What time was it when I lost my mind?

At some point I became obsessed with clocks. Yes, clocks. Don't read that wrong. This problem snuck up on me for reasons I still do not understand. Reasons I can not explain.

I am a little bit embarrassed about this and for awhile I didn't tell anyone. But whatever. It's time, not heroin.

I need to have a clock in every room of my house. I feel comforted knowing I have access to one at all times. If I am somewhere without one I actually feel panicky. What is up with that? Seriously, when did I go crazy?

Both my kitchen and bathroom are rooms where I don't want to put a clock up on the wall, so instead I have small battery operated clocks 'hidden' in the cupboard. That way if I need to know the time, I can just peak in and see it.

I once bought one of those clocks that project the time on your ceiling. To wake up in the middle of the night and be able to see the time without moving is bliss. I had to get rid of it because the digital display was too bright and lit up my room. This made me crazy. In a bad way.

I recently started a new job and I was pretty excited to get a clock for my new desk. So I bought one only to find one of the digits didn't light up. So I bought a battery operated one and put that one up too. For a short time, I had them both on my desk. I didn't realize this time problem of mine was obvious to anyone else until this guy walked by the other day and said "Well, you got rid of one, that's good. What's up with you and clocks? You know the time is on your computer screen right?".

Yes. I know.

Two weeks ago I went to Windsor for the weekend. The clock in our hotel room did not work. Are you kidding me? I had to sleep with my cell phone within arms reach so that if I woke up during the night, I would be able to know what time it was. Guess who is going to travel with their own clock from now on?

The irony of all this is that I'm generally late for everything. Everything. For someone crazy about time - you'd think I'd learn to manage it better.

*Note: The picture posted above was taken from Pinterest. I love this clock and I want it badly.


Favourite of the Day: Everything. Loving work. Good food. Good friends. Good music. Being organized. Relaxing. I love life today.

Office Life

"Hi, how are you?"
"Good, thanks, how are you?"
"Good"

How many times a day does this conversation happen in an office (in life) each day? Too many to count. I've been thinking about this for awhile now. It is friendly banter and it is polite. Nothing wrong with that. Every morning when you step off that elevator your real life is left behind and you enter your work life. The one where you smile and make small talk with everyone around you.*

When asked 'how are you?' 'Good' is the automated response. People rarely respond with how they truly feel. I think about what people might battle behind closed doors. Anxiety, depression, cancer, loss, divorce, physical abuse, mental abuse, miscarriages, infertility, affairs....just to toss out a few possibilities. Life deals out some pretty tough stuff.

I have been working in the same office for over 10 years, with a staff of roughly one hundred people. That's a lot of people. That's a lot of tough stuff.

So - Is it a bad thing that some may come to work and put on a smile to make it through the day? OR is it a good thing that work offers an environment to leave your other life behind and provides the opportunity to focus your attention elsewhere?

Perspective is a powerful tool.




*There are exceptions of course. Solid, deep friendships are formed between co-workers but in a general sense, most people are friendly acquaintances.

It sure is.

Perhaps the best commercial I have ever seen.

Not only is this kid amazing, but her parents as well. For raising her to believe in herself. She CAN do anything.

Love everything about this.

Gold, Frankincense and Jewellery

One of my nieces asked for a personalized name necklace for Christmas. So I bought her one. I did not research this. I went online, clicked on the first website and ordered it.

As time passed by and it did not arrive, I began to worry. I went back to the website only to discover the company is based in Israel.

Yep. I-s-r-a-e-l.

I worried it would not arrive in time, but thankfully it arrived yesterday.

Anyway, last night I realized something. Do you remember what else came from Israel? Ya - that's right. JC himself.

Some people turn to the Sears Wish Book for their gifting needs.

Not me.

I get mine straight from the manger.

(The Israeli postage)

~~~~~~

Happy Holidays my friends!

May you all have the opportunity to spend

time with those you love.

That is the greatest gift of all.

In the meadow we can build a snowman.....

I'm not sure what he loves more: snow in the winter or the hose in the summer?

Have you ever seen a dog so excited?

My pooch-nephew Oscar is the cutest.

Photos by Amy (his mom)

Fortune Cookies

The other day Heidi wrote about a fortune she has been keeping with her since she was 15. I read some really neat stories her friends shared about fortunes that affected their lives as well.

For many years, I have had two fortunes stuck on my fridge. Fortune cookies to me, are entertaining and not something I put much worth in. Usually. But these two messages brought meaning to my life years ago and I felt the need to hang on to them. I pass by them on a daily basis, never giving them much thought. Until now.

The timing of this resurfacing is uncanny. Not to get all Celestine Prophecy on you over here - but can this all be a coincidence? Did I read about other people's fortunes, then re-visit my own at a time when they couldn't be more applicable to things happening right now?

Yet again, things have come full circle and I love the feeling my innards feel. Like fairies are dancing in a cloud of sparkles. It all makes sense. Things DO happen for a reason.

Favourite of the Day: Learning. Growing. Cheesy but true.

Short and Sweet

A few years ago Amy and I took Darienne and Avery to the water park for the day. Most of the staff at the park were foreign students from all over the world. Their name tags had the country they were from written underneath their name.

As we paid for our tickets, five year old Darienne noticed one girl was from Spain. She excitedly told her she had friend who lived in Spain and could speak Spanish. Then she said “Maybe you know her – her name is Dora”

How stinkin' cute is that?

Tacos, Clams and Chicken

I like Brandi Carlile. Great voice.

Might I make this bold statement? If lesbians were to square off with straight chicks in a music competition, Team Lez would take home the gold.




This is unrelated but I went to Wendy's the other day and I got this in my meal. If you don't see why this cracked me up - were not friends. Also, this was the same Wendy's that Bri did the Undies Parade in. How much do I love this place?

Star-shmucks, Maybe.

I decided that I hate Starbucks. I'm not sure why I suddenly became so hostile towards the place, but I did. As I stood there looking around and listening to people talk - I realized how much I hate everything about it.

On Wednesday I was down in Southern Ontario and I had some time to kill. I was hungry and I saw one within walking distance. I went in and ordered a "Skinny Peppermint Mocha". Which I thought was a mint flavoured hot chocolate. It wasn't. It had espresso or some other gross crap in it. "Skinny" meant they used non-fat milk. Though I'm not sure how skinny it was when the girl put whip cream on it. Genius, right?

I also ordered a muffin. The stupid "Venti" mocha and muffin put me out $8.00. Ridiculous.

As I stood there waiting for the girl to ever-so-non-chalantly-despite-the-crazy-line-up create this fancy shmancy dumb drink at a turtle's pace, I listened to other people order their drinks. Venti. Grande. Soy. Non Fat. No Whip. Skinny. No Foam. Half this. Half that.

How about a nice warm glass of shut the hell up? (Happy Gilmore, anyone?)

DON'T PEOPLE JUST ORDER COFFEE ANY MORE? The smug and pretentious clouds in the room were burning my eyes so I promptly left. Thankfully, I don't drink coffee. I rarely drink hot drinks. My hatred for this store means nothing and affects no one. I just needed to vent. Okay. Done.

For all you supporters - I went to their website. I acknowledge they do some good. Responsibly Grown. Fair Trade Coffee. Economic Accountability. Social Responsibility. Yada Yada Yada.

I stand by the fact that if some dude had to create a chart to decipher your menu - you suck.







Side note: Did you know this sweet actress, Frances Bay, died in September
at the young age of 92?


Favourite of the Day: Tonight my sister told me she tried to show her dog a picture on her iPad but 'he wouldn't look at it'. HAHAHAHAHA.

The Plague

Last night I went grocery shopping at 12:30am. As I was walking by the fancy cheeses, this big fat spider ran in front of me. He was creepy and I was too chicken to kill him so I just ignored him.

A few minutes later, right near the pears, the little bugger showed up again. My mind started to wander. I was sure he was some type of exotic African spider who had arrived at the store hiding between bananas. I figured he was probably poisonous and was going to lay eggs all over everyone's produce. Yes, I know he couldn't lay eggs, he obviously left his wife napping in the bananas while he went for a midnight snack. I knew I had to do something.

The store was deserted so no one else would get him. I was grossed out by the thought of squishing him. So I put on my McGyver thinking cap and ran over to the olive cart. I took one of the clear plastic containers and ran back to trap him. For being a poisonous African spider, he certainly wasn't very fast. I trapped him with very little effort.

....and I left him there. I decided to just carry on grocery shopping and pretend that didn't happen. I figured a floor cleaner would find him and deal with the situation.


Later, as I was checking out, I watched a man walk in, see the container on the floor, stop and stare at it for minute then keep on walking. This made me laugh pretty hard. I decided to fess up to the cashier. I told the guy I trapped a spider in the produce section and they had to take care of it. I explained the situation. As I pushed my cart out I heard this conversation:

Guy Cashier: I'm just heading over to produce for a minute. I have to find a spider a customer trapped over there. I'll be back in a sec.
Girl Cashier: What?
Guy Cashier: You heard me.
Girl Cashier: Man. The things that happen here during night shift are so weird.

Weird my ass lady. I probably just saved you from the plague of the Crazy African Spiders.

This is the actual spider. I took this picture on my phone and

showed it to the cashier.