Happy

This weekend is LT's naming as we mentioned ...
His great-grandma on Ari's side came into town last night
And got to meet him today. :)
Roz is awesome - she thinks he's perfect. He is! :)
Such a special moment ...
Tomorrow Ari's aunt will be in town,
And I have some relatives coming in too.
It is going to be an awesome weekend.

I'll do my best to blog all about it. :)

is all about the baby boy today ...

he did well on a development screening ...
began solid foods ...
and his naming ceremony (nondenominational 'baptism') is Sunday ...

Wonderful, wonderful times ... :D

*short but sweet, sighs happily*

Oh ... to top it off? 31-cent Baskin Robbins day in the K-Dub. Be sure and enjoy! :D:D:D:D:D:D

101 Update

Didn't blog yesterday - took a preemptive non-computer day for next month. :) But an update of my 101 things in 101 days:

((Mar 30-July 8))

** items which have been 'strike-thru'ed (line through them) are done. :)

1. Lose 20 lbs. (3/20)
2. Finish the novel I've started writing.
3. Do one nice thing for someone every day. (28/101)
4. Do at least 1/2 hour of exercise every day. (28/101)
5. Be consistent enough with the radio show to get it going live.
6. Join the Babytime group at the Kitchener Public Library.
7. Find work for at least 2 more weeks of the summer.
8. Read at least 3 books. (0/3)
9. Go to church each week (3/13)
10. Finish my cross stitch I'm making for LT.
11. Clean out the guest room (which has become a storage room).
12. Go to a dress-up dance with Ari.
13. Have one nice bubble bath a week. (1/13)
14. Learn 1 more dance (eg Salsa, Meringue).
15. Go roller blading and not quit after 5 mins.
16. Get my bike fixed.
17. Clean out the car and get it washed, vaccuumed and tuned up.
18. Have at least 1 play date a month. (1/3)
19. No messing with my hair - no cuts, no perms, dye touchups only. (28/101)
20. Go through my clothes to see what fits, what I wear, what i don't, etc.
21. Ditto shoes.
22. Cook for Ari at least once a week. (4/13)
23. Organize our actual storage room.
24. Donate my time to one good cause a month. (0/3)
25. Go to one new restaurant a month. (0/3)
26. See one movie a week. (4/13)
27. Donate my tutoring money to charity.
28. Get my retainer wire fixed.
29. Read at least a chapter of the bible a day. (28/101)
30. Know where we're going for summer vacation and plan it.
31. Sign up for an English course for summer semester so I can get my English AQ for the fall.
32. No pizza. (27/101)
33. Have one night a week with Ari set aside for fun ('date night' even if it includes LT). (4/13)
34. Redo our back yard.
35. Create my unit plan for camp.
36. Read one book in French.
37. Go to the U.S. to buy diet Cherry Coke.
38. Take LT to one new city a month. (1/3)
39. Have a mani/pedi.
40. Tell Ari I love him every day. (28/101)
41. Learn a new skill (knitting, an instrument, a language).
45. Try one new wine a month. (1/3)
46. Share one piece of writing for the purposes of critique and feedback.
47. Finish 'Thank You' cards for LT's gifts.
48. Get one famous person's autograph.
49. Redo the linoleum floors in my house.
50. Set aside $30 ever week I don't have fast food for a non-food treat (eg CD, DVD). Subway excepted.
51. Get one other person to do the 101 things in 101 days.
52. Look into setting up a will (unsure if possible to complete as adoption won't be complete).
53. No non-diet pop. (28/101)
54. Submit a piece of writing to a publisher.
55. Get a baby seat for my bike, and LT a helmet.
56. Blog every day (except my monthly 'no computer day' - see below). (26/98)
57. Renew and update my Apply to Education account (resume, references, cover letter etc.).
58. Call in to a radio show.
59. Go through my junk drawers (like, one in every room)
60. Get through the pile of stuff on my desk (DVDs/CDs to burn, photos to put away).
61. Go through my 'correspondence' storage space: organize it.
62. Find a place for the things I just cleared out of Mom's house.
63. Buy at least one of the board games Ari and I have been coveting.
64. Have a games night with friends.
65. Finish my puzzle.
66. See at least one friend a week. (4/13)
67. Get on the Do Not Call list.
68. Call the diaper service and get LT into cloth diapers.
69. Be on time to things. (28/101)
70. LT's naming ceremony and open house.
71. Redo the chips the movers left in the paint job in our house.
72. Wash windows.
73. Unpack from our trip, do laundry etc. by the end of the week.
74. Have a picnic.
75. Go to the gym twice a week at least (1/26).
76. Get Ari's Big Lebowski poster and McGill diploma either framed or plaqued.
77. Update my "Wrestlemania" collection
78. Beat "Zelda II: The Adventures of Link" without dying once.
79. Make one person laugh every day. (28/101)
80. Dance at least once a week. (4/13)
81. See one live theatre production.
82. Pray every day. (28/101)
83. Sign LT's adoption placement papers.
84. Sign LT's adoption finalization papers.
85. Watch and label the old wrestling videos Mom sent home with me.
86. Take LT to the zoo.
87. Make a new friend.
88. Don't miss any appointments.
89. Go swimming.
90. Go to an arcade but don't spend more than $20.
91. Introduce LT to solid foods.
92. Clean up Ari's side of the office for him (or get him to with my awesome powers of persuasion).
93. Distribute our formal LT/family photos to our folks.
94. Donate blood.
95. Bake once a month. (0/3).
96. Make a list of things which have caused me pain/anger/regret/sadness, and burn it.
97. Go somewhere I've never been.
98. Have one internet-free day a month (2/3).
99. Have one TV free day a month (0/3).
100. Get a piercing.
101. Go to the Royal Ontario Museum.

Week One Notes: I didn't get to the gym because I still couldn't find my "Y" membership card. I now have so I will start this week - I still managed to be active every day though. :) Also I missed ONE day on my pizza promise as we ran out of time to do much else when we had our friend Steve over for Wrestlemania. Otherwise I'd say a pretty good week and even if not 100% success I've stuck to the spirit of the list so far. :)

Week Two Notes: Much more on track this week. Awesome. Only thing I didn't do this week that I should have was my 'bubble bath a week' - I'm two weeks behind on that one now. But this week anyway, the spirit of that goal was met - this weekend instead of my usual quick 10-minute shower, I had a nice long one, I blowed my hair dry and did my nails ... hey I wanted to do all these and no excuses, but I think there aer worse ones to miss. :) Also my cooking for Ari this week consisted of ordering in - but hey it was one night of saving him cooking. :) I'd say overall this hasn't been a 100% success so far but pretty damn good.

Week Three Notes: Not the most successful week - still no time for a bubble bath and didn't get to the gym, although I still did my half-hour of activity a day so I consider the spirit of that to be met anyway. LT is teething and going through a bit of separation anxiety so I have had a hard time this last little bit leaving him to his own devices even to do stuff around the house for more than 20/30 minutes at a time. Also, as much as this list was meant to be completed perfectly, I also recognized as a busy new mom that might not happen: considering that I'm pleased at the progress I am making. :) For the most part I'm doing the things I want to every day, and I usually cross at least one or two extra things off a week. So I'm no superwoman but I don't think I'm quite heading into 'you suck at this' territory yet lol.

Week 4 Notes: A successful week - only didn't make it to the gym. :) I knocked a few other things off my list in the meantime - theatre and cleaning the office for example. Proud of myself. :D

West Side Story

The classic musical based on Romeo and Juliet has come to the Stratford Festival. Ari and I went to see it tonight - very fun show. :) Be sure and check it out. Especially if you're under 30, Stratford has a great deal right now - we got excellent seats at WSS on a Saturday night for $60 total, just because we're young'uns. It's funny, it's sad, the dancing will take your breath away. Highly recommended.

And thanks to the in-laws for babysitting and making this evening possible. Mwah!

Slate's take on Glenn Beck

Amusing for any of my 'fans' interested in the ugly side of American political punditry (because of course, there's a pretty side):

http://www.slate.com/id/2216798/

If you don't know who Glenn Beck is, I'm not going to explain - this article will give you all the sense you need of who this yahoo is. And if that's not enough, watch the videos the entry above links to; complete idiot.

Funny, if he weren't unfortunately representative of the rabid, cornered, and therefore somewhat scary remains of the right wing of US politics.

Mommy-Son Date Day

Since very few of my most recent posts have been personal I also wanted to say this week's been a good one. Little Tyke has been a bit fussy at times as he's teething and growing a lot (judging by the amount he's been eating and sleeping); but other than an hour or two a day where he's very fussy, he's been such a smiley, happy, interesting little person to be around.

Wednesdays are our Mommy-Son date day; we go to a play group at the local library which is super-fun, and then to a movie at the local theatre which does Movies for Mommies/Stars and Strollers Wednesday afternoons. We saw Seventeen Again starring Matthew Perry and Zac Efron yesterday - REALLY good. Love Zac Efron and he's such a talented young actor; this movie is fun fluff, you don't go in expecting high art nor does it deliver. But it's an enjoyable, fun rom com which isn't a bad way to cotton candy your break on a midweek afternoon. :)

This weekend is already looking busy; some work around the house, a date in Stratford, and dinner at my mom's, plus church. Good times, good times. :)

More on the MIss California-gay marriage debacle

Rev. Nicole Lamarche is a former Miss Califoria, who is now a pastor. She spoke out today on Carrie Prejean (Miss California USA)'s comments regarding gay marriage on Sunday's Miss USA pageant. Rev. Lamarche puts things so well in fact, I couldn't say it any better myself, and now, unless any further interesting news or developments come out of this, I will leave us with the good reverend's thoughts, as my final thoughts:

"As a pastor and a former Miss California, I am often asked to interpret what the Word of God has to say on a particular subject. I am quite confident that God prefers that we human beings stick to speaking for ourselves. And yet there are occasions when God’s Word is used as a weapon, and I feel compelled to speak.

In the past few days, much has been made of the words of Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean. She stated that marriage is between a man and a woman. I write not in response to her opinion, but rather about her comments that followed: that the Bible condones her words. She said, 'It's not about being politically correct, it's about being biblically correct.' While this sentiment is shared by many who seek to condemn gay people and gay marriage, citing pieces of the Bible to further one’s own prejudice fails to meet the Bible on its own terms.

Most people seeking to condemn gay people point to the Book of Leviticus, where we read that men lying with men is an abomination. However, we rarely hear of other verses found in the book of Leviticus that are equally challenging. For example, Leviticus also tells us that eating shrimp and lobster is an abomination. And that a person should not wear material woven of two kinds of material—an impossible mandate for a pageant contestant!

In Paul’s letter to the community in Corinth we read, ‘For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church….’ And yet these words have not prevented Christian denominations from ordaining women, such as myself. Sadly, the Bible has been used to further prejudice throughout history. We have used it to permit ourselves to enslave people; to conquer and kill; and to denigrate the earth.

The truth is that it is difficult to know for sure the intentions of the biblical authors, but we do know something about God. Those of us who know God through Jesus of Nazareth know that he went to great lengths to express God’s love to people who were labeled as outcasts. He spent time with children, prostitutes, and lepers, all of whom were labeled as outside of the grasp of the Holy. As we continue to seek God’s vision for us as a nation grounded in a love for justice, I pray that we might move closer to the cause of grace.”

Bill O'Reilly

If you can stomach watching at least the first part of this video of conservative Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly interviewing a gay rights activist, please do so that you can understand my response to it:



OK - besides the fact of Bill O'Reilly opposing gay marriage - which I disagree with, but he's got a mic in a free country, he's entitled to spew even the garbagiest of garbage - the part I take umbrage here with is the idea of his telling this guy 'you say all those opposed to gay marriage are bigots, so you're saying you couldn't be friends with them'. When the activist says yes he could and Bill O'Reilly argues 'but you just said you couldn't' (paraphrasing wildly here by the way).

I have at least a few people very dear to me in my life, friends and family, who I have from time (to time to time to time) disagreed with; often over political views or our assessments of different people and their lifestyles, our tolerance for differences, etc. I do not like or even love them any less for the fact I might consider them perhaps closed-minded or judgemental in some ways, nor do they like me any less (I would hope) for the fact that I can be wishy-washy and stubborn in trying to see the best in people.

One of Ari's favourite phrases is 'reasonable people can disagree'. Now personally I think it's becoming more and more clearly unreasonable to deny the gay and lesbian community the same rights we have; however, 40 years ago it wouldn't have been out of the mainstream to disapprove of interracial marriage. Does that make someone perhaps closed-minded or bigoted in some way? Yes. Does it make them a bad person with whom I could never be friends? No. To disagree is not to dislike or to hate - Jesus taught us that.

Aaaaw ...

Miss California's response to Perez Hilton's question

The Miss USA Pageant was a couple of days ago on TV - it's been a busy couple of days for me and I've barely had an opportunity to blog so this is old-ish news but I wanted to take an opportunity and comment on it. Here's the video to catch those of you up who aren't famiilar with this situation:



Now here's my thinking -

1. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and the US, much like my country of Canada, is a wonderfully free country in that sense. However, given the US is made up of a very diverse group of people, and Miss USA, whatever we believe about beauty pageants, goes on to represent the US at Miss Universe, and represents the quintessential American Woman, she stands for everyone, gay or straight, and therefore needs some level of political correctness and tolerance.

2. The question was controversial and not your typical 'I want world peace' kind of question, but the Miss USA folks knew what they were doing bringing Perez Hilton in as a panelist and vetted his question before he asked it on air. It was therefore fair game.

3. No one asked Miss California to lie or say she was in favour of gay marriage; but simply saying she felt those views were personal and best expressed at the ballot box, for example, would have been true to her God and her beliefs as well, while expressing tolerance and understanding for others who might not share her lifestyle or her views.

Just sayin'.

101 Things Update

((Mar 30-July 8))

** items which have been 'strike-thru'ed (line through them) are done. :)

1. Lose 20 lbs. (3/20)
2. Finish the novel I've started writing.
3. Do one nice thing for someone every day. (21/101)
4. Do at least 1/2 hour of exercise every day. (21/101)
5. Be consistent enough with the radio show to get it going live.
6. Join the Babytime group at the Kitchener Public Library.
7. Find work for at least 2 more weeks of the summer.
8. Read at least 3 books. (0/3)
9. Go to church each week (2/13)
10. Finish my cross stitch I'm making for Liam.
11. Clean out the guest room (which has become a storage room).
12. Go to a dress-up dance with Ari.
13. Have one nice bubble bath a week. (0/13)
14. Learn 1 more dance (eg Salsa, Meringue).
15. Go roller blading and not quit after 5 mins.
16. Get my bike fixed.
17. Clean out the car and get it washed, vaccuumed and tuned up.
18. Have at least 1 play date a month. (1/3)
19. No messing with my hair - no cuts, no perms, dye touchups only. (21/101)
20. Go through my clothes to see what fits, what I wear, what i don't, etc.
21. Ditto shoes.
22. Cook for Ari at least once a week. (3/13)
23. Organize our actual storage room.
24. Donate my time to one good cause a month. (0/3)
25. Go to one new restaurant a month. (0/3)
26. See one movie a week. (3/13)
27. Donate my tutoring money to charity.
28. Get my retainer wire fixed.
29. Read at least a chapter of the bible a day. (21/101)
30. Know where we're going for summer vacation and plan it.
31. Sign up for an English course for summer semester so I can get my English AQ for the fall.
32. No pizza. (20/101)
33. Have one night a week with Ari set aside for fun ('date night' even if it includes Liam). (3/13)
34. Redo our back yard.
35. Create my unit plan for camp.
36. Read one book in French.
37. Go to the U.S. to buy diet Cherry Coke.
38. Take Liam to one new city a month. (1/3)
39. Have a mani/pedi.
40. Tell Ari I love him every day. (21/101)
41. Learn a new skill (knitting, an instrument, a language).
45. Try one new wine a month. (1/3)
46. Share one piece of writing for the purposes of critique and feedback.
47. Finish 'Thank You' cards for Liam's gifts.
48. Get one famous person's autograph.
49. Redo the linoleum floors in my house.
50. Set aside $30 ever week I don't have fast food for a non-food treat (eg CD, DVD). Subway excepted.
51. Get one other person to do the 101 things in 101 days.
52. Look into setting up a will (unsure if possible to complete as adoption won't be complete).
53. No non-diet pop. (21/101)
54. Submit a piece of writing to a publisher.
55. Get a baby seat for my bike, and Liam a helmet.
56. Blog every day (except my monthly 'no computer day' - see below). (20/98)
57. Renew and update my Apply to Education account (resume, references, cover letter etc.).
58. Call in to a radio show.
59. Go through my junk drawers (like, one in every room)
60. Get through the pile of stuff on my desk (DVDs/CDs to burn, photos to put away).
61. Go through my 'correspondence' storage space: organize it.
62. Find a place for the things I just cleared out of Mom's house.
63. Buy at least one of the board games Ari and I have been coveting.
64. Have a games night with friends.
65. Finish my puzzle.
66. See at least one friend a week. (3/13)
67. Get on the Do Not Call list.
68. Call the diaper service and get Liam into cloth diapers.
69. Be on time to things. (21/101)
70. Liam's naming ceremony and open house.
71. Redo the chips the movers left in the paint job in our house.
72. Wash windows.
73. Unpack from our trip, do laundry etc. by the end of the week.
74. Have a picnic.
75. Go to the gym twice a week at least (1/26).
76. Get Ari's Big Lebowski poster and McGill diploma either framed or plaqued.
77. Update my "Wrestlemania" collection
78. Beat "Zelda II: The Adventures of Link" without dying once.
79. Make one person laugh every day. (21/101)
80. Dance at least once a week. (3/13)
81. See one live theatre production.
82. Pray every day. (21/101)
83. Sign Liam's adoption placement papers.
84. Sign Liam's adoption finalization papers.
85. Watch and label the old wrestling videos Mom sent home with me.
86. Take Liam to the zoo.
87. Make a new friend.
88. Don't miss any appointments.
89. Go swimming.
90. Go to an arcade but don't spend more than $20.
91. Introduce Liam to solid foods.
92. Clean up Ari's side of the office for him (or get him to with my awesome powers of persuasion).
93. Distribute our formal Liam/family photos to our folks.
94. Donate blood.
95. Bake once a month. (0/3).
96. Make a list of things which have caused me pain/anger/regret/sadness, and burn it.
97. Go somewhere I've never been.
98. Have one internet-free day a month (1/3).
99. Have one TV free day a month (0/3).
100. Get a piercing.
101. Go to the Royal Ontario Museum.

Week One Notes: I didn't get to the gym because I still couldn't find my "Y" membership card. I now have so I will start this week - I still managed to be active every day though. :) Also I missed ONE day on my pizza promise as we ran out of time to do much else when we had our friend Steve over for Wrestlemania. Otherwise I'd say a pretty good week and even if not 100% success I've stuck to the spirit of the list so far. :)

Week Two Notes: Much more on track this week. Awesome. Only thing I didn't do this week that I should have was my 'bubble bath a week' - I'm two weeks behind on that one now. But this week anyway, the spirit of that goal was met - this weekend instead of my usual quick 10-minute shower, I had a nice long one, I blowed my hair dry and did my nails ... hey I wanted to do all these and no excuses, but I think there aer worse ones to miss. :) Also my cooking for Ari this week consisted of ordering in - but hey it was one night of saving him cooking. :) I'd say overall this hasn't been a 100% success so far but pretty damn good.

Week Three Notes: Not the most successful week - still no time for a bubble bath and didn't get to the gym, although I still did my half-hour of activity a day so I consider the spirit of that to be met anyway. Liam is teething and going through a bit of separation anxiety so I have had a hard time this last little bit leaving him to his own devices even to do stuff around the house for more than 20/30 minutes at a time. Also, as much as this list was meant to be completed perfectly, I also recognized as a busy new mom that might not happen: considering that I'm pleased at the progress I am making. :) For the most part I'm doing the things I want to every day, and I usually cross at least one or two extra things off a week. So I'm no superwoman but I don't think I'm quite heading into 'you suck at this' territory yet lol.

Go Jays! And happy belated birthday Dawn

So Ari and I went to the Blue Jays game with Little Tyke today as discussed - it was a GREAT game the Jays won 1-0. Very tight and very good pitches and plays throughout. LT really seemed to enjoy it too, standing on my lap watching and babbling through a bunch of it before napping through the second half. Afterwards, we joined my brother Kyle, his girlfriend Dawn, and some of their friends for a dinner celebrating Dawn's birthday which was yesterday. It was a very nice day in Toronto all in all, and I realized I didn't take the chance to wish my 'sister-in-law' a happy birthday here yesterday as I did my Sweetheart Saturday post so I wanted to take that chance now.

Thanks K&D for showing us a good time ... and reminding me how much I enjoy Red Lobster. ;)

Sweetheart Saturday

I just want to say I love Ari - no particular reason. We've had a pretty normal week, and if anything it's been a bit of a busy and stressful yet boring and mundane one - but that's just it. One of our weaknesses in the past has been venting AT each other not TO each other, if that makes sense and I think we're getting better at it.

We're much more different people than I think either of us realized when we first dated but one of our biggest successes as a couple has been to learn how to appreciate those differences and how they can compliment each other instead of causing conflict. And we've come a long way but in the hustle and bustle of everything we don't always acknowledge that. So I want to here - thanks for being on this journey with me Ari, even if I rush you along sometimes and even if you sometimes hold us up. Somehow, miraculously we ended up in the same place and I for one am thrilled about that. :)

Take me out to the ball game ...

So it's the weekend and shaping up to be a good one -

Taking Little Tyke to his first baseball game this weekend. :) That makes me happy. Especially since it means seeing my awesome brother and his awesome girlfriend while we're in Toronto.

Also Ari has two day weekends again, as in two days off in a row (instead of two separated over the course of the week as he has the last couple months), which will be nice. Which means we can have a good productive day tomorrow, and enjoy Sunday.

A good week all around I think. :) Quiet, a bit unproductive, not quite as good, for example, as last week on the '101 things' front but I still have time to hit the things I haven't yet, and given the next couple days are busy, I bet I'll actually be MORE likely to than days I'm just sort of hanging around with LT.

Who's wonderful by the way - a bit more difficult this week, hence the lack of productivity - he turned 5 mos. old and I think he's teething, he's been a bit crankier and needier than usual so for example the trips to the gym I commited to, well, I'll have one tomorrow but that will be it (I've been active every day nonetheless though, going on walks in the lovely weather, playing with him etc.). On the plus side though, this means LT's awake more, and he isn't hard to distract when he's fussy, so we've had lots of fun playtime and naptime and bonding together. :) He's becoming his own little person which is just a wonder to watch. Put more of the 1-3 month clothes into storage yesterday (yes he was that small that recently, he's a preemie), which is always sad but also encouraging to know he's growing so big and strong.

But isn't that life for you eh? You look back and wonder where the time went, but then it makes you look around at where you are and think 'wow, this is awesome'. LT has taught me to do that - stop living for the future, and where we'll be in a month, two months, a year from now - or in the past - why, when there's so much to do in the here and now? - and to live every moment - I won't say 'enjoy', that's asking too much lol - because good or bad they're all a part of who I am, and who LT will be. Not a bad life lesson to learn from a very wise baby huh? ;)

Click here to see the most amazing video I have ever seen - do NOT judge a book by its cover. This woman Susan Boyle is an incredible singer of a very difficult song. Lots of guts - the look on Simon Cowell's face says it all. Enjoy.

Bo the White House dog

Sorry a late post today - but still here nonetheless. It's been one of those days that feels kind of lazy and quiet but nonetheless you look up and all of a sudden it's late-ish.

Anyway - I have fallen in love. If and when Ari and I ever get a dog, I think provided we have a big enough house this is the kind I want, a Portuguese Water Dog:

Yes, exactly what it looks like; the Obamas finally came through on their promise to their daughters this week by adopting Bo from Sen. Ted Kennedy (yes, for my less politically inclined readers, of THOSE Kennedys). Portuguese Water Dogs are many wonderful things for a family - easily trained, active without being hyper, good-natured, etc. A plus for the Obamas, whose daughters have allergies, and what would be a plus for us, who have many relatives with them as well, is that PWDs are hypoallergenic as well.

Welcome Bo to the White House! Quite the digs to have the run of I must say. :) And check out how happy he makes Sasha and Malia - I think this is quite cool.

101 Things Update

As I said giving myself a do-over - replacing the things I had already accomplished, and starting tomorrow (Monday).

((Mar 30-July 8))

I'm taking this idea from my friend Tatiana, to set out 101 goals for myself in the next 101 days starting today. Some will be easy to attain, others harder, some will be important and 'deep', others will be slily fun, and we'll see how it goes. I'll update here as I knock goals off my list. Please feel free to follow along, or to do with me. :)

** items which have been 'strike-thru'ed (line through them) are done. :)

1. Lose 20 lbs. (3/20)
2. Finish the novel I've started writing.
3. Do one nice thing for someone every day. (14/101)
4. Do at least 1/2 hour of exercise every day. (14/101)
5. Be consistent enough with the radio show to get it going live.
6. Join the Babytime group at the Kitchener Public Library.
7. Find work for at least 2 more weeks of the summer.
8. Read at least 3 books. (0/3)
9. Go to church each week (2/13)
10. Finish my cross stitch I'm making for LT.
11. Clean out the guest room (which has become a storage room).
12. Go to a dress-up dance with Ari.
13. Have one nice bubble bath a week. (0/13)
14. Learn 1 more dance (eg Salsa, Meringue).
15. Go roller blading and not quit after 5 mins.
16. Get my bike fixed.
17. Clean out the car and get it washed, vaccuumed and tuned up.
18. Have at least 1 play date a month. (0/3)
19. No messing with my hair - no cuts, no perms, dye touchups only. (14/101)
20. Go through my clothes to see what fits, what I wear, what i don't, etc.
21. Ditto shoes.
22. Cook for Ari at least once a week. (2/13)
23. Organize our actual storage room.
24. Donate my time to one good cause a month. (0/3)
25. Go to one new restaurant a month. (0/3)
26. See one movie a week. (2/13)
27. Donate my tutoring money to charity.
28. Get my retainer wire fixed.
29. Read at least a chapter of the bible a day. (14/101)
30. Know where we're going for summer vacation and plan it.
31. Sign up for an English course for summer semester so I can get my English AQ for the fall.
32. No pizza. (13/101)
33. Have one night a week with Ari set aside for fun ('date night' even if it includes LT). (2/13)
34. Redo our back yard.
35. Create my unit plan for camp.
36. Read one book in French.
37. Go to the U.S. to buy diet Cherry Coke.
38. Take LT to one new city a month. (0/3)
39. Have a mani/pedi.
40. Tell Ari I love him every day. (14/101)
41. Learn a new skill (knitting, an instrument, a language).
45. Try one new wine a month. (1/3)
46. Share one piece of writing for the purposes of critique and feedback.
47. Finish 'Thank You' cards for LT's gifts.
48. Get one famous person's autograph.
49. Redo the linoleum floors in my house.
50. Set aside $30 ever week I don't have fast food for a non-food treat (eg CD, DVD). Subway excepted.
51. Get one other person to do the 101 things in 101 days.
52. Look into setting up a will (unsure if possible to complete as adoption won't be complete).
53. No non-diet pop. (14/101)
54. Submit a piece of writing to a publisher.
55. Get a baby seat for my bike, and LT a helmet.
56. Blog every day (except my monthly 'no computer day' - see below). (13/98)
57. Renew and update my Apply to Education account (resume, references, cover letter etc.).
58. Call in to a radio show.
59. Go through my junk drawers (like, one in every room)
60. Get through the pile of stuff on my desk (DVDs/CDs to burn, photos to put away).
61. Go through my 'correspondence' storage space: organize it.
62. Find a place for the things I just cleared out of Mom's house.
63. Buy at least one of the board games Ari and I have been coveting.
64. Have a games night with friends.
65. Finish my puzzle.
66. See at least one friend a week. (2/13)
67. Get on the Do Not Call list.
68. Call the diaper service and get LT into cloth diapers.
69. Be on time to things. (14/101)
70. LT's naming ceremony and open house.
71. Redo the chips the movers left in the paint job in our house.
72. Wash windows.
73. Unpack from our trip, do laundry etc. by the end of the week.
74. Have a picnic.
75. Go to the gym twice a week at least (1/26).
76. Get Ari's Big Lebowski poster and McGill diploma either framed or plaqued.
77. Update my "Wrestlemania" collection
78. Beat "Zelda II: The Adventures of Link" without dying once.
79. Make one person laugh every day. (14/101)
80. Dance at least once a week. (1/13)
81. See one live theatre production.
82. Pray every day. (14/101)
83. Sign LT's adoption placement papers.
84. Sign LT's adoption finalization papers.
85. Watch and label the old wrestling videos Mom sent home with me.
86. Take LT to the zoo.
87. Make a new friend.
88. Don't miss any appointments.
89. Go swimming.
90. Go to an arcade but don't spend more than $20.
91. Introduce LT to solid foods.
92. Clean up Ari's side of the office for him (or get him to with my awesome powers of persuasion).
93. Distribute our formal LT/family photos to our folks.
94. Donate blood.
95. Bake once a month. (0/3).
96. Make a list of things which have caused me pain/anger/regret/sadness, and burn it.
97. Go somewhere I've never been.
98. Have one internet-free day a month (1/3).
99. Have one TV free day a month (0/3).
100. Get a piercing.
101. Go to the Royal Ontario Museum.

Week One Notes: I didn't get to the gym because I still couldn't find my "Y" membership card. I now have so I will start this week - I still managed to be active every day though. :) Also I missed ONE day on my pizza promise as we ran out of time to do much else when we had our friend Steve over for Wrestlemania. Otherwise I'd say a pretty good week and even if not 100% success I've stuck to the spirit of the list so far. :)

Week Two Notes: Much more on track this week. Awesome. Only thing I didn't do this week that I should have was my 'bubble bath a week' - I'm two weeks behind on that one now. But this week anyway, the spirit of that goal was met - this weekend instead of my usual quick 10-minute shower, I had a nice long one, I blowed my hair dry and did my nails ... hey I wanted to do all these and no excuses, but I think there aer worse ones to miss. :) Also my cooking for Ari this week consisted of ordering in - but hey it was one night of saving him cooking. :) I'd say overall this hasn't been a 100% success so far but pretty damn good.

Happy Easter

* NOTE: I thought I posted this last night but it turns out I just 'saved draft' *slaps own head*. So in spirit my blogging every day resolution is still intact. ;)

As I will be doing my wrestling blog tomorrow (NOTE: meaning today now: check it out), and Sunday I'm declaring a non-computer day, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter.

The Lord is risen. Hallelujah.

LA Angels Nick Adenhart Killed by Drunk Driver

Now I am not a regular baseball fan by any means - I am a fairweather fan who watches when the Blue Jays approach the playoffs (which is to say I haven't watched in about 15 seasons lol). But the story I'm about to tell is not a baseball story, it is a human story, and a lesson to us all.

22 year old pitcher Nick Adenhart, after throwing a fabulous, scoreless 6 innings last night for the L.A. Angels in his 4th-ever major league starting opportunity, was killed in a hit-and-run accident after his Mitsubishi was hit by a van tha ran a red light.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, (Cal State student Courtney Stewart) and one other passenger (Henry Pearson) were also killed, whilethe fourth car occupant (Jon Wilhite) was injured and is currently in hospital. The driver of the van, Andrew Gallow, was later arrested on felony hit and run charges; it has since been determined that he was drunk, and driving on a suspended sentence from a prior DUI. He also has two prior drunk and disorderly/public drunkenness-related arrests.

Gallow is facing charges of felony hit and run, felony DUI, and vehicular manslaughter, as well as potential murder charges. Tonight's Angels game was cancelled. In a world where there are stories of war, genocide, poverty, natural disasters, I don't know why this story hit me so particularly in my gut - perhaps because it's such a 'real' story, a relatable story that could happen to any of us on any night we make the perhaps silly but commonplace and often necessary decision to get behind the wheel of a one-ton-plus killing machine.

Bottom line I guess, even if this story doesn't affect you as it oddly did me - please take this opportunity again to know your limits, don't drink and drive, and beware of those who do. Please be safe everyone.

Quiet week so far

Yesterday Little Tyke and I ran errands - today we were hanging around in our PJs until about an hour ago (3 pm or so). The next few days should be busier though - tomorrow we're going to our library group and a movie, Thursday I'm going out with my mom while Ari 'babysits' and then I have my regular tutoring job, Friday we have some household projects we've been putting off to take care of, and the weekend is Passover and Easter so we have family commitments both days. An eventful one.

I will find time over the week to update you on how my 101 things are going, however, etc. I'm thinking I might make Thursday my computer-free day so if I don't blog that day you know why. But I'll let you know tomorrow. Meanwhile, all, be well and hope everyone else's week is as relaxing. And if it isn't? No worries - at least it's a short one.

A clarification - and Holy Week

One of my '101 things' to do in 101 days is to blog daily. I know it appears I've missed a few days here but both days I didn't blog here at SARcasm I blogged over at In This Very Ring. I have been blogging every day, and oftentimes daily at BOTH sites. I just wanted to make sure that's out there as so far by my count I have a perfect record for blogging it just might not appear so here. :)

In other news I'm taking Little Tyke to church for the very first time this morning - that should be interesting. :) It's Palm Sunday, the day Jesus historically arrived in Jerusalem to begin his final week of life. At my church, other services include a communion service next Thursday (Maundy Thursday, the night of the Last Supper), as well as Good Friday (Jesus' death) and Easter Sunday (His resurrection) services. It is Holy Week - definitely a time for meditation and prayer. Especially as I was unsuccessful in giving up Sloth for Lent. However - I have been fairly successful thus far with my 101 things, so as much as it's been a late start I do think I'm off on the start I wanted in terms of time of self-examination and improvement.

In decidedly un-religious news, Wrestlemania 25 is tonight! :) Any wrestling fans out there, be sure and check it out and enjoy - while to someone who's been watching every week the card doesn't look particularly stellar (although Shawn Michaels vs. the Undertaker should be cool, and Triple H vs. Randy Orton), there's enough talent and potential that this could be a sleeper hit.

Whatever you're doing with your day, and the rest of the week - make it a good one. I'll be around. :) Cheers.

Terrible ... :(

13 are feared dead in a hostage situation at a Binghamton, NY immigration services centre. More details can be found by clicking here.

Sad sad situation ...

Silvio Berlusconi annoys Queen Elizabeth II

Following the group photo for the G20 summit in London yesterday, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi annoyed Queen Elizabeth II of England by shouting after US President Barack Obama in a video which has become an amusing Youtube hit. While translated into Italian, the quotes are:

BERLUSCONI: Mr. Obama!
QUEEN: Why does he have to shout?

Enjoy:

LT's adoption

We've been fostering him up until now ...
We signed adoption papers today.
We are Little Tyke's parents. :D