Fun in the Sky!

DAY 185

The countdown continues. I attended the North American Quilling Guild Conference held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina USA. Hubby and I had occasion to sitesee and partake of different passive (sort of) activities.  We visited Broadway on the Beach where there is a Ripley's Aquarium. This complex with its boardwalk had shops, restaurants and activities which drew us back for a second day. Allie decided to get physical....ZIPLINE baby, yah! Hubby said he was quite proud of me...he couldn't understand that I wouldn't ride a bike or walk the dog (all stories for another day) but I would attempt a zipline ride. Yup...was f-un!

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Dinner for One

DAY 276

Had to Bach' it tonight hubby had another commitment. Sooo, Allie got to get take-out for supper. Had my first order from Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen. Three chicken tenders with a side of mac and cheese, dinner came with a homemade biscuit. Hot damn they know how to do chicken tenders...hot and juicy on the inside, crispy not greasy on the outside...Bold BBQ dipping sauce. Um-mm good. Inaugural visit went safe...not spicy!

I know chicken, right! Ha ha ha...pun intended!


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To Eat or Not to Eat...that is the question!

DAY 277

Did you know that what you eat and do not eat has an impact on your health (well of course it does, duh). There is an interesting list of Anti-inflammatory foods that will help to make you feel and be well. It is worth the effort to research the good, the bad, and yes the ugly fruits, vegetables and fish that can lead to a healthier you. Of course, you have to take into consideration allergies and or digestive orders you may have as well as prescription medications or supplements. So you have to balance and plan your meals to suit. A list of 63 Anti-Inflammatary Foods

Why did I choose this subject, you ask! Well I read somewhere that excessive amounts of Tea (caffeine) can cause muscle pain. [I LOVE MY TEA!] I queried my physiotherapist on this and she said that Tea is a stimulant and yes could be on the "inflammatory food" list.  I haven't totally researched it but I want to find a nice balance between the things I cannot eat due to digestive problems and those that interfere with prescription medications and those foods that ultimately work against you. See the worst Inflammatory Foods.

I think that is why I am not totally successful in dietary plans. I can't eat salad two days in a row; dark green vegetables interfere with one of my medications; fruits with seeds and nuts are a digestive time bomb. Can't stand artificial sweeteners but have to watch my sugar...it's damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I will find the balance, may take a while but I'll find it!

Wanna eat....have to cook!

DAY 283

I was a Chef in another life...love the "Food Network"

Charley Horse

DAY 284

Had what felt like one yep, yep, in the cheek of my ass....at bedtime...yep, yep!

Charley horse is a popular colloquial term in Canada and the United States for painful spasms or cramps in the leg muscles, typically lasting anywhere from a few seconds to about a day. It can also refer to a bruise on an arm or leg and a bruising of the quadriceps muscle of the anterior or lateral thigh, or contusion of the femur, that commonly results in a haematoma and sometimes several weeks of pain and disability. In this latter sense, such an injury is known as dead leg. In Australia it is also known as a corked thigh or corky. It often occurs in contact sports, such as football when an athlete suffers a knee (blunt trauma) to the lateral quadriceps causing a haematoma or temporary paresis and antalgic gait as a result of pain. Another term, jolly horse, is used to describe simple painful muscle cramps in the leg or foot, especially those that follow strenuous exercise.
The term can be used to refer to cramps in the foot muscles

The Horror

DAY 285

What is the precise moment that you become aware of something so embarrassing and how do you react...

On an outing prior to Christmas I wore clothing in a colour rapidly becoming my favourite shade or 'non-shade' ...black or black on white. I have this lovely cap sleeve silky blouse that is a black and white floral print. Pairs nicely with black gabardine pants. A black camisole is worn under the blouse and because the winter season was upon us I donned a three quarter sleeve black cotton cardigan. On said trip, for whatever reason, I inspected the front of my blouse...I could have sworn the blouse had buttons. We travelled for quite sometime and the fact that the buttons were not visible was niggling in my brain. I once again inspected the blouse fingering the flap and feeling buttons but they weren't visible. I was wrestling in my brain about whether this blouse actually had visible buttons or were hidden under a flap. I yanked on the top of the blouse and peered down into the depths and saw the neat row of buttons on...the inside...of the blouse. It was then...the precise moment...my brain took me back to the gathering of people we had just left. Whether it be instinct or a desperate movement to hide I yanked on the cotton cardigan to wrap it around myself to cover the blouse and the realization and embarrassment creeping up my chin to my head (too late!). The blouse was inside out. Oh, the horror. I did a thorough examination of the garment when we finally arrived home and realized that the material looked the same inside as out and the only telltale sign would have been the buttons. Thank heavens the cardigan hid the tag which was free as a bird on the outside of the blouse. This only compares to the embarrassment you feel if you have a booger hanging out your nose or you have food on your face AND your shirt! Why didn't I notice that the blouse was inside out and didn't I have to unbutton it to put it on? That would have saved a whole lot of fretting...but no the blouse fits quite nicely over the head (undoing all those buttons is a chore). That is an argument for another day. Quite frankly I don't think anyone noticed...phew!

True Story

DAY 287

This week I had my yearly physical examination at the Family Doctor's office. Amongst the ear, nose and throat inspection and response to several reflex movements (passed by the way) the Doctor asking me several questions. Some involved yes/no answers; other questions involved a [sort of] point form type of response:




Dr.     Do you have trouble sleeping?
Allie: Oh, yeah (think I rolled my eyes)
Dr.     Do you have trouble falling asleep?
Allie: [hell] No...I can fall asleep sitting up!
Dr.     Do you snore?
Allie: Don't know, I'll have to ask my husband
Dr.     We can do a sleep study
Allie: We have two small dogs that sleep with us
Dr.     [stopped asking me questions at this point]

Method to the Madness

Wh-at day is it?
Oopsee...it was brought to my attention (from several sources) that I am failing in my quest to blog my way to Retirement. I was told ever so politely that I tend to not finish anything ... ahem there are reasons AND no they are not excuses. Plus, I may add, that this lighted a small burn under my butt. Today I throw reason(ing) out the window and prove my loved ones wrong....
Definitions: excuses
- attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify (see how this is kinda whiny and "on the defensive".)
Definitions: reasons

- a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event

- the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic (methodical and planned...maybe)

Heeeey....Holidays made me lazy what more can I say!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNTDOWN ~ A patchwork of activity!

DAY 326
Tuesday, December 9th 4:30pm....WOOHOO...on holiday!

DAY 325
Wednesday, December 10th...I had this great plan, I have several days off so "Christmas Baking" here I come. Made a batch of Oatsies, switched out the mincemeat for dates. Turned out half decent, nicely mounded with the date puree hidden in the hump of oat cookie dough. They were more like store bought...I was aiming for Mom's version but that didn't happen. Yawn!

DAY 324
Thursday, December 11th...next day foray into cookie baking... decided to do a refrigerator dough called 'Party Swirls'. You divide the dough in thirds...one portion you leave alone, second portion you colour with red food colouring...third portion you mix in melted semi-sweet chocolate. You roll out each portion into a rectangle and stack. I should have made the roll before refrigerating and it would have been easier to handle. I made the appropriate thickness of slices and tried desperately to get them in one piece onto the cookie tray...lotta patching goin on to the taunts of my hubby watching my gallant efforts at baking - "two minutes on the clock, you should be plating by now". Thought I was going to pee myself. Burnt half of 'em, so much for my efforts!

DAY 323
Friday, December 12th...not baking this day, my next unsuspecting recipe needed cream of tartar and I didn't have any. This was a sign...I was not meant to bake today...so I cleaned instead.

DAY 322
Saturday, December 13th...there was a mission today! Up early, breakfast, shower...out the door by 9am. Next $10 quilt square meeting. Navigation to the quilt shop in Fonthill was interesting indeed. They have been digging and tearing up this section of road for what seems like months now. Well, this day they decide they are going to pave. The weather is mild with melting snow and slightly drizzly...messy! Took us a bit but we were waved into the parking lot along with what seemed like a dozen other ladies. The shop was all Christmas-y and decorated quite nicely for the holiday season but we did manage to curtail our urge to purchase any of the new fangled gadgets that are guaranteed to make your quilting experience that much easier and exciting. Next I went to pick up my Epicure order which came in just in time. I now had the seasoning and clay baker for a special hot cheese dip for our Quilting Friends potluck on Monday evening. Had to do some grocery shopping and, of course, pick up the needed items for my potluck offerings as well. House is starting to echo the holiday season.

DAY 321
Sunday, December 14th...today was a somber day, but a day to celebrate the life of a lady that made a lasting impression on my husband as a boy growing up. We drove to Toronto to a memorial service. I learned today that this Aunt and Uncle were the role models for the man I married, unconsciously instilling in him family values but most of all unbounding love. They celebrated 63 years of marriage...we're two-thirds of the way there...hope we are doing them proud.

COUNTDOWN ~ The spirit of giving!

DAY 326

Gift giving! You know those coveted items on your desk: scissors, letter opener, 3 hole punch and hand held calculator. Well, maybe I'm getting used to the idea of retiring and those things you guard on your desk like a watchdog really aren't that important any more. I particularly like the Monday morning search for "my" pair of scissors...who had the audacity to take them from my gadget/pen holder and use them without permission. Then you find them tucked in between the stacks of filing piling up on your desk and thank heavens you haven't really vocally chewed anyone out at this point. You say "I'm sorry" under your breath return the scissors to their proper holder until the next stationary/supply crisis.

Not today! I heard a coworker discussing an elaborate plan to share a calculator with another gal and that it would be located in the top left drawer of the desk so that both could have easy access. My calculator was fairly new, under a year old, and it was stored neatly in my drawer out of the way...can't remember when I used it last. The spirit of giving overtook me and I asked the coworker if she would like to have "my" calculator as her own. Smiles ensued, hallelujah another good deed! She also placed dibs on my emoticon stand-up flip book.  The ladies in the office love to change my moods for me by flipping to the appropriate mood of the day. When it was flipped to "postal" my boss approached my desk and viewing said mood turned on his heal and beat a hasty retreat - not sure what he wanted that day. LOL

Trivia:

emoticon

[ iˈmōtəˌkän ]

noun

noun: emoticon · plural noun: emoticons

a representation of a facial expression such as:-) (representing a smile), formed by various combinations of keyboard characters and used in electronic communications to convey the writer's feelings or intended tone.

COUNTDOWN ~ Short and Sweet

DAY 327



I actually say this! LOL

Been missing in action for a couple of days. The Blog meister took a weekend off. Accomplished a few things... knocked several things off the Christmas Shopping List; sewed block number nine of the $10. Quilt with my sister; made a donation to Movember and received some sad news that a relative had passed. All part of that big wheel called life. Have a bit of a cold/nasal congestion and now am craving some serious bedtime.


COUNTDOWN ~ Pay It Forward

DAY 330

I had listened for days about how my co-worker was having difficulty with her wireless headset. I use the same headset but only rarely. For years I had a wired headset that was quite handy and was quite indispensable...until I was given the wireless set. She wasn't sure what was happening with the device and we determined together that it might be the rechargeable battery (they do fail once they have passed their prime). She did put in a request to our supervisor with a heads up that she would soon be needing a replacement. A search began for a headset that no one was using that could be a source for parts...she'd already been there, done that!

I kept staring at the headset in its cradle, neatly tucked in beside my phone and thought "when was the last time I used that?". In my job the calls I receive and make these days are few and far between so I disconnected the device from the phone and unplugged the power cord...disinfected the ear and mouth piece and proceeded to hand over this unit to my friend.

Well, you would have thought Christmas had come early. This was one of those "Pay it Forward" moments...my good deed for the day!

And hey, I still have the wired unit should I need it in the next 330 days!

COUNTDOWN ~ Board Meetng

DAY 331

Interesting thing, the Internet. One of the groups that I volunteer for has their Board meetings via Yahoo as a conference. The host for the meeting creates an invitation on Yahoo Messenger. Once logged in and accept the invitation, you are off and reading...reading more than typing. Sometimes your comments get overlooked and several conversations are going on at the same time, it just depends on who types the fastest. Looking back at the script, sometimes it has quite the comedic potential. The only drawback is that it can last for hours. As with all good Board meetings the conversation can run amuck or go on a tangent. Good though, business is discussed, matters settled and follow-up assigned. As members of this group live throughout the U.S. and Canada (mostly U.S.) as organization is American this was the only feasible way to have a board meeting. When I first joined the group and received my first newsletter I marveled at the varied locations that each Board member lived...how on earth did they hold their meetings. I did ask and was told by the Internet. Still was a bit of a mystery to me until I became a volunteer, now when I'm asked the question "how does the Board communicate"...the Internet!

COUNTDOWN ~ Influenza

DAY 332

The best defense against getting the "flu" is to get inoculated against the most current strain. I went for my flu shot yesterday, it was a bit late as I generally get mine when they become available in October.

Things I have learned....
1) you do not get the flu from the flu shot
2) it takes 10 - 14 days to build your immunity after the shot
and...if in that time you do come down with the flu, more than likely you came in contact with the virus in some way...handle of a shopping cart, touching an elevator button or in the direct path of a sneeze or cough.

I started getting the flu shot when my sons were little. They would bring home everything going from school and daycare. There always seemed to be a steady flow of snot. Of course, they only got the sniffly snorts. But Mom, that being moi, would be knocked flat on my back for days. One particular trip to emergency I eyed a beautiful white snow drift on the walkway leading into the clinic...and really contemplated sticking my head into the bank of snow. "just dig me out in the Spring". That winter was bad...felt good for a week and back to my bed for another ten days or so...repeat...repeat!

So I am on the side of "pros" in the list of pros and cons when recommending the flu shot. I highly recommend it. Granted you don't miss all the colds and viruses but the immunity you build up helps you to have less severe symptoms and you can at least function.

COUNTDOWN ~ A Farewell

DAY 332

I learned today that our family doctor had died. Dr. William Allen Matheson - who I had been a patient of since ten years of age until he retired. He was 90 and according to his obituary he lived a complete, wonderful life.

There are a multitude of stories to tell. Apart from him coming to the house when I was ill as a child, uppermost in my mind was when:  I spent several months in the hospital before the birth of my second son due to phlebitis in my legs. Once I gave birth (caesarian) I came up lame; I had this gawd awful pain that went up and down my leg and I could hardly walk. The attending OB wanted me to extend my stay in the hospital and go through physiotherapy 2-3 times a week. When Dr. Matheson did his rounds, I asked him about the OB's recommendation and he said "you need to go home and chase after your two boys!". He got it right!

May he rest in Peace. View obituary notice here.

COUNTDOWN ~ Smoking Pies

DAY 333



I had a special order for two coconut cream pies for the birthday of a family member. I make my own pie crust from scratch. That is always a hit or miss...just can't get the amount of cold water just right. It is either too wet or not wet enough. It was almost perfect but the first bit of pastry ripped as I lowered it into the pie plate. Some patching needed to be done but was fairly pristine by the time I finished the fluted edge. My hubby bought me a "pie chain" that is used to weigh down the pastry while baking the shell so it doesn't puff up and shrinkage from the edges is minimal. As I was doing two and had only one chain, I took out my trusty dried beans as a weight. I used waxed paper to keep the chain and beans off the surface of the pastry so that it didn't stick. The oven was set to 450oF. After a few minutes I noticed that smoke was circulating inside the oven. On closer inspection I didn't see any flames so just allowed the pastry to continue cooking. I was concerned and opened the oven door several times to make sure I wasn't creating a camp fire...all the while spewing smoke into the kitchen and onwards. Poor hubby emerged from the bedroom and thought something was wrong with his vision...and asked what I was trying to do once he realised the entire upstairs was engulfed in a blue haze.(LOL). Didn't set off the smoke alarm though, which was great because I would of had to deal with a dog that quakes so bad at the sound you would think she would shed her skin (story for another day)! Long story short the last time I used the oven I cooked sausage (uncovered) and, of course, they spewed their oily guts all over my oven...hence the smoke!

Now, this is a self-clean oven and Allie has not indulged in this time-saving feature. Scared, damn right...not fathoming the idea of really setting my kitchen on fire. I thought I would check online for a method that would allow me to not have to use the self-clean feature but not cause any damage to the interior of the oven. Good old baking soda (make a spreadable paste by adding water); leave on 12-24 hours; use a non-abrasive scraper to help remove lifted residue; can finish clean-up with vinegar. You must use rubber gloves which is only common sense and of course lots of elbow grease. There are instructions on how to clean the racks separately; involves your bathtub, large towels, hot water and dishwashing detergent....again, time and elbow grease! I'll have to pencil that into my calendar.

Back to the pies...no issue preparing the custard so I was quite proud of myself. Wasn't quite set so methinks cream pies should be made the day before rather than day of an event.

COUNTDOWN ~ A Blessing

DAY 335

Today we received a special blessing in preparation to continue as ministers of communion. Our current priest brought us up to date on what is expected in this ministry along with a question and answer session. Father is quick and efficient with his delivery of the mass and instills this in all the ministries. We always waited until the congregation exchanged handshakes offering peace before going to the Tabernacle, now we are to go to the Tabernacle once "Our Father" has been recited and then proceed to the alter. We were instructed of the proper reverence when approaching the Tabernacle, as well as removing and replacing the ciboriums properly.

This was a good day to meet up with friends we have made and to connect with those we don't see often as they attend mass at a different time. We noticed that there were several new ministers, which is wonderful. Father did comment that our church was rich with people willing to volunteer their time.

COUNTDOWN ~ Niagara Escarpment

DAY 336

The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs predominantly east/west from New York State, through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. It is composed of the Lockport geological formation of Silurian age, and is similar to the Onondaga geological formation, which runs parallel to it and just to the south, through western New York and southern Ontario. The escarpment is most famous as the cliff over which the Niagara River plunges at Niagara Falls, for which it is named.


Niagara Escarpment

The Niagara Escarpment is the most prominent of several escarpments formed in the bedrock of the Great Lakes basin. From its easternmost point near Watertown, New York, the escarpment shapes in part the individual basins and landforms of Lakes Ontario, Huron and Michigan. In Rochester, New York, there are three waterfalls over the escarpment where the Genesee River flows through the city. The escarpment thence runs westward to the Niagara River forming a deep gorge north of Niagara Falls, which itself cascades over the escarpment. In southern Ontario it spans the Niagara Peninsula, closely following the Lake Ontario shore through the cities of St. Catharines, Hamilton and Dundas, where it takes a sharp turn north in the town of Milton toward Georgian Bay. It then follows the Georgian Bay shore northwestwards to form the spine of the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island, as well as several smaller islands located in northern Lake Huron where it turns westwards into the Upper Peninsula of northern Michigan, south of Sault Ste. Marie. It then extends southwards into Wisconsin following the Door Peninsula through the Bayshore Blufflands and then more inland from the western coast of Lake Michigan and Milwaukee, ending northwest of Chicago near the Wisconsin-Illinois border. Source: Wikipedia

COUNTDOWN ~ Snowy Adventure

DAY 337

One day late...this post! Had an adventure. In my infinite wisdom I decided that I would like to go to the One of a Kind Christmas show at Exhibition Place in Toronto. Well...driving to Toronto is one thing but leaving at rush hour not so enthralling. Hubby suggested we take the GO Train from Burlington which would cut down on the driving and would minimalize the amount of time we would spend on the "highway".  First hiccup...no parking spaces left at the Burlington station...booted to Appleby line station and wah-hoo...parking up pretty close too! It was a bit of a hike from the train stop to the Direct Energy Centre located at Exhibition Place....once inside the doors another hike to the actual show itself in the Centre. It boasts one million square feet of convention space...that's big! When you live in a small-ish City where you park practically at the front door and it takes you two minutes to get to the back of the store...yah...this is big. We careened down the aisles oohing and ahhing at the different artisans. We were intrigued by special wooden puzzles, crockery tea pots, red hats, metal art and wooden furniture creations. These were truly artists - no two of a kind, similar in the fact that the material was wood, clay, beads and/or precious metals - but all had their own style and colour. Alas, we did not purchase anything other than lunch! Our trek back to the train was a little labored as the joints were protesting. Second hiccup...we boarded the train but had to exit after the third stop to wait five minutes for the next train which was an "all stop" train. Small town panic setting in! Arrived at the Applyby Line station without further ado and drove off into...third hiccup...the traffic and a storm. The storm seemed to be concentrated right at the Escarpment line, once we passed Vineland towards Welland the snowfall was less fierce. Further on into the evening we did get significant snowfall.


CN Tower in background ~ Train Station Exhibition Place

COUNTDOWN ~ Lunch sans conversation!

DAY 338

What is lunch sans conversation you ask, well it is eating without talking. Why isn't there any conversation you quiz...well it is a room filled with individuals enjoying their meal so all you can hear is the clinking of the forks against their plates, the decided scrape of their knives as they slice through the meat and bread in addition to their spoons twirling the milk and sugar into their coffee . As well, it could be because the chair opposite me is empty. Why is the chair empty, your curiousity aroused....because my friend didn't show up!

Betty's Restaurant Niagara Falls