Happy Birthday Rose!

Today is Rose's birthday.

Rose is Christopher's mother. A lady never truly likes to reveal her age, so I shall not divulge how old she is today...suffice it to say that she doesn't look a day over 45 :). She's a very kind, compassionate lady, and will do just about anything for the people that are important to her. She's always there to offer her advice, and she has a great sense of humor.

Today I raise a glass to you, dear Rose, to toast you on your very special day. I hope the year ahead brings you happiness, contentment, relaxation & prosperity! xo

It's only Tuesday....

As predicted, I didn't remain a goodie last night. While continuing the 'better eating' right through supper, by the time I made it to Tanya's and the chips 'n dip, and apple dip arrived, I was a goner. I did, however, eat fruit last night, and more fruit than chips 'n dip. Nevermind the fact that the apples were dripping in cream cheese and caramel sauce. Like I said, baby steps, and now I'm going to shut up about that because I do not intend this blog to turn into a food blog.

I had a lovely time last night at Tanya's! Erin, Julie, Rosanne, myself and Tanya were in attendance. We are all pretty excited about the new Bachelor season. Jason was a favorite on the last season of the Bachelorette, and we were beyond upset when Deanna left him in the cold. To see the season's preview with her return can only bring one thing - drama! I know, I know - it's a horrible show, with a horrible premise, but I get sucked into the drama every time. Plus, it's a wonderful opportunity for me to meet up with some dear friends. We're going to try to take turns hosting Bachelor night at our homes, and all get together weekly to watch it. So fun!

So far today I was stuck in traffic (that g.d. construction for Cows by the Causeway), am feeling rather grotesque, am in the cranky queue at work, and I'm barely past my first break. Oh it's a blessed day indeed. Happy Tuesday.

Miniature Victories

I've not posted any 'resolutions'. I kind of did that on purpose. I'm just making a decision to try to make healthier eating choices. The weekend was a write-off when Chris and I devoured a large bag of ketchup chips between us on Saturday night. Therefore, today, January 5, 2009, I start. My first 'mini' goal (not 'resolution') is to eat better lunches. It has been the norm too frequently to pop out for a burger and fries on my lunch break...and that has to stop.

I ate a 'healthier' lunch today. I had a veggie wrap and 1% chocolate milk...and it was surprisingly good, and I'm stuffed. I'm thinking the only reason it was so 'good' was due to the fact that I smothered the greens & veggies with greek feta dressing. Baby steps - don't judge (how else would I be able to choke down those freakin' greens?).

So...day 1 to a 'healthier me'. Breakfast was oatmeal, and lunch was good...I picked up a little snack size hummus with flatbread snack crackers for break. I've not yet had a piece of chocolate. I'm celebrating my own little miniature victories today. That's not to say that I won't have a piece of chocolate today...I refuse to go cold turkey on that. I'm also meeting up with the girls at Tanya's tonight to watch the kickoff of the new Bachelor season...and Erin's threatening to bring snacks to rid her house of them....so I can't promise that I'll be a goodie for the entire day... Like I said...baby steps.

A sad ending...

My heart hurts for the Bambrick family. Yesterday, the body of Kyle Bambrick, 18 years old, was found after a lengthy search by police and search groups. He'd left a New Years Eve party early Thursday morning and hadn't been seen since. I never met him, yet his face haunts me...I can't stop thinking about him. Perhaps I'm relating my own small walk from the car to our front door that very same morning. Reports advise he'd left at 3am. We'd arrived home an hour before he was seen leaving. We were glad we'd arrived home when we did...we sat in bed, watching TV, listening to the winds howl...remarking to ourselves that it was a good thing we did leave when we did as the storm just kept getting stronger and more fierce. It was the worst winter storm to hit the Island in years... I can't even fathom walking in those conditions for as long as he did. I hope that his family can find peace in the fact that he's been found - and comfort from the love of their family and friends. It's truly a horrific, tragic, unfortunate loss.

Wherein I break up with Mr. Shovel

Yeah. So. It did suck. The wind changed directions mid-way through the storm, so when it was all said and done, the drift that was completely covering the road between our cars and our walkway, 2 houses to the left and right of our house, was over our waists. Steve & Wanda couldn't get their door open because of the drifting on their patio. Chris and I started out at 7am. We got through our walkway, to the cars, and then made a path to their door. We stopped in there to warm up a touch with a coffee, and then Steve joined us to try to shovel the cars out. I went in at about 9:00 to shower and get ready for work (my work NEVER closes), and left at quarter to 11:00 - the boys were still out shoveling. It was kind of heart-warming, really, seeing all the 'hood neighbors banding together, bein' neighborly with their shovels in tow. Now I just wonder where the bejebus the plow guy is going to put the snow?

The shoveling has irritated my wrist 'issue', and I no doubt will be ridiculously sore tomorrow on account of today's winter exercise being the only exercise this poor body has seen in a gazillion years. I know I needed it, but still. Don't judge.

Mr. Shovel, I no longer wish to have a relationship with you. You make me sore. You don't give much back in return, and well, I just think we'd get along better living separate lives (cue Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin duet).

I also regret not asking Santa for some winter boots. *sigh* Happy Friday :)

This...

...is what we woke up to.
...is what 50cm of snow and a 2 day blizzard looks like in the 'hood.
...is going to suck getting a path through...

I borrowed Chris' pictures. Mine turned out quite poopy. My car is the 2nd one from the left in the top photo, and the 3rd in the bottom (yep, there's really a car under there). The plow went through today for the first time since Wednesday. He's passed by the house 3 times so far since we got up a half hour ago. The bank the plow left is up past our waists.

...Oy vey...

Welcome, 2009

So everyone's welcoming 2009 in their jammies and in the comfort of their homes - those who didn't get storm-stayed where they celebrated NYE, that is. PEI has basically shut down on account of a major winter storm. I've heard someone refer to it as a "blizzarcane", with wind gusts reaching over 100km/hr, and expected snowfalls in the range of 40-50cms. Chris' parents are storm-stayed at the Rodd Hotel, and his brother in Stratford - both calling to see if Chris wanted to try out his new AWD in the snow. Not likely ;)...the plows have been called off the roads as of 6am, and the last time he looked, which was hours ago, he said the drift by the Element was up to the window. Lana called, and her car is completely buried. I was chatting with our neighbor, Wanda, and she's really worried about her cat...who hasn't been back home since going out last night at 7pm (before the storm started). I can't stop thinking of poor little BabyGirl...I sure hope she's hiding under someone's deck or something...

Last night Chris and I popped into Melissa & Grant's NYE party in Glenfinnan (awesome house guys....loves it! And Tanya & Jared...those bacon wrapped scallops were amazing!). We couldn't stay long, because we also were committed to going to Ebenezer to ring in the new year with Marco and Krissy. We shared a few bevvie's and laughs, and watched the countdown to midnight, and then Marco fired up the Wii and we all played a few racing games. By 1:30am the storm was getting going so we left then to ensure we got home safely. Had we stayed much longer I'm not sure how far we would've gotten. Regretfully I didn't take any pictures last night. I know, I suck.

So far we've watched some Forrest Gump on tv, and Dan in Real Life, and are about to put on 27 Dresses. We've not gotten out of our jammies, and the house is just a-rockin'. The angel atop my miniature tree is swaying each time there's a big gust, and the couches are moving. Chris made us a delicious homemade pizza for supper. No cabin fever for me. I love it :). Now I can only hope that the clean up tomorrow takes so long that I might be able to get just one more day off...and a super long weekend.
I hope you're all safe and sound in a warm, comfy place right now!