Archive for the ‘Hobbies’ Category

Those Annoying Canadian Tourism Commercials (Or…just stab me with a knitting needle through the eyes and ears, please)

Friday, August 6th, 2010

 

Am I the only one who absolutely detests those television commercials from the Canada Tourism Board?  I literally cringe when one is aired!

 

I loathe the shaky camera technique, which makes me mildly nauseous.  Do they do that to give the feeling of a bad amateur video or to hopefully keep the audiences interest?  Or maybe they do it just to make people vaguely queasy while proclaiming the shaky virtues of a Canada vacation.

 

I hate the barely-human grunts, screams and guttural sounds of the audio in all the different versions of the ad as well.  Does anyone know adults that actually utter any of these sounds?

 

What were they thinking?  I was never that interested in visiting Canada to begin with…..and now this series of commercials only make me want to visit even less.

 

Posted in Health, Hobbies, Travel | 2 Comments »

Temporary Insanity

Monday, July 19th, 2010

 

In the not too distant future, you’re going to be hearing a different voice on this blog.  My BFF and 41 year partner in crime, Colleen,  will be posting for a time.  She’s had some very different life experiences;  as I’ve told her more than once, she’s had an interesting life.  As for me, I’m going to be going to Vancouver.  In a 1930 Model A bus.  We’re going with two other couples, and my husband will be the bus driver.  Apparently menopause causes a type of temporary insanity.  That’s the only reason I can come up with for agreeing to ride cross country in July without air conditioning.  I’ll be back eventually, if I don’t melt…

Posted in Community of Sisters, Family & Friends, Hobbies, Life, Relationships, Travel | No Comments »

Pedicure Virgin

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

 

I have a confession to make.  Until earlier this month, I was a pedicure virgin.  Fingernails were one thing, but the thought of someone messing about with my feet was really unappealing.  Not being fond of my feet to begin with, when not breaking toes I basically have ignored them.  Well I went to get my nails done for my daughter-in-law’s baby shower, and someone said the magic word to me.  “FREE”.  I just couldn’t say no…

 

42-15545493The next thing I know, I’m off in this weird little room with a very sweet little girl who speaks about as much English as I do Korean.  She puts me in a chair, and puts a TV controller looking thing in my hands.  I’m looking around for a TV screen, and she gives me a little smile and pushes a button.  There I am feeling like I’m in the movie “Urban Cowboy” on one of those mechanical bulls.  My back is being rolled, my behind is rocking all over the place and my feet are being placed in warm water.  Laughing like a Banshee I’m being giggled at as I explain I’ve never had a pedicure before. (it is possible to shock Korean immigrants after all).

 

Thereafter it’s all a blur of lotions, files, black rocks, massage, scraping tools, buzzing tools, sharp implements, pushing, pulling and twisting all while being told insistently  to “relax”!!!  I tell you, the girl weighed about as much as I did at birth, but had the grip of a Sumo wrestler.  After letting her choose, I was finished off with red sparkly nail polish and it was time for everyone to troop in and admire my toes and giggle some more.  For some obscure reason (and I was not about to ask) my toes were then covered in plastic wrap before my socks went back on.  It was all very entertaining and I do have to admit that my feet felt wonderful afterward.

 

Yet another experience outside of my comfort zone!  What next? 

 

Posted in Community of Sisters, Health, Hobbies, Life | 6 Comments »

Making New Pathways In My Brain?

Friday, March 5th, 2010

puzzle_piece1

As part of my self improvement for the new year I’ve decided to attempt to work on my brain.  The same organ that can’t seem to retain the location of most of what I own.  Yeah, this should be a piece of cake, right?  In the past I tried brushing my teeth with my non-dominant hand.  Any gains could hardly out weigh the possibility of losing an eye, so I had to come up with another idea.  Some where I had read that puzzles can be of assistance.  So Santa brought me a couple.  Ho-Ho-Ho and all that.

 

Puzzles and I have never had a relationship.  When I was about 5 I saw my brother working on one.  Very impressed, I watched for a while.  But then I noticed the picture on the box it came in of what it would look like when done.  My five year old brain then said the five year old equivalent of “why bother?” and that took care of that.

 

But now I need to make new pathways in my brain.  Time to give it the old (non) college try.  Actually having completed one, I’ve started on the second.  In doing so, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is only one happy moment in the process of doing a puzzle.  That’s the moment you put the last piece in place and put the damn thing away and never look at it again.  Not to mention that I’ve conceived a hatred for deep sea creatures, and am now developing a loathing for cardinals (bird not team) and pine trees.

 

How this is going to help with locating the car keys, numerous pieces of paperwork, a ring and a certain Christmas present (long story) God only knows.  But I’ll forge ahead.  It’s sure to work, right?  I mean all the experts say so………..  But then again, the experts will say anything.  Then write a book about it which I’ll spend money on, bring home, and promptly lose.  Now where was all this supposed to get me?  And most importantly, are we having fun yet?

Posted in Health, Hobbies, Holidays | No Comments »

Pilgrimage: 5th Installment

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

 

Hang on folks, we’re almost in Italy: Much time passes, and lots of life happens.  Our son is grown, married to a lovely girl and on his own.  Our daughter is due to graduate college in 2007, and I begin to think perhaps it’s time to stop thinking about Italy and actually GO.  My husband is not at all into investigating the past.  Especially the lonnggg past.  But who wouldn’t want to visit Italy?  So much to see, so much to do and the added bonus of not having to see my unhappy face across the dinner table for the rest of his life if he said “I don’t want to go”.  Figuring out how to accomplish the entire trip without him ………..well thankfully, I didn’t have to.italy2

 

My husband gets on the computer, and finds the village of my Grandfather’s birth. Yes ladies, it was that easy in the age of computers.  My Aunt, Nazareno’s only surviving daughter, locates the Italian phone book the same way.  She finds 36 people listed under the family name, and I now have addresses.  Hmmmmn…now what?  Time for a letter from the blue to a randomly chosen probable relative.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?  So about 6 weeks before our tour of Italy I mail it off.  No response is a little disappointing, but our trip begins in Milan, and ends in Rome which is only 38 km from Casape.  So we’ll find transportation and take an afternoon and visit.  Walk about a bit, perhaps check out the church and see if there’s a local cemetery.  In so small a place, perhaps someone will venture over and talk to us.  Grandpa left in 1915, but maybe some one remembers something………….

 

The prospect of all of this is not easy on a person who loathes flying and is not comfortable being in the position of possibly intruding on “strangers”.  But there’s always Xanax for the plane and the thought of Mom and Grandpa for courage.  What’s the worst that can happen?  THAT I try not to even contemplate. 

 

More soon.

Posted in Family & Friends, Hobbies, Relationships, Travel | No Comments »

Pilgrimage: 3rd Installment

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

 

Okay, where were we?  Ah yes, telling you about the loss of my Grandpa Nick (a/k/a Nazareno Antonio Pallante ) when I was five and a half.  As some time went by, and Mom’s grief  wasn’t quite so new, I would speak with her about him.  At about eight, I realized that the reason he talked “funny” even when he used words I could understand, was that he had an accent!  Hey sophisticated I wasn’t.  That spring, my  sixteen year old brother had just been confirmed and was given by my Grandmother an old, heavy gold signet ring.  My Grandpa’s initials had been replaced with Mike’s and I was fascinated.  For you who aren’t Catholics, by confirmed I mean a Catholic coming of age ceremony — not an appointment to the Supreme Court or anything.

 

The ring intrigued me.  Mike began telling me stories about Grandpa and how he was often sad because he was never able to go back to Italy and see his family again.  It wasn’t long after that I told my brother that one day I’d go visit Grandpa’s family for him.  Mike never laughed at me, but looking back when he smiled and kissed the top of my head, I’m sure he thought it unlikely.  Being from a family of redheads perhaps he should have known better.  I’m nothing if not stubborn, and at the ripe old age of nine, it went on my to do list. 

 

Speaking of the list I compiled at age nine, I still haven’t met the Beatle’s.  So if anyone out there has Ringo or Sir Paul’s phone numbers, do let me know………..

 

More another time.

Posted in Family & Friends, Health, Hobbies, Life, Relationships, Travel | 4 Comments »

Leaving Your Comfort Zone

Friday, January 29th, 2010

 

Is anyone out there thinking of doing anything adventurous one of these days?  Like everyone else out there lucky enough to be alive, we’re getting older ladies.  Just about all of us have something we’ve thought we may want to try.  It can be as simple as a radically different hair style or developing and idea into a hobby or even a business.  Volunteer work?  Conquering the computer?  Learning to refinish furniture or planting a garden?  Slapping some paint on the walls of a drab room or even discovering what is all the way in the back of that one really scary closet or cupboard.  Come on, admit it.  We all have those, as well as the mystery containers in our refrigerators.

 

Or what about something bigger?  Bravely looking up that old boyfriend if we’re single or getting back in touch with a good friend from whom we’ve drifted away.  Yes, there could be rejection involved, but we’ll never know until we try.  Something special may come it.  Sometimes we need to shake life up a bit to bring more positivity to us.  I can’t claim to be an expert on the topic, but in 2007 I went on a pilgrimage of sorts, and will be forever grateful I did. 

 

My own adventure had it’s beginning in Queens, New York when I was all of three years old.  There were years of curiosity, and endless “I wonders” until I left my comfort zone to travel to Italy.  But it’s all too much for one sitting, so I’ll continue at another time.  Mean while, remember that cosmic clock is ticking.  Surely there’s something you’d like to do?  Think it over.

 

Have to run……………….

Posted in Community of Sisters, Family & Friends, Health, Hobbies, Life, Relationships | 2 Comments »

Dogs and Norwegians

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

 

Just wondering…………………can anyone out there tell me why the same dog that hates if you blow in its face, will love to hang it’s head out the window of your car at 60 mph?

 

Also wondering do Norwegians really like lutefisk (dried codfish soaked in water and lye and cooked) or do you have to get really drunk before eating it?   And please folks from Norway, don’t be offended.  I also wondered about many things regarding we here in the USA.  But if I start going into the whole “reality show” craze I’ll give myself a headache.

 

 

Life can be confusing.  Today, for instance.  I needed a hanging basket plant.  Well, maybe not need, but I wanted one for a particular spot.  I’ve had spider plants on and off for 35 years or so.  They have pointy variegated leaves, and the spiders are the offspring.  You can clip them, and start a new plant.  Lo and behold!  Spider plants are now labeled as “Airplane plants”  Were “they” afraid people might think there were real spiders on the plants?  Good grief.  I think we’re all just been dissed by the plant growers association……..

Posted in Hobbies, Life | No Comments »

People Watching

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

 I confess, I’m a people watcher.  In malls, on vacation, or even wandering around town.  Last week a young couple was discussing politics.  Both seemed pretty articulate.  But all I could think in reaction to the conversation was “Good Grief, I have jeans in my closet that are older than than those two”.

Posted in Hobbies | No Comments »