Texting Wonder of the World

As we pulled into the Tim Horton's parking lot, I looked at the vehicle we were pulling in beside.  In the driver's seat was a lady with a cell phone.  She had the slide down keyboard type, and she appeared to be texting.

I took a second look and realized that the texter was in her late 70's or early 80's, and she was texting better than I can.  Thats when I realized that Baby Girl will be so far ahead of me by the time she is 10 years old, that I only hope to understand enough to keep her out of trouble.

As for the older texter, I just tell myself she is a mature looking 16 year old. 

Things you may not know about me

Things you may not know about me

1. Tulips are my favourite flowers.  Roses are a close second.

2. I played pool in a league, but I am far from a pool shark.

3. I had heart surgery at 21 years of age.  I had a hole between my left and right atrium.  Luckily it has been repaired.

4. One thing I cannot live without is my books.

5. I wanted to be a professional baseball player when I was younger.

6. I am a geek, a nerd, and any other term you can think of.  Here is proof:

* I worked in the school library for grades 6 and 7.

* I wanted to be a computer programmer in grade 12, but changed to a BBA when I started University.

* I studied Japanese in High School with Sensei Hara. I still remember how to so “So Sorry to be Late”

* I competed in a Math Competition in grade 7 and a Public Speaking Competition in grade 8.
* I was a member of Counterattack from grade 8 to 12.

7. I took Drama as an elective in high school.

8. I hate confrontation.

9. I may not be religious but I am spiritual.  I do believe in God.

10. I hate doing the dishes.

11. I am a Vehicle Rock Star.  I love to sing in my car and I don't care who sees.

12. I suffer from a Mental Illness.

13. I love trivia tidbits.  Especially useless bits that can be brought up in random conversation.

14. I love studying the history of the areas and cities I love in.

Favourite Quotes

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

“When she smiles, she just melts my heart” ~ Michael Dillon (about Kiera)

The fundamental job of a toddler is to rule the universe

Never underestimate a child’s ability to get into more trouble

To the world you may be just one person; but to one person you may be the world.

Dance as though no one is watching you,

Love as though you have never been hurt before,

Sing as though no one can hear you,

Live as though Heaven is on Earth. ~ Souza

... the only difference bewteen me and the rest of the population is that I acknowledge how crazy I am and they're all in mind-numbing denial.

"Sanity is a cozy lie" ~ Susan Sontag

If everyone woke up tomorrow morning and said,

"It's possible; whatever it is, it's possible,"
and spent a whole day having an "it's possible" day,
then we would be going down the kind of road I'm interested in
because I do believe it is possible.

It is important to live each day with a positive perspective.
It is not wise to pretend problems do not exist,
but it is wise to look beyond the problem to the possibilities that are in it.
When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought,
"He's so big, we can never kill him."
But David looked at the same giant and thought,
"He's so big, I can't miss him."

My Promise to Kiera

I Promise

To remember you are a gift

To help you know we are always together

To trust myself when caring for you

To dance, sing and play with you

To hold you but never hold on to you

To teach you by example, not just words

To inspire you to love yourself and your body

To try not to criticize you even if I disagree with your choices

To help you see that you are perfect just the way you are

To trust you to make your way through the world

To celebrate each milestone in your life

To support you as you take on new endeavours

To create a loving and enriching environment for you

To show you how to laugh at yourself

To teach you forgiveness

To show you life’s blessings

To help you see that happiness is not dependant on circumstances

To teach you not to take life too seriously

To empower you to trust yourself

To help you always reach for the stars

Things I Love

The first sip of coffee in the morning

The sound of a cat purring

A child’s smile

The sound of a rainstorm

The smell of fresh peaches

The feeling of my husbands arms around me

Discovering something new

Receiving a card or letter in the mail (snail mail especially)

Listening to old stories

Laughing so hard that I cry – a family trait

The look of a fresh snowfall

Dancing in the rain

Mellow Times

Where does time go? 

As a child, I prayed for time to speed up. 

 Now, all I can say is SLOW DOWN. 

I miss sharing our lives with you.  So much has happened since the last time I have blogged.

I have lost 40 pounds (well since May).  Although, I am a little off track now.

I am back at work.  Is it possible to love and hate something at the same time?

Kiera is 13 months.  I think this is the hardest one for me.  I am not ready for this.

So much to tell you about.

Later.

Tonight, I am in my hotel room at work, missing my family. 

And thinking about life.

Get Grillin' (a not so subtle request for donations)

Get Grillin’ Fundraiser

It is summer, and what is better than having a couple of steaks grilling on the BBQ.

The Hula Hunnies just so happen to be selling steaks.

The money raised will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society at the Relay for Life next year.

8 oz. New York Steaks

24 pieces per case

Our price: $8.00 / lb (approx retail price $11.00 / lb)

Case Price: $96.00

6oz. Sirloin Steaks

24 pieces per case

Our Price: $5.50 / lb (approx retail price $7.00 / lb)

Case Price: $49.50

10oz. Sirloin Steaks

20 pieces per case

Our Price: $5.50 / lb (approx retail price $7.00 / lb)

Case Price: $68.75

Help us out and eat some yummy steaks at the same time.  Contact me if you are interested.

Sale Ends July 31st, 2010

Life as Kiera Sees it: Some of My Accomplishments

Happy Birthday Canada

July 1st

143 years old

Man you're getting old.

Why I am proud to be Canadian:

1. We share a Birthday.

2. Free Healthcare (mostly).

3. Freedom: Freedom of speech, Freedom of religion, Freedom of choice, Freedom to complain about our government, and the weather.

4. Tim Horton's.

5. The Laidback, Poke Fun at Ourselves Attitude.

6. Rye.

7. Multiculturalism and Diversity.

. 8. The Beauty.

June Goal Update

Leisure Time

I will read 10 books per year, 2 of which must be nonfiction.

* I haven't completed any more books, but I do have 2 on the go. One non fiction, and one fiction.

Personal Growth

I will reconnect with my friends by the end of the year.

* Still planning a poker night in June. $5 buy in. Anyone interested? This didn't happen. Maybe July.

I will post to my blog 12 times per month.

* We know how this one went.

Health and Fitness

I will work out for 30 minutes, 3 times per week.

* I have been working out about 6 times per week, at least 30 minutes per day.

* I have also been going for walks on occassion.

* I have lost over 20 lbs.

Learn to Ski by April 1st, 2011

* I will ski at least 10 days this coming ski season.

I will run in a 5 km run by July 15th, 2011

* I am going to start training after July 2nd. I haven't decided which 5 km yet - either Boogie the Bridge or Jo's Road Race.

Biggest Loser Update: Week 8

Have we reached the half way point already? 
I am well on my way to losing 32 pounds in 16 weeks.  It's time to up the ante. 
My new goal is to lose 50 pounds in 16 weeks.
Is this do-able or am I setting myself up for failure?

Week 8

Since I don't really have any journal entries to share from the past 4 weeks, I thought I would share some of my experiences and impressions.

The Centre is a modern day torture chamber.  Even just looking as some of the equipment, you know to be afraid, very afraid.  However, it's the innocent looking objects that seem to cause the most pain.

Take these Gliding Discs for instance.

Which can be purchased here by the way.

Look like something that could be fun, kinda like a frisbee, right.  WRONG!  These things hurt.  How you may ask.  Here's how.

Get down on your hands and knees, place each toe onto a frisbee, raise up on your toes, slide your knees to your chest slowly, then slide them back out again.  Repeat for 60 seconds or 1 minute.

I'll wait here while you do that.

(just another possible torture)

Done yet?
Hurts, don't it.

And that is one of many different possible tortures that these things are capable of.

And now for the moment you have all been waiting for...

2 month picture...

Weight: 245.8 lbs

Loss: 11.4 lbs
Total Lost: 24.8 lbs
Total Inches Lost: 12 inches
(arms, legs, bust, waist, hips)

Life as a Hula Hunnie: Relay for Life

June 12th, 2010

A nearby riverside park

500 plus people

And I am dressed like this

Opps, I mean this...

Where am I?

Where else could I be but

The Relay for Life.

For anyone who doesn't know what Relay is, it is a 12 hour event for the Canadian Cancer Society. Basically, your team has to have someone on the track at all times during the 12 hours.

Our team, the Hula Hunnies, arrived early to set up.

We were a little late, but we did get there before it started. I was very impressed.

Once there, we set up camp,

Put on our sunscreen,

Put on our costumes,

This is my dad. We are so proud of him. :)

And had our coffee.

Then it was time for relay to start.

Between the rounds, there was a little fun to be had, visiting to do,

Water to drink,

And Hula Hooping to do.

All the wildlife came out to participate.

It was a fun day, but we were all there for a reason.  To raise money to fight Cancer, to honour the survivors, and to remember the ones we have lost.

\

A lot of tears were shed, but it was the perfect ending to a fabulous day.