Had a nice lunch on Main Street with a friend yesterday. It was overcast and the streets were not very crowded. We started with a delicious, brandied sweet potato soup. My friend had a mushroom and cheese pizza and I had a roasted vegetable and goat cheese pizza. We decided to pass on the rich desserts and had a couple of comforting, hot lattes.
Poor L sprained her ankle during a tennis game at the university and is now on crutches, hopefully just for a few days. She's never done that before.
K is enjoying his first few days of school. He was happy to see some of his old friends in his new classes. He's in co-ed gym this semester and reports it as being a rigorous workout. The teacher sounds very adventurous.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Manual Lawnmower
I was out walking the other evening and noticed a lady mowing the lawn with a manual lawnmower. I got talking to her and she told me to be sure to get the kind with 4 wheels as she thinks they work quite well. She made the point that it's not only good exercise, it's good for the environment. How right she is. We also realized that a lot of women aren't comfortable with machines and gas-powered mowers. I would be one of them. So maybe one day I will get one of these manual ones.
News
YouTube shows a day through eyes around the world
I don't suppose too many people have this problem, but it's interesting in this article called: The Joy of Spending
News
YouTube shows a day through eyes around the world
I don't suppose too many people have this problem, but it's interesting in this article called: The Joy of Spending
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Move into University
So we left the house at about 6.40 am the morning of the move and arrived in less than 2 hours, no traffic. We stopped at a McDonald's for a quick breakfast. The unloading procedure was very organized, there were a lot of kids moving in that day. L went to check in and get all her documents while some students unloaded our 29 small boxes into trolleys and up the elevator to her suite. (Still don't know how M got everything packed into our van). The movers said they liked our small boxes that fit so well in their carts (I had picked them out of our supermarket bin). K and I walked up the stairs with all the valuables while M parked the van.
By the time we got up to the suite, all her boxes were outside so we started moving stuff in and unpacking. We met one of L's roommates inside and she mentioned that one of the other roommates is her friend. She had moved in the day before because she thought she had a sports tournament on the day of the move, but it got cancelled. I could tell she's organized by the way all her stuff was already laid out. I heard she had even re-arranged all the furniture in her room. She had a very tasteful, tall set of salt and pepper shakers, so I just put L's Walmart brand salt and pepper shakers in her pantry (lol). The girl had her own TV in the living room, her own set of pots and pans, a toaster oven and a section of the fridge was stocked with yogurt, juice, etc. She had her own loaf of bread in the freezer. L and M came into the suite a short while later.
The kitchenette has lots of storage in a way that each of the 4 girls can have shelves of their own for pots, dishes, etc. There is even a pantry with 4 separate sets of shelves.
L's roommate from her old school arrived with her mom and sister. Then the 4th girl's family came in. I don't remember meeting this 4th girl. She had a younger 16 yr old brother. I noticed the mom wiping the front door handles with a scrunched up face (like eww!). K said he saw her wiping down the kitchen cupboards, even the fronts of the doors. I liked that. I think when M and L filled out the residence survey, they must have asked for neat, organized people! One of the moms asked if we had a vacuum, so I told her I noticed a sign in the garbage room that you could borrow cleaning items from the Front Desk, so she was able to get a vacuum there, which she lent to M afterward.
The girl who had arrived the day before was bored and kept asking if anyone needed any help, but I didn't feel right putting her to work. K took all the boxes for recycling down to the first floor room.
K noticed a lot of first year boys moving XBOX 360's to their rooms and liked that. I had to remind him that serious study would have to start soon. He had forgotten. M saw others with speaker sound systems.
L was excited though tired. I think she's going to love the whole experience once she settles in. Hopefully she can get enough 'down' time. M heard on the news that Frosh week can be more stressful than the regular school week. The Soph kept coming into the suite announcing times for an evening floor meeting. He was probably wondering why we were still there.
All the parents came for less than an hour basically dropping the girls off. We stayed for 4 hours and completely unpacked. It took an extra hour figuring out how to cover L's unfortunately soiled mattress. It was a massive dried stain on the underside. We wrapped that section with clear plastic garbage bags, taped with packing tape. Then we put the provided flimsy mattress cover on top. Then we laid our memory foam which came with a covering layer and its own mattress pad. Then we put another mattress pad I had bought before I knew the memory foam had its own pad. Then we put the fitted sheet on top. Hopefully she can get a new one after she files a problem report.
So we finished around 2pm, caught our breath then left around 2.30pm. We saw L walking outside with her new roommates as we turned the corner. We stopped at McDonald's near the highway for a quick meal then were back home in about 2 hours, a bit past 5pm. Traffic wasn't too bad.
Close to midnight, we Skyped a bit with L who was exhausted from the busy day. Skype's wonderful. Her roommates had helped her mount some photos and posters (gifts from friends) on the wall and it looked lovely.
I was exhausted that night, though. The next day was a bit better. It was just good to slow down for awhile and return to normal breathing after weeks of packing and then unpacking.
By the time we got up to the suite, all her boxes were outside so we started moving stuff in and unpacking. We met one of L's roommates inside and she mentioned that one of the other roommates is her friend. She had moved in the day before because she thought she had a sports tournament on the day of the move, but it got cancelled. I could tell she's organized by the way all her stuff was already laid out. I heard she had even re-arranged all the furniture in her room. She had a very tasteful, tall set of salt and pepper shakers, so I just put L's Walmart brand salt and pepper shakers in her pantry (lol). The girl had her own TV in the living room, her own set of pots and pans, a toaster oven and a section of the fridge was stocked with yogurt, juice, etc. She had her own loaf of bread in the freezer. L and M came into the suite a short while later.
The kitchenette has lots of storage in a way that each of the 4 girls can have shelves of their own for pots, dishes, etc. There is even a pantry with 4 separate sets of shelves.
L's roommate from her old school arrived with her mom and sister. Then the 4th girl's family came in. I don't remember meeting this 4th girl. She had a younger 16 yr old brother. I noticed the mom wiping the front door handles with a scrunched up face (like eww!). K said he saw her wiping down the kitchen cupboards, even the fronts of the doors. I liked that. I think when M and L filled out the residence survey, they must have asked for neat, organized people! One of the moms asked if we had a vacuum, so I told her I noticed a sign in the garbage room that you could borrow cleaning items from the Front Desk, so she was able to get a vacuum there, which she lent to M afterward.
The girl who had arrived the day before was bored and kept asking if anyone needed any help, but I didn't feel right putting her to work. K took all the boxes for recycling down to the first floor room.
K noticed a lot of first year boys moving XBOX 360's to their rooms and liked that. I had to remind him that serious study would have to start soon. He had forgotten. M saw others with speaker sound systems.
L was excited though tired. I think she's going to love the whole experience once she settles in. Hopefully she can get enough 'down' time. M heard on the news that Frosh week can be more stressful than the regular school week. The Soph kept coming into the suite announcing times for an evening floor meeting. He was probably wondering why we were still there.
All the parents came for less than an hour basically dropping the girls off. We stayed for 4 hours and completely unpacked. It took an extra hour figuring out how to cover L's unfortunately soiled mattress. It was a massive dried stain on the underside. We wrapped that section with clear plastic garbage bags, taped with packing tape. Then we put the provided flimsy mattress cover on top. Then we laid our memory foam which came with a covering layer and its own mattress pad. Then we put another mattress pad I had bought before I knew the memory foam had its own pad. Then we put the fitted sheet on top. Hopefully she can get a new one after she files a problem report.
So we finished around 2pm, caught our breath then left around 2.30pm. We saw L walking outside with her new roommates as we turned the corner. We stopped at McDonald's near the highway for a quick meal then were back home in about 2 hours, a bit past 5pm. Traffic wasn't too bad.
Close to midnight, we Skyped a bit with L who was exhausted from the busy day. Skype's wonderful. Her roommates had helped her mount some photos and posters (gifts from friends) on the wall and it looked lovely.
I was exhausted that night, though. The next day was a bit better. It was just good to slow down for awhile and return to normal breathing after weeks of packing and then unpacking.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
98 years old and no enemies - human interest story
I'll be taking several days off from my daily posts while we get L settled into university and get K started back at school.
Meanwhile, I got this in an email:
Toward the end of Sunday service, the Minister asked,
'How many of you have forgiven your enemies?'
80% held up their hands.
The Minister then repeated his question.
All responded this time, except one small elderly lady.
'Mrs. Neely, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?'
'I don't have any.' She replied, smiling sweetly.
'Mrs. Neely, that is very unusual. How old are you?'
'Ninety-eight,' she replied.
The congregation stood up and clapped their hands.
'Oh, Mrs. Neely, would you please come down in front & tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years & not have an enemy in the world?'
The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said,
'I outlived the bitches…'
Meanwhile, I got this in an email:
Toward the end of Sunday service, the Minister asked,
'How many of you have forgiven your enemies?'
80% held up their hands.
The Minister then repeated his question.
All responded this time, except one small elderly lady.
'Mrs. Neely, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?'
'I don't have any.' She replied, smiling sweetly.
'Mrs. Neely, that is very unusual. How old are you?'
'Ninety-eight,' she replied.
The congregation stood up and clapped their hands.
'Oh, Mrs. Neely, would you please come down in front & tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years & not have an enemy in the world?'
The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said,
'I outlived the bitches…'
Friday, September 3, 2010
Keep your eye on the prize
I was at the gym recently and mentioned to a few ladies that my daughter's heading off to university very soon. One of the ladies said her daughter attended the same university and loved it. She's a teacher now, married and living in the area. This daughter came home a lot because her boyfriend (now husband) lived in town. The other lady said to me 'That's great!'. I was puzzled, but she said 'because it's exciting for them!'. She said the time goes by so fast and when they come home, you realize how messy they are.
My sister sent photos of her son's shared dorm room. She thinks they are living a charmed life. I noticed a big screen TV and they had bought a futon-type couch. They have a fridge, microwave and an Xbox 360! And the residence food is cheap. Hopefully they will survive the academic side. I keep telling L to 'keep her eye on the prize' and not to get too distracted.
K is getting ready for the start of his Grade 10 year. He requested co-ed gym this year. His solution to the house seeming empty when L is away, is to fill it up with new toys for himself. Yes, right. He was at an old friend's place for a pool party yesterday. It was touching to notice that the boy's voice had changed! We had seen him in the spring and he had grown taller, but now he's becoming a young man. All this stuff is bittersweet these days, everyone's growing up too fast. Oh, it was another saline (salt water) pool. K says you just have to remember not to open your eyes when you dunk your head in the water.
News
Brain Exercises Can Delay Mental Decline, But Then Watch Out
To Unfriend or Not to Unfriend: That Is the Facebook Question
My sister sent photos of her son's shared dorm room. She thinks they are living a charmed life. I noticed a big screen TV and they had bought a futon-type couch. They have a fridge, microwave and an Xbox 360! And the residence food is cheap. Hopefully they will survive the academic side. I keep telling L to 'keep her eye on the prize' and not to get too distracted.
K is getting ready for the start of his Grade 10 year. He requested co-ed gym this year. His solution to the house seeming empty when L is away, is to fill it up with new toys for himself. Yes, right. He was at an old friend's place for a pool party yesterday. It was touching to notice that the boy's voice had changed! We had seen him in the spring and he had grown taller, but now he's becoming a young man. All this stuff is bittersweet these days, everyone's growing up too fast. Oh, it was another saline (salt water) pool. K says you just have to remember not to open your eyes when you dunk your head in the water.
News
Brain Exercises Can Delay Mental Decline, But Then Watch Out
To Unfriend or Not to Unfriend: That Is the Facebook Question
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The first fall leaves
The mountain ash trees bloom at this time of year
And I noticed the first leaves are starting to turn, although we're experiencing a bit of a heat wave this week.News
Diabetes drug shows potential as a cancer fighter
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Best T-Shirt Design
I got this in an email and thought it was different:
Wow, welcome to September! It's been a busy summer and I'm looking forward to a bit of 'down' time this month, but you never know.
News
Food expiration dates: What do they really mean?
Wow, welcome to September! It's been a busy summer and I'm looking forward to a bit of 'down' time this month, but you never know.
News
Food expiration dates: What do they really mean?
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