Wednesday Loves!

The morning hasn’t been going so smoothly… nothing major, just… “one of those mornings”.  I forgot it was garbage day and thus had to rush around gathering all of the garbage bags to put out this morning.  Then I forgot my travel mug of coffee on the counter when I left the house.  I returned home to get the mug after having breakfast with my mom (because I can’t live without my morning coffee), and that little detour had me arriving at work late.

Yeah.  Just… “one of those mornings”.

But rather than letting my bad start to the day get me down, I’m going to cheer myself up by thinking of the things I’m loving this Wednesday!  Here we go!!

I’m loving… Jimmy Fallon.  Of course.  Always & forever.  You guys know that.  But last night was extra-special.  See, this was supposed to be U2 Week on the Tonight Show, with performances, sketches, and all kinds of fun stuff with Bono and the boys all week long.  But then Bono broke his arm in a cycling accident over the weekend, leaving U2 Week on Fallon a bit of a bust.  Meh.  Whatever.  I’m not a huge U2 fan, so I didn’t really care.  But towards the end of Monday’s show (which I watched last evening), Jimmy announced that he had struggled to figure out what to do to fill in the last-minute musical act that night, when he realized he’s got the best band in the world right there with him in The Roots, and hell, he could pretend to be Bono for the night, right?  So he dawned a Bono-esque hat and shades, grabbed a guitar and harmonica, and then performed an amazing cover of “Desire”.  His impression of Bono was dead on, and I loved it.  Like, butterflies-in-my-stomach loved it.  Give me Jimmy & The Roots any night over U2!

I’m loving… that the Leafs lost 9-2 last night.

I’m loving… that I’ve finally made a start on my Christmas shopping.  Actually, more than a start.  I have gifts purchased (on-line) for my two nieces and nephew, as well as Danica’s birthday gift on order.  Kids are donezo.  Phewf.  Now if SOME PEOPLE in my family would SEND OUT THEIR CHRISTMAS WISH LISTS, I could get going on the rest of my shopping.  *hint*hint*family* ;)

I’m loving… that Christmas House Tour is just over a week away now.  My house is pretty much Christmasified right now.  I have two rooms that still need work – dining room and “craft room” – and some baking to do -  but I’m feeling very prepared and ready otherwise.

I’m loving… CHRISTMAS!!!  The snow we got this week has definitely added to the atmosphere, as well as the Christmas shopping on-line, plus the fact that every corner of my home is screaming “CHRISTMAS!!!!”.  I know it’s still too early for normal people, but I’m feeling as festive as can be here in mid-November, and I can’t wait for the rest of the world to catch up. ;)

I’m loving… Maroon 5 and “Animals”.  The first single of their new album, “Maps”, didn’t really do it for me, but last year’s Sexiest Man Alive (who trumps this year’s by a LONG shot, in my opinion – no offence Chris Hemsworth, but I barely know ye) has re-ignited my love for him & his band with this one.  It’s my jam right now.  This morning, it came on the radio when I was driving to work, and then I actually sat in my car in the parking lot to hear the big howl he lets loose.  I love it.

Edit:  I didn’t watch the video before I posted it.  And… it’s kinda grody, dudes. My apologies.  Adam, I still love ya, but this is a little bit messed.  ick.

I’m loving… that the number on the scale keeps going down… and better yet, I finally feel like I have my healthy eating ways back in check.  I know that when presented with temptation, I’m still far too easily swayed, but at least when I’m on my regular daily routine, I can keep myself on track.  No more foraging through the fridge and cupboards each night stuffing my face.  I eat what my meal plan tells me to and that’s it.

I’m loving… my long johns.  Oh, that’s right, folks.  I had to bust the long johns out again this week.  I’d been putting it off and putting it off, but the time had come.  I’m enjoying my second skin and the warmth it brings me.

I’m loving… that the long johns actually fit under my pants.  Two weeks ago, I think it would’ve been a painfully tight squeeze…

I’m loving… New babies!  My friend Sara and her husband Graham welcomed their third child last Friday.  I hear beautiful baby Hannah is getting lots of love from her big sister Charlotte and big brother Daniel – and I so can’t wait to meet her!  Newborn snuggles are my favourite!

Happy Wednesday friends!!

Target Back in Sight

This morning was a good morning for me.  When I stepped on the scale, I was back within sight of “The Magic Number”.  And by “back within sight”, I mean less than 10 lbs. away from it.

Here’s a thing you should know about me:  I violate one of the biggest weight loss rules there is each day, and that is that I get on the scale almost every single morning.  Not supposed to do that.  Once a week max, the experts warn.  Measurements are more important than the number on the scale anyways, they say.  That number can fluctuate daily, and it’s not worth it to get depressed over it when it goes up and down like a yo-yo.

And yet, I get on it every morning.  I don’t log my weight daily – that I only do once a week - but I just need to know.  It’s kind of a weird little obsession I have.  I take it as my warning for the day:  “OK, here’s your number.  Now you need to try to make sure it doesn’t go higher tomorrow.  This is your mission, if you choose to accept it.”

In recent months, I hadn’t been accepting the mission.  I’d been watching that number steadily climb, growling over it, and feeling very much in denial about it.

But that number, when it reached a certain spot, was my indicator that it was time to get smart about this again.  I thank God it finally smacked me upside the head.

So for the past week and a half, it has been bringing me great relief to see it on the decline.  As my diet became cleaner, as my choices became healthier, and as my portions became more reasonable, combined with a regular exercise routine, the number started to go down. And I find myself breathing a sigh of relief each morning, as each pound lost is one more little step in the right direction.

Last week, as I previously reported, I lost 5 lbs.  This week, the ounces have continued to be shed (albeit at a slower rate, as I expected) – and it was so nice this morning to finally see that I’m back within grasp.

I’ve always considered losing 10 lbs. a very doable task.  Even at my heaviest, I knew that with some effort, I could lose 10 lbs. fairly easily.  And along this journey, I’ve always set little 10 lbs. goals for myself because it’s more encouraging to look at the small picture than the big picture. 

My goal weight – the weight that I’m most comfortable at, the weight I’ve always targeted, “The Magic Number” – is back within reach.  It’s less than 10 lbs. away.  If I dig deep, work hard to avoid temptation, and stick to the plan, I just might get there before Christmas.

Easy?  Hell no.  Especially not this time of year, with all of the parties and potlucks and goodies of the holiday season lying in wait.  And I know just how easy it is to let myself be led astray.  It can happen in the blink of an eye.

But right now, I really feel like I’ve got my mojo back.  I feel strong.  I feel focused.  I feel like I’m back in control of this thing.

That in itself just might be the biggest victory of all.

Magic Number, here we come.

What I’m LOVING Wednesday!

Happy Hump Day, gang!  I’m in a super good mood this week, so why not share a few of the things I’m LOVING this Wednesday?  Here we go!

• I’m loving that I finally busted out the Christmas CD’s last night.  I got one tree up and lit while Elvis & friends crooned Christmas tunes to me.  It was bliss.

• I’m loving that I now have all of the borrowed furniture I required to assemble one of the upstairs spare bedrooms for the tour.  Another piece of the puzzle in place…
• I’m loving my new bedroom!  OK, it’s not a new bedroom.  It’s the same bedroom I’ve been in for 6 years.  But in the past two weeks, it has been completely re-vamped.  New paint, new bedding, new blinds.  I go to bed half an hour early to read now, just so I can spend more time in it!
• Speaking of going to bed early to read… I’m loving the book I’m reading!  It’s a book by Jeanette Walls called Silver Star.  I had high hopes for it, since I loved her memoir The Glass Castle, and sure enough, Silver Star is living up to my expectations!

• I’m loving that it’s soup season again!  I swear, I think that’s the thing I missed most during the summer months.  (I know… who misses WINTER?  Well… I kinda did…) Last winter, it truly was one of my favourite things to do on cold days – get busy in the kitchen, and have a big soup pot simmering.  Late Saturday afternoon, after a busy day, I tried out a mish-mash of squash soup recipes hoping to create the perfect autumn blend.  It didn’t quite work out the way I hoped, but it’s still edible, and I’ve been enjoying it for supper each night this week.

• I’m loving that my bigger sized pants are finally starting to feel loose again.  Healthy November is going SO well!! A few more pounds and I’ll be able to fit back into my “skinny” pants again.  But I might just stay in this baggier size for a bit.  It’s been a while since clothes felt loose on me.  I love how they make me feel “thinner”.
• I’m loving that snowflakes have started appearing in the pictures for the weather forecast.  So far, we haven’t seen many of them, and it doesn’t look like we have any major dumpings heading our way in the near future, but… I just love it when they are finally a possibility.  Flurries make me happy.

• And speaking of snowflakes… I’m loving that I have mine cut out!  It’s become tradition for me to hand-cut snowflakes to go in each pane of glass for the door between my living room and dining room, and while it’s kind of a pain in the ass, it makes me feel good when they’re done.  Even if they do give me a snowflake-cutting blister on my thumb.

• I’m loving that I feel like I’ve got time.  Last night I was rushing around trying to get a few decorating things done, and I had to pause and shake my head.  It’s only November 12th.  I still have three weekends left before the Tour.  There is still so much time… I know the list of things to do is long, but there’s no need to go about it all frantically.  (At least, not yet.)
• I’m loving that I’ve had so many helping hands who are gung-ho about getting me & my house ready for the tour.  I hate burdening others with tasks and requests, but so far, most have been greeted cheerfully, willingly, and even sometimes with great enthusiasm!  Decorating for the holidays should be a jolly chore, and it makes me happy that so many family & friends are making sure it is just that for me as I prepare for the Tour.

I think that’s all she wrote for today, folks!

What are YOU loving this Wednesday?!

Remembrance Day Randoms

• Remembrance Day has always been a very meaningful day for me.  Even as a child, I knew it had to be marked with respect and poignancy.  I’ve always made sure to buy a poppy and wear it in the weeks leading up to November 11th.  I always take the time to pause for a moment of silence at 11 AM.  I hold deep gratitude for the veterans who fought for my freedom, and for the current military today who continue to protect it.  It’s a time to reflect, a time to show respect, and a time to say thank you.

• With Remembrance Day falling only a few short weeks after our country was rocked by two cowardly acts of terrorism, with two members of our Canadian military killed on home soil, this Remembrance Day seems to be even more important to me.  Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo are in the forefront of my thoughts –as they will be with many Canadians today, I’m sure.

• Thanksgiving is over for us here in Canada, but many of my American pals are looking forward to it, and in that spirit, I have to say a very big THANK YOU to the people who are helping me get ready for the Christmas House Tour.  I knew there was work to be done to prepare, but what has been accomplished in the past two weeks around my house is more than I ever thought could be done in two weeks.  There have been many who have stepped up – loaning me decorations, loaning me furniture, helping me clean and get the rooms set up.  But the key to all of it has been my Mom.  I couldn’t have even come close to being ready without her.
• The good news is this:  most of the big “projects” with respect to renovations and home improvements have now been completed, and that means it’s time for the fun part…DECORATING!!  I do believe the first tree will be going up tonight!
• I have so many plans and ideas.  I just can’t wait to put them all in motion and see if they work as well as they do in my mind’s eye.
• I’d be remiss if I didn’t give an update on how “Healthy November: Take 2” is going.  It pleases me to share that all’s going very well!  I was down 5 lbs after Week 1, which was a huge relief.  I know that was partly water weight, and it won’t continue to fall of so easily (not my first time at THIS rodeo) – but it feels good nonetheless.  I feel so much better, physically and emotionally, just knowing I’m back on a better path, making healthy choices and being mindful of what I eat.  I’ve always said if I could just get a few solid good days under my belt it would make the world of difference, and it certainly has.  Especially surviving the weekend without any major over-indulgences.  That was big for me!
• It’s almost time to start watching CHRISTMAS MOVIES!!  I’ve added a few new ones to my collection this year, including Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (is that a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie?  Not sure.  I haven’t seen it since I was a kid, and I’m excited to watch it again), as well as White Christmas.  I take great pride in my Christmas movie collection.

 

• The good part about getting the house completely ready so early in November and being on the House Tour is that I’ll have allll of December to relax and watch those movies!  Oh, and I’ll have to bake.  And do my shopping.  And wrap presents.  Not to mention the holiday get-togethers and meals and events that will be coming. 
• Nevermind…December won’t be as relaxing as I thought. ;)

Welcome to “Healthy November.” Again.

That’s right. It’s that joyful time of year, which now appears to have become my very own tradition, when I valiantly try to right the off-course ship that is my weight loss/healthy lifestyle journey.

I haven’t written much about that journey lately, because… well, let’s face it, everything had become rather redundant, hadn’t it? And I feel like this post will carry much of the same.

I need to get back on track I need to start doing the things that worked for me before. I need to stop eating everything in sight. I need to cut the chip-and-dip cycle. I need to stop craving chocolate and peanut butter and honey with every inch of my body and soul.

A few months of drifting off track has done major damage, but repeating these words over and over makes no difference.

I have to want it. I have to get myself in the right state of mind to even think about resuming my healthy ways. I can’t just say, “Starting Monday, I’m going to get this under control again.” Just because it’s a new Monday doesn’t mean my head and my heart are ready for the clean slate. I have to spend serious time soul-searching, planning, and psyching myself up for it.

So that’s what I spent last week doing. Ridding my house of junk (oh yes, AGAIN), researching healthy eating websites, collecting little bits of motivation, assembling a new workout schedule… all in preparation for Healthy November.

You may recall that I declared this month “the Healthiest of the Healthy” last year after a few weeks of mini Halloween chocolate bars and some Pillsbury sugar cookies had started to get the best of me.

This November? This November things are a little more serious. A little more dire. Going back and reading that post from last November almost had me rolling my eyes. Dude. You were fiiiine. You didn’t even KNOW what real food problems were!!

It’s not a few weeks of chocolate bars that I’m battling with now. They are more just like the icing on the proverbial – and literal - cake.  It’s three whole months of over-indulging in bad, bad food choices. And I have paid the price for those choices. I bought clothes in the late summer/early fall in anticipation of this time of year – skinny jeans and cozy sweaters – most of which now no longer fit me.

If there’s ever a kick in the ass I needed, it’s pants that I worked damn hard to get into that are now too tight.

And even though it discourages the hell out of me that I even needed that kick in the ass, it’s a good thing it finally happened. I had grown complacent. Sure, I knew I had gained some weight back, but I looked in the mirror and thought, “I still look pretty good! So what if my middle is thicker again? I’m OK being this size. As long as I don’t get any bigger…”

I told myself that at at least three or four different stages over the past few months. Gained 5 lbs? Well, that’s crappy, but not a big deal. 10 lbs? A little more serious, but hey, I still fit in my clothes, and that’s the main thing. 15 lbs? Eep… getting a little scary, but as long as I don’t go any higher on the scale, I’m OK!

22 lbs? Sound the alarm, mother*cker.

Yep. That’s where I was at when I weighed in on Monday morning. 22 lbs. over the lowest I’d ever weighed (this past April.) Not only is it alarming to know that I gained that much so quickly’; not only is it alarming to know that I put on the bulk of it in the past 90 days… It is alarming because that can’t be frigging healthy. To gain 22 lbs. that fast? That can’t be good for my body. That can’t be good for my heart.

My goal at the time of my birthday was to develop a healthy relationship with food. I think it’s quite safe to say I did the exact opposite. I was knocked severely off course by some personal anxiety, and after I got over that, I did some serious comfort eating when people I knew were suffering. After going through a few rounds like that, then I had the taste of it again. The chips were back in my life. The chocolate chip cookies were always ready and waiting in the can. A quick skip down to the store for a chocolate bar every couple of days… Why yes, I think I will have an appetizer, meal, AND dessert!

They weren’t just hard-earned treats anymore. They had all crept back into my regular every-day life again.

But I couldn’t just let them stay.

I finally reached the point last week where my thought was this: What the frig is the point in working out every day if I’m just totally decimating the advantages by eating too much?

Because, of the few things I still had going for me, that was the biggest: I had never stopped working out. I was sweating five or six times a week. Following my exercise sched to a T.

But what was the damned POINT?! Sure, it should earn me the right to indulge now and then. But it couldn’t erase the serious damage I was doing by over-eating like a maniac. Calories consumed and burned just don’t work that way.

I’ve said time and time again that I can never go back to being a couch potato again. I need to stay active and keep working out if I hope to continue.

But now it’s time to make the food end of things work in conjunction with the exercising again.  Otherwise, it is entirely futile and rather ridiculous to be sweating my ass off for nothing.

And thus, that is the goal for this “Healthy November”.

Last year, I wanted to use that month to reach my “magic number” on the scales, and I was successful. I’m not setting that goal this time around, because it is unrealistic. It’s too far away. Instead, I’m hoping a solid month of healthy eating & daily exercise will help me lose 10 of those 22 lbs. I’m hoping it will once again engrain in me those habits that led me to success in the past. I’m hoping it will teach me to be mindful and careful, especially with Christmas and all of it’s treats and delicacies lying ahead…

It’s actually the perfect month to do this, because November is kind of the calm before the storm. The Halloween treats are gone, and the Christmas ones are not all up in my face yet. There are no big birthday celebrations or parties that focus on food on the agenda. On top of it all, I imagine I’m going to be so consumed by getting ready for the Christmas House Tour that I won’t have time to daydream about cheeseburgers and poutines.

I know there will still be little challenges. It’s impossible to go four full weeks without facing some kind of temptation.

It’s a matter of how I handle those challenges and temptations.

I’m ready. I’m determined. And a few days in to “Healthy November”, I’m already feeling so much better.

So much more empowered.

The battle rolls on…

This round, I must come out of it victorious.

Hello NOVEMBER!!

Another week is getting away from me… How the hell does that keep happening?!

So… it’s November!!  I’m not sure where the month of October went.  It seemed to just fly by.  I spent half of it stressing out over Car Rally, and then the other half being excited for Halloween while also having my head full of a jumble of Christmas decorating ideas.  (Yeah.  It was weird.)

But now that November is officially here, it’s TIME!!!  Time to seriously start working on getting my house ready for the Christmas House Tour!!  It is coming up on Dec. 1st, and I pretty much decided a year ago that I wanted to be on it this time around.  Funny how I’ve known that for a whole year, yet left so much to be done at the last minute…

But it’s finally all coming together.  I got one of the spare bedrooms set up and ready on the weekend.  I’m having my bedroom painted this week (finally!  it’s like the last piece to the house improvement puzzle!  well…except for the moldy bathroom problem.  I’d rather stick my head in the sand and ignore that one…let’s not talk about it, okay?  I’m just going to shut that door.) 

This weekend, I’m going shopping to buy some of the supplies and decorations I still need.  I’ve been gradually procuring and gathering odds and ends and decoation “loans” from family and friends.

It’s slowly but surely all coming together… Slowly but surely…

I have yet to actually do any decorating.  Aside from the lights that I put up outside on the weekend.  (By the way, outdoor lights are NOT my thing.  I’m convinced the only reason women get married is so that they have someone to put the damn things up for them.  I broke bulbs.  I blew breakers. Like I said… NOT my thing.) 

But aside from the outdoor stuff, I have plans.  And I have ideas.  I simply can’t WAIT to start putting them all into action!

In the coming weeks, my house will be bursting with holiday decor, Christmas music (Biebs!  Under the Mistletoe!  yessssssss!), and Christmas baking.  It will be literally oozing with holiday cheer.  There is SO much to do, and yet, I’m not feeling stressed about any of it, because I just love Christmas so much.  I normally try to hold it all in until the end of November, but this year, I have no choice but to let it all loose a whole month early.

I’m honestly looking forward to it with all of my heart. 

Let the decking of the halls begin!!!!

Halloweenie Confessions!

Happy Halloween, friends!  I love that Halloween is falling on a Friday this year.  Fridays are my favourite day of the week, and Halloween is one of my favourite days of the year… SO fun!!!

The pumpkin is carved, the treat bags are made up, the scary movies have been watched, the fun Halloween supper has been planned…but before the little spooks come knocking at the door, first we must confess!

I confess… my house played a mean Mat Night trick on me last night.  I had put a load of dishes in the dish washer, then settled down to watch the Halloween Criminal Minds episode I had recorded the night before.  By the time it was over, I was sufficiently spooked.  (Criminal Minds does that to me any old week, so Halloween week extra-spookified me).  I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water before going to bed when I stepped in some water.  I thought I had accidentally spilled some of my water, so I went to grab a paper towel to mop it up with, and instead, I stepped in an even bigger puddle.  As it turns out, my dish washer had a massive breakdown, and it turns out my kitchen floor was flooded.  Super awesome.  I spent half an hour mopping before finally giving up and going to bed.  *sigh*

I confess… that I’m not going to let the dish washer meltdown ruin my Halloween day!  It was just water!  And I can wash dishes by hand, no biggie, I do that 80% of the time anyways!

I confess… that I slept with the hall light on last night.  Too much spooky googling and TV-watching yesterday.

I confess… that I ended up tripping down a very weird and creepy Wikipedia hole yesterday, after I started reading scary stories on jezebel.com.  Somehow, I clicked on a link that took me to the true story of a young British girl who murdered two little boys back in the ‘60s, and from there, more clicks took me to even more horrifying true stories of children criminals.  It was horrifying to read the details, yet once I started, I couldn’t stop.  Ghosts and vampires and werewolves and witches and aliens are all creepy in their own right, but real-life monsters – especially when they’re just kids – are what true nightmares are made of.

I confess…that I wish I’d never read Stephen King’s The Stand.  With the Ebola scare going on right now, I can’t stop thinking of the plot of that story and how real it could become someday…

I confess… that I bought more mini chocolate bars last night.  Why, Jill? WHY!?! 

I confess… that I’m one again declaring November “Healthy November”.  Starting Monday, I’ll be back on my meal plan and eating clean. (Giving myself the weekend to clear out the junk – again.)  Last November, I did this after a Halloween binge, in an effort to reach my “magic number”, and I was successful.  It’s embarrassing to admit now that a year later, I don’t think even a month of healthy eating can get me back down to that “magic number” .  It’s so far away now.  But I’m going to give it a shot before the Christmas food descends upon me, and it’s too late to right the ship.  I already feel like it might be too late…

I confess… that I didn’t end up dressing up today.  Well, not really.  My last-minute scramble didn’t work out so well, so I ended up putting on the only Halloweenie thing I could find:  a pair of troll doll Halloween earrings.  I’m claiming that I dressed up as “Jill from 1992”.

I confess… that I’m super pumped to greet the trick-or-treaters tonight!  I’m SO still a kid at heart… and not ashamed of it at all!

Hope you all have a spooktacular Halloween!! 

Ghost Hill

In keeping with the spirit of Halloween Week, I’ve been reminiscing the past few days of the things that spooked me as a child.  Considering I ended up being a teen who loved all things haunted and supernatural, it’s kind of funny to recall that I was really a 'fraidy-cat kid during my elementary school days.

I was the girl who stuck her fingers in her ears and shouted “LALALAICANTHEARYOU” when other kids tried telling scary stories at sleepovers.  At a friend’s Halloween party, her uncle dressed up as the Devil and tore through the house to the delighted screams of the other kids, while I cried and they had to call my mom to come pick me up.  I remember going on a camping trip with my class, maybe Grade 4 or 5?, and freaking RIGHT out when the girls in our bunk room decided to try out Bloody Mary in the bathroom mirror.

And then, there was this little problem called Ghost Hill.

You see, I live in a small town about an hour away from “the city”.  The main artery leading out of town towards the city is called Highway 148.  And it is home to a rather creepy stretch of road called Ghost Hill.

Back then, I was quite sheltered in our small town, and trips to the city seemed to be rare.  Few and far between.  We were more likely to head for Renfrew, Arnprior, or Pembroke – going the opposite direction, away from Ottawa/Gatineau region.  Yet, I had often heard about the hill – kids love to tell scary stories, you know – and so even though I didn’t travel it often, I knew it well.

It’s a windy little stretch of highway, with a marshy area at the foot of the hill, and an old stone church (which has since been converted to a house) at the top.  The bush is dense on either side of the road, twisty branches reaching across the road overhead to almost create an eerie canopy.

And when you’re coming down the highway and you hit that steep hill at just the right speed, you can feel your stomach do that funny little drop  and feel the hairs raise on the back of your neck.  The sort of things that happen on rare –and creepy – occasions.

I went through a phase as a child when Ghost Hill scared the bejeesus out of me.  People said the church at the top of the hill was haunted.  They claimed ghost cars would come straight at you and drive right through you.  Someone even told me once that back in horse and buggy days, a man had accidentally mistaken his friend for a cow charging at him, and shot him, and now that “man-cow” roamed the hill, just waiting to charge out in front of a car and scare them.

They often said you should drive over that stretch of road as fast as you possibly could, or who knows what might happen to you.

Likely fueled by the tormenting tales of my school friends, I grew to dread going anywhere if I knew I had to go by Ghost Hill, especially if it was after dark.  I literally remember begging my mother, if I knew we were going to the city, to please please please take a different route.

I know now that there are ways around Ghost Hill.  You can always cross to Ontario via the Quyon Ferry, or if staying on the Quebec side is your preference, there’s the herky-jerky-pot-hole-filled Mountain Road that can be taken to get around it.

But I can also see why my mom would lie to me and promise we’d go another way, then take the more direct Ghost Hill route anyway, despite my fears.

See, I was a pretty unobservant kid – still am, actually – so I’d trust my mom’s word when she’d vow that we wouldn’t go by way of Ghost Hill.  And then I’d sit perched in the back seat and remain completely oblivious to my whereabouts, until we got to the point where I’d realize, Holy crap on a cracker, we are AT GHOST HILL!!!!!

“MOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!”

My mom isn’t a very ghosty sort of person.  She doesn’t like scary stories, and she rolls her eyes at tales of the supernatural.  She used to laugh at me and my fear of Ghost Hill.  Literally laugh at her terrified little girl.  Imagine!

I’m not sure how or when it ended, but somewhere along the way, I got over my fear of Ghost Hill.  Probably after I realized nothing bad ever happened to me when I was traveling it.

No ghost cars, no weird happenings, no haunted man-cows roaming the ditches.

Many people from our area commute to work in the city every single day of the week, and I imagine they pass this section of highway much the same as I do now – without the bat of an eye, without even a second thought as to where they are on that long drive each day to and from work.  Nothing to even make them think of the fact that they are going over Ghost Hill.

Except for that tiny little tummy flip that happens every now and then, when you hit the steep hill going at just the right speed…

If your house HAD to be haunted…

OK, so it’s Halloween week, as we all know, and thus I have an urge to explore all things scary.  (Well, sort of scary, anyways.  I still need to be able to sleep at night, of course.)

The other morning as I was getting ready for work, they were discussing an interesting dilemma on the morning radio show I listen to:

If your house HAD to be haunted by something, what would you choose:

A) A vengeful ghost

B) A possessed doll

C) An evil leprechaun

D) A demon

This is an actual study that was recently conducted, apparently.  Some people have way cooler jobs than I do…

Anyways.  For me, the answer was quick and obvious.  If I HAD to be haunted (God forbid), I would choose the vengeful ghost.  If there’s anything I learned from my Scary Movie Marathon this past weekend, it’s that ghosts really just want you to listen to them, or do something for them.  They are angry because they have unfinished business.  So even though I’d probably crap my pants if a ghost showed up in my house, I would try to see if it had a message for me.  I would try to listen.  And if it had something it wanted me to do, I would try to do it for them.

Ghosts, I believe, can be reasoned with.  And if I ended up with a Bruce Willis ghost, I’d be delighted.

A possessed doll?  No thank you.  Old dolls can be terribly creepy.  If they could blink and move around and do damage?  Ten times creepier.

An evil leprechaun?  I didn’t even know such a thing existed. I thought leprechauns were jolly and came with boxes of Lucky Charms and pots of gold and mugs of green beer.  When did they suddenly turn evil?

A DEMON?! 

Hell to the no.  Who in their right mind would EVER pick a DEMON!??!

Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about demons.  I live next door to a church.  Which means, Jesus is my next-door neighbour.  I believe in my heart that He would not allow a DEMON to move in next door.

Actually, I’m kind of counting on Jesus to shield me from the ghosts, dolls, and leprechauns too.

Another interesting tidbit… In the same study, they found that 13% of people would not buy a house if they address was 666. 

I’m not sure how I feel about this.  I’ve always kind of half-considered 666 my lucky number (DEMONS, if you’re reading this, I did NOT just say that!!!)  See, Wade Redden’s number was 6, and one time in high school they had one of those giant jars full of jelly beans and you had to pay $1 to guess how many were in there.  I guessed 666 in Wade’s honour, and I won.  I ate jelly beans for months and months.  I mean, how LUCKY could I get?!

However, the other day I noticed I had 666 friends on Facebook and it gave me the heebie-jeebies.  I think I need to delete a friend.  Maybe I wouldn’t buy a house with that address after all.

So, folks?  What do ya think?  If you had to house a supernatural entity, what would you choose to be haunted by?

And if your dream house had a 666 address, would you still buy it?

Happy Halloweenie pondering, friends! :)

The Tuesday Random

• I’ve been in a blogging rut lately (in case you couldn’t tell by the lack of posts going on here).  Not sure why – I think the Car Rally craziness invaded my brain too much for awhile, and I’ve never really gotten back on track since.  I’m going to make more of an effort this week.
• It’s Halloween week!  I LOVE Halloween!  And I LOVE that it’s falling on a Friday this year!  I have my treat bags all set to take to my mom’s on Friday night to greet the trick-or-treaters with her.  And I’m already thinking of what I want for my fun Halloween supper.  Pizza?  Macaroni?  Nachos?  The possibilities are whirling… Also hoping I can talk Mom into watching a slightly Halloweenie movie with me – nothing too scary, of course, but perhaps Signs or The Village?  We’ll see…

• I bought Halloween candy last week to make up my treat bags, and of course, there’s now “leftovers” floating around.  The only good news is that I didn’t buy it as early as I did last year, and I didn’t buy as much “extras” as I did last year.  So the candy binge shouldn’t be as bad as last year’s.

• I had my Scary Movie Marathon on Saturday, and I watched The Sixth Sense, An American Haunting, and Stir of Echoes.  When it was over, I was sufficiently spookified, yet still able to sleep, so I consider that a successful Scary Movie Marathon.
• I still had to leave the hall light on, though.  Just in case.
• Despite the excitement for Halloween, my mind is jumping ahead a bit, as I know that by Saturday, it will be time to dive head-first into Christmas decorating.  I’ll have exactly one month to prepare for the Christmas House Tour, and there is SO much to do!  I have a list made of things that need to be accomplished during that month, and there won’t be any time to spare.  I can’t wait!
• I loved that my 2-year-old niece Neve came to our church supper Sunday wearing her “Let It Snow” shirt.  My kind of girl!

• I also need to start seriously thinking about Christmas gifts – a Wishlist for myself to email out to my “Secret Santa”, and lists to buy for the family member that I drew, as well as for the kids.  I always get a little stressed out over shopping, so I want to be on the ball this year.  Sadly, I’m lacking in ideas, so I need to give this some serious thought.
• To dress up on Friday, or not to dress up on Friday?  That is the question…

I think that’s all I’ve got for this Random Tuesday, friends!  Hope you’re all having a good week :)

Somber Friday Confessions

I confess… that when I’m upset, I write.  And the urge to write this week has been very strong.  However, I’ve yet to find time to sit down and really let my thoughts and feelings flow with pen and paper, or by keyboard, so for today, it will be in quick Friday confession format.

I confess… that after sitting glued to my computer a week ago Wednesday, praying for my sister’s friend’s safety and searching social media and news websites for updates as we waited for word following the avalanche and blizzards in Nepal, I didn’t think I’d be doing it all over again so soon.  One week to the day.  Our country’s capital under siege, a gunman on the loose, a soldier shot at the War Memorial, the halls of our Parliament building echoing with gunfire, the downtown core under lockdown… It was surreal.  It was terrifying. 

I confess… that of course my first thoughts were of my sister and brother, and many of my good friends and relatives, who work in the downtown sector of Ottawa.  I felt lucky that I work in the country, removed from the chaos and fear that gripped the city that day, yet still I couldn’t stop worrying about all of them, and hoping they were all okay.  Thankfully, they were.

I confess… that I kept thinking of the beautiful city streets of Ottawa, and the lively activity on Parliament Hill.  I used to work downtown (what feels like a lifetime ago), but I’ve strolled those very streets many times.  I used to catch my bus in front of Parliament Hill.  I know my family and friends are in the area on a daily basis.  It makes me shudder to think of how close they all were to it.

I confess… that at a time like this, the Mr. Rogers quote about how in scary times, we should look for the people who are helping, resonates with me.  It brings me comfort; it brings me pride.  I think of the first responders – the people who ran towards the sound of gunfire instead of away from it, the people who put themselves in the line of danger to try and save Cpl. Nathan Cirillo after he’d been shot, to the Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers who eventually took the gunman down in outside the Library of the Parliament buildings, all of the police, RCMP, and emergency workers who were trained and ready for a dreadful day just like this.  For them, I give thanks.

  This is a picture of Sergeant At Arms Kevin Vickers in the halls of our Parliament building moments after he took down the gunman

I confess… that I still can’t believe this has happened in our country.  I know I should have expected we couldn’t be shielded from it forever, but to have two members of our military killed in one week in two separate acts of terrorism – one on Monday, when Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was hit and killed by a car in St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, and then Cpl. Nathan Cirillo who was shot on Wednesday – both acts committed by Canadian-born radicals – it still sends shivers down my spine.  Not here… this can’t be happening here…

I confess… that I try not to pay much attention to scary stuff in the news.  Ebola, wars in other countries… I tend to stick my head in the sand.  They trouble me too much to allow myself to be consumed by them.  And to be very truthful, I really hadn’t paid much attention to the story of the warrant officer being killed in the parking lot in Quebec on Monday.  But when tragedy strikes in your own back yard, there is no running and hiding. 

I confess… that with each photo I see of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, tears prickle my eyes, and I can’t believe the sense of loss I feel over a man I didn’t even know.  In the pictures, I can tell he was a happy guy, always smiling, often pictured with his dogs, enjoying the outdoors, and in uniform.  A 24-year-old father.  Handsome as all get out.  An army reservist who was standing as a ceremonial guard at one of our nation’s most sacred monuments.  His weapon not even loaded.  His death so senseless.  It breaks my heart.

This particular photo was posted to Twitter by a girl who was visiting in Ottawa this past weekend and asked this “handsome guard” to pose with her for a photo, and he kindly obliged.

I confess… that on a day when sports did not matter in the least – as was evidenced by the NHL’s postponement of the Sens/Leafs game that night – oddly, it was several sports writers who, for me, best captured how I was feeling.  TSN’s James Duthie’s thoughts are here, and Bob McKenzie’s here – both poignant, heartfelt, stirring.

I confess… that I thought the Pittsburgh Penguins’ pre-game ceremony on Wednesday night was the definition of class.  Normally, the Canadian national anthem is only sung before hockey games in which a Canadian team is playing, but that night, with no neighbours north of the border in their barn, they sang it loud and proud, in an act of solidarity and support.  I can’t tell you how much that meant to us. 

I confess… that I’m wearing my poppy early this year.  I normally don’t put one on until after Halloween, but in the wake of this tragedy, and in honour of our fallen soldiers Patrice Vincent and Nathan Cirillo, I am wearing it now.  The poppy has always been important to me, but it means so much more to me now.  I’m wearing it for them.

 

I confess… that there’s so much more to say.  So many more thoughts that I haven’t yet expressed.  But as I enter a fun weekend, with many plans made with friends and family, I know that the events of this past week will never be far from my thoughts.  I know it will continue to be discussed.  Our country changed on Wednesday, but in the end, I know this will unite us and make us even stronger.

I’ve always been a proud Canadian.  This week has only made me feel that even more deeply.

I’m alive & well. Sorta.

Everyone knows that a stressful week + Jill = nothing good.  Hence, my absence last week.  I was wound up tighter than a bobbin, with my mind bouncing around like crazy, and no good blog posts could come of that.

It was the week before Car Rally.  My team won the Rally last year (unfortunately), which meant that we had the job of planning this year’s route and questions.  It’s a big job.  We’ve literally been working on it for a whole year.  And with the big day finally on the horizon, I was worrying, second-guessing, and stressing over every little detail.

On top of all that, we had a rough day last week when we received word that one of my sister’s best friends, Virginia, was trekking the Annapurna trail in the mountains of Nepal when the blizzard and avalanche hit, and she and her friend were initially unaccounted for.  I spent the day glued to Twitter, Facebook, and every news website I could find to keep updated, praying for their safety and hoping we’d hear good news.  That word finally came in the middle of the night Wednesday – Virginia was finally able to contact her family and post to Facebook and that she and her friend were safe and sound, and would be turning back as soon as it was clear to do so.  Thank God for answered prayers!

With that stress eased, I was back in Car Rally mode.  We had everything ready for the big day, and Saturday finally arrived.  Our theme was “Celebrating 2014”. I was such a big jangling ball of nerves by that day.  I swear, I don’t think I could ever get married.  I don’t handle these big events very well!

It was a pretty crappy day weather-wise, but we still had a strong turnout, with 59 cars registered and departing every five minutes all day long.  They followed our route, searching for clues and answering questions about holidays and special events during the year.  We had a fun day sending everybody off, then marking their answers when they returned.  I was so thankful to be with my friends – I honestly wouldn’t have done it with anyone else!  I think we worked really well together, and hopefully everyone enjoyed our Rally.  We had lots of positive feedback, so that made us feel good!

At the end of the day, it was a group of women that had won the Rally a few years back that won ours as well, and we are excited to see what they have in store for us next year.  We really enjoyed the last Rally they planned, so I’m already looking forward to being back in it next year!

Will we win?  Hell to the no.  Never again!  Once was enough for us! haha!

Half-way through the day Saturday, I realized my throat was starting to get sore.  Yesterday was spent pretty low-key, as I tried to fight off the sickness.  I’m still not feeling wonderful today, though the cold has never really developed.  I’m just feeling tired and achy, and I’m anxious to get home to the couch tonight!

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Pre-Thanksgiving Confessions

Happy Friday, friends!  AND the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend… what could be better?! 

But before the turkey and the pumpkin pie and the giving thanks stuff… we must confess!

I confess… that I’ve started losing sleep over Car Rally. I didn’t think it was going to happen.  My team has been so organized and on the ball and on top of things that there is no reason to be losing sleep.  And yet, for the past few nights, I’ve lain awake long past my bedtime, staring into the dark, running over and over in my head the things that still need to be done, and how that day is going to go.  My brain can be so annoying.

I confess… that I don’t know if I’ve looked forward to a day quite as much as I’m looking forward to the day after Car Rally.  I can’t wait to be a regular Car Rallyer again next year.

I confess… that I made another loaf of beer bread this week – this time a honey whole wheat version.  Beer bread is taking over my life.  I made it simply because I was fantasizing about grilled cheese sandwiches, and wanted to try one with beer bread.  (the sandwich?  didn’t turn out so great.  but the bread was still delicious.  not as delicious as the original version I made, but still pretty good.)

I confess… that I’m not losing any weight these days.  We’ll blame that on the current beer bread obsession.

I confess… that I placed my Amazon order this week for my Scary Movie Marathon, which I intend to hold on Oct. 25th.  I selected Stir of Echoes, Rosemary’s Baby, An American Haunting, and Disney’s The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (because it has The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on it).  I’ve seen all of them except for Rosemary’s Baby, but I hear it’s a good one.  Oddly enough, the one that still creeps me out the most is the Disney cartoon one!!

I confess… that in the last stage of my order, it told me the expected delivery date was Oct. 29 – Nov. 4th. Clearly after the day I’ve chosen to hold the Scary Movie Marathon.  I went ahead and confirmed it anyways, because my Amazon orders always arrive earlier than the date they estimate.  Knock on wood!

I confess… that I wish I’d never read these 2-sentence horror stories.  A few of them creeped me out BIG time, and oddly, I don’t think of them until I’m alone in my bed in the dark.  ugh.

I confess… that I kind of can’t believe my nephew Caden is turning nine this weekend.  NINE.  My sister forwarded me this pic of him and his buddy Carter (who also celebrates his birthday this weekend), from when they turned three at daycare.  Crazy how time flies!

I confess… that I’m really excited about my plans to go see Gone Girl tomorrow.  I loved the book, and can’t wait to see how the film adaptation works out!

I confess…that I was very jealous that my mom beat me to the theatre to see it.  My mom.  The woman I usually have to drag to the movie theatre with me.  No fair, man.

I confess… that I’ll forgive her probably after she feeds me turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and gravy and pumpkin pie this weekend!! ;)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, my Canadian pals, and to the rest, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :)

Wednesday Random Thoughts

The days keep marching on, and ta-da!  Here we are on Wednesday.  Which is good.  On the downward swing to Thanksgiving weekend… I’m so frigging excited for turkey!

Here’s some random Wednesday ramblings…

• It was extra-dark this morning when my alarm went off.  My bed was extra-cozy.  And the rain pattering against my window was extra-soothing.  It was one of those I just want to stay curled up in bed instead of going to work mornings.
• I’m not sure why, but I never actually do that, even when every inch of my body and soul yearns for it.  I blame my parents for instilling that “You never play hooky!” mindset into me.  I’m afraid even if I DID do it, my day would be ruined by my feelings of guilt.
• But we all need one of those days every now and then, right?  A day to do nothing but bum around home, curl up on the couch with a quilt and an extra mug of coffee, no rush to get ready.  Read. Watch mindless daytime TV.  Make a pot of soup or bake cookies. An afternoon movie with a bowl of popcorn.  And then, a nap.  Why do we have to be SICK to get those days, man?
• OK, I’m being a teensy bit dramatic.  I kind of had one of these days on Saturday.  Aside from a trip to WalMart, I lounged around, made a pot of chili, a loaf of beer bread, a loaf of pumpkin bread, and watched a movie.  Super stressful, eh.
• Still, I keep longing for this one day in particular… Just this past spring, I woke up early on a Saturday morning to a heavy snow falling, and my plans for that morning were cancelled because of it.  I literally had nothing to do.  I snuggled on the couch, watched Retro Toon, and drank an extra cup of coffee (which I never do)… I didn’t even get out of my jammies and head to the shower until noon.  It was pure and utter bliss.
• So yes, I guess it’s official.  I’m already wishing for a snow day.   Bring on the hate mail.
• I have a new favourite thing, and that is beer bread.  I made it on the weekend, and it was delicious.  Even better?  SUPER easy to make.  I’m already trying to think up an excuse to make it again.  Maybe even tonight…

• It was Worldwide Communion Sunday this past weekend, and our minister Nancy encourages us to all bring our favourite kinds of bread, or bread that represents where we come from, to share for Communion.  I had never brought bread before because anything I’ve ever tried in the past was such a failure, and I don’t know of a bread that represents “where I come from”… But the beer bread turned out so wonderfully, I just had to take it and share it.  When asked for the recipe, I just told them there was a “secret ingredient”.  ‘Cause I’m pretty sure it’s against the rules to bring beer bread to church for Communion…
• What does it say about me that I chose beer bread to represent me?  Probably not a good thing… lol
• I thought last night that I was getting the flu.  I felt extra-tired all day yesterday, and mid-afternoon there was a smell – a normal “farm smell” around here that usually doesn’t even bother me – that kept making me feel nauseous.  I went home and did my usual workout, but it felt difficult.  I felt lethargic, and had to force myself through it.   Then I ached all evening, and ended up sleeping on the couch for most of the night, before moving to my bed and sleeping uninterrupted there until my alarm went off this morning.  I was almost half-expecting to wake up sick, but today I feel fine.  Go figure.
• Of course, it would never work out that on the day I longed to lie in bed and listen to the rain hitting the window, that I would actually have reason to do so.
• Have I mentioned lately that I’m excited for turkey this weekend?  ‘Cause I am.  Extremely excited.  I so love Thanksgiving!!

• Originally, I thought Thanksgiving would be overshadowed by Car Rally doom and gloom, but as it turns out, I’m feeling really good about it right now.  We’re getting together on the holiday Monday to do some last-minute tweaking and preparing, then it will just be a matter of printing off the questions and getting ready for the big day.  “Life after Car Rally” is almost here!!
• As it turns out, there really is no break or rest in “Life after Car Rally”.  The weekend after will be jam-packed – a birthday dinner for friends, preparing food for our church’s Harvest Supper, Scary Movie Marathon, and then attending/helping at the Harvest Supper.  Mostly fun things, but it will be busy!  Then it will be Halloween, and THEN it will be time to dive head-first into Christmas House Tour preparations. 
• For this reason, I’m planning on doing absolutely nothing on the Sunday after Car Rally.  I’m just going to lie around and smile because Car Rally will be over.

Happy Wednesday, pals :)

Wednesday Hodge Podge – My first!

Quite a few of my fave fellow bloggers have been taking part in a meme on Wednesdays called “Wednesday Hodge Podge” – the questions often interest me, so I decided to take part for the first time today!

1. Are the leaves turning color where you live? Have they begun to fall? Will you have to rake when it’s all said and done? Is that a chore you love or loathe?

Indeed, the leaves are turning.  It seems early to me this year, but I’m happy with it all the same – I LOVE when the leaves start changing!  They are definitely falling, too.  Fortunately, I don’t have much raking to do around my place, so I enjoy the little bit I do have (if I do it at all… I’m more of a “chop them up with my lawn mower and hope they blow away” type of raker. ha!)

2. When did you last shake like a leaf?

Hmm… good question.  Honestly, the last time I remember was the night I flipped out of bed and hurt my neck.  In the initial aftermath, I recall feeling very, very shaky.

3. After 20 seasons with the NY Yankees, Derek Jeter played his last official game Sunday afternoon.  Jeter has been described even by opponents as a class act, both on and off the field. The NFL is back in action this month too, with several players in that sport also making headlines. What are your thoughts on athletes as role models? Should a professional athlete be expected to act as role model or is that going beyond their job description? What responsibility do the organizations these athletes work for have when it comes to dealing with off the field behavior? Discuss.

I believe professional athletes do have a responsibility to be good role models.  They are worshipped and revered, and in many cases it is impressionable children and teens who look up to them.  I mean, I did it too – Wade Redden was my everything.  It’s very easy to put athletes up on a pedestal.  It might not be in their job description to uphold these expectations of them, but when they step into that spotlight, they have to know that chances are they’ve become a hero to someone, and I think they’re making enough coin to respect that and at least try to behave. 

Unfortunately, making that kind of money seems to go to some of their heads and makes them think they’re above the law.  It encourages reckless, dangerous behaviour.  Criminal activity.  It happens time and time again.  In those cases, I do believe the organizations they work for should be at least partly held responsible.  Most employers expect their employees to act like good, decent, law-abiding citizens, even when they are away from the workplace.  Why should pro athletes be treated any differently?

4. What season of the year is toughest for you in terms of your health? Why?

I guess I would have to say winter.  I’ve been fortunate to be pretty healthy for the better part of two years now, with only a few minor colds (knock on wood), but I feel like during the winter I have to be on guard, more pro-active with vitamins, Echinacea, and eating healthy to ward off flu bugs and colds that others carry.  A few years ago, I had terrible spring and summer allergies, but strangely, that seemed to be isolated to that one year.

5. The top six healthy food trends of 2014 according to Eating Well are-

clean eating (more veg, less meat, less sodium, limit alcohol and processed foods)
trash fish(you know those fish that are caught in fishermen nets and thrown back? It seems chefs are finding creative ways to make them more appetizing)
cauliflower (the new IT vegetable)
kaniwa-(essentially baby quinoa, so like quinoa only smaller)
fermentation (think pickling only with twists on flavor we’re not accustomed to)
community supported farming-(farms operating with community support/membership)

Okay-so how many of the healthy food trends for 2014 have you experienced, encountered enjoyed? Any you’ve tried and said ewwww? Any on the list you’d like to try before year’s end?

I definitely can check off “clean eating”, as I took part in a one-week Clean Eating Challenge, and have since tried to incorporate that practice as much as possible (junk food binges notwithstanding).  I’ve also pinned a bunch of cauliflower recipes to try out, but the only ones I’ve actually attempted were Creamy Cauliflower soup (yum) and mashed cauliflower (okay, but not gonna replace mashed potatoes in my world…)  I’ve heard of some local farms that have recently started offering produce boxes and programs like that, which I may look into in the future.

6. In seven words or less, bid September adieu.

“Always lovely, cooler– but ready for October!”

7. What’s something on your October calendar that makes you happy just thinking about it?

Oh, I have too many things to pick just one!  Thanksgiving, of course.  My nephew’s birthday.  Hopefully going to see Gone Girl at some point.  CAR RALLY (and it finally being over!!!)  Scary Movie Marathon!!  And HALLOWEEN!! I’m ridiculously excited for Halloween this year!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how much I love yoga, and PiYo, and contemplating becoming a teacher.  You might recall me talking about the dream I have of opening my own health food store.  I see my yoga practice tying in with that, as well.  Sort of creating this wellness centre type of place, nourishing body, mind & spirit.  It’s weird how I can envision myself as this “hippie” sort, sipping green tea, sharing my love for yoga and PiYo with others, meditating, practicing Reiki, making healthy foods… because truthfully, though I love all of those things, I’m the furthest thing from a zen, floaty, hippie you could ever meet.  Still, I’m drawn to that lifestyle… It is the current dream.