Cooking...in French...

In honor of Celine's Birthday (on Monday) I tried baking a cake from one of her Mother's recipes, the one with sour cream and cranberries. It actually turned out pretty well, surprisingly!
( http://archives.tva.ca/emissions/brunchdemamandion/recettes/recettea.shtml )

I only wish I'd read the label on the cranberry box that said 'it is not recommended to eat cranberries on their own as they are very sour'...before I had already put one in my mouth! Yuuuck! But they tasted good in the cake.

Easter is coming...

A few weeks ago I was thinking, this time of year is really uneventful. Valentine's Day has passed, and now there's nothing. Then I realised the next two months includes Easter, Mother's Day, 4 Birthdays and 2 Anniversaries for my family! So I did some shopping today. I also got my hair cut a bit since it was getting impractically, annoyingly long. Came home, then did an Easter photo shoot with the bunnies. So cute, but it can be frustrating when they're more interested in a dead leaf than looking at the camera! Here's one of the pics of Pete from this afternoon. I'll post one of Ruby soon, hopefully I remember!!!

Some thoughts in my head...

If you're reading this blog you probably know from previous entries that I'm a big fan of Celine, and that she's taking some time off to go through IVF again and try to have another baby.
Well, something about all this hit me today: just how HUGE it all is. No matter how long we plan for things in life, when they finally actually happen, they are somewhat different to experience that what we thought. More complex, maybe.
I studied IVF in Biology in high school. I've read articles, researched the topic, watched documentaries etc. But today it hit me that a 25% success rate is not just a number,it means 75% of potential babies never get a chance to live. It means disappointment for real, human families, that all the hope and effort resulted in nothing. I'm not trying to be negative here, I just mean that statistics are so factual and feelingless, but what they really mean is something else.
I know some religious groups or people are against IVF, but I'm really not. As long as it's done in a way that respects life, I think it's wonderful that it gives people a chance to be parents when nature wouldn't.

That kind of leads to my other topic- religion. It occurred to me recently that most my religious beliefs come from my Catholic upbringing- and most Catholic beliefs come from men. Not scripture. Not God. There are so many interpretations of the Bible anyway, though. How are we meant to know what to take literally and what as a metaphor? I know I believe in something out there, but maybe I can also accept that in this lifetime, we don't really know. Faith is wonderful, prayer is great. But until we're face to face with Jesus, how will we really know the meaning of all the political stuff in between? I guess my decision is to live the best life I can, in a Christian way where I feel I can. I still don't agree with everything it promotes, but I guess that's between each of us and God in the end. Not society. Maybe that's why I feel so uncomfortable in Church situations? Maybe there's a universal truth but each of us needs to adapt that in our way to our lives.

Driving Lessons...

I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it! I've been through like, 4 instructors now. Driving just does not come naturally to me, and when an instructor takes me out on a main road when I can't even steer- that's not the most comforting thing! But I have to try to finish 44 more hours by December. So, I'm putting up with a lot of nausea and panic over this. I had another one this morning, it went ok I guess, but I still haaaaate driving. Hmm.
BTW, Happy St. Patrick's Day! I don't actually remember what St. Partick did...I just know it has something to do with Irishness, green, and... alcohol?

Coffee.

Today, I did a coffee making course. I did not appreciate having to go to college on a Saturday, but I survived. It actually wasn't too bad. And now I know how to make coffee. I kind of like coffee...mainly with a lot of chocolate, but I can't drink it too much because it makes me really anxious and hyper. Well that's the update, now my weekend starts :)

Friday the 13th.

It's Friday the 13th. And a full moon, apparently. I didn't notice. I'm actually not superstitious at all. I walk under ladders, put my shoes on the table, constantly open umbrellas inside, I don't mind cats, a few years ago I even broke a mirror- and I don't have particularly bad luck. My Grandmother was kind of superstitious and my Great Grandmother really was. I know Celine is too. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I have many OCD like habits, but not superstitions. Then again, I get pooped on by my birds every single day, so they could just be giving me good luck to counteract the bad...nahhh I don't think so. Oh well. Be safe, everyone. ;)

Trip to the vet.

Yesterday afternoon I was hugging Ruby and...uh oh...there's something in her fur! Ewwwwww! Yep, she has mites. I have no idea how, since the vet says the only way they can catch it is from another rabbit, and I know for absolute certain the only other rabbit she's been around in the past year is Peter. I think he has it too, but then how did he get it, he hasn't been around any other rabbits either? Total mystery.
Well, off to the vet. We brought Belle with us too, since she's still been coughing a bit. All 3 of them haaaattte the car, and their carriers. And since I don't have 6 hands, carrying everyone to and from the car is quite a challenge!
We finally got in there, and I swear there were more children in the waiting room than animals. And I mean, noisy, crazy, kids. The kind that just won't sit quietly. Nope. They climb all over you, touch your pets, and ask more questions than a person in a job interview. "Does their pee smell?" "What about their poo?" "Are they boys or girls?" "Do you know what gym boots are?" Of course they're too young to take a hint when you don't respond. In a way I guess it's cute, they meant well, but when you're tired and stressed it's like....stop invading my personal space, random child- go away, I don't know you!!
So after waiting for over an hour, getting mite treatment (which I had to do at home), 2 vaccinations, some antibiotics for Belle (plus a bite from her, for the vet!) and the diagnosis that she just has a weak immune system and was probably the "runt" of her family, that cost over $200 and we can go home. Ahh. Stress. But I wouldn't trade them for the world. I love my babies.

Gum..

Maybe I wasn't a normal child. I never quite figured out riding a bike, or blowing bubbles with chewing gum. It never really bothered me, but yesterday, I decided to try again with the gum. I actually don't like gum, so I never eat it at all unless I'm on a plane, but after several hours of chewing and trying yesterday, my little brother had to teach me today. But I succeeded! I was so happy, until I bit my tongue. Now I'm in pain. Sigh.

Books...

In the past week I've finished 2 books- "Cockatiels For Dummies" which took me several months to read, and "The Lucky One" (by Nicholas Sparks, it's a novel) which took about 4 days. What's wrong with this picture? LOL. Anyway, both were good books.
When I was a kid, all I ever wanted to do was read. (Babysitters Club obsession, anyone? Haha.) I don't have so much time for it these days, but I'd like to read at least one book a month. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Oh well. If anyone out there has any suggestions of what to read next, let me know :)