Hoarding Saves Lives!!

Ok, so I'm known to be a slight hoarder. But just of stuff I might actually truly need. So, I keep receipts in my car. You never know when you'll run out of napkins and tissues, barf and need one to clean your mouth or when you'll have a nose bleed.

Ok, so receipts are handy in a pinch. I keep them organized in a pile on the floor of the passenger side of my car. Oldest on the bottom, to newest on the top. Judge me all you want, but these receipts came in really handy on Thursday.

With all the melting going on, my windsheild wipers were constantly running and the wiper fluid was a godsend. On my way home from Saskatoon, I couldn't figure out why my headlights were so dim. I could barely see anything. Of course, I go into a panic thinking this is going to be a repair and bunch of money. So I called my wonderful Dad to ask him what he thought was wrong. He said Clean your headlights. You know how your windsheild was dirty, your lights are too. Hallelujah!!

So I took a handful of receipts, pulled over and used them dry to wipe off the lights. But knowing if I just had something wet, it would be so much more effective, I took a clean receipt, stuck it to my tongue and spitwashed my headlights.

And that's how hoarding saved my life.

Say What??

So last weekend I made the best chocolate chip cookies in the world. Feeling energetic and on a sugar high, I debated making more cookies. Our house really enjoys the chocolat oatmeal no bake type cookies. They go by all different types of names. We call them Haystacks.

One recipe is called Oat Delights. I said to Angela "what a stupid name, sound like something you'd feed a horse". Then I caught myself. "Haystacks, probably not any better since horses actually eat hay."

I'm Turning Into Jen

Entering your 8th month of pregnancy for the first time requires getting to know your body as you have never known it before. You ache in places that have never ached, you can't see places you've always been able to see, you feel your belly sitting on your lap where it's never sat before, and if that's not enough, your feet, hands and ankles swell up like water balloons.

And I'm leaving out the really bad stuff.

With my swollen hands, I've also been dealing with numbness and tingling in my right arm. Really "handy" for a right-hander like me. I drop things, trip on things, back into cars in parking lots (yes, really, grrrr....) and just generally have to deal with my clumsy, awkward self.

In other words, I'm turning into Jen. To which she laughed hysterically when I told her. She knows she is clumsy. She's had lots of years to adjust. I have only had a few weeks! I hope she will give me a few pointers for survival, or at least a helmet.

Holy Crap, I've said it already!!

"That could be a blog"

I didn't know Ange wrote a blog, about all the blogs in "should be wrote -land". But tonight as we were conversing, it came up, like it always does.

I am making a special top secret dessert tomorrow because as I explained to Angela: I need to express my creativity in a culinary fashion. That's 6 years of post secondary education for you, I don't just spit it out and say, I'm makin' some good food for us.

But moments later, when Rihanna came on Saturday Night Live, the baby kicked low, and I asked "Did the baby just kick your hoo-ha?", and then said "OMG, Rihanna just felt her ta-ta's on tv".

Maybe the grown up words for anatomy will come in my next semester... til then, I'm diagnosing myself with bi-polar vocabulary. Sometimes proper and sometimes slang, and you never what is going to come out when!!

**Also, Ange is a pop waster, and I would have drank her flat half full Root Beer, and I will never forget this, just like I have never forgot the time you spilt my nachos at the theatre.

"That Could Be A Blog"

Happy 2011 faithful blog readers.

2011 is going to be a big year in our family, as we are going to add a baby - making me a first-time mommy, and Jen an auntie!

With that, I have decided to keep my resolution simple. I will have enough on my plate figuring this parenthood thing out.

This year's resolution is to actually write the blogs when Jen and I say "that could be a blog." Since we are currently living in the same household, that happens alot.

For example, last night, when Jen said "you expect this sh*t from guys, but not your friends..." ...that could be a blog.

Today when I dumped a half can of flat pop down the sink, much to Jen's dismay, and then told her "I'm so rich I can waste pop..." ...that could be a blog.

I know there are lots more. And I resolve this year to write them!

Strengths Perspective...

So, that exam I was talking about yesterday, was actually extremely difficult. Not just get a wrong answer, get zero, it was the get a wrong answer, LOSE a mark kind of exam. I guess I deserve that for underestimating the professor. But in the wonderful world of social work we are taught to turn any (I really do mean ANY) skill into a strength. Here is my strength:

I can stalk like no other. Yes, stalk. I have finetuned my ability to find out anything or find anyone. And, I can even do this in my pajama's without leaving the house. Like seriously, some people do not value their privacy like they should.

Thanks to my extraordinary facebook skills, boys that I have a crush on will be found in less than an hour. Even if I only have a first name, a hobbying or a town. Yes, I am that good. Osama bin Laden should be counting his lucky starts that I'm not interested, otherwise I'd have him found and tagged so quick his head would spin... if its not doing that already, exorcist style.

This skill does have drawbacks. I regularly see people and think I know them. I don't. And it's socially inappropriate to start conversations with them... But but your so and so's sister. "I don't actually know them" and "Don't freak these people out, Jennifer!!" plays on repeat in my head.

Another drawback: sometimes knowing too much is not always best. I have previous wrote about how I believe ignorance may possibly be bliss. Sometimes you find cheaters, sometimes you find liars, and I guess, in the long run it's better to know now.

Today, I used my skill after reading a news article about a woman from a town I had lived in, who was killed. I was curious after reading the article, and had a bad feeling, I knew and liked this person since she was always very friendly to me, even though I couldn't remember her name. Well, after creeping at least 30 people from Nipawin, that I didn't know, to no help whatsoever. I remembered the women and her husband's name. I found some of his relatives who didn't have privacy settings, and sure enough my hunch was right.

It's so sad to lose someone so nice, and so young. But as the strengths perspective dictates, we are alive. So I want to take this chance to lecture everyone on being safe this winter and to live every day like it might be your last.

Which for me might mean finding a non stalking, slightly more productive hobbie...

Don't Wake A Sleeping Baby

There are some truisms in life: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; the early bird gets the worm; close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

Another one I've heard alot since becoming pregnant is "Don't wake a sleeping baby". As if! If the baby is sleeping, he's obviously not hungry or fussy or uncomfortable. I guess some people think you have to wake the baby up to keep to a schedule for feeding or some nonsense like that. (*Note: I have no practical parenting experience yet. I might learn that you should wake a sleeping baby. Keep your judgements to yourself!)

Anyway, the other morning I woke up and went to WalMart before the store got busy with Christmas shoppers. Since I pretty much just went in my sweats and ball cap (sorry other shoppers and clerks), I threw on Jen's knit boots. Without asking.

Of course, by the time I got home, she was up. I told her I wore her boots. She said "Without asking?". I said, "Would you prefer I wake you up to ask your permission, when I know you'll say yes?". "No, it's better that I sleep."

Exactly. You don't wake a sleeping baby and you don't wake a sleeping sister either! At least not my sister!

Happy Second Birthday, Blog!

Two years ago, I decided Jen and I needed a public forum for our antics and stories and general sisterly-type things that we think are funny.

Well, exactly two years ago, in 2008, this blog was born. Many, many blog posts have come and gone since then. It makes a person realize how quickly two years can go by.

Thanks for reading and letting us share our thoughts with you. We still don't have a TV show, so I can't see the blog going away anytime soon. Maybe this year will be the year we get the show ... you can always hope.

Student Life

So, as most of you know, I'm a 4th year student in the Faculty of Social Work at the U of R.

I had a very intense semester this fall. Group projects, midterms, advocacy plans, ethical dilemma case studies, 3 major presentations, journal papers, communitiy planning and organizing papers. The last 3 weeks of classes, I had 15 different assignments due. Needless to say, it seemed never ending. But that was my consequence since I chose to take my last 5 required classes simultaneously.

So, I have my first (and last) final tomorrow. I've been a little worried since the class, Research, hasn't been my top priority, or top grade. I started organizing my study strategy last night and putting all the professors tips together.

We have 3 hours to write the exam, so I expected at least 100 multiple choice and true false, with a few essay or short answer questions. Boy, was I wrong. The exam is open book, I should have known since open book exams are almost always harder.

Today, I see the prof had responded to a comment about the exam. It's 20 questions. And I thought that was a joke. Nope, really is 20 questions, 3 hours, and its open book. Makes me think this degree might be a joke.

Guess I will be happy, that its not harder, or more stressful and that tomorrow I will be done another semester!!

Too good to be true

Everyday when I wake up, the dishes are magically put away. Always back in the cupboard.

For months, I never really said anything to anyone not wanting to attract attention to a chore I may then have to complete. For the longest time, I secretly thought that maybe Ange and her husband had a dishes fairy. I mean, they must have lots of money, they have 3 types of chocolate chips in the cupboard and buy pop in cans! Turns out, the dishes fairy was too good to be true.

I finally told Ange my dishes fairy theory. She shot me down and said, "No, I put them away every morning after I eat my breakfast".

Of all the things she could have said, I'm glad she was honest, but I would have said "Well, I thought you were putting them away..." kept her going Grandpa Hill style.

Where's the Faith??

So it seems as if my family doesn't exactly have faith in me (Jennifer).

A few weeks ago when the grater (not front end loader) cleaned the street, it made an awful mess on the street where I need to park my car. So I put on my toque and Angela's functional gloves because I all own are fashionable ones, and started moving the snow and ice chunks so my car could park closer to the curb.

Little did I know that inside, Angela, Grant, our Dad, and our cousin Erica, were taking bets on how long I would last outside. While my dad had the least faith thinking I wouldn't last 5 minutes, I lasted 30, with a little help from my favorite brother in law, who came "to help if I lasted ten minutes".

Then last night, I was going through the Regina leisure guide dreaming about all the cool classes I could take if I wasn't severly oppressed as a student. I said to Ange "Hoop It up! I'm taking that its a hula hoop class".

She responded with "Didn't you just almost kill yourself with a hula hoop". My reply? "No, that was different, it was my hip, and that was on Wii, not a real hula hoop".

She didn't even need to look over at me, without missing a beat she just said "Well, wear a helmet".

Feeling jilted, I texted my best friend Krista with what Ange had just said. Her reponse? You probably better".

I guess through the years, I have made my identity being some what of a klutz. And this only leaves me the opportunity to prove them wrong.

Patty "BadPants" Loveless

To commemerate the second anniversary of the Jordan Knight run-in, Jen and I went to see Patty Loveless at the Casino. Well, it was actually just a coincidence that it was the same day as the Jordan Knight anniversary, but we still thought it was worth celebrating.

Anyway, Patty is one of our favorite 90's country singers. She has a stunning voice and lots of great songs. However, as we learned tonight, she is a horrible dresser. As in, I have never seen such bad pants. It was like someone dared her to wear them on stage. We're still trying to figure out what the pattern was. Jen thinks they are velvet; I think they have orange cats on them. (We'll get a photo up here so you can see.) And the shirt wasn't much better. It was black, like the bad pants, but not the right shade. And it was ruffled with a collar - kinda like the white shirt I had back in grade 9 ... let's see, that would have been 1993, around the time her last hit was on the radio. (Maybe I'll find a photo of that too ... I'm pretty sure I wore it to the year-end dance.)

This isn't meant to be a Patty-bashing session, because she still did a great set of songs, once I quit being distracted by the pants. Jen thought she missed a bunch of her favorites from her CJVR free stage days, but there's only so many songs you can fit into 90 minutes. The Casino is also a great place to see live acts - good acoustics, limited seating, and a kick-ass veggie dip tray for only $5.95.

So from this former country radio announcer and current country blogger, five out of five - aside from the pants.

Well... the weather outside is frightful...

So, today is the first snowfall here in Regina (and most places around Saskatchewan).

I have to say I feel really conflicted. Although everything looks gorgeous covered in that white fluffy stuff, it's still snow.

Now that the snow is here, I do feel less weird having wrapped Christmas gifts. Christmas carols and christmas baking are right around the corner too. Movies like Off to Grandmother's House We Go, Elf, and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation will be frequenting tv. Oh, and almost a month off school in December is something I love too.

However, it's hard to forget that this is the start of 5 months of warming the vehicle, wearing boots, jackets, mitts, toques, having to wipe Zeke's feet every time he comes inside. As well, I'm highly doubting that my Dad is going to take Angela and I back to Maui (Ange probably wouldn't fit in the airplane bathroom if he did).

I guess the bright side of this winter is that will be Angela popping out those cute little babies in almost no time... although they will be lectured on staying inside as long as possible!

Hip Baby Stores ... Or Not

When you're expecting a baby (or babies) you get to shop at all the cool baby stores. Lots of hip trendy places where they sell the latest must-have items.

Of course, they aren't all trendy.

In my prenatal class, the instructor was telling us about these maternity belly support belts that support your back and your baby bump. With my not-so-great back anyway, and my impending twin baby bump, I thought this was a great idea.

So, I didn't go to Groovy Mama, or Simply Spoiled, or even the baby section at Sears.

I went to Jollys Vet Supply. That's right. Right next to the equine and cattle supplies, you can get maternity support belts. Now, in all fairness, they also sell splints and slings and other medical supplies - for humans.

Now here's a coincidence. As I was telling the lady working that I was buying a larger size than normal because I'm pregnant with twins, she told me she was an identical twin too! What are the chances of that!?

I took that as a sign that this support belt, from the vet store, was meant to be mine!

Dear Raymore,

I had completely forgot about the shock of Nov. 2009. Until I returned to the scene of the crime, and as I opened the door, it all came flooding back. If you don't know what I mean you should read the following link.

http://angeandjen.blogspot.com/2009/11/warning-disturbing-material-below.html

Seeing the sight of that old lady with the stall door open might have triggered Post Traumatic Stress. I think I need to start carrying more than hot dogs and mashed potatoes in my purse, that yellow caution tape would come in way too handy!!

Anyway, thanks for reminding me why I don't stop to pee in Raymore.

Jennifer

Another post about Angela being with children! Haha!

She's normal. Other than the belly at the front, she's totally normal. Well, she's sharing my closet, that's new.

So she supposedly has these hormones, but I'm the one who cries over a photo or ketchup packet and snaps when people can't read my mind. Angela is doing pregnancy Angelina Jolie style -- just meaning she's being all movie star, looking great and still being nice. Angelina also has twins... hmmm. It kinda seems like twins are stalking us ever since we found out there was 2 babies.

Anyway, I have to say I'm really proud of her for doing so well and being so "Grandma Hill" through it all (that's my colloquialism for sweet and nice). And after living together and seeing my crazy, she's probably thinking "I'm definitely not going near Jennifer if she ever gets pregnant... I'll send my kids!" Haha.

She's so lucky, she'll be able to send her kids to do her dirty work. I guess there is an upside to being a parent.

Thanksgiving Jengela Style

Angela, my wonderful sister, made this huge delicious spread for thanksgiving. It was amazing. And she was doing it all herself, without water for part of it (Shout out to the new water heater!), at 5 months pregnant with twins. So, she was pretty much like a superhero.

But even superhero's aren't perfect. After we ate, we pulled the table cloth off of Angela's perfect kitchen table... or what was a perfect kitchen table. Here is what we saw:

After the "Oh Crap" Moments, google got its exercise on! Turns out this is totally fixable. And an easy solution, and we didn't have to buy anything. All it took to restore the table was a blowdryer and about 30 minutes...maybe a little more. See look at that:

Back to perfection!! So, I hope to pass on this home remedy and prevent future freak outs if this ever happens to you!!

Pants Hangers and Blowdryers, some things don't come easy. At least to us!

So, I may not have known how to work a pants hanger until Angela showed me, but she had no idea the back peice of the blowdryer comes off so you can clean the lint screen.

See, I teach her things too. And I feel slightly better about using the pants hangers wrong for 4 months, because she's been oblivious to cleaning blowdryer lint for like 15 years.

Angela Vs. Jennifer

So, my entire life I have always wanted to be just like my big sister -- Have the same haircut, wear the same clothes and I always wanted to do everything Angela did, and then as I got older, I decided I wanted to do everything she did, but better.

I had a better biology mark than her in high school. I grew 3 inches taller than her. I will have my degree at 26, 5 years earlier Angela.

But I came to realize last night, if I ever want to out-do Angela, I'll have to have TRIPLETS!!!

So, I would like to thank Baby A and Baby B for ending my sisterly competition...

People Watching...

Do you ever see people and think "Oh, I'm so glad that's not me".

Yesterday, I saw a lady walking 3 cats and I had that exact thought. And once in Costco, I saw a man buying 12 50lb bags of cat litter, same thought.

So, right now, as you're feeling tired, or bitchy or wishing things were better, be glad you aren't those two!!