I may or may not be a tad bit tipsy as I write this, but did you know that Baby Duck is NOT simply sparkling juice? It is real wine! 7% alcohol content! WTF? So all those years of Mom and Dad giving us Baby Duck on NYE, they were feeding us REAL booze! Wow. That puts a different spin on my childhood NYE memories. Maybe all those times we 'pretended' to be drunk, weren't so pretend after all! Bahahaahahahah!
So I gave Ryder a shot-glass full of Baby Duck, he absolutely loved it and then drank his sister's glass (she HATED it!). Then he wanted another shot-glass full. Meanwhile, I'm still thinking its non-alcoholic. (Though I wondered why it smelled so 'realistic'.)
Then a half hour later, during supper, he gets a queer look on his face and ralphs all over his plate! Which is when I went in for a closer look at the bottle and realized I got my little boy semi-drunk and he puked because of it!
Wow, Parent of the Year award here.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Can't believe I forgot!
After all the hype and build-up, and here I went and forgot the very last Christmas Countdown! OFPS!!
So here it is, Christmas Countdown: Merry Christmas!!
So here it is, Christmas Countdown: Merry Christmas!!
2011 Resolutions
Okay, enough is enough. Time to wisen up and get serious. After careful consideration, I've determined that these are the areas I need to improve upon...
1. STOP SMOKING.
2. A renewed commitment to the WLJ.
Seriously, enough is enough. No more procrastination, no more bingeing and fasting. Back to the healthy eating and daily exercise, even if its just twenty minutes. The 2012 Final Countdown is a'comin' and I need to be in fighting form. (I'm only half-kidding.)
3. Be a KINDER person.
I know most of you will think, 'But you ARE a kind person, Beau!' Well, honestly, a lot of the time I'm not. I think unkind thoughts, I make snap judgements about people based on their appearance or actions (when I know damn well what happens when you ASSUME), and I hold grudges. I need to make a conscious effort to be nice in both deed and thought. I think I'll become a much happier person.
4. Tame back the road rage.
I used to gape in horrified amazement when Hubs would let loose the road rage and think to myself, 'Wow, he has some ISSUES!' Haha. Well now I find myself being the one screaming at other drivers, letting loose angry tirades about the stupidity of mankind. Some reactions are uncontrollable, like when that jerk cuts you off or passes too close. But sometimes I find myself being fully aware that I am unreasonably angry (I mean, c'mon, is it that big of a deal that buddy waited until the last second to put on his turn signal?), and yet I still yell and curse. I justify it by telling myself I am teaching my children what NOT to do so that when they are drivers, they will be aware of the kind of things some idiot drivers do. And while that may be somewhat true (yes, now they know to be defensive drivers and be watchful for morons that try to run red lights, etc), do I really want my kids to see me exhibiting such rage?
5. Be more PATIENT.
This is kind of related to the kindness thing, but this one in particular is aimed more towards my children. And I'm sure you all think (because I've heard it said) that I am always ever-so-patient with my kids, yaddayadda. Its a show! A put-on for the public! Not saying I'm an evil raging bitch behind closed doors, but sometimes, a little. I find that I don't have patience or even the desire to be patient when it comes to getting what I want done. For example, if I have to tell my kids to get something done more than twice, I can literally feel my blood pressure rising and then its like, "NOW!" I realize this is normal for any parent, especially one with four kids, but there is a lot to be said for recognizing that these are just KIDS and as such, they flow on their own time path. When Ryder is taking forever to get his coat and boots on, I need to stop and take a breather because what seems like such an inconsequential thing is actually teaching him independence and self-reliance. Little things like that, where I tend to take over just to get it done quickly, or bigger things like Gunnar waiting til what seems like the last minute to get his papers done... those are moments when I have a learning opportunity, to become a better parent and create stronger relationships with my children. Give them a break, understand where their behaviour is coming from (after all, its -20 outside, would I really want to be delivering papers in that?), and just let it be, go with their flow.
6. Show true appreciation for what I've been given, and what I've had to work for.
7. Be more loving to Hubs, and more expressive to him how I'm in love with him.
Many times I lose patience with him (there's that patience thing again) or get angry because he doesn't see something the way I do, or if he says or does something I don't agree with. I can be very short-tempered with him or flippant, or I say something disrespectful like 'pffft!' or roll my eyes. Very rude and its embarrassing to admit that I do that. I am a very stubborn person and I tend to think I'm always right. At times my personality can be very dominating and bossy. If you're not with me, you're against me, that sort of thing. Plus, I have a lot of issues with 'authority' that stem from my teenage years, when I felt very stifled, repressed and controlled. A sure way to get me to do something is to tell me NOT to do it. You know? A lot of times I'm actually reacting to the tone of voice or the manner something is being expressed to me, rather than the actual words. Ty might say something to me and his voice sounds angry, but really its because he just got home and had a stressful day; I'll take it in as a criticism or slight, and then in return I've got a bitchy tone and I'm resentful. Its so stupid and childish but its a rut I get stuck in. And so it needs to END, and I need to grow up. Treat my man as a MAN, not my father, not my child, as my HUSBAND that I've willingly chosen to bind myself to, and as such give him the respect, admiration and most importantly, LOVE, that he so deserves. I always compare our relationship to Levi and Amber's, "Why don't you treat me like Levi treats Amber? Why don't I get PDA's and sweet little kisses when noone's looking? Why don't my feelings come first?" etcetc. But its that old adage that I firmly believe in, 'You reap what you sow'. And I'm a big hypocrite! I want all that stuff but I don't expect to have to return the actions, or initiate them in the first place. So that all stops this year. This year I am going to be the best wife ever, considerate and unselfish, thoughtful and caring. And LOVING. The best example of how true mates should treat each other will always be my parents. No matter their issues, no matter the situation, the highs and lows, they were always about showing each other respect, consideration and love. My mother would NEVER have rolled her eyes at my dad. From now on, I will ask myself, 'Would Mom do this?' (we'll call it: WMDT?) and that will be the measuring stick I hold myself accountable to.
8. Stay in better touch with my loved ones, and be the first to initiate contact and communication.
I am sooo bad for this. I leave it for the other person to contact me. (Well, with the exception of Mom and Christine.) But I mean with my brothers, Fred, Kelly, my grandparents... its usually them who calls me, not vice versa. So this year I'm going to really try to be a better friend, sister, daughter, etc. If I find myself thinking of someone or remembering something funny or cute about them, well then dammit I'm going to call them up right then and there and tell them about it! Its something my mom has always encouraged (she's so wise) and I'm going to start doing it more often. So be prepared to be seeing my number on your call display more often!
So there you have it. My list of resolutions for 2011. While I've accomplished some of last year's resolutions (be more organized, procrastinate less), there's still more work to be done. And this will be the year!
So I will it, so shall it be. :)
Five Question Friday
1. How long does your Christmas tree stay up?
Usually until mid-January, although one time it was still up on my birthday! (Which is the 27th.) I have to be 'in the mood' to take it down, you know? The sheer volume of Christmassey stuff I have to take down and get all packed away neatly and properly in the 3 giant bins, it really requires a good solid full day. So if I don't have the time or energy to devote to that project, UN-decking the halls, as it were, it just doesn't get done.
2. Do you have plans for New Year's Eve?
Our plans for tonight are as follows: eat, drink, be merry, watch movies, play the many board games we got for Christmas, laugh, stay up late, let the kids drink their 'wine' (sparkling juice or Baby Duck), and do the countdown, then hit the sack in drunken splendor.
3. Do you have any New Year's resolutions?
Many, many. To be discussed in a later post.
4. How did you spend New Year's Eve when you were younger?
Mom and Dad would always have a bottle of Baby Duck for us young'uns. Depending on the ferocity of the weather, we'd usually have a roaring bonfire out by Muckletoose, roasting wienies and marshmallows. The video camera would be rolling to catch all our hijinks and antics. Lots of bellylaughs and stories told. If it was just too cold outside, we'd cuddle up on the couch in the livingroom, the wood-burning stove going full-blast until we were sweating and in our undies (in the case of Dad and the boys, Mom and I would put on our summer shorts and tees); watching movies, tv, home videos. Snacky foods and nibbles. And of course, by the time the countdown rolled around, we'd all be hyper and giddy and screaming, "10...9...8...7...!" Us kids, the boys in particular, would pretend to be drunk off our 'wine'. There would usually be a contest between us kids who could stay up the latest and most years Trapper would win, because poor little Levi would just zonk out after the countdown and there was no way I could keep up with wiry, hyper little Trapper. I think there were a few times Mom and Dad had friends over for a little NYE party, in which case all those listed activities were carried out to the nth degree, only with more adults and kids adding to the merriment and loudness. I'm pretty sure on those occasions, with drunken adults paying no attention to us kids, we would sneak some real wine (or booze) and then the fun would REALLY start. And we would devote hours to 'spying' on the adults. Haha, good times...
5. What was the best way you've ever spent New Year's Eve?
I've enjoyed all our New Years Eve's together, but two in particular were very memorable. The Y2K countdown (remember how everyone thought it would be the end of the world and the power grid would fail?) we spent in Edmonton at Christine and Joel's house. Gunnar was a little over a year old and being the perfect angel he was, he played nicely, ate his dinner, then went nicely and quietly to bed. Now, at the time Tyler didn't know he had a wheat allergy, so he'd brought a case of beer to drink, which he put on the deck to get cold and then forgot about until hours later, when the beer had frozen. He was so upset about the waste of money that he stubbornly refused to throw them out, and ended up drinking them all! Of course, we all know what happens when you drink thawed frozen beer; add to that a wheat allergy and you can guess his reaction. He got staggeringly drunk in like half an hour and ended up passed out in the hallway in front of the bedroom we were going to sleep in. Poor Christine had the flu so she was on the couch, half-dozing the whole night. So it was just me and Joel, steadily drinking and making small talk while we watched this momentous countdown on tv, waiting for the world's power grids to fail and for some spectacular catastrophe to occur, which it didn't. Then Joel tucked poor sick Chris in bed while I heaved and hauled my passed out guy from the hallway into the room. I was so mad that I just left him on the floor beside the bed, without even covers. So that was a memorable NYE.
The other NYE that brings back good memories is probably the year before that other one, because Gunnar was just wee. We lived in that apartment right downtown and we were excited because there was going to be a huge NYE festival-type thing just down the street from us, at the field by the elementary school. Julie, Randy and their boys (only 4 of them at the time) came in to town, and I believe Tari and Dave did as well, with little Scarlet and Kimmie. We all walked down to the field together, drank hot chocolate, mingled in the crowd while the kids ran around together, and then there was the countdown with the entire crowd yelling out together. And THEN, a huge fireworks display! Gunnar was fast asleep all warm and cozy in his stroller and I remember looking up into Ty's face as fireworks exploded overhead and the crowd oohed-and-aahed, and thinking "This is the best New Year's Eve ever!"
Usually until mid-January, although one time it was still up on my birthday! (Which is the 27th.) I have to be 'in the mood' to take it down, you know? The sheer volume of Christmassey stuff I have to take down and get all packed away neatly and properly in the 3 giant bins, it really requires a good solid full day. So if I don't have the time or energy to devote to that project, UN-decking the halls, as it were, it just doesn't get done.
2. Do you have plans for New Year's Eve?
Our plans for tonight are as follows: eat, drink, be merry, watch movies, play the many board games we got for Christmas, laugh, stay up late, let the kids drink their 'wine' (sparkling juice or Baby Duck), and do the countdown, then hit the sack in drunken splendor.
3. Do you have any New Year's resolutions?
Many, many. To be discussed in a later post.
4. How did you spend New Year's Eve when you were younger?
Mom and Dad would always have a bottle of Baby Duck for us young'uns. Depending on the ferocity of the weather, we'd usually have a roaring bonfire out by Muckletoose, roasting wienies and marshmallows. The video camera would be rolling to catch all our hijinks and antics. Lots of bellylaughs and stories told. If it was just too cold outside, we'd cuddle up on the couch in the livingroom, the wood-burning stove going full-blast until we were sweating and in our undies (in the case of Dad and the boys, Mom and I would put on our summer shorts and tees); watching movies, tv, home videos. Snacky foods and nibbles. And of course, by the time the countdown rolled around, we'd all be hyper and giddy and screaming, "10...9...8...7...!" Us kids, the boys in particular, would pretend to be drunk off our 'wine'. There would usually be a contest between us kids who could stay up the latest and most years Trapper would win, because poor little Levi would just zonk out after the countdown and there was no way I could keep up with wiry, hyper little Trapper. I think there were a few times Mom and Dad had friends over for a little NYE party, in which case all those listed activities were carried out to the nth degree, only with more adults and kids adding to the merriment and loudness. I'm pretty sure on those occasions, with drunken adults paying no attention to us kids, we would sneak some real wine (or booze) and then the fun would REALLY start. And we would devote hours to 'spying' on the adults. Haha, good times...
5. What was the best way you've ever spent New Year's Eve?
I've enjoyed all our New Years Eve's together, but two in particular were very memorable. The Y2K countdown (remember how everyone thought it would be the end of the world and the power grid would fail?) we spent in Edmonton at Christine and Joel's house. Gunnar was a little over a year old and being the perfect angel he was, he played nicely, ate his dinner, then went nicely and quietly to bed. Now, at the time Tyler didn't know he had a wheat allergy, so he'd brought a case of beer to drink, which he put on the deck to get cold and then forgot about until hours later, when the beer had frozen. He was so upset about the waste of money that he stubbornly refused to throw them out, and ended up drinking them all! Of course, we all know what happens when you drink thawed frozen beer; add to that a wheat allergy and you can guess his reaction. He got staggeringly drunk in like half an hour and ended up passed out in the hallway in front of the bedroom we were going to sleep in. Poor Christine had the flu so she was on the couch, half-dozing the whole night. So it was just me and Joel, steadily drinking and making small talk while we watched this momentous countdown on tv, waiting for the world's power grids to fail and for some spectacular catastrophe to occur, which it didn't. Then Joel tucked poor sick Chris in bed while I heaved and hauled my passed out guy from the hallway into the room. I was so mad that I just left him on the floor beside the bed, without even covers. So that was a memorable NYE.
The other NYE that brings back good memories is probably the year before that other one, because Gunnar was just wee. We lived in that apartment right downtown and we were excited because there was going to be a huge NYE festival-type thing just down the street from us, at the field by the elementary school. Julie, Randy and their boys (only 4 of them at the time) came in to town, and I believe Tari and Dave did as well, with little Scarlet and Kimmie. We all walked down to the field together, drank hot chocolate, mingled in the crowd while the kids ran around together, and then there was the countdown with the entire crowd yelling out together. And THEN, a huge fireworks display! Gunnar was fast asleep all warm and cozy in his stroller and I remember looking up into Ty's face as fireworks exploded overhead and the crowd oohed-and-aahed, and thinking "This is the best New Year's Eve ever!"
Friday, December 24, 2010
Project DSLR: Stage 5 complete!
Well, I forced poor Hubs to go to the dump on his day off. Out went the old brown couch, the broken items (keyboard, Rock Band drums, green leather chair), the crib (killed me to throw it out but that drop-down style has been recalled so you can't resell), various boxes and bags of junk and garbage.
So all that was left was for me to vacuum and do some minor rearranging, and voila! (Keep in mind that the console tv is up on Kijiji, as is the Ikea coffee table-- the base of which is currently being used as a stand for the airhockey table-- and so just erase them from the pictures, okay?)
Oh, and I REALLY need to do a good carpet shampooing but seeing as a certain DICKens just dumped an entire, brand-new bottle of $30 shampoo down the toilet, that will have to wait.
So all that was left was for me to vacuum and do some minor rearranging, and voila! (Keep in mind that the console tv is up on Kijiji, as is the Ikea coffee table-- the base of which is currently being used as a stand for the airhockey table-- and so just erase them from the pictures, okay?)
Oh, and I REALLY need to do a good carpet shampooing but seeing as a certain DICKens just dumped an entire, brand-new bottle of $30 shampoo down the toilet, that will have to wait.
Oh, and imagine all the hockey gear put away behind that closet door there. Where its supposed to be, like I said to do before I took this picture!
And yes, that is the damn sheephead on that table. I'll get around to putting it up someday.
See how Gunnar's laptop and all the PS3 stuff fits so nicely in that desk? We store all the airhockey pucks and paddles in the deep drawer.
And now for the rest of the downstairs, which has already been organized and 'put together' for over a year, but which Lena just had to 'display' for viewers, a la Barker's Beauties.
And then, because I kept snapping blurry pics and she was getting annoyed...
And there you have it, our entire downstairs is now decorated, organized, arranged, cleaned and looking pretty fan-damn-tastic! Loveit.
Peeve of the Day: When the phone hangs itself up
You know what's annoying? When you're on the phone with someone, just about to end the call-- you know, when you're finishing up the conversation just about to start saying goodbyes-- when the phone decides to hang itself up.
That just happened to me with Kim.
So then you're left with the decision, Do I call her back just to say a proper 'goodbye' since we got cut off, or do I just leave it and try to explain next time I see her that it wasn't ME who hung up, rather my phone. Or hers. Then you're left with that uncomfortable feeling like it may have seemed you were rude and deliberately hung up, and you want to explain. But how stupid is it to call someone back just to immediately say "Well, okay then, bye!"
*sigh*
That just happened to me with Kim.
So then you're left with the decision, Do I call her back just to say a proper 'goodbye' since we got cut off, or do I just leave it and try to explain next time I see her that it wasn't ME who hung up, rather my phone. Or hers. Then you're left with that uncomfortable feeling like it may have seemed you were rude and deliberately hung up, and you want to explain. But how stupid is it to call someone back just to immediately say "Well, okay then, bye!"
*sigh*
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943
I just came across this wonderful webpage from denverpost.com.
"These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color."
Click on the link to see these truly powerful images. (My favorite is #58)
"These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color."
Click on the link to see these truly powerful images. (My favorite is #58)
Monday, December 20, 2010
Health Matters: Migraine Edition
Top Migraine Triggers
By Michele Bloomquist
Medically reviewed by Holly G. Atkinson, MD
Migraines may appear to strike out of the blue, but there are actually many known triggers that cause these debilitating headaches. If you can identify your migraine triggers, you may also be able to avoid them, or at least reduce their severity. Some triggers come in the form of food and drinks that you can cut down on or eliminate from your diet; others, such as a change in season or barometric pressure, are unavoidable.
Pay attention to what you eat and drink, what's going on in your environment and daily life, and how you feel each day. Soon, you may begin to see a connection between your headaches and one or more of the most common triggers.
Alcohol: Drinking alcoholic beverages, especially red wine and beer, can lead to migraines. If you don't want to avoid alcohol altogether, vodka, scotch, and Riesling wine seem to be the safest choices, but you should limit yourself to no more than two drinks in one day, if you are a man, and one drink a day if you're a woman.
Caffeine: An increase or decrease in the usual amount of caffeine you consume per day can lead to a migraine. Aim to have no more than two caffeinated beverages each day.
Environmental Influences: Changes in season, weather, altitude, and the barometric pressure can trigger migraines. While there is little you can do to control these factors, you can anticipate them and take as many other steps as possible to avoid a migraine.
Sleep patterns: Missed sleep or too much sleep can set off a migraine. Do your best to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time every day may also reduce your susceptibility.
Foods: Certain foods have been linked to more frequent migraines, including chocolate; ripened cheeses like cheddar, Stilton, Brie, and Camembert; fermented, pickled, or marinated foods; nuts; peanut butter; sourdough bread; sour cream; pickled or dried herring; citrus fruits; bananas; figs; raisins; papayas; red plums; pizza; aspartame (NutraSweet); chicken liver; sausage; bologna; hot dogs; salami; summer sausage; snow peas; broad beans; lima beans; fava beans; and foods containing monosodium glutamate, like soy sauce, meat tenderizer, and seasoned salt.
Lights: Bright lights, glare from the sun, and flickering lights from electronic equipment such as computer screens and televisions can trigger a migraine for some people. Carry sunglasses with you on bright days and avoid flashing or bright lights when possible.
Medications: Some prescription and over-the-counter medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, vasodilators, and herbal supplements, can trigger migraines. Speak with your doctor about possible alternatives if you suspect that certain medications are causing your headaches.
Motion: Travel or symptoms of motion sickness can trigger a migraine. Medications taken to prevent motion sickness might help.
Noise: Sudden or prolonged loud noises can set off a migraine. Avoid these when possible. If you must be in a noisy environment (at work, for example), use earplugs.
Physical activity: Physical exertion — exercise, sex, physical labor — can trigger migraines. If you notice this connection, avoid physical activity when other risk factors for a migraine are high, or limit the intensity of physical exertion when you can.
Smells: Some people report sensitivity to powerful odors like paint thinner, perfumes, flowers, pollution, and secondhand smoke. Do your best to avoid strong odors. Ask others to be sensitive to your needs (you may request for your co-workers not to wear perfume in the office or your friends not to smoke near you).
Skipping meals: Fasting, dieting, or skipping meals can lead to migraines. Aim to eat a balanced diet of regular meals spaced evenly throughout the day.
Stress: Some people report a connection between stress and migraines, either during a stressful situation or immediately following. Do what you can to avoid stress at work and at home, taking steps to anticipate and minimize stress when you can, and practicing stress-management techniques like deep breathing or meditation when you can't.
Tobacco: Cigarette and cigar smoke has been linked to migraines and may interfere with migraine treatments. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about how to quit.
Medically reviewed by Kevin O. Hwang, MD, MPH
Up to 30 percent of people with migraines have what doctors call “migraine with aura” — they will experience a visual or other sensory disturbance, like seeing flashes of light, anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes before the headache pain of migraine begins. While auras can be unnerving, seeing an aura is like hearing a fire alarm; it's telling you to take medication right away and possibly stop the migraine before it begins.
The aura that precedes a migraine can take different forms. You might see:
Some researchers don’t think so. Scientists who have looked at brain images of people experiencing an aura think aura is an electrical phenomenon involving nerves in the brain. Whether one person with migraine has auras and another doesn’t will depend on which patient has the more sensitive nerve cells.
When particularly sensitive nerve cells are repeatedly stimulated by flashing lights, for example, that stimulation builds up over time. So when the nerve cells suddenly begin firing off, they trigger activity that leads to those visual and other disturbances.
In that way, an aura helps warn you that a migraine is coming. Talk to your doctor about using this warning sign to take migraine medication right away.
Migraine Aura and Risk of Stroke
If migraine with aura symptoms sound familiar, they are: They are similar to symptoms that people who have had a transient ischemic attack, or a mini-stroke, feel. A TIA occurs when your blood vessels are temporarily blocked, usually causing no lasting damage.
“This is very disturbing, and many people think they are having a stroke,” says Seymour Diamond, executive chairman of the National Headache Foundation, and director of the Diamond Headache Clinic and the inpatient headache unit at Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago. The way you tell the difference, Dr. Diamond says, is that with an aura, the feeling will travel down the arm. If the person is having a stroke, the sensation would affect the whole arm, at once.
Research conducted over the past 15 years suggests that there may, in fact, be a connection between migraine aura and stroke:
People with visual auras who suffer mild, infrequent attacks are at minimal risk, while those who have suffered severe, lengthy attacks for several years are at greatest risk, as are those who smoke and take oral contraceptives.
However, the number of people with visual aura who suffer stroke is still relatively low, and more research is needed before a more definite answer is found about the connection between strokes and auras.
Monitoring Migraine Auras
Some doctors will closely monitor their patients with visual aura who have a long history of severe, lengthy attacks, because of their risk of stroke. K. Michael Welch, MD, president of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago, says he will prescribe a daily baby aspirin for a patient with severe visual migraine aura — not to ward off migraines, but to reduce the stroke risk.
If you have migraines with aura, don’t be surprised if the aura comes and goes; don’t even be surprised if they appear and a headache doesn’t follow.
What you should pay attention to: An older person who’s never had a migraine and who starts having migraine aura-like symptoms. Make sure that person sees his or her doctor to rule out problems such as TIA and other brain conditions.
Women and Migraines
By Katherine Lee
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin MD, MPH
It may not be fair, but it is a fact: Of the nearly 30 million people in the United States who suffer from migraines, about 75 percent are women.
And to add a bit of irony, many women who experience these often-debilitating headaches are the ones who can least afford to be sidelined. Most women who have migraines are between the ages of 20 and 45, which means that they are likely to be juggling responsibilities at home and at work. Women in this age group are often mothers of young children or busy with their careers or both. For these women, severe migraine symptoms that interfere with day-to-day activities can throw a big monkey wrench into their lives.
Compared to men, women also tend to have more painful and longer-lasting headaches that include other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. Migraine attacks may also be more severe around their menstrual periods.
How Hormones May Trigger Migraines
Doctors believe that hormones, especially estrogen, may play a role in migraine headaches. While experts aren’t exactly sure how hormones affect migraines, they do know that a woman’s estrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply just before a menstrual cycle begins. They also know that estrogen controls chemicals in the brain affect sensitivity to pain. That’s why shortly before a woman gets her period, falling estrogen levels may make her more vulnerable to feeling the pain of cramps, muscle aches — and headaches.
Some of the evidence that supports a link between hormones and migraines:
Since women are more vulnerable to migraine attacks shortly before or during their period, they should be particularly careful to avoid common migraine headache triggers around that time. Avoiding triggers is a good idea anytime, but it is especially important to be vigilant when the body is experiencing changes in hormone levels.
Some smart moves to keep migraines at bay:
Is It Time to See a Neurologist?
By Madeline Vann, MPH
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
The average headache doesn’t require a call to a neurologist or even your family doctor. However, experiencing frequent headaches, and taking medication for them on a regular basis, may become a concern. Taking an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever for headaches can become a mindless habit. If you’re taking OTC headache medication 10 days or more out of the month, it’s time to call a doctor, as this puts you at risk of getting a rebound headache, a low-grade headache that’s caused by taking too much pain-relieving medication.
Signs You Need to Find a Neurologist
Warning signs that you need specialized medical attention for your headache or migraine include:
Diagnosing Your Headache
According to headache expert Peter Goadsby, MD, director of the Headache Center at the University of California San Francisco, a valuable tool in diagnosis is your headache history. A thorough history, aided by your detailed notes, can help pinpoint causes, triggers, and even potential solutions. Make careful notes about your headache experiences before you go to the doctor and include:
The tests your doctor orders will depend in part on what she suspects could be causing your headaches and whether it’s a primary headache, such as a migraine, or a secondary headache, which means that it’s a symptom of another health concern. The process of diagnosis may include:
What Is a Rebound Headache?
By Madeline Vann, MPH
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
The medications you rely on to help manage your headache, sinus headache, or migraine could actually create another type of headache, known as a rebound headache. This may also be referred to as a “medication overuse headache” or an “analgesic rebound,” as analgesic is the medical name for pain-relieving medications that you can get over-the-counter or by prescription for headache treatment.
Rebound headaches feel like a dull, chronic, tension headache. They are thought to occur because ongoing use of pain relievers “rewires” the pain pathways in your brain.
The Rebound Headache: Who Is at Risk?
There are some factors that increase your risk of a rebound headache, including:
The Rebound Headache: Think Prevention
If you have migraines or frequent headaches, there are some steps you can take to prevent a rebound headache:
If you have a rebound headache or suspect that medication is causing a headache or migraine-type headache, talk to your doctor. Taking more pain medication won’t ease a rebound headache. Your best bet is to stop taking the medications you have been taking, but ask your doctor to outline how to do so safely before you begin. Your headache may get worse for a few days — and you may experience nausea or vomiting during this time — but then the symptoms should subside. If they don’t, check back in with your doctor.
If you have had a rebound headache, you are more likely to have them again if you use analgesics later on. Instead, your doctor may recommend that you take prescription medication to prevent headache or migraine pain. You should also explore options for headache management without pain relievers, such as addressing underlying problems such as insomnia, or with stress management techniques.
Dealing with a rebound headache is frustrating. But working closely with your doctor and remaining open to other options for treatment can ultimately give you relief from both your primary headache and your rebound headache.
By Michele Bloomquist
Medically reviewed by Holly G. Atkinson, MD
Migraines may appear to strike out of the blue, but there are actually many known triggers that cause these debilitating headaches. If you can identify your migraine triggers, you may also be able to avoid them, or at least reduce their severity. Some triggers come in the form of food and drinks that you can cut down on or eliminate from your diet; others, such as a change in season or barometric pressure, are unavoidable.
Pay attention to what you eat and drink, what's going on in your environment and daily life, and how you feel each day. Soon, you may begin to see a connection between your headaches and one or more of the most common triggers.
Alcohol: Drinking alcoholic beverages, especially red wine and beer, can lead to migraines. If you don't want to avoid alcohol altogether, vodka, scotch, and Riesling wine seem to be the safest choices, but you should limit yourself to no more than two drinks in one day, if you are a man, and one drink a day if you're a woman.
Caffeine: An increase or decrease in the usual amount of caffeine you consume per day can lead to a migraine. Aim to have no more than two caffeinated beverages each day.
Environmental Influences: Changes in season, weather, altitude, and the barometric pressure can trigger migraines. While there is little you can do to control these factors, you can anticipate them and take as many other steps as possible to avoid a migraine.
Sleep patterns: Missed sleep or too much sleep can set off a migraine. Do your best to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time every day may also reduce your susceptibility.
Foods: Certain foods have been linked to more frequent migraines, including chocolate; ripened cheeses like cheddar, Stilton, Brie, and Camembert; fermented, pickled, or marinated foods; nuts; peanut butter; sourdough bread; sour cream; pickled or dried herring; citrus fruits; bananas; figs; raisins; papayas; red plums; pizza; aspartame (NutraSweet); chicken liver; sausage; bologna; hot dogs; salami; summer sausage; snow peas; broad beans; lima beans; fava beans; and foods containing monosodium glutamate, like soy sauce, meat tenderizer, and seasoned salt.
Lights: Bright lights, glare from the sun, and flickering lights from electronic equipment such as computer screens and televisions can trigger a migraine for some people. Carry sunglasses with you on bright days and avoid flashing or bright lights when possible.
Medications: Some prescription and over-the-counter medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, vasodilators, and herbal supplements, can trigger migraines. Speak with your doctor about possible alternatives if you suspect that certain medications are causing your headaches.
Motion: Travel or symptoms of motion sickness can trigger a migraine. Medications taken to prevent motion sickness might help.
Noise: Sudden or prolonged loud noises can set off a migraine. Avoid these when possible. If you must be in a noisy environment (at work, for example), use earplugs.
Physical activity: Physical exertion — exercise, sex, physical labor — can trigger migraines. If you notice this connection, avoid physical activity when other risk factors for a migraine are high, or limit the intensity of physical exertion when you can.
Smells: Some people report sensitivity to powerful odors like paint thinner, perfumes, flowers, pollution, and secondhand smoke. Do your best to avoid strong odors. Ask others to be sensitive to your needs (you may request for your co-workers not to wear perfume in the office or your friends not to smoke near you).
Skipping meals: Fasting, dieting, or skipping meals can lead to migraines. Aim to eat a balanced diet of regular meals spaced evenly throughout the day.
Stress: Some people report a connection between stress and migraines, either during a stressful situation or immediately following. Do what you can to avoid stress at work and at home, taking steps to anticipate and minimize stress when you can, and practicing stress-management techniques like deep breathing or meditation when you can't.
Tobacco: Cigarette and cigar smoke has been linked to migraines and may interfere with migraine treatments. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about how to quit.
Migraine With Aura
By Debra-Lynn B. HookMedically reviewed by Kevin O. Hwang, MD, MPH
Up to 30 percent of people with migraines have what doctors call “migraine with aura” — they will experience a visual or other sensory disturbance, like seeing flashes of light, anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes before the headache pain of migraine begins. While auras can be unnerving, seeing an aura is like hearing a fire alarm; it's telling you to take medication right away and possibly stop the migraine before it begins.
The aura that precedes a migraine can take different forms. You might see:
- Wavy or jagged lines in a zig-zag pattern.
- Flashing lights and colors.
- Blind spots or partial loss of vision.
- Distortions of the size, shape and location of fixed objects.
- Your face might feel numb.
- Your speech could get slurred.
- You might feel like you’re about to fall.
- You feel like pins and needles are moving slowly down your arm.
Some researchers don’t think so. Scientists who have looked at brain images of people experiencing an aura think aura is an electrical phenomenon involving nerves in the brain. Whether one person with migraine has auras and another doesn’t will depend on which patient has the more sensitive nerve cells.
When particularly sensitive nerve cells are repeatedly stimulated by flashing lights, for example, that stimulation builds up over time. So when the nerve cells suddenly begin firing off, they trigger activity that leads to those visual and other disturbances.
In that way, an aura helps warn you that a migraine is coming. Talk to your doctor about using this warning sign to take migraine medication right away.
Migraine Aura and Risk of Stroke
If migraine with aura symptoms sound familiar, they are: They are similar to symptoms that people who have had a transient ischemic attack, or a mini-stroke, feel. A TIA occurs when your blood vessels are temporarily blocked, usually causing no lasting damage.
“This is very disturbing, and many people think they are having a stroke,” says Seymour Diamond, executive chairman of the National Headache Foundation, and director of the Diamond Headache Clinic and the inpatient headache unit at Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago. The way you tell the difference, Dr. Diamond says, is that with an aura, the feeling will travel down the arm. If the person is having a stroke, the sensation would affect the whole arm, at once.
Research conducted over the past 15 years suggests that there may, in fact, be a connection between migraine aura and stroke:
- A recent University of Maryland study found that women who had a stroke were 1.5 times more likely to have had a migraine with visual auras in the past, compared to women without stroke.
- The link between stroke and migraines with visual auras was even stronger in women who smoked and used oral contraceptives.
- A Harvard Medical School study that looked at cardiovascular disease and cancer in 27,000 women at least 45 years of age also found increased risk of stroke among women who had migraines with auras.
People with visual auras who suffer mild, infrequent attacks are at minimal risk, while those who have suffered severe, lengthy attacks for several years are at greatest risk, as are those who smoke and take oral contraceptives.
However, the number of people with visual aura who suffer stroke is still relatively low, and more research is needed before a more definite answer is found about the connection between strokes and auras.
Monitoring Migraine Auras
Some doctors will closely monitor their patients with visual aura who have a long history of severe, lengthy attacks, because of their risk of stroke. K. Michael Welch, MD, president of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago, says he will prescribe a daily baby aspirin for a patient with severe visual migraine aura — not to ward off migraines, but to reduce the stroke risk.
If you have migraines with aura, don’t be surprised if the aura comes and goes; don’t even be surprised if they appear and a headache doesn’t follow.
What you should pay attention to: An older person who’s never had a migraine and who starts having migraine aura-like symptoms. Make sure that person sees his or her doctor to rule out problems such as TIA and other brain conditions.
Women and Migraines
By Katherine Lee
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin MD, MPH
It may not be fair, but it is a fact: Of the nearly 30 million people in the United States who suffer from migraines, about 75 percent are women.
And to add a bit of irony, many women who experience these often-debilitating headaches are the ones who can least afford to be sidelined. Most women who have migraines are between the ages of 20 and 45, which means that they are likely to be juggling responsibilities at home and at work. Women in this age group are often mothers of young children or busy with their careers or both. For these women, severe migraine symptoms that interfere with day-to-day activities can throw a big monkey wrench into their lives.
Compared to men, women also tend to have more painful and longer-lasting headaches that include other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. Migraine attacks may also be more severe around their menstrual periods.
How Hormones May Trigger Migraines
Doctors believe that hormones, especially estrogen, may play a role in migraine headaches. While experts aren’t exactly sure how hormones affect migraines, they do know that a woman’s estrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply just before a menstrual cycle begins. They also know that estrogen controls chemicals in the brain affect sensitivity to pain. That’s why shortly before a woman gets her period, falling estrogen levels may make her more vulnerable to feeling the pain of cramps, muscle aches — and headaches.
Some of the evidence that supports a link between hormones and migraines:
- In children, girls and boys tend to get migraine headaches at about the same rate until they hit puberty, at which point there is a sharp increase in migraine headaches among girls who begin menstruating.
- An estimated 60 percent of women experience migraine headaches several days before or during their menstrual cycle (though most will also experience attacks when they are not having their periods).
- Women are also more likely to have migraine attacks around the middle of their menstrual cycles, when they are ovulating.
- Pregnancy also seems to affect migraines. Many women report that their symptoms occur less frequently, are less severe, or even disappear completely during pregnancy. Others say the opposite, that pregnancy makes their migraine attacks worse.
- As women near menopause, there is often an increase in migraine attacks.
Since women are more vulnerable to migraine attacks shortly before or during their period, they should be particularly careful to avoid common migraine headache triggers around that time. Avoiding triggers is a good idea anytime, but it is especially important to be vigilant when the body is experiencing changes in hormone levels.
Some smart moves to keep migraines at bay:
- Eat right. About a week before your period, try to stay away from carb-heavy foods, especially sweets and chocolate; these affect blood-sugar levels and can trigger migraine attacks. Other foods to avoid include alcohol and aged cheeses such as Brie and cheddar.
- Don’t skip meals. Not eating can lower your blood sugar levels and make you hungry, which are common triggers for migraines.
- Get enough rest. Sticking to a regular sleep schedule and getting about the same amount of sleep each night is important for reducing the risk of migraine attacks.
- Exercise regularly. Working out for at least 30 minutes a day can help relieve stress, a common migraine trigger.
- Try relaxation exercises and techniques. These include meditation and yoga, and have been shown to be effective in reducing stress.
- Consider medications. If nothing else is working to prevent migraine attacks, talk to your doctor about taking medications a day or two before you expect migraine symptoms to strike. Some common drugs women can take to prevent migraine attacks include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen; an older class of drugs called ergot drugs; or one of the triptan drugs, a newer class of medications that has shown great results.
Is It Time to See a Neurologist?
By Madeline Vann, MPH
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
The average headache doesn’t require a call to a neurologist or even your family doctor. However, experiencing frequent headaches, and taking medication for them on a regular basis, may become a concern. Taking an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever for headaches can become a mindless habit. If you’re taking OTC headache medication 10 days or more out of the month, it’s time to call a doctor, as this puts you at risk of getting a rebound headache, a low-grade headache that’s caused by taking too much pain-relieving medication.
Signs You Need to Find a Neurologist
Warning signs that you need specialized medical attention for your headache or migraine include:
- You are over 50 and having chronic headaches or a new type of headache.
- Your headache is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, or blurry vision.
- Your headache is accompanied by weakness or loss of control of part of your body, speech, or vision.
- You have two or more headaches in a week.
- Your headaches are getting worse, not better, with time and treatment.
- Your headaches are not responding to recommended OTC treatment or prescription drugs.
- Your headache is sudden and severe and is accompanied by a stiff neck or fever.
- You have a new headache and a history of cancer or HIV/AIDS.
- Your headache begins after you hurt your head.
- Your headache is making it hard for you to carry out your daily life.
Diagnosing Your Headache
According to headache expert Peter Goadsby, MD, director of the Headache Center at the University of California San Francisco, a valuable tool in diagnosis is your headache history. A thorough history, aided by your detailed notes, can help pinpoint causes, triggers, and even potential solutions. Make careful notes about your headache experiences before you go to the doctor and include:
- When the headaches occur
- What, if anything, makes them feel better or go away
- Whether sound, light, or noise bothered you during the headache
- Whether there were any changes in your vision before or during the headache, such as blurriness, black spots, or flashes of light
- How well you slept the night before
- If you are a woman, where you are in your menstrual cycle
- Unusual weather at the time
- Food or drink that you have consumed in the 24 hours before the headache
- Activities you were engaging in when the headache began or just prior to it
- Previous headache diagnoses and treatments you’ve tried
The tests your doctor orders will depend in part on what she suspects could be causing your headaches and whether it’s a primary headache, such as a migraine, or a secondary headache, which means that it’s a symptom of another health concern. The process of diagnosis may include:
- Medical history. Your doctor will want to know about other health conditions you have as well as medications, supplements, and herbal treatments or teas that you rely on.
- Family history. You will provide details of any family members who have headaches or migraines, at what age the headaches started, and other health diagnoses. Goadsby notes, “Very often family members won’t know they’ve got migraines, but they will know they are prone to headaches.” This helps to indicate that migraine is the problem.
- Physical exam. Your doctor will examine you, paying close attention to your head, neck, and shoulders, which can all contribute to headache pain.
- Neurological exam. A neurological exam may include vision, hearing, nerves, reaction time, and mobility tests.
- Blood tests. Blood tests may be ordered to help rule out infection and other health conditions of which headaches are a symptom.
- Spinal fluid test. This may be necessary if your doctor suspects that your headaches are caused by certain types of infection or by bleeding in your brain.
- Urinalysis. A urine sample may be ordered to help rule out infection and other health conditions of which headaches are a symptom.
- Imaging tests. Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be ordered. These imaging tests can show changes in bones and blood vessels as well as the presence of cysts and growths that may be causing your headaches.
- Neuroimaging. Imaging tests may be given during a headache episode to get a clearer picture of what is going on during an actual headache.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG). This test can show your doctor whether there are changes in brain wave activity. It can help diagnose brain tumors, seizures, head injury, and swelling in the brain.
By Madeline Vann, MPH
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
The medications you rely on to help manage your headache, sinus headache, or migraine could actually create another type of headache, known as a rebound headache. This may also be referred to as a “medication overuse headache” or an “analgesic rebound,” as analgesic is the medical name for pain-relieving medications that you can get over-the-counter or by prescription for headache treatment.
Rebound headaches feel like a dull, chronic, tension headache. They are thought to occur because ongoing use of pain relievers “rewires” the pain pathways in your brain.
The Rebound Headache: Who Is at Risk?
There are some factors that increase your risk of a rebound headache, including:
- Taking pain medication for headache or migraine daily or almost every day
- Taking pain medications containing caffeine or butalbital
- Having a previous history of rebound headaches
The Rebound Headache: Think Prevention
If you have migraines or frequent headaches, there are some steps you can take to prevent a rebound headache:
- Talk to your doctor about medication that prevents migraines or headaches, rather than relying on pain relievers after the headache has already started.
- Ask your doctor about trying other treatment approaches, such as antidepressants, which have been shown to help ease chronic tension headaches.
- Limit your use of pain relievers:
- Over-the-counter pain medications should be used 15 days or fewer per month.
- Prescription headache relievers containing ergots, triptans, opioids, and barbiturates should be used 10 days or fewer per month. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if these ingredients are in your prescription headache medicine.
If you have a rebound headache or suspect that medication is causing a headache or migraine-type headache, talk to your doctor. Taking more pain medication won’t ease a rebound headache. Your best bet is to stop taking the medications you have been taking, but ask your doctor to outline how to do so safely before you begin. Your headache may get worse for a few days — and you may experience nausea or vomiting during this time — but then the symptoms should subside. If they don’t, check back in with your doctor.
If you have had a rebound headache, you are more likely to have them again if you use analgesics later on. Instead, your doctor may recommend that you take prescription medication to prevent headache or migraine pain. You should also explore options for headache management without pain relievers, such as addressing underlying problems such as insomnia, or with stress management techniques.
Dealing with a rebound headache is frustrating. But working closely with your doctor and remaining open to other options for treatment can ultimately give you relief from both your primary headache and your rebound headache.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The eye sees what it wants to see...
Remember I talked about getting myself a Black & Decker rolling toolbox for Christmas? I saw that thing in the Walmart flyer and just HAD to get it. On sale for $20, can't beat that! On the front of it there were pictures of tools to show you the compartments where you would put them. And it was so darn cute, all little and compact. And on wheels, with a handle, just like luggage! For $20!
You can tell how excited I was about it. WAS.
Apparently, as Tyler so 'helpfully' pointed out to me while hysterically laughing his head off, I bought a Black & Decker JUNIOR rolling toolkit, complete with toy tools. Hence the reason it was so cute and tiny and compact. And only $20. If you know me, you can imagine just how devastated I was to learn that.
'No, you're wrong, its for adults!' Looked closely at the front.
'Isn't it?' Examined every square inch of the toolkit, hoping against hope...
'You're right. Its for kids. It comes with a toy hammer and screwdriver. I bought a CHILD'S toolkit. For myself.' With every word I uttered, Hubs' maniacal laughing got louder. Which really pissed me off!
Bad enough I bought the damn thing, bad enough that I was so freakin' excited about having such an awesome toolkit, bad enough that I was raving about my awesome find to the checkout cashier as she rang it through (she probably thought I was nuts!! "Okay lady, you're going to use a kids toy as a REAL toolkit, suuuurrre").
'Well who cares! I'm just going to take all the kid tools out. I can just give them to Ryder, wrap them up in a box or something, and put my OWN tools in there. I can still use it!'
When he finally calmed down, I hung my head in misery and admitted, 'Okay, yes, you're right. Its for a child. Guess Ryder will be getting one more gift this year.'
DAMN! I REALLY WANTED THAT TOOLKIT!
You can tell how excited I was about it. WAS.
Apparently, as Tyler so 'helpfully' pointed out to me while hysterically laughing his head off, I bought a Black & Decker JUNIOR rolling toolkit, complete with toy tools. Hence the reason it was so cute and tiny and compact. And only $20. If you know me, you can imagine just how devastated I was to learn that.
'No, you're wrong, its for adults!' Looked closely at the front.
'Isn't it?' Examined every square inch of the toolkit, hoping against hope...
'You're right. Its for kids. It comes with a toy hammer and screwdriver. I bought a CHILD'S toolkit. For myself.' With every word I uttered, Hubs' maniacal laughing got louder. Which really pissed me off!
Bad enough I bought the damn thing, bad enough that I was so freakin' excited about having such an awesome toolkit, bad enough that I was raving about my awesome find to the checkout cashier as she rang it through (she probably thought I was nuts!! "Okay lady, you're going to use a kids toy as a REAL toolkit, suuuurrre").
'Well who cares! I'm just going to take all the kid tools out. I can just give them to Ryder, wrap them up in a box or something, and put my OWN tools in there. I can still use it!'
When he finally calmed down, I hung my head in misery and admitted, 'Okay, yes, you're right. Its for a child. Guess Ryder will be getting one more gift this year.'
DAMN! I REALLY WANTED THAT TOOLKIT!
Friday, December 17, 2010
"Yeah, that's not what I was looking for at all."
(Here's the link, if you want to visit the website)
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster
Hi
I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.
This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.
Thanks, Shan.
____________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
That is shocking news. Luckily I was sitting down when I read your email and not half way up a ladder or tree. How are you holding up? I am surprised you managed to attend work at all what with thinking about Missy out there cold, frightened and alone... possibly lying on the side of the road, her back legs squashed by a vehicle, calling out "Shannon, where are you?"
Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.
Regards, David.
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster
yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.
____________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
I never said I don't like cats. Once, having been invited to a party, I went clothes shopping beforehand and bought a pair of expensive G-Star boots. They were two sizes too small but I wanted them so badly I figured I could just wear them without socks and cut my toenails very short. As the party was only a few blocks from my place, I decided to walk. After the first block, I lost all feeling in my feet. Arriving at the party, I stumbled into a guy named Steven, spilling Malibu & coke onto his white Wham 'Choose Life' t-shirt, and he punched me. An hour or so after the incident, Steven sat down in a chair already occupied by a cat. The surprised cat clawed and snarled causing Steven to leap out of the chair, slip on a rug and strike his forehead onto the corner of a speaker; resulting in a two inch open gash. In its shock, the cat also defecated, leaving Steven with a wet brown stain down the back of his beige cargo pants. I liked that cat.
Attached poster as requested.
Regards, David
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?
___________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.
Regards, David.
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.
___________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window. I am willing to overlook this faux pas due to you no doubt being preoccupied with thoughts of Missy attempting to make her way home across busy intersections or being trapped in a drain as it slowly fills with water. I spent three days down a well once but that was just for fun.
I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.
Regards, David.
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say lost.
___________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.
___________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww
Dear Shannon,
I don't have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter, I kept the cat in a closed cardboard box in the shed and forgot about it. If I wanted to feed something and clean faeces, I wouldn't have put my mother in that home after her stroke. A week later, when my friend came to collect his cat, I pretended that I was not home and mailed the box to him. Apparently I failed to put enough stamps on the package and he had to collect it from the post office and pay eighteen dollars. He still goes on about that sometimes, people need to learn to let go.
I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.
Regards, David.
____________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww
Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.
____________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww
I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.
I knew someone who had a basset hound that had its hind legs removed after an accident and it had to walk around with one of those little buggies with wheels. If it had been my dog I would have asked for all its legs to be removed and replaced with wheels and had a remote control installed. I could charge neighbourhood kids for rides and enter it in races. If I did the same with a horse I could drive it to work. I would call it Steven.
Regards, David.
____________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww
Please just use the photo I gave you.
____________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.
___________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.
____________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
Fine. That will have to do.
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster
Hi
I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.
This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.
Thanks, Shan.
____________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
That is shocking news. Luckily I was sitting down when I read your email and not half way up a ladder or tree. How are you holding up? I am surprised you managed to attend work at all what with thinking about Missy out there cold, frightened and alone... possibly lying on the side of the road, her back legs squashed by a vehicle, calling out "Shannon, where are you?"
Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.
Regards, David.
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster
yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.
____________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
I never said I don't like cats. Once, having been invited to a party, I went clothes shopping beforehand and bought a pair of expensive G-Star boots. They were two sizes too small but I wanted them so badly I figured I could just wear them without socks and cut my toenails very short. As the party was only a few blocks from my place, I decided to walk. After the first block, I lost all feeling in my feet. Arriving at the party, I stumbled into a guy named Steven, spilling Malibu & coke onto his white Wham 'Choose Life' t-shirt, and he punched me. An hour or so after the incident, Steven sat down in a chair already occupied by a cat. The surprised cat clawed and snarled causing Steven to leap out of the chair, slip on a rug and strike his forehead onto the corner of a speaker; resulting in a two inch open gash. In its shock, the cat also defecated, leaving Steven with a wet brown stain down the back of his beige cargo pants. I liked that cat.
Attached poster as requested.
Regards, David
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?
___________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.
Regards, David.
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.
___________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window. I am willing to overlook this faux pas due to you no doubt being preoccupied with thoughts of Missy attempting to make her way home across busy intersections or being trapped in a drain as it slowly fills with water. I spent three days down a well once but that was just for fun.
I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.
Regards, David.
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say lost.
___________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.
___________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww
Dear Shannon,
I don't have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter, I kept the cat in a closed cardboard box in the shed and forgot about it. If I wanted to feed something and clean faeces, I wouldn't have put my mother in that home after her stroke. A week later, when my friend came to collect his cat, I pretended that I was not home and mailed the box to him. Apparently I failed to put enough stamps on the package and he had to collect it from the post office and pay eighteen dollars. He still goes on about that sometimes, people need to learn to let go.
I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.
Regards, David.
____________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww
Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.
____________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww
I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.
I knew someone who had a basset hound that had its hind legs removed after an accident and it had to walk around with one of those little buggies with wheels. If it had been my dog I would have asked for all its legs to be removed and replaced with wheels and had a remote control installed. I could charge neighbourhood kids for rides and enter it in races. If I did the same with a horse I could drive it to work. I would call it Steven.
Regards, David.
____________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww
Please just use the photo I gave you.
____________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.
___________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.
____________________________________________________
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
___________________________________________________
From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
Fine. That will have to do.
Five Question Friday
1. Do you regift...and if so, do you have a regifting horror story?
Sometimes, if the item is practically new and looks it. Otherwise, no. And no, no regifting horror story. (Unless its just buried so deep in my subconscious that I've forgotten it.)
2. Do you know what you are getting for Christmas this year?
Yep! Hubs and I decided that this year we would just concentrate on the kids and not get each other gifts. That lasted all of a month before we realized that the kids like watching us open gifts just as much as we do them. But to make it easier on ourselves, we decided to buy our own gifts and then just say that the other one bought it. So I'm getting a sweet Black & Decker two-story rolling toolbox (looks like a piece of rolling luggage) and a National Lampoon Christmas Vacation dvd. I'm also planning on getting another bottle of 'our-version-of-Juicy' and some clothes. Boy my kids have great taste in gifts. *wink*
3. Who brings the most gifts in your family, you or Santa?
We do. Santa usually brings the kids one or two gifts, depends on how 'big' the gift is. But us parents get the kids anywhere between 5-6 gifts each.
4. What store do you love to by jeans from?
I just did a post about this! My new fave place is Plato's Closet.
5. Christmas meal: Big, All Out Meal or Snacks and Apps?
Depends where we're having the meal. If its at Julie or Joanne's, its the big, all-out meal with all the trimmings: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed turnips, peas, spetzla, pies, cookies, squares. If its at Deanna's, its a huge smorgasbord of snacks and appetizers: meatballs, little wienies, fruit & veggie platters, croissant-wiches, meat & cheese trays, olives, Mom's fudge, cookies, etc. Man, I love Christmas! ha
Sometimes, if the item is practically new and looks it. Otherwise, no. And no, no regifting horror story. (Unless its just buried so deep in my subconscious that I've forgotten it.)
2. Do you know what you are getting for Christmas this year?
Yep! Hubs and I decided that this year we would just concentrate on the kids and not get each other gifts. That lasted all of a month before we realized that the kids like watching us open gifts just as much as we do them. But to make it easier on ourselves, we decided to buy our own gifts and then just say that the other one bought it. So I'm getting a sweet Black & Decker two-story rolling toolbox (looks like a piece of rolling luggage) and a National Lampoon Christmas Vacation dvd. I'm also planning on getting another bottle of 'our-version-of-Juicy' and some clothes. Boy my kids have great taste in gifts. *wink*
3. Who brings the most gifts in your family, you or Santa?
We do. Santa usually brings the kids one or two gifts, depends on how 'big' the gift is. But us parents get the kids anywhere between 5-6 gifts each.
4. What store do you love to by jeans from?
I just did a post about this! My new fave place is Plato's Closet.
5. Christmas meal: Big, All Out Meal or Snacks and Apps?
Depends where we're having the meal. If its at Julie or Joanne's, its the big, all-out meal with all the trimmings: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed turnips, peas, spetzla, pies, cookies, squares. If its at Deanna's, its a huge smorgasbord of snacks and appetizers: meatballs, little wienies, fruit & veggie platters, croissant-wiches, meat & cheese trays, olives, Mom's fudge, cookies, etc. Man, I love Christmas! ha
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Project DSLR: Stage 4
As I've mentioned before, I'm in the process of getting the downstairs livingroom (DSLR) all rearranged, organized, and decorated with our antiques, artwork, animal heads, etc. Today I continued on to Stage 4 (Stage 1: Cleaning, Stage 2: Rearranged, Stage 3: Organized). Yes, today it was all about Decorating!
Unfortunately, that damn monstrous sheep head that weighs about a hundred pounds is totally impossible to get mounted on the wall by myself. But trust me, I tried. Picture it: me, left arm awkwardly holding it around the neck, my hip keeping the bottom part wedged up against the wall, trying to line up the hole in the back frame with the hole pre-drilled into the wall while I've got the drill held upright in my right hand, with the long screw precariously fitted to the drill bit, all while standing on a one-legged stool. As you can imagine, things didn't quite go according to plan. I abandoned that project after about ten minutes of heavy breathing, grunting, straining, arms trembling, sweating, CURSING, while millions of tiny white hairs drifted like snow onto my face, hair, eyelashes, and chest. Oh, and mouth, can't forget the mouth.
So then I moved on to the two deer heads, got them firmly installed on the walls. Moved two of the stuffed fish to different walls. Rearranged the antiques in the china cabinet.
Then came the fun part --- figuring out where to hang all the pictures and artwork we've collected over the years. There were just enough items to decorate every wall and it looks amazing!
I have two beautiful pictures that Mom gave me years ago and I wanted them to be hung together, since they share a theme. Once I got them hung, I noticed they weren't lying flat on the wall. Took them down and flipped them over and here the backs were completely covered in decades-old glops of hot glue! That is such a Hagar thing. Mom's idea of hanging pictures wasn't to use nails, it was all about the hot glue. It took me near ten minutes with a flathead screwdriver to scrape all that sh*t off! But eventually I was successful and the pictures were rehung, lying flat at last.
Project DSLR: Stage 5 is all about The Dump. Once I can get those items outta here, it is going to look FABULOUS! I'm so excited. Will post pics when Project DSLR is complete.
Unfortunately, that damn monstrous sheep head that weighs about a hundred pounds is totally impossible to get mounted on the wall by myself. But trust me, I tried. Picture it: me, left arm awkwardly holding it around the neck, my hip keeping the bottom part wedged up against the wall, trying to line up the hole in the back frame with the hole pre-drilled into the wall while I've got the drill held upright in my right hand, with the long screw precariously fitted to the drill bit, all while standing on a one-legged stool. As you can imagine, things didn't quite go according to plan. I abandoned that project after about ten minutes of heavy breathing, grunting, straining, arms trembling, sweating, CURSING, while millions of tiny white hairs drifted like snow onto my face, hair, eyelashes, and chest. Oh, and mouth, can't forget the mouth.
So then I moved on to the two deer heads, got them firmly installed on the walls. Moved two of the stuffed fish to different walls. Rearranged the antiques in the china cabinet.
Then came the fun part --- figuring out where to hang all the pictures and artwork we've collected over the years. There were just enough items to decorate every wall and it looks amazing!
I have two beautiful pictures that Mom gave me years ago and I wanted them to be hung together, since they share a theme. Once I got them hung, I noticed they weren't lying flat on the wall. Took them down and flipped them over and here the backs were completely covered in decades-old glops of hot glue! That is such a Hagar thing. Mom's idea of hanging pictures wasn't to use nails, it was all about the hot glue. It took me near ten minutes with a flathead screwdriver to scrape all that sh*t off! But eventually I was successful and the pictures were rehung, lying flat at last.
Project DSLR: Stage 5 is all about The Dump. Once I can get those items outta here, it is going to look FABULOUS! I'm so excited. Will post pics when Project DSLR is complete.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
GAM & R
Okay so now answer me this: if you were me, and started receiving Canadian Geographic magazines every month addressed to "GAM & R KASHA", now what would your reaction be? Puzzled and confused, I'm sure. Right? (PUH-LEASE don't tell me you figured it out already, give me that at least.) But it MUST be meant for us, right? It said 'Kasha' and was sent to our address. But 'GAM & R'??
I thought that someone (most likely Deanna) must have ordered this magazine subscription for someone in my family, only who could it be? I was totally stumped.
And then, today as I came across one of the unopened magazines still in its packaging (because until I figured out who it was meant for, noone was getting it), it struck me like a bolt of lightning out of the blue.
GAM & R = GunnarArdanMilena & Ryder
O.M.G.
I am an idiot.
I thought that someone (most likely Deanna) must have ordered this magazine subscription for someone in my family, only who could it be? I was totally stumped.
And then, today as I came across one of the unopened magazines still in its packaging (because until I figured out who it was meant for, noone was getting it), it struck me like a bolt of lightning out of the blue.
GAM & R = GunnarArdanMilena & Ryder
O.M.G.
I am an idiot.
Plato's Cl-OMG! GIMME!
You guys have heard of Plato's Closet in Red Deer, right? (If not, click the link there.) Its sort of the same idea as Once Upon a Child, only for teens and young adults. My cousin Kim mentioned to me that I should take Gunnar there to look for clothes. So last Saturday, we decided to go.
Its right beside Once Upon a Child (and thank god I listened to Kim's directions how to get there because my GPS told me it was a block north, on the left, stupid GPS). In we went; Gunnar headed straight to the back where the guy section was, but my eyes were immediately pulled to the rows upon rows of shoes, on shelves above the clothes racks. But one pair in particular had me gasping and hauling ass to grab them before the girl browsing that section could spot them. PURPLE patent leather spike heels! ZOMG. And whaddaya know --- size 8! Price? $8. Ya. I know.
WELL. Then I was on a mission, to find every cool pair of shoes in my size and nab them before the sweet young things wandering the store could. Picked up another pair of gold-trimmed brown suede T-strap wedge heels, $5. Checked out the boots, unfortunately the only pair in my size had a wicked-high arch and looked just uncomfortable -- though they were cute.
On to the purses. Found a wicked black leather purse with two huge zipper pockets on the front, very rocker-ish, $6. A hot-pink and black checkered patent leather clasp wallet, $2. I know, right?
Checked out their hats; found a gray small-print hounds-tooth newsboy with two big buttons on either side of the brim, and a black thick canvas-feel hat with buckles and straps on the sides, similar in look to my old favorite black Rbk hat. $4 each. Ya. I know.
Handed off my findings to a poor salesgirl, "Take these and hold them for me, must...continue...shopping..."
I figured I would check out the clothes, see if there were any in my size. The amount of stuff in there is simply staggering and I had no idea where to start. A good pair of well-fitting jeans is always hard to find (especially for my body shape) but I thought I'd see what was available. Rifled through about twenty pairs in my size, found several that looked promising. Added them to my 'try-on-later' pile at the checkout desk.
On to shirts; found about twenty, as well as a beautiful gray button front sweater with 3/4 length bell sleeves. Added them to the pile.
Then it was time to try everything on. Quite the process, as I'm sure you can relate. (Meanwhile, Gunnar had amassed quite the pile of his own and was also ready to try his stuff on.) So there we were, side by side in our changing rooms, me going "Omg Gunnar, I love this shirt, you should see it!" and he's going "You wouldn't believe the stuff I found!" We were like two excited giddy peas in a pod.
So of all the shirts I found, I only kept about eight (most were around $5-6 though two were only $3), and the gray sweater. Oh! And I got a beautiful halter-style black and white dress with a black satin ribbon that ties around the waist, so pretty, $10.
Then it was time to try on the jeans. (And keep in mind that we were only allowed six items at a time in the dressing room, so I had to keep getting redressed to go out and exchange my stuff for more. To top it off, I was wearing a hat --bad hair day-- so had to keep it on AND I had to keep putting my coat back on because I was wearing an ugly shirt that day, doh!)
So I'm trying on pair after pair of jeans and none of them were fitting well. They were all either too long, the legs were too roomy, or the waist was loose. Then I realized... I'd went down a size! YESSS!! What a sweet feeling that was. But that meant having to go back to the jean section and browse through all those sizes. So I did and headed back to the change room with several pairs, two of which ended up being keepers, at $8 each.
You guys, do you know how long its been since I bought a pair of jeans? AGES. And they're nice. Tight enough in the waist to hold everything in but not too tight that I have a muffin top. Legs are closely fitted but not the 'skinny' style. And they're name brand (like I really care but it does make you feel a bit more cool to NOT be wearing jeans from Walmart, haha), not a name brand I recognize but Gunnar told me he knows people who wear that brand. You hear that? Sweet affirmation that I'm not a style dud.
We walked out of the store $200 poorer, but soooo much richer, style-wise. Gunnar picked up somewhere between 10-15 shirts, all the name brands that he likes, at about $5 each; a gray zip-up Adidas hoody that looks brand new for $13; and two pairs of jeans, $8 each. I got my two pairs of shoes, the purse and wallet, the two pairs of jeans, the two hats, the dress, and all those shirts. One of which is a wrap-style purple print silky material that fits (and looks) just right. Can wear it with my new purple spike heels!
We got a 20% off coupon for our next visit (seeing as how we spent so much) and we'll definitely be back. Their stock is constantly coming and going so I'm excited to see what's there next time.
Yay! I finally have cool clothes in my closet!
Its right beside Once Upon a Child (and thank god I listened to Kim's directions how to get there because my GPS told me it was a block north, on the left, stupid GPS). In we went; Gunnar headed straight to the back where the guy section was, but my eyes were immediately pulled to the rows upon rows of shoes, on shelves above the clothes racks. But one pair in particular had me gasping and hauling ass to grab them before the girl browsing that section could spot them. PURPLE patent leather spike heels! ZOMG. And whaddaya know --- size 8! Price? $8. Ya. I know.
WELL. Then I was on a mission, to find every cool pair of shoes in my size and nab them before the sweet young things wandering the store could. Picked up another pair of gold-trimmed brown suede T-strap wedge heels, $5. Checked out the boots, unfortunately the only pair in my size had a wicked-high arch and looked just uncomfortable -- though they were cute.
On to the purses. Found a wicked black leather purse with two huge zipper pockets on the front, very rocker-ish, $6. A hot-pink and black checkered patent leather clasp wallet, $2. I know, right?
Checked out their hats; found a gray small-print hounds-tooth newsboy with two big buttons on either side of the brim, and a black thick canvas-feel hat with buckles and straps on the sides, similar in look to my old favorite black Rbk hat. $4 each. Ya. I know.
Handed off my findings to a poor salesgirl, "Take these and hold them for me, must...continue...shopping..."
I figured I would check out the clothes, see if there were any in my size. The amount of stuff in there is simply staggering and I had no idea where to start. A good pair of well-fitting jeans is always hard to find (especially for my body shape) but I thought I'd see what was available. Rifled through about twenty pairs in my size, found several that looked promising. Added them to my 'try-on-later' pile at the checkout desk.
On to shirts; found about twenty, as well as a beautiful gray button front sweater with 3/4 length bell sleeves. Added them to the pile.
Then it was time to try everything on. Quite the process, as I'm sure you can relate. (Meanwhile, Gunnar had amassed quite the pile of his own and was also ready to try his stuff on.) So there we were, side by side in our changing rooms, me going "Omg Gunnar, I love this shirt, you should see it!" and he's going "You wouldn't believe the stuff I found!" We were like two excited giddy peas in a pod.
So of all the shirts I found, I only kept about eight (most were around $5-6 though two were only $3), and the gray sweater. Oh! And I got a beautiful halter-style black and white dress with a black satin ribbon that ties around the waist, so pretty, $10.
Then it was time to try on the jeans. (And keep in mind that we were only allowed six items at a time in the dressing room, so I had to keep getting redressed to go out and exchange my stuff for more. To top it off, I was wearing a hat --bad hair day-- so had to keep it on AND I had to keep putting my coat back on because I was wearing an ugly shirt that day, doh!)
So I'm trying on pair after pair of jeans and none of them were fitting well. They were all either too long, the legs were too roomy, or the waist was loose. Then I realized... I'd went down a size! YESSS!! What a sweet feeling that was. But that meant having to go back to the jean section and browse through all those sizes. So I did and headed back to the change room with several pairs, two of which ended up being keepers, at $8 each.
You guys, do you know how long its been since I bought a pair of jeans? AGES. And they're nice. Tight enough in the waist to hold everything in but not too tight that I have a muffin top. Legs are closely fitted but not the 'skinny' style. And they're name brand (like I really care but it does make you feel a bit more cool to NOT be wearing jeans from Walmart, haha), not a name brand I recognize but Gunnar told me he knows people who wear that brand. You hear that? Sweet affirmation that I'm not a style dud.
We walked out of the store $200 poorer, but soooo much richer, style-wise. Gunnar picked up somewhere between 10-15 shirts, all the name brands that he likes, at about $5 each; a gray zip-up Adidas hoody that looks brand new for $13; and two pairs of jeans, $8 each. I got my two pairs of shoes, the purse and wallet, the two pairs of jeans, the two hats, the dress, and all those shirts. One of which is a wrap-style purple print silky material that fits (and looks) just right. Can wear it with my new purple spike heels!
We got a 20% off coupon for our next visit (seeing as how we spent so much) and we'll definitely be back. Their stock is constantly coming and going so I'm excited to see what's there next time.
Yay! I finally have cool clothes in my closet!
Seriously, its just my luck
Such as... Where the heck did I put my black wallet?
A few months ago I decided to switch wallets and so I transferred most of what I considered 'important' cards to the new one. You know, the debit card, credit card, ID, etc. Thinking that I wouldn't need my birth certificate, SIN card or ABH card I (stupidly) left them in the old wallet. After all, if I ever did need them I could just grab them out of that wallet. Right? But what happens when you can't find that wallet?
Madness. Utter mayhem and chaos. Searching the house high and low, tearing apart closets, frantically searching the hundred or so purses in my collection (and why is it that we females need so many darn purses? a mystery of the universe), looking through any and all boxes of stuff I'd put away in storage, making the kids search their rooms on the off chance Ryderman did a wallet relocation (which he's done before with keys, Ty's wallet, the cell phones, money, the list goes on). Then, when I'd exhausted all possible options with still no sign of the wallet, I gave up reluctantly and had to admit defeat.
I knew that most likely what happened was that the little DICKens must have gotten a hold of it and either threw it in the garbage or put in some totally random place (though where that place could be I had no clue, as I really had torn apart the entire household). So off to the Registries office I went and applied for a new birth certificate. I was thisclose to filling out the application for a replacement ABH card right then and there; however, upon seeing the pages and pages of info required (the card is for ME dammit! why do they need to know about spouses and dependents, arrrrgh), I shelved it for a later date. I did bring home the application form though, as well as the form for a replacement SIN card. What a hassle.
So I received my new birth certificate in the mail the other day and was quite unimpressed with how massive it was. Seriously, it almost letter-size! My lost one was tiny and blue and laminated, but more importantly, it fit in the card slot in my wallet! How the heck are you supposed to carry around these new ones? I guess you're not, they're probably meant to be kept in a filing cabinet until you actually need to produce it for some reason. In which case you'd bring it in a manila envelope or something? Anyway, I digress.
I am the Queen of Procrastination so I kept putting off applying for those other two cards. But just yesterday I decided that either today or tomorrow, I would fill in the forms and take them in. Before I did that, though, I had a sudden thought to go through my "receipt box" (seriously, I have a giant box full of nothing but receipts from the last year. EVERY single receipt I've ever been given. What is wrong with me?). So picture me standing there, going through every receipt, all eleventy-billion of them, throwing the majority out but keeping the ones needed for warranty and tax purposes and whatnot. After about half an hour of this, I had almost reached the bottom of the box and what did my disbelieving eyes come across....?
THE BLACK WALLET!! Oh hallelujah, glory day, and praise be to God. I immediately opened it up and YES, lo and behold, my cards! The blue laminated birth certificate, my old battered AHC card, and the SIN card. Yessss!! Of course, after my happy dance I then had to immediately phone someone because this was the find of the century, believe you me. Mom was the lucky recipient of that giddy phone call. And of course, now it just kills me that I wasted $40 on a new birth certificate. Doh!
But seriously, what would ever possess me to throw my wallet in the receipt box? My brain takes a permanent vacation sometimes, I swear.
My Favorite Amazing Vids
Some of these are short but sweet, some are lengthy, but ALL are worth the watch... especially the last one! I saved it for last because its my #1 Most Amazing Video. Enjoy!
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