Highlights of 2007

Hard to believe 2007 is coming to a close already... I feel like it was only yesterday that I was making and breaking my resolutions for 2007... now time has flown right by and its almost 2008.

I was scrolling through my archives and thought I would post some highlights of the year via my blogging headlines.... so here we go!

January 2007

-My First Sushi Experience.
-Face it.. I've forgotten people (joining Facebook).
-J'ai reussi... Niveau C (French comprehension).

February 2007

-Another Bedroom Make-over.
-Rockin' Out in T-Bay.

March 2007

-One year and counting (1st Blog-o-versary).
-No one said it would be easy! (French training comes to a close).
-The results are in... (French levels CBB).

April 2007

-Bang ... Ooops! (Minor mishap with the Escape and my garage door).
-Anyone feel like taking a leak on their keyboard (free keyboard).

May 2007

-The end of an era (130-O couches).
-Look out Public Health, here I come (accepting a new job).
-Home Project #492: Finishing the Basement (construction begins).
-GO SENS GO!

June 2007

-Goodbye CRA
-I love Kelly Hrudey (in the flesh)
-Stag n' Doe Weekend (Krista & Kelly prepare to tie the knot).
-I liked it I loved it (Tim & Faith concert).

July 2007

-A week at the Cottage.
-A trip to Fenway Park.
-Boston Adventures.
-A week in New Hampshire.

August 2007

-4 Week Update (the new job).
-PG Bachelorette Photos!

September 2007

-Beautiful Lakeshore Wedding (Krista & Kelly's Wedding).
-The 730 mark! (Our 2nd Anniversary).
-Pressure is on... (new furniture is ordered).

October 2007

-Basement Update (drywall finished).
-Mellow Yellow (our new doggie niece).
-Sweeeeeeeep (Red Sox's win the world series).

November 2007

-Finally... a basement update (paint, carpet, ready for use)
-Winter has arrived!
-The Update Living Room (new furniture arrives for upstairs).

December 2007

-Snowed In!
-How NOT to cap off a very good weekend (ditch adventure).
-I'm Rural But I'll Go Urban (Keith Urban concert).

-Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. PC and I made it safely to Northern Ontario on Saturday... and our time here has gone very quickly, as we head back home tomorrow.

Old Saint Nick managed to track us though, and he delivered quite a few nice gifts! We have had a great Christmas so far! Today we celebrate Boxing Day with my Dad's side of the family, and it will be another day filled with food, gifts, good conversation, and more food!

I hope each of you are enjoying your holidays and some down time with your families.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

I'm rural but I'll go URBAN!

One week ago today... I took in the Keith Urban 'Love, Pain, and the Whole Crazy Thing' concert at the Bank, and what a concert it was... Keith did not disappoint. It was one of the more lively country concerts I have been too, as Keith isn't the traditional country and western artist. He had the guitars going all night long... with several mini jam sessions intertwined in his songs. He was on stage, in the crowd, down the catwalk, slapping hands with fans, and all over the map throughout the entire show.

There was an HD camera on him all night, so no matter what seat you had, you got an up close and personal view of him on stage - it was fantastic.

Gary Allan opened for Keith... and he too was great. He has a different edge than Keith... Gary has had a rough life and it shows - his lyrics and songs are rough, tough, go to hell, take a shot of whiskey, and screw the world type deal. Keith on the other hand is more sunshine, rain, love, heartache, God, women, heaven and earth stuff - it's quite the contrast, but in a good way. You have to wonder how those two artists really deal with each other on tour - with Keith recovering from his stint in rehab, and Gary chugging back the Whiskey on stage I can't imagine they party it up after the concert too much, but nonetheless - their show together was great and well worth the money!

Keith's portion of the concert was just under 2 and 1/2 hours - he played a lot of his old stuff which the crowd really loved, and then every so often would mix it up with some of his new stuff. My favourite was probably his performance of 'Raining on Sunday' - the crowd was so into it, followed closely by 'Making Memories of Us' and 'My Better Half'. He dedicated one of his new songs to his wife, Nicole (who couldn't be there!) - 'Got it Right This Time' - also a great song!

During the middle of the concert, he called a fan up on stage who had made a sign that said 'I'm rural, but I'll go URBAN' - she was from rural Brockville, Ontario (between Kingston and Ottawa)... she basically freaked out the entire time she was up there... hugging Keith like she was never going to let go!! Quite funny... but I can only imagine what was going through her mind at the time, I would have been freaking out too if hot n' sweaty Keith Urban had his arms around me - he's very McSteamy/Dreamy in my books!

I took some great video, but didn't have time to upload it yet (hopefully soon)... so these few pics will have to do for now! It was a FANTASTIC concert, one I will remember for a while (probably until I see Rascal Flatts in February).

It's a record!

My shopping is FINISHED.

Yes... peeps - it is ONLY the 19th of December... and I am finito. I can hardly believe it myself, I am so happy PROUD - yes, I am so darn PROUD of myself - because this never happens, EVER.

This weekend was super productive by way of Christmas shopping. Friday night after work I was able to make a few stops en route to the Keith Urban concert (separate post to come on that), and then Saturday morning, PC and I got up fairly early for a Saturday, came in to Broadway's for their million dollar breakfast, and then hit the malls for a few hours, and pretty much cleared up the entire list, with the exception of 1 gift.

Today... that gift was purchased, and provided I stay out of the ditches on my way home this evening, it will be wrapped and placed gently under the tree by 8pm this evening.

The only thing left to do after tonight will be to transport the gifts to their final resting place, and then watch with anticipation on Christmas morning, as they are ripped open by the recipients!

I am so beside myself right now. As a procrastinator, this is one for the record books!

Where are you with your shopping? Have you had it done and wrapped for a while now, or are you still out there on a mission for gifts?

How NOT to cap off a very good weekend.

Late yesterday I posted about the snow, the good neighbour we have, and the fact that I was going to my in-laws for dinner. Not just any dinner, but homemade Donairs, a personal family favourite. The purpose of the trip was to A. Eat, B. Drop-off our gifts for Christmas as we are heading North this year.

PC was coming from Ottawa at the same time I was heading to Max-vegas. As I set out on the backroads, the roads conditions went from poor to bad to very bad. As I was half way to the main highway... I thought about turning around, but given that I was already in the bad conditions, I thought manoeuvring a turn around would be just as difficult as plowing forward to meet PC.

I decided to continue plowing... and did so straight into a ditch.

Visibility at the time was extremely poor... and on the backroads I was between two farmers fields, completely covered in snow, and on a road, completely covered in snow - with absolutely no markers, except a sign 30 meters back that indicated an S curve. I did my best to navigate the S curve for memory... but as bad luck would have it, apparently I was a little too far to the left.

Luckily, my entrance into the ditch was performed in rather stylish fashion... as my left tire left the road, pulling the entire Escape ever-so graciously to the left with it. I screamed, said a few favourable words, and as the snow shot up over the windshield, I was sitting pretty with Keith Urban's 'I Told You So' playing on the ipod.

I sat in the truck for about a minute before plotting my next move. I was okay, the truck was okay, and the boat load of gifts going to the in-laws were exactly were I had originally set them in the back set. Everything was OK.

I tried to backout of the ditch a few times, but nothing would budge. I was still a little flustered ... with my hands shaking rather rapidly - I reached for the cell phone.

First call: PC.

PC: What's wrong.
Me: I'm in the ditch (in tears).

PC: Are you okay?
Me: Yes (in tears).

PC: Are you sure?
Me: Yes (in tears).

PC: Where are you?
Me: In the ditch.

PC: WHERE in the ditch?
Me: (laughing but crying) Route 300 and St. Thomas, near the curve.

PC: Okay... call CAA, and we will be there shortly.
Me: You won't be able to get down the road in the car, its bad.

PC: It's okay, just call CAA.
Me: Okay.

So... I call CAA, I am sure with 40 cms of snow in Ottawa and the surrounding area they probably haven't had a call all day!

CAA is busy, busy, busy - not even a 'Thank you for calling, your call is important to us' - nope, just a busy signal. PC calls back shortly to tell me that our friend/neighbour Pat (not the snow-blower neighbour), is on his way to get me.

And he was... in 15 minutes I was sitting pretty in his Escape... and we were on our way to get PC at the 417. Pat got us back to the house safely... and a half hour later we got through to CAA, and got the call out for a tow truck in the area.

At 8:55 pm, two and half hours after we placed the call, the tow-truck called to say he was at our vehicle. PC and Pat headed back out and by 9:30 pm, the Escape was back in the drive-way, safe and sound.

What a night! I should have never been on the roads in the first place. I talked to my Mother-in-law before going out, who suggested that we didn't come at all due to the weather, but given that she was making donairs, and it was the only night that both PC and I had to deliver our Christmas gifts to them - I really wanted to go.

I know... STUPID, STUPID, STUPID. And I feel just that, STUPID. But in all the stupidity, I am thankful for a few things:

1. I was not hurt - a little shook up, but not physically hurt.
2. That I have a great husband in a situation that isn't so great.
3. For our neighbour Pat, LIFESAVER.
4. That there was no damage to anyone or anything.
5. Donairs can be refrigerated and reheated!

This post has gotten to be very long, I will have to bail on the update of my productive weekend. But I promise to divulge that info in another post, soon to come.

Saint

This is our neighbour who faithfully snow-blows our driveway during every winter storm. This is the second time he's been here today - we LOVE him.

PC is reffing the 67s today in Ottawa, so I stepped outside to see what the damage was like - 4 feet of snow greet me as I opened the front door! I got our shovel and started digging myself out... after 30 minutes of this heavy labour, I had only cleared off our 3 steps - I heard the snow blower start up down the road - and it could not have come at a better time.

I am off to the in-laws for dinner (thank god for 4x4), I will update later on my rather productive weekend!

Cheers!

Seasonally Streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesed

Okay... did Christmas suddenly creep up this year or what?

I know, I've had 300 and some odd days notice that it was happening this year, but I can't seem to get myself in gear, and frankly seeing that it's Dec. 14th today has me FREAKING OUT.

PC and I decided to not exchange formal gifts this year... we are going on a nice hot vacation in January which translates into more than enough from Old Saint Nick. I thought because we had firmly decided not to do our swap that I was already half-way off the hook. Apparently I kicked up my heels a little too early in the process, because I still have 15 or so peeps to buy gifts for.

I have actually made rapid process since Monday morning when I discovered just how long my shopping list really is. I have purchased a few gifts over a few shopping excursions on my lunches. So now I am down to about 10 or so things I still need to get. The problem for me is that I can NEVER fully cross people off my list, they linger on the list, because I still have to get one or two small items to go with their larger gift. I hate that.

The other problem that is creating stress for me is the fact that we are travelling North this year to spend Christmas with my family - which means, I literally have to ready for the big event, a week ahead of schedule. As you folks may know from reading this blog, I am not a pro-active person (despite my profession as a proactive strategic planner), I am just the opposite - a PRO. CRAS. TIN. AT. OR.

My goal going into the weekend is to finish-off my in-laws (not literally - WOW, did I say that out loud!). If I can get PC's peeps done and wrapped, we can deliver the gifts to his parents this Sunday as were heading to their place for Sunday night supper. This would be a HUGE accomplishment by way of de-stressing for the holidays.

Then next week, all I have to worry about is my side of the family and of course packing and ensuring we have everything ready for the great voyage North.

The is shaping up to be a big weekend for me - lots on the to-do list, lots of accomplishments that must be made or I might just blow at some point next week.

Yes, people the countdown is on, and as the clocks ticks more rapidly each day, I hope that this isn't the year I lose my marbles in a public setting over this damn holiday we so often refer to as 'the season of giving'.

Beggars can't be choosers, or can't they?

This time of year my heart strings are little soft... I tend to want to do more for others, or go out of my way to do something nice for someone who is deserving of it. I think I am like most Canadians in this respect.

This weekend, I was up early Sunday morning to provide some sparing duties for a curling team who was in need of a player on short notice. On my way to the game, I surprisingly had enough time make a stop at a Starbucks not too far from the club.

In the early morning hours of a Sunday in downtown Ottawa their isn't much going on, the area is virtually a ghost town. As I approach the doorway to Starbucks there is a homeless man outside the entrance who grunts out: 'Spare some change please'.

Not having a dime on me, and only my Starbucks Cash Card, I reply: 'Sorry, I don't have any change on me'.

As I am about to pull open the door, I think to myself, I could at least get this man a cup of coffee, as the wind was very cold, and he looked as if he hadn't had anything in a while. I stop myself in the middle of the doorway and offer this: 'Would you like a cup a coffee?'

Thinking his answer would be something like a small smile and a nod, I was stunned to hear him say: 'No, I don't drink Starbucks, its too strong.'

If the man wasn't dead serious, I think I would have burst out laughing. He continued: 'I am normally at Tim Horton's down the street, but its closed on weekends so I have to come here where the traffic is.'

Can you believe that? A picky homeless man. I mean, don't get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their likes and dislikes, but when you have nothing and you are turning down something -- anything -- it seems a bit odd.

However, I have to say, I can relate to the homelesss man in the sense that when I didn't have an acquired taste for coffee, I found my first Starbucks coffee very strong. I tend to like it a lot more now that I have drank several cups of it. I guess, its not for everyone, and its definitely not for the homeless - they seem to like their Tim Horton's coffee much better, so I guess I won't try t0 mess with a good thing anymore.

Stupid vs. Stupid

As you probably know, we've received a ton of snow in the capital city and surrounding area these past two weeks.

We are not in a state of emergency or anything crazy like that, but the city of Ottawa is working diligently to clear the side streets and walk ways in a timely fashion.

However, some streets just haven't been cleared yet, and therefore I encountered the following situation on my way to my 7 o'clock curling game last evening.

Let me preface this story by saying... yesterday was a high-stress day at work, and I was not in the mood for any further setbacks or annoyances as I was racing across town to make my game.

GAME TIME: 7:00 pm

7:03: I arrive on the ONE WAY side street that takes me directly to the club parking lot. The street is heavily crowded with snow banks, cars parked practically in the middle of the road, and a few freezing pedestrians walking down the only path available - the middle.

7:05: Still on the side street, inching along behind 1 pedestrian who does not want to get over in the snow bank.

7:06: Finally get around the pedestrian and arrive at the club parking lot entrance. The lot appears jammed full of cars, however, I think I see a spot half way up the one-way lot, where 1 car may have left. I think to myself 'Can I be this lucky?'

7:07: NO! I am not this lucky. The spot is really only half a spot. DAMN - now I have to back out of the entire parking lot, hoping to not to hit any of 38 cars that are parked jagged in the lot.

7:09: I am almost out of the parking lot. To get to adequate parking I must back out the wrong way on a one-way street (standard procedure for the Rideau Curling Club). As I get my ass-end out on the street, almost hitting a high snow bank, I see a cyclist out the corner of my eye.

7:10: I do some quick manoeuvring to avoid denting a BMW SUV, which leaves me diagonal, going the wrong way on a one way street. The cyclist is stopped in the middle of the road, we make eye contact, as he throws his hands up in disgust and mouths to me: What the F^%&* are you doing?

7:11: I quickly put my window down and yell back: 'Pardon... your the idiot riding a bike in 10 feet of snow', as I hit the gas and breeze around the corner, equally disgusted.

7:16: I wheel around the block twice, and decide parking on the street is hopeless. There appears to be a funeral going on at the funeral home nearby, so I sneak into the parking lot, and pretend to be in mourning, as I quickly scoot across the parking lot with my bag and broom in hand.

7:24: Missed the first end, but I managed to make it time to throw my rocks in the second end.

No, I am not proud of myself, and no I wouldn't normally react like that - but in all honesty, cyclists in the city should be restricted to:

A) Daily light hours;
B) Months between April and October;

(Caitlin, you are still allowed to try riding your bike in the snow ONCE for the experience!!!).

Yes, we all need to take extra caution in the winter, and yes we shouldn't let a bad day at work affect the way we treat completely innocent people... but people doing stupid things shouldn't criticize other people doing stupid things.

Mr. Cyclist, I will quit driving the wrong way on a one way street, if you quit biking in the winter... DEAL?

DEAL.

Now... can we get backing to the spirit of Christmas?

Snowed In!

Today... I took advantage of the few luxuries of my job: REMOTE ACCESS.

Last night I was put to sleep by the sound of freezing rain tapping on the windows of my bedroom. This morning I awoke to the blustering winds and a driveway FULL of snow.

This is when I weighed the pros and cons of heading into the office via the icy, snowy roads vs. staying in my comfy pj's and working from recently finished basement.

I took the latter without much thought, and it was a rather productive, stress-free day at the office - satellite office that is!

We've received upwards of 25 cms of snow since the middle of the night, and it's still coming down. I snapped this picture this afternoon, just to give you an idea of what we're facing:


PC did his due diligence and cleared the driveway this morning.... but I have a feeling this was only round 1 of many clearing exercises over the next couple of days.

These are the days I live for our 'outside' job 'inside' job arguments - clearing snow is clearly an OUTSIDE JOB - a.k.a not my job! I will gladly scrub the floors (inside job) from the comfort of my warm and cozy living room, while PC tends to his 'outside' jobs... shoveling, shoveling, and more shoveling!

Tomorrow... it is still suppose to be snowing, and I will have to go into the office due to meetings, but it was nice not to have to do the drive today!

Now, given that my daily routine was thrown off due to the snow storm - I should probably go shower, for the sake of my marriage!

Bring on... Christmas (in 23 more days)!

We have officially entered 'Christmas mode' at our house! I took a good part of Saturday to put up the Christmas tree and decorate it!

If you drive by our place, from a distance it might seem like we are ready for Ol' St. Nick to come on over; however this couldn't be further from the truth. I still have quite a bit of shopping to do, and given that we are heading North for the holidays, this will require me to be ready extra early - which means I have a ton of things to do over the next two weeks!

But for now, I can just sit in my living room and enjoy the company of my tree, because after all... its all about the tree (at least for me)!

O'Christmas tree... O'Christmas tree...thy leaves are so unchanging... O'Christmas tree...
O-kay, I will spare you the rest!!

What about you... when do you put your tree up?