Cottage life

Another day closer to next week.

And that means another day closer to lying on a dock. Reading a book on a lounge chair. Listening to the water. Enjoying the sun. Going out for ice cream. Playing games at night. Having a camp fire. Eating good food. Having good conversations. And being disconnected for a week.

Ah... bliss. I'm going to take full advantage of it all.

Mad Men

So I've recently gotten myself addicted to a show called "Mad Men". It's on TMN. And it's all about the life and times of men from Madison Avenue advertising agencies during the early 1960s.

The entire account and creative teams are made up of sexist men in suits. The women all wear pointy bras and only work as secretaries. Oh - and there's a whole lot of infedelity, smoking and drinking.

For some reason, I'm addicted.

Maybe it's because it's "dangerous" or "exciting" in all the wrong kind of ways. Maybe it's because it makes me glad to be living and working in this day and age. Or maybe it's simply because it's entertaining. Who knows?

All I know is, it's fun to forget about being perfectly politically correct and escape for a while. Give me some mad men for an hour... and then get me back to reality.

Books, books and more books

Calling all readers: I'm looking for a new book. Suggestions??

I've read 2 "fluff" books already this summer, so I've had my fill. Now, I'd like something that's a bit more serious... yet one that will still get your attention right away (the way fluff often can).

You know those books that you start - and you hate to put them down? I want one of those.

Oh, and on the topic of books... I had a mini-discussion with some people at work about our favourite kids books. This is a topic I could talk about for hours and hours.

I didn't just like reading as a kid, I absolutely loved it. And I have so many incredible memories of books. Books that take me back to when I was little. When the stories my Mom read to me would intrigue me, excite me and maybe even frighten me a little. Books that I couldn't wait to read over and over and over again.

I vividly remember a series of books my Mom and Dad bought me. I think the series was called "Serendipity". They were relatively short books with beautiful illustrations, all with a lesson to teach or a moral to the story - but told in an incredibly creative way. There was one book titled "Serendipity" about a little girl's imagination. It had princesses and unicorns and all the stuff that I just ate up as a kid. Just thinking about it now makes me happy.

And then there were books like the Ramona Quimby series; The Paperbag Princess; Hand, hand, finger, thumb; Where the sidewalk ends... I could seriously go on for hours.

I think a trip to Chapters is calling me. It might just be time to browse through the children's section (and through my childhood memories) again.

Work and play

Will anyone hold it against me if I gloat for a bit? If you don't want to read a little bit o' shameless self-promotion, exit out of this site right now.

I had a performance review at work today. My boss was honest, professional and respectful about everything. He told me this was not the time or place to simply pat me on the back and say "you're great!". Instead, he wanted to focus on how I can go from great to even better.

So, we chatted. And I learned new things about myself and how to improve in the workplace. But I learned something else that I consider to be equally important: My place of employment is made up of good, good people. The president is a kind man. My boss is smart. And most of all, they really care about me. They really, truly care about me.

Our talk was very positive. And, at a very crucial point in my career life, I can see myself with a really great future. I'm moving up. I'm being recognized as smart and talented and I can probably have a very successful career ahead of me if I keep in mind those areas where I need to improve and grow.

So, needless to say, I'm feeling pretty good right now. I might become a career woman, afterall. Look out corner office with a view - I'm coming after you!

I'm a dink and I'm not afraid to admit it

I really should have rested up a bit more over the weekend... but I got all caught up in hosting a BBQ/party and drinking copious amounts of beer and staying up until the wee hours of the morning just to party.

Oh - and hubby and I decided last minute on Friday night to head out to a late, late showing of Dark Knight. And then we slept in until 11am AND took a nap the next day. Just because we can.

I mean - with no kids to keep us on a strict schedule of no sleep and zero downtime, we can pretty much fly by the seat of our pants and go wherever we please, while doing whatever we want. Life is good for a couple of DINKS (double income, no kids).

Oh, I'm sorry. Did this sound snarky??

Friday morning rant

Okay - getting up on my soap box for a mo'. (That means moment). And this is not directed at anyone... it's just a general rant. So please, don't take this personally anyone! I just need to rant.

I've been married now for almost 2 years. And since the very day the ring went on my finger, people assumed that I was ready (and that I should) spit out some kids. And, as you can probably tell by my description of the birthing process, that irks me.

Now, it is very, very clear to me that my friends who have children are incredibly happy and their lives are enriched by their kids. They love them more than life itself and wouldn't have things any other way. I realize that. And I'm genuinely, truly happy for them.

However - many people seem to have one view on this whole marriage and kids thing. You get married. You have kids shortly thereafter. And EVERYONE has the right to ask you when you're having them. (Not "if". But when.)

How about this: not everyone gets married just so that they can have children. Not everyone's life goal is to have kids. And married women should not feel like "less" of a woman or less maternal or less warm simply because they don't want kids yet.

Yes, I say yet. I can see myself with children one day. But not right now. And after 2 years of answering "not yet" to everyone right down to my hairdresser... I'm tired of it.

Speaking of tired... people who don't have children are also valid when they say they are tired. It really irritates me when people who do have kids do the whole "Oh you don't even know!" thing, as if my claim that I'm exhausted and need a little down time is not valid whatsoever because I don't have a rugrat running around me at all hours. Everybody's situation is different.

For now, I'm focusing on my career, my relationship with my husband and my life as it is. And I like it that way.

I remember watching an interview once with the actress Felicity Huffman. The interviewer asked her if having children was the most rewarding thing in her life. Her response: "I find it really inappropriate that you ask that kind of a loaded question."

Brave woman, in this day and age.

Sweet

Don't you just love it when someone says something nice about you? (Something incredibly nice!)

When somebody says that you're great, it just kinda makes all right in the world, doesn't it? No matter what's going on that day or week or month. All of the sudden, the world kind of stops and you feel pretty damn special again.

At the risk of sounding sickly, sweetly happy... I'm feeling pretty damn special right now.