Happy Birthday Robbie Burns

I had my cousins over for a Robbie Burns' (Scottish poet, in case you don't know) dinner last night. I went full out, like I usually do! I even made a kilt this week :). I used the internet and my grandma for recipes and served Cock-a-leekie soup (kinda bland, but i liked it), Bannocks (dry!!), Collops of Beef (marinated steak basically, liked it), Clapshot (mashed turnip and potato, quite excellent), Haggis (seriously yucky to look at it and I didn't like it at all), Black Pudding (soooo digusting), peas and carrots, and Floating Island (red currant jelly meringue on sherry laced whipped cream - yummy). We read the Selkirk Grace and Address to the Haggis. I did an immortal memory (basically, a history of Burns and why we bother celebrating his birthday). And we also read random poems and songs - including Auld Lang Syne which in probably the most well known. My favourite poem is On My Own Friend And My Father's Friend, Wm. Muir in Tarbolton Mill. It's an epitaph/elegy and it reminds me of my scottish grandfather who died when I was 15.

As for the kilt, my grandma gave me some plaid fabric so I could make a scarf or something, but she bought quite a bit. I decided to attempt a kilt and googled "how to make a kilt". Using this website, I got this result:

The pin you can't see in this pic (near my left hand) is a silver scotty dog that I gave to my grandfather for Christmas one year and that my grandma gave back to me after he died.

And in the news - I've been reading about the Tory attack ads on Stephane Dion. I despise attack ads. I think they are the lowest form of politics. I don't care what you think of the other side, I only want to know what you will do for me. Or at the very least, what you would like to promise me for the now that you probably won't be able to fulfill later. Lie to me about yourself, don't diss your opponent! Ahhhh, the faith I have in politicans.

unrelated thought bubbles

Great news! Booked a flight to Edmonton for Easter weekend. Hopefully, people will be around.

I am seriously addicted to West Wing. I'm downloading the next season as I watch the one before. I can't stop. I'm near the end of season four and can't get over how so many of the issues are still current. And the now obvious foreshadowing (I don't know if that's the right word though. Sure, it would be foreshadowing in a book where the author knows the end, but in a tv series, do they have any idea how it will end?). But anyway - there are at least two references to making Leo vice-president during Barlett's reign, so now it makes complete sense that Leo's on the ticket later. Mostly I just want to skip to season 7 and watch Donna and Josh get together.

I'm having a Robbie Burns supper next weekend for my cousins and me. I drove out to Langley to pick up the haggis and black pudding I ordered on Saturday morning. I hate Langley! The drive out was very pretty as I took highway 10 and got to see the sun trying to break through all the morning fog. But once I got to Langley, I got very confused in the miles and miles of big box stores. Why can't we just have a really big mall with a directory?! I finally found the little shop I needed and picked up my order. It smells. And it's frozen! Dear god... I have to cook this.

So I'm reading Eat, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss. Turns out I'm a fan of a thing called the Oxford comma. When I edit things, I tend to add commas. When my dad edits the same paper (this happened a lot, my sister always wanted two opinions and then went her own way), he takes them out. Turns out both methods are legit. An example: my way - 'The American flag is red, white, and blue.' My dad's way - 'The American flag is red, white and blue.' The extra comma is called an Oxford comma. Haven't you always wanted to know that?

My car is going in this week for its first scheduled tuneup since I bought it. Since I didn't want to go through the angst of finding a trustworthy mechanic near where I live, I'm using my dad's mechanic. This means I had to leave my car up there and borrowed my dad's old car. It's old. It's huge. I want my car back! And it's weird driving it. My dad bought it when I was in high school. I was never ever allowed to touch it. It was the "good" car. Now it's nearly 15 years old and in rough shape. Please don't let it snow until I get my car back.

I seem to have lost interest in Canadian politics. Even the liberal leadership conference didn't really spark anything. But wow, I'm interested in the Democratic presidential nomination. And it's like a year away! Very, very, very interesting, so many possibilities. Of course, I can't vote there, so it doesn't matter. And the only news story here starting tomorrow morning will be the Pickton trial. I may have to start listening to music again, instead of the all news station. Music... I wonder what they are playing this year.

Interview Questions

What a crazy week. The weather is just insane. I heard rumours that Vancouver was warm and rainy in the winter, but they lied. Wednesday was the day of the big snow storm. I worked an afternoon shift, so when I went to work the roads weren't too bad and the traffic was just slightly higher than normal. The snow got heavier and heavier throughout the afternoon and evening and the city went nuts. At supper, four hours after I started work, I went out to move my car from the outside parking lot to the underground parking lot. There was about a foot and half of snow covering my car. People stayed quite late at work, trying to avoid the incredible tangle of traffic. I know of one guy who took over 3 hours to drive what usually took 30 minutes. When I finally got off work, it only took me an extra 10 minutes, but it helped that there were almost no other cars at that time of night. More snow in the forecast for this week!

Onto a meme - In case you haven't seen the interview meme before, someone asks you 5 questions and you answer them. Very simple. If anyone wants to ask me more questions, I'd love it. And if you want me to ask you 5 questions, let me know.

Questions I've been asked:

1) What are some of your favorite healthy snacks?

Veggies, I love veggies. I try to cut everything up when I get home from the grocery store so that it's ready to snack on when I get the munchies. A couple of things I like if I want to make them slightly fancier than plain veggies - steamed broccoli with ginger spice and garlic salt, fake nachos (a plate full of red/green pepper strips and tomatoes with shredded cheese), using lowfat/low cal salad dressing as a dip, dill pickles (nice crunch, lots of taste). I also use veggies to increase the volume of all my meals - having salads with everything, using bean sprouts or coleslaw (the bag stuff, not the mayo stuff) as a base for stirfrys instead of rice or pasta, etc. Fruit is also a a great snack, especially melon or berries. Fruit is a great alternative for dessert, it's nice and sweet. And even if you want something sugary with it, you can add a bit of chocolate topping or sugar (fake chemical stuff if you like, I use a packet of splenda sometimes). Suddenly I have a craving for a pita pizza - pita pocket used as a pizza crust with either tomato sauce or hummus and veggies.


2) How has the hockey been this year?

It's been fun. The Northwest division is super tight and teams keep trading first spot. Last time I looked, only 5 points separated first from fifth. It's more tragic when you look at the Conference as a whole, because then you discover the whole Northwest division kind of sucks. But it's been fun cheering for two teams (the Canucks and the Oilers) who are in the same division and frequently play each other. I've been to more games this year (4 so far) then I have in the last 10 years. I have a friend who throws hockey parties, so it's even been part of my social life. Good season! As for predictions - playoffs usually surprise me, but it really really looks like Buffalo and Anaheim have a lock on the final round.


3) You have 48 hours with unlimited funds and total free time. What do you do? (You can't just withdraw the money and move it to your savings account, it has to be spent within the 48 hours)

Wow. How wrong is it that my first thought was I'd stay in my pjs and never leave my house. Reading, sewing, soaking in the bath tub. I'm currently on a weird schedule that doesn't involve more than 1 day off at a time (this weekend, two days!). But the unlimited funds things, hmmm.... I want a spa day! The full package deal, massage, facial, haircut, mani/pedicure etc etc. Shopping spree. And a fabric shopping spree. Followed by another massage I think. I want to be pampered, can you tell?


4) Would you ever consider becoming a foster parent?

Actually, yes I would. My grandmother was a foster parent to babies back in the 50s and 60s and three of my aunts and uncles are adopted. One of my cousins is technically a foster kid, but he's been part of our family for at least 6 years now. Hopefully one day I'll be stable enough with decent enough hours to be able to offer a good home to someone who needs it. I actually plan to look into becoming a Big Sister this year, but I have to figure out the time commitment. I'd love to get involved in something like Girl Guides, but I can't commit to evening week hours.


5) How are you liking your new job? Are you no longer on night shift?

I really really like my new job. It's got lots of variety - running instruments, looking at slides, miscellaneous testing. I no longer work traditional nights like I used to, but I now work mostly evenings. I don't really care during the week, but it sucks on Fridays!

owie

Oh, I am in so much pain. I was super motivated on Friday and went for a major workout. Several hours, doing both strength training and a run. Apparently I either did too much weight or too many reps. I swear I stretched. A lot! But egad the pain.... I knew Friday night it was going to be bad. Saturday morning was horrifying, especially since I had to go to work. Sitting for 8 hours didn't help. It still aches this morning. Saturday morning it was my qlutes, but by late last night it had migrated down to my calves. That's what still hurts the most. And tomorrow, I'm supposed to go back to the gym!

Friday night, Rod and I went to the Canucks vs Oilers game. Pretty good game, even though the Oil lost in OT. 3-2. Saturday, I worked my first weekend shift. It was a good day, even though it was a Saturday! Shouldn't have to work another one for 3-4 months so that's pretty good. After work, I went to a movie with my sister - The Pursuit of Happyness. Not bad, not great. Today was sheer laziness. A little sewing, a little cleaning, a lot of reading and sleeping. Only one day off in a row is weird, I don't feel like getting stuff done. Especially since it would have required moving my aching muscles. Bah, work tomorrow again.

Welcome 2007

Happy New Year all!!

As usual, I made some New Year's resolutions last night. 25 mins into my first morning of the New Year and I'm still holding strong! *L*

First the review of last year's resolutions -
1) Reach and maintain Target Weight. Unfortunately no. But I do weigh less than last year and I did pretty well at going to the gym. It's part of my lifestyle now, and that's the real accomplishment.

2) Blog weekly! Well, definitely not weekly, but not too bad until the last few weeks.

3) Become a better listener. This has been a resolution of mine since I was probably old enough to understand what it meant. I really really want to do this, but I have no idea how!

4) Be debt-free for at least 4 seconds. I actually succeeded in this and it is still currently true!!

And now for 2007 -

Most importantly - 1) Reach and maintain Target Weight. I'm doing it this year. I'm setting up a bribe system even! For every pound I lose, I get to buy a book :) And when I get to my goal - a tailored leather jacket, leather boots and a tattoo will be MINE!!!! I'll be setting up a gym schedule later today and I've joined a Saturday fitness class that starts on the 13th.

Really, that's my only one. There are things I want to do this year, but it's more of a to-do list, rather than a resolution. Blog weekly, finish my 2006 scrapbook, start a 2007 one, sew more, get caught up on my millions of project ideas, quilt more, go talk to the bank about getting a mortgage (and see if what I can afford and qualify for actually get me the kind of place I want), throw monthly dinner parties since I love to host things, maintain the socialness, be open to new people (finding a new relationship would be nice, but I'm not yet in a speed dating frame of mind), make a point of seeing my grandmothers.... You get the picture.

Best wishes to you and yours for 2007! *hugs*