Hooliganting: Hermits and Me: My quieter side

Hooliganting: Hermits and Me: My quieter side: In the grace of my whirlwind of a life, I have been taking a couple of days to ponder the "hermits" of my life. Funnily enough, my gregariou...

Hermits and Me: My quieter side

In the grace of my whirlwind of a life, I have been taking a couple of days to ponder the "hermits" of my life. Funnily enough, my gregarious self loves a variety of company from the effervescent bubbliest of personalities to those that have quiter, calmer souls.

Thursday was my day of socializing over coffee, and no for the record...there was an equal amount of Starbucks mixed in with Tim Horton's. I am still chuckling over how many coffees and milk drinks I had that day. The best part was that was not my original plan for the day. I had friends show up unexpectedly. Impulse struck and I randomly dropped in on people. Impulse struck others who spoiled me with coffee delivery...to the dance studio no less.

I adore the people that are in my life. Most of the time, I am out and about, and busy. Need I mention the busy? So, I thought I would reflect on the "hermits" that I treasure. Some are home bodies due to necessity. Others are home bodies out of choice. These are the people that I can chat with over facebook, call on the phone and sometimes coax out of their shell to enjoy some outside the home stuff. I don't ignore their personal needs or space, I just choose to meet them where they are at.

The quiet conversations that I have with these folk are incredibly valuable. Due to the nature of these lovely gems of people, I have the pleasure of spending quality one on one with them, usually with coffee, tea or steamer in hand. I can visit their homes and be welcomed. These are the ones that thrive in small groups scrapbooking and where three people sometimes is a crowd.

There are a couple of my "hermits" that have illnesses of either physical, mental or both. For these ladies, I try to help with adding some normal into their days. Because of the joy that they give me, I don't mind long periods of silences. They know that I love them and will do what it takes to build them up. I know that a good day one day, doesn't translate into a good one the next. Appreciating their inner strengths and learning to celebrate their accomplishments is part of what I believe makes me a better person and friend. I have recieved so much from you, it would take a lifetime more than I have to show you that.

I have some "hermits" that just prefer the confines of their own space. Some folk just like their stuff and that gives me the opportunity to travel around the neighbourhoods dropping in on folk for fun. I like that a quick cuppa and conversation can jazz me up and leave me feeling refreshed. I hope that they feel the same. The threads of people that run through my world are fascinating.

However, I seem to be pondering hermiting myself. Sometimes, I like to be at home too. Sometimes I wonder why folks seem to expect me to call, drop in, and be out. I know that is what I do, and of course it make sense that people think that I will do what I do. I am being ridiculous. Through watching the peaceful nature of those that do settle into their environment, I wonder if I can manage that? I have never been one to stay home or spend long periods of time at home alone. Really, I can't stand it for more than an hour....tops. I enjoy the chaos of my world. But I wonder...sometimes I think I would benefit from taking the time to listen to the still small voice. I have had some reminders over the past few days as to how precious it is to take that individual time, to slow down and appreciate the home, and to love those "hermits" that came out of their shells for me this week. I have a fair few of you...more than I thought when I first started writing this...and each one of you has blessed my life richly. Thank you!

Hooliganting: Tim Hortons

Hooliganting: Tim Hortons: The roots of hooliganting evolved from driving around and drinking Tim Horton's steeped tea late at night. I thought it was time to return t...

Tim Hortons

The roots of hooliganting evolved from driving around and drinking Tim Horton's steeped tea late at night. I thought it was time to return to my blog roots and share some good old fashioned Tim Hortoning experience. My week seems to be revolving around that delightful institution that produces a carefully crafted cup of coffee, designed to be creamed and sugared enough that you are left wanting more...without always understanding why. They have the secret steeped tea, which is my favorite, served to me double double. Hot chocolates and lattes, donuts and cookies. These are the keys to their success in taking over the north and quite possibly the whole of Canada.

Where I live, Tim Horton's isn't just another coffee shop. There are other's around that have the coffees, capaccinos and deluxe drinks. Tim Horton's thrives on simplicity here. The simplisitc regularity of their coffee with reasonable pricing has this community lining up around blocks, on roadways and in double lines just to get a taste of basic Canadian traditon. The exhaust fumes come into your vent lulling your senses while you wait to order your drink of choice. Thirty minutes is not an usual wait - for a coffee. Why do we do it?

For me, the line is place to get the home reading done, or I am doing a favor for someone. Sometimes, I have completely forgotton to pack snacks inbetween activities. Sometimes, I have thirty minutes I need to waste. The best times are those times when I am meeting friends or am hanging out with my friends in the warm confines of a vehicle.  There is the consistency of knowing that it is available 24 hours a day.

I like the flavors but it is the people that make it special. My favorite server shares my passion for the Tim Horton's Almond Coconut Cookie, especially when it is slightly underdone. He'll even choose the best one for me. I like to have those meaningful interludes of conversation over a cuppa. Tonight was classic. I was able to meet a friend for a short 45 minutes after dance class. We are able to share our updates, chill out a bit, and then go home in time to prepare for the next day ahead. The children were being looked after, so we had time with no interuptions (other than the cell phones). But this is a place where people meet, congregate and share time. It is always welcoming, and you never seem to overstay.

I think this community thrives on it's Tim Horton's addiction. We are all so used to it, and it has become a part of the Canadian landscape. Here we all know our double double. Travellers return home and often will find a Tim Horton's soon thereafter. I know I do. It is here we gain sustainance for mind, body and soul. I hope it never changes.

Hooliganting: The Value of Time

Hooliganting: The Value of Time: Time is often used as part of excuses or apologies, for deadlines and definitions, and for planning and leisure activities. If you think abo...

The Value of Time

Time is often used as part of excuses or apologies, for deadlines and definitions, and for planning and leisure activities. If you think about it, there is not one aspect of your day that is not dictated overtly or inadvertently by time. There is likely to be a clock attached to your bedside table, your stove and even your body through watches, telephones or other digital media that we just can't do without. (And have you ever thought about how a watch watches you?)

Time is money. I have heard that a great deal. You get paid by the amount of time that you invest into a company. People get paid more for working over time. People get disciplined for not using their time wisely. Students are penalized for being late for school. Buses run late and whole communities are impacted negatively. I understand this. I realize that it is necessary even. Wasting time comes across as being a negative and undesirable trait. On a personal level, I hate being late for anything as I feel that I am being rude, impolite or just missing out on something. However, I can't control circumstances around me and sometimes I am late.

Being late is a circumstance that hasn't killed me yet. In fact, by being a minute or two behind schedule has sometimes saved me from disaster. Like the accident that happened a few cars ahead on the road way. Two minutes might have meant me. Missing a train that had an accident was irritating at the time until I learned the result. However, I would also argue that being early for things gets you one on one time with people that evolves into quality conversation. It can give you time to settle into a space, get organized into your day and just having room to breathe.

The thing that I am learning to notice is that how time impacts everything. It dictates when you get up and when you go to sleep. By the clock, you go to your work, eat, play and go through life. Even on vacation, your flights and car rentals, hotel check ins and check outs and tourist attractions are all operating on a timed basis. How can people ever truly relax? There is value in having the time for vacation and certainly value in having your vacation run smoothly.

However, being a person that is constantly told that I am too busy and too stressed...I am also thinking that there is value in forgetting about time. Having those days that I can ignore clocks, forget about time tables and just relax are rare. Having children that were ill put things off kilter and I did totally forget about the regular timetable. I was up when they were up and slept when someone else could look after them. My mother did the cooking on her timetable and I was just grateful for the kitchen boss! It gave me cause to reflect that there is value in just being.

Anyway, here are some new years resolutionary time things to keep in mind from my point of view.

At some time this year:

1. I will take a full day and waste it away doing things that I want to do.
2. I will take a holiday and leave the time keepers in the suitcases.
3. I will take time to allow each child to dictate the program for a day so that they get what they want.
4. I will have a day where I do nothing but absolutely nothing.
5. I will spend more quality time with people.
6. I will spend less time worrying about stuff I can't change anyway. 
7. I will enjoy those time fragments in between appointments to just breathe.
8. I will make time windows for the unexpected and enjoy the diversion.
9. I will have time to just meditate on the daily events in the quiet of my mind. (OK...so my mind is never quiet...)
10. I will make time for the activities that I enjoy and fit the chores around it.

Lastly, I appreciate the value of time, but I also appreciate the value of no time. Think about what time does to your life. Think about how your use of time impacts others. For example, I spend thirty minutes rambling on a blog. You just spent time reading it (thank you). I hope it holds value. When I am late...early...on time...what does that do to others? When I stress about time or lack thereof, what does that do? There are only so many hours in a day...use them wisely for work, rest and play. Balance is everything.

Hooliganting: The Art of Losing Things: Part 3

Hooliganting: The Art of Losing Things: Part 3: I really shouldn't post this. Really should not, but my sense of humour is often called into question anyway and the episodes of the past fe...

The Art of Losing Things: Part 3

I really shouldn't post this. Really should not, but my sense of humour is often called into question anyway and the episodes of the past few days are really embarrassingly funny. So, I thought I would share.

You see, at Christmastime, one of my delightful friends handed me a carefully wrapped wee package. I opened it, and inside I found a key ring. The phrase on the key ring? "Keys I haven't lost yet." Now, I have been known to lose my keys a time or two. Each time I have lost my keys, I have vowed internally to take better care of my belongings and to always put them back into the same place. I had been remarkably good with that for losing my work keys is the worst feeling in the world. Losing a set of van keys a couple of summers back didn't feel very nice either. Not to mention, as you may have noticed from previous posts, I really hate losing things. It drives me crazy.

The key ring in question was placed on my carribeaner of keys. I laughed along with the rest of the crowd who thought this gift was hilarious. Woefully, I have to tell you that since I have put that on my key ring, I have lost my keys not once, not twice, but THREE times. I am more than irritated. More than annoyed. Completely baffled would be a better call.

The first time, I was at work. I had put my keys on my desk, got busy with other things and managed to cover them up with paperwork. At hometime, I gathered up my purse, jacket, cell phone, some files and ensured that my office was locked. I got to the van, dug through my purse and had to admit defeat. My keys were not there, nor were they in the van (I did look through the windows). I had to trudge back into the building and borrow keys to get back into the office retracing my steps. Sure enough, there they were under the paperwork gleefully shining brightly at me. I scowled and marched back out, sighing as once more I have added a joke to work lore. In my defence, they were in a safe place.

So, midweek the temperature decided to plummet into the depths. This means that occasionally, I separate my keys. I warm up the van first, and take the house keys off the ring in order to lock my door. I also keep my boots outside on a boot mat. Do you see where this is going? My brother happneed to be out of town, so I offered to spend time and walk his dog. I went one day and spent time and made sure that the door was locked properly when I left. Lo and behold, the other lass who was walking the dog and feeding him didn't have the key to the deadbolt. So, my brother texted me to let me know and of course, I legged it over to his house, 15 minutes away to unlock the house so that the wooflenog could have his visitations. I got to the door, and erm...my house keys were not on my key ring. This meant that his house keys were not on my keyring. They were not in the van. They were not in any of my 16 odd pockets. They were not anywhere on the ground. No, I drove back to my house and there they were...cheerfully hanging out in my door lock. I must have put them in the lock, put on my boots and just left them there...hanging out. On the aggravation level, this rates about an 8. On the relief that you have them level, this is also about an 8.

Having experienced that, you think I would have been paying better attention to my keys now wouldn't you? Sadly, this was not the case. Last night, I managed to lose my keys for the third time, much to my chagrin. I had been running late most of the day, just squeaking the girls into dance and swimming on time. I had a couple of extra errands to run, and by the time that was done, we didn't get home until 7:15 p.m. We had a frenzied supper with frenzied music practise and then my sitter showed up to look after the girls while I went to dance. Fabulous! I found my coat, purse, phone and tap shoes, without too much problem and I had my house keys in my pocket. Great, I locked the door and went to open the van. No keys.

Now, I had just got home. I hadn't been anywhere except the kitchen and the front door. I had carried in 2 backpacks, a bag of groceries, snow gear and other odds and sods. I put that stuff away while getting dinner. I checked the piano room, no keys. I told the girls to go to bed at intervals. I checked the shoes once, twice, three times. I sifted through the kitchen counters several times. I went to the laundry room and looked through baskets and clothes. No keys were found. The van was searched twice, and I hunted on the ground. No keys. What on earth? How do you lose keys when you just got home? I couldn't explain it. In between, I was telling the girls to go to bed and apologizing to the sitter for still being there.

Eventually, I found the spare key and drove off. Then, I looked at the clock and knew I would be 25 minutes late for class anyway so, worried, I turned around and used my sitter to watch the girls and put them to bed while I continued the hunt. I started all over again. A flashlight was procurred and played over the van, the grounds and the stairs. Even the snow was checked for impressions. I rechecked the piano room and the kitchen and the laundry room. By this point, I was clearing surfaces, emptying baskets, hunting drawers. I even started searching through rooms I knew I hadn't been to. Sigh. The mittens were tipped out and sorted, while the shoes were realigned. No keys. After over an hour, I was ready to admit defeat. Then IT happened. I was by the front door and I kicked a purple and blue toque out of the way. It hurt. The keys were inside the toque. On a scale of 1-10, the relief level was at a 10 but the sheer bafflement factor was around 20. I still don't know how I managed it.

All I can say is friend....you might just get that key ring back. I think it has jinxed me!

Hooliganting: The Silence is Deafening

Hooliganting: The Silence is Deafening: It is one of those moments in my life where there is so much noise, chaos and stuff happening in an around my life that the silence is deafe...

The Silence is Deafening

It is one of those moments in my life where there is so much noise, chaos and stuff happening in an around my life that the silence is deafening. What silence? There is no silence per say. I do, however, mean what I say.

Life has hit full throttle again after the Christmas holidays. I don't mind the busyness, the driving, the dancing and the stuff that entertains me through the days. But there are those worries that I can't just shove out of my mind. Worries that the children will be doing alright in school, make friends, get decent grades. There is the constant juggling of schedules, activites and work. But once in awhile, you have those days that things just go wrong despite your best planning.

I had the pleasure of my keys going home in the children's dance bag after their yoga class. I had stayed to experince Zumba since Tap was cancelled. Everyone had left the building and still, I needed a friend to collect my keys and bring them to me. Other friends had already been enlisted for help to fix my furnace that apparently decided that after weeks of balmy spring like weather, that it would blow the motor. The furnace went just as temperatures plummeted. I am so grateful for my friends that bail me out of circumstances that are completely assinine.

Now, you also need to know that it was extremely icy out due to copious amounts of freezing rain. I had already slipped and done myself some damage. Not to be outdone, my friend slithered and sprawled twice. That meant that to recuperate, we had coffee. Ok, we were going to anyway, but now we felt like we deserved our Tim Horton's double double. We drove in, strolled to the counter and waited for a nanosecond for service. In our city, that is unbelievable. Hot coffee. Yum.

The day was really a comedy of errors, but for me...the icing on the cake came when I got into my house. My eyes scanned the horizon and was appalled by what I saw. Sheer disaster. Why is it, that I can ask for help, give lists of chores that I expect my girls to do, and suddenly, the household is deaf. I spend hours looking for things that the girls need for activities and that get put away in ludicrous spaces. Yesterday, it was dance wear. Today, I found the snowpants still outside. Really? Library books, disc drives, keys oh yes the keys. And thank you to the friend that gave me the key ring "Keys I haven't lost yet" ...complete misnomer.

Yes...as everyone else in the household snores...including the cat...I prowl. I troll the house. I freak out inside my head in sheer frustration. I think all the bad words that I shouldn't ever say in front of public company. I rage and I fume. The silence is deafening. Once in awhile, I do have to wake up the girls for help in finding the lost things and give them a bit of my unvarnished opinion. Yesterday, was one of those days. I still haven't found everything they were supposed to have for school today. Yep...that the sound of silence again. I have heard I don't know, I didn't do it, I haven't seen it, I didn't touch it, etc....and I have seen the straight up blank stare. I have seen the pitying glances of those people that think I have lost my mind as I clamber through the van for the upteenth time looking for a matching mitten or a lost shoe. The silence is deafening.

In my head, I am wondering:

What am I doing wrong?
What do I have to do to be heard?
What can I do differently?


I feel a declutter coming on. Anyone want to argue the point? Oh, you are sleeping. Guess you don't mind then. The silence is deafening.

Hooliganting: Out with the Old

Hooliganting: Out with the Old: Happy New Year. There. I said it...and I am satisfied with that. I can't guaruntee happiness after all. But I do wish everyone I know a peac...

Out with the Old

Happy New Year. There. I said it...and I am satisfied with that. I can't guaruntee happiness after all. But I do wish everyone I know a peaceful and joyous year filled with wishes and dreams that come true. After all, the pessimists are saying that the world is going to end before next Christmas. Where is the fun in that? NASA debunked it today anyway.

The phrase that has been wiggling free in my brain is out with the old. Since my children were indulging in rageous strep throat over the holidays, they ran rather high fevers. As is typical of them, they have grown during the past two weeks as a result of or despite the fever. I have been sorting shoes, jackets, trousers and shirts. I shuffle them from closet to closet and finally to box. Some of the clothes will be new to the next one down the line while others are only fit for the trash. Why is it that children are so hard on clothes in this house? Out with the old...especially since Christmas brought new outfits to grow into.

Out with the old 2011 stuff. I worked today and sifted through my office. I filed copious amounts of paperwork that probably had been in the filing folder for at least four months. I ran virus detection programs. I copied photos to disks. In short, I filed away 2011. It was tedious, but refreshing. I think there is ten pounds less paper weighting down the desk anyway. And, my computer might run a little better with all those photographs stored elsewhere. Sale signs also went up at work. The gift shop is cheerfully offering a discount to anyone that wishes to purchase stuff so that we don't have to count it. I have to agree that it is a great idea. Who wants to count inventory? I'd rather buy it myself come to think of it. No...out with the old...make way for the new. New stuff...new stuff...new stuff?

It is going to be an interesting year too. Out with some of the old friends as they move onwards from this Northern climate and in with the new friends that I meet as I go about my day. My mother always used to sing "make new friends, but keep the old...one is silver and the other gold." I find that living up here, people are very transient. I rather like that one of my new friends referred to herself as sticky. Sticky. She sticks to the people that she meets. I really appreciate that. Sometimes, I try too hard to hang onto what was in a friendship and fail to appreciate what is. So perhaps that is another way to let go of the old...Amazing what late night ramblings can come up with, isn't it?

It is also time for that after Christmas self check in. You look in the mirror and realize that the gluttony of Christmas is upon you. Literally. 5 pounds for me (read mother's shortbread, mother's roasted potatos, mother's turkey, mother's nanaimo bar, Bailey's, Frangelico, Wine, and in short....a food festival) which isn't bad considering that I wasn't really able to be as active as normal. So, it is back to the grind of the gym, dance and walking. I sure hope that the trying to bust out of myself isn't as painful as I think it might be. However, squeezing into too tight clothes is painful and I refuse to get to that point....so back to the habits I go. Round one was tonight and was successful. I just hope that the trend continues. For the record, I totally envy the naturally slim people in my life. Chocolate...you are the devil.

I think that the largest problem that I have is that I can make meaning out of any object, any letter, any artwork. I like clutter surrounding me and I adore my books. Photographs and toys and teas and projects can be found. I like candles and ornamentation too. Sadly, in my closet you can still find remnants of the 16 year old me, the 23 year old me, 30 year old me and the oh I liked that too me. I have such a hard time tossing out clothing that might still be useful one day. Oh yes, I am the "it might come in handy" person. I hate to throw things out just in case it might be needed once in about 20 years. My closet has words for me. "Get stuffed" and "where do you think you are going to fit that?" and "Would you like to see the floor anytime soon". Out with the old...I have to do it. And since the heart sped up and the blood pressure rose at that thought - we will hand the reins over to my other favorite personality trait: PROCRASTINATION. Which is also why I am pondering life instead of sleeping.

Besides...I might disturb the sock gremlins. They live in that closet. I am convinced.