Well, I finally got the nerve up and went and did my second prenatal blood work. I was dreading it because this is the one where they test for gestational diabetes by making you drink something sweet.
No one tells you what it is – just “a sweet drink that tastes better cold.” That is all the info out there. So, once again my imagination was running away and making it worse than reality. Like the amnio – I imagined that would be way more horrible than it was. It was nothing. I have been imagining a thick, syrupy liquid that tastes like Red Bull – the most vile concoction on earth. I was all nervous and weak walking in, praying, “Please God, don’t let it be a thick, syrupy Red Bull drink. Please don’t make me throw it up.”
It wasn’t – it was a 10-ounce bottle of hospital strength Orange Fanta, basically. Like Orange Fanta on glucose ‘roids. I’m not that big of fan of pop at any rate, but at least I could drink it fast and it didn’t make me throw up. (Now I sort of want some real Fanta. My favorite flavor is Lemon Fanta. I don’t even think you can buy that in North America. Mmmm, Lemon Fanta….) So, now you know the truth. Don’t fear the glucose drink because it isn’t that bad!
I had a brand new book with me, too, to keep me busy while I had to sit there for an hour waiting for the glucose to kick in. Then, I had the incompetent phlebotomist – again. I know I have veins that are hard to find, but it is their job! She stabs me in one arm, misses, digs the needle around in there until she finds it. She managed to fill one vial then poked through the vein or something because the blood stopped. I told her to try the other arm just to the right of the freckle. She tried it and said, “Oh, I missed.” But when she poked the vial in blood started coming out. She didn’t miss that time, but she didn’t even know she had hit the vein. We managed to fill up the other 3 vials without her poking through that vein, not that she wasn’t trying. Now I have bruises on both arms from her stabbing me. Beautiful!
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
A Canadian Election
Canadians think that Americans have messed up politics, but these guys are whacked! There are no term limits for the Prime Minister – and no set election date. If the polls are high, he can call an election because he is popular. If the polls are low he can refuse to have one until the polls look better. How messed up is that?
In order to call an election when the Prime Minister does not want one is nearly impossible. Well, yesterday parliament had a successful vote of non-confidence in the government and there will be an election on January 23rd. It's the first time a government has fallen on a straight motion of non-confidence in Parliament. (In Canada, a non-confidence motion is a motion in the House of Commons, which, if passed, means that the government has lost the confidence of the House. The government must then either resign or ask the governor general to dissolve Parliament and call an election.) Everyone is talking about how it will be such a long campaign – 8 whole weeks! Basically, what has happened is that Martin was sort of impeached. But instead of going to jail or whatever he gets to run again. And he will probably win again, too. The other candidates are pretty lame, but I would vote for someone else just for the principle of it. Plus, one province basically determines the outcome of the election. Ontario. It would be like if no matter whom the rest of the US voted for the winner would always be determined by California. The rest of the country is ready to start ripping Ontarians heads off if they vote Liberal again – but what are they gonna do? Really? Nothing.
Now, I’m not pretending to really know anything about the Canadian government. I try, but what does a “constitutional monarchy” really mean? Even Canadians don’t know. Plus, they have a million political parties, with 4 main ones.
I think it makes much more sense to have an election on a set date every four years. At least we know when to expect one, even if we do have a campaign season longer than 8 weeks! I’m just hoping one of the parties come knocking on my door. (They do door-to-door campaigning here.) Then I can say, “Sorry, I’m American. Can’t help you out.”
In order to call an election when the Prime Minister does not want one is nearly impossible. Well, yesterday parliament had a successful vote of non-confidence in the government and there will be an election on January 23rd. It's the first time a government has fallen on a straight motion of non-confidence in Parliament. (In Canada, a non-confidence motion is a motion in the House of Commons, which, if passed, means that the government has lost the confidence of the House. The government must then either resign or ask the governor general to dissolve Parliament and call an election.) Everyone is talking about how it will be such a long campaign – 8 whole weeks! Basically, what has happened is that Martin was sort of impeached. But instead of going to jail or whatever he gets to run again. And he will probably win again, too. The other candidates are pretty lame, but I would vote for someone else just for the principle of it. Plus, one province basically determines the outcome of the election. Ontario. It would be like if no matter whom the rest of the US voted for the winner would always be determined by California. The rest of the country is ready to start ripping Ontarians heads off if they vote Liberal again – but what are they gonna do? Really? Nothing.
Now, I’m not pretending to really know anything about the Canadian government. I try, but what does a “constitutional monarchy” really mean? Even Canadians don’t know. Plus, they have a million political parties, with 4 main ones.
I think it makes much more sense to have an election on a set date every four years. At least we know when to expect one, even if we do have a campaign season longer than 8 weeks! I’m just hoping one of the parties come knocking on my door. (They do door-to-door campaigning here.) Then I can say, “Sorry, I’m American. Can’t help you out.”
Friday, November 25, 2005
Whiskey Walnut Pie
Ok, so the pie I made yesterday was a variation on pecan pie. It was a whiskey walnut pie (with chocolate, too) and it was delicious! It definitely gets put in the “save and make again” photo album I put recipes in.
It had all the elements that comprise a good recipe. 1) Handy ingredients (I had it all in my cupboards except the graham crackers for the crust.) 2) Not too time consuming and very easy to make. 3) Great taste!!
Now the DP is gone for several days for the boys’ weekend and I am alone in the house with the rest of the pie. A dangerous situation. I think I am going to take some to the neighbors. They guy shovelled our driveway yesterday when he did his. That was nice since I don’t see myself doing much snow shovelling this winter. Usually he and DP trade off doing it – whoever gets home first usually does it. But now that the DP is taking the bus he always home late. I figure a couple pieces of pie might help.
Anyway, this pie was great so if you want the recipe let me know!!
It had all the elements that comprise a good recipe. 1) Handy ingredients (I had it all in my cupboards except the graham crackers for the crust.) 2) Not too time consuming and very easy to make. 3) Great taste!!
Now the DP is gone for several days for the boys’ weekend and I am alone in the house with the rest of the pie. A dangerous situation. I think I am going to take some to the neighbors. They guy shovelled our driveway yesterday when he did his. That was nice since I don’t see myself doing much snow shovelling this winter. Usually he and DP trade off doing it – whoever gets home first usually does it. But now that the DP is taking the bus he always home late. I figure a couple pieces of pie might help.
Anyway, this pie was great so if you want the recipe let me know!!
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Why I am Thankful for my Boring Blogs
A Thanksgiving Singing Turkey for You!Happy Thanksgiving! I’m not having a real Thanksgiving this year. It isn’t a holiday up here, it’s on a Thursday, and DP is leaving at 0700 on Friday to go to Vancouver for the Grey Cup for 4 days. At first I was going to cook the whole meal and invite people over, but it didn’t turn out. I am making a pecan pie. I figure at least I can have pie and cool whip with my Chinese food leftovers! I am still thankful, though.
At the moment I am really thankful we got the winter tires on the truck. An Alberta clipper is coming through and it is snowing. I had to give the tires a test spin on the roads this morning because I had to go to the store. I could have done without the pie, but the baby was demanding an apple and I was out of fruit. Rather than have her explode inside me from displeasure I went out in the storm for some groceries. Plus, I was out of Silk (the Soy milk I drink) and oatmeal. I have enough trouble getting all my dairy servings in each day without being out of Silk.
I am so happy and thankful to be bored, to be doing little home improvement projects, getting the nursery ready, playing with my cat, being able to go out shopping on my own, being able to spend more than the time I am in the toilet alone, baking cookies (even though I can’t find Nestle chips up here), having a healthy pregnancy so far, being able to order a pizza without corn and pickles on it, central air, and electricity that stays on for 24 hours a day for the most part, going into any toilet and knowing it will be a normal toilet instead of a squatter, not having to walk on giant chucks of gravel everywhere I go, not having to use a port-a-potty every day, not being mortared at random hours of the day and night, and finally feeling normal after the PTSD has dissipated. The list goes on.
I am thankful for my family and friends, and I am thankful for DP – who has put up with more of my BS than any mortal man should ever have been forced to put up with. He must be as crazy as I am.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Ready, Set, Winterize!
Ahh, I love weekends now. You may ask why? Why would I love weekends because I’m not doing anything now – just lying around gestating? I will tell you. It is because I allow myself to have an actual cup of coffee on Saturday AND Sunday, with cream and sugar. Sometimes, I even have 2 cups on Sunday! I look back on those days in Iraq where I was drinking 2 POTS of coffee each day with fondness. (not really)
The weekends are also days of the Big Breakfast. It usually involves eggs, tater tots, toasted bagels with Brie and thick slices of tomatoes. Sometimes, now that I am pregnant, it also involves having DP make pancakes. Normally, I don’t like pancakes – or I eat them with smooshed up egg and mustard on them. That really grosses people out, but I have my Dad to thank for that.
The weekends are also for reading the paper – and what day is the BIG paper supposed to come? That’s right – Sunday! But not up here. Here the big paper is on Saturday. It bugs me, so I usually just end up saving it until Sunday to read. Comics on Saturday, c’mon!!
We also got some snow this weekend so you know what that means. Yep, everyone was running out to finally put winter tires on their vehicles. I mean, it’s only the middle of November. Who knew winter would be coming…in Canada? We’ve been talking about getting winter tires for a month and half now – but we were included in the lemming like run for tires. Luckily, we found 2 used tires and 4 used rims at a salvage yard so we only had to buy 2 new winter tires for the back. That saved us about $300.
Then yesterday after my prenatal appointment we went and got the pickup slimed. They do this thing up here where they spray oil all over and under your vehicle to prevent rust and all the salt from the roads eating your car. That took a couple hours since the place was having a big rush and the owner was gone, leaving the receptionist chick in charge. In a place where all the employees are immigrants from countries where men don’t listen to women. They wouldn’t do a thing she told them to do, in fact, they probably did the opposite. So, when we were next some guy with a very expensive Mercedes got to go ahead of us. She did talk them into driving us to the mall, so we got a little shopping done while we were waiting, so it wasn’t a complete loss. Now the pickup is completely winterized and we have our Christmas cards purchased.
I also brought up the fact that sooner or later we are going to need an actual car. Once March gets here I won’t even be able to come home from the hospital in the pickup with the baby. We don’t want to buy a car yet until we find out if DP is getting posted next summer. Once we find that out we can plan accordingly. If we aren’t, there is a Volvo station wagon for sale down the street – but will probably be gone before we find out next month. If we are being posted then we are hoping to trade cars with someone for a few months. Maybe one of DP’s friends can use the pickup while we use his passenger car. I’m sure it will all work out – but I thought I should bring it up now to get the brain juices flowing so it’s not a complete shock when the baby comes and we are transportationless!!
The weekends are also days of the Big Breakfast. It usually involves eggs, tater tots, toasted bagels with Brie and thick slices of tomatoes. Sometimes, now that I am pregnant, it also involves having DP make pancakes. Normally, I don’t like pancakes – or I eat them with smooshed up egg and mustard on them. That really grosses people out, but I have my Dad to thank for that.
The weekends are also for reading the paper – and what day is the BIG paper supposed to come? That’s right – Sunday! But not up here. Here the big paper is on Saturday. It bugs me, so I usually just end up saving it until Sunday to read. Comics on Saturday, c’mon!!
We also got some snow this weekend so you know what that means. Yep, everyone was running out to finally put winter tires on their vehicles. I mean, it’s only the middle of November. Who knew winter would be coming…in Canada? We’ve been talking about getting winter tires for a month and half now – but we were included in the lemming like run for tires. Luckily, we found 2 used tires and 4 used rims at a salvage yard so we only had to buy 2 new winter tires for the back. That saved us about $300.
Then yesterday after my prenatal appointment we went and got the pickup slimed. They do this thing up here where they spray oil all over and under your vehicle to prevent rust and all the salt from the roads eating your car. That took a couple hours since the place was having a big rush and the owner was gone, leaving the receptionist chick in charge. In a place where all the employees are immigrants from countries where men don’t listen to women. They wouldn’t do a thing she told them to do, in fact, they probably did the opposite. So, when we were next some guy with a very expensive Mercedes got to go ahead of us. She did talk them into driving us to the mall, so we got a little shopping done while we were waiting, so it wasn’t a complete loss. Now the pickup is completely winterized and we have our Christmas cards purchased.
I also brought up the fact that sooner or later we are going to need an actual car. Once March gets here I won’t even be able to come home from the hospital in the pickup with the baby. We don’t want to buy a car yet until we find out if DP is getting posted next summer. Once we find that out we can plan accordingly. If we aren’t, there is a Volvo station wagon for sale down the street – but will probably be gone before we find out next month. If we are being posted then we are hoping to trade cars with someone for a few months. Maybe one of DP’s friends can use the pickup while we use his passenger car. I’m sure it will all work out – but I thought I should bring it up now to get the brain juices flowing so it’s not a complete shock when the baby comes and we are transportationless!!
Friday, November 18, 2005
My Spoiled Cat
Yesterday I bought Conan a present for winter. He likes to sit on his little stool by the frontroom window and look out. I don’t know what he is looking at – at least in the summer time there are leaves on the tree. So, I bought him a birdfeeder and a big bag of birdseed. He is so excited!!
Actually, he hasn’t even noticed yet because no birds have been lured in yet. I guess it will take a day for them to discover this new source of wintertime seed for them. With my luck I’ll probably just get magpies and crows. I am sure they will entertain Conan, though.
He is a little traumatized right now. We had to teach an old cat a new trick. When the handyman was here I had him cut a hole in our basement door so we could finally install the cat door. Now we can shut that door and cut down on our heating bill! The door is freaking Conan out for some reason. We had to teach him that it is ok for him to go through it – and a little catnip on the other side didn’t hurt, either. I guess it is working out ok. So far I haven’t found any accidents anywhere else in the house, and I didn’t feel the cold draft wafting up from downstairs while sitting on the couch last night. Life is good.
Actually, he hasn’t even noticed yet because no birds have been lured in yet. I guess it will take a day for them to discover this new source of wintertime seed for them. With my luck I’ll probably just get magpies and crows. I am sure they will entertain Conan, though.
He is a little traumatized right now. We had to teach an old cat a new trick. When the handyman was here I had him cut a hole in our basement door so we could finally install the cat door. Now we can shut that door and cut down on our heating bill! The door is freaking Conan out for some reason. We had to teach him that it is ok for him to go through it – and a little catnip on the other side didn’t hurt, either. I guess it is working out ok. So far I haven’t found any accidents anywhere else in the house, and I didn’t feel the cold draft wafting up from downstairs while sitting on the couch last night. Life is good.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
An Empathetic Plainswoman
When I was a kid growing up on the Plains I used to love to read about all the wagon trains, the Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail, pioneers, Plains Indians - just Manifest Destiny in general. To this day, down in our pasture you can still see the old Santa Fe Trail tracks crossing the creek. And of course, every week I had to watch Little House on the Prairie.
Being a Plainswoman, the only thing I could never figure out was “how can a person actually die of diarrhoea?” I mean, the pioneers were always getting cholera or dysentery and then dying. It didn’t make sense to me, I mean it is just diarrhoea! Well, this July I learned that not only can one die of it, but that by the end one wants to die.
I still don’t know how I got it. All I know is one day when it was like a billion degrees out I was in downtown Adana and, as usual, the freaking power went out. Not that anyone has air conditioning anyway, but it meant that the store I needed to go to was not open for business until the power came back on. So, we ended up walking around Adana in billion-degree heat for a couple hours. Eventually we went to a friend’s house (who has an AC) to rest and get something to drink. I had water with a fresh lemon slice. I figure I either got too overheated or it was the lemon slice, or a combo.
The next day I woke up with some diarrhoea – no big deal, I thought. Only, it never went away. For the next week and a half I lived in the bathroom. That means that not only was whatever I had painful – but actually using the toilet that long was painful. Not having been brought up squatting, in addition to having bad knees does not make for a pleasant extended stay over a squat toilet. I did ok when it was just for a quick tinkle, but being in there all the time took its toll on my knees to be sure!
Pepto Bismol does not exist over there, and I didn’t want to take anything else since I had just found out I was pregnant. To help matters even more, the family I was staying with kept feeding me fruit. I don’t know about you, but I have never, ever heard of watermelon being a cure for diarrhoea. They kept saying, “Karpuz, karpuz – good!” Yes, watermelon is good but maybe not when you think you are dying of dysentery. It was in season, though, so that is what there was to eat. I lived on blue Gatorade and watermelon that week and a half and luckily lived to tell about it.
What I learned is that not only can you die from diarrhoea, but that by the end you want to die! I was praying towards the end, “Please God just let it end,” because when your body runs out of the liquids you are drinking or eating your intestines are still going to make you run for the bathroom and you will start to lose ALL your body fluids – it is sooo gross! (What’s the main body fluid? That’s right – blood. Ewwww.)
I finally have empathy for all those pioneers who died of the cholera and dysentery. What an awful way to go! (No pun intended.)
Being a Plainswoman, the only thing I could never figure out was “how can a person actually die of diarrhoea?” I mean, the pioneers were always getting cholera or dysentery and then dying. It didn’t make sense to me, I mean it is just diarrhoea! Well, this July I learned that not only can one die of it, but that by the end one wants to die.
I still don’t know how I got it. All I know is one day when it was like a billion degrees out I was in downtown Adana and, as usual, the freaking power went out. Not that anyone has air conditioning anyway, but it meant that the store I needed to go to was not open for business until the power came back on. So, we ended up walking around Adana in billion-degree heat for a couple hours. Eventually we went to a friend’s house (who has an AC) to rest and get something to drink. I had water with a fresh lemon slice. I figure I either got too overheated or it was the lemon slice, or a combo.
The next day I woke up with some diarrhoea – no big deal, I thought. Only, it never went away. For the next week and a half I lived in the bathroom. That means that not only was whatever I had painful – but actually using the toilet that long was painful. Not having been brought up squatting, in addition to having bad knees does not make for a pleasant extended stay over a squat toilet. I did ok when it was just for a quick tinkle, but being in there all the time took its toll on my knees to be sure!
Pepto Bismol does not exist over there, and I didn’t want to take anything else since I had just found out I was pregnant. To help matters even more, the family I was staying with kept feeding me fruit. I don’t know about you, but I have never, ever heard of watermelon being a cure for diarrhoea. They kept saying, “Karpuz, karpuz – good!” Yes, watermelon is good but maybe not when you think you are dying of dysentery. It was in season, though, so that is what there was to eat. I lived on blue Gatorade and watermelon that week and a half and luckily lived to tell about it.
What I learned is that not only can you die from diarrhoea, but that by the end you want to die! I was praying towards the end, “Please God just let it end,” because when your body runs out of the liquids you are drinking or eating your intestines are still going to make you run for the bathroom and you will start to lose ALL your body fluids – it is sooo gross! (What’s the main body fluid? That’s right – blood. Ewwww.)
I finally have empathy for all those pioneers who died of the cholera and dysentery. What an awful way to go! (No pun intended.)
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
What Do We Really Need for This Baby?
OK – this is a serious question for all you readers who never leave comments. This time I am actively seeking them – I need your advice!
Everyone keeps asking me what we need for the baby or what have I bought for the baby. Dude, I don’t know! So far, the only things I have bought for this baby are books. You see where my priorities are. I cannot bring this baby into a house that isn’t stocked with all the Little Golden Books I can get my hands on.
One of the best things my Mom did for us kids growing up was to read to us everyday. It has instilled a lifelong love of reading in me. The only bad part was having to listen to all the kids in my class read out loud very badly. You don’t even know how much I hated that in grade school. Of course, that was after we learned to read. I remember being so excited about first grade because Mom told me I would learn to read! Well, I came home after the first day of school crying my eyes out. When asked what was wrong I replied, “You said I would learn how to read…and I STILL DON’T KNOW HOW!”
But I digress – I still need to know what we really need to function with this kid at home, keeping in mind that I plan on breastfeeding so not a whole lot of bottles and that sort of thing are needed. I guess we can’t just dress her in our big t-shirts, though.
Seriously, the only thing I can think of is tons of diapers. I toyed briefly with the idea of cloth diapers, but after doing some research decided not to do it. You can find tons of propaganda proving that cloth diapers are better for the environment, and you can find the same amount proving that disposable diapers are better (or at least not worse.) I have decided to believe the one I found that says they are both equally bad for the environment. You just have to choose if you want to pollute and waste water (not to mention TIME) or fill landfills. I’ve decided to go ahead and fill landfills. Maybe someday we can blast all that trash into outerspace, eh? But once the water is ruined, it’s ruined. Actually, I think I will use disposable diapers for a year, then switch to cloth. I figure being wet and uncomfortable has to help the potty training process. If she is all dry and comfy why bother learning to pee-pee in the potty?
Well, anyway – if you have any suggestions of what we should put on our list of things to buy (or ask for) PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!!
Everyone keeps asking me what we need for the baby or what have I bought for the baby. Dude, I don’t know! So far, the only things I have bought for this baby are books. You see where my priorities are. I cannot bring this baby into a house that isn’t stocked with all the Little Golden Books I can get my hands on.
One of the best things my Mom did for us kids growing up was to read to us everyday. It has instilled a lifelong love of reading in me. The only bad part was having to listen to all the kids in my class read out loud very badly. You don’t even know how much I hated that in grade school. Of course, that was after we learned to read. I remember being so excited about first grade because Mom told me I would learn to read! Well, I came home after the first day of school crying my eyes out. When asked what was wrong I replied, “You said I would learn how to read…and I STILL DON’T KNOW HOW!”
But I digress – I still need to know what we really need to function with this kid at home, keeping in mind that I plan on breastfeeding so not a whole lot of bottles and that sort of thing are needed. I guess we can’t just dress her in our big t-shirts, though.
Seriously, the only thing I can think of is tons of diapers. I toyed briefly with the idea of cloth diapers, but after doing some research decided not to do it. You can find tons of propaganda proving that cloth diapers are better for the environment, and you can find the same amount proving that disposable diapers are better (or at least not worse.) I have decided to believe the one I found that says they are both equally bad for the environment. You just have to choose if you want to pollute and waste water (not to mention TIME) or fill landfills. I’ve decided to go ahead and fill landfills. Maybe someday we can blast all that trash into outerspace, eh? But once the water is ruined, it’s ruined. Actually, I think I will use disposable diapers for a year, then switch to cloth. I figure being wet and uncomfortable has to help the potty training process. If she is all dry and comfy why bother learning to pee-pee in the potty?
Well, anyway – if you have any suggestions of what we should put on our list of things to buy (or ask for) PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!!
The First Confirmed Bird Flu Death in the US
One of my observant readers sent this to me!! Be vigilant!!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Snowing for real now!
Well, today it is snowing. Of course, no one predicted it. The forecast was for “ice pellets.” The high today is going to be 1 (34F). It will be interesting to see how much snow we actually get.
Of course, we didn’t get around to buying winter rims and snow tires for the pickup this weekend. It was on the list of things to do, but it was so nice – who knew it would snow on Tuesday? I’m not going anywhere with these North Carolina tires, either. I did that last February and it was an adventure I’d rather not repeat.
So, what am I doing today? We are finally putting up new baseboards in the frontroom and den. For many years we just had the particleboard down – that was pretty, especially since we had a dead body outline drawn on the floor with marker (for the next people who change the flooring.) Eventually, DP got the new laminate flooring down but we never got around to putting up the baseboard.
As you may have guessed, we are not the handiest people around. Last weekend we had a friend come over to help us put up the stair railings. We took those down back in ‘01 when we were painting the house and they never got put back up. I’m at a point where I WANTED them back up – I can’t go down steps if I can’t see my feet, plus the Mum-in-law is probably coming for Christmas and she would need them, too. While we were putting them up I said we ought to make our own home improvement show on cable. It would be really funny and make everyone else feel better about their home improvement projects.
Anyway, on Friday at the Legion we ran into this guy who does odd jobs like that and it turns out that he is free this week. He came over this morning, did the measuring, then we went to Home Depot and bought the baseboard. He brought his miter saw and right now he is down in the front room putting it up! It is so much better to have someone else do it.
So now, after 4 ½ years we are almost done with the home projects. The only thing left is to buy closet doors for the hallway closet and nursery closet, and painting the doors. Yep, we took all the doors down back in ‘01, too – to paint them. We have a poncho liner tacked up over the bedroom doorway for our bedroom door. I am seriously thinking about having this guy do that too, while he is at it.
Then, once we get it all done you know what that means don’t you? We’ll probably end up moving or something. Yep, the DP will get posted and we’ll have renters in here messing it all up again for us.
Of course, we didn’t get around to buying winter rims and snow tires for the pickup this weekend. It was on the list of things to do, but it was so nice – who knew it would snow on Tuesday? I’m not going anywhere with these North Carolina tires, either. I did that last February and it was an adventure I’d rather not repeat.
So, what am I doing today? We are finally putting up new baseboards in the frontroom and den. For many years we just had the particleboard down – that was pretty, especially since we had a dead body outline drawn on the floor with marker (for the next people who change the flooring.) Eventually, DP got the new laminate flooring down but we never got around to putting up the baseboard.
As you may have guessed, we are not the handiest people around. Last weekend we had a friend come over to help us put up the stair railings. We took those down back in ‘01 when we were painting the house and they never got put back up. I’m at a point where I WANTED them back up – I can’t go down steps if I can’t see my feet, plus the Mum-in-law is probably coming for Christmas and she would need them, too. While we were putting them up I said we ought to make our own home improvement show on cable. It would be really funny and make everyone else feel better about their home improvement projects.
Anyway, on Friday at the Legion we ran into this guy who does odd jobs like that and it turns out that he is free this week. He came over this morning, did the measuring, then we went to Home Depot and bought the baseboard. He brought his miter saw and right now he is down in the front room putting it up! It is so much better to have someone else do it.
So now, after 4 ½ years we are almost done with the home projects. The only thing left is to buy closet doors for the hallway closet and nursery closet, and painting the doors. Yep, we took all the doors down back in ‘01, too – to paint them. We have a poncho liner tacked up over the bedroom doorway for our bedroom door. I am seriously thinking about having this guy do that too, while he is at it.
Then, once we get it all done you know what that means don’t you? We’ll probably end up moving or something. Yep, the DP will get posted and we’ll have renters in here messing it all up again for us.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Another First – Pregnant Belly Pats
Earlier last week the DP and I were having a conversation. He says that he doesn’t know what it is, but everywhere he goes he sees pregnant people now. “I see pregnant people…they’re everywhere!” So I mentioned that so far I hadn’t had anyone come up and pat my belly. He didn’t even believe that people would do that. I told him as weird as it sounded that yes, apparently people will come up and pat a pregnant woman’s belly.
Then, it happened to me twice! Someone on Thursday night patted me, then on Friday at the Legion some guy patted me. He did it while saying, “Are we with child?” I wonder who he thought “we” was?
Thursday evening we got to go to the Greenwood Beaver Colony meeting. The Beavers are the 6-7 year old Canadian Scouts (co-ed.) They were pretty cute in their little beaver hats. DP went in uniform to give them a talk about Remembrance Day. We took an Atlas to show the kids where the wars were and they were fascinated. They were all crowded around me on the floor asking questions. They wanted to know if you could walk from Ottawa to Afghanistan.
DP also brought along all his kit – ruck sack, LBE, old steel pot, Kevlar helmet, flak jacket. We let the kids try it all on and run around. Seeing a 6 year old in a ruck sack, trying to walk, is pretty funny! The kids loved it, though.
We’re just wondering what we’ve gotten ourselves into!
Then, it happened to me twice! Someone on Thursday night patted me, then on Friday at the Legion some guy patted me. He did it while saying, “Are we with child?” I wonder who he thought “we” was?
Thursday evening we got to go to the Greenwood Beaver Colony meeting. The Beavers are the 6-7 year old Canadian Scouts (co-ed.) They were pretty cute in their little beaver hats. DP went in uniform to give them a talk about Remembrance Day. We took an Atlas to show the kids where the wars were and they were fascinated. They were all crowded around me on the floor asking questions. They wanted to know if you could walk from Ottawa to Afghanistan.
DP also brought along all his kit – ruck sack, LBE, old steel pot, Kevlar helmet, flak jacket. We let the kids try it all on and run around. Seeing a 6 year old in a ruck sack, trying to walk, is pretty funny! The kids loved it, though.
We’re just wondering what we’ve gotten ourselves into!
Friday, November 11, 2005
Happy Veteran's Day and Remembrance Day
Happy Veteran’s Day USA –
Happy Remembrance Day Canada
Here is the song I want played at my funeral. From the We Were Soldiers soundtrack.
Song: Sgt. McKenzie
Artist: Joseph Kilna McKenzie Lyrics
Original Scottish Version
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears
Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me
Nair mair shall a see the sun
For a fell tae a Germans gun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
English Translation
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
When they come I will stand my ground
Stand my ground I’ll not be afraid
Thoughts of home take away my fear
Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears
Once a year say a prayer for me
Close your eyes and remember me
Never more shall I see the sun
For I fell to a Germans gun
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Where before many more have gone
In memory of Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie Seaforth Highlanders
Celebrating America’s Freedoms
The World Wars through Canadian Eyes
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Two Firsts – Snow Flurries and Puke
This morning I actually got up at a normal hour and went to a La Leche League meeting at 0930. I got to meet a lot of women and it was pretty cool. I went because I really want to breastfeed because a) it is healthiest for the baby and me b) it is FREE! and c) God says to do it. Plus, I don’t know anyone here so I figured it would be a good way to meet some other women with young children.
There were about 15 of us there – along with all the kids. At the end all the older kids were standing over by the door. I went over to look and it was snowing! Yay! The first snow of the season here. Big, giant flakes of flurries. The perfect snow – just flurries, no accumulation. Finally around noon I left and went to the bookstore.
I was in Chapters (the Barnes and Noble of Canada), browsing with my hot chocolate, and suddenly my mouth filled with water and I got that weird feeling. You know the one, right before you know you are going to barf all over. I was thinking, “No way. I’m 5 months pregnant (22 weeks) – I can’t be getting morning sick now!” Well, I thought wrong. I had to race to the washroom, and wait for it to open up, praying I wouldn’t puke in the hallway by the Starbucks. I ran in and proceeded to puke for real. It was so weird because I feel fine.
I’m thinking maybe on a subconscious level I got freaked out by the LLL meeting. I mean, I just spent 2 ½ hours with 14 other women, all with small children. I saw a frontroom taken over by toys. I saw boobies actually being used to breastfeed. Maybe I subconsciously realized that I am a mere 4 months away from this becoming my reality and I had a panic puke.
Either that, or I have the super-mutant flu ahead of schedule!!
There were about 15 of us there – along with all the kids. At the end all the older kids were standing over by the door. I went over to look and it was snowing! Yay! The first snow of the season here. Big, giant flakes of flurries. The perfect snow – just flurries, no accumulation. Finally around noon I left and went to the bookstore.
I was in Chapters (the Barnes and Noble of Canada), browsing with my hot chocolate, and suddenly my mouth filled with water and I got that weird feeling. You know the one, right before you know you are going to barf all over. I was thinking, “No way. I’m 5 months pregnant (22 weeks) – I can’t be getting morning sick now!” Well, I thought wrong. I had to race to the washroom, and wait for it to open up, praying I wouldn’t puke in the hallway by the Starbucks. I ran in and proceeded to puke for real. It was so weird because I feel fine.
I’m thinking maybe on a subconscious level I got freaked out by the LLL meeting. I mean, I just spent 2 ½ hours with 14 other women, all with small children. I saw a frontroom taken over by toys. I saw boobies actually being used to breastfeed. Maybe I subconsciously realized that I am a mere 4 months away from this becoming my reality and I had a panic puke.
Either that, or I have the super-mutant flu ahead of schedule!!
Dang! I missed it!
Last night was the season premiere of the Rick Mercer Show on CBC. He is so funny and practically everything I have learned about Canada I have learned from watching him on his various shows these past years when I’ve been around. He would make a great teacher, but luckily for us he does his bit on TV so we can all benefit – not just a classroom full of ungrateful kids.
Well, last night he jumped out of a plane with General Rick Hillier, Canada’s Chief of Defence. (In Canada it’s with a C, so there!) Rick Mercer and General Hillier are two of my favorite Canadians so I really wanted to see that part of the show. (Another favorite Canadian is Major-General Lewis MacKenzie.) So why did we miss it?
We were out of food and had to go to the grocery store. We had no fresh vegetables, and no T. Marzetti’s Blue Cheese Dip. In our house if we don’t have any broccoli and cauliflower and no blue cheese dip to dip them into, then we have no food. Plus, how can someone cook without vegetables? So, we went to the store and decided to stop at the Lebanese fast food place on the way home to get something to eat. (It makes sense.) Well, there was nothing fast about it! Finally, food is being put into bags – it is 10 til 8 so I figure we can still make it. But, no. The guy runs out of hummus so he runs to the back to whip up a fresh batch of hummus for us. We had already paid or I would have been out of there without the hummus. Plus, the guy was in the back nowhere to be seen so we had to wait anyway. Later that same night, the hummus is made and we can finally really leave. I race home, abandon the groceries in the back of the pickup and run to turn on the TV. Rick and General Hillier are on the drop-zone saying, “Whewwww!! That was something!” We JUST MISSED IT! Stupid hummus!!
I got to watch the rest of the show, but I really wanted to see him with Hillier. Instead I got to see him riding a bike with Jack Layton. (Since no Canadians read this blog I know you probably haven’t heard of him – just some politician dude up here.)
Now my goal is to somehow meet Rick Mercer. I want to have him over for supper sometime. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll have to see him on the street sometime and chase him down for a photo. (And I’ll do it, too – not like the time I swear I saw Adrienne Clarkson in the Pentagon.) And I’ll wait for the rerun to see the jump. CBC likes to show the same shows twice in one week. Maybe the Rick Mercer season premiere will be on again this week.
(you can read Rick’s blog and learn about Canadian politics at: http://rickmercer.blogspot.com/)
Well, last night he jumped out of a plane with General Rick Hillier, Canada’s Chief of Defence. (In Canada it’s with a C, so there!) Rick Mercer and General Hillier are two of my favorite Canadians so I really wanted to see that part of the show. (Another favorite Canadian is Major-General Lewis MacKenzie.) So why did we miss it?
We were out of food and had to go to the grocery store. We had no fresh vegetables, and no T. Marzetti’s Blue Cheese Dip. In our house if we don’t have any broccoli and cauliflower and no blue cheese dip to dip them into, then we have no food. Plus, how can someone cook without vegetables? So, we went to the store and decided to stop at the Lebanese fast food place on the way home to get something to eat. (It makes sense.) Well, there was nothing fast about it! Finally, food is being put into bags – it is 10 til 8 so I figure we can still make it. But, no. The guy runs out of hummus so he runs to the back to whip up a fresh batch of hummus for us. We had already paid or I would have been out of there without the hummus. Plus, the guy was in the back nowhere to be seen so we had to wait anyway. Later that same night, the hummus is made and we can finally really leave. I race home, abandon the groceries in the back of the pickup and run to turn on the TV. Rick and General Hillier are on the drop-zone saying, “Whewwww!! That was something!” We JUST MISSED IT! Stupid hummus!!
I got to watch the rest of the show, but I really wanted to see him with Hillier. Instead I got to see him riding a bike with Jack Layton. (Since no Canadians read this blog I know you probably haven’t heard of him – just some politician dude up here.)
Now my goal is to somehow meet Rick Mercer. I want to have him over for supper sometime. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll have to see him on the street sometime and chase him down for a photo. (And I’ll do it, too – not like the time I swear I saw Adrienne Clarkson in the Pentagon.) And I’ll wait for the rerun to see the jump. CBC likes to show the same shows twice in one week. Maybe the Rick Mercer season premiere will be on again this week.
(you can read Rick’s blog and learn about Canadian politics at: http://rickmercer.blogspot.com/)
Monday, November 07, 2005
NFL vs. CFL
Did anyone watch the Chiefs / Raiders game last night? Now that was some football! I would have been ok either way since I am a Raiders fan because they have the hottest uniforms of all, and a Chiefs fan since I am from Kansas. When the Raiders scored and got ahead with only 2 minutes left I figured that was it for KC – but nooooo! With 5 seconds left Johnson dives into the endzone for the score – woooooooo!!!!! That’s what I like about Americans. We think ties are for sissies. Sure, the coach could have gone for the field goal and into OT, but that touchdown was way better. (That is why hockey is better this year, too – they got rid of the tie game.)
I don’t get to watch that much football since we have basic cable (we were at a bar with big screen TVs yesterday.) With basic we do get to watch the CFL, though. That is the Canadian version of football. Can’t be the same now, can it? Nope. In fact, if you want to make a Canadian angry you can always bring up football and say, “The CFL…hmm, you guys play 8 man, right? Ha ha – they hate that! (You can also offer to draw a map of the US and Canada on a napkin or something. Make the US really BIG and Canada pretty small. When they get mad, just say you only drew the part where people live anyway.)
So, back to the CFL – they have these strange differences. The big one is they have 3 downs instead of 4. They claim to like it and will pontificate about how it leads to a game with a lot more passing. Also, their field is a lot wider than ours. It looks square. Whereas our football fields are 120 yards long by 53 1/3 yards wide, theirs are 150 yards long by 65 yards wide. They have two 50 yard lines. But 65 yards wide? They can just run willy-nilly all over the place.
They really don’t play 8 man – they play 12 man. So, what does the 12th player do? I don’t know – it’s a mystery, but they have 12 of them out there running around, passing the ball on their big, wide field. They have a bunch of other rule differences as well, but I am just going to ignore those for now.
At the end of the season we have the Super Bowl and they have the Grey Cup. The Super Bowl of Canada. This year the Grey Cup is in Vancouver, and DP gets to go. It is going to be boys weekend out. Last year it was in Ottawa so it was boys weekend at our place – but I was still in Iraq so I missed out on that. I wish I was going to Vancouver, but it’s only for the guuyyysss.
I don’t get to watch that much football since we have basic cable (we were at a bar with big screen TVs yesterday.) With basic we do get to watch the CFL, though. That is the Canadian version of football. Can’t be the same now, can it? Nope. In fact, if you want to make a Canadian angry you can always bring up football and say, “The CFL…hmm, you guys play 8 man, right? Ha ha – they hate that! (You can also offer to draw a map of the US and Canada on a napkin or something. Make the US really BIG and Canada pretty small. When they get mad, just say you only drew the part where people live anyway.)
So, back to the CFL – they have these strange differences. The big one is they have 3 downs instead of 4. They claim to like it and will pontificate about how it leads to a game with a lot more passing. Also, their field is a lot wider than ours. It looks square. Whereas our football fields are 120 yards long by 53 1/3 yards wide, theirs are 150 yards long by 65 yards wide. They have two 50 yard lines. But 65 yards wide? They can just run willy-nilly all over the place.
They really don’t play 8 man – they play 12 man. So, what does the 12th player do? I don’t know – it’s a mystery, but they have 12 of them out there running around, passing the ball on their big, wide field. They have a bunch of other rule differences as well, but I am just going to ignore those for now.
At the end of the season we have the Super Bowl and they have the Grey Cup. The Super Bowl of Canada. This year the Grey Cup is in Vancouver, and DP gets to go. It is going to be boys weekend out. Last year it was in Ottawa so it was boys weekend at our place – but I was still in Iraq so I missed out on that. I wish I was going to Vancouver, but it’s only for the guuyyysss.
Pandemic Update: Only 45 days!!!
Did you hear on the news last night? China’s Ministry of Health is investigating several cases of “suspicious pneumonia.” OMG!! The End Is Near!!! Repent!
(Meanwhile, I am making chicken for supper tonight.)
(Meanwhile, I am making chicken for supper tonight.)
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Nimen daifu? Only 49 days until the PANDEMIC!!
Last night when you were all sleeping I was in bed developing this complex probability analysis for your safety. I have determined that the coming flu pandemic will start on DECEMBER 22nd in a remote village in China. Well, actually, that is when the first human death will take place. The way I came up with this analysis is all very technical so I won’t bore you with the mathematical details, but here is the story:
Kueng, a recent immigrant to Canada, was home visiting his family that remains in China. He was in the remote village because he wanted some of his grandmother’s zong zi. Even though it wasn’t the usual time to eat zong zi she made it for him since he no longer lived in China. If only he hadn’t wanted this treat perhaps he would not have come in contact with his cousin, who died several days later of this new super flu. It is this twist of fate that exposed Kueng to the now deadly super-mutant avian/human flu virus.
The very next day Kueng boards a plane to fly back to Vancouver, exposing everyone on the plane to the virus because he was seated near one of the airflow vents for recirculating the air. The exposure continues when he gets home, and it travels the globe quickly because Vancouver is a city in which 40% of the population is foreign born. The largest, busiest port in Canada is also in Vancouver and the city is a popular tourist destination.
In another strange twist of fate, Kueng is employed as a pizza delivery guy. His first night back he delivers pizza to Wahab, whose family from India is visiting him and leaving the next day. He delivers to Ahsan, who is going to Pakistan on business. He delivers to the Port Authority personnel who are inspecting all cargo on random ships. He delivers to a hotel room full of American GIs visiting from Fort Lewis, Washington. They have already been to Iraq and are getting ready to redeploy. Kueng spends the whole night delivering pizza and super-mutant flu virus all over the city. He does not feel well at all, but suspects it is just jet lag so he toughs it out instead of going home to sleep. He has his trip to China to pay for, after all.
Even though there is not much you can do to prevent yourself from catching this super-mutant flu in the coming pandemic (remember: there is no vaccine and no previous built up immunity) you can try. As the US Centers for Disease Control say, “Hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.” You can click here to learn the correct way to wash your hands!!!!
Kueng, a recent immigrant to Canada, was home visiting his family that remains in China. He was in the remote village because he wanted some of his grandmother’s zong zi. Even though it wasn’t the usual time to eat zong zi she made it for him since he no longer lived in China. If only he hadn’t wanted this treat perhaps he would not have come in contact with his cousin, who died several days later of this new super flu. It is this twist of fate that exposed Kueng to the now deadly super-mutant avian/human flu virus.
The very next day Kueng boards a plane to fly back to Vancouver, exposing everyone on the plane to the virus because he was seated near one of the airflow vents for recirculating the air. The exposure continues when he gets home, and it travels the globe quickly because Vancouver is a city in which 40% of the population is foreign born. The largest, busiest port in Canada is also in Vancouver and the city is a popular tourist destination.
In another strange twist of fate, Kueng is employed as a pizza delivery guy. His first night back he delivers pizza to Wahab, whose family from India is visiting him and leaving the next day. He delivers to Ahsan, who is going to Pakistan on business. He delivers to the Port Authority personnel who are inspecting all cargo on random ships. He delivers to a hotel room full of American GIs visiting from Fort Lewis, Washington. They have already been to Iraq and are getting ready to redeploy. Kueng spends the whole night delivering pizza and super-mutant flu virus all over the city. He does not feel well at all, but suspects it is just jet lag so he toughs it out instead of going home to sleep. He has his trip to China to pay for, after all.
Even though there is not much you can do to prevent yourself from catching this super-mutant flu in the coming pandemic (remember: there is no vaccine and no previous built up immunity) you can try. As the US Centers for Disease Control say, “Hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.” You can click here to learn the correct way to wash your hands!!!!
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
The Sky Is Falling! The Sky Is Falling!
Is anyone else tired of hearing about the coming pandemic? I swear, I have to hear that word about 15 times a day – and it’s not like I have CNN on constantly. As a matter of fact, we don’t even get CNN so I don’t know if the media is whipping this up into a frenzy in the States like they are up here in Canada. I listen to the news for about 30 minutes when I am on the elliptical trainer, then another 30 minutes in the early evening before primetime TV comes on, then for about 10 minutes before I go to bed. So, in the course of about 1 ½ hours of news watching (including all the “breaking news” commercials) I get to hear about the pandemic constantly!! Enough already!!
Why are they so focused on a pandemic now? It must be because of the outbreak of the avian flu in all those chickens. Remember the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 that killed between 20 and 40 MILLION people? Me neither, but guess what? They figure that it originated in China in a rare genetic shift of the virus. This new virus was novel to everyone so there was no herd immunity left, plus we had people travelling all over the world because of the war so it spread quickly.
Now, we have this H5N1 bird flu virus. Outbreaks of this flu in birds occurred in 8 Asian countries (including China) in 2003/2004 – and even though the outbreaks were said to be under control it looks like they were ongoing. Even scarier, the first case to be spread from a bird to a human was seen during an outbreak of bird flu in poultry in Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region. Last time I looked, Hong Kong was in CHINA! What is it with China and deadly flu?
The H5N1 virus that is making people sick is resistant to the usual flu medications. There is NO vaccine available for people to combat this type of flu. So, once again we have a virus novel to everyone, no herd immunity, and nowadays we have people travelling all over the world, more quickly than ever, for business, pleasure, and once again, a war. If this pandemic does materialize it could make the pandemic of 1918 seem like a walk in the park.
Is this any reason for the media to focus obsessively on the possibility? What good does that do anyone? I for one would be happy if the CDC, the rest of the medical community, and the governments worked quietly on their little contingency plans – preparing a really good one to spring on the public when and if the time comes. I just don’t want to hear about “the horror of the coming pandemic – ohhh, woe is us” on the news constantly!!!!!
Why are they so focused on a pandemic now? It must be because of the outbreak of the avian flu in all those chickens. Remember the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 that killed between 20 and 40 MILLION people? Me neither, but guess what? They figure that it originated in China in a rare genetic shift of the virus. This new virus was novel to everyone so there was no herd immunity left, plus we had people travelling all over the world because of the war so it spread quickly.
Now, we have this H5N1 bird flu virus. Outbreaks of this flu in birds occurred in 8 Asian countries (including China) in 2003/2004 – and even though the outbreaks were said to be under control it looks like they were ongoing. Even scarier, the first case to be spread from a bird to a human was seen during an outbreak of bird flu in poultry in Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region. Last time I looked, Hong Kong was in CHINA! What is it with China and deadly flu?
The H5N1 virus that is making people sick is resistant to the usual flu medications. There is NO vaccine available for people to combat this type of flu. So, once again we have a virus novel to everyone, no herd immunity, and nowadays we have people travelling all over the world, more quickly than ever, for business, pleasure, and once again, a war. If this pandemic does materialize it could make the pandemic of 1918 seem like a walk in the park.
Is this any reason for the media to focus obsessively on the possibility? What good does that do anyone? I for one would be happy if the CDC, the rest of the medical community, and the governments worked quietly on their little contingency plans – preparing a really good one to spring on the public when and if the time comes. I just don’t want to hear about “the horror of the coming pandemic – ohhh, woe is us” on the news constantly!!!!!
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
NO PAPARAZZI!!
Today I had another ultrasound to check everything out. Everything is looking good – all the measurements are good, everything is where it is supposed to be, etc. The baby was once again a squirm-worm. The ultrasound lady said, “Wow, she is sure active. I bet she will be athletic.” We can only hope she is so she doesn’t have to be the last one picked for kick-ball teams, or whatever it is kids play nowadays. In the meantime, I get to feel her jumping around in there. Now, the movements are still kind of cute. I have a feeling they won’t be so cute once she gets a little bigger and starts punching my ribs and whatnot.
Really, I think she just does NOT like those ultrasound waves bugging her, disturbing her peace. She kept her hands over her face the entire time, which was kind of funny. And at the end she finally gave up on trying to escape and just turned over, facing my back, giving us the finger and saying, “Ha ha – now try to get a picture of my face!!”
Really, I think she just does NOT like those ultrasound waves bugging her, disturbing her peace. She kept her hands over her face the entire time, which was kind of funny. And at the end she finally gave up on trying to escape and just turned over, facing my back, giving us the finger and saying, “Ha ha – now try to get a picture of my face!!”
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