Why?

I do not often dwell on the shortsighted (a.k.a. stupid) things people do because I, myself, am so often a victim of stupidity. However, this particular incidence has been simmering in my mind for the past week just begging to be vented about. Thus, vent I shall...and perhaps ramble a bit.

Last week we packed up Russ and headed over to Balzac to check out the new mall in Calgary, Cross Iron Mills. I know, it's not the most creative activity we've ever come up with but, being short on ideas and desperate to escape boredom, we decided to see for ourselves what all the hype was about. It turned out to be exactly what we thought it would be: a bigger and shinier than usual, but somewhat unspecial, run of the mill mall (haha...did you catch the pun? Mill?). I mean, how impressive can a mall get - it's still a mall!

After an hour was spent walking through the entire thing, I started to get that I'm grumpy because I'm in a mall and there's something about mall lighting that gives me a headache and man, I can't stand being in shopping malls with crowds this long for no particular purpose and even saying the word "mall" so many times makes me anxious feeling. To be short, we quickly exited the building to breath a sigh of relief in the nippy fresh air outside....aaahhh. However, my relief was to be short lived.

As we walked through the parking lot to find our car, I observed a young couple emerging from their newly parked vehicle. I don't often stare at people but that woman was quite possibly one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen with long, flowing dark hair and big, thick-lashed blue eyes with a body that even extreme pilates-goers would kill for. She started walking towards the mall but then stopped suddenly mid-stride, held her own hair back and spit a gorilla sized wad of pink gum onto the cement with a "blech." She must have stuffed a whole pack of Hubba Bubba in her mouth to come up with a clod that big! The juxtaposition was jarring. And just two feet away from her was a garbage can! She then continued merrily on her perfect little way. I turned in disgust from the scene to strap Russ into his car seat, when my attention was diverted by a yelp. I turned back to find a poor man trying to pry his shoe from the sticky pink mass.

Lesson: Throw your gum in the trash...or even swallow it. I don't care if it stays in your digestive system for seven years as long as it doesn't stay on my shoe for seven days. No wonder chewing gum is illegal in Dubai!!

J

Avatars

I found this program (http://home.mywebface.com/faceApp/) where you can create your own little cartoon doppelganger. I know, it's pretty much a waste of time but, seriously, I'm at home all day with the wee babe - I have time! So I made a cartoon version of me and Ken. It was actually harder than I thought to capture our likenesses but voila. Do you think they look similar??

J

Sugar Snaps

If any of you have ever admired the pictures I post here it's probably because they were taken by my very talented sister-in-law, Karen. She's great with kids, babies, weddings and family photo shoots. Keep her in mind if you're ever interested in getting pictures taken for any occasion. Check out her website if you're thinking about it : http://www.wix.com/karenhudson/SugarSnaps-Final

The fall of Fall

Unfortunately, Autumn in Calgary this year seems to be short lived - pushed aside by that bully of a season that is Winter. It makes me sad because there are so many things I love about this time of the year: the beautiful shades of color that appear on the leaves and gracefully descend from the branches; the crispness in the air that hasn't yet evolved into the bite of Winter and that all-too-satisfying and nostalgic crunch of leaves underfoot. Aah...oh well...it was beautiful while it lasted.

Thankfully, Russ and I were able to get out and digitally document this blink of a season, filled with colour, cool air and yummy turkey. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

J