To NaBloPoMo or not to NaBloPoMo...

Hit me baby one more time.

I've decided to try NaBloPoMo again this year. Last year it just about wiped me, as I managed to get through the whole month of daily posting despite picking up a stressful first-time consulting project. The bonus was the fab blogging community I found, and some wicked, wicked, blogs and bloggy friends.

This year, with work winding down a bit and me missing my blog time, I'm looking forward to it. But, gulp, it starts tomorrow.

I'm not one of those organized bloggers. I have, let me see, maybe three draft posts with one liners in them. Brain farts, really. Other than that, I'm a blog-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of girl.

Like this morning, for instance. I had nothing on my mind until about half an hour ago.

Hubby is back from his trip, dealing with jet-lag but also catching up with work-work that happens while he's away. The homecoming was sweet for the kids and all, I am so very happy that he's home. And today, of course, he took the day off to take his prince and princess to school, and volunteer at the kindergarten halloween festivities. The girlie couldn't stop talking about it all week.

How easily we slip back into the routine, though. As per usual, I get up with the kids, put the coffee on (I know I have a timer, but I have no energy to set it sometimes the night before) ... make them breakfast, make the boy's lunch, his mid-morning snack, the girlie's mid-morning snack. Get her washed up, get her Halloween costume on, pack her backpack, the boy's backpack, yell at the boy to get ready.. well, you get it. Hubs, bless his heart, pours me a coffee .. that sits there.

Girlie has to go to the washroom, so Daddy helps her. Good. Then he goes back to his coffee and paper, while I continue to rush around packing stuff.

I look at the clock, we've still got a few minutes... the kids are at the door. Uh, where's Daddy?

Me: "What are you doing there?" (not snarkily at all, honestly)

The man: "Just sorting through her drawings and stuff."

Me: "Do you think you could do something else like maybe help me get the kids coats on?" (yes, very snarkily this time).

The man: "Yes ma'am"...

Is it just me who finds this annoying? I mean, he's a great, great dad, and husband, but I find there's a missing "need to get the whole family ready" gene. No sense of it. The kids are even rushing him, as the boy is whining "Dad, where are you, we're gonna be so late!!!".

As he heads out the door, he says to me "If you get some time, do you think you could sort through those papers?"*.

Arrrrggghhhhhh!!!

I find these words, and sometimes the odd look that he makes at the crumbs under the kitchen table, piles of laundry that haven't yet been folded, scattered toys around the family room...an indictment of my failings. I'm just a horrible homemaker, and I know it. So even if this isn't his intent, I take it as such.

So what do I do instead of squeezing in that extra hour to do some work, work, before going to the gym for a much needed workout? I pop my coffee into the microwave. And then I get the vacuum out.

But I move that pile into the other room.

(*I must admit, I was raised by a pile-making mother. That was her filing system, and I've started along that course as well. With all the mail that came through for the man and the school permission slips, homework, artwork, it was all in one pile to be sorted. And the man is fulfilling the role of my father, the "pile-tosser" very well. He's been known to toss my son's homework into the recycling every so often, yes he has....)

*****

So I promise, November will not be an entire month of my venting. At least I'll try my darnedest.

"Wordless" Wednesday - Scary

New friend ... Scary

It's only October ... Very Scary

Confessions of a Maddict

Well, the Man is away for work again , so it was a really good thing that there was something for me to look forward to on the weekend.

I haven't been the biggest fan of Saturday Night Live during the last few years (primarily because I can barely keep my eyes open past 11 PM anymore these days). However, I have recently been drawn, like millions of others, to the bang-on impersonations by Tina Fey of the ubiquitous Sarah Palin.

So imagine my excitement when I noticed that Jon Hamm, the number one man on my favourite new TV series, was to host this past Saturday's episode. With a bonus -- COLDPLAY was the musical guest.

Made the weekend an event. Oh I know, I really need to get a life.

Here is my favourite part of the show, and for those of you who do not watch Mad Men on a regular basis, I think you'll still enjoy it.


Methinks that performing this skit with Jon/Don probably sent Amy Poehler into labour.

Coldplay's performance didn't really blow me away; I think Chris Martin's frenetic performance and lack of continual contact with the mike didn't help. They may be more suited to larger venues these days. Still, it was a treat to see them 'live'.

But you know what nearly sent me over the edge? Last night was the finale of the second season of Mad Men. And was it ever a fully loaded episode. There's the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis; a company merger; confessions; unwanted pregnancy; continued marital woes; one night stands ... and just when I thought it was all over for our philandering protagonist's marriage, he goes and writes his estranged wife a love letter. Here is an excerpt:

" I understand why you want to go on without me, and I know you won't be alone for very long. But, without you, I'll be alone forever. I love you, Don."

Oh. My. God.

Swoon... these writers, boy they've got marketers pegged.

Hey, I'm married to a marketer! Hmmmm.

I cannot WAIT for Season Three to begin.

Weekly Winners #42

"Talk like a Pirate" moment

Reflections of a Butterfly

Rock Prince and Purple Princess

My Guitar Heroes

For other winners, visit LOTUS.

Paris - Fashion Friday Flashback

2003 was winding down and we had decided to get off of the baby train. Our foray into the world of IVF was to begin in March 2004.


Can I tell you what a relief that was? Life at home was less stressful and work was easier to handle. I bet if my boy could remember, he'd probably tell you that I was a bit of a sweeter mommy to him too. At least a little.

When a work trip to Paris came up, to participate in a "pre" product lauch, and share a poster presentation with other global affiliates, I was happy to just say "of course I''ll go". Escape would do me good.

No worries about schedules, which nights I would be away, which drugs to take, oh geez, would it coincide with the HCG shot... and where would the hubs be? Aw, to hell with all that, I'd be in PARIS in February ... whooottt!!! Jambon et fromage avec une biere s'il vous plait ... pain* au chocolat with some heavy duty coffee, walking, shopping, more walking, museums, the architecture... oh yeah, there would be work, but this time I was going to try to really enjoy the city. And drinking, or enjoying, rather, some fine wine. Hmmmm, nice for a change.

It was also nice to be going with my boss. A different boss than before. She knew how to live - work hard, but also experience the city that we were in. We weren't sure whether there would be another trip in the future (company stuff was happening), so we went a couple of days early.

Musee D'Orsay - check
Galerie Lafayette - check (about 3 times)
Printemps - check (about 3 times)
La Coupole - check

I remember also having raclette for the first time ever, in a tiny little restaurant located near Place de l'Opera (at least I think it was, I am so directionally-challenged, and the streets there are anywhere but gridlike).

Shopping, did I say shopping? So what did I purchase on my last trip to Paris? I hadn't shopped in Paris in a long while... so I threw caution to the wind and just bought some frivolous items to perk up ye olde wardrobe. Teeny-tiny numbers perfect for summer 2004. Here's a peek...

Can you feel the wistful undertones in this post? Sigh...

Wonder if I ever got to actually WEAR them in the summer of 2004?

Hmmmmm...

(Well, what would be a miracle is if I could still fit into them... but that's another story.)

(*edited per my friend Badness, wonder where my mind was at LOL!!!... although a "bain" would have done PERFECTLY ... )

Papa's got a brand new 'poo bag'

So this is how I know that my blog is now part of the family.

The boy and girlie's friends stopped by (with their Dad) while walking their dog last night. Since it was dinner time, we invited them to stay. And to be honest it was long overdue, as these friends are so wonderful, they always invite us over for dinner whenever the man's away.

After dinner, since there was school the next day, the Dad hustled his kids back into their coats, got the dog and off they went for their walk back home.

And then we get a message on our phone while getting the kids ready for bed ..."Uh, sorry I just realized that we left the poo bag on your front porch. It was dark and I totally forgot. Apologies, you can just throw it into your green cycle bin."

And then another e:mail about it shortly after, just in case.

No big deal.

This morning, we open up the door to get the paper and there it was, right next to the paper. In the same type of blue plastic bag. "There's the poo-bag!" I exclaimed.

For some reason husband thought that was insanely hilarious.

And this evening, my husband said to me, "You should have taken a picture of that, what an awesome bloggable moment!"

And the boy, "Mom, that would have been great to write about "THE POO BAG" on your blog!".

And so it's done. No picture though.

What is it about boys and poo anyway?

Gotta admit, though, some poo stories are priceless...

Weekly Winners #41 - He Loves ...

Ribs

Clownin' around

His Cousins

His Sister

His "Girls"

(last 2 shots were taken by his Dad, who he adores. His Dad, who when asked whether he found my last post embarassing, said, "Not at all, why should I? It wasn't me doing Bodyjam."
True enough. Now THAT would have been a sight, wouldn't it ?)

For other winners, visit LOTUS.

Thursday Thirteen - What a f?????

Okay, so this is that "wild and crazy" thing that I did on my 43rd birthday. It's probably nowhere near as exciting as I suggested it might be. But I figured I would capture this before my knees (and back, and hips, and ankles) gave out on me one day. And since I've already shared my ass with the blogosphere...

Thirteen reasons why posting the following probably wasn't such a good idea...

1/ My son thought I was joking, and I did it because he didn't think I would. Don't do this sort of thing on a dare. Especially not from an 8 year old.

2/ This is nowhere near as cute as a video of my daughter potty training.

3/ My kids may not speak to me once they're old enough to REALLY know what embarrassment is.

4/ My husband doesn't see me move my hips like that very often. Ahem.

5/ It proves that I'm a nutcase because I did this while sober. Cannot blame the pomtini.

6/ It shows my nice gut, lack-o-rack and my flat butt.

7/ It'll be out there. Forever.

8/ People who know me read this. Oy.

9/ So You Think You Can Dance Suburbia... here I come ?!! Uh, not likely.

10/ Desperate Housewives? Yeah, probably more like it.

11/ Despite my fervent wish, the men of Lipstick Jungle still won't notice me.

12/ Even Jennifer Beals has moved on.

13/ It may turn more people off of Bodyjam than onto it.

But it's a testament of my love for all things Bodyjam.

Hello, my name is Karen and I'm a Bodyjam addict.

Well, it was either this or pole-dancing... which I haven't attempted yet, by the way.

Nor should I.

Let me preface:
a) This was the first bodyjam routine I was exposed to. An oldie but a goodie. Most of the kids in my Saturday class probably weren't even born when the movie came out.
b) This was about the 10th time I did the routine before the video took. Because I am so technically challenged I didn't even realize that I didn't hit the "on" button the first several times. Which also explains the long intro where I'm debating whether I'm really going to do this, and the long pause of exhaustion in between .. and the big "L" in the middle of my forehead.
c) It's probably over a minute too long. I can't edit either. Torturous, I know.
d) The sound is not exactly wonderful, because the only version of the song I could find was on Youtube.
e) At least the lighting is dim; thank goodness for small mercies.
f) I DID have a stiff drink before I hit "publish post". Yeah, it was before noon, so sue me.
g) Those of you who want a live repeat performance at Blogher '09 will have to show me the booze... and then I'll think about it.
h) Okay, I'll friggin' get on with it already...



And I ain't no Hollaback girl either...

They say it's your birthday

(and are these not beautiful, courtesy of my SIL who went all out over T-giving)

It's my birthday too, yeah.

Meh.

So today's the day, and all of Canada is so excited, hopefully they'll go out and vote!

What's on today's agenda? Well, I started out with half and half cream in my coffee instead of 1% milk, I have to do a little work, run a few errands, vote ... but I will treat myself by checking out a newly renovated mall. Sans kids.

Thank goodness for life's little pleasures.

The last few years of birthdays, it hasn't been more than just another day really, another few pounds after a feast with family. This is the problem with having a birthday around Thanksgiving.

Roast beef dinner on Saturday; steak dinner last night with my parents and sister's family; and special birthday dinner with the man tonight. No beef or duck for me, though, as apparently I don't want to be a quack (ancient Chinese rules).

Yes, I am missing my favourite gyrating workout night to go to my fave restaurant in our neck of the woods.

They say that before you hit 45, it is possible for a woman to get rid of an advancing gut with exercise. So thank goodness there are still a couple of years left where there is hope.

Hope starts tomorrow ;).

PS. I did something crazy - well for me - that I just may post in a couple of days. I have to wait until I'm good and drunk to share it though.

Weekly Winners #40 - Thankful

Pony girl


Cousins


Hands around the wreath


Funky gourd


Funky turkey


Courtesy of creative auntie
(perfect to keep little hands busy while finishing off Thankgiving Dinner preparations)

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians!!!

For other winners, visit LOTUS.

Musical Memories - an Ode to Sloan

The other night as I sat down to watch one of the best shows on CBC (well, probably the only show I watch on CBC, if only it weren't on so late every night), the Hour, I noticed that they had changed the theme song. It used to be the New Pornographers. But this season, they're using the distinctive sound of Sloan.

Have you heard of them? If you haven't, check this out... (well, it's the longest intro ever in this video, so forward about 2 minutes to the actual song).



They've been together 17 years now. Wow.

When they first came out around 1992, I enjoyed their indie flavour, the "Canadian-ness" of them. Smart hip lyrics, fun melodies. "Coax Me" and "Underwhelmed" among some of their early hits.

The definitive album for me, though, was "One Chord to Another" released in 1996, where "Good in Everyone" (the clip above) was featured. That song and my other favourite, "Everything You've Done Wrong" bring back some great memories.



Of a time when I was first married, in our first house together. Filled with hope and excitement after deciding that it was time to start our family. I remember bopping around the house to this CD, we were playing it on heavy rotation. Full of optimism for our future.

The journey to family wasn't quite as easy as expected.

To be honest, I haven't been following these guys in the last few years. So when I heard this music introducing the Hour, it made me curious about what they've been up to.

Looks like they're still doing it. And doing it well. They're currently on tour with Lenny Kravitz.

I'm glad. I am in a happy place again, all these years later. Bopping around with my breakdancing wannabe 8 year old and blossoming 3 year old popper. With the occasional 80's dance saved for the Man. And for that I am very, very thankful.

Wishing everyone celebrating this weekend, a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

Cougar moment

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know that I have this insane love for Lipstick Jungle. I don't know what it is, but I was hooked from the get go. Likely because it has a beautiful cast, in particular a couple of gorgeous women of a certain age ... heck, their lives and careers are unreal. They are strong, successful women but of course total messes in their personal lives. But I think that's the fun of it.

Okay, I'll admit it. Another main draw for me was a certain actor, who was hugely popular and one of my celebrity crushes back in the 80's. I even talked myself into thinking that the hubs, at one time, even sort of looked like him for half a millisecond. Maybe it was the mullet.

But then watching the first season, there was someone else by the name of Robert Buckley, who just can't seem to keep his shirt on...(lucky Nico)

Season 2 has just got off to a rip-roaring start. Maybe it's just me, but the writing and storylines seem to have gotten better.

But gaaah, you got me again. I've never really been that into Latin men, but let me tell you, if we do renovate the rest of the house, I wouldn't mind this guy for MY contractor...

(images from Google images)

Of family, friends and fate at the fair

So how was your weekend?

I'm happy to say that ours was pretty good. Our regular workout on Saturday AM, followed by dinner at friends; then a lovely Sunday with perfect weather for a fall fair. It took a bit of convincing to get our 8 year old teenager out of the house, but I told him, "We are going to have some family fun time and you ARE going to enjoy yourself." For some reason, Ian seemed to find that quite hilarious. I think what sealed the deal was that baby cousin J would be meeting us there, and she's always a huge draw for the kids.

First stop at the fair - the Dora and Diego meet and greet. Unfortunately we got there just as they closed the gates to actually shake their hands. But the girlie had fallen asleep in the car, so was groggily satisfied with the waves they gave her. Especially once she saw the pony rides.

The ponies were adorable. And lo and behold, taking place just adjacent for the boys' viewing pleasure -- pig races. The girlie's turn came up and I seated her comfortably on her little miniature pony. Once settled, I looked around for the keeper of my critical blog equipment (ie. camera). And there he was, his back to me, watching the pig races and hooting encouragingly at the pink little buggers while I was unsuccessfully trying to get his attention.

I called once. No response. I tried a second time with more urgency - nada. The Dad one pony over was watching me with a grin on his face as I tried a third time with a little more volume... and then a fourth. Nothing. The next-door Dad was now chuckling. Finally, as we were quickly in danger of missing a precious photo-op before we started the pony circuit, I pulled out my loudest gutteral hag voice and screamed "IAN!!!!" at the top of my lungs. He looked at me with the most annoyed "WTF" gaze, but it did the trick. A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.

Check it:


The rest of the afternoon was spent observing award winning pigs, hens, roosters, rabbits, cows, sheep, goats ... and admiring baby chicks, piglets and the like. Then there were craft exhibits, magic shows, wild animal shows...fire-eating buskers, silver Elvis statues who could move. They had everything. We were trying to convince the boy that we should stay for the Monster Truck finale ... but it was getting close to dinner and he had homework to do. And the kids were tired. So we headed back to the car.

Unfortunately, we had to pass by the merry-go-round on the way to the exit.

"Hey, I want to go on the merry-go-round!!!! I want to go now!!!" from the thrasher-formerly- known-as-the-girlie in her stroller.

Ugh.

Off the Man went to pick up some tickets while the Boy whined about the unfairness of it all. Was this how the lovely day was going to end, in misery?

While trying to placate a writhing, tantrum-ing 3 year old, and making sure the 8 year old wasn't planning to track his father down, I peered across the sea of heads trying to ascertain which among them belonged to my husband. And out of the other corner of my eye, I saw this family, a tall blond fellow, with his wife and cute little blond boy in tow. Something was familiar about him and his boy, but it was the sight of his wife that struck me the most. She was gorgeous, her hair a brilliant shade of dark auburn shining in the late afternoon sunlight. And I said to myself, "I KNOW her!"

I yelled "Kelly!!" And she looked up at me, obviously puzzled because she'd never seen nor heard me before in real life. So this was likely as strange for her, as it was for me. (After all, I don't normally go around yelling at strangers, although I did spare her my gutteral hag version.)

"It's me, Karen" and I went up to her as if I'd known her all of my life.

Because this wasn't just any Kelly. This was the awesome Don Mills Diva. We've been trying to hook up for months now. With our husbands' work schedules being so busy, her starting a new job (and me too, for that matter) it was looking like we might not swing things until even later in the year.

But thanks to serendipity, we'll hopefully have that drink sooner rather than later.

And that was the perfect conclusion to our day at the fair.

Weekly Winners #39 - The Girl

Mechanic

Multi-tasker

Big Hugger

For other winners, visit LOTUS.

Won't give up my day job

It's been hard to blog lately because of work committments. And it's a struggle, to be honest, figuring out the right balance, how to organize my day so I can focus while not feeling that I'm neglecting my little kindergartener who is still home for half the day. I've even had to put her into daycare for a couple of days a week just to get things done. Of course I also need to make quality time for my 8 year old who is growing so quickly; thank goodness he is still enjoying his "Mommy & Me" time before we pick his litte sister up.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really enjoying what I'm doing, the chance to use my skills in a more productive fashion. The opportunity to put on a suit and real heels. Volunteering at G's kindergarten class is certainly rewarding but after so many years at the school, I can still barely figure out how to make 120 double-sided copy booklets without chewing up a dozen sheets and jamming the photocopier twice.

Working from home is really the best arrangement, and this was always the plan. But rushing around my suburban neighbourhood the last little while, absorbing the sights and sounds of ...

well, not much really, except other mini-driving moms on the road chauffeuring their kids back and forth, doing the groceries, loading up at the newest Costco that just opened up ...

So it was only natural that a few recent observations seemed to link up in some cosmic fashion that suggested a potential second vocation for me.

Numero uno: Aradia fitness - this pole-dancing studio opened up not far from me a while ago, and I pass by it on a daily basis.

La deuxieme: I had to pick up some milk early on the weekend and made a quick drive to the Walmart. What did I see there at 9 AM on a Saturday morning? A girl walking into the store on the arm of her boyfriend, wearing these beauties:

Walmart, seriously.

The third sign: The stripper dip move in Bodyjam release 34, performed to Gwen Stefani's "Rich Girl" , which I am trying to perfect.

Stop laughing, I'm really getting there. Just ask Hubby, who happened to pop into the gym studio briefly on the weekend and watch approvingly while I was gyrating to Sean Paul...



(basement parties I've been to have never been that fun ...)


Wow, to be young, hot, able to dance like that and hold the power.

But as I sit here on my 40-something ass, having my coffee after downing a couple of Ibuprofen to combat the aching hips that almost hip-hopped- out at last night's workout, I've decided. I should just get back into my home office, to the data and mounds of paper that await.

After all, I have to let my body recover and re-energize, especially if I'm gonna learn how to work that pole.