Reluctant Volunteer

It was recently told to me that time spent working on my job outside of my work hours (Christmas Break) was considered "volunteering" and not considered lieu time.  I have had a lot of opportunity to think on that comment and I wonder just what kind of message that sends.  What do you (and maybe there is no "you" out there reading me, which I guess will make this a boring question) think of that?  Should we be required to "volunteer" our time to meet the conditions of our job?  Would love to hear some opinions on this one.

Like There is No Tomorrow

DH and I joined a gym today.  Many children (and really another whole life) ago, DH and I used to workout every morning before work. We were lean, we had energy, and we fit into our "skinny clothes".  Although the past 14 years has changed us, our body shapes, and our disposable/free time, we are committing to spend time together while improving our health.  Where we used to enjoy fine eating and fine wine, now we will endure, I mean enjoy, low fat cooking and filtered water. Who are we kidding, there will still be wine.  For me at least.  But apart from that, I feel like we are on a new path and hopefully a renewed energy that will spread to our family as a whole.  Only good can come from this.
As for tonight, the night before healthy gill takes over, I will be eating like there is no tomorrow. Seriously.  

Shredding It

Jillian Michaels is a woman I love to hate.  In fact, lately I have been spending a good deal of time hurling insults in her direction.  No matter that she is on my tv screen and will never hear these things.  That's probably for the best as I am guessing that she could kick my butt to next Tuesday if she chose to.  But as she is yelling at me to do "two more" and then blithely adding in 10, she deserves what she gets.  I'm not sure what the title "30 day shred" is supposed to refer to exactly but I suspect it may be referring to my quads after this last session.  I will be lucky to successfully rise from the toilet today.     

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I just finished the most unexpectedly thought provoking book I have read in a while.  Posing as a piece of "fluffer", this book appeared to be a light-hearted chick-lit kind of novel that I thought would suit the bill for a little light holiday reading.  Sometimes I like to feel like I know how a book will end before I begin, likely to do with my dislike of surprises.  I thought this was that sort of book and settled in for a comfortable read when wham, I was broadsided with a patch reality in my sunny escape.  But in a good way.
I read this book in a day (which involved some pretty impressive ignoring of my family) and when I was done I sat there, mouth wide open, in shock.  And then I cried a little bit.  And then I thought about it (and thought about it).  If you get a chance, check out this gem and then let me know what you think.

Justin Hines - Say What You Will

For my good friend Ruth, who is saying good bye to her father today. If you are still walking this earth, it is not too late to say what you need to say.  Lots of love to you Ruth, Stephen, Heather, Alison, and Aaron.

Genius Bar Blues

My last full day of Christmas Break laid out before me--I had intentions of reading by the fireplace, walking the dog with DD2, cleaning up Christmas, and getting some groceries.  Leisurely and lazy.  That's my ideal day.  But first, I had a small 10 minute appointment to get through.  A trip to the Genius Bar to have a look at the calendar on my phone, which had been mysteriously disappearing and reappearing in different incarnations since I (stupidly) updated the software just before Christmas.  It's a calendar.  How complicated can it be really?  Clearly too complicated for me but hey, that's not saying much at all.  Three and a half hours later I returned.  Disgruntled.  And no further ahead in my problem.  And the best part?  The proffered solution was to call Apple on the phone.  So, I could've been in my pyjamas and multitasking away my morning instead of hanging out at the bar with a bunch of twenty some-things who think it is a crime to have to handwrite notes in class  (more on that another time) or have just decided after a year of having the phone that not being able to use the vibrate setting is a deal breaker?
So I head back home and I call Apple.  And several hours later we come to the solution--a new phone.  Arg.  A whole beautiful day wasted to come to the conclusion my 14 year old came to in 5 mins, "you need a new phone mom".  Genius indeed.

Welcome 2013

While 2012 sucker punched us at the last possible minute with a broken furnace on new year's eve, I remain ever optimistic for 2013.  So much so, that for the first time in a very long time I am going to make a new year's resolution or two(or three). 
First, I am going to spend more time with my parents.  At least one visit a week.  They live 10 minutes from me and they deserve some of my attention.  And I will enjoy it too.  My parents are good people and easy to appreciate and to make happy.  So I guess that's an easy one.
Second, I am going to stop working at night at home. DH bought me a laptop for Christmas so that should help things considerably. 
Lastly, I am going to try to do some sort of physical activity everyday.  I have a vacation coming up in March and I don't want any wobbly bits while wearing my swim suit.  Likely unrealistic (the no wobbly bits part anyway) but I am sure |I can make a dent in the old bingo wings at any rate.
So there it is, in black and white folks.  Here's to a happy and healthy 2013 for all of us!