Unhelpful Musings

Gray's Anatomy Lesson

2009-09-29T20:46:00.002-04:00

Did you know that you can function without 3 inches of your bowel? This is one of the things I learned this weekend. In addition to the fact that there are clearly not as many supply closets for doctors to have sex in in a real hospital. That there are no on call rooms with nice beds to sleep in. Also that doctors don't just stand around having inappropriate conversations in hallways all day long.

However, I did learn that you can function without this much of your bowel and how did I find this out? Well my mom had to have emergency surgery to remove part of her bowel, her appendix and an abscess. The worst part was trying to comfort her on the way down to surgery when she thought that she was going to die. That broke my heart trying to console her and tell her she was going to wake up and there was nothing to worry about.

Thank goodness for the wonderful health care professionals at LHSC in London. The nursing staff was fantastic even when they were trying to figure out when I was leaving so they could do their job.

Believe it when you see it

2009-09-24T22:35:00.002-04:00

I used to scoff at "those" pet people. The ones who paid an arm and a leg for medical tests or procedures to save their four legged friends. How could they spend ALL that money on something as silly as a pet?

That was until I got a pet of my own. Until I fell in love with a four legged fur ball. Until I managed to let a tiny little man infiltrate my life as wholly as this one did. I have become one of "those" people.

The other night I came home from work to discover my little man was limping. My little man would cry if you touched his leg. My little man was suffering. And I cried. I actually said the words "my poor baby" and I called the 24 hour vet. I took him for xrays. I paid a lot more money than I expected to find out what was wrong with his leg.

Turns out he got his leg stuck somewhere in the laundry room. I believe he got it jammed in the cat door and tried to yank it out. And it was bruised, and damaged, and he was in pain. My poor baby was injured and there was nothing I could do.

Then I brought him home and he cried for his sister. So I brought him down to the laundry room to her (there was flooring being installed and she's got an issue with peeing on things still...) and when I went to check on him yesterday, he was nowhere to be found.

I believe what escaped my lips was "oh don't do this to me again!". I found him. He was hiding behind the washing machine and I had to coax him out with a feather toy. Now he lays on the floor beside me in his pink cast that he has to drag along behind him and he looks at me with these big sad eyes and it breaks my heart.

Yes, I have become one of "those" people. The people who fall in love with a furry little animal who hides behind washing machines, gets themselves stuck in kitten doors, and pees on beds. I wouldn't trade him for anything.

All good things...

2009-08-30T19:25:00.003-04:00

Dexter and Oliver, July 2009

My cousin's beloved kitten Dexter passed away last night. It was weird really. Sudden and completely unexpected. He had been acting funny most of the day. Really jumpy and nervous. He was playing really rough with the baby and it was out of the ordinary for him. Later on, he was standing at the window and suddenly jumped in the air. He landed funny and seized up. Then he started breathing funny and finally stopped breathing.

We never had pets growing up so I had no idea what to do, what to expect, what happens. I wrapped him in a towel and brought him to my aunts house. My uncle was going to bury him next to her other beloved cat--Mouse who passed away a few weeks ago after suffering from cancer.

It's strange how pets become so entwined in your life. How they become a part of your family and you adore them the way you do. And it's equally strange how empty you feel when something happens. Oliver keeps looking for his buddy. He'll meow and look around. If he hears something that makes him think of Dexter he gets all excited and then walks back to the living room. He spent most of the day sleeping under the table--Dexter's favourite spot.

Rest in peace Dex. You were a great cat. Life just won't be the same without you.

Fool me once

2009-07-20T19:55:00.002-04:00

Apparently I do have something to say. And really, I shouldn't lower myself to this place but I am so angry right now I really must.

Turns out, someone is saying some really hateful untrue things about me. Like how I took advantage of them. Or how I disrespected them. Or how I broke their hearts.

Funny, these are the same people who bashed me to members of the family, who said bad things about me to their friends before all of this happened, who were willing to go after innocent people in the process in order to accomplish their own goals.

Guess this is what you get for being honest, for not wanting to get involved, for trying to stay true to the person you are.

But then again, what did I expect? After all, a child learns what they live, and if they live with lies, they learn that that's acceptable behaviour.

It's just unfortunate that my reputation had to suffer. Believe what you want about me, but I can tell you this, if you believed that I was a good person because of the time you've spent with me or the interactions you've had with me, then you'll know what the truth really is. And who you should believe.

Silence is deadly

2009-06-04T21:59:00.002-04:00

So...I've been thinking about this blogging thing. In a way that makes me think that maybe it's time to just move along. As in, I have nothing left to say. Well, I do have plenty to say, just not here.

The thing is, I started this thing four years ago. Four years ago my life was really different. I was living on my own in an apartment I hated. I had two jobs and still couldn't make ends meet. I hated both jobs and thought that I would never find a job that allowed me to do the things I really wanted to do. I honestly felt that life sucked and was never going to get better. Oh, did I mention I was two months away from my 30th birthday and thought that life was going to end for me then because I wasn't married or had kids? Ya, that too.

I pretty much spent my time complaining about life and the people around me. So much so that I worried about my own sanity. But then life suddenly changed. I got a new job. I moved to a new city. I started doing new things. And then the other shoe dropped. For those who have been around since the beginning, you know this is a clone of the first blog but with a more watered down feel. I made the mistake of airing my ID one day and thought better of it and shut it down. From that point on I talked about nothing of importance and just filled people in on things.

I've been honest. I've been candid. I've put myself out there. But sometimes it wasn't always good to do so. Some people took advantage of this and tried to use it against me. Some people made comments about it. Some people took it completely out of context. And that made me sad. Because what had started as a way to just talk and to share my life with people who didn't get to talk to me every day had become something I didn't like.

Don't get me wrong, there are people who read this and know all about me and share my ups and downs with me. But these are also people who I talk to on a regular basis and can do so without the addition of the blog. Facebook and now Twitter have taken over my spare time on the computer and really, with what I do on a daily basis, sitting in front of a computer trying to think of something clever to say really doesn't work so well.

So that leads me to this. I'm going to put the blog on hiatus. Maybe I'll have something to say in the future. Maybe I won't. I just don't feel right deleting it all together but I also don't want to be honest and commit to posting something all the time. I'm not really this great writer who has clever things to say all the time. I'm just me. And if you really want to talk to me, why don't you email me? Because really, reading this makes me sad since what I say is really half of who I am.

Thanks for joining me. Maybe we'll chat soon.

Good News

2009-05-27T20:29:00.002-04:00

This week I've received two days of good news.

First, on Monday at my chiropractor. I mentioned to him the surgery I had had and part of it was to alleviate some pressure on my back and shoulders. He told me that he noticed there was a difference in several of the discs in my shoulder blade and neck area. He said that normally you don't see that much of a difference so soon but three of them were already realigning themselves. This was very good news to me.

Then today, I was given a great deal of praise at work and thanked for my dedication and commitment to the work no matter what was going on. Considering some of the crap that has hit the fan over the last few months and how I felt just two months ago, this was very welcome.

So you can imagine my happiness this week. I'm very grateful that things are going well. And I hope they continue to do so.

Love

2009-05-26T17:43:00.003-04:00

Further proof I have the most adorable nieces...

My oldest niece says to me (about my surgery) "I hope you're not going to become addicted to your pain killers."
Me: "no, I stopped taking them last week".
Her: "Ok good because becoming addicted to drugs is bad".

Change

2009-05-23T18:01:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I said goodbye to our temporary manager.

I'm not really one of those people who handles change all that well. It's actually kind of funny considering I'm the middle child of five. Being in a family of that many you learn many things like patience, tolerance, fairness, and the other hard lessons of life. Which sounds funny but it's true. You learn to adapt and that you don't always get your own way.

Which goes back to me not liking change. In this job, I've learned a lot and have had a great deal of change going on. When I took it, the biggest difficulty was being so far from my family. My sisters were at least two hours away (one was four) and I just felt like I was so far from everyone that knew me. Adapting to that was difficult.

Thankfully I worked with a fantastic woman who I leaned on as a friend and we suffered through and survived. I dubbed us soldiers in the trenches. This job was that kind of job. Always a battle, always some hurdle to get past, always some sort of unique challenge to overcome. When you live in that situation you learn to adapt, to tolerate, to get through.

In a small office, you bond, you get close and you tend to survive things together. Which is why it was somewhat hard to say goodbye to our temporary manager yesterday. She was a great mentor, a great sounding board, a fantastic friend. When you work with a tyrant, it's not difficult to let them go, but when you work with someone who believes in you and treats you with this level of respect, it's sad to see them go.

As happy as I am to have my friend back on Monday from her maternity leave, it's still going to be odd to not see our other manager every day. It's like losing a daily friend. And for us, this will be a unique change. So you can imagine my little bit of sadness when I locked the door behind her yesterday.

Change is good in some instances, but sometimes it's kind of sad.

Did you say it?

2009-05-15T19:25:00.002-04:00

I've been off on leave for a week now because of surgery I had last week. Nothing serious. Just regular run of the mill fix me up surgery.

But it's not that that has me in this weird mood tonight. Rather, the time I've had to think that might have been contributing to it.

Last week I got some very devastating news about someone I care about. News that you really don't expect and that punches you in the gut when it happens. I didn't want to think badly about it but I know that it isn't going to end well. And the one thing this person has taught me, is how to love unconditionally. How to recognize the blessings in your life. How to fight for what you believe in. How to be a good person. How to just sit back and let life lead the way.

That set me into thinking about other stuff. And it made me think about the people in my life. The people who make my life what it is. The people I love. How they came here, what purpose they came here for. What they've taught me. How I've learned from them. What impact they've had on my life. It's amazing how one little act can lead to a part of life that fulfills you and makes you whole. Or how someone you wouldn't have even expected can teach you to be a better person when you thought you were the best person you can be.

I also thought about how you need to say it. That's one thing this person taught me. That you can't live your life afraid to say what's on your mind. Afraid to tell people what you want to tell them. That I shouldn't be afraid to say how important someone is to me. So I decided I should say it. And I said it. And I keep saying it.

But sometimes, when you tell someone, it doesn't always elicit the response you hope for. Or the response you are expecting. And in that instance, there's nothing left to say. So I think it's time for me to stop saying it. Because not saying it hurts. But saying it and not saying anything in return hurts more.

So maybe I have nothing left to say.

Thoughts

2009-05-02T17:28:00.002-04:00

I travelled up to Toronto this week for a conference and the day I went up was one of those grey overcast days where there are mists on the fields and coming off the water (the train travels along beside Lake St. Clair for a bit...) and it's one of those days I LOVE. I don't know what it is about those scenes but they just make me feel really thoughtful, creative, and full of words that I want to spill on paper.

As is always the case, I end up on the train with students (this time I sat beside a Chiropractic student who made me laugh for most of the 4 hours) and that also gets me thinking.

I always say I don't have regrets...I don't...but there are moments I wish I could go back to different times in my life and say things to my old self. Things that might have made me feel better. So if I could...here are some of the things I would say...

Kids are dumb and they do dumb things, you can't make them like you, and them not liking you doesn't make you a bad person.
No, he is not the only man you're going to love.
Yes, you DO deserve better.
Study harder, take that class and work for it. Because it's worth it.
Respecting an elder does not mean always agreeing with them, but you shouldn't always say that out loud.
Please don't say that.
Please don't say that ever.
Please stop saying that.
Don't be afraid to be who you really are. Because those kids won't be your friends no matter who you act like/talk like/follow.
He/She is going to be a lifelong good friend...be good to them.
Go, live, experience. It will all be here when you're finished.
Get it out of your system now and you'll thank me later.
You really shouldn't buy that.
Listen to your heart. Sometimes it's right.
Believe in yourself.
Don't waste your energy being nervous over someone who isn't worth being nervous over.
Stop worrying so much.
Life is too short to spend it trying to be something you're not.
Laugh as hard as you can as much as you can.
Don't be afraid to try.

Yup, that's me...

2009-04-22T18:22:00.001-04:00

Last weekend when I went in to write my two exams the lady in the testing centre said to me "oh so YOU'RE the student..." and I laughed. Yup, that's me. Crazy girl.

Sadly, it took me less time to write TWO exams than the kid writing the exam (and dealing with a killer chest infection) two cubes away. The lady was surprised I finished so quickly but really, there's only so much you can say about federalism and public policy. At least for me. My mind went blank about 20 minutes before I sat down.

And really, two exams wasn't that bad. At least not now. Considering some of the stuff I've had to write and have completed in two hours in my job, this was nothing. At least I got to study for these ones!

Thankfully I have two weeks off to read actual books I like until the next class starts!

Hee!

2009-04-12T17:30:00.002-04:00

So my oldest niece has figured out how to email me. Which is entirely too cute. But it's really opened up this big thought process for me and makes me wonder what/how my sister is a) thinking and b) handling things.

You see, for me, my niece is 3. She will always be 3. She will be 3 when she's dying her hair and painting her nails black. She will be 3 when she's out on her first date. She will be 3 when she walks down the aisle or gives birth. Do you get it? She's 3. And that's that.

So this morning I got up and had two emails. One from my sister and one from my niece. Apparently she is all set up with her own email address and everything and is sending me emails. And the emails are so cute I can't stand it. Then we decided to have a little online chat. And her online chat? So cute I can't stand it. I asked her if she wanted to webcam with me instead so I can see her cute little (3 yo) face but she said no, she LIKES TYPING BETTER. And then she starts spelling words wrong and asking me hilarious questions and telling me what we're doing when I come to visit.

See what I mean? CUTE! And 3!

So after a few more hours, she sends me another email asking me what I'm doing now. Which, again, adorable. Love her.

That brings me back to the whole "thinking" thing. I can only imagine what my sister is going through with the whole growing up thing. I don't even want to imagine what she says and how she says it to her kids when she has to teach them about stuff. I was at a loss when said niece sat down beside me and told me she knew what certain "woman" things were (I won't say it...she's 3 remember!!??!!) And then of course I sit and watch all these true stories of kids getting online and bad things happening so really, I don't want to think about that.

But it's all the other stuff too. I mean, you have kids, you bring home this little bundle and you think ok this baby is going to grow up and live happy and be wonderful etc. Then they have to learn about sex and puberty and right and wrong. Don't talk to strangers, don't get into cars, watch what you're doing, be safe, don't use drugs...on and on and on. And considering how disappointing life can be sometimes...and all the drama you go through with the day to day crap, it's hard to think about how to explain that to a kid but also how I'll feel when she goes through it. I know you have to live your life and learn things...but it's still sad when it happens to me, I can only imagine what it will feel like the first time she gets her heart broken. I don't know if I'm strong enough to go through that with my own kids!

Kind of makes me worried about having my own kids. Because eventually they're going to grow up and not be 3 anymore.

Yikes!

2009-03-16T19:49:00.001-04:00

Where did the time go?

I've been bad...but had nothing really great to say...been busy. Work is keeping me busy so I don't want to do anything at night. Then there's school that's also keeping me busy. Next term, only one course. It's not worth it. And then there's all the other drama in life that causes stress. So you can imagine why I've been so silent.

Dexter is still crazy. His new thing is crawling into the mesh waste paper basket and sitting there looking at me like I'M the one who's nuts. Oh and he became a "man" so we had to quickly nip that one (no pun intended). But he's all better now and just as ferocious when it comes to getting treats and wet food.

I'm sure I'll be back with something more fundamental to say eventually.

Hello?

2009-01-27T22:01:00.003-05:00

Ya, you're not the only ones wondering what's up. I've been busy. Lots of stuff going on at work, at home, with school, with friends...the list is endless and it's at the point where if I'm not doing anything with all that, then I'm sleeping.

I'll be back when I have something more interesting to say.

2009!

2009-01-07T19:04:00.002-05:00

This year, is gonna be incredible
This year, is gonna be the one
All the planets are lining up for me
This year, I'm gonna have fun

This year, I'll paint my masterpiece
This year, I'll be recognized
I can feel like I'll fall in love for real
This year, this year
~ Chantal Kreviazuk

I think I was going through a bit of a down moment when I posted my last entry. I tend to get like that but thanks to some really great people around me, I was reminded of how most of those pit stops were really lessons on the path I'm on.

But then I think about this year and the things that I'm expecting to have happen...I'm going to buy a house this year (nothing planned but I know it's a goal), I'm finishing my public policy program, I'm hoping to take on more responsibility with work, I'm getting even more healthy...lots of good things are expected this year, and who knows what might come along a little unexpectedly.

So good things...positivity...happiness!

Pooped

2008-12-29T22:28:00.002-05:00

Christmas is over and this time of year makes me sad and tired. Which really sucks. The holiday was a total whirlwind. The weather made it even worse. Tuesday night I raced around in the snow to try and get the rest of the stuff for the next day so I could leave the city right at one. My brother broke his leg two weeks before and needed us to get the rest of his gifts. So that was my job the Tuesday night.

Christmas was so much fun of course with all the family and my nieces were just adorable. Wouldn't go to bed of course so Santa couldn't come until really late. And then we were all up early the next day. Which led to a really tiring day and one that ended just in time. My sister and I vegged out on Boxing Day and I came home the next day to do mountains of laundry and put everything away.

This week I'm off and I'm taking a few days to just lay around and get some stuff done around the house that I've been wanting to do. Like clean out closets and put stuff away. We're supposed to get another walloping of snow this week so that should be big fun (haha). I have a house party on New Years and then it's back to work next week. People can understand why I'm always so exhausted in the new year.

This time always makes me sad but more so this year. I feel like this year has been full of disappointments in all aspects of my life. Everyone always gives me a hard time about my decisions and what I do with my life so this year I decided it was time to put myself out there, do things that take me out of my comfort zone and just live a little. That worked out well. I was "rejected" in so many areas...my art, my work, my personal life, everything. It was just so hard to take month after month and this past month is no exception. It's like no matter how hard I try I just can't seem to get past this rut. So this year I'm just doing my own thing and playing to the beat of my own drum. I'm so tired of getting my hopes up and then having them dashed. If something good happens, something good happens but I'm afraid I'm not going to go looking for it. Sad really, but it's so much easier to protect myself than get hurt so much.

It's beginning to look...

2008-12-23T19:42:00.002-05:00

....like a white hot mess out there! Yikes! I'm going to need a fat man in a sleigh pulled by reindeer to get to London!

New Favourite

2008-12-16T19:42:00.003-05:00

This is by far the best show I have seen in a while. Go download it. Really. You won't be disappointed.

Tagged

2008-12-13T09:14:00.002-05:00

I'm stealing this from Jen's blog...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper...there's something to be said for piles of presents wrapped up all pretty under the tree. And I love finding cute paper to do it in.
2. Real tree or Artificial? None. I don't have a tree...but the house I spend Christmas at has an artificial one!
3. When do you put up the tree? November 30...my sister's birthday.
4. When do you take the tree down? Shortly after New Year's...
5. Do you like eggnog? Ew. No.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? There are so many...but ones I still have are the Cabbage Patch Dolls and my first doll...aptly named Holly. She's one of the old fashioned ones that her eyes open and close when she's lying down. I think the best part of this gift is watching my niece's face when she figured out her eyes open and close when you lay her down.
7. Hardest person to buy for? I think I fret too much over what to buy people...so that makes it hard...I always end up getting good gifts though.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My nieces...of course!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards. Mail. I like to make my cards so I try to get some out every year. Last year I had no time so I sent out "hello spring" cards.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't think there was one! Oh wait, I was broken up with shortly before Christmas...so maybe that counts!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas
13. When do you start shopping? Sometime around mid November
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Breakfast, cinammon buns and tea.
16 color lights on tree? white
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night or Angels we have heard on high
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel, I live away from family
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Absolutely...and I can't ever forget the ninth reindeer Rudolph, or my niece has a fit.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Grouchy people or idiots who are so wrapped up in themselves they don't realize there are other people out in the world.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Red and white. But I like all kinds of colours...
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Uh, Turkey...is there anything else? Oh and Tortierre...yum!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To spend time with family and friends!

Busy

2008-12-05T19:38:00.002-05:00

I always find that December just kind of slips by you and suddenly it's Christmas and we're into a new year! This is true for this year yet again. Lots of stuff on the go. Lots of adventures. Lots of time spent doing things that normally result in me getting sick after Christmas.

I've been at my sister's for a few days taking care of the kids. And by kids I mean my two nieces and their new puppy. My brother in law surprised my sister with a trip to Vegas for four days to celebrate her 40th birthday and their 15th wedding anniversary. However, they went and got a puppy the week before so I am left to deal with him. And let me tell you, I love my cat even more after this week.

Don't get me wrong, he is abso-freaking-lutely adorable and I just love him, but getting up in the middle of the night to let him out to pee sucks ass. And he whines. And he pees on the carpet. And he needs lots of exercise. And I have plans tomorrow to write an exam and take the girls to the movies but I have to get up, get him organized, get him to my mom's (with the girls) and then go write my exam. Thankfully he had re-discovered his raw hide bone this evening and is entertaining himself with that.

Which brings me to the exam...sigh...what can I say...I hate writing exams. I really wish this could have been one of those "write an essay on this" kind of finals. Rather than a "you have three hours to write two essay, several short answer questions and several multiple choice questions". Oh and by the way...what should we study? Oh everything. Now, considering this course is on government you would think that I would be ok with it, nope, because it's not just on government it's on theories of government. Theories of organizational behaviour. History of how policies came to be. Descriptions of a bunch of old dudes who had ideas about stuff. Big fun I tell you.

Added to that, I am stressing about my mark. And I've resorted to that thing where you sit and torture yourself by saying "ok if I get this mark on the exam I'll end up with this mark in the class" and to make it even worse (like it could get worse...) I haven't gotten the mark back on my last paper. So I'm sitting here doing all these equations...if I got this mark on the paper and then this mark on the exam then I end up with this mark overall. A mark I can live with, but still, it's stressful.

Thankfully I only have four more weeks until the next session starts. I'm starting to seriously reconsider why I decided to do this...but then I remember I did it so I could actually open up the possibility of a job outside of communications. Maybe I need to revisit the "Lesley + Sugar Daddy = no worries" equation.

We'll see how that pans out. For now, back to memorizing old dudes' theories on management.

Confessions of a weirdo

2008-11-21T21:10:00.002-05:00

There's a scene in the Sex and the City movie where Carrie tells Mr. Big that she loves the smell of old books. She goes to the public library and takes out old books and reads them because she loves the smell of them.

I can understand that.

Except it's not just old books. It's new textbooks. New notebooks. Libraries...all of it. And I was reminded of this tonight when I went to the Windsor Law Library. (Big disappointment by the way, I was looking for some materials to write my paper on the rule of law, the constitution and why they're important to public administration...yawn!)

It's probably why I love going back to Western to Weldon Library to go through all the old stacks. I love the smell of the books.

There's something magical about the smell of books. The smell of libraries. It gets me every time I'm in them. It's like some secret place that holds all this knowledge.

When I was a kid, I fell in love with a part of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn where Francie says she wanted to go through every book in the library. I know how she felt. I want to drink in all the knowledge that's in those pages that smell so glorious.

Ok, enough from the crazy girl, she's off to finish her Human Rights paper and start on her Public Administration paper.

Dexter Update

2008-11-19T18:09:00.002-05:00

Seeing as Dexter has been with us for a month I guess it's time for an update. He's gotten bigger over the last few weeks and having a cat has taught me so many new and interesting things. Like how to avoid having a cat come flying at you while walking up stairs in the dark (that's not really a fun trick of his) or how claws feel when you're being used as a climbing post. Or just how great it feels to have lower jaws of a teething cat clench your chin.

I am no longer a vet virgin as we travelled to the vet for a booster shot and worm medicine (which has made his tummy very happy) at which time we saw the coolest cat walking around (it was the size of a small dog!).

Dexter has grown a bit but that hasn't stopped him from thinking he's still a baby. He still loves to chase his tail, jump around the table legs and climb up on your lap for a cuddle. We gave him the run of the house last week and he has proven himself a master at entertaining himself all day while we're gone.

He likes to eat people food and sit in the bathtub watching the water drip. He has this weird thing about being in the bathroom with you and walking along the tub while you're in the shower. He has tried to boot it out the door when we come in but he doesn't know what to do with himself once he gets out there.

And of course he likes to tell US what's going on especially when he wants to be fed. That's his normal morning chorus of "feed me Seymour". Oh and he prefers wet food not dry in the morning.

Yes he's a character but we love him. I wouldn't trade this crazy little furball flying squirrel for anything.

File this under "you've got to be kidding me"

2008-11-09T19:09:00.004-05:00

I'm still in love with my car but I've lost a lot of love for the whole process which has been a total and utter pain in the ass. I can understand completely why so many people were unhappy every time I went in to the dealership I purchased from.

It started the day I was on the lot and was looking at the cars. You would think that I would have run that day but I didn't. I really wanted this car and I was willing to put up with it. Who knew how much crap I would put up with. The saleswoman came running out to me when I was out looking at cars. I made a couple of comments about the 2009 Hybrid and the saleswoman was telling me the 2008 was the exact same car...uh no, but thanks. So she says to me...where did you hear all this information? Um, the Detroit Auto Show, in GM's press materials? Still didn't believe me. And her whole attitude was really not going far enough to keep me on the lot. It speaks volumes about how much I really wanted this car.

I went in the next day to order the car. She had a whole pile of information, did she read it? No. Did she have the information I wanted? No. One of the things that really ticked me off was that I wanted the Titanium leather interior but she just wrote down leather interior which lead to the factory just picking the colour for me. Why would this upset me? I paid an extra $1500 for this option for starters.

A couple days later I got a beautiful thank you card for the order...with my name spelled wrong. Which, ok, I can kind of understand if you spell my name wrong if I just say it to you, but it was on my order and she had to look at the address on the order and the name was right above it. Added to that, if you're going to go to the trouble of sending out a thank you card, at least go to the trouble to spell my freaking name right. It's called customer service, look into it.

After about two months I sent her an email asking about the status of my car. Turns out, she didn't have any info. I had to go through a contact at GM with the order number. They found the car. Suddenly, an hour later, she found the car.

Weeks went by and it was time to do the paperwork. I had to do all the leg work for the licencing, the ownership, the insurance, the lease termination etc. I didn't have time for that. Added to that, the saleswoman had little to no interest in doing anything but giving me exasperated emails and phone calls in answer to my concerns. She had absolutely no interest in helping me out or making this easy. I had to beg to be accomodated on the Saturday morning.

I finally got to the point where I just decided enough was enough, I'll just get the car and get it over with. There was a woman in the dealership crying hysterically over the difficulties getting her car. I picked up my car and left. Done. No more worries, no more hassles.

Except not really. She had spelled my name wrong again on the owners manual package so I see that every day. Then I got in my car three days later and realized I had the wrong colour leather interior. I got the cashmere instead of the titanium. Added to that, I wanted the sun roof but didn't get it either.

I know it sounds awful that I'm so nitpicky but this is not a little purchase. To me, this is an expensive luxury item. I invested six months of research on it. I worked hard to get it and I got really excited about it. This was important to me. The fact that there was so little interest in making me happy really spoke volumes about the customer service.

So when the customer service call came in to me that night I unleashed. Not yelling and screaming, just outlined what I was unhappy about and how awful I felt and how I would NEVER recommend Saturn of London to anyone in the future EVER.

Three days later my saleswoman called me to "clear up a few things". Just that alone really ticked me off. So I called her back and let her spin for a bit. She gave me all these excuses and made me feel bad for complaining. And when I pointed out what she did wrong, she insisted I was wrong that she hadn't done anything wrong. You can imagine how upset this made me. To say to me "well I didn't spell your name wrong all the time" and all of the other items really just put me off. So I finally cut her off and just told her flat out, her phone call was making it worse, her sales tactics were apalling and she was ridiculous to think that it would be ok to call me up and pretend to apologize and then make me feel bad for expressing how I felt. She didn't like that either.

The whole situation really left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I love my car. I am very happy with it, but I consider that GM's work, not hers. What she did and what happened at the dealership was just disgusting and I am going to be very careful in the future.

Polarizing

2008-11-05T20:41:00.002-05:00

I have spent the last year and a half watching the U.S. political race with baited breath. I was never really a "fan" of Obama and I wondered if it would be a case of people not wanting to vote for him for the racial issues. As things went along my "he's the lesser of two evils" became "maybe this is change to believe in".

Being in Canada, it's easy for us to say we don't have an interest in the election but we do in fact have a very vested interest in it. The U.S. economy affects us, the war affects us and the impact the U.S. has in the world affects us.

But more than the election, more than change, more than anything else, what really moved me yesterday was the sheer volume of people who voted. My biggest thing in elections is voting. It bothers me that more people don't exercise their right to vote. To see so many people voting for the first time and really believing they needed to be there made me so proud. For the first time in a very long time (if not ever) people believed their vote made a difference, that they needed to be there to share in history, that they needed to be a part of change. Watching the lines of voters just made me believe that people can work to change, people can stand up, people believe.

It will be interesting to see how the next four years play out. How he handles the change the U.S. (and possibly the world) needs will be fascinating to watch. I'm proud to be alive in this time. I'm proud of my U.S. neighbours. I'm proud to be a part of history.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

2008-11-02T11:38:00.003-05:00

That sound you hear? Is me all giddy about my new wheels. It has been three months (well, really, four years of hell with the previous vehicle) to get here but I love it. More and more every day. And it's like I'm a proud momma or something but every time someone compliments me on it, I get all proud and loving!

When I registered with OnStar yesterday they asked me one thing I loved and I said the heated seats. But really, I love the whole thing. I love the engine, I love the colour, I love the interior, I love the exterior, I love the satelitte radio, I love the fact it has it's OWN FREAKING PHONE NUMBER! and I love that it sends me emails to tell me it's doing well. Love love love this car.

What a ride though. I ordered it back in August and it has been nothing but trouble from the get go. The salesperson was not the most pleasant and was actually borderline insulting. I mean, I was buying a $40,000 car and she treated me like I was stealing from them. I had to beg to find out when it would arrive, if it was built yet etc. Added to that, when it did come in, it was a big inconvenience for them to have me come in to get it. I couldn't get here on Thursday or Friday as we had originally agreed due to the other events going on so when I asked for a Saturday appointment they were not at all accomodating.

Added to that, I had to do all the work throughout. I had to call about my lease termination for my last car, I had to deal with GMAC for my payment information, I had to call the insurance company...the list goes on...I had to do all the work. Again, for a car this price, you would think that they would have done a bit more ass kissing and a little less of the "you're putting us out" attitude. I suppose I should have expected it though. The three times I have been in the dealership someone was in there unhappy. Including yesterday with the woman hysterical in tears telling them they could keep their car she didn't want it anymore since it was such a hassle.

I know people who have had additional problems with that dealership and I can guarantee that I won't be going back. Not that I want to be all spoiled and pissy but considering the treatment I got when I bought my little $12000 tin can, this should have been a little easier and not felt like I was hurting them. Especially with the economy the way it is and the fact that I brought that business from an economy that was hurting for this business more.

Sigh....

The good things though...my insurance is actually $120 less a year in this car than it was in my five year old pop can. XM radio, which makes me laugh because I always make a new car CD for my new car and this time I started an iPod playlist but then realized, I have XM radio! So many good things. I'm excited to take it on the highway now because it's safer and drives better. I just love it. I haven't been this happy in a really long time and I'm liking it!

Anniversary

2008-10-31T19:25:00.002-04:00

Today marks my third anniversary of my move to Windsor. What's fitting about today is that we celebrated a milestone on the project I work on with a major announcement organized by yours truly.

For the past three weeks I have been completely immersed in this announcement plan. Putting it together, writing the news release, writing the backgrounder, writing the speaking notes, organizing the event details right down to how we would symbolize the completion (no ribbon, just trucks driving down a roadway...it was cool, trust me).

It's fitting because this project has dominated my three years on the project. From the ups and downs of the announcements on this project to the ups and downs of the issues. Kind of like my three years there. Three years of learning, challenges, opportunities and a great deal of growth.

I'm not the same person I was three years ago. I believe I've gotten stronger from the learning experiences. Not just workwise, but also personally as well. It's been three years well spent.

So happy anniversary to me. And here's to more great success!

A fool and her gold

2008-10-27T19:05:00.003-04:00

I got some new vanity plates to go with my brand spanking new car. I know, I know...a fool and his gold are soon parted. But I figured, it was worth it! Besides, my plates on the front of my car are slowly losing the paint to chipping. I need new plates anyway so I spent the extra money to get the vanity ones.

AND, I live in Windsor and this is vanity plate central! I need to fit in!

smelling dafeet

2008-10-23T21:09:00.002-04:00

This week I "smelled dafeet". That's a joke that comes from a book I loved in high school about dirty socks signifying smelling defeat.

I saw the writing on the wall as it related to my courses. I decided to drop my microeconomics course.

It was a hard decision but one I had to make. I didn't do well on the first assignment and I was struggling with the material. Added to that I have an assignment due in the class in two weeks and I was struggling to understand the question. I figured it would be better to drop out of the class with my academic standing intact.

A lot of people told me they were surprised I took on so much and I would like to publicly admit they were right. Although, when I took on the courses I didn't think about the very big announcement we're making at work next week and the added work on an assignment I agreed to help with.

It was more than I can handle so I'm staying in the two courses.

The great thing though is that my degree credits from Fanshawe can be put forward to a replacement course that I wouldn't have to take. Yay for that.

Now I just have to get through three more assignments and the final exams.

New Addition

2008-10-17T22:51:00.003-04:00

Introducing Dexter. Our new addition to the house.

He's a bit of a brat. Likes to cause trouble. But he's funny and absolutely cute so we forgive him. Even when he's chewing my computer cord.

However, when he's really cute is when he's doing the unexpected. Like walking along the edge of the bathtub when one of us is in the shower (and falling in the tub with the water running with me or falling in the toilet with my roommate). Last night was especially hilarious when he discovered he could crawl UP my pyjama bottom legs and eventually got stuck. Or when he thought my skirt was a toy and he crawled underneath it and jumped up and down on my legs to bat at the thing. Personally I think the cutest is when he goes under the sheets and acts all crazy and then pops his head out all "what, I wasn't doing anything".

Now if we could just get through to him that he does his business in the litter box it would be a good thing!

Idle Pursuits

2008-10-15T22:03:00.002-04:00

One of my favourite websites to visit is Television Without Pity. I discovered it way back in 1999 when I was covering reception for one of my old jobs before I went back to school.

At the time, I was looking for a way to catch up on what happened on Third Watch. The site had recaps and went by the name Mighty Big TV at that time. I loved it because it was snarky, had lots of great wit and of course filled me in on what I might have missed.

(Did I mention I'm kind of a tv junkie?)

Lately though, I noticed there was a bit of a change. All of these recappers popped up who are not who I thought they were. There weren't so many comments in the recaps like before from the regulars Sars, Wing Chun and the rest of them. I was a little disappointed and thought maybe they were taking a back seat.

After all, it was on TWoP where I hooked up with a bunch of online forum posters who got a little out of hand and were known as the bad bunch by the moderators. They shut us down a few times in order to get rid of us from the boards. I figured that we weren't the only wild bunch that caused problems and they had finally taken a step back from the site.

I was wrong.

I did a little bit more digging today looking for what was going on and finally stumbled upon this: from the founders that showed me what had happened way back in March (I'm always the last to know) and it made me sad. I really liked what they did with the site. And frankly, I'll miss the great Glarkware t-shirts that carp on the shows they made fun of.

TWoP...you'll never be the same...and that makes me sad!

Before you know it

2008-10-10T10:19:00.002-04:00

Time seems to slip by me....

I had three days off this week. Three days I shouldn't have taken seeing as I was spending a great deal of them emailing and doing work stuff. I was all excited because I was coming up to my cousin's to look after their son and house and dog. I thought...this is awesome, I can catch up on all my homework! Except not.

Wednesday I slept most of the day as I got here at 11:30 on Tuesday night and then was up again at 3 to drive someone to Barrie to meet up with his hunting buddies. I came home and went right back to bed. Yesterday I did manage to get some work done but I didn't realize that four hours is not a lot of time when you're reading.

Today we're off to Barrie to drop a bed off at my sister's and to visit with her. Traffic I am sure is going to be a nightmare seeing as that's cottage country (or the entrance TO cottage country) and since this is traditionally the weekend everyone goes up to close their cottages...I'm sure the highway will be packed. Tomorrow we're headed back to Windsor.

I've had a good time this week. I am in love with their dog Bauer who is a big lopey golden retriever who just wants to love everyone. I'm not kidding either. He sits right beside me on the couch and rests his head on my lap like he's a lap dog. He is most definitely not a lap dog. But he's cute, so he's getting a pass.

Here's hoping I can get through the worst of the homework--the microeconomics homework...because that's the one that's stumping me!

Awesome

2008-09-30T21:08:00.003-04:00

So you think this family band was awesome?
Well I've got news for you...

We're making a run for the title...

...however, if we could sing on key, we might not have to drink to numb the pain...

This way or that way

2008-09-27T09:09:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, at the office, one of my female coworkers brought me this brochure and invited me on a trip with her and a few other people I know. She said "it's a really good opportunity, you should come with us".

Now I know what you're thinking...cult! But it wasn't.

It's an 8 day fabric market tour of Beijing. All inclusive, the total cost includes your flight, accomodations, food, and transportation to all these fabric markets and various other tourist areas of Beijing. Total cost with taxes and fees: $3500.

I kind of went "yelp" at that point. That's a lot of money. She tried to sell me on the whole "well it's all paid for and look at what you get" which was totally worth it.

My problem is this, I just paid about $4000 for tuition and books. Added to that I have to save for a down payment on a car I'm getting in a few weeks and I know I'm going to have another $300-500 for books in January. I'm also trying to save for a house should I be in a different living situation (read: new city) in six months to a year. So you can imagine why I'm on the fence about this one.

I really want to go. But I know that even if I did suck it up and spend the money, it's not just the $3500. I am a total sucker for pretty things so I know I would be buying fabric and purses and clothes and other cute stuff. Then I'd also buy souveniers etc. And then I'd come back and have to buy scrapbook supplies to actually scrapbook the whole tour and we're looking at about $6000 to $8000.

Once a lifetime sure...then there's the lifetime to pay it off that's left!

Change is good

2008-09-21T13:23:00.003-04:00

This is what happens when you finally get fed up. This is what happens when you reach the point where you just want to do something to make yourself feel better. This is what happens when you say to your hairdresser "cut it, I don't care". (This is also what happens when you have such a good hairdresser that you can trust them when you say that). This is what happens at the end of a week that started with a full moon.

I could go into details about what made this week suck so much. I could sit and go through every little detail. But that would be pointless. Suffice to say that every little thing contributed to feeling like I was ready to explode. God bless my sister who put up with my venting about everything including a dent in my car door, my tea spilling, and the loss of a prime parking spot this week. Yes, it really was that bad.

When I break, I do so under immense weight of every little thing. And this summer has been full of them. The poor IT help desk person who had to read my email on Friday basically telling them how useless they are (and really, it was deserved since I had to go through several layers of bureaucracy just to have someone removed from an email distribution list). It was one of those weeks where everyone needed to take a step back and see the bigger picture.

Which resulted in me finally saying enough is enough with my hair and going in and cutting it all off. I wanted to grow it out a bit, see what it looked like, see if it would be fun to have long glorious hair. But in the end, it only resulted in pony tails, buns on top of the head, and tangles. My hair dresser was so happy when I showed him the photo I liked and said "cut it off, cut it all off, I trust you, make it look good". I think he was happier than I was when it was done!

Change is good. Change works. Change makes you feel better.

TAG, I'm it

2008-09-13T12:37:00.002-04:00

I've been tagged by Jen and since I can never say no to a "dare" (or other things for that matter) I have to do it...so here goes:

The rules:

A) People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs & replace any question that they dislike with a new question.

B) Tag 8 people to do this quiz.

1.How many songs are on your iPod?

I think about 1700. I've been bad lately. Normally I download the weekly free tune and end up downloading a few other songs that get stuck in my head. The last three weeks my iPod has been sitting in the player rather than in my purse. I think losing it for a few days really screwed with me.

2. What music would you want played at your funeral?

I'll change this one to What would you want people to say at your funeral?

There's so many songs that I absolutely love and they would all be so sullen and sad that it would be hard to think about it (or decide for that matter) so instead I'll say what I want people to say or really think at my funeral. And that would be that I hope people would say that I lived my life. That I had a good life. That it was full of love and laughter. That they admired my choices and my independence and my sense of adventure. And that they would move forward trying to give as much as I have to others.

3.What magazines do you have subscriptions to?

O magazine and O at home, Creating Keepsakes, and these two cake decorating magazines that are actually cool.

4. What is your favorite scent?

Freshly cut grass and new babies.

5. If you had a million dollars that you could only spend on yourself, what would you do with it?

I'd travel and take others with me. Believe it or not, Disney would be my first trip. I know it's not really the rules to spend it on taking others with me but that IS spending it on me. Because you can't really do something fun without someone to enjoy it with. And I'd like to have my friends and family with me. Besides, that's happiness to me, sharing happiness with others.

6. What is your theme song?

If it feels good do it by Sloan. Actually, anything by Sloan because their sound is totally me.

7. Do you trust easily?

Sadly yes. And it's always the wrong people. The good news is, I trust about five people and get burned by four but end up with one really great person to show for it, so that's alright. Besides, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?

8. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?

Always always always think before I act. Sometimes too long. Which is a downfall in some instances. There's nothing wrong with just doing. (Or just thinking for that matter.)

9.Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?

Yes. Lots. Things that I won't get in to. Things that I did allude to in my last blog. But again, what doesn't kill you...

10. Do you have a good body-image?

Yes and no. I beat myself up in moments of black here and there. But for the most part my attitude is this: if they only like me for what I look like, then they aren't worth my time.

11. Is being tagged fun?

It's a good prompt, but I don't know enough people most of the time for these things. It's kind of like those forwards that make you send an email to 1200 people or you'll die in the street from a pumpkin falling from the sky...

12. What websites do you visit daily?

My regular blogs, newspapers, news sites, and some other funny gossipy sites to balance it all out. Facebook of course...but only to see what's new with everyone. The great thing about Facebook is that I have reconnected with piles of people that I lost track of after school and reconnecting with them has meant more to me than I can really explain.

13. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?

Felicity on DVD. And scrabble on the computer.

14. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?

Strong, caring, trusting, friendly, incredibly smart. She's one of those people who I met with others that burned me and it was a good thing that I trusted her. Her prescence in my life has meant more to me than anything. I turn to her for advice, laughs, escape and fun. She is definitely a kindred spirit.

15. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head? Change this one too, what's the last thing that got stuck in your head?

It's Peanut from Jeff Dunham...and it's the "search your feelings Jef-fa-fa" stupid thing!!!

16.What’s your favorite item of clothing?

Flannel pyjamas. Or my penguin slip on slippers that I bought at Target last Christmas.

17. Do you think Rice Crispies are yummy?

Mixed with marshmallows and butter and cooled in a pan cut into squares...when I was a kid I would eat them with sugar on them (the cereal with milk) or with Bananas. Yummy.

18. What would you do if you see saw $100 lying on the ground?

Try to find the owner. That still seems like a lot of money to me and it's wrong to keep it. I couldn't live with myself if I kept it. It would just feel wrong.

19. What items could you not go without during the day?

The internet, my car, my phone, food and my glasses. And my people.

20. What should you be doing right now?

Taking a shower and then doing my homework...instead I'm typing, talking to my cousin and procrastinating.

Ok so who to tag...well, I know no one...at least anyone who blogs who HASN'T been tagged so instead I'll say Sara and .Chris, but only because I'd want to see what Sara says and because Chris needs a jump start to blog

"God has a book"

2008-09-07T22:03:00.002-04:00

Ah the polka dot dress...but I'll get to that in a minute.

God has a book is the term my cousin used on me yesterday morning after I confessed my deep dark secret from Friday night to her. I wasn't going to confess my deep dark secret because I was ashamed of myself. It related to the night before and I was pretty embarassed, ashamed and mad at myself for what happened.

You see, it was my friend's wedding the night before and I had done something that was completely unexpected, threw me right off guard and embarassed the crap right out of me. Thankfully, I had some really great people around me who understood, got me through it, and helped me see past it.

It's been a rough couple of weeks. Month really. There's been drama. And I tried to avoid the drama by staying out of it. Sadly, that brought the intense drama on. And dragged a large group of people into the drama. Making it a case of hard core drama. The result of which was that I had to move. Now, I could have moved into my own place. But with things the way they are (school, not sure how long I'm staying here, lots of other stuff going on) I really didn't want to sign a lease or buy a property. So after a long discussion with my cousin, I decided to move into her place. It's great really, she has a townhouse and she's on nights two weeks at a time. Not to mention that she's single and has a really great attitude to help me through stuff. Which I'll get to in a minute.

Suffice to say that the drama has had me stressed for a good three weeks. To the point where I'm waking up in the middle of the night with really strange dreams that sort of feed off of my deep dark fears, previous stress and stuff that happened at various points in my life. Not that I want to be a victim here, just that I'm having a hard time getting back on my equal footing and I really want to walk out of this nightmare soon.

So we get to Friday. Now, my friend that was getting married has been joking with me about setting me up with one of her husband's coworkers. He seems really nice. And I met him and thought he was cute. However, he's spoken for in the sense that he's not really ready to date anyone "exclusively". Added to that, I've just gotten back into a place where I was ready to date and had been interested in someone else. He ended up sitting behind me at the wedding and listening to him talk to another person there made me seriously think whether or not I wanted to spend time with him (I won't get into it, I just really didn't like his "attitude").

Fast forward to the reception. I went with a friend of mine who worked with both myself and my friend that was getting married. We had joked about going to the wedding together and I loved that she was able to drive the two hours to join me. I really wanted to have someone to go with since I knew no one of note (outside of the bridal party and seeing as the only person I really "knew" was the bride, it was a moot point as she would be busy). And I'm not one of those "high maintenance" guests...I just like to know someone...it's a comfort level thing.

Anyways...my big deep dark secret that embarassed me...I had an anxiety attack as we sat down at our table. And it was a nuclear reactor meltdown sized attack. One like I haven't had in about six years. One like I've had at times in my life that made me wonder if I'm actually going to be able to "live" my life in a normal sense. I mention this because these types of anxiety attacks really upset me and take me to a dark place that I don't like.

So how did it happen. I'm not really sure although I kind of know some of the triggers. I made a joke to my friend about spelling my name wrong and her sister in law was standing there. Then, when walking the receiving line, one of the members made a BIG deal about setting me up with a few single men at the party (which is one of my achilles heel things...I really don't like being set up...especially in that situation, when you're standing in the receiving line, trying to be polite and EVERYONE can hear her making a big deal about you being single and ALONE!) We went and sat down at our table and we were right by the buffet. It was extremely hot in the room and I had been drinking. All triggers...well, it was one drink on an empty stomach...and I don't drink.

It started. I started to get hot, flustered, faint, sick to my stomach. I normally can talk myself out of these things but none of my tricks was working. I got up to use the ladies room and seemed to have collected myself. Sadly, when I got back to the table, the waves hit me again. My friend noticed and high tailed me out of there (god bless her). We were sitting out in the lobby and the bride came out to see me. All. of. the. bridal. party. followed. And her sister in law made a big deal out of my comment about my name being spelled wrong. You can imagine what I was going through internally.

So my friend high tailed me out of that location as well. We went up to the hotel room, changed and decided to get some air. We thought maybe if I was out of the dress, away from the situation and not thinking about it I would calm down and feel better.

Not so much.

I started feeling like I had let my friend down, that I let my date down, that she had driven all this way to go and I had made her leave. That people would notice. That people would wonder. All of these stupid little things I shouldn't have been worrying about but I was. My friend saw just how bad these things get for me when I had to have her pull her car over so I could get some "air".

I wasn't going to tell anyone but then had to confess to my sister. If I hide it, it makes it worse. My cousin happened to see the conversation we were having (by MSN) and I had to confess to her. We ended up talking for a couple of hours about it which is where the "God has a book" comment came in. She really made me see that this is something I have to get through to be the person I'm meant to be.

People don't really understand it until they see it happening. And they realize just how forceful it is. And then they understand how hard it is for me to stop it. Now that one was a bad one, and I haven't had one of those in about six years...not since I was 'involved' with a guy I really wanted a future with and got a little scared about the situation. I can only think of my therapist and her reaction the next day when she said "Good, you survived, now you can move on!" Uh, not so much...

My friend (the bride) called me today to chat and was so great about it. It proved to me that my worries about how I acted and what I did were really for naught. But still, in the moment, I can't really think that way and it's hard to dig myself out of the situation that I'm in.

I don't know if it's going to happen again. I don't know if it will be that bad. What I do know is that I will get through it. I have to get through it. I have to move past it. I have to get stronger. These things aren't happening as often as they were when I was younger (imagine an entire year of university suffering daily with this thing) but they do take me off guard when they do happen. Thankfully I have great people around me who help me see past the dark stuff and bring me back into the light. Which is why I don't want to hide it, or be ashamed of it. The more people who know, the more people who can help me stop being afraid of who I'm meant to be.

As for the polka dot dress...well, it was everything I hoped it would be. Made me feel really happy to wear. I looked great. I felt great (when I wasn't all anxious) and I enjoyed the time I did spend at my friend's wedding.

Fogeyville

2008-08-30T12:48:00.002-04:00

Back when I decided to apply to University again I figured it would be easy. You just fill out an application, send them a big fat payment and boom, you wait until they say "WELCOME".

Not so much.

The last time I applied to University I was 18, had the help of an awesome guidance counselor and the internet as we know it today didn't exist. You waited until you got your big fat package from the school and then you sent back the reply letter accepting their offer. For me, someone with a last name starting with R, I watched everyone else above me getting all their letters and when I finally got mine, I was pretty excited.

You see, here in Canada it's not like television where you get a letter in the mail telling you you got in. Here we get the letter, another letter explaining the process, a fancy booklet about life at the school and any other information they feel necessary to help you accept their offer.

Enter the internet. I have registered for my full year of courses without getting accepted to the school yet. I have registered online and have been privy to lots of information for weeks now. And yesterday, I went in and checked out my profile and saw that I was listed as an undergraduate student. Then when I got home I found my package welcoming me to the school on the kitchen counter. (We had a hilarious moment where I jumped up and down screaming I GOT IN!!)

Except, it's not as easy as that...you see, on the letter it says I have to accept the offer by September 1. Which is Monday. I can apparently do this through the internet. But going into the site they link to doesn't show anything. So I tool around the site a bit and see NOTHING. Then I can go into the Ontario University Application Centre to accept it and find...NOTHING.

Am I really this old that I can't figure this stuff out? Or is it supposed to be this hard???

Recovering

2008-08-26T19:09:00.001-04:00

It may seem as if for every step you take in a forward direction you slip back a few steps as well, but appearances can be deceptive. If you could see life from a higher perspective you would realize that even your backward steps are taking you forward. Keep moving.

~Sally Brompton, CANCER, August 26, 2008

It's been a very crazy week and a half with a lot of unexpected events occurring. I can't say that it's been good to go through them, but it's been good to come out of them. Or rather, good to be on this side of them. But today, after charging another $1400 on my already smoking credit card for my next semester's worth of courses, I was this close to a little bit of a breakdown. Then I read my horoscope and had my little saving grace for the day. Let's hope that it's true and that this is the start of something good.

True North

2008-08-22T23:37:00.001-04:00

You know you're Canadian when you spend a Friday night in August (80 F weather no less) in a hockey arena in capris and sandals. That's where we spent our night tonight, watching my 17 year old cousin try out for Stratford.

But the really funny part was watching his after game snack...a whole bowl of instant chocolate pudding. Nicely done.

My sanity, myself

2008-08-15T20:27:00.002-04:00

It's been that kind of a week.

Every night I've thought about going to bed early but then something goes on that stresses me and then I end up not sleeping. And then of course it's been the kind of week where everything that could happen/go wrong, did at about 4:10 each day. Added to that, I had three days of appointments at 5:30 that I HAD to be at.

Today I was stressed because I couldn't find my iPod. I knew I had it on the weekend. I knew I had it on Monday. But from there, couldn't figure out where it might have gone. I had a panic that it had fallen out of my purse somewhere between work, the mall, work, the chiropractor, home, the mailbox. I went through my entire day Monday. Where I went, when I got out of my car, what I wore, what I did, where I went...went through my car, stopped at the chiropractor and then made a mental list of all the places I would have to go to check for it. In the end, it was under my desk at work. Phew.

Also today, I ended up getting a call from Ryerson asking about my transcripts from high school. Thank goodness I had left those at work. I had faxed them to the school three weeks ago but apparently that wasn't enough. And getting through to anyone in the department is as difficult as you can imagine. Added to that, getting through to anyone at my former high school proved to be just as difficult. Finally someone called me back and told me to send them directly to her. I'm glad she called me because she was going to cancel my application. As she put it "I was serious" (she had noticed I had registered for three courses). Transcripts sent by Purolator, problem solved.

Once you factor in the craziness of several media calls, a couple of negative stories we had to respond to, several requests for further information on other charts/documents/materials, a press release on a project, and some follow up and you can imagine why my body and mind is exhausted tonight.

I don't know how anyone has the energy to go out drinking and dancing on Friday nights...

Happy

2008-08-06T17:36:00.003-04:00

Happiness is a polka dot dress from Laura. At least that's what I'm going with this week.

I had to get something to wear to a friend's wedding and knowing my luck, I knew it was going to be horrible trying to find something. I wanted to look good but not out of place. And of course, I hate trying on clothes because I am way too hard on myself.

Enter, Vaughn Mills on Sunday. We walked in the doors, walked around the corner and voila, my dress was on a mannequin in the window. I went in and discovered only one size 12 on the rack. I was a little scared because my luck couldn't be THAT good. In fact, it really was. I loved the dress from the moment I pulled it on. So cute and so flattering.

Every time I have pulled it out to show it to someone, I swear I fall in love with it more! I want to wear it all the time! I can't wait to wear it to the wedding!

Paradise

2008-08-02T13:37:00.003-04:00

I'm leaving what I call "paradise" today for another kind of paradise tonight. I've spent a week at my cousin's place just lounging, hanging out and doing close to nothing. She has a pool, a hot tub, and loves to be the hostess. Which I am not just sucking up, I swear! Staying with her and her family is fun because it's a different kind of life. The kind where teenage boys run in and out asking for food, clean clothes, money, rides to parties and the like. The kind where her husband is in and out needing clean clothes, food, and directions. The kind where the phone rings non stop and my cousin has about two hours to herself in the afternoon (which she spends trimming plants and cleaning up the backyard no less).

We have still managed to have fun. We have lounged by the pool. We have gotten some sun (hilariously enough I have a tan except for the burn right at the edge of my bikini top line where the sunscreen DIDN'T hit) and we've had a really great week together. She's kind of like a big sister in that she just welcomes me into her home and we spend the time laughing and just enjoying each other. It's been really nice.

Tonight it's off to my friends' place in Toronto for two days with them. I haven't been up to their place since last December. Annette and Mary are the kind of friends every girl needs. The kind that you can sit and laugh with, who can make fun of you without it being bad, and who will talk about everything under the sun and still make sense. I've missed hanging out with them. Who knows what adventures we'll get into in the big city but I'm looking forward to it all the same.

Like I said, paradise. In more ways than one.

Eight Days a Week

2008-07-30T18:24:00.006-04:00

Lots going on the last couple of days. I'm on "vacation" which is basically me taking the week of overtime I had left from the long days back in May and June. My plans changed quite quickly last week and I ended up staying with my cousin for a few days before heading off to Toronto to visit friends.

A sample of one of the cards

The rest of the weekend went well. I managed to finish about 25 cards or so. And had a nice visit with my sisters. My younger sister and I had really not been speaking very much to each other over the last two years due to some things that were said and we salvaged our relationship. As I left her on Sunday I told her what has been on my mind the last year or so...that I've missed having her in my life.

Clown in a Volkswagon--AKA my sister trying to pack her stuff

Monday my cousin and I just vegged by the pool and talked. It was really nice to do that. Sometimes you need to recharge a bit in that way and that was the perfect way to do it. We went to see my 14 year old cousin play baseball except he didn't really play...just ten minutes of the game. His two friends who came with us ended up taking about 200 photos on my camera of everything BUT Derek playing baseball.

Derek, Jordan and Josh finally getting to try out Bungee Jumping

Yesterday it was Canada's Wonderland. Which was funny in itself. We had four 14 year old boys and at that age, they are pretty funny. They think they're pretty big men but really they're still just boys. I'm kind of like the fun aunt along for the ride. I was the only adult with a cell phone so they thought it was pretty cool they could send me text messages. It really came in handy when we needed to know where they were once they took off on us in the morning. After one ride, Donna and I were ready to stay on solid ground (something happens to your equilibrium as you get older, I swear!) so we ended up following them around, holding bags, and waiting at exits for them. It was actually a nice day.

The four boys

Today I finally took the plunge and put a deposit down on my car. I had talked to a dealer in Windsor about it but I ended up going in the Saturn dealership here to talk with them. I put the deposit down on it and it should come in in November. I picked out a ruby red 2009 Vue hybrid. It was an easy decision but also a hard one. Had to really do some research, look at what I really wanted, what I really didn't want and what I would want for the next few years. Now with the changes to leasing I had to make a different kind of decision. I'm pretty excited about my new baby!!! Then it was on to the hospital for Derek's MRI and now we're just awaiting the arrival of Derek's older brother Kevin, home from Italy.

Tomorrow we'll await the arrival of Kevin's luggage. Lovely that his trip had lost luggage to bookend it.

Day One

2008-07-26T10:23:00.001-04:00

My two sisters and I are at a scrapbooking retreat for the weekend. It's called Younique Retreat and I'm officially in love. Aside from having a whole table to yourself and not having to clean up at the end of the day (something hard core croppers will understand), we're fed all our meals which are borderline gourmet and we have everything done for us. Imagine staying at a really nice hotel and being able to just play all weekend long. Added to that, there's a hot tub, shopping and other cool things to do.

I've finished six cards so far and I've got another six almost completed. I went to bed at 2 a.m. last night and could not fall asleep thinking about more creativity that I wanted to do today. This is going to be so much fun.

Words to that effect

2008-07-25T08:41:00.002-04:00

My last post seems to have confused a few people. What I was trying to express was that feeling that a lot of women get when they turn another year older. Wanting to hold onto our youth, wanting to not have to be one year older. That sort of thing. I was trying to express that I wasn't ashamed to be another year older because of all of the ways that I have grown in the years of my life. How I have triumphed over adversity if you will. Come through the rough to where I am today.

For some odd reason, certain people like to take credit for who I am just for the sheer excuse that they were a part of my life at some time. What they fail to realize is what role they played in this turmoil and how much of the drama and problems in my life were a direct result of their actions. I had to survive what they forced me to take on.

Something that these individuals don't realize is that who I am today is because of ME. Because of my strength and courage that I had to find deep down inside. Because I had to take these lemons and make lemonade, if you will. I find it completely odd that someone would try to see how their role that they fail to take responsibility for is a credit to me. I can assure you, it's not.

I have some really fantastic people in my life. Individuals along my road who have supported me, guided me, assisted me in any way they could to get me to where I am today. My gratitude and love for them is something I try to share every day. I do this by sharing my life with them. By telling them how much I care.

But by feeling this way I am labeled as angry, full of hate, less than what I claim to be because I have moved on and I have grown up from those moments in my life and choose not to continue to have that drama in my life. Unfortunately for me, these individuals continue to choose to remind me of those moments, of their actions that led to those moments, and accuse me of being less than I am for not allowing them to take this "credit" for their role in my life before.

Saying that you respect my decisions is one thing. Constantly harassing and stalking me to the point where I have to take this type of action is another. I really don't know how many times I can say "leave me alone" but it's starting to get old. Maybe one day these people will actually walk the talk and finally respect my wishes.

Hello 33!

2008-07-17T16:54:00.002-04:00

The past week I've been saying that I was turning another age than 33 today. I was going to be 29, 25, 28 or 19 (who was I kidding???). But then this morning as I was driving in to work I realized I don't want to be any age than what I am.

I thought about every single good age I could think about and at each and every age something was going on. Something that caused some kind of drama or strife or complication. Each year seemed to have something that wasn't ideal.

Which is why I want to be 33. I think about it this way...my life is pretty much on track. I'm my own person. I make my own decisions (sometimes with influence...). I make good money, I have a great job that I love and I have great friends and family around me to keep me grounded. I'm finally in a place financially that I like and I'm ready for the next step. I can stand up for myself. I can defend my actions. I'm not afraid to be who I am. And I have the freedom to choose.

I also realize that I wouldn't be the person that I am today if I hadn't had the strife and drama that I had. I wouldn't have learned the lessons that I learned. And I wouldn't have become the person I am without the steps I had to go through before. Each one of those years contributed to the experiences that made me who I am. Which is why I'm ok with being another year older, another year wiser and another year me.

I wouldn't trade any one of the 33 years that I've had to be one year younger or one decade younger. Unless I could be the person I am today back then. But then maybe I would have done things differently and things wouldn't be the way they are today.

If only it was this easy to reach this conclusion when the grey hairs pop up in the mirror in the morning....

Love

2008-07-16T19:02:00.002-04:00

Some days this cartoon just makes me laugh...

Don't want to be right

2008-07-15T21:47:00.001-04:00

It might be wrong that I'm totally loving this.

I told myself no more mini albums for a while. That I wanted to actually scrapbook a few real photos and pages. But then I see that on Ali's blog and want to make a mini book. Which I'm actually going to do for a few more gifts (babies, weddings, all that mini-book goodness) but still, I wanted to get out of the mini book madness for a while and just do some cards and regular pages.

So excited for CHA this week. Can't wait to see what new trends are coming out.

Crazy Talk

2008-07-14T19:00:00.001-04:00

When I didn't get the job a week ago I decided to do something different. No, not take off to Italy to paint for six months different. More like get another degree different. I applied to Ryerson for their Public Administration and Governance program which pretty much cements me in Government FOR-EV-ER and also helps me get a better job a.k.a open up the door to other possibilities.

Except, the reason they need you to work with a guidance counselor to apply to university is because it's hard. Seriously. This was crazy. I had to go through this big long application process. Then on the Ryerson web site it said I had to fill out a supplementary application. Then it said I had to register with OUAC (Ontario University Application Centre) which I had just done.

Once I had all my questions answered I was told that I could register online beginning July 14. So for the last week I have tried to figure out how my distance education course load would be. Four courses per semester or not. If I wanted the certificate in one year it would have to be that way. Then today I discovered that they offer summer intersession. Meaning I could get all eight by next June without killing myself in the process.

So I spent about an hour trying to register online. Which you think would be easy. Nuh-uh. First I had to find the registration page, then I had to find the courses, then I had to choose them in my cart. And of course, because so many other people were registering, I would get an error message about three out of the four times I tried. Then, I would have to go back to the original page and try to find the courses AGAIN. Once I had my three courses, I tried to go and checkout. Which took me to another screen. That screen asked for my student ID number. Had to go through my emails and hunt that down. That took a while since that required going into a separate page and logging into another page at the university and registering there. Finally, I had it all...tried to check out...and nothing.

After I gave up for an hour I went back in. Success. I was able to get the courses through to my profile which then said....I didn't have the security access for that. I would have to add that in my folder on my online profile. Except, there was no way to do this or SEARCH FOR IT.

I had to keep going back in and adding the courses to my cart again and again and again some more. I swear I'm the only one registered in the course seeing as how many times I registered. Finally, a light went on. I read the FINE PRINT at the side of the screen that you don't see unless you go into the help section that said "If you have not registered for any courses prior to April 1, 2008, you are not able to register for courses online, you must do so in person or by mail."

I mean seriously. Could they not have put this RIGHT ON THE FRONT OF THE CONTINUING EDUCATION PAGE IN LARGE RED PRINT FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? Added to that, if I knew that was the case, I would have filled out the online form LAST WEEK and mailed it so that they got it today.

I just hope that I get in the courses.

Outdoor Glass 2 : Lesley 0

2008-07-13T15:10:00.002-04:00

I'm home alone with the dog for a few days while my aunt and uncle visit with their kids in Toronto. I'm always worried about things breaking or going wrong because I'm not the home owner and I always feel uber guilty about anything and everything.

The other night I was watering the plants on the back deck and this big blue glass lantern blew over on the deck and hit the brick wall and broke at the top. Of course I felt like a total tool because a) it broke and b) I wasn't able to catch it.

Yesterday Bauer, my cousin's golden retriever came for a "visit" while my cousin and her son and husband went to a party around the corner. Benny wasn't pleased. He has a bit of a dominance problem so the two of them went at it. I was worried about them breaking somethingin the house but every time I put them outside they would stop fighting. They finally got over themselves and nothing happened.

Then this morning came....the patio table was fine when I let Benny out this morning but when I came up from the basement (I was getting ready for the retreat I'm going on in a few weeks) I looked outside and voila...patio table shattered into a bajillion pieces. I had no idea that thing could break into that many pieces. So after spending about an hour cleaning it up (I still have to go out and get the rest of the little pieces in the cracks of the deck out) I decided that maybe I should quit while I'm ahead and make sure I don't touch anything else.

I still have to water the flowers again tomorrow...hopefully I won't kill any of them.

A dog's life

2008-07-12T14:58:00.002-04:00

Bauer, my cousin's golden retriever is coming for a visit today. Let's hope this perks Benny up a bit. He's a strange dog. Has serious separation anxiety with his "people". I'm wondering if it's a poodle trait (he's a cocker poodle cross) or if it's just a dog trait. This morning while vacuuming I noticed a spot on the living room carpet from his "anxiety". Not to mention the whole not eating for a day thing on Wednesday and the constant downer mentality. Cheer up beast!

I went to get my NEXUS card last night. That was hilarious. And I'm not just talking about the actual photo (which is horrible by the way...sigh...). I was asked if I had ever been arrested. Except the noise in the trailer made it sound like "a resident". So I kept saying "yes, in Windsor and London". She looked at me like I was nuts. No wonder...no I've never been arrested.

Made a little stop at The Scrapbook Zone. I'm looking for something to hold my scraps but can't seem to find what I'm looking for. So I'm going to make do with what I have. I did pick up some cool Heidi Swapp stuff I want to try. I'm actually in the mood to create which hasn't happened in a while. Also went to Ikea to get another shelf piece. I have the ivar shelving unit and I bought another side and two cabinet doors. This way I have all my craft (and my aunt's scrap stuff she WILL use eventually--she's coming over to the dark side whether she likes it or not) stuff organized in one place.

I have to get organized for my weekend retreat with my sisters in two weeks. We're going to this bed and breakfast type place that specializes in crafters. It's a whole weekend of creating. I know what I'm going to work on...believe it or not, Christmas cards and a few little ornament things I thought about when I was opening all my Maya Road stuff. Can't wait to work on those.

I had hoped to get to the gym this morning but after cleaning and organizing some other stuff (I like to do that stuff when I'm home alone) until 11 p.m. last night I decided to sleep in. And my gym is only open until noon on Saturday and Sunday. So instead I'm taking a day off. I did something to upset my tailbone the other day at the gym so sitting on the bike and walking on the treadmill have been a little uncomfortable. Add the sitting on the weight machines to that and it's sheer torture. So break it is! I managed to get there three times this week so I'm doing pretty good. We'll see what the scale has to say. My extra five pounds last week someone ended up BACK on the scale but I'm blaming the water weight from working out on that. My clothes are still fitting the way they were last week so we're good.

My body hates me

2008-07-08T13:42:00.000-04:00

I wake up to a nice round number on the scale and of course, my body fights back. I went to the gym yesterday and last night I spent several hours tossing and turning because my knees and elbows were hurting from my workout.

Then of course today, my body decides to fight back at the diet I've been rocking. It's not like I'm eating anything weird, I've cut out sugar, flour, certain dairy products and other bad for you stuff like caffeine and alcohol. Instead I eat protein with all meals that consist of fruits and vegetables rather than really heavy starchy foods and fatty carbohydrates.

For some odd reason though, my body doesn't handle soy milk all that well. So what happens is I get really bad abdominal pain. As my coworker said to me, you must have been feeling rough because you ran out of here so fast this morning. (I left work sick). So now it's back to milk instead of soy milk and also adding a few other wheat products in to sort of level it off. Lots of fruits and vegetables too.

Silver Lining

2008-07-05T16:12:00.002-04:00

Last week I drove up to Toronto for an interview. The interview was for a temporary promotion to cover a maternity leave. I knew I didn't really have the amount of experience for the job level outside of my project, but thought with my experience on this project it might just be enough. I waited all week to find out what was going on. The interview itself was really intense and I spent several days going over what was said, what I didn't say etc.

Yesterday my director called to tell me I didn't get the job. He seemed kind of sad to give me the news. I appreciated that he called me and explained to me what was going on. Basically, the lack of experience is what killed it for me. We talked a lot about what he wanted to see from me and how he wanted to help me advance in my career. He's worried that I'm going to become pigeon holed in communications and he sees that there is more for me with my skills and talent. Not really something a lot of managers are able to tell their employees. I was pretty grateful that he took the time to explain his reasoning to me and also let me know how to improve. I was also able to ask some questions about a previous manager I had had issues with and see if he had any feelings about my performance during that time. It was good to find out that he thought I was doing a great job and had no questions about my ability to perform in my role.

I was disappointed of course. I haven't heard the whole "not enough experience" thing in a while. And I completely understand in this case. I wanted the job to get the experience but a part of me also didn't want the job just for the B-S that goes a long with it. Lots of people you have to keep happy, lots of overtime, lots of stress, lots of what ifs and of course the added element of fear if you fail. While I'm sure I could have done it, I just wasn't ready in my long term path to take on that responsibility especially if something went wrong.

So instead of getting down about it, I decided to contact Ryerson University in Toronto and see about some public policy and administration courses. I talked to my director about it in the past and he thought it was a good idea. So I decided to just bite the bullet and find out. I can get a certificate in public policy through distance education. It's just the whole "buckling down" and doing it part. If I can get in, I can start in the fall and work my way through the eight or nine classes I have to take. I'm also going to look into Business Administration courses at the University here too. It can only help.

Today it's just cleaning up, cleaning out, organizing and working on some other projects to get out of the way. Being away from home the last few weekends and being involved in other projects the other weekends has left me with a bit of a creative mess and now I'm working on putting it all back together.

Non-stop weekend

2008-06-30T10:25:00.002-04:00

This year Canada Day is on a Tuesday so that means a day off sort of in the middle of the week. So what I did was take Monday and Wednesday off. Monday so I could stay here in London and Wednesday so I could see my niece play baseball.

I ventured out to the scrapbook store on Saturday so I could stock up on some cardstock. I've running low on double sheets (I like to use it as my "base" on my layouts and then put the patterned paper on top) and needed to get a few. Also picked up a few other things to play with as well. I'm looking forward to seeing all the new stuff at CHA later in July.

Also took the girls to see WALL-E. GREAT movie. Loved every minute of it. I was laughing so hard at the Pixar short at the beginning of the movie and my niece looked at me and shook her head. That's the thing I love about those movies....that they incorporate good stuff for adults too. But the message was good and my nieces are quite impressionable.

The bad part about the weekend is that we have had overcast or cloudy days every day. Friday night we had a big storm so that meant a little moppet in bed with me at 4 am because she was scared. Saturday night was another 4 am visit but this time for a stuffy nose. Which was dealt with (my sister and her husband took a weekend away for themselves...much needed in a busy marriage and parenting schedule!)

I had a nice visit with a new person on Saturday night and for all my worry about what to talk about and what to say...that wasn't really a worry. We had a great conversation and I'm looking forward to seeing him again. I love getting to know a new person but I hate the worry and shyness and wondering if you've said the right thing or not. He might be joining me at the fireworks on Tuesday night.

Today, with more grey skies, we're probably taking a trip over to this clothing store to check it out (my sister went on Friday and found some neat stuff) and also to get some Canada Day stuff to decorate bikes for the big parade. Hopefully it will clear up a bit so we can take a dip in the pool. Otherwise we'll be hanging out so I can read one of my new books (Ecoholic and My Sister's Keeper) and just hang out and chill out.

Uncertain

2008-06-26T19:53:00.002-04:00

I had an interview in Toronto today and it reminded me of writing my final exams in high school and university. You know the stuff, you know you know the stuff yet a part of you is still scared about what will be asked. Or how it will be asked. And then of course there's the moments afterwards where you think about what you said and what you wrote (yes this interview had a written portion) and you wonder if you did the right thing/said the right thing.

I wasn't really worried about the interview until I listened to the first question. All I could think about was "get your points" which in my world, is how these interviews work. It's all based on what words you use in your answer instead of just experience/past behaviours. I just hope they didn't see my nervousness. Or maybe that's a good thing.

The written part was equally as stressful. It wasn't really clear in the question whether or not A or B happened. So I had to write a plan A and a plan B in order to answer the question. That took me the full hour so I was freaking out on the way home that I didn't really get to explaining what specific/unique tools I would use and why. I just said the tools and that was it. Hopefully it was a given in the other areas of the plan I drafted.

I spent the entire four hour ride home (yes, it really was four hours from Toronto to London because of backups on the QEW) worrying and wondering and then I pulled off the highway and saw this big beautiful rainbow over the roadway and told myself there was nothing I could do about it now. And when I got to my cousin's house, she told me I was going to get a letter (there was a thread on my jacket--didn't know that old wives tale...). So I'm going to stop stressing about it and just continue what I do.

Good day

2008-06-18T21:55:00.003-04:00

Today? Was a good day. For those who know me, and know what I do, you can do a little google search and see what I'm talking about. For those who don't, email me and I'll tell you what it was.

Today was one of those stand on your feet for 8 hours of a 12 hour day kind of day and because I was dressed up, my legs and feet are a little sore. But that's ok because it was worth it.

Tomorrow will be another good day that I will look forward to the end of. But the best part of the day will be the visit to the office of my manager with her new baby for a little welcome baby luncheon. Can't wait to see everyone together, can't wait for everyone to see her and the babe, and can't wait to just spend some time together enjoying things outside of work.

The best day will be Saturday though. That day will include a nice morning sleeping in!

Changes. Rest. Love.

2008-06-14T11:10:00.002-04:00

This week has been challenging. Three fourteen hour days that started at 6 a.m. and then a drive through Michigan to come home for the weekend. I also had to have a difficult discussion with my director that reminded me that while I can think things through (and sometimes over think them) I tend to not really be able to express my thoughts in words (something that is surprising since I'm technically a "writer" in my job). He understood though and we were able to have a very interesting discussion about some things. I like that I can talk to my director like that and with all the stress this week, even with everything going on, we were able to express our displeasure at other stuff effectively and still be on a professional level. If that makes sense. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I really love my job and it's been great since last August. Even with all the challenges, I am very fortunate.

The hard part about all the long days this week was the lack of sleep. Monday night we had a huge storm so the pressure outside caused my head to go crazy and I woke up at 4 a.m. with a massive headache that just wouldn't abate no matter what I did. Tuesday I ended up really sleepy. Then Tuesday and Wednesday night's meetings caused me to go home tired, but I ended up laying awake thinking about work causing lack of sleep. I took yesterday afternoon off but had to make a few runs to a couple of stores in Michigan so crossing both border crossings (Detroit and Sarnia) was frustrating. I was able to sleep a bit this morning (even though I had one monster crawl into bed with me at 4:45 a.m.) which was much nicer than having to drag myself out of bed at 6 a.m.

Now I'm spending time with my lovees. My youngest niece always manages to make me laugh with the thoughts that go through her head. Last night she was explaining what song she was going to have in her "cellaphone" when she gets big (my phone ring is Rihanna's Umbrella) and also this morning when my sister talked about wanting to win the lottery she said then they could buy the White House and live in it. My sister explained to her she has to be president to live there, my neice, undeterred, answered "but you already are president".

Saturday

2008-06-07T10:44:00.002-04:00

The phone rang this morning at 9:51. I didn't answer it. I was still dozing and trying to decide if I wanted to get up. Frankly, I could have spent the entire day in bed but I decided I should be productive.

Our air conditioning has been broken this week and it was ok at the beginning of the week when it was cool and rainy. But we hit a record high on Friday which meant that Thursday began to get hot and humid. Not pleasant when you're looking at broken A/C.

Reliance was supposed to come out on Wednesday but signals got crossed and they couldn't make it. So when I called them Wednesday night, their systems were down and they had to wait to reschedule us. As is the case with almost anything anymore, the call centre they have is somewhere in India/Pakistan so they called back at 1 a.m. My aunt dealt with them and we rescheduled. Except, the service guy didn't really get that 1:30 meant 1:30 not 12 pm. So my aunt came home and spent the rest of the afternoon screaming at the customer service people because they refused to do anything about it. When I came home from the movies at 9:30 an emergency technician was just leaving--they had ordered the wrong part at the beginning of the week. You can imagine what we were both like by 10 pm. It got fixed yesterday so by 9 pm last night the house was a little bit cooler. I sleep with a big fan on me. It kind of reminded me of my apartment in London with the heat and the inability to sleep.

So now I have to get some work done. I have some cleaning to do and also an album to make for my friend Jill who wants one for her new nephew. I have three meetings at night this week and since we're down two people, that means 14 hour days for most of the week. I'm going home next weekend for my mom's birthday and I'm really looking forward to taking my nieces to see Kung Fu Panda. Not rest for the wicked though as we have more activities at work for the next two weeks after that. Which is why it's good I didn't spend the day in bed.

Detoxify

2008-06-04T19:26:00.002-04:00

Ok so detox is going alright so far. It's been a stressful few days at work and not having caffeine has definitely hit me hard. Monday was extra stressful and I got the lovely withdrawal headache somewhere around 10 a.m. That was really pleasant...except not.

Other than the caffeine withdrawal and the intense desire to have bread, it's going well. If I can remember to drink my lake full of water, I'd be laughing. I'm having trouble choking that back down. Added to that, the waking up at all hours of the night as a result of the water is not pleasant.

What I don't get though, is how it is that your body gets all weird when you're taking OUT the things that are bad for you. Like fats and caffeine and alcohol and sugar and white flour. Why is it that your body gets all wrangy on you? That part I don't understand.

Today though, I woke up with lots of energy. A by product of the detoxification process. My body isn't sluggish from all the extra stuff. Finding stuff to eat though is kind of difficult. I miss my mid-morning yogurt. And my lunches that used to be easy to prepare. Now it's tuna. Or cottage cheese. Or cottage cheese and tuna. Today I broke down and just had another bowl of high protein cereal and soy milk. I'm hoping it gets a little easier as I get into next week.

I was going to do this for seven days but decided to do the full 10. That should clean out my system quite well and when I'm done I can start to re-add some of the good stuff. Like yogurts and fat free milk. I'll take it easy on the caffeine and go back to drinking green tea and this new white tea I bought. Fingers crossed.

Tomorrow will be hard though...we're finally going to see Sex and the City and I adore movie popcorn. I think I should be ok though. I'll have my trusty bottle of water.

Detox

2008-06-01T20:53:00.003-04:00

I woke up this morning and decided the time was right to do a little body detox. No sugar, no flour, no caffeine, limited dairy (plain yogurt in smoothies and some cottage cheese) and balancing all meals with protein good carbs and healthy fats.

So far, I have survived the day with a full stomach. It wasn't easy though. I am seriously craving some caffeine and had to load up on the water to make me forget about my cans of diet coke sitting idly in the garage.

This is good though. I'm trying desperately to get back into my summer clothes from last year. I told myself no new clothes until I lost some weight. The winter foods just crept up on me and no amount of gym or weight watching has been cutting it. I know that I had to pull out the big guns this time and I am determined. I think the little bits of things that creep into your diet are what is killing it for me. Which is why I have said goodbye to my extra large steeped teas, my cans of diet coke, my breads, my pastas, and my sugars. Now it's all whole foods and good vegetables.

Lord help me.

Added to this, I'm trying to detox other behaviours as well. As in, stopping old habits and moving into some new ones. My sister has been bugging me about her new neighbour who is single. And I will admit publicly that after talking to him, it's nice to have someone new to talk to. Someone to look forward to talk to. Granted, he lives in London and I live in Windsor...but still, having another single person around is nice when I go visit. And it's not something I would have done before. I actually find myself looking forward to talking to him.

Knowing my luck I'll go back there in two weeks and he'll be married.

Also trying to detox the negative behaviours that influence my life. Not listening to the trivial complaints of others, trying to push negativity out of my life, trying to think positive things in everything that I do. Instead of "wow I hate that" it's "well, I may not like it, but let's give it a try".

We'll see how I'm doing in two days when the lack of caffeine hits me.

Nice piece

2008-05-22T19:00:00.002-04:00

This would be the piece of art I designed for the Luxe Design Team search. I didn't make the team but I ended up with a pretty sweet piece of artwork. It's sitting at the front door for now while I figure out where I want to hang it. Which means I have been showered with compliments and a few discreet requests for one for themselves. Personally, I think it's pretty awesome...but that's just me.

Lipo would be easier

2008-05-15T19:44:00.001-04:00

I swear I have no luck when it comes to Yoga. I think I should just give up now.

Two years ago when I joined the local gym I started going to the yoga classes. The first one I went to was ok but I was kind of on the fence. Decided to stick with it and went to the second one. Hated it. I ended up in a power yoga class and the downward dogs were killing me. To the point where I think my wrists were seriously considering divorcing my arms.

I again, decided to stick with it and the third class was awesome. I loved the teacher. She was a sub from a studio in town and was just fantastic. I loved the way she spoke to us, loved that she kept the talk to a minimum and also worked the room to make sure we were all in positions that challenged us but still didn't hurt.

I ended up in another power yoga class and then gave up. (I'm a quitter, what can I say?)

I decided to try it again after rekindling my desire to do yoga with a few at home videos. They were helpful and I liked doing it again. The class I'm in now is alright. I really don't like all the talk that the teacher does. She has to explain everything. To the point where she explains OTHER yoga moves that we aren't doing. It's making me crazy. Added to that, the moves she does in these classes kill my knees. We do it on a cement floor and the mats don't help at all.

Sigh...I'll stick it out though. We'll see how far I get. I might break down and join the Pilates Classes at that studio in town.

Waking when it's over

2008-05-03T10:04:00.002-04:00

Last weekend my body must have known what was going to happen this week. It must have said to itself, this week is going to be tough, so lets get as much sleep as possible.

You see, I had big plans last weekend to get a whole lot of stuff done. I wanted to clean up my little "studio" area in the basement, I wanted to clean out my closet, I wanted to go shopping, I wanted to do a lot of stuff. Instead, I slept until about 10 each morning (well, I got up to let the dog out at 7 both mornings and then went to bed) and then went back to bed for a nap in the afternoon. I didn't get my stuff cleaned up. I didn't go shopping. I did get my closet cleaned out, but there wasn't much to do.

Then Monday came. We had a really big day at work on Thursday. Like national news kind of day. Well, actually, it was a national news day. So that meant I was at work until after midnight on Tuesday. At work until after nine on Wednesday and at work until after six on Thursday. And being at work that late doesn't mean I go home and sleep. Nope, it means I go home and lay awake thinking "did I change the font on that one fact sheet"? "Did I make sure I included all of the other edits?" "What if there are changes?" "Did the whole thing line up?" Or on Wednesday night I think about getting to the venue on time, what I should bring with me, what did I leave at the office, should I email my boss at 3 a.m., does she have her blackberry with her in her bedroom so it will wake her up when she's eight months pregnant?

The day went really well on Thursday and lots of really important people were quite pleased with us. And when I got home on Thursday, I was going to take a nap before Grey's and Lost but ended up not able to sleep AGAIN. After Lost, I knew it would be a struggle again so I took something. The six hours of sleep was much nicer than the four or three I had gotten the rest of the week.

But of course, this fatigue hit me yesterday when I had big plans to take the afternoon off and do something fun. That something fun was getting lost in Kent County. I decided to stop at this neat stamping store in Chatham on my way up to London. They gave me directions to Future Shop and then to the highway. Stupid me, thinking if I just followed the county roads east, I would reconnect with the highway without having to go backwards. Yup, you guessed it. I ended up going north west and spent about an hour travelling in a big huge circle. No, I don't have a map or GPS and I'm wondering why...

I finally got here around 3:25. Too late to pick the girls up at school which they love but early enough to get them from the bus which I love. My sister and I had a nice evening together and today we're going to celebrate National Scrapbook Day at Michaels. Big fun. I had an excellent night of sleep last night for the first time in a week or so and I'm really looking forward to just enjoying my weekend and doing fun stuff. Glad that the mess is over but sure it will all start up again soon.

Maybe I should buy a map or something this weekend...

Down with Customs!

2008-04-26T11:48:00.003-04:00

I ordered a package almost two weeks ago.

I placed my order, got the shipment tracking info and waited.

Instead of my package coming from the store I ordered it from right to my address here, right across the river from the U.S., it went to Quebec.

Yup, went to a big fat customs warehouse in Quebec. Not because the store did anything wrong. But because Canada Customs sucks.

From there, it had to spend several days in transit from their warehouse in Quebec to my house, right across the river from the U.S.

I wonder if anyone has this much trouble buying anything from Canada, GOVERNMENT!

Stupid customs. I'm getting a P.O. Box. It will solve many of my problems!

Semi-Productive

2008-04-20T12:42:00.003-04:00

I went to my friend's baby shower yesterday. I'm so excited for her. She's my coworker and we've known each other for a little over two years and when you've been in the trenches like we have, you become "brothers" if you will. I'm kind of sad she'll be leaving us on mat leave, but again, so excited for her.

The shower meant lots of work. I made the cake and it was the second "special occasion" cake that I've made since I started taking these courses. It was pretty cool. She's not one of those fru fru baby people so I found this cute cake topper from Wilton that is a pregnant super hero. Totally her. So I made a two tier yellow and blue cake with pink stars. Turned out too cute. But these cakes man, they're so time consuming! I baked until about 9:30 on Thursday night and then put the whole thing together on Friday night.

I'm working on the idea for a cake my sister wants me to make for their friends new baby at the end of the month of May. I'm thinking another tiered cake with morning glories (which are too cool and that we learned how to make) and butterflies made out of sugar paste. We'll see how that whole idea pans out.

Today it's pull out the summer clothes, put away the winter clothes, vacuum a few carpets and finish off my last entry for the Luxe Design Team entry. I'm kind of scared about it. I really want to be on the design team but I know there are many more people who are much more creative than I am. Added to that, I'm struggling with a bit of "idea vs. execution" drama. I have this idea in my head but when I actually put it out there, it doesn't look quite as good as I thought it would. We'll see though. I may just be a little overly critical of myself.

Ace of Cake

2008-04-12T14:45:00.003-04:00

One of my new year's resolutions was to learn something new. Well, that happens just about every day so we'll go with "take a class and learn something new" instead. So since tv was on hiatus and it was winter, I decided to take a photography course and also a cake decorating course. That one course led to the whole three course offerings at Michael's and now I'm done.

While I enjoyed each week of the course learning something different and cool, it was really tedious and I got sick of making cake or icing or both each weekend. One night of class turned into a whole weekend of work. Last weekend was spent pretty much at the kitchen table making roses out of gum paste. Big fun anyone will tell you--not!

So my final cake turned out really cool and now everyone wants me to make cakes for them. That is, everyone in my family. I'm not about to start doing this as a profession, I make enough money doing what I do at my day job. And really, I'm a little too high strung and anal to bake cakes every day. I'd get all freaked out that they were crooked or didn't taste right or had some other issue. Not to mention I'm one of those people that just gets frustrated and gives up.

The courses are actually pretty cool if anyone wants to take them. I figured they were worth it for the $20 they cost. You do have to buy a crap load of supplies, but I didn't hear anyone complaining about my cakes. I loved that I now know how to actually ice a cake properly and I can also apply fondant to a cake. I was tempted to go to this big cake convention type thing in Vegas to learn even more neat tricks but I'm sick of cake. And I don't want to turn into a crazy person...well, more crazy than I am of course!

Final critique

2008-04-08T21:05:00.004-04:00

I took a photography course at the college this term to sort of learn a few things. I had bought a nice fancy camera and while I know how to take photos normally, I wanted to be able to do all the new fangled cool stuff like lights and night shots and blurry action etc. I figured this would help me.

Now I'm the kind of person who is a total hands on learner. I can't have someone say to me "you need to set the camera to this and then do this this and this". I have to have them show me the photo and then tell me how to get it that way. As in, to get this shot like this, you have to set the shutter speed as slow as possible and then change the f/stop to something like "a".

Needless to say I spent the entire semester feeling like a total loser because I felt like I was lost the entire time. In the end, I know what I'm doing, have grasped the concepts and did a good job. I had been stressed about our final critique for weeks. I thought I wasn't doing things right, hadn't taken the right photos and was just going to fail the class (I'm an overachiever, did I mention that?) But it was all good. The teacher brought in her friend who shoots mostly digital to help with the critique. Not that I want to brag or anything, but I'm glad I took a different array of shots. Everyone else had either shots from the field trips they went on, flowers, or shots from the zoo. I tried to touch upon all aspects of the course. So here are my photos, what I was thinking, what was said etc.

This is actually a rose. I wanted to take a cool macro shot but didn't have a lens that could do it. The developer thought it was a flame on the screen and it took both my teacher and her assistant a double check and a close up view just to figure it out. She loved the veins in it, he loved the aspect of the shadow across it. I loved that they had to look twice to figure it out.

This one was fun. My coworker is engaged to a firefighter and I wanted a neat mirror shot. I figured they would have a convex mirror in the bay but they didn't. So we played with the mirror on the truck a bit. In the end, my teacher and her assistant couldn't figure it out. He thought it was a school bus and when I said it was a fire truck AND had a firefighter in it, they both had to stand there and study it a bit. Kind of like a "Where's Waldo" thing. Again, score Lesley!

This one I knew what I did wrong. And now that I know how to take sparkler photos, I'm actually kind of excited. It was all in the setting of the light etc.

I LOVE this shot. If it wasn't so cold, I would have stayed out there and taken more. But it was too cold and I didn't have a tripod so I just rested my camera on a hydro box on the corner. I would also go somewhere much darker (down by the river) and take a photo that way. Really cool technique and I'm so impressed I know how to do it. They both loved it.

This was the assistants favourite shot. He said it was great because it drew the viewer in, the rule of thirds was in it, and it was cut perfectly to include the crane and the hydro poles in the background etc. But the reason he loved it was because he said it was like a Flinstone's cartoon, the crane looked like it would drop the metal girder at any point on the heads of the people in the shot.

This was my teacher's favourite shot. I loved it as well. The angel looks so real. But the funniest part about this photo is the story behind it. I took my oldest neice out with me to take photos thinking she could be my "model" if I needed. I didn't realize she hadn't been to a graveyard before. This was at Mount Pleasant in London, a really old and historical graveyard with neat stuff. The questions she asked me were hilarious. Does Jesus have any relatives. Are they still alive. Do you have to be dead to have a headstone. How do they decide what box to put you in. Do they just put you in a box and then put you in the ground. Why do some people have big houses (mausoleum) for their bodies. There's more than one body in there. Are kids allowed in the cemetery. The questions went on and on. I've probably scarred her for life now.

All in all, I'm glad it's over. I had a fun time and I liked my classmates but it was really tedious going in every Thursday night for four hours. Added to that, the stress of the photo taking, it was not pleasant. I forgot how nerve wracking school can be. Tonight was my final cake class. That was a burn that I am glad is over. I'll post those photos another night.

Spring

2008-04-02T19:08:00.002-04:00

I have a serious case of spring fever today. And I? Love it!

The sun was out at 7 when I unlocked the office door this morning, the sun shone all day today and now, at 7:10, it is still shining. Love it love it love it!

Which means it will probably snow this weekend.

But I will not think of snow, or darkness, or cold, like the kind that kept me awake last night and forced me to put on another blanket on the bed. Nope, I will think spring today. Happiness abounds!

Added to all this, I have finished choosing my photos for my final critique tomorrow night in class. SOO glad to have this class over. This critique has been hanging over my head for weeks!!! Then it's the last class for my Cake course at Michael's on Tuesday night and then I am done with school!

I'm also looking forward to this weekend. It's the first one in a long time with no company, no travel, no events, nothing to do but do some spring cleaning, some spring organizing, some spring crafting, some spring springing! Can't wait!

Go Figure

2008-03-28T22:55:00.002-04:00

This week I reached a milestone. I finally paid off my student loan. It was also the last loan I had outstanding from my "twenties". Two student loans, a line of credit that turned into a consolidation loan and two credit cards.

Now, to be honest, I racked up so much debt because I spent two years unemployed and six years making less than twenty thousand dollars after taxes. When you factor in trying to pay rent and actually function, you end up with a lot of bills. At one point I pretty much had to live off my credit card. Suzy Orman would have a heart attack I'm sure.

So you can imagine how great it felt to finally pay off that last loan. It actually felt kind of weird seeing as I had been putting a large chunk of each paycheque into my savings account anticipating the pay off. I also waited on this last loan because here in Canada you can use the interest on your student loans on your taxes. And when it all came down to paying it--you have to call the bank to have them close out the account, it ended up taking longer than I expected and more phone calls than was really necessary.

In the end, I paid it all off, had a little hyperventilation moment and realized I was officially broke.

How did I celebrate you ask?

By paying for an oil change, a fuel system flush, new brake pads, a tire rotation and four brakes serviced. That was the moment was when I was officially broke. At least my credit card company will be happy.

The Morning After

2008-03-24T10:48:00.002-04:00

I think, in my family at least, if a party is a night on the town, then the kitchen is the hangover the day after. No matter how hard you work before, during and after, the kitchen never looks quite clean enough the day after in the morning light.

After a weekend that saw six cake mixes made (one slab cake and a shaped cowboy cake for the 1st birthday party and one cake for Easter dessert and one cake for my class tomorrow night), one first birthday party, one easter dinner and the normal easter festivities with two kids, we are cleaning up and putting things away. If you're counting, I have broken one wine glass and two shot glasses this morning. Oh and cut my finger with a peeler while peeling potatoes yesterday.

It was fun though, nice to spend time with the family and to celebrate my cousin's first birthday. The funniest part of the party was when my 17 year old cousin took a bet to eat an anchovy and ended up regretting it once the thing was in his mouth. I'm glad it's all over though and that we're back to normal. While I didn't get to bed before 2 a.m. twice this weekend, my aunt didn't really get to bed at all on Saturday night. How she did that amazes me.

Friends

2008-03-18T17:11:00.002-04:00

According to my Glamour mag and my O Magazine, it's friends month. As in, celebrate your friends month. I haven't made it through my Cosmo yet so I'm sure they will agree, at least, I hope they don't do the whole have great sex this month...with friends...because we all know what Cosmo is good for.

Anyways...I digress....it's celebrate friends month. And luckily for me, the girl who has trouble making new friends, I have some pretty kick ass friends.

But it was today's post by Jen that got me really thinking. I hate seeing any of my friends go through turmoil or trouble and from what someone else's friends felt/said about her, it made me start to think about all the wonderful things that make my friends such great friends.

I like how they always tell it like they see it, no holds barred, brutal truth. You can do that when you're a friend. I like how they support me, love me, respect me unconditionally. I like how they have such diverse and differing attitudes/opinions/perspectives. I like how I can call them up, email them, or just drop them a line to say "hey" and they know there's nothing behind it. I also like how when I haven't had time to do that, it's like we had just talked the day before. I like how they "get" me. As in, get my lame sense of humour or other ticks I have. Most of all though, I like that they're my friends, and not someone else's. (That sounds selfish, but I don't care).

So to all my wonderful friends, in case I don't say it enough, you're awesome and I love you! Thanks for being so great and for keeping me in your lives!

Fun

2008-03-16T17:24:00.003-04:00

That would be the interior of
Splash Universe Dundee, MI where we took the four girls for three days this week.

My nieces spent three days with me for their March Break and since my cousin's two girls were coming down to spend the week with their grandparents (my aunt and uncle) we decided to do something fun with the four of them. Hence the three days in a water park.

I took the whole week off this year not only to burn up some vacation I probably won't get a chance to use this year and also to just take a break and relax before what is going to be two to three months of craziness at work.

The hotel was alright. I was kind of disappointed in Holiday Inn and their "misrepresentation" of the prices. They advertised a $75 off on the suite and then when you went to book it by phone (the only way to get the deal) the price was $225. If you booked it online it was actually $199. Hardly a deal. We ended up staying in a regular room and the girls had a great time. The hotel had the indoor pool and then the waterpark attached to it and then an arcade that they spent a great deal of time in. I loved seeing them having so much fun. My youngest niece loved that she could have donuts for breakfast (complimentary breakfast that had unripened bananas as the only fruit...nice).

I'm sort of not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow but only because I don't want to get up early and have to spent the day trapped at a desk. I joined the fitness club of the new community centre they built in town so I'm going to go back to the gym as it were. I also start my last cake class this week and with easter on the weekend, it's two weeks of four days only. I guess I shouldn't really complain...

Recharging

2008-03-10T10:39:00.003-04:00

Some days I can't tell if I'm coming or going. Which is why this week is a good week. It's March Break and I decided to take the week off. My cousins girls are here and we're going to this cool hotel with a water slide in it later this week. This is a really good week to just recharge.

We had not one but two snow storms last week. And if you think about it, it's actually three snow storms in one week since it snowed on Friday, then Monday night then again on Friday. Which is actually a lot of snow. Add all that to the other five snow storms this winter and you can colour us up here a little anxious to get winter over with.

I managed to get stuck in the driveway on Tuesday morning. Then stuck again at the end of the road. Then stuck again trying to exit the expressway. The crews had not cleared our parking lot at work so that was another adventure trying to get in. It also made me extremely unhappy with my little car. Once again. I also got stuck at a construction site on Thursday, which would have been disasterous since my car was parked right at the edge of a big hole. I finally got someone at GM who would listen to me about the car and they're helping me out with an incentive to go into another GM car. Something I want since I've been eyeing the VUE hybrid. Good for the environment and good for the Canadian winter!

Monday I went to my cake decorating class and had totally forgotten to pack the essentials--towel, wet cloths and wax paper. That was fun. Then Tuesday and Thursday I had appointments after work so you can imagine what that was like rushing from one place to the next. This weekend I baked my cake and made all the flowers I need to make (including 67 leaves with really thick icing) so my arms are a little sore.

I'm looking forward to some relaxing around the house, some sleeping in in the morning and some nice vegging out time this week. Because work is going to kill me the next two months. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I won't get sick.

Tagged

2008-03-09T13:23:00.004-04:00

It's taken me a few days...but here I go:Jen tagged me and here are seven weird, wonderful and out of this world facts about me. Ok weird is true...don't know if wonderful and out of this world is true...

1. I love the smell of dirt and freshly cut grass which sounds kind of weird but it's true. There is nothing more wonderful to me than the smell of freshly cut grass or dirt in the spring. There's this wonderful mossy earthy smell in the spring when the snow melts and the flowers come up and I love it.

2. When I was a kid I didn't like ice cream which my siblings thought was odd but it's completely true. And while I still don't "like" ice cream, I will eat only two kinds...Laura Secord chocolate chip or Baskin Robbins gold medal ribbon. It's more a "prefer" thing. I would "prefer" something other than ice cream but I have been known to crave it every now and then. Again, has to be chocolate chip though. Or I'll eat the ice cream sandwiches or certain ice creams with cake.

3. I'm really anal about being "clean" meaning that I have to shower every day and wash my hands about a million times. I'm the kind of person that if I've been out in public and haven't had a chance to wash my hands, I feel like I have the equivalent of about an inch of mud on my hands. I can't do the whole "don't wash your hair for a few days" type of thing. I'm also that person who used their shirt sleeve or a paper towel to open the doors of public washrooms.

4. I'm not an outdoors person making number one a strange thing but seriously...I don't like being outside. It's actually really strange because as a kid you couldn't get me out of the water and I got frostbite three times from being outside in the snow. I just don't like it. I don't like to be cold, I don't like wet snow, I don't like the heat and I definitely don't like sweating in the heat. Give me a nice temperature controlled area with a big window looking outside and I'm fine.

5. I believe in the adage do unto others firmly in fact its a mantra I try to live by. Which has gotten me into trouble more often than I would like. It also leads to being taken advantage of or walked all over. But still, it's a good mantra to live by so I'll let it be.

6. I am addicted to "noise". This one is a hard one to explain. I don't like silence. I feel uncomfortable during silent periods. I have to have some noise on in the background. Otherwise I am completely freaked out. Whether it's the sound of the television, the radio or my sound machine (white noise) at night, it's just something that I have to have.

7. I am inspired if I am in the shower, or in the car, or going to sleep or listening to music. If I have to write something or need to think of something creative, it always happens when I'm in my car or in the shower. At night, when I can't turn my brain off, I find myself thinking of stuff I want to write about or that makes me think of stories in my head. As a kid, I used to crawl to the night light in the hallway with my notebook and jot down poetry. Now I find I can solve just about any writers block by going for a drive.

So there you go. I don't know seven people with blogs so I can't tag them (well, ones that Jen doesn't know...) but that's me.

Out of sight

2008-02-29T22:09:00.004-05:00

The last two weeks has been a bit of a blur. After that snow storm I made my venture over to the states. What should have taken me about two hours ended up taking me almost four. It took me two hours alone to cross the border! This is odd since I live about 25 minutes from I-75 with no line ups. Waiting on the bridge all that time was not fun. From there I went home and made my three batches of royal icing and one batch of colour flow icing for a class that ended up getting cancelled (fun) and then came this week.

This week I had to be in Toronto for three days which meant four days of travelling, three nights in two separate hotels and if you factor in two snow storms, a class I had to attend and a delayed train...it was not a fun week.

Although...it got me thinking...I was surrounded by some really annoying people. Several of them on the packed trains I had to endure...others just out and about. What made me wonder was...am I as annoying as they are? I haven't heard from a couple of my friends in the last few weeks...friends that I normally talk to regularly and suddenly I find, I haven't talked to them. Now really, I could just email them and say "hey what's up" but I'm all paranoid that maybe I've annoyed them. I'll continue to stew about this for a while.

The best part of my week though? The kids! I visited with my cousins yesterday and got to spend time with their little guy. He is hilarious. Funniest parts? How he growls back at you or when he climbed into and then out of a basket of toys (and got stuck in the process) in order to get a toy on the other side of the basket. Funny because he could have just crawled around the basket rather than go through it. And of course my youngest niece meeting me at the train station tonight and being so bored waiting there that she actually looked past me when I came up and hugged her. Oh, hi, I'm happy to see you....stranger!

Ugh

2008-02-17T12:18:00.000-05:00

Ugh is the only word I can describe the weather as. This would be the third storm system this month to come rolling through the central Great Lakes region. The first two dumped a pile of snow (one dumping saw me driving up to London to see the family) and today's is a lovely icy rain dumping.

I had planned to trip on over to the Detroit area to hit Joanns and Michaels to pick up a few supplies for my cake class but will probably have to wait.

Lots of family here this weekend to remember my uncle's sister who passed away a few weeks ago. It was a bittersweet party last night out at her best friend's cottage as we all remembered, shared stories and enjoyed good food. It's been nice to spend time with my cousins and their families.

Probably going to spend my day crafting and working on a few projects. Tomorrow will be the day I go and get my supplies I need. Hopefully the roads will be cleared up by then.

Stolen from Mary

2008-02-08T21:49:00.001-05:00

Not sure where this came from but hey, it's pretty fun!

1. If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say?
Say? Please call the pope, and get me some smelling salts.

2. When was the last time you flew in a plane? January 2 from Dallas/Fort Worth to Detroit

3. What did the last text message you sent say? Sent you a job

4. What features do you find most attractive in the opposite sex? Nice teeth, good laugh, great personality.

5. What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future? Pay off my last student loan.

6. Shoe size? 7 1/2

7. Been to Mexico? No

8. When is the last time you had a massage? Yesterday

9. What was the last TV show you watched? Good Morning America

10. What are your plans for the weekend? Just got back from 27 Dresses, sleeping in, playing with my craft crap and sleeping in.

11. If your significant other asked you to marry them TODAY what would you say? I'd say, nice to meet you significant other, you want to WHAT?

12. What is in the back seat of your car right now? A bag full of stuff I really should bring in.

13. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Starting my car so it could warm up and melt the three inches of snow off of it.

14. If you could marry any celebrity today who would it be? Dude, Gerard Butler, all the way.

15. Have you ever been to a strip club? Yes

16. What is the best ice cream flavor? Laura Secord Chocolate Chip or Baskin Robbins Gold Medal Ribbon

17. What is the last sporting event you watched? The Super Bowl

18. Ever go camping? Unfortunately

19. Last phone call? To GM Customer Service where they told me that they would not explore lease termination options right now because my car had been fixed even though it wasn't under warranty.

20. Are you allergic to anything? Yes, lots of stuff.

21. What is one thing you have learned about life recently? That sometimes good things DO happen to good people.

22. What do you do at work? Write "propdaganda" and design the odd logo.

23. What is your mom's name? Linda or Marg, depending on if you're the principal or a friend.

24. Ever cried for no reason? This isn't normal?

25. Can you do the Crank Dat dance? Not very well.

26. What is your favorite color to wear? Red

27. What is the longest plane ride you have ever been on? DFW to Detroit August 2006, oh wait, you meant figuratively....Amsterdam to Washington Dulles

28. What is the longest road trip you have ever taken? NYC to London, January 2004, don't ask.

29. What are your turn-offs? People who drive Hummers. In the city. Very slowly.

30. What was your last alcoholic beverage? Champagne, new year's eve.

31. What are you craving right now? Nothing, I just had a low fat sub and some light jello pudding with fat free cool whip.

Whoa

2008-01-31T16:17:00.000-05:00

My favourite time of the year...sneak peek time...so far I have only seen a few things...of course the new Luxe stuff and the Maya Road stuff...but for sure, the one thing that caught my eye yesterday....from Fontwerks:

Counting down the days to the releases at next week's CHA...

Cheering up....a bit

2008-01-29T19:51:00.000-05:00

This might make me feel better. A little.

Sigh...I still remember the days of buying Teen Beat and watching Much Music to see the boys from Beantown...

Stupid fine print

2008-01-29T16:21:00.000-05:00

I'm kind of ticked today and it may make me think twice about shopping at Kohl's again. Back in November, during their big "After Thanksgiving Day" sale, I purchased a Kitchenaid mixer. Well, actually, I purchased two of them (well, actually, someone else actually got them for me, I just gave them the money)...but anyways...if you bought one, at $159.99 you received a rebate for $30. Or rather, the advertisement was $129.99 after $30 mail in rebate. No mention in the ad about one per household, one per customer, one per anyone. Not like I went in there and bought 50 of them...I just bought two.

So when you purchased said mixer, you received a rebate slip and on that slip it said "one per household". Which is ridiculous. Because what if I wanted one and I bought one as a gift? Why shouldn't I get a rebate? Why should it be limited to the number of people at one address? What if you had three bakers who lived in the same house and wanted to claim it? You bought the item, shouldn't you get the rebate?

To make a long story short, they denied my rebate. So I'm out $30. And now I'm just waiting on my aunt's rebates because she bought the digital picture frames that were on for $10 off by mail in rebate. She bought three or four of them as gifts. Which again, is legitimate, so why shouldn't she be able to do that?

My argument is this...if you want us to shop in your store, and you're going to advertise a price to get us to shop in your store, then you should honour that rebate, not put conditions on it as here. It's ridiculous. Otherwise I'm just going to go to another store and buy it there.

I'm still waiting on the response to my strongly worded email to them regarding this. I'm sure it's going to be one of those "rules are rules" kind of emails but it felt a little better to send it. I'm still pretty ticked.

News you won't see on CNN

2008-01-25T19:18:00.000-05:00

Sadly, I do not have Anderson Cooper's rugged sexiness, shocking splash of premature grey hair or incredibly delicious biceps...what I do have though, is news you won't see on CNN.

I am left alone with the dog. I have self diagnosed him. He is suffering from Separation Anxiety. This from the symptom list: loss of control of bodily functions (vomitting--thank goodness for small favours that it's not diarahea), excessive licking (which bugs me), pacing (equally disturbing), and other weird behaviours like barking at my uncle's car in the driveway because he thinks I have him hidden in the garage. Last night I got creative and left him in the hallway with my room and the spare room doors open and a gate across the stairwell. He still got sick. And a trip to the pet store meant a new toy that is supposed to help with the anxiety....he got it open in record time (it's supposed to occupy him for a while) and managed to chew off the little strings on the end. Lovely.

Tomorrow I get Expressvu. CANNOT wait. I ordered the PVR (aka-fake TiVo) for $10 a month. Now once the writers go back to work...ahem...the studios get their heads out of their asses...I can pause, rewind, fast forward etc. live tv. This makes me happy. At least until I remember that there's no shows on. Or that I'm alone with an anxious canine.

I have a new coworker. I like her. She's pretty awesome. I like having someone sitting with me at the back of the office now. It was getting lonely. Oh and I like her in a totally platonic I'm not gay even though I said that stuff about Anderson Cooper way.

I seem to have mastered the Wilton Rose for my cake class. Something that was quite difficult. Now all I have to do is make the four hundred cups of icing for class. Well, not four hundred. Just eight cups of icing. For two weeks worth of classes.

And the cake too. Almost forgot about the cake.

My photography class is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Totally full of theory and really hard core basics. Not like "point and shoot" it's more like "measure the light by taking these five readings up against this expensive piece of camera equipment, then once you've done that, set all the readings in your camera to these totally obscure settings that you will need the manual to figure out...." and that's where I'm lost. I think I got lost somewhere around 32 point matrix. Nope, I got lost at "how is everyone doing tonight".

Yup and that would be the boring news. Which of course CNN doesn't have time for.

Sigh...

Rockstar

2008-01-15T18:33:00.000-05:00

Learning how to ice cakes. I'm a big rockstar people...behold:

Ok so not a SUPER rockstar, I need to work on my smooth finish on the top. But hey! It's my first cake!

And I didn't eat any of it either!

That should score some points....

Haphazzard

2008-01-12T15:59:00.000-05:00

This morning I took my aunt to the airport in Detroit. I decided yesterday that if I was going to go to the airport in Detroit, might as well hit a few other places as well. No point in wasting the $8 toll and the great story through customs (where were you? at the airport). So I hit a few places.

One of the points of this trip was to check out a few of the other scrapbook stores in the area that I have yet to check out. I know, I know...BORING but this way, I can go back over if I'm looking for anything in particular. I had this idea that I would buy a little something in each store to sort of make it worth going in. Didn't quite happen that way.

Scrapbook Mania in Canton was pretty awesome. I ended up spending $20 (woo woo) on four packs of big flowers in red and black (something I'm finding I use a lot of lately) and a couple of sheets of paper (because I NEED more paper right?). I went back down Ford Road to Ikea because there were a few other things I needed and I wanted to check out this table. Well, not THAT exact combination, but something similar to that. I wanted the Vika table legs that adjusted up and down so that if I was feeling like standing, it would be higher and if I felt like sitting...well, you get the drill.

Yesterday when I came home from work I got to work downstairs cleaning up some stuff. I still sort of live out of boxes, which is actually kind of good because most of it I don't need, but I start to accumulate stuff (christmas ornaments I find, books I buy) and I end up digging through my boxes of tupperware (yes, you read that right, BOXES plural of tupperware) and just make a mess. So stuff tends to creep out of the little corner of the basement all my stuff is in. I bought two new energy efficient light bulbs that are actually equivalent to 100W and they worked FABULOUSLY. Which led to a new desire to get this new table. I work off half a desk in another part of the basement and I want to spread out.

But I digress. So I went to Ikea, looked at the tables and just decided I would wait. I liked the display they had in the store where they put the little bookcase bases on casters. But I wanted to let it simmer a bit before I did anything about it. I managed to pick up what I really wanted there, some paper magazine holders to put some of my rubs and other stickers in by type. This way, I'm not forgetting I have them. With my new found desire to craft, I want to be able to do stuff.

From there I went to Scrapbook Studio. Big disappointment. Then I tried to check out another store--Memory Lane but it looked like it was in a subdivision (read: someone's basement) so I skipped that. I also had to go and find this special wool from this pattern book I have so I can make this absolutely adorable little baby sweater vest so that was the next stop. Also went and checked out another little store and headed home. Took me a bit longer than I though, but I blame the Mobil station in Southgate that refused to authorize my gas pump. Don't really know what was up with that. Once I got home though, I decided to take a nap.

Benny, decided that maybe taking a nap wasn't such a good idea after all. He is my little pet for the week while my aunt and uncle are both away. He does not like me anymore than I like him. Well, I guess he likes me, he just doesn't prefer me. So every noise he hears, he has to get all crazy about. Then he proceeded to stand over me breathing on me. And whine because he wanted out...to fall asleep on the family room chair.

Stupid dog.

Productive

2008-01-11T22:23:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine announced she was pregnant on Monday. Like, really pregnant. She's five months along. She was waiting because she was on the line for a promotion and wanted to wait until the powers that be made a decision. So I decided I wanted to make her a cute little album. Not for the baby, but for her. That would be the front right up there.

One of my resolutions this year was to start considering sending my stuff out for publishing. I was all gung ho about it about three years ago and got rejected repeatedly. I kind of just gave up and left it behind. My new found confidence is thanks to my good friends at Luxe and their incredible support of my projects. (That's my stuff featured on today's blog...) It's not like I'm going to be all "MUST BE PUBLISHED" it's just a case of, if I see something, I'm going to consider putting something together for it. Like today, I got an email from Maya Road with an open call for projects using their products. I'm going to submit that and another little album I'm working on.

Also aiding in the productivity was my accomplishment this evening of getting through my to-do list. I started taking a cake decorating class at Michaels and had to make about 8 cups of icing for it. Got through it quickly this evening and also managed to clean up in the basement (been meaning to pack up a few more of my things I've accumulated). Also did some cleaning and now I'm ready to do nothing but what I want all weekend.

Productivity is a good feeling.

Hate the playah, not the game

2008-01-10T16:56:00.001-05:00

I swear, there is some kind of weird fate thing working against me. I have proof too. First, the other day I got a package in the mail. I had no idea where it came from (DVD legacy out of New Jersey). Well, turns out, inside was a cute little book called In the Know: The classic guide to being cool. Thinking this was someone's cute little gift I asked the logical people. No dice, they have no idea what it's about. So I have to say, this must be fate that this book landed in my hands. And if so, I am a lot cooler than you think Fate!

Second, and this one is pretty funny, I have an account on Lavalife. I tried the internet dating thing years ago, met nothing but freaks, and gave up. I still have a profile there, with a photo that is so old (pre-braces so my smile is even different) I can't even stand it. I'm sure I could take it down but part of me doesn't want to. Anyways...the past two weeks I have gotten a flurry of emails about how I have messages from people. I had originally changed my profile description to deter anyone over the age of 35 (this was before I was 30), anyone in another country, and anyone who doesn't speak English. This has not deterred anyone. In fact, I think it may be encouraging them. I have received no less than 5 messages from men over the age of 50 in the last week alone. The best one though, is this one, from yesterday. A 64 year old who has been "forced" to retire because of health problems, who lives in Florida because the cold doesn't agree with his achy body and who is looking for this:

I will only "match" with with a consenting women who enthusiastically would support child resulting from Our Physical Love. In effect until it is proven biologically imposible. Maybe I should tell him I don't want children?

He will be in communication until [he] know you not not want me to be. Well in that case...

Also, the IBM company turned against [him] when he was 32. Ya I saw that movie, Mel Gibson was pretty good.

He has to play the cards he has been delt. Get out of the game bud.

And he has "wild" property in New York & Wyoming States and needs a strong woman to SAVE HIM. Hee, wild property.

Again, all I have to say is ha ha funny funny FATE!

The more things change

2008-01-08T18:48:00.000-05:00

The more they stay the same...sigh...London is now out. The flight was way more than I expected and the dates they had open in the cheap window were just not feasible for us from a work standpoint. Another time!

When one door closes

2008-01-07T16:28:00.000-05:00

Friday I got the bad news that I wasn't needed at CHA in Anaheim. I was a little sad but completely understood why. But today I got the best news from another friend of mine.

Late this afternoon I get an email:

Friend: What dates did you have off for CHA?
Me: Why?
Friend: Would you be interested in going to London England with me?
Me: Seriously?
Friend: I get a companion fare that would add up to about $200 total CDN out of Toronto.
Me: Seriously?
Friend: Ya, seriously, my husband can't go, I want to go, want to go with me?
Me: Uh, ya!

I love it when things work out that way!

Too funny

2008-01-02T20:11:00.000-05:00

What is funny about this is that I actually had about ten pounds of scrapbook supplies in a carry on bag I brought with me. And it's also the first time I have flown with a very heavy suitcase that they actually put a sticker on it. And between you and me, it wasn't as heavy as some of my past packed cases.

I'm home and doing a mountain of laundry from before the holidays to now. I am also untangling myself from being all scrunched in a seat because my seatmate felt the need to take up all the armrest space as well as elbow me several times in the side while he was working. He apologized once to me about hogging all the room and then proceeded to spread out even further AND put his glass of water precariously close to my lap.

Getting on a schedule again will be nice but going back to work kind of sucks.

Welcome 2008!

2008-01-01T16:21:00.000-05:00

That would be Jen and I last night at Duce part way through one helluva good meal. Duce is this neat little bar/restaurant that Jen loves where we decided to spend our new year having a fanstatic meal with some great company. Said company would be Greg and Matty, the two fabulous bartenders who were helpfully plying us with liquor the night before when we went there for dinner and to scope out plans for the next evening.

The dinner? Absolutely fabulous. I think I might have gotten drunk on good food because by the time they served the Aji Chocolate cake at the end of the meal I was ready to throw in the towel I was so over the edge. Seriously good food, good bottle of champagne and excellent company (although I was a little sad Greg couldn't spend more time with us....of course....just like me to crush on a bartender in another country!)

It's been a fun week here in Texas. I've tried to spend it helping but may have spent more of it getting in the way. Jen lives in a cute little house in Fort Worth and of course my favourite room is the studio. Bright open well lit room devoted entirely to creativity. Love this. We put a few things together that will probably end up on the Luxe blog but that I love and am quite proud of myself for creating.

Tomorrow it's home again. A couple of errands on the way from the airport and then it's home to clean up my room (I distinctly recall the chaos I left there when I rushed out on Wednesday last week) and then prep to go back to work. As much as I am looking forward to getting back on a schedule, I'm kind of sad to say goodbye to my holidays. But that's alright, 2008 is going to be an awesome year!

To all my friends, Happy New Year!

365 shopping days left to next Christmas

2007-12-26T10:19:00.000-05:00

I don't know what makes me sad more, the day after Christmas or New Years. I always get sad at New Years for some odd reason. But the day after Christmas always makes me sad. It's like we rush rush rush to Christmas Day and then boom, it's over.

This year I was so busy, I arrived here on Saturday, took the kids to the theatre, Sunday I met with my friends, hung out with the kids, Monday I went in to work, and then we did the usual Christmas Eve. Getting ready, getting the kids to bed, getting some time together in (I hang with my sister and brother in law) and then it's suddenly Christmas morning.

The kids were up early. Well, the oldest was up at 5 and told to go back to bed. We all got up about 8:30 and headed down to see what Santa brought. Hijinks ensued. Got the turkey in the oven and managed to take about ten minutes to relax after getting ready and cleaning up. My sister, brother, mom and my brother's girlfriend arrived shortly after noon and we opened presents for several hours (that's the part I love about Christmas). And then my cousin and her husband and son arrived for dinner.

We shut 'er down around 2 a.m. when my cousin's husband and her son left. The weather turned so much warmer (fog anyone?) and they just walked around the block home. Now I'm up, saying goodbye to the nieces (they're off to the grandparents) and heading home to pack up my other suitcase for Texas. Can't wait to see Jen and hang out, but still a little sad that it's all over for another year!

Hoping that all my friends had a wonderful fun filled Christmas with their family/friends or whomever they spend it with!

Traditions

2007-12-24T19:06:00.000-05:00

Christmas in my family means many traditions. And a few my sister has carried down with her kids. The one in particular that I love is "mom's store". My mom started this when we were kids. She would stock up on little gifts and then she would open her "store" and we would take our money and buy little gifts for each other. Nothing cost more than a dollar and it was a great way for us to be involved in it. We had other gifts for each other that our parents bought, but these little gifts were extras.

Tonight, "mom's store" was open for business. My two nieces went shopping. What's cute about it is a few minutes ago, while my sister was doing some dishes, my younger niece came down with a big sad face saying she needed her to open her store back up because she didn't buy enough for me. Adorable. So my sister's answer was "one, my store is still open, and two, everything is free". She turns and gives me a big grin and takes off to do more shopping. Love it.

Bring us some figgy pudding

2007-12-22T09:26:00.000-05:00

Ok, that's it, I'm done. Well, not quite done. But almost done. Sort of done. Well, I'm done. Other people are not done. So I have to help them be done. Then I'm done.

That is how I describe my final plans for the holidays. Last night I tripped on over to the States to pick up a couple of things and lo and behold...sold out. And it wasn't like it was a fight for dolls in the toy department. These were electronics....FOR ADULTS. Well, not those kind of electronics...so now I have to go and get them here in Canada. Sucks!

I took my car in the other day for the oil change and brake service and also got it all cleaned inside...nice. I love it. That was last on my list. Now it's off to London for the holidays. Have to make a couple of stops then it's pick up the kids and go to the theatre for our annual tradition of seeing a play.

Definitely worth the snow conditions

2007-12-17T17:27:00.000-05:00

I have to say, right up front, aside from the substance abuse problems....Nicole Kidman is one lucky woman. While I'm sure her relationship with her husband isn't all roses and candlelit serenades etc....getting to be married to Keith Urban...is a gig I could go for.

I stayed in London last night to go to the last concert of his tour. It was my gift to my sister, she likes him, I've really only heard a couple of his songs in passing and boy was I glad I stayed to go. At one point, on the way to the show my sister said she wouldn't be disappointed if I decided we should turn around. We had a huge snow storm that day and the roads were pretty bad. I told her to do what she thought necessary....she pushed on. Really glad we did.

Urban is an incredible performer...he puts on an amazing show. I can't even quite put it into words...I would have paid $150 for the tickets it was so good. I'm sure others will argue that there are other great bands that put on great shows (I won't argue that U2 is a good show, because dudes, it's Bono!) but he is the best I've seen so far. I managed to get some awesome seats...we were about 13 rows up from the floor so we were above it and could see everything. He has a stage that comes out in a walkway to a circular "in the round" stage in the middle of the floor. He spent a great deal of time walking out into the audience that way. At one point he yelled at security to let people in the section across from us come down to shake his hand. And he made the show so personal by changing words to his songs like "Raining on Sunday" to "Snowing on Sunday" and also adding "wishing I had a snow plow". He's just so great and we had such an awesome time.

I do realize I need a better camera...for some odd reason the photos kept coming out fuzzy in no flash mode...and he's such a nimble little sprite that he kept moving!!! But definitely a great show.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow?

2007-12-16T16:01:00.000-05:00

I think it might have been overkill at "Let it snow" because we have been walloped. I'm not kidding. And this isn't me all Canadian saying "oh that's nothing....when I was a kid we used to get four feet of snow and still go to school!" This is bad.

Thankfully I had already planned to stay in town tonight as we're going to the Keith Urban show in town. But still, I'm a little scared about driving home tomorrow. It took someone else I know three hours to get to Chatham with limited visibility! That's about 45 mins to an hour normally!

But I do have to say, it's kind of funny because my brother in law just got a new snow blower and he hasn't really had a chance to put it to use this winter (a couple of inches isn't really all that good for one of these things...you want the snow storms like we've got now that dump about 30 cm an hour to blast through). Well, the funny thing is, two of his neighbours have come over already to clean out the driveway. Meaning there isn't going to be much for him to do!

Junk in my trunk

2007-12-09T17:34:00.000-05:00

I have had one of the busiest weekends of my life, which is surprising since I spent a great deal of time on the couch, or at least I think I did. I also understand why I end up sick...

I went up early because I had an appointment with my doctor in London. I haven't given up my "family doctor" back home because of the shortage of doctors in this province but also because I really like this doctor and he knows me, he knows my history, he knows what works and what doesn't and I'm not about to go and set up that history and rapport with another doctor. It was a nice visit though, we got to catch up and I was able to ask a few questions and find out that some of my worries were for naught. And it was nice to see him so much more positive since the last time I saw him. He's changing his practice and he's hoping it will help him with his patient load.

It was a professional development day for the schools so my nieces were off. I had agreed to look after them. They were with my cousin while I was at the doctor so I went and met her at the mall because that's where they wanted to go. After a nice filling lunch of fries (oh man) we looked around and then went home. I was of course exhausted because I had also had a tetanus shot at the doctor and that just wiped me out. Didn't stop us though. We then went to my mom's house to go for a swim in the complex's indoor pool and after two hours of that and then dinner, we were ready to come home.

Saturday it was go go go again. Errands, things to do, places to go...exhausting again. The kids stayed up to watch Home Alone while I was making some christmas cookies. I taught my niece the saying "junk in the trunk". She thought this was the most hilarious thing she had ever heard. I thought her reaction was one of the funniest things I had ever seen. Until she positioned herself under the Christmas tree and told us all she was a new puppy waiting for Christmas morning. Good times.

After about four hours sleep last night I got up and finished up my cookies and then went to Costco with my brother in law to get a gift. I headed home shortly after that. I was welcomed back to town with icy rain and frozen over driveways. Fun.

I'm actually looking forward to going back to work. I might get back on a schedule!

Darn you Mother Nature

2007-12-01T22:06:00.000-05:00

I have to buy snow tires.

I have no idea how I am going to go about buying snow tires but I have to buy snow tires.

I have put off buying snow tires in the hopes that really my little car would be ok in the snow and ice.

I have come to the realization that buying snow tires will be a good idea.

I am embarassed to say that I know that they sell tires at tire stores and car stores and other stores that carry tires but I have no idea how to actually pick out which ones are best, which ones are a good investment and which ones will make my car drive better in the snow.

I have to buy snow tires.

I am a little scared.

And so on...

2007-11-26T17:49:00.000-05:00

The Future Shop saga continues. Apparently someone at head office is now "looking into it" because they were wrong to deny me the 10% off the difference. I love seeing how that all plays out on the message boards. I took the camera back and got my money back, but still, it's nice to know someone is going to do something about the complete lack of customer service.

Still shopping for the camera though. I keep seeing all these crazy deals but then back away. It's like playing with fire methinks.

You have got to be kidding me

2007-11-18T14:00:00.000-05:00

I went and bought my digital camera this weekend. Now this has been quite the shopping endeavour. I have spent the last few months watching and researching this thing. Future Shop had a deal on weeks ago but then it was one of those "while quantities last" kind of thing. Turns out, they only had four per store. So I missed out.

Finally, Best Buy had it on. I went to Future Shop to take advantage of their "Get it for less guaranteed" program where it states that they will beat a competitors price by 10%. Nothing in there about what it is, how it's advertised etc.

So I did this. I wanted to go to Future Shop because I had a $100 gift card to be used. Turns out, their little policy is totally bogus. It only applies to the item that is exactly like what they have there. Meaning, they have to offer the bundle there as well. They matched the price, but didn't give me the 10% off because they don't sell the camera and zoom lens as a bundle (which was what I had). But because they offer the camera at the same price, it's considered within 10% so they don't give you the deal.

Maybe they should make that clear in their policy hmm?

Now I'm trying to decide if I want to take it back over $70 or if I want to just suck it up and forget about it.

Camera phones are awesome

2007-11-17T22:52:00.000-05:00

Almost forgot I had this photo. It's totally a shout out to Jen and to my trip to Texas after Christmas.