Catching Up!

Happy New Year to Everyone! May 2010 bring you lots of joy, happiness and love of family and friends.

I ended up very ill in November, not sure but think I may have had a mild case of H1N1. Didn't have the strength to go sit at the doctor's office and besides they aren't testing you unless you need hospitalizing. It did kick the wind out of me that is for sure. I wouldn't wish what I had on my worst enemy. I hope I never get this sick again, mind you I think I have said that before.

Christmas arrived way to fast this year. I think the lack of snow in December and the frigidly cold temperatures that we usually get in January threw things off. We had more snow at Thanksgiving that we did in December. Still we don't have enough snow to really do any amount of snowmobiling other than up and down the road. The ditches and fields are too rough.

New Years found us ringing in the New Year with friends in Flin Flon. It is always nice to go home for a visit. Spent a few days with my sister of the heart which is always good for my soul.

New Years Day Kim and I drove around town so I could take a few pictures. I am having problems posting a couple of pictures. Will have to try again tomorrow.

Grey Cup Eve

With the Grey Cup came being tomorrow, fans all over Saskatchewan are getting ready for the party of the year. We'll have a few people over tomorrow to watch the game, we'll be dressed in green and cheering loud enough that they will hear us in Calgary.

GO RIDERS GO GO RIDERS GO GO RIDERS GO

T'was The Night Before Grey Cup

Twas the night before Grey Cup, and all through McMahon,
Not a creature was stirring, but the gophers back home.
The players were nestled and snug in their beds,
While visions of Grey Cup Rings danced in their heads.

When out on the field, there arose such a clatter,
Ken sprang from his bed to see what was the matter,
Away to his window, he flew like a flash,
Threw aside the Green Curtains, and Silky White Sash.

And what did he see with his wondering eye?
But a sea of Green Revelers and a furry brown guy.
”That looks like Durant, and Foord and Fantuz!"
"Its way after curfew! Do they want us to lose??"

So, out of his room and down to the field,
Coach Miller stormed out with a fury to wield.
As he went through the tunnel, the ground shook with a beat,
From the dancing and prancing of ten thousand feet.

"Hey Coach," cried a voice, "Whatcha doing down here?"
It was Szarka and Bagg, and they were handing out beer!
Getzlaf and Chick were grilling up Dogs,
With Burgers being served by O'Day and Clermont.

Dressler cooked Hot Wings, Davis grilled steak,
While Cates, Hall, and Hughes helped Makowsky serve cake.
"This is nuts!" Miller shouted, "It's one-thirty AM!"
"I expected some revelry, but this is mayhem!"

Eric Tillman tapped Miller, " You're not Eagle Keys -"
"But I'm not Buono, Huffy or Ritchie Hall* so PLEASE!"
"You're all waddling around here like Wascana geese!"
"And in need of a dance coach like Donald Narcisse."

"Now, you've all had your fun, so back to your rooms."
But then Miller's nose picked up the barbecue fumes.
Then Green Is The Color rang out through the air,
As Congi and Boreham plucked feathers with flair.

On Jones, on Quinn, on 'Arm-y' Armstead,
Even old Alex Smith grinned and nodded his head,
On Lucas, on McCullough, on Patrick with style,
On Kornegay, Frazier, and yes, even Jyles.

The stadium then filled with a soft greenish glow,
And the whole Rider Nation set poised for a show.
An S and a wheat sheaf then formed in the air,
And a smile took the place of Coach Ken Miller's glare.

Then everyone there, the players, the fans,
They formed a big circle by all holding hands,
Then right in the centre appeared the Grey Cup,
Which McKenzie and Mitchell andWilliams picked up.

They handed it over to Ken, the proud gent,
Who called Darian and Andy, and off the Cup went.
It was passed round the field, past heroes to present,
While Gainer dug holes for the Alouette Pheasants.

That music was heard coast to coast people say
And they say Rider Pride grew three sizes that day.
Everyone left there dreaming of Alouette doom.
And they sent all the feathers to Ben Cahoon's Room.

For more from the Saskatchewan Roughriders check out Saskatchewan Roughriders

Chicken Stew & Dumplings

5 cups (1.25 L) chickenstock (approx)
14 chicken thighs (about 4 lb/2 kg), skinned
1 bunch small carrots (about 7), peeled and cut in half diagonally
4 potatoes, peeled and cut in 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes
2 cups (500 mL) pearl onions (284 g pkg), peeled
3 tbsp (50 mL) butter
3 stalkscelery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cups (500 mL) small button mushrooms (about 8 oz/250 g)
1/3 cup (75 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tsp (5 mL) dried thyme
1/2 tsp (2 mL) each salt and pepper
1/2 cup (125 mL) frozen peas
1/4 cup (50 mL) whipping cream
Dumplings:
2 cups (500 mL) sifted cake-and-pastry_flour
2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped fresh parsley
4 tsp (20 mL) baking powder
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
2 tbsp (25 mL) butter
3/4 cup (175 mL) milk (approx)

In a large Dutch oven, bring chicken stock to boil. Add chicken; cover and simmer over medium-low heat until juices run clear when chicken is pierced, about 30 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer to plate; let cool. Remove meat from bones; cut into bite-size chunks.

Add carrots and potatoes to stock; cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add pearl onions; simmer, covered, just until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to plate. Pour stock into large measuring cup; if necessary, add more chicken stock to make 5 cups (1.25 L).

In same pan, melt butter over medium-high heat; cook celery, onion and mushrooms, stirring often, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add flour, thyme, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in reserved stock; bring to boil, stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring often, for about 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat back of spoon. Return chicken and any accumulated juices to pan. Add carrot mixture, peas and cream, stirring to combine.

Dumplings: In bowl, whisk together flour, parsley, baking powder and salt. Using pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter until in coarse crumbs. Using fork, stir in enough milk to make sticky spoonable dough. Leaving space around each, drop by tablespoonfuls (15 mL) onto simmering stew; cover and cook, without lifting lid, for 15 minutes or until dumplings are no longer doughy underneath.

Road To The Grey Cup

Today the BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes play to see who will represent the East in the Grey Cup and the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Calgary Stampeders to see who will represent the West in next weeks Grey Cup.

GO RIDERS GO

My prediction is Saskatchewan Roughriders & Montreal Alouettes will battle it out in the Grey Cup Final.

Wasted Week

I hate being sick, especially when the weather is nice outside. Last week I spent the entire week on the couch fighting off the flue/cold. At times I didn't know if I should cover up with more blankets or take them off because of my fever.

I am finally starting to feel more like myself after a week and 2 days of being sick.

Thanks to a co-worker who insisted on being at the office while she was sick and fighting the flue/cold off I brought home the virus. There was no way I was even going near the office until I felt better as I didn't want to pass this on to anyone. Monday is my EDO so at least I have an extra day before returning to work.

I don't think it was H1N1 but sure wasn't fun what ever it was I had. I felt so bad that I didn't have the energy to get up to go the doctors. With all the sleep I got over the last week my sleep patterns are off.

I usually end up with a bad flue once during the winter season either at the beginning or the end of the season. I hope that this was it and I am finished with it.

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The other day I receive an email with the following poem entitled "The Final Inspecation". I am sure many of you have received the same poem by email many times over but I wanted to share it here with everyone to show my appreciation and recognition for the military and what they have given to all us.



The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

'Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

'Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'

Author Unknown~

It's the Military, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the Press. It's the Military, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of Speech. It's the Military, not the politicians that ensures our right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It's the Military who salutes The flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by The flag.

Remembrance Day

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause in memory of the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service so that we could live in Peace.

Remembrance Day is known as Veterans Day in the United States of America. The first Remembrance Day was held throughout the Commonwealth in 1919. Remembrance Day marks the armistice to end the First World War, which came into effect at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918.

My great Uncle Clarence fought in both WW I and WW II. Uncle Clarence was one of the many soldiers that returned home from the war. It is today that I take the 2 minutes of silence at the 11th hour to remember his efforts and the efforts of all the other soldiers that fought for us. So many families seen their loved off as they left for the war to never see them return home again.

I was too young to remember my Great Uncle Clarence as he passed away when I was about 3 years old. I do remember my grandfather telling me about his brother and the pride that my grandfather felt for his brother and the sacrifices that he made for his efforts in the fight for world peace. I have seen a picture or two of Uncle Clarence in his military uniform, he was a handsome soldier. I wish that I could go back in time at my age now and spend a day or two with my Uncle Clarence to get to know him and what he went through but I have the few stories that I was told by my grandfather and my father. Today I thought of my great Uncle Clarence and spent my 2 minutes of silence thanking him and the many other soldiers - those that returned home and those that sacrificed their lives for the freedom I enjoy today.

"Two minutes before the armistice went into effect, at 10:58 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918, Pte. George Lawrence Price was felled by a bullet. Price would become the last Allied soldier — and the last of more than 66,000 Canadians — to be killed in the First World War."
to read more on this article click HERE

30 Day Challenge

Today I started the 30 Day Challenge on the Wii Active. What a work out! I never would have guessed that I could get that kind of work out on a Game Console. With today in mind that I would start the 30 day challenge I took my beginning measurements and weight. I am also going to keep a journal in MS Word of my daily activities - eating and physical.

I am also going to try to drink n 8 glasses of water each day. As Jillian and Bob say on the Biggest Loser, if you plan to fail you fail to plan. So now I need to start planning our meals better, which can be easier said than done. I am going to start packing my lunch for work the night before so I don't forgot about it in the morning.

Along with going to Bravo for Women on my lunch hours with a couple of my co-workers, the 3o Day Challenge and planning meals I am hoping to start dropping more weight. I know I have lost some inches from just going to the gym as I was able to buy my jeans in a size smaller.

I think I will post an update on this challenge on Day 10.

Christmas Count Down

Hard to believe that is getting that time of the year when we start to think about Christmas and start the count down. Last year I had posted a cute Christmas Tree with the count down to Christmas. I am trying to get that widget again but having a problem getting the code to load properly.

I have started my Christmas shopping...well the stocking stuffers anyways. Already figuring out to get the kids for Christmas. Even starting to plan my Christmas baking.

With the countdown to Christmas on for me, it hardly feels like Christmas with all our snow melted except for a small patch in the back corner of the yard. The month of October was so ugly here and the feeling a long winter was starting to set in. I hope this nice weather we are having now will stick around for a while.

The farmers are working on getting their crops off......better late than never.

Santa Fe

Tuesday after work I brought home my new 2009 Santa Fe GLS AWD in Glacier White Pearl. We are so happy with our new vehicle. Handles nicely, very comfortable ride.

Yesterday after work we stop at the Liquor Store on 1st Ave to pick up a case of beer. While I was waiting in the vehicle for Al, all of a sudden bam and the vehicle moves forward. Sure enough we were rear ended by someone trying to park....good thing they were barely moving but impaired enough that they couldn't judge their distance. Couldn't get a clear answer out of the woman if she had a valid drivers licence or a learners license. At one point she tells me she is only a learner, then she says she has a drivers licence...trying to explain that she is just learning to drive this car, as it is a standard. Told her I didn't care that she was just learning that she needs to be more careful. The more I talked to the more the smell of booze came from her. I was able to get her name, phone number and address. Took down the plate number and she conveniently didn't have her drivers license on her. Anyways I called the cops and they came down but she had already left.

There was no damage done to either vehicle. Not even any paint transfer. Once we wash it we may notice a small crack, so will be checking it out probably this weekend. I don't think there is any damage as when she hit me we both went forward together and back so there wasn't another impact. It was more like a tap that a smash but none the less needed to be reported to the police because of the suspicion of being impaired. The cop gave me a file number on his card before he went looking for the woman. I just hope the cops found this woman while still driving.

I don't understand why people think they can drive even after a couple of drinks and be impaired. Sure they think they are good drive but they are not. Don't know what it will take for people to learn that they are danger to everyone including themselves.

Oh ya did I say I love my new vehicle!