New Years Eve

 Tonight, we are both exhausted and just lazing about.

We had tentative plans of having our friend Bill come over

 but his visit has been postponed.

We didn't discuss alternate plans if we'd go out or not, we are both homebodies. 

Spending time at home together is Heaven.

Although, I have always wanted to go to a New Years Eve gala like

the one in the movie When Harry Met Sally.

Wear an evening gown, have a multiple course meal in

a large banquet hall filled with twinkle lights. Dance to a Lawrence Welk-ish band.

Run out onto the balcony on the strike of midnight for the perfect kiss.

Very Disney actually, all that is missing is the tiara.

I do have my Prince and I will get the perfect midnight kiss

and the Happily Ever After.

As I sit here, with a Big Bang Theory DVD on, both Adam & Crockett are

laying down behind me falling in and out of sleep between

the live audience laughter.

Looking back over 2010, it wasn't a bad year but it also wasn't a great year.

It was up, down, happy, sad, stressful and what I will most likely

refer to when looking back as the  "Year of the Tension Headache".

I started this blog back in August for a few reasons.

 I felt as though I was losing my ability to write.
In my job, I primarily communicate via e-mail to my counterparts working
in factories in China.  My writing has had to become very basic,
clear, straightforward, and the fewer words the better.

Time seemed to be going by so fast & it started to feel like Groundhog Day. 
The same day over & over & over.  I needed somewhere
to write down what was happening so that I could review it when I wasn't so in it.

I live a very small life. By small I mean close to home.
When I'm not at work I am most likely within a 5km radius of where we live.
Since I no longer have a vehicle, I don't get out to
Mississauga to see my parents as much as I'd like.
Sure we talk on the phone everyday, but sometimes it just about what's
troubling us or the important news of the day.

I don't have a huge social circle.
I have a few very close friends that live far away and a few very close friends
that live nearby and I don't see either group as much as I should.

I wanted to find  a way to share my life with the people I care about
so they can see that, although times are tough, I am really lucky and blessed.
That I realize I am lucky and blessed and that I am grateful.
I have a husband who loves me, who makes me laugh, who I have fun with.
I have a dog that is adorable who gets me outside walking, breathing fresh air
and discovering the parks and green spaces in my neighbourhood.
I have a camera that has made me really stop and look at the details.

About that dog....he is now sprawled out on the middle of our bed
snoring, dreaming, feet twitching and completely relaxed.

The clock is about to strike twelve so I must shut off this computer
and go get that kiss from my Prince Charming.

Happy New Year to All!

Love,
Joanne

Dirty Cutlery and Not So Bright Whites.

As previously posted, Adam and I are currently in a Role Reversal.

I am out at work, he is at home holding the title of Domestic Engineer.

When it comes to the cleanliness and tidiness of our mutual living spaces,

he has kept up his part of the deal.  He makes me very happy.

Adam and I do have very different levels of tolerance when it comes

to tidiness and clutter.

His office/fortress of solitude is his space.

I have come to be able to walk past the door and not see the chaos.

As long as Adam has access to his keyboard and a clear view of his monitor,

all is good.  Add in a few dirty dishes and he's still ok.

There have been times when answering the phone has caused a wave of empty and

partially empty diet coke cans on his desk to go crashing to the floor.

Don't even get me started on how the phone cord is always twisted.

I don't know what his trigger or his breaking point is but when it gets too much,

he doesn't just tidy, he does a full on, top to bottom clean.

For me, clutter = chaos.

It shuts me down.

Especially in our small kitchen.

I need clean counters and a clean sink.

This has resulted in me placing a Tupperware container on the

counter next  to the sink for all the dirty cutlery. 

This drives Adam insane.

Why?

I don't know why. He explained it to me once but I wasn't listening.

Off topic:  Since our role reversal, I've learned some male habits.

He can talk to me, I can respond and when all is said and done,

I have no idea what he said. I just wasn't listening.

This is what he looks like when he tells me to stop putting the cutlery in the tub:

Again, I will be 100% honest. I would love to switch positions with

him and I know one day I will.

I want to be a Domestic Engineer.

I want to have a schedule on the fridge for my chores and clipped coupons.

I want to wear an apron.

I want to make bread from scratch.

I want to my family to know what they are going to have

for dinner based on the night of the week.

Believe it or not, I really enjoy doing the laundry.

Right now it sucks because we are in a building that

has 16 Apartments and we share one washer & dryer.

$1.50 load.

30 minute wash.

60 minute dry - that doesn't completely dry or dries so much it's too hot to handle.

This has resulted in our inability to do more than 2 loads at a time.

Yesterday we did a grubby load.

T-shirts, socks, skivvies, dish towels.

We threw in a new white hand towel and look....

It came out grey.

One never knows what the previous load consisted of.

Scary.

As 2010 Comes To An End....

I find myself making lists in my head.

Lists of books I want to read.

Items I want to knit.

Places I want to go.

Things I want to see.

It might have something to do with the fact that I've spent the last 4 days

pretty much in bed napping, drinking tea, taking cold medication and alternating between

watching The Big Bang Theory on DVD and Harry Potter films.

Tomorrow I go back into the world of the living.

It's just a half day at work tomorrow, then a full day Thursday.

I'll then have another 4 day weekend where, I hope, my

cold will have gone through its cycle & be gone.

Cold - Inside My Respiratory System and Outside With The Wind Chill

My cold is still ruling my world.

Boxing Day was spent in bed dozing off

 between coughing fits, nose blowing

and doses of Buckley's.

I pulled my lifeless body out of bed at 5:00pm to put the

Turkey in the oven & make my husband his Christmas Feast.

Mission accomplished.

He made yummy noises, had second helpings and

said it was the best Turkey ever.

I had a tiny bit with some cranberry sauce,

mashed potatoes & stuffing.

I could taste that it was moist, but that's about it.

Even the sage in the stuffing wasn't strong enough

to awaken my taste buds.

Today my cold is trying to take up residence in my chest.

Not good.

No doubt I'll spend the day trying to rid myself of phlegm bunnies.

I need to really rest & take care of this cold so that

my Sarcoidosis doesn't flare up.

I have gone outside to take Crockett for his walks.

Wrapped up well in multiple layers with hat, hoodie, scarf and mittens.

It doesn't feel like Christmas outside, in that it didn't snow.

I am NOT complaining.

I love that we have snow on the ground and dry clear

streets and sidewalks.

I fear the day the storms of Europe and the Eastern

Seaboard hit Toronto. 

I'm looking forward to my lunch of chicken soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.

Crockett & my awesome new Ecco Boots.

They're super warm, water proof & have amazing grip.

Maybe I'll make it through a season without a tumble on my backside.

Very cold crisp Boxing Day.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had an enjoyable, safe and

Merry Christmas.

It was a relaxing day but one not spent as anticipated.

My cold got the better of me today.

I had a bad night last night that resulted in waking up foggy.

I made my husband his favorite breakfast and that was it,

every ounce of energy was zapped.

The thought of preparing our Christmas Feast made my bones ache.

Tomorrow is another day.

I had an afternoon nap and then planted myself on the

couch under a cozy blanket & watched

The A-Team ( love love love Liam Neeson)

and Wall Street Money Never Sleeps (terrifyingly scary, greed is bad)

I'm going to give myself a dose of night time Buckley's

and hopefully get a good nights sleep for tomorrow,

I must prepare our Christmas Feast.

Turkey

Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes

Cranberry Sauce

Mixed Veggies

and for dessert

Pumpkin Pie.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

I grew up in a bungalow that had a chimney but no fireplace.

I can't remember ever asking my Mother how Santa would get in.

I can't even remember when I stopped believing in Santa.

At this very moment, I wish I was 7 years old.

Or I wish I was the parent of a 7 year old.

Christmas concerts at school.

Festive Arts & Crafts.

Paper Snowflakes.

Making a Santa with a cotton ball beard.

I grew up in a very small family.

My parents emigrated to Canada from England.

We had no relatives close by.

My parents had alot of close friends that became their family, but

Christmas was just the 4 of us, my Mother, Father & older brother Phil.

Christmas Eve, my mother would stay up so late

wrapping all our gifts at the dining room table.

Christmas morning, we'd wake up with our stocking on our bedroom doorknob.

In it was usually a mandarin orange, a 50 cent piece, a bit of chocolate,

one of those small plastic games with silver balls in them that are

impossible to master and a *to do* project.

The *to do* kept us busy so my Mom could get another half hour of sleep.

Christmas morning was the ONLY day of the year that I would wake up before my Mom.

 (ouch!!! I just sneezed so hard it feels like my right eardrum burst)

My favorite *to do* was a bag with a little piece of wood, a small tube of white glue,

a few pieces of felt and a pattern.  Follow the pattern and voila - one year it was

a mouse another it was an elephants head.

When we were done we'd wake up my parents and open our presents.

I loved getting books and new pyjamas.  We would all get a book.

After presents were done, we all went our separate ways.

It was a day I remember as being very relaxing and warm.

I'd go outside to play in the snow or into my room to read my new book or

play with my new toys.

Mom would tidy everything up and then supper preparation began.

We'd have a traditional Christmas Turkey Supper at the dining room table

with a yummy Trifle for dessert.

I had the perfect childhood. Not just Christmas, everyday.

We were not rich, we were not poor, we were not spoiled

and I don't ever remember feeling as though I went without.

It wasn't even a thought.

I was fed, clothed, loved and nurtured.

I was allowed to play.

As a child in the 70's we had freedoms that kids today unfortunately

will never have. It was a different world.

I realize how lucky I was.

I wish that for every child.

Tonight as I sit here at home alone with a nasty cold, my husband with his family,

my parents with my brother and his family, I am hoping to be nestled all snug in my

bed and fast asleep so Santa can come in without the fear of being seen.

Tonight I am thinking about the people I love:

 MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Our awesome 70's Christmas.
My brother took this photo with his new
Polaroid Camera!

Cripes!

Today was the day I was going to get all my work and notes and to do

list updated  so I could enjoy the holiday break with peace of mind.

I've been fighting a cold since Sunday and this morning it has hit me like a ton o' bricks.

Sore scratchy throat, congested drippy nose, watering eyes, constant tickle in my throat

that makes you cough until you feel like you're going to hurl.

Cripes!

Today will be spent with my box of Santa tissues, a dose of Buckley's every

4 hours, Chap Stick and many cups of warm tea.

I bought this bell at Chapters as a joke. It might come in handy today.

Ding.....boy Adam.......tea please.



Merry Pugmas

I was given this ornament today from my boss for Christmas.

I've sat him on top of the tv.

He's even sitting with his back legs off to the side exactly like Crockett.

It is a Sandcast Ornament and it is lovely.

Very thoughtful.

This is a Sandcast Pug my Mother bought me a few years ago.

He stands 8" high and has a perfect Pug nose.

I am having a tough learning curve with my new camera and taking

photos indoors with the flash.

Everything comes out too bright.

I'll have to spend some time doing online tutorials over the holiday break.

It's A Beautiful Day

I am incredibly happy.

To understand why, I must go back more than a year.

This story starts with me being ever so upset.

One morning on my way out of the loo, I noticed that my diamond

had fallen out of my engagement ring.

I was beyond devastated.

It was 6:00am and I had to go to work when all I wanted to do was
cry, feel sorry for myself and hopefully find my diamond.

My ring is not the Hope Diamond but it is mine.

My most cherished possession.

Adam designed it and it is the perfect ring for me.

Had he taken me ring shopping, it would've been the ring I'd have picked.

I knew that it was somewhere between our bed & the bathroom

as it was fine when I went to sleep the night before.

When I got home from work we were down on hands and knees

in a grid pattern searching and searching.
No luck.

With Adam not working, any hope or thought of replacement
quickly left my mind.  It was something we'd fix "someday".
Maybe something nice for our 10th Anniversary.

8 months later, Adam was in the hall in front of the
bathroom and he said, " I found your diamond!"
I didn't believe him. Up to me he walked, his hand in a fist
and dropped my small square sparkly diamond in my hand.

AMAZING!

He said the light had reflected off something and caught his eye.
These are our floor boards:

It was down in between 2 floor boards.

My dear darling husband has been saving his galleons
and he went back to the Jeweller that made my ring & had it fixed
for me for Christmas.
He gave it to me this evening on bended knee.
It's a beautiful day.

As it is white gold, it is not as strong as yellow gold or platinum.
So, I must be mindful.
Before, I never took it off.
Now, it'll have to have a little place of its own
for safekeeping whilst I sleep and bathe.

Thank you Adam.
I love you.
Forever and always.

My ring!

It Could've Ended Badly.

My birthday is October 26th, 1968.

I am adopted.

The day I was picked up and taken to my new home was December 19th, 1968.

Today could have been my last day on Earth.

My Mom & I spent the day together shopping and went to Canyon Creek for lunch.

I am allergic to nuts. Peanuts and Almonds I have no problem with.

Walnuts will kill me. I've never had a Hazelnut, Brazil Nut or Pecan.

Until today.

We ordered 1 piece of Cheesecake to share for dessert.

Cheesecake is always a nut safe choice.

I put one fork full in my mouth & knew something was wrong.

I have NEVER before even heard of cheesecake with a pecan crust.

What the f#*k.

Luckily I reacted fast, spat it out & only after a few moments

of itchy uncomfort & a little inner panic, all was ok.

Then we went to Chapters, bought a few Christmas gifts,

I had a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato

and that was that.

When I got to the station to come home tonight, the GO train

was cancelled due to a pedestrian fatality

along the track somewhere between Mississauga & Toronto.

I don't get it. Don't walk near train tracks people!



My Mom today at Square One.

Nerd Alert!

We had an AMAZING day.

Adam and I went shopping at The Eaton Center.
It was so full of people.
Happy and pleasant people.
Santa was walking up & down the mall with a few Elves and he made me smile.
It was great how he made everyone smile, young and old.
Today, no one was rude, pushy, ignorant or complaining about waiting in line.

They have a tree that is decorated with Swarovski Crystals.
I don't think this photo does it justice. It was so pretty.
Women love sparkles like men love electronics.

Can you see my Adam in the photo? It's like trying to find Waldo.

We also went across the street to The Bay.
They have done the windows again this year.
They are magical and took me right back to being 8 years old.

Now is time for the
NERD ALERT

Adam got a pair of shoes from Groovy Shoes on Queen St West
so we just had to stop by The Silver Snail.

I bought this. Please watch below. It's awesome.

 

My NEW Favorite Thing(s)

I have a thing for Starbucks Coffee Mugs.

Don't know why, they're made in China like everything else.

They generally have good handles and are heavy.

Perfect for a nice hot cup of tea or coffee.

These however are teacups.

I couldn't resist. 'Tis the season.

These are my new

3 8oz Nesting Teacups.

Aren't they dear?

I love that they are all 8oz.

I added one of our new ornaments from this year.

We bought 3:

Joy (what these cups bring me)

Hope (springs eternal)

Love (my cup runneth over)

This is also a new ornament I've received this year.



From my Father In Law.

Merry Christmas to Me and a Stupid Way to Die

I've pooled all my Christmas money together

(thank you to those who contributed xox)

and bought myself a new camera.

It is a Canon Power Shot SX130 IS

I am totally going to have to read the instruction manual.

There is a setting for *kids & dogs*.

The first few photos came out blurry.

It also did odd things to the lighting.

The lights in the Living Room were on but it focused in on Frosty.

It's really pretty outside. It's not windy & it is snowing nice big flakes.

I took a this shot on Auto from my kitchen window.

I HAD to take a photo of this:

There is a reason.

About 30 minutes ago, I didn't feel well.
I felt odd.
Mini panic attack? Hot flash? Irritable belly?
Whatever it was, it passed as fast as it arrived.

10 minutes later, Adam went to the kitchen & swore out loud.
He had a potato in the oven for an hour & the oven wasn't on.
The gas was on, it just didn't light.

This is the 1st place I have ever lived with a gas stove.
I love it. It bakes great. Doesn't burn everything.

With the messed up electrical in this bldg it doesn't always
make the click click click sound and light.

It is for this reason that I asked my folks to buy us a
Carbon Monoxide Detector for Christmas.
They did.
Last year.
I had to dust the box off before I took the photo.
If Adam & I were to die this way, I give permission
for everyone at our service to say we are idiots.

I was going to make myself a note to call my Dad & ask
him to come over & help me install it.
Then I took a closer look & it's a plug-in.
It says it right there on the front of the package.
Oh.....My......Goodness.

Thing is, seriously, the ONLY outlets in this apartment that
are not installed sideways on the base boards are
in the kitchen.

If I put this in the kitchen will it go off every time I use the stove?

Dog Boots

When I take Crockett for a walk on salty Toronto

sidewalks, passersby must think I'm heartless

and that I am torturing my dog.

The salt makes him walk as though he's walking on fire or broken glass.

I've spent the last hour online browsing Dog Boutique catalogues

and reading message boards on http://www.pugalug.com/

to find the best boots to buy for Crockett.

I want them to work. I don't want them to be pretty.

I am not now, nor have I ever been, nor will I ever

be the type of person who dresses their pet for fashion.

Coats are critical on really cold days for short haired or small dogs.

You try going outside in freezing weather in your

warm pyjamas to tinkle on snow.

Dog boots have become critical based on the amount

of salt that was dropped on the sidewalks after this,

our first real storm of the season.

I'm hoping I can get him something like these.
I fear the price tag.

Source

I'll definitely post some photos of Crockett modelling his
new booties.


Today's Christmas Joy

We purchased this paw ornament during our Honeymoon
from the store Just Christmas
in Niagara On The Lake

Rain Rain

Rain Rain Go Away

Come Again in April 2011.

I fear December Rain.

It turns into December Ice.

To continue with my Christmas theme,

I really like old fashioned winter/Christmas images.

Specifically Old Fashioned Santas like this one:

Source

Great Couple of Days

The last couple of days have been really great.

On Thursday night I went to bed early and got

 a full 8 hours sleep.

Friday, I woke up without a headache & felt refreshed.

Work continues to be busy (again, NOT complaining)

and the busier it is the faster time passes.

My mood continues to be festive, I'm so looking forward

to Christmas and life is pretty great.

We both woke up early today to get the groceries done early before the crowds.
Too late, Loblaws was super busy. We were home by 11am.
I bought the Red Velvet Cheesecake I've been wanting to try.

My Father In Law came over this afternoon, we had
Chinese food and he came bearing gifts.

Very meaningful gifts.

Adam's Mother passed away in 1991. 

Sadly I never met her, although through Adam, I feel as though I know her.

Adam talks about her all the time, about the kind of Mother she was,
the kind of lady she was.

He has this photograph of her in his office.

In her kitchen, smiling.

One of the gifts my Father In Law gave me was a set of vintage
Cook Books that he bought for Adam's Mother.

They have her name inscribed on the front covers.
The Gourmet Cookbook Vol I & II
Gourmet's Menu Cookbook
Gourmet's Old Vienna Cookbook
and
Gourmet's Basic French Cookbook

They have just increased the value of my bookshelf to priceless.

Source for both photographs.

Adam and I will spend days going through them.
We have decided that once a month, inspired by Julie & Julia, we
will have a lovely sit down dinner with recipes taken from
or inspired by these books.

There are 47 pages in the Basic French Cookbook
dedicated to
PAINS, PÂTISSERIES ET GÂTEAUX.
Translated - Breads, Pastries & Cakes.
I just can't wait to try some of these!

Here are 2 more Ornaments.
I like Snowmen.

Nightmares

I have had a dull headache for the past 2 days that is a

combination of my Bruxism and the dry winter air.

I have a very achy Mandible and sore upper eye sockets.

Extra Strength Tylenol don't work for me anymore either.

I tend to clench my jaw & grind my teeth more when

stressed or if I don't sleep well.

In the past week, for the first time since I

can't remember when, I've had 2 nightmares and I've also not

had a night with a good solid 8 hours of sleep.

Work has been busy (NOT complaining) and it takes me longer to

come down and turn my brain off when I get home.

The first nightmare was so scary I woke up feeling terrified and my

stomach was quivering and nervous.

I cannot understand why I had this dream or

anything that it is connected to.

I haven't watched any scary movies lately.

I was outside a small house in a secluded area with a long gravel driveway. 

I saw a body that was hacked up.

There was no head. The arms and legs were detached and

next to the torso that was cut in half.

It looked like a ham. 

Bone in the middle surrounded by flesh.

A guy who looked like Vin Diesel came out of the house, in a wife beater

and jeans with crazy eyes covered in blood yelling,

" Where is Joanne? I need to kill Joanne."

I ran down the driveway and hid behind a bush.

As he was running towards me and saw me.....I woke up.

The second nightmare makes more sense only because I've been falling

asleep with various Harry Potter movies in the DVD player lately.

I was 8 months pregnant and Ralph Fiennes was chasing me.

When I finally got away from him, I went to the hospital because

I thought I was having contractions.

Ralph Fiennes was the doctor!!! I tried running away but he

kept on hugging me and telling me I still had a month to go.

It was one of those dreams that was all over the place.

What made it a nightmare was when I was being chased.

I kept thinking he was going to hurt my baby.

Plus, Ralph Fiennes has always given me the creeps.

Perfectly cast as He Who Must Not Be Named.

 It is 10:59pm right now.

I am going to add a Christmas Ornament photo

and then go to bed!

My wooden Santa Collection.

 

Politics - Sorry.

Today was the Toronto Mayoral Inauguration of Rob Ford

and the beginning of, what is sure to be, many more sad,

embarrassing days ahead over the next 4 years for the

City of Toronto.

I will be 100% open and honest.

I do not support Rob Ford.

I did not vote for Rob Ford.

I was disappointed when he won.

Remember? It's all here.

I live in mid-uptown Toronto.

A few years back, Toronto and a few

surrounding cities/suburbs amalgamated and became

one big city - the GTA - Greater Toronto Area.

The vote breakdown shows that the pre-amalgamation

suburbs voted for Ford where the

pre-amalgamation city of Toronto voted for Smitherman.

2010 Toronto Mayoral Election Breakdown.
Source.

Today, Rob Ford invited Don Cherry to introduce him as Mayor to council.

Yes, that Don Cherry.

The Don Cherry that is, more often than not, socially inappropriate.

Sometimes amusing for short spurts during a hockey game, sometimes.

When I saw the clip on the news of Don Cherry

saying, "And put that in your pipe, you left-wing kooks."

I was angry. I wanted the whole story. Not just a sound bite.

Here is Don Cherry's speech transcribed.

Very divisive. Bullying almost.

Pinkos?

Left-Wing Kooks?

Ugh.

Winter Has Arrived

It did snow overnight and throughout the day today.

Welcome Winter!!!!



The view out my kitchen window at 10:00pm.
It's still snowing.

Today's Ornaments.



These also were a gift from my Mom for
Christmas 2001.

To Snow or Not To Snow

I am going to throw in something Christmas themed

in every post from now until the 25th.

It could be a photo of my ornaments, decorations,

 houses all aglow, yummy Christmas food
 or anything that strikes me as festive.

Today is one of my cute Snowmen.

My parents were going to come for a visit this afternoon

on their way back from my brothers. 

The forecast called for snow. 

My Dad does not like to drive in the snow, so our visit was cancelled.

They popped by (I only live 2 kms from my brother) and had a few moments

with myself and Crockett before hitting the 401/427/QEW trip home.

Sadly, at the end of the day there was no storm. 

We could have had a nice visit.

This is how much snow we had today.

Not alot at all, just another light dusting.

It is supposed to snow overnight.

We'll see.

More Ornaments and the Park

Here are 3 Ornaments I bought 2 years ago.

It represents my little family.

They have small bells in them that jingle when they move.

I've been enjoying going through my box of ornaments.

I've never been a collector of alot of things.
I don't have trinkets around the apartment and you'll certainly

never see me on an episode of Hoarders, but I just
love my Christmas Ornaments.

Crockett and I went for a long walk today.

Adam joined us in the park near the end of our walk as we'd

been out too long and he came looking for us.

There weren't any other people around nor were there

alot of people out just walking.

It was windy and the skies were grey but not too cold.

I was wearing my hat and winter coat.

There was no color. All the flowers have dried up.

The bushes have been wrapped to protect them from the frost.

Green leaves have become brittle and brown.
There are the odd winter cabbages in the flower beds.
Are they edible?

I took a panoramic clip.

Then just as we were walking up the steps, I saw

this splash of purple.

Ornaments

I love Christmas Ornaments.

I buy a few every year.

I will never have a Christmas Tree that has more

than 2 matching ornaments.

Perfect.

I don't know if we'll put up a tree this year.

I want a nice mini tree with a few of our favorite ornaments

 and loads of twinkle lights at the windows.

These are 2 cute Dr.Seuss-ish ornaments we

got as a gift from my Mom.

Received Christmas 2003.