Time to Catch-up

Hello everyone! Felt I should play catch-up, let you know what's new in my world...


Finally got new tires on the Suzi yesterday. After doing extensive research online for the best tire, best price, best place to purchase them from, I ended up choosing the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred tires, from Canadian Tire. Fountain Tire usually specializes in Goodyear tires but their price, even with the $25/tire discount, was still more than what Canadian Tire quoted. The CdnTire website had them listed at $181.99/tire, but get this! When I went in to order them (they didn't have them in stock), they gave me a quote of $177.99! So, even cheaper than the website price! I was pretty happy about that. The tires took two days, YES, two days, to come in. I was a little shocked. Here I was thinking they had to come from a warehouse in Ontario or something, stupid me. Haha. During my research, every website made sure to specify that if you have a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor System) you can expect an extra fee. Since I DO have a TPMS, I was thinking it would be like an extra $100 or something. However, when I asked CdnTire about this, the lady was adamant that they do not charge for that. (I was like, half-joking, 'Can I get that in writing?') So I got them installed yesterday, took them about an hour (during which time Ryder and I went down every aisle, Christmas shopping), and lemme tell you, my new tires are BEAUTIFUL! Haha. So black and new and shiny. The total cost, with labor and shop supplies (and yes, the lady was right, they did not charge for the TPMS), came to about $906. Pretty good, eh? The TripleTred tires are all-season, NOT a winter tire, but during my research I discovered that they do a pretty damn good imitation of winter tires. On a scale of 1-10 (10 is best), rated for snow, ice, rain, slush, they scored a 10 for each one. For 'sound' they scored a 7, for 'smoothness' (whatever that means) they scored an 8. So I consider the TripleTreds a hybrid winter/all-season tire. So the tires were installed and it was time to drive home. Anyone recall what the weather was like yesterday? Blowing snow and wind gusts of over 100km/h! Transport trucks were literally being flipped over by the wind on Hwy2. So I thought, 'Perfect weather to test out my new tires' and boy, were they ever tested! I could tell the difference immediately. No slipping or sliding on the snowy, ice streets. My Suzi took those corners like it was summer. Got to an intersection, driving behind a total idiot, and just as he's about to go through the light turned yellow. And what did the dipshit do? Slammed on the brakes! And that intersection was slick. If I would have had my old bald tires on, I would've slid right into the back of him. But with my new TripleTreds, screech! right to an instant stop. So right there, those tires paid for themselves. I am really impressed, and so much more confident about driving in our poor winter conditions. 


I have come to the conclusion that I can no longer eat chinese food. Ty discovered this new great restaurant in Red Deer called Wok Box, located in Southepoint Common across by Tony Romas. Its not your average chinese food place; its asian food inspired from places like Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, Mongolia, Vietnam, and India. It is FABULOUS. We've ordered takeout from there a few times and its great because Ty can actually eat many of their dishes. So his new thing is bringing home Wok Box for supper, which he did last night. He usually gets the Family Feast, or whatever its called; it has everything from spring rolls, ginger beef, chicken balls, chow mein, fried rice, crispy wontons, coconut shrimp, beef & broccoli, malaysian stir-fry, etc etc etc. TONS of food, for like $50. So, great prices too. And it is delicious. BUT... last time we had it, I had some 'stomach issues' that night. Just attributed it to a stomach bug I must've picked up. However, last night after eating it, same problem. Like, immediately. So sadly, I think I can no longer eat Wok Box. Waaaaa....!


Pablo and Kippers escaped last night (I thought I heard meowing but the kids said no). I got up with Ty this morning around 4am, to make his sandwich and keep him company --- yes, apparently I CAN be a nice wife sometimes, who knew--- and when he went out to start his truck, in rushed Pablo. Kippers, I had to actually go outside and coax him to me, as Ty scared him away. So Ty carried Pabs into the kitchen and he goes, "What's that smell? Hey, what's on Pabby's back? HEY, WHAT'S ON MY CHEST AND HANDS?" Yes, Pablo had shit himself while outside (hey, maybe it kept him warm) and it was smeared all over his fur. His long, long fur. Poor Ty. Just like Dad, with the gagging and dry-heaves. So Pabs got locked in the laundry room until I could bathe him. Which I just did. And it was gross and traumatizing. Despite a couple wild escape attempts and the near-constant growling, Pabs actually did well, stayed in place so I could lather, scrub and scoop water on him. So now he's slinking around here like an embarrassed, wounded victim, 'You did me WRONG, bitch!' LOL. But he smells much better. 


Oh, and speaking of SHIT... the main toilet is plugged again. AGAIN. Did I not just go through this a few months ago? No amount of plunging or drain cleaner is fixing it, and I have, oh, just a teensy clue about who the culprit is. Ryder says to me, as I'm plunging and swearing and sweating, "Um, what would you say if I told you that mayyyyybe a toothpaste got ACCIDENTALLY flushed down there?" OhhhhhhMYGOD Ryder, seriously??? Again?!?! So it looks like I'm off to Rona for another wax ring, because that toilet needs to flipped over and flushed out, AGAIN. Oh, and in case you were wondering, YES, Ryder did get a 'serious lecture' about flushing non-poop-related items. (Remember when Levi was little and used to always tell Mom that so-and-so needed a 'serious lecture'? Good times.) 


I'm done Christmas shopping for Lena and Ryder. What a good feeling! Good thing she won't be reading this because its serious spoiler-alert time... I may have went a little overboard, like I always do, but I've picking up little things here-and-there for the past couple months, and they just get shoved into my closet so I tend to forget what all I've gotten. So Lena is getting pretty much everything she had on her list: a Justin Bieber barbie-doll, six Monster High dolls (one of each girl plus the only boy doll, which is a serious coup as the boy ones are all sold out now), two Baby Alive 'Crib Life' dolls (it was a set of twins, also sold out now), a Teacup Piggy mama with two baby piglets, the Justin Bieber Christmas cd, a Zhu-Zhu pet, a Christmas book, and a DS-XL starter kit to go with the new DS-XL she bought a while back (the set includes a case, headphones, charger, games container, etc). Ryder, the little BRAT (I'm still bitter about the toilet) is getting, not that he deserves it, a Thomas figurine 4-pack (includes Harold the Helicopter and the boat, which he doesn't have), the new Down With Webster cd -- he loves Big Wheels, its his new fave song "Cops up, cops up!", a Bop-It XT, a Cars Lightning McQueen activity set, a holographic Spiderman case for his DS, a Zhu-Zhu pet, Hot Wheels Showdown set, a Christmas book, and almost the full set of Star Wars figurines & vehicles. The Star Wars toys are small and almost cartoon-ified, geared toward little kids. There's the big Millenium Falcon with Han Solo and Chewbacca (the toy opens up and the figurines can 'play' in the command centre, etc), a Speeder Bike with Anakin, a Star Fighter with a different Anakin and C3PO, and then I got two sets of just figurines, Luke Skywalker, Yoda, R2D2 and another C3PO. The only thing that would make it a complete set was if there was a Darth Vader figurine & vehicle, but either it was sold out or Walmart doesn't carry it. Got a few things for Ardan as well: a Lego Alien Attack set, a MuchDance 2012 cd (he specifically asked for it, ugh), a 3DS starter set for his new 3DS which he bought with his own money, a little Betta aquarium for one of those fighting fish (which I'll get when its closer to Christmas day), and a remote-controlled car that follows a laser from the remote and can climb up walls (oh yay, probably will be regretting that). Gunnar, I got nothin'. He's so hard to buy for! He asked for a new set of boarding gloves from Nomads, that's it. He just wants money. *sigh* That's no fun! Whatevs. The only other thing Ardan has asked for is a Lego City Police Station set. So don't anybody be stealin' that idea from me! I'm a little desperate here for ideas for the boys' gifts. Picked up a few things from Cdn Tire for Hubs: a new black leather belt, a camouflage magnetic LED light, some ice-fishing stuff, and an electric shaver set that has different heads for precision trimming, ear/nose trimming (HA!), hair clippers, etc. He's also hard to buy for. Got myself a new Adam Lambert cd that I just happened to spy out of the corner of my little eye at Walmart. Also picked up a couple $5 gifts for our annual Christmas Eve party at Deanna's (they're really cute so keep an eye out for them, you'll probably want to 'steal' them). So I still have all the stocking stuffers to get (that requires a sans-kids trip to Dollarama), $20 gifts for the exchange at Julie's, gifts for Fred & maybe-Bunnie, and a few more things for Ty and the boys. But other than that, I'm done! lol


The CP Blakely Christmas concerts are on the next two Tuesdays: Lena's is Dec 6th and Ardan's is Dec 13. Probably at 7pm, like last year.


Ardan's homegame against Stettler tonight has been cancelled due to the weather and road conditions, still waiting to hear if Gunnar's homegame, also against a Stettler team (what are the odds), will be cancelled. (Oh, and if you're ever interested in finding out when/where the boys' games are, just go here for Ardan and here for Gunnar.) So this means we have all day to put up our Christmas stuff! We already have the big tree put up, just no ornaments yet. Sucks that I stored the xmas bins in the little closet beside the dryer, because that means I have to move both the washer and dryer just to get the bins out. Argh! The kids are super-excited and hyper about all this decorating, though. Really cute to see. They've really gotten into the Christmas spirit early this year. We've already watched the cartoon Grinch movie and the oldschool Rudolph show on tv. Lena walks around singing Christmas carols and Ryder is excited to make Santa a present out of playdough. We're also planning on crafting some ornaments and doing some baking as well. 


So there ya go. Now you're all caught-up on what's happenin' in the Kasha household.