Why I Love Fall

When I was younger, I always thought that Labour Day was the same as New Year’s Day.  It didn’t make sense that the new year officially started in January.  September was when the new school year begins, when my birthday happens, and when life resumes its normal pace after a  lazy summer.  And I loved all of that!!

I still love September, and I especially love the start of fall, my favorite season.  Why is fall my favorite season?

1. The return of reasonable temperatures that are seasonally appropriate (I’m looking at you, June 2011).  I’m not one who enjoys extended periods of warmth.

2. Windy, rainy days that don’t make you feel bad for staying home and watching a movie and enjoying some comfort food.

3. Wearing sweaters, skirts and tights.  I <3 tights.

4. Walking the dog down a path framed with coloured leaves.

5. Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day. The long weekends!

6. An inevitable IEEE trip somewhere (this season there are two trips: Jersey City and Mississauga).

7. The start of school, classes, clinics, etc.

8. The return of loved TV shows and the start of new ones.

9. Winter is something to look forward to still, not swear at while in the middle of it.

10. Darker evenings mean an easier time getting Baby J to sleep, and darker mornings mean a tad more sleep. For now.

11. Planning for Christmas. Ya, I said it.

12. Hallowe’en! (Full disclosure: I’ve never been a huge fan of Hallowe’en, but having a kid makes it more fun this year.)

13. The return of the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks, and knowing that Peppermint Mochas are coming soon!

14. Fall running. I don’t like getting too sweaty, and hate wearing shorts when I run. Fall temperatures take care of that for me. :)

15. … SO many more things that can’t be verbalized.

Happy Birthday Nicole!

Nicole, you must download this!

(Anyone else can too, but it’s not your birthday.)

MVI_4965

Random Photo

Let’s see if this works, shall we? A boy and his giraffe…

Sitting Target (of Advertising)

Because I’m currently a SAHM (which I will blog about soon) of an almost 3 month old, and particularly because I am breastfeeding (which I also hope to share about), I spend a LOT of time sitting… Either feeding, napping, or just too zonked to do much else. And I do a fair amount of sitting with TV on.

For those who wonder, daytime TV is seriously lacking – talk shows, soaps, reruns (though Spike DOES show a lot of CSI, which I enjoy) are the typical fare. But the ads definitely target “older adults” (walk-in tub anyone?) and moms. And despite my self-proclaimed superior intelligence, I find myself affected by the ads in ways I wouldn’t think of. I’m starting to care about how my house smells, and what germs are lurking because I’m not using the right anti-bacterial wipe. But besides pushing a certain product, advertising offers subliminal pushes as well. All the actors are, well, skinny, and well-dressed, with perfect kitchens and living rooms and gardens. And while I know they are actors on a set, some part of my brain is now more worried than ever before about these things and how inadequate my house and housekeeping skills are, and how I look (granted, I am carrying “baby weight”… Maybe I’ll blog on that too). It makes no sense, yet it’s getting to me!

I only hope that logic can continue to prevail, or that the weather stays good this spring and upcoming summer. I plan on switching off the TV and enjoying real life, commercial-free.

I Have A Blog, Might As Well Use It!

I’m going to start blogging again… why?

1.  I have a lovely new little baby boy (let’s call him Baby J), and need another outlet to describe just how lovely he is and post countless pics that are practically indistinguishable from each other.

2.  As a result of (1), I am on maternity leave and have a lot more free  time than I used to… when I’m not eating bonbons and watching my soaps, of course. Wait, I can do that AND blog, because I can multi-task.

3. Partly as a result of (2), I don’t chat with as many people who don’t wear diapers as I used to (at least, I assume most of my co-workers and colleagues don’t wear diapers. Note, I have nothing against people, young or old, who do wear diapers). I can’t influence others with my intelligent opinions and witty insights in person, so I need to harass the general public via the internet.

4.  Referencing (3), though I’ve tried, I can’t be all that intelligent-sounding in 140 characters (a la Twitter). I’m hoping to sound more intelligent when allowed more words. Hence the move back to “rambling”.

5. Because I secretly hope to someday get a book deal, or influence a movie plot, or at least get some free swag for shamelessly selling out and writing positive reviews for something… anything… I’m not picky.

The Week I Became a Runner

There’s no certification to indicate that someone is qualified to be a runner. Despite the cult jokes, there’s no membership card or secret handshake or special t-shirt you get. Anyone who runs is a runner. Since there is no menbership, there’s no speed minimum, not really, nor is there a minimum time or distance you have to run in a week or month to keep the right to call yourself a runner.

I say all that knowing full well that until this week, I was hesitant to say “I AM a runner” and put myself in a category with elite athletes and amazing, inspiring people. I’m just a chick who “jogs” 3-4 times a week at a rather slow pace. My dad can walk faster than I run. I didn’t quite get it, didn’t quite feel like a runner.

But two things happened this week. The first was on Sunday at about 9am. We rose and met our running group. It was a wet and windy morning, and I did my first 10km run. Again, not very fast, but time does go quickly when you have good company (which I did!). But the 8km mark took us past a lake and the wind reached across the lake and smacked us upside the head. We soldiered on. And we made it back upright and smiling. But from wet socks and siggy sneakers I got the worst blister I’ve ever had, on the arch of my foot. Can you say ‘Awkward’? I did along with other choice words.

But that, knock on wood, is my first major running affliction. And I ran through it, and survived it, and treated it, and ran again 6km the next day. And I thought, “Now I get it.”

The second thing happened tonight. As I’ve learned recently, hill repeats are a tried-and-true way to improve your performance. You run it the way a chld runs toward an ice cream cart – as fast as you can and not stopping until you reach the target (in this case the target is the top). Unlike the kid running for ice cream, the sweet reward is not when when you stop. It comes days or weeks later, when the training pays off. And before that, hills are not fun.

And tonight, I got it. I was being pushed, literally (nudged by coach John) and though I thought my legs were about ready to give up on the fifth go, I kept givin’ ‘er. I was thinking about crying. Instead I kept running. And made it without collapsing or crying.

I’m proud. And I do believe all I said first off in this post. Anyone can be a runner. It’s not a club. But being something and feeling like you are can be two different things. I’m glad I’m now both. :)

“Cafeteria” Catholic

Some habits die hard. Others lie dormant for years, popping up when you’ve forgotten you once had then. I caught myself making the sign of the cross (“blessing myself”) when driving past the Catholic cemetary the other day. This “tick” was an unquestioned part of growing up in a Catholic household. It ranks up there with poking bits of palm from Passion Sunday mass in spots of the house, prayer cards stuck in random books, and the need to speed through the Lord’s Prayer as quickly as possible. As a child and teen, I was active in the church. But I stopped going regularly when university started demanding my time, and I never really found my way back.

As the Catholic church and the Vatican hit the news with increasing frequency, I’m questioning what role religion plays or should play in my life. I do think the notion of “love your neighbour as yourself” is the best philosophy to live by, and I think churches as organizations *can* do great things. I just wish that they would do more of those great things and less discriminating based on random interpretations of Bible scripture or how things gave always been done.

Musings on Time, revisited

A short time back, I “spoke” about time, and making it my bitch, and spending more time doing things I enjoy rather than taking on extra tasks and responsibilities. Not to toot my own horn too much, but so far so good. February and March were largely free of tasks I said “Yes” to instead of thinking things through. I even *gasp* dropped a commitment and blantantky disregarded an invite to be involved in something I’d normally jump all over being involved with. Yay me!

I have one HUGE task left to do that I don’t really wanna do, but sooo want to get to the end of. My Masters thesis. The bane of my existence. The thorn in my side, and main thing that keeps me awake at night (though I sleep fairly well, to br honest). One thing I *do* have goals for, fairly ambitious ones. And on Friday I need to submit a form asking for an extension. Admitting that hey, I’m not as quick as your average bear doing a M.Eng, but I declare that I AM going to finish. If they’ll let me. Maybe they won’t approve my extension, in which case I’ll have a great cry and move on.

But let’s be positive. I am making thesis progress, slowly and painfully. I am taking time for me, and cutting back on taking on tasks that aren’t worth the aggravation they cause.

Olympic Spirit Revisited

As I catch a bit of the Clising Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, I have to admit that I watched a lot more of these games than I anticipated. One reason is convenience; many of the events were on in prime time, and the TV happened to be on. But I also got sucked into the whole National Pride thing.

Olympic Spirit, or Lack Thereof

I’m lucky enough to be drinking some wine, sitting with B and watching TV tonight. We’re waiting for the Olympic Opening Ceremony to start. I’m not “into” the Games, generally it’s not my thing. I’m interested in seeing who was chosen to light the flame, and I do want to see Clara Hughes (apology if mispelled) bring in the flag… I find her determination and dedication inspiring. I guess the same would be true if I knew more about some of the other athletes. But other than hockey, curling and speed skating, I have no plans to watch any sports. I find some of the practises of VANOC and IOC to be insulting, ridiculous and wasteful. I do wish the athletes the best and hope the folks I know in Vancouver have a good time (and aren’t too inconvenienced by the Games). But I don’t plan on catching much of the coverage.