Sorry I haven't been posting the last few days. I'm on holidays, and I've dedicated every day this week to being with my sister and brother-in-law, and my niece and nephew. There will be pics and stories to post when I'm back at work next week. Until then, God bless...
Physical Retaliation - Is It Ever Okay?
I've been reading a blogger debate (make sure to read the post that started it all) back and forth over the last couple of days, and it has me thinking about the idea of physical retaliation. Is it ever okay for someone to physically retaliate in a fight? I'm not talking about self defense here - although the guy (a.run) involved in the debate is saying that what he did was in self defense, but I'm not sure I agree. Anyway, if someone hits you - can you hit them back without guilt? Can a man hit a woman, just because she hit him first? Can a woman hit a man, just because he hit her first? Can a white person hit a black person? Can an Asian person hit a white person? Is it ever okay to hit anyone, just because they hit you first? I'm reading everything from common moral stands on the subject, to Biblical comparisons to Jesus' actions, and I'm wondering what other people out there think. As a Christian, should one always remain passive in this arena? I was taught not to hit. Not to hit anyone! So far, I haven't been able to come up with any scenario that would make me feel justified in raising my hand to anyone. And again, just for clarification, I don't mean that I wouldn't fight back if someone was beating me up.
I've been reading a blogger debate (make sure to read the post that started it all) back and forth over the last couple of days, and it has me thinking about the idea of physical retaliation. Is it ever okay for someone to physically retaliate in a fight? I'm not talking about self defense here - although the guy (a.run) involved in the debate is saying that what he did was in self defense, but I'm not sure I agree. Anyway, if someone hits you - can you hit them back without guilt? Can a man hit a woman, just because she hit him first? Can a woman hit a man, just because he hit her first? Can a white person hit a black person? Can an Asian person hit a white person? Is it ever okay to hit anyone, just because they hit you first? I'm reading everything from common moral stands on the subject, to Biblical comparisons to Jesus' actions, and I'm wondering what other people out there think. As a Christian, should one always remain passive in this arena? I was taught not to hit. Not to hit anyone! So far, I haven't been able to come up with any scenario that would make me feel justified in raising my hand to anyone. And again, just for clarification, I don't mean that I wouldn't fight back if someone was beating me up.
Everyone knows Rule #1 of How To Keep Your Marriage Good For Life.
1. Never put up wallpaper, or take it down, with your spouse.
I am going to add Rule #2.
2. Never try to paint stucco with your spouse.
1. Never put up wallpaper, or take it down, with your spouse.
I am going to add Rule #2.
2. Never try to paint stucco with your spouse.
Burners, Birthdays and Family from B.C.
Well, I'm getting really excited for the next week. On Saturday we will be celebrating our god-daughter's (Gina) birthday at A'maze in Corn. Later in the day, we will head over to the airport to pick up Steve, Ang, Emily and Thomas! We are VERY excited about their visit! I can't wait to see them all. They are coming out for a week, in which we have a lot of catching up to do. The long weekend will be spent at Fair Hills Resort, where we will be able to relax and enjoy each others company. I also have all of next week off work for holidays. I'm much looking forward to the time away. We will also celebrate the many birthdays that have happened this summer, including my own, Ang's, Ryan's and Steve's (on the 29th).
I'm also pumped because I just got a DVD burner installed on my computer. Not only can I save umpteen more files to disk now, I can also download pirated movies! Just kidding! I don't have time for that while I'm at work. A DVD burner is a very handy little device. I've been able to file and store all my digital photos (in their full format) onto one disk. Very nice.
Well, I'm getting really excited for the next week. On Saturday we will be celebrating our god-daughter's (Gina) birthday at A'maze in Corn. Later in the day, we will head over to the airport to pick up Steve, Ang, Emily and Thomas! We are VERY excited about their visit! I can't wait to see them all. They are coming out for a week, in which we have a lot of catching up to do. The long weekend will be spent at Fair Hills Resort, where we will be able to relax and enjoy each others company. I also have all of next week off work for holidays. I'm much looking forward to the time away. We will also celebrate the many birthdays that have happened this summer, including my own, Ang's, Ryan's and Steve's (on the 29th).
I'm also pumped because I just got a DVD burner installed on my computer. Not only can I save umpteen more files to disk now, I can also download pirated movies! Just kidding! I don't have time for that while I'm at work. A DVD burner is a very handy little device. I've been able to file and store all my digital photos (in their full format) onto one disk. Very nice.
Now for a commercial break... Have you ever thought about purchasing a webcam? If so, the Compusmart online store* has the Logitech Quickcam Messenger Webcam on for $19.99. This price comes after two mail-in rebates, and one of the rebates expires August 24 (date on invoice must be dated August 24 or earlier)! So get yours now! It's a great deal. Other stores (Futureshop, Best Buy) are selling the same webcam for $35-40. Oh, and the shipping is FREE!*If anyone from Compusmart sees this blog, please send me a cheque for this advertisement. If you email me, I will give you my mailing address. You can simply make the cheque out for cash in any amount over $100. Thanks.
Me at work.
Happy 33rd birthday babe!
Why I Wish I Had Known that My Husband is a Perfectionist
By Heather Plett
Okay, I'm kind of kidding about this one, so don't go taking it all seriously or anything. I used to think I was a perfectionist... NOT anymore. In fact, I am far from being one! I've only learned this after being married.
Sometimes I think Ryan is a messy person. If you have ever seen his office, or his parent's basement when he lived in it, you would understand this. When he lived in his parent's basement it was frightening. Jackets were piled high on the "jacket couch". You couldn't use the jacket couch - it was piled high with a million jackets! Stacks of papers, CDs, clean laundry, dirty laundry, etc. were all over the place. The mantle was littered with various awards, figurines, invitations, cards, pictures, and the like. Posters were everywhere - hung up, lying on the ground, and propped up against the wall. He also seemed to be collecting candles - ranging from half burned pillars, to these really fancy ones from the 80s. I just saw something like this on Oprah yesterday, they call this physcological disorder "Hoarding". And, no, I don't watch Oprah all of the time!!! That's another story. Anyway, I used to fear that this same mess would migrate into my life and my home when we got married. Ryan assured me that he'd keep his own home much neater. Ya, uh-huh.
I'm going to try and keep this short, because I really could go on and on. ("What, Heather, you are hardly ever long-winded?!") This mess HAS migrated into our current life. Luckily for me, it has been contained mostly to Ryan's office, and has now slowly made its way into another room on the second floor. But what does this have to do with perfectionism? I'm getting there.
I think Ryan is messy because he doesn't clean up. He doesn't clean up because he fears the amount of time it would take him to do it right. For example, I vacuum our basement once a week. Ryan never vacuums his office. Why? (Other than the fact that very little of the floor is actually visible?) He doesn't do it, because if he did, he would feel compelled to move everything, yes, EVERYTHING out of the room and vacuum every inch of the rug. And, as long as everything is out of the room, he might as well go and rent a Rug Doctor and clean it too. As long as he can live in his filth, it means he doesn't have to spend time cleaning it to his liking. Are you catching this? Neat-Freak marries compulsive Hoarder... I mean Perfectionist.
In my (semi-professional) opinion, this is CRAZY!!! But still, I continue to love and cherish him.
By Heather Plett
Okay, I'm kind of kidding about this one, so don't go taking it all seriously or anything. I used to think I was a perfectionist... NOT anymore. In fact, I am far from being one! I've only learned this after being married.
Sometimes I think Ryan is a messy person. If you have ever seen his office, or his parent's basement when he lived in it, you would understand this. When he lived in his parent's basement it was frightening. Jackets were piled high on the "jacket couch". You couldn't use the jacket couch - it was piled high with a million jackets! Stacks of papers, CDs, clean laundry, dirty laundry, etc. were all over the place. The mantle was littered with various awards, figurines, invitations, cards, pictures, and the like. Posters were everywhere - hung up, lying on the ground, and propped up against the wall. He also seemed to be collecting candles - ranging from half burned pillars, to these really fancy ones from the 80s. I just saw something like this on Oprah yesterday, they call this physcological disorder "Hoarding". And, no, I don't watch Oprah all of the time!!! That's another story. Anyway, I used to fear that this same mess would migrate into my life and my home when we got married. Ryan assured me that he'd keep his own home much neater. Ya, uh-huh.
I'm going to try and keep this short, because I really could go on and on. ("What, Heather, you are hardly ever long-winded?!") This mess HAS migrated into our current life. Luckily for me, it has been contained mostly to Ryan's office, and has now slowly made its way into another room on the second floor. But what does this have to do with perfectionism? I'm getting there.
I think Ryan is messy because he doesn't clean up. He doesn't clean up because he fears the amount of time it would take him to do it right. For example, I vacuum our basement once a week. Ryan never vacuums his office. Why? (Other than the fact that very little of the floor is actually visible?) He doesn't do it, because if he did, he would feel compelled to move everything, yes, EVERYTHING out of the room and vacuum every inch of the rug. And, as long as everything is out of the room, he might as well go and rent a Rug Doctor and clean it too. As long as he can live in his filth, it means he doesn't have to spend time cleaning it to his liking. Are you catching this? Neat-Freak marries compulsive Hoarder... I mean Perfectionist.
In my (semi-professional) opinion, this is CRAZY!!! But still, I continue to love and cherish him.
Today I am missing a lot of people. I miss having lunch with Ang. I miss talking about design with Steve. I miss laughing with Emily. I miss watching Thomas grow. I miss my friend Nichole, and all of our adventures. I miss my friend Sarah, and her fantastic scalp massages. I miss BBC and all the people I hung out with there. I miss my friends in Regina, and going for Sunday Buffet. I miss our many friends in B.C., and the mountains. I miss you all, and many others, but I don't miss you in sadness. I miss you in fond memories, and with joy that I know I'll see you all again sometime. Hey, is this starting to sound like a suicide note? No, really, I'm just happy to have you all in my life, even if we don't see each other often.
In order to keep everyone up to date on what's going on in Southern Manitoba, here is my recount of this past weekend:
On Friday, after posting that I was feeling awful, I went home and announced that I would be spending the entire evening doing absolutely nothing. Ryan questioned why it had taken me so long to fall into his trap of Friday night laziness. He made chicken fingers and KD for supper, and then we parked our butts on the couch for the remainder of the day. It was FANTASTIC! "I wanna doo dat again"!
On Saturday, I enjoyed a stellar waffle with pudding, blueberries and caramel sauce at the Café with Kristen. I spent the rest of the day catching up with all the stuff I didn't do on Friday, and then we headed off to the city. We joined Frank and Jeanne for supper at Grapes, and then off to the Bomber game we went. It was a beautiful evening, and the game ended in a Bomber win to top it all off!
Sunday morning we ventured to church, and napped after *faspa. I made Ryan some ginger snap cookies, and then we hopped into the car with Terril, Brent and Emery and went off to the city to join James and Sherisse for supper at Earls (see pics below). We had a great time, and capped the evening off with ice cream at BDI (Bridge Drive In). Does it get more Manitoban than BDI?
*To my non-Mennonite readers: Faspa is Low German for "light lunch". I should probably use more Low German in my writing, and explain the meanings of the words. It's truly a language made for a good laugh.
On Friday, after posting that I was feeling awful, I went home and announced that I would be spending the entire evening doing absolutely nothing. Ryan questioned why it had taken me so long to fall into his trap of Friday night laziness. He made chicken fingers and KD for supper, and then we parked our butts on the couch for the remainder of the day. It was FANTASTIC! "I wanna doo dat again"!
On Saturday, I enjoyed a stellar waffle with pudding, blueberries and caramel sauce at the Café with Kristen. I spent the rest of the day catching up with all the stuff I didn't do on Friday, and then we headed off to the city. We joined Frank and Jeanne for supper at Grapes, and then off to the Bomber game we went. It was a beautiful evening, and the game ended in a Bomber win to top it all off!
Sunday morning we ventured to church, and napped after *faspa. I made Ryan some ginger snap cookies, and then we hopped into the car with Terril, Brent and Emery and went off to the city to join James and Sherisse for supper at Earls (see pics below). We had a great time, and capped the evening off with ice cream at BDI (Bridge Drive In). Does it get more Manitoban than BDI?
*To my non-Mennonite readers: Faspa is Low German for "light lunch". I should probably use more Low German in my writing, and explain the meanings of the words. It's truly a language made for a good laugh.
Fun with Emery at Earls.
Trying to touch the camera.
Hey, is that a nose pick?
Just before leaving, Brent and I got this great idea to put Emery in the arms of the big monkey thing. Needless to say, Emery wasn't a big fan.
Ewwwww... today I feel like I'm coming down with something. My head kinda aches, my body aches, and all I want to do is just climb into bed and sleep... but I'm at work. The computer screen is sort of blurring before my aching eyes, and my stomach isn't sure that it likes what I ate for lunch. Crap. I hate being sick at work. Thankfully it is Friday, and maybe I'll find sometime this weekend to rest. Ya, right! I should probably just go home at this point - I'm hardly doing anything useful here.
Anyway, I've been reading some really good blogs lately. I wish I could write half as good as some others out there. Where do you get your ideas from? They are pretty good.
I was also thinking today that I really wish I was more stylish. I feel out of date. Do you ever feel like that? What do you do about it? I tend to go out and buy one thing that I feel is stylish and try to incorporated it with my already out-dated wardrobe. Then I just end up looking like one of those people who is out-dated and old, but trying to look stylish. Please offer me some help... and make sure it's affordable. My husband won't let me hire a personal shopper to help me replace my entire wardrobe.
Anyway, I've been reading some really good blogs lately. I wish I could write half as good as some others out there. Where do you get your ideas from? They are pretty good.
I was also thinking today that I really wish I was more stylish. I feel out of date. Do you ever feel like that? What do you do about it? I tend to go out and buy one thing that I feel is stylish and try to incorporated it with my already out-dated wardrobe. Then I just end up looking like one of those people who is out-dated and old, but trying to look stylish. Please offer me some help... and make sure it's affordable. My husband won't let me hire a personal shopper to help me replace my entire wardrobe.
Billy Abraham Plett, 8lbs. 14oz.
Two cuties.
Aren't babies amazing?! Here is Billy and I.
Welcome to the world baby Billy! Congrats Jer & Bonnie on your baby boy - born yesterday around 10:30p.m. So far, that's all we know!P.S. Thanks if you prayed that I would find my camera. I found it hidden in my car last night!
You may have noticed that I haven't posted any pictures in awhile. Well, that is because I have misplaced my digital camera. I really only noticed that it was officially missing last night when I went to find it. I looked in all the usual places, and Ryan doesn't use it, so he couldn't have put it someplace unusual. I searched our cars, under piles of clothes, drawers, closets, crawl-spaces... I just can't remember where I last had it, or where I last put it down. I hate that! I went to bed assuring myself that I had left it at work and I would find it this morning. It isn't here either. So, now I'm back to having to take apart the house again. I don't think I left it at someone else's place - or they would have called by now to say they had it. And I don't think I've left it anywhere public, like at a restaurant or something, because the last pics I took were here at home. So, just put up a little prayer for me today that I would find my camera. I've probably just put it down someplace silly, and I'll find it soon enough. But I MISS it, and my blogs are so boring without pictures.
Another point goes on the board for "Why Not To Live in a Small Town"! Maybe I have a slight chip on my shoulder, but really, this one takes the cake...
We had supper last night with my parents, and my in-laws. Sometime during supper, my mother-in-law leaned over and said, "Heather, you will never guess what I heard the other day". Of course, I couldn't guess.
"I heard that you and Ryan are expecting..."
This would be sort of funny, if she hadn't continued with "... from a nurse at the (local) hospital".
Really. No, no REALLY?! I could not believe it. I've gone in for two blood tests over the last two months because of this virus issue I've been having. I suppose this nurse must have seen my charts, or something, and assumed that two blood tests in a row could only mean that I was pregnant. But, the odacity to even say anything about that assumption to a family member? Wow, that takes balls. Seriously, nothing here is sacred. Not even the announcement that you may be expecting!
Thankfully my mother-in-law took this news as gossip, and didn't bat an eye. She simply informed the nurse that this was, in fact, news to her... to which the nurse responded with some story that this information had come from friends. Wow, either I've started to look pregnant, or everyone is so eager for us to have babies that they are starting to convince themselves that we ARE!
In a couple of days I may have a sense of humour about this, but for now I am steaming. Oh, and by the way, I do not believe that I am pregnant, but all of this may mean that I have to call the hospital to find out - before they tell too many more people.
We had supper last night with my parents, and my in-laws. Sometime during supper, my mother-in-law leaned over and said, "Heather, you will never guess what I heard the other day". Of course, I couldn't guess.
"I heard that you and Ryan are expecting..."
This would be sort of funny, if she hadn't continued with "... from a nurse at the (local) hospital".
Really. No, no REALLY?! I could not believe it. I've gone in for two blood tests over the last two months because of this virus issue I've been having. I suppose this nurse must have seen my charts, or something, and assumed that two blood tests in a row could only mean that I was pregnant. But, the odacity to even say anything about that assumption to a family member? Wow, that takes balls. Seriously, nothing here is sacred. Not even the announcement that you may be expecting!
Thankfully my mother-in-law took this news as gossip, and didn't bat an eye. She simply informed the nurse that this was, in fact, news to her... to which the nurse responded with some story that this information had come from friends. Wow, either I've started to look pregnant, or everyone is so eager for us to have babies that they are starting to convince themselves that we ARE!
In a couple of days I may have a sense of humour about this, but for now I am steaming. Oh, and by the way, I do not believe that I am pregnant, but all of this may mean that I have to call the hospital to find out - before they tell too many more people.
Wow, another fantastic weekend! And a long weekend too! I can't remember exactly how we spent Friday night, maybe we just stayed home. Friday seems so long ago already.
On Saturday we slept in, and then headed into the city to meet our friends Rick and Lori at Old Market Square in Winnipeg. We enjoyed some delicious Thai chicken curry and samosas for lunch, and then went to see my friend Dean's show, Open Prairie, at the Fringe. It was a great show, and Dean performed a fabulous rendition of an auctioneer that would make his dad proud! (His dad being an auctioneer.) We toured the various street vendors after the show, and parted with Rick and Lori to go see T.J. Dawe perform his one man show "Canadian Bartender at Butlins". It was a good show as always, erupting with a lot of great laughs. We had supper at Montana's and a quick stop at Home Depot before heading home and watching "Ocean's Twelve".
Sunday morning we awoke to another beautiful sunny day, and went to church. We had a delicious empanada lunch, and napped for a good part of the afternoon. We then headed back into Winnipeg to the River Mandarin Thai Restaurant for Ryan's uncle Doug's 50th birthday party. A good time was had by all, and the food was delicious! Then, we were off to the airport to pick up my brother Matt, who just got home from visiting his girlfriend who lives in Monterrey, Mexico. He had a terrible flight, being delayed twice, and then to top it all off, they left his bag in Minneapolis.
Monday was a holiday here in sunny Manitoba - and it was a scorcher! It was very hot, and we ended up sleeping in (as we only got home from the airport at 1:30am). It was hard to do any work outside, so I did all kinds of indoor work. I put a roast in for supper and we were joined by my brother and my dad to watch the Bomber game in the afternoon. Mom came by for supper, and a great game of Risk was enjoyed by all.
A great weekend is something to cherish, and this was just that. There were also a few sentimental moments this weekend, and I will share those thoughts later on, when I have some more time.
On Saturday we slept in, and then headed into the city to meet our friends Rick and Lori at Old Market Square in Winnipeg. We enjoyed some delicious Thai chicken curry and samosas for lunch, and then went to see my friend Dean's show, Open Prairie, at the Fringe. It was a great show, and Dean performed a fabulous rendition of an auctioneer that would make his dad proud! (His dad being an auctioneer.) We toured the various street vendors after the show, and parted with Rick and Lori to go see T.J. Dawe perform his one man show "Canadian Bartender at Butlins". It was a good show as always, erupting with a lot of great laughs. We had supper at Montana's and a quick stop at Home Depot before heading home and watching "Ocean's Twelve".
Sunday morning we awoke to another beautiful sunny day, and went to church. We had a delicious empanada lunch, and napped for a good part of the afternoon. We then headed back into Winnipeg to the River Mandarin Thai Restaurant for Ryan's uncle Doug's 50th birthday party. A good time was had by all, and the food was delicious! Then, we were off to the airport to pick up my brother Matt, who just got home from visiting his girlfriend who lives in Monterrey, Mexico. He had a terrible flight, being delayed twice, and then to top it all off, they left his bag in Minneapolis.
Monday was a holiday here in sunny Manitoba - and it was a scorcher! It was very hot, and we ended up sleeping in (as we only got home from the airport at 1:30am). It was hard to do any work outside, so I did all kinds of indoor work. I put a roast in for supper and we were joined by my brother and my dad to watch the Bomber game in the afternoon. Mom came by for supper, and a great game of Risk was enjoyed by all.
A great weekend is something to cherish, and this was just that. There were also a few sentimental moments this weekend, and I will share those thoughts later on, when I have some more time.
