....From far and wide, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee....

I'm not usually a huge fan of the Winter Olympics. I really only got into it for the first time when they were in SLC. Well, this time they were in my other homeland so I had to watch. Let's just say it was great since I have roots in both places I was a winner a lot more than not. I was happy when Canada won, I was happy when the US won and I must say they were both outstanding. So proud to call myself a American/Canadian :)

I just love all the Olympic gear each year and this year was no exception.

You all remember the berets from SLC Olympics? - Fabulous!

Well the tukes this year were just as great and my personal favorite.

If they just magically appeared in my mailbox I would not be the least bit sad about it :)

Couldn't find a close up of the Canadian one but you can kind of see them.

Spread The Word To End The Word

If you didn't know, today marks the start of an awareness and kickoff to stop saying the R word. According to the Special Olympics (who is heading this up) "You may not realize how damaging the R word can be. But when you use slang terms like "retard" and "retarded" you are marginalizing and insulting millions of people with Intellecutal Disabilities, their families and their friends. So, now you know and now you can do something about it. Take the pledge and put and end to the R Word."

Although, it once may have been acceptable it is not any longer. I know it was used a lot with my generation as kids and I am still guilty of using it out of pure habit. Most people use it not even meaning it to be offensive, for example: saying something is retarded because you don't like it. However, to those who are disabled and their families it is hurtful whenever the term is used. I think we need to realize it is a delicate word and stop using it. When referring to someone who is disabled apparently the approriate term is now "Intellectually Disabled" but, in researching some of the following are acceptable as well: mentally disabled, devolopmentally disabled, developmentally delayed, developmentally impaired, developmentally challenged, physically impaired/challenged, mentally impaired/challenged etc.

I am going to try to be more concious of things I say because this isn't the only word we need to rid ourselves of saying. Try to help everyone out and if you hear someone saying "the R word" politely correct them - myself included. It will probably take some time but we can do it!!

You can also go to http://r-word.org/ to sign their pledge and be heard!

I am starting with the blog to do my part to spread the word and I encourage the rest of you to

SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD!

WELCOME TO CRAZY TOWN

Population 2.

Need I say more?

"Hey Good Lookin, Whatcha Got Cookin?"

"How 'bout cookin something up for me...."

(but only if you tell me what!!!)

When I lived at home and all growing up my mom always used to bug us to tell her what we wanted to eat for dinner. She always said she didn't mind cooking but hated deciding what to cook. We never understood it, but having 5 kids she usually made us each take a night and pick what we were having or it was leftovers or fend for yourself.

Now that I am married and cook more often, I totally get it and I HATE it!

You feel me?

I don't mind cooking at all. In fact, although I may not be too great at it, I actually love it. But....NOT when I have to decide what to make. I HATE trying to think of something hoping that Shayne will like what it is I choose, and I HATE trying to be creative and not repeat things from week to week. I HATE trying to make sure it's a balanced meal as well as one that is at least somewhat healthy. I HATE it, I HATE it, I HATE it!!! So, of course everyday I ask Shayne what he wants only for him to say "I don't care" (just like I used to with my mom, what goes around comes around I guess). I even give him options and sometimes I still get an "I don't care, make anything" Well if that were truly the case it would be something simple like grilled cheese but of course that's too easy, not balanced, not healthy blah blah blah - you catch my drift?

So mom as you read this (I'm sure with a smile on your face) I can say now that I totally get it, and I'm sorry I didn't before!!

I think I need to hire someone to write me up a meal plan. Is that even a job? If it's not, it should be - people would pay good money for that.

So please one of you - somebody, anybody out there make my wildest dreams come true and write me up a meal plan for the next year, otherwise I fear we might starve, k - thanks! Love ya!

Baby It's Cold Outside...

When we lived in Utah I used to think I knew what cold was - was I ever wrong. So wherever you live, if you think it's cold let me just say in my opinion, YOU DON'T KNOW COLD UNTIL.......

-Your car door is frozen shut and you can't even turn your key because that's frozen too

-You experience freezing rain and everything outside starts to shine with ice; trees, lamp posts, stop signs, you name it

-It is so cold that your nose starts to run and then it freezes to the outside of your nose. Yep this really happens people maybe not quite as dramatic as in Dumb and Dumber but you get the picture

-You have on 10 layers of clothes and you can still feel it penetrating your skin

-Your pipes burst and your house floods

-They cancel school on a regular basis and have 2 hour + delays almost daily, not because it's snowing but because it is soooo cold or there is so much ice

-Your own dogs who usually love to go out and play in the snow turn around and run when you open the door to let them out

-Your car won't start

-You walk outside and it literally takes your breath away and when you finally can breathe the air is so cold it hurts your lungs

-Your eyelashes turn to icicles

-It's so cold you feel like your bones or cold - this one doesn't make much sense unless you have actually experienced it

-Even once you go inside you shake uncontrollably because you just can't get warm

-When you find yourself wishing you were in Utah not just because you miss it there but because you know you wouldn't be as cold

-The sun never shines, literally making it impossible to feel any heat or even have the potential to get warmer

-When you go outside when it's 30 degrees without a coat and think it's warm

(**Everything listed above has actually happened to us or someone we know)

So yes it is freezing and bitter cold out here right now and let's just say I'm done with it. I don't write this so much to complain as to let the rest of you that think you're cold be grateful that you may not be quite as cold as us and if you are then you have our sympathy. I keep dreaming of lying on a beach somewhere yet I still find myself sitting here as cold as I was 10 minutes ago because I just can't seem to get warm. All in all one lesson has come of this. When we leave here we WILL be moving somewhere warm. All of you that live somewhere warm, I am outrightly jealous and wish I was you right now!!