Mother Earth Crusade Update

Notice that my Mother Earth Crusade side bar disappeared a few days ago?

No?

That’s okay, I am aware that I am not cool, no need to rub it in.

It disappeared because it needed to be updated but I have been far to busy sweating to do that. Do you have any idea what that amount of sweat will do to a laptop? Neither do I but I once spilled an entire cup of tea on a keyboard and it wasn’t pretty so I’m guessing smoke and other stuff might happen.

Today it is 36 degrees. Basically you could fry an egg on my forehead. So my list, you know the one that used to be on the sidebar that you didn’t notice disappeared, it is revised.

I have to admit defeat. I could not make it through the summer with “no air conditioning at all this summer”. We have definitely cut down, WAY down, on its use so some good still came of my crusade. I have come to conclude that air conditioning is required when it heats up to cookie baking temperature outside. I just can’t take that kind of heat. I’m sweaty, I’m red, and I’m GRUMPY. Really, turning on the A/C is necessary for Jay’s sanity. After all he has to put up with me, really the least I can do is make it so that I’m tolerable.

You see, he isn’t bothered by the heat. He was wearing jeans today. Not shorts, JEANS people. AND he had no sweat on him. AT ALL.

Me, I immediately form drops of sweat all over my sorry self in this kind of heat.

Yes, I am jealous of my husband but that's another story entirely.

So, here’s my new list.

Things we do to reduce our impact:

- laundry in cold water only
- recycling
- mulching lawn mower (no bags of grass going into the landfill)
- no chemicals on lawn and garden
- no driving at least 2 days per week (more walking and biking)
- reusable bags for all shopping
- vegetarian suppers 2 or 3 times per week
- keeping the heat lower in the winter
- Method soap products
- minimal air conditioning (only when it’s freaking hot!)


And soon we will sell our souls to the devil for new energy efficient windows. Damn those things are expensive but maybe then house won’t heat up like a hot tamale.

Bachin' it

We are kidless for a couple of days and last night we did what all old, married couples do when they have a night to themselves… we did dinner and movie.

First we hit Earl’s patio for some martinis and hot wings. Mmmm, one of my favourite things in the world to eat is Earl’s wings. I go there especially for them in fact. They were divine. However, the Caesar salad, not so much. I used to LOVE their Caesar salad as well but now, well, it tastes like fish. Yuck. I don’t really go for most types of fish especially if it’s fishy tasting so in my salad…. even less desirable.

It must be way too many anchovies in the dressing but I am no expert. I bet Rachael Ray could figure it out but me, not a culinary critic by any means.

The movie we saw…. was fantastic. My run of bad luck, it’s over! Remember this and this. Well they were nothing like Knocked Up.

We laughed out loud. Numerous times! Finally a movie worth the cost of admission.

Tonight we head out to the Jamboree for a little Carrie Underwood. Can't wait.

Caffeine and Me

Things I pondered last night while laying in bed in a diet coke induced caffeine haze:

1) I love being a SAHM. Period. I get to go to the park all day on hot summer WEEKDAYS. I am sure working full time brings people great joy and satisfaction. Whatever. For me it’s all about the park and the sun and the picnic and the water park and good friends. Oh right, and my two fantastic little boys. That’s a given.

2) My husband wakes up immediately at the sound of one of his children squawking in the night. IMMEDIATELY. As in, the child hasn’t even finished squawking and he’s already in their room. I used to feel guilty that he is always the one to deal with them at night. I don’t anymore. I can’t help it that a drop of pin causes him to fly awake like lightning struck him. Nor can I help that large trucks could drive through my room and I would sleep like a log through it all.

Well I CAN’T.

3) I am a shoptomanic. It’s similar to a kleptomaniac only you actually pay for the items. Let me explain. I cannot, I repeat CANNOT, go into a women’s clothing store and not find something to buy. For myself. I love to buy new clothes.

I am rather ashamed. It’s really quite frightening how much damage I can do in a short amount of time. I came to this realization because I went shopping with my good friend Cathy yesterday afternoon, sans kids. It was great and the purpose was that SHE needed clothes. Not me. Cathy.

Yeah. Want to know what I bought? Shoes, two tanks, two pairs of jean shorts ( for $10 – not each - $10 for TWO pairs!), two halter tops, Bermuda shorts and a white blouse and I got a free halter top when Cathy purchased a shirt….

Yeah, I need to find a support group. It’s sad.

4) Oh, right, and that I really, really should not have a cappuccino in the afternoon and then slug down two big glasses of coke at supper. Unless I want to be drafting blog posts in my head until 1am.

BTW, the post was much better in my head. Naturally I lost my mental notes.

:-)

Confessions of a tree hugger

First off, oy with the spelling mistakes and typos in the last post. Apparently I am unaware of the modern day conveniences of spell checker. I think I fixed them. Or I need Hooked on Phonics.

Secondly, I have to confess that I broke one of my green rules. The one about the A/C that I have been commenting on lately.

Yeah, a 40 degree day with no hint of a breeze will cause me to break down. I came home Friday night from girls night out (Whee!) at midnight and the house was like a sauna even with the windows OPEN. I think it was still about 30 degrees out. This is SO uncommon for here.

I went to check on the boys and Kamden's head was soaked in sweat.

I closed the windows and turned on the A/C.

It ran all. night. long.

We turned it off in the morning and have been back to using windows to enjoy the wonderful cool breezes that have arrived since.

*Hangs head in shame*

A day at camp

A race, spilled ice cream.... a day at camp is not all it's cracked up to be.

Today we headed out with Candace and Devin and all the kids for a camper in training day. The camp is an overnighter deal and given that our oldest kids are only 6, we are not up for that just yet... or ever but that's another post altogether.

It was HOT. 29 degrees hot. There was much sweating. Okay, maybe that was just me but since I am writing this....

We started with a hike:

Found a treehouse:

Took in the amazing scenery:

Ate roasted hot dogs for lunch:

Sang some songs around the camp fire:

By this point, we were HOT. Okay maybe I was the one complaining the loudest... after all I am the biggest kid around. So we hit the pool to cool off.

That's when the family show crossed a line.

I asked Jack if he wanted to race to the far end. No, but Candace was up for it.

Off we took in our best imitation of the front crawl. I beat her to the deep end edge . Of course, Mrs. Competitive had to have a rematch so we took off back from whence we came. Same crawl. All of a sudden she stops and uses the ol' lost her sunglasses trick. Okay, the ol' trick is the lost the bathing suit but that came a few moments later when she stood up in the shallow end after having retrieved her sunglasses.

Apparently the rush of water from her spectacular racing speed, er, ahem, shifted the ol' bathing suit covering the ladies.

Devin politely pointed it out and back she plunged into the deliciously icy waters accompanied by hysterical laughter from me. I am a great friend, one who goes to bat for you time and time again.

And laughs without restraint at your follies.

Now we know what Candace's most embarrassing moment is. The fortunate thing is that no one but Devin noticed. I guess we know where he focuses his attention. In his defence, they do belong to his wife.....

And I am postive that Candace is forever grateful that there are no pictures of that. I also ensured that my ladies (okay they only qualify as girls....whatever) were secured appropriately before standing up. After all we were at a bible camp. Someone had to keep the show G rated.

After the peep show there was a canoe ride, in the pool, because the lovely wind was creating whitecaps on the lake:

This is where the crack appears in the story:



Since this is a family blog, I hid the evidence but I think it's pretty clear where the crack appeared. Evidently the competitive streak in this couple does not end with the wife. Devin just HAD to one up Candace.

This is what Hannah and Jack think of the whole situation.

Course they weren't as relaxed about this:

I agree Hannah, it wasn't on tight enough. Some people just don't know how to scoop a decent ice cream cone.

It was a day we will remember for a long time and more importantly will provide many, many laughs in the years to come.

Summer in SK

We have been having the most phenomenal summer. Since I was complaining endlessly about the rain, I thought I better put a good word in here lest the weather man turn vengeful.

We spent the weekend enjoying the sun filled days and today we will hit another spray park and soak up some more of those harmful UV rays.

And some of you (okay well Candace anyway) were wondering how we have been doing on the A/C ... well so far we have yet to crank ‘er up. And I haven’t melted yet so all is good. It’s been hot too. 27 – 30 Celcius for that last week and half.

Maybe I have adapted?

Perhaps. That’s what Jay claims he does when he comes home from work in pants, a long sleeve shirt AND a jacket on these days. He’s a crazy man, my hubby. He gets home and I am wearing as little as is publicly decent. ‘Course he isn’t complaining about that now is he?

Happy Summer Everyone!