Greeting from Austin, Texas!

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm still alive. I promise regular posting will be back in full effect just as soon as I get settled into my new job.

New job, you ask? Why yes!

I started a new job two weeks ago and have been training in Austin ever since. What a place this is! Its absolutely gorgeous! Last week was toasty warm (70-80 degrees), the sun was shinning, the hills were rolling and I thought to myself, "I may have to spend every winter in Texas." That was, until this week came around.

Not impressed, Texas. Not impressed at all.

It's currently 34 degrees.

I spent 25 minutes yesterday scrapping the windows of my car with a credit card because, apparently, rental cars don't come equipped with ice scrappers. I think I actually saw an Austiner drive by while mouthing the words, "Poor Shmuck!"  My Nothern Pride just about died. "No, no, no, no!" I shouted back while waving my credit card in the air, "I'm from Canada, this is nothing!! Really!! I'm not as unprepared as you think!"

Oh well...as I learned in my homeland, the quickest way to a warm belly is wine (well, actually, it's beer, but that sounds so unsophisticated). And tonight I shall do just that! I shall warm my belly with some vino. This evening I'm driving downtown to meet up with the one and only Izzy Rose . If you don't know who Izzy Rose is...k, well...first of all if you don't know who she is then you  obviously haven't been reading my blog very long and second, you will be WAY cooler if you do know her. Izzy runs Stepmother's Milk, an incredibly well written, witty, intelligent, thoughful and sassy blog site/step-mom community. Izzy also has a book coming out this May! It's called, The Package Deal: My (not-so) Glamourous Transition from Single Gal to Instant mom. Stepmoms - if you haven't done so already, I highly suggest you pre-order - this ones gunna fly off the shelves. 

I look forward to giving my fellow stepmommy's a full recap of the evening (especially since I know they're secretly jealous that I get to meet Ms. Izzy Rose - tee hee).

Last Sunday the kids, Dex and I took a trip to the Trinity Tree Farm in Issaquah, WA. It was cold, raining, wet, damp and any other word that sums up miserable. But that didn't stop me from forcing my family to stop and pose at every photo opportunity, it didn't stop me from forcing them to ride the little train that goes around the park (occasionally stopping to give tree cutters directions on where to fine twine), and it most certainly did not stop me from stalking Santa. I tried, desperately, to get a picture of him with the kids but they refused. I even went as low to tell them that, "Here's your chance to put a face to the name. If Santa doesn't know what you look like, you won't get anything you asked for!"

I've already mentioned the insulting 1-ply offering to the porcelain god that my work has so graciously stocked their stalls with, and judging from the general consensus that 1ply is a disgrace to human waste, I don't think I need to say much more on the matter.

Except this.

You're not saving any money, Company! People will use twice as much, and you know what happens when people double up? Toilets clog. People panic. Nobody fesses up and nothing gets cleaned until the night crew shows up. It's hell. Actually, it's worse than hell. It's hell with a septic failure. An epic amount of crap baking in an infinitely hot oven. This is not a good thing.

I shouldn't have to tread to the sink through 1 inch of toilet water, soggy 1ply, and pieces of half digested lettuce just so I can wash my hands. Kinda makes my attempt to not spread germs a tad counterproductive.

And to the perpetrator...While I can sympathize with your need for more ply, I can't help but feel you've let the entire office down. You've made everyone suffer instead of just coming forward and admitting your unfortunate turn of evetns. Next time, take caution. Double flush if you have to. And by the way....stop swallowing your gum. That's just disgusting.

I think Catholics got a good thing going for them. Personally, I think confession is great. I bet most people come out feeling like a ton of weight has been lifted off their shoulders. 

I'd like to do something similar. Maybe not quite as serious but of the same nature. I'd like to confess some things about myself. Things that I'm not entirely proud of but have accepted that they are part of who I am.

I'll never wash my brand new clothes before wearing them. 

I'll probably never truly appreciate football.  

I'll never be good at math. 

I rarely remember to bring my reusable bags to the grocery store. Sorry.

I am determined to always have the last word. 

I don't think I have what it takes to be a stay-at-home-mom and therefore will most likely put my children in daycare of hire a nanny.

I'll never have a greenthumb.

If it doesn't come in a freezer bag, can or jar - we probably won't be eating it for dinner.

I'll never be the soccer mom who always looks perfect in her Northface jacket and skinny jeans. In fact, after rushing around the house looking for shin guards and cleats - I'm lucky if I have time to brush my hair.

I'll never like mushrooms or brussels sprouts. 

I am not a patient person.

I'll probably never switch from white wine to red.

I hate yoga, pilates and any other form of exercise that involves "finding my center". 

As I mentioned before, I am not exactly proud of everything I've listed. Some, I've accepted and some, I work tirelessly on trying to change (It's not easy being a stepmom to three children when you lack the gift of patience). 

There's more...But for now, that's my confession.

Can we still be friends?