debating whether to go beta

Hmmm, that's the question. I'm tempted, because I like the idea of categories (compulsive list-maker that I am!), but I'm feeling a bit reluctant. Call me a nervous Nellie, but I don't like not being able to go back to the original format if I change my mind. Plus I don't like change much to begin with. And what I've noticed with other converted blogs is that I'm not always able to access their comments, and what good is it if I can't indulge my nosiness? :)

What made me consider going beta is that I was toying with starting up an additional blog about a specific topic, but I'm not sure if I can have one blog in beta while this one stays the same. The other thing that irked me is that I would want to have a different profile and photo as the current one wouldn't make much sense given the topic, but that doesn't seem possible either. But I'm also considering trying to write an eBook about the topic in question instead of introducing another blog (why not attempt to make some money if I can?), so I'm not sure if I can be bothered converting this one.

Okay, I guess I've answered my own question! Snort.

brrrr, too cold

And it's a shame. I admire riders who bike all through winter, but I find it too cold now. Worse, because it's still exercise, I end up sweating AND freezing at the same time, so no, down in the basement until spring it goes.

But I'm reminded of the first few times I took this baby for a spin a few years ago after not having been on a bike in over two decades. I took comfort in that old cliché "it's like riding a bike," and merrily hopped on only to discover that I wanted to clobber ANYONE who's ever said that! Never forget? Um, I don't think so! Okay, so I did get a bit more comfortable after the fourth trip, and apparently provided much-needed comic relief for my so-called friends in the neighbourhood on my first trip, but still! (It must have looked pretty funny, I'll admit.)

Ah, but that seems ages ago now, and almost nothing can compare to the delicious freedom of being on a bike. It almost makes me feel sorry for those who have to transport themselves by car. Please spring; come quickly!

And remember the political slogan made famous by Gloria Steinem many years ago? "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle." Snort. Proudly wore a button with that logo on my light blue army surplus knapsack one year while taking a third-year Sociology of Women course. Ah, memories...

for Krissa and KCC

"The biggest thing in today's sorrow is the memory of yesterday's joy." —KAHLIL GIBRAN

in need of a good workout?

One in which you can feel all your major muscle groups the next day AND a few minor ones you forgot you even had? Would you also like a guaranteed good night's sleep? And what, you ask, might this magical exercise be? Scrubbing. Yep, try scrubbing a kitchen floor inch by inch on your hands and knees for a few hours (the bigger and dirtier the floor the better), and you too can derive all the benefits described above. Snort.

Rather not? I don't blame you. I wouldn't have done it either except for the fact that I got paid to do it, and was the one silly enough to suggest it in the first place. But it really needed it! Will I do it again though? Nope. One heavy-duty scrubbing per floor per client is my new policy.

I'm also starting to wonder if I should hang up my cleaning gloves and become a "coach" instead. You know, teach people how they can easily, quickly, and efficiently clean their own homes rather than having me do it for them. Hmmm, now there's a thought!

don't they look nice?

Hey Basil's mom, thought I'd share my flowers with you. Didn't have a vase, but I think they look rather cute in the lemonade pitcher!

vinegar, duct tape, milk jugs & more

What exactly am I talking about? The Red Green Show? Nope. This is part of the title of a book I picked up at a church bazaar the other day. The full title reads as follows: Vinegar, Duct Tape, Milk Jugs & More: 1001 Ingenious Ways to Use Common Household Items to Repair, Restore, Revive, or Replace Just About Everything in Your Life. Now who could resist a title like that? Repair, restore, revive, or replace just about everything in your life—boy that sounds appealing!

if you're not going to SNORT,

why even laugh?

That was the caption on a card sent to me recently by a dear friend, and how appropriate! As you may have noticed, I snort a lot throughout my posts, and indeed, offline as well. Do I giggle or have a nice delicate little laugh? Um, no. I snort, hoot, chortle, guffaw, and sometimes I even cackle. My habit of guffawing was pointed out to me by another friend who asked me one evening if I realized my tendency of bursting out in these (usually unexpected) explosions of laughter. He even hauled out a dictionary to make sure I knew what he meant! If I remember correctly I responded with an incredibly articulate "yeah, well, whatever" and one of my equally articulate snorts.

Thanks again for the card, my friend!

good grief

Christmas advertising in full swing already?

faith, hope, and love;

and the greatest of these is love

That may be true, but I can't help but feel that of the three, the most important is hope, because without hope there is nothing. During my deep dark days of depression many years ago, I had no faith, and love (whether my own or someone else's) was not enough. Only a tiny desperate flicker of hope that things would get better could save me. And it did, eventually. Hope, and then grace. But not faith, and certainly not love. Not initially anyway.

tell me again

Is there anything worse when shopping than trying to find a well-fitting bra?

Snort.

As you may recall, after an ill-fated bra-shopping expedition a few weeks ago, I ended up lopping off the hook part of an old bra and sewing it on to the new one. Well! After a few days I realized that this action, however resourceful I thought it was at the time, didn't quite do the trick. My bra was still too tight, so I decided to undo the sewing and return it to its rightful home. Back on the bus to Sears I went, determined to buy one that fit properly this time. After another hour of looking and fitting (all the while thinking longingly of other things I could be doing) I found one that seemed to fit the bill, and after a week of constantly fidgeting with it as it too felt too snug, I am happy to report that I barely feel it at all now.

I'm also pleased to be able to tell you that after checking my Sears card statement and discovering that they'd forgotten to reimburse the original $5 coupon, they agreed to credit my next statement, and that my new too-big-at-size-7-but-I've-only-had-one-blister-so-far shoes are serving me well enough.

The moral of this post? I don't know, other than it's a lot of work breaking in a garment that most people won't even see! :)