Wednesday 31 December 2014

Done With It

Ok, I am done with this year. I had lots of backdating plans to fill up December with posts but I just wanted/want a break. This month has flown by and has been insanely busy. Jason had his birthday at the end of November, then we did a lot of Christmas things early because we took a trip to Edmonton to visit with Mike and Aimee. (In fact we are flying back from Edmonton this evening; Jason, Mom, and I have been here for a week.) So, I will be saying goodbye to 2014 in the Toronto airport and tomorrow morning, I am going to start fresh with Always Standing for 2015.

Thursday 11 December 2014

A New Baby

Aria Lynn 
Born: August 3, 2014

In my usual form, I am very late with my Always Standing congratulations, but on August 3rd, Amanda (SoccarStar, WalkerPal) and her husband, Tim, welcomed a beautiful daughter into their family. Amanda and I have been friends since elementary school; we walked together and were always late. Of course, we were also friends all through High School too. I very much wish she lived closer to Toronto (in fact she did live in the city but I was in Ottawa at the time, and moved away before I got here.) Amanda is amazing and I miss her a lot.

When she was born, Aria Lynn was 'only' 5lbs 13oz, and I like to hear about tiny babies, since 8 and 9lbs now seems to be the norm. (I was 6lbs 11oz, and I don't think I was considered small at all.) I have yet to meet Aria Lynn, however a very pregnant Amanda was at Teri and Greg's wedding on July 26, so I was in the same room as the baby - kinda. Teri and I will make our way to see the new one soon, and of course visit with proud big brother Hudson.

All photos by:
Copywrite 2014

Tuesday 9 December 2014

An Award

Jason has received an important honour for the work he has been doing over the last 6 months to a year.
JASON WOODS
Outstanding Technical Achievement Award 
from IBM Canada 
in December 2014 
for contributions to BigSQL 3.0

I don't really know what any of that means, but it is a big deal and I am very proud of him. (It also came with a bit of money and his manager suggested that he spend some of it on me, which I highly support.)

Sunday 7 December 2014

My Dad Rocked

Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.

At spinning recently I was reminded of my dad when the following song came on:

Raise Your Glass (2010)
by P!nk


I don't know why it always seems to be P!nk songs that remind me but they are really connected to time I spent with Dad recently. The main thing that got my dad active on the internet, in general he could be a bit of a technophobe with some times, was music. He was on Napster and other downloading sites and quickly replaced most of his mixed tapes with CD compilations and most recently iTunes playlists.

He found out that the local library allowed a few downloaded songs a week for free and Dad become very disciplined in researching and getting new music. (He also used mine and Mike's cards to get music for himself - Mike shouldn't have even had a card seeming that he lives in Edmonton.) With the library program, Dad downloaded a lot of P!nk. Thinking about it now, I realize that my dad has always like 'Rock' music and a lot of recent stuff is pop or folk or a softer type of rock. P!nk isn't, her sound is a good throw back to the real rock sound of the 1970s. (I also really enjoy that so many of her songs have really positive messages in the lyrics.)

Saturday 6 December 2014

Two Sleeps Like People

Sometimes Two thinks she is people, and sleeps tucked up under the covers:

But most of the time she remembers that she is a cat and sleeps beside people:


Photos by ME
Taken with Jason's Phone

Tuesday 2 December 2014

Dystopian Capitalist Hellscape

--------- from Buzzfeed

Proof that we live in a dystopian capitalist hellscape.... This is a boat inside another boat for maximum boat:
I want one!

Monday 1 December 2014

Xmas List 2014

Normally I am way faster than this at getting out Christmas Lists. This year I was waiting until after Jason's birthday. (He doesn't like Christmas stuff being done before his birthday, which I decided to honour this year, but it doesn't really work because it is too rushed to ignore all Christmas things until December.)

Joint (Jason and I)
- Gift Cards: Cineplex, Harveys, Canadian Tire
- Queen Size Blankets
- King Size Sheets
- Wii Remotes
- Camping kettle (place on burner/fire style)
- Bath Towels (big fluffy ones)
- Travel Coffee Mugs
- Large container/bin to store cat food
- Phone charger

 Jason 
- Gift Cards: MEC, EB Games, Chapters, Tim Hortons
- Clothes: Tops (Med), Pants (33:30)
- Interesting boardgames
- Tassimo: Tim Hortons Coffee
- Socks for biking
- Wallet
- Windshield washer fluid
- Coke in glass bottles
- Montreal Steak Spice Rub

Chris (Me!)
- Gift Cards: Cykl, Caryl Baker Visage, Dollerama
- Shirts to wear to work in winter (Med/Lrg)
- Nice cardigans/zip-ups for work (Lrg)
- Tassimo: Tetley Chai Latte
- Tank tops, all colours/styles (Lrg)
- Microwave (not fancy, used is good)
- Allergy Medication
- Jameson Irish Whiskey
- Epson Salts
- Sweat Bands, Ladies, Forehead/hair
- Case for New Phone (ask Jason about the type)
- Toronto Maple Leafs shirt/jersey (Lrg)
- Caramel Corn