Sunday, October 31, 2004

Oh What a Night

Martha was a hit, although not near as much fun as Sponge Bob was last year, darn it. I'll have to try harder next year. There weren't as many people there this year either, although a good 30-40 were there, nice crowd. Here's a list of the costumes we had that I can remember:

  • Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, with her little dog Toto in a basket
  • the scarecrow, tin man and lion
  • an assortment of witches
  • a pumpkin
  • martha stewart
  • crazed fan of martha stewart
  • Elvira and Herman Munster
  • Bucky (apparently somebody's ex-roommate)
  • Sonny and Cher
  • a werewolf
  • a few jesters
  • a smurf
  • a puppy dog
  • a nerd
  • a nerdy teacher - Mr. Conehead
  • a nerdy woman with huge buckteeth
  • a mad scientist
  • white trash
  • batman
  • priest
  • a lady bug
  • a bumblebee
  • rodeo clowns

there might have been more, but that's all I recall. Lots of food, a huge campfire, although it was still freezing out last night! P. and H. were there, playing music, as was Rob, which was cool, but got a little too mellow at times with the ballads, so I had to cruise, in order to stay awake.

I think I finally hit the sack (at A.'s) near 2:30am or so. And now I just revisited last night's snacking...not a pleasant morning experience (nor usual for me).

I think it's time for a comfort movie and the couch...

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

55. I like to paint in watercolor and actually have framed one of my creations and hung it in my bedroom.
56. I have three degrees – a BA in Sociology, with an option in Legal Studies and Criminology; a BA in Social Development Studies; and a Bachelor of Social Work and they are all from the University of Waterloo
57. I have enormous student loans, but am paying them off, slowly.
58. I ran away from home, twice. Once when I was about 10 years old. I was gone for the whole day and hid in the woods by the school. I packed everything important to me in a train case. The second time, I was 15 and I left for three days and packed everything in a gym bag.
59. I was once infatuated with a TA for my sociology class. He was just a very good looking, intelligent man from Poland. And married.
60. My favorite movie of all time is Lonesome Dove.
61. I hate doing housework, of any kind. I like the feeling when it is done though.
62. I like cooking, but only if someone is coming for dinner. I hate cooking for one.
63. I was bullied in junior high school, mercilessly. If I had my time back, as the person I am today…things would have been different.
64. I have part ownership of a house in Newfoundland with my ex-husband. And that’s the only property I own.
65. I lease my car, but will likely get stuck buying it because I am WAYYY over on the mileage, due to work.
66. I have driven from one end of this country to the other and back, by myself (as the only driver)
67. I pick up hitchhikers all the time, but do try to be choosy.
68. I once picked up a former skinhead who showed me his Nazi tattoos, and how he was changing them into something else.
69. I do not believe in God in the traditional sense.
70. I once participated in a Peace March, earlier this year. It was winter, and there were only about 12 of us, and we darn near froze to death. We walked the Barra Strait Bridge in Cape Breton and it was worth it.
71. I began smoking when I was 11 years old and stupid.
72. I first tried marijuana when I was 13 years old, with a boyfriend of mine at the time.
73. I once had a dog named Zipper who loved to crap at the top of the stairs outside my bedroom door, right before anyone took him out in the morning…plop, plop, plop…he is someone else’s problem now.
74. I never snuck out of the house while growing up, although I often lied about where I was when out.
75. the first time I was asked to dance by a boy, I was so embarrassed that I ran out of the gym and went home. He looked like one of the Bay City Rollers and was the cutest guy on my street.
76. my favorite camping experience was with my dad on the banks of the river near Goose Bay, Labrador. The ice was breaking up and he had shown me how to make many things out of sticks to use while camping.
77. my least favorite camping experience was last summer when the campground owner died and I was giving him CPR.
78. I’ve only used my first aid training one other time, when a fellow was knocked out cold by a post with a pulley on it. I applied pressure to the gash in his head to keep him from bleeding to death, and me and another guy turned him over when he started choking on his own blood. The town presented me (and the other guy) with a certificate of appreciation for the effort.
79. I have climbed the Eiffel Tower
80. I have been up the CN Tower, about 5 times
81. I have been to the Colliseum in Rome
82. I once tripped and fell flat on my face outside Buckingham Palace, skinning over both my knees, my hands, my face and my elbows. I was pinned to the ground by my 50lb backpack.
83. I was first on the radio when I was 6 or 7 years old and we lived in a circular trailer park that had the radio station in the centre.
84. I was interviewed by CBC Radio numerous times, and by VOCM Radio. I was also misquoted several times by them.
85. I was on CBC television twice – once on Land and Sea and once on the news
86. I once wrote a commentary for CBC Radio and was paid $100 for it
87. I’ve been misquoted in the Gulf News more times than I can count. They are such a substandard newspaper, they are an embarrassment to the province.
88. I moved out from home when I was 17 for 3 weeks, hated my roomies, so moved back. I later moved out at 18 and never really went back (except for 8 months in my 20’s).
89. I was married at 19. Lets not go there. After all, this is not a confessional.
90. I never owned a teddy bear when I was a kid
91. of all the roles I have in life, being a mother to Amber has been the most satisfying
92. being a wife was the least satisfying (to that partner, anyhow)
93. I broke one of my front eye teeth when I was a kid. I had knocked over a post that was holding up a little chain around a parking lot with my kite and when I brought it back to upright, it rocked towards my mouth and broke my tooth off.
94. I once dated an American in the Air Force, who was a wonderful man named Chris. He was blond haired and blue eyed, and just beautiful. He went back to his base in the states, and I moved to Ontario. We’ve never met again.
95. I once wrote a children’s book and was rejected by three publishers. I need an illustrator and haven’t done a thing with it since.

96. I have worked a number of times as a construction worker, building a house, a medical clinic, and renovating a church. I also helped build my house in Newfoundland, from concrete to paint.

97. my favorite television show is ER.

98. My favorite classic television show is MASH

99. I first drank beer when I was camping with my cousins for a family reunion. I got very drunk.

100. I once owned and wore a red satin cowboy shirt with pearl snaps on it and a white fringe.

101. I can’t believe I finished this list, and that you read it.

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

101 Things About Me

borrowing this idea from another blog I stumbled across... http://madkata.blogspot.com/

Here are 101 things about me...and like the gal above says, not things I like or hate about me, just THINGS.


  1. my hair is purple...'pimpin purple to be exact. I have also had it virgin rose, blue mayhem, and candy apply red as well as regular colors like black, brown and auburn.
  2. I have one kitty, Via - a calico cat, who is 7 years old
  3. I have one daughter, Amber, who is 18 years old
  4. I have one ex-husband, who is going to be 50 on his birthday (hey old man)
  5. I am auntie, many times over. On my side, I have three nephews and one niece. On my ex's side, I had 23 neices and nephews, and about 17 grand neices and nephews
  6. I took piano lessons when I was in grade 3 and hated my teacher
  7. I was on the badminton team in high school. Even got a school letter. We never won a game.
  8. I once dated a sailor in the US Navy, from New York. His name was Raoul, and I still have the sailor hat he gave me.
  9. I went out on a date with a police detective, who was much older than me. He was the older brother of the bartender I was good friends with in Labrador. Nice man, never heard from him again. He was just to take me out for dinner, since I was brand new to the place (Mississauga)
  10. My first kiss was with a boy named Jim in grade 4. He was in grade 6. I can hardly remember it. My second kiss was with Hughie O'Brien, my first true crush, in grade 7. We "went together" for about 2.5 months, then some stupid girl named Zena broke us up by telling lies about us. I hated her.
  11. My last kiss was from a guy I met online last fall and went on one wonderful date with. He never called again either.
  12. I used to play the guitar when I was a teenager, and my friend Eugene was teaching me. I think he has passed on now, but I'll never forget those fun lessons...I sucked, but when I played with him during a party, no one noticed.
  13. I used a gun before, a .303 rifle. My first shot missed the target by miles, and the second one parted the ground. so much for that. I also used a .22, several times down at our cabin to scare off the squirrels
  14. I once met Mr. Dressup, with Casey and Finnegan, while working at a daycare in Labrador
  15. I also met Josh Morrow, who plays Nick Newman on The Young and the Restless and had my picture taken with him (his arm around me).
  16. My daughter dated a boy once who went to school with Avril Lavigne
  17. My former next door neighbor was Ashley MacIsaac's mother
  18. I have only been to two rock concerts - Trooper and April Wine, both when they were OLD.
  19. I hate country music.
  20. I used to work as a security guard, often using guard dogs to protect me and the site. We used german shepards and doberman pincers.
  21. my first job was as a pinsetter in a bowling alley. I think I made about $2 a day, which I usually spent some of at the snack bar that day
  22. I used to be a good bowler, and won two trophies as a youth
  23. I love to snowmobile (and call it skidooing) and once owned my own skidoo, but sold it to my father when I moved away from skidoo country a few years ago
  24. I hate shopping for bras more than anything else I shop for.
  25. I own three sewing machines and can actually sew pretty good. Not perfect though. I have sewn many dresses, including some for myself, my daughter, for graduations and many bridesmaids dresses, and two wedding gowns. My favorite machine is an old one belonging to my grandmother, which I learned to sew on when I was a kid. Its one of those old black iron ones, I just love it.
  26. I can also crochet (not very well), knit, do needlepoint, cross-stitch, embroidery, and I can even rug hook (and not just those mary maxim kind, the real kind with a frame and burlap)
  27. I have travelled to Ireland, England, Belgium, Italy, France, Guatemala, Belize, and the USA.
  28. I never lived in a place that had a dishwasher since I left home, and now I do, it doesn't work.
  29. I hate curry. I hate the smell of curry.
  30. I can speak marginal Spanish and French
  31. I was baptised in the Anglican Church
  32. I don't go to church, except when something is happening to other people...wedding, christening, funeral
  33. I meditate occasionally and have for many years since I first attended a Buddhist group meditation in Waterloo
  34. I miss my daughter, who lives 3 hours away
  35. I once worked a gas station attendant for Sunoco in Mississauga and HATED it
  36. I applied for the miltary, twice. And passed all tests except the eye exam, both times.
  37. I have myopia with an astigmatism and wear both glasses and contacts (not at the same time)
  38. I have only had my tarot cards read once (properly)
  39. I used to weigh just 135lbs, and thought I was overweight and had big thighs.
  40. I've broken my arm, twice. The first time I didn't know I did, and it went untreated. I found out about the old fracture when I was x-rayed for the second break in the same arm. I think it was from when my brother hit me in the arm with a crib board. I remember not being able to write for over a week
  41. I've had stitches over my eye, twice, and once in my hand.
  42. I used to smoke, but quit in 1987
  43. I used to sell Tupperware
  44. my favorite actor is Matthew McConaughey
  45. my favotire actress is Julia Roberts
  46. my favorite movie character of all time is Augustus McRae in Lonesome Dove, played by Robert Duvall
  47. I like to read Torey Hayden, Amy Tan, Stephen King, and many of the books from Oprah's book club (not because she picks them, but because they happen to be pretty good books)
  48. I hate sports. I especially hate listening to them in the background, such as hockey, baseball, curling and golf.
  49. my first star crush was Scott Baio, from Happy Days, Chachi. My best friend, Gisele, was in love with Leif Garrett and we bought every teen magazine on the stand
  50. my first favorite band was the Bay City Rollers, and then Meatloaf
  51. my father was in the military for 22.5 years as a radar technician. my brother is in the military for the past 18+ years as something else. ( I can never remember)
  52. I attended 10 schools over the course of 13 years of education. I lived in 21 different houses or apartments in my 37 years
  53. I am allergic to dust, grasses, and pollen; I have a sensitivity to perfumes and other smelly things, especially vanilla, which is kind of like a sledgehammer in the head
  54. I have had a computer and the internet for over 10 years.

to be continued another night...

Monday, October 25, 2004

Driven to Extraction

yes, I've been driven to extraction...of my wisdom tooth that is. Here all these years I though I had escaped that particular form of torture, having wisdom teeth, especially at my advanced age (37) I often felt left out as I sat through tales of others being put under the knife for the exquisite pain of having their wisdom teeth surgically removed. Left out, but LUCKY. Then this past couple of years, I've felt a little something at the back of my top left jaw, just some nubs, but they never grew into anything, so I thought I was safe. Until this summer. In August I began to get a little achy, then a lot achy, so much so that I went to the dentist, convinced I must have a cavity in my back molar. But when I went to see him, lo and behold he informed me I had a wisdom tooth coming in, not decay. And if it bothered me too much, to come back and he'd take it out.

So it bothered me. Once on vacation for about 5 days straight. And then last week it kicked in again, another 5 days. So I made an appointment with the dentist, hoping for a simple extraction, but after all those tales from others...well, I had fears that he would turn me away and book me into the nearest OR for surgical removal. Shiver me timbers...so I booked an appointment for the dentist in early afternoon, fully expecting to be laying in a cold sweat, writhing in pain after the extraction and poof...it was over before I knew what hit me. The freezing took longer and was more painful as he jabbed that friggin needle into my gums again and again. I had an x-ray that showed it was just a simple tooth, with only one solitary root. He gripped my jaw a couple of times and out it wedged. I asked to take it home because it looks so different than I expected.

So now I have hours of freezing to wear off, and I'm terrified to talk to anyone, for fear of chomping through my tongue or cheek...so I must blog instead...I can't believe it was over before it begun. Whoo hoo Dr. Corkum!

And the beauty is, since I can't talk, I took all afternoon off and am lounging at home instead of listening to the endless whining at work...(clients, workers, etc...lol...just kidding!)

Sunday, October 24, 2004

a Few blogs of note...

this one is a new favorite that I stumbled across...she is cynical and I love her sense of humour...

http://failedlady.blogspot.com/

this one is is my neice, Andrea and her ramblings, although she isn't posting much...hint hint, Andrea...

http://newfiegurl.blogspot.com/

and this one is my friend, Shane's blog - usually rambling about work or his unsatisfying home life...

http://hairyhoser.blogspot.com/

happy reading!



I wish you enough...

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Weekend is over...now WHAT?

So, I've had a fairly productive weekend, more than usual. I was off on Friday, so managed to claw my way through the 6 loads of laundry waiting for me in my room. I hadn't done any since coming back from vacation and I just hate doing it...well, not really, I just hate getting started. I love putting away clean clothes, especially if I was able to put some outside on the line. Which I did. Amazingly enough, it wasn't raining on my day off, which is unusual. I didn't put much out, as not everything looks good after hanging on the line, but I put out enough, and it did smell rather nice. awwww...

So that was Friday's chore...on Saturday, it was cleaning up the house, including those dreaded floors. I swear, having no carpet makes for a dirtier house. And I HATE cleaning the floor...actually, I just hate doing chores in general. So I got to work, dragged out all the crap from the kitchen into the living room, swept the floors, then vacuumed up the HUGE dust bunnies (comprised mostly of cat fur, go figure) and mopped up the floors. And boy were they filthy...I guess tracking my shoes all over the floor really does make them dirty...heh heh. And then I had to sweep up again after they dried, to get the last of the dirt and dust. Now they smell clean. Good. Now for the rest of the rooms...sounds like a project for another day. I was pooped after that effort. Then I headed over to my friends house, A. and R. for a lovely visit, getting home late into the night.

Today, I cleaned up the dishes. Stupid dishwasher makes them even filthier, so I had to wash most of them all over again. Last time I use that beast. Then I set about cutting out pieces for my quilt...got that done...why not sew it up...so I did that too. All done. Now I need the fill and the backing and I'll have a lovely quilt. I also wrote the 2004 edition of the Christmas Notes I send out to everyone instead of a Christmas card.

So all in all, a productive weekend. Now to relax for the rest of the night. And I have only had one duty call (shhhhhh) all weekend. What a switch from last weekend where every teenager decided it was time to WHINE and piss everyone off...

Friday, October 22, 2004

It Was Fate, nothing more...

Had a call from the non-resident teenager tonight with good news...she got her purse back! Imagine her relief! She was at work today and when she came home, there was a note on her apartment door that the boyfriend of one of her friends from work found her purse on the bus yesterday, shortly after she had gotten off and because he didn't know her phone number, he left a note on her door. How cool is that? She was so excited, as was I. I know how stressed she was about it all. Great! Hoped that it had taught her a lesson, but then she reported that when she came home last night, she was a little tipsy and must have dropped her bus pass in the lobby downstairs. Got up for school this morning and panicked when she couldn't find it, then stumbled across it in the lobby of her apartment building this morning. Someone is watching over her, I tell ya...


The Non Resident Teen hits a SNAG

Got a phonecall from her last night, poor thing, in tears. She had been riding the bus to school, on her way to write a mid-term in psychology and fell asleep, nearly missing her stop. In the rush to get off the bus, she left her purse on the bus, with everything in it, and didn't realize it until hours later when she finished her exam. So after all the necessary calls to police, Metro Transit, changing her bankcard, etc, she realized that her house keys were in her purse, as well as her driver's license with newly updated address information. So she spent the day stressing out at work that she would come home to an empty apartment.

I just feel so bad for her. Thankfully they didn't get any money from her as it was the day before payday, but often times she carries all of her cash in there, and there would have been nothing to be done. All they got was about 14 cents. And some really good makeup that she just bought, which she seems to be almost as upset over. I know they don't have a lot of money, and she is stressing over replacing it all, including the ID. She even got quite upset knowing someone might have her SIN card. I asked her why she even carried, it...I sure don't. You should have it memorized and once you have a job, leave it at home.

So now she has to replace her driver's license, her health card, social insurance card, her bank card, and lets not forget the every important Optimum Card from Shopper's Drug Mart! She will have to replace the three new lipsticks, new compact, keys to the apartment, which really upset her. She had a keychain on there from New Zealand that a good friend brought back for her. Not to mention all those little things that rattle around in your purse.

What really pissed her off is the way she was treated by her landlord. Samira is such a bitch, and I have met her and dealt with her myself, especially with my name on the lease with the young couple. Amber called her and explained what happened, and Samira informed her in no uncertain terms that she must now pay to have her apartment door locks changed, the front door and side door locks changed and replace all the keys for those doors for all the tenants. Which is bullshit. Security door keys are all over the place in the city. Does she honestly think that when people move out, they hand in all of their extra copies? I think not. I never did. I just threw them out when I realized I had forgotten to turn them in. And the icing on the cake...when Brad called Samira, not realizing that Amber had also called her, she simply told him they would have to pay to have just their apartment door locks changed. What a bitch. We think it is because Brad reamed her out a couple of months ago for calling Amber off for something simple that Brad had done. (climbed over his balcony to get in his apartment when he forgot his keys at work in the wee hours of the morning - doors auto lock behind him at work, so no possibility to even go back to get them). Amber had been at home here in Cape Breton with me, so certainly did not deserve to be told off by the likes of Samira for something she didn't do.

So anyhow, I have offered to help my little angel replace her stuff, and have suggested she also ask her father for some help as well, since he appears to be rolling in money (from gawd knows where).

I remember having my wallet stolen once, years ago when I was just her age. I had been standing in line at the bank machine, which were fairly new 20 years ago. I lived in Mississauga and didn't notice it gone until I went to put my money away. Good thing I had my bank card in my hand, or I would have been super pissed. But I remember the feeling of violation, with someone having my id cards, and looking through my personal things. Gone was my driver's license, SIN card, birth certificate, etc. I never heard from anyone though, and no one ever showed up as me anywhere, thank goodness. But what a pain and expense to replace all of those cards.

Lessons learned from this for her are not to fall asleep on the bus - suggested taking a puzzle book or something on the bus with her to keep her alert; put your purse in your backpack before leaving the house, or better yet, don't even bother to take it. You only need your wallet and throw that in your backpack; you don't need to carry your SIN card with you when you are already employed.

This is when it really hurts to be so far away...I wish I was there yesterday to help her out and give her a big momma hug...


Thursday, October 21, 2004

THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LIFE:

Living on Earth is expensive,
but it does include a free trip
around the sun every year.

How long a minute is
depends on what side of the
bathroom door you're on.

Birthdays are good for you;
the more you have,
the longer you live.

Happiness comes through doors you
didn't even know you left open.

Ever notice that the people who are late
are often much jollier
than the people who have to wait for them?

Most of us go to our grave
with our music still inside of us.

You may be only one person in the world,
but you may also be the world to one person.

Some mistakes are too much fun
to only make once.

Don't cry because it's over;
smile because it happened.

We could learn a lot from crayons:
some are sharp, some are pretty,
some are dull, some have weird names,
and all are different colors....but
they all exist very nicely in the same box.

A truly happy person is one who
can enjoy the scenery on a detour.


Tuesday, October 19, 2004

The resident feline

Well, I may have lost the resident teenager, but the resident feline is sure underfoot...she can't stand to be anywhere else but AROUND me. And we're not just talking hanging out in the same room, but hanging off me like a tumor. She is currently under my right arm/elbow as I type, sitting on the arm of my desk chair. It's not like she's watching what I'm doing or anything, as her butt is facing the computer. She just has some incessant need to be RIGHT THERE. Often when I am at the computer, she parks her ass right in front of the monitor...sometimes she will crouch down so I can actually see, while other times she is not as considerate...which is when I breathe on her...she gets quite irritated by that.

When I sit in the living room, she is either on the table beside me in her Garfield basket, curled up absorbing the heat from the lamp, or she is on my chair, on my lap, on my arm, on my shoulder, or around my neck. She just can't stand not to be front and centre. And now that I have the aquarium, well, she loves to lay across my arm and elbow to gaze at them while I watch television.

When I go to bed, she has to be curled up on my arm/shoulder. I normally sleep on my side, so I have my bottom arm out across the lower part of the pillows and she is tucked right in there, with her head on my pillow beside me. Its cute enough, but here I am, with another bedmate that snores...she usually gets too warm and will eventually move to the lower part of the bed, right between my legs. So you know how you sometimes like to just adjust your legs in bed, side to side to find that cold spot to cool your feet off (women, you know what I mean), well the cat is ALWAYS in the way and has managed to warm that cold spot. Then when I first stir in the morning, she is right back in my face again, wanting to cuddle. The fun comes in when she is tucked in my arm again, head on my pillow, and the alarm goes off and I can't reach it because she is laying on my arm. So UP she jumps and gone like a flash to begin the day.

And how about the bathroom...never a private moment, I tell ya. She has to be in there with me, playing in the sink, each and every time. If I don't let her, she scratches at the door.

I've never known a kitty to be that affectionate and attached to an owner, but boy oh boy, she is securely attached to me. She generally ignores most of my friends, especially K....not sure why. And she REALLY doesn't like M., but she has two cats and a dog, so has surely been branded a traitor.

She loves to play, and for a 7 year old kitty, she is just like a kitten when she gets going. She has these rabbit fur "mice" that I can bury at the bottom of her toy basket and she roots them out each and every time. She just loves them and will attack at any given time, especially when you're not expecting it. I've even found them under my bed, where you just know she's chased them. My room mate has found her mat and a mousie stuffed under her bed where you know she has chased the mouse into her room, onto the mat and then skidded under the bed with it all. Funny as hell.

All in all, she is by far the best kitty I have ever had, and wouldn't trade her for the world. Thanks Via, for all the good snuggles. And if I breathe on you to shoo you from the computer, get over it. You get your fair share of attention!

Sunday, October 17, 2004

The Friday Night Rummoli Game

Well, I didn't lose all my money, or any of it I don't think. I managed to hold my own and may have taken someone elses money. I never count it, so I don't really know for sure. We had a good crowd, 6 at the table, and two visitors part way through. There was certainly enough to eat with sausages, perogies, meatballs, chips, nachos, dips, breadbowls, pita, hummus, and a wonderful tiramisu. The wine and beer flowed, and we all seemed to have a good time...the wine even flowed onto my shirt and skirt I was wearing, thanks to K. who tipped over her glass of RED wine! So I had to change my clothes and I'll be darned if she didn't tip it again, but didn't spill near as much. We wrapped up the playing and then just chillaxed in the living room for another hour or so before people headed off home. Some drunken players so they buddied up, while K. sacked out on the futon in the spare room, as she tends to do. I was and still am on call, so one glass of wine was my limit.

So we think we might try to make a regular Friday night per month thing to have the Rummoli. I have to organize another Girl's Day soon too, likely next Sunday I reckon. We missed out in September because I was away, and Halloween is not a good time, so that leaves next weekend.

Here's to gambling, drinking and eating...sinful pleasures!

A wonderful Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have
taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider
freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more,
but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have
bigger houses and smaller families, more
conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees
but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment,
more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but
less wellness.We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too
recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get
too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read
too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our
values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate
too often.We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years. We've
been all the way to the moon and back, but have
trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've
done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We
write more, but learn less. We plan more, but
accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to
wait. We build more computers to hold more
information, to produce more copies than ever, but
we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow
digestion, big men and small character, steep
profits and shallow relationships. These are the
days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier
houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick
trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one
night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do
everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a
time when there is much in the showroom window and
nothing in the stockroom.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones,
because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to
you in awe, because that little person soon will
grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you,
because that is the only treasure you can give with
your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and
your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and
an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep
inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for
someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time
to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we
take, but by the moments that take our breath away

Saturday, October 16, 2004

Martha Stewart - what an inspiration...

for a Halloween costume...yup, I am dressing up as Martha for Halloween...in prison garb. I bought hospital top and pants in white and am going to dye them orange, and then embroider her name and inmate number on the front. I have the blonde wig, and some orange flip flops. My friend K. is going as my groupie and will be wearing some crazy clothes and a t-shirt that says "Free Martha Stewart" and handing out flyers to people at the Halloween Party. How funny is that? I have to dye the clothes today and then do the liquid embroidery (not sewing...too much work for a costume). I had thought about buying coveralls but they are just too frustrating to get out of when you're drinking and have to go every 15 minutes! As well, I think they would be too warm and I always find it too warm!

Last year I was Sponge Bob Square Pants, which was a riot and everyone just loved it. I wasn't expecting him to be such a hit, so now the standards are high, I have to impress...lol

The party is on the 30th, and should be good fun. I was out until about 3 am last year, so I'm hoping for just as good at time this year. I'm sure there is a blog entry coming about it...

Friday, October 15, 2004

So much to RAMBLE about and so little time

Its been a busy week...Thanksgiving dinner on Monday, back to work on Tuesday, criminal court on Wednesday, drove to Halifax that afternoon, training on Thursday, drove back home that afternoon, Survivor last night, and tonight I have a Rummoli game going on at my house...phew!

So in criminal court, the guy who was charged appeared without a lawyer...the charges came from LAST SEPTEMBER and so the judge asked him how come he didn't have a lawyer, and his reply... "well, I didn't think it was serious until I was convicted, so I thought I'd get a lawyer then". Well, son, you have been charged with sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, and assault...THINK AGAIN. So she [the judge] gave him a second chance and we all have to appear again in February. And oh yeah, GET A LAWYER! It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud, but then I would be the one in trouble...heh heh.

Drove to Halifax later that day, checked into my hotel only to find out that I had been bumped up to GOLD level, no extra charge. Whoo hoo! Things really are better there. Just small stuff, but nice to be a little pampered. There were fuzzy white bathrobes in the closet, the bed gets turned down for you and the pillows fluffed and arranged, there is free high speed internet, free local calls, breakfast served in your room (free of course), the mini-bar is stocked (but unfortunately NOT free) and so on. Too bad I wasn't in my room much to enjoy it. I met a friend in Chester (more driving!) for supper and we chatted endlessly about all the latest news and gossip. She used to work at our agency, and moved last year. It was great to catch up! Then I spent a couple of hours with Amber before heading back to the hotel.

Training the next day at Dalhousie campus...well, it was not at all what I had expected. The day started off on the wrong foot anyhow, despite the lovely breakfast in my room, then I had to try to find the security office on Dalhousie campus, and it wasn't where they said it was, so I drove around and around until I finally gave up and called them to ask where it was...on a different street than listed. Anyhow, got to the training where the instructor proceeded to talk about herself for about 40 minutes...which really bugs me...we spend all this money on training and we get someone selling themselves and their books. Then we get into what the training is about and I am not enjoying it. Ordinarily, I might...it was all about visualizations - sit back in your chair, feet on the floor, relax, breathing in and out, blah, blah, blah...and close your eyes...well...recall just what happens to ME when I sit back and relax and close my eyes...you guessed it...that darn mycolonus - twitching and jerking. Sure, I am just in the mood to twitch and jerk in front of a bunch of strangers...forget it...so I patiently wait through that exercise, only to discover it makes up the bulk of the day...so after the third 20 minute one, I was getting rather frustrated. THEN, from outside on the street, comes this gawdawful music and loudspeaker rumbling away, totally blocking out most of the speaker's voice. And did I mention that the organizers thought this was a good room, and placed crappy plastic chairs in there that were locked together so that you were jammed close like sardines. I was so uncomfortable and my butt was numb...I decided at lunch time I had just about enough and left. It was either that or explode. And that would not have been nice.

So I got into my car, did a little shopping for my halloween costume and headed home. Just let me get into my house and be alone for a while. Thankfully, my roomie and a friend were there, but were leaving for Yoga for part of the evening, giving me the time alone in my house that I needed. Then I had a friend come over for a couple of hours and we watched SURVIVOR!

So Rummoli tonight is potluck supper as well...YUMMY! I'm hoping for a good time and no interruptions...I'm on call again for the next two weeks. I am also hoping to win lots of money...or as much as one can win when playing with nickels...

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Fall Colours - Aren't they GREAT?

I was so worried that I would miss them by being in northern BC this fall, as they don't get much of the fall colours there - yellow leaves and then they all blew off and fell on the ground and it was all over in a week. What a rip off...so when I came home and saw that they had just barely started here, I was estatic. There were a few trees here and there with some color, and a fantastic one in my back yard, but I was so relieved not to have missed them. And then...last night they all seemed to come on out. There is still a ways to go, but they are looking GREAT! On Saturday we had a few in the back yard, so I had my friend Rob come and take some photos of Amber and I, as I mentioned earlier, and now the backyard looks as though someone has painted it...WONDERFUL!

My roomie was around the Cabot Trail this weekend and said they were just breathtaking, and on the mountains of the trail, I guess they would certainly be. Cape Breton is just so pretty in the fall...they even have a fall music festival they call Celtic Colors where people come from all over the world for the colors and the music.

It's the little things that I grasp pleasure from...

Monday, October 11, 2004

taken from a blog I stumbled on tonight - http://just-jacq.blogspot.com/

76
Men are born soft and supple;
dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plants are born tender and pliant;
dead, they are brittle and dry.

Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding
is a disciple of life.

The hard and stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.


Finally, I can RELAX!

The dishes are finally all done (two dishwasher loads, and 3 sinkfuls) and the kid has been safely delivered back to Halifax...I can finally relax. I have everything put back to rights, and the kitchen is tidy...now...what to do, what to do? RELAX!

Its almost surreal to think about going back to work tomorrow...seems like I've been gone forever. I'll only be in for a day and a half and then gone again to training in Halifax for a night and a day. Go Go Go!

I'm on my last block of my knitted blanket (the third one this year) and then I have to just sew it together. I don't know who I'm going to give it to, or if I'll keep it...then I'll begin a quilt I bought some fabric for in Halifax last week. A fall project I hope, that will get done rather swiftly...then I might take out my hand quilted one and get back moving on that.

So much change going on at work...who knows what the atmosphere will be like tomorrow...three workers quit in the past two weeks. Not because of anything that happened there, just what is going on in their lives is all. Now we will have two newbies again, and they hired our casual worker that I shared my office with for one of the long-term positions.

I spent two hours after I arrived home on Friday night, setting up the aquarium...man, it took forever! But was relatively straight forward, and the little guys were all settled in the very next morning when the temperature seemed to have settled down at a comfortable 78F. We had one casualty though, one of the tetra's that had neon dye in it. I think I may have bonked it when I was netting them to transfer to the tank, and then he drowned. Anyhow, the others swam over him for a while then began licking their lips, so I took him out and sent him down for a royal flush. The others seem to be doing very well though and have appetites like savages! Kitty is quite enamored of them, and sits and watches often, as do I.

Its pouring rain and blowing a gale most of the day here today, but the rest of the weekend was amazing. I invited a friend over yesterday to take some photographs of Amber and I in the fall colors, and I think they will be amazing as the trees were wonderful. I'm just looking for a few to hang and one to send out with the annual Christmas Newsletter.

Now for the relaxing part...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


That's One Dead Duck, er, Turkey

Well, I arrived home safe and sound, and spent the weekend hanging out with the kid, setting up the aquaraium, and cleaning house for the big turkey day today. Had a bunch of friends over as did Amber and we managed to make short work of most of the turkey and trimmings. What was left over, I sent on up with Amber for Brad, who couldn't make it, and brought some treats to my next door neighbors, who love them. Now I just have the dishes to finish up. I have a dishwasher this year, so loaded it up with the first load - plates, glasses and cutlery...the next load is the pots and pans. What a treat! We sat around and drank wine instead of hiding in the kitchen this year!

The bird was amazing, which was grand as there is nothing worse than a dried up turkey. This one cooked up very well, and the vegetables were a little stuck on to the pots, but otherwise survived. I even had salt pork riblets and figgy duff, complete with brown sugar rum sauce! It was a hit, especially since I didn't have a white dishtowl to steam it in, so I had to use my blue plaid one...we had striped pudding! It tasted just as good, so that was fine!

Now I only have a small bit of turkey to manage for the next couple of days and no other leftovers, just the cookies....which will be just FINE with me!!!

alright...back to the galley, skipper...

Friday, October 08, 2004

Friday Again

well, here we are again, hello Friday. I have the energy of a dead tree branch. I didn't sleep much last night, thanks again to good old jet lag. they say it takes a day for each time zone you cross...great...I crossed through four. at least I don't have to work until Tuesday, there's that. I really don't have anything to do today except for loll around and eventually pack the car, including my new aquafriends. I hadn't realized that both Amber and Brad would be working the ENTIRE time I was here for a visit, so I have been left to my own devices since Thursday morning when they exited the apartment. Which is not the end of the world.

I did call a few friends, but one was busy and couldn't get together last night for supper as she is going away for the long weekend with her kids and has to pack. Then I tried to call my [ex] neice whom I haven't seen in a couple ofyears but recently moved to Halifax, but can't get an answer there. She might be at work, or have gone somewhere for Thanksgiving weekend. So here I am, alone in the apartment with my new aquafriends, just lolling about. Had a short nap, but then remembered everything I've read about getting over jet lag...try to sleep only during your regular sleep time in order to force your body back to your own time zone...rats.

But then, I think about all the whining I did about how tired and busy I was at my sister's house because of my darling nephews running me ragged, and I recall saying I needed a vacation from my vacation...so here I am. two full days with not a lot to do, why can't I just RELAX??? So that's the plan...to have a ME day today. Not that yesterday wasn't, but today I will be sure to. I'm heading out in a bit to prowl around a fabric store for something to make a couch quilt with, something I really like, unlike my many scrap quilts (which are also nice) but with fabric that matches! Then I'm going to treat myself to lunch at Swiss Chalet, just over on the next street. This afternoon, I will lounge around the apartment, watching crap tv, and eating bon bons, or something like that. If I hadn't spent so much bling on my aquafriends, I would have had money to go shopping all day...not that I regret buying them, just a note.

So here I go, off to RELAX.

Thursday, October 07, 2004

Jet LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG

Well, my flying is over for the time being, but man am I tired! apparently crossing an entire continent can do that to a person...heh heh. I slept in until 10:30am this morning which is very weird for me, but not so much considering the time difference of 4 hours, so not really sleeping in...and then I had about 3 naps so far and don't think I'll last long tonight either!

I hope I can stay awake for ER and Survivor tonight!

Can't wait to finally get into my own bed for a GOOD night's sleep! Although I slept remarkably well in my sister's old bed, even with my cold...it was very comfy!

Proud Owner of a New Aquarium!!!

Well, I had already written this post and LOST it, so will go through it again...I just bought myself a real aquarium...now I've had a fishbowl with a tetra in it, and a three gallon one before, with goldfish and neon's in it, but this time I went whole hog...20 gallon setup with tons of extras, and some beautiful tropical fish...here's what I bought:

  1. 3 columbian tetras
  2. 3 froot loop tetras (their name, real name is painted glass)
  3. 1 neon glassfish
  4. 3 pristella tetras
  5. 3 brilliant rasboras
  6. 2 honey flame gouramis

and a partridge in a pear tree...heh heh, no, actually a hygro polysperma. I bought a cool log with plants in it, some gravel in various colors, and now I have to set it up when I get home tomorrow night. And then possibly the next night I can put them in the tank. The tank needs to acclimatize, and filter itself before I can plunk them in with some of their water. Hope the ride home isn't too traumatic for them! They are currently in a stryfoam cooler they gave me at the pet store...slosh, slosh...

I'm so excited...hopefully we can all cohabitate together well...me, the fish, and KITTY...at least this tank is big enough that she can't knock it over, and has a good lid, so she can't go fishing...

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

Homeward Bound

Well, the time is drawing near. I leave this afternoon for Prince George, and catch my early flight out tomorrow morning...another LONG day. I arrive in Halifax tomorrow night at 10:30pm...yawn...

Its been a wonderful visit, with plenty of opportunity to visit with my nephews, even if I did get sick...the next time I see them they will likely be much more grown up, and possibly in school! My sister and I didn't get as much time in to visit like we're used to, but then our lives are not the same anymore. We used to spend hours playing cards and watching movies, chatting the whole while...now its more like changing diapers, feeding children and doing household chores...keeping up. We managed a half game of cards, and an evening of playing Probe (a board game) and then we went out the pub this past weekend for the night. That's about it. We are both too tired at the end of the day, by the time the little tykes settle in for the night, to do anything and usually fell asleep watching television. How our lives have changed! The last time she visited me, I was the mommy and she was the single and carefree gal...

I've got my bags packed, and I think I actually have more to bring home, although I brought lots of stuff out here...I bought the youngun something yesterday, a pewter ladybug to wear on her backpack to remember me when I'm not there. Hopefully she'll like it. I had wanted to get a sign that I saw in the gift shop in Smithers last week, but I didn't buy it at the time and we didn't get back there...darn it. It was a sillouette of a tourist with a camera being chased by a moose - "Tourist Crossing"...I thought it was hilarious! I'll have to check on e-bay to see if I can get one there.

The weather has been beautiful the whole time I've been here. some rain when I first arrived, but nothing since, and it warmed up considerably after that first week. Nice fall weather...who could ask for more? I'm hoping to take the boys back to the park today for one last playtime with them.

So, the next entry will be from Nova Scotia, either from Amber's or from home...wish me a safe flight!

Sunday, October 03, 2004

Me and My Sister

My sister and I finally escaped last night for some beers at the pub...we went out about 8pm and came home around 1am, closed the place! I didn't have much to drink, just four bottle, but my sister had 6 large drafts, and since she hasn't really been drinking much at all for the past several years due to pregnancy or breastfeeding, she got very drunk. It was good to see her so relaxed and we talked the night away. We hadn't been out in so many years, I don't even remember when...likely in Grand Bruit, going to the Cramalott Inn. Other than that, it was when she still lived in Enfield and we went out to the bars in Halifax one night with some friends of hers.

My time here is getting short...just two more days after this one...I leave the night after next. Gord will be driving me to Prince George where I'll stay with a friend of K.'s until my flight the next morning (wee hours). Then I fly ALL DAY and arrive in Halifax at 10:30pm, where the non-resident teenager will be picking me up at the airport. We'll hang at her house until Friday after she gets off work, and then head home to Cape Breton for the holiday weekend. TURKEY DINNER HERE I COME!!! I tried to cook a turkey dinner here, amidst the chaos, but it wasn't the same...no one came to dinner, not even Gord as he was busy cutting up his moose, and we didn't have half the regular trimmings I usually have, and only one of the boys was home. So I am looking forward to the big dinner I'll put on for Amber and my friends next weekend...Turkey (that actually has both legs and the wings...something our fine feathered friend here did not) cranberry sauce, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, fresh rolls, fresh baked apple pie, sweet corn, gravy, and a nice bottle of Merlot...YUM! Its sort of a potluck as my friends would rather that, so who knows what they'll bring as well.

So I'll leave here on Tuesday, thankful for having the opportunity to have gotten to know my nephews a little better and with any luck, they'll talk to me on the phone now that they know who I am. I'll also be able to picture them when my sister is on the phone with me, and I hear them running around, screaming and hollering...

My youngest nephew is going to be christened later today, so that should be nice...we all head up to the inlaws after that for a wiener roast/picnic. There will be plenty of children...my sister's three boys, her sister-in-law's three boys of the same age, her other sister-in-law has one as old as the oldest, plus whatever friends come with their children...thankfully we will all be outside!

Friday, October 01, 2004

October Already???

I can't believe we're into October now! Before you know it, Christmas will be here...and another year shot to hell...

Well, October for me usually means getting down to business with fall and winter crafts, Christmas shopping, beginning the annual newsletter from Amber and I, and doing some fall cleaning. It also means checking out the Halloween candy for the trick or treaters, although from what I hear, not too many kids come by where I live now, so one bag will likely be enough. Sad...I remember living on the base where we would get hundreds of kids, and as a kid, would go to hundreds of houses...oh the loot we would bring home...remember? Kraft caramels, little chocolate bars, chiclets (two to a box), little foil bags of chips, rockets, and always those nasty molasses kisses that were the last to be eaten, if at all..they usually just picked up the lint at the bottom of your pillowcase. And all those apples that my dad never let me eat...not that I wanted them anyhow...who would choose fruit over SUGAR???

Now I'm too old, my child is too old, and Halloween is more of just a memory, especially if I don't get more than one or two trick or treaters this year...I used to do it up big at home in Grand Bruit. I'd invite all of the kids over for a huge Halloween party, complete with costumes, decorations galore, and so much food, snacks and junk food you want to puke..we'd play games all night, including that old favorite, bobbing for apples...I remember one of my neices trying to drown her cousin at one party, by shoving her head to the bottom...you know who you are girls...then on Halloween night, I always blasted the scary music from my house for the handful of trick or treaters that would come to my door.

Amber surely remembers being frightened walking across the brook bridge in Grand Bruit one Halloween...a friend of ours, Brian had donned a werewolf mask and hid under the bridge, roaring out at a group of them as they crossed the bridge...she never forgot the terror...I love it!

I also remember dressing up in old coveralls and sitting out on the deck, waiting for kids to come and jumping up at them...they thought I was a scarecrow...heh heh...the screams!!!

October is different for me this year...no kid at home, different home, but a 15 minute drive to and from work through some beautiful autumn colors...something northern BC doesn't seem to have...their trees go mostly golden...no oranges or reds, which are my favorite. Hopefully the trees at home are just beginning...

 
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