85. Ride in a limousine

116. Eat at the revolving restaurant in the Calgary Tower

The limo he rented was white, very modern, and gorgeous inside. It was really unexpected, and so wonderful. We got to the tower and went up to the observation deck, where we walked around looking at all of the city lights. I’ve never been up there at night before (and it’s been around two decades since the last time I was up there even in the daytime) so it was very special.

The revolving restaurant was recently re-done and is now very upscale. We got a romantic spot, right beside the windows. It was a bit of a weird feeling to be turning like that, and at first I was afraid I was going to feel ill, but you get used to it quickly.

We had a bottle of wine, and a cured meat platter for an appetizer. The food was spectacular! The platter included venison salami, duck, maple salmon, tuna, scallops, pork pate, and some accompaniments. It was delicious.

For dinner I had a pulled chicken risotto, which was delicious. Likely the best risotto I’ve ever had. Jack had the steak with potatoes and asparagus. It was also very yummy.

While we ate, we enjoyed the amazing panoramic view of the city, and talked a lot about the past and about everything that has happened over the decade we have been together. It was nice to reminisce and remember all of the special times we have had.

Dessert consisted of sticky toffee pudding for me, and maple cheesecake for Jack. Our waitress, who was wonderful, brought them out with candles for us, as she knew we were celebrating our anniversary. It was incredibly sweet.

After we had finished our wine and dinner, we went back down to the lobby, and out to where our limo was waiting.  The ride home was relaxed.  Jack had brought another bottle of wine for us, but we were both so full, we didn’t drink it.

Once we were home, we crawled into bed for cuddling and other more lascivious activities

It was a very special and wonderful anniversary.  I was really touched that Jack had chosen to do some of my list items as part of the celebration, and the whole evening is one that I will never forget.

Jack got me a wonderful dehydrator for Christmas, which made it easy to make our own beef jerky!

325. Make beef jerky from scratch

We picked up some suitable beef, and I sliced it into pieces, marinated it, and then popped it into the dehydrator for five hours.  When it was finished, we had delicious jerky for a fraction of the cost of buying it.

I was really happy with how it turned out, and I’m looking forward to experimenting with other recipes and flavors.

The other item I am currently working on is a gift for Aiden’s Granny, and for his mum and dad.

382. Make a scrapbook for someone as a gift

I should be crossing that one off within the next week or two, as Granny’s scrapbook is almost complete.

I was totally spoiled this year by both of my loves, and by the kiddos.  Jack got me this awesome dehydrator so that I can make beef jerky and dried meals for backpacking.  I can’t wait to try it!  Aiden got me a water purifying UV pen and a lightweight collapsing fishing rod for backpacking as well.  Plus a super cuddly hoodie.  Santa brought me a lovely gift box from Lush and a 24 pack of multi-colored Sharpie markers.  I also got some other hiking stuff, a movie, and some beautiful things for around the house (candle holders and photo frames).  I am such a lucky girl.

Supper was delicious, and mostly stress-free.  After we ate we all played board games and Munchkin until it was quite late.

We went to my mum’s yesterday to visit everyone.  She got me a Wii Fit for Christmas, which I am really excited about!  She made us turducken, which was really tummy, and I had a great visit with my siblings and family.  We played some great games and laughed until we could hardly breathe.  My aunt and my sister and I stayed up into the wee hours, drinking and giggling and telling stories.  I am so fortunate to have such great women in my life.

Today we relaxed and watched movies until it was time to leave.  I will be going back with the kids after New Years for a longer visit, which I look forward to.

Speaking of New Years, we still have a big party to pull off, but I can’t wait!

2010 is coming to a close but it’s been a lovely ending to a great year.  Wonder what 2011 will bring?

This is the first Christmas we’ve had in Alberta where we were not traveling on Christmas Day.  You have no idea what a relief and a stress that is, all at the same time.  I’m glad we don’t have to pack up the kids and the dogs and the whole nine yards and trek across the country side to either of our parents houses.  I’m glad I don’t have to be party to the inevitable tension or exasperation that comes from forcing two dozen people to partake in a family get-together when half of them don’t seem to want to be there.  I’m slightly stressed at having to cook Christmas dinner (not that I haven’t done just that the years we were in Ontario) but that is par for the course around here.  I’m so happy that all five of us get to be under one roof for Christmas.  I’m happy that we are having X and one of Aiden’s co-workers over for dinner, both of whom would otherwise be alone on Christmas.

That’s really what it’s about, you know.  We have plenty, and there is ALWAYS room for one more at the table.  It’s a good feeling to be able to celebrate in a way that I feel really reflects the spirit of the season.  I also got to play sneaky secret Santa this year for someone who is having a rough time lately.  I didn’t get their special care package mailed off quite in time for it to arrive before Christmas Day, but hopefully it will be a pleasant surprise in the days between now and New Years Eve.  They have no idea it’s coming, but it’s filled with a number of nice things that I thought would bring some cheer, and also remind the recipient that there are people who care about them.

Tonight we are going to The Festival Of Lights as a family, and then coming home to open our Christmas Eve gift (which is always new pajamas).  My mum admitted to starting the pj’s on Christmas Eve tradition so that we would all look nice for the Christmas morning photos, but I think it’s sweet, and so we continue it every year here in Chez Gibson.  Then we shall bundle the younglings off to bed, so that Santa can visit.

I’ve gotten a ton of baking done, and given out pretty boxes filled with goodies to friends.  We have plenty of treats for Christmas dinner tomorrow.  Today I am hoping *fingers crossed* that I can make fudge on snow with the kids and the guys.  That is another old family tradition of ours, but I haven’t made fudge in many years, so it seems a bit daunting.  I am sure it will be wonderful though (I will try to remember to take some photos).

I’m off to pick up a few last minute groceries for tomorrow, but I hope all of you have Happy Holidays, however you chose to celebrate (or not).  I likely won’t have much time for posting between now and January 1st, as we will be preparing for our big luau party, but I hope to get a lot more writing done in 2011.  Hopefully it will be less chaotic, but more on that later.

Have a wonderful weekend!

My denial of the season comes not from my usual distaste for the entire over-commercialized mess that is December, but from the fact that I have been utterly and completely distracted by matters completely unrelated to the holidays.

Fortunately, even though I didn’t feel the least bit “Christmas-sy” until yesterday, I still managed to get almost all of my Christmas shopping done.  I only have a couple of items left to pick up, and I will be officially finished, without any of that yucky panic that kicks in around December 22nd.  I’m done all of the major items, and have only a number of stocking stuffers to fetch, and not due to procrastination on my part, but rather lack of a convenient time to do so.

Over the weekend Aiden and I made a quick dash to Edmonton to visit his brother and sister-in-law, and to drop off their gifts.  They are unable to join us for Christmas day this year due to work schedules and so we wanted to see them before the month was out and available weekends were slim.  We returned on Saturday afternoon, so that I could make it to my pole dancing class, which was difficult but fun.

On Sunday we put up the tree, listened to Christmas songs, and played board games as a family until it was time for bed.  I put together a bunch of appies and snack food and we all sat around the kitchen table playing Monopoly and Munchkin, and laughing and talking.  It was really wonderful.  I’m totally enjoying the stress-free holidays.

This week we have Christmas pageants to attend and gifts to get wrapped, but there seems to be no hurry to any of it.  I plan to do some baking, and give some as gifts, and send some to work with the guys.  On Christmas Eve there will be games and snacks and watching of favorite holiday movies.  We are having a small, quiet family Christmas Day, probably just the five of us.  We will have a big, fancy brunch after we open gifts, and then spend the afternoon playing with all of our new treasures and being together.  There will be turkey and wine and more food that we can possibly eat.

We plan to go to my parents house on Boxing Day, stay overnight, drop the kids off with Jack’s parents, and then come home and begin the wind-up for NYE.  We are hosting a luau party and hope to have many of our friends attend.  I haven’t hosted a big house party in ages, so I am really looking forward to going all-out and throwing a fantastic soiree!  I’m going to have a chocolate fountain with tons of fruit, coconut shrimp with pina colada dipping sauce, a dry-ice volcano, and some traditional Hawaiian luau foods.  Everyone has been asked to wear Hawaiian attire, and we are working on some games and other entertainment to go with the theme.  It’s going to be great.

I’m feeling so pleased about Christmas this year.  It’s going to be a really nice, laid-back, and relaxing one.  I’ve had enough stress for one year, so I’m happy that 2010 is going out on such a good note.

For quite some time now (ok, we are talking several YEARS here) my gut has been trying to tell me something, and I have diligently ignored it.  I’ve chalked up it’s plethora of issues to all manner of excuses, including stress, a “stomach bug”, and simple irritability.

Over the past month, it has become increasingly loud and obnoxious in it’s cries for attention.  And by cries of attention I mean constant stomach pain, accompanied by mucous-filled stool the consistency of sand, topped off with what can only be described as an oil slick, left lingering on the surface of the water after every visit to the bathroom.  And did I ever visit often!  Usually four or five times before lunch.  Generally I lost count after that.

It isn’t *always* this bad, but I would say that over the past few years, anything resembling “normal” bowel movements have been few and far between.

During my most recent commitment to clean eating, I noticed immediately a change in the way that my body processed food.  The stomach pain ceased, and after three or four days, I was having totally normal visits to the toilet.

I had expected that I would feel better once I began eating more healthfully, but it wasn’t until Aiden and I spent last weekend celebrating the anniversary of our collaring, and I indulged in a couple of meals that included refined grains and processed foods, that I really realized the connection.  Even though I only ate TWO meals that were on the indulgent side (brunch at Denny’s and a tasty chorizo cannelloni at The Old Spaghetti Factory) and I was back in the bathroom, where it looked like BP had another “woops” moment, right in my small intestines.

After our weekend, I got back on my clean eating plan, and things began to normalize again.  As of this morning, everything coming out looks like it should and I feel great.

While all of this back and forth has been going on in my digestive system, I’ve been reading and fretting, wondering if perhaps I have Celiac disease or something wrong with my pancreas.  Through a bit of dietary trial and error, the only real conclusion I’ve come to is that I have a sensitivity to refined grain products, processed foods, and foods with high fat/oil content.  It could be some sort of malabsorption problem, or irritable bowel syndrome (I’m thinking the latter, since I have all of the symptoms).  While I certainly DO intend on doing some follow-up with my doctor, for the time being I am sticking with whole grains, and avoiding fast/processed food.

For some reason, finding (or at least speculating) that this problem I have is an actual medical issue, makes it infinitely easier to stick with my improved eating habits.  Even if it’s just a self-diagnosed label at the moment, I feel like it gives me something valid to tell others and myself when it’s difficult to stick to clean foods.  My family is particularly bad for pushing foods that are far from healthy, and so with the holidays just around the corner, I feel that putting up the “I have _______ and can’t eat that” wall will make it much easier to decline gracefully.

The changes in diet and my increased exercise habits have had the delightful effect of shrinking my waist, and making me feel stronger both physically and mentally.  I’m fitting into smaller clothes, and plenty of people have remarked that they can tell I am losing weight (or at least inches).  It feels great to be headed into the holidays with a commitment to sticking to my goals and lots of support behind me (thanks boys, I couldn’t do it without you).  I know I will be a better, and fitter me, going into 2011.

We are taking 10 meals worth of freeze-dried fare, in addition to dried fruit, trail mix, couscous, beef jerky, oatmeal, fresh eggs, and Logan’s bread.

Logan bread (named for Mount Logan, the highest peak in Canada) is a dense, calorie-packed bread that lasts for up to a week in your backpack.  It was developed by climbers before the age of power bars and pre-packed hiking food.  There are plenty of variations to the recipe (I myself modified ours to taste) but the end result is always a durable and highly nutritious bread that will sustain you during long treks.

I loved that this recipe is all made in one-bowl, and is extremely easy to throw together the night before you depart on your adventure.  Baking does take two hours, and be certain to allow time for the loaves to cool completely.

Logan Bread

(Recipe courtesy of The Canadian Hiker’s & Backpacker’s Handbook, by Ben Gadd)
*Adaptations I’ve made are added in [ ]

3½ cups whole wheat flour [or 3 cups whole wheat flour and ½ cup wheat germ]
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1/3 cup dried milk powder
1/3 cup molasses
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup sunflower seeds [or 1/3 cup flax seeds]
1/3 cup sesame seeds
1 cup (more or less, depending on consistency) water

Grease two standard loaf pans [or one cookie sheet, if you wish to form you own loaves] and preheat oven to 300° F.

Mix everything together in order listed. Knead by hand until it is thoroughly mixed (and holds together).

Divide into loaf pans [or divide equally into four portions and roll into slightly flattened, round loaves] and bake for at least one hour (or until it feels firm when you push on the top with a finger). Then lower the heat to 200° F and dry loaf for an additional hour [or 45 minutes if you made smaller loaves].

Allow to cool completely before wrapping tightly in two layers of plastic wrap, and a ziplock bag. Freeze any loaves you won’t be taking with you.

Keeps for at least one week.

They turned out really well, and are tastier than I anticipated. I doubled the recipe so that we would have eight loaves, six for the trip and two to taste-test. They are a bit on the heavy side, but well worth the weight in the pack I think.

Dropping the kids off with my mum this afternoon, and so I’d better get a move on.  Keep an eye on my Twitter and TwitPic accounts if you are curious about how our backpacking adventure is progressing.

445. Walk on the beach under the moonlight with someone I love

We hiked every day, completing around 12 kms (or 7.5 miles) worth of trails by the end of our trip.  The hiking grill and firebowl I bought some months back worked out extremely well.  We found remote rocks, right on the water, where we could cook our meal and enjoy a beer, without another soul in sight.  I wish I had known about Killbear months ago, as I am certain that Jack and the kids would have had a ball there with us.  It would have been lovely to have all gone together.

Over the course of the weekend we took over 400 photos, and on Monday I compiled the 200 best ones into a DVD slide-show set to music that we listed to during the trip.  Out of those 200, I’ve selected some of my favorites to include in this post, enjoy!

I am absolutely in love with the place.  V joined us for the inspection, and she and I spent the better part of three hours planning and discussing what to do in each room.  We talked about paint and furniture and storage possibilities.  It was wonderful.  I cannot wait to move in there and “nest” as she calls it.  I look forward to unpacking and settling in, with her help.  She’s always my go-to girl whenever I need her, and I am so very lucky to have such an amazing best friend.

I’m getting ahead of myself, of course, LOL.  On Friday night I flew into Calgary, and Jack met me at the gate with a dozen roses.  Such a sweet gesture.  We went out for dinner, and then headed over to V’s place, where she joined us after a late shift at work.  It was so good to see her!  We had a couple of beers, and stayed up rather late, but I’ve missed her terribly.

Saturday morning Jack and I got up early, as we had a brief meeting with our realtor, to sign some paperwork.  We grabbed Starbucks on our way over, as we were both rather tired, and once we were finished signing our lives away, we went for a proper breakfast at Denny’s.  The day before we had agreed to turn Twitter off on our phones, and ignore them completely (with the exception of child-related messages/calls) so that we wouldn’t be distracted during our time together.  It was really nice to have Jack’s undivided attention all day  I think we should have “phone-free” outings more often.

Once we were full, and sufficiently caffeinated, we went to Camper’s Village to pick up a new tent.  After doing a lot of reading and research, I settled on The North Face Double Headed Toad 44, which is a 4-person, 3-season tent that should stand up to just about anything we can subject it to.  Jack and I share a mutual love for all things camping related, and we had a great time browsing through the store, admiring all of the fantastic gear.  I really enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to testing out the new tent when Aiden and I go camping.

After we had finished there, we headed out of the city to the CrossIron Mills, which is home to one of only three Bass Pro Shops in Canada (the other two are both here in Ontario).  MOAR CAMPING GEAR!  Such a very cool store.  The mall itself was also amazing.  Tons of stores, and a vast food court, where Jack and I sat down for a while to relax and enjoy a coffee.  We spent at least a couple of hours wandering around the mall and looking at things, holding hands, and talking.  There hasn’t been much alone time for the two of us lately, and it was really wonderful having nowhere to be, and no rush, or limits on how long we could be out and about.

Once we had seen enough of the mall, Jack took me by the new house, just to see the outside and peep in the windows a little.  I was really excited to see the inside on Sunday.

We grabbed a milkshake and a burger from Peters’ on our way back to V’s place, to hold us over until supper that evening.  They still make the best milkshakes I’ve ever had.

After V arrived home from work, we got ready to go for dinner at the Barbecue Steak Pit in Bragg Creek.  We made it just in time for our reservations, and the four of us had a delicious dinner together.  It’s probably been three years since the last time I’ve eaten there, but the food was just as fantastic as it’s always been.

Once we had eaten dinner, we headed back to Calgary, and on the way I mentioned wanting to look for a bottle of Crystal Head Vodka, since it’s been banned here in Ontario, and I knew it was available in Alberta.  I read about it recently, and became immediately enamored with the bottle, which is a glass skull.  At the first liquor store we checked, they were out of stock, but the helpful sales girl printed us a list of every liquor store in Calgary that had carried it in the last six months.  We checked a second store (also out of stock) before V and I decided to just start dialing each store on the list.  We must have called a dozen places between us, and everyone seemed to be out of stock.  I don’t think I’ve ever gone to that much trouble for a bottle of liquor before, LOL.  Finally V talked to a gentleman who had three bottles in stock, and promised to stay open a few minutes past his regular closing time so that we could drive over and pick up our much-sought-after prize.

V and I each purchased a bottle, for a cool $50, which is probably the most I’ve ever spent on 26oz of vodka.  We were thrilled with our find, and once we were back at V’s, we eagerly cracked open a bottle and everyone had a drink.  Not only is the bottle super awesome, but it contains the smoothest, most delicious vodka I’ve ever tried.  In fact, I think it’s ruined me entirely and now I will never be able to drink any other brand (which is fine, because I want to amass those bottles like it’s going out of style).  We all really enjoyed it, even M, who only drinks once every three or four years.

Much later, in the wee hours of the morning, we retired, only to get up semi-early on Sunday to attend the house inspection.  Jack went on ahead, while V and I grabbed coffee and breakfast before meeting him at the house.  We eagerly toured each room, squealing and chatting excitedly the entire time.  It’s a beautiful house.  Five bedrooms, an impressive kitchen, a den, a formal dining room, and the basement isn’t even finished yet!  We are going to have MORE than enough room.  It’s gorgeous.

After we had spent hours planning and scheming, while Jack and the inspector went through the house with a fine-toothed comb, and gave it his stamp of approval, the three of us grabbed lunch together and discussed all of our grand plans.  It was nearly time for us to leave for the airport, but I really enjoyed some last-minute time with V.  It was far easier to leave, knowing that I will see her again in just over a month.  It wasn’t our usual mournful parting, but a joyful “See you soon!” as we departed in our respective vehicles.

We caught our plane back to Toronto, and made it home around midnight.

This morning I got up early to see Aiden off to work.  I missed him over the weekend, and I am looking forward to spending some time with him this evening when he gets home.

All in all it was a first-rate weekend.  This coming weekend Aiden and I were supposed to go camping, however, due to some scheduling conflicts with Jack, we’ve decided to postpone until later in June.  Instead I think we will spend this weekend at the zoo, and perhaps take in the Borden Air Show.

The kids had a ball with Aiden while we were gone.  He took them to visit his parents and swim in their pool, and his mum spoiled the hell out of them.  He also took them for a nature scavenger hunt, and generally kept them outdoors and well entertained (not to mention totally worn out) all weekend.

Speaking of worn out, I think it’s nap time for yours truly.

On Friday night Aiden went and picked up our friend, Dex, and the three of us went to see How To Train Your Dragon.  It was a SUPER cute movie, and we all really enjoyed it.  Jack and P took the kids to see it during her visit last month, and they kept telling us how fantastic it was, even for adults.

Saturday was comprised of cleaning out the garage and packing up boxes.  Not the most fun job ever, but Aiden and Dex pitched in while Jack occupied the children and worked on things in the house.  It was nice to make some progress anyway.  After cleaning up Jack wanted to take Dex out for dinner to celebrate his recent birthday, and so the six of us went for sushi at our favorite Japanese restaurant.  The food, as always, was delicious.

After dinner Aiden took Dex home while Jack and I watched part of a movie on TV and then went to bed early.

Sunday was Luke’s first communion, after which Aiden and I took the kids to meet his family for the first time.  I was anxious over the entire affair, but the kiddos were exceptionally well-behaved, and didn’t say anything awkward.  Aiden’s mother seemed thrilled to have them, and they got to meet his siblings and grandparents as well.  Everyone complimented me on how cute and well-behaved they were.  It went better than I expected, and I’ve had to promise that I would bring them back again.

The rugrats fell asleep in the back seat on the way home while Aiden and I talked about the impending move and how poorly I have been dealing with the stress of it all.  Jack remarked recently that he has been concerned about how sad I’ve seemed lately, and the only explanation I can come up with is anxiety over everything we need to get done before July gets here.  I haven’t been sleeping enough either, which negatively impacts my ability to deal with anything.  It’s getting pretty bad.  I feel like if I am not fighting with one of the guys, I am fighting with the other.  The kids grind my nerves much easier than usual.  I’ve been feeling completely overwhelmed.  The first day I began packing, I literally stood there with an empty box and was at a loss for where to begin.  Just looking around made me tired.

I am glad that after pacing around a little, I just opened a drawer and began purging and sorting.  It seems as though it got the ball rolling, and I feel like I have more direction and a better game plan now.  Working on the garage helped, because we made a VISIBLE dent, which adds to the good feelings of accomplishment.  It’s difficult to get really excited about having done something when you can’t even tell that there was a lot of hard work poured into it.

I feel badly that the guys have been suffering through the brunt of my crazies.  I know I haven’t been easy to live with.  I am going to work on keeping my emotions in check, and taking better care of myself, because both of those things have been seriously lacking.  We only have 65 more days until the new house is ours, and I would rather have 65 days of hard work and pulling together as a family than 65 days of ripping peoples heads off at the slightest provocation.  I don’t like myself when I get like this, which only adds to the aggravation and frustration I feel.

Hopefully I can make it up to them, and remain extra-conscious of my emotional state over the next two months.  For now I am off to fill some more boxes.  Every time I tape one shut and add it to the growing stack, I feel a little bit better about everything

First I began writing about a tantrum I had on Friday that culminated in me taking off my collar and leaving it on Aiden’s bed while he was at work.  The discussion that followed was rather uncomfortable for me, and just this morning I completed the two-page apology that will hopefully earn me a second chance at being Aiden’s slave.  I miss my collar.  I feel naked without its familiar weight around my neck.

Second I began writing about the dull and mostly shitastic weekend that I had, but it’s all water under the bridge now.

Third I began writing about P’s arrival, and the wonderful visit we’ve had thus far.  Yesterday we spent the day shopping together, and making plans for the future.  We talked about her relationship with Jack, and I assured her that I am indeed very ok with them being together, and that I hope it lasts.  Yes, I still have the odd twinge of discomfort in my guts, but it passes as quickly as it comes.  Kind of like a moment of unfounded anxiety, or having butterflies when you drive through just the right sort of dip in a road at just the right speed.  Any “weirdness” (I wouldn’t even go so far to call it jealousy or insecurity or anything like that) on my part is quickly and easily dispersed by the fact that they make each other so happy, and it makes me happy to see them together.

This is what compersion feels like.

Next week Aiden is going to be working graveyards, which means I will be sleeping alone at night.  My period is also due on Tuesday, which means I am going to have to be extra-aware of my emotional state and do what I can to keep my irrational craziness in check.  Aiden and I have LARP next weekend, so fortunately I will have that to look forward to.  Even though we don’t actually spend a lot of time together “in-game” there is still the car ride there and back for us to talk and be with each other.  We should be able to coordinate sleep schedules at the event as well so that we both get in a bit of cuddling time, and aren’t apart the entire weekend.  That’s the thing about LARP.  Even though it’s something we do together, we aren’t actually together while we are there.  In the game we don’t know each other, so it doesn’t make any reasonable sense in the story for us to be anywhere near each other.  If we were staying in this game for any period of time, yes eventually our characters would probably become pals, but for now we are essentially strangers.

It’s strange, I know.  Just smile and nod.

The paperwork for our relocation came though, and Jack signed off on it.  Now the whole thing just has to get one more signature (from someone in Jack’s office, whom is in charge of such things) and it’s all set in stone for us.  That should happen today or tomorrow.  Either way, by Friday everyone in our family will know that we are moving, and the minor details should begin to solidify (the exact moving timeline, help with the kids and with packing, the actual crossing of the country, etc.)

There seems to be so much to do, in what feels like very little time, but I know it will all work out as it should.  It always does.

For the time being I am going to enjoy my visit with P.  Aiden and I have plans to go hiking on Friday.  I’m going to pack a picnic, and later in the evening we have a family dinner to attend (on his side) to celebrate Granny’s birthday.  Saturday is my tattoo appointment, and also Easter dinner here at Chez Gibson.  I think we are going to have turkey, with all of the excessive trimmings, since I didn’t go all out for Christmas and I am kind of in the mood to celebrate what with all the great news we’ve had around here lately.

That reminds me, I’d better plan to do some baking tomorrow.  Maybe I will post some photos of food, or my new bras or panties.  MAYBE.

• Metal shoehorns will leave bruises with hardly any effort at all

• People get kind of excited when you serve Cornish hens and leave them whole.  Like “We get a WHOLE bird?  Each?”

• Kolach, while the most beautiful of breads, is less like bread and more like a giant pretzel

• Even candles that are 100% paraffin wax are sometimes still too hot for wax play

• You have to start really early in the morning to watch all six Star Wars movies in one day

• If you push hard enough on a Wartenberg wheel, it will totally draw blood

• My kids know that babies come out of the vagina, but have no idea what butter is

As you can see, we had no shortage of fun around here.

Our Ukrainian Christmas celebration on Friday night was a wonderful success.  Nia and Muse were able to join us for dinner, and the five of us enjoyed the meal at a leisurely pace.  The kutia, although kind of strange looking, was really tasty.

Making traditional Ukrainian Christmas bread was probably my favorite part of all the preparation, and it allowed me to cross something off of my list.

109. Bake homemade bread

It turned out beautifully, and although it does take a bit of time, making bread from scratch without any assistance is really satisfying.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get around to making fudge over the weekend, but there is always this coming weekend.  We were short on both time and snow, but it’s not the end of the world.

On Saturday morning I got up and left Jack to sleep in.  After feeding the kids and the dogs, I made coffee for Aiden and myself and took it down to his room to wake him.  He’s generally not much for mornings, so I crawled into bed beside him for a cuddle, and tried my best to suppress my obnoxious “IT’S MORNING!!! THIS IS THE BEST TIME OF DAY EVAR!” attitude.

We snuggled, and then we started kissing.  We hadn’t seen each other all week, and due to having company and dinner the night before, we hadn’t really spent any time alone together.  Aiden normally doesn’t wake up “in the mood” so I was kind of surprised, in the best sort of way, when kissing led to him pulling my pajamas off while I stroked his cock under the covers.

I took him in my mouth for a few moments while his fingers were between my thighs.  His cock was incredibly hard, and I was aching for it, so I begged him to fuck me.

When he slid into my pussy my breath caught in my throat.  I wrapped my legs around him and pulled him closer, so that his pubic bone was rubbing against my clit with each thrust.

It felt like we hadn’t been together in ages.  Everything but our panting, and the feel of his skin on mine just sort of faded into the background.

I bit down on his shoulder to keep from whimpering too loudly while he fucked me, until he groaned into my ear and I felt his cock twitch in my pussy while he came.

We cuddled a while longer, and drank our coffee, and then got up and put some clothes on before heading upstairs.  Jack got up too and I made breakfast, and we all ate together before Aiden and I headed out to run some errands.

While we were out we got Aiden’s passport photos done and then we stopped at this weird little store in search of a curved barbell for his PA piercing, which we found.  We also found a set of metal thumbcuffs there, which Aiden decided he should have, LOL.  We haven’t had a chance to try them yet, but I’m looking forward to it.

In the afternoon we all settled in to watch the Star Wars movies.  Unfortunately we started way too late in the day to watch all six of them.  The kids were up for the first two, and then they went to bed.  Aiden and I watched the third one with Jack and then we begged off to play a little before bed.

There was flogging and then a little strapping and then a lovely massage followed by a bit of wax play that unfortunately had to end quite prematurely as these are really not suitable for such applications.

After he had scraped off the worst of the wax with a knife, I had a quick shower and then returned to his room for snuggling and a bit of fooling around that ended with him coming on my face.  As tempted as I was to shower for a THIRD time that day, I was tired, and so excused myself to wash my face and then we cuddled up in bed and went to sleep.

Sunday morning came far too early.  I got up before either Jack or Aiden, fed children and hounds, and then made coffee and went back downstairs.  Aiden and I cuddled a little and then drank our coffee and got up for the day.

Breakfast was made once Jack was up, and then we watched Mantracker (such a good show!) before Aiden and I planned to leave for his place.

When we got into town we went to his place, and I tried to coax Tank to eat one of the mice that is currently living with him.  Stubborn little shit wouldn’t eat though, even as I herded the mice towards him and they crawled over his head.  I really do need to remember to take my camera one of these days to get some pictures of him.  Apparently at some point yesterday he killed one of the mice but didn’t even eat it.  He’s kind of a strange snake.

Aiden called his mom and she invited us over for dinner, and since we hadn’t really made any firm plans yet, we went over and had chili (it was delicious) and visited for almost three hours.

Then we picked up some groceries, and went back to his house to hang out until I had to leave.  I changed his PA jewelry for him, and this barbell isn’t really the answer, but it will do until something more suitable can be found.  Then we crawled into bed and cuddled, which somehow led to him fucking me with something like this until I thought I might make a terrible mess all over his bed.  Unfortunately being too concerned about the mess prevented that from happening, but I did have such an intense orgasm that my abdominal muscles were sore the next day.  After I had recovered, I sucked his cock until he came in my mouth, and then we cuddled for a few more minutes until I had to go.

All in all it was a really good weekend.  I’m looking forward to this coming weekend as well, since Aiden and I are going to a play party, and I have plans with friends, and Jack and I are going out on Sunday to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary.

It’s difficult to believe that January is already almost half over!

First on December 25th, like most everyone else, and then again today, which is Ukrainian Christmas.

When Jack and I got married, there was some sorting out as to how holidays should be observed.  We combined our separate traditions into our own unique and mutually agreeable hodge-podge of festive goodness.  He now gets pajamas on Christmas Eve from The PJ Elf, and I now get to make up for crappy over-commercialized Christmas with quiet and stress-free Ukrainian Christmas.

While most people are packing up their ornaments, our tree will remain up until at least the 10th.  We don’t usually exchange gifts for Ukrainian Christmas, because it’s really not about that, and who wants to go shopping AGAIN, after suffering through weeks of insanity the month before?  We prefer to focus on enjoying good food with people we love and our plans for the coming year.

This year I am really excited about “Second Christmas” as Aiden called it.  We are not having the traditional 12-course meatless meal, but I am making a number of customary dishes (kutia, kolach, pyrohy) that are usually served as part of the traditional meal.  We’re also having Cornish game hens and cabbage rolls.

We’re actually celebrating it tomorrow, so that Aiden can join us for dinner.  I bought chestnuts for toasting, and I’m planning to attempt my great grandmother’s old-school homemade fudge recipe.  Neither Jack, nor Aiden, nor the kiddos have ever had fudge on snow, which is one of my fondest winter memories as a child.  My grandmother would make a batch of fudge, and when it got to the soft ball stage, I would run out into the yard with a pan and scoop up clean snow.  Then she would drizzle patterns of liquid chocolate into the snow, which would immediately cool to the consistency of soft taffy.  We would eat it until we were nearly sick, and then we would all take turns beating air into the remaining fudge until it was ready to set.  I was the oldest cousin, and I remember watching all the little cousins and siblings gathering eagerly around (or on) the counter, waiting for the candy to be just right.  Then we’d all scramble to be the first to get our paws into the pan, even though we knew that there would be more than any of us could possibly eat, without risking a significant tummy ache.  My grandma would utter a few futile warnings about waiting our turns, and then give up with a chuckle.  I don’t know why it never occurred to use to pour it over ice cream, LOL, but perhaps we’ll have to try that here.

Being so far from our families, I don’t want my kids to miss out on experiences like that.  I want to make sure that I at least attempt to pass on some of the best parts of my childhood.

Aiden and I were both rather sad that we didn’t get to be together for Christmas on the 25th (I mean who doesn’t want to be with ALL of the people they really care about during the holidays?) so I feel like we get to do it over, the way I would have preferred to celebrate “First Christmas”.  Maybe that’s why I’m actually feeling more festive than I did during the entire month of December.

On Saturday the three of us and the kiddos are going to hole up in front of the big screen and watch all of the Star Wars movies (I got Jack all six movies for Christmas).  Maybe we’ll go out and frolic in the snow a little if it’s not too far below zero.  I’m looking forward to some down time with my two most favorite males.  Hopefully Aiden and I will have a chance to play on Saturday or Sunday as well *Cheeky Wink*.

I hope everyone has a great weekend (even if you aren’t lucky enough to get a second Christmas).  I have to go knead some bread dough.

Merry Ukrainian Christmas!

Despite some traffic issues, we made it with time to spare.  He kissed me goodbye, and into the terminal I went to check my bag and get through security.

While I waited at my gate I chatted with Kade from my CrackBerry.  I haven’t seen him since the beginning of July, and we only talk sporadically.  There really isn’t much of a relationship there, I’d barely even call it a friendship.  It feel like it’s over as far as I am concerned, but certain remarks from him make it obvious he doesn’t feel the same way.  V, Aiden, Nia, and probably Jack think it’s time to write him a “Dear John” letter and just let him know this isn’t really working for me, and most likely I will, I just hate this sort of thing.  More on that some other day.

The flight was five hours long, and pretty uneventful.  I had somehow forgotten my iPod and headphones, but fortunately had not failed to pack plenty of books and writing tools.  I also managed to doze a little for the last hour of the flight, which was good, because by the time I landed in Vancouver, it was 2am my time (11pm local).

My sister and one of my brothers met me at the airport and then we caught the skytrain to their part of the city.  It’s kind of a shitty part of town, but their apartment itself is kind of nice.  Or it would be if any of them believed in cleaning.  My other brother was waiting for us at home.  Obviously everyone is going to need names:

Brother 1 – (Second Oldest, after me) will be called Brody

Brother 2 – (Third Oldest) will be called Kaz

Sister – (Youngest) will be called Rory

Brother 2′s Girlfriend – will be called Jena

Jena lives in the apartment as well, with the rest of them, and she’s been dating Kaz for two years, so it was nice to finally meet her.  I love my brother, but I don’t know what she sees in him as she’s my age and he’s like a 12 year old in a 22 year old body.  Anyway, she’s a sweet girl.

We all hung out and talked and eventually the boys went to bed, leaving Rory and I to visit.  In Summer ’08 I had accidentally told her about the poly when we were out drinking one night, and so she wanted to know how things were going with that.  I had already mentioned “my friend Aiden” several times in conversation during the evening, and she guessed that perhaps we were more than friends.  We stayed up talking until 3am their time, and then she went to bed.  I was sleeping on the couch, right beside a window that is so close to the skytrain track you could almost jump from one to the other.  As it was 5am Ontario time, I knew that Aiden would be getting up for work momentarily and so I logged onto MSN from my phone, sent him a message, and then snuggled down under the blankets.  Eventually he messaged me back and told me to go to sleep.  We chatted briefly before he had to leave, and then I managed to doze off some, before the trains started running again and kept waking me up.  It wasn’t the most awesome first night, LOL.

I slept until 8am Vancouver time, and then woke up and could not get back to sleep.  I poked around the kitchen and managed to make a pot of coffee.  Then I did some reading until the other members of the house began to wake.  Rory had to go to work, as did Jena, but the boys are both currently focusing a lot of time on their music, so they don’t have regular work hours and planned to hang out with me for the day.

They were very pleased with my coffee making skills, and so I showed them how to not brew toxic sludge of the molasses consistency.

Eventually the three of us wandered out into the street in search of breakfast.  We walked a long way up Commercial Drive, to a little place called The Reef where they like to go.  The food was indeed excellent, particularly the Johnny Cakes which are basically balls of deep-fried batter served with a kind of flavored butter.  They would be the most perfect hangover food, especially at .50 cents each, and being the size of a tennis ball.

While we were waiting for our food, they cornered me about poly.  Apparently the walls in that apartment are thinner than I thought, and they had overheard parts of my conversation with Rory the night before.  They were curious, asking many questions about how our arrangement works, and if it makes us happy, and are we sure this isn’t just screwing around?  I was as honest as I could be with them, without being too open about my personal sex life which just isn’t any of their business, LOL.  At the end, they said that as long as I am content with my choices, they support me.  It was one of the best moments I’ve ever had with them, as we didn’t have a very close relationship until quite recently when they started to grow up a little.

They also want to meet Aiden, and I’ve promised them and Rory that they will get a chance.  Either the next time I go there, or when they come here, whichever comes first.

It’s really pretty amazing to be ‘out’ to my siblings.  They are the only family members that know, and it feels like now that it’s all in the open, I can be more normal with them.  Eventually our parents will be gone, and it will be just the 4 of us, and they actually accept me for who I am.  For the first time ever I don’t feel like I’m going to have to spend the rest of my life hiding.

Brody is convinced that I should write a book (they don’t know about this site, for obvious reasons) and that if I could find a way to make money off of being poly, our parents would accept it.  If there is one thing my parents understand, it’s money, and he thinks that they would have a hard time condemning something that is putting food on the table, even if it’s morally offensive to them.  He’s probably right.  If I became successful and famous, and it was somehow related to this unusual lifestyle we lead, they would be inviting Aiden over for dinner immediately.  Ok maybe not immediately, but it would certainly make them FAR more receptive.

Who knows if that is ever to be (I doubt it, and I’m not banking on it) but I’m not as scared of coming out as I used to be.  Even if my parents disown me, I know my siblings will still have my back, and that means more to me than anything.  I will never be totally cut off from my family.  My kids will never be without extended family to love them.

After breakfast, we all had a coffee on the patio of a nearby JJ Bean.  We shot the shit for a while, and then caught a train into downtown.  We walked around for a while, and then half-way over the bridge to Granville Island.  It was a great view.  I’ve missed seeing the mountains terribly since moving away from Alberta.

It was over-cast and kind of dreary, so I didn’t take a ton of pictures.

For dinner we met up with Rory, her boyfriend, and Jena at The Eatery.  The boys and I nommed through almost $100 worth of sushi, but IT WAS THE BEST SUSHI I’VE EVER TASTED!  The atmosphere was awesome, although it was a bit of a yuppie hangout.  We were probably a little grunge as compared to their usual crowd, but I’d totally go back there any time.  It was delicious.  Sorry for the crappy camera phone pic, but it’s better than nothing, I think.

After we were all full and happy, Rory’s boyfriend drove us back to the apartment and we sat around talking until the wee hours again.

Friday morning was much like Thursday morning.  I was awake first, made coffee, did some reading.  Jena didn’t have to work, but Kaz didn’t feel like eating, so she and Brody and I went out to breakfast together at a little cafe around the corner from their place.  It was decent food for the price.

After breakfast (which, by the way, didn’t occur until 1:20 pm) we mostly just hung around the apartment and bullshitted.  I ventured out on my own for a while to pick up some postcards and souvenirs, and to get some fresh air.  It was raining out so I didn’t really wander too far.

That evening my cousin came over and we all had drinks together.  I hadn’t seen her in over two years.  When Rory got home from work we all got ready and caught the skytrain downtown to go to The Cambie.  The line was long, however.  Rory and my cousin and Jena all decided to just pay the cover charge instead of waiting.  The boys and I were going to stick it out and wait, but after an hour we got annoyed and decided to go look for something else to do.  After checking out a couple of pubs we decided to grab pizza and go back to the apartment and have a beer there.  It was actually really nice, because you can’t really talk in a loud bar like that and I was mostly there to spend time with them.

I feel like my brothers and I bonded for possibly the first time ever.  We weren’t at all close growing up, and then I left home when they were just entering their teens, and never lived with them again.  I sometimes envy the close relationship the three of them have.  Sometimes I feel like I grew up as an only child, just due to our complicated family dynamics (I was the only child of my mom’s first marriage, I don’t have the same ‘dad’ as they do).  They have always been really good pals, and I didn’t really know them as people until the last couple of years.  They were always just ‘the kids’ to me.  If for no other reason, the trip was worth it because I feel like my brothers and I are friends now, which is awesome.

Eventually Rory and her boyfriend and Jena got home from the bar and we all went to bed exhausted.

Day 3&4 will have to wait for another post

A) Start keeping a pen and paper beside my bed and then force myself to write things down, because this is not the first time it’s happened

B) Write this post in the hopes that I’ll say something random that may jog my memory

Recently Jack and I have begun discussing selling our house and moving somewhere closer to his job.  When we initially came out here, we didn’t know anything about the area, and the city where we live was the first place we really liked, and so we bought a place.  Since living here and getting to know the surrounding towns, we’ve realized that we could have made our home in a location that is more convenient for Jack.  As it is, his commute to and from work is about 45 minutes each way, which is kind of brutal.  If there is heavy traffic that time can stretch up to 2 hours.

There is also the fact that this house, however beautiful it is, is really not very practical.  I know I’m going to sound terribly spoiled with this next part, but it’s TOO big.  We currently have 3 guest rooms, 3!  The dogs have their own room, as do each of the children, and that still leaves 3 bedrooms.  If we decide not to move, one of the bedrooms will be re-purposed into a den for me, as Jack already has one, and the dogs took over the room that I was originally planning to use for my stuff.  By that time there were already beds in each of the other 3 rooms, so I need to find a new home for one of them before I can create a space for myself.

I would love to move into a smaller house in the country, where I could have a horse and maybe some chickens or something.  I grew up on the farm, caring for all manner of creatures from peacocks to baby pigs.  This wouldn’t be the kind of farm that one could live off of, it would mainly be a hobby/new experience for Jack and the kids.  I would love to live further than 4 feet from my neighbor.  I would love to have horses again, and a great big garden, and fruit trees, and a drive-way that holds more than 2 cars.

The current house is not yet in shape for putting on the market, but everything that needs to be done is cosmetic: paint touch-ups, staining some railings, purging all the extra crap we’ve aquired over the years and yet don’t need.  That last one is the hardest of all, because I’m one of those people who hates to let go of anything “in case I need it someday”.  I have no problem letting go of things that are impractical, even sentimental (to a point) but if it’s something I might actually use, I hate to get rid of it.

Waffle makers are a good example.  Jack and I had one of those round Belgian waffle makers when we lived in Calgary.  During the move, it got packed in with low-priority items, and sat in a box for some months after we arrived out east.  At some point while it was still packed, I wanted to make waffles, but didn’t feel like rooting through umpteen boxes to find it.  Jack suggested we just get another one.  The one we have isn’t fancy or expensive anyway, so we got a second one.  Now that we are all unpacked, there are two waffle irons in the storage room.  While V was here, she was helping me sort through some kitchen items and said “Why don’t you get rid of one of these?  Do you really need two?”

Yes, I do need two waffle irons.  My justification is that it’s much faster to make waffles for a crowd when you can make more than one at a time.  Heaven forbid that anyone have to WAIT the two minutes it takes to cook a waffle.  She let the waffle iron thing go, but rolled her eyes so far back in her head at me that I could not see her pupils.

See what I mean?  That storage room also contains a wooden salad bowl set that I HAVE NEVER USED.  Not to mention a casserole dish that I have kept just for when I make chocolate pudding cake.  I’m serious, that’s the only thing I ever use it for, and if I could tell you the last time I made chocolate pudding cake, I would probably feel better about the fact that I’m keeping that stupid dish.

We also have two coffee makers: a regular 12-cup drip, and the awesome Keurig that I bought shortly after we moved.  I justified that in my head by telling myself that having the 12-cup drip is better for when we have company, because then I can make a lot of coffee at once, instead of people having to wait their turn to brew an individual cup of coffee.  Do you see a common theme here?  None of these things are for my own convenience, they exist to ensure that nobody has to wait.  This is the house of immediate gratification.  If you have to wait for anything, you might as well go throw yourself out of the third floor window.

It occurs to me that perhaps the drip coffee maker should take up temporary residence at Aiden’s, since I spend almost as much time at his place as I do at home, LOL.  Plus then I would have real coffee while I’m there.  And I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about spending a ridiculous amount of money on a one-cup coffee maker that is currently collecting dust in our basement.

Yesterday I found my wedding dress.  I pulled it out of the box it was in and looked at it, and the first thing I thought was “I should sell this thing” because I didn’t even like it when I wore it that one day back in ’02, when this amazing guy married me without totally understanding what he was getting into

I’ve been promising myself ever since that someday I’ll get to ‘do it over’ in a way and wear a dress that I actually like.

How did I get roped into wearing a dress that I didn’t want?  My mother.  Since she was the one with the cheque book, she and the sales lady ganged up on me and pushed me into a dress that wasn’t at all me.  It wasn’t anything like what I’d always envisioned myself getting married in.  Between her, the sales lady, and the fact that Jack and I put our wedding together in less than two months, I ‘settled’ a lot when it came to our big day, but that is a post for another time.

The other day when Aiden was here, he was looking in a cupboard for something and remarked on the fact that I have a fondue set.

“I have three of them” I said, without even thinking about how weird that is.

I also own a blossoming cake stand collection.  I think I’m up to five, a number that would make Martha Stewart proud.  Can a person ever own too many cake stands?  I think not!

Recently I was reading a story about a family of minimalists who could probably fit their collective possessions into my closet, with room to spare, and I thought “I would love to live like that…as long as I didn’t have to give up my coffee maker, and my book collection, and my…”

Honestly, I do want to get by with less stuff.  I feel like the best parts of life are lost in the race to acquire more things.  My hoarding problem, I will show it to you.  If I ever want to get into a house that I can actually manage (and by that I mean a house that does not require constant cleaning because of it’s sheer size) I am going to need to let go of a LOT.

Do any of you need a waffle iron or a set of wooden salad bowls?

296. Watch all of the Harry Potter movies in a row

301. Take my kids to a Rainforest Cafe

317. Make caramel apples

324. Visit the Wings Of Paradise Butterfly Conservatory

471. Visit a science center

483. Read The New Bottoming Book by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy

Obviously there isn’t much to say about some of them.  The Harry Potter movies, for instance.  Jack gave me the complete set (well, up to year 5, which is still ‘current’) for Christmas in 2007, and I hadn’t managed to watch them all until the beginning of this month when I was down with the flu.  I spent most of several days in bed, and between naps, I watched all 5 of the them.  Yes, I am a HP junkie

The New Bottoming Book was a birthday gift from my friend, Nia. I greatly enjoyed reading it, and I learned a thing or two from the witty combination of information and humor. If you’re in the lifestyle, and identify as a switch or a bottom or a sub, it’s worth picking up.

The caramel apples were a creation I made on a whim one evening.  I’d seen a cooking show in which rather than dipping the entire apple, the chef had used a melon-baller to create bite-sized caramel apples.  How adorable!  And brilliant!  That allows one to enjoy all the goodness of caramel apples, without having to eat a great big portion.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a ton of experience with making caramel from scratch, and I overcooked it just a bit.  The results were not what I’d hoped, but that just leaves room for improvement!

Last week, while my relations were in town for a few days, I took them to the Wings Of Paradise Butterfly Conservatory, since my aunt was eager to check it out. As small as the place is, that only provides tons of opportunities for photographing butterflies. There is also a lovely cafe there, and a gift shop. If you’re in the area, it’s a place I would suggest checking out. You can actually watch butterflies emerge from their chrysalis, and then dry their delicate wings and fly for the first time.

During another day of their visit, we took the children to the Ontario Science Center, and the for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe afterwards. The former was a wonderful experience, and I can’t wait to go back. The latter, I doubt I would ever visit again. Do you know what it’s like to wait for a table with a cranky and very hungry pregnant lady, and 3 tired and overly-hyper children?

Do you know what it’s like to do that for AN HOUR???

Well I do, and let me tell you, I’d sooner have my pubic hairs plucked out with tweezers one at a time.

The staff was rude, careless, uninterested in the fact that we had be told the wait would be 25 minutes, only to have it stretch to 45, and then an hour. I debated turning the children loose in the gift shop to trash the place entirely, before taking them to eat at Pickle Barrel.  I’ve never received such poor service in my life, and I would certainly not recommend that any of you ever visit that location (Yorkdale Mall, Toronto).

It was an eventful day, at any rate. The kids enjoyed all but the wait for the table, and I managed to hold it together until I got home and went directly to bed.  The whole day, and time they were here, was quite an adventure at any rate.  It was good to be able to achieve a number of list items as well.

That’s right.  When you are eating raw, you can have cheesecake for breakfast and still have room to spare in your skinny jeans.  In fact, I would say that most days, at least one of my meals consists entirely of dessert.  That may sound odd, but the desserts are so good for you, it’s difficult to believe.

The desserts are 100% raw, made from totally natural and healthy ingredients, and sweetened without sugars or anything high in fats.  V and I had actually been lacking when it comes to calories, so our tasty new creations have pushed us closer to the necessary range, which allows us to indulge as often as we wish.

We’ve also gotten far more creative in the kitchen, thanks to this amazing website, which is a veritable gold mine of delicious raw recipes.

Raw Chili Soup

Raw Blueberry Cheesecake

Raw Turtles

Many of these items will become regular staples of our kitchen, long after this month of raw foods is over. How can you not love a cheesecake that tastes and feels like regular cheesecake, without all of that fat and calories?

Granted, I’ve allowed myself a cup of coffee or two each day during this week, mostly because I felt like I needed it to cope with our house guests.  Lame, I know, but I’m not going to punish myself for it.  As Jack pointed out to me last night, I was quite ill-prepared for this raw foods business, and had I done more research ahead of time, I likely would have decided that coffee is not a ‘food’ and therefore, did not fall under the constraints of eating raw.  However, it’s worked in nicely to the cleansing process, and while I won’t write off this month over a few cups of coffee, V and I have both decided to give it our all for the final 10 days of February.  We’re going to be as close to totally raw as possible from today on.

A curious thing has happened that bears mentioning.  V hasn’t had a period this month.  It was due on Thursday, and yet there is no sign that it’s planning to make an appearance at all.  After some reading, we’ve come to the conclusion that this is sometimes a part of eating raw.  It’s not unheard of for women to continue ovulating regularly, and yet never menstruate, while they are following this lifestyle.  How much does that rock?  My next one is due at the end of the month and I am curious to see if I get it at all.  The complete lack of PMS, cramping, or all of that messy bleeding is just about enough incentive to eat raw for life.

It’s hard to believe that there are only 10 days left.  Already this has been the most difficult list item I’ve done, and perhaps the most challenging month I’ve had since our move to Ontario.  I’ve learned much about myself, diets, and my relationship with food, all of which I plan to share in my summary posts, when the month is over.

Now, I’m going to make some raw fettuccine alfredo (zucchini ‘noodles’ topped with a tasty raw alfredo sauce).  Photos to come in the next post

Crust:

2 cups raw almonds (we used a combination of raw cashews and Brazil nuts) – finely ground in a food processor

1/3 cup raw agave nectar

Filling:

3/4 cup Thai coconut water

1/4 cup raw cashews

1/4 cup coconut butter (sometimes called coconut oil)

1/3 cup agave nectar

2 tablespoons spirulina

1 tablespoon carob powder

To make the crust:

In a mixing bowl, combine the ground almonds and agave nectar, and mix well.  Press the mixture evenly into the bottom and sides of a 5-inch pie tin.

To make the filling:

In a blender combine all of the filling ingredients and blend until smooth.  Pour the mixture into the pie crust and freeze for no less than 1 hour before serving

Note: all of the necessary ingredients, including powdered spirulina, can be found in most health food stores.

V and I have discovered a number of tasty recipes, and we’ve begun getting accustomed to the methods and ingredients involved in raw foods preparation.  Here are a few of the tasty things we’ve been eating recently:

Veggie Sandwiches On Raw Onion Bread

Raw Gardenburger

Raw Spirulina Pie

It’s becoming less of a struggle and more of normal way of eating. Yes, I still miss coffee, but I’m not thinking about as much.

The results are encouraging.  Yesterday I tried on a pair of pants that I bought the last time I lost weight, and they fit again!  I haven’t been able to put them on for a year and a half, and now I can wear them comfortably.  When I look in the mirror, I can see that I am getting smaller.  Trotting around in my ‘skinny’ pants gives me motivation to keep at it.

Cravings seem to be easing, and I haven’t noticed a decrease in energy levels or anything of that nature, which is encouraging.  Right now, it’s difficult to believe that it’s almost been a whole week.