What You Can Learn From Kids

This is shared from Al, who has four of the most adorable girls (and Girl Guides!) in all of Alberta. Thanks!

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep

2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3.) A 3-year old child’s voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound child wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20×20 ft. room.

5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn’t stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words “uh oh”, it’s already too late.

8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke — lots of it.

9.) A six-year old child can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.

10.) Certain Lego’s will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old child.

11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12.) Super glue is forever.

13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can’t walk on water.

4.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15.) VCR’s do not eject “PB & J” sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine will, however, make cats dizzy

22.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

23.) 80% of men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

a) For those with no children – this is totally hysterical.

b) For those who already have children past this age, this is hilarious.

c) For those who have children this age, this is not funny.

d) For those who have children nearing this age, this is a warning.

e) For those who have not yet had children, this is birth control.

You Decide…

Time and a Quandary

In my world, time is a precious commodity. Between homeschooling three children, all their various activities, volunteering for Girl Guides and writing, I’m fairly particular (most days) about what I spend my free time on.

Reading is one of those activities that I denote a fair amount of my free time to. I’m lucky that it falls hand in hand with writing. If it didn’t, I — well…I just don’t want to think about it!

What to do, though, when you get a book that just doesn’t resonate with you?

How long do you give it before you set it down, never to pick it up again?

Or maybe you keep on slogging through and finish it anyway?

In case you haven’t figured it out, this is a precursor to tomorrow’s post on Book Four. The bad news is that I didn’t finish it. The good news is that I get to start a new book today!

My quandary is that it was my intention to post the books I’ve read to my blog this year, thus keeping a system of logging them. However, if I didn’t finish I can hardly give it a score and then there’s the fact that I truly believe in keeping one’s trap shut if you can’t say something nice.

But then, is that a realistic attitude given the publishing industry is full of attitude and reviews? Not likely, but still, I won’t diss anyone’s book. Just like a child, those words belong to someone and they are precious to them.

When my publishing days come, I can only hope my words are treated with the same amount of respect. For the most part.

Ah jeez. You’d think I’d’ve learned from American Title! I’d better start toughening up now, huh? ;)

Tick Tock Goes The Clock

I’m having difficulties maintaining my schedule these days. I’ve picked up this bad habit of watching TV and cleaning my house instead of working on my wip in the evenings and I’m not accomplishing as much as I’d like on my page count.

Instead of working, I’ve rearranged my clothes closet, dusted, organized my office, kept the kitchen counter free of clutter and I’ve been watching hockey and American Idol.

At any rate, it’s got to stop. While the clean house is nice, I’ve got a self imposed deadline looming over my head and I’m not helping myself letting the boob tube suck away my life.

Ever have one of those moments where you think “There goes an hour of my life that I’ll never get back?”

For whatever reason, that’s been my last few days.

I know better.

A kick in the pants please?

How to Decide Who To Marry

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)

(1) You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
–Alan, age 10

(2) No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.
–Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

(1) Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
– Camille, age 10

(2) No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.
– Freddie, age 6

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

(1) You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
– Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MUM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

(1) Both don’t want any more kids.
– Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

(1) Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
– Lynnette, age 8

(2) On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that Usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
– Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

(1) I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
– Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

(1) When they’re rich.
– Pam, age 7

(2) The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that
– – Curt, age 7

(3 ) The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.
– Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

(1 ) I don’t know which is better, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’m never going to have sex with my wife. I don’t want to be all grossed out.
– Theodore, age 8

(2 ) It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
– Anita, age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN’T GET MARRIED?

(1 ) There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?
– Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favourite is……..

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

(1 ) Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
– Ricky, age 10

Zen

Because it’s good to giggle, today I’m sharing a little list my fellow American Title Finalist, Cathy Pegau posted to our email loop just as the voting for Round Three started up…

ZEN FOR THOSE WHO TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY

1. SAVE THE WHALES. COLLECT THE WHOLE SET.

2. A DAY WITHOUT SUNSHINE IS LIKE, NIGHT.

3. ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT FINGERS.

4. I JUST GOT LOST IN THOUGHT. IT WAS UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY.

5. I FEEL LIKE I’M DIAGONALLY PARKED IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE.

6. HONK IF YOU LOVE PEACE AND QUIET.

7. HE WHO LAUGHS LAST, THINKS SLOWEST.

8. DEPRESSION IS MERELY ANGER WITHOUT ENTHUSIASM.

9. THE EARLY BIRD MAY GET THE WORM, BUT THE SECOND MOUSE GETS THE CHEESE.

10. I DRIVE WAY TOO FAST TO WORRY ABOUT CHOLESTEROL.

11. SUPPORT BACTERIA. THEY’RE THE ONLY CULTURE SOME PEOPLE HAVE.

12. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE IS USUALLY THE SIGN OF A BAD MEMORY.

13. GET A NEW CAR FOR YOUR SPOUSE. IT’LL BE A GREAT TRADE!

14. PLAN TO BE SPONTANEOUS TOMORROW.

15. ALWAYS TRY TO BE MODEST, AND BE PROUD OF IT!

16. OK, SO WHAT’S THE SPEED OF DARK?

17. HOW DO YOU TELL WHEN YOU’RE OUT OF INVISIBLE INK?

18. HARD WORK PAYS OFF IN THE FUTURE. LAZINESS PAYS OFF NOW.

19. EVERYONE HAS A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY. SOME JUST DO NOT HAVE FILM.

20. IF BARBIE IS SO POPULAR, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BUY HER FRIENDS?

21. EAGLES MAY SOAR, BUT WEASELS DO NOT GET SUCKED INTO JET ENGINES.

22. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET SCARED HALF TO DEATH TWICE?

23. I USED TO HAVE AN OPEN MIND BUT MY BRAINS KEPT FALLING OUT.

24. I COULDN’T REPAIR YOUR BRAKES, SO I MADE YOUR HORN LOUDER.

25. WHY DO PSYCHICS HAVE TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR NAME?

26. INSIDE EVERY OLDER PERSON IS A YOUNGER PERSON WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED.

27. JUST REMEMBER – IF THE WORLD DID NOT SUCK, WE WOULD ALL FALL OFF.

28. LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THAN SOUND, WHICH IS WHY SOME PEOPLE APPEAR BRIGHT UNTIL YOU HEAR THEM SPEAK

Minus a Million With The Windchill

As much as I’d like to, I’m not going to whine about the weather. Not even a smidge. Although (let’s be honest) I really, really want to. After all, what’s the point of living somewhere cold if you can’t have bragging rights? But still. I’m standing strong and I won’t!

Let’s just remember SPRING, glorious SPRING is coming. We know it. We’ve just got to buck up and get on with things while we wait. And let’s not forget, things could be worse. After all, this time last year I was splitting logs and then lying on a cement floor in my nightgown to feed our WOOD guzzling furnace which had a malfunctioning damper so that we had only two heat settings consisting of…

A. Cold breeze aka put your parka on OR 
B. Stifling hot breeze aka move the curtains away from the vent so they don’t ignite and open the windows – NOW! 

You can surmise that choice B defeated the entire purpose of heating the house and was a vicious circle in which to be entrenched. Choice A wasn’t much fun, either.

So where was I? Oh, yes. Not whining about the weather. In fact, I’m not whining about anything. Today was a perfectly lovely day (not counting American Title induced stress – sorry I can’t tell you how RISING SIN made out until…uh, checking my calendar…oh jeez, December 18!) Gosh that’s a long time away. Or at least it was until I realized moments ago that November is almost over. Lordy Pete. What happened to November?).

Ignoring the fact that the month of November has slipped from my fingers and Back to the topic at hand (the lovely day, remember?) I wrote, did some assignments for an online class I’m taking with Margie Lawson (in which I received some very gratifying praise), played with my children and spoke with both my mom and my sister and several good friends.

Life is good and though Thanksgiving is over for both Canadians and Americans alike, I’m thankful. My gratitude to you for helping make it so!

Feet That Are Happy and Happy Feet

happy-feet-DVDcoverSo while everyone is raving about Casino Royale and the new James Bond (Daniel somebody ;) ), I (because I have children) get to go see Happy Feet.

Which is fine by me. I can catch Casino Royale on DVD.

Besides, I like penguins. And Robin Williams and I hear that the late Steve Irwin has a voice part, too. Plus I love popcorn. Bonus!

And though I’ve been feeling lousy the last few days with a sore throat thing, I did a little retail therapy to ease my illness. Feast your eyes on these babies…I dare winter to test me now!baffin-boots

These Boots by Baffin are rated to -60C (-76F), have oil and acid resistant uppers and steel plated toes just in case I should run into an oil rig that needs my expertise. My daddy always did say it was better to be warm than to look good. I think he was talking about these boots!

A Life of 34 Years…Things I Have Learned

1. When the dog’s tongue sticks to metal in freezing temperatures… DO. NOT. PANIC.
2. People deserve forgiveness.
3. Time really does pass more quickly as you age.
4. If you have a TV interview, wear lipstick.
5. If you don’t try, you won’t know.
6. Loved ones who have passed on are always with us in our hearts.
7. I’d rather be fun than cool.
8. Children are the world’s most precious resource.
9. I can run. And far.
10. It’s possible to love someone more each day.
11. Only the rich can afford to buy cheap things.
12. Always remember to walk a mile in another’s shoes…
13. Dancing always feels good.
14. Lime Margaritas are the best kind.
15. “Thank you” and “Please” and “You are welcome” are an integral part to any good friendship.
16. Music always sounds better loud.
17. There is chocolate and there is GOOD chocolate. Try to stick with the GOOD stuff.
18. Slow and steady wins the race, too.
19. A great book can change your life.
20. A good night’s sleep cures a lot of things.
21. Everyone should laugh until they cry as often as possible. But not while driving.
22. People can disagree strongly and still respect each other.
23. Don’t code in html when you are tired.
24. Family is important
25. Friends are the family you choose.

26. CAN YOU FILL THIS ONE WITH SOMETHING YOU’VE LEARNED?
27. AND THIS ONE?

Keep it going!

Put A Smile On Your Face

The CranberriesOkay, before we get to the chuckles, can someone tell me how The Cranberries have escaped my music radar? I’ve JUST discovered them and am completely enthralled with their sound! It’s as good as discovering a fabulous new author. WOW! It’s been awhile since I felt this way about music. Did I say WOW?

Okay, back to the scheduled laughs…and just so you know, I am SO doing number 6!

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don’t Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It “In.”

5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write “For Smuggling Diamonds”

7. Finish All Your sentences with “In Accordance With The Prophecy.”

8. Don’t use any punctuation

9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is “To Go.”

12. Sing Along At The Opera.

13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don’t Rhyme?

14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play Tropical Sounds All Day.

15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can’t Attend Their Party Because You’re Not In The Mood.

16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock Bottom.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream “I Won!, I Won!”

18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking lot, Yelling “Run For Your Lives, They’re Loose!!”The Cranberries

CSI Cold Lake

At the risk of turning stomachs, I am purposely not including photos.

CSI Log, Stardate 2006

Two days ago

Three days ago

November 4, the big white barky dog otherwise known as Tala disappeared. When last seen she was headed for the back of the property and barking. Nothing new there. Bark, bark, bark. Run, run, run. Such is the life of Tala.

When we returned from swim lessons three hours later though, barky dog was still not home. {insert loud and suffering sigh}

NOW, many of you don’t know it, but waaaay back when I had that internet kafluffle with the leaves interrupting my signal, barky dog and diggy dog disappeared. Together. They were experimenting with their inner selves, expressing their repressed wolf emotions and letting loose with their pack mentality.

In short, they took off.

It took an entire day for us to find them (they were unharmed, but very tired and cold). So hence the long and suffering sigh. I figured Tala had gone “wolf” again and I was about to lose a good day of writing searching for a dog that didn’t care to be found.

Perfect.

So, I trudged off, following her tracks in the snow and doing that CSI thing. (Just so you know, Horatio’s got nothing on me!)

I soon found myself deep in the woods and wondering about cougars and other large carnivorous mammals and so I thought maybe I should make some noise. I called and called and called, mustering bravado and strength and wouldn’t you know it? She came!

Color me stunned.

Especially when noting all the blood on her face.

Hoping she’d found something dead and not brought it down herself, I investigated. And cautiously so as not to trample the crime scene.

Further investigation brought me to a deer that had been shot (but not tagged — which is poaching) and it was soon revealed that this particular deer, a doe, had already been partly skinned out. For whatever reason the poacher had left her. The perpetrator’s rubber gloves were still at the scene, tucked under a log, and I thought about taking them as evidence, but what were the odds Fish and Game would fingerprint the latex and match it to some previously incarcerated poacher and/or conduct a search for the perp?

Not bloody likely (pun intended) especially since most of the evidence was inside my dog.

I finally coaxed Tala away from her feast (hindsight – when hunting for a missing dog, always bring the leash! grumble, grumble), but not before she ripped off a rib to bring back home for an afternoon snack.

Thus setting a precedent of sorts.

Back at the house, I tied her up, not wanting her to wander that way during the night and be taken down by a pack of coyotes or wolves.

The next day though, she went back to her prize and came home with a leg.

Hoof still attached.

Today she proudly dragged home the hide.

She’d better not return with the ribcage tomorrow. I don’t think I can tolerate a ribcage in my yard.

Does anyone else have problems like this or is it only me?

I’m just wondering.