Thoughts of the week....

In celebration of the Friday before a long weekend, here are some thoughts I've been pondering this week.

Hockey players get paid huge amounts of money. The justification is that their career length is not as long as the average joe, so they need to make more money in the short term to support them in their, ahem, old age. So if their careers are so short and can be even shorter when you factor in injuries, why don't they take advantage of all the safety equipment available to ensure they play longer and therefore make more money? This is of course brought on by Zednik getting his neck slashed by his teammate's skate and almost dying and the subsequent debate on whether neck guards should be mandatory. Players say they're uncomfortable, etc. Hmmm.... a little chafing on the neck or a severed artery... let me think. This also applies to full face cages. It seems to be you'd have to be pretty dumb to not want to protect yourself. The face cages impeding vision is just ridiculous too. I mean, if goalies can stop pucks hurtling at them from god knows which direction with full face cages on, surely a player can find the puck on the ice. Sheesh.

Why does everything have to go wrong at the same time? I've had a shitty week, with things going wrong left, right and centre. Thankfully, when everything came to a head yesterday I got to go to yoga class that night. I felt much better afterwards, much more zen. I'm trying to hold onto that this morning just to get me through the day. At least it's a short one. I think I'll go winter boot shopping before I go help my gimped husband pack up Teachers Convention.

I am a patient person, but I'm not THAT patient. I have discovered that while I like to teach people and help them solve problems I have no tolerance for people that are dumb as a post. I just can't teach someone that can't even think for themselves a little bit. If you've got some brain cells, some initiative and some willingness to learn, then come and see me. Otherwise, keep your dumb pea brains to yourself.

Nathan and I have lived in our little house for almost 3 years. Looking back, we've done a lot in those three years. It never really seems like a lot at the time, but in retrospect, we've accomplished a lot of things. It's kind of amazing really. And this year we get to the fun things like contructing the model railroad and gardening. I can't wait for spring! But first, we must develop the basement!

I have concluded the search for the perfect reading chair. For a couple months now, Nathan and I have been visiting all manner of furniture stores from snooty to slummy, and I have found the perfect chair. It's the Archer Recliner from Ethan Allen. It's supportive, cushy, has a tall back for head support and of course, reclines. Perfect. We're going on Saturday to take one more look and then order it. And maybe a couch too....

Anyway, that's it for random thoughts. I'm alone for most of this long weekend as Nathan is going to the gift show in Edmonton on Sunday, back Tuesday. I plan to relax, work on the family tree, test drive some digital photo organizing software, nap, watch movies, and read.

Good song

So for Christmas my sister got me the new Bon Jovi cd. It's FANTASTIC!! Bon Jovi is one of those bands that I can buy a cd, completely unheard, and I won't be disappointed. This song is called "A Seat Next To You". It's my favourite of the ballads on the disc. But if you're looking for a new cd, buy Lost Highway. You won't be disappointed.

We live where?

This is what I don't get. Calgary has been experiencing a rather nasty cold snap. Fine. This is Canada in January. It's to be expected. What I don't get is that there are business people walking around downtown in thin coats, no hat, no gloves, no scarves, no boots. Are they insane????? When it's -50C with the windchill, I just don't care if I've got hat hair. Are these people so self conscious that they just can't bear to be seen in winter clothing? And these days winter clothing is cool. We have snowboarding to thank for that. I remember when I was a teenager, I wouldn't be caught dead in things like winter boots with my pants tucked in. But now I actually see teens wearing snow pants when it's cold out. So why can't adults (who are supposed to be much more secure and clever than teens) dress for the weather? WE LIVE IN CANADA!!!!! Sheesh.

Multi-topic post

I have been extremely neglect in my posting. Sorry. I just always seem to find something else that needs doing or that I want to do for myself. So here is my life since Christmas.


Christmas was good. Kind of odd, since it was the first one without Nathan's parents and sister. It was a little lonely at the Bell dinner, but I guess we managed. I got a whole 11 days off from work which was lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed it.


New Year's Eve Nathan and I went to Mom and Dad's. We watched The Trailer Park Boys Movie and then had a marathon canasta tournament. At midnight, we would finish the hand and whoever was ahead won! Nathan and I were leading quite spectacularly all night and then Mom and Dad had a comeback and on the last hand they pulled ahead! Typical for the year really. We counted and I think Nathan and I won twice last year to Mom and Dad's 11 (or something like that, I can't remember the exact number). Lots of fun though!


January was really busy at work. I've got Chinook that I'm working on as well as little tenant stuff here and there. I still manage to not work too much overtime. I'm really not a big fan of overtime and avoid it at all costs. Our office is moving in May to a new building on 8th Street and 6th Ave SW. We're starting to attempt to clean up things as much as possible so we don't have to move boxes and boxes of paper. We'll see how well that goes, but regardless I'm looking forward to a new space. Then we won't have to resort to bunk desks!

Nathan and I went to Revelstoke at the end of the month, which was lovely. We both really like it there. It's on our list of places to retire. =D We went to the train museum and to Halcyon Hot Springs. Sadly, while we were there we found out that Nathan's Grandma Fahey had passed away. It wasn't wholely unexpected, but still a sad event. I will miss her dearly. She was always such a mischievious, loving lady.

As for future plan, Nathan and I are hoping to get the basement developed before spring. It won't be a lot of work, but it will take a certain amount of coordination. We want to get it done now, because as soon as it's warm enough we'll be in the backyard working on the flower beds and the garden railway. I can't wait! Playing in the dirt is the best!

As soon as I find a spare minute I will post some pictures on our Picasa site from our trip and such. And now, it's back to my regularly scheduled lunch break.