The dog's typical day at Mommy's work

First off let me just say that I wanted the dog to learn our real names rather than "mommy" and "daddy", however, I re-thunk that when I realized that if we have kids, our kids wouldn't be taught to call us by our real names. Thus - mommy and daddy it is.

Here is a typical day for the dog when she is my office dog.

7-7:30am - wake up and demand food. Unreasonable amount of whining while food is being prepared. Pretend food has been withheld for years. Freak out when food is presented. Inhale food at ridiculous pace.
8-9am - ride in car. Whine and bark at mommy during car ride.
9ish - arrive at work. Run around in parking lot. Pee near tree or mommy's boss' car.
9-10ish - first nap. If lucky, nap for over 1.5 hrs. Thrash around in sleep, growl/bark during dreams.
11am - go outside for a walk.. Pee. Poop in random spot. Show little appreciation when mommy picks it up.
11:30ish - Fuss. Thrash around with toys. Get bored, whine, growl. Chew on chairs, papers, cardboard, metal, plastic. Lick floor. Hear "NO" about a thousand times.
11:30-12:30 - refuse to settle down. Fuss. Chew everything. Pretend to sleep, then fuss again.
12:30 - demand food. Again more whining and barking despite mommy's SHUSH. Jump on mommy despite OFF and NO. Sit when commanded to for food, but look unhappy. Eat at super fast pace. Return to bowl and discover that no food appears after the meal is finished.
1ish - second nap.
2:00 - wake up, go out, pee. Eat sticks and leaves. Investigate every fallen leaf. Eat several. Spit them up in mommy's office later. Go for walk around office.
2ish-3ish - more fussing. Feign interest in Christmas toys. Fight off sleep despite constant yawns. Growl at toys. Growl at mommy. Bark. Hear NO repeatedly. Decline to chew on Nylabone in favour of chewing on anything else.
3:00-4:00 - third nap.
4ish - wake up, go out, pee, poop, smell everything, eat sticks, pull on leash when told not to, cry when told not to pull on leash.
4-5ish - fourth nap.
5ish - fuss when put in crate, whine all the way home, bark at mommy when she does not provide treats in the car immediately upon demand.

Dogs... gotta love em.

Heard on TV

[Lady and her kid are making egg-free, "healthy" cupcakes on the Martha Stewart show. (Aside: if a cupcake is healthy, is there a point to eating it??)]

[Lady adds water and vegetable oil to the Kitchenaid mixer, narrating as she goes along.]

Lady: So you add 1 and a quarter cup water and 1 cup of vegetable oil.
Martha: What kind of vegetable oil do you use?
Lady: It's vegetable oil. You know, vegetable oil.
Martha: Oh.

I suppose it's one step above saying "EVOO" like Rachael Ray, but come on, can't you at least make it up if you don't know what kind it is? Say CANOLA. Everyone loves canola.

Move-out Must-haves

Sometimes it's hard to believe that it has been over 2.5 years since I've lived at home. Time flies. I thought I'd compile a little list of must have items for those who are moving out... things I didn't really realize I'd need, or took completely for granted at home!

1. A sewing kit. I don't really know how to sew, but I still had to buy a few things in order to put buttons back on, etc. What I've got: some sort of plastic box, some needles, a few spools of thread, a pincushion, and some scissors. Also I keep all the buttons from new clothes in those tiny ziploc bags, but I put a note inside so I know which shirt came with which button. Smart eh?
   
2. Stamps. At home there were just always stamps and I never had to buy any! What I've got: again a plastic box to hold the stamps - and a Shoppers nearby from which to buy stamps.
3. Toilet brush. It sounds obvious, I know. What I've got: dollar store quality toilet brush. No one got me the $20 one I registered for!
4. Vacuum. We had a central vacuum at home, but this house is too old for one, too bad. Also, did you know that floors don't clean themselves? What a disappointment! What I've got: Eureka vacuum from Costco. It isn't even sold any more. I wanted a Dyson or Miele or even a Kenmore, but couldn't justify the $400-600 price tag. Tip: buy a ton of vacuum bags, some filters, etc, all at once so you don't run the risk of having them discontinued later!
   
5. Candles and a lighter or matches, and a flashlight. You never know when the power is going to go out. What I've got: Well, aside from the zillions of wedding candles we had left over, I also have a few random Ikea candles... and we have two handcrank flashlights. Not the best, but they do the job.
   
6. Mesh laundry bags. You don't want your delicates to be twisted around in the machine! What I've got: a lovely "football" shaped bag from Daiso! $2!
7. Dish towels. I use sponges to wash dishes, so only need towels for hand-drying, dish-drying, and wiping up stuff. What I've got: Since my hubby just grabs the first towel he can find to wipe up a spill, I buy the super cheap facecloths from Ikea (12 for $5.99) and bleach them when they aren't very white any more.
   
8. Shelving and storage options. I am constantly in need of places to put things... especially now that the dog is here, and wants to chew on everything! Also (see next item), I always have extras of household stuff. What I've got: Sorely lacking in this regard - I need to get some chew-proof rubbermaids and boxes.
   
9. Costco membership. Ok, this isn't a must-have. But it's awesome! Why wouldn't you want to buy 96 loads worth of laundry detergent? or 250 bounce sheets? or 30 rolls of TP? or 8 tubes of toothpaste? or camping stuff in the middle of February? What I've got: We used to get a membership for free, but now we suck it up and pay for it ourselves. It's more for entertainment than anything else - I could spend a whole day at Costco!
10. Tool kit. The one time you'll need tools is when you don't have any at home. What I've got: Actually, I am blissfully unaware of what tools we have beyond a hammer and multi-bit screwdriver but I have been assured that all the tools we have are necessary. I'm sure the hubby could tell you what other tools we have, but I mostly just holler "Help! Please fix _____" and somehow, he gets it done. Maybe it isn't the tool kid we all need, but just someone who will fix things!

That is all I can think of for now...

One week old

Kodi's been with us for one week now. This week she has peed on the carpet about 6 times (oops!) at home and 3 times at work (double oops.) Good thing we have a good stain remover. She has actually been quite good about giving us warning when she has to pee... but sometimes she gets outside and is far more interested in eating every leaf and twig in sight. You'd think we don't feed her or something. She has come to work with me three times and seems comfortable there, although really, she spends 75% of the time sleeping. I suppose it's a puppy thing - energy in spurts.

I wonder what goes through a puppy's mind.... does she remember the home she came from? Does she miss her brothers and sisters? Who does she think we are - food providers? pseudo-parents? I dunno.

Enough about the dog, she's sleeping right now anyway. I am watching some sort of makeover show on an Asian girl and the hairdresser said about her hair: "There's so much of it... and the colour is just so solid and one colour... I want to change it." Um... yes. Imagine! Asian hair that is all black! Ridiculous!

Ok. Real time blogging. Head & Shoulders commercial about total softness AND no dandruff. That girl is about to put her hair in a ponytail with a scrunchie. Do people even use those any more? It isn't the 1990's! Elations - some sort of vitamin drink for joints. Oh - it's a Priceline commercial. I think - yes! that's William Shatner. He's so delightfully cheesy. Now, an ad for LA Ink. I've never gotten hooked on these tattoo shows - it seems there are just tons of them.

Back to the show! Hello "before" frumpy Asian girl! Hello much hipper looking younger sister! Now, the reveal. Wow! It's a nicer haircut but I think she actually looks .... ten years older!! In a more sophisticated way. But she looks like my piano teacher and I admit I'm a little scared by that. She has a total mom haircut. Before, she just looked frumpy and tired - now she looks like a well-dressed see lai. There is no way she's only 28. The show was supposed to make her look ten years younger! But alas... no luck. Maybe I'm just being harsh cuz I don't think I look as old as she does, and I never even got a makeover. Hmm - maybe it's the dark red lipstick. Well, remind me never to get my hair cut like that. Ahaha! They didn't even succeed - people still thought she was an average age of 31. Sucks.

Hooray! It's time for What Not to Wear. Yay!

Show me that smile again

I wanted a dog for a very long time. I went back and forth for months. A dog is just like a child in many senses, right... - they have many needs, they need people around, and they don't know when to stop being bad sometimes... and worst of all, you have to actually pick up the poo WITH YOUR HANDS. But on the other hand, they are loyal and no matter how many times you catch them doing something bad, they still love you....

So, this dog ownership thing has been very interesting. Kodi is a great little dog (soon to be not so little.) She is a typical puppy - full of energy one minute, needing a nap the second. Obviously I'm biased but I think she's super smart - she knows how to sit and shake hands and almost has the hang of lying down on command too. And she's only 11 weeks old! She also has been pretty good about telling us when she has to go to the bathroom. I'm thinking of how to hook up a bell so she can ring it when she needs to go out. Haha!

Definitely there have been frustrations - like when she is bored and begins to growl and/or bark at me, or when she tries to chew every piece of paper in my office. Hubs told me to stand up, make myself look way bigger than her (how hard could that be? she's a puppy!) and say "NO" at the top of my lungs. Let's just say - we're working on it. I was a little upset on Monday after having a frustrating day with her ... but I'm trying to remember that she's just a puppy, and prone to doing the wrong thing sometimes.

I'll have to take a video of her tearing apart her monkey toy sometime. It's one of the only non-Christmas toys we got her. Poor monkey lost half his mouth already!

Sigh.

Random tidbits of advice

1. If you are headed out of town and need a cheap hotel (in price, but not in quality) - use Priceline to name your own price. I got a hotel in Orlando for $55 when similar hotels would have been over $150.
   
2. Static cling got you all fired up? Rub a Bounce sheet on your clothing!
3. If you are unhappy with your Starbucks drink, write to them. You'll always get a response and some sort of free drink as compensation. (Note: I don't just write for the heck of it. I'm not that cheap.)
4. Craigslist is your friend. From video games to furniture to jobs - what CAN'T you find on Craigslist? (It's rhetorical. I know you want to answer. I am looking at you, big brother.)

PS: Look! I added a blog on the right hand side... :)

I took this picture while parasailing in Mexico. We were convinced to go along with one of the kids on the trip and although it was pricey, it was definitely fun. If you haven't gone parasailing, here is what happens: you get strapped into a harness while wearing a lifejacket, and you stand at the back of a speedboat. As the boat speeds up, one of the crew lets out your line and you start to float higher and higher until you feel like you're at the top of a skyscraper. All the while, the parachute is allowing you to float above the water while billowing out behind you. It isn't a long trip (or it would be even pricier!) but the view and the thrill are well worth it.

Anyway, I took a ton of pictures and tried to get in about half of them, thus ensuring that I look like a total parasailing dork. Nonetheless. This picture is my favourite. I love how the light filters through the parachute, bright but not blinding. If you looked from a different angle, you might only see sunlight. For some reason, looking at the sunlight through the holes in the chute reminds me of how I see God sometimes ... getting only a glimpse of him, without seeing the whole picture. Maybe sometimes I put my own parachute up, choosing not to see what I know well is there... because if you can't see God, surely he can't see you... choosing to float along, the-devil-may-care attitude... thinking that I am doing well to hold myself up... deciding to hide from God and thus hide all of my faults and sins and challenging times.

Well. No one can hide from God, not Adam, not Eve, not Jonah, not me.

Do you ever feel like hiding from God? Or from other people? I'm learning to lean on God as my anchor, my rock, my salvation. Despite being a Christian for over 20 years - it isn't easy.

2007 Meme

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

I took a flight from the International terminal for the first time ever. It's much nicer than the domestic side.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I had to review my January 2007 blogs to see what I had said, and apparently I had resolved to save all of my loonies and toonies. I can't say I saved ALL of my loonies and toonies, but we do have a substantial collection going. Maybe I'll make it back to Disney World after all.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Quite a few friends and one cousin. I haven't even met my cousin's new baby!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Um... well... the hubby's family dog died and it was so, so sad :(

5. What countries did you visit?

Chile, Mexico, and the US of A.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

I don't think I lacked anything in 2007! But if I could choose to have something, it would be a TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Ummm.... I'm going to go with "none"...

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

WINNING. Ask me more later.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I don't really fail at things. :D Just kidding. I certainly wasn't as good a housekeeper as I wanted to be, so maybe that counts.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I did lose my voice recently...

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I would say my computer, although I did not actually receive it in 2007.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

This is a weird question.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I wasn't depressed, but I was definitely appalled back in December...

14. Where did most of your money go?

Well, we did buy a new car this year, so that is sucking up some cash. But luckily it's a hybrid! Otherwise ... well... we got a Wii and I got a new computer too!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

I am never *that* excited. But I was pretty thrilled to get the new car!

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

I don't really have a 2007 song, but I really like this song I hear all the time - it's called East to West by Casting Crowns. Here's the chorus:

Jesus, can You show me just how far the East is from the West?
Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
Cause You know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? happier, I would say, because life just keeps getting more joyful! b) thinner or fatter? Possibly the same, or a little fatter. Dang it. c) richer or poorer? richer - but not by much.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I am not really one for regrets. I wish I had kept in better contact with out-of-town friends though.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Played a few less video games! My poor eyes :)

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Slept in ... and then had dinner at my mom's house with the in-laws. It was nice.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

I did not fall OUT of love, does that count?

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I would have to say 24, although Heroes was a close second.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Contrary to what you might believe, I don't really hate people. I just harbour extreme dislike sometimes!

24. What was the best book you read?

The best book... hmm... well, the last Harry Potter book came out and it was pretty darn fantastic. Other than that, I don't really remember the books I read this year. Perhaps they were just not that good!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Really, I hardly ever listen to music, I don't have many CD's and I just listen in my car. But maybe the greatest discoveries were Paul Brandt and Aaron Lines - after meeting them in Chile, we started to listen to their music and they are both awesome. Country music!!

26. What did you want and get?

I wanted a new computer, I got a new computer. I wanted a Wii, I got a Wii (after an overnight campout at Zellers! What was I thinking!) I wanted black flats, I bought black flats (3 pairs! Overkill maybe.)

27. What did you want and not get?

I cannot even think of what I wanted and didn't get... maybe I have low expectations. Or else a lot of stuff. Oh! I know - I wanted a clean house! And I did not get one! Haha!

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I can't even remember the last time we went to a theatre to watch a movie... so let's see, DVD-wise, I think my favourite film was Jesus Camp. I just found it so incredibly fascinating, like a train wreck, couldn't turn my eyes away. Very eye-opening.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Embarrassingly, I couldn't actually remember without looking back at my blog. But anyway! We went to a playoff game the night before my birthday and seven periods later, the Canucks won and it was my birthday :) We didn't get to the Keg for my post-game, birthday dinner since it was past 1 AM and whaddaya know, the Keg isn't open that late. Oh well.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I really don't know how to answer this... I can't say that I lacked anything.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Cheap = good.

But I'm trying to change that to Work appropriate = good.

32. What kept you sane?

My job ... sort of.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I do not fancy celebrities.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Difficult question. I'll have to think about this.

35. Who did you miss?

My brother who moved to the States!

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I can't think of this right now but I could tell you stories about the worst person I met...

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

More of a continual lesson - I have learned that when I put God first, he and I seem to walk closer, and God's provisions for me seem so much richer.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

His grace still amazes me.