Our lives are like a pendlum, swaying back and forth between life and death.
I hardly want to get philisophical but anyone who has struggled with and overcome a life threatening illness can testify that those things we fret over and worry about are eons from the relationships we build and the people we meet on our journey.
Hardly a day goes by when i don't think about this, not as a morbid re-hashing of the negative side of life but instead to push away the gloomy side of my personality and to focus on all which make life worthwhile.
My wife was blessed with a sunny disposition and it shines and warms my day. I however am more the dark, storm clouds with the occasional rainshower personality. It's interesting that opposites attract in so many ways and there's a comfortable feeling in knowing this.
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With the snow being vapourized by the unseasonable weather our plans for skiing have been knocked off course for now. Temperatures are supposed to chill and there's snow in the forecast next week so here's hoping.
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Last night, we let our little pug, Stella, sleep with us. This isn't anything new, we've allowed it before - too many times for my liking - but like many dogs, they get restless and then manage to overtake the bed and as a result, Stella got the best sleep of any of us. She may be cute and cuddly but cute and cuddly belongs on the couch not the bed.
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Looking forward to tomorrow. Vietnamese dinner with friends.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday night's alright for ... budget deliberations?
As I am sitting here, watching reruns of Almost Live, the best program to come out of Seattle--ever, which, by the way, features alumnus Joel McHale of NBC's show, Community."
This was after watching bits and pieces of Saturday Night Live, Liar Liar starring Jim Carey and laying out our budget for the next couple of weeks. I'm not going to lie. (seriously, I'm not) Budgeting is probably one of the more depressing tasks we do and it's something we need to do consistently. After we finish I feel a sense of accomplishment tainted by the frustration from the equation of "more going out than coming in."
Our old, check that, former roommate Manny dropped by and we hung out like friends do.
It's 1:30 a.m. Manny left about an hour ago and I'm tuned in to second episode of AL from 1993, which remind me of other events happening the same year and I reminisce about winning seasons for the Mariners, a Stanley Cup for the Habs, The Offspring, Blind Melon, CD McGee's and the good ol' days at Flex Fitness.
My wife and dog are passed out on the couch and it's time to say goodbye.
This was after watching bits and pieces of Saturday Night Live, Liar Liar starring Jim Carey and laying out our budget for the next couple of weeks. I'm not going to lie. (seriously, I'm not) Budgeting is probably one of the more depressing tasks we do and it's something we need to do consistently. After we finish I feel a sense of accomplishment tainted by the frustration from the equation of "more going out than coming in."
Our old, check that, former roommate Manny dropped by and we hung out like friends do.
It's 1:30 a.m. Manny left about an hour ago and I'm tuned in to second episode of AL from 1993, which remind me of other events happening the same year and I reminisce about winning seasons for the Mariners, a Stanley Cup for the Habs, The Offspring, Blind Melon, CD McGee's and the good ol' days at Flex Fitness.
My wife and dog are passed out on the couch and it's time to say goodbye.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The 70s: Cool times, funky clothes and gatorade in glass bottles
Wouldn't you know that as soon as you say goodbye to the holiday season a barrage of snow hits, melts and turns sidewalks and uplowed parking lots into icefields?
Our New Year's (first as a married couple) was terrif. Spent a good part of the evening drinking with friends and watching the Canadian Juniors sneak past the US in a shootout (Note at the time of this writing, the US captured the gold medal with a thrilling, 6 - 5 overtime win).
Made it to our friend's 40th and ushered in the New Year with them then we got up the next day and put our new skis to the test at Mount Baldy.
Afterwards we stopped by a friend's cabin for an apres ski drink and they invited us to stay overnight. I love spending nights at a ski hill. The beer and snacks just taste better at higher elevations.
One of the best purchases we made over Christmas was Season Five of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. May seem unusual a choice of all that are available but we really enjoy watching it. I love the styles: butterfly colours, plad galore, polyester suits, horribly mismatched outfits, flared pants and typerwriters and rolodexes on desks
I've yet to proclaim resoltuions for this year even though it's new decade. I have a couple of things in mind but I'm keeping them to myself so if I fall short I don't feel as though I've failed.
As for my wife, well she signed up for another round of spin classes at the gym and that makes her happy. Tomorrow she's going to run the river channel with a friend. Then, games night with our other friends that married last year.
This weekend we might end up on the skill hill but the apres ski session may have to wait until we get home. Too bad we don't have a hot tub...
Our New Year's (first as a married couple) was terrif. Spent a good part of the evening drinking with friends and watching the Canadian Juniors sneak past the US in a shootout (Note at the time of this writing, the US captured the gold medal with a thrilling, 6 - 5 overtime win).
Made it to our friend's 40th and ushered in the New Year with them then we got up the next day and put our new skis to the test at Mount Baldy.
Afterwards we stopped by a friend's cabin for an apres ski drink and they invited us to stay overnight. I love spending nights at a ski hill. The beer and snacks just taste better at higher elevations.
One of the best purchases we made over Christmas was Season Five of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. May seem unusual a choice of all that are available but we really enjoy watching it. I love the styles: butterfly colours, plad galore, polyester suits, horribly mismatched outfits, flared pants and typerwriters and rolodexes on desks
I've yet to proclaim resoltuions for this year even though it's new decade. I have a couple of things in mind but I'm keeping them to myself so if I fall short I don't feel as though I've failed.
As for my wife, well she signed up for another round of spin classes at the gym and that makes her happy. Tomorrow she's going to run the river channel with a friend. Then, games night with our other friends that married last year.
This weekend we might end up on the skill hill but the apres ski session may have to wait until we get home. Too bad we don't have a hot tub...
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Deciding what to do for New Year's
How can you tell it's the end of a decade with a flood of "best of" lists and videos being posted? We've decided that we're going to be ushering in the New Year with our friend's wife, whose birthday is on the 31st. It's the big FOUR-OH for her.
I've never really made a list of resolutions, habits or goals for the upcoming year; I keep them to myself for the most part unless I include the period in my life when Jan. 1 meant one day of indulging on junk food before I'd begin my diet for a bodybuilding contest. That usually lasted anywhere from 12 to 20 weeks during which I'd subsist on oatmeal, rice, baked potatoes, boiled chicken, egg whites and a little bit of fruit and salad.
My wife and I have been indulging throughout the Christmas season mostly because it gives us the motivation to tighten up our eating once next year rolls around. I figure there's no sin in enjoying some of the food that people have taken the time to prepare or purchase.
Finding motivation to maintain a fitness regimen should be a little easier because next Tuesday is the premiere show of this season's The Biggest Loser of which, I've actually come to enjoy--kind of :)
Anyways, I need to go. I have a hungry-looking pug that needs to be fed and is staring me down and licking her chops.
I've never really made a list of resolutions, habits or goals for the upcoming year; I keep them to myself for the most part unless I include the period in my life when Jan. 1 meant one day of indulging on junk food before I'd begin my diet for a bodybuilding contest. That usually lasted anywhere from 12 to 20 weeks during which I'd subsist on oatmeal, rice, baked potatoes, boiled chicken, egg whites and a little bit of fruit and salad.
My wife and I have been indulging throughout the Christmas season mostly because it gives us the motivation to tighten up our eating once next year rolls around. I figure there's no sin in enjoying some of the food that people have taken the time to prepare or purchase.
Finding motivation to maintain a fitness regimen should be a little easier because next Tuesday is the premiere show of this season's The Biggest Loser of which, I've actually come to enjoy--kind of :)
Anyways, I need to go. I have a hungry-looking pug that needs to be fed and is staring me down and licking her chops.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Cancel Christmas this year? No way, humbuggers!
Some people simply do not get into the Christmas (or choose one of the following: festive, holiday, seasonal) spirit. My wife is NOT one of those people. She loves Christmas and the lead-in to Dec. 25. We were late in decorating our tree this year because she was away on business. It wasn't finished until the first weekend of December. She'd been suggesting that I rustle our tree and decs from storage in early November.
She has been saying that for her, this year lacks the same energy and the pre-Christmas buildup we enjoyed last year when we went to a Christmas lite up, toured some of the homes in the city while sipping peppermint tea and eating flavoured popcorn and threw a Christmas party of our own.
Like my wife, I have always enjoyed the celebratories of the holiday season although some of the mystique and magic dissipates once you find out the truth about Santa. Still, and more than anything, I like the social aspect of Christmas; getting together with friends and family for food, drinks and conversation.
A moment of sentiment: This will be the first Christmas without mom. I remember when I was growing up how she went all out in wrapping presents and doing Christmas baking. With her faltering health, the past few Christmases were very low key for her and dad. Merry Christmas, mom :)
It won't be a white Christmas this year but I'm excited about going to my in-laws for a Christmas hiatus and meeting up with our friends. I can't WAIT to see the reaction when my wife opens up "the unexpected present."
She has been saying that for her, this year lacks the same energy and the pre-Christmas buildup we enjoyed last year when we went to a Christmas lite up, toured some of the homes in the city while sipping peppermint tea and eating flavoured popcorn and threw a Christmas party of our own.
Like my wife, I have always enjoyed the celebratories of the holiday season although some of the mystique and magic dissipates once you find out the truth about Santa. Still, and more than anything, I like the social aspect of Christmas; getting together with friends and family for food, drinks and conversation.
A moment of sentiment: This will be the first Christmas without mom. I remember when I was growing up how she went all out in wrapping presents and doing Christmas baking. With her faltering health, the past few Christmases were very low key for her and dad. Merry Christmas, mom :)
It won't be a white Christmas this year but I'm excited about going to my in-laws for a Christmas hiatus and meeting up with our friends. I can't WAIT to see the reaction when my wife opens up "the unexpected present."
Thursday, December 17, 2009
In a good marriage, you never have disagreements, er, fights?
Just remember when you are reading this hun, I love you...
This is not a revelation to the married masses out there, nor is it a caveat for those single and eyeing up marriage in a society where, unfortunately, more than half end in d-i-v-o-r-c-e.
My wife and I sometimes disagree and in some instances it escalates into a fight, as tension ratchets up, voices are raised and we either stand firm, arguing our position or offer a half-hearted apology for words that came out in a manner that "wasn't what I meant."
What follows is minutes, or even hours of sullen silence, broken only by the sounds crackling from the TV or one of us talking to our pug, Stella, who, by the way, can do no wrong. Even when she does, well, my wife's reasoning is that she doesn't know better because "she's just a baby."
C'est la vie.
How does one reconcile himself to the reality that fights are inevitable - and perhaps even healthy, cleansing if done correctly - and not something to feel bad about?
I love my wife, and she loves me. This much I know. Neither is perfect and even though I may try and justify my words and/or actions in the midst of an argument, I try to keep sights on what is most important: that life is short, I am lucky to be married to someone who makes me laugh, shares my thoughts on many things, is a great cook, an independent woman with a great sense of humour has a great fashion sense and in the midst of a South Okangan winter, looks terrific in hats, boots and scarves.
This is not a revelation to the married masses out there, nor is it a caveat for those single and eyeing up marriage in a society where, unfortunately, more than half end in d-i-v-o-r-c-e.
My wife and I sometimes disagree and in some instances it escalates into a fight, as tension ratchets up, voices are raised and we either stand firm, arguing our position or offer a half-hearted apology for words that came out in a manner that "wasn't what I meant."
What follows is minutes, or even hours of sullen silence, broken only by the sounds crackling from the TV or one of us talking to our pug, Stella, who, by the way, can do no wrong. Even when she does, well, my wife's reasoning is that she doesn't know better because "she's just a baby."
C'est la vie.
How does one reconcile himself to the reality that fights are inevitable - and perhaps even healthy, cleansing if done correctly - and not something to feel bad about?
I love my wife, and she loves me. This much I know. Neither is perfect and even though I may try and justify my words and/or actions in the midst of an argument, I try to keep sights on what is most important: that life is short, I am lucky to be married to someone who makes me laugh, shares my thoughts on many things, is a great cook, an independent woman with a great sense of humour has a great fashion sense and in the midst of a South Okangan winter, looks terrific in hats, boots and scarves.
Friday, December 11, 2009
It must be close to Christmas, cuz I'm fighting off a subborn cold
BRRRR! It's cold outside but if we manage to get a little bit of snow cover, it'll start to fell like Christmas. We've talked about spending the holidays out of town, in some sunny, balmy place. Not sure how I'll take to that.
So, we've got a good handle on our shopping done, with only my daughter and dad to buy for, plus a couple of stocking stuffers for each other ...
One of my favourite rituals at this time of year and once the tree is up, is to luminate the Christmas tree in the wee hours of the morning--there's a warm, fuzzy, nostaligic feeling I associate with it, kind of like those Christmases when I was a child.
I'll end up sounding like a broken record on this topic, BUT, I'm loving the new TV, esp. the HD programming. After my wife has trundled off to bed, I've been staying up watching HBO's Six Feet Under. I can see why people find it to be so captivating, and it's ultimately about a subject that everyone will experience in living.
I'm going to cut this short, because our little pug is starting to scratch at her pillow. Translation: I want to go for a walk.
So, we've got a good handle on our shopping done, with only my daughter and dad to buy for, plus a couple of stocking stuffers for each other ...
One of my favourite rituals at this time of year and once the tree is up, is to luminate the Christmas tree in the wee hours of the morning--there's a warm, fuzzy, nostaligic feeling I associate with it, kind of like those Christmases when I was a child.
I'll end up sounding like a broken record on this topic, BUT, I'm loving the new TV, esp. the HD programming. After my wife has trundled off to bed, I've been staying up watching HBO's Six Feet Under. I can see why people find it to be so captivating, and it's ultimately about a subject that everyone will experience in living.
I'm going to cut this short, because our little pug is starting to scratch at her pillow. Translation: I want to go for a walk.
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