New Year's Resolutions. (Or Not?)

I'm not much of a resolutions girl, never have been.  If I want to do something, change something, focus on something, I just do.  No time like the present, right?  But there is something to be said for reflection that seems to come so naturally (forcefully?  frustratingly?) this time of year.  *deep sigh*

So, this year, I want to:

1. Keep practising this photography habit.  It's so easy to just put the camera down, stop trying, stop learning, stop improving.  So.  I want to use the tripod more.  I want to set up shots more.  I want to play with depth of focus and times of day and different light.  I want to keep it fun.

2.  Eat... better.  Or, more consistently at least.  I'm terrible at meal-planning and I don't put as much value in my diet as I do in Frances'.  But I should.  I deserve to eat well, and feel well for it. 

3.  Play more with my daughter, appreciate her more.  I want to read with her more, laugh with her more, run with her more.  I feel like I've been sort-of neglected our relationship in the last few months because I've been caught up with... everything.  It's time to step up.

4. Expect respect.  Require it.  (I'm not right now.)

5. Work harder at friendships.  There are a handful of people who I count as good friends.  And I don't see them enough, talk to them enough, support them enough.  It's time to start working harder at being there for and with friends.

6.  Laugh more.  I didn't laugh enough in 2010.  I'm counting on resolutions 1-5 to help out with this one.

And that's me.  What do you want to change in the new year?

Holidays: Fernie

Will Frances get rabies from eating off a hotel room floor?

 

*busy skiing*

Terrible Day in Fernie

Just terrible.  

Apart from the 15cm of fresh snow last night, we had to deal with above-freezing temperatures.  And...  there was hardly anyone on the trails today.  AND...  We only got out skiing for about 2.5 hours today.

And who wants to stare at mountains and trees and fresh snow all day?  I mean, really?

On top of that?  The dog is so tired that all he wants to do tonight is sleep. 

And we're supposed to tolerate another day like this tomorrow.

(It's a horrifically rough life.)

Christmas Morning

It's a good day.

*Gone skiing.*

Christmas Eve (Oh, my!)

So...  we spent Chrsitmas Eve at Steve's parents' house, along with my parents and Steve's sister.

'Twas fun...

(She is a ham.)  

As in, she is the biggest goofball ever.  (I like.)

And she enjoyed the unwrapping once she figured out that ripping paper was involved.

(Check out the awesome sweater that she got from Grandma!) 

And aunty got her skis!!

SKIS!!

And the grandparents got her a kick-butt sled!  

(Guess what we're doing tomorrow morning!)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday - Take care & make merry!

I Have a Problem: Christmas Cookies

A lot of people exercise when they're stressed out.  

Or drink to excess.  

Me?  

I decorate sugar cookies.

Look at me getting all crazy with the royal icing!

Check out all the colours!

And the piping!  And the sprinkles!

FYI:  This is deadly easy, just the most time-consuming project ever.  

(Almost as bad as photo-editing, even!)

Dayhome Crafts: Christmas

This month, Frances has brought home cookies, tree ornaments, all sorts of Christmas fare...  But the most impressive craft has to be:

Alien Rudolf the Reindeer

As far as I can tell, Rudolf mated with a squid-like creature from outerspace.  And the resulting spawn is a creepy blob with tentacles and googly eyes and worrisome apendages.  And Frances thought it would be a good idea to paint this creature. 

Um, yeah.  *grin*

Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area: Skiing!

'Twas another good day in Winterland.  

(Even though we couldn't get out of town, the Edmonton area still has some pretty sweet-as ski spots.)

 

Steve pulled Frances in her Chariot through the deep snow.  

I think he was tired by the end of the ski. =)

The snow was the fluffy, slippery kind.  It made the uphills, uh, tricky.

Waimak was in his element...  even though we forgot to pack his boots.  Oops.

Chin icicles are the best!

He looks kinda scary when he's running full-throttle.  *giggle*

And goofy when he's trying to slow down.  

(On some of the steep hills he fell spectacularly trying to slow down. =)

That's me.  (The wrinkles are sneaking up on me.  Yikes.)

The girl, as always, was a superstar - and she slept through the whole thing...

(The roads were a bit horrific getting to/from the trail, but with a little bit of help (we needed help pushing the car out of the parking lot), we managed to survive the ordeal.  The trails were pretty, um, thick (no track-setting since the big snow hit this week), but it was quiet and absolutely beautiful out there.  All in all, it was a grand ol' time - we'll be back on Friday and Saturday!)

KodakGallery.ca is Making Me Want to SCREAM

So I ordered photobooks from KodakGallery.ca - For the grandmothers.  Because they love that stuff.

And I placed my order on November 16, along with some Christmas cards.  Which should have been plenty of time for them to arrive, right?

But.  Hrmph.  Today, I realized that I still hadn't received a "your order is ready for pick-up at Best Buy" email for the books.  (The cards were shipped separately and arrived ages ago.)

So.  I contacted Kodak Gallery's online help-chat thingy and the first conversation ended like this, after I'd explained that my order hadn't arrived yet:

Sergio V.: Can you please provide me your home address so I can send it to there?
Natalie: address, city, postal code, all that good stuff
Sergio V.: Are you there?
Natalie: yes
Natalie: did you get the address?
Sergio V.: I apologize for the inconvenience, but due to inactivity I will need to close the chat session if a reply is not received in one minute.
Natalie: what?
Natalie: I'm here!

Which is about when he disconnected.  Awesome.  The second help chat went like this:

Enrique L.: Hi, my name is Enrique L.. How may I help you?
Natalie: You chat thing is broken...
Natalie:
Sergio V.: Can you please provide me your home address so I can send it to there?
Natalie: address, city, postal code, all that good stuff
Sergio V.: Are you there?
Natalie: yes
Natalie: did you get the address?
Sergio V.: I apologize for the inconvenience, but due to inactivity I will need to close the chat session if a reply is not received in one minute.
Natalie: what?
Natalie: I'm here!
Natalie: That's when he disconnected.
Natalie: hello?
Enrique L.: I am here
Enrique L.: how can I assist you?
Natalie: Sergio was going to send my package.
Natalie: Then he disconnected the chat.
Natalie: I am getting very frustrated.
Enrique L.: sorry to hear that, I can gladly
assist you with this matter.
Enrique L.: may I have the order id please?
Natalie: numbersnumbersnumbers
Enrique L.: One moment while I review the information you have given me.
Enrique L.: could you tell me what happened ?
Natalie: My order appears to have been misplaced by someone.
Natalie: I ordered on the 16th, picked up the cards shortly after that...
Natalie: And my books are not there as of this morning
Natalie: At Best Buy, I mean
Natalie: I've already explained this to Sergio.

Enrique L.: ok thank you, one moment please
Enrique L.: ok Natalie i see your order was shipped separately.
Natalie: yes
Natalie: when?
Enrique L.: let me check when your book will arrive
Natalie: Because it's been a long time.
Natalie: Sergio said that he was going to reship them to my home.
Enrique L.: ok,please hold
Enrique L.: ok I am going to need your physical address please?
Natalie: STreet Address
Natalie: Edmonton, AB
Natalie: Postal code
Enrique L.: I am going to send the replacement to you  free of charge.
Natalie: I would certainly hope so.
Natalie: Were the books ever sent to Best Buy?
Natalie: And when can I expect the books to arrive?
Communication with the RightNow Chat service has been lost.  Please wait while attempts are made to restore the connection. Disconnection in 240 seconds. Connection resumed. Natalie: hello?
Enrique L.: I am working on the account please hold.
Natalie: ok

Enrique L.: I am going to send them to your home, was that the address you gave me?
Natalie: yes
Natalie: when will they arrive?
Enrique L.: 2 to 14 business days.
Natalie: So they won't be Christmas gifts anymore.
Natalie: That is ridiculous.
Natalie: Is that the quickest they can be sent?
Enrique L.: yes I am sorry.
Natalie: Is there someone else who I can talk to?
Enrique L.: I already submit the order, once an order is placed cannot be change or cancel.
Natalie: Who can I talk to to get the package sent out quicker?

Enrique L.: If you which to speak  with someone please contact us via phone 800 360 9098
Natalie: thank you.
Enrique L.: Thank you for contacting
the KODAK gallery
HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!!.

 FAWK.   

(I do feel badly for Enrique - the poor guy was just doing his job and I was being bitchy.  But.  That's Christmas, right?)