Tricia's Musings

Random Thoughts about life in general, living in the big city of Toronto



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Archives for December 2008

Happy New Year to all!

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Chris and I are having a cozy night at home this New Years eve. It’s much too cold (-22 C (-7.6 F)) to go down to Nathan Philips Square to watch the City TV New Years show and well … going out to a bar to celebrate is much too expensive.

Besides, our Toronto live show always sucks. Sorry … but it does. No big name entertainers, only up and coming possible future stars.

So we’re cuddled up on the couch with our dog Midnight and we’re watching the Niagara Falls (Ontario, Canada) celebration on TV. Roger Hodgson, one of the co-founders of Supertramp, is headlining the Niagara Falls show and he’s amazing.

I saw SuperTramp in concert on their last official tour of the original band. I believe it was in 1983. Yes, I know like all big bands that state “this is our final tour” they have come back again a few times, but never with all the original band members (I believe).

Supertramp has always been one of my favorite bands. Yes, I love classic rock (and indie, punk, techno – but classic rock will always be my favorite). Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Cheap Trick and similar bands along with Supertramp are in my top ten list.

So far I’ve heard Roger Hodgson sing The Logical Song, Give a Little Bit, Dreamer, School, and Take the Long Way Home – pretty much the top SuperTramp hits.

I’ve watched the Niagara Falls New Years show in the past and their performers (always big names) usually play until 12:30 so if you can get E or a CJOH station tune in. It’s a good show! kim Mitchell (Max Webster) is also playing. Maybe one year Chris and I will go to Niagara Falls for New Years and see their show.

Now as for the new year? I don’t really make New Years Resolutions. If I do at all it’s to be healthier in the new year than the year past. So far that hasn’t happened for me. I just keep getting sicker. But hey … I can hope, can’t I?

Actually I do have a little more hope for health in 2009.

A few days ago I got a call from my doctors office telling me that my Vitamin D levels were really low. That’s bad news but it gives me some hope. Now that might explain all my muscle stiffness and bone pain (and maybe my increasing back pain) and trouble sleeping over the last year or so. (Yeah, I don’t think being deficient in vitamin D is new, just newly discovered) So maybe now that I’m taking a heavy duty dose of Vitamin D I’ll start feeling a little better. Honestly if I could feel 25% better it would be wonderful, 50% better would be almost miraculous. I don’t dare hope for more than that, but it would be nice.

Whatever you are doing this evening – enjoying time with friends and family, attending a New years party or event or just staying in like my husband and I, I do hope that you are having a wonderful New years eve and I wish you all the best in the New Year.

Thank you for being loyal readers. You have no idea how much I appreciate your visits and comments. Happy New Year.





Her favorite toy

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This weeks Photo Hunt theme is squeaky

When Midnight was a young pup there was nothing she loved more than her blue squeaky toy.

She carried it around with her everywhere. For months our house was filled with the sound of her squeaking her toy continuously. I even used a spare one to call her back to me whenever she’d wander into another room (that worked great!).

Of course the toy was rubber and she loved to bite at the top of it (I think it had ears, but only for a short while) and eventually she’d bite through the toy with her sharp little baby teeth. Even though we had to replace the toys frequently they lasted longer than most of her other toys, even ones that were supposed to be more durable.

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For instance, that toy tire that’s beside her in the picture above had chunks bitten out of it within days of us giving it to her and it was made of a much tougher material. So I think she actually tried not to do too much damage to her beloved squeaky.

Once her baby teeth started falling out and were replaced by stronger adult teeth she’d go through her squeaky toys in no time at all so we had to take them away.

Labrador Retriever Puppy Midnight

I still have a few of her blue squeaky toys around though and every once in a while I’ll pull one out and make it squeak just to see her reaction. She still loves it.

Perhaps one day when she calms down more and hopefully loses her desire to chew each and every toy she owns to pieces we’ll be able to give her another squeaky toy.

Does your dog or cat have a favorite toy? Is it noisy? I must admit that the squeaks drove us nuts at first, but it made her happy and kept her occupied and that was helpful since puppies are a handful to begin with!

Dogs don’t make good Christmas ornaments

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I just wanted to take a moment to wish all of my visitors and regular readers a very Happy Christmas and Happy Holidays.

I hope that you’re able to spend some time with close family and friends during the holiday season.

Now remember … don’t decorate the dog (or cat). They don’t make good Christmas ornaments …

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Even if they are awfully cute!   That’s one sad looking dog though, isn’t it?

We’ll be spending some time with the in-laws today. Chris’ brother came up from Chicago with one of his sons so we’ll be getting together with the gang for a Christmas meal and at some point over the next few days we’ll have a house full of guests!

I have to admit that over the last few years – since I’ve been so sick (with Crohn’s) and since losing both of my parents I don’t have a lot of Christmas spirit. However I try to make the best of it and try to cherish time with friends and family. That’s what the holidays are for, right?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Plump full lips? Fail

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Wordless Wednesday

Lip plumping gone too far …

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I think this is a case of too much Restyline! I wonder if the intention was to look like a clown?

I’m a nurse and for a short while I worked for a plastic surgeon (training as an ER nurse at the same time which amounted to working 7 days a week for 8 months!).

Plumping up the lips was just starting to be a craze at the time so I saw a fair amount of women coming in regularly for Restyline injections. Thankfully the doctor I worked with never over did the plumping, but immediately after the injections some of the women did look a little like this.

What’s the best electric shaver for men?

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My husband has wanted a decent electric shaver for years. He had one that he was using for oh, about the last decade, but it finally broke sometime over the summer. Since then he’s just been using a razor to shave.

The trouble is my husband could grow a beard in about two days, which of course means he could easily shave twice a day if he really wanted a smooth clean shaven look all the time.

I know it’s a little late, but I think that I might try to get him an electric shaver for Christmas. If I don’t manage to get one for him before Christmas I could always take advantage of boxing day sales or a New Year’s sale I suppose.

The problem? I have absolutely no idea which electric shaver he’d like best. I’d like to get him a well made electric shaver that will last for years.

Do any of my male readers or their spouses have any suggestions? Which brand and or model is best?

I spent a bit of time today looking at electric shavers on the internet and the brands I’m most familiar with are Braun and Phillips. The Philips Norelco 1060 arcitec Mens Shaver and Accessory Kit caught my eye. If my husband ever decides to grow his goatee back he can use the tube trimmer to shape it.

Anyone use the Philips Norelco shaver? I’d love to hear your opinion of it or any other brands. Perhaps with your help I can get my husband a Christmas gift that he really wants.

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