Now that summer is here I’m not using my Wii as much

In January I decided to buy a Wii console and Wii Fit. I’d heard that it was a good way to get in shape and I thought the idea of playing games that helped you be active rather than just sitting like a lump on the couch was a great idea.

So far I’m enjoying the Wii. I don’t use it as much as I’d hoped too, especially now that summer has arrived and I’m doing things outdoors, but in the winter it came in handy. Believe me,, if you live in an area that turns cold for months at a time and has a lot of snow a game that helps you stay active indoors is a great idea.

Now I’m starting to wonder about playstation 3. I wrote a post on my main blog, Tricia’s Musings, asking if anyone had both systems and what they thought of each and the feedback indicates that if you want to be active go with the Wii, but if you want action games and great graphics go with Playstation.

The reason I asked in the first place was because I’ve seen some games advertised on TV lately that sound interesting, but they are Playstation games …. so now I’m thinking about getting Playstation 3. Maybe … when I have some extra money that is. Perhaps I’ll find a friend with Playstation 3 and visit them and try it out first to make sure that I really do like it.

Do any of you have Playstation 3? Do you enjoy it? What are you favorite games?



Posted on 2nd July 2009
Under: Entertainment, Home and Lifestyle, Items to Try, Recreation | No COMMENTS »



The neighbor saga continues!

A while ago I wrote about how our new neighbors have been driving me crazy. I think I mentioned that they had purchased a huge boat of a car (a Buick Regal – 30 year old gas guzzler!) and since it was there month to park in our shared driveway, promptly parked their new car in the driveway and left it there.

I think he almost decided to return the car a few days after he bought it because he found out that he’d have to do a lot of paperwork to get a license for the car since it’s not exactly environmentally friendly. Well … about mid-month I guess he got it all figured out and license plates appeared on the car … but still it sat and sat in the driveway.

Blocking the driveway is more like it since it’s wedged between our two houses in our narrow driveway. I can’t even get our garden hose past the car without my husbands help. We have to carefully pass the hose over about five feet of car – being careful not to touch the car since the neighbor is out there washing and polishing it pretty much daily! God forbid if we made a mark on it!

Anyway, I guess he called around and got some insurance quotes because they’ve started driving the gas guzzling car about once a week.

I’m just so frustrated with the huge car blocking off the top of our driveway. They also put their BBQ at the end of the driveway so they end up blocking the end of the driveway too. Argh!

Luckily … we get the use of the driveway in July. He’d better move that darn car! Oh and their young daughter told us that they might be moving in August … If the home owners continue to rent the house I hope we get better neighbors when they move.

Between what they’ve done to the driveway, how they treat their puppy and all the screaming and yelling I keep hearing next store I won’t be sorry to see them go.



Posted on 24th June 2009
Under: Home and Lifestyle, Items to Try, The neighbors, Toronto | No COMMENTS »



My back is killing me after a day working in the garden

I hurt my back on Monday and I can still barely move around two days later! Argh!

On Monday my husband and I spent several hours working in our garden. We weeded and I tidied up plants that were flopping over or crowding out other plants and then … we put about 17 bags of cedar mulch on the garden. Just the back garden … we still have to do the flower beds in the front. Groan!

My back, which has a herniated disk and some bone degeneration, was already hurting during the weeding process, but I pushed on and added mulch to the garden. By the time we finished my back was hurting so bad I could barely walk.

I went inside and laid down and after two hours of letting my back have a rest it felt a lot better, but yesterday it was stiff and soar and if anything it’s even worse today. Time to pull out the heating pad.

Right now I’m just lying on the couch, reading and answering emails and blog comments while watching TV. I know you shouldn’t lie down too much when your back is sore, but right now it’s the only thing that helps. I am getting up and stretching every now and then – so hopefully that helps too.

One of the emails I received this morning was from a friend asking me to check out a page about Decaslim reviews. She wants to lose weight and i guess since I’m a nurse she wants my opinion on this product. I guess I’ll be reading it sometime this afternoon since I can’t do much else other than work on my computer while lying down, read or watch TV.

Do any of you have a herniated or “slipped” disk? How do you relieve your pain?



Posted on 17th June 2009
Under: Chronic Pain, Health Fitness + Beauty, Home and Lifestyle, Items to Try, My Garden | 2 COMMENTS »



Tired after a day at North America’s biggest dog Festival – Woofstock

Our dog Midnight had an exciting day today. We took her to Woofstock. It’s billed as North America’s largest festival for dogs and oh boy … were there ever a lot of dogs and dog related items there!

My husband is a little tired, but Midnight (our Lab) and I are positively tuckered!

We walked outside in the warm sun for hours. Looking at every vendors booth, hoping to get a free sample here and there of things that our dog could use. We did get two packages of free dog food, and some promotional tote bags but that’s about it as far as freebies go. We got more freebies last year, but of course we went on the last day of the event last year so I think the vendors were trying to clear out their booths! Hmm maybe we should go again tomorrow at about 5 pm – an hour before closing?

Our dog made out well though. She met lots of other dogs and came home with two mammoth bone, a stuffed bone, a beef knee joint, pigs ears and a few small bags of dog treats as well as two new leashes and a new collar. She’s set for a long while!

Tomorrow we’re going to go to the end of the Luminato festival on the waterfront here in Toronto and next weekend we’re going to an outdoor concert. Toronto has so many great things to do … I’m sure we’ll find something interesting to do pretty much each weekend of the summer. I just hope that I don’t keep coming home from these “events” as tired as I feel tonight!



Posted on 13th June 2009
Under: Items to Try, Our Puppy, Pets and Wildlife, Recreation, Toronto, Walking | No COMMENTS »



Time for a home town visit?

Do you ever get homesick? I think I’m starting to become home sick. I haven’t visited my home town since 2005 when I went to one of my remaining aunts birthday parties (she was turning 80).

My brother still lives in my home town of Ottawa, but other than him, my aunt and her children I don’t have any other relatives there anymore. My mom died in 2004 and that ended all regular visits. When she was alive my husband and I tried to visit every two weeks (five hour drive each way from Toronto).

My husband is trying to book off for his vacation time. We’re hoping he’ll be able to book off for the last week of July and the first week of August. Perhaps some time during his vacation we’ll drive to Ottawa to see my brother and other relatives.

I’d kind of like to see our old house where we all grew up, but I’m sure that will bring back some painful memories. Not that my time there was bad or anything, in fact I had a great childhood and got along well with my parents … but it’s kind of sad since they are gone and the house is no longer ours.

If we do visit Ottawa I’d want to go to the Experimental Farm and Dow’s Lake. It was was walking distance from our house and I spent a lot of time there as a child going to see the farm animals and skating and boating on the lake and of course the Ottawa Canal. I suppose I’d probably find a reason to visit the Westgate Mall which was near my house as well. Just for old times sake.

If you no longer live in your home town do you try to go back for a visit every now and then or are you like me … haven’t visited for 5 or more years?



Posted on 10th June 2009
Under: Canada, Culture, Family, Home and Lifestyle, Items to Try, Toronto | No COMMENTS »