Not Dead Yet

Well surprise, surprise... my friend Linda and I inspected my tree last night and found 3 buds leafed out during the day. I guess my tree is not dead yet... I think I'm a bit sad. If it's alive that means I have to find a new home for it... I'm encountering an ethical dilemma here and will have to contemplate plant rights. Thankfully I have the whole year ahead. =)

How about a dating update. I think I have a positive outlook right now. My friend Wayne encouraged me to just go on lots of dates and forget about exclusive dating... not that I often make it to exclusive dating mind you. =) I went on a date last week with "M" and guess what!?! No - we're getting together again - he has a wonderful smile, is caring, is a workaholic, and has a great sense of humour. I'm going on a date with "D" this coming week and I know not much about him yet, but wish me luck... making a mental note to read his profile again before meeting. Oh and a few weeks ago... okay months ago when I took my communication course with Skillpath, which was really just a motivational talk, I met this guy "J" and we were calling each other and then I went away and didn't call him back... Well he called me the other night saying it's been a while give him a call... look at me I'll make it to that recommended 1 guy for each day of the week!! =) Just kidding.

My friends Natalie and Wendy recommend I date a kayaker and I'm all for that if I can find one who is single with a beautiful smile and is interesting and smart and... =) I did meet two really cool guys in Pincher Creek, but ends up one is married... why God why?!?! - he spoke spanish, and kayaked, and had a beautiful smile... sniff... sniff... The other also super awesome, but a bit young. Oh well. =) I'm dedicated to paddling as often as possible in the sun this summer. =) Yes, I am a fairweather paddler. In fact people are paddling the Red Deer River this weekend - what, 60 minutes tops form my mom's house but it's going to be raining... I can't get wet... I'll melt... =)

Drug Testing

You will all of course be relieved to know that I passed a drug test at work last week. WOW! Was I ever relieved. =) Okay, I know, I didn't really have anything to worry about.

This past weekend I started kayaking again after a 20 month absense because I hurt my shoulder in hockey. 6 hours of travel each way and I only paddled one day before my body said, that's enough!! =D Good lord I'm old. Tonight I have yoga scheduled so that should help get rid of the creaks.

But on to better news... I have started biking to work... I think this is old news cause I included it in my MS fundraising email. Thanks a bunch to you who have already donated, your tax receipts should be arriving shortly. My mom chastized me because I told her it would arrive after she already received it. Oops. =)

And sad news... =( I will not be able to start my stone patio this weekend due to complications with the weather forecast. Instead I will head to the farm to do some electrical work for my mom. Hee Hee... I am such a pro now. But this break gives me more time to dream about the front yard. I thought about rearranging it to improve drainage... by improve I mean terrace the yard so that moisture is evenly distributed to the plants instead of creating the drought conditions at the top and the swamp at the bottom. I have to admit I felt a little anxious about the plants in the front yard, but figured that one more year would be okay... well one more year is irrelevant now - half of them died =(

I know it is a travesty!! The silver lining though, remember the silver lining... I did not like my tree in the front yard and I wanted to rearrange the shrubs... well, now I get to choose my own tree... I am open to suggestions for ones that have living leaves for a good part of the season. I'm contemplating Snowbird Hawthorn or Oak. Now I have time to plan... I will need my drafting book for this one, it's complicated. And as for the plants... those that grow... well they get bigger.

Cookies 2

I am torn with the whole cookie rationing project. I have decided that 4 cookies a day is more realistic - 2 with lunch and 2 with supper. To be honest, I made supper last night, just so I could eat cookies. I was going to have popcorn. Really I wanted popcorn, so I may have that tonight. I'm eating leftovers so popcorn will be a nice change.

Why is popcorn so tempting right now you ask. Because I have a craving, I love good popcorn, and also because I am running low on frozen dinners. This weekend, I think I'll make some soups or stews or something and maybe grill up some meat strips for quick stirfries and sandwiches. I am still a pinch away from creating the perfect butternut squash soup. I have purchased ingredients again and am ready for hopefully my final try. My last one didn't work out, I think cause I added coconut milk. I like coconut, but the milk in soup tastes like stale beer. =(

Meal planning is an art that I was unluckily not born with.

Oh, and to keep you posted on dating... I've been on a few more first dates, but how do I say this. I am feeling downhearted; like perhaps some of my friends are right, that I'm destined to be eternally single. =( But really, I prefer my friend Kirsten's version. I just haven't met anyone at my level in the pyramid yet. Yes, that's it and as a bonus it keeps me motivated and my self-confidence elevated. =)

Thank god, cause no one wants a cranky, moody princess around!! =)

Cookies

I really like cookies. Actually, in all honesty it may be more of a passionate obsession. Regardless, it has come to my attention that eating cookies does not constitute supper; no matter how delicious they are nor how healthy they are. Now this may be self-evident, however, sometimes in between travelling, I forget what to cook, or I am tired, or . Cookies are easy and quick. But I've had to close my mouth and consider my health and jeans; I am no longer going to eat cookies for a major meal. I may eat popcorn, but from now on no supper means no cookies. I've been enforcing this lifestyle change for 7 days so far... I'm 7 for 7!! =) I am also trying to limit my consumption to 2 cookies a day... that resolution is so far 2 for 7.

I have found out hearty cookies, such as trail mix or nutty, dried fruity cookies, are an acceptable breakfast.

Thankfully this means I can still bake and freeze cookies. I am extremely relieved by this news as some of you know, I recently purchased my long sought after kitchen aid. I have used it every week, sometimes multiple times a week testing it on various cookie recipes. Delicious!! Yes my cookies are more delicious than ever. I think too, I started using stoneware to bake my cookies and I have fallen in love with stoneware for baking cookies. I need to buy a special stoneware pan for nut-free cookies though, cause I'm pretty sure that nut oil will stay in the stoneware, contaminating nut-free cookies. Now like the kitchen aid, the stoneware also involves some experimentation. My first batch were a flop, thankfully I made a batch on a metal pan at the same time and they didn't turn out either, so obviously it was my fault. =(

Lucky for me "A Few Spokes Short" holds an annual Pampered Chef party to fundraise for the MS bike tour in September so I'll buy a stoneware pan then. =) No worries, I'll send out an invitation to you so you can come to the party and I'll soon be sending out an email seeking your MS donations. Last year I raised $1500 and this year I'd like to match that goal, but I'll start with a goal of $1000.
And even better, now that I've started biking again, my inability to limit my cookie consumption to 2/day will actually be beneficial as I will no doubt require additional calories to sustain myself. =)

Hockey gear is packed and biking gear is already unpacked! Oh right, and my kayaking gear is about to be unpacked, once it gets a little warmer. =)

If anyone is interested in going out for a bike ride or paddle, call me.

See you on the trails, or river, or both. =)

Born in the wrong country

As one of my first attempts to get out into the dating scene, a few single friends and I went salsa dancing. I am really funny to watch salsa dancing, but I had such a good time I’m going again tonight. =) Now to find a clean shirt… hope my x-country ski gear is clean for this weekend… I’d better check.

Ironically, right after that I met a seemingly wonderful man online who likes dancing. He’s in Chile right now but wants to get together when he gets back in early March. And he wants to learn to x-country ski. And he loves mountain biking. I think I just fainted. Can this be another man who seems overly compatible with me??

There is a second man who seems very compatible, but I haven’t sent him a note yet as I am trying to weed out some of my lower interests first to avoid overwhelming myself. Yes this is ridiculous as he may get nabbed up, give me a couple of days, I’m just coping as I can.

Anyways, back to the born in the wrong country theme. I make empanadas de pollo last weekend and they were phenomenal, then I made another Mexican dish earlier this week, I’m dying to learn how to make picadillas, I speak Spanish, I watch Mexican telenovelas with a passion… and thus my colleague Carlos humorously proclaimed that he thought I was born in the wrong country. Wait till my mom hears that one. Mom, I love you and I’m glad to be Canadian. =)

Well I’m off to the library and then to dance.

Salsa Dancing

Just another Spain picture.

Well, with a new year comes a renewed sense of courage and energy for dating. I am currently trying online dating at Plenty of Fish and speed dating. Let’s start with the speed dating. I went to the zoo – cool!!! I have been informed the best time to go to the zoo is Saturday morning in the winter because the animals are sometimes out wandering the halls. Oh the perks of a small zoo. I haven’t been back yet, but I think it could be a good date. I’m not sure it is for everyone though; I heard one lady loudly complain about the urine smell… hee hee… it wasn’t me. =)

I had a wonderful time, but didn’t really meet anyone of interest. I did check yes to some names just to be… you know… a good sport. But now that I have to go on a date with these men, it’s a bit of a chore. =( My friend Wendy wisely advised me not to waste my time if I wasn’t interested. She’s right, I know she’s right. But I was trying to be, like I said, a good sport. Not to worry, I’ll spring back.

Now to online dating. WOW! I often have a good time there. There are three people I’m interested in and currently writing to. But one of them suggested meeting and I have to admit, my heart sank… why? I think perhaps because I have an image of this person and the reality may be different.

So my 10 dating goals in no particular order include:
1. Conversing with people I’m interested in.
2. Remembering to ask about their spiritual beliefs as I am pretty sure God is important to me and my lifestyle.
3. Finding cool (and cheap) events to do around Edmonton.
4. Praying that they bike and x-country ski or do something I really like.
5. Getting out to actually date in real life and not sitting in front of the computer.
6. Brush my hair and wear make up.
7. Judge people by their ability to spell.
8. Wear nice shoes, people look at shoes I am told.
9. Sacrifice sleep for dating, occasionally.
10. Be nice.
… well I just started this list two nights ago, I guess it needs some tweaking. =)

Square Dancing

I found a place to stay. I ended up staying with the chief another night. =) We had a great night!! We drove around for a poker rally and WOW!!! What a great time! I didn't win anything but it was entertaining to go from house to house. At one stop, a tent, we ate white fish right off the fire... some of it was raw, which was different for me. I liked the cooked stuff better. We ate just about a whole fish!!! And bannock, I love coming north to make bannock even though I can make it at home.

After we went back to the band hall for a dance and talent show. I square danced!!! I had such a wonderful time. Then these young girls decided that I was the coolest thing and wouldn't let go of me for the rest of the night. Weird. Still they were entertaining. For talent we heard from Johnny Cash, a Mexican, and Tina Turner. =) WOW! Everyone got right into the event. We were even voluntold to jig - it was a competition. I had no idea how to jig, but I hear I did okay. Today a number of people thanked me for participating in the dance and said I did good... looking around I can see why I was a bit of a spectacle, I was one of two non-native-out-of-towners in attendance. If I lived up here I think I would want to get involved in the entertainment. There's another dance tonight, but I'll be on a flight home. Would have been on one already, but I missed it. Oops.

Now to convince the client that our next meeting needs to be up here during carnival!! =)