Saturday, October 29, 2016

Plug in empowered

I get excited about little things as it is, but since living on my own, sometimes the little things make me feel like superwoman. Meet my microwave and stand. 


My phone tried to auto correct to "meet my niece ovary" that'll have to be a different post I'm sorry to say. 


This is where my stand sits. Note the distance to the plug. To plug it in without heaving the microwave out of the stand and onto the counter, I need to cut a hole in the stand. 


So I did. Measured 3 times, cut once. Worked out perfectly. That's it that's all.  But now I've been sitting on the couch admiring my work for the last half hour with a huge smile on my face. Next task to tackle, changing the weird lights bulb. 


 


 


 

Groupon Legs

I bought these leg compression sleeves off Groupon. 


Like "oh, isn't that so sweet, look at those wee legs!" Got them in the mail the other day. 


That is so not happening, it's kinda funny. I'm evidently too "sturdy" for them. Should come with a label "slender legs only, athletic tree trunks need not apply" 

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Cozy crushing

We learned a new arm bar in Judo the other night that looks especially brutal, so I had Joy pose with me. 


I also think it's especially amusing that her name is Joy, but she inflincts PAIN. 


...Not really. But sometimes it feels nice to be crushed. Like a cozy squeezing all the life out of you. It's a stern hug, until you tap out. Push your body to its limits, and then keep going until the rest of class. I love my Judo family.  

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Fireproof

I'm no different than any other younger sister, looking up and idolizing their big sister. Easier to do when they're a successful doctor and you're rocking a writing diploma you haven't put to use yet. But this week something devastating happened, and because of it, something truly beautiful. Early Monday morning, my Grans watched the news up in Salmon Arm, and saw my sisters clinic burning. 


I'll skip over the part where everyone panicked a little until we got a hold of her. Having just opened in June, and just had the grand opening two weeks ago, all the work and love she put into it, was lost. But here's where the beautiful thing started to happen. My family came together, we're practised at it now. The community came together. I saw my sister lean on, and support her husband to be. A few hours after it happened, they were already looking for another space. The next day, she'd found somewhere to practise out of. Her priority was her patients, and their well being. No a single doubt in my mind she'll persevere, and come out ahead. They're meant to be in another space. We'll look back on this experience years from now and recognize it as just another example of when my sister showed everyone her perseverance and resilience. I couldnt be more proud of her. 



 

On my own

I considered not writing about it so quick, I don't want to be insensitive to other people's feelings, but writing is healing. Things slipped for a bit, and then ended between the boyfriend and I. Before all my Bloggy fans start cheering, I'm not diving into the online dating world again. Actually I had a revelation quite the opposite. It's possible that my life journey, could be, on my own. Not even just the feelings of worthlessness or being unlovable that come with breaking up, and real-life revelation. I was on my own for a while, I'm independent (to a point) and I thrive. But I always considered it a temporary status. A means to the final result, which was husband, house, kids. I've mentioned before that I've often considered myself not fitting into that cookie mould, but this is bigger. Maybe I'm set out to travel the world, or write a book. Maybe write about travelling. Or a million other great possibilities I haven't thought of. I must stress this is not fishing for compliments, and should you compliment me, or post words of enoucragement, I will unfriend you. I'm looking at you Grams. But a sincere reflection. A close friend of mine, in my heart, not in physical proximity, pointed out I'm looking for love, and that's most of my problem. I'm still putting effort in and expecting to find it. My sister conceded to me finally, "maybe it's not meant for you right now.." I have plenty of friends who are quite happy on their own. They're not all guys, and only some of them I discovered this because I was trying to date them. Grams says to me on the phone, "if it's not going to work, it's better to find out now, than later on..." and I can't help but wonder how many times she's said that. It's kind of a relief, I'll be honest. It's also been pointed out to me that I put a lot of pressure on myself. That could be true. I want to declare myself open to new possibilities, and the natural journey my life will take. All that being said, Ed Sheeran, if you're reading this, I'm still down for you to fall deperately love with me and whisk me off to your castle in Ireland. I heard today ketchup is bad for you, but I don't think we need that kind of negativity in our lives. See what I did there? 

And because I can, a photo with my cat. 



 

First Turkey

Last year at my sisters Thanksgiving dinner, I had just bought my place, and offered, "Next year at my house!" It is undetermined how much wine I'd had at that point. Regardless, I like to follow through with my promises. 


So there I am at the store buying the turkey. I start chatting with the elderly couple behind me, as I always do in line ups. She totally baited me. Asked a surface level question to see what I knew. "How are you going to season it?" I failed. "You have to season it?" So then she backed right up for me, "okay, so when you take it out of the bag.." this lovely stranger walked with me into the parking lot giving advice. I thought she was going to get into my car and come home to cook it for me. Lots of turkey advice, coming from all over. 


What you do when it needs to thaw and your sink is full. Not of dirty dishes, no Grams, not at ALL. Redneck hot tub style. 


But I got a turkey roaster because my original plan was to put the bird in and go to work, just like my slow cooker. We would not have been eating the turkey jerky. Read the instructions, it was in 2 hours and it was still cooked the crap out of in some ways. 


My sister threw me a curve ball when she invited our gluten free and vegan cousins, but it was relatively easy to accommodate. I made inappropriate comments when I realized my birds legs had fallen apart, much to my sisters dismay.


I had some help getting everything done, and keeping it all hot to serve all at once. Sounds easier than it is. I got the most excited about decorating the table if I'm honest. 


Chocolate fall leaves! #nailedit 
All in all, I'd call it a success.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Gone cheap

Hello again faithful followers and unfortunate people who accidentally clicked the link! I haven't posted for a little bit, and I can't wait to tell you why!
I had a free app on my phone called "Blogger" which I used to post on my lunch breaks, as I am now. But for a while, the app would automatically close itself as soon as I started a new post. You can imagine how frustrating that would be. I spent a whole hour once opening it and trying to type "10 Year Fear" as quickly as I could, unsuccessfully over and over again. (Foreshadowing to my next post?) So then I decided to delete it, and re-download it. Problem is, it no longer exists. Another app, for $8 does, well isn't that nice. Despite justifying the shit out of buying a new $30 cat travel mug, I couldn't justify spending less than $10 on the app. 


I struggled for a while, until I found another app for $1.39, and that I could justify, so here I am again. Funny how we don't want to spend money on apps eh? This is one of my bigger hobbies that I thoroughly enjoy, but what? $8? No way! I'll spend over $300 on Judo and Dodgeball this month, but that's WAY too much. 
I also want you to know that this new app I paid for isn't as user friendly as my old free one. 


What does all that mean? Your guess is as good as mine! Darn, another exclamation mark. The writing instructor for my program told us to live our lives with only 7 to use. Ever. I do that in an email sometimes. She had a point though, use enthusiastic language instead. I'm a little enthusiastic. Sometimes. And back in action people! BUYA!