Elliptical

We're having record warm temperatures for January, sweatshirt weather really. I sent K to school in his spring coat, I can't seem to find mine at short notice.

The gym was so busy this morning, back to school for the kids, back to the gym for the moms. I decided not to join the throngs in the exercise class and hopped onto the elliptical machine. I hadn't used it in since I joined the gym a couple of years ago. I think that's my new cardio machine of choice. I noticed I burned more calories in less time than on the treadmill and I can still go at my own pace. I remembered there's a trick to using the ellipticals properly. It's more of a weight transfer 'skiing' motion as opposed to a 'stair climbing' motion. That seemed to make it more 'effortless'.

I baked some salmon and chicken wings today, along with some roasted eggplant and later this evening I'll roast some potatoes. As you can tell, it's all 'in the oven' for me lately.

L said the other teacher she gave a bead scarf to for Christmas came up to her today and thanked her so much, saying she wore it so many times already. How will we top this gift next year? (-: Sorry I didn't take a picture of these scarves to show you. I had kept one for L then decided the colour of it would better suit one of the teachers in question. I think that's why they were so popular, I tried to see which colours would suit the person best.

News

Winter thaw continues across the Greater Toronto Area
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_18312.aspx

Fatherhood linked to higher prostate cancer risk
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080107/prostate_cancer_080107/20080107?hub=Health

Driverless cars possible in a decade
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080107/driverless_cars_080107/20080107?hub=TopStories

Experts change advice on kids' allergies
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080107/allergies_080107/20080107?hub=Health

Lovely dinner

We had a lovely dinner at our friends' last night. She made chicken breasts stuffed with asiago cheese and wrapped with prosciutto. We also had Roasted asparagus and peppers, tomato and bonconcini salad, a green salad, wild rice and a delicious cream filled cake with my favourite buttercream icing for dessert along with a colourful fruit tray. Who needs to go to a restaurant when people can make such good food themselves? Our host even made a Pillbury pizza for K who didn't seem to like even the chicken.

M brought his poker set along, so they played poker until about midnight. I caught some good programs on TV as poker's not my thing. To top the evening off, we got a $35 parking ticket from the Town for obstructing the sidewalk. After checking the by-laws, I realized I had misunderstood the rules. It seems we're allowed to park on the area between the sidewalk and the pavement, but not to block the sidewalk itself. Don't know how M plans to fight this one.

K is having a friend over to play in the afternoon. L has a tennis match this evening. Then the piano teacher should be coming over for lessons. School starts tomorrow! It will be hard getting up early in the mornings again.

The Water Horse

Having a late start this morning, feels like we're sleeping through the day, that much less can be accomplished. They say it's going to get really warm in a few days, like 9C on Sunday (50's F) if you can believe it.

K and I loved 'The Water Horse' movie, the heart warming 'Loch Ness' adventure of a lonely little boy in war-time Scotland. It was shot in New Zealand.

We're going to a friend's house for dinner this evening, it was planned for last Saturday, but she got sick. It was M's mother's birthday yesterday, but she also got sick.

I'm glad my decorations are all packed away and we're onwards into the New Year. Next year I have to remember the 'lottery ticket' stocking stuffer, I think it's a great idea.

I discovered 'Bolthouse Farms' fruit smoothies, they're nutritious, delicious (and sweet). K likes them too and half a cup equals one fruit/vegetable serving. We got the banana/strawberry flavour, but I've tried the Green goodness (Kiwi/vegetable) flavour, equally delicious. http://www.bolthousefarms.com/


News

Man hopes to profit from a 40 yr old infamous crime
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_18211.aspx

77 yr old Ontarian conquers Mt. Kilimanjaro
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_18281.aspx

Monkeys pay for sex by grooming
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080105/monkey_sex_080105/20080105?hub=SciTech

Cell phones

It'll be nice to get back to a routine once school starts again on Monday. Went for a walk this morning, it's warmed up a bit. Still haven't upgraded the cell phones yet. The Rogers place we went to didn't have a lot of the phones in stock, so we'll check back later. We like one of the Samsung ones with a decent resolution for taking pictures and it slides, rather than being a flip top, may be easier on handling. I notice a lot of people with their bluetooth wireless cellphones walking around with the headphones in their ear. Doesn't seem all that healthy.

M and L went to a Raptor's game, and K is bugging me to take him to see 'The Water Horse' although I'd rather rest at home. I'm starting to notice the new GST tax cut in my bills, every little bit helps.

News

Half siblings who met 16 years ago share 37M lottery
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080104/lottery_winners_080104/20080104?hub=TopStories

102 year old man starting new life in New Zealand
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_18254.aspx

Mother and daughter spend 2 days trapped in elevator
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_18246.aspx

Xmas decorations down

I'd like to take my Xmas decorations down today, hope I can get that done. We're trying to upgrade our cell phones so we've been trying to understand all the options for the past few days. It seems we are on the right plans so the next step is to choose phones, ensure we get the proper discounts and then we're all set. It's been a few years and it seems all the new cell phones have cameras and bluetooth on their phones now, which will be handy.

Well, time to go look about dinner.

News

Many would rather clean a toilet than visit the doctor
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071227/doctor_fear_071227/20080103?hub=TopStories

U.S. study probes link between non-Hodgkins, Vitamin C
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080103/vitamin_study_080103/20080103?hub=Health

Butterflies trick ants into raising young
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080103/butterflies_ants_080103/20080103?hub=SciTech

Got a manuscript? Publishing now a snap

We're having a bit of a cold spell, still it's nice and sunny today.

My aerobics teacher just told me she loved the bead scarf I gave her for Christmas, she said she wore it New Year's Day. I had given her a greenish one to suit her colouring. So it seems jewellery is generally a good female gift (as I hone the gift giving skills).

It seems if you are an aspiring author you can now publish your book quite easily, as per the news article below. (Lulu.com, Amazon.com through its Createspace)

News

Got a manuscript? Publishing now a snap
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080102/ap_on_hi_te/business_of_life_2

Thousands of Quebecers win free air travel
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080101/air_travel_080102/20080102?hub=TopStories

Researchers work on cocaine vaccine
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080102/ap_on_he_me/cocaine_vaccine_3

Cell phone users tie up traffic
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080102/tc_nm/usa_phones_traffic_dc_2

Most Canadians don't feel they have movie star looks
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_18204.aspx

Happy New Year 2008

New Year opened with lots of snow which will make it a quiet day. Let's hope for a great year ahead. I got a New Year e-card from a friend.

It was a great party last night, with 30 plus people. The surprise worked until the guest of honour came to the front door and heard a lot of whispering and there was a delay opening the door and he realized there was a party going on. He thought it was just a New Year's party though. My friend ordered a 'surprise' belly dancer to the scene which added a bit of excitement. She was in good shape and moved muscles I didn't know were there.

News

In-touch online: how blogs are making a difference
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071217/philanthropic_blogging_071217/20080101?hub=TopStories

12.7 cms of snow could mean free air travel
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080101/air_travel_080101/20080101?hub=Canada

Realistic wolf game teaches kids about nature
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071231/wolfquest_071231/20071231?hub=SciTech

Sleep disruptions may increase diabetes risk
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080101/sleep_diabetes_20080101/20080101?hub=Health