an attempt to kick laziness in the ass

With softball officially finished for the season, I made an executive decision...

• I will not become lazy.
• I will not procrastinate working out because I need a break from life.
• I will not procrastinate working out because I'm busy.
• I will not let a lack of exercise make me cranky.
• I will not feel sluggish and out-of-shape at my wedding.

In fact I decided that:

• I will go back to Kick-Boxing immediately (I did - yay me!). 
• I will feel buff(ish) at my wedding (as long as I keep going, I will!).

And I am proud to announce that I went to kick-boxing on Monday and I will be going back this evening.  My abs are killing me (a sure sign I haven't done any crunches in months) and it feels great.  In that hurts but feels good exercise kind of way, my spirits are already lifted and I remember how happy I am when I work out regularly.  Plus I didn't totally suck ass when I went back.  J tells me that your muscles remember quickly, so we will see.  If they come back quick I'll be super ecstatic, although exercising in general has that effect on me.

If I have told you about kick-boxing and tried to convince you to come - YOU SHOULD.

• It's cheap $4/1.5 hours (you buy a ticket with 10 for $40 and there's no expiration, you use them when you can make it) and he will let you try it for free the first time.
• If you like it you will need to buy your own gloves and wraps but that's only $40 and cheaper than any of the local sporting good stores - plus you get to pick your own glove colour.
• It's a serious ass-kicking and incredibly fun - if you've got some aggression in you, kicking and punching the bag is so incredibly satisfying.
• The class is small, rarely more than 10 people (over 90% women), and usually all at different levels, so you don't have to worry if you're new - it's unlikely you will be the only one.
• The instructor is relaxed, funny & gives you enough instruction so that you feel comfortable and enough space that you don't get creeped out.
• It starts at 7:10pm on mon/wed which gives more than enough time to get home and possibly eat something before working out and a little earlier (6:15pm?) on saturday's so there is still time to go out, and if you work, still time to get home.
• Oh yeah, and you'll get to hang out with me...although hang out may not be quite the right term for it, perhaps I should say you get to sweat with me.  But seriously, it's fun - you should try it!
  

The engagement - a wedding weekend

My weekends seem to be getting busier and busier, although I guess that is to be expected, my wedding is approaching in just over 1 month.

Friday had me out with my mother in law for a wonderful afternoon; after about 15 minutes at the dress makers the "chores" for the afternoon were done. The outfit is going to be beautiful, stunning and of course it will fit me "just so"...I'm very excited. We spent another few hours perusing Army & Navy where I found some wonderful pink bebe pants and a couple of fabulous shirts.

On our way home we stopped at a local blueberry farm where I couldn't resist buying a LOT of blueberries - I want to freeze some and last time I bought a huge box, it wasn't huge enough. I think 10 pounds of blueberries ought to be enough. :D Mmm...blueberries, yogurt & granola for breakfast, I love it. But I digress, my mother-in-law then agreed to try "pho" and was delighted to find that she quite enjoyed the simple vietnemese noodle soup.

Then Saturday was MY Bridal Shower put on by my lovely aunts. It was the mom & her friends shower, but was fun nonetheless; lots of goodies to eat, sangria to drink and and an amazing mango custard cake. We played some shower games, including "clothespin" stealing when you cross your legs, making a brides dress out of tissue paper, ribbon and tape and "memory" with my outfit...and of course I had to wear the ribbon hat...

Tags:/wedding shower/dress fitting/engagement/

Introducing Fred

J kept telling me I had to wait until Saturday for one of my birthday presensts, and I had no idea what he was talking about, but resoutley decided not to make a big deal of it.

When I arrive home however, I forget all about this promise. We chill out and relax, eventually finding our way to the spare room, where I instantly notice something different.

Lemmiwinks is gone*!
OMG...and there is a hedgie in there!



We spent some time getting acquainted yesterday, he ran around the metal pen on the living room floor (protected by a towel of course) and man is he smart...he pushed the cage around and ALMOST climbed out!

Thanks J for an amazing, sweet and heartfelt present...I still can't believe you got him for me!

*What a sweetie, J took Lemmmiwinks to the pet store with him and although they can't sell him, he was such an adorable gerbil that one of the girls was going to take him home.

Tags:/birthday/hedgehog/hedgie/

Happy Birthday to me...

Well, I am a quarter of a century old today...

It really doesn't feel any different than yesterday, and the truth is,
I feel that way every birthday. Although it does sound more adult and
dignified - twenty-five, hmm maybe there is something special about
it.

I started off the day by a special treat. A caramel machiato from
Starbucks and a ham & cheese croissant from Cobs bread. Since it's my
birthday I also go a spinach and feta croissant which I have every
intention of enjoying this morning.

I'm working today so that I can take the weekend off. Fortunately, I
had some long days last week and I am flexing the hours today so that
I can have a half day. After which I plan on meeting Jason at his
work for lunch, then heading home for a nap. Then in the evening, it
looks like off to the local pub for cheap beer and good eats with good
friends. Sounds like a plan to me.

Oh yeah, and the sun is shining and my brother sent me a happy
birthday text message first thing this morning - made me smile. Looks
like it's shaping up to be a great birthday!

must sleep...

Last week kicked my ass - hence the lack of posts.

Monday through Wednesday was spent getting up early, driving to work, driving back across town (and then some) to the beach where we trudged through the mudflats and removed Spartina for about 6 hours, before driving back to work, then back home to play softball playoffs each night. Wow, I'm tired again just thinking about it.

 

But seriously, it was both fun and satisfying.  I love my job and I love softball, although I must admit to being at least mildly relieved that we didn't win our series in softball and the season is finished.  With all the wedding planning going on, there's only so much time.

I spent all day thursday at a workshop for developing a Biodiversity action plan for the region - too cool!  Did I mention I love my job? :D

My mom and I have been working on wedding favoursthis week - I promise they aren't almonds or mints or anything equally as lame.  Well at least not to me - I was aiming for HIPPY COOL, and if that's your thing too, you'll like them.

 

That's all there's time for right now, but I'll try and come up with something of interest soon.
~gg

Lawn Ecology a divine perspective

There have been a lot of essays written on the issue of urban/suburban landscape homogenization (aka the lawning of North America), here's looking at it from a "higher" perspective. 

It's amazing what fun can be found in my email box these days! ~gg

Lawn Ecology

GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast
garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.

ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD: Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colourful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sodworms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it - sometimes twice a week.

GOD: They cut it? Do they then bail it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS:  Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS: No, Sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD: Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.

GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn leaves fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.

ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD: No fooling? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD: And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD: Enough. I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

ST. CATHERINE: "Dumb and Dumber," Lord. It's a really stupid movie about....

GOD: Never mind. I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

The Engagement - The Ring (close up)

Not that the picture even remotely does the ring justice...and you can see I've had some sun this weekend, but it's better than nothing!

Happy Canada Day

As the beer commercials say, I'm Proud to be Canadian and not just because of the beer.

• I'm proud to be part of a country that values ethnicity and culture.


• I'm proud to be a part of a country that sends peace keepers and not soldiers.


• I'm proud to live in a country where we have so few murders that they all make the news.


• I'm proud to live in a country where I don't know anyone who owns a gun (I think).


• I'm proud to live in a country that accepts marriage as a union between two people - regardless of their sexual orientation.


• I'm proud to be a CHINESE-CANADIAN!

And I'm proud to live in a country that doesn't vote Bush in for two consecutive terms. I try not to bash other people or other countries, but there was something about this picture that totally entertained me, and I figured the web would already be flooded with Canadian flags, so today, something new.

Plus it's not like any of you ever comment, so I'm not overly concerned about nasty comments - plus I have the power to delete them!

Tags:/Canada/Canada Day/Canadian/Proud to be Canadian/