Monday Miscellany

• I have a post about men who don't like women that was going to go today, except, well, it's a crappy piece of writing. So, let me see about fixing it from some random bits of prose to something with a point.
• Mr. Spit went snowboarding. He has not broken anything, and thinks he might go again. He's also hobbling like an old man, but don't tell him I said so.
• I spent the entire weekend knitting and watching Star Trek: Next Generation. It is just possible that I may be the geekiest person, with no social life, ever.
• I also did laundry.
  
• Except, I do have a social life. I had dinner with Kuri on Friday. And unlike dinner with Gen, last Wednesday, there was not 5 Bellini's and 2 double shots of Jack Daniels.
  
• I had something I really, really wanted to ask all of you, and I can't remember what it is. Oh, yes. No, I do. Or at least I remember something, if not what I wanted to ask you, what I should ask you, which is this:
  
• I have a lovely university student house sitting for me while I'm in Vegas. (I told you I'm leaving for Vegas in 16 days, right? Martha is coming.) Anyway, said University student will be writing her final exams while at my house, and I thought I would buy "study food" for her.
  
• What's study food for you? I lived on Fried Egg Sandwiches and Pizza Pops. Which I am totally fine with. But she might not be? What would you leave in the fridge/cupboard for her?
• Oh, and finally, SAMUS IS DONE. I've started on Hey, Teach!
  

Monday Miscellany

This carefully written blog is not brought to you by Mrs. Spit. Rather, it is brought to you by the delight of the season, the return of Top Gear.

Because BBC is so much more sensibly funded than CBC, and because through the wonders of the internets, and Mr. Spit's delightful skill at stealing television programming off the back of the internet, I get to watch Top Gear, even though I am not actually in the UK, and I don't have to watch it on BBC Canada with the bits cut out. I get to see everything in it's glory.

Ahh, Richard, how I have, ahem [mutter, mutter] missed thee.

I just watch it for the cars. Really. Where else can you see a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and an Aston Martin. Race through Europe. Also, there was plum wine and a Dacia Sandero.

Monday Miscellany

We could call this the "I have enough enviro-guilt to share" episode.

I would rather buy stuff that's made to last. Mostly, I think it's what I grew up with. Our TV lasted 25 years. Our microwave 15. My mother retired her old Electrolux vacuum just 2 years old. The vacuum was a present from her first marriage, making it over 35 years old.

I wasn't raised to throw stuff out. I was raised to buy really good quality stuff. And use it for 20 years. And to keep using things until they are totally broken.

Mr. Spit's father bought a microwave for Mr. Spit, so that Mr. Spit would have a microwave when he moved out to Alberta, shortly after we got engaged, oh, about 10 years ago.

And the microwave has always had an issue. When you pull your food out, after heating it, the microwave, it keeps going. We've learned to cope with it, hit a few random buttons, open and close the door a few times, and it stops. Not a big deal. But, the old microwave, she doesn't seem to heat well either. But, I don't want to fill the landfill with something that still works - sort of. And I looked into it, it is not worth it to try and fix it. For the cost of fixing it, I could have a new microwave. A good one. So, while that keeps the microwave out of the landfill, it's also not fiscally sensible.

So I refuse to get rid of a poorly functioning microwave, because in the words of Monty Python, "it's not dead, it's sleeping".

Tell me, oh internets, what do you want to throw out, but can't?

Monday Miscellany

Mr. Spit went on a condiment cleaning binge. I'm pretty embarrassed by some of the stuff that was in my fridge. Quick, go take a look. Anyone have anything that expired in 2006 in their fridge?

10 litre's of spaghetti sauce in the pot, makes a lot to go into ziploc bags. It's pretty nummy. But. .. . I still have about 20 pounds of tomatoes left. Anyone have a good cooked salsa recipe? It has to be cooked so that I can have it.

I still haven't bought Hallowe'en candy - I just don't think we can be trusted to keep it in the house until Saturday without, umm, eating it . What are you getting this year?

Mr. Spit has diagnosed me with a new disorder. So new, he's created it. AD. . . OS (Attention Deficit. . . Oh, Shiny!)
Have a happy Monday.

Monday Miscellany

• Saturday will be spaghetti sauce saturday, because I now have 5 kitchen garbage bags of ripe tomatoes. (Should you be interested, you can find my recipe here)
• I'm making Shepherd's Pie to use up the last of the left over potatoes from Thanksgiving, but Mr. Spit and I are having one of our charming little spats discussions. I want to use up the left over green bean casserole, as the middle vegetable layer, and he thinks I should stick with corn. What do you think, oh wise internets?
  
• I meant to tell you all, I made Julia's jello salad for thanksgiving, with the cottage cheese, and I think that jello salad is every good and perfect thing. I think I will have to make some more of your suggestions. (The rest of my family thinks that I have become a resident of Mullet-ville, but that's ok, more Jello salad for me!)
  
• The food for the people I wanted to impress turned out quite well, the Spit Spinach Dip never fails to impress, Bluebird's idea of 2-bite brownies with strawberries wowed them, and so did Erin's tortilla roll ups! I have done my hostessing duties for a while, and they were impressed.
  
• And also, on the food note - I tried Miss Vickies roasted garlic and honey potato chips, and I have to say, not so amazing.
  

Monday Miscellany

• It is just possible we have the peeing cats under control for now- maybe? Please? Thanks for your excellent suggestions last week. I cannot fathom what set the furry slugs off.
  
• Delta does not have ear mites. She has a yeast infection in her ears. So, she gets her ears cleaned every night, and drops of monistat, for dogs. This is not going well.
  
• Lastly, the geolocator on Histats tells me that in the last 30 days, 67 people have viewed my blog from San Francisco (and a few more from surrounding areas). Could one of you, or all of you make recommendations about where we should eat my birthday dinner on Sunday? Thanks!
  

Ahem. Only 3 more days!

Today

Today I need to sit down and write out my to do list.

On it include such things as finish digging down the path, compact dirt, gravel, sand. Order paving stones, install paving stones.

Touch up paint on front porch, clean up back yard, including installing new motion lights and decorative stars. Finish painting the garage door.

In the house I should clean the california sunshine celiling panels, flip over my summer wardrobe to winter, put away my summer shoes and tidy the basement a bit.

I should brush all the animals and clean out the desk. I should be knitting some stuff.

I also need to meet with an Executive Director for a new board I will be sitting on, and pick apples with a neighbour.

I should have a nice list, broken out by priority and day.

Bugger that.

Mr. Spit and I are going to Fort Edmonton Park.

Talk to you later.

Monday Miscellany

This Monday Miscellany is brought to you by things that have changed my life. . .

1. The Furminator. This is, I admit it, a stupid sort of thing, but it removes whack loads (that's a technical term) of dog and cat fur, which reduces the amount of fur to remove via the vacuum. To give you an idea of how much fur there was before the advent of the furminator, the old housekeeper fired us, because she couldn't stand the fur.

2. Moroccan Hair Oil - which smells like a dream and works well against the frizz.

3. Expensive Salon Shampoo and Conditioner - Which doesn't strip as much as colour as drug store shampoo, and means that I can just get my roots touched up. Which hides the grey. Which is great and also a lot cheaper!

4. Pride, Prejudice and Zombies. Seriously, go read the book. But not when your partner isn't home. You will lie awake all night, waiting for them to come and get you. . .

And one last thing. London Drugs has a Roomba on sale, and I'm interested. Do you have one? Do you like it? Is it going to be like another pet? Are my pets going to attack it? Or just step on it? Does it work well with lots of fur?

And finally:
Today's Word of the Day
Fallopian Tube!

Monday Miscellany

On the Good Side

• We rented a truck and hauled all the debris from the porch reno away. Since the city is on a clean up binge, we didn't have to pay for it. We even took away the ratty couch and chair that have been sitting at the end of the neighbours' garage and making me cross for about 3 months. (and I liked the idea of hauling it away much better than the idea of calling bylaw and ratting them out.)
• While we were throwing our garbage out, some guy pulled up next to us, and he was getting rid of landscape ties. So, Mr. Spit stopped him, and we got an extra 7 brand new, never used landscape ties. Which is great!
  
• We got the last of the concrete pulled out of our front. The previous idiots owners had helpfully poured concrete over concrete.
  
• It rained last night. Actually there was a lovely booming thunderstorm. And I have to say, there is nothing better than being snuggled under your summer weight feather duvet, listening to the storm rage around you.

On the Bad Side

• We rented a truck and then got a yard of 3/4 road crush, to start the sidewalk. We shovelled the crush out of the truck. When I remarked that I wasn't sure why I was so sore, Mr. Spit reminded me that this was a ton of gravel. The even better news is that next week we get to wheelbarrow it to the path. We are so not organized with the path project.
  
• I didn't get the job I applied for. I do not have enough experience. Sigh.
  
• I left my fish and chips from Saturday night out. Delta particularly enjoyed the tartar sauce.

And on the Huh Side:

Mr. Spit is making helpful knitting suggestions, what with the failure of the project that must not be named. . .

Monday Miscellany

What?

You don't assemble your lawn furniture in the middle of your living room? Not even with beer? Really? Honest?

Hmmm.

Oh well, this guy goes!

(and sorry for publishing on Sunday night. Blogger has decided not to schedule publication and IE 8 has decided to stop displaying pictures. I'm going to have a beer too.)

Monday Miscellany

3 updates:

1. It would appear that I will be going to get my ears pierced. Not tonight, because I am busy, and tomorrow is my wedding anniversary, so I shall be busy. Wednesday might be ok, and I know I have a bunch of meetings on Thursday night, so maybe Friday? Does that sound like a think that the cool kids do - go and get their ears pierced of a Friday night?

2. I need to wash my windows. I have lived in my house for 4.5 years now, and umm, I have never washed my windows. I'd like to imply that I'm letting you into a secret, but really, you look at my house and it's not so secret is it?

Have you any suggestions? Obviously I can do the insides, but how do you wash the outsides? It's not my fault - I grew up in a house where either the housekeeper did this, or after things went sideways, we were in apartments where washing the windows was the least of your problems. I asked my mother, and she said she had a guy that did hers. I don't have a guy.

Please - how do I wash my windows?

3. Mr. Spit says thank- you for your kind words. They meant the world to both of us.

And a bonus - I am insanely jealous of the UK - they get to say things that we could never say on TV, and we all laugh, and they get Top Gear when it's on, instead of having to download it. I suppose on the bright side, and we aren't telling Mr. Spit, but it does limit my, ahem, fascination with Jeremy Clarkson . . . .

(and look, I know money's tight, and it doesn't help that free loaders like Mr. Spit and me are enjoying the show without paying taxes, but really BBC, 8 episodes? Honestly? Could you let me know where to send my 20 quid?)

Monday Miscellany

Will be short today.

I am trying to decide - should I get my ears pierced again? I've had them pierced, but I finally let the holes grow in. I haven't worn earings in about 7 years.

On the Pro Side

• I have a lovely pair of earrings that Mr. Spit bought me for our wedding day.
• I could finally buy those sets of necklace and earrings, and wear the earrings.
• I think it would look cool.

On the Con Side

• I stopped wearing earrings because they poke into my neck when I'm on the phone. I'm on the phone a lot.
• It's going to hurt to get it done.
• It's going to be expensive, because I am picky, and will only have it done at the local tattoo/body art place, because they know what they are doing and are hygienic. So, instead of it being free, I'm going to pay the better part of $100.

There is a poll on the sidebar. Please vote. I promise, I shall do whatever the majority suggests.

Monday Miscellany

• So, Mrs. Spit has a stupid question. I was listening to a song on the radio, and umm, what's a homecoming queen?
• More time in the garden this weekend. I'll get some photo's up later this week. Things are really starting to take off. Mr. Spit did herculean labour to get rid of the dandelions behind our garage. In fact, the pile is so spectacular I have photo`s of it.
• We had our regional baby loss service yesterday. I read this.
• I`m back in Calgary today, helping Allan close accounts and fill out paperwork. I have bought $40 in books. Allan doesn`t want to go back to the house to get Emma`s books, so I bought her more. I wish I could fix the bigger problem that easily.

And finally, Dr. Tiller, I pray that the angels carried you away. Requisat En Pax.

Wish me luck on the Queen Elizabeth Raceway.

Happy Monday!

Monday Miscellany

Sorry, this is a day late - wanted to get the spaghetti sauce recipe out for Jen.

• I don't know what it is, and I only go there about once a year, but every time I find myself at Wal-Mart, I get angry. I merely have to drive into the parking lot, and I'm snarly.
• The garden is still not completely planted. I have to pot the containers, and plant some brussel sprouts (for Mr. Spit!) and some broccoli. It won't be safe to plant the tomatoes for another week or so.
• Mr. Spit (who is in Idaho!) left me the new hose to install. It will be easy he said. After I fought with it for half an hour, I went and got my neighbour, and he fought with it. He brought a crescent wrench and a set of pliers as ammunition. I think I need to buy new couplers from Lee Valley. Also, since my sprayer is broken again, I think I need another one. Another year, another sprayer. Sigh.
• I used a manual mower for the first time on Saturday. I have to confess, in the small amount of grass still remaining, I loved it. It took me 10 minutes. Usually it would take me that long to figure out how to start the gas mower. I think we might be going with a hand mower this year.
• I want a set of Adirondack chairs for by my fire pit. My mum offered to buy Mr. Spit and I set for our anniversary - I have developed a habit of sitting in the back yard at night, and having a cup of coffee. I can't find any. No one seems to have them. . . I'm getting frustrated. What do you think - hold out for the Adirondacks, or settle for a nice set of wicker ones?

Have a happy Monday. . .

Monday Miscellany

• I spent 8 hours in the garden yesterday. And every moment was worth it. But oh, I'm so sore. I have a progress update (with no pictures - sorry, my body is too sore).
• We have mulch, on every bed but the veggie garden. I have to confess, I don't like the look of mulch, I much prefer the look of weed free black dirt, but the weed free look is often absent in my garden. As a bonus, the mulch holds more water, so things should do a bit better this year.
• The winter kill on Gabe's tree is worse than I expected, but not as bad as it could be. I'm just waiting for it to fully leaf out before I haul out the pruning shears to get rid of the dead stuff.
• My lilac is once again looking at a banner year. And I have to wait for it to finish blooming before I take the pruning shears to it as well.
• I did prune the indestricti-rose. It should have been done earlier, but this rose is about 40 years old and so hardy that I wasn't worried. The blooms are short-lived but smell so sweet.
• I was at a community event today, and someone asked me what my favourite garden plant. Of the 50 or so in my garden, I have to confess, it's the sweet peas. I love sweet peas.
• Everyone say it with me. Dill is a perennial. Really it is. So, would someone explain to me why I have to replant it every year?
• I also have to plant Thyme. It's a biannual, and I guess this must be the third year. I can't figure out how, but nothing's coming up, so I guess I'll replant.
• As payback, I was mocking Kuri's partner a few weeks ago, because he managed to kill off his mint. Guess who's mint didn't come back this year?

What's coming up in your garden?

Monday Miscellany

• The tulips are coming, the tulips are coming.
• And . . . Almost all the snow in the backyard is melted.
• Mr. Spit got loads of chocolate for Easter, and I got lovely roses.
• I got tons of scrapbooking done.
• The cars with noisy stereos are back. . . .

Monday Miscellany

• There is a sign, well billboard really, for an insurance company that I pass on my way to work each morning. It asks if you turned the iron off. I'm now so paranoid, I've thought about going back home to check - even on days when I haven't used the iron! This isn't normal, is it?
• I finally finished the San Diego scrap book - about a year after the fact! That just leaves me San Francisco. Which leaves me a question. I leaf through Gabe's scrap book about once a month, but hardly ever look at our other scrap books. Do you look at yours?
• It's finally getting to be spring here, maybe. Gabriel's garden is totally uncovered (but no tulips or daffodils poking up.) The sun garden, where I need to be planting my sweet peas is still covered in snow. Sigh.
• I finished an entire sock at first aid. I need to take more of those classes!

Monday Miscellany

Gratuitous cat pictures. What can I say. You've seen enough of Delta.

Speaking of Delta, it is just possible that this is war. I think Mr. Spit has plans that involve hardware and cement or something. The garbage can will be Delta proof, or we shall perish in the attempt.

My iPod now refuses to sync. iTunes doesn't even acknowledge the iPod. Any ideas?

I really don't have much to say today. I'm sorry.

10K

Not much of a Monday Miscellany today.

Delta is sick, again.

(why yes, she did eat something she shouldn't have, how did you guess?)

But, I had my 10,000th visitor yesterday, since I started tracking on May 30th, 2008.

thank you all.

Monday Miscellany

Ugh.

about the only thing I have to say today is:

(in my whiniest voice)

(with a kleenex in my hand)

(in search of the cure for the common cold)

I'mmmmm siiiiiiiiiiick.

Ugh.

Hope your day is going better.