Donnerstag, Oktober 19, 2006

Gettin' to know you...

In an effort to aquaint us all with each other at work (we have grown by about 50 people in the past year), they have decided to put up an intranet site with profiles, and gave us a list of questions to answer as we wished. Here are the ones I chose to answer.

1. How do you order your favourite hot beverage?

I really like the pumpkin and gingerbread spiced lattes this time of year, but my absolute favorite is a mocha with a shot of cinnamon syrup (mochas from Cafe Beano are the BEST). I also quite like a soy chai now and then.

2. What do have hanging on your walls at home?

Just moved last weekend, so we're still working on that! Our first piece of 'real' artwork is currently being framed, it's a black and white shot of the ocean, entitled 'Californication' by photographer extraordinaire and friend of the family Brenda Castonguay

3. Which website do you visit every day?

www.flickr.com I love seeing the new works by extremely talented co-workers such as plusoumoins and uberllama and posting my own amateurish ones to stay in touch with family and friends near & far.


4. If you could have lunch with one person living or dead, who would it be and what would you want to talk about?

Oh, it would have to be a dinner party, attended by Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra, Dr. Ernest Holmes, Dr. Masaru Emoto, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thich Nhat Hanh and his holiness the Dalai Lama. The topic of conversation would be positive thinking, energy, compassion, world peace and quantum physics.

5. If you could be anywhere else in the world right now, where would you be?

Somewhere tropical, like Fiji, the Caribbean, or Hawaii. Ocean, beach, warm breeze, lots of stars at night and no traffic/city noise or pollution.


How about you?

Montag, Oktober 16, 2006

I dwell in love

The move is complete, we have made a sucessful merger! Just in time, too, as the fluffy white stuff is currently falling en masse from the light grey sky. I would *much* rather be at HOME today, doing some unpacking & settling in, but unforunately my time-off hours are in the minus, so here I am. Plotting furniture placement and watching the snowflakes drift by. My heart is light and my mind is at ease. As the Mama said as she departed yesterday, this is the happiest she has ever seen me. And so it is.

Today's (very appropriate) affirmation from CPL:

"I live in a loving universe, where God’s friendliness is on every hand. Divine love enfolds me and flows from me. I love the love of God in everyone I know. I am loved by the love of God in everyone I know. I dwell in love this day. "

Donnerstag, Oktober 12, 2006

HNT - Smiling eyes


These were my eyes before I ceased using the liquid liner about a month ago (went to have a makeup lesson and apprently this look is NOT 'in' any longer). I love pics where you can tell the person is smiling without seeing the rest of their face. If I end up getting wrinkles around the corners, so be it- it just means I'm happy a lot. Happy HNT, y'all!

Mittwoch, Oktober 11, 2006

New Digs

I searched for about two hours to find the perfect ecard announcement to send out to friends and family, letting them know that my bf and I are "shacking up". This one from hipstercards.com came in a close second, but it doesn't let you format the text at all...


But then, at last, I found this cute little animated one from evite, where all of my contacts are stored anyway. Yay! It shows a truck stopping at this row of houses, loading up, and driving up to a lone house on a hill. That's kind of what it feels like- up up and away! From the downtown core, to more room (4 times the square footage!), more space to breathe. A whole huge house for us and the kitties to roam around in and make our home. Three more sleeps...

Montag, Oktober 09, 2006

Please make a stand today!

I have just read some very disturbing news on a blog that I linked to named Eteraz.

Please take a minute or two out of your day to do the following:

- Sign these two petitions which refer to the two of the seven women sentenced. Activists in the US have gotten personal confirmation that Iranian officials were influenced by petitions when they previously ordered stays of executions. The first is for a woman named Kobra. The second is for a woman named Malak.

- Submit the following letter (or something like it) to the Supreme Iranian Leader Ayatollah Khameini at his email address (info@leader.ir OR istiftaa@wilayah.org):

Your Excellency,

May this reach you in the best of health and faith. On this day I beseech you to direct your attention to the fates of seven women of your nation who are to be executed by sangsar (stoning to death). I ask simply that you commute their sentences and disallow the use of the punishment of stoning to death in the future. Indeed, you must be aware that in 2002 your government placed a moratorium on the practice. Indeed, you must also be aware that the United Nations, which provided President Ahmedinejad the opportunity to promote the Iranian nation as one which is just and fair, has ruled that treating fornication and adultery as criminal offenses violates human rights laws. In fact, stoning these women to death would breach Iran’s committment under article 6(2) of the International Covenent on Civil and Political Rights. Indeed, you must be aware, as the Vilayet e Faqih, that the Quran extols “God is the Forgiving, the Loving.” (85:14). Indeed, you must be aware, as the Foremost Jurist, that the punishment for stoning to death does not exist in the Quran and is part of the Shariah via a hadith cited on the authority of Omar, the second Caliph. Iran is a great nation and many in the West wish for friendly and peaceful relationships with it, and the Muslim world at large, as equals. However, we as friends of the Iranian People do not wish the Nation of Iran of to violate the human rights norms with which the rest of the world abides. We ask that you not permit your citizens to be stoned to death. We further ask that you call for a halt for all future stonings. Finally, we ask that you grant your Minister of Justice, His Excellency, Ayatollah Shahroudi, the power to commute death sentences to life imprisonment.

A Friend of Iran
(Sign Your Name)

You may also modify your letter to “Further…” ask him to treat minorities equal under the law, and to provide equality of rights for women, as in Iran a woman’s testimony counts only half as much as man’s.

- CC this message to the ambassador of Iran in London, His Excellency Mr. Hamid Reza Nafez Arefi: consulate@iran-embassy.org.uk

- Go to this website — of the Ministry of Justice in Iran — and paste this letter into the text area. The website is in Farsi but you can type in English. The first box is for your name; second box for your email address; third box for the subject; and fourth big box for the text. The Minister of Justice is His Excellency Ayatollah Shahroudi.

Your Excellency,

May this reach you in the best of health and faith. On this day I beseech you to direct your attention to the fates of seven women of your nation who are to be executed by sangsar (stoning to death). I ask simply that you commute their sentences. I also ask that you indefinitely postpone the executions of these women and others like them.
You may be aware that the United Nations, which provided President Ahmedinejad the opportunity to promote the Iranian nation as one which is just and fair, has ruled that treating fornication and adultery as criminal offenses violates human rights laws. In fact, stoning these women to death would breach Iran’s committment under article 6(2) of the International Covenent on Civil and Political Rights. Indeed, you must be aware that the Quran extols “God is the Forgiving, the Loving.” (85:14). Iran is a great nation and many in the West wish for friendly and peaceful relationships with it, and the Muslim world at large, as equals. However, I as a friend of the Iranian People do not wish the Nation of Iran of to violate the human rights norms with which the rest of the world abides. I ask that you not permit your citizens to be stoned to death. We further ask that you call for a halt for all future stonings. I finally ask that you request your superiors for the power to commute death sentences to life imprisonment.

A Friend of Iran
(Sign Your Name)


***

Thank you!

Peace be with you, at this time when we have so much to be Thankful for.

Donnerstag, Oktober 05, 2006

HNT - My sister rocks!


I *heart* this pic of my sis, and her Nekkid strong arms. She is one of the world's BEST dog groomers, and this just shows so well how focused she is on her work (and her buffness).

Dienstag, Oktober 03, 2006

The Meaning of Love

Both light and shadow
are the dance of Love.
Love has no cause;
it is the astrolabe of God’s secrets.
Lover and Loving are inseparable
and timeless.

Although I may try to describe Love
when I experience it I am speechless.
Although I may try to write about Love
I am rendered helpless;
my pen breaks and the paper slips away
at the ineffable place
where Lover, Loving and Loved are one.

Every moment is made glorious
by the light of Love.


Six months ago today I began this journey into the greatest love of my life. Never before have I been this happy or felt this blessed. I am humbled that the Universe chose to give me another chance at this and feel I am being richly rewarded for the years that I muddled through the crap.

Life is so incredibly good and it just keeps getting better. I am joyous and excited at what it will bring next, and determined to stay as much as I can in the present to savor every moment. Be absolutely grateful for it. It is wondrous, delicious, magical this soft place to land I have discovered. I feel like the luckiest girl alive and yet I *know* that luck has nothing to do with it.

As Rumi writes, it is so very difficult to try and describe. It's better just to go forth and let that light shine!

Namaste

Montag, Oktober 02, 2006

lumps and bumps

Is it possible that something as insignificant as a pair of tights that don't fit properly can completely drive you around the bend??? I guess it is when the wearer of said tights hasn't had any SUGAR in the past two weeks. And breathe. Seriously- I must have picked up maternity ones by accident, these don't have elephant knees, they have elephant tummy and I don't have the *bump* it would take to hold 'em up!

Yes, this is a post about pantyhose. And ice cream. I had some serious cravings for it (or gelato) over the weekend, it almost got out of control. I even dreamt about it last night- I got a cone with 5 that's FIVE scoops! Now THAT would probably drive me around the bend. The end.

Freitag, September 29, 2006

my life in bullet points

Another Friday, another good mood! Now if there was only a way to make it last all week... This time, it's a combination of:

- being 1/3 of the way to my weight loss goal already


- the sucessful negotiation of who/when/where we shall spend Thanksgiving & Christmas, with 0 casualties!


- free sushi for lunch (and LOTS of it)


- officially being the teacher's pet in yoga class


- a house inspection & lease signing tomorrow... for the most *perfectest* place, complete with a big deck, trees in the yard, wood burning fireplace and... wait for it... a jetted tub in the master bath!

Oh, and I got these today (in virtual form), from the very friend who let me jump on the trampoline but who is now very very far away. *blows kisses north*


Yes, life is good, and it's progressively getting better :)

Donnerstag, September 28, 2006

HNT - Happy Feet


How long did I long to get the chance to jump on a trampoline? Oh, since about April. Finally, my wish came true thanks to my friend J, at a place she was looking after in Cochrane. Yay!

Freitag, September 22, 2006

Sweetest dreams

I'm not quite sure what to attribute this good mood to-

The fact that it's Friday?

That I have made it to day 5 of the cleanse with little or no withdrawl/side effects (save a few strange chocolate/coffee related dreams)?

That the Goddesses are gathering tonight and I may score some new duds?

Or that my honey and I are going to look at a house tomorrow with a HUGE backyard? (We know what THAT means...trampoline!)

Whatever it is, I am enjoying it fully. And the way my jeans are fitting today. It's time for a weekend, and although I will spend it housesitting, it's a lovely house in a funky neighbourhood with a sweet doggie to take for walks along the river. The amazing and diverse music and dvd collection on display in the living room doesn't hurt, either. The class I started last night on Spiritual Economics has already started to shift some of my thinking- I find myself reflecting on the overflowing abundance in my life, and how fortunate I am to be surrounded by it and contributing to it. It's all about the Flow...

Montag, September 18, 2006

Day One

Here we are at Mile Zero. I'm most of the way through the first day of my cleanse, and it's going very well. It's mostly mind over matter, right? I have learned over the years that I have a very strong will and can overcome pretty much any obstacle in order to reach my goals. This is something I have wanted to do for quite awhile now, and it's not like I'm new at or unfamiliar with it. My history of making what some would call 'radical' choices with food started at 14, when I did my first Master Cleanse after reading the book borrowed from Mom. It's also that book which led to my decision to stop eating red meat, when I saw that they had used the word 'flesh' to describe it. Ewww! I finally made the connection about what it was exactly that I was putting into my body. I have stayed off red meat for the most part (exceptions being my Dad's moose sauerbraten on Christmas eve), but eventually ventured back into chicken, fish and dairy.

It will be interesting to see how my body reacts (once I have achieved a clean slate) to different foods. I found a couple of excellent books at the amazing granola-haven place where I purchased my supplies yesterday. It combines yoga postures, breathing excersises and herbal treatments to make it a full body-mind-soul experience. After all, it is a whole shift in lifestyle that is taking place here, and it's nice to have such a comprehensive guide to accompany me through it.

It's funny, the massage therapist who came to our office today (and worked on the lymph nodes in my feet- ooooh yeah) gave me her business card- the name of her company is 'Peace of Mind', and I'm already feeling it!

Freitag, September 15, 2006

evacuations hijacking MIA oh my!

The head technology guy came into our area this morning and said very calmly "it has been recommended that we leave the building now".

I had briefly noticed the email that had arrived a few minutes prior from our Admin assistant "the gas smell has been reported..." but it didn't really register as I was engrossed in other things. So we all got our jackets on and out we went, dispersing down the block only to meet up again at the two main coffee shops close by. It's kind of a giddy feeling, to be 'let out' unexpectedly, not sure when and if you may return to your regularly scheduled work day.

I had a similar experience twice this past week with this here blog. As I tried to access it Monday morning, I was greeted with some kind of fanatical religious site, which seemed to have taken over my Sassy little world. I started clicking around, trying to find another way to access it, and found my tension level rising until it bordered on panic... Could it be? All of my posts over the past 2 years (2 years!) just... gone? Disappeared? The situation rectified itself shortly after, and my familiar template popped up again as if nothing had happened.

I'm taking it as a lesson in "you don't know what you've got till it's gone", and a reminder to enjoy what you have, while you have it. I was thankful to return to my desk this morning and resume my day, and I am taking precautions to preserve this tiny slice of the web via professional hosting by the one and only splorp. Thanks, G!

Donnerstag, September 14, 2006

HNT: The teeth


Even Seriouser
Originally uploaded by ssygrl.
Sometimes gummy candy is the *only* way to start your day.

Mittwoch, September 13, 2006

The dive

Last night just before I fell asleep I had a disorientating sensation.
I was perched on a diving board high above a large deep pool.
I could not see the bottom.

My breathing, which had been nice and regular since yoga class earlier that evening became laboured and shallow.
I wanted to curl up in a little ball and sink into the mattress.
I felt the hot tears rolling down my cheeks in the darkness.

Then all at once a feeling of calm washed over me.
I realized, I am not afraid. Of the impact, or whatever this pool may hold. I am old enough, I am strong enough.

I have the tools, the experience, the knowledge, the knowing.
What I bring to this union can only result in success.
And never ending happiness.

And so it is, and so it shall be.

Montag, September 11, 2006

Observations on a Monday Morning

  • the louder I turn up the Stereo, the louder the renovation work directly above my head increases
  • that's what a pile of tips from running my feet off for three days looks like
  • and that's what my feet end up looking like!
  • I am a smart smart girl for taking today off both jobs
  • Vanilla yogurt, sliced banana, and oatmeal cookie crumbles may be my new fav breakfast
  • I may just go back to bed now

Samstag, September 09, 2006

before...


Exactly a week tomorrow will begin a 30 day long cleanse, which will (after a two hella week long detox period) rid me of my cravings and establish a new, healthy relationship shall we call it with food.

With assistance from Jayne Says, from an extremely helpful downloadable PDF she posted on www.happy.blogs.com on August 9th. Thanks, J!

Donnerstag, September 07, 2006

Drink Drank Drunk (ready for the weekend?)

How the heck can it be Thursday already? Wow. Well, it's Friday in my mind, a nice short week before I take a few days off for my other job this weekend, watchin' the horsies jump (oh yeah, and servin' some drinks). Unfortunately no Nekkid pic today- we forgot the cameras on our little trip to the mountains last weekend, where copious amounts of brew were drunk straight out of the jug while we enjoyed the temporary invasion of Scots (and bagpipes) to the town.

Last night was another missed photo op, as my housemates and I celebrated the other girl's birthday (once we hunted her down) with her posse of chicks at the Crack. The Crack! How happy was I to return to my old stomping grounds shortly thereafter, where earlier we had left the band as they started their first set. We caught their final one- from "I Will Survive" to a rocked-out version of "Let it Be" with some Police, RHCP and Sublime thrown in for good measure. But it was "Faith" that got me up on the floor shakin' what God gave me. I realized there on the uncrowded dancefloor that I really needed to get out and enjoy the company. Hangin' with the band was a bonus (they're friends of my sis). As were the drinks (my 'usual', poured by the big bear of a bartender with a knowing nod). It felt good to be revisiting my old haunt, finally putting some old memories to rest and creating new ones.

Samstag, September 02, 2006

P is for Procrastinate

... or is that Productive?

I'm feeling a bit both, which shouldn't perplex my gemini self. But Unky (or is it Punky now?) doesn't have one for the latter. So I'll teeter on the edge of both.

It has been a magnificent long so far, and I'm only about 1/3 in! I don't often get to have them, actually, as most of my customers wouldn't know what I was talking about if I were to wish them Happy Family/Heritage Day. But this is one holiday we both share, thankfully!

A massage preceded the leisurely walk by the river with my next charge and lovely his owner. There's not a cloud in the sky and I was *suddenly* inspired to take the windex to the living room window.

But now there's nothing in my way of tackling the 5 month old unsorted mail which awaits below...

Happy Labo~u~r Day to y'all, however productively and or not you choose to spend it!

Freitag, September 01, 2006

the soccer sister post

Trying not to re-hash the game yesterday evening too too much (we lost, not sure of the score grumble grumble). My sweet bf, roped in once again to play linesman was supporting me from the side of the field. Little does he know that saying "shake it off" after each goal scored against me is about as effective as saying "remember to breathe now" to a woman in labour. Ah, he means well. Poor ref- after more LOUD (oops) grumbles from me stemming from what *I* considered a bad call, I found him in my face. "I have PMS!" I hissed and he backed away slowly, ran up the field and stayed away from me for the rest of the game. HA! Serves him right.

I don't like that I allow myself to get into such a frustrated and grouchy mood. It IS only a game, after all. I don't usually play goal, but for various reasons (we don't have one this season and a calf injury has prevented me from doing much running), I've done it EVERY GAME. It's not all bad- I do enjoy the challenge and the rush when I DO save a goal (no, they don't ALL go in). There's something sweetly satisfying about drop kicking that ball and having it arc up and land somewhere near the centre line. I ended up spending some time with my sis (and teammate) afterwards, helping her fold the mountain of clothes on her bed as she prepared for her trip to a wedding this weekend. I'm so happy and thankful to have such a good relationship with her (it certainly wasn't always that way). We love, encourage, confide in and understand each other, unconditionally. Love you, B.