Into the city

Today's been a rare day of me being home by 4pm and having the evening to catch up on things.  I was out in Canmore, then my parents decided to go to I. for a couple of days, so I came back to the city a little early.  I think it'll be an evening where I'll actually have some time to sit in front of the fireplace and just relax, not constantly puttering around :-).  Right now I'm enjoying a dinner of bread with Mettwurst and onion, as well as a non-alcoholic malt beer.  Yummy.

BBQ
Healthy food is a top priority for me this week!  I'm determined to cut out even more processed food, eat more dark green veggies, and cook more.  I've had a big steak craving again this past week, but keep getting disappointed in my steaks made on the stove.  The craving hit again on the drive back to the city, so I detoured to Canadian Tire to look at BBQs.  I know where they keep them, but instead was greeted by a plethora of Christmas tress.  OK, I thought, if they're still on your website you should still have them.  And I found them, but they were the big stainless steel variety - the kind that goes with a monster of a house.  Finally, tucked away on a shelf in a corner, I found a boxed mini BBQ.  I thought it might have been one that I read reviews for, but wasn't sure.  And because they didn't have it on display, I decided to check another store out first.  The top BBQ below was it, but reviews don't look too hot.  I think I'll look at Home Depot tomorrow night to see what they have. 

  Master Chef S280 Propane BBQ

Bond Portable Propane Grill

The portable one looks cool, but then I'd probably need another little table for it.  I like the fact that I could take it car camping though.  It looks sturdier too, but they didn'thave this one in stock.  Maybe a BBQ will be my December treat?

In order that I won't keep putting this BBQ stuff off too much longer, I started with a consolation prize and got a cheap-o salt and pepper grinder.  I love freshly ground salt and pepper on my steak!  And I love steak with nice BBQed asparagus :-).

Kamenstein Dual Grinder

Goals
Coming back a different route to the city, I passed through an area that I really don't get out to much.  Who knows what sparked the thoughts, but it made me come up with a list of goals for the next couple of years:

• New place to live.  I think I'd like to move to a townhouse, or maybe even a smaller house.  Something with a little yard where I can have a little firepit, some place where you can feel a bit more away from all the hustle and bustle.  Heck, I'd even pitch a tent in the yard  for times when I couldn't get away:-).
• New work.  I'm much happier now doing new work, but I'm still finding that crazy deadlines arent't that good for me right now.  Perhaps it's time to step back a little for a year or two and explore something else.  There's so much that I'd like to try though that it's hard to make up my mind.  In an ideal world, I think I'd like to mix some design with some outdoor stuff and some kiddie stuff.  One day of print design + two days of outdoor/parks/planning + 2 days daycare?  
• Explore.  I need to keep things in balance, so I want to keep trying new things - each and every week!  Explore a new local park, get groceries somewhere else (Community Foods in on my list!), try new recipes, try a local pool, and be less picky for a vacation destination.  Just get out for a night on weekends without much planning.  Be spontaneous.  Sleep under the stars.
• Contentment.  I was there a while ago, but have fallen off the wagon a little.  I need to get my support network back and be able to enjoy some little things together, nothing big, but the little stuff that really does make a big difference.