The True Meaning of Fall and more

On a crisp fall walk this morning the wind blew gentle showers of bronzed leaves from the trees and across my path. Quintessential fall! There were moms strolling with cute little babies in their strollers. A handsome young cop returned my smile and unknowingly made my day.

Meeting a friend at a restaurant in a short while, we're using one of the meal coupons in my huge coupon book. My neat freak husband is driving me crazy. I was searching around for this packaged kit meal I need to marinate for dinner but he was cleaning yesterday and anyway I finally located it stuffed in the jam cupboard. I'm organized myself, so when I leave things lying around it's usually for a purpose and I really don't like people cleaning up after me. Well, I guess I shouldn't complain, it's all relative.

I was at the hairdresser yesterday, they had incense burning in the shop. They are Armenian people. It has a really strong smell, just like in a church so I had to tell them it was a really strong smell (as I had to be sitting in there for awhile). I noticed one of the customers sitting with her sweater sleeve across her nose. The hairdresser's wife told me she clears her household clutter twice a year. That sounds like a good idea.

Well, have to run.


News

Britney Spears' new album her best ever - I'm glad for her, she is so beleaguered lately
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071026/spears_album_071026/20071026?hub=Entertainment

Some Neanderthals may have been redheads and more

News

Company provides phony excuses for workers who want a day off
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_16097.aspx

Gene switch altered sex orientation of worms
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071025/sc_nm/worms_sex_dc_1;_ylt=Al_rcUa_Ir3u12eLsAoraT0E1vAI

Some Neanderthals may have been redheads
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071025/sc_nm/neanderthals_hair_dc_1;_ylt=Av_x3LGKPXUHLuXiY6Jr4x0E1vAI

Pumpkin seeds - a calming influence? and more

News

Pumpkin seeds - a calming influence?
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_16085.aspx

Daylight Savings Time upsets our body clocks
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071024/dst_071024/20071024?hub=Health

Scam artists rob woman at bank
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_16079.aspx

Honda introduces 'jello-like' car that glows as it glows
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_16072.aspx

A portable toilet for your car
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_16051.aspx

Man finds 3.92 carat diamond at an Arkansas diamond park
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071023/ap_on_fe_st/odd_diamond_found

At the eye specialist and more

So I was at the eye specialist today. I have a small cataract in one eye that he monitors every year. It's stable, but he said when the time comes, it'll take him about 7 minutes to remove it at the hospital. He said I may never need bifocals (reading glasses), if I don't mind just taking my glasses off so I can see the fine print. But he gave me a prescription anyway, it just depends what I'm comfortable with. He says some people feel old wearing them and in my case, I'll be fine just taking my glasses off to read if it's not too annoying. It may be because I'm near-sighted to begin with. I'm never one to be able to make a decision so I'll put this on hold for awhile. He said he took his son for hockey practice at 4.30am this morning (busy as he is).

I went to the gym afterward and did a treadmill workout. I haven't done that since summer started, but it's raining and cold today. My heart rate is about 20% less on the treadmill since I first joined the gym almost 3 years ago. That's a good thing. These days I'm aiming for daily exercise. I do aerobics once a week although I'll miss tomorrow as something came up.

So L submitted her RCM Grade 8 piano certificate and her Grade 2 theory certificate along with the marks to her Guidance teacher, so she will be getting a Grade 12 high school credit for it.


News

Learning not to worry
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/weilhealthyliving/2099/learning-not-to-worry

Parrot saves family from fire by imitating smoke alarm
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_16015.aspx

How PB&J sandwiches fight global warming
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/3/a-la-peanut-butter-sandwiches.html

Painting found in trash could net $1M
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071023/ap_en_ot/trash_treasure_4;_ylt=AtKhurrm1hEwbVvNFlpMAYYE1vAI

At the Orthodontist and more

K had a great checkup at the orthodontist today. They said his teeth were really clean. He also did well on the latest English test, so we have a reprieve. Oh, the receptionist at the orthodontist is still recovering from her offspring leaving for university this fall. It doesn't seem to help that she has a few other kids still at home. I told her it's going to be the same for me.

It seems a really good tennis racket costs about $175...hmm. L is expensive.

Had no inspiration as to what to make for dinner today, then I found some President's Choice Korma curry sauce in the cupboard and decided to make a chicken breast curry, it came out great. The chicken breast is really tender if you remember not to simmer it for more than 12 to 15 minutes depending on how large the breasts are.

Terrible about the California wildfires. 250,000 is a lot of people evacuated.


News

Israeli and Palestinian doctors co-operate to save toddler
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071022/heart_surgery_071022/20071022?hub=Health

Broccoli sprout extract protects skin from UV rays - this is not a sunscreen, it helped fortify skin cells to fight UV rays!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071022/sc_nm/cancer_broccoli_dc_1;_ylt=AmneeoyNziuHYGA6WIdEHm4E1vAI

Adult weight gain linked to breast cancer risk
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071022/weightgain_071022/20071022?hub=Health

Wikipedia page the latest status symbol
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071022/tc_nm/wikipedia_people_dc_1;_ylt=AgPBIeNIGogvfRTUQew8lv8E1vAI

The weekend and more

Looks like we're headed for a 22C (about 76F) day and it's nice and sunny. Maybe I can go for a walk later on.

L went to a birthday party last night, midnight pickup. Yes, the teenager years are in full swing. Luckily her devoted dad doesn't mind chauffeuring her all around the place. Her tennis teacher recommended that she get a better tennis racket, it seems the inexpensive one she owns has very weak strings. Who knew? She had a great progress report from school, only one 'good', the rest were 'excellent'. And the 'good' was on one out of about 10 sub-ratings from the History teacher. Her homeroom teacher says she's a role model.

I found some music for 'High School Musical' and K was picking it out on the piano last night. He writes good poems and the English teacher likes his oral presentations. I thought his music homework was good, he was asked to interpret a song he likes and hand it in with the CD so the teacher can mark it. Today we will work on calculating the surface area of a triangular prism. It's a tough one and he has to practice the formula. It occurred to me that maybe he doesn't understand what area means. I think I may be on to something.

I'm going to make a soup with Chinese herbs, medicinal ingredients and meat today. These herbs are purported to be good for all kinds of ailments and aid the immune system. I just like the taste.

I just answered a phone call from a charity begging for money, at 10 am on a Sunday morning! It's maddening. Well, I guess Christmas is approaching.

Lots of medical appointments this week, K has to see the orthodontist tomorrow, I see my eye doctor on Tuesday, L has a doctor appointment on Wednesday. M is overdue to set up his eye doctor appointment. He doesn't wear glasses because he doesn't feel ready for reading glasses.

I'm getting some bags ready for the CP truck which is coming soon. There is always clutter to donate. They need fall clothing this time of year. Cannot get M to part with anything.

Later...
I just noticed the 'Skillet Sensations' Stouffer meals that I spoke about are regularly $4.97. No wonder that lady had 10 bags. Still, I'll try more when they go back on sale.

News

Fat scan shows surprising hidden fat
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_15928.aspx

Put emergency contact in cell phone
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20071021/EMS_ICE_071021/20071021?hub=TorontoHome

Skillet Sensations and more

I just microwaved a package of Stouffers Skillet Sensations Chicken Alfredo, it took about 10 minutes and it's really good. I got it on sale at No Frills grocery store for $1.97 when I noticed a lady with about 10 bags in her cart. (She said it was good). It's also got the health check symbol on the bag. Great for quick snacks and hot lunches, whatever. Quite a generous 2 portion size full of meat and vegetables as well as pasta.

News

New Brunswick boy gives Heimlich to choking mom - a wonderful story
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071019/heimlich_071019/20071019?hub=Canada

Toronto dodges big storm but new dilemma - what to wear?
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_15901.aspx