Much needed long weekend

Today’s post is really late because I had a much needed relaxing long weekend. Today was a holiday in Ontario. So Saturday morning the boyfriend and I headed to my friend’s place. She runs a kennel in the country. Without traffic it would have been a two hour drive. For some reason there was a lot of traffic on the highway so it took over three hours to get there. The drive was worth it though.

We got there and unpacked the car. It’s amazing how much stuff we brought for one night. The dogs started barking as soon as we pulled up and it felt like they didn’t stop until Sunday morning. After putting out stuff in the pool house (our home away from home for the weekend) we settled in by the pool. Margaritas and a Mexican feast helped with the relaxation. We even made smores down by the fire later on that night.

I loved relaxing in the hot tub Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. I went in the pool but didn’t really swim. I just kind of lounged and chatted. It was Heaven! The only thing I didn’t like about the weekend was the pain in my teeth. I must go back to the dentist because the pain is horrible. It kept me up Saturday night and Sunday night.

Today, the BF and I moved the bedroom to the basement and the TV to the living room. It was a lot of work. I felt like collapsing a number of times. Took the pain in the teeth away for a bit though. I guess the focus on something else took my mind off it enough that it stopped hurting. The TV is actually all plugged in now and working great. I can’t wait to sleep in the new bedroom. There’s still lots to do. We have to move the rest of the bedroom stuff to the basement. Right now we just have the bed down there.

Now that all that’s done I guess I should start working on my office. That really needs to be done.

I’m off to bed soon. After all the exertion today I hope I sleep really well tonight.

Until next time…

Cindy

A dealership, groceries and more

So, didn’t really get to sleep in a lot this weekend. I had to take my car into the dealership for a much needed oil change and I needed to get the EGR valve fixed. My car now accelerates without me having to stomp on the gas. Woo hoo! My boyfriend followed me there so I wouldn’t have to wait the three hours they said it would take to fix my car. Glad he did too because it actually took closer to five hours. Bonus, it cost less than the estimate, including the oil change. My bank account was happy.

On the way home I had to get groceries. Which also cost me less than I had budgeted for. I love when that happens. It helps to have a list. Of course I don’t always stick to the list, especially if I’m hungry. This time though I rushed in and out with very few extra items. I did grab a package of pecan tarts they strategically placed in front of the check out aisle.

I learned Saturday while making dinner that I need to have an aloe plant in the kitchen. We decided to have pork chops with gravy and scalloped potatoes. I brown the pork chops first of course. I make sure the oil is hot before putting the pork chops in the pan. That part was fine. Turning them over however caused a little splash of grease. Grease burns don’t hurt right away I discovered. But when they do start to hurt they hurt like hell.

Sunday morning was a good morning. Relaxed in bed for a while cuddling with the boyfriend, watching Myth Busters, sipping coffee and having Tim Bits. Then got up and dragged myself to the bathroom for the weigh in. One whole week back on the points and I was worried what the scale would say. I did slip a number of times during the week. But I lost a pound! I don’t know how I did it but I’m going to do the same this week.

Off to work. If I get there earlier enough I can leave early. Then I can go swimming on the way home.

Until next time…

Cindy

Lazy days of summer

Summer is finally here. The weekend was a semi-long one. Thursday was a holiday. Canada Day. Friday was a work day for me but there was hardly anyone in the office so it didn’t really feel like work. Then there was the weekend. The most strenuous thing I did was go to the backyard and pick raspberries. I like weekends like that.

Saturday I was supposed to take my car in for an oil change but Friday night it felt like I was coming down with something. My throat hurt and I felt very tired. So Saturday morning I called to reschedule. I slept in. When I got up I made breakfast. Then the boyfriend and I watched marathon TV. We finished watching The Amazing Race season 13. I was happy Nick and Starr won. Though I would have been happy with any of the teams who made it to the final three.

We alternated TAR with House. We’re part way through season four of that. Watching the old episodes reminds me how really good the show was. The writing was great. I love House’s character. We just finished watching the episode with Mira Sorvino as a guest star.

We’ve also started watching TAR season 6. We haven’t seen many episodes of that yet. I think we’re on episode four. I already have people I definitely do not want to win. Jonathan and Victoria. She needs her head examined for not only dating him but actually marrying him. I don’t think I’ve wanted to actually hit anyone before but I wouldn’t mind giving him a few good jabs to the face. I’m not fond of the actors either. Can’t remember their names. Aaron and Hayden I think. Also, the engaged models aren’t doing it for me either. Well, they were okay until I heard that Kendra reveals herself to be racist in a later episode. I like the father/daughter team. Could have something to do with the fact he said he used to work for the CIA.

This week will be the usual. Except I’m hoping to get to the hotel to swim. I bought a membership to use a hotel pool and I’ve been once so far. I’d like to go at least three or four times a week. I’ve also started back on the points so I need to exercise as well.

That’s it for me. Not a very exciting weekend this time but it was a much needed lazy one.

Until next time…

Cindy

Frisbee flies home

So, my boyfriend’s friends moved from the U.S. to the UK in November. The import of animals is strict there. They don’t have rabies there so there’s a six month quarantine if you want to bring your pet. They didn’t want to put their cat Frisbee through that. You can get around that if the animal is quarantined in a country that participates in the pet exchange program.

In November they sent him to us in Toronto from Boston. When we picked him up at Air Canada Cargo he was quiet but curious. He kept standing up in his crate and looking out the windows on the drive home. He bumped my fingers a few times. When we got home we opened the crate and he shot out. First he explored the main floor. We went downstairs to watch TV and just let him explore. It didn’t take him long to follow us and on that first night he started to purr.

After almost eight months of looking after him it was time to send him back on Friday. To say it was hard would be a huge understatement. I fell in love with him that first night. I balled at the airport when we dropped him off. I worried the whole night and into Saturday. I worried about him being all alone waiting to be put on the plane. I worried about him in the cargo hold and how it would affect him.

Finally we got word that he landed at Heathrow and all the paperwork had been approved. My boyfriend’s friend picked Frisbee up and took him home. The first picture we got showed a somewhat shell shocked Frisbee. A later picture showed him much more at home. Even though it was hard to say goodbye I’m very happy he’s back with his family.

A picture of Frisbee:

Off to work.

Until next time…

Cindy

Superstitious Much?

So what is a superstition? The dictionary’s definition of superstition says it’s a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation. There are a lot of superstitions out there. There are other definitions but this first one is most common one. And the one that causes people to do some pretty weird stuff.

The list of superstitions is huge. I have a book that lists 8414 of them. Most are irrational. Some make sense like not walking under a ladder. Off the top of my head here’s a top ten list:

1. If a black cat walks towards you it brings very good luck to you – but if it walks away from you it takes its good luck with it.

2. If a bird flies into your home it is an omen of death.

3. If a dog suddenly barks for no apparent reason in a house that has a sick person it means death is coming.

4. Bad things will happen if you walk under a ladder.

5. If the palm of your right hand is itchy, it foretells that money is coming to you, but don’t scratch it. That stops the money from coming. If your left palm is itchy, scratch away, as that means that you’ll soon be paying out money for something.

6. If you spill some salt you must take a pinch of the spilt salt and throw it over your left shoulder as the devil waits there. By throwing the salt you are driving him away.

7. Breaking a mirror brings seven years bad luck.

8. Never put shoes on a table. That means bad luck for the rest of the day.

9. Knock on wood. You must knock on wood three times after mentioning good fortune or the evil spirits will ruin things for you.

10. A four leaf clover means good luck.

How superstitious are you? I’m sure most of you have heard of the playoff beard. Athletes are notorious for being superstitious. Wikipedia calls it a tradition. But traditions can be born from superstitions. NHL players stop shaving when their team gets into the playoffs. They don’t shave again until their team has been eliminated or wins the Stanley Cup. There are even guidelines for trimming the beard and dealing with others who might not like the beard. Other teams have been known to die their hair blond.

How superstitious are you? I had an exceptionally bad day last November. It was a Monday. To this day I won’t eat what I had for breakfast that day. I haven’t worn the top I wore that day. If I hear the song that was playing on my way home from work that day I change the station. I don’t turn it off because that’s what I did that day. It’s a song I can’t stand. It’s all irrational of course. Bad days happen. But that bad day I still can’t shake. It still makes me sad when I drive home.

How superstitions are you? Is anyone completely not superstitious? Would you scoff at a ladder and walk under it? Would you tempt fate and break that mirror? Would you leave that spilled salt on the table and not throw any over your shoulder?

Must get to work. Traffic should be light today because it’s Friday. Knock on wood.

Until next time…

Cindy

What are you eating?

I’m feeling domestic today for some reason. Doesn’t happen a lot. Though I’d be willing to bet my boyfriend wished it would happen more often.

So I made breakfast for both us. Bacon and eggs. Okay, not creative but classic.

For dinner I pulled out the slow cooker. In there I have No Time to Cook Chicken. Original recipe from All Recipes.com but with a few tweaks from me. I added chicken broth and veggies.

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can condensed cream of celery soup
1/2 can chicken broth
half a package frozen green beans (or other vegetable)
1/2 cup sour cream

Place chicken breasts in a slow cooker. In a medium bowl mix the soups and the chicken broth until smooth. Pour over the chicken making sure it’s well coated. Add the frozen green beans.

Cover and cook on low heat for 7 to 8 hours (the extra liquid will probably make it closer to 8). Stir in the sour cream about a 1/2 hour before serving.

I serve this over egg noodles.

And for dessert I made Cocoa Peanut Butter Mounds

This one is an old favourite at my house. My sister and I grew up having these.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
3 tbsp cocoa
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

Combine the sugar and cocoa in a medium sized pot.

Mix in the butter and milk.

Boil 2 minutes.

Add rolled oats, peanut butter, vanilla and mix well. (I put in the peanut butter first and make sure it’s melted, then the vanilla and last the rolled oats).

Drop onto waxed paper and refrigerate.

Happy eating!

Until next time…

Cindy