Today it crossed my mind that I spend a lot of my life either coming or going. I have traveled much over the last few years. Not a bad thing if you ask me! I think one of my life's goals has been to travel. Well....check. I find myself in an interesting situation these days. I have lived here since April 8 (not that I'm counting) and have done a bit of travelling since I got here but mostly have "lived" here. A good thing I think. I am a person who likes to set her roots down once she gets somewhere. So the fact that I feel like I "live" here is a good thing, in my book. The quandry comes this week as I prepare to head north for 2!!! months. Still, no complaints. Mostly I am saying "yipee!". But I do have a few reservations.
I find myself thinking occasionally that I have only just begun, wasn't that a song? (or is it re-begun?)here and now I am leaving. How do I expect to have any real relationships if I am always leaving? Good question! Still not one I am willing to stick around in the over 100 degree heat to find the answer to. Hmmm, sorry Sugar Landians, it is just too hot for me and I have a beach, family, and much cooler weather waiting for me. I will see you all in September and we can work on our relationships then.
It is hard to leave, any time I leave somewhere. I do tend to set down roots. I will set down roots this summer in my 2 months there. Then I will have to leave those roots. For the time I am there though, I will re-establish friendships that have been neglected for the past 9 or 10 months, facebook does not really count...or does it? Let's just say it counts! I will get into a summer/shore pace of life and priorities will be different than they are in S'Land. Life will take on an easy and relaxed pace and media will be at a minimum. Hanging out with friends and family will be at a premium. There will be very little eating out and my time will be spent in about a 5 mile radius. Life up there is small in many ways but so big in some of the ways that really count. And just when I have set down those roots and gotten really used to the lovely pace of life, it will be time to leave again.
So it is with some hesitation that I leave my real life for a couple of months. I will come home refreshed and grounded and see all things new again. I am going for a while but I will be coming too.
The only constant in life is change!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Are They Giving The Stuff Away?
My niece sent me the picture below. If you follow the flow chart it says that if you live in Canada there is only one place to eat....Tim Horton's. In the States there are many places. Well....apparently, if you live in Houston there is only ONE place to eat....Chick-Fil-A! You may want to click on the photo to see a bigger more readable chart!
There should be one more line to the chart that asks, "are you in Houston, TX" with a line that goes directly to Chick Fil A! (except on Sunday of course, then you are on your own)
When we lived in Canada, or when we visit Canada, I am always amazed by the line-ups (that is Canadian for line) at Tim's. No matter what time of day or what the weather is, there is always a line-up at Tim's. A Canadian phenomena I am told. I have no idea why anyone would sit in a line-up for coffee and a donut for so long.....it's not like they are giving the stuff away!
A recent Tim's line-up in the Toronto airport.....free coffee and donuts anyone?
Now that I am living back down south I have found the equivalent to Tim's...as far as a place people will sit in an unbelievably long line (American for line-up) to get fast food. It is Chick-Fil-A. I went by the other day to grab a sandwich and a drink. The drive thru line was wrapped around the building! There were 2 employees outside beaming in the orders to speed things up...Tim's you should listen up here! The line was still doubled around the building. It took me a good 5 or 10 minutes just to get around the line and make a less than hasty exit with plans to come back later, when the line was shorter or I could find a parking spot.
The traffic jam I had to work my way around to get out of the parking lot! Craziness!
They even put up traffic cones to keep the lines separated in the parking lot.
The first photo was taken at noon when the line was all the way around the building and there was not one parking spot! The second was taken at two, by one very hungry driver, who did find a parking spot....and the much anticipated chicken sandwich. And yes, it was delicious. Now I need a donut!
There should be one more line to the chart that asks, "are you in Houston, TX" with a line that goes directly to Chick Fil A! (except on Sunday of course, then you are on your own)
When we lived in Canada, or when we visit Canada, I am always amazed by the line-ups (that is Canadian for line) at Tim's. No matter what time of day or what the weather is, there is always a line-up at Tim's. A Canadian phenomena I am told. I have no idea why anyone would sit in a line-up for coffee and a donut for so long.....it's not like they are giving the stuff away!
A recent Tim's line-up in the Toronto airport.....free coffee and donuts anyone?
Now that I am living back down south I have found the equivalent to Tim's...as far as a place people will sit in an unbelievably long line (American for line-up) to get fast food. It is Chick-Fil-A. I went by the other day to grab a sandwich and a drink. The drive thru line was wrapped around the building! There were 2 employees outside beaming in the orders to speed things up...Tim's you should listen up here! The line was still doubled around the building. It took me a good 5 or 10 minutes just to get around the line and make a less than hasty exit with plans to come back later, when the line was shorter or I could find a parking spot.
The traffic jam I had to work my way around to get out of the parking lot! Craziness!
They even put up traffic cones to keep the lines separated in the parking lot.
The first photo was taken at noon when the line was all the way around the building and there was not one parking spot! The second was taken at two, by one very hungry driver, who did find a parking spot....and the much anticipated chicken sandwich. And yes, it was delicious. Now I need a donut!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Is It Hot In Here?
Channeling Rick Mercer, my favorite Canadian political satirist, it is time for a RANT......of an unpolitical nature.
Warning, anyone under the age of 40 or male may not be able to relate to this on any level. Read at your own risk. To the rest of you, I feel your pain.
Being a woman of a "certain age" stinks sometimes! Fasten your seat belts, here it comes. First there are the awkward "developing" years between 12-15 years old. You say to yourself, what is happening to me??? Then comes the roughly 400-500 months of...fertility. Is there a nicer way to put it? You all know what I'm talking about. Do we really need to be "fertile" for that long??? Then, when you are just getting to the point in life where you don't have to worry about having or raising kids and have the monthly drill down pat, it all goes to H***. Mother Nature throws you a curve ball, hot flashes come out of nowhere and the monthly drill gets more and more random. What have I done to deserve this? I have paid my dues....and now this? Are you kidding? It can be below freezing (well, not here, but where I used to live) and here I sit sweating. Nothing I can do about it. You would think that modern science could come up with a solution. But NOOO, you get sweat at the most inconvenient times for who knows how long. Looking ridiculous with that glistening forehead and cheeks in any weather. Does it at least moisturize? Maybe this will put off the wrinkling process? Burn extra calories? Hope springs eternal!
In my case, adding insult to injury....our move to Texas (hottest and most humid place on earth!) coincides with the hot flash arrival. I am sure our air conditioning bill is going to be through the roof. Poor TJ is going to start wearing sweaters in the house while I am in nothing but a tank top and shorts. Joy. At least when we were in Canada, I could just open the window or go outside and "chill" until the flash died. Well, at least in the winter I could. So until the next ice age arrives or mother nature turns off my internal heater....I will be the hot momma with the glistening forehead.
Warning, anyone under the age of 40 or male may not be able to relate to this on any level. Read at your own risk. To the rest of you, I feel your pain.
Being a woman of a "certain age" stinks sometimes! Fasten your seat belts, here it comes. First there are the awkward "developing" years between 12-15 years old. You say to yourself, what is happening to me??? Then comes the roughly 400-500 months of...fertility. Is there a nicer way to put it? You all know what I'm talking about. Do we really need to be "fertile" for that long??? Then, when you are just getting to the point in life where you don't have to worry about having or raising kids and have the monthly drill down pat, it all goes to H***. Mother Nature throws you a curve ball, hot flashes come out of nowhere and the monthly drill gets more and more random. What have I done to deserve this? I have paid my dues....and now this? Are you kidding? It can be below freezing (well, not here, but where I used to live) and here I sit sweating. Nothing I can do about it. You would think that modern science could come up with a solution. But NOOO, you get sweat at the most inconvenient times for who knows how long. Looking ridiculous with that glistening forehead and cheeks in any weather. Does it at least moisturize? Maybe this will put off the wrinkling process? Burn extra calories? Hope springs eternal!
In my case, adding insult to injury....our move to Texas (hottest and most humid place on earth!) coincides with the hot flash arrival. I am sure our air conditioning bill is going to be through the roof. Poor TJ is going to start wearing sweaters in the house while I am in nothing but a tank top and shorts. Joy. At least when we were in Canada, I could just open the window or go outside and "chill" until the flash died. Well, at least in the winter I could. So until the next ice age arrives or mother nature turns off my internal heater....I will be the hot momma with the glistening forehead.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Good, The Bad and The Vet
Crepe Myrtle in our front yard
One of the good things about summer in the south is crepe myrtles. These trees wait to bloom until June and the flowers are spectacular. They are a truly southern thing and bring to mind French Quarter courtyards and Savannah sidewalks.
The trees outside my kitchen window
These trees line the common area behind our house and they provide the view from my kitchen table, where I am sitting as I write this, and they are in full bloom now. What is not to love about hot pink?! Makes me happy just looking out the window.
And in the backyard
Another favorite summer thing for me are caladiums. They love the shade and apparently they love the heat because they are growing like weeds in the back yard. How do they do it?
Which brings me to the bad.....
It is wicked hot and humid down here! I am remembering the words I said a few months ago about embracing the weather. Well, I'm not sure I'm embracing it, let's just say I am tolerating it. The only reason I am tolerating it is because I know that in 2 1/2 weeks I will be migrating north to a kinder gentler climate! I can do anything for a few weeks, even survive in this climate. No need for that hot yoga class, just walking the dog I sweat as much as I did in a class. Want hot yoga? Just go outside and pull a few weeds... bending, squatting and sweating all at once.
Speaking of the dog....
Today we went in for the annual shots, check up, etc. Sadie needs all her papers in order for her big flight to Nova Scotia. Has anyone ever noticed that vets are some of the nicest people ever? My sister once said that she wishes she could go to a vet for her medical treatment, they have great bedside manner. So true! Today was no different. So, after being injected with about 10 different things in three different places, poked and prodded and given a lovely pedicure, Sadie got a dog treat. Yup, and she was thrilled. Should I give her some baby tylenol and put her to bed now? After buying the flight kennel, getting all the shots in order and the health certificate for travel and paying for the flight to and from Nova Scotia, Sadie better have the time of her life and maybe wash a few dishes when she is there to chip in around the house.
Time to go do some garden yoga.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Suburban hunting
Today after running a few errands I came home and let Sadie out into the backyard. As I was talking on the phone I heard her outside just crying and whining at something. I look... can't see what it is. She is just shaking and whining,looking through the fence as still as can be. Hmmmm, must be something out there. Upon closer examination I see it. Little Bunny FooFoo, hopping through the greenspace, eating the long grass and teasing the heck out Sadie.
The stand-off lasted a long time until Bunny FooFoo got bored and hopped off to torment some other poor suburban dog stuck behind a wrought iron fence. Smart bunny.
The stand-off lasted a long time until Bunny FooFoo got bored and hopped off to torment some other poor suburban dog stuck behind a wrought iron fence. Smart bunny.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Living a Double Life
It hit me sometime this weekend as I drove to or from one of the Houston airports that I have lived a double life over the last 2 weeks.
Life 1
We spent last week in Nova Scotia at our farmhouse. The farmhouse is in the middle of rural Nova Scotia and about a 45 minute drive from the nearest airport and 30 minutes from the nearest decent grocery store. You pass farms and fields and small towns during the drive and there is no traffic. We don't have TV at the farmhouse and the days were filled with manual labor such as weeding garden beds, moving furniture, painting, shoveling lots of dirt and mulch, and doing a lot of dust maintenance.....dust is everywhere when there is construction going on. My shopping outings were to hardware stores and home improvement stores. We did not go out to eat because the nearest restaurant is a 30 minute drive. It is a simple life and very peaceful and quiet. Oh, and the weather was mostly beautiful and much cooler than here in Houston. We enjoyed every minute of it!
Life 2
It was Memorial Day weekend this past weekend and we arrived in Houston on Friday night to the crowds of people coming and going at the airport for the long weekend. The drive home from the airport is 45-55 minutes long and the entire drive is on 8 lane freeway and we never left Houston! Lots of traffic! You are surrounded by city. The freeway is lined with every kind of store and business imaginable. When we got home the yard had been perfectly manicured by our most excellent yard dude that afternoon. The house was nice and clean, just like I left it....and the grocery store was a mere 7 minutes away. Oh, and did I mention that it was 100 degrees when we left the airport???!!!
My two lives are starkly different. It takes no time at all for me to adjust to either though. If only there was a little Nova Scotia in Houston and a little Houston in Nova Scotia....my lives would be perfect!
Life 1
We spent last week in Nova Scotia at our farmhouse. The farmhouse is in the middle of rural Nova Scotia and about a 45 minute drive from the nearest airport and 30 minutes from the nearest decent grocery store. You pass farms and fields and small towns during the drive and there is no traffic. We don't have TV at the farmhouse and the days were filled with manual labor such as weeding garden beds, moving furniture, painting, shoveling lots of dirt and mulch, and doing a lot of dust maintenance.....dust is everywhere when there is construction going on. My shopping outings were to hardware stores and home improvement stores. We did not go out to eat because the nearest restaurant is a 30 minute drive. It is a simple life and very peaceful and quiet. Oh, and the weather was mostly beautiful and much cooler than here in Houston. We enjoyed every minute of it!
Life 2
It was Memorial Day weekend this past weekend and we arrived in Houston on Friday night to the crowds of people coming and going at the airport for the long weekend. The drive home from the airport is 45-55 minutes long and the entire drive is on 8 lane freeway and we never left Houston! Lots of traffic! You are surrounded by city. The freeway is lined with every kind of store and business imaginable. When we got home the yard had been perfectly manicured by our most excellent yard dude that afternoon. The house was nice and clean, just like I left it....and the grocery store was a mere 7 minutes away. Oh, and did I mention that it was 100 degrees when we left the airport???!!!
My two lives are starkly different. It takes no time at all for me to adjust to either though. If only there was a little Nova Scotia in Houston and a little Houston in Nova Scotia....my lives would be perfect!
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