Monday, January 31, 2011

Day 346: Freedom!

After eight long months of being a one car family, eight months of riding my bike to the gym, eight months of not being able to get up and go when I feel the need, we finally have added a (not so new) car to our family. It is the right car for us and it found its way to us at a very good time. As some of you may know, Nick has this skill - a sixth sense, if you will. He is awesome at finding and acquiring cheap-as-free cars. We have driven some doozies, and I must say that this one is a pretty good find.

The reviews are in:

Christa says "It's ghetto and it stinks"
Deven says "I can't see our family in anything else"
Emma says "At least it has all the seat belts. I counted. And it doesn't stink that bad."

Presenting:

The 1990 Chevy Astro Van!

Sweet rims.

That's right. Nothing but the best.
 
Hey, Denny B! Guess how much he paid for it?

Monday, January 10, 2011

Day 322: Permis de conduire

Oh man am I happy about my new driver's license.


This is the best ID photo I have ever had.

In an earlier post I talked about our new license plates. In order to get those, we had to get auto insurance from a Canadian company. In order to get the insurance, I had to have an Ontario driver's license. I wasn't thrilled about that, because I dread the ID photo (emotional wounds thankfully averted this time) Also I still had several years left until my Utah license expired. And I liked pulling it out when someone asked to see my ID. "Utah? You're a long way from home, eh?"

So, sad day. I had to surrender my Utah license. And now everything in my wallet is Canadian :(

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Day 321: Canadians love Hockey

All of Canada is heart-broken today. It's all over the news. Everyone is talking about it.

I don't know if people in the US are aware, but there has been this thing going on called the World Junior Hockey Championships.

It's kind of a big deal around here.

Canada was beaten by Russia last night in the gold medal final. The US team won the bronze medal, beating out Sweden.

I checked a couple of American news websites this morning. I had to look really hard, but a found a few tiny mentions.

Canadian news, on the other hand is freaking out:

An epic collapse, as Russia stuns Canada 5-3

Russia stuns Canada in world junior hockey final

Momentous Canadian collapse hands Russia gold 

Canadian fans deflated by world juniors loss

Russians rally to deny Canada world junior gold

Canada loses control in third 



Oh, and this happened:
USA DOWNS SWEDEN TO CLAIM BRONZE AT WORLD JUNIORS

 And then this happened this morning:  (click link) Too much vodka



Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Day 319: Integrated

Well, it happened. We held out as long as possible. One of the last pieces of our American identity, our Utah license plates, have expired.
(plate number altered to deter creepy stalkers)
We were supposed to get Ontario license plates within a certain time period (long since past) but we reasoned that our Utah plates were still valid, we have never been pulled over, and never had any trouble...except for the times we have crossed the border. That's fun. Crossing back into Canada and explaining to confused border guards that yes we are Americans, we just had to go to the airport in Buffalo...no we don't live there, we live in Ontario...our plates say Utah because we used to live there and on and on.

So now we are now just one of millions of anonymous Canadian motorists. No more will people pull up next to us and say "Utah? You're far from home, eh?" (That happened more than once.)
Or pass us on the freeway to get a peek at what people from Utah look like.

I think this is what they expect. Sorry to disappoint ;)

Monday, January 3, 2011

Day 318: Happy 2011

It's the New Year, it's got to be done. Resolutions must be made. Right? Is it better to call them Goals? Or Commitments? Of course I have a whole list of things I need to do better, but they are mostly spiritual-type things that are for me only.
My other Goal is one I can share with you because it's something you can all see.
Last April, I joined a gym. For the past 260 days or so, I have gone almost everyday (except Sunday)...at the very worst, 3 times a week. In that time I have lost 50 pounds.
For the past 3 months, I have been stuck (maybe I should say holding steady) at that weight. I didn't have as much self-control as I should have when Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas happened...luckily the gym-going evened it out.
I know 50 pounds is nothing to sneeze at, but according to various charts, graphs and formulae I have consulted, I am still considered overweight. I need to lose between 30 and 50 more pounds to be at my proper BMI...even though I am thinner and fitter than I have been for many many years
I also know that I should not pay attention to what charts say, but to how my clothes fit etc etc. But gosh darn it, I want to be in that "Healthy Weight" category!
SO! Away with the treats and yummy holiday foods, and back to the 'ol healthy food grind.
And taking an idea from my friend Luann, here are the dirty details for all the internets to see:

Weight: 170
Bust: A snug 41 inches. By the way, can you see the black line on the 41? That's the size my waist used to be!
Under bust: 35 inches
Waist: 34 inches
Hips: 38 inches
Thigh: 23-ish inches

What's funny is that according to various clothing size charts, my bust and waist are size 16-18, but my hips are a size 6-8!!? Really? As my friend Swass said recently, "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!"

It must be all the hip shakin' I've been doing in Zumba class ;)

So here I am in my brave new (I feel nekkid) gym outfit! Yay me! Happy 2011~*