If you came across me and my siblings having a light hearted debate you may think we would be two seconds away from beaning each other with the closest heavy object. This is, in fact, not at all true. We just get passionate about things both big and small and like to show our intellectual and verbal chops off to each other.
My parents have run into a room ready to break up a fight more than a couple times only to have one or two of my siblings and I assure them we're just having fun with each other.
I like debates, discussions and opinionated talks, they help keep my mind open and stay sharp, like mental exercise (which is good because I'm a little short on physical exercise lately). My brothers and sisters offer the best talking mates there are because they are all smart and aren't afraid to go after me for something I said that sounded stupid or wrong.
These debates also remind why I would have my brothers and sisters backing me up in any situation. They use their heads, are pretty clever and refuse to go down without a fight, which could come in handy against playground bullies, persistent telemarketers or a marauding band of mutant honey badgers.
We do get on each others nerves once in a while and the debates have been known to go full contact at times, but I always seem to come away refreshed, more knowledgeable and most importantly, still friends with my siblings.
So I am grateful for the debates I have with my siblings. I am grateful to be so proud of my brothers and sisters even when I sometimes walk away from our talks defeated (although I'm too stubborn to admit it at times). I am grateful that I am able to talk freely among my family and have opinions that are heeded (although we are deeply divided on who the best hockey team in the NHL is). So I'm happy the sibling rivalry between my brothers, sisters and I is more constructive than destructive.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
#46- Wraps
It's a great feeling when you take your time to write a nice letter, put it in a clean, crisp envelope and then slip it in a mail box, patting it on its big metal top to wish your letter well as it travels to the hands of a friend, family member or stranger.
What would make it even better would be if the words and sentences in the letter were pieces of chicken and dollops of tzatziki sauce, the envelope was a tortilla and the mail box was your stomach.
That's exactly what happened tonight for dinner. I rolled all the delicious food on the table into a nice, neat wrap (or three) and patted my stomach contently after.
Now food is great in any form, but wraps allow for all the tasty creations from your kitchen to create one super food. Wraps let all the tastes come together, to work as a team. And they don't require a fork and knife either and finger food is always the best kind of food.
So I am grateful for wraps and everything that goes into them. I am grateful for the awesome texture of the cheese, the savoury meat, the healthy vegetable and the tangy sauce. Most of all I am grateful for the tortilla that brings all these things together into one, awesome food envelope that provides me with everything I would ever want from a meal. Sometimes the best presents aren’t wrapped in nicely coloured paper, but rather in a delicious tortilla.
What would make it even better would be if the words and sentences in the letter were pieces of chicken and dollops of tzatziki sauce, the envelope was a tortilla and the mail box was your stomach.
That's exactly what happened tonight for dinner. I rolled all the delicious food on the table into a nice, neat wrap (or three) and patted my stomach contently after.
Now food is great in any form, but wraps allow for all the tasty creations from your kitchen to create one super food. Wraps let all the tastes come together, to work as a team. And they don't require a fork and knife either and finger food is always the best kind of food.
So I am grateful for wraps and everything that goes into them. I am grateful for the awesome texture of the cheese, the savoury meat, the healthy vegetable and the tangy sauce. Most of all I am grateful for the tortilla that brings all these things together into one, awesome food envelope that provides me with everything I would ever want from a meal. Sometimes the best presents aren’t wrapped in nicely coloured paper, but rather in a delicious tortilla.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
#45- Gum
At the age of five I swore off gum for the rest of my life.
The decision was based on the astounding news that my baby sitter had told me and that was that gum was made from car tires.
It was a conspiracy of epic proportions! The whole gum industry had people chewing the black rubber on my parent's mini van and my friends and siblings loved the tire-filled taste of the gum. Bazooka was trying to divert the public's attention away from the scam using funny and endearing cartoon and even my parents were buying it. As far as my little brain knew, this deception went all the way to the top; maybe even the principal was in on it.
Well I have come a way from then and eventually I realized that my baby sitter probably lied so I wouldn't chew gum and she wouldn't have to clean it out my hair when I decided to find out how the two things reacted. I also grew to see how a little piece of gum could be a really good thing.
I do love food, I love to eat it and I love to talk about it. But for some reason people don't always like knowing I had onions and garlic for dinner just from my breath sometimes. That is why gum saves the day. Popping a piece into my mouth helps keep my breath minty fresh when I don't have a tooth brush handy and besides that, it tastes really good.
So I am grateful for gum. I am grateful that it comes in so many different types and tastes and packaging. I am grateful it is so easy to carry around and it saves me from bad breath attacks. And I am grateful for the people who make gum. I'm happy that I realized the gum industry isn't all conspiracy and scandal and that I learned how enjoy the gum.
The decision was based on the astounding news that my baby sitter had told me and that was that gum was made from car tires.
It was a conspiracy of epic proportions! The whole gum industry had people chewing the black rubber on my parent's mini van and my friends and siblings loved the tire-filled taste of the gum. Bazooka was trying to divert the public's attention away from the scam using funny and endearing cartoon and even my parents were buying it. As far as my little brain knew, this deception went all the way to the top; maybe even the principal was in on it.
Well I have come a way from then and eventually I realized that my baby sitter probably lied so I wouldn't chew gum and she wouldn't have to clean it out my hair when I decided to find out how the two things reacted. I also grew to see how a little piece of gum could be a really good thing.
I do love food, I love to eat it and I love to talk about it. But for some reason people don't always like knowing I had onions and garlic for dinner just from my breath sometimes. That is why gum saves the day. Popping a piece into my mouth helps keep my breath minty fresh when I don't have a tooth brush handy and besides that, it tastes really good.
So I am grateful for gum. I am grateful that it comes in so many different types and tastes and packaging. I am grateful it is so easy to carry around and it saves me from bad breath attacks. And I am grateful for the people who make gum. I'm happy that I realized the gum industry isn't all conspiracy and scandal and that I learned how enjoy the gum.
Monday, April 25, 2011
#44- Buffets
I gathered with my family for Easter dinner at Copper Creek Golf Course last night. That place probably still doesn't know what hit them.
My family loves food and it was available in abundance last night in the form of a buffet. Let's just say there's as much to love about buffets as there are food choices at one.
Buffets always offer a wide selection of food. From sushi to lamb to salmon and chocolate fountains there is always something to please even the most picky eater, which first of all makes everyone happy and gives you an opportunity to sample a bunch of different things.
With selection also comes adventure. The variety of food at buffets usually means there's something I haven't tried before and I love testing the limits of my taste buds. One of the most memorable meals I've ever had was inKenya
Another great thing about a buffet is that you can take as much or as little as you want. I'm a big fan of not wasting food, so buffets are really good for keeping the thrown out stuff to a minimum. You can try something you've never had, but you don't need to order a heaping plate of it if you don't want to. It's the best of both worlds!
So I am grateful for buffets. I am grateful that I am fortunate enough to be able to eat at buffets around the world and with some of my closest friends, loved ones and memorable people. I am grateful for the freedom buffets allow you with their choices and for the people who work to make buffets so great. If variety is the spice of life than buffets are never wanting for taste.
My family loves food and it was available in abundance last night in the form of a buffet. Let's just say there's as much to love about buffets as there are food choices at one.
Buffets always offer a wide selection of food. From sushi to lamb to salmon and chocolate fountains there is always something to please even the most picky eater, which first of all makes everyone happy and gives you an opportunity to sample a bunch of different things.
With selection also comes adventure. The variety of food at buffets usually means there's something I haven't tried before and I love testing the limits of my taste buds. One of the most memorable meals I've ever had was in
Another great thing about a buffet is that you can take as much or as little as you want. I'm a big fan of not wasting food, so buffets are really good for keeping the thrown out stuff to a minimum. You can try something you've never had, but you don't need to order a heaping plate of it if you don't want to. It's the best of both worlds!
So I am grateful for buffets. I am grateful that I am fortunate enough to be able to eat at buffets around the world and with some of my closest friends, loved ones and memorable people. I am grateful for the freedom buffets allow you with their choices and for the people who work to make buffets so great. If variety is the spice of life than buffets are never wanting for taste.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
#43- Easter
Easter has always made me feel like I can run a thousand miles.
In years past I've attributed this feeling to the disgust ing amounts o f chocolate I ate after carefully out maneuvering my siblings in the annual Easter egg hunt.
I haven't hunted for Easter eggs in years, but that amazing feeling still exists and I don't find myself looking far to figure out why.
First of all, this is a day I spend with my loved ones every year. It's a time when I come together with my family or friends to enjoy each their company.
Easter always comes at a time when the world is being reborn. The snow has melted, the grass is becoming green, the trees are starting to sprout leaves and rivers and creeks are beginning to rush forward with new life. Easter has allowed me to stop, look around and appreciate these things and feel invigorated because of them.
Most importantly, Easter is the day that Jesus conquered death. To me, there is nothing more awesome and life asserting than that.
So I am grateful for Easter. I am grateful for what it means to me and the time I spend with my family, friends and loved ones. I am grateful that it is a time when spring shows its true self. The Easter egg hunts may be finished for me, but I always find so many things on Easter to make me smile.
In years past I've attributed this feeling to the disgust ing amounts o f chocolate I ate after carefully out maneuvering my siblings in the annual Easter egg hunt.
I haven't hunted for Easter eggs in years, but that amazing feeling still exists and I don't find myself looking far to figure out why.
First of all, this is a day I spend with my loved ones every year. It's a time when I come together with my family or friends to enjoy each their company.
Easter always comes at a time when the world is being reborn. The snow has melted, the grass is becoming green, the trees are starting to sprout leaves and rivers and creeks are beginning to rush forward with new life. Easter has allowed me to stop, look around and appreciate these things and feel invigorated because of them.
Most importantly, Easter is the day that Jesus conquered death. To me, there is nothing more awesome and life asserting than that.
So I am grateful for Easter. I am grateful for what it means to me and the time I spend with my family, friends and loved ones. I am grateful that it is a time when spring shows its true self. The Easter egg hunts may be finished for me, but I always find so many things on Easter to make me smile.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
#42- My Bed
Last night was my first night at home in Toronto
I had the soundest sleep I've had in a long time. It's probably due to the fact that I was able to sleep in without worrying about any pesky exams or classes, but the fact that I'm lucky enough to have a really good bed probably helped a lot too.
My bed is not only for sleeping in though. It has become a multi-purpose tool for me over the years. At times it becomes a study lounge, where I heap my books and my computer around me like a little academic fort, a fort with a comfy floor to sit on and cushy head rests.
My bed has also transformed into a movie theatre or concert venue on occasion. I sit down, get under my sheets and watch a good movie on a rainy day or just lie down, turn on some music and zone out.
My bed also works as a park bench at times. I can sit on it, bask in the glow of the sun pouring in through my window and have a nice chat with someone over the phone or Skype.
So I am grateful for my bed. I am grateful that I am fortunate enough to have a great bed that provides me with amazing sleeps. I am grateful that my bed functions as much more than just a place to nap, but also somewhere where I catch up with friends or just cheer myself up with a good comedy on a dreary day. My bed may not be King size, but it sure feels big enough for me.
I had the soundest sleep I've had in a long time. It's probably due to the fact that I was able to sleep in without worrying about any pesky exams or classes, but the fact that I'm lucky enough to have a really good bed probably helped a lot too.
My bed is not only for sleeping in though. It has become a multi-purpose tool for me over the years. At times it becomes a study lounge, where I heap my books and my computer around me like a little academic fort, a fort with a comfy floor to sit on and cushy head rests.
My bed has also transformed into a movie theatre or concert venue on occasion. I sit down, get under my sheets and watch a good movie on a rainy day or just lie down, turn on some music and zone out.
My bed also works as a park bench at times. I can sit on it, bask in the glow of the sun pouring in through my window and have a nice chat with someone over the phone or Skype.
So I am grateful for my bed. I am grateful that I am fortunate enough to have a great bed that provides me with amazing sleeps. I am grateful that my bed functions as much more than just a place to nap, but also somewhere where I catch up with friends or just cheer myself up with a good comedy on a dreary day. My bed may not be King size, but it sure feels big enough for me.
Monday, April 18, 2011
#41- Staplers
As I stapled my last take home exam of year together I heard the satisfying sound of metal crunching on paper.
I had finally conquered the formidable foe that had stood in my way and the stapler was the last weapon I had to use.
Staplers are such handy tools. Not just for vanquishing unwanted papers, but for putting all sorts of things together. Some of my best works of art were crazily drawn pictures and horribly misspelled sentences stapled together into a book for my grade one English project.
Staples make this world a little less messy. For all the chaos and anarchy and stressful disorganization that clutters the world around us and sometimes our minds, staplers are there to firmly clasp together pieces of paper into a nice, neat stack for easy handling and reading.
So I am grateful for staplers. I am grateful for the people who make staplers and who reload them and put them out at the library at school. I am grateful that staplers are welcome last minute tools in finishing essays and projects, the final word on stressful and arduous and at times rewarding experiences. And I am grateful that staplers add a semblance of peace and organization in a world that is sometimes crazy and full of surprises.
I had finally conquered the formidable foe that had stood in my way and the stapler was the last weapon I had to use.
Staplers are such handy tools. Not just for vanquishing unwanted papers, but for putting all sorts of things together. Some of my best works of art were crazily drawn pictures and horribly misspelled sentences stapled together into a book for my grade one English project.
Staples make this world a little less messy. For all the chaos and anarchy and stressful disorganization that clutters the world around us and sometimes our minds, staplers are there to firmly clasp together pieces of paper into a nice, neat stack for easy handling and reading.
So I am grateful for staplers. I am grateful for the people who make staplers and who reload them and put them out at the library at school. I am grateful that staplers are welcome last minute tools in finishing essays and projects, the final word on stressful and arduous and at times rewarding experiences. And I am grateful that staplers add a semblance of peace and organization in a world that is sometimes crazy and full of surprises.
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