Sunday, May 9, 2010

First Date

It has been quite a while since I sat down to write. I know, I promised to try to blog weekly but I haven't quite managed it (not at all!!). I get plenty of ideas but it's always when I don't have the time or energy to do it. I know that it's a matter of forming good habits but I've never been known for good habits (lol). I suppose that I haven't had the right motivation to write up until recently, that is.

I had a rather nice "first date" last weekend. Woo hoo! Trust me, this is a momentous occasion. It's not that I never have a date, although they are kind of few-and-far-between, it's the quality of date that was nice. It's amazing how many guys out there literally only have one thing on their mind. These guys want to hop in the sack on the first date! Never mind getting to know me or forming a friendship or anything like that - let's have a drink then get "down to business". Yeesh!

I met this guy online. I've enjoyed meeting a few nice people that way since I don't hang out in bars too much and, besides, who wants to pick someone up in a bar when they're compromised by booze. Trust me, I am not a good girl when corrupted by vodka! We corresponded for a couple of weeks before meeting and liked what we heard so decided to meet for coffee (tea in my case). This is all we did; we talked, got a look at each other and walked away with a smile.

The best part is that we are still talking and he is definitely interested! I always worry about meeting a new person, you see, because I'm not exactly a classic beauty. Don't get me wrong, I'm not ugly but I am overweight and it takes a special guy to see my beauty and appreciate it. It seems that he is that kind of special guy.

We're going to take it one day at a time, starting out as friends (with benefits) and dating and see where it goes. We both have kids (his are older) and he is working six days a week right now so we're going to keep it light and fun for now.

That's more than enough for me right now and has me walking around with a goofy grin on my face. Hell, he's even motivated me to get back to my blog. It's a miracle!

Kat

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

So We're Not Perfect!

The following text was sent to me in an email today. You know, those emails that get passed from friend to friend to friend and so on.... I don't know the origin of it so, unfortunately, I can't credit the original author but I thought that it was worth repeating.

"As expected, the 2010 Olympics have been subject to much criticism by some countries (the UK in particular) and by some of our own media and others - as if something this large could ever be perfect. The following commentary says it all so well.


We never claimed to be perfect
That means we've learned to be humble
We say excuse me and I'm sorry...as well as please and thanks
Even when it's not our fault WE apologize

Sure, one arm of the torch didn't rise
But when the earthquake struck Haiti, Canadians raised
their hands to say...."we'll help"

And yeah, there is a fence around the torch
But you can walk right up and shake hands with our prime
minister and most famous Canadians

We put Gretzky in the back of a pick-up, in the rain, not
surrounded by police....and he was okay
And by the way...The Great One is Canadian....
and HE wasn't complaining!

We do have security at the games, of course, but most
people don't even HAVE a gun they have to leave at home

The medals ARE under lock and key but our doors and
our hearts are open to the world

It has been pointed out that some buses broke down last
week....but let's not overlook the fact that our banking
system didn't

We didn't get the "green ice maker" right this time....but
we will, eventually

Just like we did when WE invented the zamboni

Citius altius fortius

If you don't reach higher how do you get faster and
stronger

Was the first quad jump perfect?
Should we not have given snowboarding to the world "in
case" it didn't take off?

So big deal...one out of four torch arms didn't rise. Good
thing we had 3 more! It's called contingency planning!

But remember...the Canadarm works every time...in
outerspace....and insulin turned out to be okay

We couldn't change the weather but maybe we can help
stop to stop global warming

We don't have the tax base of the US or the power of the
Chinese but, per capita, we ponied up for some pretty
kick-ass venues in the worst global recession ever

Sure, some folks couldn't afford tickets but our health care
is universal

We have shown the world that we can raise our voices in
celebration and song but moments later stand in silence to
respect a tragic event...together...spontaneously...and
unrehearsed.

What's more, we don't need permission from anyone to
have a slam poet, fiddlers with piercings and a lesbian
singer tell our story to the world while our multilingual
female Haitian-born, black head of state (Governor General) shares
a box with her first nations equals

We've shown the world that it doesn't always rain in
Vancouver, that you can strive for excellence but not get
hung up on perfection
And we've learned what it feels like to be picked on by
some no-name newspaper guy and we don't have to take
it lying down!

So the point is not the snow or the hydraulics or a couple
of guys being five minutes late to a ceremony

We know we're lucky that these are the biggest problems
we had to deal with in the last couple of weeks

Se take your cheap shots...Guardian newspaper and
cynics of the world

We're bigger and better than that.

What's more, we're finally starting to believe it!

Do you believe?
I Do!!!"

Kat

Saturday, February 13, 2010

A Time of Pride and Tears

This is a time of great pride for Canadians. We enjoyed watching the Olympic torch make its way across the country in the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history. It was carried by proud Canadians from all walks of life and cheered by thousands in every city and town. My children's school took the kids to watch it go by and they came home absolutely beaming with excitement. It made me a little jealous that I was stuck in the office that day. They get to do all the cool stuff :(

I came home yesterday in a great mood, it was Friday after all, and excited to watch the opening ceremonies. That smile turned to tears so very quickly when I turned on the news. The death of Georgian luge athlete, Nodar Kumaritashvili, was at the top of the news; as incredibly sad as it was shocking and left me in tears. These young men and women shed blood, sweat and tears for years to attain the chance to compete in the Olympics. Nodar was taken away on the eve of that dream coming true; a cruel fate that sent us all reeling.

This wasn't the only time my eyes were wet last night though. When the Georgian athletes arrived with their black armbands, when the Canadian athletes proudly marched in (okay, wet eyes AND a big, goofy grin), when the national anthem was sung and even when the cauldron was lit, despite the technical difficulties.

I even had a few good laughs following my friends' tweets during the broadcast. Even when I'm watching an event alone, I'm never quite alone when I'm tweeting. No matter what event, Grammies, Super Bowl or Olympics, there are always some great one-liners and lively conversation zinging back and forth; almost as much fun as the event itself. I'm quite looking forward to the Oscars!

It was a night of emotions that went from one extreme to another in a very short period of time. The Olympics seem to have that effect on all of us whether we are into athletics or not (in my case, not). I suppose that it's a matter of national pride. I don't mean the "national pride" that people drag out when debating hot-button topics but the kind that we feel when we see the fresh, young faces of our athletes coming together with their counterparts from other countries to compete for glory in their chosen sport. This is something that's worth holding your head high for.

Kat

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Caution: 40th Birthdays May Lead to Hangovers!


My morning greeting

A couple of drinks into the evening

Me and DJ Chick

PC showing me his talented tongue! (no it doesn't stand for Politically Correct; far from it!)


Yes, I know, I resolved to do a post-a-week and I failed that last weekend. In my own defense, I spent half of last weekend hung-over from my Friday night birthday celebration. I had way too much fun!

I don't usually do much for my birthday but, since it was my fortieth, I figured that I should mark it somehow. My coworkers/friends thought the same thing. I arrived at work that morning to a sign on my computer screen and I was surprised with a cake and a chorus later on. I even received a couple of nice gifts (smelly stuff and a gift card for my favourite book store). I don't tend to seek the spotlight. As a matter of fact, I'm usually the one in the corner as far from the spotlight as humanly possible. I could feel my cheeks burning the whole time but still loved it!

Anyway, I marked the event by inviting everyone to join me for drinks after work where my SIL, DJ Chick, and her friends D and Elvis joined us. Well, a few drinks turned into getting home at 2:30 am but it was a blast. It was DJ Chick who gave me a kick in the ass and got me to do something for my fortieth and I'm eternally grateful to her for it. We had many shots, made fun of the poor band (not their fault; lousy sound system), learned how to "tongue" the alphabet from PC and mocked a couple of the more arrogant bar patrons. Would you believe that there was a guy who looked like Fabio - a much older Fabio, mind you?! Ew!! There was even a guy who asked DJ Chick to feel his package (no not Fabio). I didn't get that lucky (*rolls eyes*) but I guess I can't have everything.

I am very lucky, though; I've got friends and family that make life worth getting out of bed for. People that will gladly come out and drink a toast (or two or three) to me, an ex-husband who, without hesitation, gave up his Friday night to take our kids as well as DJ Chick's daughter (his niece) so that I could get out and celebrate, a mother who makes me a bit crazy but is always generous and there for me, and the list goes on.......

The next day, I asked on Twitter if anyone would believe me if, given how I was feeling, I said that I would never drink again. The answer was an emphatic "NO". Yeah, you're right, I don't believe it either.

Kat

Saturday, January 23, 2010

One of "Them"


I spent some time scrubbing down my kitchen today and clearing the clutter and came to a realization. I'm now one of them! You see, there was a time (pre-children) that I would go to friends' homes and see cupboards with seven or eight open boxes of cereal and think "why in the world does anyone need that many boxes of cereal?" I thought that it was ridiculous and vowed that I would never be one of "those" mothers.

I started out really well. When my kids were small, I would buy one box of cereal and we would eat that until it was gone and I would buy another. Very sensible of me, right? Well, this went on for a while but, as the kids got a little bigger, they started developing their own likes and dislikes. I held out for a while, making them agree on just one cereal to buy. Eventually though, the bickering got to be too much and I thought to myself "it wouldn't hurt to let them each choose one, would it?". Yes, I talk to myself all the time; it helps the thought process.

Well, my friends, that was the on-ramp to the slippery slope to becoming one of "those" mothers. As you can see in the pic above, I found six open boxes of cereal today, four boxes of which only had about two inches each of cereal in them! After a bit of consolidation, I brought them down to two boxes. I should hear a good amount of squawking from the young ones the next time they pour from those boxes!

My one consolation is the knowledge that I'm not alone. I'm sure that there are many of us; one big, happy, cereal hoarding club. LOL

Kat

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Time for Reflection and Change

Since starting this blog last August, I haven't really shown a knack for posting regularly. You can just call me Ms. Procrastination. You know, "I should really do this but, well, maybe I'll do it tomorrow". I am a master at this; not just with my blog but in all aspects of my life.

The fact that I am hitting the big 4-0 in a couple of weeks is really making me stop and take a look at my life and how I manage it. Usually, I see age as just a number and don't pay much attention but this milestone is really hitting me in a way that I never expected it to. Taking a good hard look at my life, I can't say that I really like what I see. Don't get me wrong, I have two wonderful, healthy children that I wouldn't trade for anything and a solid job that allows me to give my children a decent life and I am thankful for these things. The part that I don't like is far more personal; something within myself.

I always put off or run away from anything remotely uncomfortable be it dealing with a financial problem, an issue with a family member, or something more mundane like housecleaning (dusting is the bane of my existence). I have a tendancy to take the easier path which explains why I have too many pounds on my booty, clutter in my path and stay home far too much rather than put myself out there meeting new people. Heaven forbid I risk rejection!

On a positive note, I have been making some effort at getting out of my shell. Joining up with Twitter and actually interacting with people that I've never met is a huge step for me. The impact of the positive feedback that I feel there has been immense. Look at me, I even started a blog! For someone as intensely private as I am, that is pretty damn amazing! Who knows, I may even go out and meet new people face to face next ;) Will wonders never cease?!

I have never been one to make New Year's resolutions but I think that it's time to make a "life" resolution this year, the year of my fortieth birthday. It's time to get my life in order; improve my finances, strengthen the friendships in my life, clean out the clutter, spend more quality time with my kids....maybe even find someone to fill the empty side of my bed. I also resolve to post on this blog at least once a week. Maybe I'll use it to chronicle this "year of self-improvement".

It'll be interesting to see where these lofty goals take me. For now, I think that I'll start slowly by washing the dishes and getting my son moving on that project he has due at school. Baby steps......

Kat