Rockin' out

There's a Curling Club a few blocks from where I live. Last year, when I moved here, I sort of thought to myself, "huh, there's something I've always wanted to try. I'll go in sometime and see about classes or a beginner's league."
But - I never did.

Last October I noticed a sign saying that they were going to have clinics. I was out of town when the classes happened. I went in to find out when their next classes would be but the woman I talked to didn't seem to know a lot about it. She took my name and number but I never did hear back.

Last month I noticed the sign was up again - clinics would be held for 3 days after Thanksgiving. So I thought, "Bound to make one of those classes!"
I wanted to go on Wednesday - but I had to pick Bernie up from work, take her to pick her car up at the garage, then we went out for dinner.
Thursday I made sure I had dinner ready as soon as she walked thru the door (Potato Soup from the Weight Watchers cookbook). We were talking about stuff and then she decided that she just had to bake some cranberry muffins. While she went out to the grocery store I headed over to the Curling Club.
When I got there I found out that most of the people there had been there the previous 2 nights! yikes! I'm behind before I even start.
Anyway, they were doing stretches. When they were done one of the instructors said it was time to hit the sheets. One of the other instructors asked if there were any 'newbies' but it came out sounding like 'Newfies' which everyone thought was funny. The only newbies were me and 3 retirement age gentlemen. One had played in a league over 30 years ago, the other 2 had never tried it. But like all Canadians - we've seen bonspiels and The Brier on tv!
So the instructor had us watch a little video then he took us down to the ice so we could try walking on the ice. More video. Then we practiced stepping into the hack and working on a delivery (without a rock). It was a bit difficult for me to crouch into the hack because I was wearing blue jeans - which weren't very comfortable - and I'm so not in shape. Then we got to throw the rocks - which was a lot of fun. We each had a few practice ones, then we tried aiming at our instructor. My throws weren't that great - the first didn't go far, the next 2 hit the boards - but each rock went further than the previous one.

Then the clinic was over. *sigh*
It was a lot of fun.

I've signed up for the instructional league. yay!

And today I am very happy because I am not sore at all! I did some stretches but the instructor, Dave, predicted I'd be sore.

all done! (I hope)

I'm baaaaack!

Have been seriously stressed running around. Went back to Windsor for the long weekend. I think we have finally finished up around the house - other than trimming the maple tree along the drive and maybe touching up some painting. Thank the lord that headache is almost over. 

Now - all we have to do is rent the place out again. *sigh* 

It was a good weekend - one of Joe's friends came and helped with the painting, beautiful weather, our SIL spoiled us with the cooking and liquid refreshments. 

On Sunday she took us to brunch at a riverside restaurant in Detroit. Afterwards we stopped at Pewabic Pottery museum/gallery. It is quite a nice place! 

My SIL, Shelagh, at Pewabic Pottery.

Thanksgiving day Bernie made pancakes and sausages for breakfast. Then we went over and finished up at the house. Back to Shelagh's in time for a spaghetti dinner. Then on the road - didn't get home until quite late, midnight or so. 

Tuesday a quiet day for me - Bernie at work and Joe at school. I did some stuff around the apartment, surfed far too much. 

Bernie and I went to the casino after she was done work. A good day for me - I won. However - I think it is enough to pay for the damage done to my car when I hit a racoon when I was driving on the 401 on Friday night. He took out a foglight and did some damage the housing for it. And I think I need two new tires, too. I thought I could put that off since it is almost time to put the winter tires on but was driving in the rain the other night and I was hydroplaning a bit. So - new tires! *sigh* I would have liked to do just about anything else than spend my winnings on the car. 

Today I'm glued to the tv watching the Chile mine rescue. I think this is only the second time since I lost my job that I've actually missed work. (The first time was Michael Jackson's funeral). Obviously I don't watch a lot of tv anymore! 

I have to pick Bernie at work today - her car is in the shop. Afterwards I'm going to go to a curling workshop.

busy, busy, busy

ye gods! It's been a while since I last posted.

Blame my sister's former tenants. They moved out in mid-September and we've been working on getting the place cleaned up and ready for new tenants.
The former tenants seemed like a nice couple and it looked like they took care of the house. Boy - were we wrong! They obviously had anger issues - every bedroom door showed evidence of being kicked in, the front door to the house, too. had been kicked in. At best they rarely cleaned - the soap scum in the shower made everything look gray, and the oven and stove were disgusting. No yard work had been done - grass hadn't been mowed in ages, bushes weren't trimmed (despite my sister leaving her tools at the house. BTW - they took said tools when they left!). Plus - they had lousy decorating taste. And a big smelly dog.
Carpets ripped up and replaced with laminate. Horrid, ugly, tacky paint has been primed and ready for something a bit more neutral. Unfortunately - new bedroom doors are out of our budget. Tons of stuff done. Just one or two things left to do.
There were prospective tenants. However - she didn't want laminate - she wanted new carpeting in both bedrooms. And some other things that we found unreasonable and out of our budget. Said prospective tenant did not appreciate when my brother looked at her, shook his head and said, "You're just renting the place, not buying it." Unable to reach a compromise with her so she moved into a development a few blocks away. I hope for her sake that things aren't as bad there as they used to be. There was a reason my sister didn't buy there.

Thanksgiving is coming up on Monday. No big plans - just going back to finish up the work at my sister's place. Perhaps we will visit the Point Pelee Winery or something. My SIL wants to do a buffet lunch - which sure beats cooking!

Other than that - things are going along much like before. Not much happening.
Haven't been too careful with my eating - but I've been so busy at my sister's that I haven't gained any weight.

Bella

I've been up and down the 401 again - and will be again in a few days. Heading back to Windsor to get my sister's place ready for the new tenants.
Of course this means my eating will go all to hell - pizza and fast food. But I will be doing stuff like painting and yard work so I don't think it will be as bad as if I were just going for a regular visit. Plus my SIL will be in Toronto over the weekend so that cuts down on some of the bad eating right there.

As for my eating the past week - this is what I remember of it:
Thursday -  My brother, Keith, and I headed down to Windsor. I had stuff at a storage facility near where Scott lives. It cost almost $120/month - which I can't really afford. So my SIL said I could put it in her attic. Rented a U-Haul and we were on our way.
Thursday's eats: 
Breakfast (9am) - bowl of cereal
Lunch - none - wasn't hungry all day.
Dinner (9pm) - pizza, bottle of Gatorade

Friday -
Cleaned up around SIL's - trimmed shrubbery, picked up garbage, took load of stuff to the dump. Went to my sister's house and cleaned up a bit there. Returned the rental truck. Then drove Keith home. Went to pick Scott up at a friend's place.
Friday's eats: 
Breakfast (9:30am) toast w/butter and blueberry jam, tea
Lunch - don't remember
Dinner - don't remember

Saturday -
Late start to the day but ended up being rather busy. A friend of Scott's had puppies for sale earlier this summer. Scott couldn't decided if he should get one - when he did make up his mind all the puppies had been sold. However, one of the buyers was allergic and had to give the puppy back. So Scott got that one.
She was born on the 4th of July. I suggested the name Bella - which Scott thought was a nice name. She's part Lab, part Pit Bull and part something else. I think she's a cutie.
After dinner I drove back to St. Catharines.

Bella - anxious to explore her new home.

Saturday's eats: 
Breakfast (11am) - scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit, tea. 
Lunch - none. Wasn't hungry due to late breakfast. 
Dinner (8pm) - pinwheel steak, corn on the cob, rice, glass of wine. 


Sunday -
Very tired from all the running around on Saturday - so I ended up having a very good night's sleep. Quick breakfast and then decided to head to Buffalo - wanted to do a bit of grocery shopping. Stopped at a Dollar store to get some stuff so Bernie could decorate her cubicle at work, to AJ Wright's to see what they had - Bernie ended up getting Joe a pair of shoes and a Southpole jacket. Then to Tops - didn't get all the groceries we had on the list as we'd spent more than planned at AJ's. *sigh* But we got plenty of milk - $1.99/gallon as opposed to over double that at home!

Sunday's eats: 
Breakfast (9:30am) - blueberry smoothie
Lunch (4pm) Bob Evans restaurant. Cup of potato and cheddar soup, grilled chicken club sandwich w/fries. Coke. 
Dinner - none - too full from lunch. 

Monday - Drove Bernie to work, Joe to school and then I came home and vegged out. Surfed some, read some, etc. Made pizza dough - however, while I was making it, it didn't feel right and I didn't think it would turn out - so when I picked Bernie up from work we went to the mall and had KFC. Got home - the dough looked fine.
Monday's eats: 
Breakfast - bowl of cereal
Lunch - don't remember
Dinner - KFC - gross, I know - but I'm PMSing and need the salt!  
Snack (1pm) - milk & cookies
           (8pm) - chocolate covered popcorn, ice tea. 


Tuesday - same as Monday. Reading: Obama's Dreams From My Father.
Tuesday's eats: 
Breakfast (9am) bowl of cereal. 
Lunch - 
Dinner - home made pizza.