Rugby stuff

If you're tuned into the rugby world you know that there has been some chatter about how the Haka has been received lately.
If you're not tuned into the rugby world, or if you are a total rugby novice, I'll explain.
So first of all, the Haka is a war posturing "dance" traditionally done by the Maoris to get their adrenalin going and to freak out their opponents, and it was adopted by the All Blacks, who preform it before every match.
So as those of you in the know, know, when New Zealand played Wales last week, the Welsh team decided that they were going to take a couple of moments before the game started, after the Kiwis did their Haka, and this caused chatter in the rugby world. Many are wondering if perhaps it's unfair that the Kiwis get the time before the match to do this, and the other teams don't. Then the game today between the All Blacks and England... while the All Blacks were doing the Haka the English spectators sang "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" so loud that you couldn't hear the Haka at all.
So the controversy begins.
Personally I think that the All Blacks should continue to do the Haka and if other teams have issue with it, they can either answer to it with their own response Haka, which would be showing the Kiwis respect by doing it. (the Irish did this in 1989 and it was well received) Or perhaps each team could come up with their own thing to do to pump themselves up. In any case I think that the Haka has become an institution in rugby and I think it needs to stay, and being given the respect it always has been given.

On to other much more important issues:
isn't he yummy?

Is it December yet?

No really, is it? Posting everyday is getting old, fast!
Tomorrow is the Grey Cup, which is the Super Bowl for the Canadian Football League for my American friends. Adam is thinking about going to a pub to watch it, but I don't know. BC isn't playing, so I have no interest. I am happy that Edmonton's not in it though.
Also for the record, I wouldn't mind if the baby is born during the Super Bowl, just so I don't have to watch it!

Monday's Mumblin's

Wouldn't it be a great idea if I had 7 new blogs, one for each day of the week? Like Monday's Mumblin's, Titilating Tuesdays, Weird Wednesdays, Thrillin' Thursdays, Friday's Forcast, Sloshy Saturdays and Sober Sundays? Good idea? No?

Anyhow, Adam and I had a great weekend! We were invited to go to a SF Giants game, which thrilled Adam because he's been wanting to go, but I've been dragging my heels because I'm not a baseball fan; rugby: yes, hockey: yes, football: yes, baseball: yawn. But the person who invited us had a suite to watch the game in. So to recap, baseball: not so much, suite at a sporting even: yes please!
Once there I quickly realized that I would be ruined for any sporting event ever again; sitting in second bowl seats at the HP Pavilion to watch the Sharks get beaten by some Canadian team will never be the same again. I'm okay with that. The suite was amazing. It opened up onto a balcony with an amazing view of the field and the harbour, since AT&T Park is built on a pier. The balcony had two rows of roomy seats and plenty of room to walk around and not get dead leg from sitting still for so long. Also there was a roof to the balcony, so when all of the people in the stands were breakin' out the plastic bag jackets as the rain started, we were all dry and cozy, livin' the life.
We arrived just as the game was about to start, so Adam and I took a seat on the balcony and settled in to watch the game. I decided that I would try to enjoy the game, even though I just wanted to marvel at the suite. The game started slow: swing, miss, swing, miss, ball, strike, blah blah blah.... Then Regan came to tell us that she was going to get food and so Adam went with her to get us something. This left me alone on the balcony with someone I had just met a couple of minutes before. I shrugged off my shy girl routine and struck up a conversation.
So he's a baseball fan and was shocked that I had no clue who Barry Bonds was. (Some baseball powerhouse who was rumoured to be all jacked up on 'roids) I had a quick lesson on Bonds and some baseball trivia as we discussed the merits of major league sports. (For the record I think that they are just a giant money making machine, and I don't get that wrapped up in the hoopla, I figure there are better things in life to be passionate about, like the Flames!) So we were watching the Giants who were now up to bat, swing, miss, blah blah blah. Then Barry Bonds came out to take his bat. The crowd hushed as the pitch came. He swung, and connected! The ball soared high into the sky. High, as in straight up, it was a pop fly, and a foul ball. Some fan caught the ball and everyone around him congratulated him. He is now a minor celebrity with his friends and family. Then the next pitch, he swung and BLAMO! The ball rocketed across the field, the centre field guy tried to catch it, but it was above his head. He did make a valiant effort running and reaching, but alas the ball was a home run. The stadium erupted into a massive roar and Mr. Bonds took his bases, reminiscent of a NASCAR winner taking a victory lap with the checkered flag. Bonds reached home base and the Giants had the lead in the game with one to zero. The game ended and the only score was Barry Bond's 739th home run, which is only 16 away from Ruth's record of 755.
After the game ended the stadium emptied in break neck speed, but we opted to enjoy the suite a little longer rather than rush for a train that would be packed with excited Giants fans. Instead we watch the field crew come and repair the field. We watched them groom the pitchers mound and then cover it with a custom made tarp, which fitted exactly. Then they did the same for the spot where the batters bat. Finally they rolled out a huge tarp which they covered the dirt part of the field up with. (Which Adam has reminded me is called the diamond.) It was interesting to watch them do this, and they were equally amused by the crazy people in suite #49 (us) who were cheering them on. (My favourite was the guy in the cowboy hat who was clearly the leader, and also the guy who wasn't wearing the yellow jacket and was clearly the rebel!). Eventually we were asked to leave because they needed to clean and we went to catch our train home.
Fun was had by all.
Once we were back in Sunnyvale, Adam and I went to a local pub for a really amazing dinner, a perfect end to the day.*

Yesterday we had some friends come over and we played lots of games. I lost most of them, which I am fine with since it was the first time I had played most of them. Also, I've come to the realization that while I am crazy competitive in sports and anything physical, I don't care really if I win a board game, because it's just that: a board game. Except when we were playing Settlers last night and I came out of nowhere, all stealthy and totally screwed Adam over. Yes Internets, there is nothing better than humiliating my husband at a board game. Ahem, I mean, I don't have to win, it is a game after all.

And now it's today. How was your weekend?

*I would have taken pictures to document it all, but everyone had such nice fancy cameras and we only have a wee little digital which is so puny. I didn't want to bring it out and subject it to camera envy.

Mish Mash, vol ?

On Decluttering.
I was on a message board a couple weeks ago and saw that there was a thread where people were posting their goals on how many things they were going to throw away and declutter their lives. I thought it was a great idea, but unsure if I could just throw away stuff. But, ya know? I can! This weekend I threw away another 5 pair of shoes. I know shocking, 5 pairs! I was a little aghast but I hadn't worn them in over a year and they were takin' of space and we were paying people to move them, seemed ridiculous to me. So they're gone, although I had to get Adam to actually carry them to the garbage. Baby steps, right? I also garbaged some other random stuff, which takes my number up to 14. Which made me wonder, what would be a good goal for me? 100? 250? 500? 1000? Before we moved I culled my wardrobe, reducing it by two thirds, but I won't count that, since it's done.

On Trolls.
So you know that I have anonymous commenters. Mostly I'm fine with them, but I don't like them being rude, or lecturing me. Arg. So if you love me, tell me.

On Spring.
Spring has sprung! It's been springing for a while, but it's wasn't quite there, and now it's all sproinged! I'm spleased! I find it a little amusing that I'm getting excited over spring, uh, springing, since there was no snow, no cold to shake. However the fresh cut grass smell, and the blooming flowers, and even the ozone smell of rain, I love it all! I've always said that I love spring and fall best and here I am in the land of spring and fall!

On Ceramics.
I don't have any new photos, but I have a bunch of new pieces. Right now I am making a fist of rock for my brother, although he doesn't know it. I'm also making tiles for my table, rather than use mosaic tiles to create a design, instead I'm making puzzle piece tiles, and giving them an interesting finish. I can't wait until it's done and I can show you.

On Chachi.
Regan wrote how her chihuahua is a surly teenager, and it made me think of Chachi. Adam and I joke that he's a teenager with the quirks of one. To elaborate, he'll sleep all day given the chance. He would love nothing more than for me to lay in bed all day so he could too. When I get up in the mornings he gives me the look disgust and makes his way over to the couch in the sun. He's developed a selective listening habit, which is highly annoying. I have proven to be more stubborn than a five pound chihuahua, which I think is a feat on it's own. He'll do anything for food, be it puppy treats or human food. Hoever he only has a taste for high end treats though, won't eat the cheaper ones, but he will play with them. For some reason he figures he's the enforcer and when I chide the cat for something he runs over and nips at him. Why Bonsai doesn't lay the smack down on him is beyond me.

On My New Blog.
It's call What I Had For Lunch. I find often when I am talking to Gay (my stepmom) I relay recipes that I have recently made. I figure this will be a good way for me to keep track of everything I make and how I did. I like to take a recipe and alter it to make it more my taste, and I always forget what I did, or lose the post-it I wrote it on and stuck to my cupboard door. Also the number of times I've asked Gay for her chocolate pudding recipe is shameful.... It's so good though, it's English style, so it's cakey, not all gooshy like American pudding. De-vine!

On Bosu
Oh I heart a Bosu more than ever now. So much so that I might have to buy one. I still use them a lot when I work out, but now I'm using it while I work with weight, which really adds to the workout. Julie's started having me to pushups on them. It's freaky hard, but I can do it! I was explaining to my friend Lauren, who I started my journey into climbing with, about the rush I get when I work out with a bosu. I love the feeling of accomplishment I get when I can do something on it. Although I love to strength train, I never has the same feeling of accomplishment, but when I do it with the bosu, I do. It's great.

So I think that mostly covers what's going on in my life.

Housecleaning.

Late last week our main computer died. Dead. Ka-put. Well from what I understand anyhow. I couldn't check my email, read blogs, or write my own, therefore the computer was dead. However, my husband, being the geeky genius he is resurrected it, and restored my files. Which I didn't panic about until he mentioned that he restored them.

Adam: How many pieces did you have saved?
Me: Saved? Pieces?
Adam: Your writing, on the computer....
Me: {immediate panic attack} I had an eighty page document! It can't be lost. ohmygod ohmygod, CRAP!
Adam: Okay, was it this one? {brings up a document}
Me: yay!

Not to say that I don't over react a little bit, but yeah I do.

So anyhow what I'm saying is that I lost some of my favourites, I can remember the titles of some, but I can't remember Colleen's and a couple others that I am sure don't read this. So uh, Colleen, can you email your website, puh-lease?

Also...
My trainer has started her own business and she is having a Saturday morning group workout in the Mountain View/ Sunnyvale area, if there is anyone interested let me know and I can get you in it too. The first week is free and she rocks. I really like how she works me out (hmm that sounds kinda kinky, but it's not). She's really inventive and workouts are never boring. And also, I have muscle definition, really and truly, and you can kinda see it, even though I have a slight protective layer! It's really exciting! Anyhow if you are in the bay area let me know.

My Superbowl Picks.

Team #1- The Teddies
















Team #2- The Ponies
















Since I am married to an NFL nut (and the daughter of one) I generally find that I need to pick a winner. Normally I go by the colours of the uniforms, but this year they are both have blue, which is the colour I usually choose. So to overcome the dilemma, and since I don't know anything about either teams, or care to, I devised a new solution.
















I let Chachi pick. Clearly he prefers the Ponies, so I will cheer for the Colts!

Now really, I do want to pay homage to the favorite team of Chez Berkan.
















(get it, cheese head! HA!)

The pets are also all for the Packers.