43

43 Interesting things about 43.

I'm 43 today and I'm sad about it because being the geek that I am, I love that yesterday my age was the meaning of life. Today my age is just a weird, odd number. So I've done some research on the number 43 that I thought I'd share with you in an effort to make 43 more palatable.

1. When you hold down the shift key, it kinda looks like a swear: $#
2. My sister and brother-in-law's apple orchard is near Highway 43 here in town
3. This guide to hiring women from 1943 makes me laugh
4. Technetium, the chemical element with the number 43 is shiny. That's how far I got reading the Wikipedia page *yawn*
5. It takes 43 muscles to frown
6. Edmonton beat Montreal in the 43rd Grey Cup *boooo!*
7. In 1969 the 43rd modern Stanley Cup was played with Montreal beating St. Louis *yay!*
8. In Roman Numerals it's XLIII
9. According to IMDb, Vertigo is the 43rd best movie out of 250
10. Furry Vengeance is the 43rd worst movie
11. The 100 Best Songs website says that Beat It by Michael Jackson is the 43rd best song of all time
12. Indigo.ca claims that Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (one of my favourite books) is the 43rd best book of all time. Take that, James Joyce.
13. There's a Spanish liqueur called Licor 43 that's supposed to taste like citrus and vanilla and 43 other flavours. A bottle of this is going right on my birthday gift list...
14. 43rd on the list of best sitcoms of all time: The Odd Couple
15. The bloodhound is the 43rd most popular breed of dog
16. What's 43rd most popular dog name? Boy: Dakota
17. Girl dog: Roxie
18. Prefer cats? Samson for a boy cat,
19. Amber for a girl
20. What? You don't want the most popular name there is for your baby? Go for the 43rd most popular: Owen
21. Savannah for your daughter
22. Here is the schedule for the 43 bus here in Ottawa
23. Jethro Tull has a song called Hymn 43. I listened to it for about 30 seconds. Yuck. So not my style.
24. Forty-three is a lot
25. I'm kinda tired of doing this
26. As of this typing, $43 Canadian is about 26 British pounds
27. The 43rd episode of Star Trek is called Bread and Circuses
28. Episode 43 of The Next Generation is Samaritan Snare
29. The current record for number of snails on your face at one time is 43
30. There's a movie called Room 43. know nothing about it.
31. Forty-three is the country code for calling Austria
32. There's a restaurant called The 43rd in Texas
33. So I started this list to make me more interested in being 43 but now it's just pissing me off as I realise how many 43 really is...
34. This granny camped out 43 hours for ice cream
35. In French, it's "quarante-trois"
36. Okay, you know what? I'm done. I'm grasping at straws and I think I lost most of you at the 43rd Annual Grey Cup...

Well, now that I'm old and a tad pissed off about not being able to finish this list, I'm going to sulk and hope that today brings more Fabulous Fred style presents (thanks Lisa!!).

kxx

Getting to Know You

Courtesy of the lovely Keely at MannLand5:

The Q's.

1. Do you think mustaches are sexy?

No. Well, kinda. Sometimes. I dunno...

2. What's the last concert you've been to?
The English Beat. Amazing!

3  What was your favorite 80's sitcom?
Family Ties? No! The Cosby Show. 

4. Were you named after anyone?
I wish. But my dad told me that if I had been a boy, I'd have been named Errol after him. That dubious honour went to my brother.

5. When you buy new clothes, do you wash before wearing?
Are you kidding? The clothes I buy are so cheap they get destroyed after one washing so I wear them as much as I can before I clean them. I know, yuck, right?

6. If you didn't blog, what would you do with your spare time?
I would most likely clean something or put something away. You should see my house. Thanks, blog!

7. What is your favorite department store?
Favourite to drool in? Holt Renfrew. Favourite I can actually afford to shop at? Zellers. See my answer about washing above.

8. If  you were to get Laser Hair Removal..where would you get it?
Armpits. No question.

kxx

Flashback Friday!

Here is another ride in the time machine that is my blog posts of yesteryear. This one is about how I've managed to get the kids to sit through the credits of movies without getting bored. I like to see every second of a movie because if I don't, I could miss out on something juicy like at the very end of Despicable Me. And didn't you pay for the show? Check it out:

Tuesday, 1 August 2006

Oh, and the links may or may not work. It's been 4 years, after all...

kxx

I'm running again.

For the past 3 days I've been going for a 30 minute jog before work in the morning. It makes me feel a whole lot less grouchy when the baby gets here. Frankly, for the past few months I don't know how Lisa was walking away from the baby with him in my grumpy arms with me grunting some excuse about not having my morning tea. Since Tuesday I've been made up, actually smiling and even preparing the house for the day. Yay me!

The days have been gorgeous. Even yesterday which saw most of the day in torrents of rain, the morning was humid and 28C. Just the way I like it. My route changes daily since there are so many beautiful runs around here. Yesterday I actually cried because the view from the lighthouse and the day were so pretty and I felt so strong. I must have looked like a total doofus. And have I mentioned that I hate running? Okay, maybe I don't. I think what I hate is trying to fit it into my life and running when it's cold/snowy/wet/windy/nighttime... whatever. The past 3 days have been absolutely perfect but I wish I'd started doing this earlier in the year. As it stands now I'll have one more month before one of the above excuses kicks in and I start eating and slobbing as if I was in training to win gold at the sloth Olympics.

Is it too much to ask for 4 more months of summer weather? Just until Christmas? What do you say mother Nature? Be a pal.

kxx

The lighthouse is at the point. I live about a 10 minute run down that road near the top of the photo.

This is Andrew Haydon park with trails all through. I can hardly believe all this gorgeousness is less than a 5 minute walk from my couch.

You see what I mean? Pretty, right? See you tomorrow morning.

I feel sorry for the kids of today.

Yes, they have the internet and cordless tv remote controls but we had Schoolhouse Rock. How else were you supposed to remember your grammar or times tables? In fact, my kids are terrible at math and I blame the fact that Schoolhouse Rock only exists on YouTube and dvd. That and the fact that they roll around on the floor pissing themselves with laughter asking "how did you ever watch this stupid stuff?" Morons.

When you were forced to watch these between cartoons on the only channel that even showed cartoons on Saturday morning (and then only from 8am till noon), you learned something, by gum. In fact, whenever I hear the end music after Bugs Bunny, I still sing this.

So, in keeping with my love of Schoolhouse Rock and the fact that I couldn't sleep last night until I sung this in its entirety, I give you my favourite Multiplication Rocks song:





And the close second:



kxx ("Hey, noun is a person place or thiiiiing!")

***If you are reading this on Facebook and it's formatted weird or the links don't show up, click "view original post" and read it on blogger*** 

I LOVE camping!

I know the title of this post comes as quite a surprise to those of you who have been following my blog for a few years, but in the past I've failed to see the up-side. Camping rocks.

I'm referring, of course, to other members of my family sleeping on the ground getting bug bitten shivering in a tent enjoying the great outdoors and leaving the house to me. For days at a time. Heaven! My kitchen and bathroom stay clean and I can eat whatever I want for dinner. I know, right? A few weeks ago while Elliott was at summer camp, Scott took the kids camping. Yesterday Scott, feeling that Elliott missed out, took him camping to make up for it. I am now reaping the immense benefits. The only downside is that they take the car but I have an awesome neighbour who actually gets angry if she finds out that I am carless and didn't ask to borrow hers.

This time Audrey stayed behind so we'll be doing lots of girly things together. Yesterday we went to see Ramona and Beezus and had a nice restaurant dinner. Tonight I have dragonboat practice and I'm hoping she'll join me. Tomorrow we shop, Thursday is dragonboat again then we expect the boys to come home. Did I mention that camping is the best activity ever?

kxx

Hello! It's Monday and I owe you a blog.

It's a holiday here, creatively called "Civic Holiday", only out-creatived by the UK's "Bank Holiday". Anyway, Civic Holiday is the last long weekend before Labour Day aka the final nail in summer's coffin. Here in Ottawa we try to call it Colonel By Day but it doesn't stick. It's like trying to make up your own cool nickname. How many times have I tried to get people to call me "Kazzer"?

So here's my opportunity to teach you a little something. John By was an engineer who supervised the building of the Rideau Canal. He's the shiz in these parts and his name is everywhere: The Byward Market, Colonel By Drive, a school and even a beer. If it wasn't for him, Ottawa wouldn't even be a city. So thanks, John, we appreciate the effort. And the day off helps...

kazzer