Farmin'!

I had a busy week-end. Kinda. On Sunday, I volunteered with St. John Ambulance. I've been volunteering with them since September, and Sunday was the first time I actually provided first-aid on a duty. For privacy reasons, I can't disclose the name or details of the first-aid I provided, and I intend to honour that requirement. However, I can say that the event was a triathlon. I can also say that at triathlons, a common cause of injury is due to falling off bicycles (not due to lack of skill). So you can guess what kind of care was required.

Later in the day, Princess & I went to a farm. My friend Teresa married a farmer. She is not a farmer, but she somehow ended up a farm-wife! Her hubby took us around and introduced us to the animals. There was one pig, one calf, two cows, a bunch of sheep and lambs, one ram (the male sheep) and one horse.

They only have one pig. They had two plus a bunch of piglets. They recently sold the piglets, and of their two adult pigs, only Sammy is still there. I petted Sammy on the head - apparently, she likes head rubs. Sammy's companion was Hammy, and I don't need to think too hard to figure out where Hammy went.

Of the lambs, most were running free, but two were still isolated with their mommy because they were so young. Teresa and I each held one lamb. I have to say, they look waaaay softer than they feel. Their wool was actually rough compared to what I was expected. We cuddled them both, but their poor hearts were just pounding! We didn't cuddle them long and we returned them to their very worried mum.

The calf was named Angus. He's an Angus cow, and he's going to become Angus steak. I forget what the other two cows were named, but apparently their days were numbered.

Princess and Marley (Teresa's chocolate lab) did NOT get along. I think Diesel (8 month old black lab neighbour) would have gotten along, but Marley and Princess were so wound up by each other that no one was able to get along. Marley's also a trained duck-hunting dog, and she seemed friendly. Other than trying to eat Princess, that is. But Princess was trying to fight back, like the scrappy stray she is. It was almost funny watching how much those two hated each other. I think they would really have injured each other if we weren't there, but it's hard to say.

So that was my exciting week-end. What did you do?

Ahhh :)

This is where I spent my Saturday:


After spending hours alternating between hot (steam sauna, dry sauna, hot tub), cold (cool water or cold water or just walking outside in a bathing suit!) then rest (at one of many rest stations, some by fireplaces), we went out to an Asian restaurant. As we finished our meal (coconut-curry tofu, tsao tofu and ginger shrimp), karaoke started. So we stuck around for a couple hours, and even did our own rendition of Sweet Caroline!

Good times!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving Monday in Canada. My mom had a turkey on Friday, my in-laws had Chinese food on Saturday (that I couldn't attend) and my hubby and I had a luncheon for our parents today. At the last minute, my parents couldn't attend (for a very good reason), but the rest of us had a lovely lunch. And I might take some leftovers to my parents tomorrow, if they're up for it.

I couldn't make the in-laws dinner on Saturday because I went to Kristy's bachelorette party in Toronto. We stayed in a suite at the Sutton Place, the hotel the stars stay at during the film festival, and it was definitely a swanky place! We had lychee martinis and wine, played some games and hung out with a large group of women, including the bride's mother and aunt (who both decorated a mean penis-shaped chocolate cupcake). Then, most of us got in a limo and were ferried on a pub crawl, starting with a "pub" (a bar when we got there, a live music hotspot when we left) and ending at a club (Devil's Martini). Those were the only two spots on our pub crawl, but it was great fun!

The lunch for our parents consisted of honey-garlic pork chops (veggie burger for me, of course), sweet potato casserole, broccoli-cauliflower casserole and cookies ("farmer's market") for dessert. Yum! I got the recipes from allrecipes.com, and was told they were "keepers". My only criticism: the prep time was much greater than the estimated prep time on the website, and I cooked the broccoli-cauliflower casserole for much longer than it advised.

What an odd week-end

I played baseball on Saturday in an all week-end tournament. In the last game on Saturday, I took a line drive off my shin (well, my glove had deflected it), which smarted. But Saturday night, it really started to swell. A lot. I was quite worried, actually, so I iced it, then slept with my leg elevated. But Sunday morning, there was still significant edema, so I opted not to play on Sunday. However, in exchange for not playing, I had to look after another girl on the team's baby. Baby Liam was a joy and a delight! So we hung out all day Sunday and watched his mommy and daddy and my husband play baseball.

Our team went to the A finals (like in the mid-season tournament). Unlike in the mid-season tournament, we lost to the same team we beat earlier in the year. It was too bad, but it was a good day. I wished I was played, but I doubt my team missed me! I'm very good defensively, but I can't hit to save my life. And I'm not being modest: I batted 0 for 7 or 8 on Saturday. That's right, I never got safe at first. Boo!

Anyway, the shin's swelling today is down, and in its place is an awful bruise. Bruises are manageable, and in this case expected. I am so happy that it's healing, and will probably spend the next week or two mesmerized by the colours my shin will change!

I'm still on the job hunt - I probably will be for at least a month. I'm not worried yet, and I'm sending out plenty of resumes. But at what point will I get frustrated?

A great week-end!

This week-end was busy. I hung out with my parents on Friday night. Saturday mid-day, I went to my friend's parent's "cottage" party. (It was more of a gazebo party). Later in the afternoon, I went to my aunt & uncle's engagement party held in honour of my cousin. Finally, today I made the 3+ hour drive to Brampton for a baby shower for my friend Jane! (Plus 3 hours back.)

I didn't take any cameras, but I fully intend to poach pictures from other friends and will try to post them on here. :)

P.S. I also got an invitation to the wedding of one of my bridesmaids on Friday! :) Of course, I've already sent the reply card back.

A good week-end!

I had a great week-end visiting my bridesmaid Crystal in Montreal. I didn't take my camera, so I have no pictures. We took the metro to Old Montreal, walked through Notre Dame, around Old Montreal and just looked around. We saw City Hall (Hotel de Ville), which was beautiful (which incidentally is where Brandy is getting married).

We walked all through Old Montreal, looking at painting, stone and bead jewellery, portrait artists, street performance artists, and all the busyness of Old Montreal!

There were about a half-dozen brides in Old Montreal getting their pictures taken. I wished a few felicitations (congratulations). The first bride we saw didn't even look my way ... and I was about 10 feet away from her and I yelled "Felicitations!" She didn't even blink. Snob.

The next bride I wished it to was in an old limo similar to what Wade and I had. She smiled and waved when I said that. She looked so happy! The next couple brides were English, so I said congratulations!

Then we returned to Crystal's beautiful neighbourhood. In a local park, we saw another half-dozen bridal parties posing for pictures! We sat and watched like bizarre stalkers in the air-conditioned car. It was very hot and humid downtown, then we had to talk the non-air conditioned metro back to Crystal's neighbourhood. When we got back to her car to drive to her place, we didn't want to leave the air conditioned car, so we parked beside the beautiful park (complete with several ponds, rock cuts, a waterfall, a gazebo and various other beautiful elements) and watched the weddings like crazy people. Okay, not true: we sat and watched like silly girls infatuated over weddings. :)

It was a great week-end!

Wade started packing. He was glad to be without me to get organized. And I've already started planning our housewarming party (in my head).

P.S. Marie-Eve, next time I go, I'll give you a head's up! Just a thought!