I need more work clothes. Maybe not suits in particular, but I definitely need more office appropriate clothes. Today, a client of Rob's, Dr. Jesse Ho is coming in to go over his mortgage options. I dug out my old black skirt and the nicest top that's ironed, threw on some heels and even did my hair. But this is pretty much it for nice office outfits. So I guess it's time to go shopping. Any suggestions on where to get appropriate office wear without it actually being suits, let me know. :)
Last night I made the best damn beer can chicken ever known. I think part of the reason it was so tasty besides my ability to offer deliciousness is the type of chicken. I've made beer can chicken several times in the past, and it was good, but not over the top good like last night. I decided that if I'm going to eat meat, it has to be happy meat meaning it lived a good happy life. I follow that rule quite closely except when it came to whole chickens. I couldn't fathom spending $20 on a chicken. But last night I decided to give it a whirl. So I went to Whole Foods and carefully selected a chicken. I read the label and the information card and was pleased to see that my chicken lived a happy life. It was free to roam where it wanted, it was on a vegetarian diet, it had sunshine and friends.
I can not begin to tell you how freakin' good this chicken was. The meat was tender, juicy and tons of it, not like the scrawny little birds you get at Save-on. Then I remembered my mom telling me that Stan (her brother) had bought an organic turkey and it was super tasty. So I guess that confirms my decision to eat happy meat: it really does taste better.
PS, I consider myself lucky that I can buy a $20 chicken BECAUSE A) I don't have to feed a family (If I did there's no way in hell I'd get a chicken like that) B) because it's just Rob and I, 1 chicken lasts almost a week for meals and lunches (which actually saves money in the long run) C) Hrm. I had a "C" but now I can't remember.
Anyway, if you can afford to splurge on a chicken, I would suggest a big happy beast from WF. Super awesome.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Hiking!
I'm about to head off to do a fabulous hike with two friends and my doggie!!! Today we're heading to Lynn Peak (in case I go missing) and the weather looks like it's going cooperate! I haven't done this hike before so I'm pretty excited.
One of the friends is an old-new friend. I first met Jessica in 2007 when I went to Vegas for Brandon's birthday. We became Facebook friends, but haven't really chatted until recently. I noticed that she was training for the same Half Marathon, a first for her as well. So we got chatting and today we are now going to do a hike together.... and it will be the first time we see each other in four years!!!! I'm looking forward to it.
Christine, my partner in crime, is also joining us!!!!! I haven't seen C in awhile so I'm stoked that she will climbing a mountain with us.
Anyway, I have to go get dressed, now that I stuffed my face. So remember: LYNN PEAK. I told Rob, but he's a man. He asked when he should expect me back. I said: "When you get hungry, remember that there is a girl that feeds you, then take a look around. If you don't see her, try calling her cell. If she doesn't answer, call her mom". hahahah. Before he left, he tucked me into bed and I said "When should I be back by?" and he answered "When I get hungry". So cute.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
BBQ
I love sunny days. I love to BBQ on sunny days!!! Yesterday afternoon, it was really hard to work. Dave and I sat daydreaming out the window, watching all the happy people basking in the sun. So we took off a bit early (4pm, not that early, but early by my standards). I immediately went home and demanded Rob to take me for a motorcycle ride. Which he happily obliged.
I have my own motorcycle, but sometimes it's nice just riding on the back, seeing the sights and smelling summer.... oh yes.... summer. So many freshly cut lawns yesterday. Oh and the flowers!!!! Our city is absolutely one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Yes, the world. Only when it's sunny though :)
After got back I whipped up our favorite summer dinner: perfectly grilled steaks, perfectly grilled corn which was smothered in butter, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil before it was put on the BBQ, and roasted potatoes with fresh rosemary that Rob is growing. OMG. We then sat down and ate this lovely meal, drank a bottle of yummy wine all the while watching our favorite show, the Good Wife. We polished this meal off with a lemon tart from Whole Foods for me and a pecan tart for Rob.
We headed over to our friend's across the street where they have the most amazing view of the city. We sat there and drank more wine and watched the sunset. After we went inside and watched Wipe Out. All in all, an amazing Tuesday. Just amazing.
I have my own motorcycle, but sometimes it's nice just riding on the back, seeing the sights and smelling summer.... oh yes.... summer. So many freshly cut lawns yesterday. Oh and the flowers!!!! Our city is absolutely one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Yes, the world. Only when it's sunny though :)
After got back I whipped up our favorite summer dinner: perfectly grilled steaks, perfectly grilled corn which was smothered in butter, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil before it was put on the BBQ, and roasted potatoes with fresh rosemary that Rob is growing. OMG. We then sat down and ate this lovely meal, drank a bottle of yummy wine all the while watching our favorite show, the Good Wife. We polished this meal off with a lemon tart from Whole Foods for me and a pecan tart for Rob.
We headed over to our friend's across the street where they have the most amazing view of the city. We sat there and drank more wine and watched the sunset. After we went inside and watched Wipe Out. All in all, an amazing Tuesday. Just amazing.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sitting Up Straight
Boy it's hard to try and have good posture. I forget to sit up straight then catch a glimpse of my reflection in the window and I'm almost touching the desk with my head because I'm so slumped over!!!! So today I'm going to try very hard to sit up straight and have perfect posture.
Anyway, that wasn't really why I was posting something here. I know my title is misleading, but whatever.
I watch this show called Sister Wives. I couldn't help but to watch. I was curious about why someone would ever want to get involved in a polygamy lifestyle. Why would anyone want to share a husband? Why would anyone want to help raise other peoples kids? Sounds stupid. Then I started watching it. Maybe my opinion is now just based on this one particularly functioning poly family, but I have definitely changed my tune.
This particular family, the Browns, live in Utah (of course) and there are four wives and one husband. The fourth wife is a new addition to the group which came about while the show was on so it was interesting to see the dynamics of the family adjust for this new wife and her children that she already had. But they did adjust and they are all incredibly happy.
The first three wives have each been married to Cody for more than 15 years, two of them I do believe are children of a polygamy family. And the one thing they all have in common: they love everyone.
They don't all live in one house, sharing one bedroom... each wife has their own "wing" (except Robin who lives down the street because she's the latest wife and there's no room at the Inn). All the wives are just what the title of the show says, Sisters. You know the saying, strength in numbers, well no kidding!!!!
They each raise their own kids, but each wife helps out. It's kind of like if you lived with your aunts and cousins. Your aunts would be there to help out if you need them, but you abide by the rules of your mom and dad.
I'm at work and I have to go, the phone is ringing. If you get a chance, please watch this show. You might become a bit more enlightened. Oh, and now they have to move because .... putting the person on hold..... they are being investigated. (Not all the wives are legally married, but it's causing problems). Ok, have to go.
Anyway, that wasn't really why I was posting something here. I know my title is misleading, but whatever.
I watch this show called Sister Wives. I couldn't help but to watch. I was curious about why someone would ever want to get involved in a polygamy lifestyle. Why would anyone want to share a husband? Why would anyone want to help raise other peoples kids? Sounds stupid. Then I started watching it. Maybe my opinion is now just based on this one particularly functioning poly family, but I have definitely changed my tune.
This particular family, the Browns, live in Utah (of course) and there are four wives and one husband. The fourth wife is a new addition to the group which came about while the show was on so it was interesting to see the dynamics of the family adjust for this new wife and her children that she already had. But they did adjust and they are all incredibly happy.
The first three wives have each been married to Cody for more than 15 years, two of them I do believe are children of a polygamy family. And the one thing they all have in common: they love everyone.
They don't all live in one house, sharing one bedroom... each wife has their own "wing" (except Robin who lives down the street because she's the latest wife and there's no room at the Inn). All the wives are just what the title of the show says, Sisters. You know the saying, strength in numbers, well no kidding!!!!
They each raise their own kids, but each wife helps out. It's kind of like if you lived with your aunts and cousins. Your aunts would be there to help out if you need them, but you abide by the rules of your mom and dad.
I'm at work and I have to go, the phone is ringing. If you get a chance, please watch this show. You might become a bit more enlightened. Oh, and now they have to move because .... putting the person on hold..... they are being investigated. (Not all the wives are legally married, but it's causing problems). Ok, have to go.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Remembering
Last night I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned. I tried lying on my side. Then my stomach. Then on my back with a pillow over my head. Then I was too hot. So I dangled a leg over the side of the bed. Then I was too cold. At some point I finally drifted off into dreamland.
This morning when I awoke I realized why I had trouble falling asleep. I was mad. I was disappointed. I was a lot of things, none of which were positive feelings, the kind that you should have before you go to sleep. I can't say if it was over anything in particular, kind of a mixed bag, but either way it didn't allow me to be happy.
I came into work this morning with the same kind of feeling. This tightness in the chest. Nothing is really wrong, I'm just not as happy as maybe I should be. I got my coffee and went to my favorite news sites. I usually do this at home while eating breakfast but because I was running late (didn't get to work until 9am!!!) I took the first five minutes of sitting at my desk to quickly glance.
The first article was about an old teacher of mine in North Vancouver who died Monday night in a fire. His beloved dog Ashley was found next to him. Oh gawd, not helping my looming feeling. The next article was equally depressing. Then I came across an article that stopped me dead in my tracks. "The Last Post".
I started to read this and by the time I got to the end all the air in my body had been sucked out of me taking all feelings with it. I sat quietly still holding my coffee cup (Fluffy's Cafe) and stared out the window, looking down onto Broadway; the rain coming down in sheets..... This man's last entry I think has changed my life. I can't quite explain it.
Derek Miller, may you rest in peace, I can not thank you enough for coming into my life now. Even though you are gone, your words are not. I can't wait to read your archived blogs.
Thank you.
This morning when I awoke I realized why I had trouble falling asleep. I was mad. I was disappointed. I was a lot of things, none of which were positive feelings, the kind that you should have before you go to sleep. I can't say if it was over anything in particular, kind of a mixed bag, but either way it didn't allow me to be happy.
I came into work this morning with the same kind of feeling. This tightness in the chest. Nothing is really wrong, I'm just not as happy as maybe I should be. I got my coffee and went to my favorite news sites. I usually do this at home while eating breakfast but because I was running late (didn't get to work until 9am!!!) I took the first five minutes of sitting at my desk to quickly glance.
The first article was about an old teacher of mine in North Vancouver who died Monday night in a fire. His beloved dog Ashley was found next to him. Oh gawd, not helping my looming feeling. The next article was equally depressing. Then I came across an article that stopped me dead in my tracks. "The Last Post".
I started to read this and by the time I got to the end all the air in my body had been sucked out of me taking all feelings with it. I sat quietly still holding my coffee cup (Fluffy's Cafe) and stared out the window, looking down onto Broadway; the rain coming down in sheets..... This man's last entry I think has changed my life. I can't quite explain it.
Derek Miller, may you rest in peace, I can not thank you enough for coming into my life now. Even though you are gone, your words are not. I can't wait to read your archived blogs.
Thank you.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Animals, or should I say pets
Why do we have pets? Please, anyone out there explain to me why we feel the need to have an animal trapped inside with us, thinking that this would be awesome with some sort of positive reward. Where's my R.O.I.????
Some would say unconditional love.... yes, some peoples pets love them unconditionally. Mine do not.
Some would say companionship.... yes, some peoples pets make great companions. Mine do not. Sadie, my dog, won't really run with me. She will however run behind me plotting my death. Sadie won't really walk with me either. She will be ten paces behind sulking. Freckles, my cat, will only be with me if it's around 3am and she wants my pillow. So she will take it.
Some would say snuggles.... yes, some peoples pets snuggle them. Mine do not. Unless forced which never turns out well for me. That usually ends with me feeling rejected and quite possibly scratched and bleeding.
Last week was a super killer awfully busy work week for me. Insane. Roller coaster. Couldn't wait for it to be over. Anyway, on Tuesday night I was completely exhausted. I could barely think straight. Rob and I watched the hockey game at a friends across the street then afterwards we went for some sushi. After I stuffed myself with some sushi I politely excused myself from the table and went home. All I could think about was bed. Sweet glorious bed. I dragged my butt home and promptly went to bed, falling asleep into dreamland.
Only to be awoken by Rob at some point to inform me that Freckles had barfed on the bed, next to my head. I was so_darn_tired... I barely opened up my right eye to take a look to confirm that yes, there was a big pile of unprocessed cat puke right next to my head. Awesome. So then I asked myself: can you sleep with puke next to you..... I was leaning towards the answer of "yes" until I became a bit more awake... to realize that it just wasn't next to me. My freakin' cat puked on my head. It was on my pillow and in my hair. OH_MY_GOD. So I had to get up and clean myself and my bed. I was just too tired to do it..... but it got done.
I found out the next morning that Rob didn't actually wake me up to tell me about puke, but to declare his news of what had just happened to him: he was out innocently walking the dog.... who of course darted into the bush, bit a skunk who in return sprayed her and Rob..... Ugh. He had to walk to the 24hr animal hospital to get skunk stuff, go back to our garbage room where there is a hose, wash him, the dog and our friend Steve who also had the pleasure of getting sprayed, go back upstairs, wash his clothes, have a shower and finally made it to be around 5:30am.
I got up a few hours later to go to work only to find another small pile of puke, but this time on the floor, however it was next to a pile of cat poop. I think the cat barfed and while doing so squished out a log. So I had to spend the first fifteen minutes of being awake, cleaning up animal stuff.
So why do we have pets?
Some would say unconditional love.... yes, some peoples pets love them unconditionally. Mine do not.
Some would say companionship.... yes, some peoples pets make great companions. Mine do not. Sadie, my dog, won't really run with me. She will however run behind me plotting my death. Sadie won't really walk with me either. She will be ten paces behind sulking. Freckles, my cat, will only be with me if it's around 3am and she wants my pillow. So she will take it.
Some would say snuggles.... yes, some peoples pets snuggle them. Mine do not. Unless forced which never turns out well for me. That usually ends with me feeling rejected and quite possibly scratched and bleeding.
Last week was a super killer awfully busy work week for me. Insane. Roller coaster. Couldn't wait for it to be over. Anyway, on Tuesday night I was completely exhausted. I could barely think straight. Rob and I watched the hockey game at a friends across the street then afterwards we went for some sushi. After I stuffed myself with some sushi I politely excused myself from the table and went home. All I could think about was bed. Sweet glorious bed. I dragged my butt home and promptly went to bed, falling asleep into dreamland.
Only to be awoken by Rob at some point to inform me that Freckles had barfed on the bed, next to my head. I was so_darn_tired... I barely opened up my right eye to take a look to confirm that yes, there was a big pile of unprocessed cat puke right next to my head. Awesome. So then I asked myself: can you sleep with puke next to you..... I was leaning towards the answer of "yes" until I became a bit more awake... to realize that it just wasn't next to me. My freakin' cat puked on my head. It was on my pillow and in my hair. OH_MY_GOD. So I had to get up and clean myself and my bed. I was just too tired to do it..... but it got done.
I found out the next morning that Rob didn't actually wake me up to tell me about puke, but to declare his news of what had just happened to him: he was out innocently walking the dog.... who of course darted into the bush, bit a skunk who in return sprayed her and Rob..... Ugh. He had to walk to the 24hr animal hospital to get skunk stuff, go back to our garbage room where there is a hose, wash him, the dog and our friend Steve who also had the pleasure of getting sprayed, go back upstairs, wash his clothes, have a shower and finally made it to be around 5:30am.
I got up a few hours later to go to work only to find another small pile of puke, but this time on the floor, however it was next to a pile of cat poop. I think the cat barfed and while doing so squished out a log. So I had to spend the first fifteen minutes of being awake, cleaning up animal stuff.
So why do we have pets?
Sunday, May 1, 2011
It's Race Day
So, it's 5am on this wonderful Sunday. I'm sitting at my table drinking extremely dark coffee trying to get my tummy ready for some food. I am so excited. I did not sleep last night... well, sort of. I guess I finally got to sleep after midnight but I had to wake up at 4:45am so not much sleep. Hopefully it's enough to run 21K.
I'm so lucky. I have such great friends and family. Mt parents came back from Maui just to see me cross the finish line! My bestest bud Christine and her husband Jason are driving in from Surrey to stand there and also watch!!! Yesterday evening when I was finishing dinner there was a knock at my door. My neighbour Holly was there holding a box from Whole Foods containing my favorite yummiest dessert of all time.... a lemon tart!!! She and her husband purchased one for me to enjoy after I finish the run!!! How freakin' awesome is THAT?! I got so many texts and emails last night offering good wishes and encouragement. Soooo lucky am I!
I guess it's time to finally shove some food into me. Next blog will be in a few hours..... after my first Half Marathon!!!! WOOT WOOT!
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