Where in the world?

Remember that game show, where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? I do, and I loved it...especially the part at the end of the show where the kids got to race around and put those blinking pole things on different countries on the map...fun times I tell ya.


Anyhoo, the point of this is to bring a little bit of that game show here to my blog. So for today I will ask this question...where in the world is this picture from? The first person to get it correct will get,uhhhhhh - some home baking from me! Scones perhaps......

It's in you to give...

Or for them to jab with all their might at your tiny little vein and then forget about you while the BP cuff is squeezing the life out of your arm.......as you can guess I went - as I affectionately call it - to get my blood drained...

I arrived hoping and praying that my iron was high enough no to get rejected this time....and after 2 different tests I finally passed. But my question is - why the heck is my iron low? I haven't been doing anything really different these days...whatever.

Back to the story...I was called into the little room with the nurse where she asked me all sorts of extremely personal questions - but that is their job so meh. Anyhoo, I was taken to the clinic and hopped on the lounger then the aforementioned nurse proceeded to put on the bp cuff and seriously hurt me as she put the needle in and and the stand there and chat with the other nurses about hairdressers......and forget about my arm! My fingers started to turn a dark colour (remember I am the whitest non albino...) and started to turn numb....so I kind of interupted their conversation and she looked at me kind of startled -"oh, right, just one moment I'll just collect some samples and I'll take that pressure right off for you.." she did, but my fingers stayed numb the whole time...towards the end of the ordeal another nurse came over to take the needle out of my arm, but I was feeling quite woozy here and obviously I had turned a shade or two greyer than I was at the beginning so I had 4 or 5 nurses come running over to me with fans, cold cloths, apple juice (my fav), massaging my arm and fingers, basically fussing over me for almost a half an hour. Then when I was feeling better one of my nurses walked me over to the cookie station where I was plied with many cookies and more juice....mmmmm - this is the real reason I donate - for the cookies.

Now I feel like I am somewhat of a reasoned vet when it come to getting blood taken, I get bloodtests done more than the average person, but holy crap, she put her weight into it....

Oh well, afterwards I got to zip over to grandmas for tea and some girl talk - I just love my grandma - she freakin' rules.... and then to bed early (for once..) and that was my day....

Moving on up...

Changed desks today..new location is crappier than my last desk..I'm right in line with front door of our office, but at least the people in this department are nicer (no dragon lady..or chatter box- however she was quite nice), and at least I do NOT have to sit next to the boss' wife - that is a huge relief. Yesterday there was talk about me sitting beside her - thank god that didn't happen though!

Spent all day doing practically nothing, training on the new system being implemented in a few days and pulled loads of title off the landtitles website - easy stuff I tell ya!

Last night on an impulse (and a bit of a sverve off of deerfoot...) I ran into Ikea with 10 minutes to closing - but as I explained to Cam, I know where everything is in Ikea, we can be finished in 5 minutes (and we were!). In the end I bought 2 more rugs for my room (the floor is like ice), some bamboo for Heather, and a bedsheet - then ran home to watch the end of the Flames game - which of course we won...Mikka and Iggy are Hockey Gods! And then a run home to set up my new room and watch the victoria secret fashion show.

Did you see it??? If you did you would have seen the PLAID section!!!! A Highland Romance they called it! I was flabbergasted! Did I not say how cool plaid was????? I love it! But despite the plaid, I did start to feel quite depressed about not having the body of the models....but then again I'm not 5'10" and 120 lbs....I'm barely 5'7"..oh well, maybe in a different life.

In any case I have been told that I have forgotten to mention a few things that happened in the past:

• Six White Boomers is an awesome christmas carol - especially when I can sing along loudly in the car.
• After being invited out to watch the Flames game one night I was ceremoniously asked to pay off a certain someone's gambling debt.....

What was the other thing B?

A nice change

I am getting quite creeped out by this traffic business these past 2 days. It seems like there is no one on the road, seriously - before work traffic is excellent, after work when 14th is a gong show and crowchild is a huge mess...there is no one, I almost never have to brake. This is very very weird. Something is going on, but honestly I am just going to hope and pray that it continues.

In other news I love this weather....tomorrow is +2, thursday +11, friday +10, saturday +9...despite the slush and dirt, I am soooo pleased, a welcome change from the near -40 degree temps we have been experiencing lately.

Keep it up weather, keep it up!

One more quick thing...I am just watching ET Canada and I would have thought that honestly they would have got this right, but they just announced that Nickelback - those west coast boys...win big in Vegas...WEST COAST??????? WTF, aren't they from HANNA ALBERTA? Last time I checked we are NOT sporting a coastline....ridiculous!

Funny Stuff

I just found this on the overheard at the office website....funny stuff....I just wish I could get away with it (the horse puppet that is)...

11AM Yeah, Tell Him We Canceled Favorite Animal Friday

Coworker leaning on office door: Hey, have you seen John*?

Horse puppet appears peeking from under John's desk.

Horse puppet: John's not here right now. Can I take a message?
Coworker, slowly backing out of office: Uh...

8700 NW River Park Drive
Parkville, Missouri

Overheard by: Hapless intern

Also, I'm not sure what this means....

3PM At a Quarter-Million Square Miles, He's a Very Big Boy

Proud, jorts-wearing papa: Eric* is looking more like a Saskatchewan every day, with his big feet and all that hair.

Conrad Sauer Drive
Houston, Texas



This is awesome....

12PM Waistline: It's the Cheesesteaks

Harvard MBA student: So, are you flying back tonight? What airport are you flying into? New York?
Suit: Why would we fly to New York? We're from Philadelphia.
Harvard MBA student: I didn't know Philadelphia had an airport.
Suit: It's the fifth-largest city in the U.S., of course it has an airport.
Harvard MBA student: Largest city? Based on what?
Suit: Uh, population...


Harvard, Massachusetts

Overheard by: Not hiring any MBAs

This one takes the cake....

11AM For Emily Five, Wherever I May Find Her

Boss: Thank god for Emily Five!
Coworker: What?
Boss: Thank god for Emily Five!
Coworker: Huh?
Boss: You know -- the whole London terror plot thing.
Coworker: You mean, 'MI5'?
Boss: Whatever... thank god they were there to make sure we're safe.

1400 16th Street
NW Washington, DC

Overheard by: Neena

Posh and Becks

I'm pretty sure that we all know that my very fav celebrity couple is Posh and Becks - so whne I read this entry of Go Fug yourself, I couldn't help but giggle quite a bit to myself....

PS - the drive to work today was wonderful....over the weekend something magical must have happened to the crowchild / glenmore / 14th area - I can't remember it running so smoothly...

What a weekend!

What a weekend indeed!

I spent the weekend being plied with cup of tea after cup of tea, and of course grandma's cooking - nevermind I was there to take care of her! No really, it was very very nice to spend the weekend with my grandma - I love hanging out with her, she has such great stories and amazing experiences. To make the most of our time together we went out for dinner last night, to a cute little family owned restaurant, and then today with curlers in her hair we went for special London Fog teas.....she loved it!

Tomorrow I am back to work, boo-urns! But at least I bought new slippers to make me feel happier - I love slippers, especially since my floors are like ice...I should really call my landlord on that one...

In any case I am very content tonight, in fact I've decided that I desperately need to get away from Canada - I've been in the country waaaaaay too long for my liking. My thought is that I want to go on a scottish walking tour. I found one that goes from Fort William to Inverness - how Outlander! My new problem is that I need a walking partner...who's game?

HOT DAMN #2!!!!!!!

Congrats KQ - you are my hero!!!!!!!

Be Still and Know

I had truly forgotten how much I love going out for an evening of entertainment. Jen (from job#2) and I attended the christmas concert of our co-worker Jackie. She sings in the choir of the Rocky Mountain College and they put on a spectacular show. The orchestra was amazing, the singing was absolutely fantastic - it even gave me shivers...now I'm winding down, sitting by the tree, eating waffles for dinner and having a lovely cup of tea... what I really should do is go to bed and actually get a decent amount of sleep for once. But that wouldn't be fun now would it?

Oh, almost forgot....I got my car back!! Yeah!!!! - best part is I didn't have to return my rental car back to Aldo the creepy rental car guy.....

I can't help but think I was going to write something......meh, it's gone - night!

Hot Damn!

As I was quietly working at my desk, doing my best to keep out of trouble...I was asked politely to come into my boss' office. Immediately I jumped to the conclusion that I was in deep trouble, only to be confirmed of this by him asking me to sit down and closing the door.....but then he proceeded to tell me that because one of our other ladies is leaving they want me to move into her position. In fact that department had a vote and the voted me as the one they want.....how very flattering I thought.

So it turns out I wasn't in trouble at all, I got a promotion and a raise....

Afterwards I took care of the monstruous heap of laundry and ate a yummy home cooked dinner, took a trip to my very favourite store (Ikea of course) and had some nice hot cocoa and listened to old christmas records (that's right - records baby!) with my good buddies Miss KQ and Miss CK - a nice day indeed.

HEY!

Rory TOTALLY stole my birthday tiara idea- seriously, go watch gilmore girls right now and see what I mean - booooooo!

A poem for you

This poem was just brought to my attention and I love it - funny stuff I tell you...

It's not so much art,
But just counting syllables,
Haikus are stupid

The Saga Conitnues....

So Sunday morning my car miraculously started - after 16 hours of being plugged in of course. After which I promtply went back inside to sit and watch tv and iron all afternoon. In the evening however I had a birthday dinner to attend, to which of course I drove. After a lovely dinner and our goodbyes my car started again - good so far - but funny enough after I left oakridge I was driving down crowchild just at the military museum and voila, my car stalled - ON CROWCHILD TRAIL! Nice huh? I eventually got it started and after a few more stalls and my engine light popping on I made it home and plugged it in. At this point I was so angry, I wanted to blow up my car - stupid car!

Anyhoo this morning I woke up extra early and arrived at the dealership as they opened and demanded they fix my car, it's only 5 months old, these things shouldn't happen. They were quite sympathetic and promised to fix it by the time I finished work - how lovely! But, that is not the end of the story... I got to work and about 1 hour later I got a call about my car - apparently they found the problem- my PCM crashed - which I understadn to be the computer bit of my car - somethin that is potentially veyr expensive to fix, luckily I have a good waranty... and so I don't have my car, but I do get either a colbalt or G6 pursuit to drive in the meantime....

Now, all I have left to do is get winter tires......

Friends OFF!

With my car that is....until it decides to freakin' work.....thankfully Heather was home to drive me to work this morning or else I would have been quite SOL. As it turns out Steve drove me home from work and tried valliantly to help me start the car. Jumping it didn't work so we amazingly found the plug in for my block heater and sought out a plug in somewhere around my apartment. It turns out we found one in the lobby and voila - 4 hours later and we should have ignition.....I hope.

In the meantime one of my fav movies ever is on.....Top Hat with Fred and Ginger - you know the one where Ginger wears that gorgeous ostrich feather dress....the one on the Ritz crackers comercial and tin.....I just love it. So, I think I'll sit back have some dinner and watch adoringly as my fav dancers take to the stage!

Priceless...

When I first moved into my place in July my Mom aplty named it Kensington Palace (as it is located on Kensington Road) and she would call me speaking with this crazy british accent and refer to herself as Lady Spencer - crazy mom. Anyhoo, I was chatting with my mom today and telling her how much fun I had decorating my living room with all of my Nutcrackers (Heather will be soo impressed) to which she replies....

"OMG - Linda, you live in the Nutcracker Suite........" Get it? Like the Ballet....

- Priceless....she cracks me up....

Speaking of Nutcrackers...I'm still angry at Southcentre for doing away with their giant saluting Nutcrackers on the side of the mall....they replaced them witha creepy Santa Claus hanging over the roof...not impressed at all.

Finally.....

Okay before I start with the weekend update - I'm watching Grey's and OMG Christina is wearing a Stanford Hoody - not exactly like mine, hers is zip up and mine is pullover- but WICKED!!!!! Also, the addorable tim horton's asian father comerical is on - soo lovely!

Anyhoo back to the weekend.

Friday was really fun. I raced home after work to clean up, shower, do my hair and makeup get the cake and race over to pick up Robbie. We made it home with loads of time to spare and we cleaned up my apartment, set up the booze table, and all the wine glasses etc etc.....Then the party started...The guest of honor arrived with a dozen people from the french centre....
More guests arrived - english speaking guests...and then the cocktails started - we had Champagne cocktails, Kir Imperial to be exact and the accents also started up - I love accents!!!!! After that the party slightly split up into the english kitchen party and the french living room party - both super fun....then we moved over to Sam's bar - also wickedly fun. In the end we stumbled back to my place, I changed into my gown for the ball, and people cooked radomn meals in my kitchen and I watched bizarre cartoons on the tv. Finally got into bed at around 4 am - again.....

Saturday was great as well. It started out with a run to the Scottish Shoppe to pick up Cam's kilt and a lesson on how to wear my sash. Then a dash to the housesitting house for a final cleanup and then off to do my hair, which really didn't go well at all. Then an equally as frightening makeup session. While I was sitting in the chair my little sister walked up to chat, after she left the girl asked about her, asked her age and I replied..well I'm 25 so she is 23....and she replied.."OH! you are only 25..I never would have thought you were that young..." well, how very nice...I look old...that plus the hair disaster made me feel very very special....

Grey's interlude....George is being a piece of crap right now......

Anyhoo, back to saturday.. After the makeup session I raced back home, got dressed and helped Cam with the final touches of the kilt outfit....he looked very very nice....and as the saying goes..."A highlander, no matter how old or haggard looks splendid, however a brawny young highlander in full regalia is positively resplendent" and it is true, very true. And we were off.

We arrived just before the head table was piped in and rushed to our seats. The dinner was delicious, the speaches were amazing, Lynne's tribute to our fair land brought tears to my eyes and the toast to "the homeland" was extremely moving. After the dinner various people tried their best to convince Cam to either join the pipers, the dancers, or whatever other scottish things they could think of. The dancing was so great to watch, my dress was far to long (it hit the floor with 3 inch heels) to dance and of course Cam doesn't know any of the moves so we watched. During the intermisison we had the pipers come out and pipe a few songs while the highland dancers performed - it was the nicest thing I could have ever heard.

All in al the evening was a success....and onto sunday. I woke up to find that my father had been admitted into the hospital - some complications due to a broken foot and some heart troubles...anyhoo off to the hospital with the fanciest car magazine I could get my hands on - and then a run around the city to gather various bits of stuff that I had strewn across the city.

After that my week went to hell - but there's not a damn thing I can do about it. Tomorrow is friday, thank god, although this weekend there isn't much planned, maybe I'll just chill chez moi.

Well, it doesn't seem like my explanantion lived up to what I thought it could be...maybe I am forgetting something.

Meh, that'll have to do - adios!

No weekend updates yet - yesterday was 10 years and I spent the evening by myself decorating my pathetic zellers tree with all of my lovely Ikea decorations.

Quite the day I think

Sweet.....

I know I know - still no post about the weekend, but I will do something tonight- I swear...

In the meantime - I just arrived back from un petit lunchtime Ikea excursion. Nothing, well almost nothing, cheers me up and makes me happy like Ikea. I have no idea why i love it so much - but really why don't I work there again?

Monday morning

Sooooo tired.....didn't sleep last night.....florescent lights hurt the eyes....and to top it all off, people in calgary who drive where I drive to get to work are all idiots.....especially those in large trucks or those who take their freakin' time going through a turn light.....

stay tuned for a weekend update - it was a great weekend....

Return of the Mack

One day, very long ago I was sitting in the food court at Southcentre on my lunch break and the funniest thing happened.....it seems that a very young (I'm thinking 16ish) guy named Darryl actually got up the nerve to come over and tell me that I was very pretty and that although he was dressed in his A&W uniform that he would very much like to get my number and call me.....I was flattered of course but because I couldn't bring myself to tell him that I couldn't go out with him because I was at least 2 years older that him and not single so I gave him a fake number....I know, I know, he probably called that number and got some crazy old man named Murphy or something but...anyways, why am I telling you this? Because last night on my marathon errands running escapade (aka picking up fancy ingredients for the party drinks tonight) I ended up at Willow Park Liquor store and lo and behold - there he was.....and I even had to face him and ask him where to find a specific bottle.....I'm not sure if he recognized me - it was 6 years ago, but still - a blast from the past nonetheless.

In other news - Victoria Secret is coming to Canada!!!!

Halelujah!!!!!!

As if it took them this long to figure out that we Canadian women will be spending ooddles of money in their stores......now all I need is a Bath and Body Works and a H&M in Calgary and I'm set!

See you all tonight!

Party on Wayne....

There is nothing like freshly dyed hair - I finally took matters into my own hands and got rid of that damn blond streak that has been there since february....although the shower looked like I murdered someone in it, my hair turned out quite nice - dark, very dark, but nice... at least now I have fancy hair for the Ball - now I just have to find a way to do my hair for the Ball....I'll think of something...

Anyhoo - the main purpose of this post is to announce yet another party at - you guessed it - chez moi..this time it is for Rachel's Birthday....her Chanpagne birthday in fact....starts around 7:30 - moving to Original Joe's at 9:30ish....come one come all, there will be cake and fancy birthday cocktails...and of course me on the ground laughing my head off as I try to keep it together as hostess......so I expect to see you all there.....

20 Things I Love

Not in any particular order..... and not including people that I love of course.

1. Waking up at 4:00am knowing that I can guitlessly go back to sleep for a few more hours
2. Watching a movie that has so many memories attached to it (ie: Tombstone, Top Gun, or Romeo and Juliet)
3. Re-reading a really awesome book (Outlander)
4. Being truly happy for a friend and letting them know (Cynthia and Aaron!)
5. Laughing so hard that I fall off my chair and can't breath (P&P party - Rachel and her accents!, numerous occasions sitting at the kitchen table with my mom)
6. Having a beer with my fav Mr. B and talking about Europe.
7. Buying the perfect gift for someone and watching their face as they open it (Bama)
8. Having a total stranger pay me a compliment
9. Being so scared about looking at a a paper / test and being totally suprised that I got an awesome mark. (SPAN 407)
10. Overseas phonecalls (Maya, Rupinder, Snoop)
11. The first bite of my Nana's Christmas Cranberry Pudding - complete with ultra delicious sauce.
12. Boarding a plane set for Europe / Having Airport parties before I head off for Europe
13. Using my degree and getting paid for it.
14. Hugs from my Grandma
15. Tax Returns (so I can go to Europe)
16. Getting to dress up for a special occasion
17. Putting on Flannel PJ's and sleep socks then climbing into a bed freshly made with flannel sheets.
18. When the FLAMES win - while wearing my Freddy Braithwaite jersey.
19. Drinking Nog / yummy coffee drinks / eating sweedish meatballs while watching an aforementioned movie / laughing at Seinfeld.
20. Being wrapped in a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer (thanks mom...)

okay....21 things I love

21. Getting fun mail.

WELCOME!

In order to welcome Megs to the Blog world properly, I decided to post a photo of her when she and I took a trip to YYZ last october (2005) for some shopping (at H&M of course!) and the best ever crème brûlée ristreto....

Lest we Forget

Dedicated to my grandfather, George Hartford Gould, and to all who fought and continue to fight for our country.

Thank you.

In Flander's Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flander's fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, tho poppies grow
In Flander's fields.

Liet. -Col. John McCrae

Let the Incrimination Begin...

As I write this I am praying that noone from job #2 reads this.....or if they do that they completely understand my reasons for doing what I did.....

Yesterday in the midst of my crap ass tuesday at work I get this one phone call - one phone call that would completely change my day - it was Cam...... this is how the conversation went....

ME - Good afternoon, Linda speaking...

Cam - Hey - are you working tonight (@ Job #2 he means...)

ME - yep I am - why?

Cam - 'cause I was just offered Flames tickets! - wanna go?

ME- Holy crap - I'm calling in sick..... ( note that there was absolutely NO hesitation on my part in response to his ticket offer...) (please also note that I have a perfect attendance record at work...for 2.5 years - never ever ever called in sick, not even when I was acutally sick!)

Cam - really? okay....

ME - Yeah - I'll call you right back....

So I called in sick to the aforementioned (KQ) job #2 and then proceded to grin ear to ear for the remaining hour of work.....

I got home asap - had Heather drop off the BEST jersey in the world (Freddy Braithwaite #40 if you were wondering...) and jumped into the shower only to be wisked away to the game @7. It turns out that these tickets were from a certain Partner who decided that Cam was deserving enough to have use of his tickets for the evening. And boy were they ever awesome tickets!

ROW 8 BABY!!!!! ROW 8!!!!!! (now do you see why I called in sick????)

We were right at Kipper's glove for the first and third periods and got to watch Andrew Ferrence's fight right before our very eyes! Thrilling I tell you!

In the end we kicked Dallas' ass - 3 to 1 and I remembered how much fun it was to go to a Flames game.....

Today was not nearly exciting, unless you count almost dying 14 times on the drive home (the 10 minute drive home) from yoga and grocery shopping.... But I did decide that I have another new boyfriend.....I'm not sure what it is about him (maybe he reminds me of a certain Jamie?) but I just love him....... ladies and gentlemen I give you ....Rhett Warrener

The Tuesday Blues

Holy --------- (insert your own 4 letter words here) - I cannot freakin' believe that it is only tuesday! I feel like a truck ran me over , backed up and ran me over again. The past 2 days have been very crappy. Nothing really happeend that was the breaking point I just feel like in general most things have just been below par if you get my drift. Last night dancing was okay, before that I had dress alterations which are never very fun. Tonight is Job #2 and homework, albeit easy easy homework, but homework nonetheless. Tomorrow's forcast seems to be much the same as the last 2 days.... yoga - nothing too negative about that - and a meeting of the SACS - I depserately hope that my fav talkative lady keeps her chattyness to a bare minimum - maybe I'll sneak my iPod in.....

I guess I feel like I have a bazillion things to do and am too busy every night adn I never sleep - although that isn't really any different is it? - why did I do this to myself? Because I am stupid. Next semester doesn't look like I'll get very much relief - 2 more courses and still with the dancing - yoga may have to suffer on account of my laziness....ughhhh.

Later on this week I have to make food for my entire office (its my fat friday) which may consist of crepes (both savory and sweet) and scones....afterwards I have to race home to make shepherds pie and set up the party for the evening - thank god I get to at least drown my sorrows in super delicious special tea that I am serving at the party to go along with the delicious Mr. Darcy.

Ughhh, I cannot get out of this slump......I wonder what the radio conversation is today? Maybe that will perk me up...

The morning after.....

As predicted the party for KQ was a gong show - my apartment was a disaster, it has since been cleaned but holy crap what a mess...... and holy crap it was fun!

It turns out that the girls actually convinced me to go to the bar - why did I go? Because I was guilt-tripped into going, but in credit to KQ and HM it was fun...... danced so much I can hardly stand today without groaning in pain......drank so much that I am not feeling like doing much more than laying on the couch..... slept so little that I can hardly keep my eyes open as I type this...... and talked so much over the loud music that the pineapple juice that I drank this morning burned as it went down.

Note to self - go to bed before 5 am - you will thank yourself later.....

Meet My New Boyfriend

As we all know I am very easily influenced by media - and I have no problems admitting to this. If you think about it, it makes my life really quite interesting.

Anyhoo, as you all know I have this thing for all things miltary and just recently I watched the movie Annapolis - (which for all you non-military people out there is the US Naval Academy). Needless to say I was enthralled throughout this masterpiece of film and have therefore decided that James Franco is my new TV (well movie actually) Boyfriend. I don't know why I am in love with him - really I have no clue.....maybe it's those cheekbones.....but in any case I love him and have dedicated the next little while to a) buying a copy of Annapolis and b) buying a copy of Tristan & Isolde (he was in that too of course).

It's perfect really - they satisfy 2 needs - the need to see my new TV Boyfriend and to see movies that have happy endings - well Tristan & Isolde isn't exactly happy per say, but it'll do.

What the Hell????

My signature colour/ fabric is pink chiffon - apparently this is what Tickle thinks I am - but honestly, can anyone, anyone who knows me see me in pink chiffon - ever? Most days my outfits consist of 60% black - at least! - I hate rainbows and clowns, and with the exception of a strong hatred for non happy endings I am generally a very melancholy person and thus not a pink chiffon person.

Other weird things that happened today - Knickers and Lace should carry more of a selection of undergarments made to be worn under a black (of course) crepe halter top dress. I went shopping on my lunch hour and my first stop was the aforementioned store - very dissapointing indeed. I ended up heading to the mall to La Vie en Rose to buy a black bustier for my dress - my other one is nearing 8 years old and no longer does the job. Now all that needs done are the alterations for my 18 sizes too big dress - monday I think.

Oh, and the radio saga continues - yesterday the topic was how you lost your virginity. All sorts of people called in - some good stories, some very very bad stories...some just plain weird. Why would anyone want to discuss this on the radio is beyond me - I wouldn't.

Now I am settling in for a night of cake baking and a movie - military theme of course - resting up for the gong show that will be tomorrow night - KQ"s party - well, thats all for right now - TGIF!

So Damn Jealous

So Mr. McFebruary is off to Europe for a 7 week tobogganing tour - and I am so damn jealous. I LOVE Europe (a fact which I'm pretty sure we are all well aware of) but I'm not sure I would want to go as part of a sledding team. I'm just not that into sledding - but hey, I can't knock it unless I've tried it right?

In any case I am sitting at my desk dreaming about a trip that I can take to get me the hell away from mortgage processing....that and the fact I constantly get emails from friends in all sorts of fun places- and by fun I mean NOT Calgary! I am for sure going to leave sometime soon - after my courses are fini, so I guess that means mid April - But hey Springtime in Paris is lovely and I do have a certain hankering for some ham sandwiches plus I need some more scarves (hey Denise!)

- Now watching McDreamy - and George just did the cutest McString of McWords - adorable, I love George....who doesn't really?

Class was over early today - I ROCKED the township system tonight - wicked! Now, just one more class to go and I'm free again until january.....

K - gotta go pack for housesitting - hasta luego...

AHHHHHH!

I had to - just couldn't resist....

Worst cake EVER!

Last night I made the ugliest cake ever - AND I got a freakin' certificate for it! Seriously, the cake design isn't that bad persay - but the colours I ended up with are hideous. I ended up with bright blue roses and green leaves on top, with white dots also on the top and pink swirl flowers on the sides. Ugh! I'll definately have to sharpen my skills for Miss KQ's cake on saturday - however the one that Heather wants to make don't really take decoration too well....I shall have to think on that one. In retrospect I should have made a Calgary Flames cake like Cam told me to - meh, next time.

In other news I have my final detox session tonight - since it has been a few weeks and I haven't been eating all that well I am expecting something very nasty. But, it's better in the water than in me, right? I should also really try a traditional detox - with herbs and stuff - probably something we should all do at some point in time - no?

Work has been interesting these last few days. I've forgotten to take my glasses out of my school bag and have thus not been wearing them on the computer - even now as I type this the words are blurring together, so please pardon any spelling errors. I am certain that this 2 computer screen thing is killing my eyes - hmmmmm. However, this afternoon I think I get to take a field trip to the second floor to decifer a nasty spanish voicemail that some randomn person who works in the same buildig as me received - weird, and scary - I hope that my decifering skills in spoken spanish are up to snuff....somehow I highly doubt it!

Well, tonight is Halloween, I am not dressing up - did that already, and I am not handing out candy - I've decided to be a Halloween grinch tonight and deprive the little kiddies of goodies - besides, who is going to come to an apartment? Plus, I have to move my bed tonight (my non - grown up twin bed that is in my storage room) and I'm sure I won't have any time to be answering the door.

In any case - HAPPY HALLOWEEN to all!

Toga Toga!

As I write this I am looking out the window with a look crossed between horror and glee - it is the first snowfall of the season afterall regardless of the fact that I do not yet own a snow brush for my car. Also, I was kindly reminded after I was woken up a few minutes ago that in fact I had forgotten to turn back my clocks - wicked! There is nothing else like the joy one feels when they realize it is not in fact 12: 30 in the afternoon on a sunday (thus shortening their weekend) but in reality it is actually 11:30 am! Ahh, so now I don't feel like a huge lazy person laying in bed contemplating if i should actually venture out and do my laundry. I think I should - it is important!

Anyhoo, weekend thus far has been quite fun. Friday night was really great. Denise and I went to see The Queen at the Globe theatre. It was a great movie, certain characters seemed a bit flawed (Cherie Blair for one, she couldn't seem to sit like a lady......tsk tsk) but all in all I think Denise and I were pleased. Although I did turn into a cry baby for most of the movie. Honestly it was like I was reliving all the emotions I had when Diana died. I know, I know, I am a loser, but I really liked her, she was a lovely person and as much as I love the Queen, she wasn't all that nice to Diana. Anyhoo, yes the movie was really good. In the end I think it gave whomever has seen it / will se it a better perspective to both HRH the Queen and Tony Blair, funny enough though both of their respective spouses didn't fair nearly as well - they came off as both ignorant and annoying.

Saturday morning I woke up bright and early to pick up miss KQ and off to school we went. It was a day of learning about mud - and the importance of it to the drilling industry. Coincidently my grandfather was quite influencial in the world of mud so that made it a bit more fun. After all the mud talk we learned lots about how one actually searches, drills and then get the oil out of the ground and Miss KQ proved to be pleathora of information in the field of geology - hats off to KQ! Then we got a tour of the plant / rig at the SAIT campus - very interesting.

Saturday night was a bit of a blur as I raced across the city to pick up the toga cum bed sheet that Cam and I absconded with when we had our toga party in Corfu. Having picked it up I raced home to air it out, have a shower, curl my hair, have dinner, do my goddess makeup and attempt to put on the toga. Now, I know how to tie a toga, and I've done it before, but it is very difficult to make it lay flat and not all bulgy around the curvy bits. In the end I had to go to Rachel's to do it and after Mr. Rob Zombie was decked out with his makeup and fellow goddess Artemis Rachel was in her own toga and goddess makeup we were off. A bit late in the end but nevertheless we made it. The party was really quite fun - the costumes were great - a halloween bag lady (wearing a cape decorated with bags ful of candy!), Borat, a 50's dance girl, Charlie Chaplin (which for some reason I was certain was a mime?!?!), and Irish dude, a 70's coach in a plaid suit, a padded Superman, a rock climbing guy, a 1/2 pimp 1/2 hooker, a vampire girl, and mt fav - a guy in jeans and a t-shirt with a green hart hard on that had long pieces of orange streamer coming off of it. After much debate the 3 of us decided that he was in fact an octopus - he had suckers drawn on his streamers, eyes on his hart hat and a "tatoo" on his arm that read "I R Octopus" and later added a sign to his chest that read "I am a M F OCTOPUS" Priceless..... Oh, and I was hit on by a lawyer type from Prince George dressed as a very revealing caveman, who may be moving to calgary to work for a firm in town, and who coincidently is haivng a toga party in january which we are invited to - awesome, another event that I can attend in a bedsheet. In any case I spent the evening being plied with drink after drink offer which I declined (as I was driving), but instead accepted his offer of San Pelegrino water and had a very interesting conversation where he called he Spence all night - weird, very weird.

TGIF

I have been waiting for this day all week. It started tusday, as I was walking into my office building I was certain it was thursday but suddenly realised that it was in fact tuesday and I almost started to cry - that is how dissapointed I felt. However, I perservered and voila it is friday! Today has been pretty good so far. I just translated my third mariage certifiacte from spanish into english and I am beginning to see that my degree wasn't in fact a waste of however many years at university.

Yesterday was fun, at lunch I zipped over to buy a beautiful three tiered glass cake stand. After work I got to rush over to the canada post outlet and pick up my much anticipated Pride and Prejudice 10th Anniversary Edition DVD set (wicked!) and then to KQ's to pick her up so that we could make our way to class - that's right I went back to school last night. Now, it isn't really that much of an accomplishment, the course is 3 weeks long and my mark consists of a take home test (seems to be quite straight forward) and attendance at an oil well tomorrow - nice huh?

Wednesday was good despite the fact that apparently scottish dancing was cancelled - boo-urns! But at least I did do some yoga to make up for the fact I was deprived of my cute little scottish dude, and of course visitng with Rachel is always a nice way to end my work day. On, one more thing - my french radio station was having another "discussion" and this time the question was What do you do after sex? The most popular answers? Sleep, shower, smoke (the are french afterall) and brag to their friends - very odd....

Tuesday was KQ"s birthday although she seemed (and still is) quite sick - not good. Cam and I, however, had a really delicious dinner. We made hands down the most delicious salmon I have ever tasted - and super yummy brie quesadillas. Quite the culinary accomplishment I believe. Hats off to Rachel Ray for creating the recipe!

Tonight I have to do a spot of shopping - this time for a pretty dress for the ball next month. Hopefully I can find something inexpensive but nice - and to go with the tartan sash I have ordered from Scotland. Followed by dinner and a movie (The Queen) with Denise - A lovely way to end the work week I think.

Feliz Cumpleaños Amiga!

Bon anniversaire ma très chere amie - Je t'aime beaucoup beaucoup beaucoup!!!!!

Joyeux anniversaire

Joyeux anniversaire

Joyeux anniversaire KQ!!!!!!!

Joyeux anniversaire


Cumpleaños Feliz

Cumpleaños Feliz

Cumpleaños Cumpleaños

Cumpleaños Feliz


Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Miss KQ

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!!

The weekend

Well its monday - hmmm. I can't quite believe that I am already sitting at my desk waiting for the clock to strike 8:30 but here I am. Onto the recap.... Friday was a relaxing evening...complete with PJs at 6:00 pm, vietnamese food and some fun tv (I forgot what TV was liek before 10pm), but oddly enoguh I didn't get to bed until midnight! Why? I have no clue, all the sudden it was 11:45 and I scrambled to wash my face, brush my teeth and jump into bed.

Saturday was also quite nice - not as relaxing, but really fun. It started out with work - (job#2) - and then a trip to my aunt's house for a very belated birthday dinner for my 2 sisters and I - it turned out to be quite the reunion, my grandma was there ( the coolest 92 year old I know!) and my cousin Kody (also very cool), my two sisters and their beaus, my uncle and my aunt's friend Bev. All in all we sat, ate and laughed until we almost died - I had forgotten just how hilarious my aunt is - plus the dialogue between my cousin and grandma was really quite priceless, there's nothing quite like a 92 year old grandma type zinging her 30 something grandson like someone half her age - no make that a quarter of her age! Back at home saturday night and I went to bed earlyish (for me) which means 11:00 pm!

Sunday was pretty great as well. I slept late - had a nice breakfast, went grocery shopping for cupcake supplies (cake class tonight) and baked some chicken for lunches this week. Then Mr. B (my favorite handyman) came over and I finally got my curtains hung for the living rom (after 4 months!) and they look wonderful! Bravo Mr. B on your handyman skills! Afterwards we celebrated hte birthday of the aforementioned handyman by going out for chinese food at the Imperial Garden restaurant - yummy! To wrap up the evening Desperate Housewives was new and I watched whilst icing my freshly baked cupcakes. This season seems better than last, but I still vehemently disliek Edie Britt - she is ruthless and horrible - I hope she meets with an unfortunate accident sometime soon in the show -she sucks!

One last thing to wra up this post - my beautiful yellow ribbon on my car was stolen last week and I am still mad about it. Tomorrow I shall have to go to the base and pick up a new one - this will be #3 for those of you who are keeping track!

Happy Monday to all - catch ya later!

Mon Essentiel

I am totally hooked on this song by Emmanuel Moire today- I have no idea why...I just am. It seems very nice and happy. I recommend it as a download if you can find it - I found it on limewire.

Je sais ton amour
Je sais l'eau versée sur mon corps
Sentir son cou jour après jour
J'ai remonté les tourments pour m'approcher encore
J'ai ton désir ancré sur le mien
J'ai ton désir ancré à mes chevilles
Viens, rien ne nous retient à rien
Tout ne tient qu'a nous

Je fais de toi mon essentiel
Tu me fais naître parmi les hommes
Je fais de toi mon essentiel
Celle que j'aimerais plus que personne
Si tu veux qu'on s'apprenne
Si tu veux qu'on s'apprenne

Tu sais mon amour
Tu sais les mots sous mes silences
Ceux qu'ils avouent, couvrent et découvrent
J'ai à t'offrir des croyances
Pour conjurer l'absence
J'ai l'avenir gravé dans ta main
J'ai l'avenir tracé comme tu l'écris
Tiens, rien ne nous emmènes plus loin
Qu'un geste qui revient

Je fais de toi mon essentiel
Tu me fais naître parmi les hommes
Je fais de toi mon essentiel
Celle que j'aimerais plus que personne
Si tu veux qu'on s'apprenne
Si tu veux qu'on s'apprenne
Si tu veux qu'on s'apprenne...

Je ferai de toi mon essentiel
Mon essentiel
Si tu veux qu'on s'apprenne
Qu'on s'appartienne

Trading Spouses

I'm watching the latest edition of trading spouses - and it's a doozy! I first saw this show when I lived in France and thought it was an interesting concept. However, this episode features two families, one from Boston - orthodox Jews and one from Olympia Kentucky - good old southern bible thumpers - not that there is anything wrong with that. I personally like to think that I am quite tolerant of people's religious views - but this one women (from Kentucky) is ridiculous. She is sooooo ignorant of anything remotely different than good old christian values and tries to change the Jewish familes ways about everything! She complains about things being kosher, about the "arabic or hebrew whatever" on the packaging at the supermarket, she complains about that fact that the parents are against certain kinds of relationships between men and women - and dancing together. She was just plain rude - honestly - and it is making me quite angry.

Basically the show turned out to be a showcase of how ignorant and closed minded southern americans can be. What a gong show.

In other religious news - there is a new lady at work who does all of our "external" funding. She seems nice enough, talkative, but nice. In fact as I try to drown out the hideous ramblings of Don, Joanne and the Coach, of Lite 98 fame, with my aforeposted (did I just make up that word KQ?) french radio station she natters away at me about everything...at first I was trying to be quite nice and helpful because it was her first week - but after repeated attempts to explain to her that I don't know her job, or anything about funding she keeps at it. And then come the stories....about where she grew up, about where she has lived, about her grandchildren, about everything - including religion. As I said before I am very tolerant - in fact I couldn't care less what you believe in or don't - its YOUR belief and I support your faith in it, but a) the workplace is not an appropriate locale to just "bring it up" and b) I certainly did not solicit this piece of information.

Hmmmm, what a week - TGIF!

Weird Radio

I'm listening to my radio station from France as I work this afternoon and the conversation that the DJs are haivng with a caller is very bizarre. First they are talking about some nutrition thing and they (the male DJs) - I swear - ask her a) how much she weighs b) what size pants she wears and c) what her bra size is. The then follow this up with an analysis of how many men she has slept with - honestly! By the way her answer was 25!

The station is basically a copy of Vibe 98.5 but in french and from France, but this is the most personal and bizarre conversation I have every heard broadcast on the radio - save for Sex with Sue of course.

Sexy Back

The return of the sexy sexy hair. I am in love with my hair - well not really, it could be darker and more red but I am nonetheless pleased with the result. I always feel much sexier and happier with red hair - next time though I'll go brighter.

Work was crappy today - I just wasn't that into it - plus Heather left again this morning after just coming home on sunday night - so boo-urns at waking up at 5:30 am to say bye bye, but she'll be back thursday I think.

Ahhh, I almost forgot I never told you about my cake class. Every monday in October Jennifer and I (from job #2) attend cake decorating class at Michaels. We are shaping up to be fancy Martha types and our cakes looked how you say - jolie! Mine was pale blue with white stars all over it and jenn's was pale green with dots and stars. We collectively decided that we didn't want to make a juvenile rainbow cake. Next week we are trying our hand at cupcakes with all sorts of decorations on them...the trouble is that I have this cake and I can't eat it - so that begs the question - who wants cake?

Monday Monday

Well it's monday - back to work - back to the real world - and to top it all off it's snowing. I don't have anything against the snow - persay - however I now have to lug around a coat, a scarf, a pair of gloves and I must contend with snow in my hair. Speaking of hair - tomorrow is offical sexy sexy hair day. More red, more dark brow, much less blond -I think I will be quite happy with my new hair - most people seem to say they like the red hair - it suits my blue eyes and milk white skin.

The weekend was fun - I did a 2 hour yoga session yesterday - and boy am I paying for it now -hmmmm. Also as the internet wasn't fuuncitonal for the better part of the weekend I was suffering from "not being able to illegally download - itis" and NEEDED to hear a few Jusitn Timberlake songs. How to cure this problem? Go and buy the CD - it has been like 5 years (save for France) since I have purchased a CD - but it payed off, I got to hear the song I wanted to immediately and it was cheap - only $12.99 at BestBuy. In fact I love it so much I am listening to it right now on my iPod.

Also, Heather came home, which is always nice. I seem to get lonely sometimes when she leaves - but now I am leaving to go housesitting for almost 3 weeks - what the heck? At least I can blast my new song - cause Heather seems to have a small aversion to it.

Oh, almost forgot I had a fabulous shopping tip to Ikea - bought some new rugs and curtains and a grater. Oh, how I love Ikea. What else? Oh, Friday Night Feasts at Sunterra are uber yummy and I had a lovely time entertaining people friday night whilst eating the aforementioned (just for you KQ) feast.

Anyone to join me next friday?

Because I'm Bored

NOW
Is your hair up?: no, it'd down but full of lovely big curls
Is your phone right beside you?:yes, I'm at work, but my cell is also on my desk.
Do you have a bf/ gf?: ummm, maybe?
Do you wish you were somewhere else? yes and no
Do you have plans for tonight?: I thought I did, but now I am going shopping (at Ikea of course) and cleaning my mess of an apartment like a mad women
Are you wearing makeup?: of course
Are you wearing chapstick?: lipstick infact - clinique
Are you cold?: always
Are you tired?: always
Are you excited?: can't say that I am save for the Ikea shopping expedition
Are you watching t.v.?: no - I'm at work
Are you wearing pajamas?: no - work clothes, black pinstripped flannel pants (from H&M) and a teal t-shirt
Who's the last person you IMed?: KQ maybe
Who's the last person that called? Cam

PAST
Anything you regret? for sure - lots!
Ever lied?: yes
Ever stuck gum under a desk? no, I find that completely disgusting
Ever spit at someone? never
Ever kick something living? again - never
Ever had your nails done?: often
Ever thrown up because you cried so hard?: yes

REVEAL A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF:
LAST WEEKEND
Had any plans last weekend?: Butcher shop, movie, work, movie, Dim Sum, Thanksgiving
Who did you see most last weekend?: Ronnalie
Was last weekend interesting?: yes - quite fun infact.

TODAY
Have you yelled at someone? no
Have you gotten mad at someone? yes - damn lenders
Have you cried? not yet
Have you called more than 3 people?: yes - liek I said, I'm at work
Have you IMed more than 3 people?: nope
Have you eaten anything gross? can't say that I have

SPILL YOUR GUTS
Q. First thing you did this morning?: put my hair in curlers
Q. Last thing you ate?: Cottage cheese and peaches and an avocado
Q. What's something you look forward to most in the next 6 weeks? St. Andrew's Ball (I'm a sucker for a scottish accent and a man in a kilt), cake class, PETR211 w/ KQ, Housesitting
Q. What's annoying you right now? Waiting for 4:30 so I can go shopping, reformatting this darn post
Q. What's the last movie you saw? Legally Blonde 2 - W network
Q. Do you believe in long distance relationships?: I did
Q Where is the last place you went?: Blood Donor Clinic - see last night's post for a recap
Q: Who is the last person you called?: Cam - didn't I already answer this?
Q: Been cheated on?: I plead the 5th
Q: Do you think that someone is thinking about you right now? I hope
Q: Choose one to have (love, beauty, creativity): Love for sure
Q: Do you wish on stars?: yes
Q: Does it work?: I hope so
Q: Do you untie your shoes every time you take them of: A lady does, thus...
Q: When did you last cry? last night
Q: Do you like your handwriting? If I am not madly scribbling away taking notes, then yes I do
Q: Are you a friendly person? I try to be, although I am painfully shy
Q: Are you keeping a secret from the world?? Yes
Q: Who's bed did you sleep in last night? Mine
Q: What color shirt are you wearing? Teal
Q: Do you have any pets? Did have
Q: What is the color of your bedsheets? Cranberry and Ivory with black pillow cases
Q: What were you doing at 9 last night? Watching Grey's - what else?
Q: last person you talked to : My assistant
Q: When is the last time you saw your dad? more than a year ago
Q: Look to your left: cubicles
Q: Ever cried yourself to sleep? yes
Q: Ever cried on your friends shoulder? For sure
Q: Song that makes you cry? Many - E vanescence is particulary good
Q: Are you normally a happy person? yes, I think so.
Q: Is your self-esteem low? At times
Q: What color are your eyes? Blue, like marbles I've been told
Q: Long or Short Hair : long, getting longer
Q: Current Music: NRJ (radio station from France)

I challenge you now....

Bloody Hell

Bloody Hell - quite the evening I've had - and it's not even 20:00 yet.

The end of the work day was nice, I got to take a small field trip to the bank and drop off a cheque and the deposit book which didn't make its way into the courier bag for this afternoon - plus I was so quick I even got to have an iced coffee - mmmmm. Then I went to my Ionic Detox session (#3) and it was gruesome - no seriously - much like #2 was but more so and with more liver this time - yuck! Glad to be rid of all that nasty garbage from my body.

On my way home though, something terrible happened. I was driving on 5th, right by Queen E High School and right at the intersection the car beside me had stopped at the crosswalk - so of course I stopped assuming that there was a mom with her stroller and kids crossing the street (there were various of the aforementioned people milling about the area) - HOWEVER, that was not the case...I didn't see anyone crossing so I inched my car up a bit to see around the car beside me and what do I behold in the crosswalk????? A mangy old coyote! In broad daylight! He was darting back and forth, which was odd, and I was thinking that he was after a mom and kids or someon'es dog - not cool by me, in fact I was ready to jump out of my car and help anyone to kick the crap out of him (ps - I HATE coyotes!!!!). Anyhoo, I inched the car closer and oh my god - it wasn't a dog he was after, but a BUNNY!!!! A cute fluffy bunny - and he grabbed the bunny right in front of me. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE bunnies and as soon as I saw him grab my bunny friend and run off away down the street - I gasped audibley and covered my eyes and mouth - I was shocked! God Damn Coyote - pardon the swearing but I friggin' hate the damn creatures!!! I rushed home and proceded to call several people to report what had happened - I'm still in shock reliving the memory. After I had calmed down I watched a bit of Smallville to relax before my blood donation appointment. Next up was the actual blood donation appointment - I really enjoy doing this, it's like my good deed of the next 56 days. Anyways - I get there all excited to donate - get my finger pricked and blood dropped into the blue solution stuff - and guess what? I fail - I freakin' failed it - so she tried a more sophisticated test - I failed that as well - the first time EVER I failed. Man I felt so embarrassed. I even had to go into the little room and chat with the nurse about my "hemoglobin" problem. Brutal! So now I am branded for life - damn female hormone crap - I am "anemic" and am off to Safeway to buy cream of whaet and raisins.

Arriving at Safeway I am trying to find all my required groceries but a) am talking on the phone with my mom and b) trying to get some milk from the bottom shelf - this nice older man (what's with me and older men?) was trying to help me - quite nice indeed...then I found my cream of wheat (it had loads of iron in it) and was off to try to find raisins - thus I went to the baking aisle - no luck and I ran into my milk guy. We walked up and down several aisles looking for these damn raisins and same up dry - where the hell are the raisins? After leaving my milk guy I venture to the produce section and proceed to ask the produce guy where I may find the raisins...he promptly ushered me to the apporpriate section and off to the checkout I went - and voila I find my milk guy there as well - he was so nice.... and I just realised I never got his name.

Quite the eveing indeed - now I kickin' some butt on Jeopardy and then later - thank god I have Grey's.

A Pick-me-up of sorts

Yoga last night was terrible, I was ultra shaky and weird - not sure why...but I feel like crap about it - and then I had to go to my St. Andrew's Caledonian Society meeting which lasted for-ev-er. Every month there is this lady there and all she does is talk and talk and argue. Everyone else and I were exchanging horified "holy crap is this lady ever going to shut the hell up?" looks during her tirade about mailing out a questionaire about the approval of the group's crest. Last month it took almost an hour to get the wording corect for the motion to give some calgary tartan fabric to a dance school to make mini kilts. Brutal I tell you - brutal!

The only saving grace of the evening was the yummy yummy snack we get at tea time after the meeting (remember these folks are scottish - and therefore make the yummiest snacks). During tea time I got to talking to the husband and wife team that teach dancing on wednesday nights. Now, before I go oon let me explain that they are an older couple - in the 70's at least and are SUPER scottish and adorable. Knowing that I can continue explaining my conversation. We were discussing the fact that the tartans one wears to a Scottish Ball do not have to match (you and your escort) which was news ot me because previously I had thought it a huge faux pas to intermingle the tartans....anyhoo the conversation steered around to the fact that I was wearingmy yoga pants tot he meeting as I had just finished yoga and my dance teacher (his name is John) encouraged me to wear them to dancing to. I explained that they were too long to dance in (we dance in gillies or ballet slippers) and that I would trip and fall. His wife (Jessie) replied that I should roll them up over my knees, to which I laughed and said I would look awfully funny. John pipes in just here with his adorable scottish burrr and explains that he is very excited about the prospect of spying some leg (remember that he is older). I laughed at this and suggested that maybe next weke I should show up in my mini kilt! Needless to say he was very excited about that suggestion. Old scottish men are so cute - I just love them!

After this I went home to make up some vegetable quiche cups to go for my breakfasts and didn't actually make it asleep until after 12:30, thus this morning when I pried my eyes open at 6:45am I almost cried because I was sure I hadn't slept yet. However, here I am at work struggling to funciton despite the yummy eggnog latte that I made myself and dimly thinking of the detox, and blood donation that I must attend ot after work - but at least it's thursday and thus Grey's is on tonight. YEAH!

Damn gloves

I think I may have over did it....

So last week I invested pair of really neat body shop scrubby gloves for the shower - to exfoliate - and thus every time I am in the aforementioned shower I scrub so as to be all nice and shiny and soft all over. Tonight however I may have over done it. I scrubbed really really hard and now I am very dehydrated, and my skin feels about 2 sizes too small. HMMMMM, not so good. Now I'll admit I think I went over board on the scrubbing, oh let's face it, I often go overboard on most things, but I am itchy and I hate that I must lotion my whole friggin body, or else deal with it all night - and in my new improved bed.

Now why I am telling you all of this I ask you? no idea, but I'll thought I should share. I think I need a drink.

Fin de semaine d'action de grâces

What a weekend. Friday I loaded up on meat (jerkey and yummy sausages) with Ronnalie and then we watched Sliding Doors (an old obscure Gweneth movie)....very fun

Saturday was more work - quite boring, with laundry and Legally Blonde 2 in the evening.

Sunday was a) Starbucks to see Heather and get a lovely coffee, then wicked fun Dim Sum and a walk around chinatown with Ronnalie (what can I say, she's too fun for jsut one day) followed by a trip to Costco - note to self, never ever go the sunday before thanksgiving, it was wickely busy. Later on that evening I finished the aforementioned laundry, watched Desperate Housewives, took the best shower ever (at the hosuesitting house, they have a huge rain shower head, ahhhhhh)

Monday, more Starbucks (in preparation for the spectacular dinner I was about to make) and then cooking cooking and more cooking. In the end I made a bacon wrapped 15 lb turkey on the BBQ, a green bean casserole (I created the recipe), glazed carrotts, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce (okay it was canned) and mashed potatoes - well I had lots of help from Cam, so props to him for the stuffing and potatoes.... Then we feasted, and it was a feast... in addition to all that food my mom brought the sweet potatoes - mmmmmm - and Cam's mom made pumpkin pie cheesecake - delicious! Afterwards I cleaned out my car and brought all sorts of goodies into the apartment - much to Heather's chargrin. in fact I was going through my grandfather's WWII stuff and trying on all his uniform parts as Heather sat on the couch and watched me like I was a lunatic - but meh, it was fun!

AHHHHHH, today I am still quite full despite my walks yesterdaay but happily I tried on my "skinny" pants that I bought in Avignon when I was in France a few years ago and hooray for me - they fit - even after that gigantic wekeend of eating.

Tonight brings job # 2 and a clean up of my messy messy room, then tomorrow I have Yoga / Pilates and dancing - thursday is Ionic detox session #3 and Blood donation - won't the lucky person who gets my blood be happy that I detoxed just for them! and friday - nothing, so far, thank god, I am a wee bit booked these days!

TGIF now with Old El Paso

Thank God it's friday.....I have slept in everyday since I got my duvet - which also could be attributed to the fact that I also did my 2nd Detox session that day, but meh, TGIF.

Last night Grey's was good, I am not too impressed with the edition of McSteamy into the cast. I am loyal to McDreamy and am therefore made to hate McSteamy for his adulterous betrayal. Also, I am so not enjoying this watch one episode of Grey's and wait a whole freakin' week for another one - but I guess that's what I get for watching like 6 episodes in a row for seasons 1 and 2.

As for today, it is fat friday at work which means that today Serrine is bringing tacos!!! Now I love tacos as much as the nex guy, but at 10:00 am? - whatever, we all know I'll enj0y myself.

One more randomn thought - on my drive to work this morning I was listening to the radio report the hockey scores from last night - and no I don't want to talk about it, GD Edmonton, what a hole of a city.... - and I realised that you can in fact watch 3 major sports at this time of year - the aforementioned (did you get that KQ?) Hockey, Baseball playoffs (Go Yankees!) and Football (the Northamerican kind).

On the schedule for this weekend firstly today I have work - yuck - but then I get to go to TJ's Sausage Kitchen and pick up some fantastic beef jerkey and sausages and then chill with my pal Ronnalie - saturday brings more work and an open evening - for once... Sunday is more Ronnalie and dim sum this time plus more relaxing in preparation for the gigantic monday thanksgiving feast. Cam and I are making dinner by ourselves for his parents and my mom - hopefully I'll conjure up some mad award winning food studies skills from high school. Wish me luck!

Return of the Nog / Ionic Detox Part II

Big day yesterday!


As I was grocery shopping last night I spied something a little special in the dairy case - can we guess what is was? That's right - Egg Nog! Yeah! I used to hate it, really hate it and then I gave in (do we remember Fort Egg Nog?), and now I just love it and even though it is out before halloween I don't mind onw bit - cause this way I get to drink it every day - light version cut with milk of course, it's too rich otherwise.... But yes, egg nog by the glass, in my cereal, in my coffee...no not really not in the cereal, that is toooo weird, although I wouldn't put it past some people - I think you know who you are!

This morning I didn't get up in time to make myself an aforementioned egg nog latté, but no worries, tomorrow shall be much better.

Before the thanksgiving grocery shopping expedition I arrived at home to find a different surprise in the living room - my comforter and new pillows (note - that brings the pillow count on my bed to 7! and no I'm not kidding!). So I gleefully ripped open the box yanked out the comforter and ran to my room, swept everything on my bed (including the 5 pillows) and covered myself with my new duvet - it was heaven, but then I had to get up and go pick someone up from their office downtown - fun was shortlived indeed. Anyways because I got my new comforter and was no longer in need of the twin sized quilt that was currently doing it's best to cover my queen sized bed, I needed to make a trip to (all together now....) IKEA! for a duvet cover and pillow shams.

Off we went to Ikea and wondered about whilst trying to figure out how to match the duvet cover with the Ikea curtains I already ahd - they are a red colour and I wanted a different cranberry sort of coloured duvet cover - in the end we decided to alter the curatins and just get the cranberry duvet cover set - the brown version was too blah for my beige walls.

Now previous to my Ikea trip I was at the Homeopath's doing my 2nd Ionic Detox treatment - apparently time 2 and 3 are suppose to be the worst - so I prepared for the worst - and Yeah! for me I got it! It was truly sickening I tell you.... the water was DARK green (from my gallbladder) and thickish with orange sludge on top (from my joints) with some white foam stuff and white bits - plus, get this!- black flecks (heavy metals!) - yuck yuck yuck. Oh well, at least it isn't in my body anymore. I'm scheduled for the next on on the 12th so I expect it will be even worse - how lovely!

PS - I'd add more pictures to illustrate my fantastic day but blogger isn't cooperating - sorry!

Walkers for Knockers

Today was the CIBC Run for the Cure. Our fearless team leader Heather did a wonderful job organising us and made it a great experience despite the rain and cold and the fact that the people forgot to print our team name on our t-shirts (Best Team Name EVER!!!!!).

It really was a great turn-out, oodles of people came out to walk / run, oodles of people in Willowpark decorated thier lawns and homes to support all of us walkers - as well as tributes / memorials to grandma's, mom's, wives, sisters, aunts, and daughters. It was really touching.

I haven't gotten around to loading the pics from my phone but I plan to do so quite soon and I will do my best to share them with you!

Bravo to all that donated, participated and supported everyone affected - good on ya!

Kinky Boots and Stupid Boys

Cute movie - love the drag queen Lola - he/she is just fah-bu-lous. A nice thing to watch whilst lounging on the couch after a hard day's work. However, the guy at the casablanca (the movie store) was very weird - it was like - he - took - a - huge - long - break - after - each - word.... brutal!

Yesterday, at job #2, this guy (another weird one) was soooo bizarre! First let me tell you that trying to impress me with horror stories of what you do to your eyes with contacts will NOT impress me - in fact it does the opposite, it grosses me out and makes me want to rip out the eyes from your undeserving eye sockets! This guy told me that he, and I quote, "wears his focus night and day (contacts you were for UP TO 1 month straight) for - get this - 3 months at a time!!!!!!!!!" THEN he tells me that he has previously worn his 2 week contacts for almsot 6 months and only took them out because they hurt his eyes - plus he hasn't owned a bottle of solution in 3 YEARS and only came in for the exam because we wouldn't sell him contacts until his eye exam wasn't dated 3 years ago!!!!!

Apparently he has figured out the contact lens scam (?!?!?!?!) whereas the lenses are only marketed with that schedule because the company is trying to scam the consumers. He has absolutely no concern for the fact that the material degrades after a while, not to mention the fact that your eyes deposit ooddles of protein on the lenses every day - disgusting!!!!!!!

I was so appalled with his behaviour that I couldn't even disguise my disgust - normally when patients tell me things that make me want to scream at them I can put the disinterested face on and say "mmmmm" and calmly write it down in their file. This time though I just stared open mouthed at him and just said over and over agian - seriously?!?!.

What an idiot, I hope his eyes fall out.

So Sad

I am waiting for my Heather to get home with my H & M shopping (thank you Heather!!!) as well as well as waiting for my baked potato to freakin' bake (it's been almost an hour so far!) and I am watching the Barbara Walter's special with Terri Irwin (Steve's wife), and it is so sad. I could never believe that anyone who is watching this isn't moved by what she says - so terribly sad.

In other news, I am very very tired, again - today was day 2 of soup, lots of veggies - hence the baked potato - and that combined with the ionic detox thing from yesterday is making me feel quite ill. But, I perservered, I went to Yoga and Dancing tonight - not bad not bad. Tomorrow is fruits and veggies and soup - I'm getting there.

I can't wait for the banana and milk day! (I'm kidding, it isn't going to be pleasant) If it kills me I will fit into my fress for the ball - I swear.

Let the detox begin...

I am soooo exhausted from yesterday, let me explain. Yesterday after work I rushed over to my mom's brewed up a batch of soup and frantically did my laundry. Then I rushed off to my dancing - and boy was I dancing. There were sooo many people there this week, so we danced and danced and danced, then Rachel and I and my new friend Deanna went over to her house and practiced some more dance moves - wow, it was tiring. In fact I didn't get home until 1 am!

Today, well this morning I was so tired and because of my soup diet I couldn't drink any coffee - damn! Oh well, only one week of this, I can hold in there. After work I raced down to Bridgeland to see my Homeopath Shann, and we did this sort of Ionic Detox thing - basically this machine pulled all sorts of nasty crap from the pores in my feet - and the water was, oh god, disgusting. The colour and ...uh substances.... in it tell you what part of your body the crap is coming from - mine was dark orangy brown with some other things in it, bascially my joints and liver and lymphatic system were detoxed. The next 3 sessions should be better, aka more stuff from my body in the water - gross, I know!

Desperate Sunday

I had forgotten why I liked Desperate housewives so much, and why I love Bree so much. I love that she loves everything to be perfect, and she has the perfect complexion and the perfect hair and the perfect clothing. I just love Bree, but what I do NOT like is the crepey men she is always with - what the hell?

In other news, I had a really lovely tea/coffee party with Mrs. B then we got to rearranging my room and the living room a bit - much much more room in my room. Now all I need is to get my duvet from airmiles in the mail and my duvet cover from Ikea (of course!) and viola - perfection. On that note, last night when I was sitting on my couch reading my new book, I looked up at my doorway into the living room then around the room and had this sudden realisation that - wow, this is my apartment and wow - I love it! Wicked! In fact as I am typing this Heather is basically saying how much she loves our new living room - wierd indeed!

Tomorrow I'm off to do laundry, make some soup (for my new soup diet) and of course every monday -scottish country dancing! Yeah!

Night

McParty aftermath

Thursday night was fun, we had pizza, cake and of course McDreamy. Funny thing is that somehow we watched the 2nd episode of the season BEFORE the season premiere! Why? I 'm not quite sure, but I hear from oodles of other people that CTV failed to air the proper episode. As it turns out we changed the channel from 3 to 5 at 10:00 so we did in fact get to see the season premiere, and let me tell you, it solved quite a few confusing questions that were lingering after the 9:00 show. Technical problems aside, the shows were great - McDreamy was well, Dreamy, George was adorable (I need my own George) and the rest of the gang were equally as great. I can't believe Addison though, what the hell was she thinking - McSteamy????? Did anyone else notice the steam that followed him out of the bathroom door? I did and it made quite the impresison. And Izzie, poor poor Izzie, I kept my cool throughout the episode, didn't cry for her pain, but I wanted to. In the end my vote goes for McDreamy, McVet is fine, really quite nice, but I've never been a real fan of Chris O'Donnell.

Friday was fine, KQ and I attended the funeral, never been to a catholic funeral, but it was nice and both KQ and I did well, so did our friend - we are both very proud of you! Afterwards we took a trip to the Famer's Market for some urgently needed snacks and veggies - and I got a new yellow ribobn for my car - in fact I got it for FREE! No, it wasn't my charm that did it, it was the defective quality of the first sticker. Then, I attended my very first Mary Kay party. Denise was our lovely host and I got to visit with a whoel wack of people that I haven't seen in a while and get pampered while eating delicious treats - good day!

Saturday, same old same old - work then lounging whilst reading my new book - probably should have cleaned the house up a bit, maybe I'll get my butt in gear and do a spot of organising / cleaning yet tonight. A nice surprise for Heather, no?

That's enough for now - night!

Oh McDreamy, how I love thee!

Thank you Heather - no seriously....without her purchases of seasons 1 and 2 of Grey's Anatomy I would never have understood what the heck she was talking about every monday morning. Anyhoo, I am very much in Grey's Hypermode.

This week alone I have watched season 2 in it's entirety, well most of it, I had seen a few here and there over the summer. In fact, last night I started my session with the episode with the unexploded bazooka shell in the man's chest and finished with the season finale - needless to say I have spent each evening during my marathon week of Grey's Season 2 with a combination off tears, mascara and eye liner running down my face. and I am proud to say I am in love with not only McDreamy, but George as well and even Alex has somewhat redeeemed himself in my eyes. Furthermore, I just love Bailey - and of course the other interns too, Meredith, Izzie and Christina, I've even warmed up to Addison!

In any case, I am very excited for the McParty tonight in my new McLiving Room with my friend McKQ, McRB and McMG.... it should be fun, too bad McHM has to be away, but I'm sure she'll have a similar McParty with her sis.

See you all there.

A Real Living Room!

YEAH!!! We actually have a proper living room, with shelves, and if I might say, it looks fabulous, and just in time for my McParty to watch McDreamy on thursday night! Anyhoo, many many hours were spent at Ikea yesterday, we tried on several different couches, chairs and generally pretended like we lived in each exhibit (I think this might be my favourite activity ever..). In the end I ended up with a hefty $450 bill and a very very happy Linda.

Before going into Ikea Cam and I decided to peruse the Jysk store across the street and honestly it felt like I was cheating on Ikea, the store was weird to say the least, they even had some clothing...... very very bizarre.... and some curiously similar furniture, nevertheless we decided to be true to Ikea and walked across the parking lot.

Back to my place to put together all of our loot. My living room is stil a bit disaorganized, but it is slowly coming together in a semblance of real living - Martha would be proud! Now I just need to clean up my bedroom and buy a duvet cover set and hang some more of my pictures. Wow, it feels quite bizarre to be a grown up, but I guess I really don't have any choice in the matter, do I?

I shall leave off here with a promise to have another party so we can all check out the new arrangement in my living room.

Oh, by the way - the aforementioned McParty is happening chez moi on thursday at around 8:30 in case anyone wishes to attend.

My Deepest Sympathies

I just got home from dancing and Heather has informed of of the sudden passing of a dear friend's mother. I don't even know what to say, or what to do. I am just so sorry for the sadness that her family must be feeling.

To her I say that she has my condolences and my prayers, we are all here for you my dear, whenever, wherever, always.

Miss KQ and I will be attending the funeral on friday and will hopefully be able to bring some semblance of comfort to her.

OOH - SO CLOSE!

Ah, I almost made it - I thought I had escaped the dreaded cake at the work with the card and everyone singing......unfortunately they didn't forget after all, it was just delayed. I was given 2 very yummy cakes, and of course the card with the gift certificate in it. So now I have soooo much cake in my place - I need some help to eat it all - please help me - I have carrot cake, chocolate ganache and black forest to eat - and soon!

Back in the Saddle again!

Yesterday was truly fantastic.

I haven't been riding for a while and yesterday myself, Miss KQ, Rae and Heather took off to Griffin Valley Ranch to do a bit of riding. Although we weren't able to do much more than a gentle walk due to the snow and mud, I think we still had quite the good time! My horse's name was David and he was lovely with the exception to the fact that every time I had to dismount in order to open a gate / fence and then try to remount he thought it would be funny to start moving while I was 1/2 way up into the saddle. I'm sure this looked hilarious to my riding partners - well actually it was quite funny, and trying to mount a horse who is moving while laughing isn't the easier thing to do. In any case, and despite the discovery of the entrails of a recently snatched (by wolves) pony, it was a great day - follwed by of course some McKay's ice Cream in Cochrane.

Today however I am suffering a wee bit from my escapades yesterday. I have a bruise on my forearm, a bruise on my knee where it was rubbing against the saddle, sore triceps, sore shoulders, and very very sore inner thighs - walking is interesting but somehow I'll manage. In fact I am so enamoured with riding, plus it brings back some really great childhood memories, I just might be a regular at the ranch, although I might upgrade my horse - sorry David! - although in doing so I might not be able to actually get back on the horse if I ever need to dismount..... but I digress.

I'll see if I can find some pics of me on a horse when I was younger - my mom tells me I was a natural, but that remains to be seen!

Tonight I'm off to the 2nd session of my scottish country dancing, hopefully it will be better than last time..... and tomorrow I get to go on a mini shopping spree at Ikea (my 2nd home). Heather and I will finally have more of a real home, with furniture that somewhat resembles each other and some semblance of an organized space - and maybe we can even get the curtains up in the living room!

Oh, one more thing a big thanks to Heather for being so brave and letting me convince her to come riding- you are a natural my dear!

A redeeming quality

I was at work today and decided that I didn't like the shirt I was wearing that much, soooo I decided to go and get a new one - one that I had seen in a flyer, argyll - one of my favourite patterns - anyhoo I went, bought it, changed into it and wore it for the remainder of the day... However, the reason of this post is to inform all of you doubting thomas' that in fact the now infamous Steve at work said - and I quote -
"Linda, you look rather fetching in that sweater",
So now we can all stop hating Steve for saying such nasty things to me whilst trying to make me feel better.
Bravo Steve, you've redeemed yourself.....

The week after - almost

So almost a full week as a full fledged 25 year old. Much has happened, I went dancing with a man in a kilt, had yummy Don Quijote dinner with a man in a suit, survived my first yoga/pilates class in forever, ate genuine scottish shortbread with an older scottish lad who begged me to come dancing with him next week, and had a Grey's Antamoy mini (disc 1) marathon. Tonight, dinner with Denise (greek this time!), perhaps some more Grey's and tomorrow is another birthday party for Mrs. B followed by some horseback riding with the girls on sunday....and it better not snow!

Phew - what a week, and it pretty much continues in this fashion until next May with some added bonus of classes...yeah!

Oh, and a huge CONGRATS!!!! to Heather on the purchase of her first new car - that's just awesome!!!!!

Scottish Country Dancing

So Rachel and I donned our dancing shoes and headed out for some good old fashioned scottish country dancing. It was really fun, we even had a gentleman in a kilt - he was great! As we fumbled our way through sets and casts and twirled around in our skirts and cute shoes we had a good work out and a lot of fun. Our teacher Fiona is nice, she seems to be quite patient with my rhythm-less self and I have since put about 5 different books on hold at the library so I can "study" and try to wow them next week. I'm such a geek! But in reality I know it probably won't do much good, I just need weeks of weeks and practice, and then some. The up side is that there are quite a few workshops in the coming months which means I can really get better at it. Plus, if by chance I am ever transported to 18th century scotland (a la Outlander) I will fit in just fine.....now if only I possessed a time machine......

The Day After - now with Peter's!

I came, I drank, I partied...
Can I just tell you all that I absolutely LOVE my friends....lots of people whom I love came to wish me well (and mix me a drink), and in fact lots of people who couldn't make it despite my guilt trips and warnings. But in any case I had a lovely time, I really did, and to Macleod, Rachel and Rob who bunddled Miss KQ (my snuzzle buddy) and I into my bed at 2:30am AND who cleaned up my living room and kitchen, I am eternally grateful - you guys are wonderful.

But let me start at the beginning. I had to work at job #2, I got up dressed up in fancy clothes (and earings) and went to work. Upon my arrival I found a beautiful cake and card with a giant Happy Birthday Linda on the white board - and of course hung out all day with the girls - good start! Afterwards I raced around buying booze, and party snacks the home to prepare the snacks - which Miss Heather took control of - Thank you! Then I was off to dinner with Mom and the B's (as in Mr and Mrs). Who PS brought me a HUGE cake with - of course - a tiara on it and singing candles...I'm such a princess!!!

Then the party began - loads of hugs and hellos....and loads of drinks. I don't think I ever made my own - probably because I don't really have any skills in mixing at all. As it turned out (realized through a deep discussion with the afrementioned Miss KQ) Miss KQ and I were the only ones who had a few to many. Oh well, it was my party (Heather's too), my birthday and I had a really really nice time.

This morning was a different story. I woke up at 5:51 am, just as Heather was leaving for work - I felt like trash, my biceps hurt like heck (why? why? why? I have no clue, it wasn't like I was lifting all night or something...), my stomach was in poor shape and I couldn't get back to sleep....so I took some pepto bismal curled back up in bed and awoke at 11:00am with my phone ringing. So KQ and I got up, made the bed, cleaned up the dishes from last night, put on real clothes (complete with jewelry), and headed out for a drop off and some Peters (for me...mmmmmm)

Not bad for the day after huh?

Thanks guys for the great day! I think I'll turn 25 agian next year!

The Day Before

Well well well, I'm almsot there - the big 2 5 - I'm half looking forward to my birthday and half kinda pissed off about it. I know I've done lots of stuff in my life, I know I have a lot to be happy about, but I thought that maybe I would be in a different place by the time I reached the ripe old age of 25. In fact, there is nothing I can do about it, short of lying about my age - cna I stay 25 forever?

In any case tonight is going to be quite fun, the moms (mine and Mrs. B) are going to Spruce Meadows for the Masters tournament - which I love to do. Plus my mom told me this morning that they have a lovely collection of Rembrandt paintings on display, and I just love the international markets. Plus I might swing byIkea (my other home) and pick up a quilt for $20, as my queen size bed currently is sporting a twin sized quilt, not the best look, trust me!

At the momnet I'm trying to lay low at work, I'm pretty sure that they don't know it's my birthday, and as I don't really know everyone, and I'm naturally really shy, I don't want a fuss - 'cuz I'll be embarressed and will have to answer loads of questions, plus I have a tendancy to blush easily and I hate that!

The weirdest conversation in an elevator

So today, after lunch I was riding in the elevator with this guy, he was probably around 35 -ish, seemed nice. The following is the conversation that ensued....

Him (while starring at my toes intently): WOW!

Me (very confused): Hmmm?

Him: Your toes - they are VERY bright!

Me: Ah, yes they are.

Him: Really, they are, it's a nice colour....

Me: Um, thanks.

Apparently my newly painted red toenails were the highlight of his day. How bizzare.

PS - Birthday party chez moi - moving to Original Joes later on - saturday night..... come one come all -BYOB.

A tribute

I've been terribly callous and derelict in my duties with regards to paying hommage to our beloved Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. Let me tell you all that I have always admired his bravenss and true zeal for life. He really lived his life and had so much fun - we could all really take away a great lesson from him, he died doing what he truly loved.

Rest in Peace Steve, you will be missed.