Pete

     The phone rang at 2 o'clock in the morning. I shot out of bed and I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as I quickly ran through my dark apartment searching for the portable. Phone calls in the middle of the night are a scary thing. My mother's voice was on the other end of the line explaining to me that the vet had called and it was time to go to the animal hospital to put our dog down. Pete, our 15-year-old Westiepoo, was at the vet overnight because he had pancreatitis. We were told he would feel better after an IV drip and some rest, but the dog doctor was unable to manage his pain.

     We gathered in the "comfort room" at the animal hospital to say our goodbyes. Pete was brought to us, wrapped in a blanket like a baby, and my mother held him tight as tears fell down her face. He was quiet when he was carried into the room, but he started to cry as soon as he was placed in my mother's arms. I believe our familiar scent made him feel happy and comforted. Putting him to sleep was quick and painless.

  

     Pete was a good boy. Purple was his favourite colour and toast was his favourite treat. He liked to cuddle by your feet and jump off the dock at the cottage. He will surely be missed. Now I like to imagine him running around rainbow bridge with his best buddy Jack...

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.

His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

-Author unknown

Laughter is the Best Medicine

     Laughter is a great thing. It can connect people emotionally, it increases job performance and you may be surprised to learn it can even protect you against a heart attack. In February, my grandmother passed away and I haven't laughed a lot since. Actually, I've cried everyday. On bad days, I do the ugly cry where my nose runs and my eyes get all puffy and red. On good days, my eyes well up with tiny tears when I see a picture of her on my bookcase or think it's her calling me when the phone rings. When my grandmother was alive she was a huge part of my life. A couple times a week I would pick her up after work and we'd go out for lunch. We called ourselves the "ladies who lunch". Sometimes as I drive away from the radio station's parking lot I'll decide "I'm going to go visit grandma today"...only to realize I can't do that anymore.

     When I heard Darrin Rose was performing at Centrepointe Theatre I jumped at the chance to go see him because he stars in my husband's favourite show "Mr. D". I knew a dose of laughter would make us feel better. And it did! Rose's one person show about struggling with manhood after growing up in an all-male household was really funny.

We got to meet him after the show. Nice guy and handsome too!

     Giving myself permission to laugh and enjoy life felt great. Research has even suggested people feel less pain after a good laugh because it causes the body to release chemicals that act as a natural painkiller. Believe me, it works. Get your daily dose of laughter today! You'll feel better.

BBQ's and Basketball

     Environment Canada says Ottawa is experiencing record-breaking temperatures and I have to admit it feels like June! Sunday's high of 25.1 C broke the record for warmest March 18th on record, which was previously 16.1 C set back in 1966. It was a beautiful day. Spring cleaning had to continue, but we got to do all the dirty work outside. My husband and I took our car to my parents house and we transformed their large driveway into a car wash. Buckets of suds, a green garden hose, a vacuum and spray bottles of tire cleaner and Windex auto glass cleaner surrounded our 2003 Toyota Corolla. My parent's front yard looked like a scene from a movie. On set the sun was shining and I was running away from my husband as he sprayed me with the hose. We wrapped up our hard work by enjoying an ice cold beer on the porch.

     My parents invited us to stay for a BBQ and we ate delicious hamburgers and drank pink lemonade. Dinner was followed by a competitive game of basketball. My dad may have broken a finger or two, my sister got a ball in the chest and we all stepped on my mum's toes at some point as we tried to steal the ball away from her. We played until the sun when down and we were all sweaty smiles.

Speaking of sweat...

     I completed my Running Room clinic by participating in the St. Patrick's Day 5K race. My last 5K race was almost a year ago and I've done better, but it feels so good to be running again. I'm trying to get back into shape for the summer. Exercise and eating well are my main focus for spring. I even planted my own herb garden.

It will be nice to add fresh herbs to all my spring dishes. Shedding winter layers and adding bright, new pieces to my wardrobe is another reason why I love spring.

My new outfit from Joe Fresh. Under $60!

Everything is orange, yellow and cheerful! Tomorrow is the first day of spring and I welcome it and its new beginnings with open arms.

Gutterball

The Max Keeping Birthday Bowlathon took place at the Merivale Bowling Lanes on Sunday. Over $69,000 was raised! All the money will be used to make sure kids from low income neighbourhoods have the opportunity to go to camp, play sports or take part in the arts.

I was happy to be apart of it!

The radio station's presence was so big we were given an extra bowling lane. Everyone brought their friends, significant others and kids. Music blared through the speakers and our team glowed under the black lights. For two straight hours I whipped bright bowling balls down the lane, but they usually ended up in the gutter. Meanwhile, my husband was on fire!

I think the Jedi was using his mind tricks to help him out.

Or maybe his awesome bowling shoes had something to do with it....

Before my last turn my hubby gave me some tips and told me not to throw the bowling balls so hard and I got a strike! I love my job! If you'd like to support the Max Keeping Foundation donations can be made here:

http://maxkeepingfoundation.org/donate-2/directed-donations/.

Open the Windows! Sweep out the Cobwebs!

     My co-host bought me an extra large coffee this morning and I haven't had one in weeks. Caffeine was coursing through my veins and my body was buzzing. When I got home from work I was unable to sit still! An afternoon nap was out because the sunshine was peeking through my curtains. Feeling restless I hopped out of bed and opened the window. Fresh air hit my face and it smelt delicious, like spring. This Sunday, most Canadians will "spring forward" and turn their clocks ahead one hour. So, I decided it was time for a good ole' spring cleaning. Floors were washed, fresh sheets were put on the bed, the kitchen sink was scrubbed and every surface of my apartment has been dusted. Spring is like a new start on life. It changes the colour of my nail polish.

OPI "You're such a kabuki queen".

It even changes what we eat. My heart was longing for a walk in the sunshine, so I made a short trip to Nicastros, which is a tiny Italian shop in the heart of the Glebe. Colourful piles of fruits and vegetables line the aisles and sampling is always encouraged in the cheese section. I love this grocery store! (Did I mention my radio station happens to play over their PA system?). Tonight I'm making my hard working hubby a spring pasta primavera.

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Magazine

Spring also means the return of mini eggs and Cadbury creme eggs.

Dessert!

And of course nothing says spring like tulips.

Springing forward feels great. It's a fresh start.

-Alyssa

Winterlude 2012

Winterlude 2012 started off with a bang.

Literally.

The National Capital Commission promised Winterlude fireworks would go "beyond Canada Day." So, the hubby and I bundled up and went across the border to Quebec to watch the 15 minute display outside the Museum of Civilization.

The firework display included a shower of gold explosions over the Alexandria Bridge! It was beautiful.

We only live a couple of blocks away from the Rideau Canal and we took full advantage of the world's largest skating rink.

Skating is a challenge for me. For the first 10 minutes my calves burn, my feet ache and my toes are frozen. I try not to complain though because my body eventually gets into a rhythm, I warm up and I start having fun. Mike is a great skating partner. He holds my hand, encourages me and makes me feel like I'm dancing on ice (even though I know I'm a clumsy amateur).

Mike is also a great skating partner because he lets me rest on a bench while he waits in line for beavertails and hot chocolate. Mmmm!

On February 2nd, Wiarton Willie, predicted an early spring. So far he's right! The skating season was short this year, just 28 days. The canal is now closed. A lot of people are disappointed, but I'm really looking forward to Spring. The days are getting longer and the air is warm and refreshing.

The beautiful orange tulips I bought today to brighten up our apartment.

It has been a hard winter, but I'm finding comfort in knowing that spring is on its way!



Grandma

     Grandma’s values and her commitment to family was the key to her happiness. Grandma once wrote she found meaning and beauty in the innocence of her grandchildren who were being raised with a sense of caring, sharing and love. She said her own children were her greatest treasures and she thanked God for them each day. She said they gave her great joy and she felt truly blessed.

     Grandma was the sort of person that made a house a home. She was its emotional heart. My earliest memories include the smell of roast beef wafting through her kitchen on a Sunday afternoon. After dinner, grandma, the aunts and uncles would sit around the dining room table enjoying her homemade chocolate chip cookies over a cup of tea. Meanwhile, the cousins would race to the basement to find costumes in the tickle trunk and practice our show. Once we graduated to the adult table we were invited to eat chocolate gingers and participate in her long philosophical discussions. Those conversations carried on through weekly lunch dates over salmon sandwiches and continued over long distance phone calls to great uncle Johnny in California. Staying at Grandma’s was like a vacation at a bed and breakfast. Fresh towels, a cozy bed with clean sheets and toast with tea in the morning followed by a trip to the hair salon. Sleepovers also included lying in her big bed watching movies with a big bowl of plain chips and a dairy milk chocolate bar.

     Grandma loved to celebrate life. Holidays were a big deal for her. Turkey dinners, beautiful centrepieces and colourful paper hats made it festive. We’d attend the Christmas Eve children’s mass and all the cousins would sleep on her bedroom floor- swearing we could hear reindeer on her roof!

    

     Grandma was a woman very in touch with her feelings. There was little in the way of doubt about grandma. You knew how she felt about things because she told you very explicitly and in a tone of voice that eliminated any doubt.

     Grandma had a great sense of humour and she liked to write down funny stories. She wrote about a 5-year-old Caleigh who put on sun tan lotion she found in my uncle Peter’s room. Grandma told her she shouldn’t use it because the label read “it will make you wild and sexy”. She later found my sister scrubbing it off in the bathroom, almost in tears asking our mother “what does wild mean?”

     Other words which come to mind to describe grandma’s character was her uncompromising integrity and honesty. Life forces us all into positions of compromise and presents challenges to our honesty and our integrity. I observed her rise and meet those challenges with courage and a sense of right and wrong, which was awe inspiring. She will live in my heart forever. I will always be extremely proud to call myself the granddaughter of June Marie Evans.