should compare the thing your addicted to with something that you don't think you could ever live without. Keep doing that until your left with the most important thing - this exercise is suppose to make you realize that you don't need the substance you're addicted to.

Okay...so let's try it.

Coffee vs. BBQ steak....I'll take coffee.
Coffee vs. Grey's Anatomy....coffee wins again.
Coffee vs. P .......umm..... can I have a minute?

JUST KIDDING...okay okay....so I have a problem, but I am working on it. Anyone else having trouble with this coffee addiction thing.....??

Savings? What Savings?

I believe someone should take the initiative and rename the action that occured this past weekend. Everyone refers to it as DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME - but here's what I want to know...where in heck is the actual savings? I didn't save time at all this weekend, nor this morning. I arrived my usual 10 minutes late for class. All weekend I was behind schedule -- I am just wondering when I can actually cash in on this so-called savings? Perhaps they are refering to money savings -- they take an hour out of your day, and maybe that is an hour that you can't shop or spend money. I am not sure what type of savings is behind this concept, but I demand an explanation!

Perhaps we didn't experience any savings this weekend because we were too busy!

Friday evening, P and I, along with his brother & sister-in-law headed to Rideau Carleton Raceway to celebrate Grandma Coleman's 85th birthday. 85 is quite an accomplishment - if I can look as good as Grandma Coleman at 85, I will be pretty happy I think. She was her usual humourous self and even enjoyed playing the slot machines and listening to a live band. A pretty hip 85 year-old Grandma, if you ask me.

While I didn't win a cent at the slots, P and his sister-in-law did manage to take home a few pennies, so a good time was had by all. After the slots, we came back to our house with the gang, including P's cousin and her husband and we busted out the poker chips until the wee hours of the morning. It was a good time, but the bad news came about 6:30 the next morning when the alarm clock went off.

We signed up to go in a car rally with our good friends Julien & Sophie. It was to help support a good cause - The Sebastien Savage Foundation - and we ended up having a great time, despite having to start the rally at 8 am on Saturday morning. To boot, we had to dress up for 8 am. Luckily I went as the bum, so I didn't bother showering (in order to enhance my look). P was a clown, Sophie a disco queen, and Julien a drag queen. Julien looked the best complete with fishnet stockings, a blond wig, and a beach shirt that look like a hot mama in a string bikini! You had to see us rushing out of Sophie & Jule's house at 8 am - the neighbours surely were wondering what the hell we were up to!

We ended up finishing fourth in the rally....but not before having some good laughs. Julien was navigating our ship through 4 legs of the race....and he wasn't too impressed with the fact that we kept having to turn around numerous times because we missed a few key items on the rally. Picture the 4 of us in the car...Sophie and I in the back seat, P and Jules in the front. Sophie would holler something, and Jules would drive, slam on the breaks, throw it in reverse, back up, or pull a u-turn, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....can you say car sick!

P and I struggled to translate all the French riddles, but we managed! Sophie risked her life in order to find the answer to one question, almost taking a face plant in the middle of the highway. We had to count 66, no 65, no 66 rail posts on the side of the road 3 times before agreeing on the correct number, and Sophie and I met an interesting character who had a pool table for sale in the crap town of Fournier (don't ask!).

It was a cold and rainy day but it turned out to be a great day for riding in the car and visiting the numerous French towns in our area. We ended up at a sugar shack and had a great breakfast for supper (only the French would think of this). The organizing committee deserves a huge round of applause for the effort they put into making the rally so detailed, interesting, and fun. In total the rally raised close to $3700 for Sebastien's foundation, so it was well-worth the fun!

Sunday, P reffed the 67's and I cleaned the house and manage to get a few groceries. We had steak for dinner on the BBQ. It turned out to be a pretty uneventful Sunday, mostly because I spent the majority of the day looking the so-called savings as a result of the time change.

I am still on the hunting for savings, perhaps it wil show up on my gas bill or even better, my VISA -- who knows, but hopefully it appears somewhere soon before I really have to make a stink about the genuis who came up with this savings concept!