Ugh, I was moving a plant today and I totally wrenched my lower back. I've never had back pain this bad ever, and there seems to be no position to be pain-free. Great.
Anyway, it was a great week-end. Davey came over for dinner on Saturday and Billy made prime rib. The guys' portion size was large enough to make an appointment with a cardiologist. Seriously...
Halia ate her fill too, and this is her favorite position to sleep in. Such a comfort monger...
I read a lot this week-end, as the weather is still super shit-tacular, and I can't do too much around here when the house is completely in disarray due to the ongoing painting saga.
I didn't have many plans for today, as the painter is here, so that means the upstairs is off-limits. I haven't even made the bed due to immense back pain... So I guess it's the perfect day (and excuse) to be on the couch and read... if I can get out this chair...
BTW... the golf course is supposed to open tomorrow... it's supposed to be 55*F today, but there is still snow about... we'll see... I don't think I could putt right now, let alone walk one hole... ugh!
I usually don't publicly post about the '50 books in 365 days' group I'm in, but the book was so interesting and locally important, that I decided to have it viewable to everyone... not that you may particularly care or be interested, it is just the themes of the book are of such personal interest to me.
Although this book, strangely enough, does not appear on my 100 classic novels list, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' by Harriet
Beecher Stowe, has been referenced in media and history more than any other book I'm aware of, except the Bible of course.
As a white, Canadian woman in my mid 30's, I'd like to believe that I know more about slavery, abolition of such, the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, Emancipation, etc. then the average person of my genre. I was a history major in University (where did that get me?) and I took a special interest in that period in history.
Although quite disturbing, because it's true, I've found that time in history fascinating, and I feel a bit more rounded now that I've completed 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. I realize that Harriet Beecher Stowe had never actually been on a plantation, or in a Southern state for that matter, and her stories were based on accounts from escaped slaves, one in particular that lived (and there is now a museum) about an hour away from me in Dresden, Ontario. Also of particular interest to me, is that the slaves escaped to Amherstburg Ontario, a town about 20 minutes away, which I love (my grandparents lived there and I worked there for 4 summers). My mom said that her and my dad used to go parking at the well known boat access area for the underground railroad. It's not one of those places marked with a plaque, but just something everyone knows... (I'm going to check that out next time I'm in that area...) It's funny to me that this seemingly unimportant area I live is so important historically. It makes me proud to be a Canadian...
It's interesting to note that this was the number one seller of the entire 19th century and number 2 in the 20th century, only behind the Bible.
I read it knowing that it was used as propaganda for the Abolitionist movement of that time, and occasionally I laughed out loud at some of the sterotypes of the African Americans and Christians alike.
It was a good story, and I truly wanted to reach into the novel and slowly drown one particular character, and I found myself bawling at times as well (what else is new?).
I will say that I HATE when the author uses phonetical spelling, especially with accents and slang thrown in. It is like reading another language.
I would recommend this book to anyone! I am definately going to read an anti-Tom book, and more local history about the underground movement!
In my nearby city of Windsor Ontario, directly south of Detroit Michigan, there is a powerful memorial statue near the river, with a fugitive slave looking back to the US, as her party proceeds into Canada.... please excuse this crappy picture, but I couldn't find another...
This is the best, you can feel their emotion!
There is another memorial directly across the river in Detroit... slaves looking to their freedom, across the river... this is a better picture...
Very cool stuff...
So my latest thing, and I have no idea how long it will last... is playing Scrabble, by myself.
I put Liz1 against Liz2 to see who is the better player and it is decidedly Liz2. She had a 50 point bingo, and always seemed to get better letters. Liz1 was plagued with a constant stream of vowels, and that's tough.
It's easy not to cheat against myself. I still play trying not to give the other player the opportunity to get a double or triple word space, and because I draw my letters immediately before my turn I'm not subconsciously playing for one hand over the other... or maybe I am... does it really matter?
Anyways, it is fun, despite what Billy says.
We'll see how long this little bender lasts. Hopefully Liz1 will still want to play even though she can't seem to catch a break...
Today we are expecting the painters. Actually, they're late.... super. I'm not sure if I mentioned, but Billy thought it would be a good idea to not paint the big main room. Thank God!
Here are my reasons why hiring professionals are a good idea:
- 9 - 25 foot high ceilings, depending on where you are standing
- 9 - 25 foot high walls, depending on where you are standing
- Crazy big windows with essentially no way to get to them
Those are more than enough reasons, trust me!
So I cleared out the plants yesterday, there had to be over a dozen in that room, and because I don't know how they are painting the back wall (ladders, scaffolding, etc) I had to also clear out all things that were in the 'hole' or the wide open area in front of the fireplace.
The house looks naked and lonely. Plants really do make a difference as well as the 2 pictures we have hung in the big room. Here are some naked pictures of our house...
This picture is taken from the basement (it's a walkout) looking up the fireplace. It's a long way up...
It looks so naked and stark!
Even the kitchen looks bleak.
Halia has been wondering WTF for the last day. She gets anxious and weird when we're packing, so this has her in a state! She's been following me around and driving me crazy!
So, with regard to my list yesterday, I was able to cross trimming back the poinsettia. It looks totally violated and pathetic. That thing better bloom this next winter, or I'll be mad at having to look at that spindly plant for the next 6 months... I had a lot of plant maintenance yesterday, so that was good...
Today I'm going with MomG to pick up her new Ford Edge. That's exciting, and tonight I'm going out with a couple of girls for dinner. The conversations should be great!
Billy called the golf course and they should be open on April 1st... if not the course then the clubhouse. I hope the weather starts getting better! There is still some snow on the ground!
Anyway, life is good, and I'm looking forward to having the painting done and the house back to normal... also it looks really dirty when it's empty...
Show us the athlete you'd most like to be for one game.
Why? Because she is 5'9, pretty and a good golfer. I however, do not like her swing, as it funky (is she the one with the extra vertebrae?) But I think it would be good to be a great golfer and a model for a day...
Well, it is 9:30am (probably posted at around 10 due to my slow typing skills...) and I've pretty much accomplished all my goals for the day. Already. I really need to think about a career of some type...
There are some things in and around the house that need to be done, or will need to be done. Some of these things are dependant on the weather and others I need Billy to do. (Funny because when I lived alone I did everything from replace a toilet to build, paint and install wooden window shutters...)
Here's the list:
- Fix the washing machine. I can't hear the phone ring if it is on. For about a year it has made a big WANK WANK WANK noise while in the wash cycle. Very annoying and probably not good if we intend on not buying a new washer in the near future.
- Hang the speaker. I could do it, but Billy said he would.
- Add soil to the garden. I think 2 yards at most should do it. I'd rather get it in bags, (can that plastic be recycled?) because I don't like the idea of a truck driving in our backyard again and leaving a patch of dirt on our struggling grass.
- Get out the patio furniture and clean it, possibly paint it. I will wait until at least the snow melts for that one...
- Clean the barbecue. It's looking a little nasty. Billy usually does it, but I can earn my keep by taking over this task.
- Clean and stain the deck. I absolutely dread this. The deck is big. It has some small parts. The weather has to be perfect, and if so, we'd rather be golfing. Ugh.
- Switch out the winter clothes for our summer clothes. It pretty much has to get above 40*F for me even to think about this one more... but it is on the list...
- Resolve my leaking AeroGarden issue.
- Cut back the poinsettia. It still looks great, but I have to get it on a schedule if I want it to bloom next year... it will be my first attempt at this, and a true test of my green thumb-ed-ness and patience...
- Plant the garden (initially the greenhouse)
- Cancel my gym membership. Next time I go into Essex - I swear!
- Rake out the stones in the front yard... maybe I can bribe the kids to help me.
- Weed and feed the yard. Always Billy's job.
- Sew the strap thing back on the hot tub cover. I accidentally ripped it off (it actually pretty much 'cracked' off in sub zero weather...).
- Clean out the garage.
Reviewing this list I realize that most of it is based on warm weather. It just seems forever away... There is still quite a bit of snow in places! In the meantime I'm really making the house in great condition - hopefully we'll be able to cruise through the summer without any major cleaning or organizing to be done... in my mind of course...
Why do you think it is some people don't get along with you?
Oh, that's a tough one that requires some thought... I think in general I'm pretty easy to get along with, but I really don't like people who behave as I did in my late teens or early 20's... but they are in their 30's or older: attention whores, show offs, enough about me - more about me, etc. I think that my reaction to these types (impatience, occasional disgust) makes them view me as a lofty bitch.
Is it too easy and perhaps immature to say jealousy breeds hostility in my 'peer' (oh, I typo'ed peep, that's funny...) group? Considering the lack of adult behavior by some people I know, I'd have to say not.
I also think that it is easier for some people to judge me, than try to understand me.
The people that don't get along with me are so self involved, self-centred, and self-important that I'm sure I don't enter their thoughts unless there is some nasty gossip that they have either caused or exaggerated upon.
I will say that it is a difficult to look within yourself to see the faults that others hold againts you. This is an interesting QotD, and I've read some other blogger's replies which pretty much glaze over the idea with 'I'm a bitch!'
Hmm, something to consider... let me know if you have any insight on yourself...
Wow, three days since my last post, time is certainly flying by. I have had time to write, just nothing much of interest to say, even now I'll keep it short and sweet...
- We went to SuprT's new house on Friday, it is beautiful! It was nice to see all the kids.
- We missed the projected 10 inches of snow by about 50 kms, and ended up with only about 2
- Detroit is reported the 5th snowiest winter on record. I forget the inches, but suffice to say: a lot.
- I was unfairly hung-over for much of yesterday. Billy's friend popped by for a 7 hour visit, and he brought his sweet pooch.
- TOL popped by, (literally, for like 10 minutes) with her puppy Schmeichel, (fun to say, not to type...) and they played, meanwhile Halia missed all the fun as she was at MomG's.
- The Easter Egg Hunt was a success. The ground was pretty much frozen so it wasn't too muddy, and there were more people there than 2 years ago, (it didn't happen last year). Halia won a dog bone and a light up leash, (which doesn't work well - rats! I could have been a HUGE box of milkbones... ) and Dave (on behalf of Lilly) won only a small bone which was pretty funny because looking at his prize card I was convinced that he was going to win the grand prize... haha, oh well, it's really not about the prizes...
- Here is a sub list of some dog breeds we saw at the walk:
- Bouvier (s) (huge!)
- Labs of all kinds
- Basenji (they are fairly rare...)
- Collies
- Bichon Frise
- Bullmastiff, (I wanted to squeeze his cheeks!)
- 2 Brittanys (gorgeous)
- Pug (love the pug)
- Welsh Terrier
- A sweet small rescue Greyhound
- One Visula
- Bulldog, not sure which kind...)
- Either a malamute or a huskie, I can't tell the difference... sorry DD
- 2 basset hounds
- 1 sweet beagle
- Boxer (s)
- A few chihuahuas
- Dogue de Bourdeaux
- Dachshund
- Doberman
- Newfoundland (HUGE!)
- German short haired pointer
- Poodles (a black one was trimmed for show with pink bunny ears...)
- A smattering of small terriers, one wearing a camo jacket, another a tutu...
- And of course, one gorgeous, if not slightly portly Rhodesian Ridgeback! (TOL reported seeing a fat rhody at PetSmart... so Halia is not alone... or the fattest...)
I'm sure there is about a dozen or so breeds I missed...
I'm not sure what is up today with my mom and the kids, easter egg hunt wise... I'm fairly certain that it will not be outside, as it is a sunny 18*F!! Brrr! Did you know that we golfed for the first time last year March 30th, then the 31st... that is less than a week away and there we haven't had 3 days in a row above freezing since I don't know when! Ahhh! I'm going crazy! I just want to golf! I want to be warm! I want to be outside! Arg!
Oh, so anyway, we're going to MomG's house today for turkey (yes!) because someone doesn't like ham, (wah, wah, wah), so it's turkey for dinner!
Well, life's good, (except the weather), and my hair is out of control due to late night hot tub hijinx!
The Dairy Freez is open! Although it's a balmy 34*F, and there is a winter storm warning for tomorrow... my sister just called to let me know that the Freez is open.
Can I get a Woo Hoo? (and a cheeseburger with everything, but no relish, with pickles, a small fry with gravy on the side...)
