Lise's Ramblings

I’m enjoying a Friday off, so I’m posting a new-to-my-blog Awesome, which I originally distributed via email back in May. Reaching that point in the year when your pay cheque deductions change Opening a paystub can become mundane. You know what to expect. More often than not, the money is already spent or set aside well before the direct deposit happens. Then one day, you notice your take-home amount is higher than usual. That’s right, you've reached that time of year when either the employment insurance and/or Canada Pension Plan deductions are maxed out (can’t recall which one - see how little attention I give to pay stubs). Doesn't matter though. From here on in, each pay day will include a bit more money for you. AWESOME!

Hummingbirds are truly awesome creatures. I adore watching them dart around, hover over a nectar-filled flower, and squeak at one another as the spirited little birds fight for access to a feeder. Even at the fastest shutter speed it is tough to capture great photos of hummingbirds. They flap their wings up to 75 times per second! I’m exhausted just typing that, yet these birds will fly all the way from Eastern Canada to South America during the fall migration. They must eat well to be able to expend that much energy over such a long distance when they weigh in at less than 3 grams. I chose to write about hummingbirds, because yesterday I was out in my garden gazing at my red bee balm flowers just wishing that I’d hear the loud buzz or high squeaks of my little feathered friends. My all-time favourite moment with hummingbirds happened four or five years ago. A male, ruby-throated hummingbird was perched on my clothesline in a rainstorm. He sat there shaking his entire body as he bathed

How many times a day are you prompted for different passwords? It is frustrating that debit/credit cards, websites, networks and databases have so many requirements for password length, alpha-numeric combinations, mixes of upper and lower case letters, and frequency of expiry. Who can possibly keep them all straight? It is especially tough when you return from a vacation or it has been a long time since you tried accessing that particular resource. You can run through the various login or ID possibilities in your head, but sometimes the dust bunnies in the deepest recesses of your brain won’t clear long enough for you to find that passcode. Pleading silently doesn’t work. And speaking from experience, shouting “Open Sesame” or “À-la-peanut-butter-sandwiches” doesn’t do the trick either. Certain systems boot you out after too many unsuccessful attempts. Then you have to resort to requesting a new password. Pain in the butt!!! It makes you appreciate it all the more when “Shazam” you sud

That’s right, the full ones. Not a partial arc that disappears into the clouds. Not the mini ones from dishsoap bubbles. Certainly not the wannabes formed in oil puddles. I’m talking about the perfect semicircles arcing high into the sky and displaying red right on through to violet. Now the scientists I work with would argue that there is a full spectrum of colour, not distinct colours or bands of colour. That may be scientifically accurate, but I choose to see red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Beyond the visual beauty of rainbows, I also choose to believe they signify many other things. Not necessarily pathways to a pot of gold, but hope and magical endings. My childhood buddy Kermit the Frog saw rainbows as much more than optical illusions. When he belted out “The Rainbow Connection,” he sang about the pull to be something more. The lyrics clearly state that “someday we’ll find it.” So even if we cannot pinpoint what IT is yet, according to Jim Hensen’s green Muppet, “The

Die-hard golfers and newbies alike enjoy a gratifying rush when their golf game improves. What I find most fascinating is that while you usually golf with others, it is very much a sport in which you compete with yourself. Unless you’re in a best ball tournament, golf cannot be described as a team sport. Most golfers care less about how everyone else scored and more about how they’re playing relative to their own past other games. So you’re not trying to kick the butts of the other people in your golfing foursome. Instead, you’re noting if you shanked the ball less than last season, scored a few extra birdies and eagles (or in my case, bogeys and pars), putted more consistently, or shaved precious strokes off your total. Achieving any of those improvements feels great, even if it is short lived, lasting only a single hole or just the front nine. Knowing that you’ve stepped up your game, and that a cold drink awaits at the 19th hole, well that’s just… AWESOME!

“Way to go!” “Keep it up!” “Awesome, girl!” “Congratulations!” “So proud of you!” "Loved today's Awesome!" Those are powerful words. They are even stronger and very much appreciated when offered up by family and friends, which is exactly what happened after I posted and emailed yesterday’s “Awesome.” Nearly every one of my regular readers gave me just that kind of support on Wednesday. I suspect that the very few who didn’t get in touch were those who are on unplugged vacations or who had such busy schedules that they didn’t manage to read “ The first sign of results from a workout regimen .” Thank you for the words of encouragement I received by phone, email, text, and in one case, even a comment on my blog (yay!). Today is my first Thursday without boot camp, but the supportive words from all of you gave me the boost I needed to crawl out of bed extra early to squeeze in a great workout before heading to the office this morning. Knowing people are cheering you on… AWESO

Have you been taking the stairs more often? Cycling to work? Attending Pilates classes or going to the gym? Walking trails with family or friends? Rollerblading on that newly paved and relatively level road? Summer not only brings great weather, but it also ushers in patio season and an abundance of COWS. It is tough to resist the pull of beer, ice cream and good company, so many of us vow to start moving a little more to offset those summer indulgences. Whatever you’ve taken up, you’ll feel a rush of satisfaction when you see early hints of results from your efforts. For some, those signs may be that your clothes fit better, your arms jiggle less, you don’t get as winded when you climb several flights of stairs, or maybe you even shed a few pounds. Last night marked the official end of my grueling boot camp classes. Amazingly, I didn’t injure myself, but that's not to say I didn't feel pain! What's the best part of it all? I now know I can do more push ups than I used to b

Finding a Scotch tape dispenser with just enough left in it to finish wrapping a present. Having the right colour thread you need to sew on that button. Unexpectedly discovering you have the energy to complete that last push up. Digging out a screwdriver that is the exact shape and size to tighten that wobbly chair leg. Opening the fridge only to find you have a jug containing the right amount of milk required for your cereal and tea. AWESOME!

Train travel is a fine way to get from point A to point B. This isn't news to our friends across the pond. Europeans rely heavily upon train travel. As do millions of people in Asia-Pacific. Trains just might be the least stressful and least chaotic mode of transportation. In some cases, riding the rails can even save you some hard-earned cash, especially if you're a student or a senior. Unlike driving, you get to put your feet up, read, people watch, sleep or simply relax throughout your journey. There doesn’t seem to be as many rules, obstacles, security points and delays compared to traveling by plane. Train travel is somehow more civilized and less cramped than bus travel. At times, train travel seems a tad romantic. It can also make you feel like you’ve stepped into the past. Even the train stations are often beautiful, from an architectural point of view. Hop on board. Choo, choo. AWESOME!

Prior to June 10th, I distributed my "awesomes" or random ramblings to a select few via email. After pressure from some of my friends, I began to post these notes as blog entries. I chose to start the trend with my June 10th post, because I was curious what scents (if any) triggered childhood memories for those who read my awesomes. But, it turns out very few ever choose to comment online. Perhaps it is just easier to read the email, or it seems too public or time consuming to visit the blog. Whatever the reason, I'll keep logging them here for posterity, and in the hopes that some of you may jump into the fray and start adding your two cents worth, even if it is only from time to time. Feel a bit shy? You can even comment anonymously. Okay, on with the show. The awesome below is one I shared on June 9th, right before my blog versions. I'm re-issuing this entry as a much needed, post-boot camp reminder to myself that I actually wanted this pain. Owwwwwwwwww. Feelin

Oh, oh, shall I bring all these? What about this? Whether you’re writing your lists or actually stuffing your belongings into a suitcase, the steps involved in packing for a fun trip are enjoyable. Anticipating what you’re going to do when you arrive truly helps you dream up what you may need to stash away in your luggage. Even if you despise airports and the travel process itself, the packing part of your trip can distract you, and then before you know it you’re there. AWESOME!

It is delicious when a good friend reaches out to you. Friends come in all shapes and sizes. Some we see often; others less so. Some we’ve known since childhood; others are new-found joys or chums we met in our university days. Regardless of how or when you meet, it is always a treat to get a text message or a call from a good friend. Whether that person is popping by for a visit or making a virtual visit by reaching out through social media. However brief, unexpected visits with good friends are great for the heart and soul. Having an unexpected real visit and a virtual visit from two friends in the space of 24 hours… AWESOME! AWESOME!

Non-invasive surgery with quick recovery times. Memory keys (a.k.a. thumb drives or USBs) that easily hold GBs worth of data without all the hassle of burning stuff to CDs. Telescopes providing breathtaking images from distant galaxies. Applications that automatically recognize practically any song within a couple of beats (à la Shazam). Idiot-proof bread machines. PVRs that record as you watch something else and can rewind live TV. MRIs and ultrasounds. Kijiji, eBay, Amazon. 3D movies. Watching your niece in near-real time video from 4,000 km away...for free, courtesy of Skype. AWESOME!

What an event for everyone involved. From a proud parent and beaming grandparents, right on through to excited aunts and uncles, siblings, family friends and even neighbours—one and all root for the expanding family. The anticipation begins early. People speculate when or if a family is part of someone’s grand plan. Then news trickles out by phone and Facebook that a baby is on the way. This news often marks the end of the first trimester when the future looks safer for baby, unless the family is growing through adoption or step-children. In most cases, the magical announcement that a baby is coming means the beginning of shortlisting baby names, waiting for puzzling-to-decipher ultrasound photos, hunting for bargains on essential items, watching and listening to the momma-to-be experience pregnancy, and attending/planning showers. Then before you know it, the due date is right around the corner. Whether baby arrives early, as scheduled or days late, you can be certain that family and