Musings of the Museless

… but should also be implemented if you own kids, IMO. Or want to. Let’s hope the vouchers for passing aren’t “droppings bags” or leashes though.

Vienne launches ‘driving licence for dogs’

I feel very anticipatory right now, but I have nothing really to anticipate. Thus, I’m kind of sad/down/depressed when I think about it. Might be the extra caffeine I injected into my body earlier to combat the 4pm tireds… might be this work report I’m trying to finish on a project that once again I’ve under-performed in. But hey, what else is new?

Generally lately I’ve determined I have a very self-defeatist attitude. Most things I start I don’t expect to finish, or complete satisfactorily – for some reason, I’ve usually assumed everyone takes that same approach to life, but more and more I find I’m wrong (great, another thing I can’t do right). I mean, in my head I *know* I’ve done some good and successful things in my life (marriage to a wonderful dude, graduating, jobs, scholarships, overcome fear of driving, done some good things in volunteer positions I’ve held), but most days the only thoughts that come to me are about the stupid things I’ve done and said, or the things that haven’t gone right. Or sometimes I think that the things I’ve excelled at are flukes, luck or because people like me.

Somedays I think that self-defeatism is what’s throwing me off from FINALLY finishing the masters. I also think that’d part of the reason I’ve failed to complete the diving course – when the minor things go wrong (feet not in drysuit boots, normal tiredness) I see it as the sign I’m not meant to do it, and I give up (I’ll have some pics from this weekend’s course that Brian successfully finished (love you honey!)). I try and try again, but sometimes I only think that’s because what’s expected of me (not necesarily with the diving thing, but with life in general). I’m doing okay with the weight loss/fitness plan, but I’m not sure if I really believe I can stay at an ideal weight and keep myself in shape.

I don’t know how to shake this funk, because it’s generally been part of me since I-don’t-know-when… only difference is that I think it’s grown as life gets less easy. I mean, I’ve read some self-help articles on positive self-talk, make a list of the good things so hen you start getting negative you can refer to it, be nice to yourself for five minutes straight… but to be honest, it all seems like crap. So to does the “blame it on XXX” school of thought.

I’ll be okay.. sorry for bring y’all down in my pity party. I’m not normally this negative, and I’ll try not be in future. I just needed to get it out, maybe my own form of therapy. Okay, that’s done. Onward and upward?

In October, I was supposed to attend a Student Congress in Cancun. The day before I was to leave, it got hit by Huuricane Wilma. Such is life…

So how come, the day I book airline tickets to go from Sydney, Australia to Cairns , a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the area (well, to be fair, slightly south of the area – but only by 100km) gets hit by “the biggest storm ever to hit the country’s Pacific coast”??

Meet Larry.

At least he came a month before I got there… maybe there’ll be some clown fish or something for us to see. Hey, maybe they’ll be onland!

So, I am back from the city of manly love. Had an interesting time. More later (including pics) but here’s a recipe from a place we ate in Chinatown, as was recommended by Rachel Ray.

Peking Duck with Pancakes

And the secret ingredient….? Well, that’ll have to wait for my posting, won’t it. Bet you’ll be scurrying to this place once you find out!

Is this not the best story to start your day or what?

House Contract Carries Long-Term Leash

It’s International Woman’s Day today. Here’s hoping for equality! I was reading a bit today about Harper’s child-care policy. I’m not sure what I think of it. But it scares the crap out of me that so many people believe that a woman’s place is at home. If that’s your choice, that’s great, and who knows, it may be one I will make when we have kids. But that is a choice, and one every woman should get to make. I’ve been observing, quietly, and from what I see, it’s still the “woman’s role” to take care of the kids.. at least, that’s what I see. Maybe it’s just the people around me, but it’s a little disheartening. Time will tell…

I’m headed to San Francisco on Friday morning, to attend the IEEE RAB GOLD meeting as Region 7 rep. I’ve never been there. It’s a new committee for me, I’ve been a bit slow on the uptake this time but will get into the swing of it and be a good rep for my region. I’ll get to see some old faces though (old meaning not new, not old as in oooooooooooolllllllld) , as the SAC committee meets at the same time. Plus, I get to see Geoff after the two weeks I haven’t seen him.

I have many thoughts but no time to write them. Work is busy, I’m prepping to go to San Francisco for meetings this coming weekend, and trying to be good with the food and exercise.

But I love you all… and will be back next week with thoughts/pics.

Never got to WW last week because of the blizzard. So today, I am 2.2 lbs less than I was last time I weighed in. Total gone: 9.8 lbs … this week I will kick butt though!!

Dear God. I just finished watching “Larry King Live”. Sir Paul McCartney and his lovely wife were debating with Danny Williams on the seal hunt. The McC’s are here in Canada on behalf on US Humane Society to protest the hunt based on its cruelty. Danny, on behalf on Canada, was trying to set him straight on a few things. Larry the Owl was moderating.

Note to celebrities: if you’re gonna jump on a cause, learn about it first. Paul seems fairly reasonable, though a little misled by the Humane Society. Heather compared the seal hunt to a war, said that there needed to be peace talks to stop the hunt, refused to believe people don’t eat seals. Argued that the income from the hunt is minimal to those who hunt them, said Harper would care because these are “harp” seals (WHAT???), and then, when she couldn’t come up with anything else, accused Danny WIlliams of acting like a politician.

You may be against hunting seals… and that’s your opinion. But make sure you’ve got your facts straight!!

Argh. You can read the transcript here: http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/03/lkl.01.html

These are a few pics showing what happens when you mix one rambunctious beagle (April), one house-confining blizzard (today) and one large stuffed dog (who was never named, but was a birthday gift to April from Chris and Kerry).