tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396513038838275612024-02-02T09:43:27.745-08:00The Kotyk ReportAge (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.comBlogger409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-61662060496709975562015-01-07T19:57:00.000-08:002015-01-07T19:57:33.545-08:00The Walking Dead<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMr9MOTVZwB0chK1PkkRYzTOyLaNoRgKFRbQ4nYYIouyAm5PtCjQ33pTBu0ckxcSE2462Ed7ZDliO_IU18f6W2Mxyz1fm_OeGJSIr2FvkXqcaMfLcC952Dv5_nS08w_tCrB7O1UFhIy1sg/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMr9MOTVZwB0chK1PkkRYzTOyLaNoRgKFRbQ4nYYIouyAm5PtCjQ33pTBu0ckxcSE2462Ed7ZDliO_IU18f6W2Mxyz1fm_OeGJSIr2FvkXqcaMfLcC952Dv5_nS08w_tCrB7O1UFhIy1sg/s1600/images.jpg" height="200" width="196" /></a>I hate horror. Horror movies, horror TV shows, blood, guts,brains, bones, zombies, chainsaws, and especially little ghost girls with tangled hair and wearing nightgowns....it doesn't matter. They are all equally <i>horrorble</i> in my book.<br />
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See what I did there? Huh? Huh?<br />
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Moving on.<br />
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I can't handle horror. I get too scared and just can't accept being unable to sleep for several days on end. The last horror movie I watched was in 2002 (yes, 12 years ago!) and it was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/">28 Days Later.</a> I was working at the bakery back then and I had to work at 3:30 am the morning after watching the movie. First of all I didn't sleep. I just laid there in bed listening to every sound and creak within the house. Second of all, the drive to work was one of the most terrifying drives because I was certain that a hoard of infected people would come running into the streets and jump in front of my car. Third of all, I had to open the bakery alone and the next person wasn't coming into work until 5:30 am, which meant that I had 2 painful hours alone in the building. I was afraid that something was lurking around every corner, every shelving unit, every doorway, every bag of flour, and would jump out at me and pull out my throat with its teeth.<br />
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I'm a wimp when it comes to scary stuff.<br />
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For the past 4 years, many of my friends have been insisting that I watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1520211/">The Walking Dead </a>because it is "SOOOOO GOOD!" (their words, not mine). The only response that can sum up how I feel about their requests is,<br />
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"NOPE!"<br />
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Plain and simple. Nope.<br />
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The thing that sucks about it is that the show in on AMC which hints that it is likely a phenomenal show since some of my all-time favourite shows were on AMC. Also, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1520211/">IMDB rates the show as an 8.7/10</a> which is a pretty decent score...and I trust that website quite strongly.<br />
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I know that I could never, ever, in a million trillion years ever be able to mentally, emotionally, physically or spiritually, be able to handle watching it. I am not ashamed to admit that I 100% lack the skills to survive watching that show. I would have to quit my job, give away my dog, by a shotgun, machete and several hundred boxes of tissue so that I could hide in my bedroom, fully armed, where I would eventually die of dehydration from never being able to stop sobbing in fear of being eaten by a zombie.<br />
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Then a few weeks ago I decided to start reading The Walking Dead comic books. I was over at the boyfriend's apartment and it was miserable and raining outside so we were just chilling inside. I wanted to read something and began eyeing his comic book collection (or graphic novels...whatever one wants to call them). He recommended The Walking Dead, which I initially was hesitant to try but decided that I would man-up and read them. My rationale for being able to read them was that I'd never read horror before so maybe it wouldn't be as bad as movies/TV. I would probably be able to handle it all right considering I wasn't seeing the zombies in action and none of them would jump out and surprise me, Also the books began coming out in 2003 and they are still being written, so that goes to show that there is a demand for them, therefore they must be decent read.<br />
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I'm proud to say that I have completed the series up to date and I have not been scared out of my mind even once. They are VERY gory and immensely disturbing in every way possible, but they are a very good read. As I read the books, I spoke to several people who watch the show so I know the differences that the writers of the TV show made to the story compared to the books. Some people who died way back in the books are still kicking in the show, plus there are some characters in the show that don't even exist in the books. However, they all go through terrible event after devastating event after horrific event! There were so many times that I would finish a book, close it up and just sit and think about what I just read. If something like this was to happen in the real world, would I be able to survive?<br />
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The thing that makes me want to write about these books is that they are one of the most morally soul-searching series of books that I have ever read. To say the least, that's a pretty huge statement for someone to say. As I read these books and follow the story of these people, I am continually searching my own soul, wondering how I would survive in a world as the one described in The Walking Dead. Would I ever be able to endure the horrors that the writer hands out to the survivors, and <i>would I even want to endure them?</i> Would I be able to do the things that these people need to do to survive or simply give up and let myself be swept up on the chaos and death? (as many of the characters do).<br />
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The story of The Walking Dead sticks with me very strongly. It's so disturbing and so emotional that I find myself being swept away in the story and constantly considering how a world such as that could exist. There was one incident in book #16 in which I was so disturbed and physically sickened that I had to stop reading, put down the book and think to myself, "This is not real. This is fiction." That goes to show just how much I allowing myself to feel for this story, which is very rare thing for me. I've had some very deep conversations with friends and co-workers about the series and the moral depths that we have reached in these conversations is very intense. Hopefully I never have to know just how strong (or weak) I would be if the world was being overrun by zombies.<br />
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Now for the past couple of days I have seen The Walking Dead listed on the TV Listings and I almost have tuned into AMC a couple times to see, just take a teeny tiny peek of the show...but I'm still too much of a wimp. Baby steps Adrienne. Baby steps.<br />
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<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-91163051230205510472014-12-24T12:16:00.001-08:002014-12-24T12:44:16.363-08:00Counting My BlessingsI've been in a bit of a funk the past few weeks, mostly just stress and whatnot, and the happenings of the past couple of days have made me sit back and re-evaluate my state of mine. I've met a couple new people who have inspired me to put on a happy face. I've been following the holiday stories and pictures on Facebook of my friends and family back home, and knowing that they are enjoying the time of year makes me very happy. I have also been watching a fair amount of uplifting Christmas movies which have actually put me in a very festive spirit.<br />
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One of my all-time favourite Christmas movies is White Christmas, and Bing Crosby said it best, "When I'm worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep." This post is dedicated to all of the blessings in my life which have given me a very festive spirit and the smile that has been glued to my face all day.<br />
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- The fact that it's December 24th, sunny and 8 degrees outside. ABOVE ZERO!<br />
- My amazing family back home who sends me love every day.<br />
- My generous mom who always pays attentions and knows what I want/need and surprises me with the perfect gifts every year.<br />
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- My dad who is always encouraging and forever big-hearted in every way.<br />
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- My oldest sister who loves Christmas to the max, makes everything beautiful and has given me an adorable nephew (and soon to be niece!) and keeps me updated on the happenings around home.<br />
- My middle sister who makes teeny tiny snowmen for me (which always makes me laugh) and has survived a year from hell with amazing strength and courage.<br />
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- My niece who has been such an inspiring person in my life. Watching her and hearing the stories of her strength throughout all of the chemotherapy, horrible treatments and tests and travelling back and forth from Vancouver, has been life-changing and changed my perspective on basically everything.<br />
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- My bestie in Wyoming who has loved and put up with me since we were 5 years old, and respects my opinion enough to send me bits of the novel she is writing.<br />
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- My heterolifepartner who has accepted me for who I am from the first day we met, and always sends me pictures of her kids. I love them and look forward to them every year.<br />
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- The big-hearted boyfriend who makes me constantly laugh out loud and managed to give me a Christmas gift this year that was the absolute perfect balance of practicality and ridiculousness (yes I opened the gift a day early....I couldn't help it)<br />
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- The amazing friend who forces booze on me on Jeopardy night, makes me feel like an equal and that I will always be taken care of.<br />
- The beautiful friend I am happy that I was able to reconnect with here in Victoria and unselfishly accepts to do photography for the friends and family in her life (including for me!)<br />
- My dog who, even though he is a jerkface who is a pain in the butt, makes me laugh constantly and gives me unconditional love.<br />
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- My wonderful co-workers who make my job enjoyable and whose generosity have made me feel welcome in their homes this holiday season.<br />
- All of my friends back in PEI who send me hilarious jokes and gifts, "just because". I miss them all so much.<br />
- All of the people who make Christmas such a special time of year. Like the neighbour 2 houses down who this morning left a gift out for the recycling guys. Or the guy on the motorcycle who put a Santa hat and beard on his helmet. Or the people who put ornaments on some of the trees around Elk Lake. Thanks to those people for making my heart feel warm,<br />
- The fact that I have no food allergies that inhibit me from enjoying all of the amazing food and goodies going around right now.<br />
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Plus 1000 other things that I am sure I did not bring up.<br />
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Please remember to stop and think about all of the people and things in your life that make Christmas so special. Don't think about the presents, or the stress, or the balance in your bank account or the number on the scale on January 1st. Don't worry about whether or not you got the perfect gift for someone. Be happy that you have that someone. Count your blessings.<br />
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Merry Christmas!!!<br />
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<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-8386380133196648122014-11-26T18:16:00.000-08:002014-11-26T18:16:25.655-08:00Jerkface MagooA few days ago there was man passing through the dog park with his highly energetic poodle. He was new to the area and was on the lookout for places to bring his dog to play. He greeted us dog park regulars and took a look around to see what the park had to offer them. As he left, he called his dog to go.<br />
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"Smarty! Let's go!"<br />
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We all stopped and turned to him. I asked, "Did you just call your dog Smarty?"<br />
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He laughed, "Yes, his name is Smarty Pants."<br />
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This got me to thinking about the names we chose for our pets, kids, cars...etc. Looking back on the names you have chosen for your child/pet, would you change them now that you have gotten to know them? I doubt this man could have known for certain that his dog was going to be intelligent (although poodles are incredibly smart dogs) and he must have hoped and prayed that his dog wouldn't grow up to be dumber than a doornail.<br />
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In the series of books that I am currently reading, there are certain communities of people that do not name their children until they reach their second birthday. This is due to the fact that children have increased risk of dying young due to war, famine, disease and all those dreadful happenings that readily occurred before modern medicine and sanitation intervened. So these people would wait until the child turned 2 before giving it an official name. What if that were still the tradition today? Do you think that parents would be naming their children the names that they had expected to initially? I hear stories all of the time about parents who have a name all picked out for their unborn baby, and then the baby is born and the parents decide that the child does not at all look like the name they wanted for it. They meet the kid and suddenly the name does not fit and it's back to the drawing board.<br />
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Perhaps the pressure of finding that perfect name would suddenly disappear when you have 2 years to figure it out. I feel that by getting to know the kid and learning the blossoming personality would definitely help with determining a name that really works. Cause c'mon, we all know someone who does not (at all) suit his/her name. There are some people whose names I cannot, for the life of me, remember because the name just does not suit the person!<br />
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I feel that with a dog, a dog needs to be named immediately because it needs to learn its name and it needs to know when it's being acknowledged so that it can be trained. Not naming a dog until it is 2 is basically the same as not naming a kid until it is 14. That's a bit too long. A think a kid could grow up normally without having a name until 2, but not a dog. However, it would be pretty cool if we could get to know our dogs before we name them.<br />
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After adopting Axel, I liked his name and I felt as though it suited his quite well. But honestly, if I could have waited to get to know him and name him afterwards, there is no doubt in my mind that his name would be Jerkface Magoo. Anyone who knows him would understand why this is the perfect name for my dog.<br />
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1) He's a jerk - sometimes. But when he's a jerk, he's SUCH a jerkface.<br />
2) He's a complete dork with a semi-droopy eye, and therefore a Magoo.<br />
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But I love him anyway.<br />
<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-28289419846031156962014-11-21T12:48:00.000-08:002014-11-21T12:48:42.355-08:00Rain Drops on Roses... Whiskers on Kittens....It's that time again!!! Time for a quick version of my Favourite Things!!!! Every so often I need to boast and divulge some of the things in my current every day life that make me happy.<br />
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1) The parents coming to town. My folks came to the city on Thursday night and stayed with me for 4 days. I was really nervous to have them in my teeny tiny apartment with me and the dog (especially since I was in the process of selling my couch), but it turned out to be pretty good! We made it work. I always love having any family in town. I don't get to see them not nearly enough so having them around makes my heart happy. Just hanging out with them, watching a movie and sharing some beer was a nice way to spend my Saturday night.<br />
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2) Beer. Specifically<a href="http://hoynebrewing.ca/"> </a><a href="http://hoynebrewing.ca/">Dark Matter made by the amazing Hoyne Brewing Company.</a> This has been my current favourite beer for about a year now and just thinking about it makes me salivate. I was never a dark beer drinker until I discovered this luscious beverage. Whenever I thought about dark beer, my brain instantly went to Guinness which I find to be too strong. But Dark Matter is so smooth and tasty and not hoppy or overwhelming in any way, and I might marry it if it got down on one knee. No, it wouldn't even have to get down on one knee. It could just casually remark the idea of a wedding and I'd hop on board and commit my entire life without a second thought.<br />
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3) My new couch!!!!! I bought a second hand couch when I moved into my apartment but it just never fit me right. I always got a sore back whenever I would lay on it for any length of time, so I decided on a whim to just get rid of it. With the help of the sale of my previous couch (sold it for more than I paid for it!) and an early Christmas present from the folks, I got myself a brand-spankin' new couch. And frankly, I'm madly in love with this sexy piece of furniture,<br />
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It's the first time I ever owned a brand new piece of major furniture (apart from my bed but that's not as exciting because this is much prettier). I'm a little afraid to sit on it in case I wreck it somehow, and every time the dog even glances in it's direction I give him the stink eye and threaten him with his life if he ever attempts to lay on it.<br />
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4) My 2014 Halloween costume. My costume this year was created very last minute because I didn't know what I wanted to be. In a moment of impulse and desperation, I decided to be a Stick Man for Halloween. I have no idea how or why I came to that decision but when the idea came into my head, I decided that there was no turning back. The plan was to dress in 100% black and black out my face with makeup. Then I would run white hockey tape down my legs, torso and arms to resemble a Stick Man's body. The head was made out of cardboard, covered with white Duck Tape and fastened to my face via a headband. The outcome far surpassed my expectations and looked especially awesome when we were way out in the country at a haunted house. The costume practically glowed in the dark and all people could really see of me was this white Stick Man walking around. Unfortunately this is the only picture I have of it but you get the idea.<br />
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5) Movies that make me smile. Is there really much better then sitting down for 2 hours and watching something that just makes you smile the entire time? My 2 top smile movies at the moment are <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359950/">The Secret Life of Walker Mitty</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278388/">The Grand Budapest Hotel</a>. They may not be the most popular movies ever created but I just couldn't help but smile the entire time watching them. Muchly recommended by myself if you're looking for some silly movies to watch. Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-71347824663177137602014-11-01T20:24:00.000-07:002014-11-06T18:38:07.396-08:00Sombrio 2014Today I went to Sombrio Beach for the first time!<br />
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What. A. Beaut.<br />
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This is a major local spot for the local surfers to catch some awesome waves and for us non-surfers to just simply enjoy. There is the wonderful beach to explore, plus hiking trails to wander along and campsites for those who want to really spend some time amongst the beauty. There aren't many days left in the year such as the one we experienced today, so it was a no-brainer when the topic of heading out there for the day came up. The beach is about a 90 minute drive from downtown Victoria, which is really no big deal considering the view you get.<br />
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<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-52152718844971503542014-10-23T18:32:00.000-07:002014-10-23T18:32:44.426-07:00Baked Quinoa and MushroomsThe other day I looked into my fridge and stared down at the large container of mushrooms that hadn't been touched in far longer than they should have been. I wasn't feeling very inspired but knew that they needed to be used up before they started to get brown and slimy...and I hate wasting food. I looked through my cupboards and devised a plan. The outcome was pure deliciousness and I feel the need to share my recipe for anyone who wants to make a very easy and highly yummy meal.<br />
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<u>Baked Quinoa and Mushrooms</u><br />
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<li>2 tbsp coconut oil</li>
<li>4-5 cups coarsely chopped mushrooms (mine were white mushrooms)</li>
<li>2 onions, chopped</li>
<li>2 stalks celery, chopped</li>
<li>5 cloves garlic, minced</li>
<li>1 cup zucchini, chopped</li>
<li>3/4 tsp dried basil</li>
<li>3/4 tsp dried oregano</li>
<li>3/4 tsp chili flakes</li>
<li>1 can drained beans (I used chickpeas)</li>
<li>1 cup dried quinoa</li>
<li>3 cups vegetable stock, boiling</li>
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1) Cook the mushrooms, onions, celery, garlic and zucchini in the oil until all of the liquid is absorbed (about 25 minutes).</div>
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2) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.</div>
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3) Add the basil, oregano, chili flakes and beans to the vegetable mixture - cook another 2 minutes.</div>
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4) Pour the vegetable mixture into a 9x13 baking dish. Add the dried quinoa and the boiling vegetable stock. Stir to evening combine everything. </div>
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5) Cover with tin-foil and bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, pull from the oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes. ENJOY!!!!</div>
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Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-85126804501636944472014-09-23T14:18:00.000-07:002014-09-23T14:18:10.137-07:00Something Must Be Said. <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hate to write a post that is basically just me complaining about the mass amounts of unfairness in the world, but I cannot hide my frustrations any more. Something must be said!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why is the world big-dog prejudice? Perhaps a more accurate complaint would be, why do people with small dogs feel as though it is their right to dump all over the rules and bi-laws created for dog owners? Am I the only person who is noticing this? I feel like </span>I'm<span style="font-family: inherit;"> taking crazy pills!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Small dog favouritism makes me angry. The number of rentals available to small dog owners greatly outnumbers the number of rentals for any sized dogs. Finding a place to live in this city is very difficult if you own a pet. Even to buy a condo, tons of buildings have a 30lb weight limit for your canine, which is total stupidity. A 10lb dog can cause WAY more damage than a 110lb dog. The amount of noise and damage created by any pet will be hugely linked to the owner of that pet and his/her ability to train the animal. If the dog is not well exercised or stimulated then it is more likely to cause chaos in the home. My neighbour’s dog never stops barking and I have yet to see them walk that poor thing. I have been living with my dog for over a month in my apartment and my landlord has yet to hear a peep out of him. Whenever I ask him if there have been any issues, he tells me that he always forgets that Axel is even down there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">BOOYAH to all landlords out there! Big dogs are not the problem. Crappy tenants are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My next bone to pick in this area of discussion is off-leash/on-leash parks. Why do people with small dogs think that they don’t have to follow the rules? They’re making all dog owners look terrible! Yesterday I was walking along a mostly an off-leash dog area; but there is one section of the road in which you have to leash your dog. As I am walking through this area, I take a look around and every single “larger” dog is leashed while EVERY SINGLE small dog was off leash. Do small dog owners think that they do not need to abide to this rule because the dog is small and not going to run-a-muck? Small dogs are just as likely to run into traffic as larger ones are!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Who do I need to smack around here to make people understand that they are dumb?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just like the with off-leash rules, people with small dogs seem to think it’s OK to have their dog be an asshole to people. Obviously this is not all small dogs because most small dogs are wonderful, but some are horribly viscous and when they act out and try to rip my dog’s face off, the owner just laughs it off and unapologetic. “Oh Mr. Jingles, don't be so silly. Be a good boy!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If a larger dog were to act like that, people would flip out and be calling animal control to report it. Just because a small dog can only reach the ankles or shins makes them less dangerous and funny when they’re evil?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, who do I have to smack?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This makes me want to hurl. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then there is the issue of dogs in stores. I have to tie up my dog and leave him outside if I want to go into a store. But small dogs get little purses to be toted around in or just simply get carried in by their owners. This shall forever baffle me. Small dogs are less likely to….what? I have zero rationale to attempt this reasoning made by society. A small dog won’t be able to survive standing outside for 5 minutes? Again…baffling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One last thing. You don’t have to carry your miniature pooch when you’re walking down the street either. It can walk on its own 4 little competent legs! Let to poor little thing get some exercise. A dog is not a child that needs to be cradled and carried. It's a dog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh please let me smack someone.</span></div>
Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-12541737507261513902014-09-13T18:25:00.002-07:002014-09-13T18:25:49.980-07:00Single Girl Spider HysteriaWe've all heard the stories.<br />
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"Woman lifts car off of her child."</div>
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"Girl lifts tractor off of her father."</div>
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"Man fights off grizzly bear to save his family."</div>
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It's called "Hysterical Strength" or perhaps you could call it tapping into your inner super-hero. Either way, there have been an endless supply of incredible stories about people who have been faced with intensely fearful or stressful situations and they are able to tap into this unnatural physical strength that would not be available in any ordinary situation. </div>
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The reason this happens is because the intensely stressful situation causes an immediate rush of adrenaline throughout the body. The added adrenaline causes some areas of the body to have the blood circulation to be shut off so that it can be sent to areas of the body which need it more, such as the muscles. More blood moving to the muscles means more oxygen is being sent to the muscles, which in turn can allow them to work harder. Adrenaline + Oxygenated muscles = Superhuman Strength. </div>
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While I have never lifted a fallen tree off of a child or anything of the sort, I feel like the past 3 months I have been living in a near constant state of adrenaline + oxygenated muscles. I've been able to perform several acts of inner strength that I was not aware that I was capable of achieving and I am very proud of what I have been able to accomplish all on my own. </div>
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The reason for this is because I live in a house that produces spiders the size of house cats. </div>
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I'm getting all heebie jeebied and watery eyed just thinking about it.<br />
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I don't know why I am being tested/cursed with these spiders, but they are unnaturally enormous and I feel as though my nerves are becoming more and more frayed as each day passes. Right when I let my guard down and being to relax, one will appear out of the corner of my eye as I am enjoying my morning coffee.<br />
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(I keep peering over to the corner of the room where this morning's visitor creeped into my field of vision, destroying my day).<br />
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I mean, what is a single girl to do? No big strong brave man (or woman) is going to magically appear in your time of need to sweep you to safety and take care of the situation. At times like this you need to just buckle down, let the adrenaline flow and take matters into your own hands. And this is what I have had to do, time and time again, as each massive arachnid infiltrates my place of residence.<br />
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Now I am not one who enjoys or endorses the killing of spiders, or any bug, insect or living creature of any kind. If these spiders were out in nature, enjoying the great outdoors and working on their tans, I would be calling over other people to come take a look at one of nature's coolest creatures. They make their own food traps by spinning sticky thread out of their butts and weaving elaborate webs of doom. How neat is that?<br />
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But these spiders don't make webs. They are not neat. They just walk around scaring people, causing me to rethink my every action within the apartment. Every time I pick something off of the floor I am terrified one will be waiting there. Every time I walk over to the kitchen sink, I have to take baby steps and inch forward, peering into the sink to see if anything is waiting to eat my hand when I reach in to fill up my water bottle. Every time something brushes my neck, arm or foot, I swat at myself and leap away in fear. My heart is always pumping faster than it should be, I jump at any dark shadow or object in my line of sight and my knees are always slightly weaker than I would like them to be.<br />
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This is not a healthy way to live. The human body is not meant to be in constant "fight-or-flight" mode and the stress will take it's toll on one's physical (and mental) health.<br />
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So they have to die.<br />
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It always take a while for me to work up the nerve to go through with it, but once the momentum starts, there is no turning back. The hormones and blood are pumping freely and the inner cavewoman in me is out in full throttle. The smashing and destroy-and-conquer state of mind swiftly takes over and death is the only answer. Whether the death is mine of the spiders is completely up to fate, but I have to take my chances. Luckily fate has been on my side up to this point and I have been the conqueror within my domicile, but this does not mean that the repercussions are not significant.<br />
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There is the post-massacre clean-up to deal with. For example, the woman who lifts the car to save her child, she comes down from her Hysterical Strength state and falls to the ground with a broken back. As for me, I come down from my high only to realize that I still have to deal with the corpse. It's just sitting there, all battered and deflated, and I have to lean over and pick it up. What if it isn't dead? What if it's one of those super smart spiders that fakes it's own death and will jump on my hand when I reach down and kill me??<br />
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Totally legit. This happened to someone I know. But she didn't die.<br />
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Again as the fates would have it, I have not had any incidences such as this yet. It might have something to do with the massive amount of smashing and destroying I do once the spider is under the shoe (yes I always use a shoe as my weapon of choice), but one can never be too careful.<br />
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In the end I know that it is wrong to kill spiders because they most definitely have an important part on the world. On the flip side of that, living in constant fear is something that I personally cannot handle. I have to channel my inner super-powers and deal with these creatures as they come at me. Conquering these dudes is my Hysterical Strength and the fact that I have to deal with them on my own makes it happen for me. I'm sure the woman would much prefer to have a tow-truck there to lift that car off of her child, but at that moment, all she has is herself. I'll admit that after each kill, while I am very shaky and rattled, I am extremely proud of my bravery because really, all I want to do is run outside and hide and pray that a magical fairy will carely sweep the spider up and release it onto a farm where it can run free, write words in her web and become friends with a pig who wants nothing more than to avoid becoming slaughtered. <br />
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How how I love Charlotte's Web. Why can't my spiders be more like Charlotte??<br />
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Oh, and you're welcome for not putting any pictures of spiders on this post. </div>
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Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-63442361077602737432014-09-05T18:04:00.002-07:002014-09-05T18:06:07.041-07:00Adjusted Axel and East Sooke AdventuresThe last few weeks have been busy, busy, busy.<br />
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Plus a bit more busy in there somewhere but I was too busy to remember exactly where it should be.<br />
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Axel has been here with me now for about 2 1/2 weeks and I am very happy to announce that he has done a truly remarkable job at adapting to his new life in Victoria. I was really concerned that he would be miserable since he is losing a lot of his freedom here,<br />
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But does he look miserable to you?<br />
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How about now?<br />
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I am astonished at how well he turned into a city dog. The first two days were stressful because he wasn't eating and worst of all, he wasn't pooping, so I was a big stressball just waiting and hoping that his appetite and bowels would go back to normal. When you own a dog, basically your entire life revolves around their bowels...so I wasn't a happy camper. Axel took it all in stride though. He is great walking through busy traffic and barely shifts an ear when a big truck roars by. He leaves all of the feral hippies alone when he finds them sleeping in the parks and while he is still a bit leery of them, he's pretty much figured out that the waves rolling into shore are nothing to be concerned about. He still tries to drink ocean water though. He runs down to the water, splashes around, takes 2 laps of water and gives me the same "Oh God that tastes awful" face that he gives me every time he drinks from the ocean. Sigh.<br />
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The one thing that I will say about Victoria is that (apart from the horrendous access to finding places to live which allow dogs) it does a pretty great job at accommodating the dogs in the city. There are lots of dog-friendly beaches and walk-ways around the city, all well equipped with poop bags and garbage cans. Plus there are dog water fountains placed throughout the city and a lot of businesses in Victoria and in surrounding neighbourhoods keep water bowls and/or buckets outside of their doors to allow any canine passer-bys to have their thirsts' quenched while enjoying their daily stroll.<br />
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I can definitely say that Axel has likely been meeting and greeting more dogs and people in the past 2 weeks then he has in his entire life. He's been (mostly) a complete gentleman in all of his introductions to all of the new people and dogs. I was able to find him a lovely lady to take him for walks on the weekdays that I am at work and also a magnificent friend has offered to help out on the weekends when Axel needs some company. Everyone has been very welcoming to him and I am so lucky to have such great people in my life who are willing to help out with his care.<br />
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One thing we have been doing is going on TONS of walks and hikes together. Today was the best one so far. It's called the Coast Trail and located in East Sooke. A couple days after I got Axel here, I was hiking in this area with him and a friend and we hiked to the Beechey Trail. I learned about all of the trails in the park and decided that I wanted to do the Coast Trail because it sounded challenging and visually gorgeous.<br />
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So this morning we started the trail at East Sooke Park which is an awesome provincial park that is packed full of trails, beaches and picnic areas. The trail is approximately 20km round-trip which in the big scheme of hikes, really isn't that far. But the terrain is tricky and at the drop of a hat changes from lush ferns and soft ground to jagged sheer rock cliffs you have to pull yourself up from. Plus it never gets easier!!! The ups and downs of this hike made my legs feel like jelly (and I'm in semi-decent good shape!) and right when I thought that I would be getting a break from incline, I'd go around the bend and be faced with another rock wall to climb. The way back is equally as difficult and there is no physical relief to be had while enduring this hike.<br />
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I friggin loved it.<br />
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The one major problem with this hike is that at all times you have to watch your footing so your eyes are basically always to the ground. This means that you just might miss out on some AMAZING views and breathtaking landscapes that most people can only dream about seeing. Based solely on what I saw today, I can 100% understand the draw to living in Sooke. When you can look out from the top of the rocky cliffs and see views of the ocean that are so gorgeous that it brings tears to your eyes, you know you're in an incredible part of the world.<br />
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So as I mentioned, the hike is about 20km round-trip. Since the trail doesn't have any km marks or indications of how far along you are, I had no way to know exactly how far I had hiked today. I am guessing that we did about 15 of the 20 kilometres. As much as I really really really wanted to complete the entire thing today, I was worried about how quickly we were going through our water supply: mainly I was worried about Axel. There are some creeks on the hike which would have been great little watering holes for him, but unfortunately they were all dried up so he had to rely on the water that I packed for him. I didn't want to dehydrate the guy so I decided to turn back and ration the water until we got back to the car (where I had lots more ready for our return).<br />
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My legs are now feeling less jelly-like and my feet feel a bit achy, but it was a great hike. Next time I shall bring more water and complete the entire trip.<br />
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The dog hasn't moved from his bed since we got home so that is a sure sign that he's had ample stimulation for the day. All I can ask for now is for winter to never come so that I can keep enjoying all of these amazing Vancouver Island hikes all year round.<br />
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<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-48577690152998549102014-08-11T20:49:00.000-07:002014-08-11T20:52:08.755-07:00My Magoo <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Somet</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">hing pretty exciting is about to happen in my world. I finally get to bring Axel to live with me in Victoria!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been living here for a year and a half and have been yearning to have him come to live with me, but due to my job and living situation, it just wasn’t possible. Now that I am living so close to work and was able to find a place that is pet-friendly, the reality of having him here with me is finally (almost) here.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s been living with mom and dad this whole time and they always said to me, “As soon as you are in a place and situation in which you can take him, he’s all yours.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hint hint, nudge nudge.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every so often when talking with them on the phone, I would say, “Are you SURE that you will let him go?” and I was always reassured that he was mine when I wanted him. I know that they are very much attached to this guy and I am starting to feel this immense sense of guilt for taking him away…but they say it’s OK. My dad is going to miss his walking buddy and my mom is going to miss her security guard; that much I can definitely guarantee. You never have to worry about anyone or anything mess with you when Axel is around. I mean, I saw the guy take on a bear once…I feel pretty good right now about the neighborhoods’ feral hippies.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddio and the Magoo</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">So this Friday </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I am starting the long drive back to Trail to pick up the Magoo (my loving nickname for Axel) and begin my 12 day vacation. I’ll admit that I am nervous to bring him out here. He’s never lived in a city before and he’s been living in an environment with so many people around him all of the time. Plus he is used to a lot more freedom than he’s going to get around here. I hope that I am enough to make him happy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The thing with this breed of dog is that they pick someone. From the moment they enter a family, they pick one person who is “their person” and they are bonded to that person. Axel picked me and every time that I go home to visit the family, he basically acts like no one else exists except for me. For this reason alone I feel good that we will be all right. As long as we have each other then everything should work out.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Also as long as he doesn’t eat my landlord’s cat. That’s a pretty big make-or-break living situation around here.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">My main big thing that I need to take care of is finding a part-time dog walker. I work 12 hour days so I need someone to walk him at least once a day. I have a few options at the moment and am planning to meet his (likely) future walker next week. Fingers crossed that they get along all right!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">But c’mon. Who wouldn’t love that face?</span></span><br />
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Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-8449893667868549142014-06-29T19:00:00.003-07:002014-06-29T19:02:01.184-07:00Alone.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">So much has been happening the past few weeks; it’s hard to even remember where to begin with it all. </pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;"> First things first, I am officially living (very close to) downtown! It took me a little over a year to make it down there but I am now finally able to ride my bike to work and not have to spend so much time commuting to and from work every day. I’ve been in my new place just under 2 weeks and it’s been nice having the place all to myself. Mostly I am enjoying not having to be super quiet when I get ready for work in the morning. My 4am guilt levels have dramatically decreased since I have been living on my own, which I think is good for the soul. Plus I am quite sure that my cousin and her son are very happy not having to tip-toe around in the evenings when my pathetic ass is trying to get to sleep at an un-Godly early hour for anyone over the age of 4. </pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;"> Right before I moved I stopped and thought about how long it has been since I lived on my own, and I was floored to realize that I haven’t lived “on my own” since I was 20 years old! I haven’t lived in a place that didn’t have a boyfriend, family member, room-mate, house-mate or friend, for that length of time. I didn’t believe it at first but it’s true!
The weird part about it is that I LOVE living alone. I love being able to have a whole place to myself with no designated cupboards, drawers, rooms or refrigerator shelves. It’s great to be able to walk naked from the bedroom to the bathroom without the fear of someone catching you in the buff. </pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">Poor Krista-Lee. She’ll probably never get that horrifying image out of her brain. I still feel really guilty about that one. </pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;"> The one bad thing about having this whole apartment just for me is that I have accumulated very little things in the past 7 years. I have to fill in the gaps and the space where things like furniture, pictures and appliances generally go. I’ve developed this mentality of “It’s just me, so why do I need it?”, meaning that I am not going to go out of my way to buy stuff cause it’s just me and I don’t need to impress myself. I don’t like “stuff” and have a bad habit of getting rid of things which have little to zero use for me. </pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">But then I realized that if I want people to come over and visit me, that these people probably don’t want to visit someone who looks like she lives in a colourless, furnitureless prison cell that echoes when a conversation is being had. Something like a couch might be a good way to encourage people to come by and stay for a while. I bought myself a chair (good enough for 1!) but not the most comfortable when company comes around. </pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">So I was very happy when I got an awesome house-warming gift from my lovely friend. He asked me if I wanted my gift and I was expecting something like a…I don’t know…a mug or some coasters for my non-existent coffee table. Then he blows me away by giving me his old television and DVD player. He bought himself a (much) larger flatscreen a couple days before and gave me his previous one. I had zero intentions of buying a TV for myself but now that I have this one, I am happy to have it for background noise when I am doing things around the apartment. </pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">I may not have accumulated much stuff to fill my apartment, but I’m accumulating some pretty awesome friends around here.</pre>
Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-13685524025199559462014-06-15T19:49:00.000-07:002014-06-15T19:49:38.321-07:00Happy Father's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Things that are great about my dad:<br />
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- His contagious giggle.<br />
- The way he cries when he gives speeches at weddings, birthdays, anniversaries...really, any time we are all together.<br />
- The way he eats an apple.<br />
- How he always encouraged me with my decisions...even the dumb ones.<br />
- His imagination.<br />
- The way he plays with his grand-kids.<br />
- He's totally not scary to bring a guy home to meet.<br />
- He hikes mountains with me when he'd probably rather be at home watching golf and trying to be retired.<br />
- His endless supply of random TV jingles, just hanging on the tip of his tongue to be busted out into song.<br />
- His good nature.<br />
- You can always count on him to be there.<br />
- His generosity.<br />
- He enjoys Pink and sings along with me to her CDs.<br />
- How he calls me, and only me, Girl.<br />
- How much he loves a good burger and will always have mustard on his face throughout the devouring process.<br />
- The Craaaawwwwwwww.<br />
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If your dad is even 1/100th as awesome as my dad is, then you'd better be calling him to let him know what a great guy he is.<br />
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Happy Father's Day Daddio. I love ya!<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-15124548442774954272014-05-31T15:43:00.001-07:002014-05-31T15:44:07.083-07:00Dear Jessica Biel....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear Jessica Biel,<br />
<br />
I know that you will never read this but I felt it was a very deserving post to write in your honour. I would also like to say that for the record, I very rarely dedicate posts to anyone so by just knowing that, one must understand that this is a pretty big deal. So Jessica Biel, I dedicate about 2% of this post to you and the other 98% to your ass.<br />
<br />
I do not mean to sound crass because I have the utmost respect for the full 100% of you, so please let me explain.<br />
<br />
Many years ago when I was just starting to learn about my love of fitness, there is that struggle that everyone goes through when you're just starting to build up your stamina. You grunt and groan and sweat like a fiend, never feeling like you're getting anywhere. I remember jogging on the treadmill, barely able to jog longer than a couple minutes at a time and in my head I would repeat, "Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!" meanwhile maintaining an internal giggle at the stupidity of my inner mantra. But it kept me jogging and soon I could go longer and I just kept pushing myself to last another 1, 2 or 5 minutes. I just kept swimming.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Then a few years ago I saw a movie called "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" and my mantra took a dramatic turn. There is a scene in the film in which you strip down to just your bra and underwear and the audience gets several good looks at your physique. Obviously you're friggin' gorgeous in every sense of the word, but your ass is what changed it all for me.<br />
<br />
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<br />
I am lucky enough to live in a beautiful province full of hills and mountains, all of them just waiting for me to conquer. Every time that I am walking, hiking, jogging or biking up any kind of hill or mountain trail, my inner mantra is (and has been for the past 7 years),<br />
<br />
"Jessica Biel's ass. Jessica Biel's ass."<br />
<br />
Every uphill battle is my time to work and strive for a butt that even slightly resembles the one that you are carrying around with you. Every time I stand there on the trail, my hands on my hips and my laboured breathing nearly drowning out my will to keep going, I just think,<br />
<br />
"Jessica Biel's ass"<br />
<br />
and I am always able to work up the energy to run that hill and continue my journey along the well worn trail.<br />
<br />
Now I am absolutely not some crazy fan or a fitness fiend who obsesses about having the perfect body. I am not striving for skinny or perfection and I know that I will never grace the cover of any kind of magazine. Hell, I only just got the courage to wear a bikini in public last year! I also know that I will never have a butt as nice as yours because, well, genetics wasn't as kind to me from the get-go. I also know that you work hard to look the way that you do and that ass was not a mistake. I applaud you for making the decision to take care of yourself and for being a fantastic role models for girls and women around the world. You're not a bean pole or frighteningly scrawny female trying to fill out her size 0 jeans. You're strong and healthy and have curves to be proud of.<br />
<br />
So I thank you for being a lovely curvy role-model and to have an ass that other people (at least 1 person) strives to have someday. Keep up the good work and I will keep trying to get there too.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
- Adrienne<br />
<br />
<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-76925289949442835502014-05-23T11:11:00.000-07:002014-05-23T11:11:30.533-07:00And It Shall Be Forever Known.......as the Burger Long-Weekend.<br />
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This past weekend was Victoria Day long weekend, which I actually had it off from work! Last year I had to work the long weekend so I missed out on all of the festivities that Victoria has to offer our lovely city on the holiday weekend. But then again, last year I pretty much didn't have any friends to enjoy them with, so no big loss there.<br />
<br />
Jaime was away for work for a few days so Saturday I had an empty house. I got up early to do a workout because I had plans for the day, so I wanted to get in a quick P90X workout before the start to the day. About 5 minutes into it I heard the garage door open and was like, "What? It's 7:00am! How is Jaime home already?" But it was actually the lady who watches Tank when Jaime is away. She was dropping him off about 9 hours earlier than I was expecting, which kind of threw a wrench in my plans for the day. The plan was to drive downtown to meet up with a friend, hit up a morning farmer's market, buy some delicious food and head to the beach for the day. Now I had to add a high-maintenance and highly demanding dog to the mix. Alright. No worries.<br />
<br />
So I packed up Tank and headed to town. Dogs aren't allowed in the interior area of the market so I ended up just perusing the perimeter of the fence and looking at the stalls that lined the outside of the market while my friend went in to buy some delicious food for the picnic. I learned how much I LOVE the Fairfield area of Victoria because the houses are mostly all restored Historian houses and the area has a very "Nelson" feel to it. I was instantly smitten. We headed to the beach (I can't remember the name!) which was an awesome area to bring dogs to. We spent a couple hours there and at no point was not someone walking and/or playing with their dog along the shore. Tank always had someone to play with (aka, someone to bother) which was good for us because we didn't have to entertain him the entire time. Unfortunately what this meant was when we wanted to just lay in the sun and do nothing for longer than 2 minutes, Tank wouldn't allow it. He needed to see and sniff everything and I soon got a bit annoyed. He was physically tired from playing so much but couldn't relax because there was so much going on around us. I couldn't tie him up because he can slip out of his harness (damn Bulldogs not having necks makes things difficult) so after some time, I decided it would be best to drive him home since Jaime would have been home soon anyway.<br />
<br />
So I drove him all the way back to the West Shore then headed all the way back to town.<br />
<br />
I need to find a place to live downtown.<br />
<br />
When I got back to town, we headed to the Inner Harbour to go meet up with some friends at the free concert that was happening down by the water. It was an online RSVP event, which works OK in theory but as soon as we arrived we learned that things didn't work out as expected. They way overbooked the concert so by the time we arrived there, the line-up was a good hour long wait. Luckily it was an outside concert and the weather was awesome, so we just found a grassy knoll nearby and enjoyed the music while sitting in the sunshine. No line-ups, elbow-to-elbow crowds, shouting at your friends or the pressures of feeling the need to cheer and clap after each song. We grabbed a beer at an outside patio pub, which was about 20 feet from the concert, and also enjoyed the show there. Good times!<br />
<br />
After the show we headed to another pub to have some late-night dinner with a group of friends, which is where the Burger Long-Weekend all started. Every night last weekend I had a burger for dinner. Each one of them very different than the next, but all were very enjoyable.<br />
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Burger #1 - consumed at <a href="http://beaglepub.com/menu/burger/">The Beagle Pub - The Bison Burger.</a> Topped with goat cheese and a whiskey bourbon glaze...yes please! It was a lot tastier than I would have expected and I ate every last crumb of that thing. The actual patty was nothing all that special but the sauces and spreads made it scrumptious.<br />
<br />
The next day I volunteered to help my friend Chris paint his new condo. He's been a bit of a stressball about getting all of the renovations done in time for his move-in date (which is today) so I was more than happy to help him out. Plus I truly enjoy painting. I find it very cleansing - like a fresh snowfall that covers up all of the ugly snow buried beneath it. About half way through the work day we had to go to Home Depot to pick up some more paint and painter's tape, so we decided to also take a late lunch break afterwards.<br />
<br />
Burger #2 - consumed at the <a href="http://www.shinecafe.ca/menus">Shine Cafe - The Berkeley Veggie Burger</a>. I heard great stuff about this place and I was not disappointed at all with my choice. The homemade patty was topped with mushrooms, cheddar, onions, pesto mayo and all the trimmings. It was falling apart all over the place and my face and plate was an absolute mess. But honestly, it was the second best veggie burger I have had on this island and dare I say the second best veggie burger I've ever had?? Yup...definitely a possibility. It was pure awesome.<br />
<br />
After 12 hours of painting, we called it a night and I went home and crashed in bed. Two busy days in a row, plus one more before the weekend was done.<br />
<br />
The final day of the long weekend again started in the early morning. I was feeling guilty about my shitty eating habits the past 2 days so I headed to the gym to get in a quick cardio workout. After a quick shower and change of clothes, my friend Alice and I decided to take advantage of the continuous nice weather and went for a hike up <a href="http://victoriabcca.com/blog/mount-finlayson-hike-victoria-bc/">Mt. Finlayson</a>. I've only ever done this hike once before <a href="http://thekotykreport.blogspot.ca/2013/04/parents-visit.html">when my parents were in town,</a> and this time I knew what to expect. It's a crazy steep hike with some dodgy areas to get through, but the view from the top is quite lovely. While I enjoy this hike, it's really not my ideal trail because you have to concentrate so hard on where you step or else you'll plummet to your death, so you can't really enjoy the view around you until you reach the top. But it was still a fantastic way to spend some time with Alice and enjoy the early afternoon.<br />
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<br />
<br />
After another shower and another change of clothes, I headed back downtown for a few hours to hang out with friends before the weekend came to an end.<br />
<br />
Again, I really need to find a place to live downtown.<br />
<br />
Burger #3 - consumed at <a href="http://www.bin4burgerlounge.com/menu/main">Bin 4 - The Ginger Soy Tofu Burger.</a> My all-time favourite place to eat in the city. It never lets me down. Considering it was already around 7:30pm and I had to get up at 4am for work the next morning, I didn't want to eat a heavy burger, so I went for this one with the butter lettuce instead of a bun. As much as I absolutely LOVE the buns they have there, I figured eliminating the bun would be easier on the old GI tract since I knew I had to go to bed fairly soon. And as always, even though there was no bun for my burger, I was not let down at all by the flavours and textures of my meal. Such a fantastic place to eat.<br />
<br />
PS. Bin 4 has my all-time favourite veggie burger - <a href="http://www.bin4burgerlounge.com/menu/main">The Mr. Bean</a>. I dream of this thing.<br />
<br />
Honestly though, I was looking forward to getting back to work so that I could actually stop and sit down for longer than 5 minutes! It was definitely a great weekend though. Also I think that Burger Long-Weekend might need to be a new personal tradition for me. Can a person ever get sick of delicious burgers??<br />
<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-8920182256972836072014-05-03T18:42:00.002-07:002014-05-03T18:42:51.014-07:00The Nazi Officer's WifeNow that I have some down time from school work, I've been doing quite a bit of reading lately. It seems like I'm going through books faster than fresh green grass goes through a Canadian Goose.<br />
<br />
Speaking of which, there were 2 Canadian Geese on the front lawn today. Very bizarre.<br />
<br />
The 2 main reasons that I am reading like a fiend right now are,<br />
1) I have a Kindle app on my tablet<br />
2) I have an Amazon account<br />
<br />
While having these e-readers is a convenient way to own books, since they are light-weight, easy to pack around and you don't need to be in a well-lit place to read them, the major drawback is that they make it way too easy to purchase books! As soon as you finish a book, hell you don't even need to be done it, Amazon will send you these little notes saying "If you liked "insert the name of the book you are currently reading" then we recommend books A, B, C and D!" So then curiosity takes over and you begin clicking on these recommended books and instantly become interested in them. From there it's just one teeny tiny step to purchase the book by clicking "Buy This Book" and WHAM! You bought it.<br />
<br />
Too easy.<br />
<br />
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<br />
But now I'm even more addicted because they keep recommending really good books!<br />
<br />
After watching the Academy Awards (the first time I watched it in about 15 years) I became interested in the movie "12 Years a Slave". I heard that it was a book before it was made into a movie so I decided to look into purchasing the book before seeing the movie (because the books are obviously always better than the movie).<br />
<br />
Except for The Notebook. AWFUL book. Fantastic movie.<br />
<br />
So I found 12 Years a Slave for a glorious $1.99 for purchase through Amazon. But I'm not gonna lie. It really wasn't that great of a book. While I enjoyed learning about the history and getting further reinforcement that white men were pure evil and committed horrible acts via slavery and stealing free men and turning them into slaves, the book was really no scream in hell. However, good 'ol Amazon was there to back me up with recommendations for more books which I might like.<br />
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The first book they recommended in the list was "The Nazi Officer's Wife" by Edith Hahn Beer. After reading the description, I thought that it looked really interesting, and for only 99 cents, how can I turn down such a deal?? And I am so glad I did make the purchase because it was a fantastic book! The Nazi Officer's Wife is a true story about an extremely brave Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust by pretending to be a loyal Aryan and married a Nazi Officer to further the façade. She was a very intelligent and well-educated woman who got stripped of everything for the simple reason of being Jewish. She was taken from Austria and forced into labour camps to work in horrendous conditions for several years.<br />
<br />
When she was finally able to go home, the life she grew up in was shattered by war and hatred, so she went underground, fled to Germany and managed to gain a new identity through the help of a couple kind-hearted Aryans who explained what to do and how to do it without being caught. The story goes on to explain her daily life and the immense fear that she lived in every single minute of every single day. She meets a Nazi party member who is a good man and he falls madly in love with her (the "her" she is pretending to be) so she agrees to marry him to further her safety in the world that is crumbling from the Second World War.<br />
<br />
Without giving too much away, I just wanted to say that it is a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to read well written books. The detail she puts into the story and the bravery she faced to survive such a devastating time in history, I found myself cheering her on with every triumph she faced and mourning for the loss that she went through to avoid becoming one of the millions of people who were murdered for merely being alive. The book has so much history and facts, plus she told the story in a way that took me back to that time, like I was seeing it though her detailed eyes. She didn't write that book to be famous or to be announced a hero or anything of the sort. She wrote that book because her daughter asked her to because she felt that the story was too important to not be shared with the world. I finished that book with misty eyes. Sounds silly, but it's true.<br />
<br />
But now Amazon has recommended more books to me and alas, I pressed that damned "Buy This Book" button. The extra problem is that these historical books are so bloody cheap! 99 cents? Yes please! Yesterday I bought "The Bloodletter's Daughter" which is a story based out of Prague in 1606. I'll let you know if it's as good as my previous purchase.<br />
<br />
I also have 4 other books to read at the moment....like I said. It's just too easy to buy these stupid things.Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-76462262939994130042014-04-16T19:01:00.000-07:002014-04-16T19:02:24.489-07:00Pure and Simple Love. <div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The horror
which has been my life as a student has finally ended (for a little while
anyway) so I am now ready to re-join the rest of civilization. I am able to
stretch my legs, back away from the textbooks and take a deep breath. I have
decided to not share what has happened in my life the past while since I last
wrote because frankly, there is too much to explain so I will just start with a
clean slate and try to forget the amount of stress I have been put through
since I last wrote a post on here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">-------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So how do
you know you’re in love?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Butterflies
in the stomach? Heart palpitations? Simultaneous shit-eating grins and sweaty
palms?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For me, it
was the first bite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC7jD9o-brr66Oi1XB2k7uZUUD5uo4RxviRObaYZJ1B7dNs51WJkXaPbsessN_HwJwl9KISUX8hWXwLuEnKCdGBAVxc4UedcGH8jjhcm5QIXcsPmLByIT1nZsPSI4wBT0x4Plp-hz4Bnq/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC7jD9o-brr66Oi1XB2k7uZUUD5uo4RxviRObaYZJ1B7dNs51WJkXaPbsessN_HwJwl9KISUX8hWXwLuEnKCdGBAVxc4UedcGH8jjhcm5QIXcsPmLByIT1nZsPSI4wBT0x4Plp-hz4Bnq/s1600/download.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Let’s go
back to the beginning. A couple weeks ago I was perusing the aisles at Costco
(alright, I was scoping out the tasting booths and stumbled into the packaged
meat and cheese area of the store while getting some samples of aged cheddar cheese). That was when I noticed the monster sized
tubs of kimchi sitting on the shelf. When did Costco start selling kimchi?? How had I never seen it before? These
details really didn’t matter because frankly, I was just stoked at the idea of
buying one of these monstrous tubs of fermented vegetables. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In case you
are not aware of what kimchi is, it is a fermented Korean side dish made with
various vegetables, such as cabbage, radish and scallion, plus other ingredients
like fish sauce, garlic, hot pepper powder, shrimp and salts. Many years ago
when I lived in Nelson and worked as a baker, one of my bosses was a mad lover
of kimchi and he taught me all about it. It’s super pungent and spicy but there’s
something about it that I enjoy very much. Normally I absolutely hate anything with shrimp in it, but this is the one exception to my shrimp distaste. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So back to
my massive tub of kimchi which has been sitting in my fridge for the past
couple of weeks. I’ve been slowly munching away on it but decided that I needed
to make something with it. Enough was enough. School was over and it was time
to do something delicious. I Googled recipes for what people can do with kimchi
(apart from the obvious) and the one that caught my attention was a Kimchi and
Avocado Quesadilla. I switched it up a little bit and I really wanted to take
some pictures to show you that I actually made it and am not just sitting on
the couch with a fork and a tub of kimchi…but it was so delicious that I
scarfed it down before I could go and get my camera.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was
love. Simple and pure love, wrapped in a crisp tortilla with gooey gouda cheese
and a whole lot of yum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><u>Kimchi
& Chicken Avocado Quesadilla</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">½ cup
Kimchi, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">½ cup cooked
chicken, chopped (a mil bean would be equally delicious)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">½ cup mild Gouda cheese (or Havarti would be nice too)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">½ of an
avocado, sliced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">A good
tablespoon of chopped cilantro<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">1
tortilla<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">Plain Greek yogurt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">1) Over
medium heat, cook the chicken and kimchi in a small pan for about 5 minutes, until heated
through and some of the liquid cooks off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">2) Heat a
large skillet over low heat and place the tortilla in the pan. Sprinkle the
cheese over the entire tortilla. Spread the kimchi & chicken, sliced
avocado and cilantro over half of the tortilla. The cheese should be melted at
this point. Fold the tortilla in half, remove from the pan and place on a
cutting board. Cut into 4 slices and eat with the Greek yogurt. YUM!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-37913987481229104292014-02-27T20:15:00.000-08:002014-02-27T20:16:34.424-08:00Men in the NewsI'm being overloaded with school work these days, but I needed to stop for a few minutes (you should see my bedroom right now - looks like a 360 degree paper bomb went off around me) to talk about 2 stories that I saw on the news today. It seems the only time that I ever get to watch TV is when I am at the gym, but these stories were interesting enough for me to take the time to discuss them.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8QTltsirzzkUYxvRArGVfq8fyJR6fZXbPjuYZp3o25tTzM4joA2jFw7x2sxcyJiAwNl9GKcQjFsc3v0YymPyZF7hVz8-UhlildEVVcGT7pAHyRFwxchoXicvuCWNL2d7pgyeZVwe7EjK/s1600/tumblr_m976peHi2c1rc9zsto1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8QTltsirzzkUYxvRArGVfq8fyJR6fZXbPjuYZp3o25tTzM4joA2jFw7x2sxcyJiAwNl9GKcQjFsc3v0YymPyZF7hVz8-UhlildEVVcGT7pAHyRFwxchoXicvuCWNL2d7pgyeZVwe7EjK/s1600/tumblr_m976peHi2c1rc9zsto1_1280.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
So the first one is about beard transplants. Yup. <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2567751/Instant-hipsterfication-The-craze-7-000-beard-transplants-takes-men-look-increase-cool-factor.html">Beard Transplants.</a><br />
<br />
Now I LOVE a good beard. I think my love of beards stems back to the time I lived in Nelson and living in a hippie town full of bearded men just kind of really grew on me. There's something manly about a good beard that I find highly enjoyable. Perhaps it's the fact that women can't grow them so they're kind of a defining masculine feature that make's the male species undeniably unique. Either way, beards are hot.<br />
<br />
So now it's cool and trendy to have a beard and unfortunately there are men who wish to ride the hipster bandwagon but cannot sprout a full beard. An unfinished patchy face just isn't going to cut it these days. Luckily for these men, the ones who just happen to have several thousand dollars hanging around, they can have <a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/02/26/some-men-looking-to-facial-hair-transplants-to-get-the-scruff-they-desire/">Facial Hair Transplants!</a> Lucky them!<br />
<br />
Really? C'mon guys. Do you really need to move hair from other areas of your body and put it on your face just so that you can look extra cool in your plaid button up shirt and toque? As much as I love a beard, I feel that you just let your natural growth remain where it wants to be and let the real men rock the beards.<br />
<br />
Did I just say that out loud? I'm kidding! There are an endless number of super sexy clean shaven men out there who are the definition of manly. If everyone had beards then they wouldn't be special, so I say, keep what you got where you got it.<br />
<br />
The second story was about how they are beginning to believe that <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/health/mens-health/older-dads-risk-passing-along-mental-disorders-study-says-n39516">men also have a Biological Clock</a>. It's not just for the ladies anymore. Women are always talking about their imminent ticking biological clock and their fear of drying up and become a barren wench. Now they are finding that men may also have a biological clock of their own in which the older the man is when he fathers a child, the higher chance that the child will have mental issues or learning disabilities.They also found that children were more likely to have challenges academically and be at a higher risk of developing substance abuse problems.<br />
<br />
Crazy! We've been blaming the women for having old eggs all of this time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD4bJ7qsubY8YOPkVXBt2lv8H_iBvISbQ7_Fa5p0YNP1BveXU8cXs5eEyarUHZB7_-uvhN1OgRJ3nfcSCLLS9Nfl1h0mOTlTR3XT-F_G4CFHG-6Jc6_D7WCuhB689ivlb8WOKL-7TuW6q/s1600/Pushing-30-06-30-02-400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD4bJ7qsubY8YOPkVXBt2lv8H_iBvISbQ7_Fa5p0YNP1BveXU8cXs5eEyarUHZB7_-uvhN1OgRJ3nfcSCLLS9Nfl1h0mOTlTR3XT-F_G4CFHG-6Jc6_D7WCuhB689ivlb8WOKL-7TuW6q/s1600/Pushing-30-06-30-02-400x400.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The study stressed that not all children born from an older father will have some kind of developmental issue. They just found that the likelihood was shockingly higher (13x higher for ADHD and 25x higher for bipolar disease).<br />
<br />
Very interesting stuff.Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-27451135793048383362014-02-13T21:39:00.000-08:002014-02-13T21:39:24.855-08:00Coming HomeI doubt that there are very many people who can disagree with this post because I am doubting that there is anyone out there who has never been moved, either emotionally, physically, mentally or spiritually, by music. Music always seems to find a way into our souls and touches a place that nothing else can reach. Music is beauty, creativity and an interesting extension of our personalities. It can take us back to a time, place, feeling or state of mind and make us relive great or unpleasant memories. For most people, there is a band, song or album that gives them a sense of inner peace or simply brings a huge smile to their face. There is a band or song that is always on the iPod, even if you go for months without listening to it, it will never be removed because someday you will<i> need </i>to listen to it.<br />
<br />
For me, that band is Tool. Specifically, the Lateralus album.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0cDLkqjtqY6HHlB03HLlXV4c4uk9tIhql_zatPpyihvydC7gIrIYJkOG3wAx89ryUoyQYdr2Mpe_bibSfpq4jO-VYsVymMPY3D9lU0FjDtfvESX1-gBNv27DALE8kTSW_yalabzVXY6I/s1600/Tool_CD_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0cDLkqjtqY6HHlB03HLlXV4c4uk9tIhql_zatPpyihvydC7gIrIYJkOG3wAx89ryUoyQYdr2Mpe_bibSfpq4jO-VYsVymMPY3D9lU0FjDtfvESX1-gBNv27DALE8kTSW_yalabzVXY6I/s1600/Tool_CD_Cover.jpg" height="176" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
As soon as I put on this album it is as though I am going home again. I will go for months without listening to this band, but then one day I will just have to hear them. Whether it be because I am having a bad day and I need to find my center again or because I need to belt out some lyrics and smile like a fool, Tool is the band that makes my soul smile.<br />
<br />
How does one even begin to describe the feeling I get when The Grudge begins? It's like a tightening in my chest of emotion. Almost like pride? No...I don't know how to explain it. There is this joy that spreads through me and I instantly relax listening to MJK's beautiful voice. Everything that is happening around me does not matter because I have this album to bring me back to where I need to be.<br />
<br />
I have listened to Lateralus (and ever other one of Tool's albums) dozens and dozens (and dozens) of times and every time that I put it on, it's like listening to it for the first time. I am always moved and greatly appreciative of the power it has over me and the way it makes me feel. Whatever your taste in music may be, I really hope that you have a band that makes you feel like Tool makes me feel. As soon as those first few notes come at you, every calming neurotransmitter in your brain kicks in and you become lost in the music. All of the stress and bullshit that your day threw at you gets removed from your thoughts and you are left with nothing but yourself and the song.<br />
<br />
Can you tell I listened to Lateralus today?<br />
<br />
<i>"Over-thinking, over-analyzing separates the body from the mind.</i><br />
<i>Withering my intuition leaving opportunities behind.</i><br />
<i>Feed my will to feel this moment, urging me to cross the line.</i><br />
<i>Reach out to embrace the random,</i><br />
<i>Reaching out to embrace whatever may come."</i><br />
<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-48730378012966017932014-02-08T17:58:00.001-08:002014-02-08T17:58:19.332-08:00Finish Line?So it's Saturday evening and I'm nearing the end of Day 12 of Sugar Deprivation. The memories of that difficult 6th day are fading in the distance and I had 5 days of mental strength with little trouble getting through without yearning for something coated in chocolate. My co-worker shoved s homemade chocolate chip cookie in my face yesterday and insisted I try because of how delicious it was. I declined...less than politely...and accused her of being a self absorbed jerk for even asking me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdq-bN146zscP6YiegDwkA0Q4AQSMg3EK2RELEJIYa1JCciFVVPyw2RF3_AUuqjk0VG-CuVpK6WCZPhjEgjJ6JBG1_A3Z7lPQdJzwKz6F_tp8eXshjMdDn2-hpNdl21n4_wPzmsTUKeta/s1600/funny-orkut-scraps-funny-baby-faces-confident.jpg+w=584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdq-bN146zscP6YiegDwkA0Q4AQSMg3EK2RELEJIYa1JCciFVVPyw2RF3_AUuqjk0VG-CuVpK6WCZPhjEgjJ6JBG1_A3Z7lPQdJzwKz6F_tp8eXshjMdDn2-hpNdl21n4_wPzmsTUKeta/s1600/funny-orkut-scraps-funny-baby-faces-confident.jpg+w=584.jpg" height="200" width="175" /></a></div>
<br />
Luckily she knows me well enough to not take me seriously.<br />
<br />
So now here I am, contemplating these last 12 days and beginning the close in on the finish line.<br />
<br />
Or am I?<br />
<br />
Like with any goal you set for yourself, once you see the finish line ahead in the distance, you begin to wonder how far you can actually drag the whole experience out for. Do I really need to get back into my life filled with sugar, wheat and dairy? Is it so strange to embrace these eating habits beyond the days I set out for myself? Should I not extend this eating altering journey for as long as I can so
that I can lead a healthier, more nutritious lifestyle?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OW-ZN-ufud5EJLS8yjwZYK4wgoLWSl7AKe34WCKfeuZAAlXvMVmHGelLgkH6tRp8FlVBIAu1rFMgG2KbmVgcRdMS-ug3rc4wMGhb2KwDwfyqabCLro9F6tea4PRDCBjpVCtb50nsh7pb/s1600/c_word.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OW-ZN-ufud5EJLS8yjwZYK4wgoLWSl7AKe34WCKfeuZAAlXvMVmHGelLgkH6tRp8FlVBIAu1rFMgG2KbmVgcRdMS-ug3rc4wMGhb2KwDwfyqabCLro9F6tea4PRDCBjpVCtb50nsh7pb/s1600/c_word.png" height="200" width="200" /></a>I'll admit that I am torn. I know that I could easily do this for at least another week. Possibly even two. No, definitely another two. The thing that is making me want to be done with it once the 2 weeks are done is that there is such a huge social aspect behind eating. I want to go out and have a beer with friends and not be the awkward one sitting there sipping water meanwhile eying down every pint of Pale Ale that crosses my line of vision. I really hate being one of those annoying people who has to mentally tear apart every item on a menu in search of something that works for me. I am the last person to come out to someone and say, "Oh no thanks. I'm on a <i>cleanse</i>." The word "cleanse" has some baggage and I really don't like to say that word unless I absolutely have to. People totally judge you when you bust out "cleanse" and I have found that there are so many other ways to not eat the foods you are avoiding rather than saying the evil "C" word in public.<br />
<br />
Like a simple, "No thanks," when someone offers you something can really go a long way. Every so often that person will insist and tell you how amazing it is. Mentally you may be ringing their necks and wishing they'd take that delectable morsel away from your nose, but verbally just a friendly, "No honestly, I'm good," can make them back off.<br />
<br />
There are lots of reasons that people cleanse. Weight loss is the major reason and we all know how much those celebrities like to announce to the public how amazing they feel when doing them. Yes they lost 20 pounds in 15 days, but c'mon, not a realistic way to lose unwanted poundage. Another reason people do cleanses is to actually cleanse, meaning to detoxify the body of all of the junk that we pump into it every day. There are tons of different kinds of cleanses, such a ones for the liver, kidneys, skin, GI tract, etc, and their goals is to clean you out and make you function better. They all have their differences but one overall similarity: Don't eat garbage food anymore!<br />
<br />
What I enjoy about doing these cleanses is that they (at least for me), make me feel powerful because I am thinking through my decisions of what I am putting into my body. They also get me to make recipes that I may overlook normally. Also, when you're doing a cleanse, you never feel bloated and gross. Your body is working more efficiently and you can see it reflected in your skin and feel it within your body. Plus if you're lucky you'll shed a few pounds and squeeze into your skinny jeans a bit better.<br />
<br />
I'm definitely not doing this for weight loss (I actually weighed myself at the gym today and am down a grand total of a pound and a half). If you saw how much I have been eating you would likely wonder how I have not gained weight. But that is the miracle of eating good food people! You can stuff yourself silly with vegetables, fruits, proteins and healthy fats, even the saturated kinds (I've been eating an avocado every day) and still come out losing weight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZaqFuxU64IqZOIY2xNTdunrRLb50PzLad_G8Wuglgkn71TXdydbBVd2SdPlTFQXVd6ayhaUuMdaTOeazLFgL8ewwuLh3cdu3HwtP-UoAADW_dmPV9GAWRT3OBTOlQoSPIaixp6p08GOu/s1600/cleaneopener.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZaqFuxU64IqZOIY2xNTdunrRLb50PzLad_G8Wuglgkn71TXdydbBVd2SdPlTFQXVd6ayhaUuMdaTOeazLFgL8ewwuLh3cdu3HwtP-UoAADW_dmPV9GAWRT3OBTOlQoSPIaixp6p08GOu/s1600/cleaneopener.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So back to the main point of this impromptu rant. Do I stay on it or go back to my regular scheduled eating habits? I feel that after writing this post that I have talked myself into staying on this eating course for at least another week. Plus I am going to make some cleanse friendly Coconut Curry tomorrow so that will be a good motivation to stay on this track I have beaten out before me.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed this long and drawn out conversation with myself :) <br />
<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-2773564781349559852014-02-02T19:35:00.000-08:002014-02-03T20:33:33.216-08:00Spoke Too Soon<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am nearing the end of Day 6 of Everything Delicious
Deprivation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Notice the name change?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Today is the first time that I
have been really craving something sweet and now that it is on my mind, I am
finding it difficult to push it back into the rational part of my mind that
knows that I cannot have it. Yesterday my co-workers gave me this big red
tin-foiled chocolate star (I’m their “Super Star”) (their words, not mine), and
I took it with absolutely zero temptation to break into the wrapper. Big chunk of chocolate sitting on my desk for a good 5 hours. Nothing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then today
I saw a Quality Street wrapper in a garbage can and now all I can think is
chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Writing this is not helping
matters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I don’t even really like
Quality Street!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As soon as I feel as though
that my will-power super-hero powers have evolved into completion, BAM! Day 6
kicks me in the arse with a strong chocolate foot. I know that I will not give
in and that I’ll make it through the day without indulging in my dark, rich,
sweet, silky, decadent desires…mmmmm….but it wasn’t easy today. It probably
also has a lot to do with being tired. Being tired and slightly lethargic makes
me want to curl up with that comforting feeling that chocolate gives me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On another note, I went out to dinner on Friday
night to the new <a href="http://www.turmericvictoria.com/menu.html">Indian restaurant in town called Turmeric</a> and I am so lovin that place. No I could not eat all of the delectable dishes such as
samosa, pakoras and naan bread (*insert drooling) but the menu had lots of
options that included items which did not contain dairy or wheat and I was
highly impressed with the variety that they offered. I had the Channa Masala
which contained chickpeas and, oh man, it was so delicious. I also tried some
of the Coconut Curry and the filling for the samosas (also wheat and dairy
free) and they were also incredible.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This might be my new favourite
place to eat at the moment. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who
enjoys this kind of ethnic food. I had the medium heat which was a nice spicy
for me. I could have bumped it up to hot since I love spicy foods, but it was my first time there so I
felt that I needed to test the spicy waters before jumping in with both feet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Turmeric. Go. Eat. Love</div>
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<br /></div>
Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-61905867511848673032014-01-31T13:29:00.002-08:002014-01-31T13:29:45.318-08:00Day 4 - The ConfessionDay 4 of Garbage-Food Eviction 2014 is half way over.<br />
<br />
That sounded far more dramatic than I anticipated it to be. To be completely honest, I am not really having a difficult time with this whole no sugar/wheat/dairy cleanse thing this time around. From doing this previously, I know what I can and cannot eat, so I just programmed my brain to accept that I have to steer clear of 95% of the food items found in any grocery store and 99.3% of food items found in a restaurant.<br />
<br />
Easy right?<br />
<br />
I think I was just so ready to avoid sugary foods for a while and just try to treat my body less like a bag of shit and more like the temple I need it to be if I want to survive this highly polluted society we have created. The key to surviving any kind of cleanse or diet is that you have to be prepared and have snacks available at all times and also know local businesses that supply the kinds of foods that you can go to if you're in a meal pinch. My freezer is full of meals that can be heated up on a moment's notice (plus I bring them to work for my lunches). Last night I was pretty hungry but had quite a bit of time to kill before my dinner date, so I went to cafe that makes fresh juices and I bought a giant vegetable juice to distract my hunger. Delicious and nutritious!<br />
<br />
I am very glad that I am not giving up caffeine though. I didn't want to have to deal with that and I also didn't want to put my co-workers through that either. No one likes a caffeine deprived person. Never have I met a pleasant one before. The headaches from the lack of sugar is enough to remind me that going without coffee is not on my priority list any time in the near future. I was actually quite shocked by just how strong the headaches have been the past couple of days. I truly wasn't expecting that...but it goes to show just how much my brain and body relies on that extra surge of caffeine from chocolate and energy from sugar.<br />
<br />
Crazy.<br />
<br />
I did mess up last night. But in my defence it was a completely innocent screw-up and I can't believe that I overlooked it. I went out to a sushi bar for dinner and we ordered a whole bunch of sushi rolls and shared them. I didn't have the soy sauce or little extras that I knew contained sugar or wheat. I was feeling pretty good about my dinner choice actually. And then this morning as I am walking the dog, it dawns on me that, DUH, sushi rice has sugar added to it. What a bonehead move on my part. I am less-than-impressed with myself at the moment and I didn't want to confess my mistake but alas, I am human and I missed the added sugar to rice scenario.<br />
<br />
Well played <a href="http://www.azuma.ca/">Azuma Sushi</a>. Well played.<br />
<br />
But I have to put that all behind me and just move ahead with the day. Plus I am going to go buy a Blendtec today!!! Hello homemade fruit and veggie smoothies! I am embarrassingly super stoked about this upcoming purchase but c'mon, the thing can blend anything!<br />
<br />
Does anyone have any old iPhones I can borrow?<br />
<br />
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<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-7375078202491674732014-01-27T16:36:00.000-08:002014-01-27T16:36:07.759-08:00Sugar Eviction 2014It seems that one of the best motivations to sticking to your goals is by announcing your goals to the online world. I don't remember what the specific percentage of increased probability is, but it has been recently shown that you are more likely to stick to and achieve your goals if you post them on some sort of social media outlet, such as Facebook or Twitter.<br />
<br />
But on the flip-side of this, I feel like isn't there a increased amount of pressure on your shoulders to fulfil what you set out for yourself knowing that the world (or at least your intimate circle of friends who might actually be following your progress) is watching? If you fall flat on your face into the giant heap of messy self-pity, doesn't this mean more pointed fingers and laughing faces in your direction?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYwoTOPoFnj1bwzOxDLvbP84SFyWf0K1D6uSAGm-k06nDJnb86Sk0vw_Tj4G2HyonfQ-xE4_6E-e1luUbAJQvK91QooYePGHeT2bWPXhxQg5fODIU95YwAcSXXAO0glavAoY4bh1-sNX6/s1600/images+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYwoTOPoFnj1bwzOxDLvbP84SFyWf0K1D6uSAGm-k06nDJnb86Sk0vw_Tj4G2HyonfQ-xE4_6E-e1luUbAJQvK91QooYePGHeT2bWPXhxQg5fODIU95YwAcSXXAO0glavAoY4bh1-sNX6/s1600/images+(1).jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
As for me, I am definitely more likely to complete what I set out before me if I announce it to the world and put it all out there for people to see. The idea of others knowing that I am weak and not able to complete a personal ambition puts enough fear into my heart to keep at it and finish my task. I'm not looking for feedback or a pat on the back for doing these things. I guess that publicizing personal events makes them more real to me and makes me think, "Alright. Everyone knows. Time to buckle down and get this done with."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yxCFi0dTlQFEQwFdk2NFh42Zby8SiM89mpIB8u5DmfojMc5n-f5FARdb7htCPXdqrAp-ZuxBuRg4m6_SXLcRgoMqB3puER0qceZw-HYhZwHE5aIue_lBvhhvtkeH7YkVvmtd_ZVaOYyC/s1600/personal-announcement-large-img.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yxCFi0dTlQFEQwFdk2NFh42Zby8SiM89mpIB8u5DmfojMc5n-f5FARdb7htCPXdqrAp-ZuxBuRg4m6_SXLcRgoMqB3puER0qceZw-HYhZwHE5aIue_lBvhhvtkeH7YkVvmtd_ZVaOYyC/s1600/personal-announcement-large-img.jpg" height="200" width="180" /></a>So I guess it's time to "announce" that I am starting my annual 2-week sugar & wheat cleanse tomorrow. This is honestly the first time I have actually looked forward to doing one of these. Normally I am dreading the idea of not eating any sugar or wheat products for a couple weeks...but my body needs this and my brain knows it. I've kind of just succumbed to the fact that it's going to happen and there's no need to get all bent out of shape about it. I feel like the amount of refined sugar that I have been eating since the beginning of December is just overly stupid and every cell in my body is begging me to avoid the stuff for a good while.<br />
<br />
I might even stretch it to a month depending on how it goes. But I just know that those 2pm chocolate cravings at work might drive me over the edge pretty quickly. When the girls come into the office with the afternoon chocolate fix, saying no for a whole month might start to make me twitch.<br />
<br />
Usually I eliminate dairy as well, but I figured that I eat so little of it already that there's no need to go out of my way to completely avoid it for the next 2 weeks. Once I eat up the rest of my plain Greek yogurt then I just won't buy any more and all my dairy consumption will be kaput!<br />
<br />
So there we go. No more sugar. No more wheat. Eventually, no more dairy. <br />
<br />
Just enough time for one more beer!<br />
<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-29409022775214603372014-01-22T17:37:00.002-08:002014-01-22T17:37:23.275-08:00I Heart Canadian TireHave I mentioned how much of a boner I have for <a href="http://www.canadiantire.ca/en.html">Canadian Tire?</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIP1mJJ_T7CFQmM5RhwPXb0esnP-Dapne_CoFBk8XHWa2W2UqU4pWWVKExH5Ojk16ItoLlQnpbeRdGIk7CVBEH5AiA1rnikCGHFntUza95DhHHaFgF1FURvLbBYut4z72AE_O7LRFf0WW/s1600/CDN_Tire_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIP1mJJ_T7CFQmM5RhwPXb0esnP-Dapne_CoFBk8XHWa2W2UqU4pWWVKExH5Ojk16ItoLlQnpbeRdGIk7CVBEH5AiA1rnikCGHFntUza95DhHHaFgF1FURvLbBYut4z72AE_O7LRFf0WW/s1600/CDN_Tire_Logo.jpg" height="175" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
I love that store.<br />
<br />
I love how it smells. As soon as I walk in, I fill in my lungs with its heavy rubber tire scent and make my way into the aisles in search of the treasures within.<br />
<br />
But mostly, I love the sales. Canadian Tire has the most AMAZING sales of pretty much any store in the entire world. You can go into that store and find items that are a ridiculous percentage off and save hundreds of dollars on super wicked items.<br />
<br />
There is nothing better than going into a store and finding the item that you are looking for to be on sale. For example, I decided that I wanted to make butter chicken and the recipe that I planned on using asked for a Dutch Oven. I don't own a Dutch Oven and decided to just use a regular pot to make it. But then yesterday when I was heading to the bank, I glanced over at Canadian Tire (right next to my bank) and decided to go take a look at their Dutch Ovens because really, how have I lived this long without owning one? So I headed over and went to the kitchen area to find that all of the Dutch Ovens were 70% off!<br />
<br />
70% off. How could I not? It was a clear sign that I could not pass up such a great sale opportunity. I saved $120 on a super wicked bright red Kitchen Aid Dutch Oven.<br />
<br />
Like I said, Canadian Tire is the best. If you need to buy something and save copious amounts of money, even if you don't actually need it and just want to feel that fulfilling sensation of getting an amazing deal on something, please to there and take advantage of the sales.<br />
<br />
And my butter chicken turned out pretty friggin' good.<br />
<br />
<br />Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-80582902790494910362014-01-17T19:56:00.000-08:002014-01-17T20:37:50.788-08:00Motivate Me BabySome days are easier to find motivation than others.<br />
<br />
Some days I jump
out of bed ready to take on the day! I'm cooking, cleaning, doing my
school work, making appointments, writing emails....knocking off each
item on my To-Do list like it ain't no thang. Then other days....I lay
in bed, ignoring the clock and spending far too much time on Netflix. My To-Do list mocks me from across the room as it glares me down with disgust.<br />
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Lately I've been thinking a lot about motivation,
especially when it comes to physical fitness. The other day while at the
gym, I was looking around the cardio room wondering what motivated
these women to give up their Wednesday evening and spend some of it in a
noisy room full of sweaty red-faced strangers. I'm not much of a fan of
working out after work, but I hit the gym after my shifts because I
want to avoid the horrible 2-6 pm traffic on the Trans-Canada highway. Sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic after working for 12.5 hours is far more dreadful than an hour
on an elliptical. Far far more dreadful.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8NqbQwGHOorNk2sMOF9JPD2_-F_AZ4C3QC_GUHg59aboclGzvhCkj5n7bi0wxZIcN9cb6hBQAZk-qMAMAVXnTk-FiKmA4cGL2iNJlhrfZtIfr9FZ7ynJrYM9L3vd8nd9y-CNOTQ-ic1Y/s1600/544799_410923098938637_193273397370276_1365827_1843166441_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8NqbQwGHOorNk2sMOF9JPD2_-F_AZ4C3QC_GUHg59aboclGzvhCkj5n7bi0wxZIcN9cb6hBQAZk-qMAMAVXnTk-FiKmA4cGL2iNJlhrfZtIfr9FZ7ynJrYM9L3vd8nd9y-CNOTQ-ic1Y/s1600/544799_410923098938637_193273397370276_1365827_1843166441_n.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>Obviously living a healthier lifestyle and avoiding
some genetic diseases are my main motivations for going to the gym and
exercising on a regular basis. I also have some injuries/physical ailments that really act up if I do not stay active. But I definitely remember the moment when I
became addicted to lifting weights. A few years back I was in the
washroom giving it a good cleaning and I bent over to pick a cloth off of
the floor and caught my reflection in the full length mirror which
revealed the outline of my deltoid muscles. Never had I ever had
shoulder definition like that and seeing it made me want more, more,
more! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So back to my story of the cardio room last
Wednesday night. What is the motivation pushing these women (most of
them at least 40 or older) to leave their work or home to be at a gym? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- Health scare?</div>
<div>
- New Years resolution?</div>
<div>
- Want to be able to run around and keep up with their kids? Grandkids? </div>
<div>
- More energy? More physical strength? Stronger bones? Less pain in the joints?</div>
<div>
- Could it be part of a bet? Maybe she has a bet with a friend of who could lose 10 pounds first.</div>
<div>
- Planning a trip to Costa Rica and the idea of wearing a bathing suit terrifies her</div>
<div>
- She saw her grandma's Bing arm and immediately started tricep extensions</div>
<div>
- Recently single and hitting the dating scene again</div>
<div>
- She saw <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/jane-seymour-62-flaunts-hot-bikini-body-during-vacation-in-hawaii-picture-201431">Jane Seymour's recent photo spread in US Weekly</a> (did I mention she's 62?)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whatever
your motivation is to haul your arse to the gym, I applaud you. I know
how hard it can be to keep motivated and keep with your exercise regime
day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. I
know how hard it is to just start and get there. I know how shitty it
feels to leave a gym feeling like you have accomplished nothing and are
wasting your time in your oversized sweats while all the thin chicks in
their tight tights burn a million calories just by filling their water
bottles and flirting with the ripped trainer. I get it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While I was cooling down that evening, spending my
last 5 minutes walking on the treadmill, the lady next to me really
perked my interest. She would walk for a couple minutes then run for
about 30 seconds (or so). After her 30 seconds she would slow down and
grimace, almost like she was mad at herself for giving up so soon. I
wanted to cheer her on! I wanted to tell her to keep trying and let her know that it
will get easier. Soon she will last 45 seconds, then a full minute, then even 2 minutes! I wondered what her motivation was for even
attempting those initial 30 seconds. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8feNGROiA3-CONnJHsL0y6qgD3ajeTOmYgCvDZ94_d0vszg-2Z5HQOlFt4FQiGzTi6NxjihFjzd9hMDU7lTOC-cNrWt3NkidWhXryEzmyFlD6l-_FPDcapg3gefdULWXZAOhrbDGA_av2/s1600/Feel_Badass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8feNGROiA3-CONnJHsL0y6qgD3ajeTOmYgCvDZ94_d0vszg-2Z5HQOlFt4FQiGzTi6NxjihFjzd9hMDU7lTOC-cNrWt3NkidWhXryEzmyFlD6l-_FPDcapg3gefdULWXZAOhrbDGA_av2/s1600/Feel_Badass.jpg" height="188" width="200" /></a>Whatever your motivation is people, keep it at the
front of your memory when you feel like throwing in the towel. Put the
picture of your dream vacation destination on the treadmill or hang your
bikini on the bathroom door so you have to look at it every time you go
in there. Don't worry about what other people think or what you look
like when you're working out. We all get sweaty, red-faced, trip over
our own feet and stop to read the instructions on the machines. We all stared at the bottom and felt overwhelmed at our surroundings. I recently realized that I have, somewhere along the line, become one of those annoying people who grunt while lifting weights! While I am doing my best to curb this embarrassing habit, it's not going to stop me from lifting heavy weights. My motivation is in my deltoids and I'm not going to forget it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You don't want to look back in a year and wish that
you had started today. Find your edge, work within it and keep at it.
You'll find that moment when you realize you're addicted and one day
you'll be surpass the goals you set out for yourself. <br />
<br />
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<br />
Yeah he got his titles taken away for doping, but Lance Armstrong said it right:<br />
"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever." </div>
<div>
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<div>
Sometimes you just need a Motivation Proclamation :)</div>
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Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-639651303883827561.post-6165868546716300132014-01-12T17:53:00.001-08:002014-01-13T20:55:10.935-08:00A Few More.....Every so often I feel the need to write a post about a product, brand, restaurant or just something that makes my every-day easier, my soul happier or my life funner (for the billionth time, yes funner is a word). Today I have 3 things to write about and perhaps if you try them as well then they will make your life a little better too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYxNv7T5bZFzKoBJf9PyfuT9h03CH26uX-eIRwefzQMDnPek1Ks6zXbuZ080ewQTJCADDJFoHLdDbvfQ0Gjqun5AdE79FfGBUGXkRmRx1-BEKBoqmi6i3XlnYh3vJZk2JYPX6RqcLkaZ1/s1600/cg_clump_crusher_mascara_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYxNv7T5bZFzKoBJf9PyfuT9h03CH26uX-eIRwefzQMDnPek1Ks6zXbuZ080ewQTJCADDJFoHLdDbvfQ0Gjqun5AdE79FfGBUGXkRmRx1-BEKBoqmi6i3XlnYh3vJZk2JYPX6RqcLkaZ1/s1600/cg_clump_crusher_mascara_1.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
<b>1) Covergirl's No Clump Mascara: Clump Crusher.</b> This sounds like a strange item to discuss on a blog but if you're a woman and you wear mascara on a regular basis, I highly recommend this product. I have been using the same mascara for years and years and after trying several other brands and designs, I always go back to the same one. But then I got this item for Christmas (stocking stuffer) and I feel like my mascara world has dramatically changed.<br />
<br />
I was hesitant to open the package because I thought, "Why open this when I'm never going to use it?" I loved my same-old brand and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Right? Plus the Clump Crusher has one of those curved brushes (was never a fan) and the brush is also made out of that hard plastic material that tends to be uncomfortable to apply with. Skeptical from the beginning is never a great way to approach a new beauty product.<br />
<br />
But now that I have used it, I'll admit that I am officially a converter. It is not the most comfortable product to use (still not a fan of the material that the brush is made out of) but I have yet to have any form of clumping at all on my eyelashes. My eyelashes have never looked so perfect in all of my life. It's a friggin' Christmas eyelash miracle! Plus it's relatively inexpensive which is a bonus. I've used really expensive and really cheap mascaras...and this one falls in the $7 range which is an excellent deal for exquisitely separated and clump-free eyelashes.<br />
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<b>2) My new ultra-speed cable jump rope.</b> I was ecstatic to get a speed jump rope for Christmas. I have been working really hard on my jump rope technique and speed but my old jump rope simply couldn't keep up with me anymore. I have out-jumped my old rope and frankly, it was holding me back. This new rope is simply a thin coil of wire wrapped in plastic. It's really light-weight and goes like a bat out of hell when you get your momentum going.<br />
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What I thought was really cool about this rope is that when you buy it, it's super long but you can cut it to fit your height and jumping comfort. Using a rope that is too short or too long is very inconvenient when you're trying to break world records.<br />
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There are pros and cons to any kind of jump rope, whether it be a speed rope, weighted rope or plain old traditional rope. Speed ropes are best for speed, coordination and practising your fancy footwork. They aren't the best for building strength because there is no weight to them so you won't have to use your shoulders and arms as much as say, a weighted rope (those definitely cause your upper body to work hard). Plus they are really easy to tangle and really leave a mark when you whip yourself in the back or arm. Ouch! I've left the gym with a few good slashes on the back of my arm. You never really realize where you hit yourself with a jump rope until you use one made out of a plastic covered cable. But the speed rope is so fun and my workouts with it are much more enjoyable. I highly encourage you to try one if you've never used one before.<br />
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<b>3) Gardener's Hand Care - Intensive Therapy Hand Cream.</b> I first found this product while aimlessly wandering around the gift shop while aboard one of the BC Ferries on my way to Vancouver. Stopping and sniffing every single body product in the gift shop is a good way to kill time and I am always looking for a nice hand lotion, especially one for my sister who has notoriously damaged hands from her job. While my hands aren't as bad as hers, they take a beating as well considering I work in a hospital and wash my hands about 100 times each day in hopes of avoiding the next deadly strain of H1N1 or the black plague.<br />
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With most lotions I just enjoy the fragrance of the testers, but this one I actually tried. Surprisingly enough I went with the lavender scented one which is a scent that I generally detest. However, I think that because of my fast approaching old age, the smell of lavender has become comforting and I find myself enjoying it more and more. Anyway, I immediately loved the way this lotion felt and as with most lotion and tester products, I tried the product and walked away. My theory is that if I still like the way it smells and feels and hour later then I will go back and buy it. And yes, I still enjoyed it very much.<br />
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Now I have a tube of it on my bed stand and slather my hands up every night before bed. My hands feel better than they have in a long time and I wanted to send a shout out to<a href="http://www.uppercanadasoap.com/intensive-hand-therapy-cream-2.html"> Upper Canada Soap</a> that makes this lovely item. Thanks for bringing letting me know how much I actually enjoy the scent of lavender and how nice it is to wake up with softer hands.Age (for short)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08875188902429406443noreply@blogger.com0