Holes in the Wall Remain....

Hello,

I have a questions for homeowners who have gone through the process of renovations. When dealing with tradespeople and they don't get back to you in a month, do you continue with the nice approach? Patient phone calls that are supposed to remind them that they need to return a phone call. Or, at three months, do you get a little more assertive? I have opted to go with more assertive, because no plumbers have been to our holes-in-the-wall-I-need-to-be-re-piped-and-re-tubbed-and-re-toileted now bathroom and it is just the same as before EXCEPT:

In our living room, we have:
1. Large bathtub in box
2. Large vanity, wrapped in plastic
3. Toilet bowl, tank and lid.

Our living space is less than 700 square feet. It certainly helps being a teacher, because when I made THE phone call to the plumbers requesting some attention, I used my you-are-going-to-listen-to-what-I-have-to-say-unequivocally and hopefully, we'll have someone from our plumber-from-another-planet return our phone call. It also helped that my voice was raspy because of my cold, and that I'm already feeling a little grumpy because of my cough. Fingers crossed. And Janis, have I made you smile?

Happy New Year, by the way!!

Amanda

PS: Swiss Fondue is definitely my fave meal right now.... and no, I didn't make any New Year's Resolutions so I have nothing to break!

Holes in the Wall

Update on the Bathtub situation: As of today, the powers that be are tinkering with my sense of humour and I must admit I'm feeling rather stretched but anyhow. I now have three lovely, asymmetrical holes in my bathroom wall. One below the toilet, one above the toilet, and one on the roof of the bathtub. It is now lovingly covered with a carefully chosen opaque-chic plastic, sided by silverfish-silve duct-tape. The framing was done by my husband and we are now allowed to have showers, but when we leave I follow these steps (I love to have three steps... for the OCD in me)as the work done by the plumbers is not a guarantee but a first step in fixing the water fountain pump we have in our tub
1. Stuff a ziplock bag partially down the drain
2. Jam plug into drain
3. Place one of Stew's 15 pound weights over the plug with the hopes that the water pressure won't be that strong.

It gets funnier but more embarassing, so I'll leave the last bit to the story for now!
Amanda

A Sequel to a Bathtub Full of Aparment Drama... A Neighbourly Note

Please see the next post if looking for information on the Bathtub.

Now to the Neighbourly Note:
We were away on Gabriola Island for Thanksgiving visiting good friends of ours. It was nice to get away, and as a previous Islander (not quite official but six years is more than just a taste) and being married to an official Islander, it was great. We came home late on Monday night and found this note on our doorstep:

THANKS FOR WAKING ME UP AGAIN THIS MORNING. I'M NOT SURE WHICH PROJECT YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT REQUIRES BANGING BEFORE THE SUN COMES UP!!!!! (Extra exclamation marks added by me) A LITTLE CONSIDERATION OF YOUR NEIGHBOURS WOULD BE NICE.

PLEASE FIND ATTACHED THE CITY OF BURNABY BYLAWS WHICH OUTLINE WHENWE GET A BREAK FROM THE NOISE. THIS INCLUDES SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS LIKE TODAY. PLEASE READ THEM.

THANKS, YOUR NEIGHBOURS.


Well this is kind of funny because we weren't even home and we brought our alarm clocks with us... so to solve the mystery the note writer left the "Neighbours" part a little vague. I especially loved the By-Laws bit, because we were in Gabriola eating Crab Chowder while our "Neigbour" was being irritated by some kind of loud banging. The mystery remains, but the note was even circulated amongst the staff at my school who all got a chuckle out of it. What else can you do folks? Moral of the tale, if complaining, leaving your name is a good idea? He he he
Amanda

A Bathtub Full

Hello Everyone,

With a Halloween party being planned by my class (which for those teachers out there equals complete mayhem for the duration of the planning period)and parent-teacher conferences right around the corner, and report cards around the next, I was thinking that was as full as I wanted my plate to be. You see, every since University I've been trying to find ways of trimming from my plate rather than making everything more complicated and stressful than it needed to be.

For instance: At UVic, I was determined as a 1st year student that the only way to study, was to TYPE out notes from the textbook. So what I ended up with, was a binder full of notes, that were really an abridged version of the textbook.

So #1: Why spend $150 on something when you can breach the Copyright and type out your own? Plus a whole ink cartridge to replace the one I used up printing?

#2: How many great (potential) social hours did I spend typing those notes? I really thought sacrificing a weekend would make me attend classes. Nope didn't always work

#3: I think guilt from not attending classes made me type those notes.


So a few years later, I've trimmed trimmed trimmed. I can let dirty dishes stay in the sink for longer than a few days (although that's not what Stewart would agree to). I let my family and social life be a priority over work. I don't let annoying parents irritate me anymore. I TRY not to let really bad drivers (because of course I'm not one of those aggressive commuters--haha ha) get my goat. No one fingered salutes here folks. I now have cereal nights (much to Stewart's dismay) at least a few times a week. I go for regular runs and try to appreciate all the great family, friends and life I have. Especially, I've tried to accept myself for what I am -- a quirky, caring, stubborn, difficult person who lives passionately for what she believes in, and lastly, to make peace for mistakes I've made, people I've hurt and things I wish I'd done differently. Da-da-da-daaaaaaaaa!

But all this positive thinking brings me back to the point about a balanced plate. Now an unbalanced plate.... So, this morning one thing was added, not by me, but by the plumbing in our building. At 5:30 am our bathtub was gurgling like a happily fed newborn and pretty soon there was a deluge of water bubbling forth from our drain. Going the WRONG way. So, Stew stayed behind and bailed the water out with a pink bucket lent to us from Dawn (thanks again for that)for the remainder of the day, while the Property Manager and Building Manager and whoever else tried to figure out what to do (quite valiently might I add). Now, if anyone has a shower in the building or tries to sneak a quick wash-down, we have the remainders of that experience bubbling up into our tub. And so sleep tonight will be like watching a baby or taking care of a baby, except this kind you don't cuddle, you just down the watery soup down the toilet. I've really got to laugh... but the next story is also real, also fresh and wish I had a picture but... I'm sure you can imagine. Hugs,
Amanda

In Honour of Diane Milliken

Hello Everyone,

It is with profound sadness that I write this very delayed blog (6 months actually) on such a somber and serious note. Our family matriarch, Diane Milliken (previously Diane Swan) passed away suddenly this week. It has caught us all off guard, and I am in a state of shock, almost numbness, to what has happened. So, I wanted to write about Auntie Diane, as I always so affectionately referred to her as -- to honour a great woman who has shown countless numbers of people the true value of family, friendship, loyalty and service. Please feel free to post a comment and share your thoughts about Auntie Diane, or something about her life that will bring a smile to our faces.

When I was young, ADiane would spoil Alexis and I rotten. She'd let me have extra sugar in my cereal (when my Mom & Dad weren't looking), she'd send us special Valentine's packages, she'd bring us out to the Calgary zoo a thousand times, and every time she would act like it was her first. Sort of like seeing life through the eyes of a child. We'd also beg and beg to go to the "Pool with the Waterslides" (I actually don't know the real name) and ADiane would organize it and off we'd go. She'd pack a lunch and give my Mom a break from all those things a young mother deals with, whining children and sibling rivalry. These every day little things defined ADiane, because she did these things not only for me and for my family, but for family of friends and friends of family. Stewardship of life, I suppose, was her calling, and she doled it out to anyone she came into contact with. This wasn't without the reminders to e-mail, call and be in touch. She loved hearing from her family and, she expected us to! If we'd been wayward in communication, she would let us know... "Oh, haven't heard from you in a while! I'd love to hear your news." And now, I understand, it's because she loved us within every inch of her soul, she loved us with true compassion and dedication to keeping a family connected and in touch. As Janice Gibbs said the other day, "She was our Pipeline [of information]." Even if I hadn't talked to my family in the East or West, to Marilyn or Rudy, to Alice and Dwayne, to the Crazy Ladies (I never got to meet everyone, just a couple, but I feel like I knew them, somehow) to.... the list is endless. All of these people are going to miss her calls, e-mails (yes at 74 she was more computer literate than me!!!) and her Cards.

Everyone keeps saying they can't imagine a world without ADiane. She shepherded us through childhood and adulthood, and encouraged us even when she knew we were being crazy and out of control (ahhhhm I have quite the little temper and have been known to be rather opinionated). In particular, she took great pride in her home and her husband, Uncle Jim. And of this were her two daughters Julie and Janice. Her grandchildren, consequently, were a source of joy for both she and Jim, and those kids could have burped the wrong way when they were babies and laughter, smiles of amusement and pampering would have ensued. ADiane is almost a piece of olden days values, when time was slower and a woman's castle was her home. She worked tirelessly her whole life for others, and now, she is in a better place with her mother and father, Nanna and Gramps, and she is free to smile upon all of us and see EVERYTHING that we are doing without those e-mails and phone calls. But for us, we are weary from our loss and barely coping with not having her around to love us, pester us, encourage us and laugh with us. We can't see her, but she has built for us a beautiful thing, a family quilt of love and honour. In turn, we will honour her gifts to us by taking care of each other, and passing down her generosity of spirit and love for life to future generations. And not one family dinner will go by, I'm certain, without some mention of Auntie Diane.

May your soul rest in peace Auntie Diane, and until I see you again, all my love.

Love Amanda
xoxoxoxox

School

Hello Everyone!!

Cooking for Over 100 is Reallllyyy.....

Hello! Happy New Year to all. And Happy New Year to all teachers and educators, as technically, our year is officially halfway through. That's what the end of January means when you are associated with a School Board. So a few new developments...

We had a great Christmas. I am now acting upon New Year Resolutions that actually began in September: walk, bike or jog to work whenever possible, complete with blinking LD lights, reflectors and anything else that draws attention to self-sustaining human transport on early, dark mornings in rainy Vancouver. My ourfit is the same everytime -- and, my umbrella in hand (when on foot) as I march onward like a parade of army ants. But I'm only an army of one. I like to assert my place on the sidewalk. But I won't go up against dogs -- nope -- Only one scary dog incident to report, and I now avoid that house like the plague and have deferred to the dog. I have gone the same route so many times that I now know if I am late/early by the other "regular" pedestrians I see on my way to work. That's pretty neat - human activity clocks. Who said you need a watch anyway? Said tongue in cheeks as I am from the White (ahhhhm) family -- sorry Dad.

So, the title of the entry. Were you wondering? Well, cooking for over 100 people (125 to be exact) is realllllllllyyyyyyy interesting & suprisingly non-stressful. With everything (ingredients) jumbo size, lots of helpers and industrial equipment, anything is possible. How do I know this, you wonder? Well, Stewart & I have been taking "en masse" cooking classes, learning about how to cook for large crowds. We have then been practicing and honing our skills once every couple weeks for Out of the Cold, a program that feeds some homeless folks. We provide a main dish with protein, a starch (rice, potatoe), salad, bread, and dessert. We have really been enjoying it and I've got to say that four people working together can do some amazing things in the kitchen! What I can't get over, is that I spend triple the amount of time prepping for a dinner party for 10, but yet we can feed 125 people and make it look like something you can do in your sleep. No disasters yet, but I'm lacking the serving skills. I tried to serve the Enchiladas once but I butchered the poor little guys by accident. I've also learned that when you are serving food to people you don't know, they are not polite enough to take the butchered ones your friends might say a reluctant "ok" to (He- he- he). The people who don't know you want the nice, untouched cheesy one in the corner and aren't afraid to demand it. Enchilada serving 101? Check.

We bought the groceries for dinner (125 people) from the Superstore, and this is the grocery list to the tune of our $400 budget, and many stares later, especially when we cleared out the chicken section:
- 18 packages of large chicken thighs
- 3 flats of condensed mushroom soup
- 2 5lb blocks of Mozza cheese
- 14 boxes of Stovetop Stuffing
- 10 kg bag of rice
- large block of butter

- 6 bags of ready to go salad
- 6 Red Peppers
- 6 red onions
- 6 large cans of cooked chickpeas

- 5 flats of yummy Nanaimo bars (28 per box)
- 3 giant tubs of chocolate ice-cream

From the list, you may gather that calerie counting has not been considered. We've been instructed that the heartier the meal for these folks, the better. So that's what we did. Thanks Mom for the Chicken recipe! It was a hit! And now, it's time for bed after cooking the afternoon away...
Amanda :)