Long Days, Long nights.

Today was my first official "night shift" at the Music Store. It was very productive to work and not have to stop doing your tasks and help someone find something, or to ring items in at the cash desk. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy helping people. I am able to make them smile most of the time. If you have other tasks that need to be done, the people always come first, and the lists of tasks tend to grow and grow...

Plus, you can listen to any off-colour music you may want to and watch a crazy, zany comedian in his #1 hit comedy dvd Vicious Circle, which uses words like "F**K Tards" and other phrases which may be offensive to the general public.

I have these shifts all week. Late nights... Anyone up for an inappropriate breakfast? Or Drinks??

On Sunday, the two locations of the Music Store got together for our Christmas Supper. We ate at Aroma in the Radisson Hotel. The food was really fun. It's hard to explain. The food is classy, the names of the entrees aren't. For example, I ordered chicken stuffed with some exotic cheeses and some kind of bitter greens that really blended with the cheeses nicely. The name of the dish... The Padded Bra.

Really.

Grade school humor. At a classy restaurant.

After supper we all went back to my Boss' for some refreshments and free stuff. I walked out of there with 4 new dvd's, a Martin Scorsese Box Set, and 15 cd's. It was crazy the amount of product that we got! Merry Christmas! I stayed and rocked out with the boys until after two. There was some sitar playing, and some crazy techno music sampling, and margaritas. A perfect evening was had by all. (I even got to confess a secret to Enver in the car on a Beer run... it was a goofy night!)

I have a new favorite song. Local group Chimpan-a to Chimpan-z has their first disc called Designs. The song is called Aurora Boreaopus. I love, love, love this song! Go to their MySpace page to hear the song, and then go and buy the record today!

Aurora Boreaopus

The rain falls.
We crash into the waves.
This glorious night explodes into glass.
The way we were...
well we can't avoid this crash.
We watch the stars.
A gentle dance that steals your breath.
A thief in the night.
We blame it all on
but we can't wait for morning
so we send a call for light.
A long way down.
The way we were
well we can't.
It's a long way down.

This is one of the reasons I had to leave Telus

Illiteracy:

(This is an actual cut and paste of a letter that a co-worker sent to a high-ranking senior member of the team) Emphasis is mine to protect the innocent and prevent some form of Dooce-age...I did not change the spellings, the punctuation, or the grammar.


Hi (person at head office)
I need to order a few things for (boss) and if I don't do this soon she is going to kill me so I tried to order them threw RIS and it want work so I am hoping you can help me
We need (item) we need 7 of those and (Item number) and we need 7 of these And (Item number) 12 of these
Thank you You’re the best (Person who sent this atrocity)


So what do you think?!?!

How cool is this...

I check my emails, and I have a new comment on a post. I open up the comment, and it's for this post about the book, Goodbye Lemon.

The comment was from Adam Davies, the book's author! Adam, in case you are checking out my blog on a regular basis, I should tell you that I LOVED this book! I hope that you are working on another story, because so far, you're batting 1000!

Thanks for the comment. I'll give you a rave review any day!

Effing Weffriddles!!!!

Fellow Blogger Terri introduced me to the worst webgame EVER!!!

By worst, I mean the best, except that it's so easy, it's freaking hard...nay Impossible!!!

Weffriddles are my latest obsession. I've been working on these for the last week (and doing little of anything else!)

If anyone else is obsessed, er I mean, playing this game, I am willing to trade information about levels and/or perform like a trained Monkey to get hints! I need help folks! Any help you can send this way is Awesome. I'm stuck on the first puzzle in batch two.

Baby, It's Cold Outside...

I'm beyond tired, and again, I cannot fall asleep. I am jealous of my husband. He begins to snore even before his head hits the pillow. He falls asleep so quickly, I wonder if he even hears me wish him good dreams!

Saturday night was fun. Some of the Telus folks and myself went to Earl's for some rather potent potables and some fantastic foods. It was the "So-long-suckers-you-have-to-stay-at-Telus-and-Jared-and-I-don't" party. aka: Goodbye supper. :-)

Let me just say for the record: If you want to drink responsibly, do not order the Earl's Sour Grinch. One will lead to two, which leads to trouble!

We ate and were merry and then went home rather early because a good number of us had to work at nine this morning. I think that there might have been a hangover or two even though there was an early night...Oh to be younger and more irresponsible!

Dane Cook

I am in love with Dane Cook.

Seriously.

In LOVE!

Like, I would marry him in an instant!

He's funny, and usually that's not enough for me to give someone instant-marriage access, but he's cute too! (In that special, third year arts student, I haven't seen my Mom in a while so my laundry hasn't been done, "dude, let's get a pizza, I'm starved", scruffy kind of way!)

If you have not seen Dane or heard the material on his two top selling disks, go out and get them. Then go see him in a movie that Jessica Simpson's boobs almost ruined, Employee of the Month.

("Someone S**t on the coats!")

Movie Alert!

Get your pens at the ready. Mark your calendars!

Pack up the kids, and bring your popcorn money. Charlotte's Web opens in Saskatoon on December 20th! Who's coming with me!

Have the Blogging Police Arrested Me Yet?

My last post was on November 15th! I'm not deserving of your love... Sorry. By the way, To blatently plagerize a fellow blogger's contest thread, Brea of Daring to be Remarkable wins a Giant Gold Star for correctly Identifying the blog in my picture! Yay Brea!

Life just hasn't been interesting around here. I gave notice at Telus. I'd liked to have stayed there longer, but really, the music store was my main focus, and Telus was really unable (and some days just plain o' unwilling) to be flexable with my hours.

Phooey on that! I still love them as a service provider. I was a customer long before I was an employee, so Please don't read negative thoughts into my leaving.

On a completely unrelated note. I am attempting to retrieve things like Episodes of Gray's Anatomy in cyberspace, but I can't find good ones. A friend told me to use BitTorrent to get music and tv shows / movies. Any good places to find these torrents once you have the program?

Look at what I got!

Yessir, I can watch videos without that annoying slow and choppy feed, I can play games at the right speed, I can see all of your Lovely webpages in the correct size and shape that they belong in!!! (in fact, a round of applause goes to the person who can Identify the webpage I was currently looking at! Hint: She's on my Blogroll) Now all I need is a proper desk, and a way to hide all of those cords!

Yay! I have a new computer!!! And I am so very happy!

I've been a busy girl though, re-installing all of my bookmarks, and programs. I am a happy camper! Plus, I'm a little over-caffinated. I've had three big Eeyore mugs of tea tonight.

Now, I'm off to do more visiting and exploring instead of sleeping like I should be doing!

Ahhh! Home again!

I'm still sorting out my pictures of this weekend, but since Someone already mentioned it, here's my knee-shaking, stomach-turning, brain-scrambling, awesome first ride on a roller coaster. Please, keep your laughs to yourself... :-)

OH MY GAWD!!!

I got The World's Best Present!

My boss came up to me and said " How hard are you going to work for me?"

My reply, "I always work hard!"

He responded by giving me a ticket to the DIXIE CHICKS CONCERT HERE IN SASKATOON TONIGHT!!!

I just got back and it was incredible! They played all of the hits and songs that I love to death!

Now I can't wait until Saturday night for part two!

The Meanest show on Television

I'm sitting here doing laundry and getting ready for my trip to Edmonton, and I flipped through the channels. I stopped on Channel 21 to watch the Shopping Bags, a consumer information show that I really enjoy. I went to get another basket of clothes to fold, and when I came back the worst show in the world had started!

On the W Network there is a show called Style by Jury. They take a person, put them in a room with a two way mirror, and have a 'Jury' of regular folks judge the person's style and look.

Then they correct all of the person's physical flaws (as chosen by the jury) and put them back in front of a new jury to re-evaluate the person's look.

The thing that I think is really cruel though, the people are usually the nicest, kindest people who have nothing wrong with them, and they are made to feel badly. Often the recipient of the intervention cries when they hear what everyone says about them. They might not have a lot of money to buy new clothes, or get their teeth fixed, but they are socially concious and good people.

Maybe I'm just a fan of be happy with what and who you are! :-)

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

Would someone please pass me a tissue?

I Just finished watching The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio and I think that I need to call my Mom!

It's based on the book The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less By Terry Ryan. I've got it on order from Amazon as of three minutes ago. :-)

Terry is one of ten children in a family that is dealing with alcohol abuse, violence and poverty in the 1950's. Her Mother, Evelyn Ryan kept her children fed, clothed and housed during the 1950s and '60s by winning contests for jingles and ad lines for various products and brands. The movie was very entertaining and obviously made me want to know the rest of the story.

A Dangerous song to have as my current obsession...

Snow Patrol

"Chocolate"

This could be the very minute

I'm aware I'm alive.

All these places feel like home.

With a name I'd never chosen,

I can make my first steps

As a child of 25.

This is the straw,

final straw, in the

Roof of my mouth as I lie to you.

Just because I'm sorry doesn't mean

I didn't enjoy it at the time.

You're the only thing that I love.

It scares me more every day.

On my knees I think clearer.

Goodness knows I saw it coming,

Or at least I'll claim I did,

But in truth I'm lost for words.

What have I done,

it's too late for that.

What have I become,

truth is, nothing yet.

A simple mistake starts the hardest time.

I promise I'll do anything you ask...this time.

Thursday 13

Today is my one year Blogiversary! To Celebrate I'm putting together a list of Thirteen Posts that have given you TOO Much insight into me and my Crazy world! 1. November 20,2005 Rocking out to Franz Ferdinand on Austin City Limits late one night. 2. December 27, 2005 A Rant about going home. 3. January 3, 2006 Postsecret hits close to home. 4. January 27, 2006 "I Put Out" - -Best Picture Ever! 5. February 16, 2006 For Miranda 6. February 20, 2006 Spirituality vs. Religion 7. March 19, 2006 "...in the bedroom!" 8. April 25, 2006 Waiting (a post written during a post-dental surgery prescription drug fest) 9. May 20, 2006 Live Blogging with Josh 10. May 29, 2006 Bachelorette shower pictures 11. June 12, 2006 A Letter to Kim's baby 12. July 12, 2006 Three things via Terri 13. August 6, 2006 Free to be You and Me!

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! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

If only life were as good as a book...

I'm reading Goodbye Lemon by Adam Davies (he also wrote the kick-ass book The Frog King) and I get to chapter 12 and I am ready to cry.

Here's the whole chapter: (Adam, please don't sue me...if they aren't moved by this passage to go buy your book, then there is nothing I can say or do to convince them otherwise!)

Windows Open

The first time I kissed Hahva was in the parking lot of the Ark, after hours, when the residents were all asleep. We were standing under a cone of sputtering canary light from the streetlamp, listening to the rataplan of the rain coming down on the hot asphalt. The burned-cabbage smell of the chicken plant was vivid and heavy, awash in my nose. Some kids rattled past, drinking from paper bags while pushing each other in a grocery cart. When they wrecked in the gutter the liquor they spewed out of their mouths looked like a spray of diamonds.

When I kissed Hahva at that moment I felt hundreds of windows fly open inside my heart. It made me wish that I had never kissed anyone else.

That's the whole chapter. I am in love with this book!

Spooky Movie Suggestions?

I'm looking for some good and scary movies to watch this weekend. I want to really scare myself.

It's either going to be a scary movie fest, or I'm going to lock myself in a room with Tiffany and we are going to watch the third season of The O.C.!!! That in itself, could be scarier than any horror movie!

:-)

You Mean I Have to Post Something Every Day!?!

National Blog Writing Month.

Putting a thought down each and every day in November. As someone who has a hard time thinking / censoring her thoughts of daily life into a reader friendly format, this sounds both hard and scary.

I guess that since I signed up for it, I'd better do it.

Here's my motivation:

11 days to go!

Actually, it's 10 until we leave for Edmonton! (Pointer Sisters song turned up) I'M SO EXCITED! AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT! I'M ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL AND I THINK I LIKE IT!

Sorry about that spontaneous busting into song... I'm working on medicating those outbreaks...

Sunday night was INCREDIBLE! I went to the Bassment with Tiffany to see Volcanoless in Canada! Geronimo was supposed to open, but they couldn't make it, so Saskatoon's own Josh Palmer threw together a jazzy little set to open up the show. Then Our Mercury took the stage. That was an amazing set! They are one of Tif's new favorite bands, I think. Mine too! :-)

Finally, around 11:30, Volcanoless takes the stage, and of course played crowd favorites like She Moves and Funny Like Strange, Which is my favorite song.

"Smothered to sleep, in the glorious "maybe"
...4am, alone in between these sheets
Is the wine in France as great as you dreamt it would be?
Is distance killing you like it's killing me?
at 4am the tears feel like home."

What a fantastic song! Great show Guys! I LOVE YOU ENVER!!! Just kidding, (everyone knows I have a thing for the drummer) (Drummers always get the chicks!) (BTW, Still kidding Kyle!) :-)

If you haven't heard any of these songs, Please go to their respective myspace pages and check these indies out. Local music can truly be awesome! Support your local Rockstar!

After the show, we went to Denny's for "breakfast" at 1AM, because Tiffany wanted bacon... and I decided to have a happy ending. (please, it's on the back of the menu there, I'm not being perverse... yet) After my Happy ending, which was fantastic by the way, we all went back to Tif and Josh's place because She wanted MORE BACON! This girl is like 115 at most, and she can pack the bacon away! Where does she put it? In her shoes? I really have no Idea. Here's to more BACON PARTIES! Except that Josh burned, charred, destroyed the said bacon, and nearly burned his apartment down! Good times!

While at the apartment, my secret blogger identity was revealed to a certain cute boy...let's call him "The Suit" (does that sound ominous and scary?) I hope that he keeps my blogger secret identity a secret! (Hint hint!)

By the way, I realize that a lot of you do know my secret identity, but none of you who know me, know my co-workers, and people that I may talk about here :-)

Any hoo, I think a good, nay, GREAT time was had by all. I am eagerly awaiting another night like that one!

A Much Needed Wake-Up Call

Watch This Video!

Thursday

Thirteen Jobs That I've Had 1. My First Job: Babysitter for my family and my Cousins. 2. I worked as a janitor in my Dad's office. I vacuumed, dusted, cleaned the bathrooms, and took out the garbage and recycling every Sunday night. (I earned $50 a month) I did this for a couple of years, then my sister took over. 3. In grade 11, I started working for the Assiniboia Child Care Services. I loved my daycare job! 4. For two summers, I worked for Assiniboia Economic Development. I was mainly an office gopher the first year, and the second, I developed some real projects. 5. After high school, I worked for two years at the SAAN Store. MMMM...Retail Clothing! Exciting! 6. I then moved to Saskatoon, and needed a job to pay my rent, so I worked for a few months in a small daycare, Just Like Home. 7. I worked at Pizza Hut on 8th St. (for way too long) as a cook and a waitress. (I'm not such a great waitress, but I can cook a mean Pie!!) Plus, It was while working here that I met my Fantastic, Handsome, and Loving Husband! 8. I got tired of being a "Pizza Slut" and went to work in Midtown at The Bombay Company. 9. I got "stolen" from there to become the Assistant Manager at Roots Canada... 10. ...Only to get passed over for a Management position there, So I went to work for the mall... not just AT the mall! I started working at Guest Services. 11. I recently quit the Administration job, and took on two Part-time endeavors. I am of gainful employ at a retail telecommunications outlet and... 12. At a popular Music Retailer. 13. My next Jump will be in a completely different direction. I am applying to Nursing School for September 2007. I have done a bunch of soul searching, and this is where I truly want to be. Wish me luck, (and donate to the tuition fund please :-)

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!

That was Fugging Funny!

Have you been to Go Fug Yourself? You must have, because it is one of the funniest places on the internet. I was catching up on the bitchiness this morning, and actually laughed out loud. I copied the text directly from the page (permalink).

PARIS: Dude, I'm so happy we're friends again.
NICOLE: Me too.
PARIS: You make me look so tall and healthy.
NICOLE: You make me feel so small and delicate. And smart. I enjoy that.
PARIS: I'm just glad we're over that thing that happened.
NICOLE: Me too. Our friendship is more important.
PARIS: I know. I mean, bros before hos, right? I seriously never would have hooked up with him if I knew you really liked him.
NICOLE: What?
PARIS: Stabby. If I'd known you were THAT into him, I never would have stolen him from you.
NICOLE: Huh?
PARIS: STABBY. STABBY NACHOS.
NICOLE: Who is Stabby Nachos?
PARIS: You know, tall? Greek? Your boyfriend?
NICOLE: Stavros Niarchos?
PARIS: That is what I SAID. STABBY NACHOS.
NICOLE: He's not my boyfriend.
PARIS: He was until I stole him from you.
NICOLE: What?
PARIS: Or was that your sister?
NICOLE: I don't HAVE a sister. YOU have a sister.
PARIS: We both have sisters, dumbass. We're both the skinny sister! Woo! Remember?
NICOLE: Paris. I don't have a sister.
PARIS: Um, did they give you electroshock therapy when you were in that eating disorder thingie? You totally have a sister. You guys were on that TV show forever, like when you were little kids? Remember? You guys are twins, or something.
NICOLE: Paris, that's Mary-Kate Olsen.
PARIS: YOU'RE Mary-Kate Olsen.
NICOLE: NO, I'M NOT.
PARIS:...are you sure?
NICOLE: YEAH.
PARIS: Really? Because I think you're wrong. You look just like her. Do you have your driver's license with you? Because I don't think I believe you.
NICOLE: I'M NOT MARY-KATE OLSEN.
PARIS: Then who the hell are you?
NICOLE: It's NICOLE.
PARIS: Richie?
NICOLE: YEAH.
PARIS: Oh.
NICOLE: YEAH.
PARIS: Um. So, this is awkward.
NICOLE: YEAH.
PARIS: I guess the friends thing is off again, then.
NICOLE: You know what you did.

About time!

Hi. Do y'all remember me? I used to actually blog here. I'd have snappy comebacks and serve really great drinks and appetizers.

Today was day 13 of 13 days-in-a-row. So I'm going to crawl into bed and cry just a little. See you in the morning!

Happy Thursday!

Thirteen Things That are Great About Canada:(Note: I said ABOUT not A-BOOT) 1. Corner Gas. It's a tv show about a small town (Very small town) in Saskatchewan. My first 18 years were in a town very much like this fictional "Dog River, SK" 2. Margaret Atwood. The Handmaid's Tale should be required reading in most every high school in the world. 3. Great Big Sea. Three boys from Newfoundland who rock the socks off of most parties! 4. Smarties. I eat the Blue ones last - not the red! M & M's are a very close second in my heart, but smarties will always be the best! (American 'Smarties' are those tiny pressed sugar discs that are super sweet too, but not chocolaty) 5. Trailer Park Boys. See previous posting. 6. Bannock. Not so much fried dough, but cooked over the campfire! AWESOME! 7. Ben Mulroney . He's a cutie. That's all! 8.Crispy Crunch, Coffee Crisp. Again, with the Canadian candies! I'm a sucker with a sweet tooth. 9. Our footballs fields are bigger and we go further in less downs! CFL RULES! 10. Mr. Dressup kicks Mr. Rogers ass. Note: I realize that Mr. Dressup was an American, but how many other children's performers could get away with telling the children that "He didn't want to play because sometimes grown-ups need time away from children." 11. A Canadian invented Superman. Only one of the best superheros EVER! 12. Tim Hortons kicks Dunkin' Donuts ass. But Krispie Kreme is the supreme ruler of fried dough land...Only in Canada could an ex-NHL-er who died in a drinking and driving accident be a national hero and have coffee and doughnuts named after him. 13. CBC news. No comparison to FOX or even CNN...

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!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Trailer Park connections

I started this life in a double wide in the good ol' Assiniboia Trailer Court (#42 on the map). My parents and I moved into a house when I was two years old, because My Sister was born, and there was a need for more space than we had.

(Good story though, My parents had everything packed. Dad and some friends were already at the new house moving stuff in. My Mom and Grandma were cleaning up the last of the small stuff, and mopping the floors before they left. Dad had taken the keys and given them to the real estate agent, so Mom had no key for the Trailer. Grandma took me by the hand and put me in the car. Mom grabbed the mop and pail, and pulled the door shut. Now, anyone who is familiar with trailers knows that there is a window at the front of them. As my Mom and Grandma and I drive away, I look out the window, and say, rather cheerfully, "Bye Duffer! Bye house!". My Mom now realizes that she has left her child in the trailer (mind you, she was sleeping quite peacefully in her car seat) and she has no key to get in! What could she do? Grandma and I went to get Dad, and the real estate guy, and Mom waited with the baby hoping and praying that she didn't wake up!)

Why this long story about Trailer Park life? Why to set up this photo! That's why!

A couple of weeks ago, my cousin Norm sent us a Trailer Park Boys "care package". He's a VP at Alliance Atlantis, and is responsible for the quality programming on wonderful Canadian networks like History Television, HGTV and Showcase. He sent the Official Sunnyvale jersey, t-shirts, ball caps, posters and more! Have you seen the movie yet? If not, GO ALREADY!!! If you like the show, you'll love the movie! Support this Girl's Family, and Go see this show!

(A Late) Thursday 13 Quickie

( Here's a late entry. I went through my CD's, took one counted 13 spaces down and took the next one. I thought that would be a very random sample and a fair selection.)

Thirteen of my CD's at random:

1.) Counting Crows - August and Everything After

2.) Nirvana - Unplugged in New York

3.) The Arrogant Worms - Christmas Turkey

4.) Matthew Good Band - Underdogs

5.) A disc of various rap and hip-hop that my sister burned for me a few years ago that She titled "Sex Me Up Songs"

6.) The Beatles - Rubber Soul

7.) The Meligrove Band - Planets Conspire

8.) The Shins - Oh Inverted World

9.) Ok Go - Ok Go (self titled debut)

10.) The Tragically Hip - Live Between Us

11.) The Doors - The Soft Parade

12.) Great Big Sea - Play

13.) Emm Gryner - The Summer of High Hopes

U of S events

There is a week-long celebration at the U of S this week. The USSU is hosting Queerapalooza! Have a Gay ol Time! There are a variety of events planned for the week.

Tuesday night there is a showing of God Only Knows: Same Sex Marriage sponsored by the Campus Chaplains and the Student Christian Movement. This documentary originally aired on CBC's The Lens last February. I missed it then, but will be at the LGBTA in the MUB this Tuesday at 7PM. After the showing, there is going to be an open discussion with the University Chaplains.

If anyone wants to join me, send an email to me and we'll expand out horizons and "have a Gay old time"! :-)

Imagine the conversations!

Thirteen people that I would LOVE to sit with and have a cup of tea. 1. The Dalai Lama. He was presented with honorary Canadian citizenship earlier this month. I would like to talk with him about spirituality and learn from him. 2. President George W. Bush. Just to simply find out WHY!! Why he does the stuff that he does. 3. Peter and Bobby Farrelly. I would like to discuss films with these two. for a couple of guys who make movies for frat guys, they seem to posess wicked talent. 4. Pope Benedict XVI. As any Catholic can attest to, (Reformed or otherwise) we are all drawn to the Vatican. I would love to talk shop with The Pope and truly discover what his real thoughts on spirituality are. 5. Emma Thompson. Not only an accomplished actress, but also a fantastic writer. She wrote the screenplay for Nanny McPhee. 6. My Great Grandma (My Dad's Dad's Mom). My Baba had stories of the old country, and running from the Nazi's, plus I hear that she was wicked awesome in the kitchen. She died when I was a baby. I wish I could have heard her stories first hand. 7. Zach Braff. He's a hottie, with GREAT taste in music. Nuff said. 8. Idina Menzel. This chick can sing! She was the original Maureen Johnson in RENT, and most recently was cast in 'Wicked' as Elphaba. 9. Christopher Moore. As a slightly twisted person, I read Chris' books almost religiously. His newest one is to be called Love Sucks and is a sequel to Bloodsucking Fiends. 10. Brian McLaren. I'm just beginning the book A Generous Orthodoxy :Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/calvinist, anabaptist/anglican, methodist, catholic, green, incarnational, depressed-yet-hopeful, emergent, unfinished Christian. It's the only book I've ever read that has a "Chapter 0." 11. My Mom. I miss her. I haven't seen her in a few months.... (I know that there are people who go longer than a few months without a visit with their Moms, but there are also people who can see them every day!!!) 12. Anne Lamott. I have fallen in love with her. I have a post on Travelling Mercies that I'm writing now, so please stay tuned! If you have ever felt alone, or abandoned by "god", you need to read this book. The first chapter titled Lily Pads, had me hooked for good. 13. Finally, I would love to have a cup of tea with all of you! My loyal readers! I know a small few of you in the real world, but you all leave your impressions on me with your kind words, and encouragement. Thanks for everything!

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! It’s easy, and fun!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Hell Yeah, I just saw Jackass Two!

Travis got to choose the movie, and I hate to admit it, but my ribs are sore from laughing!

On the ride home I asked him when we would be too old to appreciate fart humor. His answer...

He didn't give me one!

Mega Creep Factor

I just got a very strange phone call. There was some guy, who called me and was like, "Hey, What's up? Remember Me? What are you doing right now?"

I said that I had no clue who was calling. He replied, "If you want to know who this is, you have to go out and meet me somewhere!" I told him that I would have to know who was calling before I made arrangements to go out. He then hung up on me!

WHAT THE F*#&!

Now I have to figure out who I gave my cell # to or decide if it was a random prank call!

Quiz time!

I donated blood today after work and I don't really feel like writing. That means that you all get to take the fantastically difficult test posted below! Have fun :-)

Tracey's Marshmallow Fluff Quiz Take my quiz! Take This Quiz See Scores Make Own Quiz

P.S.- Thanks to Suzy for the inspiration for this one! She's the instigator this time. It was fun to make this quiz... I hope that you all at least attempt to "Label Me" :-)

It's a bird, It's a plane...No! It's the Thursday 13!

Thirteen things I did instead of Blogging or Writing
the Thursday thirteens this summer:

1. I re-watched all six seasons of Sex and the City on DVD.
2. I got crazy busy working two jobs...(What's sunshine? And what does this 'fresh air' that you speak of smell like?)
3. I started deciding what I want to do when I grow up.
4. I began to read Wicked, but my Husband stole it from me!
5. I developed a girl crush on Anne Lamott. I have Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith on order at the library :-)
6. I discovered the single greatest new band on the planet: TV on the Radio Go out right now and buy their album Return to Cookie Mountain, go right now, I'll wait for you to come back!
7. I did read all of your blogs...Religiously! I swear!
8. I got myself reacquainted with the queen, Ms. Hepburn, by having a marathon viewing of her best movies (Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Charade, Two for the Road, My Fair Lady, Funny Face, Wait Until Dark, Love in the Afternoon, Breakfast at Tiffany's)
9. I Planned a whole year's worth of activities for my Spark Group!
10. I started the daunting task of taming my poor kittie's mats. He is so very anti-grooming, that this is a really rough experience for us both!
11. I donated to the annual CFCR FM-Phasis fundraiser. You should too! The theme this year is "Inside Your Head".
12. I have been drinking some tasty teas courtesy my favorite Blogger, and learning about the whole experience here! (Who would have guessed that Tea has it's own website!) ps - my favorite has to be the Twinings Lemon & Ginger in the AM and the Bigelow Earl Grey Green in the PM! Thanks for the cornucopia of flavours to experiment with!
13. Finally, I was nursing a terrible crush on a certain Mr. Braff, and I alleviated it with an opening night viewing of The Last Kiss (Which, by the way, is an excellent movie, no matter what you may have heard. It is very true to life, and it delves into the theory that not every relationship comes along and is perfect. You have to work at at relationship. Just because you love someone, does not mean that you will live happily ever after!)

OK, OK, I'm getting the hint!!!

So I kind of took the summer off, and blogging was, to say the least, sporadic.

Well, now the vacation is over, and you all have to read my blatherings and daily dose of tripe!

...it might suck to be you for a while :-)

I'm kidding! I'm always full of happy Marshmallow Fluff for your enjoyment, just remember to brush and floss after reading.

And now for a proud Girl Moment in History:

Thirty-one years ago today, Billie Jean King beat the crap out of the self-proclaimed male chauvinist, Bobby Riggs.


In straight sets, the former Wimbledon champ won in front of 30,000 people! Way to go girl!



What makes me think of this today? Today I had a "battle of the sexes" at work. I have a co-worker who thinks that Boys are better at EVERYTHING! He has just met his match. I have a racket, and I'm not afraid to use it!

Girls of the world, we're just as good as the boys and we smell better too! I'm going to make this boy cry when I'm done with him :-)

Sparkle sparkle!

Who would have guessed that organizing an hour's worth of activity for five and six year old girls would be so stress-filled!!!

(All the Moms in the crowd stand up and say "Duh!")

I'm wroking out the details for some neat outings for my Spark group this year. I'm dreaming big and hoping that If I cast out a few different lines, I can hook one or two big ones! The thoughts right now are: Airport tour, Radio Station tour, Art Gallery night, U fo S Observatory visit, and maybe a TV station tour. I am 97% confirmed on one of these so far. The best outcome would be that they are all available, and I choose one or two for this year and save one or two for the next.

Also, I'm looking for a co-leader...Know anyone who likes to hang out with little girls, colour inside the lines, prefers campfires to ovens and likes the Chocolate cookies more than the vanilla ones??? They would be a perfect match to me as a leader!! (I always knew that this web site would turn into a personal ad... :-)

Is Melancholy Contagious?

Have you ever felt blue for no good reason at all?

I have tons o' goodness all around, and yet this week, I've been kinda glum. I feel like there i something lurking just around the corner waiting to pounce if I get too excited or cheery.

I guess that it doesn't help that I have been rather sluggish due to a nasty cold that I picked up at work (thanks boss ;-) but still, I just plain feel gross.

Maybe I'm just depressed that the final two in Big Brother are Stupid Erica and Boogie. Boo-Urns! I would totally spend the summer in a house in California to win a half-million. Plus, they get paid to be there, don't they? It would be a win-win situation :-)

Last night I talked to my parents on the phone, and my Mom said that she wants our Santa letters soon. WHAT! Already! It's only September, Ma!?!? That might be the reason for some gloom too... knowing that the mall will start piping Christmas Carols through the airwaves in a few short weeks...

I'm off to the races kiddies, see you all later!

Hanging out on a Late Wednesday Night

Just listening to CFCR 90.5, and finishing a post on the latest issue of Adbusters (post coming soon!)

One of my co-workers has his own radio show on Wednesday nights. It's a pretty awesome show, on an awesome station...

Considering that my musical tastes lean towards "pop" generally, I appreciate CFCR for NOT playing Britney or Christina or even Fred Durst.

Around 9:30 this evening, I was reading Wicked, and listening to these dudes arguing about the political incorrectness of saying (and I paraphrase here) "Sept. 11 is gonna rock and screw the bad memories associated with it previously".

Only on community Radio folks!

Allo, Allo, Allo!

(Imagine the title being said in an "Eliza Doolittle" cockney accent, and it will make more sense)

Hey all of you groovy fellas and schnappy ladies! How are all of you's doin?!?

I'm Great! I'm officially drinking and blogging. I'm having a couple of glasses of wine, and watching the Labor Day Game on TSN. That's not a normal combo is it? My hubster is gone again for the weekend, and I'm here working my bum off at the mall :-( Boo-urns for that!

So in my (GULP!) week long absence, I've been tagged by the super duper Bree! Here goes:

Eight things you never knew about me.

1) I secretly cheer for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers every Labor Day.

2) I HATE one of my supervisors, but I LOVE my job.

3) I won a nation wide contest run by YTV in 1994 and I got the very first version of the Playstation as the first prize.

4) I am a published author. In Grade ten, my English teacher submitted a short story of mine for printing in a book.

5) I finished the Spyro the Dragon game in four days (19:43 total time in game).

6) I cheated on one boyfriend, one time. I felt so terrible afterward, that I swore I would never cheat again, for anything, on anyone, Ever!

7) I have a soft spot in my heart for the movie Clueless.

8) I think that Corner Gas is slightly overrated! Just because they are from a small town, and I am too, a small part of me feels like they aren't always laughing with us but sometimes laughing at us.

So now I'm tagging: Terri, Christy, and my favorite Mama-to-be, Becky.

Crazy Weekend over!

I HATE CRUISE WEEKEND!

Sorry folks, but What a waste of a good summer weekend. I was at "The Phone kiosk" all weekend, and if I have to say "_____ and ______ are two separate companies" again in the next 24 hours, I will make a shiv out of a bic pen and a cell phone battery, I swear it!!!

The mall was packed all weekend, but today was the worst. 1st Avenue was blocked off and they had cars all up and down in front of the Midtown. It was brutal. There were so many people. Plus, there were these kids in pink t-shirts, from some youth evangelical group, who were stopping people, and asking them about their relationship with Christ. Now, I've got no problem with people talking about God, but don't start bothering strangers in a packed mall. That's how people get irritable!!!

On a funny note, today among all of the strange people, and car people, and religious people I talked to today, there was a very nice man and his son who came up to the Kiosk. He and I talked for a bit about different phone stuff, and we gave his Son and Daughter some cute stickers. They all looked familiar, but I couldn't place them. Then as they were getting ready to leave he said his son's name, and I realized that I had been talking to Terri's Hubster and JJ!!! What a small world! Girl, next time you are in the mall, stop by and say Hi!

An Ode to my Craptastic Computer

Oh, Computer! How do I loathe thee? Let me bemoan all of the ways!

You are slow, so very slow. To watch a video on you takes the patience of a saint. My You-tube clips are painfully choppy, and any streaming video is more aptly defined as trickling video.

You are filled with poorly-maintained software, (Because we are much too cheap to treat you well) and you like to crash if not lovingly tended to.

Your monitor has the words "1024 = NO!" lovingly tattooed on it, a previous owner's warning to all future users.

The best thing about you, my piece-of-crap-computer, is the fact that you are going to be leaving us sooner than later, and I'll be able to hold my head up high and proclaim:

I'm getting a Dell!

Big Brother is AWESOME this summer!

Have you been watching Big Brother All Stars? This season is really fun. There is so much backstabbing going on! I was really excited for Chicken George to win HOH this week. He seemed so out of sorts when he won :-) I hope that Mike Boogie keeps the Coup d'Etat to himself again this round. I'd like to see James get booted on Sunday! Gotta love Double Eviction weeks!

If you didn't understand ANY of what I just said, Where have you been all summer?!!? Big Brother is one of the top ten shows of all time. BTW, if you don't want to pay for the live feed, here's a great link to a daily update site hosted by the guy at the Movie Spoiler.

On to real life (at least my own real life)...

The Ex was great! I was spoiled rotten by my loving hubby. We dined on fair food, took in the hypnotist show, wandered through the trade show, played a few games, watched some chuckwagon racing, and finally, went on the Ferris wheel. It was a lovely evening all round.

Travis even "won" me a $10 teddy bear (that means he paid $10 to play for a $1.00 toy) I can't imagine taking children to the fair though. It was freaking expensive to go on the rides plus admission and treats, a day at the ex could easily run a family $100 or more!

I've been enjoying the summer. The dog and I went for a very long walk down by the river last night. The weather was perfect! I wished that I had brought my camera. There were all kinds of birds along the Meewasin trail last night, and Tika had a blast chasing them all!

It sounds like that the Sask blogger meet - Saskatoon edition - is planned for the weekend of September 23rd. I hope to be going, and meeting all of you live and in person. Remember - I'm not a stranger, I'm just strange :-)

Have a great night Everyone!

So Sleepy...

I have this strange insomnia coming over me lately. I cannot seem to fall asleep. This week, It's either been the heat or last night, it was the storm. I dunno what to do.

This is going to be a long weekend. I have worked every day since Sunday, and will continue to do so until the Sunday after next :-) That's my problem now, I have no time to get into trouble anymore! What was I thinking!!! Two jobs! CRAZY!?!?!

I think that Travis and I are going to the ex tomorrow night. He has passes for the ex and the chuckwagon races. I'm kinda excited, because I've never been to a chuckwagon race. I'm really not sure what a chuckwagon even is! (That's not very country of me, I realize.) I'm sure that I'll have a funny story to tell tomorrow.

See Y'all then!

Received in an email this afternoon

I received this in one of those "please forward this to everyone in your email list" kinds of emails. I Had to wonder if A) it's true, and B) where these #'s came from.

If anyone knows if this is true, can you let me know?

Only in Canada. Do not apply for your old age pension. Apply to be a refugee. It is interesting that the federal government provides a single refugee with a monthly allowance of $1,890.00 and each can get an additional $580.00 in social assistance for a total of $2,470.00. This compares very well to a single pensioner who, after contributing to the growth and development of Canada for 40 or 50 years, can only receive a monthly maximum of $1,012.00 in old age pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement. Maybe our pensioners should apply as refugees! Let's send this thought to as many Canadians as we can and maybe we can get the refugees cut
back to $1,012.00 and the pensioners up to $2,470.00 , so they can enjoy the
money they were forced to submit to the Canadian government for those 40 to
50 years.

Here's my two cents: EVEN if this is true, why make a villian of a refugee who has come to Canada? They are here for a reason. Their country was in some turmoil of some sort, and they were either forced out, or they fled towards safety.

Instead of "getting the refuges cut back", why not provide more for Canadian Seniors, or better yet, COMPROMISE!!! Give a little to the seniors, and take a little from the refugees. Was that so hard? Why would someone start this chain letter? Their only focus was, As far as I can tell, to point a finger and blame foreign refugees for another one of the Canadian government's shortcomings. I'm sure that during the creation of the last budget, some random refugee had his or her hand in the mix, and was doling out the cash. :-)

Free to Be...You and ME!!!

Today, I found out that a friend's brother came out as a gay man a few weeks ago. He had a girlfriend in high school, but was never really happy. He met a man a couple of months ago, and they became close. He realized that he was attracted to his friend, and had been suppressing his homosexual feelings for a very long time.

He came out and was TERRIFIED of the response that would come from his family and friends. I'm glad to say that everyone who matters, has been happy for him, and had guessed a while ago :-)

I jump from this story of self-awareness, discovery and acceptance, to the cd in the picture.

If you were a child in the 70's and early 80's you have probably heard this album. It was dreamed up by Marlo Thomas and had a great number of big celebs (for it's time). Mel Brooks, Alan Alda, Carol Channing and Dick Cavett to name a few.

I am surprised that so few people remember this record. It has had it's place in American culture, I mean it was mentioned by Carrie and Stannie in an episode of Sex and the City ("Stanford: I also got them a CD of Free To Be... You And Me. Carrie: I loved Marlo Thomas! I played that album all through the fifth grade. I wanted to run as fast as the wind. Stanford: I played "William Wants A Doll" so many times I almost turned my little sister into a gay man!")

Free to be you and me had one main message to share with kids and grown-ups alike: No matter who you are, or what you want to be, That's OK!

There was a lot of concern because the content was radically feminist at the time. It's ok for girls to be masculine and boys to be feminine. A football star told us that it's ok to cry. A mommy and a daddy told us that they are just regular people. And, in one of the albums most famous songs (and controversial) It's alright for a boy to want to play with dolls.

I played this record over and over as a child. I have truly fond memories of my Mom singing along with me to "Parents are people". It made me laugh to think of my Mommy as a kid like me at one time.

I found this on cd just a couple of months ago and I snatched it up again. I have been reliving some happy times as a child with these songs and skits. I recommend finding a copy and sharing it with a child in your life, or even sharing it with your inner child. It will make them really happy. Trust me on this one. :-)

In that same episode of SATC, in a voice-over, Carrie wonders "When we were younger, Marlo Thomas sang to us about accepting each other and our differences, but then we got older and started singing a different tune. We stop celebrating each other's life choices and started qualifying them. Is acceptance really such a childish concept, or did we have it right all along? When did we stop being free to be you and me?"

That's a good question that we should all ask ourselves!!! Comment on this post, Please! I really want to know what you all think about this idea of Celebrating ourselves and everyone else for being the real you. Why do we find ourselves afraid to admit our true feelings sometimes?

Best Week Ever!

Old Navy doesn't have the best week ever. My Mother-in-Law is having the best week ever.

Two Months before Travis and I started dating, she had a couple major surgeries beacuse she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer and a Brain Tumour. She was in really rough shape for a long time. This week, her doctor old her that most of her cancer is in remission, and that she is going to be fine. That was amazing news! Then, tonight, she went to bingo, and came home with $5000!!! She had $2000 in twenties! That was amazing!

Travis and his Dad are fishing this weekend. I hope that they have a good time.

Yay! Thunderstorm!

They (The Weather Network) are threatening / promising a thunderstorm!

I PROMISE to post tomorrow or even later tonight / this AM...

What a lot / whole bunch of slashes in this quickie :-)

Ignorance IS Bliss!!!

Today, I had a little cry.

While at lunch, I was informed that Ceasar Dressing has....

Wait for it...


ANCHOVIES!!!

EEEWWWW!!! What is a girl to do? I guess I like anchovy paste now :-)

Thanks for a fantastic lunch girl!

Bill Murray's genius shines on

I bought Broken Flowers probably six months ago, and have failed to watch it, until tonight.

What a neat movie. It follows an aging "Don Juan" as he goes on an exploration of his past. He receives a letter in the mail that tells him that 20 years ago he fathered a child, a son. He wanders back into the lives of four ex-flames, each one superbly acted by Sharon Stone, Tilda Swinton, Jessica Lange and Francis Conroy.

The movie is slower paced, but I definitely loved it. It was a good choice on a night when My Hubby was out :-)

I had Iced tea come out of my nose!

Ok, that sounds gross, but it didn't happen to you!

I'm reading Heather's newest post over on Dooce, and I hit this line:

“If you don’t brush your teeth right now they will all fall out, and when you wake up Elmo will be dead.”

I laughed so hard, I had iced tea hit the monitor, and I choked just a little. Thanks again Heather, for another quality post :-)

30 Days

I bought the first season (6 episodes) of 30 Days. It's a neat idea from the guy who made Supersize Me, Morgan Spurlock.

He takes the idea that if you walk in someone else's shoes and experience their life, you might learn something about yourself. The six themes are: Making ends meet on Miminum wage, Going on an anti-aging regimen, A devout Christian and a Muslim trade places, A straight man in a gay world, Consumerism vs. the "eco-village", and finally, a mom who trades places with her college bound daughter.

A really neat series to watch if you like reality tv, and even if you really aren't that fond of the genre.

EDIT: Great minds think alike I guess... Becky has a post about season two starting this week on FX. I'm going to try to catch them as they come out this season, so I don't have to wait! :-)

DOUBLE EDIT: It looks like Friday's Oprah is about Americans living on Minimum Wage, and Morgan and his Fiancee Alex (Who are the ones who lived that way for 30 days) are featured on the show. Check it out!

Goodnight, If you can get cool enough!

I'm Hot. I don't mind the heat so much, but the humidity is what kills me. I was at Kim and Curtis' tonight. Tara is in Saskatoon with her two kidlets - Antoni and Lexie - and we had a fire and made some s'mores. And of course, I played with my baby, Kaylee. What a good time.

I think that the plan is to do it all again tomorrow night, but Travis is going to join us too. Curtis was a little "over-estrogened" I think.

Off topic, does anyone know when it's "safe" to give an expectant mother a gift? What I mean is, I heard once, that if you give a baby gift too soon, then it's bad luck for the remainder of the pregnancy... It's probably just an old wives tale or something, but superstition is superstition after all. I have a small, but cute gift to give a friend, and I want it to be a good thing :-)

I'm yawning up a storm, so I think it's time to bid you all a farewell. Goodnight!

Just - Radiohead

can't get the stink off,
he's been hanging
around for days.
comes like a comet,
suckered you but not your friends.
one day he'll get to you,
teach you how to be a holy cow.

don't get my sympathy
hanging out the 15th floor.
you've changed the locks 3 times,
he still comes reeling through the door.
and soon he'll get to you,
teach you how to get to purest hell.

you do it to yourself you do
and that's what really hurts
is you do it to yourself just you,
you and no-one else
you do it to yourself.

New cure for social awkwardness!

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?

Do you suffer from shyness?

Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

Do you sometimes lack something witty to say to the underwriter or client?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Tequila. Tequila is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Tequila will open your mind and let your thoughts flow through.

You will never be at a loss of conversation with client or underwriter. Tequila can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Tequila almost immediately, and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past, and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Tequila.

Tequila may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Tequila. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, loss of job, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headaches, dehydration, dry mouth, a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare and Naked Twister.

Ask your bartender if Tequila is right for you.

Happy 300th post!

I was goint to post the lyrics to my newest song obsession - Unfaithful by Rihanna - But I thought I would do something "classier" for my 300th blathering on this, my little piece of the interweb ;-)

I was loaned a stack of reading materials earlier this month from the Bennetch/Peters library, and I've been immersed in books in my little spare time from work lately. I just read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. What an amazing book. I had heard NOTHING about this book before. WHY??? This should be required reading, like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

It's about a fourteen year old who is living in South Carolina in 1964. She is surrounded by the turmoil of the Civil Rights Movement. She has been cared for by an African American woman since her mother's suspicious death. It is because of this woman, that she sets out on her own to "find" her Mother's spirit. She heads out to a small town where she thinks her Mom may have been to in her youth.

This is a story of girl power. A story of love and acceptance. I was moved. I went out yesterday and bought a copy each for myself, my Mom, and my sisters Jen and Christine. I think all women should read this story. If you've ever lost anyone, loved anyone, or felt alone read The Secret Life of Bees and you won't feel so alone anymore.

Trying to get back in the groove

What a F-ed up week... I'm sorry that I haven't updated. Here's what's brewing in my world.

I have not one, but TWO jobs now. I'm working part-time at both, but right now, it's pushing full-time hours during my training. Place one is a telecommunications company and I get a freaking cool cell phone! It has streaming tv and XM radio, plus I can download and play mp3's. Of course, this is all free to me!!! Yay! Job two is with a music retailer (and anyone who knows me, knows that I spent most of my money there anyway... )

I've been working 'training' shifts at both, and I am really excited about them.

Then, on Wednesday, My main squeeze had his wisdom tooth pulled. I thought I had it bad... He swelled up way worse than I did. So I've made him some 'world famous' mashed potatos :-) (Thanks Becky!) and made him loads of pudding and soup. He's getting really tired of soft foods, and therefore getting really cranky.

And finally, the best news... My friends Kim and Curtis are in Calgary right now, and Curtis said that he would bring me back some Krispie Kreme Donughts!!! That's a perfect gift! :-)

I dreamt that I was Mrs. Stephen Colbert...

...Not just the guy, but the character. He told me that I was almost Republican enough to get married, so we did. (And I don't really like his show that much at all!!!!) (AND I'M NOT A REPUBLICAN!!!!)

It was a VERY strange dream. He was very robotic in his daily tasks and chores. Brushing his teeth, getting a glass of milk, eating cheerios. It was all weird. On the flip side though, there were perks to being Mrs. Colbert. I got to attend the Daily Show Christmas Party, and that Jon Stewart is a hottie! If I dream that I'm married to Stephen again, I think that I'll dream an affair with Jon too ;-)

No more garlic sausage in the evening! :-)

Greasy Jungle - The Tragically Hip

Greasy jungle metropolis noir

Easy tangles the easiest so far

Ah

I drove down your road

to Hazeldean where I tasted

your funeral home's sandwiches and coffee

I saw your hands melt into one another

I saw you grieve and grow

care alot about one another

I stood at your sink

and I felt your warm water

I washed your dishes

and I looked out your kitchen window where I

saw a soulful gymnast

melt in the air and shudder

just above the snow

making moves that just weren't there

Ah

Velvet callow with wet hands

I turned out the lights and

breathing shallow hesitated

then went upstairs where

I picked up your housecoat

dried my hands and

touched your hair

and just then you awoke

you could never really barely care

Ah

Greasy jungle metropolis noir

I heard this song tonight, and I had to pause. I just stood there with a stupid grin on my face. You know how a song can make you go back in time? This one took me back to Assiniboia circa 1994 - Grade nine. I was siting on Empire Road across from the Kin Park with Lisa singing this damn song at the top of our lungs. Well, we were more like laying down on the road, screaming at the top of our lungs....

Anybody Out There?

Have you read the book, Anybody Out There By Marian Keyes, yet? I have mentioned this book a few times here already, but I have to tell you, I finally finished it, and It is a great summer read!

It starts out in Ireland. Our heroine Anna Walsh is in her parent's house and is being nursed back to health. She has had the beating of a lifetime, but we don't know how or why she is so badly injured. Her parents and her younger sister (who is a Private Detective who's always hanging out in someone's bushes) are taking care of Anna, but all she wants to do is to get back to New York City. She wants to get back to 'Him', a mysterious man whom she is desperate to see again and back to her fabulous career as a big time fashion/cosmetics executive for a posh PR firm.

As the story progresses, we find out her injuries are because of a horrible accident. And that's about all I can tell you.

This story is so tightly wound, that If I tell you much more it might affect your enjoyment of the book. I actually was forced by my Mother to leave it behind on Sunday when we left, because she had started it during the week.

If you have a week off, and you are going to lounge in the sun or shade, grab a copy of this book by Marian Keyes and enjoy! It is one of the best summer reads you will find.

Plus, Marian has one of the coolest websites that I've ever seen... :-)

Three things Meme via Terri

I was tagged by Terri to fill this in...

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE ME:
1: Scary Movies.
2: Big Dogs
3: Getting Old.

THREE PEOPLE WHO MAKE ME LAUGH:
1: Tara
2: Amanda Dalton's Husband Dave.
3: My Auntie Lynn

THREE THINGS I LOVE:
1: My Husband :-)
2: Big Brother Every Summer
3: Starbucks Coffee

THREE THINGS I HATE:
1: Slow internet connections.
2: People who are Fake-Nice!
3: Show offs.

THREE THINGS I DON'T UNDERSTAND:
1: Hate. How can you hate someone that You don't know?
2: How a restaurant can use the same ingredients that I do, yet their food tastes ten times better than mine does!
3: Why there are so many ads on television for drugs. I've never thought to walk into my dr's office and say, "I saw this ad for a drug that will give me loose stools, bleeding ulcers, reduced vision and painful joints, but it makes my asthma better!"

THREE THINGS ON MY DESK:
1: Telephone.
2: Radio (from the storm the other night when we lost power)
3: Candles.

THREE THINGS I'M DOING RIGHT NOW:
1: Watching the View... The Shame!
2: Laundry.
3: Wishing I had central Air.

THREE THINGS I WANT TO DO BEFORE I DIE:
1: See New York City.
2: Be friends with my Sister. (We love each other but don't necessarily like each other)
3: Swim in the Mediterranean.

THREE THINGS I CAN DO:
1: Crochet.
2: Drive a standard.
3: Avoid Housework :-)

THREE WAYS TO DESCRIBE MY PERSONALITY:
1: Loud.
2: Energetic.
3: Diverse.

THREE THINGS I CAN'T DO:
1: Sing.
2: Resist Chocolate.
3: Spell. Sorry, I really can't, and I hate spell check, because most of the time I have mangled the word so badly that it has no suggestions.

THREE THINGS I THINK YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO:
1: The Wolf 104.9 FM Regina. WAY BETTER than rock 102 in Saskatoon.
2: Your Mother. She has your best interests in mind.
3: Other people's opinions. Don't be narrow-minded.

THREE THINGS I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO EVER:
1: Disco Music
2: Celebrity Endorsements
3: The Negative voice in your head.

THREE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE FOODS:
1: Chicken Wings
2: Cheesecake!!!!
3: Caesar Salad.

THREE THINGS I'D LIKE TO LEARN:
1: How to cook.
2: Craft skills. My Poor Sparks have little-to-no craft time.
3: patience

THREE BEVERAGES I DRINK REGULARLY:
1: Venti Caramel Macciatto's
2: Chocolate Milk
3: Mike's Hard Lemonade

THREE SHOWS I WATCHED WHEN I WAS A KID:
1: Rainbow Brite
2: Care Bears
3: The Facts of Life

THREE PEOPLE WHO YOU TAGGED TO DO THIS:
1: Jackie at Adventures of a Prairie Girl
2: Dixie at Vandermeander
3: Breanne at Daring to be Remarkable

I'm really back, For real!

When I called a girlfriend today, the only thing that she had to say about me not talking to her for two weeks was, "Are you really back, For Real?"

Yes, I'm back really for real! :-)

What a fantastic trip! It was hectic and emotional and full of rage at times, but I only had to call Travis once, In tears. That is a good thing. With my sisters, though we do love each other, we fight, and by fight, I mean that if we could harness the power and energy expended in these battles, we could power the earth many times over.

Here are a few pictures of the wedding. I haven't uploaded any of the Reunion pictures yet.

Here's My sister and Amanda (Matron of Honor) Just before they went into the Church.

Christine and David Saying their Vows.

David Searching for the Garter... I think :-)

And a fine example of WHY red wine is served by the glass, and not by the bottle...

What a Hot couple! - No Really, It was almost 31 degrees out there!

Good Times, Bad Times and Good Times Yet to Come

It has been an exciting week since I last blogged. I have felt strange not checking emails or going to work or blogging. I almost can't remember what it was like before we had the internet!!! :-)

I have been busy and will continue to be for the next couple of days.

We went to Round Lake for a Family Reunion last Friday, and I left on Monday with my folks to come to Assiniboia for the week. I left The Husband to his own devices in Saskatoon for a few days... I guess I should have warned a few of you about that... Sorry :-)

We thought that it would be a busy week of cooking and preparing for my sister's wedding (which happens on SATURDAY!!!), but I had no Idea how busy we would be. Her fiancee's Grandfather passed away on Thursday, so we had to go to the wake on Mondayand the funeral on Tuesday. The family is native, and their burial rites are a little different than the ones I'm used to. Plus, Grandpa was buried at the family cemetary in Wood Mountain so there was more travel time involved.

I've been to Regina twice in the last three days to go shopping for wedding food and supplies. If I see another Costco Card, I'm going to scream!! I HATE Costco, and I had to go in there twice!!! Arrgh!

Also, My one sister and I are ready to rumble, but we are keeping it under wraps for now. There is a slight difference of opinion on a few things this week, but I am learning how to rage silently and with great stealth. It is neither my wedding, nor is it hers, so I refuse to ruin anything for the sister who is preparing for her nuptuals...

I had to wear my navy dotted dress to the funeral, b/c it was the one that I had here, so now I have to wear the black dress to the wedding. This is the official week of compromise and togetherness.

I am totally going to need a vacation to recover from my vacation.

I will put up pictures of the reunion and the wedding next week when I get back. I miss everyone, and I hope that you are all surviving this heat and humidity. We aren't handling this heat very well here. There has been something in the oven steady since Monday. Either a ham or a turkey or buns... Today, the indoor thermometer said our house was 41 degrees!!! My parents don't have air conditioning. Plus, there are 11 people here sharing two bathrooms, four bedrooms, and one shower. That's SIX GIRLS and 5 boys... Anyone wanna Trade? :-)