Just a thought...

Ever wonder what the greatest word is? Love, Freedom, Woman, Faith, Death, Money, Hope, Country, Soul, Peace, Empire, Forgive, Man, Poverty, Heart, Choice, Religion, Earth, Light, Human, Food, Hate, Personality, Art, God, Life? All are good choices, all have arguments for and against. Yet, could one word describe you and your world? Does one word hold that kind of power over all the rest?

Just a thought that I'd like to put out to the void...

Where Oh Where is My Ring Update...

Well, I didn't get my ring on saturday. I received a call from the company doing the work and the assistant manager explained, again, that there was another delay. It turns out the jeweller doing the work broke two sapphires trying to fix my ring and didn't have anymore stones to do the repair work. That means that I won't get my ring back until late this week as I am informed. I told the assistant manager that I would like to have my ring back by my birthday, she said, "of course, I'll put a note on the order."...But, I am not holding my breath! (birthday is in two weeks)

My finger is naked! What is a finger to do? I think I need some shopping therapy! Catch you later, oh and that burning smell in the air is my cards being used to the limit!

Camping

I have many fond memories of camping with my parents and my brother Nick. We used to go to a place called Cherry Point, near Birch Bay in Washington State. It wasn't what most people think of when they picture going camping, no facilities and a couple of old rusted out fish conveyers nearby. The lack of luxuries was more than made up for by the ocean only being twenty feet from your campsite. The peace and quiet that was around could make one think that you were the last remnant of mankind.

During the day we walked along the shore headed to the point. I never made it though, always had to turn back. We would turn over rocks to look in on the little cities of sea creatures. There were little crabs scurrying place to place. Which always made me think that they were ladies going to do their shopping. Little sea amenoes gathered microscopic eats, tiny seaweed waved at all going by and small starfish stuck to anything that would have them.

We also looked for treasure. Treasure wore many guises from agates, sea shells and seaweed to floatsom and jetsom. Mom often found some piece of interesting driftwood that she would drag back to the campsite. Bill usually found things off of boats and then would explain what it was. Sometimes we'd find brand new rockets which we lit at night.

After supper, a great fire would be built. Stoked with dried seaweed and driftwood the blaze had a wonderful fragrance that I can remember to this day. We would roast marshmallows, play word games and stargaze into the night. Bill would also light the fireworks or launch fire logs into the black sea. We would watch the logs and hope that they'd go way out while sitting by the fire listening to National Public Radio.

And, when the fire got to the embers we'd go down to the sea with our buckets and soon put out the last glow. The black wet ash of sweet salt would be the last thing I'd smell as we'd head to bed. Goodnight, goodnight!

Where Oh Where is My Ring!

I've been married for almost 19 months now. Love being married all that comes with it, except one thing. My wedding rings have been a serious trial on my nerves. I say rings because I have had two and who knows, maybe a third. My first ring came from Australia and for some unexplained reason was the only order NOT put on the plane to come to Canada. It came almost four weeks after it was suppose to be in. In planning a wedding, to have to wonder if your ring will be ready in time is stressful!

My second ring, the new one, was found and admired for many days. It was bought and an anguished wait set in. When would it arrive? It finally arrived and for a week and a half enjoyed it on my finger. Then disaster hit, a stone dislodged and would need to be reset. It was taken to half a dozen jewellers with disappointing repair quotes. It could not be fixed without ruining the engraving along the shank.

I finally found a company that could do the work and since it was going to be in I thought that it would be nice to have the other stones reset and claws retipped. It is an older ring that had obviously had been worked on by someone with middling knowledge of repair.

It was sent off February 15th of this year and was expected to be back within a couple of weeks. However, my sad little story did not end so quickly and cleanly. First, I found out that the ring was at the store for a week without any notification that it was there for me. Then, Mike and I went to pick it up, the first thing Mike noticed was that one of the stones was chipped in two places on top. Imagine our surprise and disappointment. The clerk brought out an examining glass and confirmed that it was indeed chipped. After I looked at it, I asked for her to examine another stone because it too looked damaged. It was. The second stone was chipped underneath. Naturally, the company sent my ring back out to the jewellers to be redone. New stones to replace the ones they had damaged along with resetting and retipping everything again.

We were told that it should be back the following thursday. I said that I wanted it before Easter, they said of course. I made a call thursday to confirm that it was in and was told that the jeweller was having difficultly finding replacement stones and that it would take until tuesday and to pick it up then. We went in, it wasn't there. Thursday, they said. I got another call on wednesday, saying that it wouldn't be in until friday. I've now received another call today and it won't be in until tomorrow, saturday!

I don't know if it will be in or not, but I'm most definitely NOT satisfied with the process as a whole. I want my ring, its been over two months since I sent it in for a quote and work to be done. I was willing to pay for the work to be done, I knew it would be expensive but this situation has been more than ridiculous. How much do I have pay before I get peace of mind?

Good ol ham cooking!

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Update on The Great Ham Experiment!

Well, you will be glad to know that I didn't burn the house down trying to cook for Easter dinner. It was quite easy with clear directions and despite not having a gourmet's talent, I managed to cook the ham. It was touch and go there for a while, the directions calling for me to find a pan or something like it to place the ham in. My mother, to the rescue! She had a baking dish for me all cleaned and ready. I was then suppose to make a bath and gently place our little ham in. No doubt for it to relax and contemplate its exsistance. Then, the directions told me to cover the ham with a strange silver covering that used to better our tv signal. Unusual, I know. But, when in Rome... After I got over my shock of all this weird doings, I placed our bather in the oven. And, sooner than I expected, a perfectly cooked honey glazed ham with a good sweat exited. Mike carved it and placed it on the table to a gladden the hearts of those waiting stomachs.


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I am attempting today a most momentous and spectacular feat! I am doing something that I try to avoid and going into the kitchen. Not only that, I am cooking! A honey glazed ham at that! Friends and family may be gasping and reaching for the smelling salts...

I have never professed to be a cook or to have anything resembling a cooking gene. My 'cooking' is usually something like putting chicken strips and fries on a baking sheet. Or at most, a homemade salad tossed a la J'aime! Though, in fact, there are those who think that it would be better for mankind if I never touched a dicing knife. I know it makes Mike nervous when I do take one in hand.

My history with the kitchen has produced some interesting results. Most recently, tried to do a chocolate fondue and managed to burn off the glaze on the fondue pot. When I was younger I also burned out the bottom of a pot trying to make popcorn. In grade 8, I scorched the walls of our kitchen trying to melt butter in a pan for a home education project. I got a few flames and promptly threw water onto it and turned the burning oil into a grease fire. You can imagine after that one, my parents forbid me to use the stove.

Which makes me wonder that I've decided to take on a ham. Not to say it's anything like a turkey, but this is a meat product. And, my experience with unooked meat is me usually at the computer shouting at Mike to tell me when I can breathe again. Yet now, I with a determinded heart and steeled nerves I put on my apron!

I'll let you know how it turns out...meanwhile I have emergency on speed dial!

Loss

On such a day as Good Friday, when millions of believers mourn the cruxification of Jesus Christ, I muse on the pain of having to know that someone you love is about to die and the subsequent mourning. A couple of friends are dealing with this kind of pain and suffering. They knew it was coming, this tragedy of experiencing that the one you love is going to die. Now, death has come, my thoughts and prayers are naturally focused on them and their loved ones. I think of what they are going through and how helpless I feel when someone I love is pained so. I find myself once again on the fringe of that familiar territory of grieving, loss and torment. Which makes me think how that must have been what those around me felt when my brother died. I also remember what I felt and how I saw that those around me were helpless to comfort me! How then can I be there for my friends and empathize with this deep, deep pain? The only answer I can fathom is that because I have had such a loss I know somewhat of what they are going through. I can only draw from my own experience to help in anyway I can and support my friends during this time. Yet, the feeling of helplessness lingers...

Update on George or Jeeves?

A name has been chosen...


WOOSTER IT IS!!

A close race between Jeeves and Wooster, but Wooster won out in the end. There were two votes for George and one write in vote for Fred. Look for the announcement of the christening ceremony in the local circular. Mike and I would love to have you attend. Light refreshments to be served.

George or Jeeves?

Mike and I bought a iRobot Roomba Discovery vacuum cleaner. For those who gasp at the domestic-ness of this endeavour, I know...(sigh*) And, for those who gasp at the flagrant spending, allow me to inform that it only cost us $40.oo. It was at Linens N' Things, for a hundred dollars (demo model) and we used the rest of our gift certificates and a 20% off coupon. Once Mike saw it, he held on, determined that the seasoned shoppers scouring the tables weren't going to get it. His quote, "Those bargain hunters can be quite vicious."

It was very dirty and I suggested that if he wanted to clean it... So! We bought it and Mike cleaned it. The result was quite satisfactory and while it charged we checked out the accessories. It had lots of fun items and our little roomba seems to hold a very promising future. We ran it and after I got over the noise, I noticed that the little robot went about sweeping with a cheerfulness that I lacked when doing the same task.

Mike keeps saying what a great deal we got and how much the roomba will save us in time. However, I've noticed that we tend to spend a lot of time watching the roomba instead of ignoring it and going about our business.

Our only disagreement on the roomba, its name. I suggested that it be George, Mike wants Jeeves. My response was that obviously, the name must be Wooster. To which my parents and I laughed while Mike looked at us as if we were looney. Anyone who watches Masterpiece Theatre knows exactly what I'm talking...

Bride

A friend of ours is getting married in May. Extremely well liked and beautiful inside and out, Kat unites those qualities of manner that both delights and charms you. Sweet, kind and the owner of an infectious "oooooooooh," / laugh that encourages the shyest individual to open up. When I first met Kat, she was just so pretty and open and I that shy girl. She was dressed in jeans, jean vest and white shirt (very Rachel Ashwell aka shabby chic.) And a group of girls were trying to deflect the on slot of guys eager to talk to her. I thought she was perfect and obviously, I wasn't the only one.

As I grew to know and love her, I figured out a few things. One, her name was too long, Kat she became. And, like those elusive and charming animals, Kat lives up to her namesake. I am convinced she channels cat behaviours and that being her favourite pet it is no wonder. She has an appetite for fish, doesn't seem to like swimming and has an affinity to collared necklaces.

Kat is one of the loveliest girls I know and in May will marry several grooms in accordance to her vow to be married by a certain age. Her mock wedding will prove to be an event of some planning, magnitude and one of those ultimate crazy capers that I so love. No doubt there will be many lining up for the chance to marry her.