Not a resolution, just a coincidence

Just before Christmas, I was at my heaviest weight ever. I often mention to people when I have lost five pounds, or ten pounds, or whatever, but never mention when I have gained it. I guess that kind of makes it seem like I'm perpetually shrinking, when in reality I yo-yo like a ... well, like a yo-yo.

I'm not sure what exactly led to the big gain. I was still walking doggies four times a week, still eating a steady diet of half crap and half good stuff, but for some reason the crap was catching up with me. And all the pre-holiday imbibing probably didn't help.

Just after Christmas, SB and I went on a shopping trip to snag some boxing week deals. While I was waiting outside his changeroom door slouched against the wall, a lovely lady asked me if it was my first. I said pardon, because I was half asleep and shocked that someone was speaking to me. "Is it your first that you are expecting?" "Hey, ya, thanks, but I'm not pregnant. Thanks though, for really making my day."

I am aware that I'm chubby. I don't like it, but it is what it is. But what would prompt someone to ask a stranger such a dangerous question? I would NEVER assume that someone was pregnant unless maybe they were out to here with that tell-tale belly button protrusion. And I think the very fact that the woman would dare to ask bothered me more than the fact that, ya, I do have a belly that could look like a pregnant belly.

Anyway, since the holidays, I have lost about 17 pounds. It's slightly shocking, because I don't really see a huge difference, but the numbers on the scale they do not lie. I still haven't changed a whole lot of my habits, except I'm trying to make an effort to eat less junk food. Exercise levels have not changed at all, although it's time for me to get back on the treadmill.

I ask myself if that lady's comment was the reason for a subconcious change. I would like to think not - that I really don't care about what people think, that I just want to feel better and be fit. But I think I do care, and that her comment was more hurtful than maybe I even know.

Making me want to stab my eye out...

Charlie is whiiiiining again because he's huuuuuuungry. And dyyyyyyying. In case any of you were wondering if he still does that.


I am still obsessed with the socks, although I had to take some time off from knitting this week to actually get some work done - you know, pay our employees, put gas in my car, bathe. I can't wait to finish them - they are so darn cute!

Anyone out there have a Wii? I am becoming more and more fascinated by the concept of them and am dying to try on out, but I'm pretty sure no one rents the game consoles anymore, and I'm not sure I'm ready to commit $350 to the system, accessories, etc. without having test-driven one for a bit. So if you have one, or have played one, let me know what you think of it.

A woman obsessed

I have a new obsession. It is nerdy. And I'm not sure you will understand.

I have been knitting socks.

Beautiful striped socks using thin, soft yarn and tiny little needles. The first sock took me four day, two of which were weekend days. And my office work has been blatantly ignored.

When I started knitting the sock, I asked SB if he thought he would wear those socks and he said "yes, I think I would love to wear those socks". So I SWEAR I measured his foot (actually, I had him measure his foot, because, you know) and followed the pattern for his foot's length, but somehow the sock ended up only big enough for me. So the first pair will be mine. :) When I finish them both, I will post a photo of me modeling them. They are beautiful!

At the same knitting store where I bought my sock yarn, I also found more of the cashmere yarn I made SB mom's hat and scarf out of, so now I have enough to make myself a pair of mitts!

I know, not very exciting to the average human, but these projects have taken over all my free time and I love it. I even have a sore hand from all the knitting. But it's fun to work on projects that are actually useful, and with yarn that is nice and will make you want to wear it.

Stay tuned for socks!

I hate to say I told you so,

I have had another complaint from the non-bloggers complaint department that I haven't posted in a while. I apologize. But really, nothing has been going on.

I went back on my meds last week, which means that nothing has tasted good and I haven't had an appetite for a week. On the upside, my anxiety is waning, which is good. I am sleeping better, and probably driving better.

SB and I have been throwing out the idea of trying to take a trip in the spring. I would say chances of this happening are slim to none since we would pretty much have to have a plan by now so that I can organize the business etc to be able to get away for a week, but it's still fun to research things and stuff.

Business is good - I am not too busy these days, which is pretty awesome. Trying to catch up on paperwork and other things that fell by the wayside during Holiday Madness 2007.

And really that's it. Boring. You're the one who wanted an update...

Miracles of modern medicine

For my kidney infection, I have to take an antibiotic pill. I have never been on such a medication - all other antibiotics I have taken involve twice daily doses for about 400 days. But not this one. The doctor told me in her office that normally she would prescribe it for three days, but since I was feeling so much pain in my actual kidney area she would up it to five days.

Five days and then freedom! Nice! And then I can eat all the dairy I want!***

I picked up the prescription from the pharmacy and then went home to begin getting better. I popped open the bottle to take my first dose and had to gasp.on the right you will find a normal Advil. On the left is the big giant horsepill of an antibiotic I have to take. And it doesn't have the nice yummy candy coating that Advil has - nay nay - it is straight up powdery chalky grossness.

But, on the plus side, I take the last one tomorrow. Also on the plus side, I do not have to take the liquid suspension form of this medication, which the info pamphlet directs you to drink down without chewing the microcapsules in the suspension. Gross.


***this med has the weirdest guidelines for dairy of anything I've ever taken. I am not allowed to consume dairy for six hours before or two hours after taking my pill. Do you know how hard that is when you are a Quebec cheese eater? Do you? The agony.

Tell me your own politik

SB and I have decided that the Canadian electoral process needs a complete revamp so that it is more similar to the American process.

We have been paying a lot of attention to the primaries, who's running, what they stand for etc. I think in the past year I have spent more time watching news stories about American candidates than I have watched on Canadian politicians in my whole life.

And you know why this is? The Canadian system is not set up to engage the people. We never know when an election will be. People can just step down and a successor fills in for five minutes (hello, Kim Campbell who?). When they announce an election, they come up fast so we never really know the candidates, and who cares, because we don't vote for the candidates anyway, we vote for a representative in our area, and who knows where the heck these people came from.

So, SB and I are in favor of making the Canadian system a bit more American Idol, like the US does it. These dudes (and lady) started hyping themselves over a year ago! (In Obama's case it was even before that). Now they are having primaries to choose the candidate - the PEOPLE are choosing the candidate, not the party itself in some backroom deal or one-night engagement. And maybe the best part about the primary process is that the candidates get worked over hardcore - they are running their asses off trying to meet as many people as possible and make as big of an impression as possible. This helps wear down the politic in them and gives at least a small glimpse of their actual personalities. Some of them should keep that to themselves (sorry Howard Dean - you were my fave four years ago until you lost your bloody mind on TV), but some of them become more likable.

Then after all that craziness, they get like 9 more months to work their game.

That's two full years of face time, and sussing out where they stand and who they represent (well, at least as much as you can believe them. And just because we like the system they use, we aren't sure the US makes the best choices within that system. But that's a whole other story.....)

Meanwhile, when we vote we really have no idea who these people are, so we pretty much vote for whoever doesn't want Quebec to separate. And we also wouldn't vote for someone in favor of killing kittens for their pelts. We feel strongly about those issues.

Simon disapproves of my absence

I know, I know, I haven't been posting. But in my defense, no one else is posting that much either. Plus I've been suffering from acute renal failure. I could have died.

Okay, that's a lie. But I do have a kidney infection. Antibiotics have kicked in, so I no longer have to run to the bathroom every 15 minutes. Awesome. I'm looking forward to a decent night of sleep tonight. And I am SOOOOO happy this didn't happen in the middle of our Christmas rush.

Work is now back to normal, which has the whole team breathing easier. Cats are cute, but I think a person has a limit of how much cat pee they can scoop in a day.

I feel meh. Here's a photo taken with the new camera. SB has been perfecting taking indoor photos.