Range Hood - CHECK!

In preparing to sell our house we had a few repairs/changes to make. If you read my last post I composed a list in order to keep us on track.

We took off Saturday to hit all the biggies: Lowes, Home Depot and Canadian Tire. We ended up crossing a big item off our list at Home Depot by purchasing a new stainless steel range hood to replace our "out of place "white one.

This morning after a fantastic breakfast and coffee - Dave got to work (and I was the good looking assistant.)

First to remove the "out of place" white hood range.

Check...

Now prepare the stainless steel range and install (repeat until it fits in place)

Admire work

Take memorial photo of the first drill use

Notice the "We've got BIG hawks" t-shirt from 4th year in University.

GO HAWKS (almost 6 years later!)

That's one thing completed - now onto the lights!

Insomia bout.

It's 4:30am and I have been up for an hour. Rather than tossing and turning in bed I returned to the old habits of sleepless nights - get out of bed and do something! Read, write, organize, clean.

It's ridiculous what I can get done quietly in the wee hours of the morn. Here is what my 1-hour has entailed...

- paid 2 bills

- filed blue cross return

- tided desk and bookshelf

- returned e-mails

- posted one other blog

- made a list (of course) of today's to do's

- started organizing files on computer.

I find it oddly ironic that 3:30 used to be the time I came home and fall asleep and now I am getting up - and being productive to boot!

UPDATE @ 11am - I went back to bed at 6:30 and got up at 9:30

Perpetual Listing

I love lists.

Any lists, I am a big fan of records, colour-coding, organizing and my favourite - crossing out completed items.

Over a fantastic celebratory dinner with the hubs on Thursday - celebrating the completion of our decor appointment with the builder - I created our "sell this house" list.

On Saturday we will head out to purchase some lights and get started on the project. We have just about a month to prep and prime the house for our March 1st posting.

I can't wait to cross things out!!

Eyes on the Prize!

Dear blog type friends.

Struggling with weight once again. I go up, I go down - I gain, I lose.

I need a focus, I need a goal.

In 5 months we will move into our new house. 2 years ago (almost exactly) we moved into this house and with that came the start to 2009 - battle year. From January 2009 I was in and out of hospital and dropped down to an astonishing 120lbs. Not by will, in fact I desperately clung to each pound as it shed away.Needless to say it was a terrible 6 months.

Purchasing this house was more than a step into our future but it was a chance to put bad memories that much further in the past. I could physically leave them in the old house. More than that, it gives me a goal, a focus.

A focus of health and of change. I am trying desperately to gain focus on what I want most - to remain healthy. This meaning not just body, but mind and spirit as well.

The photo below is my short term goal. We were at the gym 4 days a week, eating fantastically and were very proud to suit up and go out.

Now the photo below is my long term goal - mind you it is from 4 years ago but again it's a long term goal.

(sorry to my lovely sister that I cut out but I needed to have make a clear focus)

So there. it's out there. I am setting my eyes on the prize and I'll try to keep you updated - whoever you are!

Jackie 2, math, unemployment 0

Okay, okay so I didn't keep up with 365 project - but lets face it - we knew it was going to go down that way.

I am preparing for exams and with a week left of teaching I am beaming. I taught math. yes my dreaded subject is conquered and I feel so much better. Strike that off the "regrets" list. Jackie -1, Math - 0

Also this week I interviewed for a position 2nd semester at a new school ... and got it. Jackie -1, Unemployment- 0

This weekend should be filled with blogging since we have two nights planned out with two groups of friends that will ensure laughter and good times.

For now, I am trying to fight off this cold!

Worth the Drive

Tonight we fought through the blistering snow - okay so it wasn't blistering - to meet with my parents and get their advice on our decor choices for the new house.

but mostly we just played

Momma got a new kitchen tool which of course I had to document.

It's a 60 second Pomegranate seeder - you will also require a mallet or heavy hand held tool. Cut the pomegranate in half and...

smash the be-jesus out of it!

..and then you will have un-smashed seeds! AH-mazing. Well to me anyway!

Devil Wears Fur

our life is being run by a 5lb blonde fur ball.

and we love it.

Patience is a Virtue...

I have no patience. Okay so that may be an overstatement, but I am the person who bounces her leg when she sits for long periods of time, who checks on toast to see if it's done, or zips by people who leisurely stroll in the mall.

There are exceptions though, as there are in anything.

I think it all has to do with pairing. The pairing of patience with another virtue that is. What you lack in one, you can make up for with the other.

My patience may wane depending on situation but my forgiveness is monumental. Sure like any other person I get angry or frustrated, mad even, but my belief is you can't hold onto negative feelings (cue: sitar music).

Currently my patience is being tested, I want the future now but can't have it. I am the 12 year old girl desperate to be 17 only to realize at 17 I want to be 21 and so on until it cycles backward. In order to remain calm, I observe my surroundings. I breathe.

Think happy thoughts.

like a puppy in a warm bed.

Jet Lagging

Internet and Phone were out last night so don't blame me for the lack of posts - I haven't given up yet! Going back to work after a two week break is comparable to jet leg. One day transition per one hour change. I finished my coffee way too early with no effect to my demeanour. I don't want to break my New Year's resolution (read: not a snow ball's chance in hell) to reduce my caffeine intake.

please mum, can I have a pear?

Happy New Year!

I always like January 2nd more than I do the 1st. Call it grade school mentality "first is the worst, second is the best" but there is something about the 2nd that makes all the New Year's possibilities come to life. Oddly, I feel the same way about Sunday's.

So this Sunday January 2nd made it all the more appropriate to start anew.

Determined to be more engaged in the outside world I am partaking in the 365 project, my husband David is also taking on this challenge here. I know what you may be thinking: but Jackie, you didn't post anything yesterday. Yes, this would seem true...to the naked eye, however one of my photos appears in David's blog and since I don't really start counting until January 2nd then it's all fair....

Besides...my blog, my rules.

So today I offer a few things to you my faithful readers:

1. My favourite mantra: "don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today!" This was repeated many many time last night as I slaved away with the last of my marking. In a skype conversation with a teacher friend we battled as to who had more marking to do during the break. Luckily I had my stack with me that I had been chipping away on for the past 2 weeks (read: 4 days)

2. Much like the last 10 pounds, the last 10 essays are the hardest to get through. My stubbornness and my determination to finish the last of my marking was completed by 1:45am

3. Waking up at 10am, refreshed and without the worry of the dreaded marking, I revived "Pancake Sunday" with our new favourite - Banana Oatmeal Whole Wheat Pancakes. Complete with coffee as made by Davide

Happy New Year!