The bugs have me!

I got the chills, they’re multiplying…..Yep that little bug caught up to me.  It started with an annoying dry cough that I attributed to “self inflicted”.  Wine wine and more wine.  Yes I want to whine. My nose is running yet stuffed, major headache, fever, chills.  That began last night at 7:00, sleepless night but this morning,  I feel okay except for the headache and chapped lips and the scariest red eyes and nose.  We are really short staffed at work so I can’t bring myself to call in sick.  I will put on a mask and sunglasses and maybe no one will notice.   I will try not to whine too much.  I will keep you up to date on my

red swollen nose.  Stay healthy friends.  Nette

Don't let anything spoil your Christmas

A not so nice way to wake up Christmas morning is with a phone call from your bank saying your card has been “compromised”.  Yep it happened to me.  My account was frozen and I couldn’t even check the balance.  Today I went to the bank machine and had to change my pin.  $480.00 gone.  Two transactions at an instabank for $241.75 each. “So yes Virginia there is a Grinch.” (as opposed to “Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Clause” from the movie, starring Richard Thomas (Johnboy) Ed Asner and Charles Bronson).  I will not let this spoil my Christmas as I have been assured that I will be reimbursed, but it may take a few weeks.  Here are some important tips to keep your money safe:

• Use your hand or body to shield your PIN during every transaction conducted at an Automated Banking Machine (ABM) or at the checkout.
• Keep an eye on your debit card when conducting a transaction at the checkout.
• Check your banking statements regularly and contact your financial institution immediately if you detect any unusual activity, for example, purchases you did not make or missing charges.
• Be alert. If someone is watching you or makes you feel uncomfortable, cancel the transaction and use a different machine.

·        In the instance that you become a victim of debit card fraud, you are protected and you will not suffer any financial losses due to circumstances beyond your control.

Today I will have 3 pint size visitors over and their mom and dad and we shall have wine and cheese (the grownups of course) The kids will have figgy pudding and sweets.  I am so happy to have these extra days off. Yah tomorrow off too.  Love it.  Nette

Christmas. There is so much to say about Christmas.  As I sit here sharing my thoughts with you , I am feeling nostalgic. Christmas Eve in Denmark is the day that we prepare for our Turkey (in Denmark it is traditionally duck)  and after dinner it”s time to open presents.  I must share with you that I am sitting here in my living room wearing my favorite present from last night. A snuggie.  Best of all it is the one with the leopard print.  (  A  snuggie is a blanket with sleeves attached) I must tell you it is so cozy everyone should own one.  One drawback is that it is so huge that you can’t walk around with it.  A house coat it is not. 

Looking back into my childhood I remember feeling lucky that I got to open my presents in the evening and all my school friends had to wait until the morning.  At school they would be telling each other how early they get up to open their presents.  In my mind I am seeing the little girl (that would be me ) waking up early, not to open presents but to stand on her bed to peek out the window to see the lights on at her friends houses across the street.  Not a light was on.  Early?  What is early for us in the Abildgaard’s (my maiden name) house sure isn’t early at the Budnarks or the Fowlers.  So I would lie back down and a few minutes later I would peek again. No lights.  Whats up with these Canadians? By the time I got tired of peeking (I say peeking because I didn’t want my friends to know I was “peeking”) dawn would be breaking and no lights were needed.  I did this for a number of years and I guess one morning I forget and I don’t recall doing it again.  Memories are a wonderful thing.   We had a great time together last night and I cherish each moment that my family is together and making their own memories.  Computers are an amazing thing.  I got to see my mom and siblings out west via Skype.  So cool.  All my Canadian friends I hope you are up and tearing wrapping paper. HO HO HO.  Nette

Cozy. Its such a cozy word

The pressure is on.  I’m getting emails that I didn’t blog last night.  Well my theme was going to be about how my co-worker (yes, Michelle) was whining yet again about not wanting to be at work but this time it was because her honey was going snowmobiling. Everyone was razzing her with making the brrrmmm sound of a snowmobile.  But that isn’t my blog today.  I came home from work to find my little family cozying together in the living room laughing and having a jolly time.  Like I told you earlier my nephew from Calgary is here visiting and we have such a fun time together.  We ordered pizza and after dinner we played charades.   (if you haven’t played it in awhile I totally recommend it. Loads of fun).  Today I am on holidays until Tuesday.  What a nice feeling to be cozy at home this morning with my cuppa coffee (no baileys in it yet) and laptop. I’m NOT feeling guilty that my co-workers are pitching in doing my job. Oh well they will be nice and busy and the day will fly by.  I wish everyone a very Merry Cozy Christmas and a wonderful time off to enjoy their family and  friends this holiday season.  Be safe and warm.  Love always, Nette 

Charades anyone or is that the "Pony"

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

                                                                         

So close to Christmas.   Everyone at work was whining about not wanting to work today, me especially no Michelle especially. Its the end of the year where you have no sick time left or holiday time left and you are dying for a couple of days off.  Soon grasshopper, (that’s a favorite saying of Michelles.) Soon it will be time off.  Yes, this Thursday I begin my Christmas vacay.  Baileys in my morning coffee and sweets galore.  Turkey, lots of turkey and my fabulous gravy and then the piece d’resistance.  My rice pudding with hot cherry sauce.  Mmm mmm.  Cosy visits with friends and family, and I know it, too much wine.  Who doesn’t love Christmas and everything that goes with it?  Don’t say the Grinch because he did grow a heart. So to all my friends and family out in cyberspace, enjoy the holiday preparations’ and invite me over to see your tree or drop by and see mine.  All are welcome.  Love it all, Nette

Gotta Love Weekends

I had a lovely weekend. I went out for  breakfast with my friend at 8:00am, I was up pretty late the night before partying with a couple of girlfriends, so I was still a bit dozy from too much drink and not enough sleep.  I took a nap from 10:00 to 12:00,  then  I spent the rest of  Saturday with my daughter. I treasure each moment I get to spend with her before she returns to Australia.  I invited her over for duck but when I unwrapped the plastic I realized it was only a chicken.  She was a bit disappointed because she loves my duck.  It turned out that the chicken was awesome as well.  Then we watched the movie, “ The Town” with Ben Afflick.  It wasn’t that good.  I spent Sunday with my son, which is really rare for us to have time alone.  It was nice, we went shopping and bought his sweet girlfriend a few things but every store we went in he veered over to the baby section.  It was so cute.  I can hardly wait to see him as a dad.  Then I helped him stain a project he is doing for his in-laws. All in all my weekend was special.  Tomorrow my nephew will be arriving from Calgary to spend Christmas with us.  He is an awesome young man and we are very excited to spend time with him. We will probably have games night every night he is here.  Now I am waiting for my Christmas cookies to bake.  We have a cookie exchange tomorrow.  Hope they don’t burn so until next time.  Nette

Half Day Friday's

I missed a day of blogging.  Sorry to my fellow followers.  I will catch you up. Thursday was our annual Christmas party.  The food was great and the company was warm and fuzzy, (holidays bring out the fuzzy in people) It is good to see co-workers away from their usual settings.  I am lucky to be working with such nice people.  The eight doctors I work for are exceptional.  They are very kind and caring and believe it or not most of them are pretty funny.  We had a lot of laughs. Thanks go out to the doc’s for a lovely evening.  Friday was” ½ day Friday”.  We get off at 12 and it is such a short but sweet day because before you know it it is 12:00.  Yes! we get to go home, oops I have another hour to go.  I am the lucky one who gets to stay until one.  I don’t mind, it actually zooms by.  So at 1:00 I ran a couple of errands before I went home to clean.  A couple of friends came for dinner and we had a jolly time.  I got to show off my tree, when my friend noticed the bottom strand of lights was out.  Here we are 3 girls under the tree looking for the burnt out bulb.  We never did find it.  Another cute thing happened, we decided to order our pizza on line.  It’s suppose to be easy click click and your order is on the way.  I think by the time we got our order figured out it would have been faster to phone for it.  But we got it to work and 45 minutes or it’s free.  Wow arriving 44 minutes later.  Now that was easy.  I definitely will order on line again now that I know how to do it.  Today Saturday, I was up bright and early because I suddenly remembered that I had a breakfast date.  Eggs Benedict at the golden griddle. Mm mmm.  Then I went home to have a nap at 10 in the morning.  Now I’m getting dinner ready for a quiet dinner with my lovely daughter.  So everyone enjoy your day and have Merry thoughts.  Nette     

My Gift

I have totally forgotten that I have a tradition of buying myself a Christmas gift.  What is that all about?  Well , I quickly set on rectifying that.  I logged onto Amazon.ca and started browsing.  I found a sweet set of books (the old trilogy theme again).  Photography.  I have always been interested in photography, so a few years ago I took an 8 week course at the community college.  I bought a nice digital camera and set off for my new career as a photographer.  What a letdown.   The instructor (her name was Jeanette as well, but spelt the wrong way.. with 2 n’s.) spent more time on talking about her experiences than actually teaching me to become a great photographer.  I enjoy it nonetheless.  I encouraged my friend to try picture taking and we went to “Henry’s”. She bought a little Canon.  Well I opened a hornet’s nest.  She has been snapping the most amazing photo’s.  I am somewhat jealous.  (No, really I am impressed). Any way that is why I choose this set of books for my Christmas gift. I can hardly wait.  Here is one of her photo’s that I think is a contest winner.   

Getting ready for xmas

Today flew by quite quickly, very busy at work which really makes the day go fast.  I went shopping for an outfit for our staff Christmas party tomorrow. I got 20% of both items.  Score.  I have been putting off viewing my bank account these past 2 weeks. As every Christmas I over spend.  So today I turned on my computer and logged on to BMO,  (yikes) there it was the – (negative sign).  Thank god its payday.  Getting rent money from my son it a challenge.  I caught him off guard today when I found out he had cash in his pocket.  Grudgingly he pulled 20 after 20’s out until his rent was paid.  I feel bad asking him for rent money but like a good parent “I’m teaching him responsibility”, (the extra cash in my pocket is a bonus).  I’m off to the bank in the morning to turn the red into black.  I only have one gift left to buy so I should be good for the New Year.  My nephew from Calgary is coming for xmas this year.  We always have fun when he is around.  Bring out the board games and charades. I need to bone up on scrabble too.  Anyone game.  All for this time, Nette  

Tuesday Dec 14th,

A nice thing happened today.  An old friend came in for her appointment and we have always meant to get together for coffee or wine (mmmm which shall I choose).  We, will get together soon after the holidays for sure.  I don’t like to be one of those that say we will get together and never do. I will let you know how that goes.  She is a very nice lady I met while I worked at the gym many years ago.  I enjoyed my time at the gym, I met so many nice ladies of all ages.  I do run into them on the streets of guelph every so often and it is nice to catch up.   I worked at a womens gym for about  3 years.  It was the begining of getting back to the work force. More on that later. So for now I will enjoy a chapter or two of my downloaded sample of the Fall of Giants, Have a good evening.  Nette

My Kindle

I just finished reading the 3^rd book of a trilogy on my Kindle. The author Phillippa Gregory is one of my favorite authors and this trilogy was very good but quite disturbing. Book one “Wideacre” involved an incestuous relationship between brother and sister. They had two kids together, boy and girl.  The 2^nd   book “The Favored Child” was also incestuous with the brother and sister thinking they were cousins and when they found out they were in fact siblings and she was “with child” (by rape by her brother) she went to drown the baby…. The 3^rd  involved The Bastard daughter of the 2^nd book and she was sold to gypsies and sold again to a circus family.  Of course she dreams of her home and somehow makes her way to “Wideacre”.  The other trilogy I am reading is “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, and the 2^nd, The Girl who played with fire.  I am waiting for the 3^rd  “The Girl who kicked the Hornets nest” to come out in paperback. I dread it because it is soooo long. ( I have the first 2 in paper back so I won't be downloading the 3rd on my Kindle.)  But I am one who finishes a book or series.   I love my Kindle and love that you can download a sample of a book before buying it.  I started reading Ken Folletts new trilogy “Fall of Giants.” (Whats with me and Trilogy’s now.) Good so far. So for anyone thinking about getting a Kindle or any other ebook, Go for it, it’s the way of the future. Hope you are enjoying a good read.  Nette 

Mon. Dec 13 2010

Here is an article that I read recently,  I thought it cute enough to share.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both  

male   and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male  
reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late  
November to mid-December.   Female reindeer retain their antlers  
till after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's

reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should've known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man  
in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

Sunday Dec 12, 2010

Today is my do nothing day, so i have decided to make this blog.  I will be editing alot until i get use to this format. 
There is a mix of snow and rain this morning,  which is common for ontario weather, especially Guelph, we always seem to miss the big storms (most of the times). It's usually quiet in this house despite the ongoing chirping of our bird chico, and the annoying licking of a Tiptop (the mens store) bag hanging on a doornob. That would be my cat Rascal (or muffin as my son David calls him). He (the cat, not David) loves to lick on bags, why? who knows but when he does it at 2:00 in the morning it is enought to drive you insane.
I am a procrastonor when it comes to housework and will do anything to get out of it, even starting a blog.  Christmas is coming and there is a lot to do, so i will force myself to get crack'n and put on my yellow rubber gloves and start the dinner dishes from last night. Yuck... Until next time remember to wake up with positive thoughts and a smile for the day,  Jeantte (Nette as I will sign it from now on. My danish nick name.)