Thursday, January 19, 2012

The things I do, and certainly don't regret

More and more I've been thinking its more important to do something, than it is to find someone to do it with you.  This has been a really tough one for me. I grew up camping and hiking and doing all kinds of things but always with someone.

I'm finding there aren't very many people who do things quite the way we do, and by we I mean our family.  We ski first tracks to last call, as long as it isn't raining in the hill parking lot. We hike and don't really take a break unless there is a "Walter approved" rest area, ie: a spot with a scenic view. But still, we're not crazy obsessive about any one activity.


So the trouble is finding people to *do* stuff with, I had a theory that maybe if I just started doing things I'd meet people who were out there doing them too... but it doesn't seem to be holding up in practice, mostly because I like doing a little bit of everything.

So while I venture forth into unexplored terrain alone, I would like to toast a cheers to the Snow Goddess, skiing last Sunday was absolutely amazing!

The collective excitement on the hill could not be contained, and hoots and hollers could be heard escaping throughout the day.

There was a constant supply of fresh powder falling, with the sun trying desperately to break through creating the most beautiful silver pixie dust sparkle effect. Which under normal circumstances would have been incredibly distracting, except that every other run down I managed to find a little pocket of powder that at times came up to mid-thigh... 


I'm not sure what I did to deserve this, but between the temperature and grinning so much I thought my face was going to freeze like that, and give my Mother one more reason to say I told you so.

Besides the four warmup runs on the backside, I skied my little legs off on Attridge all day. By the last run I had chalked up a respectable 21 runs... plus or minus a couple.

A good day skiing, is when you drag yourself back to the truck completely and thoroughly worn out... and half way home you feel like you're driving with your ski boots on *smiles*

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The meaning of a cup of coffee

I was having one of those afternoons just the other day, where I was daydreaming about how wonderful a hot, fresh cup of coffee would be right about then... when I returned to my desk to discover that some wonderful soul had left a cup of my favorite on my desk for me. I like my coffee like I like my cup size... double-d!

It was like the skies opened up and the angels sang *smiles*

But that got me to thinking. What does it mean? and more so what *can* it mean? Well let me count the ways... because while to you it may just look like a cup of something warm, it can be so much more.

A hot beverage from Timmy's can mean

Welcome, I'd like to introduce myself...
Hello, I'm not a coffee snob... and I'd like to be your friend.
I want to get to know you better, mind if we sit down and talk?

I know you don't understand what I said, but I can see how you might have taken it in a way I didn't mean at all, and for that I would like to sincerely apologize.
I'm sorry, please pardon my earlier rudeness.
I'm not sure what you're upset about, but I bring this as a peace offering.

Just thinking of you.
I appreciate you.
I just wanted to give you a reason to smile.

To warm you up.
*hugs*
Just because.

For a job well done.
I don't know how I can help, I wish I could but I can't... so I grabbed you a coffee.
Share a cup with me, and lets catch up I've missed you.

On top of all that, like the whip cream on the mocha... When someone remembers your favorite, well it's just that little extra bit of awesome... That my friend, means you're important. Important enough, that even though it may cause my head to explode and splatter the five phone numbers I know per person everywhere, I went to the effort of tucking in and remembering something you like... because I like you.

Say whaaattt?

Ok buy 4 or more for only 2.89 each... What is the MAX for?

4 or more implies you can buy as many as you want, so it isn't a maximum of four...

Does it mean that if you buy more than four the most you will pay for each one is $2.89? Because you don't need the max to say that, you already said it...

Or does it mean you can only save a maximum of 40 cents?!?

I like to think I'm fairly intelligent most of the time, but this one has me stumped.

Anyone?

What does it all mean Mr. Horton?


I just heard that they are implementing a size name change at Timmy's...

So now when I order a large, I'm going to get an extra large amount... and on those days when I really need it, forget they've changed the damn sizes and order an extra large I'm going to get enough caffeine to wake up a moose and a hibernating grizzly bear. Awesome.

I wonder if it will come with a warning... Caution: may cause heart murmurs, and erratic behavior, do not attempt to sit after consuming contents...

Why the H.E. double hockey sticks are we changing the freaking cup sizes? I mean seriously. WTF over?!?? I don't care if they just added a double extra large that is now 24 oz. and they don't know what to call it. How about 'The two-fer' cause it's two for those with a spare hand of one.

I think what irritates me the most is that I know those are the sizes they use down in the States. I really appreciated that cup sizes here hadn't reached ludicrous... Ooooh that would be a good name for it! Anyways, what I mean, is there is no reason that *anyone* should EVER need to drink an entire liter of pop or anything else for that matter with their meal... well okay anything except di-hydrogen monoxide... But still, while I know we are more similar to the States than we are different in soooo many respects sometimes its the little differences that make me proud to say "I am Canadian", like healthier portion sizes of fast-foods.

Besides, if you really need that much coffee, buy two or take a thermos... at least the thermos will have half a chance of keeping it warm in the weather we've been having lately.

Yes I'm a little irritated... Is it for no good reason? Well mostly. What am I going to do about it? I am going to write a strongly worded letter, because otherwise I would have to apologize profusely if I talked to anyone in customer service.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Best answer to that question... Evar

I survived snowboarding, but I think the board is one up on me. I feel a bruise coming on my left butt cheek. I totally coulda used one of those pillows the Disney characters always skated with...

This conversation? actually took place when we grabbed a bite to eat up at the hill. I think it nicely sums up how wiped I was... because I thought it was hilarious when it happened.

Heh in fact I still think its pretty funny.

D: Wow it's quarter to ten already!

Me: Omg when did it get that late?!?

D: An hour ago...

*face palm*

Sent... While in transit ;)

Friday, January 13, 2012

The christening of the new board

Tonight is the first night of $10 Fridays... Formerly known as $5 Fridays :(

Still cheaper and healthier than a movie :)

So I thought it would be a good night to break in the new board... or perhaps let it break in me... it remains to be seen who will come out of this on top!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Oh no!

Toothpaste squeezer tube malfunction, now it won't be like the first squeeze every time... now I'm gonna have to do the Vulcan nerve roll squeeze.

Paper clips and heavy duty rubber bands aren't going to fix it this time... where's my duct tape?!?

Pardon my posts until I catch up on sleep

I apologize for my lack of posts of late, you see faithful internet readers I have been slaving away on a secret project at work which if I talk about it, I will have to kill you... and that just sounds like entirely too much work, because, well first off I'd have to track you down for starters... Anyways in my spare time I was working on projects for the family gathering, that were also secret until this last weekend.



In my quiet sleep deprived haze last night I completely forgot to post the picture of the big project I was am really proud of... the fireplace! (so that we would have somewhere to hang the stockings of course)

And these guys... there are a few more in progress *smiles*


Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Merry Christmas... Oh and Merry Ukranian Christmas

We survived entirely too much good food, and each other!!!

Dan and his "man-steak"
 Five days, five family members and a two bedroom apartment, and this morning when I saw them all off... we still liked each other! Nobody went home in a body bag, we didn't get any blood on the carpet (one of the cardinal rules growing up) and we didn't make my little brother cry ;)

But for real, I would like to thank each and every single one of my family members for coming and celebrating Christmas at my house this year.  It was a little weird doing Christmas twice, my best friend's family graciously invited me to share it with them. I was so comfortable and well loved that I didn't feel sad that I wasn't with my family, which I kinda thought that I would... I mean, here I am 29 years old and this is the first Christmas *ever* that I haven't gone home.

My second Charlie Brown Christmas tree
 *reminiscing*

The first year I didn't wrestle the rats for the various cardboard boxes and rubbermaids helpfully labeled 1/4 on the lid and 2/4 on the bottom down the steep pirate hold stairs from the loft... The first year I didn't dig through the spaghetti snarl of chipped paint and broken glass, only to risk brave burning the house down by swapping out the burnt bulbs and stuffing tinfoil in the ones that aren't... quite... working.

*blink* See I told you this strand was fine! ;)

The first year I didn't help put the decorations on the tree at home, or arrange the house as close to the same way we always do... or at least as far as anyone can remember...

*/reminiscing*

And yet with the breaking of tradition, comes a reinforcement of strength and new meaning. There was still a tree set up at home, with decorations from each of our awkward phases of childhood lovingly hung in places of honor. Decorations that alone, are obviously juvenile in their uncoordinated craftsmanship, but together make our Christmas tree glow beautifully... with all the love in which they were created.

The Whole Famn Damily
A much more realistic family portrait... Is it blinking yet?!?!

We were able to have the entire family in one place at the same time, even if it was a very small space for five people considering we grew up on five acres... We had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of turkey, orange glazed yams, and scalloped and mashed potatoes... although they were fresh out of cabbage boogers.

The fireplace project, and yes that's 'The Kemper' snowboard as the mantle

The stockings were still hung by the fire with care, and we had hot tea and pancakes 'Christmas morning' complete with bacon, peaches *and* whip cream... Dad handed out the presents, and we didn't spoil each other too much. I like that, there aren't any crazy expectations in our family... Cookies are not only a perfectly acceptable gift, they are also highly anticipated. 



We completed a 1000 piece puzzle, with the traditional single piece missing... Although I think this is the first year, that someone didn't actually have it stashed somewhere so they could claim the dubious title of having placed the last piece... it actually fell under the stove. Mom thinks it fell off one of the tea-towels we used as a placemat to eat over it... I think, well nevermind what I think. I still blame Mom.


We even had a half day *and* a full day of skiing, in which our mutual pig-headed-stubborness found us on the last chair lift, just ahead of ski patrol despite burning thighs and better judgment. I'd like to point out that not only did nobody go home in a body bag, nobody had to take an ambulance down the mountain either. ;)



Oooh and we squeezed in the HAM club Christmas dinner party, *whispers* where we talked about nerdy radio stuff... and stuff...

So there you have it. Yes, I am thoroughly exhausted... but I'm also particularly pleased with myself for hosting the entire event. All of that aside, I am very much looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.
Work is going to suck tomorrow, I know this as I have to present something that isn't nearly as finished as I would like... and get up much earlier than I have been... but that's what coffee is for. *winks*

G'night

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Not as hard as we made it look...

In the immortal words of nerds everywhere...
 "Because we can!!!"
Houston, do we have enough connections between us to cause complete and utter chaos yet?!?!

On December 28th, Dad had the handy-talky and the HF Rig which he was using to talk to Gerry, and was pulling up echolink on his computer... meanwhile I was trying to get ahold of him using the Nanaimo IRLP node, while simultaneously listening to him talking to Gerry on my cell phone and Googling echolink to see what the heck he was muttering about.

Three different repeaters later and I heard the Nanaimo voice id confirming the connection! It was soooo cool!!!! *happy dance*

IRLP is the Internet Radio Linking Project, basically Dad and I can both be using our HF handy talkies which aren't long range, and we can talk to each other through two repeaters and the internet! How cool is that?!?!

In theory I know how it works...

Check out the gift I got for Christmas from my buddy Ed and his daughters! I think the best part was them demonstrating how to use it, with Lester watching between covered fingers going "Ed... Ed! Watch out for the TV!!"


Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Not quite what I had in mind...

Ok first off, let me just say that nobody should start their new years celebrations not fitting into *either* of the dresses they were going to wear!!!

Last night I puked and puked and pooped out twice my body weight... who needs a cleanse when you can do that?!?

So while I could've pooped through the eye of a needle at 30 paces, I was sitting there wishing I could just go curl up in bed and die in peace when I reached over to grab the heavy duty bar glass I'd so thoughtfully filled with water... and managed to break it all over the sink, floor and *into* the tub.

You have got to be freaking kidding me.

It was about that time I acknowledged that while I may be almost 30 years old, sometimes a girl still needs her mother ;)

Even my hair hurts, and I think I pulled an anterior intercostal muscle on my right side.... and my room smells like dead stinky boy. Awesome.

I think I prefer starting the New Year with an overhang... At least it can only get better from there.

Sent... While curled up and dying in bed with my sheep hot water bottle from Granny

It's certainly a contender for what pathetic looks like.