Homeward Bound

Jen (since you're the only person I know who actually reads this regularly), I thought I'd let you (all) know what our Winnipeg plans are so far.

We were waiting for a seat sale from Westjet. Robin checked meticulously. According to seat-sale trends the seats should be on sale now. Instead they are more costly (as one expects as you approach flight dates). Since we have a fabulous car now we're planning to drive instead. Tis cheaper, but of course takes a bit more time. This will also be much easier on Darla.

We've considered alternatives for Darla's care, but because she is still suffering separation anxiety none looked good. Leaving her here with freinds or family would be tricky, because she really does need someone home as much as possible. We've been crating her when we leave for long periods, which has been useful in keeping her from scratching the door and peeing in the basement. Now when we leave for short periods (only a few hours instead of 8) she seems to be happy that we didn't crate her and refrains from peeing. We can't tell about the scratching since the door is already very scratched up. I suppose I should webcam record her again to see if there is any improvement. Anyhow, I'd hate to imagine what would happen if we left her for over a week, even with friends. Cats are so much easier - leave food and water and a big litter box.

This week I was able to test the Corolla on the highway as I travelled to and from Toronto for three days (attending a conference)... in rush hour. Needless to say it was not a pleasant drive. It has been very hot and humid. And I was cursing that we bought a manual car (which under most circumstances I love) as I crawled along the 401. Fortunately we have AC and I had good company.

To return to the topic at hand, it looks like we should leave end of this month. Robin still needs to negotiate some more holiday time. Hmm, looks like I'll be rushing to grade papers before I leave. I hope a bunch arrive early.

We look forward to seeing everyone! Of course, I'll be at Folk Fest for several days of it. Sorry Jen. You're lucky I'm coming back to town for the wedding. JJ. Sheesh, had to be the far opposite end of the city! And don't worry, I'll stop at my parents's place to shower first! lol You don't want some stinky folk-fester at your wedding. I'll do my best to get the mud out from between my toes.

Corolla

It is with great jubilation I announce that we have bought a 2000 Toyota Corolla.

Oh, sweet standard. How I missed shifting gears. Blue is a lovely colour, not that colour was a deciding factor. Darla seems to like the car too. She can't wait for her first car ride!

Now we can finally get to all the things on our to-do list - such as purchase supplies to build our raised garden beds on the backyard slope so that I can get all the seedlings out of my living room.
I foresee a lot of gardening for the rest of the month. And we've just had a stretch of cool rainy days to really soak and prepare the ground.

Spring Has Sprung

With exams over we're moving on.
Today I dug into our gardening project for this summer. I began to turn the soil on the slope. Keeping sure footing on a slope while you dig is not easy! I only got about 2/3 done. And I've decided to leave the rest for Robin! I also cleared away most of the old tree, the branches of which I'd laid across the areas to be gardened to keep grass from growing. It worked quite well, and the gardens have the added bonus of pine-needle mulch. I was pleased to see many worms in the ground. I can't wait to get some wood to build the beds!!! Many of the seedlings are probably aching to get out there too!
Thursday we have plans to spring clean. I'll cheer after it's all done I suppose. I intend to finally finish lining our kitchen cupboards too.
We're still car hunting. I hope we get something soon!

PhD Candidate

That's me.
I wrote my last comprehensive exam yesterday. Yippee!!!!
I am confident that I passed - this exam went far better than my general exam.
So now I can move on to the next stage of research.
But first, I'm catching up on podcasts (particularly Deo's Shadow), cleaning the office (maybe get to the house), and NOT reading.
It's cold out today - a good reason to stay in. If it was warm again I'd want to be outside instead of in here catching up.

Robin's new shift is a great day shift. 9:15-5:15. Sure enough he got one of the split "weekends" - but it gives him Saturday off. And the idea of breaking up the week is appealing for now. Challenging the split might (would likely) mean getting two weekdays off. Plus, I'm sure the shift will change sooner than later.

Take a break??

I met with one of my committee members today, and he advised me to stop studying.
Take a break?
What would I do with myself?
I'm not about to pick up another project. So I can't do more 'work'.
So when I got home, I admit, I did do a bit more studying. Then I took Amalthia out on the deck, tuned her under the shade of the deck umbrella, and played all my favourite tunes. It didn't sound too bad for rusty fingers.

And I also confess that last night I watched some TV - particularly Law and Order shows.
I think I've been managing my relaxation time pretty well. I don't feel overly stressed about Friday. Of course, I don't feel perfectly prepared either, but how can I expect to be so in a mere 3 months to learn 30 books and more than twice as many theories. (Some books are compilations of essays.)
So come Friday, I'll know what I know.
No point stressing over what I will forget, or what I might have missed.

I plan on watching Smallville and Supernatural as usual Thursday evening, and then going to bed for a good night's rest.

Thoughts of what I will have to dive into after Friday (more work) are hovering around me, but I'm ignoring them right now. We shall not speak of such things.

In other news, Robin's in the midst of yet another shift bid at work and once again he has crappy options. They're even trying to make people take split days off - which we checked in Ontario's labour laws... they can't do it. Not even with a written agreement between the employer and employee. That's not quite true, they could make employees have a split 'weekend' every other week, but not every week. And since the weeks at his work are always the same schedule, that's not an option for how they currently schedule shifts. But other employees may not realize this, and may avoid a good shift that is supposed to have a split weekend. Then maybe Robin can get the shift and proceed to inform the employer that they will have to reschedule the weekend to accord with provincial law. Well, we can hope for that situation at least. Because otherwise he may be stuck working until midnight!

Tensions are rising!

There are only a few short days remaining until I write my FINAL comprehensive exam. This is my field exam, which means it's focused on my field of specialization. I like to think of these as my 'teachables' in B.Ed talk: New religious movements, religion and contemporary culture, religion and popular culture (and by implication, sociology of religion). My research focus on contemporary Paganisms falls into all of these fields.

Just as I delve whole bodily into this last week of intensive preparations what should arrive on my doorstep (while I was out) but a solid wood desk.
The next couple hours were dedicated to moving all my books,article,paper,notes, and such to one side of the office so I could get the desk indoors. And since there was no point in trying to work in a half-organized room I of course also had to rearrange enough things to reaccess my books etc.

What you can't see is that the bottom is where the sitting chair is and the cupboard - both covered in stuff.

In other news, I celebrated my 26th birthday earlier this month. And 10 days later I celebrated it with a surprise party. The cake even says "Happy Birthday Mandyz". (The zed is silent) And you can never go wrong with party hats.


Surprise parties rock! This was my first ever. Many thanks to my friends. Robin can't believe I didn't know it was coming. In retrospect there were 'signs', but you'd have to be expecting 'something' to catch them. I was too focused on studying to wonder.

Okay, that was a snippet to show off the cute picture of Darla and my new comfy office. So much more table space (to pile books on... but hey, that's better than the floor!)

Piracy and the van

My pirate name is:

Calico Mary Flint

Often indecisive, you can't even choose a favorite color. You're apt to follow wherever the wind blows you, just like Calico Jack Rackham, your namesake. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Apparently my love of many colours makes me indecisive.

I'll need to hone my piracy skills to secure me a new vehicle.
The ol' Caravan has sunk to the bottom of the ocean matey. Arr.
(The ocean of Cdn Tire where it currently lies waiting to not be fixed, awaiting some treasure hunters to retrieve it.)

Ahoy, new treasure is on the horizon... a new ship, one that is fuel economic! It's a far horizon, and I'm not sure how long it will take us to reach that shore.

Foolish Blessings

Once again I am a day late.
Guess why. Yep, I was busy.
It was a day full of foolishness. Unfortunately, not with my former Fools friends, but those who gathered at the local Pagan Temple to celebrate were certainly very fool-ish last evening. We planned an entirely absurd ritual in celebration. It was fabulous! I have never had so much fun planning, executing, and participating in ritual.

I'm still chuckling to myself over flashbacks.


What I am not chuckling about is the churning mass of sugar in my tummy this morning. I could have sworn yesterday was St. Patty's by my seeming 'hangover' today! Our cakes and ale was pop rocks with cola... and it was all candy from there - washed down with cream soda. This morning I couldn't even look at the vegan chocolate upsidedown cake I made. Which is just as well because otherwise I would have polished it off, and no tummy needs that!

In other news,
Robin got shafted again on the most recent shift bid. Last time he got stuck with 10:30-6:30pm and Tues/Wed off. He liked the days off because that's when his 'footy-ball' is played on TV. But dinner was late every night. Especially since he had to get home and then make it ;-)
His new shift doesn't start until 1pm and goes until 9pm! So we'll be switching to a big lunch and small dinner meals. It's healthier too. This takes effect on my birthday (April 10). The positive spin is that this frees his mornings to look for a new job - which he's wanted to do. And crappy shifts is excellent incentive.

Family updates:
seedlings are growing tall. I'm not sure how I'm going to keep them indoors until mid May! The tomatoes have outgrown their containers. Now they're in the open and I have to find a way of keeping Gryphon from chewing them.
Darla and I have been enjoying many sunny days on the back porch. Me reading in the sun (preparing for my field exam) and Darla switching between naps in the shade and watching all the wildlife run about. We are lucky that she is very well behaved and a "velcro" dog since we don't have a fence. She's not at all interested in running away or leaving what she knows is her yard. She knows the invisible line between our yard and that of our neighbours.
Jenny and Gryphon are also enjoying the outdoors with us. Gryphon thinks he should have his own door so he can go in and out as he pleases. I keep telling him he has to choose - in or out - but he's a cat so he doesn't listen to anything I say.

Happy Belated Vernal Equinox

I'm a day late posting, but that's because yesterday was busy! I spent the first half of the day preparing for the second half. At 4pm I gave a guest lecture about contemporary Paganism and religious diversity in Canada. Then I rushed home for a Partylite event at my place, which I co-hosted with my friend Tay.

In the world of partying - I hope everyone had a fun St. Pattys Day. The day of (green) beer, green clothing, and everyone claiming Irish descent. We celebrated at the Still with Robin's friends. Much fun was had - perhaps a little too much as I was not well the next day. It's been a long while since I partied all night. Fortunatly I did not drink any green dye #8.

So, it's the spring equinox... supposed first day of spring... how come there is still snow on the ground then? We had such lovely weather a week or so ago - some of the herbs in the backyard decided to start growing, and then they were doused in snow! Although what was there is now brown I already see fresh green from the recent days of sun. I am getting very impatient - I want to be gardening!

Robin and I are getting excited about our organic gardening plans. There will be a lot of vegetables, as well as herbs, and companion flowers (strategically placed to keep bugs away). Robin also has plans for the front flower beds, although we are lucky to have numerous perrenials already there. I think the rabbits already ate the tulip bulbs I planted in the fall, which is a good reminder that I will need to devise a way to keep them away from my vegetables!

I've already started seeds indoors. I'm reusing as many plastic containers as my imagination can devise. These large salad greens bins are particularly great. And the organic greens that were inside them are delicious. My (vegetarian) sister introduced us to them while she was visiting and we've kept our fridge stocked ever since. They are an incredibly priced deal as well. And see how useful they are after!


I've also created newspaper pots that can later be planted directly into the ground. These are good for the larger plants. So far I have marigolds in them.


I also have some peat pots (jiffy pots), but before I picked those up I started some seeds in cardboard egg cartons. They fit very nicely into my salad bins.


These are my brandywine tomato seedlings after 5 days! I think they like their plastic bin home.



While I wait for all these seedlings to grow I content myself with tending to the indoor herbs. Just to be clear, the composter will not stay there on the deck. We just picked it up today and put it together there.



All the sunny table spots are taken in the house. Jenny is not too impressed by this as Darla and Gryphon tend to hog the sun-spots on the floor. I often find Jenny sitting among the plants, and since she's not the evil one who eats them, I don't mind.
Yes, this is a goldfish plant. Of course, when I saw it at the grocery store, I had to get it. Mine has yet to flower.



And what posting is complete without a photo of Darla. Here she is running up the yard. See all those branches on the ground? That used to be a nice tree in the backyard that provided privacy. Then it blew over in a recent storm. Now the branches are helping me prepare the ground for a garden by killing the sod beneath.

In other news, we are redoing the kitchen and front entrance soon. We bought new porcelain tiles the other day. We've got the paint colours picked out and the new countertop. We just need to pick a new backsplash tile to match the floor. The one we had previously chosen does not match.
** I am updating this post with a picture of the tiles and paint colours (the dark blue is the countertop sample.) The paints are not coming out quite the right colour and will probably look even more different on your screen. The blue is more muted and greyish, but this gives you an idea.

The Inn is closed for March

Well, we survived the month of houseguests.

It wasn't really so bad of course. But it nevertheless changes dynamics and schedules.

We celebrated my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary on the 18th. There was a wonderful extended family and friends dinner in St. Catharines. Mom and dad were out to visit, as were V and her boyfriend - who now live in Kelowna. Everyone except mom just stayed a few days - primarily for the weekend of the dinner. Mom stayed until the end of the month. We had a lot of fun - good food and shopping.

While in Niagara Falls area I took my first trip behind the Falls. There is a lot of water falling from above you! And it's cold!

Robin benefited from the shopping too with an early ostara gift from mom - two games for his old N64 - Mario Kart and Tennis. We had a few rounds of Dr. Mario with mom before she left (she lost most often) - that's her favourite game and mine. I'm glad we've finally got the N64 hooked up again :)
Of course, he had the most fun when his friends were here - attending a hockey game in Buffalo and such.

Jenny, Gryphon and especially Darla charmed everyone staying at the Inn. Darla will miss mom cuddling on the floor with her for extended belly rubs. She spent a lot of time watching Olympics with my mom downstairs. Now she's back in the office chair.

I am officially declaring the Inn closed for the month. It will reopen in April for Alisha's visit.
(The exception is limited stays from immediate family, particularly Aunty K and Aunty R)

Stay tuned for more fun here at the KW Home...
Coming soon:
St. Patrick's Day Tupperware Party!!

(first it's a vacuum, now its a tupperware party... I am so domesticated... it's fun! you know what's next... not yet)