Watched the movie "The Girl with the Tattoo Dragon" this weekend. Wow. Really good movie but difficult to watch - not because of the subtitles, but because it was so graphic. I'm not sure I could "do" the book now. I think I will just leave it at the movie. Intense man. Intense.
We bought one of those memory foam things for the bed this weekend and I've begun a new romance with my bed. Oh I'm in love. This has made me think of all the little things in life that bring me so much joy!
1. A homemade "mixed tape" CD.
2. Homemade fresh strawberry jam.
3. Warm chocolate chip cookies.
4. A surpise coffee brought to the office.
5. A shoe sale.
6. The smell of freshly cut grass.
7. A compliment.
8. The feeling I get after a good workout.
9. A bottle (well, a box preferably) of wine.
10. A new lipstick that actually looks good on me.
11. Friday night Dateline and Sunday night Antiques Roadshow (I'm SUCH a party animal!)
12. The smell of a bonfire.
13. Macaroni and Cheese.
14. 80's music.
15. Laughing with my girlfriends.
16. Pedicures.
17. Planning vacations.
18. Playing the game: "All the things we'd do if we won the lottery".
19. Polka'ing in the kitchen with my boys.
20. Cuddling on the couch with my Kobe-dog.
*******
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Yesterday Marked in History as "The Worst Day Ever".
Yup. Yesterday. Worst Day Ever. But let's not discuss that. Instead, let's go to a happy place and discuss my most favourite topic: shoes.
While perusing the Nine West sale email I received this morning, I pulled off a couple of styles that are on "sale", deservedly so. Not many would actually spend money on these, even if they are on sale (I would hope anyway):
A fabric/rubber boot?? Huh?? Seriously horrendous. It hurts to even look at it. Let's move on.
While this next one did catch my attention, I think only a certain few could actually get away with it (read: 5'10" - 6'5" leggy model-types). Notice the length? Eeeeeesh. But still a beautiful, sexy, dominatrix type of boot (if you're into that sorta thing):
Note the square toe? Marginally acceptable. However I do love the tie-up at the back. How fun!
On to some better shoes now - the Spring collection! I was very relieved to see some shoes that I would actually spend my money on but certainly not at $300 a pop. I'm cheap. I stick to knock-offs. But still, let's take a look:
A nice, basic, everyday pump that should be in every woman's closet, in all available colours. See the pointed toe and the 2 1/2 inch heel? Perfection at it's finest. This is quite a lovely shoe indeed.
And finally this one, my favourite of the season so far:
I love-love-love the playful flower details! It's the perfect summer-casual shoe and is extremely versatile! Wear with capris, jeans, skirts...(denim would be best I think), but certainly the possibilities with this one are endless. Love it!
Good job Nine West! Nice to see some variety in the upcoming seasons. My confidence in you just went up a notch or two. Bring it!
While perusing the Nine West sale email I received this morning, I pulled off a couple of styles that are on "sale", deservedly so. Not many would actually spend money on these, even if they are on sale (I would hope anyway):
I'm still trying to comprehend the above style. While I appreciate the ankle detail, what's with the foot part? And notice the rounded toe? No, No, No! It's wrong on so many levels, I don't even know where to start.
While this next one did catch my attention, I think only a certain few could actually get away with it (read: 5'10" - 6'5" leggy model-types). Notice the length? Eeeeeesh. But still a beautiful, sexy, dominatrix type of boot (if you're into that sorta thing):
On to some better shoes now - the Spring collection! I was very relieved to see some shoes that I would actually spend my money on but certainly not at $300 a pop. I'm cheap. I stick to knock-offs. But still, let's take a look:
Oh yes. Makes my heart race just a little just looking at it. Notice the flower detail on the side? Pair this with a cute black dress, chunky gold accessories and a bright funky clutch - red perhaps - and you've got one hell of an awesome outfit.
And how about this:
A nice, basic, everyday pump that should be in every woman's closet, in all available colours. See the pointed toe and the 2 1/2 inch heel? Perfection at it's finest. This is quite a lovely shoe indeed.
And finally this one, my favourite of the season so far:
I love-love-love the playful flower details! It's the perfect summer-casual shoe and is extremely versatile! Wear with capris, jeans, skirts...(denim would be best I think), but certainly the possibilities with this one are endless. Love it!
Good job Nine West! Nice to see some variety in the upcoming seasons. My confidence in you just went up a notch or two. Bring it!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Reality Bites
Ah Jamaica. So lovely, green and lush. The sun, the heat, the humidity....*sigh*..... Winnipeg sucks.
I'm curious though, and I'm seeking opinions on this: which of the following two pictures is better? I'm considering getting one framed for my man to place on his desk at work, and I can't decide which he'd appreciate more.
The Air and Space Museum (outside Washington) taken this summer:
Or the one taken in the gift shop at the resort last week:
A little game for you: I was actually quite tipsy in one of these pictures. Can you guess which one?
I'm feeling quite lazy and tired today from actually working all day, so I'll just "cut and paste" my review placed on trip advisor.com. This is the most sober I've been since last week. I think I'm going through rum withdrawl. Are the shakes normal? I bet a drink would solve that problem, wouldn't it?
*********
*******
Back to work today and back to school tomorrow.
Reality Bites.
I'm curious though, and I'm seeking opinions on this: which of the following two pictures is better? I'm considering getting one framed for my man to place on his desk at work, and I can't decide which he'd appreciate more.
The Air and Space Museum (outside Washington) taken this summer:
Or the one taken in the gift shop at the resort last week:
A little game for you: I was actually quite tipsy in one of these pictures. Can you guess which one?
I'm feeling quite lazy and tired today from actually working all day, so I'll just "cut and paste" my review placed on trip advisor.com. This is the most sober I've been since last week. I think I'm going through rum withdrawl. Are the shakes normal? I bet a drink would solve that problem, wouldn't it?
*********
We stayed at the Sunset Beach Resort & Spa from Jan 15 - 22, arriving home last night. Once you find yourself in your room, you will most certainly have a great time. The food and drink are plentiful, the activities are endless, and the grounds and beaches are stunning. This review is in 3 parts: the not-so-good, the fabulous and a few tips that might make your stay just that little bit more enjoyable. So grab a cup of coffee (or a rum!) - this is a LONG review - and take a read:
The Not-So-Good:
1. Check-in
This resort proves that first impressions are everything. We arrived around 3:00 p.m. and after being greeted with much needed cold fruit juice, we waited in line to check-in. We were in the middle of the pack, with people ahead of us and behind us. About 45 minutes later, it was finally our turn to check-in and were told that our room wasn't ready and to come back in an hour. Further, they had "run-out" of safe keys. Our wrist bands were placed on and upon suggestion, we sat in the lobby area and waited to be told when our room was available.
We helped ourselves to the free-flowing beer and waited. And waited. And waited. We watched those after us get their room keys and their luggage carried away time and time again. I really didn't understand but could only assume that perhaps they had made special arrangements or had paid extra for an upgraded room. My husband and I (together with my parents) bought the "Sunquest deal of the day" and paid an extraordinary low price ($750/person), so I began to wonder if it was because we didn't pay top dollar that we were left to wait for whatever rooms were available after this round of check-ins was complete. After nearly 3 hours of watching people check-in, I went up to politely inquire about our room. I talked to a lady who said she would look into it for us. She walked away....and never returned. LOL!! By this time I had at least half a dozen beers and was "irie". Whatever mon. We're in Jamaica! I laughed it off, waited about half an hour and inquired again. The gentleman I spoke with said he would look into it for us and DID return .... with room keys! Excellent!
He lead us to our room, located on the West side of the resort, to the 2-level cabana-style rooms and I became super excited. Our balcony would have been out to the garden and our front door faced onto the kid's pool. I slipped in the card, opened the door.....and immediatly saw clothes hanging in the closet to the right. I quickly closed the door and said to the bell-hop "there are people in this room!". We had actually received keys to an occupied room. I was mortified. What did we get ourselves into I wondered!
It was now nearly 4 hours into our arrival at the resort and we still didn't have a room. I had kept my patience and my cool up to this point. This was truly the last straw. We walked back to the lobby and I felt totally defeated. In all honesty, I just wanted to go home. The manager, Mr. Webb, walked by and saw how visably upset I was. He had the unfortunate experience of being on the receiving end of my wrath. I yelled, swore, cried, and finally said: "either book my flight home or get me my own room. Now!". It was nearly 7 p.m., I was starving and exhausted and desperetely wanted to find a quiet place to myself.
Mr. Webb made it right. He apologized profusely and found us a room within 10 minutes, an upgraded ocean view on the 10th floor, Tower A. It was a gorgeous room, as it should have been. I don't think I would have accepted anything less at this point. Finally we could enjoy the resort and all it has to offer! Thank you Mr. Webb. :)
2. The bartenders
The bartenders throughout the resort are, in a word, grumpy, leaving one to wonder just exactly how the resort treats their staff. If the staff are not happy it will reflect in the quality of service their guests will receive. The bartenders are the pinnacle of an all-inclusive resort and interact the most with the guests. My husband and I tried our best to engage them in conversation and while we did eventually befriend of a few of them, it was a tough go at first. I do wish they would smile more.
(Note to resort management: give these guys a raise, cut them some slack, do *something* to show them some love. They work so hard and I bet if they felt just a little more appreciated, they may actually reflect a more positive attitude towards the guests.)
3. The beach grill
The beach grill is outdated and not very appealing to eat at unfortunately. We lunched there twice and both times left our food and walked up to the buffet. This may be more of a personal preference thing, however it is still something that I felt should be noted.
And finally,
4. The entertainment
The nightly entertainment wasn't up to par with other Jamaican resorts we have stayed at. We found the house band to be lacking in any energy whatsoever, and, in all honesty, sitting there listening to them made us feel sleepy. Quite often we found ourselves in the sports bar enjoying an after dinner drink and playing a game of pool or challanging one another in a mini-tournament of crib. Again, perhaps this is more of a personal preference thing (or an age thing, being in our late 30's, early 40's with no children, and looking for something with a little more energy.)
Now on to the Fabulous!
1. The rooms and the grounds. The resort simply gleams. It is so clean and it is very obvious how hard they work at keeping everything look just as one would expect it to look in the Carribbean. All in all, the entire resort is exceptionally visually appealing with many lounge chairs and tables offering shade from the hot sun. The beaches and pools offer an abundance of chairs and we never had any problems finding a good spot to relax and enjoy the heat. The maid staff also work exceptionally hard and we never had any problems with any little requests (for an extra towel, for example), and our room was always perfectly made up everyday, without fail.
2. All of the wait staff, but particulary "Teddy". Ted can be found serving in the Asian restaurant as well as in the main buffet. If you can, ask for him or sit at his table. He is extremely good at his job and will do everything in his power to make sure you are satisfied. All of the wait staff are very friendly, will inquire about your stay, and will take the time to talk to you for a few moments. We were very impressed with their quality of service. (Teddy, I miss your smile so much!)
3. As mentioned earlier, the food and drink are plentiful and there is something for everyone. I tend to stay away from meat when I travel (personal preference based on a bad Cuban experience), but from what I understand, the meat selections are wonderful. For travel vegetarians like me, I never had any problems filling up at any meal. Incredible variety and all very well prepared. When it comes to the 3 restaurants, we particularly enjoyed the Asian the most. The spring rolls and sushi bar are killer!! SOOOO good!!
4. Daily activities. If you are bored, it's your own fault. There is always something going on and the daytime entertainment staff are the best I've ever seen. They will engage you, make you laugh and they make it impossible NOT to have fun. Even if you are sitting out at the West beach, you will hear the music and you just may find yourself tapping your feet or shaking your butt to the music as you walk to the beach bar. I miss it all so much already!
4. Although my husband and I are not nudists, I have to give kudos to the security that guard the nudist beach. They are very respectful and will ensure privacy to those who are. My husband and I wanted to take pictures on the rocks that seperate the nude beach from the regular beach and were politely told, within seconds, that it wasn't allowed. No problem - there are many beautiful spots among the resort to get fabulous pictures. If you are a nudist looking for privacy, you will most certainly find it here.
On to some tips:
1. After reading reviews, we took our own beach towels. I'd suggest the same. It's just easier than trying to get a resort towel.
2. If you work out in the gym, do be sure to drink an exceptional amount of water. It's like working out in a sauna.
3. If you want to go parasailing, just make arrangements with the resort next door, Secrets. You will get a better and longer ride than if you go with the recommendation made at guest services.
4. If you reserve a spot under an umbrella either by the pools or the beach, please be willing to share. There are not enough to go around but there is enough room to share. Besides it's also a great way to make new friends!
*****************
A few things that could have made it just that much better:
1. A bar fridge in the room.
2. More ashtrays, as well as a "smoke-free" area.
3. An "adults only" pool and beach area.
4. Wine for purchase in the restaurants; and
5. Better nightly entertainment.
It is unfortunate that our check-in will leave such a lasting impression, but we did end up having the best of times!
I would absolutely recommend this resort to our friends with children but if you're a couple just looking to get away, I think there are better options out there for you.
The Not-So-Good:
1. Check-in
This resort proves that first impressions are everything. We arrived around 3:00 p.m. and after being greeted with much needed cold fruit juice, we waited in line to check-in. We were in the middle of the pack, with people ahead of us and behind us. About 45 minutes later, it was finally our turn to check-in and were told that our room wasn't ready and to come back in an hour. Further, they had "run-out" of safe keys. Our wrist bands were placed on and upon suggestion, we sat in the lobby area and waited to be told when our room was available.
We helped ourselves to the free-flowing beer and waited. And waited. And waited. We watched those after us get their room keys and their luggage carried away time and time again. I really didn't understand but could only assume that perhaps they had made special arrangements or had paid extra for an upgraded room. My husband and I (together with my parents) bought the "Sunquest deal of the day" and paid an extraordinary low price ($750/person), so I began to wonder if it was because we didn't pay top dollar that we were left to wait for whatever rooms were available after this round of check-ins was complete. After nearly 3 hours of watching people check-in, I went up to politely inquire about our room. I talked to a lady who said she would look into it for us. She walked away....and never returned. LOL!! By this time I had at least half a dozen beers and was "irie". Whatever mon. We're in Jamaica! I laughed it off, waited about half an hour and inquired again. The gentleman I spoke with said he would look into it for us and DID return .... with room keys! Excellent!
He lead us to our room, located on the West side of the resort, to the 2-level cabana-style rooms and I became super excited. Our balcony would have been out to the garden and our front door faced onto the kid's pool. I slipped in the card, opened the door.....and immediatly saw clothes hanging in the closet to the right. I quickly closed the door and said to the bell-hop "there are people in this room!". We had actually received keys to an occupied room. I was mortified. What did we get ourselves into I wondered!
It was now nearly 4 hours into our arrival at the resort and we still didn't have a room. I had kept my patience and my cool up to this point. This was truly the last straw. We walked back to the lobby and I felt totally defeated. In all honesty, I just wanted to go home. The manager, Mr. Webb, walked by and saw how visably upset I was. He had the unfortunate experience of being on the receiving end of my wrath. I yelled, swore, cried, and finally said: "either book my flight home or get me my own room. Now!". It was nearly 7 p.m., I was starving and exhausted and desperetely wanted to find a quiet place to myself.
Mr. Webb made it right. He apologized profusely and found us a room within 10 minutes, an upgraded ocean view on the 10th floor, Tower A. It was a gorgeous room, as it should have been. I don't think I would have accepted anything less at this point. Finally we could enjoy the resort and all it has to offer! Thank you Mr. Webb. :)
2. The bartenders
The bartenders throughout the resort are, in a word, grumpy, leaving one to wonder just exactly how the resort treats their staff. If the staff are not happy it will reflect in the quality of service their guests will receive. The bartenders are the pinnacle of an all-inclusive resort and interact the most with the guests. My husband and I tried our best to engage them in conversation and while we did eventually befriend of a few of them, it was a tough go at first. I do wish they would smile more.
(Note to resort management: give these guys a raise, cut them some slack, do *something* to show them some love. They work so hard and I bet if they felt just a little more appreciated, they may actually reflect a more positive attitude towards the guests.)
3. The beach grill
The beach grill is outdated and not very appealing to eat at unfortunately. We lunched there twice and both times left our food and walked up to the buffet. This may be more of a personal preference thing, however it is still something that I felt should be noted.
And finally,
4. The entertainment
The nightly entertainment wasn't up to par with other Jamaican resorts we have stayed at. We found the house band to be lacking in any energy whatsoever, and, in all honesty, sitting there listening to them made us feel sleepy. Quite often we found ourselves in the sports bar enjoying an after dinner drink and playing a game of pool or challanging one another in a mini-tournament of crib. Again, perhaps this is more of a personal preference thing (or an age thing, being in our late 30's, early 40's with no children, and looking for something with a little more energy.)
Now on to the Fabulous!
1. The rooms and the grounds. The resort simply gleams. It is so clean and it is very obvious how hard they work at keeping everything look just as one would expect it to look in the Carribbean. All in all, the entire resort is exceptionally visually appealing with many lounge chairs and tables offering shade from the hot sun. The beaches and pools offer an abundance of chairs and we never had any problems finding a good spot to relax and enjoy the heat. The maid staff also work exceptionally hard and we never had any problems with any little requests (for an extra towel, for example), and our room was always perfectly made up everyday, without fail.
2. All of the wait staff, but particulary "Teddy". Ted can be found serving in the Asian restaurant as well as in the main buffet. If you can, ask for him or sit at his table. He is extremely good at his job and will do everything in his power to make sure you are satisfied. All of the wait staff are very friendly, will inquire about your stay, and will take the time to talk to you for a few moments. We were very impressed with their quality of service. (Teddy, I miss your smile so much!)
3. As mentioned earlier, the food and drink are plentiful and there is something for everyone. I tend to stay away from meat when I travel (personal preference based on a bad Cuban experience), but from what I understand, the meat selections are wonderful. For travel vegetarians like me, I never had any problems filling up at any meal. Incredible variety and all very well prepared. When it comes to the 3 restaurants, we particularly enjoyed the Asian the most. The spring rolls and sushi bar are killer!! SOOOO good!!
4. Daily activities. If you are bored, it's your own fault. There is always something going on and the daytime entertainment staff are the best I've ever seen. They will engage you, make you laugh and they make it impossible NOT to have fun. Even if you are sitting out at the West beach, you will hear the music and you just may find yourself tapping your feet or shaking your butt to the music as you walk to the beach bar. I miss it all so much already!
4. Although my husband and I are not nudists, I have to give kudos to the security that guard the nudist beach. They are very respectful and will ensure privacy to those who are. My husband and I wanted to take pictures on the rocks that seperate the nude beach from the regular beach and were politely told, within seconds, that it wasn't allowed. No problem - there are many beautiful spots among the resort to get fabulous pictures. If you are a nudist looking for privacy, you will most certainly find it here.
On to some tips:
1. After reading reviews, we took our own beach towels. I'd suggest the same. It's just easier than trying to get a resort towel.
2. If you work out in the gym, do be sure to drink an exceptional amount of water. It's like working out in a sauna.
3. If you want to go parasailing, just make arrangements with the resort next door, Secrets. You will get a better and longer ride than if you go with the recommendation made at guest services.
4. If you reserve a spot under an umbrella either by the pools or the beach, please be willing to share. There are not enough to go around but there is enough room to share. Besides it's also a great way to make new friends!
*****************
A few things that could have made it just that much better:
1. A bar fridge in the room.
2. More ashtrays, as well as a "smoke-free" area.
3. An "adults only" pool and beach area.
4. Wine for purchase in the restaurants; and
5. Better nightly entertainment.
It is unfortunate that our check-in will leave such a lasting impression, but we did end up having the best of times!
I would absolutely recommend this resort to our friends with children but if you're a couple just looking to get away, I think there are better options out there for you.
*******
Back to work today and back to school tomorrow.
Reality Bites.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Take your pick.
I'd like to start by sending President Obama kudos for last night's tribute to the tragic deaths, those injured and to the inspiring heroes of the Arizona shooting. For all of Mr. Obama's faults (of which he may have a few I am sure), there's not one person on this planet that can dispute the fact that the man can speak. Well. Very well. Not once have I ever wished I was American - until I saw him. Kudos, President Obama. Well done, once again. I don't think I will ever tire of hearing you speak. Truly inspiring.
********
Ladies, let's discuss the rounded toe boot. No. No. No! It's a horrible fashion statement. I'd give it a marginal maybe if paired over a skinny jean, but it still ranks up there with the ugg and the crock. C'mon girls! We can do SO much better. Hopefully this trend won't last and the shoemakers around the world will go back to making a more stylish boot. Please?
********
It snowed last night. Drivers across the City were on high alert, as though they've never seen the stuff before. It's just snow. It happens every year. It snows here. A lot. This is not new. You really can press the accelerator to 40 or even (gasp) 50 kms. Honest.
********
I'm happy to report that I've been a regular at my local gym, setting a regular schedule since Boxing Day, and I'm down almost 3 lbs. Yay! It's certainly not bikini worthy (perhaps add a "0" after the 3 and then maybe), but it's still a very positive step forward. I don't think I will ever really be bikini worthy, but that's ok. I've accepted my Ukrainian heritage and put all the blame on that, deservedly so. I can't help it that I love bread. Mmmmm....bread.....
********
The child has been saving his money since the Fall for a 32 gig (or however it's written) iPod Touch. He has the 8 gig but apparently it's not good enough. Combined with cash he received at Christmas he had enough to buy it last week. Wonderful! Yah, it broke last night. Damn thing wouldn't turn on or something. Fortunately he's a bit of a techy (as are all teenagers I suppose) and was able to figure it out by posting a question on some Apple forum or something. Thank God. It was a very tense couple hours in my house last night. Very tense.
********
The most flattering thing happened to me this week! I was walking in the overpass to City Place around 2 to grab a late lunch. As I was walking back I noticed a little girl, maybe 4 or 5, long dark hair, cute little pink dress and white tights (SOOOO cute!), walking hand-in-hand with her dad. She was jammering away, non-stop talking about a little girl in her daycare, talking about a million words a minute, when suddenly she turned around to see who was walking behind her. She stops mid-sentence and says to her dad "Daddy, there is a very beautiful woman walking behind us.". I look behind me to see who she's talking about when it hit me that she was referring to *me*!! Seriously? Wow! So I laughed and said "Thank you!". The dad said to the little girl "Do you see her boots sweetie? They are sort of like yours." And then he turns to me and says "It's very exciting for a 4 year old girl to have high heels". And I said "Well, it's exciting even when you're 36 to have high heels!". Ha!
********
Jamaica in TWO days!!! Two days!!! For an entire week!!! So the man and I were packing last night and we discovered that although we are positive we have at least 4 full bottles of sunscreen, do you think we could find one? Just one? No. So, it's off to the store to get some more to add to our collection. Damn.
********
I very grateful for the relationship my man and I have with my ex-husband. We get together occasionally, have bbq's, a few drinks, play some boardgames - it's all very good. However, it is still an odd feeling knowing that my ex-husband will be staying in my house with the boy and the Kobe-dog while we are away. Very strange indeed. This is a new one for me.
********
Next blog: January 23rd, post Jamaica. Happy travels!
********
Ladies, let's discuss the rounded toe boot. No. No. No! It's a horrible fashion statement. I'd give it a marginal maybe if paired over a skinny jean, but it still ranks up there with the ugg and the crock. C'mon girls! We can do SO much better. Hopefully this trend won't last and the shoemakers around the world will go back to making a more stylish boot. Please?
********
It snowed last night. Drivers across the City were on high alert, as though they've never seen the stuff before. It's just snow. It happens every year. It snows here. A lot. This is not new. You really can press the accelerator to 40 or even (gasp) 50 kms. Honest.
********
I'm happy to report that I've been a regular at my local gym, setting a regular schedule since Boxing Day, and I'm down almost 3 lbs. Yay! It's certainly not bikini worthy (perhaps add a "0" after the 3 and then maybe), but it's still a very positive step forward. I don't think I will ever really be bikini worthy, but that's ok. I've accepted my Ukrainian heritage and put all the blame on that, deservedly so. I can't help it that I love bread. Mmmmm....bread.....
********
The child has been saving his money since the Fall for a 32 gig (or however it's written) iPod Touch. He has the 8 gig but apparently it's not good enough. Combined with cash he received at Christmas he had enough to buy it last week. Wonderful! Yah, it broke last night. Damn thing wouldn't turn on or something. Fortunately he's a bit of a techy (as are all teenagers I suppose) and was able to figure it out by posting a question on some Apple forum or something. Thank God. It was a very tense couple hours in my house last night. Very tense.
********
The most flattering thing happened to me this week! I was walking in the overpass to City Place around 2 to grab a late lunch. As I was walking back I noticed a little girl, maybe 4 or 5, long dark hair, cute little pink dress and white tights (SOOOO cute!), walking hand-in-hand with her dad. She was jammering away, non-stop talking about a little girl in her daycare, talking about a million words a minute, when suddenly she turned around to see who was walking behind her. She stops mid-sentence and says to her dad "Daddy, there is a very beautiful woman walking behind us.". I look behind me to see who she's talking about when it hit me that she was referring to *me*!! Seriously? Wow! So I laughed and said "Thank you!". The dad said to the little girl "Do you see her boots sweetie? They are sort of like yours." And then he turns to me and says "It's very exciting for a 4 year old girl to have high heels". And I said "Well, it's exciting even when you're 36 to have high heels!". Ha!
********
Jamaica in TWO days!!! Two days!!! For an entire week!!! So the man and I were packing last night and we discovered that although we are positive we have at least 4 full bottles of sunscreen, do you think we could find one? Just one? No. So, it's off to the store to get some more to add to our collection. Damn.
********
I very grateful for the relationship my man and I have with my ex-husband. We get together occasionally, have bbq's, a few drinks, play some boardgames - it's all very good. However, it is still an odd feeling knowing that my ex-husband will be staying in my house with the boy and the Kobe-dog while we are away. Very strange indeed. This is a new one for me.
********
Next blog: January 23rd, post Jamaica. Happy travels!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Housekeeping Issues
So, I've made a few changes to my blog. Apparently it was on some setting that only allowed registered users to leave a comment. I've figured out how to change this! I'm so smart! So feel free to comment away! Starting now.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Work, work and more work.
Last week was really a week from hell for me, professionally speaking. I feel like I have so much to offer - I'm smart, good at what I do, take pride in my work (maybe too much), actually enjoy my job and, for the most part, enjoy the people I work with.
Over the past year I've studied the importance of employee involvement in the workplace. Employee involvement, employee ownership, employee decision making, employee appreciation - all such things create a loyal employee, which is really something every employer should strive for. By involving the employee in workplace focus and direction, by giving the employee ownership over their workload, by involving employees in workplace decisions and by showing some level of appreciation towards the employee will most certainly result in a harder working, more productive, more loyal employee. And there are studies after studies that prove this to be true. What company, what employer does not want a hard working, productive loyal employee?
Well apparently my Firm.
I was blindsided last week. Absolutely, totally blindsided, without any warning of what was happening. My workload as nearly doubled yet I remain at the same salary. I have no idea what the new expectations are of me and even when asked what the new expectations are, I received a very wishy-washy answer: "Lets just let the dust settle and see where we are in 6 months." What the hell kind of answer is that to such a direct question?
I can look at this in two ways: soak the Firm for all the over time I can, or quit. I'm undecided yet. It's so much easier playing the disgruntled martyr (and not to mention more self gratifying), but incredibly, I actually enjoy my job. What to do, what to do.
I was told by my boss to go on vacation and not worry about a thing. Is he serious?
Potential interview this week at another Firm. Perhaps this will result in a bargaining tool? Time will tell.
Over the past year I've studied the importance of employee involvement in the workplace. Employee involvement, employee ownership, employee decision making, employee appreciation - all such things create a loyal employee, which is really something every employer should strive for. By involving the employee in workplace focus and direction, by giving the employee ownership over their workload, by involving employees in workplace decisions and by showing some level of appreciation towards the employee will most certainly result in a harder working, more productive, more loyal employee. And there are studies after studies that prove this to be true. What company, what employer does not want a hard working, productive loyal employee?
Well apparently my Firm.
I was blindsided last week. Absolutely, totally blindsided, without any warning of what was happening. My workload as nearly doubled yet I remain at the same salary. I have no idea what the new expectations are of me and even when asked what the new expectations are, I received a very wishy-washy answer: "Lets just let the dust settle and see where we are in 6 months." What the hell kind of answer is that to such a direct question?
I can look at this in two ways: soak the Firm for all the over time I can, or quit. I'm undecided yet. It's so much easier playing the disgruntled martyr (and not to mention more self gratifying), but incredibly, I actually enjoy my job. What to do, what to do.
I was told by my boss to go on vacation and not worry about a thing. Is he serious?
Potential interview this week at another Firm. Perhaps this will result in a bargaining tool? Time will tell.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Game on!
A Jamaican Challange, as requested by my friends:
Jamaica Challenge
Objective:
The objective of this challenge is for you to obtain a single photo containing as many of the required elements as possible. There is one required component and ten optional components. The required component must be fulfilled or you default on the challenge and condemn yourself to a lifetime of shame an merciless teasing.
Scoring:
One point will be allocated for each of the optional components. No points are allocated for the required component. The maximum score is 10.
Required Component:
A photograph of you and one of your female travel companions with a stranger of your choice whom you and your companion unanimously consider to be at least an 8 on a 10 point scale of physical appeal, against the backdrop of something clearly depicting the Jamaican surroundings (i.e., beaches, resorts...not simply a wall or something similarly boring). The stranger must be someone of opposite gender whom you have not met prior to the photograph being taken.
The picture must be taken against the backdrop of something truly unique and interesting in the opinion of the judges. For example, a historic Jamaican landmark, a wonderful fountain or a marvelous beach...a table at a restaurant or a seat at a bar does not qualify as "unique" in and of itself (unless other things are in the background) no matter how many paper umbrellas or resort-oriented trinkets appear. As a general rule, if the picture could be reasonably replicated in Winnipeg, it does not qualify.
Optional Components:
The objective of this challenge is for you to obtain a single photo containing as many of the required elements as possible. There is one required component and ten optional components. The required component must be fulfilled or you default on the challenge and condemn yourself to a lifetime of shame an merciless teasing.
Scoring:
One point will be allocated for each of the optional components. No points are allocated for the required component. The maximum score is 10.
Required Component:
A photograph of you and one of your female travel companions with a stranger of your choice whom you and your companion unanimously consider to be at least an 8 on a 10 point scale of physical appeal, against the backdrop of something clearly depicting the Jamaican surroundings (i.e., beaches, resorts...not simply a wall or something similarly boring). The stranger must be someone of opposite gender whom you have not met prior to the photograph being taken.
The picture must be taken against the backdrop of something truly unique and interesting in the opinion of the judges. For example, a historic Jamaican landmark, a wonderful fountain or a marvelous beach...a table at a restaurant or a seat at a bar does not qualify as "unique" in and of itself (unless other things are in the background) no matter how many paper umbrellas or resort-oriented trinkets appear. As a general rule, if the picture could be reasonably replicated in Winnipeg, it does not qualify.
Optional Components:
- The stranger is holding a sign saying "Jamaica is cool but I'd rather be in Canada because it's 'super duper' cool".
- The stranger is wearing something belonging to you or your female companion such as a hat or sunglasses.
- The picture is taken with a second stranger in the background doing something quite silly or ridiculous (e.g., passed out, dancing in a silly way, making a silly face, bullfighting, dolphin wrestling, slapping themselves in the face, streaking, contemplating having children).
- All female travel companions in the photograph are making physical contact in some way with the stranger (e.g., arms around one another, leaning on shoulders).
- Everyone in the photo except random individuals in the background must have a deep thoughtful look on their face. No smiles.
- The stranger is performing the classic "two finger bunny ears" maneuver behind you, your female travel companion or both.
- You or your female companion is holding up a sign that says "We rate him a ____ on a scale of 1 to 10 with respect to his overall physical appeal". The blank must be filled in with an 8, 9, or 10 in accordance with the required component.
- Someone has two straws in their mouth mimicking Dracula teeth.
- Everyone in the picture is holding a feminine looking drink with an umbrella in it.
- Everyone in the picture has something in their mouth...mimicked Dracula teeth qualifies if you wish to kill two birds with one stone.
Strategy:
You are free to develop and implement your own strategy for securing as many points as possible. You may make as many attempts as you need to score as high as possible however all attempts must be submitted along with an indication of which attempt they were (i.e., first attempt, second attempt and so on).
You may feel free to explain the challenge itself to the stranger if it helps you secure more points. It does not have to be one "on the sly". For example, you might tell them that it's a popular Canadian tradition similar to a scavanger hunt.
Challange accepted?
Oh it's ON!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Out with the old, in with the new.
I've compiled a list of the best of 2010, according to Michelle. Amen.
Movies
1. Eat Pray Love (a very beautiful and unappreciated film. My favourite of the year.)
2. Social Network (Justin Timberlake? He's forever bringing sexy back.)
3. Iron Man 2 (Robert Downey Jr.? Need I say more?)
4. Salt (Will someone *please* give Angelina some bread! Clearly she's starving.)
5. Robin Hood (Allan Doyle? He'd be so much hotter if he lost the beard! )
I would be remiss if I did not mention 2 others: Grown Ups because I saw it on Cape Cod this summer with my boys and Back Up Plan because J-Lo wore my absolutely favourite dress in that movie:
Hmm....that's kinda small. Here's the link if you really want to see it:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4056976640/tt1212436
I want it.
Songs
1. Bad Romance (Lady Gaga)
2. Need You Now (Lady Antebellum)
3. Airplanes (B.O.B. featuring the lovely Hayley Williams from Paramore)
4. Love The Way You Lie (Eminem ft. Rhianna)
5. California Gurls (Katy Perry)
Memories
1. Friday evenings with my man from early March to mid June, drinking wine and discussing our big summer trip.
2. Girls Night this summer at my house. (or what I can remember of it anyway)
3. Boating and tubing with my boy, my ex-husband, his girlfriend, my parents, and my man.
4. September long: watching the men scratch their heads while discussing the logistics of pulling down a tree.
5. The day I received my first University level A+.
(I would never forgive myself if I did not include the express elevator ride at Saks 5th Avenue, to the 7th floor - Shoe Department. It was heavenly. *insert singing Angel sounds here*)
Purchases
1. Watching my boy create, plan, design and purchase his custom made Nike shoes in New York. I don't think I've ever seen him so happy.
2. University books.
3. Boots blogged about previously.
4. MR. PEANUI for Brian.
5. Trip to Jamaica with my parents.
****************
For 2011 I have a couple goals:
1. Be a better mom and wife.
2. Find balance.
3. Maintain a 3.5 GPA.
4. Keep going to the gym.
5. Learn how to make sushi.
Achievable I think, yes?
Movies
1. Eat Pray Love (a very beautiful and unappreciated film. My favourite of the year.)
2. Social Network (Justin Timberlake? He's forever bringing sexy back.)
3. Iron Man 2 (Robert Downey Jr.? Need I say more?)
4. Salt (Will someone *please* give Angelina some bread! Clearly she's starving.)
5. Robin Hood (Allan Doyle? He'd be so much hotter if he lost the beard! )
I would be remiss if I did not mention 2 others: Grown Ups because I saw it on Cape Cod this summer with my boys and Back Up Plan because J-Lo wore my absolutely favourite dress in that movie:
Hmm....that's kinda small. Here's the link if you really want to see it:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4056976640/tt1212436
I want it.
Songs
1. Bad Romance (Lady Gaga)
2. Need You Now (Lady Antebellum)
3. Airplanes (B.O.B. featuring the lovely Hayley Williams from Paramore)
4. Love The Way You Lie (Eminem ft. Rhianna)
5. California Gurls (Katy Perry)
Memories
1. Friday evenings with my man from early March to mid June, drinking wine and discussing our big summer trip.
2. Girls Night this summer at my house. (or what I can remember of it anyway)
3. Boating and tubing with my boy, my ex-husband, his girlfriend, my parents, and my man.
4. September long: watching the men scratch their heads while discussing the logistics of pulling down a tree.
5. The day I received my first University level A+.
(I would never forgive myself if I did not include the express elevator ride at Saks 5th Avenue, to the 7th floor - Shoe Department. It was heavenly. *insert singing Angel sounds here*)
Purchases
1. Watching my boy create, plan, design and purchase his custom made Nike shoes in New York. I don't think I've ever seen him so happy.
2. University books.
3. Boots blogged about previously.
4. MR. PEANUI for Brian.
5. Trip to Jamaica with my parents.
****************
For 2011 I have a couple goals:
1. Be a better mom and wife.
2. Find balance.
3. Maintain a 3.5 GPA.
4. Keep going to the gym.
5. Learn how to make sushi.
Achievable I think, yes?
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