the wonders of technology

So tonight I sat down at the computer to do some banking, prescription claims, etc., and decided to check in on facebook and blogs - two things that have been very neglected in my life as of late (not a bad thing, I guess, except when you want to stay updated on people's lives, etc). The nice thing about doing this online is the ability to leave someone a message when you have a moment, and they are then able to get back to you when they have a moment - no dependence on both people being available at the same time.

On Facebook, I read a wall post from Leon, and replied back. Then over on Angie's blog, I left a comment about her beautiful teacups.

After commenting, I heard voices in the hallway outside my home office, and I wondered "Why does Anthony have Danica out of bed and why is he bringing her downstairs?" Well, it turns out it was actually Anthony talking with Leon, who had just stopped by.

We chatted for a couple seconds, then I went back to the computer, and voila! Angie had commented on her blog in response to my comment.

Now that's what I call instant messaging!

my secret indulgence

Has anyone out there heard of the show "superstar hair challenge"? It's my new indulgence....


It's a reality show where a bunch of hairstylists compete for the title of "superstar hairstylist"... each week they have different tasks to do to show off their technical skills, color/style package, creativity, etc., and it's really fun to see all the hairstyles that come out of their brains.

As someone who is very cautious about trying new things with my hair, i like to watch other people just get the wildest and craziest things done, as well as some not-so-crazy things that end up looking really great. It just goes to show if you have a great hairstylist, they will know how to make you look great, regardless of the drastic-ness of the change. But it's also learning to work with that style at home yourself that is half of the challenge once you're away from their expert hand.

Anyways, Slice (the channel it's on) is having a Superstar Hair Challenge marathon on Canada day, so if anyone wants to check it out, it's quite fun!

i have no reason to go anymore...

tonight, at the tail end of an impromptu trip to Regina, we stopped at Boston Pizza for a quick bite to eat. They have a new menu, and while perusing it, I noticed that they no longer have their garlic twist bread on the menu, and their cactus cut nachos were also missing.

Those were my two fave dishes at BPs - the only two I have ever craved and gone there specifically for, in fact. So now, what's the point of going there?

there.

Just booked hotel rooms for a little get-away for Anthony and me in August. A friend from work is getting married in S'toon, and then has her reception out in Watrous, so we'll be staying 2 nights out there, golfing on the sunday, and just having some 'us' time...it will be our first time away from Danica...

back to the ol' grindstone

Today, after Danica's nap, we're going to go shopping. For work clothes.

Yup, i said work. I had a meeting there last week, and they made me a really good offer - they need someone a couple days a week starting right away to fill a position, and they figure i'd be perfect for the job. And given that my previous position no longer exists (the study I was working on is almost done), this is the position they figured would work for me when I come back.

They made it very clear that it was completely my choice, and that they would still have something for me in mid-July after my mat leave is done if I decided not to come back until then, but like I said, they made me a really good offer for now. I can start work 2 mornings a week now, then take more time off in summer (when it's really slow for them), and then start back with 3 full days a week closer to fall. Since i was hoping/thinking of taking more summer time off, this works out perfectly.

The position is working directly for one professor/doctor/researcher, he is the former Director of CCHSA where I work, and he is a very nice, kind, older man. It will be research projects, admin stuff, some transcription work for his dr. clinic, and helping manage his research grants. So basically what I did for Peter for 3 years....and more challenging/stimulating than the last position I held at CCHSA while I was pregnant.

The other nice thing is that they're a very family friendly environment, with quite a bit of flexibility in the job...they said if Danica is ever sick we can switch my work days around, and if I find after a bit that the 3 days a week is too much, we can revisit the plan and figure out something else. Even from my 6 months there before, I know that going to appointments, leaving earlier and making up time, etc. is rarely a problem. So that's a very nice feature to have in a job when there's now a kid in the picture. Oh, and I get a bit of a raise too!

I feel very excited about the position, and even about starting back to work a bit in the next week or so. Up to this point, I had been dreading the return to work, but I think the opportunity to ease into it 6 hours a week and build up to the 3 days per week (which will be the max) will help me with the transition. (Not to mention give me a bit of a break from a newly-moving baby who gets into EVERYTHING now...I must say "Danica, don't touch!" about a hundred times a day!)

Thankfully, my parents are able to care for Danica those mornings for the first bit, but I am now officially looking for p/t childcare, so if anyone has any leads, I'd really appreciate hearing about them!

Aren't they cute?

Congrats to Arleen & Arlen on their engagement! No details yet on when the wedding will be, they're off to China this morning for 3 weeks to help friends over there with some building projects.

(and to be fair, this is a not a very flattering pic of Arlen, but it's the best I had)

Have they gone too far?

Sunday morning. A time for a bit of relaxation, a time to spend with family, a time to focus on a higher being. Usually, the only time the phone rings is if it's our parents inviting us to dinner after church, or Mike, our friend, with a last minute request for something at church that morning.

So why, all of a sudden, has sunday morning become a prime calling time for telemarketers? Does this offend anyone else? It has happened a couple times at our place now, and both times I have let the person know as nicely as possible that it is SUNDAY MORNING and because of that, even if there was a slight chance i would be remotely interested in their offer, forget it!

Grrr.

Another month has gone by....I'm not sure where my days are going lately. It seems that each one lasts a LONNNNGGG time (especially if we don't leave the house), but yet the weeks are flying by. Only 3 1/2 mos until I'm due back at work. Sigh.

At least it's been nicer outside and I've had the chance to be out and about more. Now if only it would all melt and stay above zero for good...

Anthony's parents celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this week, a huge congrats to them...30 years. Wow.

Spot the best deal

Went shopping in Calgary last weekend, it was nice, as I've had birthday money (from October) and Christmas money waiting to be spent, and I wasn't finding anything in S'toon.

I had a list: boots, boots, jacket, jacket, jacket, and clothes (as in winter boots, dressy boots that can still be worn with jeans around town, winter ski-type jacket, dressier winter jacket, and spring/fall jacket). And I had $125....definitely not enough to get everything on that list.

So I decided that the priority item would be to find a pair of dressy type boots.... my winter boots will last me the rest of this season, same with my winter jackets, and there's still time to find a spring jacket.

I didn't want to spend any money on non-boot purchases, as a good pair of boots can easily eat up the amount I had to spend. So I spent most of the first day of shopping buying very little (except a very cute winter coat for Danica for next year...for $12). Then, near the end of the day, I found THE boots. I had seen them in S'toon, but they of course didn't have my size here. And the one on the shelf in the store in Calgary was my size! So I was pretty excited. I was even more excited to see the price on them... half off the sale price.

Needless to say, i got them. Beautiful leather boots for $40.

So then, knowing I had more money to spend, Saturday evening and Sunday I was back at the mall....I managed to snag a nice winter coat (puffy and red, just like Danica's new coat) for $32. And it will work for a ski-type AND a dressier type jacket.

Combined with a shirt for $20, a new necklace for $3.50 (again, half off sale price), and a pair of sunglasses for $8, it was a wonderful shopping trip.

And the best part? I still have $40 left to buy either shirts or a spring jacket!

v-day

i'm not a huge fan of v-day, but we do try to do a little something each year. This year was pretty nice...we got a sitter for Danica, and went to Fuddrucker's for supper (my pick - I've been craving a big juicy grilled burger for a while now). It was actually very busy there...and not just teenagers taking their girls out for a "nice supper". Mostly families, actually.

I have told Anthony not to bother with v-day flowers due to the price, but his tradition for the past few years has been to buy me chocolates/truffles from Bernard callebut....i'll take those any day! And takeout cheesecake from Calories and a movie rented from Max frontrow made the evening complete.

And danica did very well with the sitter (thanks rachel!) It's nice not having to worry about your kid when you're out on a date.

But it's funny how v-day (and often my marriage in general) is now more of a "comfy pair of pj's and slippers" kinda love versus a ton of romance and mush...and i wouldn't have it any other way.