Next week is Valentine's Day, which means it's my sister's birthday, which means she's going to Vegas for the week. So as of Monday, I've agreed to take on babysitting duties for my nephews and niece. I've gotten pretty good at this babysitting thing, but this is a little different. When the clock strikes 5 I won't be getting in my car and going home, but actually being with them all the time, the whole week!
I'm a little nervous having so much responsibility. What if I sleep in and they miss the bus? What if I forget to make their lunches? What if I send Bailey to school in her brother's clothes and vice versa? What if I mix up all their allergies? One's got an allergy to peanuts, one can't eat gluten and the other has asthma. Not to mention I have to cook for someone other than myself. I hope they like sandwiches.
It will be a great chance to spend some time with them. Last fall Clay asked his mom just as I was walking in the room "Is Aunty Tia adopted?". True story. Not sure why he would ask something like that, but I'm not adopted ok?! Jaron, the oldest, said to his mom the other night, "I can't wait for you guys to leave, I need a break from you guys. That and I can't wait to get to know Aunty Tia better."
I'm sure everything will be fine. As long as they all have 2 hands and 2 legs and a full set of hair still when their mom gets home, we'll deem it a success. They might even have some new words in their vocabulary. The last set of kids I babysat apparently picked up some new ones, but I assure you they weren't bad words. Just interesting ones.
Wish me luck! Or maybe, wish them luck?
Tia
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
My Little Black Book
I came across this gem today. It's my dear old little Black Book. Well technically it's purple, but who's keeping count. In it little scribbles inside the opening covers of dates, appointment times and phone numbers. Some with names, others without. Inside the actual alphabetical address tabs, non existent addresses, numbers and people who's names I had totally forgotten. My favourite ever doctor in Moose Jaw is under the "A"s. She's apparently in Calgary now. The CIBC toll free number I could call for information on my student loans, well paid off by now. My 100 year old landlord from my apartment on Mayor McGrath in Lethbridge. Under the "W" the number and box number of my grandma Walker who's no longer with us. Not to mention the numerous other people I've come across since my 20's when the last entry was likely made in this book. Talk about things that are a lost art form. How many of you actually have a little address book anymore and actually use it? Nowadays with smart phones and computers, everything can go into a contact tab and never have to be written down. Further to that, how many people actually write letters that they address and mail to anyone anymore either?
I'm debating whether to keep this little book of memories for sentimental reasons, or chuck it because it's obviously useless. The one thing I can tell you for sure, there's no one under the "X" or "Z" tabs. Surprised?
Monday, January 16, 2012
Yahtzee is a Metaphor for Life
When I was a kid, my sister and I spent countless hours playing Yahtzee. Not the digital kind you see nowadays, but the hardcore real dice with pencil and score pad Yahtzee.
The other day, I discovered an online version of Yahtzee and have spent many hours since then playing till the late hours of the night. Not working right now, it's good to have something challenging my mind still. I can hold, roll and small straight em' like no one's business!
As I was playing today, the thought crossed my mind that Yahtzee was a great metaphor for life. Sometimes you roll the dice and it's an easy decision as what to hold onto, and what to let go of. Sometimes your gut tells you that what's been put out before you is way too obvious, so you take a chance on the less travelled road and if it proves successful, you can say you defied the odds by being a risk taker. Although you want to make sure to check off all the categories on the card, it's important to do so in equal doses between the top and bottom parts. Otherwise if you fill one part up too fast, you're stuck making forced decisions and leaving your outcome to chance by being left with another part to finish off all at once. Sometimes you're going to have a game where your score is lower than your IQ, but you just hit reset, set a goal as to what you want your next score to be, and do it all over again. Sometimes you kick yourself over what dice you hold onto but you know there's no "re-do" button, so you just deal with the hand you've got in the best way possible to finish the game. Let's not forget strategy! If you know you struggle rolling full houses, then try to hit heavy on your top scores so that if you don't get that full house, then maybe a bonus on the top part of your card will counter-balance your falls on the bottom card. It's ok, we all have to admit to our strengths and weaknesses, it's how we deal with them that matters. Sometimes you roll the dice, develop a plan of action, and next shake something else enticing comes along and you change your plans mid-stream and hope it all works out. And sometimes you'll have a game where you throw 3 Yahtzees and they're coming out the yahoo, and other games, you won't be able to manage 3 of a kind to save your life. Strategy you can steer, luck and chance, you have no control over. The dice just fall as the dice will fall.
So tell me, does Yahtzee sound a lot like life to you now too?
Tia
The other day, I discovered an online version of Yahtzee and have spent many hours since then playing till the late hours of the night. Not working right now, it's good to have something challenging my mind still. I can hold, roll and small straight em' like no one's business!
As I was playing today, the thought crossed my mind that Yahtzee was a great metaphor for life. Sometimes you roll the dice and it's an easy decision as what to hold onto, and what to let go of. Sometimes your gut tells you that what's been put out before you is way too obvious, so you take a chance on the less travelled road and if it proves successful, you can say you defied the odds by being a risk taker. Although you want to make sure to check off all the categories on the card, it's important to do so in equal doses between the top and bottom parts. Otherwise if you fill one part up too fast, you're stuck making forced decisions and leaving your outcome to chance by being left with another part to finish off all at once. Sometimes you're going to have a game where your score is lower than your IQ, but you just hit reset, set a goal as to what you want your next score to be, and do it all over again. Sometimes you kick yourself over what dice you hold onto but you know there's no "re-do" button, so you just deal with the hand you've got in the best way possible to finish the game. Let's not forget strategy! If you know you struggle rolling full houses, then try to hit heavy on your top scores so that if you don't get that full house, then maybe a bonus on the top part of your card will counter-balance your falls on the bottom card. It's ok, we all have to admit to our strengths and weaknesses, it's how we deal with them that matters. Sometimes you roll the dice, develop a plan of action, and next shake something else enticing comes along and you change your plans mid-stream and hope it all works out. And sometimes you'll have a game where you throw 3 Yahtzees and they're coming out the yahoo, and other games, you won't be able to manage 3 of a kind to save your life. Strategy you can steer, luck and chance, you have no control over. The dice just fall as the dice will fall.
So tell me, does Yahtzee sound a lot like life to you now too?
Tia
Friday, January 13, 2012
Not Ready for the "What Happens If..." scenario
Yesterday morning I was in bed and just after 7am, I started experiencing sharp stabbing pains in my lower right abdomen. I was pretty sure my appendix was rupturing with the pains being like contractions, coming on every 3 to 5 minutes. As it turns out, it was probably gas or something, as I managed to go back to sleep and woke up fine. Yet after yesterday, I'm pretty sure I'm not ready for it to explode or any of my other body parts for that matter.
Here's why: I'm logistically not ready for an emergency "what if" situation. The first reason being is I hadn't plugged my car in the night before, so what if it didn't start? Then I'd have to call a cab to get the hospital. But wait, I don't have any cash on me. Do they have interac nowadays? I know other cities do, but this is Regina after all. I'd probably have to walk over to the 7-11 and take out cash and call a cab from there. Or maybe I could take the bus. No, that would be just silly. I could walk, it's not that far. But it's 20 below, screw that.
Then it occurred to me that I hadn't shaved my legs in awhile. So I'd have to get up and shower and shave my legs so that I could go to the hospital. I know that sounds silly and vain, but as women, we think about these things!
Oh, and where's my health card. Darn it, I got my renewal sticker that I was supposed to put on in December and I don't remember where I put it!
What about my cell, is it good to go? Oh look, down to one bar on the battery. Great. That's my only phone.
The moral of the story is: get your life together people! God forbid I was going into labour! The kid would be born in the shower while I was shaving my legs...my luck ;)
Tia
Here's why: I'm logistically not ready for an emergency "what if" situation. The first reason being is I hadn't plugged my car in the night before, so what if it didn't start? Then I'd have to call a cab to get the hospital. But wait, I don't have any cash on me. Do they have interac nowadays? I know other cities do, but this is Regina after all. I'd probably have to walk over to the 7-11 and take out cash and call a cab from there. Or maybe I could take the bus. No, that would be just silly. I could walk, it's not that far. But it's 20 below, screw that.
Then it occurred to me that I hadn't shaved my legs in awhile. So I'd have to get up and shower and shave my legs so that I could go to the hospital. I know that sounds silly and vain, but as women, we think about these things!
Oh, and where's my health card. Darn it, I got my renewal sticker that I was supposed to put on in December and I don't remember where I put it!
What about my cell, is it good to go? Oh look, down to one bar on the battery. Great. That's my only phone.
The moral of the story is: get your life together people! God forbid I was going into labour! The kid would be born in the shower while I was shaving my legs...my luck ;)
Tia
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
A Dumb Phone
The other night while watching TV for a cell phone brand, they referred to them as "super phones". This seems to have gone away from the trend of "smart phones" which I find interesting. Perhaps the term smart phones is so overused that if you're branding a new product, lumping it into the smart phones category does nothing for it. I get that.
At the end of the day, I still own my "dumb phone". I was backstage at the Craven Country Jamboree a couple of years ago talking to John from the Higgins and made reference to my "dumb phone". He thought that was the funniest thing in the world and had never heard it before.
What is a dumb phone? It's just that! It's not a super phone, nor is it a smart phone. It's a simple phone that calls and receives calls, has a qwerty keyboard for texting, is mobile browser friendly, has a somewhat grainy camera, and also had additional bonuses like a calculator, notepad and a clock that I can set to different time zones. There are none of the bells and whistles of apps, Siri, BBM, HD cameras and videos or face calling. Just a plain ol' phone. My beloved dumb phone that has never let me down and serves its purpose for what I need a phone to do.
Many people scoff at my simpleton ways and say "why don't you get with the times?". I will some day, just not today. I remember at one point thinking I'd like to get a Blackberry, but EVERYONE at that time had Blackberry and did I want to be just like them? No. So I thought I'd hold out till SaskTel was equipped for the evolution of iPhone. They've reached that point and now EVERYONE has an iPhone, and I'm not sure I want to be like them now either.
I'll ride it out with my dumb phone until I find something else that I like. There's a funny catch to this story though. Remember me blogging not that long ago about how my sister and I always had the same things when we were kids? Well back in the fall she asked me if I could go pick up a cell she'd bought from a guy on Used Regina. When I got there to pick it up, you better believe it, turns out my sister unknowingly had bought the exact same dumb phone I had! Apparently we're sisters to the core.
Tia
At the end of the day, I still own my "dumb phone". I was backstage at the Craven Country Jamboree a couple of years ago talking to John from the Higgins and made reference to my "dumb phone". He thought that was the funniest thing in the world and had never heard it before.
What is a dumb phone? It's just that! It's not a super phone, nor is it a smart phone. It's a simple phone that calls and receives calls, has a qwerty keyboard for texting, is mobile browser friendly, has a somewhat grainy camera, and also had additional bonuses like a calculator, notepad and a clock that I can set to different time zones. There are none of the bells and whistles of apps, Siri, BBM, HD cameras and videos or face calling. Just a plain ol' phone. My beloved dumb phone that has never let me down and serves its purpose for what I need a phone to do.
Many people scoff at my simpleton ways and say "why don't you get with the times?". I will some day, just not today. I remember at one point thinking I'd like to get a Blackberry, but EVERYONE at that time had Blackberry and did I want to be just like them? No. So I thought I'd hold out till SaskTel was equipped for the evolution of iPhone. They've reached that point and now EVERYONE has an iPhone, and I'm not sure I want to be like them now either.
I'll ride it out with my dumb phone until I find something else that I like. There's a funny catch to this story though. Remember me blogging not that long ago about how my sister and I always had the same things when we were kids? Well back in the fall she asked me if I could go pick up a cell she'd bought from a guy on Used Regina. When I got there to pick it up, you better believe it, turns out my sister unknowingly had bought the exact same dumb phone I had! Apparently we're sisters to the core.
Tia
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Hoarder or Minimalist?
Someone asked me last night if I've ever watched Hoarders. I have, but I don't think I've made it through an entire show. I just can't stomach the sight of those people's houses, therefore I can't say the show is anywhere on my must-see list.
Personally I'm a minimalist. The less the better. In part because I'm in radio, which is much like being a military brat. There are many moves, and these moves often happen within a matter of weeks. Besides, who likes packing? It's for the birds I say.
People also find it strange when they come to my house that for someone who takes as many pictures as I do, I don't have any pictures on my walls or shelves. I find pictures create an allure of clutter (I'm slightly OCD'ish and hate clutter) and let's face it, if you're moving, they're something else to pack right? Plus, in this day and age of Facebook, you can see all my pictures in one place, with one click. What else do you need?
Each of us though, probably has some element of hoarder in us. As I was cleaning today, I came to the conclusion that I'm a bill hoarder. I seem to have bills from 2 years ago that for whatever reason, I feel the need to hold onto. With identity theft and security issues nowadays, throwing anything into the garbage puts a person at risk. I used to just take them to work and shred them, but that takes forever, and I don't have a job now ha! I'll likely take a big bag of stuff out to my sister's farm the next time I go and ask to borrow her burning barrel. Maybe that's a great entrepreneurial idea! Start an incinerator business that people can pay to burn their private material. No bodies though, that would be a strict rule. Some days I'm a genius.
So, what is your element of hoarding? Fess up, it's ok. I did. It's the first step to recovery remember.
Tia
Personally I'm a minimalist. The less the better. In part because I'm in radio, which is much like being a military brat. There are many moves, and these moves often happen within a matter of weeks. Besides, who likes packing? It's for the birds I say.
People also find it strange when they come to my house that for someone who takes as many pictures as I do, I don't have any pictures on my walls or shelves. I find pictures create an allure of clutter (I'm slightly OCD'ish and hate clutter) and let's face it, if you're moving, they're something else to pack right? Plus, in this day and age of Facebook, you can see all my pictures in one place, with one click. What else do you need?
Each of us though, probably has some element of hoarder in us. As I was cleaning today, I came to the conclusion that I'm a bill hoarder. I seem to have bills from 2 years ago that for whatever reason, I feel the need to hold onto. With identity theft and security issues nowadays, throwing anything into the garbage puts a person at risk. I used to just take them to work and shred them, but that takes forever, and I don't have a job now ha! I'll likely take a big bag of stuff out to my sister's farm the next time I go and ask to borrow her burning barrel. Maybe that's a great entrepreneurial idea! Start an incinerator business that people can pay to burn their private material. No bodies though, that would be a strict rule. Some days I'm a genius.
So, what is your element of hoarding? Fess up, it's ok. I did. It's the first step to recovery remember.
Tia
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Hillary Swank Nailed It
Last night I went to see New Years Eve. As expected, it's much like Valentines Day with it's tangents and twists of characters, of which most of their characters and scenes are not linked to other characters in the story.
Hillary Swank plays the big cheese responsible for the dropping of the ball in Times Square. Just as they're raising the ball to the top of the pole, it stops! The crowd ooooohs and awwwws. In the process of buying time, Ryan Seacrest makes an awkward speech, then later gives way to Swank's character who must give a statement to the press on the situation, which is also intended to buy time while they're working on fixing the technical issue they're having. Although we're already into the New Year, it was one of those movie speeches that you walk away from the theatre with, feeling inspired and touched. So I thought I'd share:
"...it's (the ball) suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by.
To remember both our triumphs and missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt. Because that's what new year is all about -- getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about what if and start embracing what would be.
So when the ball drops at midnight, and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight but all year long."
Kind of makes you think doesn't it? Thanks Hillary.
Tia
Hillary Swank plays the big cheese responsible for the dropping of the ball in Times Square. Just as they're raising the ball to the top of the pole, it stops! The crowd ooooohs and awwwws. In the process of buying time, Ryan Seacrest makes an awkward speech, then later gives way to Swank's character who must give a statement to the press on the situation, which is also intended to buy time while they're working on fixing the technical issue they're having. Although we're already into the New Year, it was one of those movie speeches that you walk away from the theatre with, feeling inspired and touched. So I thought I'd share:
"...it's (the ball) suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by.
To remember both our triumphs and missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt. Because that's what new year is all about -- getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about what if and start embracing what would be.
So when the ball drops at midnight, and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight but all year long."
Kind of makes you think doesn't it? Thanks Hillary.
Tia
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