Thursday, February 26, 2009

Some people...

Yesterday I went to a shiva (similar to a wake) for a friend of the family who passed away last week. I didn't know he had passed away until I went to pick up the mail at my mom's condo (she's still away on vacation and comes back tomorrow.) Anyways, as I was walking into the building, there was a large notice saying that his shiva was in the 'party room' in the building. It was a large turnout, so they obviously needed the space.

Josh and I went to the shiva in the evening and in walked a gentleman who asked for the person 'in charge'. He said that it wasn't right to have the shiva in the party room, that it wasn't right to have it all week (a shiva, by definition, lasts seven days), and that it should be up in the gentleman's apartment because 'that's where his soul is'. Umm...ok.

He started speaking Hungarian and rambling to someone who finally got the real reason why he wanted the party room...that's where his bridge club meets every week and he didn't want to miss out on a game. So sorry that the shiva inconvenienced HIM.

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This story you really shouldn't read if you're eating, thinking about eating, or ever want to eat again.

Most of you know that I'm a secretary in a psychiatrist's office. I rarely, if ever, talk about work on the blog, but today we had a lady in who had the most disgusting habit...that I felt I had to share it with all of you.

She arrived 45 minutes early for her appointment and the doctor couldn't see her until her appointment time. She sat in her chair and got a little restless, took out a cup from her backpack and put it to her lips. She did this repeatedly.

At first I didn't pay any attention to her, I figured she was just taking a drink...if only it was something so simple. She sat there for 45 minutes and every so often she would SPIT into the cup and put it back into her backpack. Now I've seen a lot of things in the office, but nothing has EVER grossed me out that badly before. I don't know how long she had been doing this, but the cup was HALF FULL.

Oh my freaking G-d, how I didn't throw up is beyond me...

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Bon voyage!

Tomorrow PIPO leaves to get her PIPA! I'm so freaking excited for her! I can't wait to follow along as she gets her daughter...

Weird...
















I was checking out my Statcounter this afternoon and found a bunch of hits today looking for this image. (They're temporary tattoo that we got when we went to visit her, her, her, and her a year and a half ago.)

I'm not just talking about a few hits, so far I've gotten 15 today looking for that picture. How weird is that? Don't even get me started on those people who are looking for my picture of Captain Caveman...daily.
















I just find it really odd that people are searching my blog for these two images...and it's nobody that I know, either. I've gotten some hits from the "Russian Federation", Romania and The Hague looking for these images.

Ques'que fuck?!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Happy birthday, Mark!












It's Mark's birthday today! Go and wish him a happy birthday...now! :)

Thursday, February 19, 2009

You might be adopting from China if...

I'm totally ripping this off from Red Sand since I'm just not feeling bloggy lately. With the rumours (that I've read on other people's blogs since I'm still boycotting RQ) of a ONE day batch, I'm in a really bad funk.

YOU MIGHT BE ADOPTING FROM CHINA IF...

...you know that I-600 & I-171 aren't highways.

...you've been expecting a baby for over 3 years.

...you understand that it's 2006 in some parts of the world.

...you've "paid for" 3 citizenships, but never brought anyone into the U.S.

...you know that waiting for China has nothing to do with Dillards or dishes

...your homestudy is followed by a number (i.e. #3 or #4)

...you never know how many days next month will have

...you know that babies come in batches

...you've been fingerprinted four times, but never committed a crime

...you automatically assume everyone who is expecting is having a girl

...you own new clothing in 3 little sizes for all 4 seasons (because you don't know when or how big)

...you look twice when you see a lady bug

...you're more interested in what will happen in March 2006 than in March 2009

...you know people who understand when you talk about 2 day months & 5 day months

...your due date hasn't changed by days, but by years

...you know who the Rumor Queen is ... AND ... you don't know who she is

...you know that forecast doesn't have anything to do with the weather

...you've waited so long, they re-checked your fingerprints to see if they changed

...trying to understand why they're printing you again, you study your own fingerprints and wonder if fingerprints grow wrinkles

...when you speak of "that time of month" you're talking about CCAA updates & referrals

You might be adopting from China if you love someone you've never met with all your heart.

Friday, February 13, 2009

29 months





Today marks our 29th month of waiting for you, little one. Our good friend, Dave, chose this charm for you. His reasoning, as he mentioned in his email was this:
A reminder that you were deeply immersed in this adoption process during a historic time in her home country's history. Also, the interlinking rings is symbolic of different nations joining together, which I think fits the overseas adoption process.

I also thought it was perfect for this month, seeing as though it's just under one year until the Vancouver winter Olympics.

It's so wonderful that we have so much support in this adoption, through family, close friends and the adoption community.













We also decided to indulge in an obscenely rich ice cream cake from the Marble Slab. Oh my DAWG am I looking forward to dessert tonight. It's swiss chocolate ice cream with Reese peanut butter cups and crispy crunch. Yup, I feel I'm getting fatter just looking at the picture. ;)












Today when I went to get the mail I found this in our box! Ryan, at Boston Pizza sent us four coupons for pizza! How much does that rock?

If you can't read his note it says:
Rhonda

Enjoy a few pizzas - on me. But please don't steal our forks. :)

Cheers, Ryan Ashton

Leave me a comment if you want to get together for an "A-Team" pizza night at Boston Pizza!

Thanks again, Ryan!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Rambling and babbling

Last night Josh and I didn't get to go to Out of the Cold. Josh is taking a course and instead of it being on Monday, it was switched to Tuesday. He's currently taking a course in radio broadcasting, just for something to do, who knows it might turn into something. So far he's really enjoying it.

I was a bit bummed out when he told me that the course was rescheduled, but what can you do? I really wanted to go because we got a donation of clothing from the fabulous M&M! I'm not sure if we're going next Tuesday, but we'll see. If we can't make it, we're certainly going to drop off the clothing. I want the people at Out of the Cold to use it.

We met up with M&M at their place on Sunday and enjoyed a lovely afternoon with them. Well, it was lovely until Josh's cell phone rang. We all thought it was just a business call, when all of a sudden he said "Yes, send the security guards." Umm, ok.

Apparently our burglar alarm went off and we were a good 30 minutes away from the house. What to do? What to do? We asked Josh's parents to go to the house and wait for the security guard and told them that we would be there as soon as possible.

I kept calling Josh's dad on his cell phone, but he wouldn't answer. We didn't know what was going on. When we were within five minutes of our house, Josh's cell rang and it was his dad. Apparently he left the cell at home, so he drove to a mall (near our house), stopped someone in the parking lot and hijacked their phone. :P

He told us that the power was out in the area and that he was going home because it didn't look like anything was doing at the house. I asked him to go to the house and wait for us and/or the security guards, since we were so close. I didn't want the guard(s) to arrive and find nobody there and leave.

I decided to call the security firm and tell them that we're really close to the house and to make sure they stay there until we get home. Well, wouldn't you know it...they cancelled the alarm and weren't sending anyone out. There was a huge blackout and that was the reason they cancelled it. They said that they didn't feel it was necessary to send anyone because several alarms went off at once. Umm, don't you think they should have called us back to tell us that? You know, since we PAY them?

We finally got home and everything seemed to be ok (thankfully). We had plans to go out with my mom, so we left soon after that. When we got home, there was a slip of paper in our door from the security firm saying that they came, did a search of the premises and didn't find any problems. Yeah, we know that...

What I don't understand is why would they cancel the alarm without telling us, and then send out the guard when they said it was cancelled? I was rather perturbed about the situation, but I let Josh handle it.

He called the company on Monday and spoke to the owner. Apparently the whole problem was our battery backup, they believed it was set up incorrectly and that's why it went off. They sent out a technician to deal with that matter, and apparently it works properly now. I'm still annoyed that they cancelled the dispatch.

Oh well.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

It's like herding cats...

My mom and her boyfriend (or as Josh would say "gentleman caller" - HA!) went to Florida today in advance of their two week cruise of the Caribbean. She arrived safe and sound in Fort Lauderdale this afternoon and met up with some friends.

I set her up with a Gmail account last year when she went on another cruise, but she was never able to figure out how to get into it. Yes, my mom isn't exactly the most computer literate person out there. Anyways, I had to change the password for her because I think she was typing the letter O instead of zeroes for the password. It makes me laugh because she was the one that chose it.

I had to go into her account and change her password for her to something she wouldn't screw up. No numbers. I sent her an email to the friend that she's staying with, and they were finally able to figure it out to the point that I was using Gtalk with my mom. Her friend thought the Gtalk window was too small (yes, I know it can be expanded) so they asked me to download MSN. I did that, but then I had the brainwave of having them download Skype. OY!

After a good hour of trying to figure things out, it ended up that we could see each other...they could hear me, but I couldn't hear them. I'm convinced that, even though I asked if they had a microphone, they don't.

Teaching my mom to use a computer is like trying to herd cats...

Monday, February 09, 2009

Boston Pizza follow-up and other things.

I heard back from Boston Pizza today and this is what they said...

Hello to you, author of the ‘Little Maple’ blog.

Yes, you caught us. We were tracking online mentions of the term Boston Pizza and we went to your site to see what was happening. Turns out I was in for a wilder ride than I anticipated!

In any case, I’m glad you enjoyed your visit to Boston Pizza and I’m glad you were patient with me as I lightly dipped my toes into the blog scene. And no, I really don’t think you stole our forks.

I’d like to say thanks to you as well – if you are willing to send me your address, I’d be happy to send you a few coupons for some free pizzas during your next visit to BP.

All the best in your future blogging efforts. Hopefully you’ll see more from us in the near future!

Cheers,

Ryan


Sooooo...who wants to go to Boston Pizza? Dinner, apparently, is on them. :P

---









I was leaving the house to go out to lunch with my mom and her boyfriend, when I decided to go across the street to get the mail. We live in an area where we have super mailboxes (sounds like a superhero for nerds). :P

Anyways, I was gingerly walking across the street and making sure to look both ways. I got to the other side, checked the box for mail and was making my way back when I fell on the ice. I fell in such a way that I was half on the ice and half in the road. I bonked my head and twisted my back, but other than that, I'm fine.

Would you think that ANY of the cars that passed me (in my sprawled out state) stopped to help me? Nooooo. I have a few crisp words for people like that...

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Yes, you can go home again...but it's different

As some of you know, my mom sold her house last year; my childhood home. I never met the new owners, but I was curious about them and what they would do to the house. Every so often, Josh and I would drive by just to see what they were doing...not in a creepy sense, but curiosity got the better of us. I guess curiosity got the better of my mom and her boyfriend too, because they drove past the house today and noticed that there was an open house.

My mom has no intention of seeing the house in its new incarnation - she wants to remember what it looked like when she lived there - which I can totally understand. Well, she called me to tell me about the open house, so Josh and I got in the car and drove over and walked through.

Yeah, we're sneaky like that.

It was SO bizarre walking through it. I thought a lot of the old memories would flood back, but more than anything, it just didn't feel like the house anymore. I can't quite explain it other than by saying that.

(Before you ask, the new owner is trying to flip the house. There wasn't a shred of furniture, nor any clothing.)

The thing that struck me immediately is that they kept my mom's doorbell, front doors and that's pretty much it. One of the locks looked the same, I don't think they changed it. I still have the keys on my keyring (I'm not sure why, I guess sentimentality), and I was tempted to try it in the lock, but the real estate agent was standing right there. It would look more than a little odd if I was doing that. ;)

Everything else was changed, and not necessarily for the better.

They completely overhauled the kitchen. All new cabinetry, new sinks, etc. The one thing that was missing was...APPLIANCES! There was a space for the fridge, stove and dishwasher, but they weren't in. I couldn't wrap my mind around that. Also, they made the kitchen counter longer and wider, so now there's no room for a table and six chairs. All they have in the kitchen are two bar stools at the kitchen counter. Ques'que fuck?! I don't quite understand why they would do that.

They ripped out all the carpeting throughout the house and it's all hardwood flooring (which was underneath the carpet), they just polished it. There's pot lights in the living room, dining room and kitchen. I think that was the only improvement that I actually liked. With all the dark hardwood floors, it made the rooms seem SO small. It was really odd.

The bedrooms all have hardwood flooring, except my brother's old room, which now has carpeting. Not sure why they did that. Oh well.

Now for the really bizarre thing. They redid the bathrooms, new toilets and new tubs, and tiling. The thing that was missing was...SINKS! There wasn't a sink in either of the upstairs bathroom or the downstairs bathroom. Again, I will say...Ques'que fuck?! Isn't that something you kind of...need? Something that would kind of be...missed? There's also no vanity. Nothing. Just a toilet and a shower/tub. There's not even a towel bar or a toilet paper roll.

They also made a mess of the den, family room and basement. It used to have wood panelling. I *loved* that, it made the house seem...homey. The wood panelling is still there, but now it's covered with (cheap) white paint. Who would paint wood panelling? It looked SO ugly the way they did it.

Another weird thing they did is in the laundry room. They took out all the cabinets and counter. So now it's just a large room with a washing machine, dryer and a sink. There's NOWHERE to put laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. I didn't understand the reasoning for that.

Anyways, we walked towards the door and I said "it's a lovely home" and I turned to the agent and asked how long it's been on the market, and she told me "33 days". I'm thinking it's going to be on the market for quite a while longer when it so obviously needs SO much more work.

So yes, you can go home again...but would you really want to?

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

A comment!

After calling Boston Pizza out on my blog the other day, I got a comment. While I find it very funny that we were both tracking each other, I find it more amusing that they came back another 11 times today. It also looks like I may have been the subject of an email, at least that's what it looks like on my statcounter. Pssst, I can still see you. :)

Anyways, I thought I would post their comment for everyone here because I know some of you have been to their restaurant before, and perhaps you can offer your opinions as well.

Okay, so you caught us :)

I'm the Advertising Manager at Boston Pizza - we're just getting into the blog scene, and noticed that you had written a post that mentioned us. So I clicked to have a read (and no, I don't think you stole our forks).

I hope you don't think we're spying. :)

I'm really glad to hear that you had a great time at one of our restaurants a few days ago - nothing like having a great evening out by spending a few hours with some close friends.

Did you enjoy your meal? Is there anything you noticed that you'd like to let us know about?

Thanks again for visiting!

- Ryan


Ryan, next time I'm coming to the restaurant with a big, clunky purse and I'm taking the silverware! :P

The meal was really good, we had the BBQ chicken pizza which was very flavourful. I'd definitely go back again, and not just because you people were stalking me...

The waiter we had was really friendly and helpful, and even smothered my friend's pizza with extra feta cheese when she asked for it. :)

Pssst, any chance at getting some coupons for me and my friends next time we go? ;)

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Out of the Cold

Josh and I went back to volunteer at Out of the Cold this evening.

When we got there, there was a bit of excitement, and not in a good way.

As we arrived, a guest (one of the homeless) was drunk and being thrown out. He was verbally abusive to the other volunteers, so the security guards grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him out. It was really sad to see that.

We went into the room to help and one of the guests came up to me and asked for a couple of dress shirts. Not to belabour the point, but he was in desperate need of a shower and clean clothes. He turned to me and said (about his shirt) "These aren't liquor stains, I'm not an alcoholic. It's beer sweat". Ok, thanks for clearing that up!

When I was cleaning up the tables and putting down fresh plastics, one of the guests thanked me for doing that and said "it's just like being at home, if we all had homes". *sigh* That was really tough to hear.

Another gentleman and I were talking and he said how thankful he was that this shelter took him in. Apparently he had gone to another this evening but was turned away, they were full. He said "it's nice to have a warm mat to sleep on, rather than sleeping on a grate or in a bus shelter."

I know that what we're doing is a good thing, but sometimes the comments I get are a little hard to take.

Monday, February 02, 2009

Random ramblings ***UPDATE***

It's been a little while since I've done a random rambling post, but I wanted to mention a few things...

* Yesterday marked three years since we've started the adoption process. I would have blogged about it then, but I just wasn't feeling like making a 'big deal' about it, especially when we're probably only at the half-way mark. We'll be hitting our 29th month LID later this month. Can you feel the excitement? :)

* I took the music off my blog, apparently it was causing issues for at least one person who emailed me about it. I'm pretty sure it was because they didn't have Quick Time on their computer, so every time they went to the blog, the site would shut down their computer. Oops.

* I went to my Statcounter this afternoon and found that I got a hit from the fine people at Boston Pizza. I find it amusing that they're tracking their hits, and by extension, little ol' me. So, just in case they come back again and track me...

* HI PEOPLE AT BOSTON PIZZA! Oh, and thanks for the free appetizer next time we come to the restaurant. :)

***Ok, I'm amused, they came back two more times since this post went up, but they won't leave a comment. Awww.

Hmm make that three more times...and once via internal email. What are you people at Boston Pizza looking for?! At least leave a comment. ;)***

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Last night...and other things

Josh and I went out for dinner with Lisa, Craig and their kids K and S for dinner last night at Boston Pizza. We spent about three hours (though it really didn't feel like it) at the restaurant and had an amazing time talking, laughing, and getting the evil eye from S. ;)

They've been home almost a year with S and she is just SO beautiful. We talked with K for a little bit about school, and it's obvious that she's a very bright and sweet girl.

We talked about just about everything under the sun, including the changes to Sesame Street. Apparently they've changed Cookie Monster and he no longer eats...cookies?! ARGH!

I can't seem to find any clips of him eating fruits and vegetables, but apparently it's true. I'm SO very disappointed in Sesame Street. Why would they take away something so fundamental about the character? I've heard that people refer to him as Carrot Monster now...does anyone else know about this?

I've found a few articles about the change, including this (the article was written a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it still rings true). Can you imagine that there's a warning on the label that says it's not safe for children?! Is it just me or has PC-ness gone too far now?

For Lisa



Turn off the song on the sidebar before playing this...

More about this tomorrow. ;)