tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39404555247625811052024-03-13T13:53:15.861-06:00Whine from the CocoaNutPut the wine in the cocoa nut, then she feels better.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-91743071418477870362008-12-23T12:40:00.003-07:002008-12-23T12:44:36.259-07:00Turnabout is Fair PlayI'm back on my feet after having been less than well for three days. The new man was an absolute sweetheart, looking after both me and my kids as well as doing the cooking and cleaning.<br /><br />This morning, unfortunately, he is the one not feeling so chipper. He's napping in one room and my youngest is in another, both with rummy tummies. So much for taking the kids to the local pool today for a swim during their Christmas vacation!<br /><br />All I can say is thank goodness I'm back to my old self and able to care for them both.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-45576247666180012202008-12-15T21:18:00.002-07:002008-12-15T21:24:07.794-07:00Aussies on IceI took my kids skating at a nearby ice rink this evening. We had lots of fun, even though none of us is a fabulous skater. While circling the ice in pursuit of my boys, I saw a young couple holding hands while skating. The young lady, a Canadian, was a much better skater than her Australian sweetheart. At one point she dropped his hand to skate ahead, turn with her camera and take his photo. <br /><br />"C'mon, honey, smile!" I heard her say to him.<br /><br />His reply - in a thick Australian accent: "I can't skate and smile simultaneously!"Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-59568282544447134102008-11-14T21:03:00.003-07:002008-11-14T21:03:00.952-07:00Starting OverHow frustrating. All I wanted to do was have my former husband's name removed from the utility bill that is addressed to the two of us each month. <br /><br />For the last fifteen+ years I have taken care of the bills, making sure they are paid on time and in full each month without fail. Yet because those bills are in both our names, the primary account holder is automatically the man. The result: I do not have a credit history with these companies and in order to put the accounts in my name, I must close the original account and open a new account (for the same home), pay the new account fee, and then fill out umpteen forms to try and avoid having to pay a large "new account holder" deposit fee: $200 for the utility bill alone.<br /><br />All I can say is thank goodness I always maintained a credit card in my name alone.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-69687680498885440192008-11-13T20:51:00.004-07:002008-12-15T21:25:28.376-07:00Are You Flossing?It was that time again - time for the dental hygiene check-up with the friendly neighbourhood dentist's office. Things started off awkwardly: I had the fun task of informing the dental team that has looked after my family's teeth for years that my husband is now my former husband, after having walked out on me six months ago. He didn't bother informing them of his new address so his dental check-up reminders are being left on my answering machine.<br /><br />The dental visit itself was fine, despite the disappointment of not getting a prize from the treasure drawer even though I'm still a member of the "no cavity club". I was informed, however, that I should get a mouthguard to wear nightly to prevent the teeth-clenching that occurs in my sleep. In the last six months the recession and wear from teeth-clenching has increased. It's stress-related, the dentist reassured me. At least it got me off the hook for not flossing as much as I should!Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-63549149496154001382008-11-12T20:34:00.002-07:002008-11-12T20:51:15.470-07:00Multilingual Storytime?Lately I've been working Sundays at the library, doing storytime for preschoolers. One Sunday I had a grand total of one child and her mother, and English was not their first language. Painful - trying to encourage a child to sing along when she is staring slack-jawed at you and you're not even sure if she understands 10% of what you're saying.<br /><br />Last Sunday was a vast improvement. Nearly a dozen kids, parents in tow, traipsed into my storytime class. All it takes is one or two outgoing children to join in with me and then the whole group comes alive. We had a fantastic time reading stories, singing songs, jumping around like bunnies and being snapping turtles.<br /><br />I also had the opportunity to view my storytime from another angle. My new fellow dropped in to observe. He is European and English is not his first language. Most of the rhymes and songs I did with the children were foreign to him and of course the books were vastly different from those of his childhood. A few things, however, seem to be universal. "I'm a Little Teapot" and "Head and Shoulders" are known in multiple languages. Now that I've taught him the Canadian winter version* of "Head and Shoulders", he promises to teach me the lyrics in three other languages.<br /><br /><br /><br />For those of you who are interested, I made my own Canadianized and winterized version of "Head and Shoulders". (Please note: a winter hat is called a "toque" and it's pronounced "took" with a long "oo" as in "cool" or "pool", not a short "oo" like in "book". A parka is a warm winter coat.)<br /><br /><br />Toque and parka,<br />Snowpants, boots,<br />Snowpants, boots.<br /><br />Toque and parka,<br />Snowpants, boots,<br />Snowpants, boots.<br /><br />Scarf and mitts <br />And a bright red nose,<br /><br />Toque and parka,<br />Snowpants, boots,<br />Snowpants, boots.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-91084606317950966662008-11-12T20:08:00.002-07:002008-11-12T20:11:13.829-07:00Small MiraclesThe powers that be in the library system have delayed the roll-out of the new software until mid-February. I'm pleased, but I wonder: what happens to the people who took training back in September but haven't had a chance to practice or even see the software program for five months? Will we all need another round of training?Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-9765762440232282982008-11-06T18:57:00.002-07:002008-11-06T19:01:05.604-07:00Jumping the GunWhy does a company insist on having employee training for a new software program, then mention at least once every ten minutes during an entire day of training that the program has bugs and glitches and is still being worked on and is not in its final state?<br /><br />Why not wait until the software has been customized for the company, have a pilot group test the program and provide feedback, then make final changes before rolling it out to all staff and providing relevant, accurate training?Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-37028462624348756352008-09-26T21:42:00.002-06:002008-09-26T21:54:53.522-06:00Taking a WalkMy day job has been insanely busy lately. Today was a deadline for a huge project in the Human Resources department, one which required every employee of the company, in each office across the country, to submit paperwork to us. This has been widely known for more than two weeks, yet the bulk of the papers arrived today: the last possible day on which they could be submitted. Additionally, there are still more than 25% of the staff who have yet to submit their documents. You can guarantee that this 25% will also be complaining loudly when they have problems in a month's time because their paperwork was not submitted in time.<br /><br />I have worked through my lunch every day this week - every day except today. On this, the busiest and craziest day I've ever had with my current job, when I had every intention of working through lunch yet again, I was invited by a colleague for a walk along the river for fifteen minutes. She knew how crazy my day was and convinced me that I would be better for a short break in the fresh air. How right she was!<br /><br />Fifteen minutes on the footpath beside the river near our office: enjoying the sunshine, the fall colours in the trees, the teal green water with tiny whitecaps dancing in the breeze, the fresh clean un-air-conditioned air. I went back to my office with a bounce in my step and a smile on my face. My batteries were recharged and I pounced on that mountain of paperwork with renewed vigour.<br /><br />Funny what a difference fifteen minutes can make.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-27780800639103190942008-09-24T21:22:00.002-06:002008-09-24T21:33:21.706-06:00ArtRecently I was fortunate enough to be invited to the gallery opening for a friend's most current works of art. Normally I'm more of a "traditional art" kind of girl and don't understand or appreciate most modern art. This time, I was pleasantly surprised. This lady used concrete as the medium in which to capture the enlarged images of tiny, transient objects. I was captivated by the series of dandelion seeds, in their wispy floating glory. <br /><br />While it was hard to choose a favourite, I think I'd have to go with the series of coffee rings. There was something about the little splash on one side that had me wondering. Did the coffee drinker spill because the drink was too hot? Because he/she was laughing with a friend and put the cup down on the table with a thump? Perhaps the drink was cold, not hot - no one said it was coffee. Maybe it was a tall gin & tonic, sipped on a hot day out in the back garden, and the condensation dripped from the glass and pooled on the table.<br /><br />I may not know a thing about modern art, but I do know when I have a fun afternoon.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-77742254388203989952008-09-03T20:12:00.003-06:002008-09-03T20:15:17.955-06:00Pets: Gotta Love 'EmFunny how when someone does something nasty to you, is petty and vindictive and makes you so angry you could just spit, giving a furry four-footed friend a pat and a cuddle makes things a bit better.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-26399825877726252008-08-23T07:59:00.003-06:002008-08-23T08:03:51.963-06:00My Animal FriendsI am currently dogsitting for a friend - a couple of big, friendly pooches that are great with my children and get along well with my dog and cats.<br /><br />Last evening my daughter brought a friend over and the dogs, hearing the noise at the front door, bounded over to greet the newcomer.<br /><br />"Are these your mum's dogs?" my daughter's friend asked.<br /><br />"No," my daughter replied, "they're my mum's friend's."<br /><br />"What?!" the other teen exclaimed. "Your mum's friends are dogs?"<br /><br />I guess you can't hear an apostrophe.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-41756857996399646652008-08-20T21:18:00.003-06:002008-08-20T21:25:52.264-06:00Sticking it OutI have thought off and on over the summer about giving up my part-time job at the library. Working full-time plus raising four children on my own (every other week when they're not with their dad) plus three cats and a dog plus a new relationship with a very wonderful man plus a part-time library job is quite a lot to fit on my plate. However, I have such fun during my shifts at the library that it doesn't feel like work. Also, the bit of extra money makes a difference each month. <br /><br />I have come to the conclusion that I'm not ready to resign. My supervisor was pleased to hear of my decision and has asked if I'd be willing to help out with the odd Sunday storytime. Of course I agreed - I absolutely adore doing the storytimes with the children. I should know my new shift schedule in a few weeks.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-108434046038688022008-08-11T23:02:00.003-06:002008-08-11T23:07:27.916-06:00Just Doing My JobEarly on in my evening shift at the library, I helped an older gentleman with his requests. We didn't actually have the book he desired, but I found something else for him and we had a nice chat and a few laughs in the process.<br /><br />Later, just before the library closed for the night, the same gentleman returned to the reference desk and presented me with a gift card for a local coffee shop: a thank you gift for my help. Frankly, I was stunned. I was just doing my job.<br /><br />Thank <strong>you</strong>, sir, for your kindness and generosity.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-80811987413172518482008-08-10T14:53:00.004-06:002008-08-11T22:10:58.325-06:00Exceeds ExpectationsLife since my ex left me has had its ups and downs, but lately things have been up, in general. There have been problems, like my 13-year-old daughter wanting to live with her dad (a decision fueled, I believe, by the fact that discipline in his house is considerably more lax than in mine) but I'll get through them in time.<br /><br />My performance review at my full-time day job took place on Friday, August 8th. (08-08-08 if you're superstitious and believe in the Asian "lucky number 8".) My overall review rating was "exceeds expectations". I was thrilled.<br /><br />This past month of my life has also exceeded expectations. I have met a wonderful man who understands the mess my world has been recently, yet he's interested in me anyway. He's not scared off by the existence of my four children: he has met them a number of times; they like him and he likes them. I'm sure my friends will think of him as the "rebound guy", following so closely on the heels of the dissolution of my marriage, but neither he nor I think of things that way. I warned him when I met him that I had enough baggage to fill a transatlantic airplane. His response? "When you're ready, I'll help you unload that airplane one bag at a time." My rating for him is, for obvious reasons, "exceeds expectations".<br /><br />UPDATE: A photo taken by this wonderful man:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjWEqR5gGInjNxtTfHdQYflDCNPliE1E8ALrTdTQTHHvG9ZyMWbImk0iEAYE3pt3X57LlQJ-1qH1YSWjBVo9FoDD7zOPvsfP7Vi-yYCiMno0-M8e0hegPQ_WpEp3zvW2K6EAGeJPNJc1f/s1600-h/Kananaskis-upper.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjWEqR5gGInjNxtTfHdQYflDCNPliE1E8ALrTdTQTHHvG9ZyMWbImk0iEAYE3pt3X57LlQJ-1qH1YSWjBVo9FoDD7zOPvsfP7Vi-yYCiMno0-M8e0hegPQ_WpEp3zvW2K6EAGeJPNJc1f/s320/Kananaskis-upper.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233478655012496866" /></a>Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-5167364597654872402008-08-04T11:20:00.001-06:002008-08-04T11:20:56.311-06:00Words to Live BySeen on the back of a dump truck while driving the other day:<br /><br />"Do Not Push"Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-21539557503553554592008-07-28T22:44:00.002-06:002008-07-28T22:52:46.244-06:00Summer AdventuresI was fortunate enough to join a friend on the weekend for a walk in the mountains with our dogs. Most of the time I take our amazing scenery for granted, but it's eye opening to see the landscape through the eyes of one who was not born in this country.<br /><br />The one downside: my "city girl" of a pooch has a blister on her paw from the longer walk and rougher terrain than her usual jaunts.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-13292531620310936522008-07-10T17:09:00.002-06:002008-07-10T17:12:14.084-06:00Five Feet, Four PeopleThe DNA results are back from the <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080710.wfeet-staff0710/BNStory/National/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080710.wfeet-staff0710">feet found off the west coast of Canada</a>. Two of the feet match, meaning they are now only looking for four missing people.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-23736831231376275442008-07-09T21:45:00.003-06:002008-07-10T17:09:33.093-06:00WaitingMy garage door still isn't fixed. Thankfully it's summer and the weather is nice. If it were -30 with ice and snow, I wouldn't be quite so relaxed about having to park my van in the driveway.<br /><br />The door guy has been, done some repairs and maintenance, and gone. We're waiting for a part so he can fix it. I'm hoping it will be done in the next day or two - we shall see.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />UPDATE:</span> The door is fixed! I got the call at work today that my door man had been to the house and fixed the overhead garage door. He asked if it was OK if he didn't invoice me until next week as he doesn't have the exact cost of the part he picked up from his supplier. Hmmm, my door is fixed and I don't have to pay for it yet? Sounds good to me!Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-4337415122728294212008-06-29T12:27:00.002-06:002008-06-29T12:33:55.439-06:00Bested by a MachineI have spent the last three hours fiddling with the settings on my overhead garage door opener without success. The mechanism thinks the floor is four inches above its existence in reality and when it doesn't meet resistance, stops and returns to its fully open position. <br /><br />I've backed Moby (my big white whale of a van) into the driveway for fear that my twiddlings will break the motor and then I'll be stuck with not only a broken garage door, but also no access to my vehicle.<br /><br />As much as it pains me, I've had to admit defeat and ask for help. My friend's son-in-law runs an overhead garage door company and I've put in a call for assistance. Of course, it's Sunday.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-28024481820641908322008-06-24T19:12:00.001-06:002008-06-24T19:14:34.190-06:00HumidityOn a drizzly, humid day, I resemble the love child of <a href="http://blog.lib.umn.edu/looby004/architecture/ShirleyTemple.jpg">Shirley Temple</a> and <a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/852/000023783/gene-wilder-1-sized.jpg">Gene Wilder</a>.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-65508805170748640252008-06-18T20:18:00.004-06:002008-06-19T17:27:13.241-06:00Six Feet (and Counting?)A <a href="http://www.news1130.com/news/topstory/article.jsp?content=20080618_194231_15040">sixth foot has been found</a> on Canada's west coast. Another right foot (that's five right feet to one left, if you're keeping a tally) and this one appears to be in a sneaker that matches the left (fifth) foot that was found earlier this week.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATE</span>: The <a href="http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=af83da54-e04c-4df7-9510-ffcb71d689b4">sixth foot was a hoax</a>. Some sick puppy stuffed an animal foot in a sock with seaweed and put that in a sneaker.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-21675365514283600852008-06-17T22:14:00.002-06:002008-06-17T22:22:45.624-06:00The Case of the Fifth Floating FootYes, you guessed it, a fifth sneaker-shod foot has been found on the west coast of Canada. The surprise this time is that it is a left foot, not a right one. Here's a <a href="http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=326fc9ee-60c3-4fe8-b5e4-4d2975910dd7">news article</a> for those who want to read more.<br /><br />If this is all very confusing to you, here are <a href="http://whinefromthecocoanut.blogspot.com/2008/05/right-foot-right-foot-right-foot-right.html">links</a> to my other <a href="http://whinefromthecocoanut.blogspot.com/2008/02/right-foot-right-foot-right-foot-feet.html">posts</a> about the previous feet. No word yet if this foot is male or size 12.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-36758252670349223292008-06-10T22:11:00.002-06:002008-06-10T22:18:29.265-06:00I Hate CarpetOn Sunday night, the dog got into the cat treats and ate them all, along with part of the cardboard packaging. I woke up Monday morning to various puddles of dog vomit in my dining room and returned home to more after work on Monday evening. I cleaned them as best as I could with the limited time I had.<br /><br />This evening I spent more than two hours with my rug shampooer, (yes, it's more cost-effective to own than rent when you have four children, three cats and a dog), cleaning the dining room carpet. I hate carpet!<br /><br />For years I have wanted to remove the dining room carpet (and the kitchen linoleum) and replace it with tile. Unfortunately, money - or the lack thereof - has been the issue. If I had tile instead of carpet, the clean-up would have taken less than ten minutes rather than over two hours. Arrgh!Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-43008985211257735282008-06-04T23:41:00.002-06:002008-06-04T23:53:10.847-06:00FriendsI have the best friends anyone could ever wish for. <br /><br />Last night I got a call from an old and very dear friend I haven't seen in over a year. I was invited out for a drink at a local pub and I accepted. (I don't have the kids this week, so my time is somewhat free.) I was greeted with a big hug, encouraged to vent over the dissolution of my marriage and then expound on the joys of my new full-time job. Alas, the time to part came too soon, but when a girl has to get up and get to work on time, a girl has to go to bed on time too. I was not allowed to pay for my pint of Guinness (although I insisted that the next time will be my treat) and was sent on my way with another hug.<br /><br />This evening I had just come back into the house after mowing the lawn - the rather overgrown lawn that has been loving the recent rain and that should have been mowed days ago - when the phone rang. It was my neighbour. She was about to step into their backyard hot tub and called to see if I would like to join her. This is the second time she has called with this offer and, like the first time, I couldn't say no. What a glorious evening, sitting in her hot tub with a big glass of ice water, chatting and looking out at all the flowering trees. <br /><br />I am fortunate indeed.Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3940455524762581105.post-531805811393705252008-06-03T20:52:00.002-06:002008-06-03T20:55:04.999-06:00TyposI get irritated reading the news articles on a local news website. The constant switching of "affect" and "effect", "course" and "coarse", etc., astounds me. Does no one know how to spell any more? This evening there was an article about a long-toed salamander, but it was spelled "long toad salamander". Arrgh!Canadian Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14576248760750500940noreply@blogger.com2