Adventures in Dining

At the beginning of August I googled Saskatoon looking for some different restaurants to take Hubby for his birthday.  I found an excellent blog called Wonderlust and Words.  I found the name of two places to visit.  The Mardi Gras Grill and The Hollows.  Well that weekend of my Hubby's birthday was a long weekend and our timing was poor and it turned out that neither establishment was open.

Phooey.

We've driven by Mardi Gras Grill several times since then.  We've been checking to see if the parking lot is full.  But we somehow never found the time to stop.

Hubby took the day off work today.  He went out and about and attended to yard work while I did some chores inside.  Then around 3:30 pm I went outside and posed the question:  What do you want for supper OR would you like to go out for supper?  Out it was and off to Mardi Gras Grill we went.

It's located downtown on a busy street but the paid parking is ample.  It is housed in a building that was formerly a sports bar.  The outside has been painted and I'm sure the inside was renovated as well.  There are three photo paintings adorning the walls.  I over heard the waitress telling another patron that her aunt took the photo's in New Orleans but didn't like how they turned out so she painted pictures over them.  Genius!  They are the prefect decor.

There are both booths and tables with chairs as well as an outside patio.  There weren't many people there even though it was soon the supper rush.  We were brought a complimentary plate of corn bread.  I've had corn bread many times before and even made it myself but it never turned out like this!  It appeared and tasted like it was baked, then squared, then toasted or grilled.  It was tasty!


For an appetizer we ordered Fried Green Tomatoes.  Ever since the movie, it's something I've wanted to try.  "For Towanda!!!!!"  They were served with 4 giant shrimp, 6 slices of tomato and salad greens with a sauce.  Hubby ate the shrimp as they aren't my favourite.  I did love the tomatoes.  I would order that appetizer for a lunch as well.  It was great.

Hubby's meal was called Taste of New Orleans and consisted of Gumbo, Jambalaya and Etouffee.  He was given instructions on how to eat the craw fish.  This meal was enough to feed two people!  Hubby tried hard but couldn't quite finish everything.  Not totally being a seafood fan, I ordered the Pulled Pork Po' Boy with fries.  It was the most extraordinary sandwich I've ever had!  I ate the sandwich but couldn't finish the fries which were undoubtedly home made since they didn't resemble anything out of my freezer.

We were stuffed.  The waitress, who I found out is the wife of the chef asked if we wanted beignets.  I asked if we could get them to go.  She said yes.  So they were given to us hot but we were advised to keep the package open or they'd shrivel up.  The donut type dessert had powdered sugar and a dollop of blueberry preserve.  It's our midnight snack tonight.

It was delicious cajun creole cuisine just as promised and just what Saskatoon has been missing.

Summer Nights

I was sitting on the newly arranged love seat sipping my morning coffee staring out the picture window at the pouring rain.  The wind is gusting to 80 kms and Brandy can't go outside without becoming a wet soggy dog.  Even though today will only hit a high of 17*C, it made me remember.....

I was about 10 or 11, maybe even 12, and it was a hot hot evening in my parents house.  They didn't have air conditioning then and wouldn't until I was closer to 15.  It was the kind of sticky humid heat that made you uncomfortable to be inside and outside.  Mom and Dad had some kind of fan that often sat in the doorway of the front door.  You had to put water in it.  I don't know if it worked but I know that summer it got a good work out.

We had been somewhere, I don't recall where.  Maybe at my grandparents or just out for a drive as we often did that when I was a kid.....just to find relief sometimes.  It was about 11pm.  My parents had opened all the windows in the house and were sitting out on the front step because it had finally cooled down outside or at least it was cooler than being inside.

Magnum PI was on the TV.

.....and I was torn.  I wanted to watch TV but it was hot.  From inside the living room I could hear the murmur of my parents conversation  on the front step.  They encouraged me to go outside and I did go in and out a few times.  Mom thought Tom Selleck looked pretty good with that mustache and I always secretly thought maybe that's why Dad had a 'stache too.

On a night like that we sure would have appreciated rain like we're getting today.

It was also on a hot evening like that I'd see my grandparents car pull up outside.  They drove a '77 Grand Prix which would later become mine on my 16th birthday.  We'd all pile into the luxury sports car and head to Dairy Queen.  Mom, Grandma D and I would wait in the car.  I'd always get a hot fudge sundae while Grandma would get strawberry.   Thinking about it now and I can almost smell that new-car-grandparent smell.

My own parents are older now than my grandparents were then.

Such great memories from a rainy late summer day.

The Hood is a Changin'

When I first moved to Toon Town, I gave my neighbours nicknames because I didn't know their real names.  I had hopes that we'd be the kind of block that got together for parties and sat out on the lawn and had coffee and were friends.  None of that happened in the way I wished it would.  There was Neighbour Fred, The Rider Fans & Nice Neighbour.  I even blogged about them in another blog life.

Not all the original families are here.  Corrine was my immediate neighbour but moved away before we lived here a year.  There's been 3 families since Corrine.  Joel and Josie are the best next door neighbours we've ever had.  They do have parties and they do invite us.  Sometimes we go and sometimes we don't, but we always say hello and share our gardening tips over the fence.

Nice Neighbour is exactly what his name describes.  He's nice.  When he's outside working he'll wave.  He walks his little white dog and stops and talks.  He's told us he appreciates us as good neighbours.  He's chatted about our new fence and he's even said "Pop in for coffee, Dorothy and I would like it."  Dorothy!  That's the name of his wife!  Ten years later, I have no idea what Nice Neighbour's name is, but I always chat with him and I always wave back.

Next to Nice Neighbour is a new family.  I think they are Filipino and that's just fine.  There are little kids who ride bikes and play outside.  It's nice to see kids in the neighbourhood again.  There haven't been any for a long time.  So far, this family doesn't have a nickname.

Directly across from our house are The Rider Fans.  I called them that before I knew I was one as well.  They are better described as Tim Horton addicts though.  Whenever they leave, they always ALWAYS return with coffee from Timmies.  Yes, they still dress in green on game day, their little kids are clad now too, and so are we.

Next we have Neighbour Fred.  Hubby calls him Meticulous Neighbour because he is forever cutting his lawn or weeding or watering.  They've done a lot of work on their house.  Since we've lived here they've done a new gate, new driveway, and resided the house.  I'm sure there were renovations inside as well.....we just can't see them.  I've talked to Neighbour Fred up close a few times.  They've always been good and looked out for the well being of all in the hood.  I am thankful for that.

This spring Hubby was at work and was taking the elevator when a lady introduced herself as Cindy.  Here it turns out she is Neighbour Fred's wife.  Hubby had been working in the same building for 2 years in different departments.

When we first moved here their teenage boys would practise their skate boarding out on the sidewalk.  Brandy would bark at them. Then we watched them move away.  Now they return with little kids of their own.  It's the evolution of the neighbourhood  I suppose.

This evening I looked out the living room window.  There is a newly planted For Sale sign on the lawn at Neighbour Fred and Cindy's. 

It's sad to see a good neighbour go.  But on the up side, someone new will move in.  Maybe they'll be the sit on the stoop and visit type.  I'm hoping. 

FolkFest ~*~Final Day~*~

FolkFest this year had 16 pavilions.  They are located at different parts of the city.  None of the pavilions were on the North or West parts of Saskatoon.  Today there were some road closures for road repairs making it difficult on festival goers.  We decided to go to the eastern part of the city where three pavilions were being held because traffic didn't seem to be an issue in those parts.

We headed to the soccer centre.  It is large enough to hold maybe 3 pavilions but this year they were calling it the Global Village.  Inside the one auditorium were Laos and Oromo.  There were several booths selling wares.  I was really attracted to the bone jewellery.  It was only $5 for a bone bracelet.  I also really liked a small heart shaped bowl made in Kenya that was inexpensive as well.  But I left both behind.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed with choices and just decide on nothing!  The Laos dancing reminded me of a Hawaaian dance.  It was very fluid with hand gestures.  The dancing at Oromo reminded me more of Indian dancing with a lot of stamping of feet and hopping.

Oromo Coffee Ceremony Display

We did not eat from the offerings of these two pavilions but it really smelled delicious.  Oromo is very well known for it's coffee and had a coffee ceremony hut.  They were not showing the ceremony while we were there but the placement of the utensils and seating reminded me of the Chinese Tea Ceremony which we saw two years ago at the Asia-Pacific Pavilion.  I do wish we could have seen the Coffee Ceremony as we do enjoy our coffee!

Not far away, just a hot jaunt through the parking lot and down the street, was the Norwegian pavilion.  I mention the heat because today it was 30*C if not warmer.  The Norwegian pavilion inside and out of St. Joseph's school was very hot.  We always enjoy this display because Hubby's heritage is Norwegian and Swedish.  They had several booths set up selling items.  I marveled at the Hardanger which is a form of needlepoint and cutwork.  I've made small items myself but it is very tricky when cutting away the cloth after you've toiled at the needlework!  We laughed at the t-shirts which read "Does this shirt make me look Norwegian?" 

We saw several Trolls and like the fairy tales they are homely little creatures!  You could stand with a backdrop and have your picture taken with some of the Trolls too!

Outside the back of the school there were real live Vikings!  When we saw them they were resting in their tent.  However, they are a rowdy bunch and tend to get into fights.  We overheard some excited children talking about it.  I noticed the children were wearing home made tee shirts that read Around the World Birthday Party and thought what a wonderful idea!!

Hubby and I stood in the food line which was probably the best organized of all the food stops.  I had a meatball plate which came with Swedish meatballs in a mushroom dill gravy, beet salad and lefse.  Lefse is a tortilla like flatbread made with potatoes instead of flour.  Hubby had.....guess?  HA!  Herring on toast!  As well as, smoked salmon with cream cheese on bread and a single roll of lefse with butter and sugar.  Remembering the sign behind the counter, "Why take chances, eat dessert", I opted for an almond tart. 

Scandinavian Fudge

There was a fudge counter and it was fun to read the names of the fudge.  Olie cookies & cream.  Fjord rocky road.  Hannah butterscotch.  I snapped a picture and the lady mused that there were less calories my way.  *grin*

Lady making Krumkake in a waffle iron.

We also treated ourselves to Krumkake.  Krumkake, in my opinion, is the Scandinavian answer to Italian Cannoli.  It is a batter which is cooked in a special Krumkake iron....like a waffle iron, and then molded around a cone.  In Hubby's family, the Krumkake is filled with a cream and sometimes has candies or sprinkles on top.  It is delish!  The ladies making it were having a hard time to keep up with the supply at $1 each, but sadly they were not filling them with anything.  They sure were yummy though and the smell wafted through the whole pavilion.

We decided that was it for our round the world tour.  We didn't go to the Bangladesh, Brazilian, German, India, Irish or Ukrainian pavilions.  We have done some of them in previous years.  The Ukrainian and German are always good but always packed full.  I think the most memorable and fun was the Indian/Métis pavilion and I would definitely take that one in again.  It was great fun and for the price of a passport $15 we indeed took in world class entertainment.

FolkFest 2012 ~*~Day Two~*~

What another incredible day!  We started at the Asia-Pacific pavilion.  We arrived right on time for the first performance of the day.  This featured Amazing Lion, Folk Dance, Yoyo, and Martial Arts according to the program.  The Amazing Lion was similar to the dragon dances that I've seen before except this time there were three lions and they seemed to be tamed by the 2 little girl dancers.  There were several folk dances from different regions.  The Yogo demonstration was very interesting.  It's unlike a regular yoyo.  Instead, you hold two sticks joined by a string and you balance what is similar to a spinning top.  If that wasn't enough, they go through different moves to make the top jump or spin and at one time they even juggled it!

The Amazing Lion.  Note the large head in front of me...murphy's law.

The most impressive part of the Asia-Pacific pavilion was the Kung-foo fighters!  It was listed as Martial Arts but was so much more.  Think Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee!  They wore colourful satin costumes.  The ages seemed to range from about 7 to late teens.  What I loved most was the way it was choreographed the girl and the smallest boy won the fight!  I wish I was able to take a photo but the movements changed so quickly it would just be a blur.

We left the Asia-Pacific to take in the South American-Mexican pavilion.  This venue is small.  It took place in a church in a busy part of the city with tough parking.  We parked a block away at a grocery store and walked.  Inside the pavilion it was crowded and hot....and I mean HOT.  It was very difficult to find seating but did at a table.  We were able to watch a singer and two dances and then the tour with the mayor arrived.

The unthinkable happened.

A woman came to our table and told the entire table that we had to leave because they needed the seats for the tour and so people could eat.

We were basically kicked out.

South American-Mexican pavilion you totally failed us.  FAILED!

We decided to take in the Indian-Métis pavilion.  Outside the Indian-Métis Friendship Centre [the venue] was a giant tipi was on display.  We were greeted by two girls in a traditional dress.  They extended their hands in welcome.  

We decided to eat since it was passed our meal time.  Their mealtime offerings were extensive.  Hubby decided on a buffalo burger with the works, but I wanted to try something more ethnic so got a combo plate that included dried fish, wild rice and bannock.  The best thing happened.  While I claimed a seat and waited for Hubby to bring our food a man approached me and asked if he and his wife could sit with us since there was room.  I said of course they could.  The man's name was Henry Gardipy and was a performer at the pavilion!!!  He and his wife tour to multicultural events and casino's all over Canada.  Henry said that he and his wife sing but their son learned to dance instead and now that he's grown he tours as well.  They were such a nice couple and had a great sense of humour and it was easy to talk with them.

Hoop Dancers.  I saw such pride on their faces.

We excused ourselves to watch the entertainment.  When we first entered the auditorium the hoop dance was going on.  It appears that in order to be a hoop dancer you need to be able to hold several hoops at once entwined around your body in several constantly morphing poses.  We were treated to the talents of Dallas Fiddler-Boyer and Phil Boyer who played the fiddle and guitar.  The fiddle player kept time with interesting foot movements.  I think if he were standing he'd be jigging all over the stage.  We heard Krystal Pederson sing and perform an amazing rendition of Ava Maria.  

The most incredible part was what happened next.  There were dances performed by women and the stories were so interesting of how the dances came to be.  I love the humour too!  But then a man came to the circle who was wearing a very impressive headress of feathers as well as feathers around his waist and bottom.  He danced with a stern look on his face.  I couldn't help but smile the whole time.  I loved it.

But then......

It was time for the round dance and they wanted people out of the audience to help out.  Hubby looked mortified.  The feathered man pulled me out to participate and before you know it Hubby was standing at the circle too!  Then the drum started and we all held hands and danced in a circle.

They said that in tradition a round dance could last until all hours of the night.  I'm glad the song only lasted a few minutes!

It was amazing.  If you ever have the chance to participate in something like a round dance.  Do it!  DO IT! 

FolkFest 2012 ~*~Day One~*~

Every year the city of Saskatoon holds a three day event called FolkFest.  FolkFest is a multicultural celebration through a series of pavilions dedicated to different countries and nationalities.  Every year there are additions and subtractions.

We purchased our passports ahead of time at the Safeway.  Notice I said passport?  It's a little book just like your very own government issued passport minus the gruesome photo.  This little book has a page for each pavilion which gets a unique stamp once visited, just like your real passport.

The Saskatoon Pipe Band

We decided since there are five pavilions located at the same location, Prairieland Exhibition, that it would be a great start to the festivities.  A couple years ago we really enjoyed ourselves at the Scottish Pavilion.  It was great once again.  There were tables with people selling Scottish goods - everything from sweets to kilts.  We took in the main stage and saw the Saskatoon Pipe Band playing bagpipes, which are very impressive in person.  There was a pub and cafe offering haggis, shepherds pie and shortbread among other things.  I've tried haggis and actually liked it.  Hubby says that's because my grandfather was Scottish. *shrugs*  I did buy toffee on our way out.  It was excellent stick-you-teeth-together yummy-ness.

Scottish Toffee

Next we went to the Philipinnes!  Other years we've entered this pavilion with unfortunate timing.....just when the entertainment was ending.  This time we waited around and took in some of the dancing and singing.  I love the filipino clothes.  They are colourful and often sparkly.  We looked at the handmade jewelry and I was tempted by the seller to purchase a sparkly beaded bracelet.....but I didn't.  At this pavilion we decided to eat.  We shared a "combo #2" plate with an extra pork bbq skewer for $13.50.  Included was Sinangag [fried rice], Pansit Bihon [noodles], Adobo chicken & Inihaw [the bbq'd pork skewers].  The one plate was plenty to serve the two of us.  If you wanted dessert they offered avocado ice cream which sounded interesting.

Apologies for the blurry pic, but these people were dancing quickly!

Then we cruised on to the Carribean.  You could smell the jerk chicken and they were encouraging people to walk up to the Tiki Hut.  On stage was a flame eater!  I've seen this man on stage before.  He wields two sticks which are on fire and goes through several positions or dance moves and eventually eats the fire at the end of them.  It's incredible.

People have not believed me before when I've run into certain characters [There's a Batman story for another time]......so when we saw Captain Jack Sparrow hanging out I knew I needed proof!

Myself and Captain Jack Sparrow

Saskatoon Adventures

Butterhorns - Traeger's Bakery Miller Avenue Saskatoon

On Tuesday, Hubby [who has taken the week off work] and I stopped in at our favourite butcher shop, Prairie Meats, to buy something for supper.  I wandered next door into Traeger's Bakery.  They had Butterhorns.  I purchased 2 for dessert.  I have no idea what we bought for supper.  Anyhow, I have been looking high and low in this city for a bakery that has cannoli.  Apparently, there aren't any Italian people in this city to make it.  *shrugs*  It turns out Traeger's used to make and sell cannoli.  They'd order the shells and then fill them in store.  Well the shells started arriving all broken so they said "enough of that." and started making them out of pastry dough instead.  The verdict?  They were really yummy.....but not cannoli.

Yesterday, we ventured all the way over to the south side and into Homesense.  I purchased a new kitchen clock.  The previous clock has become gummed up with grease and after trying to clean it.....and sticking to it.....and trying to make it pass off as clean I gave up.  The hands are a knife and fork and the pendulum is a spoon!  I <3 it. 

Last week, I did surgery on the lazy susan cabinet.  Rather, I performed an amputation by totally removing the lazy susan.  She was so lazy she collapsed from the weight of holding up "stuff" and I suppose if my job since 1974 was to hold stuff up I'd probably drop from exhaustion too.  So, today Hubby and I visited some kitchen cabinet stores....Superior Cabinets, Kitchen Craft, & Tait.  The best service by far was at Superior while we found the right wood style for us at Tait BUT after scanning through the Superior pamphlets they too had that same wood.  It's actually a laminate or vaneer called Zebrano.  The one we liked had a grey stain to it.  I can picture the lower cabinets in this while the upper cabinets can be white.  We even found a great countertop to go with our ideas.  

We are sort of dreaming here.  I don't necessarily think we can afford to do kitchen reno's right away.  We have other pressing expenses such as replacing the aluminum sliding windows...also circa 1974.  But it was fun to see what was available and find all kinds of drawer inserts and cabinet options.

This evening we took a drive to the University of Saskatchewan.  We like a trail that starts near where former Prime Minister Diefenbaker and his wife are laid to rest.  In fact, it's right behind the Diefenbaker Centre.  We took Brandy~puppy along for the ride.  She was super excited and barked a lot at people jogging and walking and such.

Brandy on the look-out for joggers.

Our city is so pretty.  My photo's don't really do it justice.  Saskatoon is built around the South Saskatchewan River and from this vantage point you can see all of the downtown skyline.  I can't imagine living anywhere else.

Up!  UP! ....and Away!!   

Calories

No.  This isn't a diet blog.  In fact, it might be the opposite of a diet blog.  Last night I went to a restaurant called Calories for a going away party for coworkers.  This was not hosted by the school director and was a "gathering" instead.  There are actually about 5 coworkers/teachers who are not returning for the 2012/13 school year but this party was really only for 2 of them.
  

Calories is located on the artsy-fartsy street of Broadway.  Yes, there is a Broadway here and it's not even New York.  Broadway is known for places like The Bulk Cheese Warehouse, the Broadway Theatre, The Better Good, The Mad Hatter and so on.  I managed to find a parking spot at the end of the block and around the corner. 

I arrived on time.  I was the second person there.

I had made the faulty assumption that this was for dessert since the meeting time was 7:30.  I had my face fixed for their famed cheesecake.  But upon finding out others had not eaten dinner yet I decided to order a plate called Fromage.  Fromage was a tray of three cheeses, seasonal fruit, and a baguette.  The baguette was so tough it could have been used to take someone's eye out.  But the tray itself was a fantastic work of art.  I wanted to take a picture of it and I should have......but I didn't.  Fail.I had a Saskatoon Berry Lemonade for a beverage.  The waiter said "ohmygod it's so good."  So I thought I had made a good choice.  Others were having wine because it was Wine Wednesday and 20% or something.  The lemonade was good.

We had a table to ourselves in the back of the restaurant.....there were about 12 of us.  It was HOT.  Now, I know that my hormones are playing tricks on me and sometimes I don't feel the temperatures accurately......but man, oh man, I needed a fan.  Not cool.

About half of our group left around 9pm and I really should have too, but I wanted that cheesecake, dammit!  I picked out the Oreo Cheesecake.  It took what felt like an hour to arrive at the table.  Not cool.  The cheesecake was good alright.  But was it the amazing-OMG-you-gotta-go-here type of cheesecake?  No.  I was expecting mind blowing orgasms of cheesecake.  Didn't happen.  Cannoli....seriously....cannoli would have blown it out of the water.When I finally pulled away from the table and hugged my goodbyes it was 10:30pm.  I was so happy to be out on the street in the cool air.  The company had been fine but I was the oldest person there but by no means did I feel that old.  But the conversation wasn't even anything.....like.....interesting.....plus I couldn't hear everyone.  Ugh!  Once I was out on the street my immediate thought was "I'm too old for this crap!"  Also,  I just kept feeling like something was missing and several hours later....because the cheesecake kept me awake until 4am......what was missing was Hubby.  This experience would have been much better with Hubby and Hubby alone.  That's what made me feel most disappointed.

Today I found out one coworker who has been really great to me also isn't returning and I wasn't able to say goodbye to him last night as he didn't come to the farewell.  His classroom is next to mine and we've taught similarly as well.  I guess it's time for him to move on.  We can't all be fixtures....as I was reminded.....I am a fixture at the Academy.

You Should Do This More Often.....

.....he said.

I picked my jaw up off the floor.

"You seem so happy after your pedicure and if it makes you feel so good and be so happy then you should treat yourself more often."

Holy Mother of Meatloaf.

Who is this guy and what has he done with my husband?  Never mind!  I'll keep this guy!

But he's right.  It was freaking amazing.  The spa is called OHara's and is clear on the other side of the city in where most of the seniors tend to live.  As a result my Pedicurist said that a lot of her clientele was aged.

She put on soothing oceany music.  I told her it needed seagulls because there are seagulls at the ocean.  She said seagulls are annoying when you're trying to relax.  I suppose so.

I soaked.  I had a sugar scrub.  I got pumiced and massaged and then the most epic part of the whole experience happened.....the paraffin wax.

*drools*

I have never felt anything quite so heavenly.

Well.....almost.

Then she painted my piggies with a colour of my choosing.....OPI Extra Va-Vaganza which was part of the Burlesque collection.  My feets are super sparkly!
 
*sigh*

I really really liked the Pedicurist.  We really hit it off.  By the end I had her convinced she needed to go shopping at Pennington's for a dress, cute lingerie and shoes!  I said, "Hey, aren't you the one that's supposed to up sell me?"

It was awesome.  I'm planning on going back in August for a manicure.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Brandy~puppy the Super Dog gets to go to the spa tomorrow.  She is in desperate need of a new hair do.

I've been slightly worried lately and honestly, since her near death experience last November and subsequent surgery.....I tend to worry too much.  Anyhow, she's been a little off this week.   Hubby says I shouldn't worry and there's nothing we can do.  He's partly right.  It just breaks my heart that my little baby pup is on bonus time.

She's not sick.  That's true.  She's just been picky about her food this week.  And her potty breaks have been a little "loose."  But she's obviously not in pain.  I worry that I wouldn't be able to tell if she was in pain.  But her tail still goes and I guess that's a good sign.  I suspect that she just ate something that didn't agree with her and with a spunky doggie you never know what that might be.  We were at the farm last weekend after all and she wasn't in my sights at all times.

I did see her chase a large frog under a spruce tree.

Anyhow, last night Brandy got very excited when I opened the door to retrieve the mail.  We don't often use the front door.  She isn't tall enough to exactly see out the door and that's when Hubby got the bright idea to take the cushions off the couch and stack them to make the doggie more comfortable.

Why didn't we think of this before?

This is what it's come to! 

Note:  This was a blog post from July 27th.  We later took Brandy to the vet and found out she had an intestinal virus and our vet said she should have been sicker than she was.  She was on meds for a week and is almost good as new.  Although some test results told us we may be looking at kidney disease down the road. 

Hope in a Jar

Have you ever heard of the face moisturizer made by Philosophy called Hope in a Jar? Well it is the name of a great cream.....I know because I use it. It made my skin feel good and soft and didn't make it all slimed up like some of them do. So when I saw a book called Hope in a Jar written by Beth Harbison I knew I had to read it. Of course, I thought that I would write a review of the book and in a way this is a review but the subject matter has changed from the story to how the it taught me a lesson just at the correct time in my life.

Allie joins Weight Watchers to take off the 20 pounds she's put on while being in an unsatisfying relationship. The torture she goes through while trying to avoid the scale is real – I know, I've felt the exact same emotions when weighing every Monday. But nothing is like the very first time, when you've sucked up everything you've got and removed every spec of clothing down to the earing's [because they too weigh something].....and you get on and you face the truth. I always squint. Somehow, if you narrow your eyes or glare at that bathroom demon.....it just might not be so bad.

Back.....several years ago, I had a flimsy scale with a dial. I could fudge my weight back then. If I hung my toes over the edge I weighed just a tiny bit less. It really didn't matter so much back then.....I did weigh less. Now, I have a digital scale. It is impossible to fudge the numbers. It is exact. It tells you right down to the ounces. It can even tell you your body fat if you want it do. Why would you want it to? As if finding out what you weigh isn't already bad enough. If it doesn't tell me what I want to hear.....I threaten it. I tell it I'm going to toss it out into the snow and drive over it with my Honda.

It's a love/hate relationship. I am thankful when it tells me I weigh less. So happy that I do the 'weight loss happy bathroom boogie'. But beware, if you find some broken bits of glass and metal in a snow bank in the road.....you'll know why.

The summer between grades 11 and 12 I worked at McDonald's. I ate there during breaks. I packed on weight at lightening speed. That autumn, I took up stationary bike riding and calorie counting. The extra 40 pounds came off quickly and easily. After I got married I again began to have a weight issue. I adopted the fashionable fat-free diet plan and re-bonded with my bike. I lost weight again quickly and easily.

After that, weight started to creep back on. Why? I was so tired of the battle. I was exhausted from having to work out all the time. I was sick of worrying about every spec of whatever I put in my mouth. I was angry at not being able to enjoy life. So I checked out.

One day in 2008 my sister-in-law talked to me about trying her program. You may know this part of the story and how I was to able to release 100 pounds. But what you may not know is that many of those old feelings resurfaced. Why is this last bit so hard to lose? Why do I have to watch so closely what I eat? Why do I have to try so hard? Why can't I just have that donut when I want one?

Because I can't.

I just CAN'T.

This is where the book becomes so important. 

 

Allie says, “I have to work that hard and that's all there is to it.” 

 

This is just the way it is. It comes down to this. If I want to live a long, happy, healthy, active life.....this is how I have to do it. I can't wonder about the other stuff. I can't dwell on what I can't have. There isn't any Hope in a Jar for weight loss. The hope comes from inside me. I am the jar.

Zombie Apocalypse

I woke up with a jolt.  Did Hubby say goodbye to me this morning?  I thought hard.  I squinted and thought harder.  I remembered him talking to Brandy who was tucked tightly under the blankets like a hot dog.  Was that today?  Or was that yesterday?

*shrugs*

Then I heard the radio from the other bedroom.  He snores.....end of story.  It turns out he called in "sick" today.  He says he just didn't feel like going to work today.  It must be nice.

I drank my morning coffee and ate a bowl of blueberry Special K, which incidentally does not have one single real blueberry in the whole box.  I guess that's what makes it so special.  I watched a half hour of Live with Kelly.  During the second half of the show I climbed on my stationary bike.  I was three quarters through with my doctor prescribed bike ride when the power went out.  Not a flicker.  Not a surge.  Dead.

Hubby scrounged around for an A&W coupon and decided to go for a bus ride.  He'd never waste a perfectly good sick day by actually being sick.

No power.  No internet.  No radio.  No heat.

Brandy tried to mooch morsels of a smores poptart from me as we kept warm under a blanket in the living room.  The wind would kick up and the stove vent flap would clang.  Its raining and blowing and then I think.....I haven't seen anyone.....not a soul on the street all morning.

There could be a zombie apocalypse and I'd never know it.

I sit with my eyes trained on the street pondering the idea. 

Then my neighbour's van pulls into her drive and their two little kids scamper out to the front door of their house.  Neighbour Mom is behind them toting a bag from A&W.

No zombies today I guess.

At least not yet.

I hear the tv snap a little as current tries to surge through it but nothing happens.  Then the wind gusts and the oven vent clangs again.

Easy Like Friday Morning

Some days are as easy as breathing.  Other days are like breathing clay.  Yesterday was a clay day.  This morning I woke up around 9am to take my thyroid pill and then hit snooze on the alarm.  I know this sounds incredibly late to a lot of you but my lifestyle is anything but normal.  My late work nights and sleeping habits dictate a rather lazy morning ritual.

The next time my alarm sounded John Gormley the local radio guy was talking about the New Saskatchewan versus the Old.  I rolled my eyes and turned over.  Its a no win discussion.

Usually at this point I sit up and see Brandy and say in a high pitched voice... "its a puppeeeeee!"  And this is the time that Brandy looks over at me and stretches and has the expression...just 10 more minutes mom.  But i grab her and scratch her tummy and give her hugs and kisses before proclaiming us lazy bones and jumping out of bed.

In the kitchen I reheat morning coffee and oatmeal while Brandy watches from the hallway.  Even though her bowl is full of Purina chicken and rice she is eager to have oatmeal too.  We have breakfast and watch Regis.....strike that.....Live with Kelly.

Every morning is that easy for me.  I'm pretty lucky.

This afternoon I had to pay the lab vampires a visit.  I only have enough synthroid for 2 weeks.  I counted.  I could have sworn I'd make it to Christmas, but oh well!  Nothing I can do about it!  So I stopped at the lab about 1:30.  The techs were so nice and not busy at all and actually eager to chat.  Maybe it was a slow day?  At any rate.....I was in and out in a jiffy.

So today instead of going down to the Starbucks in the Safeway down the hall I decided instead to treat myself to a trek across town to Pier One.

Now I don't know what was going on today.....well actually I kind of do.....  School was out for the day due to a teacher in-service AND many stores were having early Boxing Day sales to compete with Black Friday across the border.

The parking lot at Preston Crossing where Pier One is located was a zoo. 

Pier One was so magical.  I walked inside and stood in Christmas awe.  I indulged in several Christmas Tree ornaments.  I particularly love the old world type.  The ones with the reflector glass or indentations.  There were so many pretty things and once I made it to the cashier my bank account [Hubby's really] was $60 lighter.  One of the items I bought is a salt and pepper set that looks like coffee and donuts.  Now, I ask you....me of all people....how could I resist THAT?

Back out into traffic I was.  I made it to work in one piece.  I used the coffee machine for a mochacinno.  It did not taste like Starbucks.

My working day was as it usually is and I got to leave early due to a cancellation.  When I got home Hubby had ordered pizza for supper!  It arrived about 5 minutes later.  We chatted and ate and had a nice evening.

Most of my days are like this.  I don't have a lot of stress in my life.  I know I'm fortunate and I'm also thankful for everything I have in my life.

I guess its about time I rip off that band-aid from this afternoon!

It's Not the Number that Matters.....

.....it's not the number that matters.
 

How many times did I tell customers that back in my retail days? Multitudes of times a day. Does it make you feel any better?

Only if you close your eyes.

I went to Addition-Elle today. Its a division of Pennington's and Reitman's. I worked there for one month during that other time period in my life.....the one in which retail stole my soul. They specialize in clothes for sizes 14 to 24. Its been a long time since I've ventured through that door.

Still.....the number doesn't matter. If the clothes fit and look good and make you feel good in them.....then who cares what number is on the label? Its not like you're going to go around with a giant 20 in neon flashing on your forehead. Its very difficult when you have every size in your closet starting at a 12. Extremely difficult to admit this is where you need to shop. Again.

I also remember how hard it was to realize that I didn't need to shop in those stores anymore. It was an incredible realization that I had when I could walk into any store and fit clothes. It was a hard concept to come to terms with as well. My body image was out of “whack”.

This week I am in search of clothes for work. All I want are some things that fit. Things that don't give me muffin top and things I can breath in. Like I told the girl in the store today.....NOT Standing Up Pants. You know the kind.....the pants that look totally awesome until you sit down and they cut off all circulation. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure my students would appreciate me not passing out all the time.

I did not find pants today. I did come home with a sweater set and a casual shirt along with some matching jewelry. I tried on items in sizes ranging from 1X to 3X. And you know what? That number didn't really matter after all. I found things that fit and fit my lifestyle and I did feel good. 

 

I have come to terms with where I am now. This is the body I am living in at this point in time. I cannot change the present.....only my future.

At work on Thursday I talked with coworkers about my thyroid condition. “Bob” says “You look the same to me.” And I laughed. “That's because I just saw you on Monday!” I replied. But really what it is.....is that I'm beginning to understand that my circle of friends love me whether there's a big ol' X on my shirt or not. They look beyond it and see me. And if they can do that.....then I can too.

What a Picture Tells

There are many things going on in this picture.  I had broken the 100 pounds lost on this day and made Hubby take my picture.  I was going to the movies - the matinee of Twilight which I had read two weeks prior.  My hair was growing out which I was thankful for.....they told me the hair loss was from the dramatic weight loss but I suspected it was a bad dye job that made it break off.  When I look at this picture now, I think this was the start of my hypothyroidism.

A month later I am in extreme pain in my left arm.  My left leg swells and I have tingling in my right hand.  I go to the minor emergency.  I am told I just hit my arm on something [ no bruising ] and to stop wasting their time and am pushed out the door.

I continue in pain - convinced I am dying.  I can't wait to be done with the school year so I can have peace.  I live on ibuprofen forcing myself through each day.  I finally find Dr. Mitra Sexena who listens to me, runs blood tests and finds nothing wrong with me and yet she is suspicious enough to send me to a neurologist.  Due to waiting lists I won't see Dr. Vol for many months.....close to a year.  I spend the summer fevered, in pain and at home where sleeping and air conditioning bring me the most comfort.  I start eating off my diet.  After all, if I'm dying, I'm going with a kit kat in my hand.

By the time I get to see the neurologist the majority of the pain has subsided.  He proclaims me normal [ in spite of my laughter ] and sends me for nerve tests which also come back normal.  The only diagnosis:  a severe case of tendonitis.  He recommends rest and looking into one armed piano players.

I decide I am not dying.  I decide to get back on my diet and I am shocked and dismayed when I have gained 20 pounds.  I diet and exercise and take off 15 pounds.  Its really hard and slow and by that fall I go off plan again.

Last Christmas, I had  a sudden weight gain.  I chalk it up to too much Christmas indulging.  Most of my size 12/14 clothes are too small and 16's are getting really tight.  I get back on my diet.  For two months I am strict.  I diet.  I exercise.  By May my weight has continued to increase.  I feel disgusted, fat, depressed and exhausted of the whole battle.

When I look at this picture I still feel the sense of accomplishment.  I also feel sadness.  How was I to know my body was going to work against me?  Being diagnosed with a couch potato thyroid finally gave me answers.  Everything I did to lose the 110 pounds is now out the window.  That diet was soy based and I've now learned soy is my arch enemy and will react with the prescribed synthroid medication.  I have to relearn what a real healthy diet and lifestyle is for the new me.  I am now 50 pounds heavier than in this picture.  I am not angry.  I am relieved to finally have an answer for everything that has happened to me in the last 3 years.  Part of me wishes to have that one day back.  Before.  Before I lived through the hell that I lived through.  But now I know....and that is what this picture tells.

Note:

Hypothyroidism signs and symptom may include:

• Fatigue
• Sluggishness
• Increased sensitivity to cold/heat
• Constipation
• Pale, dry skin
• A puffy face
• Hoarse voice
• An elevated blood cholesterol level
• Unexplained weight gain
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
• Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
• Muscle weakness
• Heavier than normal menstrual periods
• Brittle fingernails and hair
• Depression
  

An Evening With SUPERTRAMP

I did not have the easiest of work days yesterday.  I was thankful I was only working half the day.  I had a student come who was obviously sick and had in fact stayed home from school and yet her parents thought her well enough to come to lessons.  Thank goodness for hand sanitizer.  I had the pleasure of teaching [although with this student the term "teaching" is used loosely] a girl who I've had issues with for a long long time.  I hate to generalize but I know there is something very not right about this girl.  Then I had a student who I thought was out for the count due to a broken collar bone.....and yet she showed up yesterday.  Finally I was free.....a little cranky.....but free.

At 7pm Hubby and I set out for the concert.  I was really amazed at the lack of traffic and the ease of parking.  Other concerts we've taken a bus shuttle but they were not offered this time.  Now I know that's because it was not a complete sell out.  It saddens me.  Talent of this caliber deserves a sell out crowd. 

The audience was a diverse one.  All ages.  We had tickets for Row 5, seats 18 and 19 which turned out to be terrific seats and almost mid-stage.  I had the luck, as I always do, of sitting behind someone whose head I couldn't see around [as you'll see in my video].  The woman beside me kept jiggling her leg.....not in time to the music, but in a nervous-I'm-putting-in-my-time kind of way.  Oh.....and when she wasn't jiggling she was texting.  Her friend got up and left half way through.  I may add our tickets were $150.  Why you'd pay that money to sit and not pay attention is beyond me.  *shrugs*

There wasn't an opening band.  They simply took the stage and performed.  There weren't any flashy pyrotechnics.  They simply did what they were meant to do.  And what that was.....was entertain.

On our way home, which wasn't the long way, I commented "what a great way to spend $150."  Hubby agreed.  "Now THAT is music."

Attack of the Pod Person

It began innocently enough on a December afternoon as I sat perusing a reward point website which was in conjunction with the diet my sister in law coached me for and which I had used in my ongoing weigh loss battle. I had accumulated many points. I was very excited to use some of them to claim a bracelet from Eclipse. It was a replica of the one given to Bella in the movie with a brown wolf dangling from one end and a “diamond” heart pendant from the other. I really wanted to use up all my points because I wasn't sure how much longer I'd be able to get the products from across the border. I happened to click onto the electronics tab next. Appearing before me was a selection of iPod Shuffle's in various colours of the rainbow. I chose green. When faced with a decision of colour, green was always the answer. 

 

♫ Green is the colour.....Football is the game.... ♪

When it arrived I was forced into installing all the necessary Apple programing. All I intended was to use it for music and maybe hook it up in the car for long trips. But on further investigations into iTunes.....I found out I could also use it for Podcasts and Audio Books. With all this investigating I became fluent in the “i” language. iRock.

I recalled as a kid listening to old style mystery radio shows late at night and often they'd put me to sleep. So I did a search in iTunes for these types of radio programs and to my delight I found out many of them were free to subscribe. Since it was just before Christmas I looked for Christmas programming and happened upon a selection of Abbot & Costello doing some Christmas shopping as well as Red Skeleton and the Martin & Lewis Show. It was only 3 shows but I downloaded them to my green pod and whisked them off with me to my parents for the Christmas holidays where on the Eve of the Chubby Dude arriving we hooked up the Pod to a “ghetto blaster” and listened and laughed to these relic radio shows. It was memorable.

Once Christmas was over I still wanted to enjoy these programs and decided I really enjoyed the Martin & Lewis programs the best. I found someone on iTunes who had made podcasts on a regular basis and quickly subscribed. I went back to the very beginning.....waaaay back to 1949.....a time warp. The comedy was clean and truly funny and I found myself often chuckling in the darkness waiting to fall asleep. Often Dean Martin's voice would swoon me to sleep.

♫ I'm at heaven's door.....Innamorata ♪

Honestly the only memories I had were of Dean Martin. I really knew nothing of his partnership with Jerry Lewis. I remember seeing some of the Dean Martin roasts on TV and had vague memories of The Dean Martin Show from my childhood and always thought he was a boozer. I am not one to leave a stone unturned and after Googling found out a great deal about them. I began watching clips on Youtube from the Colgate Comedy Hour and even ordered some episodes from Amazon. One DVD included a movie At War with the Army. This movie opened up a whole new era to appreciate and enjoy.

I've really found that I was craving this type of entertainment in my life. I find there is very little on TV to watch and music these days are somewhat of a disappointment to me. Plus, I am always looking for a new way to express music in my teaching. I may not teach this specific style of music but it really does impact us today. That's what I love most.....is finding something from another time and space and applying the concept to what we do today. Did you know that Elvis heard a Dean Martin song and wanted to record it? Then that song became his 2^nd big hit? It's true. Here's another thing I discovered. I am not the only person yearning for this type of programing.

Why have I told you this big long story?  I watched all of the movies featuring the duo of Dean and Jerry . I also wanted to tell everyone how one little decision changed my life over the last three months. Had I never clicked on that link on the reward page and ordered that little green Pod you would have never had to endure all my crazy ramblings over these weeks and months. At the same time, my eyes have been opened along with my heart to a time and place that only half exists on audio and film even though the impact is woven intricately into the tapestry of Hollywood and television. It leaves me wondering if what we see and hear today could also stand the test of the passing of 60 years.

He Danced Into My Life

When I say Hubby danced into my life, most people laugh, but its not entirely meant as a joke. It is the truth. The night was meant to be a girls night out. Myself, my friend Barb who was visiting from Edmonton and another close friend, Jane, who was freshly broken up were going out to just have some fun. It is an important fact that I was only 18 at the time and the legal drinking age was 19. Its also important that the place we were going was known for letting in underage people.....yet I wouldn't really know about that until years later. I had borrowed Barb's old driver's license in case I was i.d.'d. In those days they didn't require pictures. If they had, Hubby and I probably would never had met.

 

There was a live band playing that night. The name escapes me now but they were pretty good from what I remember. We sat and had drinks. It wasn't too long before a guy came over to the table. He had the bluest eyes I've ever seen and I was mesmerized. I had no idea he was talking to me. This was not Hubby. Barb grabbed his arm and dragged him off to the dance floor. I shrugged and went back to my drink. Pretty soon another guy was at our table and he was talking to me and I did accept to dance with him. This was Hubby. His dancing style was 'unique' but it didn't matter because the night was all about having a good time. What I distinctly remember about him, besides the dancing, was that when a dance was over he'd put his hand on my back to urge me back to our seats. It sent shock waves through me every time.

The evening ended with me driving all my friends home. The 'guys' didn't have a ride so of course I offered. We discovered they all boarded at the Bible College and were sneaking back in after curfew. We all exchanged numbers which Barb got all confused.....she wasn't good with names and we parted ways.

That was that.

It was a few weeks later and long after Barb had gone home that Jane and I were driving around one night. There wasn't a whole lot to do. We were driving down a particular street when Jane said 'Isn't that the guy from the bar?' And when I looked in my rear view mirror.....it most certainly was. He was walking very fast. I made a U-turn and headed toward the park where Future Hubby was taking a short cut.

If you ask him he will tell you I just appeared before him.

I actually pretty much chased him through the park on foot and cut him off at the pass.

I asked him where he was going and he said the 7-11 to return a movie and grab a coffee. So I offered a ride. Jane and I waited in the car until he returned. When he came out he did not have a coffee. That always struck me as funny. When I returned him to the College we again exchanged numbers and may have made plans to see each other again. That part is foggy, but I do know that we began seeing each other casually for coffee or movies until we really were dating.

Our very first official date was supper at an Italian restaurant followed by the movie Dances with Wolves.

I had no idea what my feelings really were for him. One night Jane said to me “are you kidding? You should see the way he looks at you.” What I knew was that he listened to me. He looked me in the eye. He opened doors for me and treated me the way my father always told me a 'real' guy would treat me.

A year and a half later we were engaged. He proposed to me in his hometown church, after he had asked my father for his permission,  where he said the following: This is where I asked God into my life and now, I'm asking you into my life. We were married a week before Christmas 1992.

Our lives have not always been perfect but our love has been constant. Without Hubby I would have never seen the ocean, learned the game of football or moved from my home town. He's made me more adventurous and constantly reminds me how to live life to the fullest. 

 

Hubby may not sparkle but he knows how to make my life twinkle and I feel truly blessed that he danced into my life.

The Girl Who Didn't Write a Review

Karl Stig-Erland Larsson (15 August 1954 – 9 November 2004), who wrote professionally as Stieg Larsson, was a Swedish journalist and writer, born in Skelleftehamn outside Skellefteå. He is best known for writing the Millennium Trilogy of crime novels, which was published posthumously. Larsson lived and worked much of his life in Stockholm.

He was the second best-selling author in the world in 2008, behind Khaled Hosseini. By March 2010, his Millennium trilogy had sold 27 million copies in more than 40 countries.

But those are just the facts. 

I started out attempting to write a review of the movie The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo which I watched Friday night. I had heard so much about it and was pleased to see it come on right after the news on my free movies on demand channel. The movie is in Swedish and I was somewhat curious as I have family of Swedish decent. I was thankful for the subtitles even though at first I found them difficult to read just due to lighting and I found myself wishing they were larger. Someone with a vision impairment would have definitely had a problem keeping up with the movie. With these thoughts in mind I knew I needed to do a review.

Yet, this morning, I realized everyone already knows about these books and movies. Some have read them and watched them. But what do we know about the author? He seemed like an intriguing fellow and that's when I was prompted to look him up. 

Stig was a journalist so was used to writing I suppose. The interesting part is that he kept writing in his spare time. When he'd come home from is daytime job he'd write for his own pleasure. He was very much like you or me in that aspect. We blog or jot notes or even just doodle. What I find most interesting is that he died of a heart attack before anyone ever knew of Dragon Tattoo's or Hornet's Nests. He had only halfheartedly pursued getting his work published and it wasn't until his death that the manuscripts for his work was found in a trilogy with clues as to the intention of writing at least ten books! It is the first 3 books which we now have in this world with a partial manuscript owned by Stig's friend. The works have won several literature awards in Sweden and no doubt will continue around the world.

So, I sit here with a work of my own. I've been writing for well over a year and some of you know I've become stuck at a certain point. Reading about Mr. Larsson has made me think how wonderful it would be to see my own work come to light. To just finish it would be huge reward.  Everyone has a story and I want to make sure that mine gets put down before someone can come along and find those first 13 chapters.....with 3 alternate chapters [because I can't quite figure it out!] and wonder what could have been. 

What else do we leave unfinished? We won't ever know the rest of Stig Larsson's stories but we can finish our own. What do you want to leave in this world? 

Live without regret. 

Finish your story.