Category Archives: My thoughts*

The Hubster and I spent a lovely, albeit busy day together.

Actually, our adventures started last night.

As our moving date gets closer and closer (Two weeks! Two weeks!) our “date nights / days” have changed a little bit. Instead of going out for dinner, we find ourselves in Canadian Tire and Home Depot, dreaming about all the projects we hope to take on in our new home.

A deck! A dishwasher! A garden! A finished basement! New windows!

…just to name a few.

We know that many of these projects will be years in the making, but it’s lovely to dream about how it will all look when everything is finished.

Last night was no exception. It began with the conclusion of my camera hunt. Since our camera broke two weeks ago, I’ve been online every day searching for the right camera at the right price. I had really forgotten just how expensive cameras are, and we didn’t have $250 to throw around for a semi-decent camera. I finally found our exact camera on sale for $140… but the sale ended before we had time to go out together. Then, on a whim, I decided to check a store that I hadn’t thought of before and found a  better camera on sale for $110.

We jumped in the car and got it immediately.

It was just such a terrible time for our camera to die–of all the milestones in our lives, this is absolutely one I want to document with photos! I’m just glad that we were able to replace it for a reasonable price.

From there it was off to Crappy Tire and Home Depot where we wandered around and looked at tools and projects. We picked up a few things on our “Need to Buy” list, then headed home so that I could have some time to work on my final project for my course.

By 11:00pm I was asleep on the couch. (When did I get so old?! haha) The Hubster gently woke me and it was off to bed.

This morning we were up early as the Hubster had a meeting. We braved the torrential downpour and drove off–it was the craziest rain that I have ever seen. We survived the drive, and the Hubster dropped me off at IKEA and went to work.

Confession: IKEA = ♥

I love that store… I can easily spend a few hours in there without becoming the least bit bored. Today I went looking for curtains and found a set that I love. I have always loved the look of a double curtain (sheer set underneath, colored curtain on top) and I found some wicked charcoal curtains and a pretty diamond pattern sheer curtain to go with it. I can’t wait to put them up! I also found a pretty grey rug for our living room. Since our furniture set is black, I’ve decided to start with grey and white accents in the room, then I’ll mix in a pop of colour.

I just haven’t decided which color yet. :)

The Hubster came to meet me after his meeting, though he wasn’t quite as excited by my purchases as I was.

(Who doesn’t love curtains!?)

We ventured back out into the crazy rain and ran a few more errands before heading home. We probably spent entirely too much money today, but we’re just so excited about our house–we can’t wait to move!

Today we worked on packing the bedroom… slowly but surely my clothes and shoes are disappearing into boxes. (Don’t worry, I haven’t sealed the shoe box yet. I’m not ready. haha)

The wall of boxes in our living room is slowly taking over–I’ll take a picture soon to show you!

Our “Date Days” have certainly changed a little, but I think I love them even more. I love that we’re working towards something together, and that everything we’re doing now is an investment into our future. Our trips to plan out our home and the things we want to do together have become my favourite parts of each week.

Who knew Home Depot was such a great place for a date? :)

(via: http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1660/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1660R-21515.jpg)

Teenagers these days fascinate me.

In some ways I feel like they already know so much more than I ever did at that age, but then at the same time I sometimes have to wonder if they are really prepared for life outside the four walls of a high school.

One of the things I am constantly surprised by is their attitudes towards tests. Now, this certainly doesn’t apply to everyone, but I always find there is a certain group of students in every class that panic a little during tests. These are good kids who have either forgotten about the test, didn’t prepare as well as they should have, or are maybe just having a rough day.

In any case, I see them staring hard at their papers, willing the answers to the questions they are stuck to pop into their minds. They stare down, then look at the ceiling in frustration…

…and then their eyes wander to the person sitting next to them, busy writing out the answer to the question they are stuck on. Some hesitate a moment before looking over, others try to wait until I’m not looking, and some don’t care what I’m doing–they just need the answer.

Some try to keep a pencil in one hand, and their cell phone in the other under the table. I mean, if they’re only “checking” the answer they were going to give anyway, it’s not cheating, right?

It blows me away. These aren’t “bad” kids, they are are just unprepared, and accepting responsibility for  their lack of preparedness and possibly failing just isn’t an option. They have already figured out that they need good grades in their classes for whatever their next stage in life will be, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get there–including cheating.

So, I can’t help but wonder: is their drive to pass and succeed more important  than the drive to be honest?

Do honesty and integrity even matter anymore? As along as the desired mark is achieved, does it matter how you got it?

I couldn’t ever do it. My conscience eats me alive, and the thought of handing in something that isn’t my own has always left me feeling a little bit sick to my stomach.

…but maybe I’m just old fashioned. Maybe some kids today think that success is more important than honesty.

Are they right? In the grand scheme of things, does a little high school test matter?

Today I did the dishes (all of them) and it felt like a major accomplishment.

*sigh*

Is this what my life has become? It feels like the same cycle over and over and over…. wake up. Get Ready. Go to work. Come home. Unwind for 5 minutes. Make Dinner. Work on course. Sleep.

*sigh*

I think I’m just ready for my course to be finished. I only have a few weeks left, and I’m struggling to keep up with the momentum it’s pushing forward. It doesn’t help that the move is consuming almost all of my thoughts (exciting!!!!!!!!), and that I’d much rather be packing, planning and shopping for the new house than developing professional development resources for my colleagues.

Also, it was 21°C today. AH! It was so beautiful out… and I had no time to go enjoy it. Did I tell you that I just bought a new bike?

(I just bought a new bike!)

Actually, my new lovely bicyclette is already 10 days old and I haven’t even had a chance to take it out for a spin yet. Mind you, the death flu of last week didn’t help at all.. but today would have been perfect.

Alas, there just wasn’t time.

Because instead of biking, I did dishes. And laundry. And groceries, now that I think about it.

When did I become so boring?

Three weeks from now we’ll be all moved into our new house!

Actually, three weeks from now we’ll probably be passed out somewhere on the floor, utterly exhausted.

…but it will be in our new house! haha

It’s almost funny… it feels like it’s SO far away, but at the same time it’s so close it’s scary!  The move is always at the edge of our thoughts, and slowly but surely our cute little apartment is being packed into boxes.

For the past several weeks our Saturday adventures have been to Canadian Tire and Home Depot as we plan the projects for our new house! The Hubster has bought a few books to help us along as we go, and we’re so excited to get our hands dirty!

Most of all, I can’t wait to start shopping. Until now, most  of my thrift store adventures have been for clothes and shoes… and in just three weeks I’ll have space to shop for furniture projects and decorations! I am so excited to sand and paint and transform! The first thing I’ll be hunting for is a new dresser for our bedroom.

In other exciting news, today I found the jewelry tray I was originally looking for! It’s similar in design to the one Charity found, and it’s exactly I wanted! I didn’t get a chance to take a photo tonight, but I will tomorrow. It’ll look fab on my new dresser (that I haven’t found yet. haha).

Lastly, I am feeling much better today. Thank you for all your kind words and thoughts–I think the flu has finally passed. :)

(via: http://homeremediesfortoothpain.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/stress-free.jpeg)

Remember my super vent-y post last night about how tired and busy and stressed I was?

I had a surprise day off today. It was magical.

I honestly thought that today would be even worse than yesterday, especially when we woke up to a call from the Hubster’s work at 6:05am. He was on the phone back and forth for 20 minutes trying to get things organized, while I flew around the apartment getting our things together and trying to have the world’s fastest shower. I was trying to get ready so that I could drive him to work as I thought I’d need the car for my work.

I didn’t get a supply call for today last night, but usually that means that I just get a dreaded morning call. They can come anytime between 6am and 8:20am, and while you think it might be bad to get a call at 6am, I actually prefer it. It at least gives me some time to prepare. When it’s 7:45 and I don’t have a call yet, I assume that I am going to have the day off… then the phone rings at 8am and it’s rush rush rush.

Anyway.

I waited, and waited… and the phone didn’t ring. I took the Hubster to work, and still the phone didn’t ring. Then 8am passed, and at 8:30 it finally hit me: I had a day off. :)

I was already wide awake and dressed, so I decided to use my time to work on some of the things I’ve been stressing over. I packed three totes worth of dishes, one huge box of clothes and another of books. I did the dishes, folded my laundry AND put it away (joy!!).

…and then I went shopping!

I went for a long leisurely shop at two thrift stores and found two cute pairs of shoes and a new spring coat! I also had time to pick up this month’s book club book. AND I even had time to read some of it!

Best of all? I finally had some time to rehearse my song for an upcoming musical production I’m in. It’s nothing big, but I have a song to learn, and as I’m singing it solo I thought it might be wise to learn the words. haha!

This day was exactly what I needed. I submitted my assignment late last night, so there was less guilt and I actually relaxed.

I feel like me again.

And that feels good. :)