Paul is competing this week in Washington DC in the Mens U.S. Nationals East Qualifying Round 2010. No, this is not for the Olympics, the US chose their team last year. I know you are seeing the Canadians pick their team on CBC, but the US picks the year before.
So far they are doing quite well. You can keep up with it at http://www.curldc.com/ourclub/events/usca_mensqual_2010/usca_mensqual_2010_home.php
They are tied at the top of the B pool and beat the team they are tied with 7-4. The top two teams of each pool play tomorrow (Sunday) in the playoffs and the ultimate winner goes to Nationals in Kalamazoo, MI March 6-13. There are also some second chance spots, but Paul would rather not have to mess around with that and just go.
If they win nationals, worlds are played in Cortina, Italy, April 3 through the 11 which is awesome, because women's worlds are being played in Saskatchewan. Nothing against Sasquatches, but Italy in April sounds way better. I already told Paul I WILL be accompanying him. I guess I'd better make sure my tax season work is done by then.
Need some curling laughs? Steven Colbert of Comedy Central's Colbert report is trying to make it on to any US winter Olympics team. Here'a link to his try at curling. It's a two parter, so after the first part is over, keep watching.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/258310/january-04-2010/skate-expectations---curling-team-tryouts
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
New Year's Goals
I'm writing down my goals for the year to hold myself accountable:
The first is for Paul, to relax a little. To pull the stick out of my bum and not yell and get angry over stupid things.
The second is one that will help with the first. To prepare in advance and to work on not being late. Many times I yell because I hate being late and I tried to put too much stuff into too little time or I procrastinated at getting ready. I want to prepare at night for the following day. Prepare in the morning for all the things that will go on in the day. Not realize at 6pm when we are all starving that I have no chicken thawed for the dish I was going to make.
The third is to do outings with the kids twice a month. Over the summer last year we did once a week and it was super fun! I know that with Carter in school 3 days a week that 2 times a month is a reasonable goal and hopefully it will be more in the summer.
The fourth is to do the same as last year-52 books in a year-a book a week. I loved it, I felt I had something to talk about with people and I'm reading so much more quickly than last year because I am practicing it more.
The fifth is 30 minutes of exercise a day. I'd love more, but walking Carter to school and walking a little farther, doing some situps while watching Ellen (wait, I never get to watch Ellen... but you get my drift) just incorporating some endorphins in my day.
The sixth is to work at reconnecting with friends. Being a stay at home mome is really lonely sometimes. I'd like to once a week write a long e-mail or letter to someone I haven't talked to in awhile or go out to coffee with someone that I used to work with, or with a friend on Saturday morning that I only see in passing while we are wrangling kids while our husbands do the wrangling.
I think they are all doable and I look forward to seeing the greater person I can become over the next 365 days.
The first is for Paul, to relax a little. To pull the stick out of my bum and not yell and get angry over stupid things.
The second is one that will help with the first. To prepare in advance and to work on not being late. Many times I yell because I hate being late and I tried to put too much stuff into too little time or I procrastinated at getting ready. I want to prepare at night for the following day. Prepare in the morning for all the things that will go on in the day. Not realize at 6pm when we are all starving that I have no chicken thawed for the dish I was going to make.
The third is to do outings with the kids twice a month. Over the summer last year we did once a week and it was super fun! I know that with Carter in school 3 days a week that 2 times a month is a reasonable goal and hopefully it will be more in the summer.
The fourth is to do the same as last year-52 books in a year-a book a week. I loved it, I felt I had something to talk about with people and I'm reading so much more quickly than last year because I am practicing it more.
The fifth is 30 minutes of exercise a day. I'd love more, but walking Carter to school and walking a little farther, doing some situps while watching Ellen (wait, I never get to watch Ellen... but you get my drift) just incorporating some endorphins in my day.
The sixth is to work at reconnecting with friends. Being a stay at home mome is really lonely sometimes. I'd like to once a week write a long e-mail or letter to someone I haven't talked to in awhile or go out to coffee with someone that I used to work with, or with a friend on Saturday morning that I only see in passing while we are wrangling kids while our husbands do the wrangling.
I think they are all doable and I look forward to seeing the greater person I can become over the next 365 days.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Results of 2009 Book a Week Challenge
I was in a challenge this last year to read a book a week and I did it! Here's what I read:
January
1. The Looking Glass-Richard Evans
2. Everyone Worth Knowing (same author as Devil Wears Prada)
3. Starring Sally J Freidman as Herself-Judy Blume
4. The Shell Seekers
5. Life's Short-Wear Your Party Pants
6. Delia's Crossing-VC Andrews
February
7. Delia's Heart-VC Andrews
8. Lamb: The gospel according to Jesus' Childhood friend Biff
9. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
10. Odd Mom Out
11. My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picolt
March
12. The Imperfect Mom
13. Change of Heart, Jodi Picolt
14. My Horizontal Life-Chelsea Handler
15. The Last Lecture
16. Loving Life with your Preschooler-
17. One Tough Mother-
18. Having an All-Star Family-
June
24. A Girl's Best Friend
25. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
26. Reconstructing Natalie
27. 20 and Counting, Duggars
28. Angels & Demons, Dan Brown
None read in July
August
29. The Return Journey, Maeve Binchy
30. The Notebook, Nicolas Sparks
31. When you Lie About Your Age, the Terrorists Win
32. Shoot the Moon, Billie Letts
33. Another America, Barbara Kingsolver
September
34. One Month to Live: 30 days to a no-regrets life by Kerry & Chris Shook
October
35. Strive, don't simply survive
36. Homeland, Barbara Kingsolver
37. Small Wonder, Barbara Kingsolver
38. High Tide in Tucson, Barbara Kingsolver
November
39. Finger Lickin' Fifteen
40. Perfection-a memior
41. The Bingo Queens of Paradise
42. Light on Snow-Anita Shreve
December
43. Total Control, David Baldacci
44. Hour Game, David Baldacci
45. Pleading Guilty, scott turow
46. Vector, Robin Cook
47. True to Form, Elizabeth Berg
48. The Burden of Proof, Scott Turow
49. Nights of Rain and Stars, Maeve Binchy
50. All I could Get, Scott Lasser
51. Summer Sisters, Judy Blume
52. The Expected One, MacGowan
January
1. The Looking Glass-Richard Evans
2. Everyone Worth Knowing (same author as Devil Wears Prada)
3. Starring Sally J Freidman as Herself-Judy Blume
4. The Shell Seekers
5. Life's Short-Wear Your Party Pants
6. Delia's Crossing-VC Andrews
February
7. Delia's Heart-VC Andrews
8. Lamb: The gospel according to Jesus' Childhood friend Biff
9. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
10. Odd Mom Out
11. My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picolt
March
12. The Imperfect Mom
13. Change of Heart, Jodi Picolt
14. My Horizontal Life-Chelsea Handler
15. The Last Lecture
16. Loving Life with your Preschooler-
17. One Tough Mother-
18. Having an All-Star Family-
June
24. A Girl's Best Friend
25. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
26. Reconstructing Natalie
27. 20 and Counting, Duggars
28. Angels & Demons, Dan Brown
None read in July
August
29. The Return Journey, Maeve Binchy
30. The Notebook, Nicolas Sparks
31. When you Lie About Your Age, the Terrorists Win
32. Shoot the Moon, Billie Letts
33. Another America, Barbara Kingsolver
September
34. One Month to Live: 30 days to a no-regrets life by Kerry & Chris Shook
October
35. Strive, don't simply survive
36. Homeland, Barbara Kingsolver
37. Small Wonder, Barbara Kingsolver
38. High Tide in Tucson, Barbara Kingsolver
November
39. Finger Lickin' Fifteen
40. Perfection-a memior
41. The Bingo Queens of Paradise
42. Light on Snow-Anita Shreve
December
43. Total Control, David Baldacci
44. Hour Game, David Baldacci
45. Pleading Guilty, scott turow
46. Vector, Robin Cook
47. True to Form, Elizabeth Berg
48. The Burden of Proof, Scott Turow
49. Nights of Rain and Stars, Maeve Binchy
50. All I could Get, Scott Lasser
51. Summer Sisters, Judy Blume
52. The Expected One, MacGowan
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
Ah, what a way to start off the new year. Henri was in bed by 7pm, I took a bath with a book until 7:45 and went to bed myself. Paul got Carter to bed for me.
Henri woke up at 11 and from 11-5 was in my bed, but didn't toss and turn too much and at 5 I put him back in his crib, then slept more until 6:00 when Carter came in our bed and then 7:15 I got up, took a long shower with all my scrubs and stuff I never get to use with Carter pounding on the door or Henri screaming bloody murder and was actually dressed before Henri woke up at 7:45.
So even though there were small interruptions in the night, I was in bed for a lovely 11 hours and feel wonderful!
Henri and I are having some breakfast now and we'll see where the day takes us.
Henri woke up at 11 and from 11-5 was in my bed, but didn't toss and turn too much and at 5 I put him back in his crib, then slept more until 6:00 when Carter came in our bed and then 7:15 I got up, took a long shower with all my scrubs and stuff I never get to use with Carter pounding on the door or Henri screaming bloody murder and was actually dressed before Henri woke up at 7:45.
So even though there were small interruptions in the night, I was in bed for a lovely 11 hours and feel wonderful!
Henri and I are having some breakfast now and we'll see where the day takes us.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Home, FINALLY!
So after being unable to fly out of Buffalo on Saturday, we got moved to an Air Canada flight out of Toronto to Seattle-Straight shot.
We got to Toronto airport at 2pm. Our flight was for 5:30. It was a madhouse. 1/2 the flights to the US were being canceled. We waited in line for over 3 hours to get a baggage ticket. Note that this does not mean they actually took our 8 bags we'd been pushing around for 3 hours. This means we got a ticket to put on them. Thank goodness Linda and Larry stayed with us in line.
When we got to the ticket counter United had incorrectly booked our ticket, we did not have seats together. I cried a bit, the ticket agent got on the phone and worked around it.
Oh, you may ask, "Why were you checking EIGHT bags!" Well, let me tell you.... two bags of winter clothes, two of summer clothes (our week in Turks & Caicos) plus Christmas presents PLUS due to the guys last week trying to bomb planes the only reason we were allowed carryon was because Paul had the laptops and we needed diapers for Hennri. So, all the roller bags had to be checked in. I'll get in more detail about why later.
So then by the time we'd been sitting in the long line, they had figured out another long line to Customs would make people insane (there were many police officers I'm sure not just for security but also for people who were angry at waiting in line for 3 hours when only 1/2 the planes were even flying).
So they told everyone to find a spot to camp out and they called us to customs by flight. Because of this they had to keep delaying our flight to allow time for customs to process all of the people flying on the plane.
So at 7:30 they called our flight to customs. We drag the 8 bags to drop off, go through regular security (metal detector, shoes off, etc.) Then we go to our gate and wait in yet another line to each be patted down and our bag gone through by hand. This was what was taking so long. Can you imagine now why they wanted as much checked as possible when going through bags by hand AND patting everyone down? Even the babies were patted down.
We got the gate about 9pm and the pilot came out to the area and said, "we've had the plane ready for hours, but have no ticket agent to let you on the plane!" Finally at 9:30 they found someone, we finally took off at about 11pm
Air Canada has nice planes. We only had 2 seats on each side and 30 rows and everyone had an entertainment system in the back of the headrest. Carter watched as many cartoons as he could before passing out. Because United bought us $1200 seats, we were also able to get a meal for free. The seats were nice and large.
We started the flight with Henri screaming and flailing around for 45 minutes. There is a new rule that babies cannot be secured on a plane in a front pack. Whomever made this rule obviously has never held a spirited or over tired baby on their lap on an airplane. Trust me, there are letters that will be written. I do not understand how a flailing baby headbutting me while my arms get more and more tired is safe. I don not understand how me dozing off with a baby laying on my lap when we hit turbulance is safer than a baby in a front pack. They wouldn't let you hold a 20 pound backpack in your bag that doesn't move because it's an unsafe projectile. How is a baby on your lap safer?????? Common sense is sorely lacking in this rule, if you ask me.
Thankfully my parents had left us their truck after hearing the amount of luggage coming home. We got it quickly and came home to milk and yogurt & bananas in the fridge for our arrival home. Isn't that nice???
Alright, I'm off to enter my real world again, but figured I'd post so I didn't have to repeat the saga of the trip over and over :)
We got to Toronto airport at 2pm. Our flight was for 5:30. It was a madhouse. 1/2 the flights to the US were being canceled. We waited in line for over 3 hours to get a baggage ticket. Note that this does not mean they actually took our 8 bags we'd been pushing around for 3 hours. This means we got a ticket to put on them. Thank goodness Linda and Larry stayed with us in line.
When we got to the ticket counter United had incorrectly booked our ticket, we did not have seats together. I cried a bit, the ticket agent got on the phone and worked around it.
Oh, you may ask, "Why were you checking EIGHT bags!" Well, let me tell you.... two bags of winter clothes, two of summer clothes (our week in Turks & Caicos) plus Christmas presents PLUS due to the guys last week trying to bomb planes the only reason we were allowed carryon was because Paul had the laptops and we needed diapers for Hennri. So, all the roller bags had to be checked in. I'll get in more detail about why later.
So then by the time we'd been sitting in the long line, they had figured out another long line to Customs would make people insane (there were many police officers I'm sure not just for security but also for people who were angry at waiting in line for 3 hours when only 1/2 the planes were even flying).
So they told everyone to find a spot to camp out and they called us to customs by flight. Because of this they had to keep delaying our flight to allow time for customs to process all of the people flying on the plane.
So at 7:30 they called our flight to customs. We drag the 8 bags to drop off, go through regular security (metal detector, shoes off, etc.) Then we go to our gate and wait in yet another line to each be patted down and our bag gone through by hand. This was what was taking so long. Can you imagine now why they wanted as much checked as possible when going through bags by hand AND patting everyone down? Even the babies were patted down.
We got the gate about 9pm and the pilot came out to the area and said, "we've had the plane ready for hours, but have no ticket agent to let you on the plane!" Finally at 9:30 they found someone, we finally took off at about 11pm
Air Canada has nice planes. We only had 2 seats on each side and 30 rows and everyone had an entertainment system in the back of the headrest. Carter watched as many cartoons as he could before passing out. Because United bought us $1200 seats, we were also able to get a meal for free. The seats were nice and large.
We started the flight with Henri screaming and flailing around for 45 minutes. There is a new rule that babies cannot be secured on a plane in a front pack. Whomever made this rule obviously has never held a spirited or over tired baby on their lap on an airplane. Trust me, there are letters that will be written. I do not understand how a flailing baby headbutting me while my arms get more and more tired is safe. I don not understand how me dozing off with a baby laying on my lap when we hit turbulance is safer than a baby in a front pack. They wouldn't let you hold a 20 pound backpack in your bag that doesn't move because it's an unsafe projectile. How is a baby on your lap safer?????? Common sense is sorely lacking in this rule, if you ask me.
Thankfully my parents had left us their truck after hearing the amount of luggage coming home. We got it quickly and came home to milk and yogurt & bananas in the fridge for our arrival home. Isn't that nice???
Alright, I'm off to enter my real world again, but figured I'd post so I didn't have to repeat the saga of the trip over and over :)
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Another night in Canada
All flights to Chicago have been canceled for 2 days now. The soonest we could leave from Buffalo would be MONDAY (um, today is Saturday) through Philladelphia.
The agent asked if we had family here and I mentioned they were in Canada. She found a flight directly back to Seattle for tomorrow evening from Toronto, so we'll be getting home then. We'll probably miss breakfast with my brother and his family before they return from Portland :( but at least we'll get back home this weekend.
The agent asked if we had family here and I mentioned they were in Canada. She found a flight directly back to Seattle for tomorrow evening from Toronto, so we'll be getting home then. We'll probably miss breakfast with my brother and his family before they return from Portland :( but at least we'll get back home this weekend.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas morning
Henri slept in with Paul and I last night. Restlessly I might add. I'm dog-tired and Henri and I are up at 6am. So I had some coffee, feed the bottomless pit (Henri, not me) and took some video.
First a pic. We finally put the presents under the tree after Henri went to bed last night (since he can't resist them as you can see.) Note that the present does not have his name on it.
First a pic. We finally put the presents under the tree after Henri went to bed last night (since he can't resist them as you can see.) Note that the present does not have his name on it.
Next a Video of him really excited over the gifts.
And a video of the walking he's been doing. Just need to hold one hand, but if you drop the hand, he'll drop to his knees and crawl.
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