Facing an uphill battle

I, McPie, and our friend G have been "virtually" working out together for several weeks? months? We each go to our own gyms, but share reports of workouts, training information and general encouragement through email. I love the arrangement -- I have a forum to ask questions, an audience for my fount of fitness knowledge, we can slag each other mercilessly, and don't have to actually share equipment with those jokers.

Kidding. Mostly. It's fun to have workout pals, even if they don't come to gym with you. (And honestly, I'm an intorvert. I prefer solo.) I like not having to compete directly (I have a disadvantage as a girl; this would maybe be discouraging), but I can strive indirectly to keep up with the others.

Anyway. The boys do these things called "chin-ups". You may have heard of them. (Again, I kid. I know you know what I'm talking about.) McPie can do many of them in a row. Or, at least, some in a row. Multiple sets of multiple chin-ups. G can do at least one. Maybe more. He fails to report on this particular move. I haven't attempted this exercise because the chin up bar at my gym is... Well, there are usually other people around and I'd have to move equipment around to get at it, and who knows what would happen, and did I mention there are usually other people around? So I've never done chin-up.

Today I had the gym to myself. So I decided to try to take a baseline of my chin-up ability, and pulled a bench under the bar, so I could reach it...

Ha! Ha ha ha ha ha.

Such folly was my optimism.

I could pull myself up exactly 0 (zero) inches. I pulled and I pulled, and I was successful only at HANGING from the bar. And I think I pulled my brachialis doing so.

But, I did not give up easily. I tried starting hanging with my arms bent at 90 degrees. I was able to hold myself up for about 2 seconds (a generous estimate). I tried starting at the top (chin over the bar; I had to jump to get there), and lowering myself slowly down. Before I even got to 90 degrees, I fell like a limp doll.

But I tried all of these things multiple times (never with success). And I'll do it again the next time I have the gym to myself. I've gotta start somewhere, right?


Edit: re: Going to the gym solo. In fact, I would love to go the gym with McPie and G. And also, are we EVER going to get to play on the same frisbee team? Sheesh.

'Tis the season

Tonight is McPie's office fancy schmancy Christmas shindig.

We're all set: I got shiny new undergarments to "uplift" a resurrected li'l black dress, and painted my toenails red. Picked out a smashing tie for McPie's new shirt, which, incidentally, matches my toenails. Kids will be ensconced for the night Chez Mamans.

I'm looking forward to the party. I totally suck at small talk, but I'm great at steak.

Sch-knit-zel

I've started knitting again! Yay!

Slowly to start - to rebuild the habit. McPie picked out some soft heathered brown yarn at Michael's on the weekend, and I've started knitting it into a new scarf for him. It took me a few tries to remember how to cast on! I restarted a few times, because I kept changing my mind about a stitch pattern. It's decided, and I knit the whole way through Reptile Boy last night. :-)

The Green Goblin has not been forgotten. I last worked on it in, um, August? And I'm actually pretty close:

I'll try to finish it before spring. :-)

On a totally different topic: we've discovered the wonder of schnitzel. Pork schnitzel, actually. So easy, so delicious, arguably healthy (a topic for another post), and loved by children and grown-ups alike through the ages. I encourage you to make it -- you can find recipes everywhere. (Trixie, replace the pork with eggplant!). Don't forget the squirt of lemon!

Notes from the other side of the river

I've had enough experience now that I think I can safely report that dealing with civil servants in Quebec is very pleasant indeed.

I know that getting the health card was tricky, but everyone was very nice about it, and willing and able to answer my questions, in English. (Not their fault that a lot of questions were needed.)

Yesterday, I took the afternoon off to complete some oft-postponed errands, including updating by SIN card to my maiden name (about time!), and renewing my Health Card (yes, already!).
Everything went so smoothly, I could hardly believe it. The folks who helped me out acted like it was their job to help me complete these tasks -- they seemed to enjoy helping me. Maybe they were faking it, but I don't care -- they were very convincing.

And in general, there is less lining up*, and more sitting at desks (rather than standing at kiosks) which is altogether more personal.

I ended up even having a few extra minutes left in the afternoon, which I used for a stop at the local health/enviro store, where I got a giant bottle of all-natural, environmentally-friendly laundry detergent. You know, so I can give back a little to my newly adopted homeland.

(An only obliquely-related observation I've made: in stores over here, I see a lot more "Made in Quebec" and "Product of Quebec" labels than I see "... in Ontario" when shopping on the Ottawa side of river. Makes it seem even more like it's its own country here, supporting itself by its own efforts. Less selly-outy**...)

Now, if only we could apply a pleasantly Quebecois solution to the traffic situation when crossing the river... It's always harder to get home, which double-sucks.

* I was brilliant though, and brought along a book for the inevitable wait at the Service Canada outlet. Their Eyes Were Watching God is ridiculously good so far.

** Vocab obviously indicates recent immersion in Buffy...

Friendly reminder

Saturday morning, the first thing out of McPie's mouth: "Rabbits!"

First day of December. That, along with the major dumpings of snow we've been getting these past days, and the plans we've been making for pre-holiday travel for family visits, makes it obvious that the Christmas season is inescapably upon us.

Around this time of year, I usually go off on a rant about the pressure that comes at this time of year to do all sorts of STUFF (mainly, shopping, which I hate).

No rant this year. At least not yet. Last night I was treated to a friendly reminder of the softer side of Christmas.

We hosted a family dinner in celebration of the first Sunday of Advent. The Moms came over (the Advent dinner was actually their idea), and boy did we have a good time. Maman brought a beautiful spruce wreath for the table, for which I dug up some candles (not purple and pink for the traditional Advent wreath, but red was perfectly festive ), and Constance spent a long time setting a lovely table. McPie outdid himself in the kitchen, creating an incredible bisteeya, which we served with well-buttered basmati rice, brown sugar-rosemary carrots, and a beet, apple and cambozola salad. The kids were amazingly chipper (who am I kidding? they always are...) and ate their little faces off. One thing I've learned in the past few years: there is nothing so satisfying to a parent than when their children enjoy (and finish!) the food put before them. And last night, there were four parents who were appreciatin'.

With all the busy-ness of back to school, ongoing funeral stuff, then the Great Pneumonia Epidemic of 11/07, we haven't really had much of a chance to hang out with the Moms in a long time. (We had some good summer barbecues and garage sales together, but that was so long ago!) So it was great to have some time at last to catch up. We just had a super-relaxing time, chatting about our Christmas plans, which mainly involve all of us flying out to Nova Scotia to stay at the Farmhouse Inn for five days. The bulk of our planning involved two things a) how to minimize the need to Christmas shop, and b) how we can maximize the leisure aspects of the vacation.

What's not to like? And it even gets better.

Once we had digested our supper sufficiently to be able to contemplate dessert (piping hot country spice pudding, perfect for a snowy winter night), we dished it up, called the kids back to the table to partake, and we got out the Christmas songbooks. We sang practically all the songs and carols there were. I listened (with goosebumps) while they did some French carols, and I had to solo for "Up on the Housetop", which apparently nobody else knew. We were all totally into it.

I know you're thinking that's totally cheesy, but it was SO FUN. And very much anxiety-free, as Christmas should be.

If we weren't heading out traveling (for the inevitable pre-Christmas visiting) for the next few weekends, we'd be doing weekly Advent suppers. As it is, we'll reunite in NS on Dec 23 with a bigger family and more Christmas carols.

See, this kind of Christmas stuff I can get into. I know that some of the seasonal obligations are necessary, and I will get through it - primarily by remembering last night's joyful Season Kick-off , and looking forward towards the ultimate goal, 20 days from now, when it all pays off.