Foo-ey

Had concert tickets for tonight, but O ended up taking one of his friends as I'm sick AGAIN!!!! Five horrible colds in five months, plus a noro-virus thrown in for good measure. Spending my evening in bed drinking ginger tea boiled with rat root. If anyone knows any other miracle cures, I'm open to suggestions.

Karen has recommended nasal irrigation, as seen on Oprah (and just so that doesn't seem so flaky, the Mayo Clinic recommends it as well.) Any other ideas please!

the latest house

Looked at two houses today. Getting an inspection on this one (click on the picture to see inside), and if that goes well, planning to put in an offer on Tuesday. The interior is really nice, except some of the colour choices are a bit.... um... garish. Newer windows, nice bathroom. Generally lots to like. Decent back yard with plenty of parking for our one car (plus my mom when she comes to visit). Like the neighborhood. Easy to work, lots of amenities close by.


But.... (why does there always have to be a but?!?) the exterior needs lots of work. New shingles are critical, as are eaves and downspouts. Wood siding needs some love. Will definitely affect how much we're willing to shell out to purchase it.

And of course, everything depends on the foundation and wiring being okay. Which the inspection should tell.

Not excited. Not hopeful. Not not excited or hopeful. Just good with however things go.

a letter

Dear Karen,

Hi. How are you? I am fine.

Well, actually, I'm not fine. I'm tired because my cat woke me up at 12:30 this morning. And I'm feeling very badly because part of your birthday gift is ruined.

Yes, the two are related.


While I was sleeping, he broke into the package that I had prepared to send. I woke up to the sound of his kicking the crap out of what I thought was a toy, and to the sparks he was creating as he rolled on the carpet in the dark. Imagine my horror when I got out of bed and reached down to throw the toy out into the hall, only to find part of your gift.

Please be assured that a replacement gift will be in the mail by tomorrow. My deepest apologies if it does not get to you in time. I know that you won't mind, but it really was so lovely.

With much love,
C.

miracle cure

rat root.

looks like cat poop.

tastes.... not that great. brewed in rose hip tea, then sucked on.

harvested in the wild by my co-worker's father.

i'm using it for it's expectorant properties.

and you know what? sinuses are better. i'm actually feeling somewhat better.

home sick

Have been smacked upside the head with ANOTHER terrible cold. Feel like I've been sick constantly since October, which is pretty much the case. Cold in October that lasted until the third week in November. Cold in December, followed by a norovirus over Christmas. Followed by another cold in January. Followed by this one. As of today, I've used up my sick time for the year.

So why am I blogging and not in bed? Just waiting for my ginger tea to steep, and felt like complaining to anyone who would listen.

In other news, the crappy and small houses that we looked at last week went for $162,500 for Minto and $192,00 for Dudley. O hasn't given up yet, but I'm starting to think that despite two incomes and a decent down payment, we are not able to afford a house in Winnipeg. Which is crazy. And depressing. Looking at two this Friday, but they are similar to the two mentioned above in size and area, so we're basically out of the running before we even start.

On top of the house hunting, my old job in Brandon is available again. Had to think really hard about whether I wanted to run back home. O is definitely the only thing keeping me here. Major regrets about leaving in the first place. But sticking it out here for a while. Going to a food conference on Friday and Saturday, so hopefully will be able to hook up with some community garden people and at least have a place to plant since it looks like I'll be stuck in an apartment for the foreseeable future. Bummer.

events

Got a note from my boss today to add the PlanetFriendly Green Events in Canada Calendar to our work blog, so I thought I'd add it here as well.

Actually attending one of the events listed: Growing Local, Getting Vocal: A Food Security Conference

Pretty excited about it. Mostly excited about getting out and connecting with people who share my interests. I've been missing that since moving back to the city. Takes a while to feel like you are part of the community again. And what better place to start than with food.

house hunting hell

Looking at three tomorrow (click to see details).

Trying to keep my expectations WAY low. Even if we love one (or all), even if they are currently within our price range... stupid Winnipeg market means that the chances of actually getting one, of being the successful bid, is rather low.

So here we go again...

another mini update

Have been trying to buy a digital camera, but have not been able to get the one I want here. It is about to be replaced by a new, and way more expensive, model. Finally found one, at Don's. In Brandon. So, will start taking pics and posting next week, once I figure the thing out.

Too bad I don't have it today. We have a water main break in front of our apartment, and people are trying to move in. The landlord has constructed a bridge of sorts. It's a mess. Oh well...

More soon...

high of minus fourteen

We have been freezing our butts off in Manitoba for about 6 weeks now, with only the odd day of reprieve. -23 and colder but with the wind chill, and it has been constantly windy, it feels like -38 and colder. So basically, really damn cold. Woke up today to -39, with a promise of -14 as the high. Shivering at the bus stop this morning, I tried to keep a positive frame of mind.

This helped.

I know... weather is year to year, climate is over a much longer period of time, so as far as climate change goes this doesn't mean anything. But still... maybe it will help the polar bears just a little bit?

And speaking of polar bears, I've been completely captivated by this site. Especially the videos and the tracker.

hello...?

Hey... how many months has it been? Say 6ish. I've been busy moving away from my little city back to the big city. Back to the organization I worked for seven years ago, actually, though the job itself is quite a lot different. For one thing, technology has changed massively. I think DVDs were just starting to be all the rage back then, and now they're on their way out. And the library, which used to be books on shelves, is now entirely virtual.

That has some limitations, for sure, but still, there are about 900 items on environmental and Aboriginal topics, or a combination of both, that have been catalogued. And about 10 more going in every day. Which basically sums up my job... maintain and grow the database of resources.

You don't actually need to sign up or log in. Just click "Search Library". And if you notice that we are missing something, suggest a resources!

Other than the new job, trying to adapt to apartment life again and feeling very frustrated by the terrible housing market here. Fortunately, it is winter, not garden season, so it isn't hurting too much yet.

Lots of eco stuff going on here, so will be posting weekly.

mini update

Have been massively incommunicado for weeks now, but with good reason...

Have been working on painting the trim on my house, which is still not quite done. Had a small fire (just a baby one) which was a bit of a set-back on sprucing things up. The restoration crew is done as of today, and the carpet cleaner is coming next week.

Have been applying for jobs in Winnipeg and anticipating a move in the not-too-distant future. Am shortlisted for one job (second interview tomorrow) and have another interview next week. Will take the first one if it is offered, though.

Have started house hunting in Winnipeg, but only semi-seriously since I don't have work there yet. Meeting with an agent this Saturday and O and I are going to check out a few places.

And since I'll probably be selling my house in Brandon, I've been purging knick-knacks and assorted stuff in a big way. Sold a bunch of CDs and clothes that I don't want any more, donating a bunch of stuff to the Funds for Furry Friends garage sale, and have taken out 2 large black bags of garbage and two large blue bags of recycling.

Whew!

And I'm planning a party for the 13th, so I can see everyone here before I go.

Not that I'm certain of getting one of the positions I'm interviewing for, but I've had an insanely easy time getting a job in the past, and I think there is a good chance that will happen again. Maybe false confidence. Maybe my luck will run out. Will let you know next week!

Okay... this post isn't "mini" anymore, so off I go to the gym, then home to mark essays.

Latah!

hiatus

It's been nearly a month since my last post, so thought I'd make it official... I'm taking a break until summer is over. Have way too much to do (like painting my house!) and it is way too nice outside to be sitting in front of a computer.

See you in September!

hiatus

It's been over a month since my last post, so thought I'd make it official... I'm taking a break until summer is over. Have way too much to do (like painting my house!) and it is way too nice outside to be sitting in front of a computer.

See you in September!

...and no birds sang

I have new neighbors. Loud (very loud) and wicked neighbors. If you ask the woman in the clock shop next door. If you ask the man who lives in the basement on the other side, and who likes to smoke and drink beer on his stoop at 9am on a Saturday while wearing tiger slippers, he would probably agree that our new neighbors are indeed loud. He seems to appreciate our their charms a bit more. As do I.

A family of American kestrels (aka sparrowhawks) has moved in. Mom, dad and baby. It is incredibly cool to watch raptors sitting on your roof, eating what I hope are mice from the slummy house behind me. More likely they gobbling up the local population of songbirds. Which, while it makes me a tad unhappy, is nature.

This morning I got up at 5:30 for yoga. As I was laying in that fog (you know the one) I realized that there was silence outside. Two weeks ago, it would have been madness, as all the little sparrows sat in the trees yelling their heads off. And that really did make me unhappy. Getting up is so much easier when the birds are busy outside. Getting up to nature is so much better than getting up to an alarm.

But since I have no choice in my new neighbors, I'm prepared to welcome them and enjoy their company. As long as they don't try to make off with my cat.

new wheels = two wheels

Sold my car for $500. To my next door neighbors, an older couple who run a clock repair shop out of their home and whom I've never actually seen drive any where. They have some sort of SUV that has been parked for the better part of the nearly 4 years that I've been living next door. And now they have a Golf to keep it company. I'm a bit sentimental about the car, so I'm glad that it hasn't been crushed, but it is a bit weird to see it parked in their driveway...So, $500 richer, I blew the whole wad on some sweet new wheels. Let me just say, bike technology has come a long way since I purchased my Trek Antelope killer-mobile back in 1990. Shocks! Wah? Some kind of new fangled breaks?!? Thankfully, I had the nicest dude helping me chose a suitable bike (Aaron at A&L) and came home with a Norco Vermont. Women's version, so I can ride to work in skirts. And complete with removeable basket. So now I'm proof positive that one can look really cute on a bicycle while wearing a helmet!

10 things I've been up to lately...

1. Storm chasing (near Elie, June 22. My pics aren't as good as these though...).
2. Gardening like crazy. But obviously not weeding the roses enough.

3. Hanging with good friends.
4. Trying to make it to yoga at 6:45am two days a week. Ugh. But it’s good for me, right?
5. Cheering my mom on when she dragon boats.
6. Drinking cocoa (I know, it’s like 30 degrees out…)

7. Riding my new bike everywhere. 8. Whippin’ O’s butt at crib (and while he might not like me bragging about it, doing so pretty much guarantees the my 2-game winning streak is over).
9. Surfing for cowgirl boots. But not buying any. Yet.
10. Reading. Reading. Reading. Reading. Reading. Reading. Reading. Reading.

inpiring...

Could go to the Musicycle Tour performance in my town tonight, but probably won't. Not that I don't think that what they are doing is really, really cool. I just have an arch nemisis that I'd prefer not to run into, and there is a good chance that he'll be there given his love of music, the environment and biking around. With so much in common, we should be friends. But we're not. So, anyway, think I'll stay home reading Persuasion instead. BUT if you happen to live near one of their future tour stops, then GO... and let me know how it was.

Also inspiring is EnviroWoman, the environmental superhero who was interviewed on CBC this afternoon. Really glad I happened to catch it. Tons of useful info, and really darned funny. Trying to reduce the plastic in my life, so I'll be returning to her blog often.

let me direct your attention...

To the Shakespeare in the Ruins website. If you click on the slideshow, you can see O. in all his 1958 Venice glory. Including one shot of his fine straight nose, which his mother is so proud of. :]

Missed the family and friends performance, and missing opening night (tonight), but will be in attendance on the 23rd. Taking Elliot with me for his birthday, and maybe dragging Anactoria along too?!? Elliot said she had mentioned going, and I'd love to meet her in person, so hopefully... Though her changing circumstances might have her in a more frugal frame of mind.

Also want to mention that I have a new post on Blue Greenie about a website that has become my latest internet obsession. Just an extension of an obsession that I already have, really. But check it out too!

skin deep

I've become obsessed with the new, improved Skin Deep website. Part of that is residual weirdness left over from my thesis on breast cancer... trying to de-toxify my life in every way possible. Part of it is my sensitive skin. Part is environmental. In any case, I'm looking up everything I use and trying to find better products to replace them with. Was happy to see that the soap I've been using is way up the list of stuff that ain't bad for ya.

I've used the old version of this site before, and not thought much of it. Interesting, ya, ya, but for some reason it didn't grab me. Was directed to the new site from Conscious Cosmetics, which is a blog by the Breast Cancer Action Montreal folks. Love the way one thing leads to another on the internet, though it can also be a horrible waste of time.

Have been thinking about being an "environmentalist", and I'm not sure that's how I'd label myself. Almost all my environmental do-gooding has been a direct result of health concerns stemming from my mom's cancer in 1999, or from the fact that I'm a perpetual student i.e. perpetually broke. So, using baking soda and vinegar to clean? Healthy and cheap. Turning down the heat in the house? Cheap. Hanging laundry on the line? Cheap... maybe I should be saying frugal. Walking everywhere? Healthy and frugal. Growing my own veggies? Healthy and frugal.

Haven't quite got the point of making my own cosmetics. Mostly it's a lack of time to learn how. And not wanting to waste money messing up recipes. But thinking about it, and was happy to get some ideas thrown my way by CC.

daily dose

Here's a website to check out: Daily Dose of Imagery. I love photography (looking at it, not doin' it) and I've become addicted to this guy's site.

K and T, I think you'd both really dig the site as he has a ton of photos from Toronto, where you both used to stomp around.