What's Your Word?

Your Word is "Think"

You see life as an amazing mix of possibilities, ideas, and fascinations. And sometimes you feel like you don't have enough time to take it all in. You love learning. Whether you're in school or not, you're probably immersed in several subjects right now. When you're not learning, you're busy reflecting. You think a lot about the people you know and the things you've experienced.

What's Your Word?

Abs, butt and thighs class

I'm sore and stiff today from the boxing workout on Monday evening ... very tempted not to go to the gym.

But I wanted to check out the abs, butt and thighs class this evening.

There were only three of us, plus the instructor, Rachel.

It was a good class with lots of focus on ... the abs, butt and thighs, of course.

I'll go back next week.

Now I'm going to go soak in a bubble gum scented bubble bath for a while.

Bookkeepin'

I had no sessions to teach today and was looking forward to working from home. I've got some manuals I need to get done in the next week or so.

2008 was my first year as a freelancer. I keep track of invoicing, etc. on Excel.

I wanted to get my 2009 spreadsheet ready to go as the next couple of months are going to be busy.

I redesigned it based on my 2008 one ... and liked it so much that I converted all my 2008 info in the same format.

Not a lot of fun but I feel like it was a huge accomplishment.

I'm ready for 2009!

Book ~ "Nova Scotia Drink-o-pedia" (2008) Graham Pilsworth

From Amazon ~ A "spirited" look at the history of drinking in Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Drink-o-pedia is a collection of anecdotes, bits of trivia and stories. From alcoholic drink staples like rum and beer to tea, coffee, and even water, Graham Pilsworth's fun history of Nova Scotia's drinking habits is jam-packed with interesting and little-known facts. The book discusses the role of women in rum-running, the development of Alexander Keith's business empire and the importance of coffee in Nova Scotia culture. The book includes photos, advertisements and artifacts, as well as original and humorous illustrations. The sections are divided by "drink": rum, beer, whisky, wine, moonshine, tea, coffee, soda, and water.

Sister Sarah gave this book to Gord for Christmas.

It interested me because I'm originally from Nova Scotia and I like rum, wine and beer.

It's a fun book to read. I like history and I learned a lot about the names and brands I had grown up with.

In case you always wanted to know ...

To cure a man of drink, take an eel and put it in rum but don't leave the eel in long enough to die. Then give the rum to the person to drink. But don't tell him about the eel. If he drinks it, he will never touch rum again.

Biggest Loser

Biggest Loser is back!

Yay!

There are eleven pairs. This season has the biggest, youngest and oldest ever.

The black team (cousins) won the challenge so had immunity in the weigh in.

The twist this time is that only the top team in the weigh in got to stay (in addition to the black team). The other teams had to send home a member of their team. Whoever is still at the ranch in a month's time gets to bring their partner back. It should be interesting.

The team that had the biggest weight loss was the father and son brown team.

Tuesday workout

Gord and I went to the gym this evening.

I did 15 minutes of weights while listening to Green Day.

Then we checked out a Zumba class.

We weren't really sure what it was about ... but we liked the idea of working out to Latin tunes.

The teacher seemed new ... she was rough in her cueing. But she was enthusiastic and the moves were fun. You should check it out Zumba you get a chance.

My eating was on track today. Yay!

I'm starting to feel the effects of the boxing workout last night ... I'm sore and stiff.

Monday workout

I started taking boxing classes in the spring of 2005 from the fabulous Yvette.

It was a wicked workout and I met some great friends (though none of us box together anymore, we still meet every couple of months for supper).

I've changed gyms a couple times. Though my gym doesn't offer boxing classes, it does have a boxing bag.

I've been looking for a boxing workout I can download onto my ipod. I finally found three last night on iTrain.

I got ambitious and did them all tonight.

That's a total of 60 minutes of pounding the bag and 20 minutes of abs and cooldown. Then I did 15 minutes on the stationary bike ("around the world hills" mode).

I definitely feel like I had a workout!



And my eating was on track today. Yay!

Manic Monday

Click here to play!

Do you have any idiosyncrasies or unusual quirks when it comes to food and/or eating?
I used to eat all my food one at a time ... for example, I'd eat all my peas, then all my potatoes and then all my meat. I don't do that anymore. Now I'll eat a bite of peas, then a bite of potatoes and then a bite meat ... sometimes even at the same time! Gord, on the other hand, eats the way I used to. And he doesn't like his food touching each other. So sometimes I'll push his meat into his potatoes ... hee hee hee!

Have you ever written love letters? If so, do you still have any of them?
No.

How easy or difficult is it for you to say you're sorry?
If I'm sorry, I'll say I'm sorry.

Take Control of your Career and Your Life

I rarely watch Oprah. I like her but it's not often I watch TV at 4:00pm on a weekday.

I caught a show a couple weeks ago, though, where she discussed a session called "Take Control of your Career and Your Life" with Marcus Buckingham.

Are you stuck in a job you hate? Feel like you just don't have enough to give to your professional life and your personal life? You're not alone. Career coach Marcus Buckingham met with a group of women just like you to help them figure out how to reignite the passion in their careers. Now it's your turn! Take Marcus's step-by-step workshop and use his lessons to change your life.

There are eight sessions (about three hours in total) and they are worth watching. I like stuff like this so watched them tonight. The link for them is here. The workbooks used are here.

It's about focusing on your strengths. A strength is an activity that makes you feels strong and that you look forward to.


How to FREE your strength:

Focus - identify how and where this specific strength helps you in your current role.

Release - find the missed opportunities in your current role.

Educate - learn new skills and techniques to build this strength.

Expand - build your job around this strength.


How to STOP your weakness:

Stop doing the activity.

Team up with others who are strengthened by this activity.

Offer up a strength and steer your job toward it.

Perceive your weakness from a different perspective.


Every morning you should ask yourself: What are my strengths and how can I volunteer them?

Back on track

I got back on track today. Yay!

I started the day with my breakfast shake (Greens, protein powder, veggie/fruit powder, Chia seeds and fish oil) along with a bowl of high fibre cereal/soy milk.

I went to the gym and had a great workout! I did weights while listening to Connor McGuire. He is the son of Ra McGuire of Trooper. I like Connor's sound ... it's acoustical.

Then I did 15 minutes on the arc trainer ("weight loss" mode), 15 minutes on the stationary bike ("around the world hills" mode), 15 minutes on the treadmill ("hills" mode) and 15 minutes on the stationary bike ("random" mode) while reading Nova Scotia drink-o-pedia.

I relaxed in the steam room for about ten minutes.

When I got home, I listened to my Chris Frolic Lose Weight, Feel Great hypnosis CD.

Then I soaked in the tub and read some more.

Rum of the Month - January - Smuggler's Cove Dark Rum

From guest blogger, Gord. And I must say that I agree with him ... it is a very delicious dark rum!

"Just like smugglers using the cover of the night to deliver their goods during prohibition, this rum's rich and deep auburn darkness conceals within the history of its making."
Quote from Rumshop.net September 2003 newsletter

For Christmas each year, Teena's sister, Sarah and her husband, Joey, send us some much appreciated bottles of rum, which are not available here in Ontario. One of my favorites is Smuggler's Cove Dark Rum brewed by Glenora Distillery located in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Glenora opened in 1990, not just as a distillery but also as a nine room inn complete with a 50 seat dining room and a pub on the grounds.

It's major claim to fame is being the only producer of single malt whisky in North America with their Glen Breton Rare Canadian Single Malt Whisky . They are very proud of this and you can read about their whisky production all over their website.

The also have extensive coverage with their battle with The Scotch Whisky Association over the use of the word "Glen" in it's name. Their claim is that "glen” is a Scottish term, and only whisky produced in Scotland should be called Scotch whisky. Glenora claims they use the "Glen" to reflect the region as the distillery is located in Glenville, Cape Breton, outside the town of Glenora Falls, and do not call their product "Scotch". The battle has seesawed back and forth.

Glenora is very proud of their whisky-making and their entire website is almost dedicated exclusively to their single malt whiskey.

Being a rum drinker and a fan of Smuggler's Cove, I was puzzled by Glenora's lack of enthusiasm for their rum product. I had to do a very thorough search through their website to find where they even admit to making rum. And they mention it almost in passing: "In addition to distilling single malt whisky, which is presently aging in oak barrels, Glenora blends and bottles Smuggler's Cove dark, white and amber rums."

They don't even mention that at the 2003 International Rum Festival, it won a Gold Medal in the Dark Rum Category. Not too shabby but I found that gem on another rum website.

Smuggler's Cove is an excellent tasting rum and stands the ultimate test of being sipped on it's own. It has a nice molasses taste and is a very smooth going down. I really enjoy this rum. You would think that Glenora would show a little more pride in having made this.

Hey Sarah!
Hey Joey!

Did you notice the picture at the top of this article. We're out!

Knitted socks

I found a simple knitted sport sock pattern for beginners here and just finished them.

They aren't perfect but I got the hang of it. I just used cheap yarn this time.

Here's the pattern:

Instructions are written for Small (S) size. Any changes for Medium (M), Large (L) or Extra Large (XL) are written in brackets. If there is only one set of figures, it applies to all sizes. Recommended for knitters with some general knitting experience.

FINISHED FOOT LENGTH:
Small 23 cm (9 ins)
Medium 24 cm (9-1/2 ins)
Large 26.5 cm (10-1/2 ins)
Extra Large 28 cm (11 ins)
All measurements are approximate.

You need:

* 1(1,2,2) balls (100 g) Patons Classic Wool
* Set of four 4 mm double-pointed needles OR whichever needles you require to produce the tension given below
* Stitch holder
* Scrap of contrasting colour yarn
* Tapestry needle

ABBREVIATIONS:
cm = centimetre(s)
g = gram(s)
in(s) = inch(es)
k = knit
mm = millimetre(s)
p = purl
psso = pass slipped stitch over
rem = remain(s)(ing)
rep = repeat
rnd(s) = round(s)
sl = slip
st(s) = stitch(es)
tog = together

TENSION:
20 sts and 28 rows = 10 cm/4 ins in stocking stitch using 4 mm needles. Work to exact tension with specified yarn to obtain satisfactory results.

TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK TENSION.

TO WORK CUFF:
*Loosely cast on 40(40,44,44)sts. Divide so 12(12,14,14)sts are on each of first 2 needles and 16 sts are on third needle. Being careful not to twist sts, join in rnd, pulling yarn firmly to prevent a gap.

Rnd 1 (right side): [K1,p1] to end of rnd. Mark end of rnd by threading short length of contrasting colour yarn through work between first and last st.
Rnds 2 to 6: Continue in [k1,p1] ribbing.
Next: Knit in rnds until work from end of ribbing measures 15(15,18,18) cm/6(6,7,7) ins, ending at marker. Break yarn.

TO BEGIN HEEL:
Slip last 10(10,11,11)sts from 3rd needle, then first 10(10,11,11)sts from first needle onto single needle (for heel), thus having marker at centre. Slip rem 20(20,22,22)sts onto st holder (for instep). 20(20,22,22)sts now on needle.

With wrong side of heel sts facing, join yarn and work back and forth as follows:
Row 1 (wrong side): Sl1, purl to end of row.
Row 2: [Sl1,k1] to end of row.

Rep last 2 rows until heel measures 5(5,5.5,6) cm/2(2,2-1/4,2-1/2) ins, ending with wrong side facing for next row.

TO SHAPE HEEL:
Row 1: P13 (13,14,14), p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 2: SI1, k7, sl1, k1, psso, k1. Turn.
Row 3: Sl1, p8, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 4: Sl1, k9, sl1, k1, psso, k1. Turn.
Row 5: Sl1, p10, p2 tog, p1. Turn.
Row 6 (right side): Sl1, k11, Sl1, k1, psso, k1. 14(14,16,16)sts now on needle(s).
Large and extra-large size only: Turn.
Row 7: Sl1, p12, p2tog. Turn.
Row 8 (right side): Sl1,k12, sl1, k1, psso. 14 sts now on needle.

All sizes: With right side of work facing, pick up and knit 10(10,11,12)sts up left side of heel. With 2nd needle, knit across 20(20,22,22)sts on st holder (instep). With 3rd needle, pick up and knit 10(10,11,12)sts down right side of heel. Knit first 7 sts of heel onto end of 3rd needle. Slip rem 7 sts of heel onto beg of first needle. 54(54,58,60)sts now on needles. 17(17,18,19)sts are on first needle, 20(20,22,22)sts are on 2nd needle and 17(17,18,19)sts are on 3rd needle.

Continue, working rnds as follows:
Rnd 1: First needle: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2nd needle: Knit to end of needle. 3rd needle: K1, sl1, k1, psso, knit to end of needle.
Rnd 2: Knit.

Rep last 2 rnds 6(6,6,7) times more. 10(10,11,11)sts now on first needle, 20(20,22,22)sts now on 2nd needle and 10(10,11,11)sts now on 3rd needle, for a total of 40(40,44,44)sts.

Knit even in rnds until foot from picked-up sts at heel measures 16(17,18,19) cm/6-1/4(6-3/4,7,7-1/2) ins, ending with completion of 3rd needle.

TO SHAPE TOE:
Rnd 1: First needle: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2nd needle: K1, sl1, k1, psso, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 3rd needle: K1, sl1, k1, psso, knit to end of needle. Knit.

Rnd 2: Rep last 2 rnds 4(4,5,5) times more. 5 sts now on first needle, 10 sts now on 2nd needle, 5 sts now on 3rd needle. Knit sts from first needle onto 3rd needle. Break yarn approx 30 cm/11-3/4 ins from last st.

With tapestry needle and yarn end, graft rem 2 sets of 10 sts tog to close toe. Remove marker.*

Rep from * to * for second sock.

Click here for easy steps if you don't know how to graft at the toes.

Camera Critters

Did you play?

For New Years Day supper, we had a lovely meal.

Even the kids got something special ... Merrick's Thanksgiving Day Dinner. They swarmed me excitedly when I opened the cans.


It didn't take long for the plates to be cleaned off!


And then they snoozed!

Saturday Photo Hunt

Did you play?

This week's theme is hope.

My friend, Deb, gave me this angel a couple years ago.

The hearts represent love, joy, hope, beauty and peace.


Kim had asked about the poem ... here it is:

I Wish You

When you're lonely,
I wish you LOVE

When you're sad,
I wish you JOY

When you're discouraged,
I wish you HOPE

When your spirit is empty,
I wish you BEAUTY

When you're troubled,
I wish you PEACE

An article written by me!

Starting today, a registered savings account called a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) provides residents age 18 and over in Canada from all income levels with a unique savings vehicle.

Click here to read an article I wrote about TFSAs.

My pal, Leanne

I met my good pal, Leanne, back in the early 1990s.

We worked for the same company. She had transferred to Toronto from Vancouver to start the insurance department (or something like that).

I hadn't counted on becoming friends with her.

She is younger than I am and wore skirts and high heels all the time. And she was always always cheerful and smiling!

One of my earliest memories of her after she moved here was asking me if I had anything she could do (her department hadn't officially started). I had a million word (or so it seemed) legal agreement (so you can imagine how exciting that was!) that I needed retyped so ...

But I was nice enough to offer her my Walkman as she typed it. Ha!

And she still wanted to be my friend!

She moved back to Vancouver in the fall of 1997 and I miss her.

A box arrived today with her Christmas presents. Inside was this card and it says "Buddies for life!"


She wrote "Teehee, this card reminds me of the pic of us at ABC Company - remember that one?"

Yep!

She and I had this horrible picture taken of us at the office ... it was so horrible that we thought it was hilarious, though.

New Years Day dinner

For supper tonight, I made Cornish hens, dirty mashed potatoes, carrots and stuffing (so what if it was Stove Top, it was yummy!) along with a Hillebrand Chardonnay.


And the kids had something special too ... Merrick's Thanksgiving Day Dinner (turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, & Granny Smith apples).


They were swarming me when I opened the cans.


It didn't take long for the plates to be cleaned off!


And here they are snoozing an hour later!

My Top 5 Beers of 2008

From guest blogger, Gord:

It seems that most everyone has a year end list.

I love top 5 lists, as my Facebook friends can attest to. I have tried many new beers this past year and find it hard to pick a top 5, let alone put them in any order. One day I may feel like a Pilsner, another day maybe an ale or a nice tasty stout.

So not in any particular order here are my Top 5 favorite bottled brews of 2008. I have tagged those that I have written about.

Steam Whistle Pilsner - Toronto, Ontario
Has been a favorite of mine since my first taste years ago.

Sgt Major IPA - Carlton Place, Ontario
I just discovered this at the beginning of December. I have to get my local LCBO to carry this as I have found myself doing the 15 minute drive over to Queens Quay to get some.

Fullers 1845 - London England
I discovered something special in this. Currently my favorite English Ale.

St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout - Montreal Quebec
A smooth and creamy stout. Watch out Guinness!

Grolsch - Enschede Holland
I am constantly surprised that this is a lager, as it reminds me of a Pilsner. Sure is tasty. And has been a favorite of mine for years.

I can hardly wait to crack open some new finds in 2009!

Happy New Year!

New Years Wishes

I wish you Health .... so you may enjoy each day in comfort.

I wish you the Love of friends and family ... and peace within your heart.

I wish you the Beauty of nature ... that you may enjoy the work of Mother Nature.

I wish you Wisdom to choose priorities ... for those things that really matter in life.

I wish you Generosity so you may share ... all good things that come to you.

I wish you Happiness and Joy ... and Blessings for the New Year.

I wish you the best of everything ... that you so well deserve.