Art before we got married bought a 1998 Nissan Maxima. Those were the days before house bills and hydro and all the other bills we have since incurred. It was really his dream car. Black sleek exterior, plush leather heated seats, bose stereo and of course a standard transmission. At this time it was a pleasure car. We used it for dates on the weekend and grocery shopping. Maxamina as she was named had the good life.
Before we knew it we were building a house and poor Maxamina got roof racks. We then hauled everything from lumber to hotwater tanks on that rack. In the trunk we piled tools of all sorts and eventually they ended up in the back seat. In one year we racked up around 24000km on our car. We have continued to put Maxamina through her paces as it became the commuter car taking Art the 50km each way to work every day. She hardly ever gave us problems. Oh there were the brakes which Art is notorious for going through and a brake line which gave us quite a scare but really no engine problems at all. Through time and oxidation there devleoped some rusty spots here and there on our beloved car but she still moved like a cat.
Finally last year I was in desperate need of a car for work and little money to pay for it. One that could carry a hockey bag and two kids without problems. That was when I learned to drive standard as much as I tried to convince Art of the archaic nature of manual transmissions. He bought another car for him to commute in and I was stuck with driving Maxamina. We had our differences of opinion for sure as I was learning. Stalling is never pleasant but over time and practice I began to love my big Nissan. I soon learned how to drive without so much as a hesitation on take off.
On Saturday however, during a trip to Quebec, Maxamina met her match. Yes, a large block of ice ripped off her exhaust pipe making her sound like a tractor. Now what is left of my emergency money will be put into fixing it. So now I will be broke instead of my car.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Girls night in
Art is at his Man course tonight (really Quest for Authentic Manhood). He goes to hang out with all his buddies from church and discusses the role of the Christian man to his wife, family and in his workplace. It actually has been a great course for him and for us to talk about. It also means that every Thursday from the time he starts it is a night to myself to do as I please.
This week I actually get to sit here on the computer as long as I want and multitask as much as I want. I'm also busy keeping the woodstove burning as it is supposed to get down to -30C tonight without the windchill. I've already done most of my stuff to hit the roads tomorrow. I put the van to bed in the garage and plugged it in so it should be easy to start. I also made a loaf of bread for sandwiches and started to tidy up. Later I may even have time to sit down and watch tv but we will see. I'm sure that all my plans will not happen. I'd love to start that sewing project and play Zelda and get the laundry done and do a bunch of baking but one thing at a time right. So maybe I will just start with what's for supper?
This week I actually get to sit here on the computer as long as I want and multitask as much as I want. I'm also busy keeping the woodstove burning as it is supposed to get down to -30C tonight without the windchill. I've already done most of my stuff to hit the roads tomorrow. I put the van to bed in the garage and plugged it in so it should be easy to start. I also made a loaf of bread for sandwiches and started to tidy up. Later I may even have time to sit down and watch tv but we will see. I'm sure that all my plans will not happen. I'd love to start that sewing project and play Zelda and get the laundry done and do a bunch of baking but one thing at a time right. So maybe I will just start with what's for supper?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Only a few shopping days left
Until what you ask? Well my birthday of course. Yep, for all you people who need to rush out and purchase me that expensive gift or send money my birthday is on Friday. Last year my birthday being my 30th was filled with a bit of apprehension. I wasn't quite sure how I would feel crossing the mark but it came and went with barely a blip on the radar. So I am still excited to see how my 31st birthday will turn out.
It's supposed be cold on Friday. But then again that has been the norm around here for the last little while. I have been whining quite a bit about the -14 and -20 weather we have received until today when I realized it could be a lot worse. With windchill today it was a nippy -46C as I pulled out of the driveway. Even my heat on full blast couldn't keep the van warm this morning. Since we knew it was coming we've been quite busy banking the woodstove and keeping the temps of furnace set quite higher than normal to offseet the cold to come. I was quite comfy getting out of bed this morning and for the first time in a long time forced to shed my duvet unto the floor because I was hot. Thankfully, Art had the foresight to order more wood which was delivered in two loads on Saturday and Monday evenings. We have been stacking and carting wood in the house and outside all weekend.
On Friday I will also be hanging out with friends of mine at the works and devouring a wonderful hamburger which I enjoy each year at this time. The works is a a gourmet burger joint which makes the best onion rings in the city and top notch burgers though mine are almost as tasty. They load them up with anything and everything from Kraft dinner to more standard fair like blue cheese in your choice of meats or non-meats. So even though I will have to face the frigid temperatures to get my favourite meal it will be worth it for the company and the food.
It's supposed be cold on Friday. But then again that has been the norm around here for the last little while. I have been whining quite a bit about the -14 and -20 weather we have received until today when I realized it could be a lot worse. With windchill today it was a nippy -46C as I pulled out of the driveway. Even my heat on full blast couldn't keep the van warm this morning. Since we knew it was coming we've been quite busy banking the woodstove and keeping the temps of furnace set quite higher than normal to offseet the cold to come. I was quite comfy getting out of bed this morning and for the first time in a long time forced to shed my duvet unto the floor because I was hot. Thankfully, Art had the foresight to order more wood which was delivered in two loads on Saturday and Monday evenings. We have been stacking and carting wood in the house and outside all weekend.
On Friday I will also be hanging out with friends of mine at the works and devouring a wonderful hamburger which I enjoy each year at this time. The works is a a gourmet burger joint which makes the best onion rings in the city and top notch burgers though mine are almost as tasty. They load them up with anything and everything from Kraft dinner to more standard fair like blue cheese in your choice of meats or non-meats. So even though I will have to face the frigid temperatures to get my favourite meal it will be worth it for the company and the food.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Snowy Days
The temperature has dropped recently and also dropped a whopping 20cm of snow onto our declining snowbanks. Just the other day I was commenting on how little snow we had left after our recent warming trends but not now. It made for a chaotic driving day yesterday as school went on as usual. In fact I'm beginning to think I should take the guy who decides a snow day out for a tour with crazed children to see what it is really like. It can truly be a very "exciting" ride. Mostly it is me saying, "Sit down, put your seatbelt back on and please no screaming!" The screaming part comes in a whoop of joy as I am skidding towards a snowbank. They repeatdly ask me to do it again. For some reason they can't understand why I won't.
Art on the other hand had other types of excitement for his drive in and drive home yesterday. For the last several weeks there has been a bus strike on. I think we are heading into week six in fact. Anyway, this has lead to a longer rush hour starting now about 7am and finishing around 10am and in the afternoon about 3pm to 7pm. Art has taken to going in a a bit later and leaving a bit earlier to avoid it. Yesterday he did so but because of the bad weather cars were still slipping and sliding on the road all the way to work. What is normally a 45 minute drive turned into 1.5 hours. On the way home besides avoiding all the crazy drivers out there his windsheild wipers stopped working. So there he was with 20 cm of snow falling and blowing across the car and he could not see. So his drive home was also changed to about 2 hours. Both of us arrived home at an unusual late hour and then after all that he wanted to go and shovel the driveway. After watching all these men in Kanata plow out their miniscule driveways with a snow blower my husband is out shovelling our 90 foot laneway by hand.
Art on the other hand had other types of excitement for his drive in and drive home yesterday. For the last several weeks there has been a bus strike on. I think we are heading into week six in fact. Anyway, this has lead to a longer rush hour starting now about 7am and finishing around 10am and in the afternoon about 3pm to 7pm. Art has taken to going in a a bit later and leaving a bit earlier to avoid it. Yesterday he did so but because of the bad weather cars were still slipping and sliding on the road all the way to work. What is normally a 45 minute drive turned into 1.5 hours. On the way home besides avoiding all the crazy drivers out there his windsheild wipers stopped working. So there he was with 20 cm of snow falling and blowing across the car and he could not see. So his drive home was also changed to about 2 hours. Both of us arrived home at an unusual late hour and then after all that he wanted to go and shovel the driveway. After watching all these men in Kanata plow out their miniscule driveways with a snow blower my husband is out shovelling our 90 foot laneway by hand.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Couches Corner
Today was couch day. Earlier this year we had acquired a new to us sofa which was stuck in our basement. Wehad wanted it for a better great room sofa but unfortunately we couldn't get it up the stairs. It weighed about a million pounds. It is down filled believe it or not and made from an all hardwood frame. We are in the process of checking it for lead though as it seems even heavier than that. I will recover it at some point hopefully with some help from my Step-Dad who is quite handy at upholstery.
Art has been talking about building a hatch forever but never really gotten around to it until yesterday. Our brand new couch was being delivered today and we wanted to get it up the stairs easily without damaging the italian leather exterior. He had fun doing some demo work to make the hatch which at this point really amounts to a large hole in the wall as seen above. He will make it into a more aesthetically pleasing door a bit later. For now Oliver can enjoy jumping down to the basement steps as much as he is enjoying being a lump on three different couches and several chairs.
As for our brand new couch...It is as I stated 100% italian leather, Canadian made and reclines. It was an awesome boxing day deal which we could not resist! We bought it from Sears and I happened to know the sales ladies which also helped a little. Having this one means we can finally retire one of the ugly couches we had before. They did the job though and I can't complain about the functionality. This is also my birthday present from Art so I will have to suffer through not opening anything. But it is really a better present than I could have dreamed of. The leather feels like butter and the seats are SOOOOO cushy. I love it!
Monday, January 5, 2009
With the weekend behind me I've got another two months of steady work ahead of me. Early mornings and lots of winter driving. I am looking at the last remenants of Christmas and thinking I need to take everything down. It's too bad that we only get to drag the decorations out for three weeks of each year and the rest it looks so bare. I'm dreading the cold as I head outside and it is only going to be -8C this morning. But I can feel the dampness which makes it seem all the chillier. However, there are things that will warm my spirits even if I'm not too crazy about getting up early.
One of my best friends from Bible College called and told me yesterday that she is getting married. I was so excited for her and of course Art and I are considering making the trip down to Lion's Head to see her big day. This will make the third wedding Art and I will attend this year. We've been married for two and a half years and these are the first weddings we will attend as a married couple. We can dance the night away three times this year.
Febuary is also going to be busy for me in that it will be the second baby shower I will be hosting here and should be lots of fun for me to co-plan with a friend of mine from church. My other friend had her baby in December. A beautiful baby boy named Adam. I got to meet him for the first time yesterday as I had been too sick to hold him earlier and he is the most darling little thing. I've forgotten how tiny newborns are. He was so light as I was carrying him around and giving him a good cuddle. I handed him back just before he started to cry to get his diaper changed. Before I know it time is going to fly by and I'll be thinking of summer and avoiding the heat.
One of my best friends from Bible College called and told me yesterday that she is getting married. I was so excited for her and of course Art and I are considering making the trip down to Lion's Head to see her big day. This will make the third wedding Art and I will attend this year. We've been married for two and a half years and these are the first weddings we will attend as a married couple. We can dance the night away three times this year.
Febuary is also going to be busy for me in that it will be the second baby shower I will be hosting here and should be lots of fun for me to co-plan with a friend of mine from church. My other friend had her baby in December. A beautiful baby boy named Adam. I got to meet him for the first time yesterday as I had been too sick to hold him earlier and he is the most darling little thing. I've forgotten how tiny newborns are. He was so light as I was carrying him around and giving him a good cuddle. I handed him back just before he started to cry to get his diaper changed. Before I know it time is going to fly by and I'll be thinking of summer and avoiding the heat.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2009
Well we partied like it was 2009 even if it was still 2008. Because it was -20C outside we did not go anywhere. There apparently were concerts and fireworks downtown but it wasn't worth freezing our butts over. We stayed and watched the woodstove and kept the homefires burning. Plus we had both really wanted to watch the last airfarce. Both of us grew up watching it and enjoying the Chicken Cannon. We were both sad to see a Canadian icon go. The last one though was one of their funniest ever!
I made punch and more ribs than we could eat and we had various other snack foods to bring in the new year. We watched my favorite show Bewitched until just before midnight. We brought in the new year watching George Stromboloplous (who can spell that guy's name anyway) running around like an idiot. When we saw it was the new year we burst into Auld lang syne or at least the part we could remember. We had fun bringing in 2009. We didn't make any resoloutions but we know that this year is going to be even better than last. It too I'm sure will bring many changes and ones I'm sure will bring much excitement to our home.
We are already planning chopping up firewood for next winter. Fixing crooked doors, adding more insulation and a new fireplace to the great room are all on the agenda. We will also be adding attic fans, and I will actually have the summer off this year. Two actual months at home! Retaining walls will be built and a pond put in. Terraced gardens possibly if we have time and energy left over. Even a cat tree for our ever mischevious cat Oliver. What a year this will be.
I made punch and more ribs than we could eat and we had various other snack foods to bring in the new year. We watched my favorite show Bewitched until just before midnight. We brought in the new year watching George Stromboloplous (who can spell that guy's name anyway) running around like an idiot. When we saw it was the new year we burst into Auld lang syne or at least the part we could remember. We had fun bringing in 2009. We didn't make any resoloutions but we know that this year is going to be even better than last. It too I'm sure will bring many changes and ones I'm sure will bring much excitement to our home.
We are already planning chopping up firewood for next winter. Fixing crooked doors, adding more insulation and a new fireplace to the great room are all on the agenda. We will also be adding attic fans, and I will actually have the summer off this year. Two actual months at home! Retaining walls will be built and a pond put in. Terraced gardens possibly if we have time and energy left over. Even a cat tree for our ever mischevious cat Oliver. What a year this will be.
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