A Day in the Life ...: March 2009

Monday, March 30, 2009

Somewhere only we know...

Five years ago this was Day 29 of the cycle before THE CYCLE that changed my whole world.

I thought about this the other day as I sent my husband to the pharmacy to pick me up some drugs, the "we're too old to have another baby but not too old for, you know" medication. Ironically, almost 5 years ago to the day, I was at the same pharmacy, picking up other drugs, the ones handed to me by the same pharmacist who had given me other cocktails five previous times. And he handed me the white bag housing thousands of dollars worth of hope ...with a smile and a cheery "Good Luck".

In actual fact, I had already been on oral contraceptives that whole cycle because, as twisted as this seems, you are NOT to get pregnant while taking one of the drugs in my IVF protocol. So taking OC's in preparation for making a baby. Mind boggles.

The whole infertility train is just full of twists, turns, disappointments, WTF moments. You just go with the flow.

It's hard to believe it was five years ago. But it was like yesterday. Taking deep breaths, drawing the precious liquid into the syringe, plunging that not so thin-gauge needle into my thighs (upper limbs were already getting their share of the poking... all other limbs were now fair game). Daily.

I know we were one of the very lucky ones. We hit the jackpot not once but twice, and now we do indeed have that "millionaire's family" worth much more than millions.

But I do believe, despite our successes, once 'an infertile', always an infertile. Unless you've been there, you just cannot know.

When I catch up on a couple of my blog friends' journeys, I get all wrapped up, all tied up in angst, as I feel it. I've owned it. And I try to send them what I hope are encouraging comments, insightful thoughts and maybe occasionally make them laugh through their tears (okay, I'll stop there, I'm not THAT funny). So that they know they are not alone in this sometimes seemingly very lonely journey.

Because it is somewhere only we know...

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Weekly Winners - Staycation

Had an opportunity to stay downtown overnight, which was a nice change of pace. Especially for me, as I'm starting to feel a shadow of my former self...

Folks at the King Eddy, please note, children were only posing, they were absolutely NOT, NOT, NOT jumping ...

Yes, the room came with all the modern conveniences

I took the kids to the Old Spaghetti Factory. It's very touristy, for sure, but I have great memories of going there for birthday parties when I was my son's age... like 35 years ago!!!

It still has some old-fashioned memorabilia, but although they still sing happy birthday ( not THE happy birthday song, did you realize that restaurants usually sing a variation on it so that they don't violate copyright ... but I digress) they no longer pull out all the clangs and whistles. I remember being a kid and every birthday song would be accompanied by a GONG and then the earth would stand still while all manner of cacophony would take over the joint. Screaming kids loved it. I don't think parents did, as it happened every 20 minutes. But I'll have to admit, I missed it this time.

This is me after a pomtini. Happy because in addition to alcohol, a three course meal of not-too-bad food for three people (including coffee for mama) cost me less than $40.

I love Toronto at night. And yes, I did make the kids go into Winners with me. I have a shopping disorder, remember?

St. Lawrence Market... my old neighbourhood. I miss it, the fresh produce, the character...

Pussy willows from the market. Kids love the fuzzies.

Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to visit the home of Weekly Winners, chez Lotus.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Unfashionably Late for the Party...

You know back a little while ago when I said it was all about the quality of comments rather than the quantity? Well, I guess I sorta LIED. Where did all my bloggy peeps go? Last year this time I had double the number of visitors.

To be honest, though, I haven't been a good blog citizen either. I have been terrible at getting around to my favourite reads, let alone finding new ones. My reader has exploded ten times over. And I apologize for that...I think it will take a while for my former blogging ferocity to right itself again.

So what I must do is SCHMOOZE and thanks to 5 minutes for Mom, I have an opportunity! Let's do a bit of partying, and see if I can lure back some old friends while making a few new ones drunk...

Well, the digs haven't changed much since last year.

If you're new here, welcome, pull up a chair, or stand if you'd like, as I've got some awesome lounge/club music in the background... or if you're in a more laid back mood, let's listen to some Jason or Ray (blip and sip with me...)

We've got drinks...

Oops, wait a minute, since I had my gall bladder attack we should have low fat:

We've got appies...

We've got semi-naked guys wearing feathers...

Ahem.

So allow myself to re-introduce myself...

I'm Karen, a mom of 2 who lives in suburban Canada. I drive a tan bland minivan (as opposed to a lean, mean, driving machine... but then I never had one of those - and this goes to show, NEVER say never); my kids like soccer, I like my Tim's or Starbucks lattes, and I carry around a purse, but not so much Coach but more of the "one-of-a-kind made from scuba material" type pouch. I also like to use brackets and quotation marks unnecessarily.

I blog about my life, my kids, my husband when he's being good to me, my affair with the gym (Bodyjam, which I am missing with such a passion because I tried to do the good sport Mom thing and ended up with a sprained knee falling on a B.C. bunny hill), and other miscellaneous brain farts along the way. I work as a consultant when I'm not eating bonbons. I like shopping a bit too much, as you'll see from my Fashion Friday posts. And I love to blog.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to pop into a few of your sites in the next little while as the party winds itself down. If the gods are crazy, they will bestow upon me one of the following Blog Party gifts...

USC 45 — Pair of shoes from Eleven Collection Spring/Summer 09′
Provided by: Wishing Penny

USC 10 — The Big Combo Pack
Provided by: Mabel’s Labels

USC 47 — $25 gift certificate from Amazon.com by Shoshana of Just Say these Words
Provided by: Just Say these Words

Oh, and by the way I happen to be hosting my own giveaway, check this out... (limited to Canadians only, but once I get the ball rolling on the review gig, maybe I'll start getting international product too).

Happy blog party-hopping all...

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Thursday Thirteen: Rambling twitter style

I just realized that the "official" Thursday Thirteen hub is no longer with us. It's been that long since I participated. That is sad, I enjoyed being part of that crowd.

But I'll still keep up with it here when I can, it helps when I have nothing else to write.

1/ Finally booked my first physio apppointment. Why did I drag my heels (well, my knee) so long? I guess I was waiting for it to get worse.

2/ Oh and it did when the klutz at Walmart smashed her cart into the same exact place on my knee.

3/ Why did I think that trying to roast a red pepper on top of my gas range was a good idea?

4/ Trying not to think about how gross my keyboard is.

5/ I hope we do get some spring this year before it becomes 30 deg C in about a week. And they call this the Great White North?

6/ My hair is turning unintentionally orange. I know peach/coral is hot for spring but I'm not feeling it.

7/ My son played with my muffin top peeking over my low-risers the other day. Cute or mildly horrific?

8/ I still need a light in the kitchen. I'm also a broken record.

9/ I paid $2 extra for my free Tim Horton's coffee and a donut. (Yes, I managed to win something under my rim. Horseshoes up my whoo-hoo, folks, horseshoes. )

9a/ It's called the new math, or "I can't believe she gave me the wrong change, I figured it out after I drove off and I hate drive-throughs".

9b/I considered putting the car on park in front of 20 others and risking my life to get that $2 back. Yeah, I'm cheap too.

10/ I think I have a shopping disorder. Don't tell my husband I told you this.

11/ I need more Lululemons. The gym's on hiatus, but I need help keeping this ass at least looking halfway normal.

12/ Most annoying sound on earth? This:

being driven around on porcelain tiles. For hours on end.

13/ I'm looking forward to watching "In the Motherhood" tonight. Wish me luck wrestling the remote away from the kids.

Follow me on twitter here.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Short, not so sweet, trivial thought for the day

Okay, is it just me or have I not failed blogging 101 big time?

Have you seen how LONG my recent posts have been? I guess it makes up for how quiet I can be in real life. Well, at least on the surface, the rest of what I'm trying to say is being sent telepathically, like the girl in the original "Witch Mountain" movies. But seriously, for those of you who made it through my mammoth posts, kudos to you.

So the thought for the day is this: I always wondered what a seemingly sweet, classy girl like Sandra Bullock would see in Jesse James, descendant of the infamous bad guy; the tattooed, tough, creator of "Monster Garage". I mean, he's rich and successful and all that, and I suppose you should never judge a book by its cover. But still, I never really got it.

That is, until I started watching this season's "Celebrity Apprentice". Props go to him for the best line ever, a line uttered two weeks ago, and so profound that even as I think about it now, I cannot help but suppress a giggle.

"These cupcakes taste like ASS."

He's hilarious.

And I'm so mature.

Any other celebrity "mismatches" you can think of?

(he's also quite bright, if the show is any indication, and there's any "reality" involved at all.)

*****

Maybe I'm too sweet to pimp, but Canadian girls, don't forget to check this out...

Monday, March 23, 2009

Answer Period - the Finale

We're back with the final installment of "500th post and then some and it IS all about ME, ME and ME"...(All the questions were fantastic, by the way, and Episode 1 and Episode 2 are just clicks away.)

13/ From Kat: What was the best compliment you ever received?

Well, I guess "Your ass looks great in those jeans" doesn't really count. I'm so shallow, I know.

All kidding aside, during one of our last private talks, my father told me that he and my mom pushed me so hard to excel in school, to take all those lessons when I was young, only because they knew I could do it, and that I could handle it. They wanted the best out of me. He told me that looking at me as an adult, he had clearly succeeded. That, coming from my Dad, was THE absolute best compliment in the world.

14/ From katie/motherbumper: What is your biggest pet peeve?

It has got to be driving related. I cannot stand it when people brake unnecessarily; forget to signal a left turn, or for that matter, forget to signal at all. I'm just anal that way.

15/ From Laskigal: BEST piece of advice you WISHED YOU WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED?

So many pieces of advice from my mother come to mind, which leads me to admit that yes, mother does tend to know best.

The ones that stick in my mind are:
a) don't get so serious about one guy when you're a teen and do not date exclusively. Just hang out with friends, guys included, and when the time is right, after your studies are under your belt, then start looking for Mr. Right. Who may very well be amongst those friends.

b) when choosing a china pattern for your wedding registry, go with ALL WHITE! That way, when you're in a position to use your china, you will actually use it rather than leave it in the cabinet because you fear it's too darned formal and you're not serving dinner to the Queen.

16/ and another bonus question from Laski: . .. who would you want to play you in the movie version of your life? Why?

Hmmm, nowadays there are so many Asian actresses I could choose from, why there's
Gong Li (so beautiful, so talented);
Lucy Liu (also beautiful, talented, and Charlie's Angel)
Ziyi Zhang (fierce in Crouching Tiger; gorgeous as a Geisha)
Sandra Oh (gorgeous, talented, AND Canadian)

but, I think I'd have to go with Lindsay Price. You see:

a) she's Asian (well, mixed, but I've been told by many people that I can look mixed);

b) she's not a bad actress. She may not be in the same acting leagues as some of the others, but she's got that fashionista, bit of a scatter-brain-dip-but-smart-when-she-needs-to-be quality about her, at least in her current character. (I'm not holding 90210 against her);

c) she's got a nice rack and a non-flat ass and she's totally hot the way I'd want to be;

d) and finally, on Lipstick Jungle she plays the fiancee of a billionaire named Joe played by Andrew McCarthy.

Yeah, that's the real reason. Because Andrew was my 80s crush. Which also works because guess what, when I asked this question of the hubby, he said he'd want Andrew McCarthy to play him. Because we thought he sorta resembled him in a mulletish, skinny-white-guy way while we were in the 80s. And delusional.

Aren't we a cute couple?

17/ From OHMommy,: What attributes to do you love most about each child?

I loved this question.

For my boy, there are so many things that I love, especially when he's not being a mope. He's funny, cool, but what I love most about him is his affectionate nature, his empathy and consideration for those around him. He's always been mature for his age, but these qualities cannot be taught. He's been like this since birth, and I find it utterly amazing. The little things he does everyday demonstrate this, but there's one example that really sticks out in my mind.

My son's last visit with his grandfather was in the hospital. The fact that he came with me knowing how sick his Granddad was, and how sad it made him feel, already made me so proud of him. We took a break for lunch and I brought him downstairs to the sandwich shop. He didn't want a drink until after his lunch, so I gave him cash to go get the drink once he was done. I told him he could keep the change. He pocketed it to decide what he wanted to do with it later. There were vending machines and I just assumed he would eventually get himself a candy bar.

At the end of the day, we went to pay for parking. It was so frigidly cold outside. There was a homeless person with an empty coffee cup in hand standing just outside the shelter. My boy turned to me and asked, "Mommy, can I use my change for anything?" And I replied, "Of course."

He took the change he had been saving all day from his pocket, and plunked it into the coffee cup. The woman was quite astounded, and said "Thank you sweetheart"... and then told me that I had a very special kid. Special indeed.

Now my daughter, she is very different from her brother, that's for sure. She certainly is loving, but it's on her terms. Not as outwardly affectionate as her brother, but fiercely protective of those she loves. The attributes I really admire about her are her independence, her perseverance and her ambition.

Yes, she did only just turn four.

I know these words will come to haunt me one day, but her determination and her unwillingness to give up lead me to believe that these qualities will take her very far. Even as I'm typing this, she's sitting next to me going over all the books her teacher gave her to read over the March break. She read them all in one sitting. Because she wants to be smarter than her brother.

I just hope that she gives me a break every once in a while during her teens. I'm already bracing myself.

*****

And that's all she wrote.

Thanks again for indulging me, and for your continued support in feeding this crazy addiction of mine.

Onward to the next 500...
(images from IMBD.com)

*****

And then there's the giveaway over here...

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Weekly Winners - Our nation's capital and lights!

We wanted to get away with the kids for a few days before hubs had to travel for work (again) and decided that Ottawa was the place to be. The kids didn't really care as long as we were in a big hotel somewhere. So spoiled.

We love Ottawa, the husband has roots and some family still there,and it's not that far a drive. Well, check that, it's still a doable drive, as the time it takes is usually safely within the bickering limit now that the siblings are now in the "he's bugging me/she's bugging me" phase of their relationship.

So here we are (a little overexposed, but who isn't these days...)

Hanging with a suffragette...

We wanted to take a tour of the buildings, but our timing as usual, was terrible as we managed to get there just after a busful of tourists got in line. So we headed back to the hotel for a swim instead.

On our way back, we checked out the Chateau Laurier, and if we'd known the rates were so low we would have stayed there (oh wait, that's what they used to be a gazillion years ago ...)

But where we stayed wasn't too bad... I have severe bathroom envy. (The seashell sinks in our washroom are just not cutting it anymore.)

And light envy (see wayyyyy below)...

The next day we took the kids to the Museum of Civilization, which is the best place if you have children. For within the museum is the Children's Museum, which offers the kids a whirlwind miniature tour of the world and a passport to stamp evidence of their destinations.

We'd been there once before with the boy...

I guess it was a LONG while ago...

Not fighting...

Still not fighting

Another architect in the family?

After about 3 hours of kid time, we took some time to ourselves, QUIET time and explored the exhibit of Glenn Gould, one of the greatest Canadian artists of all time.

Here is a clip of his genius...

*****

Back on the homefront, I am still in desperate search of a pendant light for the kitchen, as it will be two years ago this summer that we did the reno!!! Seems that the spouse and I do not agree on all things decor, but at this point I am leaning toward anything IKEA, or ANYTHING really. Come on already!!!

So I took the kids, and before scarfing down Swedish meatballs and salmon, we visited the lights area. I'm leaning towards the red, but who knows...

And with that, hope you enjoy the rest of this first of spring weekend...

Be sure to visit other winners, at the home of the lovely hostess with the mostest LOTUS.

****

Don't forget about the giveaway over here...

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Almost two months

I got a phone call the other night.

I was in a deep sleep.

"Oh Karen, it's Dad." Just as he always greeted me.

"Hey Dad, how are you?" I asked.

He replied, "I'm good, things are okay here. How are you and the kids doing?"

"We're okay. But we really miss you. Little G asked if she could go swimming with you tomorrow. Then she became sad when she realized she couldn't. "

"I miss you too. Things are good here though. It's fine."

"I'm glad, Dad. I wish I could visit you..." and then my sleep-fogged mind realized there was only one way to really do that.

And he came back with...

"Well, I think you'd better not. Don't worry, I'll call again."

I look forward to it, Dad.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

A.K.A. the converter

The other night we were watching 'National Treasure 2" on DVD. Probably one of the most convoluted storylines ever written, if not the most impossible to follow. At least from my perspective. Even the boy noticed that it had all been done better in the first movie.

But the girl was really enjoying it. So much, in fact, that when she had to go to the washroom, she wanted to pause the movie.

"Can you pass me the fur-BUR-ger?"

Ian and I just looked at each other, puzzled for a second, and then like two 12 year olds suppressed a couple of smiles.

"CAN YOU PASS ME THE FUR-BURR-GERRRRRRR??!!!

The FUR-BURR-GERRRRR!!!!
I want to press the button to pause. I gotta go pee!"

Mommy and Daddy, grow up and pass it over, will ya?

*****

Don't forget about the giveaway over here...

Monday, March 16, 2009

Spring in the new

Well, it's school break week, which means the kids are with me 24/7, and hubs has even managed to take a couple of days off. Awesome.

Which also means that I likely won't be posting as much (although it has been somewhat minimal compared to my previous daily activities). I've been thinking that's it's been such a horrible winter, both weather-wise, emotional wise...the change in season is a welcome one.

I've decided to add a new dimension to the blog. I'd already started my Infertility Chronicles to consolidate my posts on the frustrating art of babymaking gone awry; that story has been on hiatus since the fall, but will pick up again soon.

Now I've put together a review blog, because if there's one thing that I am it is a CONSUMER. And some folks have noticed that I like stuff. I'll likely include other review related posts there as well. Like me, it's a work in progress.

So "A Review in the Life of" kicks off today with my experience with Mama Mio products, a skincare line made with the mom in mind. But you don't have to be a mom to enjoy it. And there's a giveaway involved. Pop over here and check it out!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Recess and Weekly Winners

I'm taking a break from the questions; I know you're waiting with bated breath, but I'm having too much fun with the answers. The next one won't be so mammoth, promise.

I've been MIA from weekly winners. I don't know if it's that I've lost a bit of the passion for pix of the kids; or maybe that I'm just getting more cautious as the kidlets are getting older and now more reluctant to post their photos. Or maybe I'm finally realizing that I really suck as a photographer and need to take some courses to figure out what the capabilities of my camera (yeah, it's the camera's fault, not mine) are.

So without further ado, here are this week's offerings.

Indoor spring

Rawr like a tiger

...or a float like a butterfly

Secret night of trees

The snowboarder has landed

Be sure to visit other winners, at the home of the lovely hostess with the mostest LOTUS.

****

News- guess what? I'm a mommyblogger, and what's a mommyblogger without a review blog? I know, so "meh". Anyways, it's a-comin', with an actual GIVEAWAY.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Answer Period Part Deux

Oh I know, I'm being inconsistent with my title, but that's me living dangerously. You do realize that this is great therapy for me, right? Of course, we've got a few more questions, so there will be a Part 3. (I know, I cannot SHUT it!!!)

Let's continue the madness started in Part 1 ...

7/ From Cheryl: What inspires you?

Great question. For me it's not so much what, but who. My family inspires me. It's the legacy of my father. Starting with my mother who's done so much in her life. She recently suffered such a tremendous loss with my Dad's passing, yet she's keeping it all together. The hardest thing for me is to see her crack every so often as the grieving process continues.

Watching my siblings thrive in their careers and their family lives is really rewarding. You'd think that with almost 9 years of parenting under my belt, I wouldn't have anything to learn from them, but even though their girls are just 19 months old, they're both such amazing parents.

And in my own little family unit, my husband who I can't say enough about. He's an inspiration not only at home, but to his team at work. He's very encouraging and loves seeing his people grow and move onto bigger things. This carries through on the homefront too. He's so patient at home with me and especially with the kids. They absolutely adore their Dad, and it's easy to see why. I am a very, very lucky lady.

But finally, it's my kids who inspire me the most. Because they are my life and they make me continually strive to be a better mother, a better person. These little people are the ultimate reflection of me and what I can accomplish if I really vow to never give up. All those years of frustration trying to have our family were often unbearable, but for me it was never an option to stop. I get inspired every morning when they open up their eyes and say "Good morning Mommy" and wrap their arms around me. Cliche though it is, they do complete me.

8/ From Kami: My question for you is what did do career wise before making the decision to be at home with the kids?

I worked in the pharmaceutical industry in scientific affairs. Because I worked for a multinational company, I also had opportunities to travel a bit. Just enough to be exciting but not to be exhausting. Although I didn't realize it at the time that I started this career, it does lend itself well to working from home. So now I can consult. I've been able to pick up a project here and there, so there is the opportunity to increase my workload if I want to.

And do you see yourself returning to a job out of the home anytime?

I ask myself this question a lot more lately, since both kids are now in school. I don't know if I could return to the same role as I had before. I know that once I get on that wheel, my very ambitious and competitive hat goes on. Budgets, strategic planning, operational improvements, those were the types of things on my plate that I had an affinity for. In fact, that was the part of my job that I enjoyed the most and I suspect that I would want to keep climbing up that ladder again. Which would require more people management, more travel, and hence time away from home.

(Okay, so now that I'm done over-validating myself...)

Although the temptation is there whenever I get a headhunter call or my son is the middle of arguing with me about his assignments and the girlie decides that she needs to find the diaper for her doll at that same precise second ... it's not in the cards for me just yet. It should be interesting in the next few years. I find that as the kids get older, they continue to need me on a totally different level, what with activities, more involved homework etc. now becoming a reality.

9/ From Kami again: And when did you start bodyjamming and why? And also tell me again why you love it so. I am so not coordinated so I gotta know :).

I started bodyjamming around three years ago, as soon as they rolled it out at my gym. [And if this was an attempt to get me to vlog another routine, nice try :)]. I was getting bored of step aerobics and I've always loved to dance. I love the hip hop choreography, and routines are infused with disco, jazz, latin, crump... I find it works my brain just as much as it does my body. It's such a great workout and it feels like you're out at a nightclub with all your friends. The other bonus is that the music is very 'now' so it keeps me current. My boy thinks I'm pretty cool now that I can show him some moves to music that he knows.

I've made a few friends at the gym during these classes as the instructors make you feel like you're at their party. There's no other way to explain it. The beauty of it is that you don't have to be a great dancer - it does take about three classes to get to know the routines, but it's fairly repetitious and they keep the same choreography for at least 6 weeks. Everyone feels included and has a great time.

I think you would absolutely LOVE it.

I'm only sad that I wrecked my knee (and that woman ran her cart into same said knee...grrr!!!) and will undoubtedly miss the marathon fundraiser this year. I was actually contemplating training to be an instructor; I guess I'll have to pend that for now.

But our local Park & Rec now has the following classes :

Can you believe that? Maybe I should check it out so I can qualify to live here.

10/ From one of my first blog pals, (who I now know in real life as well ) fab new momma extraordinaire C from Manitoulin: Probably the same question as Domestic Goddess (In Training)'s question. Got a favourite post? If so, which one and why?

Do I have to limit it to one? Out of 500, that's a tough call. I'm really all over the place in this blog, which is logical since I am all over the place in real life as well. But there are a few more that definitely stick out in my mind. Since I'm already cheating ...

Under the category of "funny" there was the Pink UFO. I like this one because it illustrates exactly why I need to have this blog.

Under the category of "not so funny and bullying", there was this. There's still a tiny part of that little girl in me.

Under the category of "life isn't always rainbows and cupcakes", any of my infertility posts, but this is the one that began it all. I like it because it started my story, and provides the conclusion without giving everything away. This story will also continue shortly, because this month is the 5th anniversary of the cycle that became a wondrous success.

And more recently in its own category, "Lucky". I still cry when I think about this one.

11/ From Cherry: When you go to BlogHer this year, is there anyone you might be star struck by? If so, then who?

BlogHer, I am so pumped about it. And also extremely nervous. (Why oh why aren't you coming with me?). But so excited to meet some of my blog friends in person, all of whom are "stars" in their own right.

That's the beauty of blogging though, that there are bloggers out there with huge fan bases, those who have been interviewed in print and on TV, and still make time to comment on little blogs like mine from time to time.

There are so many bloggers I'm looking forward to meeting and just seeing, maybe touching their hands, squee?? I think I'll have to bring a chin-bra just to keep it off the floor as I make my way around the conference...

12/ From Huckdoll, a FOUR parter (and only because I love you girl ;):

You're stuck on a desert island.

1) With who? (one person, can't be your hubby cause he'll be taking care of the kiddos).

I'll have to admit my recent celebrity crush is biased because I've recently seen this fellow in a few good movies , including period pieces (I love period pieces).

James McAvoy, skinny, little pale Scot with the puppy dog eyes. Oh, I know he's a young'un (you already know that I'm a cougar), but did you also know that I'm only a couple years older than his WIFE? So, yeah, I'd probably have a chance with him.

On second thought, let's just stick to someone my own age (well, hubby's age), with yummy Clive. See? He does period pieces too...

2) Which one CD? (a band, can't be a mix tape...and yes, there is a CD player).

Just ONE? But I NEED to shuffle!

The first one that came to my mind was "So" by Peter Gabriel because I love "In Your Eyes" and the duet with Kate Bush ("Don't Give Up")... but this album was released the year that I met the husband and we listen to it a lot. Not too kosher if I'm on the island with Clive.

I can't decide. Let's see what's in my CD player on shuffle...

Moon Safari by French Band Air.

Best make-out album of the 1990's according to pitchfork.com. Figures.

(Do you think hubby will want me back if this is what happens while he's at home with the kids :)?)

3) Which one beauty product?

Lipstick, preferably MAC just because they used to be cool.

4) Which one book?

The Gargoyle, because I am this close to finishing it, and there are actually several love stories in one.

*****

Whew, I don't know about you, but I'm wiped.

Next stop, Part Three...

(images from Google...)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Answer Period Part 1

Post 500!

As promised, here are my mediocre answers to your brilliant questions. Now because I tend to be quite long winded, I've decided to split this post up, in order to give your scrolling finger a break.

So grab a cuppa and here we go...

1/ From Domestic Goddess: I guess my question is which post is your favorite? Anything stick out?

Me: This is a tough one, as I do have a few that come to mind.

When I first started blogging, it was about the kids, here there and everywhere, always about the kids. This was a place for their fun stories, a spot to capture all the little milestones that I can still look back on. But the blog became more about ME. As I became more emotionally vested, and I began writing more from the heart, I was able to post more meaningful pieces.

Almost a year ago I wrote about the boy next door. I still think about this post from time to time because it's not one of my typical "look what my kid just said, hardy-har-har" moments. It gave me pause to think about what a huge responsibility it is to be a parent. I haven't seen him much in the last year, so as an update, I still don't know what happened. His parents are still the fine neighbours they've always been, so I'm assuming that things settled down.

I'm glad this question was asked again so I'll link again in the next round. There are some other nuggets that I managed to spit out when I had super blogging mojo. Hopefully more "real" posts will surface again soon.

2/ From Busy Dad: what was your favorite toy growing up?

Me: Okay, this was supposed to be easy, right? Let's see, maybe it was this...

Just kidding, I'm neither that ancient nor that mathematically inclined.

I did love board games and think I owned every Milton Bradley/Hasbro cardboard box ever created in the 1970s. Payday, Masterpiece, Sorry, Monopoly, Clue...

3/ From Mrs. Mogul: Hmm what is arrowroot made of?

Me: Lots of addictive ingredients apparently.

4/ From my old friend Knatolee (well, she's not old, but she's longlost from my teens and I just discovered that she is also a blogger) : if you could live anywhere in the world (with your loved ones, of course), would you still live where you live now?

Me: Probably not. I've been living in the same general area for most of my life. Not to say it's boring, but as I get older, I realize there's so much more of the world to see and experience, and live. It's funny, when we first got married, my husband was the one who had some wanderlust, thinking and dreaming about living in far away lands, and I was always reluctant to pick up and move. Now that we have our own little family unit, if there were opportunities elsewhere, as long as the schooling and healthcare were decent, I'd be a lot more open to it.

4b/And how do I get a following like yours?

Me: A following? Uh, I don't know about that ... I'm flattered. I am most appreciative of the readers that come back here more than once, and there are some great blog friends that I've made in the last couple of years. People that I feel like I know, and have gotten to know that much faster than if we'd met face to face (remember me, right, the quiet one?).

There is so much fantastic reading out there, I could spend days just staring at the screen (and have been guilty of that more than once in a while). Although I started this in 2005, I really kicked it up a notch with NaBloPoMo in late 2007 - early 2008 and visited a lot of blogs, bloghopping, commenting tons, participating in blog carnivals, dipping into the social networking thing. Honestly, it's a lot of work and a time suck to put it eloquently. And the time spent on my posts, editing, picking apart, perfecting... it's insane.

But I love it. No matter how many times I've turned my back on it in the last few years, taken blog holidays, I've always come back. And I am beyond thrilled when I have new readers and develop new blog friendships, which continues to happen even to this day. I used to have "petit-morts" anytime my comments numbered above 20, but nowadays it's not so much about how many comments but what they are, and how I feel after I've completed a well-written post.

5/ From Yo Momma: would you rather be in between an Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt sandwich or a Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhall (however you spell his last name) sandwich?

Me: Girl, you ARE a perv, and a riot!

I'd definitely prefer to be Reese's peanut butter cup/spooning with Jake. Angelina and Brad are just too pretty for me and they've got too many kids who just seem to swarm around them all the time... even with their individual nannies around.

And have you seen how BUILT Jake is, um, yum... (okay, I'm simmering down now ...).

6/ From Melissa: what is your earliest childhood memory?

Me: A good memory - tinkering away on the piano in the basement, then hopping on my tricycle for a little ride before going upstairs and following my Mom to the ice-cream truck outside.

A not so good memory - bawling my eyes out at 3, getting wrenched from my Grandma's arms and put on the schoolbus to Chinese school for the day, with my flat polyester pillow and lunch box in tow.

6b/ if you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

Me: It would be to go to university away from home. Ironically, of the schools that accepted me, I chose the one that I could commute to from home, the only school that gave me zero scholarship. My parents didn't want me too far away, and my boyfriend at the time stayed local. It's stupid, what puppy love can do.

I think it would have been a great life experience to actually live on my own, a rite of passage which I really regret not having had. I hope that when my kids get to that stage they won't be afraid to venture further...I may not like it, but I think it's an important part of growing up. Although I think I still turned out okay.

*****

So that's it for Part 1.

I'm still open to more questions (this is great blog fodder, do you think I can keep this up for the year???). Feel free to just let 'em rip.

Friday, March 06, 2009

Share and share alike

"I gave Goh-Goh TWO Arrowroot cookies, Daddy!", announced the Girlie last night as she snuck a pre-bedtime snack.

"Aw, little G, that was very nice of you, sharing with your brother.", replied her father proudly.

"Well, he said if I didn't give him two cookies he would take my black DS away."

Sibling love.

PS: I'm coming up to my 500th post - whoot! So, for that occasion, while we're on the topic of sharing, why don't you let me have it - ask me a question, any question that I haven't already answered or spilled my guts on here. Or if I already have, I'll spill them again.

You can leave me a comment, or e:mail me.

Just be gentle.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Wordless Wednesday - Axl Rose or Fashionista?

Discuss.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Losing my religion

I put my gym membership on hold. Due to ~~freakin' stupid knee~~ medical reasons.

Now what?

Well, despite the fact that gall bladder issues should dictate a lower fat diet with subsequent bonus weight loss, just sitting around doing nothing will only add to the jelly roll six pack that has now invaded my mid-section. So perhaps it's a good thing that we're not going anywhere remotely "beach" this winter break.

So a girl must do what a girl must do.

Let's check out Wii Fit!!!

Oh how tempting it would have been to just use my 8 year old son's profile; but I had to be honest here and set up my own. Okay.

After standing on the board, entering my stats (they get pretty personal, height, weight, birthday, etc...I must admit it is a pretty sophisticated technology to be able to calculate my BMI and all)...I was ready to do the balance tests. And with the encouragement of my children around me, I figured I didn't do too badly.

So I waited with eager anticipation to see my Wii Fit age...

TA - DAHHHHHHH:

WHATTTTT????!!!!

Good Lord.

So what's a girl to do?

Why, do the Body Test again. TA-DAHHHHHHH:

So what's a dejected girl to do? Well, after following a couple of toning exercises led by my male and then female trainers, we needed a break:

But I did go back in the evening, 1.8 additional pounds later, and tried the Body Test again (I never said I wasn't a cheater)...

Whoooppeeee!!!!

Thank goodness we have sites like this.