Friends often joke about me being a crazy cat lady. I joke about it too. I even started a Twitter account for Mittens. (She has 9 followers by the way.) But when it comes down to it, I don't really think I'm that crazy cat lady. I'm not the stereotypical single lady with a cat and lots of candles. I just happen to be single and happen to own a cat.
I've been fairly certain that I'm not really a crazy cat lady...until recently. Twice in the last month I've been searching through my purse looking for one of the many things I tote around with me everyday. Lip gloss, gum, keys, wallet, phone, pen, book, hairband, hair elastics, receipts. I could go on, but I won't.
In the middle of searching what do I find, but...
a piece of cat food.
How on earth does a piece of cat food end up in my purse if I am not a crazy cat lady? And not just once, but twice!
I don't keep my purse anywhere near where Mittens' food is kept or where she eats. I do remember being given a ziploc bag with a sample of food from the vet, but I didn't even own this purse then.
Does Mittens put a few pieces of kibble in her mouth, run to my purse and spit it out? C'mon, she's not smart enough to do that. Her nickname is DumbDumb. That would just be absurd.
So, I can't quite figure out how this food get into my purse. But either way, I may have to reconsider whether I am a crazy cat lady or not.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Olympic Fever
I feel like my life has been taken over by the 2010 Olympics. The excitement I felt for the opening ceremonies spilled over into the first week of the Olympics. When I wasn't at work, I was at home with the television tuned to one of three Olympic channels. And if I wasn't at home, I was downtown taking in the sights and energy. News reporters and sports commentators talk about the energy, but it really is an amazing thing to experience crowds of this size where positivity and pride rule.
One of the highlights for me was seeing the Olympic Cauldron. Sure it's just a sculpture with some flame shooting out of it. But it's the exact same flame that traveled from Greece! It represents so much more than just fire. It brings nations together in search of a common goal. It represents the quest to be the best you can be.
Up until last Sunday, Canada had never won an Olympic gold medal on Canadian soil. That all changed with Alexandre Bilodeau's performance in the Men's Moguls. My brother happened to be in Vancouver to attend one of the Olympic hockey games. He also happened to be given tickets to the medal ceremony for Alexandre Bilodeau's gold medal presentation. And he happened to have an extra ticket!
I was SO excited to be there and to be a part of the Olympic experience. I wanted to take in everything there was to see. I saw little white pieces of tissue paper falling down from the roof of BC Place. These were leftover pieces from the Opening Ceremony (the one's in the picture above were gold coloured). I now have one small, rectangular piece of white tissue paper on my bulletin board.
We're into the final few days of the Olympics now. And as I write this, Canada has won one more gold medal. The Ice Dance. So beautiful. Seeing such proud families and joyful winners gives me goosebumps. And the medal ceremonies make cry. As the games come to a close, I'm going to try to soak up as much as I can. And I'll continue to look for the small things as well. Like the small, rectangular pieces of white tissue paper.
One of the highlights for me was seeing the Olympic Cauldron. Sure it's just a sculpture with some flame shooting out of it. But it's the exact same flame that traveled from Greece! It represents so much more than just fire. It brings nations together in search of a common goal. It represents the quest to be the best you can be.
Up until last Sunday, Canada had never won an Olympic gold medal on Canadian soil. That all changed with Alexandre Bilodeau's performance in the Men's Moguls. My brother happened to be in Vancouver to attend one of the Olympic hockey games. He also happened to be given tickets to the medal ceremony for Alexandre Bilodeau's gold medal presentation. And he happened to have an extra ticket!
I was SO excited to be there and to be a part of the Olympic experience. I wanted to take in everything there was to see. I saw little white pieces of tissue paper falling down from the roof of BC Place. These were leftover pieces from the Opening Ceremony (the one's in the picture above were gold coloured). I now have one small, rectangular piece of white tissue paper on my bulletin board.
We're into the final few days of the Olympics now. And as I write this, Canada has won one more gold medal. The Ice Dance. So beautiful. Seeing such proud families and joyful winners gives me goosebumps. And the medal ceremonies make cry. As the games come to a close, I'm going to try to soak up as much as I can. And I'll continue to look for the small things as well. Like the small, rectangular pieces of white tissue paper.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Singles Awareness Day!
It's February 14th and I'm actually excited to celebrate this year. It's Singles Awareness Day! Traditionally people celebrate Valentine's Day. I can't remember a Valentine's Day when I wasn't disappointed. This year will be different. There will be no disappoint, just celebration of all the great things about being single!
I'm off to a concert this evening with a friend or two. The great thing about being single? I can leave when I want. There will be no waiting because I'm dating someone that MUST stay to the bitter end of any social event.
I will come home and before I unlock the door, I will know exactly how clean or messy the apartment will be.
As a midnight snack I will be able to eat an entire bag of potato chips with no one to judge me except the cat. And let's be honest, her dinner doesn't look much better.
It seems many people want whatever they don't have. People in dull relationships wish they were single and able to enjoy the fun parts of dating. Those singles sitting at home alone on a Sunday night wish they had someone to share quiet moments with. But I say, enjoy whatever state you're in. You never know when your situation will change.
So here I am, saying "Cheers to Singles Awareness Day!"
I'm off to a concert this evening with a friend or two. The great thing about being single? I can leave when I want. There will be no waiting because I'm dating someone that MUST stay to the bitter end of any social event.
I will come home and before I unlock the door, I will know exactly how clean or messy the apartment will be.
As a midnight snack I will be able to eat an entire bag of potato chips with no one to judge me except the cat. And let's be honest, her dinner doesn't look much better.
It seems many people want whatever they don't have. People in dull relationships wish they were single and able to enjoy the fun parts of dating. Those singles sitting at home alone on a Sunday night wish they had someone to share quiet moments with. But I say, enjoy whatever state you're in. You never know when your situation will change.
So here I am, saying "Cheers to Singles Awareness Day!"
Location:Canada
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Olympics Are Here
Up until a few weeks ago I was suffering from a serious case of the Olympic Grumps. I was annoyed by the parking restrictions, road closures, and line ups everywhere. I kept reading about the money being spent and then seeing the poverty and homelessness that affects the streets of Vancouver.
But something happened recently. It may have been all the talk on Twitter about the upcoming games. Or maybe it was the afternoon I went into the Olympic Store at the Bay and had my first glimpse of tourists here specifically for the event. I remember seeing a group with matching winter jackets. I think they were German with flags and logos all over their big warm jackets. The jackets were mostly wrapped around their waists as it was a warm, sunny day that barely required a jacket at all. (Yes, there's something wrong with the picture of Winter Olympics and Cherry blossoms, but I digress.)
I've become completely wrapped up in the hype of Olympic Fever. The excitement of all the people in town. The free events. The most definitely not-free events (none of which I'll be attending). Either way, it's a very exciting time to be in Vancouver. I plan to get downtown and try to absorb all of the positive energy I can.
Despite all this excitement I was struck by sadness today upon hearing about a tragic, fatal accident on the luge track in Whistler. The death of 21 year old Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was the talk of Twitter and news reports around town. So young. So sudden and tragic. So sad.
I stayed home this evening and watched the Opening Ceremonies on television. The whole thing had me on the verge of tears. Mostly it was from a sense of pride and excitement. I really burst into tears when the Georgian team walked into BC Place, removing their hats and receiving a standing ovation from a crowd of more than 60,000. Just to think of what shock the team must be in and how they must continue to put on the performance of their lives in their respective sport.
This isn't the first death to hit the Vancouver 2010 games though. In October 2009 Jack Poole, the head of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Committee, passed away from pancreatic cancer. And in August 2009 Leo Obstbaum, the chief designer for Vancouver 2010 passed away suddenly. These two men played huge roles in making the Vancouver Olympics what they are today.
While watching the Opening Ceremonies and seeing all the athletes with such anticipation in their eyes I feel inspired. I think we can all learn and be encouraged by their dedication and hard work. At the same time, I think we can take the same from the deaths of the three men who have influenced the Olympics. Without Jack's vision, the Olympics may not have been brought to Vancouver. Without Leo's talent, the games would have a very different look. And without Nodar's athleticism and love of his sport, games such as the Olympics would not be possible.
We can also take away how precious life is. It can change in an instant. So as the games continue, I will watch and cheer on my country. I'll also remember the dedication, talent and hard work that goes into all aspects of the games and I'll cherish the opportunities that I have to incorporate these qualities into my own life, even in the smallest ways.
But something happened recently. It may have been all the talk on Twitter about the upcoming games. Or maybe it was the afternoon I went into the Olympic Store at the Bay and had my first glimpse of tourists here specifically for the event. I remember seeing a group with matching winter jackets. I think they were German with flags and logos all over their big warm jackets. The jackets were mostly wrapped around their waists as it was a warm, sunny day that barely required a jacket at all. (Yes, there's something wrong with the picture of Winter Olympics and Cherry blossoms, but I digress.)
I've become completely wrapped up in the hype of Olympic Fever. The excitement of all the people in town. The free events. The most definitely not-free events (none of which I'll be attending). Either way, it's a very exciting time to be in Vancouver. I plan to get downtown and try to absorb all of the positive energy I can.
Despite all this excitement I was struck by sadness today upon hearing about a tragic, fatal accident on the luge track in Whistler. The death of 21 year old Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was the talk of Twitter and news reports around town. So young. So sudden and tragic. So sad.
I stayed home this evening and watched the Opening Ceremonies on television. The whole thing had me on the verge of tears. Mostly it was from a sense of pride and excitement. I really burst into tears when the Georgian team walked into BC Place, removing their hats and receiving a standing ovation from a crowd of more than 60,000. Just to think of what shock the team must be in and how they must continue to put on the performance of their lives in their respective sport.
This isn't the first death to hit the Vancouver 2010 games though. In October 2009 Jack Poole, the head of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Committee, passed away from pancreatic cancer. And in August 2009 Leo Obstbaum, the chief designer for Vancouver 2010 passed away suddenly. These two men played huge roles in making the Vancouver Olympics what they are today.
While watching the Opening Ceremonies and seeing all the athletes with such anticipation in their eyes I feel inspired. I think we can all learn and be encouraged by their dedication and hard work. At the same time, I think we can take the same from the deaths of the three men who have influenced the Olympics. Without Jack's vision, the Olympics may not have been brought to Vancouver. Without Leo's talent, the games would have a very different look. And without Nodar's athleticism and love of his sport, games such as the Olympics would not be possible.
We can also take away how precious life is. It can change in an instant. So as the games continue, I will watch and cheer on my country. I'll also remember the dedication, talent and hard work that goes into all aspects of the games and I'll cherish the opportunities that I have to incorporate these qualities into my own life, even in the smallest ways.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
It's a date. Or is it?
The past month or so there has been much debate over the definition of a date. I'm not at a point where I feel I want to date, but I also enjoy meeting new people and doing fun things. I don't want to mislead people or find myself in uncomfortable positions, so I like to be clear and label an outing appropriately. According to Merriam Webster the official definition is:
Date: an appointment to meet at a specified time; especially : a social engagement between two persons that often has a romantic character.
Even after reading this definition, I'm still confused. Now there have been several times in the recent past that I have been invited to do things with single men whose level of acquaintance has ranged from former co-worker to someone I've met once or twice at social events. The invitations have ranged from having coffee or lunch, to seeing a movie, to having dinner.
I've asked a few friends for their opinion and this is the conclusion that I can make:
Coffee: Not a date. Most likely a preliminary meeting to see if one would like to go on a date.
Lunch: Another opportunity to get together. Allows for evaluation of whether a future date is possible.
Movie: A date.
Dinner: Definitely a date!
I will confess to agreeing to several get togethers/hangouts recently and after realizing that they were most likely dates, I canceled them. For the most part I realize that I just don't have time, which is the truth. My schedule is packed! But I will admit that part of the cancellation is me being a complete coward and not wanting to have to explain that I'm not interested in dating.
I've asked several people's opinion on the matter. Some say why label things? A date has too many expectations. Others say are very clear on what is a date. They wouldn't go to the movies with someone if it wasn't a date.
So here's where I need some help. How do you know if something is a date? How do you avoid the awkward conversation of finding out whether you're going on a date or not? Do you agree with my list above? Please people, fill me in!
Date: an appointment to meet at a specified time; especially : a social engagement between two persons that often has a romantic character.
Even after reading this definition, I'm still confused. Now there have been several times in the recent past that I have been invited to do things with single men whose level of acquaintance has ranged from former co-worker to someone I've met once or twice at social events. The invitations have ranged from having coffee or lunch, to seeing a movie, to having dinner.
I've asked a few friends for their opinion and this is the conclusion that I can make:
Coffee: Not a date. Most likely a preliminary meeting to see if one would like to go on a date.
Lunch: Another opportunity to get together. Allows for evaluation of whether a future date is possible.
Movie: A date.
Dinner: Definitely a date!
I will confess to agreeing to several get togethers/hangouts recently and after realizing that they were most likely dates, I canceled them. For the most part I realize that I just don't have time, which is the truth. My schedule is packed! But I will admit that part of the cancellation is me being a complete coward and not wanting to have to explain that I'm not interested in dating.
I've asked several people's opinion on the matter. Some say why label things? A date has too many expectations. Others say are very clear on what is a date. They wouldn't go to the movies with someone if it wasn't a date.
So here's where I need some help. How do you know if something is a date? How do you avoid the awkward conversation of finding out whether you're going on a date or not? Do you agree with my list above? Please people, fill me in!
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