Shoes, Salad, Solidarity and Synonyms

Today I am thankful for shoe designers... and for mothers who understand you are never too old to get shoes for your birthday. Yay!

I am also grateful that no one seems to question how I plan on wearing four inch heels to a beach wedding.

I am also super duper thankful that my 80 year old man stomach has allowed me to eat salads three days in a row. I have not eaten a salad since, like, September and boy! how I missed them. Thank you, 80 year old man stomach, but it would have been nice if you'd also given me the movie popcorn too.

And I will not apologize but I am thankful to be part of a union. As the morally bankrupt provincial government uses its demonization of the teacher's union to strip away each individual's right to fair and negotiated contracts, I am grateful to be part of an organization which works together to ensure that everyone - students and teachers - is treated fairly. As a teacher, I had both professional and personal setbacks today, and I am glad that I have the support of a union to ensure that my rights as an employee are being protected. And you know what? I really suspect that this just boils down to Christy Clark acting like a rejected kid on the playground who couldn't get into the cool kid group - the educator crowd. Because, after all, aren't bullies just insecure cowards?

And, at the end of the day, I am so happy and thankful that the paramedic used synonyms today for "good" and "fine" when describing my cooking. The narcissist in me is full of gratitude for the external validation.

Yay! For Spring, Shopping ... and not having to watch "Goon"

Today was the first day that I really felt Spring. I love Spring; it is the season of rebirth. Everything comes alive with colour. So, today, I am thankful for Spring. My favourite season and the season, literally, of my birth.

In addition to the beautiful sunny day, I think it was the spring shopping with my newly 16 year old niece that helped me really feel like Spring is near. As I watched my niece try on spring outfits for her upcoming school dance (and first date), I felt excited for her and all the "firsts" that she is about to embark on... and slightly envious that size four jeans were too big on her. How wonderful to be in the Spring of your life... like flowers just poking through the dirt starting their climb towards the sun.

Thanks to H&M for making reasonably priced, snazzy clothing for the burgeoning fashionista. I am also thankful for my niece in allowing me to drag her shopping and to listen to my fashion banter... I am sure I am now not the only one wishing that I will one day have a daughter. :)

I am grateful for my son - who, thankfully, is always up for shopping. However, as a woman, I realize that there are some things that my child wants that I am just physically, emotionally and intellectually incapable of providing for him. Case in point: Goon. My son never gets excited about a movie... unless it has Adam Sandler in it. So, imagine my horror when all he starts talking about is the new hockey flick, Goon. You have no idea how grateful I am that the paramedic was not only willing but excited (should I worry?) to accompany him to this movie. Only another guy could rise up to this particular occasion.

So, I am thankful that I did not have to sit through what was surely juvenile and moronic hockey fights on film and I still got popcorn!

A Sunday Night List of Thanks...

I'm feeling a bit ADD tonight so I think I will just list stuff I am thankful for today:
1. I am thankful for pulled pork sandwiches. Yum yum.
2. I am thankful for friends who laugh at the ridiculousness of me.
3. I am thankful that I took two pretty good pictures tonight.
4. I am thankful for my crazy international cousin who did not realize that telling the border agents that he did not know what was in the three boxes he picked up for me in the U.S. might not be the best idea.
5. I am thankful that the paramedic now has five pairs of shoes and that I am subjected to less of the sloppy skate shoes.
6. I am thankful that a lovely young lady in Ontario is so excited to come to California that she has already started shopping for the trip. Something tells me we will get along like gang busters.
7. I am thankful that my retarded dog now sticks to the paramedic like glue allowing me to pee in peace and solitude in the bathroom.
8. I am thankful that 143 people on the CBC website agree with my opinion.
9. I am thankful for the sunny day.
10. I am thankful for love... and foot rubs.

Screw teaching, I'm going to be a MLA...

This is what I have figured out about myself: I like being right, but I love it when people agree with my being right!

Although I know better, I can't help but post comments on cbc.ca regarding the teacher's strike. Boy do some people hate teachers... I wonder if it is just Christy Clark using different log-ins?!?! Many of the spelling and grammatical errors indicate the commentators are people who did not attend or complete university so it it quite possible that it is her...

And, I have to admit, I go back and check to see if I get more 'thumbs up" than "thumbs down" for my comments. And the narcissist in me is happy to report, I do! Yay! Like way more... double yay! (As of right now, 106 thumbs up for this post)

My latest post:

Christy Clark does not need to worry about public education in BC - she put her own kid in private school. She has no vested interest in public education. Her vested interest remains with winning an election and securing her overly generous and outrageous pension.

Her interest is in stripping away everyone's right to negotiated agreements - starting with teachers is the easiest way to get the ball rolling since the general public ignorantly believes that we are over paid, 6 hours per day, 9 month per year workers.
So many comments on these sites are about "your" tax money being used to pay teachers. These people are educating YOUR children - these people contribute to the upbringing of YOUR children. Teachers do not make six figure incomes. Your MLA, however, does. What exactly does your MLA contribute to YOUR child's life?

How much of YOUR tax dollar is going to your MLA?

On top of a base salary of $101k per year, each MLA receives:

Travel allowances for within their own consitutency of between $3100 and $11500 QUARTERLY. Teachers do not get reimbursed for driving to work.

$119k per year for running an office. I don't know of any teacher who gets more than - if they are lucky - a couple hundred dollars for classrooms supplies. Most of that money comes from fundraising from PAC.

$19k per year living allowance for Victoria - where they are for less than six months per year.

$61 per diem food and expenses for time in Victoria. So that is 4 days per week for about 20 weeks - so roughly $4880 handed out with no documentation required.

We also pay for them to travel around the province 12 times per year. Budget? Not listed; they get a travel Visa.

"Additional responsibilites" gives them additional income...

Who is wasting YOUR tax dollar?

And I can't help it but I have to paste in my favourite reply (copied exactly as it was written):

"they represent every person in the province not like you you only represent people that have kids in the school system , oh right you dont it only your own self serving interst , detroy all unions"

Some smart ass suggested I get off my butt and run for provincial government, hell ya! Four days per week, six months a year with a six figure income plus six figures for "work related" expenses? And I only need to work two terms for a full pension, right? Sweet... where do I sign up?

Spontaneous Friends, Butter, No More First Dates and Being a Princess

This day started out rather crappy. Snow on the ground, sleet falling from the sky and me not feeling 100%. Not off to a great start...

Thankfully, the spontaneity of a friend turned the day around and, although I am SURE the not very smiley lady at the nail salon was talking about me AND some lady was mesmerized by my spa partner's tattoos, my nails looked absolutely fabulous as I cleaned the bathroom Friday night.

So, today, thank you for the sponataneity of friends. It really can perk up the day.

As I watched my friend prep for a first date tonight and excitedly text back and forth with the prospective future husband, I also gave thanks that I will - God/Universe willing - have no more first dates. Anyone who says they enjoy the anticipation and excitment of first dates is insane. I'm pretty sure that all my stomach trouble started over dating - all that dread building up in my poor little body. I'd rather repeat my Tuesday test than have another first date.

On another note, I am also thankful for butter. Butter is simply delicious and I am so very grateful that my 80 year old man stomach loves it too. It is right up there with Coke slurpees. And, if I continue to eat butter like it is the candy of the Gods, it is probably a good thing I will have no more first dates.

As for the paramedic, I give thanks that he really does treat me like a princess most of the time eventhough he has seemingly had some sort of episode which has disabled him from making a sandwich or doing laundry. I am also not sure why he seems unaware that princesses get some sort of token of gratitude every week... don't they?

I am thankful for him today - as I am everyday - even though he brushed off the alarming bruise I have on my hand from my IV earlier this week. And why did he have to laugh at me when I said "owie, owie, owie" when he touched it? He didn't even give me a lollipop.

Thank you, my union, for trying to protect me from the real bully

This is what I posted on the CBC website tonight:
"MLA salaries were raised in 2007 from a base of $76,100 to a base of $98,000 annually (a 30% increase). As of April 2010, the base salary was $101,859, a 34% increase over the 2007 base. And, in 2012, legislature is in session 4 days per week for 6 months... so if a teacher works 6 hours a day for 10 months, a MLA obviously only works 4 days per week for less than six months... Let me ask you this: Who has had a greater impact on your life? Your teachers or your MLAs?"

I did not go into teaching so that I could become a millionaire and I certainly did not go into it because I wanted to be part of a union. But, today, as I read about the government and their BS "investigative" report about the teacher's job action - I am thankful that I am in a union. Grateful that I have someone to back me up when it comes to getting bullied by a selfish, morally bankrupt and GREEDY provincial government run by narcissistic, uneducated and flat out nasty bullies.

What makes me so sad is that people in the province are so easily fooled by the misinformaton, the propaganda put forth by the provincial government so that they feel teachers are the embodiment of evil using their children as "pawns" in their greedy negotiations for cost of living increases. How utterly ridiculous. It makes me sick to think that so many British Columbians are so incredibly stupid to not recognize that this government cares for one thing and one thing only: themselves and their incomes. Funny how their "net zero" mandate came in AFTER their cumulative 34% pay increase. 34%?!?!?! And we are greedy for asking for 2%.

How about each one of those MLAs give back their 34% pay increase and we use that money to hire additional special education teachers? Let's put that money to actual use that will actually affect lives in a positive manner.

Shame on Christy Clark for wearing a pink t-shirt on anti-bullying day - she is the biggest bully of them all. Why are the bullies always the dumbest person in the room?

At least that is over...

Today, I am thankful that the test and its prep is over. Not as bad as I imagined but not something I hope to repeat anytime soon. And, seriously, why does there always have to be a hot resident in the room when I am at the hospital? Aren't there any out there who look like Klinger?

I am also grateful that I did not have the nurse who sounds like Bernadette from the Big Bang Theory who, while putting in the IV on an older non-English speaking man, kept saying "I'm really sorry. I don't really like poking people." Even in another language, "ow" "hurt" and "blood" all sound similar.

As for the paramedic, thank you for the burger which I probably should not have eaten but did anyways.

Yay! For Books...

Today I am thankful for books. As I have to endure hours of sitting on a rather uncomfortable seat, I am grateful for the distraction and escapism that books provide.

And, yes, I do get the irony of the book title today...

But, aside from today, I am always thankful for books. Reading is one of the greatest joys in my life. I love the look, feel and smell of books... the idea of electronic reading sort of saddens me even if I appreciate the environmental friendliness of it all.

I am also thankful for the jello that the paramedic picked up for me today. Oh wait. Nope. That didn't happen. I am thankful that he and the kidlet have such fun skating after school and I really do appreciate that.

Ooohhhh That Boy Bond...

Sitting on the couch today, I realized that I was alone on the three seater couch while the two guys sat on the cozy love seat. I also realized that I was the only one watching Without a Paddle while these two pretty much cuddled while each played their respective video games. Watching their interaction, I came to realize the level of guy (appropriate) intimacy that these two have developed and, I have to admit, I was a little jealous. It's that kind of boy bond that women don't really get... just like the girl bond that develops between females that guys don't get. The only problem with this is that I am the only female in the house.

Jealousy and feelings of being left out aside (I don't actually want to participate in discussions on the virtues of portable gaming systems), I am thankful for the boy bond. I am grateful that these two have so many things in common, that I can trust that my child is happy and safe when out with the paramedic doing things they both love and that they always remember to bring me home a Coke slurpee.

Having said that, I cannot wait until my Jazzy dog and I are under the same roof again so I'm not the only female in the house... too bad she doesn't get a vote for the movies we watch.

Thanks to the Chinese for Being Lactose Intolerant

I crave restaurant food. As my internal exam day approaches, I leaf through (while shuddering) the preparation leaflet (the term oral purgative is rather ominous) I received during my eight minute specialist consultation. How ironic that it makes me crave restaurant food. As a foodie, it has been extremely painful (in more than one way, seriously) to avoid restaurants for nearly six months. I think I have eaten in a restaurant less than five times - shocking! And what a change from my three to five times a week last year - and probably the main reason I haven't seen my fellow foodie friends (and former restaurant visiting partners) since Christmas. Luckily, it dawned on me a couple of weeks ago that Asians are lactose intolerant - and if an entire population shares a general food intolerance - chances are their pseudo-ethnic food avoids it (nearly) completely. Problem solved and Chinese food ordered. Yay! Thanks to the lactose intolerant Chinese.

And, as everything else with my ailment, how ironic that Chinese food is my safe food choice. As a child, I refused to eat Chinese food since my mother was obsessed with all things Chinese and family dinners out usually ended up at the Ho Inn in Chinatown... when all I wanted was a "normal" family dinner at the suburban ABC Family restaurant like my friends. That in itself is also ironic since I don't think I have even taken my own child to the suburban franchise.

Of course, I also have to give thanks to the paramedic for going and picking up the Chinese food order in the pouring rain... even though I am pretty sure he ate my second fortune cookie.

Crabby Guys are No Fun...

Today, I am thankful that the paramedic was only crabby for one day. Crabby guys are no fun and it really interfered with my being crabby. He needs to get his own day... Wednesday is my crabby day.

I am also thankful that no one insisted that I sit with them while watching Billy Madison... or Thursday would also be my crabby day. I can't wait for the day when I can be thankful that it is no longer available on Netflix. But, hey, I am SUPER thankful that Waterboy is not available. I think I'd have to leave the house rather than just hide in the bedroom.

I am also grateful that there is another musical show on television. Smash is rather enjoyable but it ain't no Glee. And, as I type this, I realize that I am also thankful that I can spend an hour every Thursday with Simon Baker. Yum yum.

As for the paramedic, today I am just thankful for him. Pure and simple. And, as I add the part about Simon Baker, I am also grateful that the paramedic will only be mildly annoyed by that comment.

And I'm Five Days Late...

I did not realize it had been five days since I publicly gave thanks. Oops.

I am thankful that the no-fun diet helped my 80 year old man stomach. I think I may stick with it - more or less. I am also thankful that Slurpees are also agreeable to my 80 year old man stomach. I will miss cheese but I think I might actually die without a Coke slurpee.

I am thankful for formerly shy five year olds who dance around the cabin in their underwear. Simply hilarious. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be that confident in how we looked in our underwear in the dead of winter with nary a tan in sight?

I am thankful for three year olds who stand with their hands on their hips when speaking to 6'3" men. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have such confidence in our opinions?

I am thankful for friends who visit the cabin, bring dessert AND clean the shower. I am most appreciative of someone who takes into consideration my 80 year old man stomach when baking. I think I am most grateful for the simply delicious dairy free, gluten free chocolate cupcakes she made. They may just be my new breakfast food. I may invite her to move in.

I am thankful that a dog heading out for an unsupervised walk about is still a novelty for the paramedic. He does not complain about having to play tag with the mutt several times up at the cabin. Hopefully the novelty will continue with the move.

I am thankful for my dad for standing around for nearly three hours during a home inspection. I am also thankful that he had the sense to measure the dining room to ensure that my "landing pad", as he puts it, will fit in the new home.

I am thankful to have found a home which will put our family under one roof again. Luckily, bylaws even allow for one more canine addition...

And, in honour of Valentine's Day, I am thankful that - even though I try not to buy into the commercialism of this manufactured holiday - the paramedic is sweet enough to send me flowers. Yay for sweetness.

Soooooooo Trucks Can't Snowboard?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95bpVJJlI6s

When car commercials started posting disclaimers at the bottom of the screen about closed courses and professional drivers, I dismissed it as being overly cautious in the great age of American litigation. Sort of dumb that people are overly paranoid about being responsible for someone else's stupidity but, hey, I get it.

A few weeks ago I saw an ad for the new Nissan Frontier and it is pretty well done. Shot like someone using their camera phone, it catches a Nissan Frontier snowboarding in Utah and ends with it doing a barrel roll. Funny. The second time I saw it, I noticed the disclaimer: "Fantasy. Trucks can't snowboard. Do not attempt." Ummm... I am pretty sure that this is tongue in cheek but it probably does serve a purpose as eliminating any responsibility the car company has for the inevitable moron who will try it. And, man, do I hope THAT moron is caught on film.

So, what does this have to do with giving thanks? Well, today I am thankful for morons. They made this commercial funny - intentionally or not. When I think that someone out there is so dumb that they think they could drive their brand new truck down a ski slope, it makes me laugh. Do I sound mean? Of course I do but dumb people are funny... everyone has laughed at them... I'm just admitting to it.

Thank you dumb people - sometimes you make my day!

"So What If We..."

I don't think I really got the meaning of yin yang and how it can apply to people until I met the paramedic. And actually, truth be told, I had to Wikipedia it just to make sure that what I thought I meant is really what it means. And yay! it does...

This week has, once again, shown me that we are clearly complimentary opposites. What started out as my impulsive "So what if we..." seems to be ending with decisions based on his rationality and reflectiveness. I don't think we would have ended up here without our yin yang. Crazy ideas lead to thoughtful decisions.

I am thankful for my complimentary opposite.

Without flinching today (okay, maybe he flinched a little and probably threw up a bit in his mouth), he agreed to take me to the Madonna concert. Not just buy me tickets but actually go to the concert with me. Seriously. What non-gay man would agree to that? How lucky can a girl get? Now, if he actually gets tickets, I will need to spend the rest of my life making it up to him... but it will be well worth it; it's fucking Madonna. I don't think he needs two kidneys... so we should be able to afford it.

Coffee and Glee... Yippeee!

I am doubling up since I did not post anything yesterday.

Yesterday, I said thanks many times to Trader Joe’s Organic F air Trade Breakfast Blend coffee for being kind to my 80 year old man stomach and allowing me to have my first cup of coffee in over three months. Yay! for small victories.

I am also thankful to whoever invented the PVR. As a die hard, out of the closet TV watcher, I am thankful on the nights when there is just too much choice. It also allows for keeping the peace in the house when only one of us wants to watch the cheesy crime drama Castle (and I am soooooo thankful to the parents of Nathan Fillion).

Today, I give thanks for possibilities and for knowing that I have been blessed to have someone in my life who would never dream of dropping me off at emergency but would come in and hold my hand every step of the way.

And I’m not sure if I have already given thanks this year for Glee but I don’t care. Thank you, Ryan Murphy; I simply adore your show. Ricky Martin and Naya Rivera singing Madonna’s La Isla Bonita; what a wonderful gift on a Tuesday evening.

Oh Gravy... How I Love Thee...

Today I give thanks for gravy. Yup. Gravy. Because it is just damn good eats... and I am so thankful that it is kind to my 80 year old man stomach.

I am also thankful for the parent delivery system so that I can still have my Trader Joe's products without going across the border. But, seriously, why is organic Canadian maple syrup $15 a bottle here but only $4.99 in the United States? I mean... really? I have to travel outside the country to get a fair price for a domestic product? Can I blame Christy Clark for this?

I am also thankful to the paramedic who, even though he had to leave the house at 4:30am, did not complain one bit about having to share our bed with an 85 lb dog. So much for a comfy queen for two...

Our Home Community

I am so thankful for the sun today and the beautiful community in which we find ourselves at this point in our lives. Standing on a deck high on the hillside (even though I could not see the ocean which I miss living in the Valley) it really does take my breath away looking at the beautiful snow capped mountains hugging the greenness of the Valley.

Although I love to cook, dealing with meat is really problematic for me. I refuse to touch it in its raw form with my hands and have a hard time cutting meat from the bone. This causes some challenges when I decide to cook at 14 lb turkey just because... so today I am thankful that none of that phases the paramedic... and I really appreciate it the smile on his face as he catches me grimacing as he washes, stuffs, stretches skin, carves and pulls apart. Gah-roossss.

Talking a Big Game and Squeaky Toys

February 3, 2012

Today I am thankful for people who can tell me with a laugh and a smile that I talk a big game and I really appreciate it that he uses the term "we." I guess I am really too little to be tough.

Even though today I was referred to as both royalty and some sort of superhero, I am super duper thankful that I came to my senses nine years ago. What was I thinking!?!

And, although I find it super annoying that he never seems to suffer the consequences of exploring the many flavours of beer and wine, I am grateful to the paramedic and all that he brings to my life.

And I am also thankful - believe it or not - that my mother bought this annoying stuffed hamster that repeats what you say in a squeaky voice because it is really freakin' funny to watch a drunk guy play with it.

Nothing Funny About This... Just Complete Gratitude

I know I am a lucky girl everyday but I was blown away this evening when I get a call from the boys at the paramedic's first Canucks game (he is a HUGE fan as all the paraphernalia around the condo attests to). Nonchalantly, he lets me know that they are leaving the game because the kidlet is feeling sick. The kidlet is sobbing and the paramedic is just taking it all in stride making sure that he is meeting his needs while they journey home.

How can you not be thankful for someone who constantly amazes you with his generosity?

I just hope this doesn't go to his head...

When You Can't Sleep, Start the Countdown... 161 days...

So it seems that it is hard to sleep when you go back to caffeinated tea after three months of decaf. Early this morning, I decided to count down the days until the wedding. 161 days... still seems like a long time away. Every day, I am ecstatic thinking about a laid back sunset wedding on the beach in southern California complete with bonfire and surfing the next morning (for the boys, not me... there are SHARKS in the water).

But to be thankful - I am thankful that I still have time for my hair to grow longer and that my kidlet has started writing a speech - of his own accord. Of course, it starts off with him apologizing if his own good looks distract from the bride and groom but... baby steps. At least I know that he won't be dealing with self esteem issues when he hits middle school.

I am thankful today for friends who can camouflage my gray hair with fantastic blonde highlights making me feel better than I have in over a month. Yay. I am also grateful for having a friend who, while calling me an ass and letting me know she loves me (in a nonsexual way despite what some people insist of my owning a Subaru and of my constantly telling her how sexy and hot she is), tell me like it is. Double yay. A brutally honest friend who can make me look fantastic - what a precious, essential gift!

So, as my essential gift friend pointed out, to continue with the mushy gushy everyday journal of gratitude for my betrothed: I am thankful that he is so incredibly giving of his time and friendship to the kidlet and, every night, when it is time for bed all I wish for is that... he would stop chatting with the kidlet about video games! If a 6'3" paramedic is easy pickings for the beguiling powers of my blue eyed charmer, God helps us if we have a daughter.