There are so many rhymes and songs that get passed down from generation to generation, becoming more and more embedded in childhood culture. I had all but forgotten many of them until I became a mother and, now, I hear them being sung all around me at playgroups and at the park. It’s amazing how the words come flooding back after so many years – just naturally rolling off the tongue. I never used to give the lyrics any thought at all. My childhood innocence must be all but lost because now I can't help but analyze the words very closely. While most of them are silly and harmless, there are many that are quite disturbing on one level or another.
Just the other day I started singing the nursery rhyme “It’s raining, it’s pouring” at the water park. It seemed like a natural thing to do. When I got to the part about the old man bonking his head and not being able to get up in the morning I thought to myself, “Wait a minute. This rhyme is really troubling! Why didn’t someone call 9-1-1?”
This occurrence reminded me of a conversation I had recently with a Francophone friend about the song Alouette. It’s a song that I remember very fondly from my own childhood. I remember learning the tune in elementary school in French class (“sans” translation). My friend told me that Alouette had very little appeal in Quebec because it’s so violent and disgusting. I had no idea! Like most of the French songs I sang as a child, I didn’t actually know what the words meant. I just sang along because it was a catchy little tune. If I had known the song was about plucking feathers out of a friendly little bird’s head, I might not have thought it was so wonderful.
And don’t even get me started talking about what’s wrong with “Ladybug Ladybug.” It’s horrific!
Even some of the seemingly innocent nursery rhymes have gory roots. Did you know that the "Jack and Jill" poem is said to have origins in the beheading of King Louis XVI?
The funny thing is, I still really enjoy singing all of these songs for nostalgic reasons. I can analyze them all I want, but they still rattle off my tongue just as easily as they did when I was a kid. I guess that's how they've stood the test of time.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Saturday, July 29, 2006
News "bite"
Big excitement! The little guy finally cut his first tooth this week. The only problem is that daddy and I are getting no sleep because teething pain is keeping him up at night. Last night was the worst yet. No word of a lie -- he was up (and crying) every hour on the hour!!! The Tempra just wasn't doing the trick. Mommy's milk is the only thing that seems to soothe those sore gums. Sigh...I guess that's one down....how many more to go??? If anyone has any words of encouragement, I'd love to hear them.
That's all today. I'm too tired to write anything more.
That's all today. I'm too tired to write anything more.
Friday, July 28, 2006
It's another fun Friday!
Last weekend on our country adventure we came across this sign, written on the back of a cracker box. We thought it was pretty hilarious, and a little baffling at the same time. If you are having trouble seeing the words, it says:
Einstein and Wolfy
Private Investigators
(We also walk dogs)
For this week’s edition of Fun Friday, me and the little guy have made some of our own signs.
Beeker and Mousy
Pirates of the 7 seas
(We also babysit)
Brainy and Sunshine
Mad scientists
(We also walk ferrets)
Smarty and Hooch
Escape artists
(We also paint portraits)
Charlie and Angel
Superheros
(We also mow lawns)
Magnum and Poochy
Stunt doubles
(We also teach yoga)
If you have any good ones to add, let me know!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Wake up and smell the coffee
Life is pretty good as I sit here drinking a piping hot cup of fair trade Sumatran coffee. I pity those poor souls who drink no-name instant coffee with powdered milk.
I admit it. I’m a HUGE coffee snob. Even when I go camping I bring along the good stuff. I have no problem sleeping in a leaky tent on a bed of pointy rocks, peeing in the bush, and eating beans straight from the can – but it’s back to the city for me if that cup of Jo isn’t waiting for me in the morning.
Here are some things I’ve learned about coffee over the years.
- Life is too short to drink bad coffee.
- Decaf is only good to drink for “medical reasons” (pregnancy, insomnia etc…)
- Just because it says “organic” doesn’t mean it tastes good. I’ve had some organic coffees that taste like compost.
- The same goes for if it says “fair trade”.
- Organic, fair trade coffee that tastes good is worth its weight in gold.
- Stopping for coffee is an expensive habit (which I’ve never completely kicked). But I figure that since I don’t smoke, don’t drink much, don’t buy a lot of clothes I can justify the indulgence.
- If you are on a budget, drink home brew. You’ll be amazed how much money you’ll save.
- Many coffee houses have customer reward programs. I get every tenth bag free!
- Coffee is supposed to be hot, not warm. Most coffee maker machines don’t get the water hot enough. To get the temperature right every time, pour boiling water through a cone filter.
- Dark roasts have less caffeine than lighter roasts (but I think the dark roasts taste better).
- A Barista once told me that storing coffee in the freezer doesn’t actually lock in its freshness. I’ll have to do more research on that one…
- A shot of espresso has less caffeine than regular coffee (my friend taught me that just last week)
- A coffee a day keeps the yawns away. And the kisses too, so carry breath mints.
- Frozen slurpy-like coffees have a gajillion calories in them.
- Coffee tastes better and stays hotter if drunk out of a clay mug. It also feels more decadent.
- You are definitely Canadian if you know what “double, double” means.
- Even people who don’t like coffee appreciate that the beans smell good.
- Even though caffeine is a drug, it’s safe to consume in moderation. If you drink 8 cups or more a day, you probably have a problem.
- Reheated coffee is never as good.
- Coffee withdrawal is really ugly, but nothing that a cup of coffee can’t cure.
- Worldwide, 500 billion cups of coffee are consumed each day (more than half in the morning).
For more interesting coffee trivia, check out this website. This is the official website for a documentary series called Black Coffee that I watched on TVO. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it!
Would you look at the time – I think it’s time for a coffee break! See yah!
I admit it. I’m a HUGE coffee snob. Even when I go camping I bring along the good stuff. I have no problem sleeping in a leaky tent on a bed of pointy rocks, peeing in the bush, and eating beans straight from the can – but it’s back to the city for me if that cup of Jo isn’t waiting for me in the morning.
Here are some things I’ve learned about coffee over the years.
- Life is too short to drink bad coffee.
- Decaf is only good to drink for “medical reasons” (pregnancy, insomnia etc…)
- Just because it says “organic” doesn’t mean it tastes good. I’ve had some organic coffees that taste like compost.
- The same goes for if it says “fair trade”.
- Organic, fair trade coffee that tastes good is worth its weight in gold.
- Stopping for coffee is an expensive habit (which I’ve never completely kicked). But I figure that since I don’t smoke, don’t drink much, don’t buy a lot of clothes I can justify the indulgence.
- If you are on a budget, drink home brew. You’ll be amazed how much money you’ll save.
- Many coffee houses have customer reward programs. I get every tenth bag free!
- Coffee is supposed to be hot, not warm. Most coffee maker machines don’t get the water hot enough. To get the temperature right every time, pour boiling water through a cone filter.
- Dark roasts have less caffeine than lighter roasts (but I think the dark roasts taste better).
- A Barista once told me that storing coffee in the freezer doesn’t actually lock in its freshness. I’ll have to do more research on that one…
- A shot of espresso has less caffeine than regular coffee (my friend taught me that just last week)
- A coffee a day keeps the yawns away. And the kisses too, so carry breath mints.
- Frozen slurpy-like coffees have a gajillion calories in them.
- Coffee tastes better and stays hotter if drunk out of a clay mug. It also feels more decadent.
- You are definitely Canadian if you know what “double, double” means.
- Even people who don’t like coffee appreciate that the beans smell good.
- Even though caffeine is a drug, it’s safe to consume in moderation. If you drink 8 cups or more a day, you probably have a problem.
- Reheated coffee is never as good.
- Coffee withdrawal is really ugly, but nothing that a cup of coffee can’t cure.
- Worldwide, 500 billion cups of coffee are consumed each day (more than half in the morning).
For more interesting coffee trivia, check out this website. This is the official website for a documentary series called Black Coffee that I watched on TVO. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it!
Would you look at the time – I think it’s time for a coffee break! See yah!
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
A “puree” of thoughts on baby food
I just finished making the following three batches of baby food: cinnamon infused apples, apricot and nectarine twist, and fabulous fennel puree. They taste pretty good if I do say so myself!
Making baby food is really time consuming, but the reward comes when my son says “mmmm” while gobbling it down. Almost everyday while he naps, I hop into the kitchen and whip up a couple of batches to throw in the freezer. As his appetite increases so does the amount of time I spend peeling, chopping, steaming and pureeing. Needless to say, the baby food aisle at the supermarket is becoming more and more tempting. And, I must admit, I do have a stash of jars in the cupboard for days when we’re on the run.
I'm motivated to keep up the baby chef routine because I've tasted the jarred stuff (it's nothing short of disgusting!). Even the brand name fruits and vegetables are inedible (at least to me. My son seems to like them okay, although he doesn’t say “mmmm” quite as much). And where is the variety? I can find all of the common fruits and veggies, but have never come across a jar of brussel sprouts, cauliflower, zucchini, or papaya.
As payoff for all my labour I'm hoping my son will grow up liking a wide variety of flavours and textures. Given how much my partner and I love gourmet food, it would be tragic if he ended up being one of those kids who pokes at his food with a fork saying, “I don’t like it.” I want him to enjoy going out for Carribean, African, Korean, and Thai food (among others), and to never be afraid to try something creative and new.
So far, so good. He likes everything I put in front of him (yes, even brussel sprouts!). Next week we start with meat and meat alternatives. These dishes, I assure you, will all be homemade. I’m not even willing to entertain the idea of him eating meat from a jar. It just seems so wrong!
Making baby food is really time consuming, but the reward comes when my son says “mmmm” while gobbling it down. Almost everyday while he naps, I hop into the kitchen and whip up a couple of batches to throw in the freezer. As his appetite increases so does the amount of time I spend peeling, chopping, steaming and pureeing. Needless to say, the baby food aisle at the supermarket is becoming more and more tempting. And, I must admit, I do have a stash of jars in the cupboard for days when we’re on the run.
I'm motivated to keep up the baby chef routine because I've tasted the jarred stuff (it's nothing short of disgusting!). Even the brand name fruits and vegetables are inedible (at least to me. My son seems to like them okay, although he doesn’t say “mmmm” quite as much). And where is the variety? I can find all of the common fruits and veggies, but have never come across a jar of brussel sprouts, cauliflower, zucchini, or papaya.
As payoff for all my labour I'm hoping my son will grow up liking a wide variety of flavours and textures. Given how much my partner and I love gourmet food, it would be tragic if he ended up being one of those kids who pokes at his food with a fork saying, “I don’t like it.” I want him to enjoy going out for Carribean, African, Korean, and Thai food (among others), and to never be afraid to try something creative and new.
So far, so good. He likes everything I put in front of him (yes, even brussel sprouts!). Next week we start with meat and meat alternatives. These dishes, I assure you, will all be homemade. I’m not even willing to entertain the idea of him eating meat from a jar. It just seems so wrong!
Sunday, July 23, 2006
The poop on pigeons
As we (hubby, baby, friend and I) wandered through a country fair this weekend, we spotted a barn full of small cages, which we assumed contained the "bunny" exhibit. Excited at the prospect of the little guy seeing bunnies for the first time, we made our way over. Only, they weren't bunnies. They were pigeons. Lots and lots of pigeons. My first reaction was "Ick!" I've never been a big fan. In fact, I kicked a pigeon in the arse at Disney World when I was a kid (long story...). So I was surprised to note the sign at the barn's entrance proclaiming that the exhibit was made possible by "pigeon lovers and appreciators".
I always thought that the only people who liked pigeons were crazies. The ones that feed them in the park, making life miserable for pedestrians trying to move past the "heard", madly ducking this way and that trying to dodge feathers and flying poop. By comparison, the people manning this barn full of birds seemed sane enough.
Since the birds were nicely contained in cages, we thought we might as well see what the hype was all about. It didn't exactly rock my world, but some of the pigeons were actually pretty cool. There were ones with fuzzy feet and peacock-like tails, and pretty "dove-like" ones (because doves, I learned, are actually members of the pigeon family).
At the head of the barn, there they were...(I'll pause now to build suspense). The prize winners. The cream of the crop. There were four of them. The Old Cock, Old Hen, Young Hen and Old Cock Junior winners (snicker, snicker. Those were the actual categories!) A couple of them looked just like common street pigeons to me.
Viewing the winners made me wonder a number of things. What characteristics go into a "prize" pigeon? How do you find nice looking pigeons -- are they nabbed off the street? How does one become qualified to judge the pigeon competition? Can a person make good money showing pigeons? How does one take up pigeon collecting? I overheard someone saying that they had 50 pigeons at home. Wow, that's commitment!
I should probably stop with the pigeon bashing right about now. You never know when a pigeon might come in handy one day. What if I got trapped in a well, and the only way I could escape was to tie a message to a homing pigeon's leg so that rescuers could find me? Or, what if I became a magician, and I needed to make doves appear from a hat to wow the audience? Or, what if I was to drop a big piece of sandwich on the ground and couldn't pick it up because I had a bad back, and a pigeon came over and ate the sandwich so that didn't get in trouble for littering? Or, what if I got laid off and the only work I could get was judging the "Old Cock" competition at the county fair? You never know!
After the fair, I did a little pigeon research and feel much more enlightened. I can now appreciate that they aren't just flying rats that drive me nuts at five in the morning with their incessant cooing. Here is a good website I came across in defense of the poor, misunderstood pigeon.…
Now, if you'll excuse me, I must dash. Bert is just about to perform his pigeon dance on Sesame Street :)
I always thought that the only people who liked pigeons were crazies. The ones that feed them in the park, making life miserable for pedestrians trying to move past the "heard", madly ducking this way and that trying to dodge feathers and flying poop. By comparison, the people manning this barn full of birds seemed sane enough.
Since the birds were nicely contained in cages, we thought we might as well see what the hype was all about. It didn't exactly rock my world, but some of the pigeons were actually pretty cool. There were ones with fuzzy feet and peacock-like tails, and pretty "dove-like" ones (because doves, I learned, are actually members of the pigeon family).
At the head of the barn, there they were...(I'll pause now to build suspense). The prize winners. The cream of the crop. There were four of them. The Old Cock, Old Hen, Young Hen and Old Cock Junior winners (snicker, snicker. Those were the actual categories!) A couple of them looked just like common street pigeons to me.
Viewing the winners made me wonder a number of things. What characteristics go into a "prize" pigeon? How do you find nice looking pigeons -- are they nabbed off the street? How does one become qualified to judge the pigeon competition? Can a person make good money showing pigeons? How does one take up pigeon collecting? I overheard someone saying that they had 50 pigeons at home. Wow, that's commitment!
I should probably stop with the pigeon bashing right about now. You never know when a pigeon might come in handy one day. What if I got trapped in a well, and the only way I could escape was to tie a message to a homing pigeon's leg so that rescuers could find me? Or, what if I became a magician, and I needed to make doves appear from a hat to wow the audience? Or, what if I was to drop a big piece of sandwich on the ground and couldn't pick it up because I had a bad back, and a pigeon came over and ate the sandwich so that didn't get in trouble for littering? Or, what if I got laid off and the only work I could get was judging the "Old Cock" competition at the county fair? You never know!
After the fair, I did a little pigeon research and feel much more enlightened. I can now appreciate that they aren't just flying rats that drive me nuts at five in the morning with their incessant cooing. Here is a good website I came across in defense of the poor, misunderstood pigeon.…
Now, if you'll excuse me, I must dash. Bert is just about to perform his pigeon dance on Sesame Street :)
Friday, July 21, 2006
Fun Fridays!
I've decided that on Fridays I'm going to post fun stuff on the blog. Funny little stories, pictures, etc... It doesn't matter what it is as long as it's fun! For my first fun Friday, here are some pics of the little guy.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
If looks could kill
I don't wear make-up. I have no idea how to put my hair up in a girly way. I flat out refuse to iron. In my house, if it's not wrinkle resistant it gets thrown in the give away pile. I'm one of those women you see walking to work in a skirt and running shoes (I know, it's a bad look!) because my dress shoes slow me down. Instead of carrying a funky handbag, I use a knapsack because it doesn't hurt my back and it fits more stuff in it.
I'm sure that some people think I'm lazy, sloppy or both. I prefer to think of myself as practical. Why spend two hours getting ready to leave the house, when I could spend the time catching up some much needed sleep? And think of all the money I'm saving on hair products and cosmetics!
Don't get me wrong. I like to look good and, like most gals, I enjoy having a fashionable (albeit wrinkle-free and comfy) wardrobe. And, incredible but true, I do wear make-up on rare occasions.
My make-up bag is really tiny and contains three items which I sort of know how to operate - a tube of lipstick, mascara, and some blush (all of which I should probably throw out because it expired a decade ago). Don't ask me where it is right now because I have no idea. Usually it lives in my desk drawer so I can "freshen up" before a meeting with a big wig. Of course, I don't get a lot of face time with big wigs, so it mostly sits there and collects dust. When colleagues catch me in the hall wearing lipstick they pull me aside and whisper, "did you have a job interview this morning?" as though there could be no other possible explanation for my glossy lips.
Before weddings and other big special events I get my mother do my make-up for me (she's good!), or I pay someone at a salon to do it for me and get my hair done at the same time. People always gush at how great I look at weddings (which makes me wonder if I they think I look like crap normally).
My fingernails are appalling! I've never been able to kick my childhood nail biting habit. There is no point even trying to wear nail polish, because it would only draw attention to how disgraceful my nails are. Not once in my life have I had a manicure. What's the point? The job would be ruined before I got home.
So why am I telling you all this? Because this morning I looked at myself in the mirror and thought, "oh man do I need a haircut." At the same time, I noted the little wrinkles forming around my eyes. And, when I looked in the closet and my face fell even further. None of my clothes fit right since my pregnancy. But then I started thinking about how I could fix things. So here's my solution:
I'm going to get a kick ass haircut that's easy to maintain.
I'm going to work out more often so that my clothes fit better.
I'm going to try for the thousandth time to stop biting my nails (wish me luck!)
And, I'm going to learn to love the wrinkles around my eyes. I'll just refer to them as laugh lines, and be reminded of my happy life.
But just because I had an "ugly" day doesn't mean that I'm going to upgrade to a bigger make-up bag. I have to draw the line somewhere.
I'm sure that some people think I'm lazy, sloppy or both. I prefer to think of myself as practical. Why spend two hours getting ready to leave the house, when I could spend the time catching up some much needed sleep? And think of all the money I'm saving on hair products and cosmetics!
Don't get me wrong. I like to look good and, like most gals, I enjoy having a fashionable (albeit wrinkle-free and comfy) wardrobe. And, incredible but true, I do wear make-up on rare occasions.
My make-up bag is really tiny and contains three items which I sort of know how to operate - a tube of lipstick, mascara, and some blush (all of which I should probably throw out because it expired a decade ago). Don't ask me where it is right now because I have no idea. Usually it lives in my desk drawer so I can "freshen up" before a meeting with a big wig. Of course, I don't get a lot of face time with big wigs, so it mostly sits there and collects dust. When colleagues catch me in the hall wearing lipstick they pull me aside and whisper, "did you have a job interview this morning?" as though there could be no other possible explanation for my glossy lips.
Before weddings and other big special events I get my mother do my make-up for me (she's good!), or I pay someone at a salon to do it for me and get my hair done at the same time. People always gush at how great I look at weddings (which makes me wonder if I they think I look like crap normally).
My fingernails are appalling! I've never been able to kick my childhood nail biting habit. There is no point even trying to wear nail polish, because it would only draw attention to how disgraceful my nails are. Not once in my life have I had a manicure. What's the point? The job would be ruined before I got home.
So why am I telling you all this? Because this morning I looked at myself in the mirror and thought, "oh man do I need a haircut." At the same time, I noted the little wrinkles forming around my eyes. And, when I looked in the closet and my face fell even further. None of my clothes fit right since my pregnancy. But then I started thinking about how I could fix things. So here's my solution:
I'm going to get a kick ass haircut that's easy to maintain.
I'm going to work out more often so that my clothes fit better.
I'm going to try for the thousandth time to stop biting my nails (wish me luck!)
And, I'm going to learn to love the wrinkles around my eyes. I'll just refer to them as laugh lines, and be reminded of my happy life.
But just because I had an "ugly" day doesn't mean that I'm going to upgrade to a bigger make-up bag. I have to draw the line somewhere.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Think before you drink!
I don't smoke, I'm a very light drinker, I eat sensibly and exercise regularly -- all in the name of good health. And now I find out that my bottled water (which I drink instead of pop) could be leaching toxic chemicals into my body. Great, just great! This was the topic they were discussing on CBC Radio the other day (Friday, July 14) as I was filling up my son's plastic sippy cup with water. Could I be poisoning my baby and not even know it? According to Dr. Fred vom Saal, a researcher from the University of Missouri, I very well could be.
It turns out that many plastics that we use everyday -including containers we eat and drink out of- leach a polycarbonate resin called Bisphenol A, or BPA. When interviewed on the subject, Dr. vom Saal pointed out a number of risks that BPA pose, including low sperm count, miscarriages, and irreversible damage to an infant's developing organs.
Horrified by what I was hearing, I began scanning the room for things made out of plastic. Toys, reusable containers, sippy cups, plastic bags and bottles --there was plastic all around me! According to the CBC reporter who presented the story, BPA's are found in many of these common household items.
So, how do you know which plastics are dangerous and which ones are safe? I guess I wasn't the only listener with this question. The story generated so many inquiries, that they provided some follow-up information earlier this week. Here are some tips the CBC provided on identifying the potentially dangerous ones:
Be wary of hard, transparent plastic. The worst BPA culprits are plastics labeled with a number 1, 3 or 7.
Plastic that is opaque is generally safe. Also, if it has a number 2, 4 or 5 on it it's probably okay.
I was disturbed to find that many of the plastic items in my house didn't have numbers on them (including the sippy cup). The only way I'll know for sure is to contact the manufacturers directly to find out.
Of course, I'm going to take all of this with a grain of salt. I'm no expert. And, I haven't actually read the hundreds of studies that the reporter said this evidence was based on. If Health Canada isn't yanking plastic products off the shelves, I probably shouldn't quake in my boots every time I drink from a plastic cup.
That being said, if you come across an opaque sippy cup, pick one up for me! I'd rather be safe than sorry.
It turns out that many plastics that we use everyday -including containers we eat and drink out of- leach a polycarbonate resin called Bisphenol A, or BPA. When interviewed on the subject, Dr. vom Saal pointed out a number of risks that BPA pose, including low sperm count, miscarriages, and irreversible damage to an infant's developing organs.
Horrified by what I was hearing, I began scanning the room for things made out of plastic. Toys, reusable containers, sippy cups, plastic bags and bottles --there was plastic all around me! According to the CBC reporter who presented the story, BPA's are found in many of these common household items.
So, how do you know which plastics are dangerous and which ones are safe? I guess I wasn't the only listener with this question. The story generated so many inquiries, that they provided some follow-up information earlier this week. Here are some tips the CBC provided on identifying the potentially dangerous ones:
Be wary of hard, transparent plastic. The worst BPA culprits are plastics labeled with a number 1, 3 or 7.
Plastic that is opaque is generally safe. Also, if it has a number 2, 4 or 5 on it it's probably okay.
I was disturbed to find that many of the plastic items in my house didn't have numbers on them (including the sippy cup). The only way I'll know for sure is to contact the manufacturers directly to find out.
Of course, I'm going to take all of this with a grain of salt. I'm no expert. And, I haven't actually read the hundreds of studies that the reporter said this evidence was based on. If Health Canada isn't yanking plastic products off the shelves, I probably shouldn't quake in my boots every time I drink from a plastic cup.
That being said, if you come across an opaque sippy cup, pick one up for me! I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Downtown living
We are running out of space. With no basement, and a growing collection of baby stuff, our condo walls are quickly shrinking in around us. To find something even slightly bigger in the downtown area is out-of-this-world expensive. It's depressing! But what is even more depressing to me is the thought of moving to "the burbs."
It would be less expensive to buy in suburbia (in a cookie cutter-like home in a "treeless", "characterless" housing development), but we would be paying the price in other ways. Right now I can walk to work in ten minutes. I can go home at lunch. The grocery store, liquor store, mall, parkland, restaurants, and a whole host of other amenities are ALL within a short walk of our door. And most importantly, when my maternity leave ends, I'll be able to pick my baby up earlier from day care (provided I can find child care in our neighborhood. A topic for a future blog...). Every minute I save with my commute means more time spent with my son. You can't put a price tag on that.
Is having more space and a more affordable mortgage worth spending an hour or more each day driving a car or riding the bus? I honestly don't think so.
I was inspired by a conversation I overheard at the park the other day. A woman, very pregnant with her third child, was asked if she was planning to move into a bigger house. "No," she replied definitively. "We're going to make due." She went on to explain that her family loved the central location of their current home, and that the older kids could share a room. A bigger home simply wasn't in the family's budget. It made me think that maybe we could make due too, at least for a little while. If we just get a little creative with the space we have, it may just work.
It would be less expensive to buy in suburbia (in a cookie cutter-like home in a "treeless", "characterless" housing development), but we would be paying the price in other ways. Right now I can walk to work in ten minutes. I can go home at lunch. The grocery store, liquor store, mall, parkland, restaurants, and a whole host of other amenities are ALL within a short walk of our door. And most importantly, when my maternity leave ends, I'll be able to pick my baby up earlier from day care (provided I can find child care in our neighborhood. A topic for a future blog...). Every minute I save with my commute means more time spent with my son. You can't put a price tag on that.
Is having more space and a more affordable mortgage worth spending an hour or more each day driving a car or riding the bus? I honestly don't think so.
I was inspired by a conversation I overheard at the park the other day. A woman, very pregnant with her third child, was asked if she was planning to move into a bigger house. "No," she replied definitively. "We're going to make due." She went on to explain that her family loved the central location of their current home, and that the older kids could share a room. A bigger home simply wasn't in the family's budget. It made me think that maybe we could make due too, at least for a little while. If we just get a little creative with the space we have, it may just work.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Welcome to my blog!
Today is the first day of the rest of my blog. I've always wanted to join the blogosphere, but always thought it was too complicated. If I knew how simple it actually was, I would have started one months ago!
So, why start a blog?
1. I love to write. A blog is a perfect "outlet" for me to write whatever I want, whenever I want. This is why I've appropriately called my blog "all in one." It's your one stop shop for mindless babble, mind-numbing commentary on current events, creative literature, bitching etc...
2. To share news with family and friends. I'm hoping you'll check back often to read about my latest adventures (of the baby kind).
3. A writer needs discipline. Sadly, I have none. I need to write every day in order to keep both the pencil and mind sharp. My greatest downfall as a writer is that I start writing projects and never finish them. You should see my collection of unfinished stories! I'm full of ideas that go nowhere....sigh. The beautiful thing about a blog is that I can write as much or as little as I want, and I'll see the results of my work. Hitting the "publish post" button will give me instant gratification that I've accomplished something, even if it's a stupid story about the funny thing that happened today at Loblaws. Who cares! It's the act of producing and publishing something that is important.
4. I need an audience. An audience can provide the feedback I need to use as fodder for future posts. So, send me your commentary!
There you have it. The reason for my blog's being.
Thanks for dropping by. I hope you'll check back often!
The Jan-Jan
Today is the first day of the rest of my blog. I've always wanted to join the blogosphere, but always thought it was too complicated. If I knew how simple it actually was, I would have started one months ago!
So, why start a blog?
1. I love to write. A blog is a perfect "outlet" for me to write whatever I want, whenever I want. This is why I've appropriately called my blog "all in one." It's your one stop shop for mindless babble, mind-numbing commentary on current events, creative literature, bitching etc...
2. To share news with family and friends. I'm hoping you'll check back often to read about my latest adventures (of the baby kind).
3. A writer needs discipline. Sadly, I have none. I need to write every day in order to keep both the pencil and mind sharp. My greatest downfall as a writer is that I start writing projects and never finish them. You should see my collection of unfinished stories! I'm full of ideas that go nowhere....sigh. The beautiful thing about a blog is that I can write as much or as little as I want, and I'll see the results of my work. Hitting the "publish post" button will give me instant gratification that I've accomplished something, even if it's a stupid story about the funny thing that happened today at Loblaws. Who cares! It's the act of producing and publishing something that is important.
4. I need an audience. An audience can provide the feedback I need to use as fodder for future posts. So, send me your commentary!
There you have it. The reason for my blog's being.
Thanks for dropping by. I hope you'll check back often!
The Jan-Jan
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