How I love my husband

Recently, I've become obsessed with the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother". I discovered it one day, found it pretty damn funny, and now I try to catch it whenever I can. Much to my delight, I came across a marathon one lazy Sunday. Only problem was, it was season three. I'm the type that can't throw caution to the wind and start watching in the middle of a show. I need the back story.

So, I went to Future Shop, bought season one on DVD and spent my recovery-from-my-cold weekend watching every single episode. It was awesome. 

Now I'm really hooked. And hubster is working nights this weekend... so I'll probably have a whole lotta time to myself again. Enter season two. Right?

Unfortunately, season two is $45. (I checked when I popped into HMV on my lunch hour.) And I sort of felt bad for potentially spending $50 on a DVD for myself while my hubby worked all weekend. So I didn't get it. 

Anywho. I was out tonight. Hubby was home. And when I got home, he was leaving for hockey. So, I said bye to him and headed down to the basement to catch a little TV before going to bed. And what did I find sitting in the middle of our coffee table?  Yep... "How I Met Your Mother", the complete second season on DVD.

Hubby is too cute.

I know it doesn't seem like much. It's just a TV show, after all. But the fact that he bundled up and went out at night in the cold, when he didn't have to, just to make me happy... just so I could spend my weekend in my fleece pj pants, lounging on the couch, laughing my arse off and being entertained... well, I tell you - it just warms my heart. I mean, that is cute!

And, to top it all off, he found it for $2o! Nice.

Kids, that's just the beginning of the story of how I love my husband.

Just a quick note...

...to let everyone know that I can't get on to any .blogspot sites while I'm at work. That means I can't read some of my favourite blogs, and I can't update my own blog. (Right now I'm at home and only have 2 minutes to quickly type this out between mouthfuls of cereal). 

I'm not quite sure if this is permanent. And I'm also not quite sure I want to bring this up with the IT guy. "Um... yeah. So, I can't waste time doing non-related work stuff on non-related work websites during business hours. What's the deal??"

If it doesn't get changed - my blogs may be quite sporadic. We'll see. Just want to keep you in the loop.

~H

If you're feeling sickly...

I spent my entire weekend in exile. Just me, my pjs, a box of kleenex, orange juice and dvds.

I started feeling sick on Thursday. By Friday it was getting worse. Come Saturday, it was a full-on cold, and I just wanted to be alone.

You know those times when you're sick and you really want someone to take care of you? This was not one of those times for me. I wanted to be all alone. I didn't want to have to be "on" in front of the in-laws or my family, or even my hubster (who doesn't ever require me to be "on", but I feel bad when I'm cranky around him).

So, even though there was a big party going on Saturday night with all my friends - and I absolutely hate missing good parties - I stayed home. Hubby offered to stay home with me. But I kind of just wanted to lie on the couch and not have to talk. So, off he went. And I was alone.

Now, when you combine a few really bad days at work with a cold AND ample amounts of time to be alone with your thoughts, the result is not usually a cheery, happy, sunshiney one. Which means, I spent the weekend sick, sort of miserable, and feeling sorry for myself.

Thank goodness that's over with. New week, new outlook. And as my good friend O said, "Fresh possibilities over fresh cups of tea". Amen.

A sigh for a Thursday afternoon

I'm not trying to have a pity-party where I'm the guest of honour... but honestly, sometimes I think I expect too much out of people.

It never fails. I go through stages: I get to know someone. I start deciding whether I think they're "good peeps" or if they're not quite my cup of tea. Once I get to know them and decide I like them, I start opening up to them. I start trusting them. I start truly liking them and thinking the world of them. And (I suppose, stupidly) think that they think the same of me.

And then something happens and reality comes into focus and all my thoughts are crushed into tiny, little, itty-bitty pieces. Much like some bird, smashing a crustacean onto the rocks in order to get inside to its fleshy goodness.

Sigh.

I guess the world isn't full of people like me. But, damn it, it should be! Or maybe I'm just a sucker and I need to master the art of not caring.

Two years

Today marks 2 years to the day that I walked down the aisle, ugly-cried my face off, and married my hubster (a very wonderful guy). Of course, knowing that he'll be reading this at some point, I feel like I must poke fun at him too, so his head doesn't get too big. (I thought you were perfect... and then I realized that perfect people don't leave the toilet seat up that often!!)

In the past little while, he's been quite romantic. Why, just today he said: "Wow. 2 years of us driving each other crazy eh?" And last week, I woke up to my dear, dear hubby telling me that I had bad morning breath. Now, if that ain't love, I don't know what is.

Anyway, despite his "romantic nature", I do have to admit that I've never been happier. We seem to just fit together. We balance each other out. And, at the risk of sounding like a MAJOR cliche, he completes me. (I had to do it! Don't roll your eyes at me!!)

So, tonight we'll celebrate by dining out at a fancy restaurant. Just being together, talking, and, most of all, having fun. That's who we are and what we do.

And I have to say, it's pretty friggin' amazing.

Burnt tongues and other things that have happened to me

After the whole mullet-debacle, I spent the weekend eating and drinking in excess.

Now that I'm reading that sentence back, I realize it sounds like being told I had a mullet sent me into a shame-spiral in which the only relief was to drown my sorrows in beer and nacho dip (by the way, thanks Emily... it was deelish!)

Anyway, in reality, the two subjects in that sentence are actually unrelated. I was on the unfortunate end of the mullet debacle - and also - I ate and drank a lot this weekend.

And, as it often happens to me on Mondays, I'm a little grossed out by myself right now. I mean - I woke up with an acid reflux feeling in my throat on Sunday morning. Ew. That ain't right!

As a result, I'm eating only organic cereal, fruit and soup today. And I was so hungry from my "punishment" breakfast this morn, that I could hardly wait for my lunchtime soup to cool before eating it. Hence, the burnt tongue.

I'm such a smart cookie, aren't I? Mmmm... cookie.

Damn it all to heck.

Well, this is even more embarassing

I decided on a whim yesterday to get my hair trimmed. I had needed one for a while, and I didn't want to wait until the weekend. And one of the advantages of working downtown Toronto is that I'm close to some swanky salons.

So, I called one up, managed to get an appointment over the lunch hour, and off I went.

I met the stylist, sat in the chair and told her what I wanted. Trim up the layers. Take an inch off. You know, standard stuff. My hair wasn't in horrible shape, so I didn't want much different. The stylist looked at my hair, surveyed the sides and the back, and then said:

"Do you mind if I clean up the layers so that it doesn't look like you have so much of a mullet?"

Ummm... ok.

How do you respond to that?? I wasn't aware that I was walking around town, sporting a mullet for the past few months... but that's certainly what this young woman thought.

Anyway, she gave me a good cut, but I doubt I'll be going back there. If I'm going to pay good money to get my hair done, I'd like it to be insult-free, thank you very much.

PS: I so don't have a mullet. I would NOT allow myself to be seen with a short-long. I'm not all business in the front and party in the back. Nope. No achey-breaky-big-mistakey hairdo for me.

Well this is embarrassing...

Remind me never to ask for audience participation again. It shows me how few people are actually interested in my blog.

Okay, enough with the "woe is me" bit. On to bigger and better things.

My Mom and I have decided to start going to a running clinic again. Even though we're seasoned pros now (yeah right), we're doing the 10k clinic again with the Running Room. I took the summer off and since September have only been running approximately twice a week. And now, I'm all ready to start "training" again.

Wish me luck! In the back of my mind, I have this fear that my leg pains are going to start up again and prevent me from really enjoying my runs. Fingers crossed that this isn't the case.

On a side note (back to the whole "lack of interest" thing), I've actually set up "Google analytics" for my blog, which shows me stats on how many visits my blog gets on specific days, the average time spent on the site, visitor loyalty, etc. So I know that 34 of you readers (from yesterday) have a complete lack of interest in polls. I hope you voted at least!

Writer's block

I honestly can't think of anything to write about today.

So... I'm taking a poll. What would you like to read about? Send me your ideas. I'll put them into words. And then we'll all be happy!

Let's hear them, people! What do you want to read about?

Turkey for me and a turkey for you

Turkeyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!

Sorry. I'm a wee bit excited for the Thanksgiving long weekend. This has got to be one of my all-time favourite holidays. And why is that? Well, because it's an eating holiday, of course. The whole thing is designed around eating. There's no other purpose. You get together and eat.

And I'm going to be stuffing my face not once, but twice, this weekend. Bliss! (So it's probably a good thing that I'm going for a run with Momsie Sunday morning... hopefully it will make me feel a little less guilty about gluttony.)

Anywho... bring on the turkey and taters and stuffing and gravy. I'm ready.

Oh, and... Happy Thanksgiving to One and All!

Good one, Gary

My dad claims he reads these blogs from time to time. So, this one's just for him. Some humour for your Thursday morning.

Koo-roo-koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-koo!!

If you know what the title is in reference to before reading this post, you win! (My respect and admiration).

Last night I went out for dinner with some friends to a great Italian restaurant in the city. The pizza was a-freakin'-mazing. But that's actually beside the point of this blog.

The point (and the reason for the title) is that, as we were dining, I saw Dave Thomas. Of SCTV and Bob and Doug McKenzie fame. My brother and I absolutely loved watching SCTV growing up. So, to see Dave Thomas in the flesh was kind of exciting. And I felt a wave of Canadiana nostalgia wash over me.

Which led me to do a little research. Wikipedia had this to say:

"'The Great White North' (originally known as 'Kanadian Korner') was a panel show that played upon Canadian stereotypes. Bob and Doug, two dumb beer-swilling brothers wearing heavy winter clothing and tuques, would comment on various elements of Canadian life and culture, frequently employing the interjection 'Eh?' and derisively calling each other a 'hoser'."

Ah, Canadian stereotypes... so funny. My favourite tidbit of info that I did not previously know about those hose bags is this:

"The sketch's signature 'koo-roo-koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-koo' theme, according to Dave Thomas in an interview on CBC News: The Hour, is based on the flute music used in Canadian television nature vignettes, such as Hinterland Who's Who."

You learn something new every day. Have a good one, my fellow Canadians.

The daily grind - take one

Without trying to sound ungrateful for everything I have and all the people in my life and all that... I have to admit that sometimes I get bored every once in a while with the daily grind. Day in and day out, getting up and going to work, taking the train, coming home and eating and watching TV, going to bed early. Trying to figure out "what to do" or "what to eat" or that kind of stuff. Does this make any sense?

Anyway, so yesterday I took the advice of my good friend O. and decided to treat myself in order to lift my spirits. So, I went out to a late showing of a movie with my hubby.

First of all, I love movies. And going to see one at the theatre is one of my favourite things to do. Secondly, I love my hubby and missed him very much last week. So - it was pretty much a combo of my two favourite things, last night. Perfection!

Now I'm feeling better. And ready for the rest of the week.

It's the Four Seasons kind of life for me

I lead a pretty good life. 

Right now, I'm in an upgraded suite at the Four Seasons in Vancouver. I'm guessing that this is the room that celebrities (or very rich people) stay in when they're in Vancouver. There are 2 (yes, 2) full bathrooms in my suite.

Anyway, so I'm lounging on the couch in my living room (yes, my hotel room has a living room), wearing the fuzzy Four Seasons bathrobe, drinking $30 wine (no, not the usual $8-12 wine I purchase). And I just finished my room service meal, that was wheeled in on a cart with a white tablecloth and fancy silverware. (By an extremely polite gentleman in a white jacket and gloves).

I think I'll flip through the free Vanity Fair magazine, watch some TV, then retire to my king size bed. Seriously. I won't find myself in this situation again, I can imagine. 

Yep, I lead a pretty good life. 

Hez goes to Vancouver (again)

I'm off to Vancouver for work again. But, as was the case last time, I probably won't see much of the city. I get there tonight around 7ish, have an all day meeting tomorrow, then head home Saturday morning.

When you travel for business, there's really not a great opportunity to actually see the place you're going to. And, call me a sissy, but I'm not the type that would stay a few extra days and wander around by myself. For those of you that know me, imagine me wandering through Stanley Park all on my own. I would never come out alive.

Anywho - the thing I'm MOST excited about is that the account person I'm going to Van with has a sister-in-law who works at the Four Seasons. And, as such, I managed to get in on the "friends and family rate" at the hotel. I'm totally going to swank it up tonight and tomorrow.

Ah... the life I'll lead for two days. Hanging out with rich folk in the lobby bar... chilling in my terry-cloth robe in my deluxe room... perhpas ordering a little room service.

Pretty sweet for a girl from the 'burbs.

Crisp and cool

October is here. And suddenly I'm thinking, where have the past few months gone?

I'm not trying to sound overly philosophical. I'm just kind of amazed. It's suddenly fall and time has flown by faster than you can say "turtleneck". Goodbye summer.

So now, dear readers, we must prep for the change in weather. Stock up on your hand cream as the cold weather approaches. Get out the socks, abandon those sandals. But never fear. This doesn't have to seem grim. Think about all the benefits there are to the cooler, crisper season.

What's that? You can't seem to think of any, you say? Let me help you out with this handy little list.

Benefits of the cooler, crisper, fall weather:

1. Turtlenecks. These lovely inventions cover pretty much every inch of your skin and thus, leave no pale skin or wobbly bits exposed. You're absolutely covered. And can therefore feel much more confident than you do when wearing an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny tank top or the dreaded bikini. (This kind of applies to women only. Men don't seem to care if their wobbly bits are exposed).
2. An array of knitted sweaters. So comforting. So soft. And again - keep you completely covered. They just make you all warm and fuzzy feeling. Who doesn't love a good knit?
3. No more dreaded humidity. You no longer have to fear sweating when you enter into the outside atmosphere. Hurrah! Maybe this just applies to me, but with even a tiny hint of humidity in the air, my hair curls into ugly, ugly shapes and I start sweating as soon as the air touches my skin. Not fun. Give me a crisp morn any day.
4. Pretty colours. Yes, I know it sounds simple... but those reds and yellows and oranges really are gorgeous. They make me happy.
5. Cuddling. Due to my dislike of heat and humidity, there ain't much cuddling going on in the summer in my world. I'm all "Do. Not. Touch. Me" when it's hot and sticky and gross. But, with a chill in the air, all the more reason to snuggle up to someone and keep warm. Mmm... warm and snuggly.

What's your favourite thing about fall?