Friday funny

he Bachelor And His Cat

A bachelor who lived at home with his mother and pet cat went on a trip to Europe. Before he left he told his best friend to inform him of any emergencies.

A few days after his departure, his cat climbed up on the roof, fell off and was killed. His friend immediately wired him with the message: "Your cat died!"

In a few hours he was back home, having cut short his trip in grief and anger at his friend, whom he told "Why didn't you break the news to me gradually? You know how close I was to my cat! You could have sent a message 'Your cat climbed up on the roof today', and the next day you could've written, 'Your cat fell off the roof' and let me down slowly that he died."

After a quick memorial service, the bachelor left again to continue his trip. A few days later he returned to his hotel and there was a message waiting for him from his friend. It read, "Your mother climbed up on the roof today."

Thankful Thursday

I'm so thankful I was able to stay home from work today.  Having the flexibility in my schedule is one of the rare perks of working where I do.  (Seems like I said that before...and it's still true!)

I'm thankful I"m indoors because we've got more snow with wind today.  It's looking gray and blustery out there with snow coming off the roof of the house.  I'm especially thankful for the kitty (Sasha) who is cuddled up in my chair with me - we both warm and cozy!

I'm thankful for the time to relax and watch my favorite sport, curling.  I'm so impressed with the caliber of the shot-making of the Canadian curlers.  It truly is a game of inches!

I'm thankful I can take a break from work, and enjoy my home.  I've been baking again this morning, a batch of cookies for our work Adopt-a-family bake sale, and a batch of buns for us.  Oh yes, the batch I made last weekend is gone completely.  I do make small batches as there are only three of us; the recipe I use makes about 3 dozen buns.  It's not unusual to see my son munch down on three or four at a time...so they don't last long around here!

I'm thankful, despite the frequency with which they annoy me, my two adult children.  With their help this house will look like Christmas by the end of the weekend.  C will help me move the furniture, and D will help decorate.  I'm thankful for my cats, who will ensure the tree skirt gets covered in fur, and give me purrs even when I shoo them away!

I am most thankful for those who stop by the blog, to say hello and check-in.  I appreciate the comments everyday, and especially on those days when life seems to be weighing heavy.  I am grateful that today is not one of those days.

Wishing you all a thankful and peace filled Thursday!

Boo, hiss, hurray, hurray!

So does anyone else think it is a hinky coinky dink (a funny coincidence) that a bunch of folks have run out of room on their blogs for photos at the same time?  I just got the message when I tried to upload a photo that I had reached my limit.  I've seen suggestions that one re-size photos currently in the blog to smaller versions ...sounds like a lot of work to me.  Or I could pay the $2.50 per month they are asking for additional storage....the thought of paying $2.50 a month for the rest of forever is at the very least annoying, at the worst it seems like conniving (see my original thought).  Or I could start another blog every time I run out of room for photo....again sounds like a lot of work for me!

I was trying to update a picture I took this a.m. of my kitchen sink.  My annoying lovely daughter was baking last night for the company adopt-a-family event.  Kind of her, but she left all of the baking dishes in the sink, ugh!  I assume she thought the dishwashing fairy would show up overnight and clean up after her. Didn't happen, of course.  I cleared up what I could before work, but most of the bowls and baking tins had not been rinsed so the batter was stuck on solid.  I left them in a sink full of water this morning, and when she gets home from her second job I'll suggest she has another chore to do.  You can imagine for yourself how that conversation will go.

On a far happier note, I'm done work for the rest of the week.  At the moment, I'm watching Kevin Martin and his team make mincemeat out of Brad Gushue's team at the evening draw.  They're both good teams but Gushue's team is sure struggling tonight.  Over the course of next few days I plan to watch the curling, while between games I'll do more baking, and get my house decorated for Christmas.  That's the plan ...and if I find a solution to my storage problem I'll share photos.

AND I even figured out what was wrong with my camera.  It was the nut holding the wheel...there's a little switch on the front, with MF, AF-C, and AF-S that I had apparently changed from one option to another.  It's back on AF-C (auto focus c?) and working just fine!

Hope the weekend comes soon for everyone!

Getting to know me

Next week, I'm heading to Saskatoon for a couple of days of training with one of my co-workers.  The course is meant to help us understand how to communicate with one another, while acknowledging the preferred communication styles each of us use on a daily basis.  While it sounds interesting, I understand they use a lot of role play (ewww) and participants are required to attempt to communicate using different styles from their preferred style. (oh that's gonna be fun!)

Before we attend the event we were asked to complete a few pre-assessment exercises.  The first was a list of sentences, and we were to answer how we would normally react to a specific situation, or simply provide our first impression.  The second was a scored exercise with 1 being low and 5 being high to rate our effectiveness in communication in various situations and by different modes (verbal/non-verbal, writing).  The third exercise asked us to list three personal strengths and weaknesses as it relates to communication.

In addition, we were asked to have three of our fellow employees complete the same exercises for comparison, one of whom was to be our manager.  It's all supposedly done on a confidential basis, the peers are assigned a number but it was pretty clear who answers I was reading when I reviewed the responses. :-)

The results of the first exercise were most surprising to me.  My peers saw me as more analytical and directive, and less amiable and expressive.  This was a huge difference from my viewpoint, as I saw myself as more directive and amiable...though perhaps there is a clue in there as those two words wouldn't normally be connected in my mind either. 

So that got me to thinking - am I really not amiable?  I had to look it up....

·ami·a·ble

  [ey-mee-uh-buh l] 

adjective

1.

having or showing pleasant, good-natured personal qualities;affable: an amiable disposition.

2.

friendly; sociable: an amiable greeting; an amiable gathering.

3.

agreeable; willing to accept the wishes, decisions, or suggestions of another or others.

Hmmm..I think I'm pretty good-natured, (well at least until someone does something stupid or irritates me).  And I'm usually pretty friendly and sociable...most of the time.  The last one quality...well I must admit I tend to be a bit contrary.  So maybe I'm not as amiable as I like to think I am. 

And that got me thinking even more (is that the analytical person in me coming out?).  The person I am at work is not the same person I am at home with my family, or as I am with friends, or among a group of strangers.  At work, I'm pretty serious, I  tend to think it's more important to get the work done before we have fun, and hugging my co-workers...not so much.  At home with friends and family, I'm more into the hugging and less worried about getting the housework done. :-)  With a group of strangers I'm sure I seem withdrawn, even shy.  I realize it's because it takes me awhile to warm up to people, to open up and trust.  

I've decided perhaps the difference in how I see myself, and how others see me is merely the result of the situation.  

On the other hand the second exercise had my peers ranking me high in every form and method of communication, while I ranked myself around the middle.  I struggle sometimes often to find the right words, as what's on the tip of my tongue isn't always appropriate nor how I want to say it.  I have to assume they don't see the struggle I go through at times.  

The final exercise was most interesting, it's pretty apparent my manager doesn't know me nearly as well as my peers do.  (That's okay because he thinks very highly of me - hopefully good for the career).  On the other hand, the strengths and weaknesses they identified were nothing new to me.  I guess all the navel gazing I've done over the past years had taught me a lot about myself. 

One question though..why the heck does blogger think 

analytical

  is spelled incorrectly?  I even used the dictionary to check it!

Thank Cod for good people

The following article appeared on the CBC website today:

After surviving a horrific incident in Prince Albert, Sask., that killed two kittens, a mother cat and her surviving offspring are getting a fresh start.

Earlier this month, the Siamese cat and her five kittens were put in two backpacks, and placed behind the wheels of a car in a parking lot.

One of the bags was run over before the driver noticed.

Two kittens died, while the mother and three other kittens survived.

Now, Larry and Nellie Bleile from Biggar have adopted the mother cat. Two of the kittens have also been adopted.

The person who placed the bags under the car has not been caught.

My brother, the police officer, has suggested if they want to find the culprit, to check You-Tube.  With the lack of sense (and humanity) displays by the idiot(s) who did this, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.  Thankfully there are still good people out there!

Not just another Sunday

Did you realize it's only a month until Christmas?  And less than a month to the end of Mayan calendar...though I expect that means it's also the beginning of the next Mayan calendar.  

I got a good amount of baking done yesterday and this morning.  Today I started my toffee bars, made a cranberry/white chocolate blondie and my favorite cookies, mocha crisps.

I still haven't figured out what I've messed up on my camera settings, and this picture looks a little fuzzy, but you can see the containers, racks (and even a batch in the oven) if you look closely.  My daughter did some reading in the instruction book but I don't think it's quite right yet.  I may have to take it into a camera store to determine what the nut behind the wheel I did to it. 

The rest of day I plan to relax and enjoy.  It's Grey Cup Sunday!  That's the Canadian version of the Super Bowl, with a starting group of eight teams, a wider field, only 3 downs, and fewer celebrities at half-time.  I think I heard Justin Bieber will be performing today...I'm sure I can find something else to do for twenty minutes or so.  

Unfortunately, our team isn't in the game this year.  Our province, however, is hosting next year's Grey Cup. All I can say, is here's hoping the weather cooperates.  This morning, the temperature was -15C, with a windchill near -26C.  Brrr...I'm glad I was indoors baking.

So I can watch this game without the nerves I normally exhibit because it doesn't really matter to me who wins.  It's a good day to simply sit back, relax, eat pizza and watch football in the comfort of home.

Hope you all have a wonderful and warm Sunday too!

What happened to Saturday?

It's near 9 p.m. here and I'm finally sitting down to relax...and in a little while I'm going to bed!

Got up early this morning, fed and watered the cats, made a pot of coffee, and started the dishwasher.  I did have a couple cups of coffee and read a bit before I headed out to my nail appointment.  After my hour of pampering, it was off to the Michael's and then to Walmart.

I've spent the last couple of evenings crocheting Christmas wreath ornaments, six of them, for my team and I needed to get some embellishments. I had found some mini snowflakes at the dollar store, but I really wanted to find something similar to the min poinsettias shown in the pattern.  I got lucky and found buttons at Michael's that will work perfectly.

At Walmart, I picked up cat food, cat litter, and some groceries for the rest of us. When I got out to my car, I was frustrated when I couldn't get my trunk open on the car.  I filled the backseat and headed home where I parked in the garage for awhile.  We have three vehicles and a two car garage.  My son's car will not start in the winter, even when it's plugged in so his sister and I take turns parking in the garage.  It's my winter to park outdoors.  :-(

Once I had the groceries put away, I made myself some lunch, before I started the laundry.  Then it was into the kitchen to start a batch of buns, and my Christmas baking.  By dinner time I'd finished two loads of laundry, 4 dozen buns, a pan of Dundee bars and 3 dozen fruit cookies.  We had sloppy joes for dinner (always a favorite when I make homemade buns) and then I baked 4 dozen shortbread cookies.  The house smells great!

I'd have taken pictures to share except I've messed up the settings on my camera and can't figure out how to get it to focus properly.  Every picture I take comes out blurry no matter where I move the wheel.  I need to get the book and work out what I've done.

But for now, I'm exhausted and ready to crawl into bed with a book.  Hope you all had a wonderful Saturday!

Winter Woes

If I haven't said this before....

(and I know I have)

...it's official.

I HATE WINTER!!!!!

We got freezing rain last night and then 4-6 inches of snow on top of it.  Last night's commute was one hour and five minutes (normally 15-20 minutes).  Tonight I got home in just under an hour, but to be fair I did stop for fuel.  I had to...I'm burning an 1/8th of a tank idling my way home!  

Our City webpage says the plows and sanding trucks have been out ...I beg to differ.  The major street closest to my house was glare ice - it was worse than the highway I drove a couple of weekends ago. 

Oh well, a few days and definitely in five months it will all be over!  That's something to be thankful for, right?

And on that note, Happy American Thanksgiving to those who are celebrating today!!!

Wordy Wednesday

My turn, my turn, my turn!  The boys mancats got to talk the last two days so it's my turn.  Be prepared 'cuz Mom says I talk a lot!  Sometimes she calls me Chirper 'cuz I talk and make chirping sounds...but I'm not a bird, really.

My name is Sami, but Mom calls me Squirt 'cuz I've always been little.  Mom also says I'm bigger east-west than north-south, but I don't know what that means!

I came to live with Mom in 2001, which means I am elevteen years old.  When Mom and my bean sibs came to the Humane Society to find an older cat to adopt, I kept jumping in my cage and talking to them, saying pick me, pick me....and they did!!!  At the 'doption place they told Mom I was found outside eating garbage and I was only five weeks old.  I will still eat just about anything (even raw onion) so it must be true ...I don't really remember.

My favorite spot to sleep is the back of Mom's couch.  Nobody gets by me there 'cuz I can hear them coming or going.

I like to bring my toys to Mom, but I guess this day she wasn't around so I took put it on the couch with me so she could find it, MOL!

Even though I was the littlest, I tooks care of my sisfur Shady and brofur Silas when they came to live with us in 2003.  They went away to the Bridge though so now I just take care of Sasha.

And don't tell him, but I don't really like Saku very much, he's mean to me!  He won't let me take care of him at all.

But I like boxes!!!

See here I is, taking care of Sasha, making sure he doesn't fall off the chair!

I'm helpful that way, I even help Mom by sitting on her lap sometimes so she doesn't float away. (very funny, Sami, not!)

One more thing, then Mom says I have to go 'cuz she's got things to do on the machine - we's been trying to convince Mom we needs our own blog.  But she says no, 'cuz she doesn't have enough time right now.  So we's gonna keep sharing this blog and Mom promises we can talk more sometimes.  She better let me or I'm gonna wake her up at 3:30 every day, MOL!

What a wonderful Wednesday, 'cuz I got to meet you all!!!

Tuxie Tuesday

Saku has one only thing to say to Sasha's post, 

Tuxie's rule!

Mancat Monday

Hi everyone, Sasha here.  If I look a little annoyed in this picture, it's because I am annoyed - with Mom.  She has been neglecting us and only posting about herself!  How selfish is that?

So I've taken over the blog for today because Mom says she's too busy crotch-eting  or something like that for Christmas.  (She better remember to buy 'nip for us too!)

I am, if I do say so myself, the handsomest man cat of the family.  Saku is merely a  pest tuxedo so while reasonably good looking, my striking green eyes, and lovely tabby markings ensure that I come out on top all the time.

I will overcome him with my lazer eye!

Mom says I'm a little vain, I say I'm realistic.  I've been here the longest, joining mom and the younger beans in July 2000.  I've been a big help to mom, helping the other kitties (five) become members of the family, and consoling mom when my two fur sisters and one fur brother left for the rainbow bridge.

At twelve I still love to play with my 'nip toys (hint, hint Mom - Christmas is coming you know!).  I also like chasing my fur brother Saku up and down the stairs, running away from Sami (that girl loves to follow me around and lay on me when I'm trying to sleep) and talking with my bean brother C.  He's my absolute favorite person in the whole round world, even before mom.  She comes in a close second though, MOL

Time for me to go, it was nice talking to you all.  This tippy tapping stuff is very tiring so it's time for a nap.  Move over Mom!

Happy Mancat Monday...zzzzzzzz

One week later

It too a week, but my daughter finally sent me these photos she took on her cellphone on our trip home from Winnipeg last weekend.

For those of you who rarely see snow, this is what our part of the world looks like several times each winter when we get a blizzard.  Just look what you're missing!

Not sure where this picture on the left was taken, but I'm guessing it was still in Manitoba...the highways cleared up somewhat in Saskatchewan as you can tell from the picture on the right.
 

Within an hour and a half of home, the skies cleared, we got to enjoy one of our beautiful sunsets!

Tout finis

I know a little French, having suffered taken instruction in grades 7 through 9.  Our instructor, named Mr. Kelly (or Smelly Kelly* as he was known to the majority of his students) clearly had little knowledge of his own so we spent the class listening to reel to reel conjugation and repeating ad nauseum, "je suis, tu es, il est, elle est", etc.  That's pretty much everything I remember learning in that class.

Later when my daughter at the ripe age of 5 decided she wanted to attend French Immersion in Grade 1, I agreed enthusiastically reluctantly because I knew at some point I wouldn't be able to assist her with her homework.  When her brother, who at the time, wanted to do the same, I agreed because by that time his sister was old enough to help him with his homework.  There were some benefits to having my children six years apart!

Anyway, all of this is to say tout finis, it's all finished, it's complete, and I think I'm ready for a long break between this renovation and the next.

The electrician was in yesterday to install the OTR microwave.  He brought along his young apprentice, Monica, who at 23 is making the career change from warehouse worker to electrician.  (Too bad my son slept through the install - he might have learned something).  They spent about 3 hours installing a new plug in the cabinet above as it needed to be on its own circuit.

We discovered the original hood fan was on the same circuit as the kitchen lights, and some of the basement lights as well.  Not certain what the original electrician was thinking - these two had to work by flashlight until the new plug was installed.  There was much pulling of wire and lots of hollering to and from the basement.  I just stayed out of the way.

It was interesting to listen to Dale as he instructed Monica.  He took the time to explain each step and why one alternative was better than another.  He let her attempt some things on her own, but checked in to see how she was doing without being overly intrusive.  It was clear he enjoyed his work, as well as his role as instructor.  Monica told me she's been working for him for a month, and feels she's learned so much in that time.  She'll be starting her formal education to become an electrician in a few months and I suspect she'll be far ahead of the rest of the class.

Now if only Mr. Kelly had that ability to instruct.  Perhaps I'd have learned a little more French!

*We called him Smelly Kelly because he had the worst body odor of anyone I've ever met.  At one point he had leaned over a student (we shared double desks) to help another and the first girl literally fainted from the odor.

Friday funny

Remember Hollywood Squares?

These great questions and answers are from the days when ' Hollywood Squares' game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are now. Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course...  

Q..  Paul, what is a good reason for pounding meat?  

A.  Paul Lynde : Loneliness!  

(The audience laughed so long and so hard it took up almost 15 minutes of the show!)  


Q .   Do female frogs croak?  

A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.  


Q.  If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?  

A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.  


Q.  True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.  

A.  George Gobel : Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.  


Q.  You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?  

A.. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.  


Q.  According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet a stranger at a party and you   think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?  

A.. Rose Marie: No wait until morning.  


Q.  Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?

A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.  


Q.  In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say 'I Love You'?  

A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.  


Q.  What are 'Do It,' 'I Can Help,' and 'I Can't Get Enough'?  

A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.  


Q.  As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?  

A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.  


Q.  Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?  

A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.  


Q..  Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?  

A.. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.  


Q.  In bowling, what's a perfect score?  

A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.  


Q.  It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps.. One is politics, what is the other?  

A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.  


Q.  During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?  

A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.  


Q.  Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?  

A.. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.  


Q.  When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?  

A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?  


Q.  If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?  

A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.  


Q.  According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?  

A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.  


Q.  It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?  

A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected.  


Q.  Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?                           

A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.  


Q.  Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?  

A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?  


Q.  When a couple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?  

A.. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him .  


Q.  Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?  

A. Charley Weaver: His feet.  


Q..  According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?  

A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh .   

Thoughtful Thursday

Really - when are ALL men going to get it?

The women's liberation movement (do they even call it that now?) began in the 60's.  I was just a child then, but I recall hearing stories of women burning their bras...when all I wanted was to be old enough to wear one....and I didn't understand what was going on.

Later when I got my first job, I worked with primarily men at an air charter service in Northern Saskatchewan.  I probably had the lowest wages...no I definitely was paid the least...but I also took the least risk so that was okay.  But when it came to giving me raises, my boss was extremely generous.  Now this really dates me, when I first started working the minimum wage for $2.50 per hour.  My first raise was 25 cents an hour.  These days I'm happy to get 1.5% per year....things definitely have changed!  When I had my daughter a year before the leaving the company, he gave me a $1000 bonus (when my salary was only $12K a year).

When I look back at my career I've been pretty fortunate.  The only time I ran into the systemic discrimination against women it was the impetus for me to go to university.  I was working for a financial institution as the savings supervisor - basically I supervised the client service representatives, a fancy title for bank tellers.  When our manager of customer service was transferred to Winnipeg, I was selected to replace him.  But there was a problem...at least according to local management.  The starting salary for the manager position was $35K, while I made just $21K in my current position.  They couldn't possibly pay me that much because the increase was too great!  So we settled at $27K.  At the time I was satisfied as it made a huge difference for this single mom, but it took me a while to realize how unfairly I had been treated.  Frankly, I think had I had the dangly bits necessary they would have paid me accordingly.

That reminds me of a funny story.  The last couple of years before I left, the institution I worked for went through some serious downsizing due to the ineptitude of management in what we not so affectionately called the ivory tower of head office.  I recall a memo coming out from head office telling us senior management was no longer going out for lunch during their meetings but bringing in sandwiches (omg the horror of it all).  But that's not the funny story.  No, senior management in all their wisdom decided they needed to engage the employees by offering them encouragement to buy shares in the corporation.  If one owned shares, one became a "partner", but if one didn't own shares they were merely an associate partner``.  AND if one managed a budget one could become a managing partner.  Any one see where this is going?  We immediately shortened associate partner to ass part, and managing partner to man part.  My goal was always to become a man part, like the rest of the pricks I worked with!   I never made it - I had staff but no budget (that was taken away in the downsizing).  But it certainly proved to me I needed to get out and I did, completed a degree at university and eventually landed my dream job.  (Which has become a bit of nightmare...but I digress)

Anyway, all of this to bring me back to my original point.  Today, the Canadian Football League fined a Calgary Stampeder's player for making the following tweet:
"I just bought O.J.'s gloves on EBay. Now all I need is a white girl named Nicole"

I am flabbergasted, I can't believe that anyone, even a football player who has obviously taken more than his fair share of hits in the head, would think this is even a tiniest bit funny.  A woman was brutally murdered, and a comment like this is beyond tasteless, tactless, and stupid.   And it frightens me because based on the comments to the story, there are others who think as he does.

It`s been over 50 years since women`s lib came into being.  Sometimes we haven`t come very far, baby!

Homeward bound - the end of the story

On Sunday morning, after a lovely sleep-in, we got up to more snow in Winnipeg.  From our hotel window it appeared there was at least another 10 centimeters (4 inches) of the white stuff on the vehicles across the street.  I turned on the computer to check the road conditions and discovered the #1 highway between Winnipeg and Brandon was closed.  We did some research and decided if need be, we'd use the #2 highway south and travel to Saskatchewan via that route with the hopes of avoiding the worst.  It would have meant using a single lane versus the divided highway though so wasn't the optimal choice.

Before we left the city, we decided to have breakfast at Denny's on the way out of town.  The place was packed with truckers and other travelers, all waiting for the highway to open.  Just as we were finishing our breakfasts (not the best food I've ever had), the truckers up their stuff and heading out.  Hurrah, the highway was open!

From Winnipeg to Portage la Prairie, the roads weren`t too bad, just lots of swirling snow and reduced visibility, though it wasn`t the worst I`ve ever seen.  I was to keep up with traffic traveling at a rate of 80 km an hour (50 mph).  However when we reached Portage we found the main highway was again closed, and we were diverted through the city.  There was lots of snow, and while the plows were out we were down to a single lane in either direction.  This didn`t stop the knuckleheads  other drivers from trying to pass on the right as we made our way through the city.  On the radio we heard Portage had gotten 37 cms. of snow since Friday!

Once we got through Portage the highway was more slippery, slowing us down to between 60 and 70 kms per hour.  We had our first scare as we were heading out of the city, when a panel van began sliding and fishtailing in front of us on a small hill.  Luckily I had the sense to stay far enough back, and I was able to slow down while the driver regained control of her vehicle.  She (the driver) must have decided that was enough because she soon pulled over and let us by and I believe she found a turn around and headed back to the city.  

From Portage to Brandon, there were icy patches with blowing snows and fingerling drifts.  There were several vehicles in the ditches along the way, including a number of semi-trucks and a few smaller vehicles. I have to assume they were travelling too quickly for road conditions because I didn't think it was that bad.  The worst part of the trip was from Brandon to Moosomin (in Saskatchewan) when the conditions would improve briefly and then get worse.  At Moosomin my daughter was ready to pack it in, mostly because she wasn`t in control of the steering wheel.  

But she`d had a text from a friend in Regina saying the sun was shining and the snow plows were out, so I decided we`d keep going.  She nearly had a panic attack when we crossed the highway to head west again and the car skidded slightly.  (It`s that control thing).  We had another hour of 80-90 kms per hour travel before we reached Whitewood, and suddenly the skies cleared and the highways were dry.  

From that point on, the drive was easy, I was able to reach normal speeds of 100-110 km per hour the rest of the way home.  We got back to Regina shortly before 7 p.m., just over seven hours after we left Winnipeg.  It`s normally a six hour drive, so I don`t think we did that badly.  The conditions weren't great but  I have travelled in worse.  

Now you would think we would have gone straight home, but my daughter wanted to make one final stop on the way the house.  Yes, we went to Walmart!

As a friend said to me, there's no place like home!

Tell Mother Nature

According to the calendar, it's not officially winter until December.  Someone should tell Mother Nature!!!

My weekend adventure

My dad had a saying he would use as we were returning from town to our farm home when I was young.  It was, "Home James, and don't spare the horses".  Well, there were no horses involved, and the gas pedal was never to the floor, but we did make it home yesterday, safe and sound.

Friday, we left for Winnipeg in the midst of a snow storm.  It was snowing fairly heavily here but we knew it was moving east at a slow pace and we managed to get out of it about 100-150 kilometers outside the city.  From there to Winnipeg it was clear and dry.  The most interesting thing on the drive was the half-ton truck pulled over near Portage la Prairie by the RCMP.  Lined up on the highway next to the truck were several liquor bottles...I`m thinking if the driver got home that day he was in for a dry weekend.

We arrived in Winnipeg in about 6 hours which is pretty much normal driving time, assuming one drives the speed limit, and stops for fuel along the way (which I did).  My daughter was using Siri to give us directions to the hotel.  Siri did fine, we did not, as hotels.com had provided the incorrect address for the hotel!  We knew we were in the right area as we could see both Polo Park Mall and Olive Garden but couldn't find the hotel.   But it wasn't all Siri's fault, in addition to the incorrect address, the hotel had recently been purchased by Ramada, but the signage hadn't been placed.  After D called the hotel we got the correct address and were soon checked into the hotel.

From there we made our way over to Olive Garden, where we enjoyed a drink before heading into the dining room for dinner.  I don't know what they put in their food, it must be some additive, because it's addicting.  We both, however, managed to salvage a portion of our salads and entrees and boxed them up for the next evening.  It was an early night for both of us, as I was tired from the drive, and D was just tired - we were both asleep by 9 p.m.

Of course, that meant we were awake early the next morning.  I made a pot of coffee and we both had leisurely showers, and took our time getting ready.  We walked to the mall, just a couple of blocks away, when it opened at 10 a.m.  AND then we shopped, and shopped, and shopped some more.  We took a break about 1 p.m. and went to the Moxie's Grill for lunch.  Must say, much better food and service than I've ever had here in Saskatchewan.

After lunch it was more shopping.  The mall has about 200 shops including restaurants and food court kiosks.  We were fairly choosy, selecting to visit those we don't have at home for the most part, unless a great sale was being advertised.  Despite the number of shops we visited, we didn't purchase nearly as much as we thought we would.  My favorite store, Laura, had some sale items but nothing spectacular.  I did find a blazer at Rickis for 40% off...that was a better deal.  D wanted to buy a bunny hug at Lululemon but the sales person was so off-putting we walked out with nothing.  Same thing at Lucky Brand Jeans...you would think the sales person could at least ask if there was a specific size we were looking for.

We weren't quite done yet - because who doesn't go to another city without visiting Walmart?  Again we asked Siri for directions and she must have been annoyed with us because, instead of sending us to the one on Portage Avenue (where we were located) she sent us south to the area where Ikea is being built and a number of outlet stores are located.  Darn, right?

We spent another hour or so in this area, D got the socks she needed (doesn't everyone forget to pack something?) and I found a bathing suit bottom at the Additionelle (for my winter trip).  We located a liquor store on the way back to the hotel where we picked up a few coolers for the evening.  I was totally amazed that the store offers airmiles on their purchases. We certainly don't have that opportunity here in Saskatchewan - if they did I might be a more frequent shopper!

Saturday evening was spent back at the hotel, heating up leftovers in the microwave from the night before, and enjoying a drink while we watched television or read a book.  Not a whole lot different than a night at home except we had to share the remote!

The snow had reached Winnipeg Friday evening, but only a centimeter had fallen overnight (less than a 1/2 inch) so travelling around the city was easy.  Saturday night it began snowing quite hard, and by morning we found our car covered in snow (no room in the indoor parking lot) and I would guess there was another 10 centimeters (4 inches) on the ground.

I'll save the returning home post for later today, as my daughter has pictures taken from the car I want to share. Suffice to say for now, it was an adventure though not nearly as bad as I thought it might be.  Time for me to catch up on all of you...I had my laptop with me but the hotel only offered one hour of free internet....I was being cheap so I could spend more at the mall!

Weather warnings - oh my!

So...my weekend getaway to the States is off. :(  The forecast is for heavy snowfall and wind beginning on Friday, so travel isn't recommended in both southern Saskatchewan or North Dakota. Darn!  I was so looking forward to it.

But all may not be lost.  We talked about our options when she got home from work and decided a trip to Winnipeg might be a good idea.  After first checking the weather forecast, and finding the snowfall is expected to be much less - just a skiff - and then checking the stores at the Polo Park Shopping Center, the hotel is now booked.

There is a Lululemon for her, a Laura's for me, Skechers for both of us, and even an Olive Garden within a block of our hotel and the mall!  I found a TGI Friday's at the airport, though I expect we'll miss that one as D say's Mongo's Grill has wonderful food and we don't have one here in town.

I'm grateful it's no further than Bismarck, just in a different direction, and we won't need our passports!

Tired Tuesday

It's been a long couple of days at work but I don't want to talk about that!

Rather, although a Canadian, I'm watching television for the results of the election in the US.  I don't really understand the process, tonight the news was saying because of provisional votes, the results may not be known for several days.  Between dangling chads and provisional votes, it all seems a little bizarre to me.

I can't say I'm unhappy to see the end of this long race.  We get a number of US television stations and I'm feeling a little like the four year old who expressed her frustration so clearly.

Whatever the result, it will have some impact on our lives as well.  We share not only a border with the US but it is also our biggest trading partner.  There is an interdependence that ebbs and flows depending on the ability of our federal governments to work together. (Free trade or not!)

In any event, I intend to exercise my ability to cross border shop this weekend.  My daughter D and I have a two day trip planned to Bismarck, N.D. to do some early Christmas shopping.  (NO way would I want to experience Black Friday...thanks anyway).  We also plan to do some dining at establishments not available in our city, including TGI Friday's (deep fried green beans...yum) and the Olive Garden in Minot.

I'm looking forward to getting away even for a brief period.  But for now, I have to get through 2.5 days of work.  Have I mentioned how very tired I am?

Mancat Monday

Saku thinks the strap on my new camera is the ultimate in toys.

Even though I'm on the other end of the strap taking the pictures, he's not letting go.

What a brat silly cat!

Before and mostly after

Just a reminder of what it looked like before the renovations.

Here's the new Bosch dishwasher in action.  The brand's reputation of being extremely quiet, is absolutely true.

Still missing a door, though I'm hoping the kitchen guys will be back this week to fix it.

What do you think, does the oak trim stand out too much?  Should I paint it or leave it be?

The over the range microwave still needs to be installed - scheduled for mid-November - so for now we lose a little counter space to the old one.

I finally have my dining room table back!  Saku totally destroyed the plastic tablecloth that was on the table, so I`ve switched to a cloth one for now.

We`ll have to wait and see how long it takes the rugrat to pull it off the table.

And there he is checking out the chair.  It`s been in the sunroom for the past month...it apparently smells different.

I'm sure happy things are coming together indoors, because this is what it looked it this morning at 8:30 a.m.

Thankfully it warmed up a bit this afternoon and the driveway cleared, though not the street.  Unfortunately it is supposed to freeze tonight - it's going to be ugly out there tomorrow morning.

It's a good thing tomorrow is Sunday.


P.S.  Trish, you can laugh all you like, I laugh too!  And if this weather keeps up, you might just have a visitor sooner rather than later!!!

The bad, better and best parts of Friday

For the record, I hate winter!!!!!!

It started with freezing rain this morning, and by the time I arrived home mid-afternoon, the snow was coming down in earnest.  The main streets were okay as the sanding trucks were out, but we likely won't see any snow removal until next spring.  Sigh...

On a less unhappy note, my backsplash tile is in place and grouted.  I'm starting to wonder though at the trades.  The grout needs to be sealed - apparently that isn't something I paid for in my contract with Rona.  Really?  Wouldn't you think it would be part of the same job?

It's not, so I'll be spending part of my Saturday using a sponge brush to paint on the sealer.  I have to make sure I don't allow any of it to remain more than a few minutes on the tile itself, because it can damage the tile.  Oh yippee!

This afternoon, I called an electrician to arrange for the installation of the over the range microwave.  After agreeing to do the job, he informed me the installation isn't really an electrician's job - his part would normally be to install the plug-in in the cabinet above the microwave.  Just how many men does it take to install an OTR microwave?

Apparently I shouldn't have spurned the two offers of marriage I had when I was much younger.  No matter that the first went to jail for spousal abuse and the second is the father of fifteen children (that we're sure of).  Perhaps they would have been useful in this situation.  Nah, probably not.

On an even happier note, my door handles finally came in.  Iris from Rona, my new hero, called the house at noon today to let me know they had arrived.  My son C actually answered the home phone, a rare occurrence indeed, and sent me a text to let me know.  I stopped in at the store after work to collect them, as well as some more paint, some gliding cups (for the stove and fridge) and another a can of sealant for the tile.

I spent a half hour putting handles on cabinet drawers and doors in the kitchen and the two upstairs bathrooms.  Although I didn't have the vanities in the bathrooms refinished I plan to do so (after the kitchen is paid off), and I have sufficient tile to do the tile backsplash in those rooms as well.

So we're getting closer to being done with the renovation.  I hope to have the fridge and stove back in place by tomorrow evening, and put the table and chairs back where they belong.  I'll share some pictures then of the almost complete renovation.  It sure seems like this has been a long process.

Of course, it won't be nearly as long as our winter.  There is enough on the ground now, with the colder temperatures, we are unlikely to see it all melt.  Last winter, we got our first real snowfall after Christmas...yeah...this is going to be a long winter.  I guess it's time to start the countdown to my winter holiday.  Just two months and two weeks to go!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

The morning after the night before

It's waiting time again.  Today I'm waiting for the tile, mortar, and other sundry supplies to be delivered to my  home.  I'm also waiting for the tile guy(s) to show up to complete the tiling of the backsplash in the kitchen.  It's still early though, before 8 a.m. so I expect within the next hour the wait should be over and everything and everyone will be here.

I was little surprised to hear the supplies were to be delivered, as I had been told the installer would arrange pickup at the store.  Apparently that's not the case and because the amount is small, the install guy (who arranges these jobs) at Rona is planning to personally deliver the goods to my home.

Hmmmm..a truck just pulled up in front of the house.  I know it's not the Rona guy because he drives a car, so if it's the tile guy he'll have nothing to do until it gets here.  AND yes, that is in fact who it is.  Oh well, he'll do some prep work, maybe have a coffee with me....

Nope, he's going to have to work, the guy from Rona just delivered the tile (it's only 8:08 a.m.) and everything is in place and ready to go.  Sami and Saku are trapped safe in my bedroom, and Sasha is hiding out in the basement.  I've got my coffee and lots of blogs to catch up on so all is well with the world, lol!

Let me backtrack to last night, I didn't post as I was busy answering the door.  There were 50 little superheros, princesses, and freaky little creatures who arrived at my door looking for treats.  It was cold last night, which likely explains the lower number than last year.

Some of my neighbours decorate their homes.  One of them, who just happens to work with me, had set up a light show accompanied by music.  My son C called to me from the garage (where he is banished to smoke) to tell me to come see it.  I tried to get photos but my  skills are not great.  I know I have video capability on my camera but I'll have to figure out how to use it.  

The next door neighbours were outside watching the light show at the same time.  They went a little less high-tech but had gone all out with their costumes.

Another Halloween is over and that means...it's time to start thinking about Christmas.

Have a great day everyone!