I hear ya...
What's Happening in YOUR neighborhood today, part 10
BRrrrrr, BRrrrrrrrrr and double BRrrrrrrrrr .. Thunder Bay may not have the snow, but, we most certainly have the sub zero temps .. the 'take your breath away' cold ..
Was out with Lilly this morning around 6am .. looked up and the sky was just stuffed full of stars .. you know when the sky is like that, that the temps will remain very cold. Add to that a NW wind that will NOT give up .. and you have about 200,000 PENGUINS living on the shores of Lake Superior .. except for Sandra in the Soo who I do NOT envy re the snow shovelling!!
Am on with VCARS today and am so anticipating a 'NO CALLS' day .. one can only hope !!
Don .. enjoy the weather in AZ .. did your neighbours share an orange or two ?
Waiting to hear from Betty .. am hoping she'd book into a hotel if things got way too bad on those roads ..
TGIF ^_^
~M~
LOL, not yet. We are still enjoying the weather here. 82 F yesterday. Supposed to start cooling down to the normals for this time of year which is in the low 70's.
Hang in there fellow Canadians. We all know it will get better. ^_^
Hmmmmmmmmm .. according to Dave Duvall (the BEST weatherman ever) the weather in southern ON is going to be awful !! The video on the news tonight was just almost too much to wanna watch .. specially since Thunder Bay has always been noted for its SNOW !! Here we sit with very very little of the white stuff .. skies that are as clear as a bell .. and down around Sarnia and London they are slugging over snow shovels and snow blowers ..highways closed .. rigs pulled off the major highways .. WHAT is up with that ?? !!
Throwing another log or 2 on the fire .. sitting back with a Kahlua on the rocks .. and being thankful I am where I am despite the cold temps ..
Tomorrow morning i will eat my morning orange and think of AZ ^_^
Stay safe and warm all
~M~
Hi All
The weatherman is dillusional these days. He called for 1-3 centimeters and we got another 4 inches (10 cent.) . I now have a sore back and a sore leg, and have had enough of the white stuff. I should have been born in a hot climate because I sure hate this Northern s---!!! What is it, that will allow someone like me to dig in the dirt for hours but shovel snow for 5 minutes and my back hurts. Is it just age or do others react the same . Betty, you've had some real bad weather lately for driving, I hope that you are not taking any unneccessary chances. Be safe and warm.
Sandra
We've had some dustings here in Ottawa, but no snow to really complain about except back in October.
Have gotten out to do a bit of needed shopping the last couple of days. Actually had some success finding a couple of BASIC button cardigan sweaters in solid colours. One was at Northern Reflections and the other in the Lands End section of Sears.
I got my Canadian Viola Society Newsletter mailed. Have to follow up with dues invoices either by mail or by email. I would normally include them in the newsletters, but the newsletter was right on the divide. An insert would have put them over the 100 g and it's less expensive to send them separately in an envelope than to pay the difference in price for the oversize envelope. I also need to follow up with invoices and/or receipts to advertisers. That can wait till next week.
The second orchestra in which I play has a concert tomorrow evening with a rehearsal in the afternoon. Will go to church in the morning since I've missed the last two weeks (in Germany 2 weeks ago and 6 hrs of rehearsal last week). I've got the last pair of Santa mitts done and need to take them to the person who bought the certificate. I've just been playing around with adapting the pattern to a larger size for my DGTwins.
Anyone want to come help me get rid of PAPER. I'm inundated. It seems I just shove one pile to another to another.
Ann
It is incredible how much paper one accumlates in this computor world which, if I recall correctly , was supposed to be paperless!
I bought a small shredder and keep it over a large waste basket and every week or so I go thru the pile of paper and shred it and then when the waste basket is full I fill a large bag and take to recycle.
Windy but not to cold here for a few days so this afternoon I got out and set up the extension cords and bases for outside Xmas decoration - try to get that done before the ground freezes ( and they will stay there until spring!) Monday I should start getting lights up on the railings and fence and gate arch and later in the week I wil l put out the xmas trees and gift boxes in the front flower beds Then all will turn on December lst!
I have a collection of angels that I started maybe 15 years ago - habit is to buy one every Xmas although sometimes it is 2-3 if I happen to see something unusual. I set them all out with candles and greens and Xmas decorations on tables around the house and light the candles every night. I have not started looking yet this year but yesterday in the Pier 1 flyer saw one I really liked so went off and bought it.! They had a couple other neat ones but they are all about 18 inches so I will check around if I might see something smaller This is metal.
This message was edited Nov 22, 2008 6:46 PM
Oops couldnt add the picture when editing!
Love the angel. I have a shredder too, but one's got to SORT the paper before one dares to shred it. LOL
The angel is gorgeous, and truly "Bling"!!
Well to tell the truth Ann most of the pile gets shredded - very little needs saving and in the long run probably none of it!
Beautiful Angel Carol a nice addition.
SHREDDERS!! DAWG !!! We are on #3 .. the first one just up and died .. and the second one was accidentaly crushed by the Treadmill (too bad the treadmill hadn't broken) and now #3 seems to only want to work in REVERSE !!!
I tend to think we put too much through it .. a lot of it could be recycled in another way.
As for our paperless society .. that was certainly 'smoke and mirrors' !!
Sandra .. so sorry to hear about your back .. it all has to do with 'ergonomics' and body positioning etc .. in the spring and gardening seasons we tend to be less sorta 'agitated' while doing the job at hand .. we're relaxed and happy (most of the time) .. but .. when snow HAS to be shovelled .. and will not QUIT falling .. we seem to attack the shovelling with anger and resentment .. our bodies are tense and we are less than impressed ..
I have found that stretching a few minutes before going out to shovel, does actually work .. gets the muscles warmed up a bit and more fluid in their motion.
NOW .. if someone could develop and ROBOT to do this task .. it would be wonderful ^_^
Another 'snowless' day here .. temps in the 22+F range .. but .. dreary ..
Off to walk Lilly
~M~
The shredder was crushed by the Treadmill? So how did that happen! You have a walking Treadmil and the shredder was on the floor? Hmmmmmmmmmm!
Well we have robot vacuums so I dont see why we cant have robot snow shovellers.
My shredder at home is an old strip shredder. I always take staples out and it's still going. We wore one out at the Food Cupboard. The staples did it even though the instructions said we didn't have to remove staples. We replaced it with a cross-cut. The first two cross-cut shredders curled up their toes really early on and were returned under warranty, I think. At least the 2nd one was. We never put the number of sheets into it that the instructions said we could and we removed all staples. They jammed up and the cutting teeth broke off.
The third one shreds well thought the automatic function broke really early. But we DO oil it regularly. It's a large Fellowes brand. When I returned to the helm at the FC for awhile last February and couldn't find the manual, I had an almost immediate response to my email asking for help. So far, so good. But I suspect most people would find it a tad expensive for home use.
Ann
A shredder seems to be something of an unreliable sort of home appliance .. I think Santa will be delivering a few to homes througout Canada this Xmas :-)
Carol .. I have a 'fold up' treadmill .. it has a hydraulic thing a mee that lowers it .. I had forgotten I had put the shredder up against it !!!! DAWG .. what a commotion erupted when treadmill and shredder met head on !!!! I stopped the treadmill from lowering .. but alas .. the shredder was the loser in the war of the machines.
Now I see that there are 2 (maybe 3) types of shredders .. the cross cut, the stripper, and another that shreds AND dices !! Whoever invented that one much have been watching the CSI episode in which they totally pasted a document back together from the 'shreddy bits' .. I like puzzles .. but NO THANKS to having to do that !!!
Went out to replace the suet balls ( gotta have'em to attract the Whiskey Jacks (Grey Jays) the thermometer says 34F .. it's damp, but actually quite pleasant outside .. Lilly has had a few walks and is patiently watching and waiting for me to close up this computer because she knows I'll likely take her again ..
Ciao
~M~
Marilyn what brand of treadmill do you have. I have been debating g etting one - for me and the dogs - but have to have a fold up.Although it will stil have to go in the basement.
Carol - too bad you don't want a regular one lol
I have one sitting on my deck (covered up!), and haven't been using it!
You selling it? Is it a good one? how much ?- dmail please.
Mine is a 'FreeSpirit' .. from Sears .. does everything for you but the walking !!! Lilly doesn't like it and I usually only use it when someone else is in the house .. not sure which she hates most .. the treadmill or the vacuum cleaner ^_^
Have been up since 4:45am !! DAWG!! But .. at least I know it's going to be another mild day as I had Lilly out and I was only dressed in sweats and a sweatshirt ..
We hit 40F here yesterday, and that will no doubt repeat itself today .. very unusual .. or .. should I say .. it's NOT unusual these last maybe 3 years, prior to that, we were well into buckets of snow and the ski hills were a flurry of activity. 2 have now closed due to the lack of snow. You can't run a ski business with ONE month of snowfall ~
Thinkin about new drapes for my living room .. have verticals right now and am growing tired of them .. figure it'll be back to shears. Lots out there to chose from .. it's just getting out to do it .. I hate to be rushed .
Hope everyone has a super week !!
~M~
Well my problem with any piece of exercise equipment is using it!
I have had previously a rowing machine and then a corss country ski machine - that one is still in the basementk unused for maybe 10 years! I dont like to have them set up in the living room or the den cause they just get in the way and if I put them in the basement they dont get used much!
But I have been thinking about a treadmill because both the dogs and I could use it! But it would still have to go in the basement. I dont have a very big house!
Other than walking the dogs which we do every morning but only about 20 mins) I dont usually get regular exercise. We used to also go to off leash every day but dont do that anymore . And that is hardly exercise for me! I started doing aquasize after my B.C. diagnosis but stopped that a couple of years ago. For the past few months I have been trying out Whole Body Vibration but it does not seem to be doing much for me and it is not cheap. I am thinking after Xmas to try Curves.
The thing is if I have to commit sone $$ I will stick with it but probably not for the long term!
Got all the extension cords up for the Xmas lights this weekend - I usually try to do that early before the ground freezes - it is still not frozen yet! Will get the lights etc up this week ready to turn on on Dec. 1st!
My last foster dog, Shiloh came to visit on Saturday - he has been in his new home 3 weeks and is making progress ( we all call him Shyshiloh) and they are very please with him.
Well I guess Calgary will be celebrating today with the Grey Cup win yesterday.
Carol,
You could put it in you back porch area. It would almost be like running outside. (cool temps). My Mother in-law has hers in their veranda year round and she finds it quite handy to use where it is located.
Yeh the trouble is the porch is very narrow and I wouldnt be able to get round it!
(I can always find an excuse!)
We will see.
Wow it just started to snow and is it coming down...only 3 more drive in days to the city, one would think it could wait..so will be a rough ride home..
Bought Kyle and Noah (1) a Wii system and also Braedon and Caleb (1) a system..now the girls in the office were saying that there is a fitness program one can buy..you pick someone I guess from choices who most look like you and as you walk it shows you walking through the forest, hills etc...makes it more interesting..not sure if it's enough to get me excited about a daily fitness routine...
I never stop so don't know how I could do much more but the doctor once told me that was my regular routine so in order to lose weight I'd have to take up extra...hard though, sit in the car 1 1/2 hrs. come to the office and sit 8 hrs. drive home 1 1/2 hrs. tired/tired sit on the couch for 2 or 3 hours and then it's bedtime....omg where can a fit in a fitness program..lol
Our ski hills all opened on the weekend...calling for rain mixture tomorrow and Wednesday so let's hope that it doesn't do damage to the hills..they could use the extra income...probably they will be hit by the recession as well...
I so accomplished a lot over the weekend..imagine, all the Christmas presents are wrapped and under the tree...I'M READY even if SANTA is not! lol
Concert # 2 in less than a week is over. I'm trying to conquer the paper monster. Made SOME progress before my cleaners came this morning. But I fired them after they cleaned for me. Haven't been all that happy with what they do and don't do. Gotta find someone else. Will talk to the person my daughter has.
Spent a large part of the afternoon at the FC entering the donations to date. Am trying to determine where we stand compared to last year at the same time - or to the end of November. I'm beginning to hear stories about programs whose donations are down because of the economy. Our experience is that our community will support us, but if donations are significantly down it's time to contact the media.
Only one more concert - that's Come Sing Messiah on Dec. 5 and I do it every year. There are a couple of sections that I want to look over, but most of it will need very little practicing. Ditto with one on New Year's Day. The bells aren't doing anything extra this year AFAIK, so no real pressure there after we play on Dec. 7.
Should be able to pop in here more regularly.
Ann
Ann do hope the donations come in...hearing many organizations in the area are having difficulties especially food banks..let's hope things improve..it's so difficult this time of year...
Bet you'll be glad to have a break...
Couldn't understand mom when she had a cleaning lady...she'd spend all morning cleaning so the cleaning lady wouldn't think her house was dirty...dah....finally she decided to continue doing her own and getting someone just once a month to do fridge/stove ..few things she didn't enjoy..
We'll, it's early I guess by most standards but just drove through a storm..parts was rain the other heavy snow...
3 more Toronto drive days...can't you tell just how very excited I am to be moving to the Barrie office....
Night everyone...
If you are driving in this kind of weather stay safe...
Just going upstairs to bed..had to take a photo..
If I named it, I'd call it:
"Everybody needs a friend!"
Oh Betty, that is so adorable. Made my DH come and look 'cuz your tabby reminds me of ours. :)
Joanne
She looks comfy in the photo..she has a jekel and hyde personality...when she's outdoors she absolutely loves everyone, purrr's , wants affection, come inside and she's a SHE DEVIL to the other kittie Missy and Sailor my border collie...
This morning she was drapped on the lap of this snowlady ..she must have taken a liking to her...lol...
Sky is darkening by the minute..glad to leave here before the snow..or today is it rain..probably a mixture...just turned the micro furnace on, can tell the temp. is dropping..
What are you all up to today??
Had a short visit this morning with one of our latest foster dogs - Oreo - he has the most beautiful face! He has been with us for about 10 days now and is starting to shed some of his shyness and absolutely loves the 17 yr old daughter of the foster family.
I have been getting my outside Xmas decorations up while the weather is still good. A couple of years ago I bought giant decorations to put on one of the small trees in the front. This morning I decided I needed a couple more balls so invaded Cdn Tire and ended up with a selection of gold and purple decorations which went on the tree on the other side of the yard.
The weather has been great considering it is almost December but I hear it is going to cool off soon!
How neat..Fancy I wouldn't have thought to decorate the branches of my trees...how pretty...
Snowing here tonight...
We had several inches of heavy, wet snow today. Really heavy to try to get off the driveway and then, when I was inside for the day with evening students, the snowplow came round and left me a gift. I'm gonna drive through it tomorrow and it will still be there when DH gets home from Newfoundland. I THINK it's supposed to be fairly mild and rainy for the next couple of days.
Dealt with all the requests for charitable donations today. Wrote a bunch of cheques and made some on-line donations as well. I tend to collect all the requests and write the donations all at once. If I've got 5 or 6 requests from the same charity, they get all their stuff back WITHOUT a donation (assuming they've given me a post-paid envelope) and I tell them they are obviously spending too much of my money on mailings.
Tomorrow our Red Hat group is heading to the National Gallery. One of the group is a retired art teacher. should be a fun outing.
Ann
Left the house at 7am and didn't arrive at the office until 10:05...long ride in..bad weather from the house to just south of Toronto..did I say I'd be glad that I've only tomorrow and no more Toronto travelling..bet I did..lol..
Hard isn't it Ann when you received so many donation requests..I do also try to give and try to provide for as many as I can but it's difficult..
ALWAYS though do I donate to the SalvationArmy..I see such good done within the community at Christmas...
Carol
I love the decorated Tree! Great burst of color and shine on the empty branches.
As far as exercising I love Curves. I go at the same time every day I work late or have off. The same ladies are there too so we chat and the exercising is over before you know it. I didn't sign up for the computer part as I figure I have enough people to tell me what to do with out the darn machine doing it too. Anyway I talk gardening there and have done some visits and trades with the ladies.
The weather here is superburb (sp) I am loving looking at the sun and I've even got all my pots empty and put away and I'm hoping to get my DH to get the Xmas lights up this weekend as it's supposed to be +9.
Can't belive the tough weather that is happening out East. Keep your chins up folks it will change in a bit.
Ann
Usually we leave work at 4:45 to travel north..get home about 6:30..boss just called, snowing pretty hard near Barrie so we leave at 3:00 today...who knows, we just might get home at the same time...
Sure hope your ride home was OK Betty .. I am still in a state of shock re our weather here in NW Ontario ..
It was so mild today ..it's starting to cool off now .. and I have heard that we MAY get 2-4cm of snow overnight, believe it when I see it .
Carol .. I LOVE the decorations on the tree .. yer giving me IDEAS :-) Have an Evergreen at the end of the driveway that might like some 'dressing up'. Actually .. I have lotsa trees that would look so nice even decked out just in garlands .. the only people/animals that would see them .. would be us and the deer and birds . .. but .. HEY .. everyone needs to see something nice over the Season ^_^
RED HATS !!! Oh Ann .. the 'grade 12 girls group' that I get together with every month or so is always talking about this .. one of our 'members' belongs, but, the hub bub at the table during our get togethers has never let me find out much more, except that the 'group' gets together and LAUGHS ... I do so hope you had a super time at the Gallery.
I'm kinda sad today .. I went to my visit with my Hospice client today .. she is NOT well .. no more going home for 4 to 5 hours .. she is strictly bedridden on Hospice now .. however, we did have some very nice US time .. she had had morphine before I arrived so she was pretty groggy. Feel so bad that the family will be facing her death during/before Xmas .
Betty I can't even imagine how you felt with your hubby passing away at this time of year .. at least this death is expected .
I guess I'll gravitate to the kitchen and again try to perform a cullinary miracle .. however .. I do have a box of Quiche from M&Ms in my freezer ^_^
Hugs all round
~M~
Marilynne - If your friends are interested in the principal of Red Hats, I would suggest that they just form a section. But I'd almost advise you to skip any affiliation with "Hatquarters" as they've gotten way too big for their britches and are talking of losing money and wanting to raise fees, yada, yada, yada... Most of the stuff they sell, we can't access easily in Canada anyways and all that really matters is thumbing your nose a bit at getting old and having fun.
My group is an offshoot of the group that does aquafit together. We get together once a month for lunch and at other times if something special comes up. One is a retired art teacher and she organizes the outings to the Gallery. And there's a lovely café in the great hall with good food and reasonable prices. Actually that's where we were heading - Sandy and I - with the gnomes, but forgot the gallery is closed on Mondays.
Better go figure out what's for dinner. DH will be back from Newfoundland some time this evening. He originally planned to come back tomorrow, but I got a message it would be tonight. But I don't know what time or what route.
Ann
Ann .. this group is actually a 'Red Hat' group .. I just have never gotten a full 'explanation' as to what the group does .. when the 'girls' get together for lunch .. I always ask .. and the one gal starts to explain .. and then the conversation from the others overtakes hers and I am back to square one .. and tracking Rita down at home is virtually impossible .. she is a retired high school teacher who is consummed with 'Clowning' .. seriously .. she is 'Peggy Sue' .. and her costume is absolutely unreal !! She goes to Clown Conferences in the US and Europe .. and, at this time of year she is totally busy. She did mention that the group she belongs to here in TBay is a 'have fun' group .. next time we go for lunch, I'll pin her down ^_^
My cullinary miracle ended up being Rigatoni and meatballs !!!
Take care all
~M~
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me
The Red Hat Society, whose only rule is no rules - it''s simply a play group encouraging women over 50 to have fun, support each other, and find kindred spirits.
You've got it. But Hatquarters got a little carried away with the whole thing.
Afternoon all...OMG it's my last day travelling to the city..weather didn't co-operate..stormy although it's clearing somewhat..maybe ride home will be stress free...working at home tomorrow and next week (can't really call it working-answering the phone from time to time) then we should be into new office..work 2 weeks and then off till 1st Monday in January..
My heart goes out to you "M" hard to sit with a friend/client/loved one watching them in their last hours...thanks for your thoughts regarding Roger...today would have been our 43rd. wedding anniversary so am a bit sluggish..as I am come mid Dec. when he got ill..by christmas day I was told he was dying and he passed away New Years day...so everyday during these weeks of Christmas prep. and celebration my mind returns to a time that's still at least in my mind and thoughts as close today as it was those many years ago...emotions are high! But, one has to return to reality and make the best for the boys and their families...
Ann, would assume you are as busy as always...will things slow down somewhat for you in the next few weeks or more hectic...?