Big Spout

I went grocery shopping last night with a list Kim made. One item on the list said "Cheer big spout".

I took it to mean the bottle with the big spout as opposed to the big container with the pump. The following conversation occurs when I get home.

Kim: "Why did you get the small bottle of Cheer?"

Me: "The list said you wanted the one with the big spout."

Kim: "No, I wanted the big one with the spout. You know, like we always buy?"

Me: "I thought you wanted a refill or something, and the list said 'big spout' and this smaller bottle has a bigger spout."

Kim: "It said 'big with spout'!"

Me: "No it didn't, it just said 'big spout'."

Kim: "Let me see the list,"

(I look for the list and cannot find it.)

Me: "I seem to have lost it. But I swear it said 'bg spout'."

Kim: "Uh huh, sure it did."

The funny thing is, everytime I go to the store with a list Kim made, I always get something wrong. Wrong kind, wrong item, wrong size, just something everytime. This time the list was small and I thought I hit it bang on but I remember putting the list back in my pocket so I had it in case Kim claimed I forgot something. Unfortunately, it must have fell out of my pocket when I took my wallet out at the second store I stopped at.

Figures I'd need it.

Quiz Time!

Via Pharyngula:

You fit in with: Agnosticism Your ideals mostly resemble those of an Agnostic. You are fairly ambivalent towards any religion or spiritual connection. You lead a very busy life and find that religion and spirituality are unnecessary to your life. 100% scientific. 40% reason-oriented.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Kim Needs Her Own Car

Kim need here own car. Next week she has planned:

Monday: Going to go Trick Or Treating with the Kids at Erin's place.

Tuesday: Chiropractor appointment.

Wed: Massage appointment.

Thursday: Physio appointment.

Gah! I'm only personally implicated in two of those but I still have to come home for the other two because she needs the car to get around town.

Time to start car shopping.

the superhero cape...

Bill is sometimes called upon to be the superhero at work...and this he strangely enjoys, I mean, the extra hours, the added pressure, the extra late dinner...what's not to love?!

Sometimes I call upon him to be a superhero at home...this is not always met with the enthusiasm one would expect of someone who wears a black cape at the office. Maybe it's because of the tasks I emplore him to do...maybe they are beneath his superhero capabilities. I'll admit that when I call out for his services, it's usually for something most ordinary men could do...but when one has a superhero around the house, it's only natural that he would be called upon. Like just last week, as I was walking into the hallway I saw an intruder. Sounds like a job for a superhero! Does it matter if the intruder was a small black creature? It did afterall have 8 legs...and it moved sooooo fast! I was being bombarded...for high above my head there was another one! In swoops my superhero to save the day...but instead of a "there you go ma'am...glad to be of help", I get more of a head-shaking sigh. What's up with that?!

Anyways, since I'm such a lucky girl, to have a superhero living in my house, I'm going to make use of his powers. The help I may require may be beneath his capabilities, but I appreciate it. So, next time I need help to figure out something on the computer, need a jar opened, or scream about hairy, black intruders...I hope he will put on his black cape and think of it as a chance to show off his superpowers and impress the girl.

So, if the cape fits....

Superhero

I had to work late last night due to an emergency at a client site. Not too late this time, I was home a little after 6pm but I've had emergencies in the past that kept me into the wee hours of the morning. Not very often fortunately.

But the truth is, I love it when I'm called upon to be the hero. The site's down, the client is angry/panicking, and I swoop in with my superhero cape to understand the problem, lay out the choices, and make the hard decisions. I feel alive as I struggle with the misbehaving software and hardware and bend it to my will all before sunrise. I imagine its a tiny bit like the rush Firefighters get when battling a blaze, the fear of failure mixed with the confidence that the beast can be contained.

The biggest bonus for all of this is that I get a lot of cool points with the bosses for sacrificing my evenings for these periodic emergencies. Heck I even get some pity points from Kim cause I had such a long day! ;-) Its all good.

Yardwork

From spring to fall, I probably have 4 days that I do serious outside work.

Day one in the spring: massive weeding and trimming of gardens, bushes, and trees.

Day two in the spring: clean out the garage and take yard waste to disposal lot.

Day three in the summer: second weeding of gardens.

Day four in the fall: clean out the gutters, final weeding of the gardens, and clean out the garage for winter car parking.

There are a couple half days of putting up Christmas lights, and I do mow the lawn fairly consisently, but neither of those require the most-of-day effort of the "big four". Fact of the matter is, yardwork to me is a chore and not all that fun. I know some people who think prettying-up their lawn and gardens and making fancy outdoor sitting areas is a thrill a minute but not me.

Maybe its something that comes with age. My parents weren't into flower gardens and scenic ornaments until I was well into my twenties. Who knows? For now, although I do take pleasure in a job well done I still dread those days.

the mistress...

It would seem that my husband has a mistress...not another woman...but a mistress just the same. The name of this mistress is warhammer...and "she's" taken him away from me today, which is not an unusual occurance. He's obsessed with her...I'd even go so far as to say that he loves her. Before he has a date with her, he plans for days...sometimes weeks...and then spends ample time packing for their day together. The thought of spending time with her gives him a thrill, a special glow and gleam in his eyes. He loves spending money on her and going to their special stores, where it would seem that everyone knows him. Bill often claims to have a poor memory...but not so, when it comes to remembering things about her. He remembers everything he's ever learned about her. I don't really understand it, but she is very popular...many guys he knows love spending time with her too...I wonder if they're as obsessed with her as Bill is.

I should be jealous of her...and sometimes, I am. It's like watching young love...only it has never lost it's luster. I often hoped that he would eventually tire of her...outgrow her....but I'm afraid that his warhammer lust is here to stay......

music...makes the people come together...or not...

It's true that our tastes in music differ greatly...Bill says Rock, I say Pop.
He says: The Bear
I say: Kiss FM

I get into the car after Bill's been driving, only to have my ears blasted by The Bear's rock tracks...I quickly change the station. Lucky for me, Bill usually humors me and lets me switch it, even when he's in the car with me.

It never used to be like this. About 10 years ago, when I was in college, I went through a phase where I really enjoyed alternative rock...my fave bands were Moist, The Smashing Pumpkins, and The Tea Party...in fact, I loved them so much that I even took Bill to concerts by all of them. He could've cared less. Back then, I liked that music more than he did...today, I rarely listen to their music. Now, I prefer my Madonna (that's always been a constant), The Black Eyed Peas and Gwen Stefani. Go figure, right?

Last year, when I bought the Black Eyed Peas album, "Elephunk", Bill saw it in the car and said something like, "Ahhhh, not those crazy people! Rap Crap!!" Then I put it in the CD player...and he absolutely loved it! Humm...guess I'm setting a standard or something...I got the Gwen Stefani CD and he loves that too. He'd like to think he's all rock...but he's not. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a lot of rock too...mostly the classic stuff though...(although it's not my preference now). Most of the newer songs that come on The Bear I don't recognize.

Sometimes I think it's just because I'm getting older...especially when I hear myself say stuff like, "that loud music is giving me a headache!"...that's exactly what my mother used to say when I was a kid playing Billy Idol, Bon Jovi or AC/DC.

My musical tastes have definately changed many times over the years...and I'm sure that will only continue. Two things are for sure though...1: I will NEVER like country crap...2: I will ALWAYS love Madonna :)

get out of my head...

After the shoe store last night, we headed to Ikea to look for end tables...and for what I believe is the first time ever, they actually had what we wanted in stock!

Anyways, as we left the store, the sun was starting to go down, and it was really bright out...and this song starts going through my head..."blinded by the light..." and before it had finished, Bill starts singing outloud..."blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night...". I'm just like..."get out of my head!!!"

I guess it's true when they say that married people become more alike as time goes on. I think Bill is having a more powerful influence on me though...holy crap...please, tell me how to stop this!!!!!

Pink Shopping

I was in Globo with Kim last night looking at buying shoes. Much to Kim's consternation, I picked out a pair of Reebok white running shoes. She hates Reebok and tried to dissuade me from my choice. But they fit, felt good, and weren't too expensive.

While I was waiting for my shoes to come out of the back room, Kim checked out running shoes as well. Not that she needs them, she has new shows at home. But apparently a girl can never have enough choice for footwear. So she picked out several pair to show to me, all of them having some bit of pink on them. "Oh, these are cute!"

Kim's fascination with the colour pink lately has me very puzzeled. When we first started going out, she was a dark grey and black clothes wearing girl with docs and tough attitude, listening to alternative rock like Smashing Pumpkins. Now she has a pink fetish (including PJs and slippers!) and listens to pop.

What's that old saying? Women marry men thinking they can change them, men marry women hoping they'll stay the same.

I still love her though. Pink looks good on her.

the idea of romance...

I don't know why many men, ok, most men, have problems with being romantic...even occasionally. I don't know if it's that they don't know what qualifies as romantic, they never think about it, or if they just don't see the point. I know that for Bill it's probably a combination of all of these things...if only he really knew how important it was to me.

Well, Bill did something this morning that was simple...yet romantic...(he left me a note, hidden in our new ottoman...he knew I'd open it sometime today)...and it gave me that warm, fuzzy feeling. You know, the one where you know that you're loved, because someone you love went out of their way to make you feel special. To me, that's what romance is all about. It doesn't always have to be candlelight dinners and flowers (although those are always nice too!) All it takes is a little thought, a little effort, and sometimes a little imagination...but the purpose is always the same...to make your lover feel special.

Thanks, babe. You're one in a million.

Meta-blogging : Some Changes

The blog is officially named He Says / She Says now, although the URL will remain the same for the foreseeable future. I also moved the "Posted By" tag up to the post title as per Andrew's wise request.

For my periodic opinion / political postings, Andrew has graciously agreed to allow me back on to Bound By Gravity as a guest poster.

Kim Kim Kim

Yesterday I stopped by Future Shop and purchased a nice little LG External DVD recorder for our computer. Later at Walmart with Kim after we purchased a new ottoman we had this conversation.

Me: Wow, Mr VISA had quite the workout today.

(Yes, I call my credit card Mr VISA. Got to give him the respect he demands, right?)

Kim: Well, we didn't have to buy the DVD burner now, we could have waited until Christmas like we originally planned.

Me: Oh no, I know you were just dying to have it. It was all you. All Kim. Kim Kim.

Kim: Don't try and pin this...

Me: Kim Kim Kim

Kim: ... on me. You're the one who bought it. I never....

Me: Kim Kim Kim it was Kim

Kim: ... said anything about rushing out to get it.

Me: Kim Kim

Kim: Listen mister...

Me: Kim Kim Kim Kim

Kim: *frustrated silence*

Me: Kim

Kim: *elbow to my chest*

Needless to say, on the way home I realized I purchased the wrong recordable DVDs for what Kim wanted to do.

 

He Says / She Says

As you may have noticed, my wonderful wife Kim authored the last post. I suppose I should get around to explaining what is going on.

We discussed the idea of combining efforts and blogging together on one blog about the adventures in married life. We both agreed it could be fun to present the He Says / She Says perspectives that we find are often different.

The experiment that is my personal blog has been fun but has run its course I believe and this new direction will be replacing the Obsidian Tempest normal posting. As such I'll be making changes to the format and layout as time goes on to reflect the new purpose of this blog.

I still plan to do some politcal/science/geek stuff posting but I will be looking for a new seperate venue to do so, perhaps becoming a guest poster on someone else's blog.

Thanks for your patience while we update the template.

does it look pink to you?

Very often when we cook meat with dinner, especially when it's done on the bbq, I always have to check...and double-check...to make sure that it's not pink. I will not eat chicken, pork, or hamburgers that have any hint of pink...I like to think that I'm just being cautious because I don't want to get sick from eating under-cooked meat. (steak is the only meat that I'll eat with pink in it) This has become a joke around our house. In the summer we bbq a lot...well, Bill does the grilling...and over the past couple years he's become very skilled. I can't actually remember the last time that he's ever bbq'd something, that when finished, was still pink in the middle. This however, hasn't stopped my "pink inspection" of every piece of meat that sits on my plate.

Scenario:
We sit down for dinner and I cut open my meat.
Bill watches me...always...waiting for it...
Me: "Does this look pink to you?"
Him: "No"
Me: "Are you sure?"
Him: "It's fine"
Me: "No, look right here...it looks kinda pink"
Him: "Nope, that's just the color of the meat..."
Me: "I don't know...it looks kinda pink to me..."
Him: "It's fine...trust me"
Then I continue to eat my dinner, still unsure of whether or not I should eat the meat, which may or may not actually be pink...

Almost every time. Really. When I think it looks fine, he still watches me...waiting to see if I'll say it. Sometimes when I don't, he comments...
It's funny when we have company...and if I don't say anything, he's like: "aren't you going to ask me if it's pink?" Then the story must be told...

Tonight we had a roast chicken for dinner...Bill took it out of the oven to see if it was done. He cut it open and said, "looks done to me...see, no pink."

Weekend Follies

Kim's cousin Michelle was getting married on Saturday in Belleville/Kingston, and my cousin Martha was getting married in Oshawa, 200 km down the 401. We decided to split forces with me going to wedding in Oshawa while Kim stayed in Belleville, and then meeting up in Kingston in the evening at Michelle and Mark's reception.

So Friday evening we trundle down to Kingston to stay overnight at Kim's sister's place so we had that much less driving on Saturday. The next morn we drive down the road to Belleville where I was to drop off Kim and her sister at her Grandparent's place to get ready. As we open the trunk, Kim looks in and asks, "Where is the garment bag?"

Me: "Er, what garment bag?"

Her: "The garment bag with your shirt and tie and MY DRESS!"

*Stunned Silence*

We forgot the bag in Carleton Place and the wedding started in less than 2 hours. (Note: I say we, but the common convention in this situation is that it is my fault since I the bag was on the overnight bags in the bedroom and I took the overnight bags downstairs and the two pillows but left the garment bag on the bed and I never went back for it. I told Kim on my way down that I would start loading the car and she took that to mean I would load everything into the car, which I should have. For the first time ever she didn't check behind me to see if anything was left and of course, I forgot something. The most important thing it turns out. )

Panic set in. Desperate for something to wear that was not denim, we speed over to Zellers where I find a decent shirt but Kim is not so fortunate. The outfits just weren't working. I was close to dying in shame at this point. Alas, Kim's parents were nearby and were able to take Kim to the mall in Belleville for last minute clothes shopping while I was forced to speed down the highway to my wedding. I didn't know the results of Kim's emergency shopping trip and was too afraid to call and find out before I got back.

I made it to my cousin's wedding and spent the hours afterward visiting with my father's side of the family that I don't get to see that often. They were mightily amused by my horror story of course. Around 6:30 I get back into the car for the two hour drive back to Kingston. I get there and I am seriously relived to see Kim found a cute skirt and shirt combo and that she was in good spirits. Relief all around.

The rest of the weekend was stress free. We stayed at a hotel Saturday night and went to the gift opening Sunday morning after some breakfast at Denny's. Yum, country-fried potatoes.

Moral of the story. Double check you have everything before leaving the house!

A Picture of Me.

A nice picture of me from Charleston Lake this year. Click to embiggen.

Life Explained

 Crawl over to POGGE and check out this amusing story.

On the first day, God created the dog and said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."
The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?"

So God agreed.

[more]

Coke Zero gets Two Thumbs Up

I tried a bottle of the Coke Zero (new in Canada) today and have to report that its taste is on par with regular Coke and C2. Being zero calories I shall be adding it to my repretoire of soft drinks.

Now you know.

Waddle On!

I managed to survive Thanks Giving weekend with my sanity intact. Barely.

The dinner on Saturday at Kim's parents and Sunday at my parent's place were both delicious with lots of good unhealthy foods. Both times I was nearly full by the serving of the actual dinner. Then the excitement began.

Erin and the kids wanted to get a cat and it just so happens that my family had some kittens at the farm waiting for adoption. Well, Sunday after dinner we picked one up and took it back to Carleton Place for an overnight stay and then take it to Erin's place on Monday. We went to the farm and picked out a cute white with grey patches male and started driving home. He was well behaved in the car, swaddled in a blanket on Kim's lap to keep him from running around.

We were almost home with a smell assaults our nostrils. The poor thing had a huge dump on the towel and it stank! I pull over and dump the crap in the ditch as best I can and we rearrange the cat into a box. Once home I was forced to give the kitty a bath which it did not like. Seriously, you'd think the inch of luke warm water in the laundy sink was toxic waste the way the animal clawed with desperation to get out. But I managed to get it shampooed and rinsed with Kim's aid.

The question now was where to put the cat for the night? We tried in the basement first but the baby gate across the back stairs did not dissuade the beast for very long before he came pitter-pattering into the living room. He cuddled with Kim while we watched TV and at bedtime we closed him in the bathroom for the night.

At 6am he woke up and was lonely. Meow, meow, meow. I got up with the baby and let Kim sleep for a couple more hours. We went downstairs and watched Star Trek the Motion Picture on DVD. Well, I watched the movie, he attacked my feet and hands.

Later that day we made the drive to the Kids and gave them their new pet which they promptly named Angus the Second, named after their first kitty they had before they moved.

Worst part is, Kim and I miss the little guy already.

Hurry Up and Wait

A common theme in the working world nowadays is the concept of "hurry up and wait". You recieve tons of pressure to complete your tasks as quickly as possible only to find out they or someone else is not ready for your efforts and you are forced to sit and wait. One minute its "hurry up" and the next its "wait a minute."

Guess what I'm doing today? That's right, I'm waiting. I hurried yesterday and today I wait. Ho hum, what fun. To top it off I didn't sleep well so i feel half in the bag, rain looks to be ready to cancel my tennis game with Andrew, and I'm hungry. I'm very hungry. And I have to walk through the rain to get lunch in an hour.

This is all someone's fault. I blame Andrew.

On the upside, the long weekend starts for me in five hours! Ah, rest and relaxation and two Thanks Giving dinners.... Expect me to waddle back to blogging on Tuesday.

Losing Streak

On Gameknot my chess record is taking a beating this week, winless in 6 games after winning four in a row. Some of the losses were good games but most have been the result of mental errors (aka blunders) and its because I rush too much during my turn and I'm not seeing the stuff I normally should.

Grrrrr.... I vow to improve and get back to 1350!

Taiwan Deserves Recognition

 From Nathan's Updates from Seoul:

Off topic, but a cause I care about.

I was reading the BBC today, and saw something rather disquieting. Google Maps has apparently listed Taiwan as a province of the People's Republic of China. You can read the BBC article here. Taiwan has requested Google to make the appropriate correction, and the Taiwan Solidarity Union caucus has requested the public to contact Google with their concerns. I have done so already, and you may, too, at this link.

One of the biggest failings of western democracies in my lifetime has been the refusal to recognize Taiwan as a full fledged country independent of China. How our countries can refuse to give a thriving democracy recognition in fear of insulting a dictatorship is a sign of political greed in my opinion. Greed for China's huge market and cheap labour. Disgraceful.

 

I urge everyone to contact google at the link above and tell them to recognize Taiwan.

I'm with Rick on this one

Courtesy of Rick Mercer's Blog:

So the Liberals think they have pulled a fast one by not scheduling any opposition days until mid November. Clever Tony Valeri (pictured above) thinks the Conservatives would never try to defeat the government now because it would mean an election around Christmas.
Valeri (pictured above) not only looks like he is part barn owl but he seems to think he is wise as one too.

This is the chance for Stephen Harper to say the hell with conventional wisdom and show he’s got the gonads to lead. Stephen Harper is in the position to give the gift of Conservatism to Canada this Holiday Season and he should leap at it like one of those ten Lords-a-leaping.

Personally I love the idea of a Christmas Election. Not on Christmas day of course, that day should be reserved for the sanctity of turkey, but the day after. Let’s go to the polls on Boxing Day. It’s not a High Holy holiday and most people already have the day off. The entire nation is just lying around bloated looking for an excuse to get out of the house. Let’s face it, come Boxing Day, most Canadians have had their fill of family and a civic duty is a great excuse to get in the car early and get away from the in-laws; “Sorry Hon, I’d love to sit around your Mothers living room for another twelve hours and listen to you and your siblings tell stories about growing up but we’ve got to vote so GET THE HELL IN THE CAR!”

Ruin Christmas? Just watch me!

I wish I could summon the Outrage

So Dingwall is looking shady. What a big surprise. I wish I could summon the outrage to demand that this Liberal government be defeated and replaced (with just about anyone at this point) but that outrage left the building about a year ago. I wish I could say despair is left in its place but that would be untrue. No, its apathy that has reigned supreme in the place of outrage. Apathy helped by its crony cynicism.

Note to PM the PM: great work on reducing the democratic deficit! Or whatever BS you're pushing these days. How's Belinda working out on you, er, sorry, meant for you anyway?

 

Roofing Part Deux

A continuation of my last roofing adventure, I was once again called upon to venture out to my parent's homestead and assist in re-roofing the house. I was assured many times that this time would go a lot smoother and faster than last time. Last time we started at 9 and finished at 6. This time? We started at 9 and finished at 7. Finished working for the day that is (we were running out of light), my father worked on Sunday to finish the job for another 8 hours.

Remind me to hire someone to do my roof.

Sunday was relaxing day, playing some mini-golf and going out to dinner with Kim's parents. I was on fire at the minigolf shooting an amazing 45. I don't know what it was, it was like Zen or something. Only a few shots went bad and the rest were on target. Booya. Went home afterward and moxed the lawn for what I hope is the last time this year. Stupid grass has grown more in September than it did all of July and August. Weird.