OK, so I'm a nerd.
I kind of like doing bills. And taxes. OK, well, not so much LIKE it as wanna know what I'm getting back as soon as possible.
Sample email thread with me and SP:
SP: I was just handed my T4. Now I want to go home to do my taxes. Seriously, I really really really want to. Am I ridiculous? I am aren't I?
Me: I totally understand it. I'm curious to know as well and figure out if I need to add more to my RRSPs to get a return or just not have to pay. It's OK - it's just called "financially responsible" -- I can think of a lot worse things to want to do... Although most of them are not quite so nerdy.
SP: I enjoy being nerdy
ME (next day): By the way, I got mine today too. I got VERY excited and thought of you. ;)
SP: I totally did my taxes last night. It was so fun.
ME: Did you win at taxes?
SP: A small win. And then I added to my rrsp that win amount from my buffer
three months savings account to win more.
ME: You are a smart, financially responsible woman! YAY!
And then I came home and did my bills and taxes. And made tea. Can't forget the tea.
These are the adventures of 2 unmarried women in their prime?! I love it.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Whole wheat croissants.
On sale at Dominion, I thought I'd try them. I mean, I'm trying to get more fibre in my diet. And I love butter. Hense, whole wheat croissants seemed a good idea.
The verdict?
Well, they're OK. They've got crunchy whole wheat bits in them. Making me feel like they're healthy. But then I remember how much butter these probably have in them.
A lot of butter.
Don't get me wrong, I like butter. Love it, actually. But it ruined the whole "healthy" lie that I was trying to tell myself.
Instead, I prefer the almond sweet and salty granola bars, to be honest. 160 calories of total yum! And, yes, those are on sale too (PharmaPlus).
On sale at Dominion, I thought I'd try them. I mean, I'm trying to get more fibre in my diet. And I love butter. Hense, whole wheat croissants seemed a good idea.
The verdict?
Well, they're OK. They've got crunchy whole wheat bits in them. Making me feel like they're healthy. But then I remember how much butter these probably have in them.
A lot of butter.
Don't get me wrong, I like butter. Love it, actually. But it ruined the whole "healthy" lie that I was trying to tell myself.
Instead, I prefer the almond sweet and salty granola bars, to be honest. 160 calories of total yum! And, yes, those are on sale too (PharmaPlus).
Monday, February 26, 2007
Who needs a rest?
I wish this had been Mom and I on Saturday at Horseshoe Valley Ski Resort.
But no, this is last year at Kicking Horse. When the vertical drop was 4,133 ft (1,260 m) and we had to take a rest, put our feet up, half way down.
Horseshoe has a vertical drop of 308ft (94 m).
You see the problem.
Yes, the problem is that Mom and I have been spoiled. Well, we're trying to practice up for our upcoming ski vacation in the Rockies. Only a couple of weeks left!
At least the weather on Saturday was nice and we had great company. Sad that the resort wasn't as good as what I remembered from when I was first learning how to ski.
On the positive side, at least I can tell that I've improved. I even managed to take a few jumps, ski all of the black diamonds (which are really just green runs by Rockies standards), and even take a crazy jaunt through the trees. Oh, and a not-the-most-success run through the moguls (which reminds me - I need a class in how to ski moguls).
Goodness, I wish Blue Mountain weren't so icy and far and busy on the weekends!
But no, this is last year at Kicking Horse. When the vertical drop was 4,133 ft (1,260 m) and we had to take a rest, put our feet up, half way down.
Horseshoe has a vertical drop of 308ft (94 m).
You see the problem.
Yes, the problem is that Mom and I have been spoiled. Well, we're trying to practice up for our upcoming ski vacation in the Rockies. Only a couple of weeks left!
At least the weather on Saturday was nice and we had great company. Sad that the resort wasn't as good as what I remembered from when I was first learning how to ski.
On the positive side, at least I can tell that I've improved. I even managed to take a few jumps, ski all of the black diamonds (which are really just green runs by Rockies standards), and even take a crazy jaunt through the trees. Oh, and a not-the-most-success run through the moguls (which reminds me - I need a class in how to ski moguls).
Goodness, I wish Blue Mountain weren't so icy and far and busy on the weekends!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
I've rented a car this weekend.
Now, I don't LIKE driving. Hence, not having a car and living in a more expensive area so that it's convenient for me not to drive regularly.
But sometimes it's nice to have some wheels at my disposal. To allow me to go wherever I want, quite easily. Less planning, more flexibility.
So I can come home to see my parents, go skiing with my mom, drive to Bramalea to Anita's house warming party, do all the errands I've been putting off because I couldn't figure out how to cram them into my schedule or how to get item A to location B efficiently.
So I have my pretty car (upgraded for free just means a bigger car that requires more gas - boo!) and I'm sitting at my parents' house, typing away on their computer, drinking homemade London Fogs while my mom makes me french toast for breakfast.
And I didn't have to get anyone to pick me up or figure out the Go Train schedule.
Sweet.
All for $50 plus gas. Not bad.
Here's to rentals!
Now, I don't LIKE driving. Hence, not having a car and living in a more expensive area so that it's convenient for me not to drive regularly.
But sometimes it's nice to have some wheels at my disposal. To allow me to go wherever I want, quite easily. Less planning, more flexibility.
So I can come home to see my parents, go skiing with my mom, drive to Bramalea to Anita's house warming party, do all the errands I've been putting off because I couldn't figure out how to cram them into my schedule or how to get item A to location B efficiently.
So I have my pretty car (upgraded for free just means a bigger car that requires more gas - boo!) and I'm sitting at my parents' house, typing away on their computer, drinking homemade London Fogs while my mom makes me french toast for breakfast.
And I didn't have to get anyone to pick me up or figure out the Go Train schedule.
Sweet.
All for $50 plus gas. Not bad.
Here's to rentals!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
I am getting so excited at work right now.
I am finally feeling like things are coming together. All of the research that I've been doing looks like it's all on the cusp of fruition.
Yay, I can feel like I'm accomplishing again!
I have been quite down lately. You can tell that's the case when I post a little less frequently. Work, usually a joy, has been a little stressful. Not through the fault of my employer, but through my own demands on myself.
I suppose I'm a pretty driven person. I want results. Results make me feel good. And for the past couple of months, I've not been feeling that I've had many results to feel good about.
Suddenly, I feel like it is changing. A decision will soon be made. A decision that I feel sufficiently confident in. A decision that I did sufficient due diligence for.
YAY to the possibility of allowing myself to be social again.
I am finally feeling like things are coming together. All of the research that I've been doing looks like it's all on the cusp of fruition.
Yay, I can feel like I'm accomplishing again!
I have been quite down lately. You can tell that's the case when I post a little less frequently. Work, usually a joy, has been a little stressful. Not through the fault of my employer, but through my own demands on myself.
I suppose I'm a pretty driven person. I want results. Results make me feel good. And for the past couple of months, I've not been feeling that I've had many results to feel good about.
Suddenly, I feel like it is changing. A decision will soon be made. A decision that I feel sufficiently confident in. A decision that I did sufficient due diligence for.
YAY to the possibility of allowing myself to be social again.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
What kind of Valentine's Day card did you get?In typically nerdly fashion, I got a monkey card.
To be fair, I sent the first monkey Valentine's Day card. Mine was better, if I do say so myself. She was pretty with a bouffant beehive hairstyle, a sexy pink-feather negligee, and a heart shaped card that reads "I HART YOU". Oh, and with a man's voice that just happens to have an English accent.
Come on. Tell me that's not the best Valentine's Day gift you can think of.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Winterlude 2007
Check out the cutest family on the Rideau Canal this weekend!
I had a tonne of fun - lots of driving of course, but I filled in the time talking about relationships and work, lying and communication and finally, led us all in a questionnaire about learning styles. Turns out, our family is highly visual and not at all auditory in their learning preferences.
Wonder why we talk so much, then?
Sunday we got up for a monstrous breakfast (pancakes with a huge mound of fruit) and then skated the whole afternoon -- about 17 or 18 kms in total.
Crazy! I haven't skated since... well, I guess I inline skated in the summer twice. And the last time I went ice skating was at Winterlude last year.
So it took me some time to get my skating legs back. But, by the end, I learned, finally, how to skate backwards! I was very proud of myself.
Click on the photo to see more photos on Flickr, including one of me demonstrating my backwards-skating abilities. OK, you can at least imagine that I'm skating back wards in the photo anyway...
I had a tonne of fun - lots of driving of course, but I filled in the time talking about relationships and work, lying and communication and finally, led us all in a questionnaire about learning styles. Turns out, our family is highly visual and not at all auditory in their learning preferences.
Wonder why we talk so much, then?
Sunday we got up for a monstrous breakfast (pancakes with a huge mound of fruit) and then skated the whole afternoon -- about 17 or 18 kms in total.
Crazy! I haven't skated since... well, I guess I inline skated in the summer twice. And the last time I went ice skating was at Winterlude last year.
So it took me some time to get my skating legs back. But, by the end, I learned, finally, how to skate backwards! I was very proud of myself.
Click on the photo to see more photos on Flickr, including one of me demonstrating my backwards-skating abilities. OK, you can at least imagine that I'm skating back wards in the photo anyway...
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Myth
Tonight's the last night of Winterlicious, so we decided to head out to another restaurant, this time trying something near our house. So we chose Myth.
Big disappointment.
I thought: how can you screw up salad?
They did it.
Drenched in olive oil (and only that, judging by the taste) and with exactly 3 praline hazlenuts, which otherwise might have added some sort of flavour to the salad, it was ultra bland.
But I ate it. I was hungry.
Alex had the lentil soup with lemongrass. I tried it. It was better than the salad, but it lacked something. Maybe like any salt at all. And there was none on the table. Nor was pepper offered.
My main course was red snapper, which was very good, but not special. The mixed veggies were pretty good. The roasted potatoes a little too lemony, but at least they had flavour, so I'm not really complaining. The rice was fine.
Alex had pork tenderloin. It was cooked properly, but had very little flavour. Interesting choice: they dressed our plates with olive oil. Weird for a pork tenderloin. I think it's the only thing they have in the kitchen. I would have chosen something fruity instead, but it didn't spoil anything. It was just bland.
Dessert. First, the waiter couldn't remember our orders (for anything). He asked 3 times. Then he complained about the kitchen. I think he said he was ready to kill them, adding, "Seriously."
At least he brought the creme brulee. Now, I don't know about you, but I expect creme brulee to actually have some brulee to it. Part of the fun is cracking the hardened sugar ceiling before diving into the creamy goodness beneath. This "brulee" was barely a browned sprinkling of sugar. Tasty pudding, but not a brulee.
Oh well. I devoured every smudge of it.
I guess I won't be going back there. I really felt and tasted the difference between this meal and my fantastic meal at the Boulevard Cafe. Myth really cheaped out on this and it shows.
I mean, there was a guy there seating guests who was wearing jeans, running shoes and a sweatshirt.
The bill had the tip already added to the total. Enforced gratuity? Come on - this is no longer a gratuity. This is a tax. They must have known that they had to add it or they'd never get anything for the complete lack of service.
I can't believe I paid $25 for that meal. They are totally taking advantage of the Winterlicious marketing campaign.
Well, at least I know for next time. And I hope I've scared you away too.
Big disappointment.
I thought: how can you screw up salad?
They did it.
Drenched in olive oil (and only that, judging by the taste) and with exactly 3 praline hazlenuts, which otherwise might have added some sort of flavour to the salad, it was ultra bland.
But I ate it. I was hungry.
Alex had the lentil soup with lemongrass. I tried it. It was better than the salad, but it lacked something. Maybe like any salt at all. And there was none on the table. Nor was pepper offered.
My main course was red snapper, which was very good, but not special. The mixed veggies were pretty good. The roasted potatoes a little too lemony, but at least they had flavour, so I'm not really complaining. The rice was fine.
Alex had pork tenderloin. It was cooked properly, but had very little flavour. Interesting choice: they dressed our plates with olive oil. Weird for a pork tenderloin. I think it's the only thing they have in the kitchen. I would have chosen something fruity instead, but it didn't spoil anything. It was just bland.
Dessert. First, the waiter couldn't remember our orders (for anything). He asked 3 times. Then he complained about the kitchen. I think he said he was ready to kill them, adding, "Seriously."
At least he brought the creme brulee. Now, I don't know about you, but I expect creme brulee to actually have some brulee to it. Part of the fun is cracking the hardened sugar ceiling before diving into the creamy goodness beneath. This "brulee" was barely a browned sprinkling of sugar. Tasty pudding, but not a brulee.
Oh well. I devoured every smudge of it.
I guess I won't be going back there. I really felt and tasted the difference between this meal and my fantastic meal at the Boulevard Cafe. Myth really cheaped out on this and it shows.
I mean, there was a guy there seating guests who was wearing jeans, running shoes and a sweatshirt.
The bill had the tip already added to the total. Enforced gratuity? Come on - this is no longer a gratuity. This is a tax. They must have known that they had to add it or they'd never get anything for the complete lack of service.
I can't believe I paid $25 for that meal. They are totally taking advantage of the Winterlicious marketing campaign.
Well, at least I know for next time. And I hope I've scared you away too.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Had a Winterlicious meal at the Boulevard Cafe with Sarah last night.
In short: it was awesome.
Yummy grilled shrimp cocktail with guacamole and blue corn chips to start. Probably the best guac I've ever had.
Entree: grilled tilapia with a mango salsa and yucca potatoes. Seriously, that fish was cooked to perfection. Flaky, moist perfection. I'm very picky about my fish.
Dessert: Flan au Leche? Something along the lines of a creme caramel. But with some fantastihttp://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifc caramel sauce and fresh berries. Mm!
I love me some good food. And all for $25!
And amazing company of course. I totally needed it - I felt so much better after our date.
In short: it was awesome.
Yummy grilled shrimp cocktail with guacamole and blue corn chips to start. Probably the best guac I've ever had.
Entree: grilled tilapia with a mango salsa and yucca potatoes. Seriously, that fish was cooked to perfection. Flaky, moist perfection. I'm very picky about my fish.
Dessert: Flan au Leche? Something along the lines of a creme caramel. But with some fantastihttp://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifc caramel sauce and fresh berries. Mm!
I love me some good food. And all for $25!
And amazing company of course. I totally needed it - I felt so much better after our date.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Skiing at Osler
OK, I wish we'd taken our camera to Osler last Thursday, but we didn't. And no, my sister Jen (in the middle there), was not with us.
However, let's pretend for a second that this is what me and my mom looked like at Olser Bluffs on our ski day last week!
There were no mountains, I'll admit.
But it was otherwise pretty similar.
Actually, we were really happy about the whole thing.
It's a private club, so the fact that a work-related ski day got us in was fantastic. It wasn't busy at all. Sometimes we were the only ones on our run. The whole hill open to us.
It was cold. And windy.
But it was sunny. And pretty. And the runs were challenging but doable.
And we had a fantastic day out for a pretty great price.
All in all, a fantastic day!
I'm so lucky to have a mom who will do this kind of thing with me.
However, let's pretend for a second that this is what me and my mom looked like at Olser Bluffs on our ski day last week!
There were no mountains, I'll admit.
But it was otherwise pretty similar.
Actually, we were really happy about the whole thing.
It's a private club, so the fact that a work-related ski day got us in was fantastic. It wasn't busy at all. Sometimes we were the only ones on our run. The whole hill open to us.
It was cold. And windy.
But it was sunny. And pretty. And the runs were challenging but doable.
And we had a fantastic day out for a pretty great price.
All in all, a fantastic day!
I'm so lucky to have a mom who will do this kind of thing with me.
Greasy Goodness
I'm sitting here beside the greasy empty plate, wiping my hands on my now-transparent napkin after polishing off my Pizza Hut lunch.
Greasy. Goodness.
Originally, Alex and I had a date to go to Myth on the Danforth for Winterlicious. But I spent the entire day on the couch with a killer migraine, watching Season 2 of Lost.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Lost.
But I felt a bit like a sloth. And the pizza probably didn't do much to fix it. But it did make for yummy greasy leftovers for eating in front of my computer at lunch today.
With a headache still nagging nagging nagging. And migraine meds not working.
It's OK - as long as I close my eyes every once in a while and rest them, I'm OK. The work actually helps me not think about how much it hurts.
I'm tired of laying down on the smelly couch. I needed to get out.
Plus, I have a dinner date for Winterliciousness at the Boulevard Cafe tonight - I can't miss BOTH yummy meals!
Greasy. Goodness.
Originally, Alex and I had a date to go to Myth on the Danforth for Winterlicious. But I spent the entire day on the couch with a killer migraine, watching Season 2 of Lost.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Lost.
But I felt a bit like a sloth. And the pizza probably didn't do much to fix it. But it did make for yummy greasy leftovers for eating in front of my computer at lunch today.
With a headache still nagging nagging nagging. And migraine meds not working.
It's OK - as long as I close my eyes every once in a while and rest them, I'm OK. The work actually helps me not think about how much it hurts.
I'm tired of laying down on the smelly couch. I needed to get out.
Plus, I have a dinner date for Winterliciousness at the Boulevard Cafe tonight - I can't miss BOTH yummy meals!
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