Countdown

We signed our last rent cheque today.

The moving truck is booked.

There are just 29 days until we move.

It's so exciting and so nerve-wracking all at the same time!

Listening to: neighbours next door hammering, sawing, and using some sort loud power tool...
Pending assignments: zero!

Woohoo!

There probably isn't a worse place on the planet for the new and improved Riders to start their 2007 season than Montreal.

However, Austin's lean mean green machine played flawlessly and started the season on a winning note.

They didn't hang on to win.

No.

They played an error-free game under a new coach, with a new playbook, with new teammates. And they didn't win by a field goal either.

They won by nine points.

Nine stinkin' hot points!

Not to mention the defensive line netting seven sacks against Calvillo.

And my hubby will be happy to hear KJ actually threw the ball for a 34-yard touchdown.

It's too early to say whether winning thing will stick, but Austin has given Riderville something they haven't had in decades... a win in Montreal.

All I can say about the new Riders is this: me likey.

Listening to: TV
Pending assignments: yahoo! none!

Summer holidays

It's here! Summer holidays are here!

[doing the Snoopy Happy Dance]

Okay... so it's one job out of three that are one holidays as of today, but still...

[back to Snoopy Happy Dance]

Besides tomorrow morning when I finish my papers at roughly 6:30 a.m. I will be done another job and it too shall be on permanent summer vacation.

[again with the dancing]

And then on Monday my kids go to Grandma's for a two weeks of holidays and swimming lessons.

[Snoopy Dance goes on and on...]

I have never looked forward to, nor needed, a holiday so badly in all my life. I'm not sure I will know what to do with myself... well, except for the packing and moving thing.

I never thought working part time and packing up our house to move would be considered a holiday. But in my life. Right now? YES!

Can't. Wait.

Listening to: nothing again...
Pending assignments: 0... that's zero... nil... sweet nothing!

Flowers

Thought my blog could use some colour, so I'm posting a pic of my favourite flower.

I love fuschias, but I haven't planted any for years. This little one I planted this year is blooming all over the place. Can't wait to hang it on our veranda at the new house.

I should also post a picture of my african violet. I have managed to own the thing for almost two months and I have yet to kill it! (My grandma will be so proud!)

I hope it survives until we get to the new house. I think it will appreciate the tremendous amounts of sunlight it will get there. Hopefully, I can manage not to kill it there too!

The last days...

Today was the last day of school!

Friday is my last assignment before I take off the entire month of July!

Saturday is my last day of papers!

Sunday could be the kids' last day here before they visit grandma for two weeks!

Meanwhile, we're down to our last days in the duplex.

28 days and counting...

Woohoo!

--
Listening to: Michael Buble: Call Me Irresponsible
Pending assignments: 3 assignments (BEFORE Friday)

Joys of cooking

Many people who know me, know that I love to cook and bake.

I have been making a real effort to plan meals and try new things even though the past couple of months have been kind of hectic. Mostly, because doing so brings me such joy.

One of the many things I love about cooking is the fragrant spices and herbs I try from time to time.

Today, for instance, I discovered the joy of ground coriander. It smells amazing. Something sweet and oriental.

I have chicken marinating in it right now. I can tell already that this new tandoori recipe is going to be a favourite.

The second thing I discovered today is fresh minced ginger from a jar. So simple and easy. And no mess. And nothing can quite duplicate the smell of fresh ginger.

Another thing I love to try out, along with new ingredients, are new cooking gadgets. Yesterday I spoiled myself and bought an indoor grill I'd been eyeing for a couple of years.

Since we don't have a barbeque, I figured this was a great substitute and I never have to crawl over a snowbank to get to it!

I shall report back on my grilled tandoori chicken and let you know if the new recipe lives up to the fragrant discoveries of ground coriander and ginger from a jar (who knew?!).

Listening to: nothing... odd...
Pending assignments: 3 all due this week! eeeek!

Writing, writing and then writing...

Last year I had a work slow down period that lasted from April through the beginning of August. In that time I wrote one article.

This year, I decided to bank some money and pick up a paper route to help offset the lack of income in those months. Then I added extra hours and duties at work, also to offset the dip in income that I expected.

About that work slow down? It hasn't happened. I'm still writing one to two articles a week.

This is such a blessing. I'm so grateful. Don't get me wrong.

Yet...

Well... I'd really like some sleep! Some down time even... time to just breathe, you know?

As a result blogging has been furthest from my mind at this point.

We're also starting to pack up our stuff for our big move at the end of July.

Some days I feel if I stop moving I'll just sleep for a week.

My paper route ends at the end of June, so hopefully things will start tapering off.

BUT... I have made a few decisions regarding my life.

First, my goals are:
a. To become a self-supporting freelancing writer OR have a writing-related job that allows for some fun freelancing assignments
b. To become a published author of non-fiction books
c. To become a published novelist

To accomplish the first thing, I've begun contacting businesses and organizations that I think might use freelancers for the production of newsletters, press releases, reports, website copy, etc.

Out of 15 emails, so far I've gotten six responses. This is very encouraging. (And a very good return rate, I must say!)

In the process I've had someone chat with me about a fulltime copywriting gig and I've applied for a fulltime writing job with a publication in the city.

The bottom-line is this... in the next two months my life is going to change dramatically. Not only will we be relocating within the city (and dealing with all the adjustments that come with a new neighbourhood, new school, etc), but I will most likely have a very different work world. I'm not sure what that will look like in the end, and that's a bit scary to say the least!

Listening to: silence
Pending assignments: 3, I think...

Mikaela's dance

After a week-long blur of yellow sequins, blue eye shadow, bobby pins, hair nets and dippity do, Mikaela's first year of ballet is over.

Last night the Saskatoon School of Dance presented their year end recital at TCU Place. The three-hour long program was a delightful mix of traditional ballet, tap, and jazz with contemporary lyrical and hip-hop. Not to mention the fantastic energy of the Ukrainian dancers and Irish dancers.

We had a wonderful time watching all of the dances. The hip-hop crew were outstanding. We all loved the Ukrainian dancers with their colourful costumes and energetic routines.

However, the little sunflower number towards the beginning absolutely stole the show. For us anyway!

That's where our little girl shone beautifully. We were so proud of her. She handled the big stage at Centennial with poise and a big smile. I couldn't take pictures during the recital, but managed to grab some in the previous two dress rehearsals.

Enjoy!

This is her looking absolutely petrified just before the final dress rehearsal on Thursday. Once she was out there, though, she looked so calm you would have thought she'd done it a million times!

This is the group on stage:

To commemorate her first time on the stage Grandma and Grandpa sent her a pink gerber daisy. Thank you, Grandma! ; )