Sunday Night Chit Chat: He Is Risen Indeed

Hey there Humble Readers...

And Blessed Easter to you all. 

Again, it's been far too long between posts.  I swore I wouldn't become one of those mommy bloggers who just up and disappears, but here it is and I can't get around it.  Honestly, I think the loss of GG and the awareness of my Mom's new limitations (emotionally speaking) hit me harder than expected.  And as usual, the way I deal with it is to turn into a bit of a slug.  Throw in the wretchedness of the stomach flu and chasing after two wee-lings... Well, enough of the justifications. 

The Easter bunny came!

Ooooo... an egg!

The wee-lings are growing and changing by leaps and bounds.  I'm going to do update posts on both of them this week, with lots of pictures, I promise.  Ginny enjoyed her first Easter egg hunt this morning and was very proud of her new Easter dress.  She went around church this morning wishing everyone a happy Easter.

Onto tonight's Chit Chat...

Reading -  Rereading "The Host" by Stephanie Meyer.  I know, I know.  The Twilight series is complete dreck, not to mention generally speaking a bad example of what a female lead character should be, but I recall enjoying The Host when I read it a few years ago.  And I want to see if it's as good as I remember now that the movie has been released.

Watching - Call the Midwife is back!!! Yay!  And there's a new period drama on Masterpiece Classic that I'm looking forward to watching. 

Listening to - My Beloved humming along with the radio.  He likes to listen to the classic country on Sunday nights.

Baking/Cooking -  With it being Easter, I made lamb.  I know some people like to have ham on Easter, but it has always struck me as a bit disrespectful to have pork on a day so closely associated with Passover.  So, the menu tonight was roasted leg of lamb, greek potatoes (roasted with lemon and garlic), and asparagus done in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Also, I baked a super simple cake... chocolate cake mix, a can of raspberry pie filling, and three eggs.  In a bundt pan in the oven for 45 minutes at 325F.  Was amazingly good.  The only blemish on this wondrous bout of culinary activity is that I burned my thumb on the oven rack. 

Happy you accomplished this week -  We went back to that show home and asked a few more questions.  I'm not saying it's a sure thing by a long shot, but we're looking at our options. 

Looking forward to next week - Getting myself back into some sort of a routine after more than a month of just sort of floating around in a pool of procrastination and lethargy.

Bonus Question: Do you wear slippers around the house?  Not usually.  I have a pair that I wear on occasion when I can't get my feet to warm. 

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This was posted as a part of Carla's Sunday Night Chit Chat.  Pop over and check out what the others are chatting about tonight. 

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Digging Out

Hey Humble Readers,

Long time, no talk.  I'm recovered from my stomach flu/day of pure hell last week, mostly.  My tummy is still rather sensitive, but I'm doing ok and thankfully no one else in the hobbit hole contracted the wretchedness.  The only positive to come out of this is that I have busted through my weightloss plateau in a big way.  Of course puking and dry heaving for a full day can do that...

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The Shire, and indeed the whole mid to northern part of the province got slammed today with a doozy of a snow storm.  About an hour north of the Shire there was a major pile up on the highway that resulted in 300 (yes, 300!) injuries.  The highway was closed for several hours, and the injured were sent to hospitals in 9 different surrounding communities.  So much for spring, right?

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We did actually manage to go out on Sunday for the afternoon and evening.  I was feeling well enough to be out and about so long as we took it easy and I was able to stop to rest and drink water several times throughout the afternoon.  My MIL came up, even though the roads weren't the greatest, and spent the night.  My Beloved and I had lunch, toured a show home (more on that later), did a little shopping (shoes for my Beloved, Easter baskets for the wee-lings), went for dinner, and then to a movie (Identity Thief - so funny!).  It was so nice to just be together, not thinking about which wee-ling needed to be fed or bathed or distracted or consoled.  It was wonderful to be able to browse through stores I could never take the wee-lings to (like Pier 1), and to be silly with my Beloved.  I was completely wiped out when we got home and spent all day Monday on the couch, but it was worth it. 

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So, this show home we toured... It was a town home in a new complex that I would love to live in.  And when I say love, I mean luuuuuuurrrrrrrrvvvvvvvve to live there.  Seriously, the house would be perfect for us.  Four bedrooms (we would have a spare bedroom!!!), three and a half baths, finished basement, with a postage stamp sized yard that is cared for through the homeowners association (whose fees are less than half of what we pay now for HOA fees).  There are new schools being built nearby, and it's close to a great little shopping center with groceries, banks, and a Starbucks (I'm pathetic, I know). 

Canada's favourite handyman - Mike Holmes
One of my celebrity crushes.  :)

The best thing is the builder of this complex has partnered with Mike Holmes as a part of his Holmes Homes program.  That means that all the building materials and procedures meet Mike's high standards.  The best insulation, the best high efficiency appliances, hot water tank, and furnace.  Even lumber and plywood that is mold and moisture resistant.  The only negatives about this townhouse complex is that we aren't in a place *right now* to put down a down payment (but we will be in about a year or so), that it's in a brand new area of town so there's not a lot of trees or parks yet (but there will be!), and it's over the dollar figure that we have been toying with (but not so far that it would be impossible for us).  They are currently building phase one, so POTENTIALLY we could get in on future developments through this builder.  (And if you're interested, I pinned the floor plan on my Dream House board on pinterest.)

Even if this isn't in the cards for us in the future, it's incredibly exciting for me to be thinking about what our next (forever) home is going to be.  Less than two years, Humble Readers.  Less than two years. 

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I can't recall off the top of my head if I told you all this, but both my Beloved and I are getting new glasses this year.  He's actually already got his and they are snazzy!  It's no secret that my rx is pretty ridiculous.  I'm blind as a bat without my glasses and have panic attacks if I can't find them.  When the girl at the eyewear shop gave me an estimate on how much my lenses are going to cost I almost had a heart attack.  I've always bought the cheapest lenses, without any bells and whistles, but we have agreed that I need better quality.  Anywho, with both of us getting glasses we knew it was going to get expensive.  The good news is, my Beloved just did our taxes and we will be getting back enough to cover about half of our new eyewear!  The other half will be able to be put through on my Beloved's health benefits with work.  Yay!

Change Of Plans

Hey Humble Readers...

Just a quick note today. 

Our longed for day out is not going to happen.  Between a big dump of snow that we got Thursday night (and are still getting this morning) that we don't want MIL to drive in, and the fact that I got lambasted with an ugly stomach flu yesterday, we have had to postpone. 

I don't know what the hell it was, but for 12 hours yesterday, my stomach was on fire and I couldn't even keep down water.  Today, I'm feeling better... just sore and very dehydrated. 

And bummed.

Because of our calendar, we won't have a Saturday available for almost a month.  **sigh**

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: A Mystery & A Meltdown

Howdy Humble Readers...

How are you all doing?  You may (or most likely not) be wondering where I've been for more than a week.  I suppose you all aren't mind readers, so you don't know about the four or five posts that I have written in my head... but they're there.  I've just been remarkably uninspired when it comes to a lot of things this past week or so, and I apologize for dropping off the face of the earth.

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We are sssssllllllooooowwwwwwlllyy moving toward spring here in the Shire.  We've had a lot of Chinook winds lately, and not much in the way of snow.  Temps are still below freezing most days, but not too terribly far below.  And by the end of the month, we should be seeing a warm up.  I just can't wait for all the ice and snow to melt and dry up.  I'm getting the ridiculous urge to plant something, but I don't dare until after the long weekend in May (and even that's no guarantee around here... we get snow in June on a semi-regular basis).

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I finally finished reading The Book Thief last night, sobbing through the ending.  I can safely say that I loved this book, even though I didn't enjoy it.  Does that make any sense?  It was a sad, dark story.  How can a story narrated by Death be anything but, right?  I think that's why it took me so long to read it.  I could only take it in small doses.  The over-arching message about the power of words really spoke to me, and I was very moved by the characters.

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As an aside about The Book Thief... I bought my copy at a thrift store, so I wasn't at all surprised to find someone's notes and highlights in it.  I think it may have been used by a student at some point because all of the words/passages highlighted looked to be words that perhaps needed to be looked up in a dictionary or a part of a vocabulary list.  What did surprise me was something that I found inside the book, about a third of the way through it...

On the back of the picture it's dated May 11, 1963, and it's stamped by the photographer's studio (Howard's Photographic Studio in the Toronto area) and even includes an old-style phone number... Belmont 1-0497.  I googled all the info on the back of the photo, just to see if I could find anything, but nothing of interest came up.  I'm intrigued by this photo... who is he?  How did his picture end up in a relatively new book I found in a thrift store here in the shire, three provinces away and 50 years after it was taken? 

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Weight loss has plateaued again.  I seem to be in a bit of a pattern.  I'll lose anywhere between 2-5 pounds relatively quickly, and then I'll plateau for a few weeks.  Interestingly, my rings are all a fair bit looser than they were last month.  I can actually move all my rings up one finger fairly comfortably. 

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After a bit of a meltdown last week, and a heart to heart with my Beloved, we have recognized aloud (and that's an important distinction... we had both been thinking it, but neither had said it) that we haven't been giving our relationship what it needs.  Between my winter doldrums and caring for the wee-lings everyday and his new job and course work, we just haven't been connecting a lot lately.  We are recommitted to making time for each other on a regular basis.  For my Beloved, that means that he's going to be giving up a little side job he's had for a while as the bookkeeper for our condo board.  It didn't take a lot of time, but when so much of his time is taken with his course work, that extra few hours a month means a lot.  For me, it means being much more diligent about making sure that I get all my 'must-dos' done during the week, so that we can make the most of our weekends. 

This weekend, we are going to be spending almost all day out together, without the wee-lings.  My  MIL is coming up in the morning on Saturday, and she's going to spend all day and evening with the wee-lings so that we can go out and have fun.  I'm not really sure what we're going to do, other than our regular dinner and a movie, but I will find something for us to do.  :)

Twenty Questions... PAIL Style

Hey Humble Readers...

The lovely ladies over at PAIL have suggested a little game.  Just a fun little meme to share a bit more random fun stuff about ourselves.  Please play along!

What was the last thing you threw in the garbage/recycling? Ummmm... in the garbage was a plastic wrapper from some pasta, and in the recycling was an empty chocolate milk powder container

What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod?  I don't have an iPod (gasp!) but on my Blackberry it's "Dirty Dancing" by NKOTB

What is your favorite quote? Look up and to the right.  "Nothing but a fool's hope" - Gandalf

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Laundry.  Laundry.  Laundry.  It never EVER ends.

What is your favorite form of exercise? Walking. 

What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year? Time of day - Supper time.  All four of us at the table together.  Day of the week - Sunday.  Other than church obligations, I try very hard for us to not have anything other than family time.  We may all take naps, we may have a picnic on the living room floor, whatever.  Month of the Year - September.  My birthmonth, and the beginning of autumn!  I love it!

What is on your bedside table? Two books... The Book Thief and the newest Ken Follet (can't recall the title just now), an alarm clock (set four minutes fast), two chapsticks, foot lotion, a lamp, lavender pillow spray and a lone sock belonging to Pippin (red with grey stripes).  The second shelf has my ov-watch (need to get that on kijiji asap) and a jar of icy-cold back rub. 

What is your favorite body part? I think I have nice eyes.  You just can't see them behind my scratched glasses.

Would you use the power of invisibility for good or evil? Elaborate.  I would like to say that I would use it for good, but I may be tempted to try to use it for my own benefit.  I'm not sure at the moment what that would be, but I'm sure I would come up with something.

If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?  Six!  When I was six, everything was easy, safe, and trustworthy. 

What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?  Give to our church, and then  pay off our debt. 

What is your biggest pet peeve? People who smack their lips and chew with their mouths open.

If you could know the answer to any question, what would it be?  Will holodeck technology be created within my lifetime?  And if so, when can I book some time to play the role of a hobbit?

At what age did you become an adult? Fourteen

Recommend a book, movie, or television show in three sentences or less. If you like to laugh, you need to read Vinyl Café Unplugged by Stuart Maclean .  It's just a collection of hilarious stories about Dave, Morley and their friends and family.  The story about toilet-training Galway the cat is worth the price of the book. 

What did you do growing up that got you into trouble?  Let's see... I got grounded for reading too much (go figure).  And for saying the word 'horny'.  And for making huge messes in the kitchen when I was cooking.

What was the first album you bought with your own money? Corey Hart's Boy in the Box album

If someone wrote a book about you, what would be the title?  There and Back Again: A Wanna-be Hobbit's Tale

What story do you wish your family would stop telling about you?  When we were in highschool my mom called my sister and I SFB and SH.  (Sh1t for brains and Sh1t head).  I was SFB and my sis was SH.  It was done with the utmost love and caring of course... :)  One day mom called my sister SFB and without even stopping to think, I said "hey, that's my name!".  Of course my mom thought this was incredibly funny and tells it every chance she gets.

True or false: The unicorn is the greatest mythical creature. State your case.  I suppose for the healing properties of it's horn alone, it could be considered the greatest mythical creature.  But it's a fragile thing, easily harmed.  The Balrog, even though it's a dark creature, is much more powerful.

Sunday Night Chit Chat: Quiet Weekend

Howdy Humble Readers...

Happy Sunday night.  I hope that you all had a good weekend.  Mine has been ok.  Nothing big happening except for a huge dump of snow.  I'm sure winter is never ever going to end.  February and March are always the hardest. 

Ewan MacGregor was great in this movie!
So were Stanley Tucci and Bill Nighy!

Friday night I went out for coffee and to a movie with a couple of friends.  It was nice to get out with the girls.  We saw "Jack the Giant Slayer" and I have to say it was fabulous!  I was expecting a bit of cheesiness and over used special effects, and while there was a bit, it was a great adaptation of the old fairy tale.  I especially adored the little twist at the very end.  I was actually applauding in the theater. 

Sadly, staying out way too late (ended up not getting home until around 1am) set me up for a rough couple of days.  I had difficulties getting and staying asleep, and Saturday morning brought our eye exams (more on that later), so I was a bit of a slug.  And trying to do an eye exam when you're super tired is a challenge.  I spent the rest of the day nursing a headache and dozing.  I even copped out and ordered pizza for dinner

AF decided to make her presence known this morning, so Pip and I stayed home from church.  Ginny went to Sunday school for the first time and apparently she did really well.  Well enough to be invited back again next week, even though she's too young for the youngest class.  This afternoon the cramps eased enough for me to get a bit of work done around the hobbit hole.

So, nothing big, nothing extraordinary.  Pretty dull actually.

Anyway, on to the chit-chat.  Here's what I'm...

Reading - Still reading The Book Thief.  It's been a not-so-great week for reading for me.  I'm really enjoying the book, I like the narrator's voice throughout, and his interjections into the story. 

Watching - Once Upon A Time.  The actress who plays Mrs. Pattmore from Downton is in it tonight. 

Listening to - Not really watching, but listening to an old episode of Criminal Minds.  Other than that, the house is quiet.  Wee-lings are in bed, and my Beloved is out running a couple of errands.

Baking/Cooking - Tonight's dinner was yummy, although not what I had originally planned.  Because we had pizza last night, I ended up making last night's scheduled dinner tonight.  Hunter Schnitzel with a mushroom peppercorn sauce, German potato salad, and green beans.  Yummy! 

Happy you accomplished this week - Our eye exams.  It was educational, how the doc checked the wee-lings.  Ginny had one of her rare super shy moments, and didn't want to talk, so that made things challenging.  He had her name some figures that he showed her on a card and once she had said them once, there was no getting her to say them again when he adjusted the distance.  Pippin's exam was actually a bit easier.  I held him on my lap and the doc just had him follow a little puppy figurine around, and then did a "peek a boo" exam.  Both wee-lings eyes are looking very healthy, and right where they should be in terms of development (and Ginny doesn't have a lazy eye, even though my Aunt J was adamant that she did.  Pthbt!)  My Beloved's prescription has changed dramatically, so we'll be prioritizing his new glasses.  Mine has only changed a bit, and the doctor said that the issues I've been having with fine print and eye strain/fatigue are likely still carry-over from the GD.  It should level out in the next few months. 

Looking forward to next week - Not sure.  It's shaping up to be a quiet week.  Hoping to stay on top of my spring cleaning list.   Thankful for today - That the cold I felt coming on the other day seems to have been nothing.  That spring will come... eventually.

Bonus Question:  Have you ever left the house in your pjs?  Not in recent years.  When I was living on my own, I sometimes would go out in my pjs at night and hit a drive thru for dinner or a snack.  But I would never get out of the car.  I've just never been one to let strangers see me in my jammies. 
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This has been posted as a part of Carla's Sunday Night Chit Chat.  Click over and check out what others are chatting about tonight.