I know the topic is a little broad, but I actually have something fairly specific in mind. What is it that we want, and what do we really need.
I've been thinking about this for a few days now with respect to our newest addition to the house: the pool table. I have been super excited about the fact that we have a pool table, no doubt it was even better when it arrived for free! In order to have a workable game, we needed to buy some cues, balls, and rack. Also bought a cover to keep the dirt off. In all, it only cost us about fifty dollars.
So now the table is there, we've reorganised the room so that it fits, mostly, and I have yet to level it as it is a little crooked. But now, after looking at it for a few weeks and seeing the utility of it, I might have better used that space for something else. Maybe use that room as a space for the baby to play? It takes up a huge amount of space, which I'm sure could be better used. The room was previously a dinning room, but it doesn't really fit in the way we have the house set up, and we have decided that the room as a whole be used as a rec room. We have the gym on one end, and the pool table on the other. It just doesn't seem to be working though.
Did we need the pool table, of course not; did we want one, sure. Now I sort of feel like I believe a dog would once it catches a car. I'll give it a little more time, maybe it will grow on us and start to get used more, but right now it is just not serving it's purpose, or of any benefit to us. We'll just have to see how things work out. I'm not the only one, I'm sure, that will have an opinion about it.
-Another great day
31 July 2012
30 July 2012
Her: Green baby (Part 1)
I think it's about time that we actually address the title of this blog, that is "Plastic or Paper." In essence, this statement, which we often hear at the grocery store, represents the personal choices we make that affect the environment. My concern for protecting the environment and living as green as I can stems from more than just my two degrees in Atmospheric Science; I would not like to leave my children in a uninhabitable world due to pollution.
I am currently reading "The eco-nomical baby guide" by Joy Hatch and Rebecca Kelly, mostly for it's section on cloth diapering (more on that topic later). Joy and Rebecca raise an interesting point throughout - living more sustainably can actually save you money, if done right. I know that many naysayers to living green will argue that it costs more to do so. It is true, yes, that electric cars cost more than gas (don't even get me started on that one), but there are many money saving activities that are at the same time green. One good example of this is what the book dubs as a "solar-powered dryer" (i.e., clothesline) - hanging out your clothes on a line outside without a doubt saves you money on your electricity bill.
One of the first points that Joy and Rebecca bring up is good advice to all, whether you are having a baby or not - the difference between needs and wants, or what they call "necessities and niceties." As they say, a really easy way to be green is to just buy less stuff. Everyone remember their three "Rs"? Reduce, reuse, and recycle! With all the crazy baby gadgets they have out there (wow, was it overwhelming to walk through a Babies R Us for the first time), which advertising tells you are "must-haves," it's easy to forget that right at the beginning, the baby you bring into this world doesn't have a need for a lot of stuff. As Joy and Rebecca state, all parents really need to prepare before the baby arrives are a place to sleep, a diapering method, a feeding method, a few garments to keep baby warm, and a car seat. I think this simplifies things so much for first time parents who are bombarded with a million different choices and a desire to do the best for their baby (just because something costs more doesn't necessarily mean it's better quality)!
By the way, I love their point that babies often love to play with regular household items, such as tupperware, spoons, pots, pans, and cardboard boxes, more than their plastic gadgets.
So, how are we doing so far? Well, we've already dipped into the "nicety" of painting the nursery, and plan on getting a stroller, which we do consider a necessity. We've mostly just stuck to holding off buying everything right now, since we've found that people are very generous and more than willing to pass on used baby gear when they find out you're expecting. We'll probably get most of our necessities closer to when the baby is due.
All in all, being as green as we can be is very important to my husband and I, and we hope to continue and even increase our eco-friendliness with the arrival of our baby. True, it is really hard to do absolutely everything green (yes, we still fill up our car at the gas pumps, fly home to visit family, and wash our dishes in warm water), but in my books, every little effort counts.
Trying to avoid a plethora of new plastic baby gizmos!
I am currently reading "The eco-nomical baby guide" by Joy Hatch and Rebecca Kelly, mostly for it's section on cloth diapering (more on that topic later). Joy and Rebecca raise an interesting point throughout - living more sustainably can actually save you money, if done right. I know that many naysayers to living green will argue that it costs more to do so. It is true, yes, that electric cars cost more than gas (don't even get me started on that one), but there are many money saving activities that are at the same time green. One good example of this is what the book dubs as a "solar-powered dryer" (i.e., clothesline) - hanging out your clothes on a line outside without a doubt saves you money on your electricity bill.
One of the first points that Joy and Rebecca bring up is good advice to all, whether you are having a baby or not - the difference between needs and wants, or what they call "necessities and niceties." As they say, a really easy way to be green is to just buy less stuff. Everyone remember their three "Rs"? Reduce, reuse, and recycle! With all the crazy baby gadgets they have out there (wow, was it overwhelming to walk through a Babies R Us for the first time), which advertising tells you are "must-haves," it's easy to forget that right at the beginning, the baby you bring into this world doesn't have a need for a lot of stuff. As Joy and Rebecca state, all parents really need to prepare before the baby arrives are a place to sleep, a diapering method, a feeding method, a few garments to keep baby warm, and a car seat. I think this simplifies things so much for first time parents who are bombarded with a million different choices and a desire to do the best for their baby (just because something costs more doesn't necessarily mean it's better quality)!
By the way, I love their point that babies often love to play with regular household items, such as tupperware, spoons, pots, pans, and cardboard boxes, more than their plastic gadgets.
So, how are we doing so far? Well, we've already dipped into the "nicety" of painting the nursery, and plan on getting a stroller, which we do consider a necessity. We've mostly just stuck to holding off buying everything right now, since we've found that people are very generous and more than willing to pass on used baby gear when they find out you're expecting. We'll probably get most of our necessities closer to when the baby is due.
All in all, being as green as we can be is very important to my husband and I, and we hope to continue and even increase our eco-friendliness with the arrival of our baby. True, it is really hard to do absolutely everything green (yes, we still fill up our car at the gas pumps, fly home to visit family, and wash our dishes in warm water), but in my books, every little effort counts.
Trying to avoid a plethora of new plastic baby gizmos!
27 July 2012
Him: Polyphasic Sleep
I know this is probably a really random topic, but it has been something I have always wondered about ever since reading an article a few years back.
Polyphasic sleep is the practice of sleeping multiple times in a day, more than two, vice the one that most people are accustome to today. There are not volumes of research in this method of sleep, but doing a quick search can get you some pretty interesting facts.
From Wikipedia, there are a number of generally known methods of sleep:
The goal of these being a more effective wake to sleep process, ranging from our common eight hour sleep once a day to four or six naps with only two. I found the article I had read a few years ago, here. It is a blog of a man who tried the Uberman sleep schedule. He conducted the study over a four month period. At the beginning, he struggled to teach his body to sleep for only twenty minutes. After a few weeks, the body learns to fall asleep much faster to ensure quick recovery.
Another difference in polyphasic sleep is your eating paterns. How would you eat in such an interesting schedule. Since you are only awake at most for four or four and a half hours, you can't expect to eat large meals every time. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner become relative meals and you begin to eat multiple times per day, of course much smaller meals.
With a baby on the way, I have been thinking of all this sleep schedule stuff since I know that the first few weeks or months are very sporatic with respect to getting a full night sleep. I am a big fan of taking at least one nap a day, though I have problems sleeping during the day currently, as it can help with mood, mental, and physical health which will be crucial with a baby.
Maybe today will be a good day for a nap. I believe I can get way more done in a day from that little bit more energy from a decent nap.
-Another great day
Polyphasic sleep is the practice of sleeping multiple times in a day, more than two, vice the one that most people are accustome to today. There are not volumes of research in this method of sleep, but doing a quick search can get you some pretty interesting facts.
From Wikipedia, there are a number of generally known methods of sleep:
| Monophasic | 8 hours major sleep episode. | |
| Biphasic | 6 hours major sleep episode and one 20 minute power nap. | |
| Biphasic (90-minute nap) | 4.5 hours major sleep episode and one 90 minute nap. | |
| Everyman (with 2 naps) | 4.5 hours major sleep episode and two 20-minute power naps. | |
| Everyman (with 3 naps) | 3 hours major sleep episode and three 20-minute power naps. | |
| Everyman (with 4 - 5 naps) | 1.5 hours major sleep episode and four to five twenty-minute power naps. | |
| Dymaxion | Four 30-minute naps (every 6 hours). | |
| Uberman | Six 20-minute naps (every 4 hours). |
The goal of these being a more effective wake to sleep process, ranging from our common eight hour sleep once a day to four or six naps with only two. I found the article I had read a few years ago, here. It is a blog of a man who tried the Uberman sleep schedule. He conducted the study over a four month period. At the beginning, he struggled to teach his body to sleep for only twenty minutes. After a few weeks, the body learns to fall asleep much faster to ensure quick recovery.
Another difference in polyphasic sleep is your eating paterns. How would you eat in such an interesting schedule. Since you are only awake at most for four or four and a half hours, you can't expect to eat large meals every time. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner become relative meals and you begin to eat multiple times per day, of course much smaller meals.
With a baby on the way, I have been thinking of all this sleep schedule stuff since I know that the first few weeks or months are very sporatic with respect to getting a full night sleep. I am a big fan of taking at least one nap a day, though I have problems sleeping during the day currently, as it can help with mood, mental, and physical health which will be crucial with a baby.
Maybe today will be a good day for a nap. I believe I can get way more done in a day from that little bit more energy from a decent nap.
-Another great day
26 July 2012
Her: Humidity
Yesterday brought great relief to us Canadians in the midst of the notoriously sweltering and muggy Maryland summers. We noticed it first thing in the morning, as we took our first step outside - "Holy crap, we can breathe! And we're not instantly sweating!" To translate, we stepped outside into a beautiful, low humidity summer day (average relative humidity of about 40% as opposed to the proceeding weeks of about 70-80% humidity). This made the entire day much more pleasant, and we found that we had so much more energy and willingness to do activities outside.
What a small and odd thing to make so much of a difference, this relative humidity. Personally, I do prefer drier climates, having been born and raised in Alberta, where umbrellas are just one of those things that you never really use and just end up collecting dust in your front closet. (Honestly, I don't think I ever regularly used an umbrella, or saw the importance of one, until I moved to Montreal, HA!). Of course, spending two summers in Alert, which you could almost call a desert (at least, before climate change), also helps to skew my opinion of this lovely weather modifier. I love the fact that you can move into the shade to find relief from the heat in Albertan summers, just open your windows at night to cool down the house, and have no real use for A/C.
I think we were laughed at when we thought of doing the same thing down here in Maryland. I think we've only opened our windows a handful of times since May, when we turned on our A/C (Ack!). We do have a patio furniture set outside, but it doesn't get used too much (I know it seems absurd to our family back in Canada that it is just too uncomfortable to eat dinner outside). Even though we're getting more acclimatised to this weather, I think we will always prefer the cold and dry over extreme heat and humidity (so Canadian of us, eh?).
Today, we're back into the standard muggy conditions of Maryland summers. Even though our relief from the low humidity of yesterday was short lived, I wanted to make sure it didn't pass without being appreciated (almost like a visit from an old friend, haha)!
Stay cool (and dry)!
What a small and odd thing to make so much of a difference, this relative humidity. Personally, I do prefer drier climates, having been born and raised in Alberta, where umbrellas are just one of those things that you never really use and just end up collecting dust in your front closet. (Honestly, I don't think I ever regularly used an umbrella, or saw the importance of one, until I moved to Montreal, HA!). Of course, spending two summers in Alert, which you could almost call a desert (at least, before climate change), also helps to skew my opinion of this lovely weather modifier. I love the fact that you can move into the shade to find relief from the heat in Albertan summers, just open your windows at night to cool down the house, and have no real use for A/C.
I think we were laughed at when we thought of doing the same thing down here in Maryland. I think we've only opened our windows a handful of times since May, when we turned on our A/C (Ack!). We do have a patio furniture set outside, but it doesn't get used too much (I know it seems absurd to our family back in Canada that it is just too uncomfortable to eat dinner outside). Even though we're getting more acclimatised to this weather, I think we will always prefer the cold and dry over extreme heat and humidity (so Canadian of us, eh?).
Today, we're back into the standard muggy conditions of Maryland summers. Even though our relief from the low humidity of yesterday was short lived, I wanted to make sure it didn't pass without being appreciated (almost like a visit from an old friend, haha)!
Stay cool (and dry)!
24 July 2012
Him: Gearing up for Baby!
It has been a lot of fun going to all the different department stores checking out the selections of baby items. We've been to Babies R Us, Target, Sears, and The Exchange. Many of these stores have a very similar selection and varying prices. We did make a short video of our trip to Sears, which you can find here, but the store we went to had practically nothing in store.
Shopping online is obviously much easier and gives you less of a headache, but the downfall is that you can't get to physically inspect the items. Items such as a crib, or changing tables, tubs, toys, and mattresses. If I'm going to buy a night light, I don't really need to touch it, but I want to make sure that what will be used to support, hold, carry, transport our newest addition will be sufficient and stand up to the elements. Since we are Amazon Prime members, we've been looking closely at how economical buying things from them is as well. Nothing like having the items delivered right to your door for free!
Of course we haven't bought anything yet as we will be having a large baby shower in August. If we buy something now, we are liable to get that same thing, or something similar at the shower. So shopping has been a bit monotonous as we haven't really bought anything yet, but we see all kinds of things we'd like!
We currently have a registry made up at Babies R Us, found under my name. That list is more of a shopping guide to help us know what we like and somewhere people can see the things we want/like. Babies R Us had the most extensive selection, no doubt because that is all they focus on, but it is still hard to decide what you want or what is best.
No one place is going to get all our business, that would be crazy. There are so many options out there and such range in prices that making a final decision becomes more quite complicated. Of course, we only want the best for our little one, so everything will be Porsche brand!
-Another great day
Shopping online is obviously much easier and gives you less of a headache, but the downfall is that you can't get to physically inspect the items. Items such as a crib, or changing tables, tubs, toys, and mattresses. If I'm going to buy a night light, I don't really need to touch it, but I want to make sure that what will be used to support, hold, carry, transport our newest addition will be sufficient and stand up to the elements. Since we are Amazon Prime members, we've been looking closely at how economical buying things from them is as well. Nothing like having the items delivered right to your door for free!
Of course we haven't bought anything yet as we will be having a large baby shower in August. If we buy something now, we are liable to get that same thing, or something similar at the shower. So shopping has been a bit monotonous as we haven't really bought anything yet, but we see all kinds of things we'd like!
We currently have a registry made up at Babies R Us, found under my name. That list is more of a shopping guide to help us know what we like and somewhere people can see the things we want/like. Babies R Us had the most extensive selection, no doubt because that is all they focus on, but it is still hard to decide what you want or what is best.
No one place is going to get all our business, that would be crazy. There are so many options out there and such range in prices that making a final decision becomes more quite complicated. Of course, we only want the best for our little one, so everything will be Porsche brand!
-Another great day
23 July 2012
Him: Technology Woes
I spent about two hours yesterday trying to figure out what was wrong with our new camera, to realize that nothing was wrong at all.
To get the whole story in, after uploading our first Youtube video we watched it to see if it actually would work, etc, before we shared it with others. The video isn't anything special, it's the first one we've put up and of course there is a long way to go with respect to video editing and such. But you have to start somewhere! After we watched the video a few times, seeing how/if things changed after it was uploaded, we both noticed that there were horizontal lines running on the screen of my computer while we watched the video. They were of course faint out of full screen, but rather visible when watching any of the videos that I had edited while in full screen.
I started doing some searching. Google searches and youtube searches revealed that perhaps the videos were/not de-interlaced. I'm no video guru so I haven't the slightest idea what that really means nor do I know how to change that. So I took to finding the how-to for FCPX and hoped to see a difference. Turns out that de-intelaced/interlaced video is not the horizontal lines I was looking for. So I still had the same issue: A horizontal line that tracked upwards on my screen.
I couldn't really find anything else referrencing these symptoms, so I was a bit at a loss for solutions. I had concluded, so far that the problems were not coming from the camera, but that perhaps FCPX or other editing softwares were causing the issues. I had even made some short videos using different settings with the camera to see if the camera had issues. Since the camera is new, I wanted to make sure it did not have a defect or something. Knowing me, I would not think of that and the warranty would run out and then I would never get it fixed!
Last thing I did, with success, was to watch the videos over the projector as well as the monitor, as I started playing with the resolution of each output. I had a thought that perhaps it could be that the resolution of the outputs were not right and thus the video was working right, but the output source couldn't handle it. This is where, if you were in the same room as me, you would have heard the sound of the biggest facepalm. The video worked flawlessly on the projector, yet still had the line on my screen. Just so you know, I run both monitor and projector from my Mac Mini as a dual screen, this is done with the one HDMI port and Thunderbolt port. Seems my problem was right in front of my face; the projector worked fine, which was running on HDMI, but the monitor was not, which was running on DVI.
The DVI monitor could not process the HD video fast enough, and thus was causing the horizontal line in the video. The projector had no issues at all. Something to do with the DVI converter connecting to my computer that was doing it! No monies involved in this solution since there was nothing technologically wrong, other than the fact that perhaps I should get a better DVI converter for my monitor.
So now I am no longer concerned about seeing that awful line on my monitor's screen and after my videos are uploaded I know that they are working just fine.
-Another great day
To get the whole story in, after uploading our first Youtube video we watched it to see if it actually would work, etc, before we shared it with others. The video isn't anything special, it's the first one we've put up and of course there is a long way to go with respect to video editing and such. But you have to start somewhere! After we watched the video a few times, seeing how/if things changed after it was uploaded, we both noticed that there were horizontal lines running on the screen of my computer while we watched the video. They were of course faint out of full screen, but rather visible when watching any of the videos that I had edited while in full screen.
I started doing some searching. Google searches and youtube searches revealed that perhaps the videos were/not de-interlaced. I'm no video guru so I haven't the slightest idea what that really means nor do I know how to change that. So I took to finding the how-to for FCPX and hoped to see a difference. Turns out that de-intelaced/interlaced video is not the horizontal lines I was looking for. So I still had the same issue: A horizontal line that tracked upwards on my screen.
I couldn't really find anything else referrencing these symptoms, so I was a bit at a loss for solutions. I had concluded, so far that the problems were not coming from the camera, but that perhaps FCPX or other editing softwares were causing the issues. I had even made some short videos using different settings with the camera to see if the camera had issues. Since the camera is new, I wanted to make sure it did not have a defect or something. Knowing me, I would not think of that and the warranty would run out and then I would never get it fixed!
Last thing I did, with success, was to watch the videos over the projector as well as the monitor, as I started playing with the resolution of each output. I had a thought that perhaps it could be that the resolution of the outputs were not right and thus the video was working right, but the output source couldn't handle it. This is where, if you were in the same room as me, you would have heard the sound of the biggest facepalm. The video worked flawlessly on the projector, yet still had the line on my screen. Just so you know, I run both monitor and projector from my Mac Mini as a dual screen, this is done with the one HDMI port and Thunderbolt port. Seems my problem was right in front of my face; the projector worked fine, which was running on HDMI, but the monitor was not, which was running on DVI.
The DVI monitor could not process the HD video fast enough, and thus was causing the horizontal line in the video. The projector had no issues at all. Something to do with the DVI converter connecting to my computer that was doing it! No monies involved in this solution since there was nothing technologically wrong, other than the fact that perhaps I should get a better DVI converter for my monitor.
So now I am no longer concerned about seeing that awful line on my monitor's screen and after my videos are uploaded I know that they are working just fine.
-Another great day
20 July 2012
Her: Olympics
It's one week until the London 2012 Olympic Games begin, and I can't wait! To some, this isn't a big deal, but to me and many other spectators, we've been waiting for this since 2010! There's just something amazing, beautiful, and inspiring about watching Olympic athletes push their bodies to the limit. Not only that, but the fact that the Games represent a positive, peaceful, international collaboration truly make the Games exceptional.
Perhaps my enjoyment of watching the Olympic Games stems from the fact that competing in them was once a dream of mine, like many young athletes. However, you certainly don't need to be an athlete to enjoy the Games. It all starts with the Opening Ceremonies. This year, the theme is "Isles of Wonder;" look forward to seeing live farm animals in the stadium! Each Olympic Ceremonies seems to outdo the ones before it in terms of artistry or pyrotechnics, so I really look forward watching it. It can get a bit long during the parading of the athletes, but it's still fun to watch, especially when your country comes in.
After that comes two solid weeks of the sporting events. Personally, I love getting into it, cheering your country or favourite athletes on. I can still remember watching Donovan Bailey win gold in the 100m sprint in the 1996 Atlanta games. What a moment! I'll never forget that one. My favourite summer Olympic sports to watch, in no particular order, are diving, synchronised swimming, gymnastics, rowing, track cycling, equestrian, and of course, athletics (i.e., track and field). Canadian athletes I'm excited to see include Clara Hughes on the bike (and not on the ice!), Simon Whitfield in triathlon, and Alexandre Despatie in diving (who may or may not have been my Olympic crush since 2000...hehe).
Someday, I would love to go and watch the Olympics live. Missing the Vancouver Games was sad, since it'll probably be awhile before another Canadian city hosts (probably another 20 years or so), but travelling to see the world and the Olympics would be amazing too. I would probably like to see the winter games over the summer games, but really, I wouldn't care which when the opportunity arises.
Go Team Canada!
Perhaps my enjoyment of watching the Olympic Games stems from the fact that competing in them was once a dream of mine, like many young athletes. However, you certainly don't need to be an athlete to enjoy the Games. It all starts with the Opening Ceremonies. This year, the theme is "Isles of Wonder;" look forward to seeing live farm animals in the stadium! Each Olympic Ceremonies seems to outdo the ones before it in terms of artistry or pyrotechnics, so I really look forward watching it. It can get a bit long during the parading of the athletes, but it's still fun to watch, especially when your country comes in.
After that comes two solid weeks of the sporting events. Personally, I love getting into it, cheering your country or favourite athletes on. I can still remember watching Donovan Bailey win gold in the 100m sprint in the 1996 Atlanta games. What a moment! I'll never forget that one. My favourite summer Olympic sports to watch, in no particular order, are diving, synchronised swimming, gymnastics, rowing, track cycling, equestrian, and of course, athletics (i.e., track and field). Canadian athletes I'm excited to see include Clara Hughes on the bike (and not on the ice!), Simon Whitfield in triathlon, and Alexandre Despatie in diving (who may or may not have been my Olympic crush since 2000...hehe).
Someday, I would love to go and watch the Olympics live. Missing the Vancouver Games was sad, since it'll probably be awhile before another Canadian city hosts (probably another 20 years or so), but travelling to see the world and the Olympics would be amazing too. I would probably like to see the winter games over the summer games, but really, I wouldn't care which when the opportunity arises.
Go Team Canada!
19 July 2012
Him: Vlogging
Starting a blog has been a really great way to voice opinions and to have somewhere to jot down our ideas and concerns. It is also a place to put down in writing what we are learning about each other and the little one, when he/she comes along. We hope to be able to keep a relatively constant pace with these blogs when baby comes along, most definitely we will not be stopping them, because this was the whole point of starting.
What looks really fun and interesting is being able to instantly show you what has been happening with us (three) on a daily basis. Not that we want to have our lives out in the world for everyone to see, but doing video diaries of memorable, exciting, or just regular on-goings of life sound like a lot of fun. I haven't quite figured out how this is done, or maybe it is just that I don't feel comfortable filming myself/ourselves, or knowing when is a good time to turn on that camera.
Vlogging is not a new concept to us as we've been watching people vlog their lives over the last four years or so. Most notable people are the SHAYTARDS, CTFxC, Breaking, and PhilipDeFranco, just to name a few. All of these vloggers are well established and have a solid following which is not really our goal, we want to be able to share this mostly with family and friends so that they can feel a little closer to us while we are unable to see them due to distance between us.
Need to learn how to use FCPX, and maybe a number of other little programmes, to have smoother and nicer looking vlogs. As well, going to need to learn what to film and how to film it. It is going to be an awesome learning experience and I can't wait to be able to say that I am doing it!
I hope that you are just as excited with this as we are and we hope to be able to continue to grow and have fun.
-Another great day
What looks really fun and interesting is being able to instantly show you what has been happening with us (three) on a daily basis. Not that we want to have our lives out in the world for everyone to see, but doing video diaries of memorable, exciting, or just regular on-goings of life sound like a lot of fun. I haven't quite figured out how this is done, or maybe it is just that I don't feel comfortable filming myself/ourselves, or knowing when is a good time to turn on that camera.
Vlogging is not a new concept to us as we've been watching people vlog their lives over the last four years or so. Most notable people are the SHAYTARDS, CTFxC, Breaking, and PhilipDeFranco, just to name a few. All of these vloggers are well established and have a solid following which is not really our goal, we want to be able to share this mostly with family and friends so that they can feel a little closer to us while we are unable to see them due to distance between us.
Need to learn how to use FCPX, and maybe a number of other little programmes, to have smoother and nicer looking vlogs. As well, going to need to learn what to film and how to film it. It is going to be an awesome learning experience and I can't wait to be able to say that I am doing it!
I hope that you are just as excited with this as we are and we hope to be able to continue to grow and have fun.
-Another great day
17 July 2012
Her: Neighbours
Looking back at our first year in Maryland (to the date!), I can truly say that what I am most grateful for here, other than my wonderful husband, are our neighbours. I don't know if this is due to cultural differences between Canada and the US, or if this is just an isolated happy coincidence due to the specific group of people that live around us, but this is the first time in my life that I've personally gotten to know and befriended not only one, but several families in our neighbourhood.
We regularly share meals, play games, celebrate, go shopping, and even workout with our neighbours. We've helped each other with yard work, and have had block parties (next one in August!) We haven't had to worry about our house or garden when we are away, because we know there are several pairs of eyes, ears, and hands looking out for us. We, of course, are more than willing to return the favour if need be. Our neighbours are more than just that - they have become friends and even family who happen to live next door.
After experiencing what it truly means to have, and be, neighbours, it will be hard to go back to Canada in a few years where this kind of behaviour is extremely rare (at least in my experience). Why shouldn't you personally know your neighbours? I believe that this is the way it should be. It is so unfortunate that the culture lends itself to keeping to yourself and not developing relationships with the people who live next to you. This "keep to yourself" idea is so absurd when you consider what life was like 100-150 years ago, where members of a community truly depended on one another for not only friendship, but for survival. Our growing technological connectivity has actually seemed to reduce true connections between people that live in close proximity to each other.
Lamenting aside, I am just so grateful for the wonderful neighbours we have been blessed with here, and I can only hope that we will spread such neighbourly love to those living around us in our subsequent moves.
We regularly share meals, play games, celebrate, go shopping, and even workout with our neighbours. We've helped each other with yard work, and have had block parties (next one in August!) We haven't had to worry about our house or garden when we are away, because we know there are several pairs of eyes, ears, and hands looking out for us. We, of course, are more than willing to return the favour if need be. Our neighbours are more than just that - they have become friends and even family who happen to live next door.
After experiencing what it truly means to have, and be, neighbours, it will be hard to go back to Canada in a few years where this kind of behaviour is extremely rare (at least in my experience). Why shouldn't you personally know your neighbours? I believe that this is the way it should be. It is so unfortunate that the culture lends itself to keeping to yourself and not developing relationships with the people who live next to you. This "keep to yourself" idea is so absurd when you consider what life was like 100-150 years ago, where members of a community truly depended on one another for not only friendship, but for survival. Our growing technological connectivity has actually seemed to reduce true connections between people that live in close proximity to each other.
Lamenting aside, I am just so grateful for the wonderful neighbours we have been blessed with here, and I can only hope that we will spread such neighbourly love to those living around us in our subsequent moves.
16 July 2012
Him: What you will do for them
It is definitely getting closer! We just had friends over last night that have a little one. He's about a year and a half old, such a sweetheart and a busy one!
We had a great afternoon/evening with them. They came over later in the afternoon and left around eight. There were a few things that I expected with having a little one in the house: Clearing off the coffee tables of small objects, cleaned the floors up just in case there was anytyhing he could pick up and nomnom on, close the doors to extra rooms to save us having to run around all over trying to find him. These are rather simple things, and I expected to have to 'kid proof' the house to ensure he wouldn't get hurt and we could keep an eye on him easily.
One thing that I did notice however, and it was more of a realization than a precautionary measure was where the grown-ups ended up mingling. Since we finally have got our house organized enough to be able to entertain successfully in most rooms, everyone was in the kitchen, preparing the dinner; baby walking about having fun. We went outside for a bit, though warm, to let him run around and see the yard, look at the garden, etc. We all ate at the table and enjoyed a good meal. Afterwords is where it hit me, we had sat in the living room to eat some snacks before the main meal, but now the way the house is designed to see the little guy most effectively the whole time, everyone sat around the stairs. One on the stairs to go upstairs, the other on the step down to the living room, and the rest of us just in the entranceway. It was, I suppose convenient for the baby, and parents just have to work around those types of things. We just sat or stood there, in the middle of the house enjoying our conversation and watching the baby run around.
Why do we even have a couch now, maybe we can get rid of it and make more space for some toys, or some more gym equipment... But all kidding aside, it was really neat to see what people will do for their children so that they can enjoy themselves,at the cost of their own comfort.
-Another great day
We had a great afternoon/evening with them. They came over later in the afternoon and left around eight. There were a few things that I expected with having a little one in the house: Clearing off the coffee tables of small objects, cleaned the floors up just in case there was anytyhing he could pick up and nomnom on, close the doors to extra rooms to save us having to run around all over trying to find him. These are rather simple things, and I expected to have to 'kid proof' the house to ensure he wouldn't get hurt and we could keep an eye on him easily.
One thing that I did notice however, and it was more of a realization than a precautionary measure was where the grown-ups ended up mingling. Since we finally have got our house organized enough to be able to entertain successfully in most rooms, everyone was in the kitchen, preparing the dinner; baby walking about having fun. We went outside for a bit, though warm, to let him run around and see the yard, look at the garden, etc. We all ate at the table and enjoyed a good meal. Afterwords is where it hit me, we had sat in the living room to eat some snacks before the main meal, but now the way the house is designed to see the little guy most effectively the whole time, everyone sat around the stairs. One on the stairs to go upstairs, the other on the step down to the living room, and the rest of us just in the entranceway. It was, I suppose convenient for the baby, and parents just have to work around those types of things. We just sat or stood there, in the middle of the house enjoying our conversation and watching the baby run around.
Why do we even have a couch now, maybe we can get rid of it and make more space for some toys, or some more gym equipment... But all kidding aside, it was really neat to see what people will do for their children so that they can enjoy themselves,at the cost of their own comfort.
-Another great day
13 July 2012
Him: Smile!
Not much to say today, but Yay!
New camera arrived, ready to start filming little snippets of baby and mommy, and me of course. Did a bit of shopping around, and decided on this one: Canon VIXIA HF M41. It's small, light, and does amazing video!!
OF course, it is going to take some getting used to and we will learn how to work it as we go. But so far I love it. So I will end it here as I suppose I can just show you what we did with it!
-Another great day
12 July 2012
Her: Being domestic
To some it may seem cliché, or backwards, but I really, really enjoy being domestic. By domestic, I mostly mean cooking, baking, sewing, and other activities that in the past were associated with being a housewife (notice I didn't include cleaning in that list...HAHA). Doing these activities give me great satisfaction and fulfillment.
This week, I've baked 2 batches of cookies and 1 batch of muffins. In addition, to go with dinner tonight, I whipped up a batch of bannock (a quick flatbread). Tomorrow, I will be canning peaches with 2 friends. I am grateful that I have the time to do these things. It's not only about the satisfaction I get from cooking and baking - it's also about being able to eat healthier and knowing exactly what goes into your food. There is just WAY too much processed food out there today (case in point, the ready to eat frozen PB&J sandwich, Uncrustables... when did it get too hard to slap peanut butter and jam on 2 slices of bread?!)
I actually didn't start baking a lot until after I moved out. I had no need to, actually, because I grew up with parents who were amazing cooks. I know I'm really lucky to have had these role models, because many people nowadays don't even know how to boil water on the stove. To quote a friend, being domestic is truly a dying art. The rising obesity rates are certainly related to this "grab and go" society we've created, where people eat out more than they go to the grocery store. I believe a resurgence of such domestic activities could really help society in the long run.
Slow down and make some cookies!
This week, I've baked 2 batches of cookies and 1 batch of muffins. In addition, to go with dinner tonight, I whipped up a batch of bannock (a quick flatbread). Tomorrow, I will be canning peaches with 2 friends. I am grateful that I have the time to do these things. It's not only about the satisfaction I get from cooking and baking - it's also about being able to eat healthier and knowing exactly what goes into your food. There is just WAY too much processed food out there today (case in point, the ready to eat frozen PB&J sandwich, Uncrustables... when did it get too hard to slap peanut butter and jam on 2 slices of bread?!)
I actually didn't start baking a lot until after I moved out. I had no need to, actually, because I grew up with parents who were amazing cooks. I know I'm really lucky to have had these role models, because many people nowadays don't even know how to boil water on the stove. To quote a friend, being domestic is truly a dying art. The rising obesity rates are certainly related to this "grab and go" society we've created, where people eat out more than they go to the grocery store. I believe a resurgence of such domestic activities could really help society in the long run.
Slow down and make some cookies!
10 July 2012
Her: Recovery
I often have to remind myself how important recovery is in order to be healthy and happy. I'm not talking about recovering from an illness or injury, which of course is crucial, but rather a broader definition of recovery that involves mostly mental and sometimes physical healing.
I've noticed that I've recently fallen into the habit that millions of people do, or fail to do, every day: truly and honestly taking time for oneself. If used wisely, recovery time need not be long - even 20min will suffice. Easy excuses to not taking this time for yourself ranges from believing you are too busy to believing that resting is a sign of weakness. I believe many workaholics out there easily make these excuses and thus fail to value recovery. Moms are especially notorious for this, actually, always giving of themselves to their children to the detriment of their own wellbeing. With a little one on the way, I know I have to be disciplined in setting time aside for myself once the baby arrives.
The act of recovery from your everyday activities is, of course, dependent on the person. For some, this recovery could be physical activity, praying or meditating, or even taking a bath. Essentially, this recovery needs to be something that you consider rejuvenating and mind cleansing. My personal favourite is swimming; there's just something about doing laps that really makes my worries melt away. From my experience, however, whatever your chosen activity is, a quiet mind is essential in order to fully benefit from it. I don't mean shutting off your brain, but really focussing on what you are doing in the present and nothing else. I think this is the crux of the matter, and is what provides the mental healing and leaves you feeling refreshed and ready to go again. This focussing only on your recovery activity is rather difficult, at least for me! Most of the time, I only skip in and out of that "zone," but the more I manage to do so, the better I feel.
So what are you waiting for? Take some "me" time!
I've noticed that I've recently fallen into the habit that millions of people do, or fail to do, every day: truly and honestly taking time for oneself. If used wisely, recovery time need not be long - even 20min will suffice. Easy excuses to not taking this time for yourself ranges from believing you are too busy to believing that resting is a sign of weakness. I believe many workaholics out there easily make these excuses and thus fail to value recovery. Moms are especially notorious for this, actually, always giving of themselves to their children to the detriment of their own wellbeing. With a little one on the way, I know I have to be disciplined in setting time aside for myself once the baby arrives.
The act of recovery from your everyday activities is, of course, dependent on the person. For some, this recovery could be physical activity, praying or meditating, or even taking a bath. Essentially, this recovery needs to be something that you consider rejuvenating and mind cleansing. My personal favourite is swimming; there's just something about doing laps that really makes my worries melt away. From my experience, however, whatever your chosen activity is, a quiet mind is essential in order to fully benefit from it. I don't mean shutting off your brain, but really focussing on what you are doing in the present and nothing else. I think this is the crux of the matter, and is what provides the mental healing and leaves you feeling refreshed and ready to go again. This focussing only on your recovery activity is rather difficult, at least for me! Most of the time, I only skip in and out of that "zone," but the more I manage to do so, the better I feel.
So what are you waiting for? Take some "me" time!
09 July 2012
Him: Friends
What ever happened to those people you knew in high school? I can clearly remember saying to myself and others that I would always keep in touch with so-and-so and that we would never not know what was going on.
Well, ten years later and I can count very easily on one hand the number of people I have kept in touch with from then. And to be honest, it has only been very recently that we have caught up again. I've begun to realize that those friends you make in high school may not be there forever. Not that they aren't still good friends, but thinking that they will be as close to you now as they were then is a huge overestimation. I have grown much closer to friends met outside work or school than before. Even those in university that were great friends; I have not talked to in four or five years.
After moving around a bit on this little rock, I've started to meet some people that seem to stick a little more solidly than those ones when I was a teenager. We share many more things in common, and we enjoy each others' company. Most likely they are some of the first to be reading this and that's just great.
I can't say that those friends from high school are any less my friends now than they were then, but we just haven't kept in touch and I don't even know where most of them are. I am almost certain they haven't the slightest clue where I am. I hope they are well, and I miss them of course, and if they ever stumble upon reading this maybe they will give a shout out and let me know how they are doing.
So, best friends forever? It exists, but I believe that those relationships may not all start on the playground at school, some start in the weirdest places on earth, when you least expect it. I am thankful for all the friends I have now, and those that I have not been in touch with in a long time. I'm sure as time goes by, I will meet some again, and of course meet new people as well.
-Another great day
Well, ten years later and I can count very easily on one hand the number of people I have kept in touch with from then. And to be honest, it has only been very recently that we have caught up again. I've begun to realize that those friends you make in high school may not be there forever. Not that they aren't still good friends, but thinking that they will be as close to you now as they were then is a huge overestimation. I have grown much closer to friends met outside work or school than before. Even those in university that were great friends; I have not talked to in four or five years.
After moving around a bit on this little rock, I've started to meet some people that seem to stick a little more solidly than those ones when I was a teenager. We share many more things in common, and we enjoy each others' company. Most likely they are some of the first to be reading this and that's just great.
I can't say that those friends from high school are any less my friends now than they were then, but we just haven't kept in touch and I don't even know where most of them are. I am almost certain they haven't the slightest clue where I am. I hope they are well, and I miss them of course, and if they ever stumble upon reading this maybe they will give a shout out and let me know how they are doing.
So, best friends forever? It exists, but I believe that those relationships may not all start on the playground at school, some start in the weirdest places on earth, when you least expect it. I am thankful for all the friends I have now, and those that I have not been in touch with in a long time. I'm sure as time goes by, I will meet some again, and of course meet new people as well.
-Another great day
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