What are YOU doing in April?

Cause I know what I'm doing!!!





On my beloved old friend, the Westerdam.

Miscellaneous Rambling

Three days ago, it was 8 degrees. Today it is -23. Three days from now it is supposed to be +1. Geez. I guess I shouldn't complain, as I'd rather see some warm weather than suffer through a month long cold spell, but this is insane. I will probably get sick just in time for next weekend and my husband will take off for greener pastures in Toronto, leaving my sorry, sniffling self to fend for myself.

Speaking of my darling husband, guess who woke me at 9:00 am to tell me he was going to work? Thanks for that. Since I already knew he was going to work this morning, it's not like I would have woken up alone and freaked out or anything. But, he woke me up and then I couldn't get back to sleep. In his defense, I usually sleep like a zombie and am barely coherent when he tries to wake me up for work... in fact he will probably be shocked when he gets home at noon and I am actually out of bed.

So anyway, here I am. At least I'm not outside, or at work, for that matter. Instead I am sipping my coffee in my pjs, shopping online for things to spend my signing bonus on. Finally, the union is good for something! Too bad it will be 6 months before I see any money from them. Don't you love how the government can take its sweet time when it owes you money, but if the tables are turned, it's all about the interest and penalties.

I am thinking of buying myself a chaise lounge. We still only have the one couch in our living room and there is a ton of room for other furniture. I want something I can stretch out on comfortably so either a big armchair with ottoman or a chaise lounge. I had been thinking of getting new furniture altogether, but the couch is still in good shape and will not fit into the basement, so I would have to get rid of it. Ah, decisions, decisions. Good thing I have a few months to mull it over...

Slow but steady...

That is the name of the game this week.

Got the desk assembled but I still need 100 things for the office, not least of all, a desk chair. I'm hoping to hit Ikea this weekend and get everything on my list, so as to post a pic of the completed office next week.

Got my bathing suit (25% off at The Bay!) but discovered I've missed the deadline to enroll in aquafit. I think I may just hit the pool and go swimming instead.

Got my first assignment back from school, 76%, hooray! Not bad for the 30 minutes of effort I put into it. (Somewhere out there, my mother is shaking her head in disgust. Meh. I'm done with busting my ass for As, for what? I can assure you, the government will not care what marks I got or probably even what program I study, so there. Besides, there's only room for one scholar in this family and she's got that title sewn up.)

We've been enjoying some fabulous weather but alas, I see that the low is -23 tomorrow (from a high of 8 today). Guess I will be sticking close to home for the forseeable future... that indoor pool at the Y is calling my name. At least, the hot tub is.

2009: Week 2

Not much to report, to be honest. But I said I'd be here weekly, so here I am

I got my new desk but it is still in the box, waiting to be assembled. I couldn't actually get it until Sunday night and we've been busy with everyday stuff like grocery shopping and...er... watching tv ever since. I will definitely put it together this week, we'll see when the other half is available to help me.

As for the Aquafit/bathing suit, well, I went shopping on the weekend and found one suit I like, problem being the price tag of $120. Eek. I need to go to Winners but again, haven't had time yet. Truthfully, I am currently engaging in a cost-benefit analysis: Is it worth $120 to not have to try any more bathing suits on? I will decide by the end of the week and aim to be at the pool/gym next week.

Hmm, what else. It's chinooking here, at long last, so it's all soupy out but I am definitely not complaining. It's supposed to be 9 degrees on Thursday

Oh, and I finished 3 units out of 12 for one of my courses. So everything is coming along nicely there.

So what are YOU up to? Leave me a comment and tell me wassup.

It's all about the follow through

Post #1. Still in the first week of the year. Nice

I spent last night cleaning out the spare room and moving the bookshelves around to get ready for my new desk. (Settle in to the house resolution: check!) I am going to get my desk tomorrow, along with a few other accessories, and hope to be all set up by the weekend.

Then it will be time to work on schoolwork. Did I mention that I sent in my first assignment today? (Schoolwork resolution: check!) So far, so good. The course appears to be fairly easy and I could probably write the exam and pass without doing any of the work... ah, brings me back to the good ol high school days. The big plus here being that the guidance counselor has no jurisdiction to fail me for truancy. Also, you are not supposed to show up to class. Win win!

I have not travelled anywhere yet, and today I booked a week's holidays at the end of February. I am planning a staycation, during which I will pledge to do one home improvement project, one large school project, and one personal improvement project (spa, anyone?). (Spend more time at home resolution: check!)

And poor old diet and exercise get the shaft in my New Year's Resolution Recap. I know. You are shocked. How uncharacteristic of me. I admit it, tonight I ate a half of a bag of tacos for dinner Ah well, you can't have it all, all of the time. I am thinking about shopping for a non bikini/non hideous bathing suit (that's a tall order for anyone, not just those of us who eat our dinner out of a foil bag) so that I can join AquaFit classes at the local Y. I think AquaFit will make me feel better. Not to mention thinner and younger. Last time I went to AquaFit I was about 200 lbs. lighter than everyone else in the class, except the lady with the walker. This time, I promise not to immediately counter the effects of the exercise by capping it off with a cheeseburger and a pint of beer.

I think I will give myself a B on the New Years Resolutions so far. Photos of my office, and possibly some of the bunnies (they turned white to match the snow!) will follow.

2008 wrap up

It's New Years' Eve baby! Time for the last blog entry of 2008.

I got home from Toronto on Sunday and have spent the last few days enjoying being at home, mostly in my pajamas, often with a nice glass of Cab Sauv. We're going on a ski trip in, oh, 4 hours... which I haven't yet packed for... I am in denial about having to leave my house and more importantly my own bed yet again. Boo hoo.

So, I need to make this a quickie and get on with my chores. This year has been a good one for me all around, with some great trips and general uber busyness. For 2009, I am resolving to:

• blog at least once a week. This year I had 34 posts, next year I'll have (at least) 52
• limit business travel to Vancouver only
  
• take a couple of nice holidays, thanks to my overtime and holidays that are being carried over
• really settle into this house. It's been a year and we've barely done anything - I am starting with the little spare room which will soon become my home office. Then there's some painting and minor repairs to do before we move to the big stuff which needs to be contracted out - windows, doors, fence, landscaping, oh my.
• start eating healthier and getting more exercise
• get going on my university courses!

Not too bad, it's a big list but there's nothing wrong with thinking big, right?

Happy New Year to all!

One last blog from Calgary

Tomorrow I am heading out to Toronto for 3 weeks. Crazy! I have been so busy with work , I haven't been focusing much on this trip and now it is here.


Incidentally, Calgary is looking like quite the winter wonderland these days. I really love the view from our house, it is so treed in and the snow looks so festive.


Jasper is also enjoying the weather.




And here is a gorgeous shot of the tree on my front lawn:


I love how the snow gathers on the branches.

In other news, my grandparents gave us this fabulous stand mixer and I am dying to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies:





I love it for its looks, if nothing else .