Bottleneck...

I was going to rant about bad grammar…I was going to rant about people that have kids when they can not afford them….I was going to rant about people in glass houses that throw stones….

But in all honesty, I cannot get the anger to flow. I have had a bunch of fleeting thoughts that fall into the “wow, that would be a good blog entry” category. But it keeps getting extinguished by a fun weekend of carpet camping, movie night with a four year old, an evening playing a silly board game, the maple sugaring adventure….none of which I have written about because I have been too busy enjoying them…

Bulls On Parade...

Slowing It Down….

I definitely use music to unwind when driving home from work….recently found this CD again….


Love Her Madly – The Doors
Strangelove - Dépêche Mode
A Little Respect - Erasure
Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
Every Little Thing – Soul For Real
Finding Me – Vertical Horizon
Never – The Roc Project
Lady – MOD JO
Boys of Summer – The Atari’s
You Wanted More - Tonic
Can’t Hardly Wait – The Pretenders
Everything You Want – Vertical Horizon
Desert Rose – Sting
Keep Me From Harm – Peter Murphy
Can’t Get Enough – Afghan Whigs
What It Feels Like For A Girl – Madonna
Because The Night – 10,000 Maniacs
To Where You Are – Josh Groban

Mix That May Get Me A Speeding Ticket…

Battle Without Honor Or Humanity – Tomoyasu Hotei
Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
Welcome To The Jungle – Guns N Roses
Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
Tainted Love – Marilyn Manson
Bitch – Goo Goo Dolls
Material Girl – Madonna
You Give Love A Bad Name – Bon Jovi
Kick Out The Jams – Rage Against The Machine
Monkey – George Michael
Magnificent Seven – The Clash
When I Grow Up – Garbage
Impression That I Get (Live) – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Someday I Suppose (Live) – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
State Of Love And Trust – Pearl Jam
How Soon Is Now – The Smiths
Push It – Garbage
If I Had A Million Dollars – The Barenaked Ladies
I Drove All Night – Cyndi Lauper

Shoos!!

Despite the icky weather, three intrepid explorers headed out Saturday….the main motivation was to get outside in the fresh air but also, the new bindings had to be tested out. And guess what? They work phenomenally!!



I ran…yes, you read that right…me…who does not run…I ran!!! It did not feel like I had more than boots on! It also caused the rest of the group to wonder if there was a bear behind them – because as I very often proclaim - I do not run unless chased by a man with a chainsaw.

Funny thing - the laces on my boots actually came undone but the bindings did NOT budge!!

We had a fun trek around an abandoned golf course and TGP proved yet again how there is a solution for everything – check out the tripod!!

This May Be True...

see more funny videos

Minions....

Banana....

I need to see this movie....

Hammer Time…

The second part of Saturday was the icing on the cake – it made the rest of the day just as fun as the first part - completely unplanned and spontaneous!

TGP and I had just gotten warmed up after snowshoeing when he got a text that his buddy was firing up the forge in his backyard. So, we took a trek up into the mountains to check it out.

Standing outside near the warmth of the forge and watching the snow fall gave me such a feeling of peace. Originally we thought we would only be watching but after a bit, both of us were dropping the hammer! I worked on a plant hook for a bit but decided to watch for the rest of the time. TGP and his buddies worked together on a monster bike chain – 3 hammer strikes in practiced succession – to hammer it into a knife blade.

The guys will protest that they are all novices, but it does not matter – they are making something that will last and they are making it with their own two hands. I had an overwhelming feeling of pride watching these craftsmen working the metal into something that can be used.

Oh and completely amusing - you can always tell when I have the camera….the picture sequence is person, person, person, doggie, cool stuff at the forge, doggie, other doggie, person, person, another doggie, person, person, forge, doggie….

More Snowshoeing!!

One of the goals of the winter is to snowshoe more – I waited all summer for a chance to snowshoe again and winter has obliged and dumped a ridiculous amount of snow on us.

You know it’s bad when the weatherman starts getting sarcastic about it – “Oh, where would we be without a Tuesday or Saturday storm?” and “The kids will be in school until July but they are having fun today!” For once they are actually predicting the weather properly…and they really do not have a back up career as comedians…

Anywho, thanks to TGP’s motivation, we were up early enough to snowshoe a bit Saturday morning. The snow was sparkly, the air was crisp and we had powder to play in!


One of the coolest things was that I finally saw a Pileated (dilapidated) Woodpecker! It rather big and noisy…remind you of anyone?? Tee-hee! Seriously, it is the size of a chicken and Woody Woodpecker is modeled after him – think of Woody’s laugh…now imagine two of them calling back and forth….

I also got to try out my tracking skills….I can recognize the difference between cat paws and raccoons….and I found that they both like to hang out under the Maggie. (TGP’s macho car with the girly name)

During our break, we just sat enjoying the quiet…..until a chickadee started singing. TGP and the bird had a good five minute call and answer session before the chicka-dee-dee-dee decided that it had other things to do. It still amazes me that TGP can call to a chickadee and the bird will repeat the call and come closer!! During our first hike together last January, he called the bird and it landed in his hand to eat part of a granola bar.

We could have been out there all day but the day had a fun spontaneous surprise in store for us…..and that will be in the next blog entry!

The Daily Wag…

One of the things that makes me smile on a daily basis…whoever writes it definitely is an animal person….

http://dailywag.marthastewart.com/

The fact that the main contibutors are Frenchies just makes it even better….

I even break my own rule of mocking dogs with coats for this blog…

New Shoos!!

They are purple and pretty and girly!!!



And they have an issue with the bindings.....


Luckily TGP is skilled in the “Mods Department” so there is a fix in the works.

We did a mini jaunt to try them out…a longer trek with the new and improved bindings will take place at a later date!

Make It Stop…

As most everyone knows, we have had a ridiculous amount of snow in the past month. And I have not been able to enjoy any of it.

I would love to just snuggle in, have some cocoa or spiced rum and watch the snow fall.

BUT…..There is no enjoying the snow this winter.

With every snowfall we have to worry about you-know-who. If her caretaker can not make it there, one of us has to be there…and the other holds down the home fort.

The one that is stuck with you-know-who needs phone counseling because of that awful feeling - being stuck someplace that you do not want to be…and even if you could leave, you can’t because the weather will not let you. You are stuck and there is no way that you can get out of it. Depressing, huh?

So whenever the report of snow pops up, it is followed by a sinking feeling. Add to that, the fact that I am surrounded by people who talk about the next storm all day long – there is no need to for me to watch the weather reports.

I want to go back to skiing and snowshoeing in this snow….to watching the flakes fall….to planning what to put in the crockpot…to bake something to warm the house a bit more….

Why is she still here? I am actually jealous of the people that are dying….people that are not much younger than her have moved on…why is she still struggling with life….and dragging us down with her?

La Fete Des Rois…

Interesting work day today – we had a scheduled luncheon - always fun since we have a leisurely lunch and there is never a rush to get back to work.

Dessert was a surprise twist - a traditional French cake that is used to celebrate the Epiphany.

In every cake, they bake a porcelain figurine – if you find it, you are the King/Queen for the day! (and you hope you find it before you bite into it….)

Anyway, we had four cakes and the first three were found rather quickly so I did not think much of it….

Until staring back at me when I removed a layer of crust was a figurine that looked like the Baby Jesus you would place in a Nativity scene!!

Since it’s a new thing for me, I had to do some research….

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_cake

http://fetedesrois.blogspot.com/

http://www.transparent.com/french/la-fete-des-rois/






So, now that you have read all about it….

All Hail Me – Queen Dizzy Vizzy!!!


(LOL – like that would EVER work!)

Random Memory...

Back in grammar school, one of our class projects was a balloon release. Attached was a card with our name, school information as well as a request to mail the card back letting us know where i
it was found.

Obviously this was back when releasing balloons was not recognized as a hazard to the environment and it was still thought of as safe to send children’s information out into the world.

One of the main reasons that I still have that card is because my balloon went the furthest.

The whole point of sharing this memory?

I realized the other day that I now work in the town in which my balloon landed….

Weird, huh?

Getting Older?

It used to be that I would pick up and head off for an adventure at the drop of a hat. I find that I am not traveling as much as I used to.

On one hand I miss it…..

On the other I am happy to stay put…..

An invite to go to NYC Sunday night appears and my first thought is “Oh! It’s a school night”…before even wondering what time the event is…

Maybe I am no longer “running” from things.

Maybe I was bored by my onesie.

Maybe I did not want to be home alone with my thoughts.

Maybe it’s because I get up really early for work.

Maybe I am protecting my finances.

Maybe I am getting older.

Maybe it’s a combination of things.

Who knows…..

Writing Fragments...

For as long as I can remember, I have had the same thoughts when I write:


The smell of the ink...

The feel of the pen as it glides along the paper....

The paper is thirsty....

Deal Hoarding…

When to let go of a deal….

I recently watched the first episode of TLC’s “Extreme Couponing”…take “Hoarders” and combine with an obsession for getting a deal…

It is couponing beyond extreme….hence the name…

One woman has an incredible stock pile…all stuff that she got for free…that is insured for $35,000. (That is no longer free, folks…)

She often blows off plans with her friends and her hubby to go get a deal.

Deals come and go…they even repeat…

Sometimes it is just not worth chasing.

I could have gone out the other night and done a diaper deal that would have resulted in a box of 44 count diapers for $3.50 – talk about a great baby gift!

But I CHOSE to spend time with TGP – CHOSE to have some yummy French onion soup, CHOSE to have a few adult beverages, CHOSE to enjoy the company of others.

The deal was great but I CHOSE to let it go and do something good for my soul.

Yes, I enjoy the deal high…I enjoy the finds at 90% off…

But I CHOSE to do what was important for me….

I’m sure that I will continue to watch the show….but I will not live my life that way.

Cans, Cans...

I went food shopping last night… The people shopping there were nuts…even more nuts than usual….

Besides the “Pre-storm panic – we NEED eggs, bread and milk because we will never be able to dig out and what if we need supplies!!!” shoppers, there were the people shopping Shoprite’s famous Can-Can Sale…aggressively shopping, may I add….

People were SNATCHING cans of Progresso soup off the shelf…..one guy had a shopping cart full of Ronzoni pasta because it was 40 cents a box….(me? I had 3 boxes of another pasta that were free after coupons) It was impossible not to stare…

The jingle was playing every 20 minutes too…I’m already there – no need to remind me!! Of course it got stuck in my head…..was told that if I sang the “Can-Can” song one more time, I would have to walk home. Naturally I waited until we were pulling in the driveway to start up again…tee-hee….

Twenty Eleven…

I have big plans for you….

Paying off the debt.

Maintaining my ability to hike over ten miles.

Seeing my "further-away" friends a bit more.

Snowshoeing.

Continuing the course to a healthier weight range.

Spending quality time with TGP.

Socking away money into the 401K.

Completing my f-ing “To Do” lists without freaking out.

Letting go a bit more...of the fact that I can’t fix everything.