Happy Pride Week!

See, humanity has been wrong before...
Some of us need to admit that we might be wrong now too...

Saskatoon Pride Week June 10-17,2006

A Dirty Job

Finishing a book is just like you took a child out in the back yard and shot it. -Truman Capote

I am not quite sure what Capote was thinking when he said this, or what exactly he meant, but I like it. I can sort-of relate. I mean, you invest a lot of energy and emotion in a book, and when you are done, you are almost spent. I can't read a book through unless I have an emotional attachment to the characters or the story.

I'm almost done a book that Travis bought me for our anniversary. It is the new Christopher Moore book A Dirty Job. I expect that I'll finish it tonight. It's pretty funny. It's about a man who discovers that he has been made into a Grim Reaper, except it's a Chris Moore book, so things aren't what they seem... I can't say much otherwise it would ruin the story for any of you out there that like his books. Just go out and read this book. Becky, I will loan this to you ASAP :-)

Cool photo

My dad got to go up in a hot-air balloon over Regina last week. That must be an amazing experience! He emailed me a couple of pictures that he took. Here is one of my favorites.

How many Landmarks can you Identify in the picture?

It's Thursday again!

The Janelle (The only girl that I could ever
Live with and Live to tell the Tale) Edition of
Thirteen Things That I Like About You:

1. You smell really good. (mmmm Satsuma)
2. You have a great fashion sense.
3. You let me borrow $5.00.
4. You never called me names.
5. You hated that ex-friend of mine too.
6. You never spoil movies or tv shows for me.
7. You let me win that foot race that one time.
8. You told me that I had that parsley in my teeth, before I went over to talk to that cute boy.
9. You keep all of the secrets that I tell you
10. You went to my Grade six school dance with me and my friends, then we had a great sleepover afterwards.
11. You never stole my clothes or shoes.
12. You didn't mind if I hung out at work with you when I was bored or lonely.
13. You said that I was the best roommate that you ever had.

I miss you lots Janelle! I am going to come to Calgary and sleep on your couch and steal your food, and drink lots with you! I hope that things keep going well for you!

Boo Urns, Blogger SUCKS!

I'm kinda looking into changing services to WordPress or something similar. If you have any opinions, or you use another blog making program, share info please!

Tonight, I couldn't get logged into blogger for 5 hours!!! FIVE WHOLE BORING HOURS!!!

I over react, perhaps, but I'm truly getting frustrated with blogger. Any Suggestions?

Stifled Laughter, aisle 5!

I swear that I just saw a guy, who looked like Waldo, you know, from the Where's Waldo books.

He had the red and white shirt, the red toque and the hair. No Jay Leno chin though.

Only in Saskatchewan will someone wear a toque in the Summer.

It's the things like this that I will miss when I leave here. You never can tell what will happen. The mall is kinda like a Where's Waldo picture...

There are 75 little dramas going on at once. People are happy, sad, in a rush, have all the time in the world, are hungry, are high, and all STILL just similar enough that you have to look really hard to find the one that you are looking for.

Holey moley do I need more caffine. I'm getting all weird! Starbucks, STAT! :-)

Life Lessons on TLC

The other day, Christy over at Life in my Vortex, brought out the link to the TLC website. The channel has been airing these fun little clips with the theme "Life Lessons". Things that we can learn the easy way by watching TLC or the hard way, by doing them ourselves.

After some contemplation, I've decided to share the following moments with you all. After the subsequent public humiliation that came from these lessons, here are a couple that I can personally vouch for: #72 - Merlot and Email (this also applies to Merlot and a Phone), #83 - The Office Party and my favorite, #20 - How to get rid of a guy.

The Best French Film EVER!

I am staying awake right now (12:42 am and counting) to watch the very best French film ever: Jeux d'enfants.

It is about two people who meet as children and as they grow older their game of "dare" grows more and more intense. They are in over their heads, so to speak, and the ending is misunderstood by many people. The game that Julien and Sophie play is really just a diversion. One that allows them to hide from the truth that they belong together.

If you have cable, search for a movie called "Love me if you dare". That is the English title. Then watch this movie!!! If you liked Amile, you will really like Jeux d'enfants.

(Hint Hint - If anyone can find this on DVD, let me know where!!!)

Big Love Season Finale

When HBO does a series, they really do a series! I've watched Big Love and I am addicted. The characters have drawn me into their lives. I am really sad for the summer break now.

SPOILER ALERT AHEAD: (hilight to read)

So they took Barb and the family to the Mother of the Year awards ceremony, and outed the family to the public. Everyone knows that they are poligamists!!! This is going to have huge implications to the stores, the kids and everyone's lives! The store will probably end up struggling next season if it doesn't get shut down completely. What a great setup for next season! They now have to put out some MAJOR fires before they can move on with all of their lives...

And I kind of peeked in and watched the Sopranos season / series end tonight too. That was a nice finish. I'm excited to get this on DVD to complete our set.

Proof that we need more HIV / AIDS education...

Today I think that I met the absolute most ignorant man in Saskatoon.

Hopefully you are all aware of these quarters for Breast Cancer. At work, we have been given these every time we go to the bank for change in the mornings. We get eight or ten rolls a day, so all of our quarters have the pink ribbon logo in the centre.

This afternoon, I made change for a man - mid-forties to mid-fifties - who looked at the coins in my hand, and said "I don't want these" I asked if he wanted dimes instead, obviously confused since he asked for change for the pay phone, but WHATEVER!

He explains to me that he doesn't want to "get AIDS" from the quarters. WHAT!?!?!

He further asked if this was something that the mall supports, "you know, being a fag". Again, WHAT!?!?!?!!?

I'm sure at this point I look stupified, because I realize that he is referring to the ribbon on the quarter, and he thinks that it is a Red Ribbon to identify with HIV/AIDS fundraising and support. I tersely replied "Sir, these quarters were produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. They have nothing to do with the mall, nor AIDS. They are to bring awareness and funds to fight Breast Cancer."

What I should have said in a pleasant sing-song-y voice with a BIG SMILE: "Yes, this is a red ribbon to bring awareness to the fight humanity is waging against HIV. Although, sir, even if I gave it to an infected person and had them put bodily fluids all over this quarter, you could not "get AIDS" unless I shove it up your ass. While I would like to do this, it would make it difficult for you to make your phone call, wouldn't it?"

What is your Stripper Name?

I just got this from my gal pal Tara (AKA Sugar Silverbomb). I thought that it would be fun to share this with y'all. It would ROCK if everyone who reads this put their name in the comments, so we could all have a giggle.

Just for fun, see what your stripper name will be, and share it with your friends. We all need a little stress-reliever! This only takes a minute. Follow the instructions to find your new name.

1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name:
a = Fantasia
b = Chesty
c = Star
d = Diamond
e = Montana
f = Angel
g = Sugar
h = Mimi
i = Lola
j =Kitty
k = Roxie
l = Dallas
m = Princess
n = Heidi
o = Bambi
p = Bunny
q = Brandy
r = Sugar
s = Candy
t = Raquelle
u = Sapphire
v = Cinnamon
w = Blaze
x = Trixie
y = Isis
z = Jade

2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:
a = Leather
b = Dream
c = Sunny
d = Deep
e = Heaven
f = Tight
g = Shimmer
h = Velvet
i = Lusty
j = Harley
k = Passion
l = Dazzle
m = Dixon
n = Spank
o = Glitter
p = Razor
q = Meadow
r = Glitz
s = Sparkle
t = Sweet
u = Silver
v = Tickle
w = Cherry
x = Hard
y = Night
z = Amber

3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:
a = hooters
b = horn
c = tower
d = fire
e = thighs
f = hips
g = side
h = jugs
i = shock
j = cocker
k = brook
l = tush
m = sizzle
n = ridge
o = kiss
p = bomb
q = cream
r = thong
s = heat
t = whip
u = cheeks
v = rock
w = hiney
x = button
y = lick
z = juice

Mine Is Fantasia Silvershock

Thursday 13

The Thirteen Best Song Lyrics Ever! 1. They - Jem (Finally Woken 2004) "Who made up all the rules? We follow them like fools, believe them to be true, don't care to think them through." 2. Best of you - Foo Fighters (In Your Honor 2005) "Were you born to resist, or be abused?" 3. Acid - Emm Gryner (Public 1998) "Hey, I'll always wish I was with you. Hurt me, you can't kill me, whatever you want to do. Hey, I'll always wish I had your hand. It would take away the acid if I thought you'd understand. But I don't think you understand." 4. So says I - The Shins (Chutes Too Narrow 2003) "In our darkest hours we have all asked for some angel to come sprinkle his dust all around" 5. Let Go - Frou Frou (Details 2002) "There's Beauty in the Breakdown" 6. Lullaby - The Dixie Chicks (Taking the Long Way 2006) "How long do you wanna be loved? Is forever enough, Is forever enough? How long so you wanna be loved? Is forever enough 'cause I'm never, never givin' you up." 7. Elsewhere - Sarah McLachlan (Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 1993) "I believe this is heaven, to no one else but me, and I'll defend it, as long as I can be left here to linger, in silence, if I choose to, would you try to understand?" 8. God - Tori Amos (Under the Pink 1994) "God sometimes you just don't come through. Do you need a woman to look after you?" 9. There's A Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey. You Just Haven't Thought Of It Yet - Panic! At the Disco (A Fever You Can't Sweat Out 2005) "Talk to the mirror, oh, choke back tears. And keep telling yourself that "I'm a diva!" 10. All you need is Love - The Beatles (Magical Mystery Tour 1967) "Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you, in time. It's easy!" 11. Better Days - Goo Goo Dolls (Let Love In 2006) "Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings, And desire and love and empty things. Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days" 12. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin IV 1971) "And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul. There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold." 13. When You Wish upon a Star - Jiminy Cricket (Pinocchio Soundtrack 1940) "When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you. If your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme. When you wish upon a star as dreamers do."

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun!

Free cookies!

Sometimes, I get really spoiled.

I just got a couple of double chocolate cookies from the wonderful people at Cookies By George. Hmmm...How can I get more....???

(Gratituous plug ahead) What a fantastic product they sell there at Cookies By George. You can get them in many different flavours and they are all Fat free and have ZERO calories!!! What an amazing food product!!!

Ok, they aren't really fat free or a zero calorie product, but they are tasty and like everything else on the planet, they are intended to be consumed in moderation. :-)

What's up Y'all?

So I'm hearing rumors about a blogger gathering in Regina, and perhaps one in S'toon this summer. This would be Uber cool! I'd like to meet some of you out there. See who is really behind some of these awesome thoughts and amazing pages!

So let's get out there and mingle over a bbq pit and perhaps a Rider game. Count me in!

EDIT: I just got a note from Stephen Glauser. He and Saskboy are making the arrangements for the get-togethers. The links to RSVP and such are here: Stephen and Saskboy. Stop by and get your name on the list!

The Bachelorette Party...

Here's a few pics of the evening (in no particular order):

Preparing for "Put the Bowtie on the Guy"

Visiting at the Bowling Alley

Sister is Decked out for the Night

One of the Males who crashed the party...
(and he's probably NOT cooler than your Mom)

Three Inebriated Females

I think that I'm still a little hungover...

What a weekend! When you really don't drink that often, and then you have a blow-out, house-shaking, close-down-the-bar kind of party, you are hurting after.

I went home for my sister's Bridal Shower / Stagette party last weekend. I thnk we had a good time. :-) The pictures make it appear that way at least :-)

Friday, we pulled into town at about 9:30 and visited with family and friends. I got a suprise though... My parents had renovated the bathroom from top to bottom! Plus, I went into the living room and discovered that the bookcases / TV cabinet had been modified to fit Dad's brand new widescreen TV! NO FAIR!! Us kids move out, and they get new stuff, NICE new stuff! :-P

We stayed up kind of late, and then I had to get up on Saturday to make breakfast. I spent the day in Moose Jaw with Tara, her Hubby Eric, their son Antoni, and another couple Chris and Cindy. We did some light shopping and then went to see X-Men 3. I really enjoyed it. I would go see it again with anyone! I won't spoil it for anyone, but I thought that this was the last one...They almost leave it open-ended for another sequel. Maybe I read too much into things. If you've seen it, what do you think? Is it really "The Last Stand"?

I'll be back with commentary on Saturday night (with Photos) and How much life hurt on Sunday morning A little later today.

Stay Tuned!!

An explanation for those of you out there

Regarding this post:

I've had it. I'm done! End of rope reached. Fin.

I'm discovering how little some people truly care, and how impossible it is to climb that corporate ladder in the sky when NO ONE can even see you. I'm invisible around here, unless I have an opinion. If I dared to get one of those, I can be assured that it is the wrong one to have.

Therefore, a career change is in the works, and That's all I can say for now.

I probably should not have said anything, but I was very angry / sad / hurt / confused / repulsed, and I had to tell someone.

Thank you to everyone who cares. You made these last couple of days easier. Y'all ROCK!!

Thursday 13 Time!

Thirteen Things Tracey is looking forward to about her Little Sister's Bridal Shower / Bachelorette Party this weekend... 1. I haven't seen my family in a few months. 2. My Sister's friends are a ton of fun! 3. I get to see my Bestest Girlfriend Tara! 4. I get to have some "beverages" with said bestest friend... 5. That usually means TROUBLE. (Or a phone call to Mom for bail.) 6. I'm driving to Assiniboia with my other sister (the Second one). 7. That means that we are going to sing loudly and off-key the whole trip. 8. My Grandma will be there! YAY! 9. I haven't had a road trip in a good long while. 10. The Ice Cream stand in Chamberlain. PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM!!! 11. There is a good chance that I will get to torture my two Brothers while I'm there :-) 12. Did I mention Tara was going to be there?!? 13. I love my lil Sis, and I'm happy to see her celebrating the start of her life with Dave!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I'm done, I'm out!

I've had it. I'm done! End of rope reached. Fin.

If anyone is looking for me, I'll be at the underpass with a sign reading, "Will work for anyone except Village Idiot"

Start saving those Pennies...

...'cuz it's time for a road trip.

November 4th - Rexall Place or November 5th - Calgary Saddledome. Y'all choose. I'll drive. We'll have a blast!

link via Grrrlmeetsworld

PS - I have the disk, and I LOVE it!

Oh Lordi!

So Take that American Idol!

The Eurovision Song Contest is a long running show that puts singers and songwriters from different European countries against each other in an effort to win a contest very similar to Idol contests we know. Usually the winner of the Eurovision contest is a pop-y type singer.

This year, these guys won. They are a heavy metal band from Finland who dress like monsters. Take that Ruben, Fantasia, Carrie and whoever will win this week!

Beautiful Poem

I'm reading the third book in the "Dan Poole" trilogy by Brian McLaren (among other things I'm reading now too!). This one is called The Last Word and The Word After That. I've just cracked it open and already I have somthing I just have to share.

I read this chapter and put the book down to share this poem. I hope that it touches you too.

Boxes

We like things boxed. Cereal,
Candy, soap, gifts and corpses.
They seem safe when boxed, as are
We. As is God and other
Potential dangers. So we
Sleep in a box, awake in
A box, shower in a box,
Refrigerate food, store knives,
Drive to work, work for hours, where
We stare each day at boxes,
In boxed lives. Boxed-in we live.
Through boxed windows we look out, in.
God, once boxed, broke out, broke free.
But we keep pushing God back,
Our Jack, popping out on cue,
To music, though it's not fair.
Nests have birds. Dens have foxes.
God will have none of our small
Boxes.God is free and we
Are too.

Life of Pi - What is it about?

There is no right answer to the question "What is Life of Pi about?" There is an answer for each person who reads this book. I looked online and found that people are classifying this as a tale of survival, a tall tale, a story about human/animal relations, and a fictional story about India, adolescence, zoology, and the Pacific Ocean, which I guess means that people are desperately trying to define this book. Someone told me that he couldn't label Pi, that it "defies definition". The book is about all of these things -- and about none of these things, really.

Piscine Molitor Patel, our hero, declares that this story will make you believe in God. Life of Pi may or may not make you believe in God, but you will want to believe in Pi.

The book starts in Pondicherry, an area in southern India. We learn about Picine's childhood. His father owns and operates a zoo which becomes Pi's playground. He explores and loves every inch. Pi learns a lot about animals. He teaches us the ways of the animals and how to keep them Happy and under control. He confirms that like our domesticated pets, and farm yard creatures I am familiar with, wild animals are creatures of habit and once all their needs are met, they're content and willing to do the same things day in and day out. Change their routine, even a bit, and you have an unhappy animal on your hands. Pi tells a story of a lion tamer who controls his beasts by being the alpha male of the group, providing for them and caring for them, so the lions stay submissive to him. (It turns out to be a good lesson for Pi to learn because his adventure places him in very close quarters with a tiger.)

As he enters his teen years, Pi goes in search of God. Pi, being from India, is basically a Hindu. He then encounters Christianity, and embraces the message of Jesus' Love. Then he discovers Islam, "a beautiful religion of brotherhood and devotion." Pi becomes a devout member of all three religions, happy with his "discovery" of God. At one funny point in the book, all three of his religions are put head to head, and he is forced to choose one. It was very telling to hear the three men of God fighting and belittling each other's beliefs.

Pi puts them all in their place with the declaration that he was just trying to love God.

The book then leads us to his adventure. The family decides to close the zoo, and move to Canada. The animals are sold, the papers are filed and the family books a passage on a Japanese cargo ship. Life is good. Except, the boat sinks.

Pi is tossed onto a lifeboat with an injured zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. His first few days are violent and terrifying, as the animals battle in the boat. Pi watches as a surprising set of events leave just him and the Tiger there for the remainder of his 200+ days on the ocean.

Pi is in emotional and physical distress for the most part, but he still revels in the greatness of God and his creations. There are lots of opportunities for him to give up, and he won't. From the start, you know that Pi survives the voyage at sea, because it is him as an adult retelling his story, but you still have to wonder how he will make it! When the book ends, frankly it is a matter of faith. Do you believe his story, or do you feel like the alternate explanation is the right one?

Life of Pi is a book that challenges you to look at your soul. This book offers no answers to the questions that you have when you finish reading it. My best friend said that reading this book was Zen-like. "The book isn't trying to be anything, it simply is".

Live Blogging!! Woo Hoo!

Good Morning! How's this for fun? Today Joshie and I are going to live blog the day. Hopefully it will be interesting for you. Check back and see what I do on what was supposed to be my day off.

8:43 - Open up shop. I arrive (late) (damn Train on 33rd St.) (I hate Driving to work) and I have no time for Starbucks...Yet :-)

8:47 - First Call answered. Someone wants to know what time we are open. Here we go!

9:24 - The Guy from Coles just went by, making strange noises... That's what it takes to work here, a strange sense of humor!

9:30 - Made the opening announcement. Now the fun really gets to start. No, really, this is fun!

9:47 - I just received my first complaint / Suggestion of the day. A woman just told me that in the summertime, the mall should be open at 6AM or earlier, because she was awake and had to "waste daylight waiting for the mall to open to do [her] shopping".

10:31 - It looks like I'm not the only one who is running behind today. Josh hasn't shown yet. Meanwhile the phone just won't stop. Arrgh! I lie. Joshie just appeared.

10:56 - So here we go, Josh just told someone that "we like to see old people hurt." In reference to not having an escalator in clear sight. Plus, he just admitted to getting panty lines.

Oh dear. It's going to be a long day!

11:16 - Security just turned a cell phone in to us, and we got to play with it, trying to find the # and information. The owner just called it and is on the way to pick it up.

11:22 - So this is joshie now, i just saw the slowest express courier on the planet. How many express couriers have you seen with a cane, seriously that's express service.
The courier was the owner of the phone aswell. The on button was a mystery to her.

11:43 - I don't want to be Josh's friend any more. He is serenading me with a rendition of 'I Want You Back' by N'sync. HELP ME!

11:56 - Shocker! Josh has never heard the South Park Christmas song: "I'm a Lonely Jew on Christmas". Is there nothing in this world special? Plus, he just burped at me. eeew. (That was so Girly of me... I'm sorry!)

12:23 - Alright! We just hit our Peak noon hour rush, and Our parking gates are NOT WORKING!!! I've just handwritten 5 parking slips in a row. The good news is that I haven't answered the phone in nearly an hour. There is talk of sending someone to 7-11 in the parking dept. 'gator' to go get a bunch of Slurpees....

1:04 - Josh again, Becky and her friend Tara from swift current just paid us a visit. We were topic free until they came. We are now back on the topic of Jesus and tom hanks.... ponder this ... is tom trying to grown his hair to look like Jesus. This makes me think of my friends and i who believed in our younger years that if God was a home boy He would be 'Big Papa G-O-D'.

2:36 - Wow! It's been a busy hour and a half! We took a HUGE complaint from a customer who was very angry at San Fransisco, so we made her happy again! :-)

Plus, Josh showed me this version of Dance, Dance by Fall out Boy: Ted's Pants Watch it! It's funny.

3:42 - So Becky and Tara came back and just harrassed Josh for owning / reading Align, Revolve's counterpart for Men. Harassed is a little harsh, but it was a neat conversation. The best part is that I think that Josh will be into checking The Freehouse out sometime. :-)

4:02 - Only 58 minutes to go. It has been a wild and crazy day!

4:27 - We give out the refunds when the Coke machines eat your $$. Lately that policy has been abused by some bad people, so now we have to figure a way to track this better, and find a way to discern the scammers from the honest people. I think that we are just too trusting with a lot of things here.

4:59 - Well, I'm outta here for another night! Josh has to stay for another half hour, so you still have to stop by and say hi to him. Have a good night Y'all!

5:05 - Good night everyone. This is Joshua saying good night and God Bless.

Works of FICTION vs. works of NON-FICTION

Seeking thin spaces


I recently made a comment on a post by a loveley woman who has a problem with the Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown. Good Gravy people! Let's re-adjust our mirrors and take a look at the Definition of fiction.


Here's the thing Ladies, It's a WORK OF FICTION!!!

If I wrote a book about Satan having a child on earth, or a book about Jesus getting his driver's license, and people took those obvious works of fiction as truth, it's not me to blame, it's them! If the public cannot discern fact from fiction then you have to question their upbringing.

(and I'm sorry, but having a hissy fit over a movie that portrays Christ as a family man is not bad. Perhaps IF Jesus was married and had children, then MORE marriages would survive, because of the example he set. It wouldn't make Christ any less divine, I mean he came in the form of a man because he was to be WHOLLY human... I was asked by a non-catholic "If Jesus was a woman, would she have menstruated? Would that have made her 'less divine'?")

I'm a roman catholic, and I have no problem reading this book, or watching this movie for the simple fact that it is a work of fiction. Nothing more than a couple of hours entertainment. If these were produced under the pretense that they were the truth, then I would feel much differently about the subject. I would believe that Dan Brown was wrong in his statements and then I might boycott the film.

You mentioned going to 'Over the Hedge' this weekend instead. Enjoy it, but be careful. If you don't teach them any differently, your kids might start to believe that animals can talk. And after that, they might believe that Jesus got married!

American Idol - Blah!

As someone who could care less if FOX cancelled American Idol, I have a secret obsession with Kelly Clarkson. She is the only Idol to have garnered any real success. Sure, there have been other Idols who have put out a record, but Kelly is the only one with any songs actually charting. (Note: Songs as in plural, more than one hit)

I watched the first season of the show, but since then, I couldn't have cared in the least. I have a co-worker who will discribe each episode in great detail, so it feels like I am watching it :-) I guess that people concider that last winner, Carrie Underwood (the country singer), to be a hit, but I thought that they were looking for America's new popstars.

Anyhoo, here's my latest obsession: Walk Away. If you sneak up on me in the mall you will either find me on the internet, or singing along to this song on our Muzzak, or a combination of both.

"Walk Away"

You've got your mother and your brother

Every other undercover

Tellin' you what to say

You think I'm stupid

But the truth is

That it's cupid, baby

Lovin' you has made me insane

So before you point your finger

Get your hands off of my trigger

Oh yeah

You need to know this situation's getting old

And now the more you talk

The less I can take, oh

I'm looking for attention

Not another question

Should you stay or should you go?

Well, if you don't have the answer

Why you still standin' here?

Hey, hey, hey, hey

Just walk away

I waited here for you

Like a kid waiting after school

So tell me how come you never showed?

I gave you everything

And never asked for anything

And look at meI'm all alone

So, before you start defendin'

Baby, stop all your pretendin'

I know you know I know

So what's the point in being slow

Let's get the show on the road today

I wanna love

I want a fire

To feel the burn

My desires

I wanna man by my side

Not a boy who runs and hides

Are you gonna fight for me?

Die for me?

Live and breathe for me?

Do you care for me?

'Cause if you don't then just leave

To Travis: I love you!

May 18th 2006

Since today is my fourth Wedding Anniversary, here are Thirteen Reasons I love My Husband 1. He snuck out to my parents house to ask my Dad's permission to Marry Me. 2. He will help me with computer stuff, even though he doesn't think that I should blog. 3. He drives me to work even when doing so will make him late for his job. 4. He watches girlie movies with me, and he only laughs a little bit when I cry during the sappy parts. 5. He puts up with all of the craft supplies, and boxes that come with me being the Head Guider in my Spark Unit, even though we have a VERY small house. 6. Two words: He cooks. 7. He treats my little Brothers like his own. 8. He stands up for what is right, and he will always defend the little guy. 9. He is irresistible when he tilts his head, gives me a grin and a wink, and saunters away. 10. He looks HOT in a suit. 11. When I do stupid things, he still loves me. 12. When we said our wedding vows in front of God, our families and our friends, he was so nervous, he could barely squeak out the "I Do". I decided then and there that I had to love him forever, because there was no way he could say those words ever again! 13. He has a cute bum. Yeah, I'm superficial :-)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Being Bad has never felt so Good

Only 7 more sleeps until the newest Dixie Chicks CD is released. I am already in line to grab a copy :-) I'm guessing that these Chicks know how to throw a good party! They are three gals who refuse to take crap from anyone and are ready to stand up for what they believe. The first single (which has played on my computer many, many times since this Grrrl pointed it out) is an anthem to standing firm when your beliefs are challenged and not saying sorry for having an opinion.

In honor of the imminent release, here's a couple of fun excerpts from The Bad Girl's Guide home page and let your inner bad girl shine.

Things to do with....Self-Help Books:

• Throw an Accept Yourself Party and invite all your equally dysfunctional pals over for mojitos and a self-help bonfire.
• Drill holes through hardcovers, stick them on the ends of a broomstick, soak in cold water, and then do arm curls and bench presses.
• Tear pages into strips to make Bad Girl pom-poms.
• Press those gorgeous "wildflowers" that you find in people's gardens.
• Keep a copy or two on your night stand to throw at unwanted intruders.

Things to do with....Duct Tape:

• Repair a cracked engine hose.
• Hog-tie a misbehaving hitchhiker.
• Temporarily conceal license plate numbers.
• Two words: Strapless Bra.

Aras won Survivor!

That means that I won our illegal work gambling! Thank you Aras for allowing me to buy something really frivolous. :-) According to Survivor, the next show will be in the Cook Islands. At supper we, (Travis, Kimberly, Curtis and I) were saying that there needs to be a not-so-tropical Survivor. We got to thinking about places to have the next one.

Survivor: Southern Saskatchewan. The contestants have to juggle between +35 degrees Celsius and the summer thunderstorms, they have to try to catch gophers and grasshoppers for sustenance, and the real challenge... Finding things to do for fun in downtown Gravelbourg or Willow Bunch. OR even communicating with the natives to get supplies :-) These are all very tough challenges!

(I'm allowed to be mean, because I've been stuck in both communities at one time or another.)

Now, If the Hippies can manage to keep their lead in The Amazing Race, I'll have won both office pools this year and take everyone out for dessert this week:-)! Go Hippies Go!!!

Guess who's going to the Chili Peppers???

That's right! ME!

Yay for working on a Saturday! Andrea bought 8 tickets, but her confirmation said that she was charged for 12. That means that she's got an extra 4 to sell, so I grabbed one. Yay :-) If anyone wants to go too, email me and I'll see about hooking you up too!

Who ever said that nothing good comes from working on a Saturday?

Is Deadwood Over?

The HBO series Deadwood, about a mining town in the Black Hills, might not last after this new season. Travis and I both like this gritty drama about the gold rush in South Dakota, circa 1876. Apparently, HBO has announced that they are not going to pick up the contract options for Deadwood's cast members. This could be a sign that there will not be a fourth year. Boo Urns!!!

In spite of the violence, and the cussing, and the dirt, I really like this show. Plus, it has the incredible Canadian actress, Molly Parker as Alma Garret, a woman whose husband, Brom, died under mysterious circumstances. She is also slightly addicted to laudanum, but really, who isn't these days?

We have Season one, and Season two comes out on May 23rd. Season three airs on HBO and in Canada on Movie Central on June 11th. I know that we will be watching, and hoping that they renew the contracts for a fourth year.

By the power of Greyskull!

If you know what that means... Then you should check this post out in today's Slate Magazine.

Us 80's kids must have had it good, because all of our cartoons are back in vogue. Walk into any t-shirt store and you will see walls covered in our beloved characters: Transformers, Care Bears, The Smurfs, The Muppets, and last fall, I even saw my heroine, She-ra the Princess of Power!

Factoid: I was She-ra for halloween one year. My Dad made me a sword of power and everything! I was such a spoiled child ;-)

The Saga is over

It is finished. I have completed my required viewing of The Godfather Trilogy. Now I can get back to my required reading.

I have about 20 pages left in my second Brian McLaren tale which I plan on finishing tonight, and I have just purchased a book by Douglas Coupland called Girlfriend in a Coma.

I've never read anything by him before and I have heard mixed reviews so I think this will be an interesting read. It's about a High School senior who meets a boy, they do the deed, she gets pregnent and ends up in a coma. You know, your typical high school romance. When she wakes up 17 years later they are reunited on a "conspiracy-driven supernatural television series". It sounds strange, but I love strange so...

A little post-dental surgery humor

There has been a lot of talk about wisdon teeth here in Cyberland lately. All of the Cool people have had their teeth out, or they need it done.

Here's an actual photo of my mouth now - Post removal:

Here I go again!

Thirteen Things about my first official campfire of the year! 1. Campfires make people happy! 2. Campfires smell really nice. There is something about that smoky musk that makes you remember campfires of yesteryear. 3. Campfires can cook MARSHMALLOWS!!! 4. Hot dogs are 100% better on a campfire than on the barbque or boiled. 5. They keep you toasty in the cool evenings (But you have to keep rotating or one side of you will freeze). 6. You learn a lot about your friends when you discover that they are 'Fire Bugs'... 7. You learn a lot about you when you discover that YOU are a "Fire Bug"! 8. A copper pipe in the embers makes the flames turn really neat colours. 9. Anything and Everything will burn, if you leave it in the fire long enough! 10. Wearing glasses only protects you from the smoke for so long, and only from certain angles :-) 11. Although, there are NO MOSQUITOES in the smoke!!! 12. Everyone can sing at a campfire, and no one cares if the song is horrible or you are off key. 13. Campfire season in Saskatchewan is as short as summer, so go out, light a fire, and enjoy the evening before the snow flies again!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂ’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Birthday success!

Weekend was fun. Friday Travis opened his present as I wanted, :-) and we watched the first Godfather movie. It was ok... Truthfully, I was hoping for more. The best scenes were ones that I already knew. I watched the second one in two parts the last couple of nights, and I think that it is a far superior film. I Loved the back story of Vito's rise to power in the early part of the century.

And am I the only person who thinks that Kay needs to be beaten?!? What The F? Girl, if you weren't going to grow up to be the Diane Keaton that I love, I would have reached through the TV and smacked you myself!!! That's what Michael gets for not marrying an Italian girl like his Mama. I am SICK of seeing these "oh poor me" girl characters in "crime" movies and shows. Everyone from Kay Corleone to Meadow Soprano bitches that her life is so terrible and she hates it! You knew what you had gotten into from the start. And if you didn't like it, then why are you still there? ARRGH!

Anyhoo, I'm off to view #3 tonight. Hopefully it is as good as the other two. I doubt that I will be disappointed.

The birthday party was a success! There was much merriment all around. Travis even got up and kareoked a personal favorite of mine : CCR's Who has seen the rain. No one will let me put up any pictures though ;-) I guess they may have had a little too much fun!

In other news, we started some spring cleaning on the weekend and I love my clean house! I would actually have people over to visit now! Perhaps a dinner par-tay is in order... I promise, no crazy foods, and only vegetables that your mom would make Curtis. No eggplant!

Busy, busy, busy...

I'm going to make an angel food cake tonight for Travis' birthday this weekend. He is going to be, um, older. (He gets a little sensitive about his age) There are people going for drinks and Kareoke on Saturday night, so I'll have a few pictures of the festivities.

Other than that, I'm going to make Travis open his present early, I want to use it this weekend.
I'm going to wirte it here, so Travis No Peeking!! I bought him the box set of The Godfather movies... We can watch them this weekend! Ok, now you can read again.

I was a good wife yesterday. I fixed a bunch of his shirts that had loose or missing buttons. I hate sewing so I kind of let it build up until there is a bunch. (I usually lose the buttons before I get the shirt fixed.) I still have to fix a pair of his pants, and I think that I need to hem (and learn how to hem) some new pants that he's bought.

I cannot believe that it's Freaking May already! I have so much to do and that I want to get done. I remember being a kid and the days would drag on so slowly. I have a weird schedule for the next couple of weeks. I'm having Mondays off and having to work on Saturdays. I think that for your enjoyment, I will live blog a Saturday in the Mall for you. If you are interested. :-)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I'm not sure how the Mexican independence Day celebration became a beginning of summer Drink-fest, but Happy independence Day! Now, will someone pass me a cerveza, por favor?

In other news, a hostile takeover was, sadly, averted. I was looking forward to a screaming match here at work. Now, It's all up to our legal department in Toronto to resolve. Aaah the smell of conflict resolution. The funniest thing about The Office on NBC, is that I really do work with people just like the ones on the show.

What a great present!

I just read my emails, and I am one of the featured blogs at the Thursday 13 Hub! What a great first time out present. Here's to many more Thursdays! Be sure to check the 13'ers out. There are some neat lists.

My first shot at joining the Thursday 13 Club!

Thirteen Things that Tracey was asked at work!1. When does the Our Lady Peace concert start tonight? 2. Where are the bathrooms? 3. Who makes the best sandwich in the mall? 4. Where can I get a beer? 5. Why did the _________ store close? 6. Can you do something about the panhandlers outside? 7. Do you have change for a $20? 8. What time does the mall close? 9. How do I get to the 6th floor? (asked by someone standing in front of the elevator!) 10. Can I get bus tickets from you? 11. What is the phone number for __________ store? 12. Is there a dentist in this building? 13. Are you single? (tied with) Can I buy you a drink?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Where have all the good guys gone?

I mean good guys and girls here at work. Our team is dropping like flies. All departments are losing staff members left and right, and there are more people with fleeing on their minds. I've thought about my options here, and discovered that they are kinda limited. For me to move up any higher on the corporate ladder, I'd have to have three people above me quit, and I know that one of them is NEVER going to leave. She has worked here for nearly 20 years, and has had many chances to leave. She has taken none of those options. She hasn't really climbed the ladder either in 20 years. She has sat here and done the same job, with a rotating cast of sidekicks. I'm just the newest one. A part of me envies her ability to deal with the same crap for 20 YEARS!!! And another part of me is really worried that I will be able to do it too. I don't want to be here in another 18 years, and say "I could have done so much more, but no, I sat here and watched the mall become obsolete. Damn internet shopping!!"

Ok, I would never damn the internet! I get hours of enjoyment playing Yahoo games! :-)

I would love to go back to school full time, and get my degree finished, but I can't afford it right now. If I were to quit, it would be after my little sister's wedding in July, because I want to be able to take the time off to go and spend a week at home. I could be hitting my two year itch that I usually get when I have a job, where I start looking at other options I have, and either choose to leave or stay put for another two years.

I generally like the people I work with, and our staff parties have been killer, but if a great majority are making this exodus then I have to wonder, when I should go? There's nothing more pathetic than the aged party girl still hanging on to her glory days.

Have any of you, Dear Readers, clung to a job because it was comfortable or convenient. What was your scariest move? Should I stay or should I go...

I am going to go mad!!!

My wonderful husband rented The Godfather : The Game for the Playstation 2. He is enthralled with acting out one of his favorite movies in video game form... I on the other hand, am humming the theme to this movie incessantly both in my head and out loud.

I went to Sparks tonight, and as we made lip gloss, I was asked what song I was humming. They wanted to know which movie it was from, and one of the Moms that was there laughed as I tried to explain The Godfather (which I have never actually seen) to a group of five year olds without the whole mafia thing.

I want to be "a new kind of Christian" too!

I just finished A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren. Let me re-phrase that. I finished re-reading this book. I burned through it in a couple of days, and then went back, and read it again to really 'get' the content.

A few of the WOW moments I had while reading this book were based on the realization that other people think and question the same things that I do. Which leads to a realization that we can work through these questions with the help of some good friends (and new ones too!)

On Saturday, I went to talk with a Catholic priest, an old friend, and I got his take on some of the passages in the book that really affected me. For example, there is a chapter on the Bible, and how "when you let go of the Bible as God's answer book, you get it back as something so much better." He suprised me by confirming the book's answer by saying that the Bible has value in our spiritual growth, as not only a source of answers, but as a source of inspiration to gather people together to learn and discuss the effect of God in our daily lives.

He also suprised me by agreeing with the phrase "I believe Jesus is the Savior, not Chrisitanity." We had a good talk, discussing the impact of the "Christians" in this world who are not very "Christ-like". He completly agrees with the thought that Jesus was not one to seggregate his followers. He preachd to all who would hear him. He didn't judge people. He loved sinners every day, but he did have a list of sins that he told people to obey, and that if they did, then they were going to be rewarded.

He said that Heaven is big enough for everyone, and there will be good people there. People who have lived the best lives that they could for God, not necessarily for religion.

I really enjoy Brian McLaren, and am working my way though his second book in this trilogy, The Story We Find Ourselves In. Reading him has sparked a few conversations that I wasn't ready for and a few conversations that I needed to hear. I am being changed, and stretched in this spiritual evolution that I find myself in. And I think I like it.

What the???

I just heard a clip of Feist's Mushaboom in a commercial for a Lacoste Fragrance.

When I think of Leslie Feist's songs, I do not necessarily want to think of 'overpriced alligator polo shirts'.

Side note: Who wants to road trip to Regina to see her at the Folk Festival in Vic Park??? It's August 13th, and I really want to see her live.

I have the theme from 'The Godfather' playing in my head. Is this normal?

I'm back, after a long hiatus... Too long. I'm sorry. I've missed blabbing to y'all nearly as much as y'all have missed reading me :-)

So, I'm all better. My stitches are out, and I feel normal again!!! I send out a big thank you and a hug to Becky. She made me these AWESOME potatos that had corn and carrots, I think. Travis liked them too, so if She'll let me, I'm going to get her recipe and make them. They were great when I couldn't chew. Travis has a wisdom tooth that is coming out in July, so I'm going to need to make squishy foods for him.

I've had a quiet weekend. Travis went out on Saturday, so I stayed home and rented Shopgirl and Me and You and Everyone We Know. I really liked both of these movies. Me and You was pretty twisted though. It's a strange love story.

I also grabbed a copy of Adbusters. I'm still digesting the content. I'll have a full "review" later. I can't remember who had mentioned this Mag to me, but I saw it, and grabbed it on a whim. This issues theme is "Torture'. Juxtapose that with the other Magazine that I was reading last week: Beyond. Beyond's theme was "Possible Worlds", and the issue before that was "Beauty".

I can definitely see a place for both of these publications in my home. After reading articles like the ones you find in these magazines, it sure makes Cosmo seem like garbage for the brain.

Waiting...

I'm sitting here, listening to Death Cab for Cutie, waiting.

Waiting for Travis to come home.

Waiting for The Daily Show to start.

Waiting for my Sister to get off work and call.

Waiting for something to happen.

I've had this feeling of trepidation; a feeling that there is something big on the horizon. This looming sense of...expectation. Not of dread, or melancholy, or bad stuff... just this feeling that there will be a change. I am waiting for the ball to drop. I don't usually feel this way.

Death cab is a good disk for this mood today. I could take this disk and get in my car and drive. Just go for a cruise. Back in the day, if you had a driver's license, and a car, in my town, we would cruise. We would go to Moose Jaw, grab a slurpee and drive home. I really would like to call Tara and Kimmer, Lisa or even Danielle, and get into the "chuckwagon" (Tara's parents red mini-van) or "Jessica" (my Mom's jeep) and cruise Main Street like we used to.

I remember learning to drive standard when I was 15. Danielle and I were in a car with Lee from the Power Station (A youth group hang-out), and I remember not stalling more than a couple of times, but Danielle..She sucked :-) She stalled so many times that when she hit the four-way stop (there was only the one) There were people going around her, before she even stalled the car. I wonder what she's doing now. I haven't talked to her in at least 4 or 5 years.

I'm boring you all, I'm sure. The only people who will have read this far are Tara and Kim, and they are both like "Omigawd, she's losing it! Next, she'll start talking about Cameron, and the Party at Grandma's house and the Rockaberry coolers and getting His license taken away by Charlene.... Too Much Information!!!"

I can claim that this post was caused by Dr. Hohn and painkillers...only 10 more pills left people! Then I can do no more harm.

This is a president I could get behind!

George Bush's approval rating just shot up 60% in the following demographic: Males aged 15-29.

Photo courtesy of Rick Mercer's Blog. (Does this mean that he wants to pull out of Iraq?)

Natalie Portman will Kill your dog for fun!

Tonight's Saturday Night Live was a repeat. It was from a couple of months ago and featured Natalie Portman hosting and Fall Out Boy as the musical guest.

I saw this on it's first showing and nearly wet my pants, I was laughing so hard. Natalie and the cast parody the Eazy-E's song "No More ?'s".

Here's the link to the video on NBC.com, and here's the Script for those of you who have computers that suck (like I do) and your video clips are really choppy. WARNING:
extremely bad language ahead...

Interviewer – "We’re sitting here today with film star Natalie Portman.
Natalie – Hello.
Interviewer – So Natalie, what’s a day in the life of Natalie Portman like?
Natalie – You really want to know?
Interviewer - Please, tell us.
Natalie raps-

i don't sleep motherf**ker off that yak and the bourbon
doin 120 getting head while i'm swervin
"damn Natalie, you a crazy chick"
yo shut the f**k up and suck my d**k
i'm bustin dudes mouths like gushers motherf**ker
roll up on NBC and smack the s**t out Jeff Tucker
"what you want Natalie?"
to drink and fight!
"what you need Natalie?"
to f**k all night!

don't test me when i'm crazy on that airplane glue
put my foot down your throat 'til your s**t's in my shoe
leave you screamin', pay for my dry cleanin'
f**k your man, it's my name that he's screamin

Interviewer – "I’m sorry Natalie, are we to believe you condone driving while intoxicated?
Natalie – I never said I was a role-model.
Interviewer – But, what about the kids that look up to you? Do you have a message for them?
Natalie –
all the kids lookin up to me can s**k my d**k
it's Portman, motherf**ker, drink 'til i'm sick
slit your throat and pour nitrous down the hole
watch you laugh and cry - while i laugh, you die
and all the dudes, you know i'm talkin to you
"we love you Natalie"
i wanna f**k you too!

P! is for Portman
P! is for p**sy
i'll kill your f**kin dog for fun so don't push me (laughing)

Interviewer - Wow, Natalie, I’m surprised…All this from a Harvard graduate?
Natalie - Well, there’s a lot you may not know about me.
Interviewer – Really? Such as?
Natalie -
when i was in harvard, i smoked weed every day
i cheated every test and snorted all the yay
i got a def posse, you got a bunch of dudes
i'll sit right down on your face and take a s**t!

Hook guy –
Natalie you are a badass bitch (hell yeah)
and i will pay for your dry cleaning when my s**t gets in your shoe (what)
as for the drug use, well i can vouch for that
my d**k is scared of you, girl

Interviewer - Okee doke, Natalie one final question, if you could steal a smooch from any guy in Hollywood, Who would it- (Interrupted by a chair hitting him in the head.)
Natalie – No more questions!
WHAT!

I just stumbled upon this site. Saskabush is not updated very often, but from what I can see, it's content is well worth the wait. This is from an article titled "Alberta Residents Celebrate "We're Not Saskatchewan" Day"

Family Day, as it is officially called, is a statutory holiday enjoyed by residents of Alberta. The day is spent like most holidays with families going on sojourns such as ski trips, going to movies, and just basking in the fact they do not have to go to work like their Saskatchewan counterparts. Additionally, many former Saskatchewan residents now living in Alberta also take the time to act like arrogant pricks towards their neighbors to the east.

“Yeah, I phoned my cousin in Regina and reminded him that I have the day off simply because I live in Alberta and am an Albertan,” said Lorne Rita, a refridgeration mechanic in Calgary, “I used to live in Saskatchewan so I know all about having to go to work when it's colder than my wife after a disagreement.”.... ....Continued Rita: “So, my cousin's like 'screw you' and I'm like, 'well, if you move to Alberta, you won't have to listen to me brag about the day off' and he's like 'but I like being a failure and I'm queer' and I'm like, 'well, i'm off to roll around on the pile of money I made this week from our prosperity cheques'.”

Other Alberta residents decided to not be as prickish.

“I just phoned my parents to wish them a happy family day,” said Marlene Olater of Red Deer, “We had a nice talk about the days when I lived in Saskatchewan and how much more successful I am now that I'm in a province with an free market economy not controlled by unions.

For what it's worth, Saskatchewan has considered adding a mid winter holiday of it's own that would be similar to Alberta's. While not finalized yet, leading suggestions for naming the holiday include, “We're Not Manitoba” Day.

Freaking hilarious if you ask me.

I'm sore, but I'm alive!

Well, it hurts...A LOT, but I'll survive. Travis has been so sweet to me today. He made me soup, Which he let me slurp because I can't really eat properly, even though he HATES slurping!!!

He also bought me ice cream to help with the "no hot foods, no solids" stupid rule.

But I have the good drugs!!! The good Dr. gave me some really potent narcotics, so I'm ready to get high this weekend :-)

Oh.. and someone mentioned mashed potatos?!?!?! :-)

Avoiding Sleep

So, it's 2:25 in the AM, and I'm surfing the internet hoping that I can discover a magical cure-all for my dental anxiety.

I've read about what to do if God calls you, crazy f-ing car commercials, the paralyzing fear that you have failed a test (admit it, we've all been there) (and girl, I feel for you!!!), giggled at trampoline fun, read all about puke, found a cookie recipe so I can take some over to this on Sunday, and that is just my "local blog roll".

I've been to all of the sites that I've ever seen in the whole wide web, and I'm still not ready to go to bed...

I'll keep y'all posted on the outcome of today's painful (and drug-filled) day.

Confessions

Last night I went out for supper to a new-to-me place: Keo's Kitchen. Really neat. I had some kind of vegetarian rolls and then ordered the Thai Beef. Full of goodliness. :-) Supper was spicy, but then again, so was the dinner conversation.

Why do secrets weigh so heavily on the soul? It's hard to share a secret sometimes, but once you tell it, it loses some of the power that it had on you. You are able to function at a normal level once again. But the flip side of sharing a secret is that once you have unburdened yourself, do you then burden someone else with it? Do they suffer under the weight of your problem?

As I wrote that last sentence, I realized the answer. It does burden the friend somewhat, but that's what friends are for. They help us carry our loads further down the road of life. You can get to a better place more easily if you have help with the heavy stuff.

I wish that I was braver, and could come clean about all of my transgressions, big and small.
Maybe someday I can. Not today.

Driving home music

When I went home for Easter, I had a long drive ahead of me. I went and picked a few cd's that I hadn't heard in a while. What a memory lane flashback!

I bought this disk in September of 2000, right after a strange summer at home with a boy who had moved to Saskatoon to go to the UofS.

I lived the lyrics of this song for too many days and nights for it to have been forgotten for as long as it was. I vowed that I would never let myself be treated that way again...But he did it to me again and again... I could tear up just thinking of the line "Often I'm waiting on the one That maybe won't come. Waiting."

Weakened State
Sarah Harmer

From the minute you saw it
By the time it left my mouth
I knew you wouldn't want it
But I had to have it out

I saw your smile, I felt it
Now I just can't believe
There was no knowing deception
Underneath

All that time
Did it pass while you were
Looking back waiting?

I asked for the truth
Everytime
And now the ugly details
Are stuck in my mind

And there's a preminition
I keep putting off
And the more time passes
The more I get soft

I'm standing up there
In a weakened state
And it's not great

All that time
Did it pass while you were
Looking back waiting?

Often I'm waiting on the one
That maybe won't come.
Waiting.

And I'm not saying anything
You think that I forgot
I'm not saying anything
But I'm thinking a lot

Blogging

According to Jordon, Blogging is good for you! Check this post out and judge for yourself :-)

Easter weekend recap

Easter was amazing. I have no other words for it.

I drove home on Thursday night and got in at about quarter to ten. We sat up and had a few drinks, talking religion and politics until almost 2am. Amazingly, no one lost an eye, or anything... :-)

Friday, I went to mass with my family. Since I have been in this 'reflective' state of being lately, after genuflecting towards the cross at the front of the church, I pulled the kneeler down, and said a prayer asking for focus. I asked for the ability to really hear the words being said, not just pseudo-listening, and responding out of habit like usually happens.

When the first reading (Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12) was read, I listened to the words and I began to cry. I sat there and cried through most of the passion too. I had tears streaming down my face as one of the ministers stumbled over a name. My brother looked over at me and said "It was funny. Why are you crying?" I couldn't answer him.

So why was I crying? It's pretty incredible that someone loved us all that much, to die as he did. No questions, no objections, no doubts.

Is 52:13-53:12

See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at him; so marred was his look beyond human semblance and his appearance beyond that of the sons of man; so shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; for those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom people hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, a grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.

From an email sent to me by Tara...

Tara is one of perhaps five people I still talk to from my hometown, and one of my best friends ever. She's never judged me or my choices, and she is always a voice of reason (Albeit, a sarcastic and slightly twisted one).

Lipstick in School

According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington recently was faced with a unique problem. A number of12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back.

Finally the principal decided that something had to be done!

She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required.

He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror.

There are teachers, and then there are educators.....

Michiko Kakutani is a real person!!!

Ok, I'm a nerd.

I freely admit it. I have all six seasons of Sex and the City on DVD. I hardly ever missed the show when it was on it's first run. I live my single gal living in NYC fantasy (one that I've had ever since I was a little girl reading the Baby-Sitters Club books...I wanted to be Stacey...more on that later, I'm sure) by watching Carrie Bradshaw's adventures and living vicariously through her.

There are people, places, and things that they mention in the show that an outsider to the City, like me, would not be able to discern if they are real or fake. Certain restaurants, clubs, buildings, etc. For example, In the 5th season, episode "Critical Condition" mentions that Carrie's book is being reviewed in the New York Times by Michiko Kakutani (mee-she-ko ka-ku-ta-nee). Well to my surprise, Michiko is a real person. She IS the New York Times book reviewer. You want to impress her, or else your book may suffer a terrible fate in the bargain bin at a Barnes and Noble somewhere. (In case you are curious, Carrie's book got a rave review but she's bothered by the critic's characterization of her having a life "where the men are disposable." She worries that Aidan, her most recent ex, might also feel that way. Carrie spends the rest of the episode wondering why we only believe the negative things people say about us.)

I am indeed a nerd because when my co-worker was looking at Slate today, I saw the name, and squealed with glee, "She is real!!" And then I had the dubious task of trying to make myself not sound like an idiot, as I explained why Michiko Kakutani was so exciting.

****And if you think that you can stump me on any SATC questions, send them in! I promise not to cheat by google-ing the answers.*****

Blatherings

For some reason, I cannot seem to focus lately. My mind is going a million miles a minute. Perhaps it's because this week, while being a short work week, is one of the busiest ones I've got on record for the longest while.

Monday I had Sparks, Wednesday we are selling cookies door-to-door in East College Park, Thursday I have a dental checkup and cleaning, and then I'm leaving for home for Easter. I'm going alone this weekend. The hubby is going to a Bachelor party for Stan. (He's one of Travis best friends and he's getting married to Margorie on April 22nd.)

I want to get out to the Broadway Theater this week sometime and see What the Bleep? Down the Rabbit Hole. If I don't get there tonight, then I'm hooped! Maybe I can squeeze it in after cookies on Wednesday, but I fear that it would be more like wishful thinking.

I am impatiently waiting for the release of the Dixie Chicks new album, thanks to Becky! She had a link to their site, and I've listened to that song about 25 times since :-) I never would have really called myself a Dixie Chicks fan, but I do have all of their albums, and I would go see them in concert... I guess that does make me a fan! I'll be at HMV on May 23rd to buy a copy for Becky and myself, before Shumon even gets the store open that Morning!

In other news, my wisdom teeth will be going far far away, and I'll be getting the good drugs that go along with dental surgery on the 21st. I'm kinda scared of being put under though. I'm not liking it, because I see all of the people coming down from the oral surgeons office every day, and they look out of it, and sore... I'd rather have pain from removing them, than the pain from living with them.

Amazing Movie : Water

"A widow should be long suffering until death, self-restrained, and chaste. A virtuous wife who remains chaste when her husband has died goes to heaven. A woman who is unfaithful to her husband is reborn in the womb of a jackal."
- The Sacred Texts of Manu

I just finished watching this Movie. It is about a seven year-old girl named Chuyia, who has just been widowed. According to Hindu culture, she is sent to live in a home with other widows. They are outcasts, shunned by the rest of society. There is a scene where one of the women accidentally bumps shoulders with a woman near the river, and the other woman tells her, "You've polluted me! I have to bathe again!".

This movie was an interesting choice for me right now, because of the subject matter: how the "truth" in religion, and your culture can become distorted because our individual personalities make us each interpret the texts and writings that the religion is based on. There was major protest that this movie should not have been made, but I am glad it was. It may not have been a summer blockbuster, but it will make you think a little about the world. In my books, that makes it worth seeing.

On a side note, this movie is the third in a series by the writer/director Deepa Mehta. The first two movies were Fire and Earth, which I am now going to look for in the video store.

It's that time of year again!

I have 36 Cases of cookies in my trunk, and I know how to use them! If you don't start buying cookies, I will have no choice but to send 15 of the cutest five and six year-olds to each of your houses and they will be dripping with sweetness and kindness, and they will be all cute-ified and you will open your wallets and throw money at them to stop the cute overload from distroying all of your homes and communities!

So does anyone want to buy some Girl Guide Cookies? They're only $4.00 a box!

Yeah! I won a star today!

So, I'm browsing the now-infamous Sask Blogger list today, and checking out a few favorites when I come across today's edition of Marc's Name that Movie.
I am now the proud owner of a star!! All of those years during my childhood watching westerns with my Dad and Grandpa Casey paid off!

Study done on the power of Prayer

Slate Magazine has a really interesting take on a recent study that didn't prove that prayer helps to heal.

"It was supposed to be good news, like the kind in the Bible. After three years, $2.4 million, and 1.7 million prayers, the biggest and best study ever was supposed to show that the prayers of faraway strangers help patients recover after heart surgery. But things didn't go as ordained. Patients who knowingly received prayers developed more post-surgery complications than did patients who unknowingly received prayers—and patients who were prayed for did no better than patients who weren't prayed for. In fact, patients who received prayers without their knowledge ended up with more major complications than did patients who received no
prayers at all."

I really have a hard time believing these results. I want to believe with all my heart that prayer helps. I pray at least once a day. I pray for myself, for other people, for my pets, for the world.

If there is no answer, EVER, then It becomes a matter of faith. I have faith in God. And God will answer me, when I finally ask the right question.

My Husband thinks I've lost it.

I am having problems with my wisdom teeth. They are hurting me! I've been taking more than the "daily recommended dose" of my favorite over-the-counter pills for a couple of days now, and I think that last night was the sign that I need to stop.

First, I was itchy all night. Not really a new thing, as I Love love, LOVE to have Travis (or my Mom, or a friend, or a door frame) scratch my back. But when I went to sleep, I had the strangest dreams.

The first was that I was flying a plane, and most everyone I have ever met was on the plane. Our destination: The North Pole. Santa had opened up a 5 star resort there, and we were testing the place out.

The Next dream was at the mall, I was throwing a birthday party for someone, and the mall was all decorated in banners, and streamers. The birthday girl (I have no clue who it was, I saw nothing but the back of her head) (she was a brunette) got to go on a shopping spree in whatever stores she wanted, and get whatever she wanted, and I handed over a huge platinum credit card to each of the store managers to cover the costs of the party, and her spending.

The last dream before I woke up, I was married to Robert DeNiro. Bob and I were living in a penthouse in New York and he had to go to LA to do a movie. He and I had a fight, because apparently, I hate LA, and I wanted to stay at home in NYC. The last thing I remember clearly in the dream is him telling me "I forgive you, but I won't forget this."

Please remember to ALWAYS stay within the dosage guidelines!!!

Just another night at Sparks

We had a wonderful visit with the Zoo Outreach Program at Sparks last night. The girls had a blast with Cathy and the ferrets. Here's a few pictures of the evening.

Movie Reviews

I have watched 3 movies in the last four nights. Brokeback Mountain with Becky and A History of Violence and The Aristocrats with Travis.

Brokeback Mountain was a good movie. To call it "a gay cowboy movie" is a gross over simplification of the plot. The scenery was breathtaking. Makes a person want to go to Alberta for a vacation... Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal were incredible as the male leads. There were places in the film where I thought that it was a little slow, but otherwise it was a good show. (Plus, before the movie Becky took me out for supper to the Saskatoon Asian Restaurant on 2nd Avenue. It was a great meal! I loved the soup...but don't ask me what it was called!)

A History of Violence is a movie that Travis has wanted to see since the first preview hit the tv. It has Viggo Mortenson as the father of a family torn apart by suspicion. Is he a former Mafia hitman, or is it mistaken identity? I won't spoil it for anyone, but it is worth the rental fees. Be warned though, it has some very graphic violence and a couple of sex scenes that are...extreme.

The Aristocrats was...different. No Nudity, No Violence, Extreme Profanity. This documentary tells the story of the joke that comedians told each other. It has a hundred different versions of the joke, and the history of it's origins. I really enjoyed this, Travis not so much. If you are looking for a stand up act, this isn't it. Trav said that he was tired of the joke about half way through the movie, but the premise worked for me.

All in all, a good weekend it was.