Thursday, April 7, 2016

Me

I really do have a disconnect between what I see when I look in the mirror and what I see in a photograph.

This is me.  Healthier me than the me I was previously. This makes me proud of myself.


Friday, March 18, 2016

Fat and Not So Fat

It was time I put on my grown up underpants and started looking after my health, so I did. It hasn't been easy but it's been completely worth it!

2 years ago after my Mom's heart attack and my ending up in the hospital for 5 days with stress induced wonky eyes/Diplopia it really hit home that our health is our wealth. I need to be able to look after myself and my loved ones.

Plus this excellent commercial by the Heart and Stroke Association made me think.






These photos are my previous "Fat" and my today "Not So Fat". I'm not willing to call them Before and After shots.

I've been focusing up to now on diet and with the Spring upon us, will start focusing on exercise. Plus I'll never be an After as I am and will always be a work in progress.

I still don't really have a mind/body connection and looking at myself in a mirror I don't really "see" myself.  In these photos though, I can see a change :)  Yay me!





Sunday, June 7, 2015

Ears

Loki has great ears.  Which is how he got his name, after this Loki:


This morning in the park, he must've stood in the same spot for 10 minutes, while his ears never stopped moving.






Saturday, June 6, 2015

Introducing Loki

Please meet the newest member of our family:  Loki.



We adopted Loki yesterday on the first day of the Toronto Mega Adoption Weekend Event.  It was a difficult experience.  Difficult in that there were so many dogs available for adoption - approx 70-80. All sizes and ages.  However, there were more people than Dogs so I'm confident that there will be many many forever homes found this weekend. There were also many cats and kittens. All adorable and in need of loving and caring homes.



UPDATE:  I just went to grab a link for the event and there are no Dogs left, but many Kittens, Cats, and Rabbits!  Thank goodness I took a day off work yesterday :)

We got the very best Dog for us. He is a sweetheart.  Still a bit shy, but as he cuddles, eats, and walks, his tail is starting to wag and lift up, and we've each received a few nose kisses. He is also healthy and without any behavioral issues. Bonuses are he's fixed, micro-chipped, and house trained!

When outside, he has not been spooked by traffic noise, cars, buses, people or other dogs.
His ears perk up and he takes in all the sights and sounds. He is great going downstairs but is hesitant a first to go up stairs.

There are 2 things he as not done yet. Bark or poop.  There has not been one sound out of him. No whine, whimper, or bark.  In regards to the poop, he's eating well so that's just a matter of time I'm sure.

Loki is classified as a Terrier Mix.  I would say he's more a Terrier/ Chihuahua/ Daschund mix.  There were quite a few small dogs like Loki that the Toronto Humane Society brought in from California.  They go there twice a year to rescue dogs from a kill shelter there. They say that these are perfect city apartment/condo dogs.

He is one year and one month old, and weighs about 12lbs. He's had 2 previous names.  In California, he was Bruce.  At the Toronto Humane Society, he was Brian.  Within minutes of Adam and I standing with him in line to get our Toronto Dog License, he was renamed Loki.

Loki, after The God Of Mischief.  It was his shiny black coat & amazing ears:)

Looking out the window. His ears are amazing. I need to catch a shot with them straight up.

I kept waking him up with the beep beep of the camera.

His nose and ears were working overtime on our walk this morning.
Already, in less that 24 hours, I am over the moon happy and feel so lucky to have a little four legged life in our home. This little creature has made a huge difference.


Sunday, May 31, 2015

Our Timeline Has Shifted

I think of Crockett every day.  I miss him.  He was a wonderful sweet Pug.  Like every pet owner, I wish he could have lived forever, happy and healthy.

Life for me, without a Dog, is just not the same.  Some people enjoy hiking, camping, shopping, driving, gaming, baking, reading, knitting, etc. Me, I like to draw, color, paint, create things, but mostly I am a homebody who enjoys spending time with my Mr, my family, and enjoying the company of Dogs.

Dogs make my life better.  They give me something to care for.  They get me out walking, meeting neighbours, exploring the neighbourhood, and seeing things from a different perspective.

Who also doesn't love being loved unconditionally and greeted at the door with wags and kisses.

With the weather, and living in a very dog friendly neighbourhood, every time I'm outside be it 5:30am or 7:00pm, I see no less than 4 dogs with their people. It's killing me.

This weekend Adam and I may become a Dogs people.  We are going to the Toronto Mega Pet Adoption Event

It is taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Bldg at Exhibition Place.  Last year 585 Cats and Dogs were adopted.  Lovely.

It is not and will not be an easy choice.  We are leaving a lot to fate and hope that a four legged creature finds us worthy of being his/her people.

Fingers crossed and hearts ready. This video below is from last years event.



Friday, May 1, 2015

Friday May 1, 2015 This and That

Today is the last day of my Vacation, and I go back to work on Monday.  The time off has been wonderful and valuable. Today will be spent tidying my room and doing laundry, and I bought some potting soil yesterday so I need to re-pot a few plants.

I don't know what to call my room. Adam has his room which is his office/man cave.  My room, although I have my desk and laptop, doesn't feel like, nor do I want to call it my office.  We wanted to buy a nice reading chair but opted for a single bed.  Good choice as it is comfortable.  If I prop myself up in the corner it is a comfy reading place.  If I lay down, I fall asleep. Instantly.  I want a storage/bookshelf unit to replace my dresser. The dresser isn't working well for storage of my art supplies and crafty bits which is resulting in a bit too much clutter.  I want everything out of sight, neatly in its own place, and easily accessible.  After that, maybe replace my 15yr old RCA with a nice flat screen I can attach to the wall, and make some noise reducing curtains (as my windows face the busy street).  These of course are wants, not needs so the timeline is .... whenever :)  I guess my room is my sanctuary.  My little place I can just be.

I went out yesterday to pick up a few things and I purchased a new memory card for my camera as I used to see things differently when I carried my camera. I'm looking forward to getting outside more and seeing the little things Spring has to offer.

I also bought myself a new Pictura Panoramic Fold Out Coloring Book - A Stroll In London.  I'm looking forward to coloring it. Perfect stress reducing and relaxing activity.

Source





Wednesday, April 29, 2015

That's Nice.





I've never been one to have quotes on posters pinned to my walls, or to repeat phrases to myself in the morning like Stuart Smalley, but when I read this quote, it made me smile.



"When you smile about the life you live, you 
end up living a life worth smiling about."
- Unknown



Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Close One Door, Open a New Door

These past 6 months have been full of change. Not all good, not all bad, just change.  I am not really a fan of unplanned or forced change.

Life without Crockett is not the same. We miss our sweet boy. We will have Dogs again as life is so much better with them, but it will be at least a year until we are ready.

I wouldn't say that at 46, I've experienced a full on midlife crisis.  I'll call it more of a midlife review. I said to my Mom on the phone the other day that I spent the 1st quarter of my life blissfully unaware, the 2nd quarter of my life existing, sometimes aware, most of the time not. This second half of my life is going to be different. Full of awareness, purpose, and action.

There are things I have always wanted to do, to do again, to try, and for whatever reason or excuse, just never did.

The focus for the next however-long, will in no way be about my job or career.  That may sound foolish as I spend the majority of my life at work.  At the moment I have an 8to4 that while not ideal for many reasons, is for a lot of other reasons. I am not in a place where I want to, or am able to make any changes.  That does not mean that down the road this won't change. I know it will. It is the hours I am not at work that are my priority. Time for some living, not just existing.

I am off work until Monday. This time off has been spent organizing and implementing changes in our lives. Mostly pertaining to health, diet, and exercise.

Onward and upward.