Category Archives: Fun

A distraction and a reality

Posted in Bumpboobs, Canada, Fun, Life by

The distraction:

We took sledding up a level today by adding another person to our team. Zsolt, my brother (new addition) and I headed over to the KRC hill this afternoon and glided into some winter madness. Side runs, spins, trains – you name it, we sled it. The only thing missing were some GT Snow Racers, which, due to lack of foresight, were unfortunately discarded several years ago. It was a disappointing moment upon returning home from abroad to learn that the GTs had been carted off.  But nevertheless with a saucer and this body shaped board, we had a great time. And no one on the hill! All the little kiddios were at school, so we owned the hill. The only thing is that Zsolt and I are nearly both in our thirties (with Zsolt already having crossed that line). I have a feeling our limbs aren’t’ t quite so resilient as they once were. However, even today when we flew off sideways from the sled-train and skidded down the hill, even when my ankle flipped and hands were flying and snow was shooting into our faces .  . . even then I couldn’t stop laughing.

One awesome way to exercise in this Canadian winter: go sledding. Maybe wear a helmet, and keep all limbs tucked inside. Just don’t blame me for any wipe outs, okay? It’s part of the experience.

The reality:

Tomorrow I have an oncologist appointment with Dr Canada. So I guess I’ll hear how my ovaries are doing and whether that cist cleared up. After this appointment, to help shake off the nerves, we’re going out for Indian food at Ottawa’s Little India. That is, we’ll be going if we can get a seat. The place is always crammed. And then Thursday I have another doctor’s appointment with a different doctor. So – a lotta appointments all at once. (Including my other appointment yesterday at my parent’s office.) Blarg. All in the name of better health, eh. 🙂

Getting a grip on the ice

Posted in Canada, Finding Home, Fun, Life by

For all your ice and slipping needs, Dr Zsolt (not a medical doctor) recommends DRYGUY GripOns. He’s been strapping these studded things onto his boots whenever we take walks lately, and while I think it’s 100% goofy, they also appear to be incredibly effective. Plus, really, they don’t look bad. I’m thinking of getting some myself.

While this cannot be counted as a ‘real’ post, it’s nevertheless important information for anyone tolerating a minus zero winter. If slipping is a worry, get yourself some studs.

And no, no one paid me to say that. That would be awesome if someone had, but no, no one did. Full disclosure. My opinion is purely based on ‘wow’ results.

Plus I’ve been editing this entry to a writing contest all day long – thus my brain, in terms of writing articles/posts/stories/conent, is slightly fried. Truth is with these literary contests that little ever comes from submitting, BUT this contest is for Canadians under 35s and has no entry fee. Now that’s my kind of contest. So whether I A) Win! or B) don’t win, I’ll still have a finished, short-story length piece of writing which I feel is quite strong (and therefore worth submitting to literary magazines). So I feel this has been a very productive day. It’s not often I managed to sqeeze a story into 2500 words. Frankly, I feel quite proud at having mastered it this once.

Therefore, yay for studs on ice and hammering out a short story. Two unrelated items, one feel-good post.

Echoes upon echoes

Posted in Finding Home, Fun, Life, Love by

The temperature has dropped to minus twenty degrees (-20) here in Ottawa. Zsolt is ready to board a plane back to Europe. Having recently acquired a long, kick-ass jacket I’m not minding the cold so badly. Yeah, it’s freezing. But yeah, we’ve also got a cosy fire here in the basement. So in my opinion, as long as we don’t step out of the house during this cold snap, everything will be okay.

Mind you, the hill behind the house is deep with snow and those sleds are just waiting in the garage . . . how cold is too cold to toboggan?

Ever since Christmas, Zsolt and I have been vegetating. It’s not like we’ve been leading extremely busy lives, but nevertheless looking for work does have its own kind of pressure. So we’ve taken a few days off from the search. But very soon we’ll be back at it. No point going on too long in the land of holiday and diet-breaking.  (I’ve eaten cookies, cinnamon buns, bread and more cookies  –  none of them being gluten-free. But hey, it’s only over Christmas. Today I made two healthy meals and feel quite good about the proactivness.)

One distraction we’ve been indulging in heavily is RUMMY-O. You know that game? My grandmother used to play it obsessively. Well, maybe not obsessively, but she was always up for a game. Right before she passed away, like a month or two, she had my cousin play with me, Zsolt and Daniel so we could all learn. And since she’s passed, we’ve played upstairs in the living room more than a few times. Like many times. A whole lot.  Bunches. It’s a quiet game of thought and puzzling . . . except for when my Dad plays and begins to sing during everyone else’s turn (after that game of his loud serenading, I totally banned him from joining again unless he promised to maintain silence. Now he only sings when it’s his turn.)

And as a memorial to Lulu (at least, in my mind) we say the very important words that follow a person’s turn.

If you pick up a chip because you cannot play, you say: “Je piège.” And pick up the chip.

If you choose to play your chips and not pick up, once you’ve played all your chips, you say: “J’ai joué.” And the next person is allowed their turn.

These are very important cues that Lulu used to insist upon, and frankly I can see their advantage. When we forget to say ‘je piège’ or ‘j’ai joué’ after a turn everyone just sits there waiting, thinking the person is still contemplating their move. Everyone except my dad, who instead begins to sing.

So I guess it’s a nice way of passing along a bit of her memory. Little habits like that carry on. Another would be slicing the cucumber. My mom, when slicing the tip of a cucumber, then rubs that bit against the remaining vegetable until a froth emerges (oh my word, this sounds inappropriate. But really we’re just dealing with vegetables). I watched her doing this as a little girl, and now when I slice a cucumber, I do the exact same thing. Well, guess what? Lulu did the very same thing. And I reckon my daughter will also pick up the habit.

Anyhow, I have no point in this ramble about habits trading one generation for another, except to say it’s a little bit amazing how we pass along our story, bit-by-bit to those who love us most.  Chances are ‘j’ai joué’ and ‘je piège’ go back several Rummy-loving women in our family. For sure the cucumber slicing does. I can just imagine my great, great grandmother handing a cucumber and foaming it’s tip.

It’s little things like that which I find so inspiring. Things like that make me love the story I’m currently writing – a story which is nearly there, apart from the editing and rewrites, and has been along for quite a ride over the past two years.

The idea that we can know those who have come before from simple habits, simple ‘tendencies’ is really quite awesome. Did my father’s side of the family always sing aloud? (he sure does, and so do I – just not when playing Rummy.) Did my mom’s side always play games? Did we always clean our vegetables like this? Could we stop if we wanted to? Are we just like our ancestors, or only a gentle impression of their habits?

And so we’ve been playing our game and enjoying the holiday. I hope you have as well. Stay warm, stay safe, and I’ll see you in the new year.

Happy holidays!