Big Girl Panties: June 2012

Monday, June 25, 2012

My New Ride!

An electric bicycle, also known as an e-bike, is a bicycle with an electric motor used to power the vehicle. Electric bicycles use rechargeable batteries and can travel up to 15 to 20 mph (24 to 32 km/h), depending on the laws of the country in which they are sold. In some markets they are rapidly replacing traditional bikes and motorcycles.
In many parts of the world, electric bicycles are classified as bicycles rather than motor vehicles, so they are not subject to the more stringent laws regarding certification and operation of motor vehicles. Electric bicycles are one type of motorized bicycle. However, electric bicycles are defined separately and treated as a specific vehicle type in many areas of legal jurisdiction.
Electric bicycle usage worldwide has experienced rapid growth since 1998. It is estimated that there were roughly 120 million e-bikes in China as of early 2010, and sales are expanding rapidly in India, the United States of America, the Netherlandsand Switzerland.
Eight provinces of Canada allow electric power assisted bicycles. A three-year trial in Ontario ended October 2009. In seven of the eight provinces, e-bikes are limited to 500 W output, and cannot travel faster than 32 km/h (20 mph) on motor power alone on level ground. In Alberta the limits are 750 W and 35 km/h (22 mph) Age restrictions vary in Canada. All require an approved helmet. Regulations may or may not require an interlock to prevent use of power when the rider is not pedaling. Some versions (e.g., if capable of operating without pedaling) of e-bikes require drivers' licenses in some provinces and have age restrictions. Vehicle licenses and liability insurance are not required. Generally they are considered vehicles (like motorcycles and pedal cycles), so are subject to the same rules of the road as regular bicycles. In some cases regulatory requirements have been complicated by lobbying in respect of the Segway HT.
Bicycles assisted by a gasoline motor or other fuel are regulated differently than e-bikes. These are classified as motor cycles regardless of the power output of the motor and maximum attainable speed.
I have now joined the ranks of the e-bike riders. J

Monday, June 18, 2012

A little of this and a bit of that....

I know it’s been a bit since I wrote anything but the weather has been so damn hot that even the heat radiating from the laptop seemed to make me break out in a sweat. Anyway, not too much has really happened in my little corner of the world. I did go for my first ever pedicure and what a wonderful relaxing morning that was. I went to this wonderful Spa to have my feet and toes pampered and holy bejesus I almost fell asleep in the suede lounge chair as the young girl massaged not only my toes and feet but my calves as well, and that was all before the pedicure started! Now I am one that has very ticklish feet and I was a bit apprehensive about going, but now I’m hooked. Upon entering the Spa (and yes it was a Spa) I was given a wine glass filled with chilled water and a slice of lime and led back to the Spa room. I was offered a warm neck wrap (I have no idea why, but it felt so good lying around my neck and front part of my shoulders) and was offered a seat on the lounge chair…..then the magic began. Now remember, I have never in my young years had a pedicure and as my feet soaked in a warm bath of fragrant oiled water I began to really like this place. Soft piano music filled the room and the incense and candle light made it extra special. After a 20 minute soak my feet were dried off with a soft towel and the massage began. After that she began the pedicure making my feet nice and pretty for sandal season. After the pedicure she went to the counter and brought back some warm scented liquid paraffin wax. The liquid wax was placed in large baggies and then each foot was placed inside the baggies, wrapped securely and then soft booties were placed on my feet. I lay there for 20 minutes while my feet tingled pleasantly as the warm wax did its job of making my feet nice and soft. The last step was to colour my toenails, apply a shiny coating to the colour and then buff each foot with a fluffy cloth. All I can say is, wow, it was amazing!

Saturday was spent out at Lakeside on Lake Sunova where my oldest daughter lives. It was a wonderful day even though the sun tried to lick its way through the SPF 85 sunblocker. My shoulders, arms and legs were spared but I forgot to apply some to my face and feet. Well, the tops of my feet are red and I do resemble Rudolph a bit, but it was worth it. I did go swimming and my daughter taught me how to water bob. I guess one is never too old to learn the funnier things in life when it comes to new things young people think up. I had no idea what water bobbing was and I looked on in shock as I was shown how to prepare for this fun sport. Now, you have to picture this, a boat anchored in the middle of the lake a group of females ranging in ages from 15 to …well, my age and life jackets. Now to water bob, one must put on their life jackets like a diaper, yes you read that right and clip up BOTH straps on the jacket to secure your arse inside the upside down lifejacket. Then you jump from the boat into the water. At first you do go under but thanks to the floating device it lifts you up above the surface of the water so that you are actually sitting IN the life jacket and bobbing around as the waves gently make you move. There is nothing you have to do. No kicking your feet back and forth or swaying your arms in the water to try and keep yourself buoyant. Its like sitting in a chair, the life jacket does all the work. That is unless you forget to do up BOTH straps to secure yourself into the diaper/life jacket (like I did). Well imagine my shock as I put on the life jacket diaper, clipped the strap closed and said “here goes!” I jumped off the boat and went under for a brief second and was prepared to spend some time water bobbing. Except when I resurfaced I was arse up and my face stayed under water. I fought hard to get my head above water but ended up arse up each time. I flailed helplessly trying to get this old arse to sit IN the lifejacket but to no avail. A few people had to keep me buoyant in an upright position as my fingers worked open the snap that held the jacket closed. Let me tell you, it’s not easy trying to shed a life jacket diaper while you are IN the water. Well I was finally able to free myself, climbed back up into the boat and tried again, this time making sure BOTH clips were securely fastened before jumping back into the water. This time it worked …so we all spent a good while bobbing around in the water just laughing and having a good time. I’m sure the C.A.S of Boating Safety would not approve of this sport but we had fun!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Mother's Warnings!!!!!

The other day I was at the Garden Centre having a wonderful time picking and choosing different flowers for the back yard. I was rather surprised that it wasn’t that crowed but then again it was a wet cool weekend. I had a shopping cart full of flowers when this high pitched cry filled the area. There was a young child of about 5 screaming her head off in the next aisle. I looked around thinking that O.M.G. this child was hurt, but it turned out that her mother wasn’t going to buy her something she wanted, hence the shrill screams of a temper tantrum. I went about my business and then had to stifle a laugh when I heard the mother say as calm as can be that if the child did not stop her crying she would place a For Sale sticker on her forehead and let someone buy her. It seemed to have worked since she stopped the crying. Later that night I began to recall all the warnings my mother said to us kids as we were growing up.

If you don't stop crossing your eyes they will stay that way.

Stop picking your nose, your finger will get stuck and when the Doctors pull it out your brains will fall out.

If you fall out of that tree and break your neck, don't come crying to me.

If you want to run away, ill help you pack.

If you keep making that face, it'll freeze that way, and you'll never have any friends.

If you swallow that gum, it'll take at least 7 years to digest, and then it still may gum up your insides.

Always make sure you wear clean underwear, you never know when you’ll be in an accident.

It’s always funny until someone loses an eye.

Once you go all the way, you can’t go back to holding hands.

Clean your plate, think of all the starving people in the world that would love to eat what you do.

Stop that crying or I'll give you something to cry about.

I hope you have a kid just like you.

Don't go swimming for 30 minutes after eating or you’ll drown.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

A Thank you to JoJo

Wow, I’m honoured that JoJo from http://tahomabeadworks.blogspot.ca/ has nominated and given me one of the 15 “The Versatile Blogger Awards”. Thank you JoJo it was very appreciated. J.

It’s really not that easy to come up with a few facts about yourself that not to many people know about but I’ll do my best.

When I was about 10 years old I was at a Military Museum where I found a hat and proudly put it on to show my dad. I walked around this Museum with this hat on my head; little did I know it was part of the Army under clothes. I was wearing a Jock Strap on my head!

I really dislike when people are late and have no real excuse for it.

3. Sometimes my mouth speaks even before my brain has a chance to actually sort out what

I’m really meaning to say.

I love to debate religion with my Mother-in-Law since we are on different sides of the fence with this subject. I find it um rather amazing when her eyes seem to turn red and she is at a loss for words for a change.

I’m a very emotional person. Sometimes that’s not so good and being Irish Canadian doesn’t help (I do tend to have a potty mouth)

When I grow up I want to be a writer and maybe just maybe have something published or I might want to become a Private Investigator. I love to solve crimes!