Meeting Maya

Jason and I flew out to Edmonton yesterday to visit friends and family. For most of the trip we are staying with Mike and Aimee. I am so excited to see their daughter, my new niece! So this morning we got to meet Maya for the first time. (She was sleeping when we got in last night.) She is two months old so has started to smile, coo, and giggle. Of course Jason was able to get her laughing right away.

PHOTO:
Maya thinks Jason is hilarious!
Edmonton - May 19, 2016
Photo by me

Totally A Cunct

The 'word of the day' on Dictionary.com is

cunctator
noun [kuhngt-tey-ter]
1. a procrastinator; delayer

Procrastination is a really negative habit of mine that I am always fighting against. I delay everything then rush at the last minute.

Quotes Of The Day

People say that jokes and sarcasm may get lost in text messaging, that it might be hard for the receiver to understand the friendly and funny intention. Not with my friends and family! Check out these quips from this morning:

In a discussion with Erin AH about Two and how angry she is all the time.
Erin AH: She's in a constant state of terrible Two(s).

After sending my brother a picture from my kitchen door of our (large by Toronto standards) yard, back porch, and cherry tree in bloom - very excited about home ownership.
Mike: Where is the other half of that back yard?

Flat Surface?

So, Two isn't allowed on "flat surfaces" which basically covers tables (coffee, kitchen, dining room), counters (bathroom and kitchen), bookcases/shelves, and dressers. She can walk across and hang out on soft things like beds, couches, and the ottoman, also chairs even though they are flat they are an exception. We need to reinstate and reinforce the rules now we are in Casa Verde.

Is The Mantel A Flat Surface? Two Doesn't Think So

Casa Verde, May 2016

Photo by ME

Also, check out my beige living room and 'new crown molding.' I didn't know which part of that to put the irony/sarcasm quotes around, since we faked the look. I am super proud of how it turned out, it almost fools the eye, and even if it doesn't, as Mom said, "It looks fancier."

8am At No Frills

The fridge part of our refrigerator isn't working and I can't seem to keep food. It actually goes bad faster in the fridge cause I think it is sitting at a warmer/worse temperature than the counter. Either way that is really messing with my plans. I went to the grocery store on the way into work today to stock up on food for lunch that I can keep in the fridge there for the week. The No Frills around the corner opens at 8am.

There were a lot of interesting characters shopping at that time, including fire-fighters! They must have split up their list between teams to do the shopping because there was only one fire truck in the parking lot but I ran across a few groups. There were a bunch loading cleaning supplies into the truck one I got there. Inside, I saw one pushing a cart filled with cases of Gatorade. Then two walked passed me discussing the merits of different types of lettuce.

Besides being around a bunch of fire-fighters in uniform, which is super cool, grocery shopping that early in the morning is pretty nice since the store is stocked and empty.

Moved By Dad

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

Jason and I moved into Casa Verde last weekend. I was very thankful for the friends and family who helped out - I had never moved a whole house before. It was always just 'a room' in Ottawa when I was a student moving to a new place every couple of years. Here is a bit of a comparison:

All previous moves (in Ottawa):
- Parents brought the trailer (first the brown painted wood one, then the upgraded metal one)
- Dad wore his 'I'm moving things' back brace and sometimes socks with sandals
- Extra long twin bed separated easily into four pieces
- Had to unscrew the mirror from my dresser
- Wrapped the glass top of my desk in sheets
- Only had about 5 items of furniture, 4 boxes of stuff, and 2 suitcases of clothes
- Multiple loads driven around the block or down the street
- Took 2 to 4 hours of work
- Spent the weekend hanging out with my parents in Ottawa

This move:
- Full house of furnature and stuff
- Rented a U-haul truck
- No Dad

Big Drugs

I found out awhile ago that if I order my medication though the online pharmacy MediTrust than my benefits cover 100 percent of the cost instead of just 80. I made the switch and enjoy the convenience of delivery. However, I don't know if I previously was getting name-brand versions or if various generic versions are available but my new pills are MASSIVE. Check out the image to the right, they have literally doubled in size, and I take three of these guys every night. The smaller pills with the lighter grey are the kind that I have been taking for years. This drug isn't the only one with a size increase either, the other one that I ordered is also bigger, the only ones that stayed the same were birth control.

Both Sides Of Black Creek

He shuffled slowly across the ice of Black Creek before taking off at a quick jog over the snow on the far side. A silent run up the east bank, paws softly flicking the powder with each step. He stayed upright to cast a shadow in the figure of a man.

Six new colonies had taken root in the east valley and with them came wicker baskets filled with fruit. Taking one back across the creek could feed the herd for a week. The trees wouldn't stay for long, often planting a few sweet pieces of  fruit before moving passed to root further along to the south.

The herd was weak, spending too long each day asleep in the branches of the beech trees that grew locked to the west bank. First it was the gradual thinning, bones forming as the warm cushion of fat receded, next their coats would turn greasy, then dull, then start to fall out.

Digging the fruit up from the ground would be too slow to feed everyone quickly enough. The herd would start to deplete if he wasn't able to get a basket back to them. The trees slept at night, it was the right time to try to take the big prize.