Hitting the Road Again...

Hey everyone!

It's been a super busy week here at the old homestead. There was a garden to weed (sucks that I won't be here to chow down on all my lovely greens) clothes to wash and re-pack, doctor and dentist to visit, and borrowed uniform parts to dry clean and return to the fine people who loaned them to me.

It' s also been a hard slog this last few days, because as it turns out, both of my ears are badly infected. Probably a combination of the general rampant sickness that made it's rounds at the camp the previous three weeks, and the fact that I wore ear plugs almost every night to block out the sound of a couple dozen teenage gals carousing. (Not that I begrudge them their fun; hell, if I was nineteen again, I'd carouse too. In fact, at 38 I can still carouse pretty good when I put my mind to it.)

Anyway, In a day or so I'll be shoving off again for Camp Argonaut. Hopefully as a (now) staff member I'll have better access to a computer so I can update this blog. I'm also taking my digital camera this time, so I can show you all the dee-licious veggie food that Aramark Canada has dreamed up for us. (Ha!)

I'm also thinking about a new blog with a new direction when I return this fall. I actually think my (supposed) focus on food and cooking is holding me back.

Anyway, for now, be kind to yourselves out there and I'll check in when I get the chance.

Peace, and summertime wishes to you all!

Let's Just Say, I Wasn't Impressed.....

Ok, the food. I knew going in that veganism at the CIC training school at CFB Gagetown was going to be difficult, if not impossible, and I was right. Vegetarian, no problem. Vegan, forget about it. (Unless you plan to limit yourself to potatoes and iceberg lettuce for the duration.)

I had already made the decision that I was willing to be, let's say, a pretty strict vegetarian for the length of my stay. That meant basically that I wasn't planning on quizzing the staff over the contents of the cookies and I did eat things like mac and cheese, when that was the vegetarian option for the day. (But not quiche. The kitchen folks seemed to love to make quiche as their veggie option, but my willingness to be a reasonable little veghead under the circumstances did NOT extend that far.)

Even so, I ate a shitload of potatoes in every form known to man, and more insipid boiled vegetables than I can properly relay to you here. I actually gained a few pounds the first week due to the stodginess of the food. I did appreciate what they were trying to do for me though, as I was the one and only vegetarian there. However, I do have a bone to pick with the powers-that-be in the kitchen, provided by Aramark Canada:

Why the hell do you have to put goddamn boiled broccoli in every goddamn dish?

Seriously folks, broccoli is good for you and all, ( as the snotty serving gal was quick to point out to me when I complained) but to me, nothing approximates pond scum more closely than broccoli that's been boiled within an inch of it's life. And broccoli in the lasagne? Please spare me.

(Oh, and Aramark,I'm sure you can do better that a can of plain diced tomatoes when it comes to making meatless pasta sauce. How's about we set up a meeting when I go back and I can show you some tricks of the trade? )

On that last night they had a BBQ, and even managed to come up with a veggie burger for me. It was delicious, and I made sure to tell the kitchen staff how much I liked it. I even strongly suggested that they could cook these anytime they didn't know what to give the veggie folks for dinner. (Hint Hint: Cook the veggie burger and leave the penne with the weird grey sauce for another day.)

I was so glad to get home and cook myself up some real food. (So was the rest of the family. My daughter tells me she missed my cooking more than she missed me. Plus Bob lost five pounds.) I had me some President's Choice Meatless Chicken with BBQ sauce one night, and I whipped up some spaghetti and red wine sauce last night for supper.

In other news, we had great fun on our biking trip to Keji....

Even at 38 years young, I find these little wobbly ride-on thingies irresistible.

I hope your summer is getting off to a good start too.

Peace!

I'm baaaaaaaack! (But Not for Long...!)

Well, peeps, how the hell have you all been? I dragged my sorry ass home around supper time on Friday night, battered and bruised from a challenging three weeks at CFB Gagetown learning to be a good little officer. It's good to be home. I immediately requested a back rub, a cold beer, and some peanut butter toast, not necessarily in that order. But guess what?

I'm going back again this coming Sunday.

Yup, it's true. I've been offered a job for the summer at Camp Argonaut and I've accepted. I leave again this Sunday to go back for seven weeks. Both my kids will be attending the camp as well; Dan for two weeks and Courtney for three, so I'll definitely see them up there, although I will not be allowed to be in the same platoon as they are due to ethics issues. (And guess what? If they pass me on the street they'll have to salute me. Bwah hah hah hah ha.....)

It was a challenging three weeks of training, including some time spent out in the bush. Here's me getting ready for the long hike to our bivouac site....

...and showing my happy face mid-march.....

(Don't you just dig those ugly hats?)

And the more things change, the more they stay the same. I was elected to be the "chef" for our syndicate and boil our rations.

Not exactly a lot of skill involved with that job!

I also got to be certified as a Range Safety officer on the Daisy air rifle, which was a lot of fun.

One of the neatest things about the camp, in my humble opinion anyway, was the fact that it is full of groundhogs. You can see them all over the place, scurrying here at there. They're as cute as all get out.

And finally, I'm sure you're all wondering about the food. (Since this like, supposed to be a website about food and all...) Well, it was hit and miss, mostly miss I'm afraid. Tune in tomorrow and I'll fill you in. For now, I've got errands to run and people to see. Time's a wastin', folks!

Peace!

It May be Bye-Bye For a While, Folks!

It's not a secret that I think very highly of the Army Cadet organization in which both my kids are involved, and in which I was also a member growing up. It is a youth organization for kids aged 12-18, with an emphasis on leadership, physical fitness, outdoor skills, adventure, orienteering, etc. None of it costs the parents a single dime; it is all paid for by the government. (That means that all kids can join, not just those whose parents have the financial means.)

Yes, it is also meant to generate interest among youth in choosing the Armed Forces as a career, but I have to say that not once when I was a cadet was that ever pushed or even suggested. Personally, I would be very proud if one or both of my children chose to serve their country in the armed forces. The Canadian army does a lot of good work around the world in their role as peacekeepers. I know there's plenty of folks who would disagree, and that's OK; that's what makes this country so great!

Anyway, the vast majority of the instruction and supervision that the kids receive is provided by a branch of the Armed Forces Reserve call the Cadet Instructor Cadre.

Well, my liitle snookie-pies, I have finally, after almost six months of interviews, medical tests and paperwork, (I had to pee in a cup twice) been accepted as a CIC Reservist. I leave for my Basic Officer Qualification training at CFB Gagetown first thing tomorrow morning.

I have been issued all manner of interesting gear, all in charming shade of green, which my cat seems to find very comfortable....

Yes, I have a picture of me in my brand new combat clothes, and no, I will not be showing you anytime soon, since I look like a bit of a douchebag in them right now. (I need to work on the little things, like getting my beret formed right and my boots laced up properly...)

I don't know yet what kind of access (if any) I will have to the internet. I will try to update you on all the news if possible, but if you don't see me for three weeks, then hey! I'll have that much more fun stuff to relay when I return.

So for the next little while, you all take care of yourself out there in blog land. I'm going to spend the rest of today chillin' with the family. Until we meet again, Peace.

Announcment!

I have a big announcment for you all, folks! Those of you who've been lurking around for a while may remember that I alluded to my secrect "project" more than once. Well, exciting things have come to pass, and it has something to do with these......

Tune in tomorrow to find out!

If A Tree Falls on Your Treehouse.....

....and no one is there to hear it, did it make a sound?

Yup, this is what we came home from work today to find. My beautiful willow tree chose this day to fall to pieces, and it wasn't even windy. Go figure. Luckily, the treehouse was built by my obsessive-compulsive husband, whose mantra happens to be "If you can't build something to withstand a category five hurricane, there's no point building it at all" so all is well.

In other news, tonight for supper was had non-veggie company (an extra kid, again) so I pulled out all the stops and made a kid-friendly "taco casserole", topped with corn chips and gobs of cheezy sauce.

It was really simple to make, too, and loosely based on this Hamburger Helper flavour.

And it so worked too, because yet another kid left our house totally lovin' him some veggie food. Not the healthiest, but tasty.

Busy week folks, so take care until we meet again. Peace!

Proud of My Rugrats.....

So, this is the post in which I totally don't talk about food, or vegan issues, or anything even marginally relevant. This is the post in which I brag shamelessly about my two Poppets, who later today will have their final parade for their Army Cadet corps.

This was a big weekend for the group, starting with their participation in a huge "Red Rally" in support of Canada's troops. (No, not in support of war, in support of the troops. There's a difference, in case there happens to be protestors amongst my readership.) There certainly was at the parade...

(By the way, that's my daughter in this shot, front and centre.)

According to the kids, all along the parade route the anti-war folks were hollering at them to "look over here" at their protest signs. I say you can protest all you want, (in fact, I loves me a good protest now and again) just leave the kiddies out of it, please...

There were some Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the parade...I love 'em, but I could never be a mountie. Those jodphurs would make me look too hippy by far.

And there was also a pipe and drum band. I don't know why, but I can't hear the bagpipes without getting a little teary eyed. Then I dry my tears and spend my time speculating as to what they're wearing under the kilts.

The parade culminated with icy cold drizzle, hundreds of restless school children screaming and waving flags, and (unfortunately) rather long speeches from various dignitaries.

Last night, the cadets were treated to a formal "Mess Dinner", an event that I graciously agreed to serve at. It even culminated in the ceremonial "Passing of the Port." Since almost all the guests were children, this was replaced by organic de-alcholized red wine.

My daughter actually won the award for being the top Green Star, which is what they call you in your first year.

And both kids received awards for perfect attendence.

They certainly had a lot of fun this year, but no one can say it was always easy. There were lots of gruelling workouts (physical fitness is a huge component of the program) cold, wet slogs through the wilderness, and lots of time spent in the classroom learning things like map and compass, dress and deportment, and bushcraft. I just wanted to tell the whole damn world how very proud I am of both of them, and I hope they stick with the corps until they graduate. Kudos, Rugrats! Love, Mom....