Where Am I?

Where am I?
   I have left the confines of my home in South-Western Ontario. For a hint on where, we are two hours from our doorstep.  I am wandering with the kids in tow. Oh where, oh where did we go?

Do you think that we are here? Anybody guess where this is?

Now where am I? Is this scenic location two hours from my home?

I have been here before, but not today. Honeymoon capital of the world, it is nick-named. Can you guess this watery location?

One more place I have seen up close. Magnificent to be sure, but can you guess where?

Now this is where I was hanging today,

staring at the world below us with awe at the tiny pieces of our world.

The claim of tallest freestanding structure is what it says on the advertisements.

Can you guess,

Where I am?

Survival of the Fittest

While the Okavengo Delta was all about being one with nature, our next stop held a different feel. While our guides stocked up on supplies again, I wished the Delta goodbye with a splurge on a flight over it in a 6-seater plane. Flying over massive herds of zebras mixed with wildebeest and chasing after gangly giraffes took my breath away. It also took lunch away from a couple of the ladies that I flew with, but yellow was a colour that suited them and gave me a laugh. We spent the night in town to partake in food prepared by others.  Also to partake in a bevy or two. After the first month of sobriety at my aunt and uncle’s house, my poor liver was getting a proper workout. The beers flowed fast and free, and I was belly up to the bar. I was often a little worse for wear in the morning, but somehow seemed to survive the shakes and thrive on the adventure at hand.

 Chobe was next up for game parks and it was a treat that I will never forget. This time the Samil brought us into the park and stayed with us. Its presence was a comfort on our game viewing. Not that walking through the wilds of Africa wasn’t exhilarating, but I did appreciate the security that the truck seemed to offer, despite its open sides. Staring agape at a herd of wild dogs as they ran down and subsequently devoured a baby impala was phenomenal. A little gruesome, but this was life in its finest survival imagery. Spying lions, elephants and even a leopard eating an impala in a tree were experiences that one just did not come across every day in urban Ontario. Life and death were directly linked. The survival of one being was dependent on the sacrifice of another. 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter (Good Friday actually)

Bless us all

bless everyone

for today is full

because of one.

The one you think

I mention here

should be worshiped close

and always dear.

The one to love 

over all

is the one who stands

with might that is tall.

Not to take away 

from churches power,

but the one

should be YOU this hour.

Love thyself

for that is all one has.

This was the message sent by that other guy you were thinking of

and I like it, so try to live it when not a spaz.

Chocolate kisses to you all

Happy Sunshine Day!

Gather up a rainbow

and shower yourself with love and play.

ME, Me, me

I am tired tonight. Only one to blame is myself, as I was up late last night. Yawn! I worked today (horrors, oh horrors) so am only now getting a chance to curl up with my laptop. As my brain is very close to already asleep, I will be kind to it and not put it through its paces to come up with some inane prattle to bug you with. Instead, I am going to share a quiz that my friend Me had over at Is that a Promise or a Threat? We shall see if I am as witty as she. Here goes; 


Hi, my name is:
Katherine. Yup, that's me.Other nicknames that floated around over the years were Kitkat, Wren, Rine, Kat, Katrina. Spelled with a K. Never Kathy. Nothing over the top. It means pure. I like that. Something to aspire to.

Never in my life have I been:
Bungi jumping, hand gliding or skydiving. All sound cool, but await for another day.

The one person who can drive me nuts is:
I have got to agree with C here. "Myself. Seriously." I am definitely my worst enemy.

High school:

Was a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. I think I have lived 7-8 lives since then, maybe more. If I live up to my namesake I might be in a bit of a pickle

When I’m nervous:
I become very quiet. I have been told that is not like me.

The last song I listened to was:
England by Great Big Sea
If I were to get married right now my best man/maid of honor:
I didn't have one the first time I got married, so not sure what I would do now. First things first though. I have to track down Mr Right and sidle up to date #1. Any singletons out there?

My hair is:
Down to my chin. It has not always been so. In a previous reincarnation of me the shaved look was what I sported. I was um, eclectic/goth/freak? Again, so long ago I nary remember

When I was 5:
My sister was younger than me. She still is actually. Funny that?

Last Christmas:
We cut down a real tree again (after buying one at a grocery store the year previous). It was a big ole beauty that was the purtiest tree you ever did see. I love Christmas tree hunts. Jingle Bells, jingle bells...
I should be..:
in bed and asleep, but I must persevere!

When I look down I see:
Two very full baskets of clean clothes that need folding and putting away before we go away. Sigh. Not tonight.

The happiest recent event was:

Hmm, my weekly dinner date with Nancy, David and Ella tonight

If I were a character on ‘Friends’ I’d be:

-dated question. Too tired to debate. Maybe Gunter from the coffee shop

By this time next year:
My children will have started school and I will have that much more of a grip on my world (I hope!)

My current gripe is:
hmm, ack, who likes a whiner

I have a hard time understanding:
why I am still not in bed. I will be up late tomorrow visiting with family. Just go already!

There’s this girl I know that:

is fun, beautiful (really, I am not just saying that), smart, well-read and is still under-appreciated by her husband. I don't get why relationships can fall apart or struggle so much, when love brings two people  together, but doesn't remind them of its beauty in essence in the everyday world. We all want to be loved and appreciated. Why is it that so many fall apart under the scrutiny of life. A shame that pains me as I sit watching from the sidelines.

If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be:
Probably my sister, but it depends upon if she answered the phone first.

Take my advice:
Appreciate all that you are given. Some day it may be taken from you before you are ready, or realize its worth.

The thing I want to buy:

A new roof for my house. Not a glory purchase, but it has got to be done

If you visited the place I was born:
"You'd be bored to tears. And then you'd leave." Yeah, I was born there too. I would suggest visiting the Mill Pond. I wouldn't know what else was there, as it has been almost 6 years since I was there last.

I plan to visit: 
Toronto next week

If you spent the night at my house:
Make coffee in the morning. The coffee maker is over the stove. Thanks. I will be sleeping in. Feed my cats while you are at it. You are a doll ;)

I’d stop my wedding if:
I thought I should for some reason. I would bet it won't be a big choreographed affair, so no big deal.

The world could do without:
Nothing. Everything has its reason and its purpose, even if we may not be able to see it at the time.

I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than:
ewww, not much. Yuck!!!!

Most recent thing I’ve bought myself:
bottle of wine

Most recent thing someone else bought me:
Daffodils

My favorite blonde is:
My eldest daughter

My favorite brunette is: 
My youngest daughter

My favorite red head is: 
oh, how about the little red-headed girl in my daughter's class at daycare who always makes a point of coming over to say hi to me with a huge smile and wave

My middle name is: 

Who wants to know? Getting kind of personal now (2 names M---, A---)

In the morning I:
drink coffee

The animals I would like to see flying besides birds are:
I like the frog thing C. They are cute critters.

Once, at a bar:
My boyfriend/hubby-to-be tried to dance with me while slightly intoxicated. He did not dance. He danced worse that night. A righteous hip check sent me teetering and over on my ankle. A lovely sprain that reminded me to always pick my girlfriends for dance partners. Sorry to those of you boys that have got rhythm, but he did not. Geez

Last night I was:
soaking in my jacuzzi tub with a rye. Ah

There’s this guy I know who:
Collects Lego. He's thirty-five. Am I the only one who finds this weird?

If I was an animal I’d be: 
great, Dr. Seuss is running through my head right now. "I'd Rather be a Bullfrog"

A better name for me would be:
as long as it isn't ALWAYS Mom, I am ok with that

Tomorrow I am:
going to visit and feast with family. Happy Easter!

Tonight I am:
running out of time! Ack 11:38

My birthday is:

oh, in three months. You better start shopping.

and that concludes our regular viewing for this evening. Please do not adjust your set. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

solar power cleaning

   So, I made it to A New Day. I have not completely shaken the grumpies, but I am trying to keep busy and hope that I lose them around a bend in the day. So far, my two big tasks on the list are checked off;

1. pay bills 
2. make extra house keys

and I am on load number three for laundry. I am even being a greenie today and hanging clothes on the line (my electricity bill came yesterday and reminded me that I have a cost saving measure out in the yard; summer = line drying = $$). Of course there was a water main that broke in the area yesterday, so doing a gazillion loads of laundry might not be what the city wants, but oh well. I am not perfect. Grumpy me says "phfttt!" to the powers that be. Whatever ;)

   With a road trip just days away, I have also realized that there are a few tasks needing to be accomplished before leaving; ie. clean bathrooms, vacuum, maybe even tackle the mop and beg it to be kind with me this time. Going away for a weekend isn't really a big deal, but we are going to be gone for upwards of a week. That means getting someone to come in and take care of the kitties. That means that someone else will see the disaster that I call home. Ugh. So embarrassment has me fretting over cleaning. Really, whomever comes over will truly not care about the state of my house, I am sure. They have been here before and would be shocked to walk into a sparkling palace. No need to cause heart failures in friends. So perhaps, I will just contend with the bathrooms before heading out to yoga this afternoon. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, so the saying goes. I will try to relax into that thought, but right now have to go add another load of laundry to the line. Solar power cleaning. My meditation for the day.

Ciao!