Cape Breton Tour

I had a terrific journey to Cape Breton this past weekend. It began with a drive down the Cabot Trail to take my parents to visit some friends in my mother's hometown. I stayed for the night, then headed out the next morning to join some friends in another part of Cape Breton. We were to camp for the night on an island in the Bras D'or Lakes, however the weather failed to cooperate, no surprise. We did actually go sailing to the island, had our supper on the beach, and then it began to pour, so we all headed for the boat again, skipping the tent setting up session...with no bathroom, it would have just been miserable. So our good friend R. set up a tarp over the outdoor seating on the sailboat and we hung out under that, drinking, laughing, recalling old times, creating new ones. Fabulous time. I slept outside as did my friend M., under the tarp. The tarp however, only covered our bodies as far as our shins...our feet were out all night and were soaked. Luckily it wasn't cold, but I did get eaten alive by mosquitoes...some of them were big enough to rape a chicken...(stolen from Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert). The next morning we pulled out early and went back to A. & R.'s for some divine breakfast quiche...thanks A.!

After the soggy sailing excursion, M. and I headed for her hometown, where I spent a few days in her recently renovated home. We hung out, chatted, ate, and recalled old times. It was a wonderful visit, and I left feeling both refreshed and inspired. I borrowed the above mentioned book from M.'s, and read it on the plane ride home...it was such an awesome book. I also fell in love with her mirror...shown here.

I then left M.'s to head back down to where my parents were, spending another night in the tiny community before we headed back towards Dartmouth the following day. We stopped along the way to visit some relatives I hadn't seen in a while, and landed at home later that night.

Return to Waterloo

My friend S. was good enough to meet me in Ottawa and we drove back to Waterloo where I spent a few days, reconnecting with old friends and revisiting the campus at the University of Waterloo. There was construction everywhere and several new buildings or additions. Renison College seems to have gotten the most noticeable overhaul, and I had a guided tour from a former employer - the director of development and alumni affairs. Thanks again, C.! I had lunch with another former employer, a gal who teaches in the Wardrobe/Drama dept (I used to sew costumes for her), and an old friend/classmate. I had supper with two former BSW classmates, and we had a visit from Merlin the rabbit...later that night I had a beer with another former classmate, S.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with a former professor and sharing a research idea I had. He took my information down, and my cards and offered to see what he could do to see it get off the ground. I wasn't expecting to present the idea, but we found ourselves in conversation, and it spilled out...we also had a grand conversation about the north, and he shared with me a hair raising tale of paddling the Yukon River...with absolutely no prior experience about 30 years ago.

I also managed to squeeze in a short jaunt to Len's Mill Store to score some good linen fabric. Tomorrow I'll be making some skirts. I also scored more fabric today in Halifax. As well, I picked up a couple of t-shirts, one from the Sociology Society. I used to be a member when I was doing my first degree, and hung out in the Soc Society office to offer help to other students. Sometimes I forget that I am more than a social worker...I am also a sociologist...heh heh. I LOVE people watching...

I checked out the library where I spent so many hours too, often with my good friend N. We usually stayed until it closed, at 1:00am, during exam time. We would load up on Pringles and Snapple, and head upstairs to the 10th floor (known as the quiet floor) and study our little hearts out. She is STILL studying...and entering her 3rd year of medical school at UBC.

It was great to get back to campus as I hadn't been back since I graduated the last time in 2002. I wasn't able to hook up with everyone I hoped, but I did revisit some old haunts...including the gift shop, bookstore, and tunnels that run under the campus.

Our Nation's Capital

I attended the North American Council on Adoptable Children conference in Ottawa this summer, and spent just under a week in our nation's capital. I had a blast, met up with some friends, had some GREAT meals, and enjoyed the conference. Funnily enough, the gal in the office next to mine attended the same conference, but we didn't manage to cross paths at all!

The weather was hot and sticky, and I sweat buckets, so was thankful for A/C at the hostel where I stayed. It was located at the old Ottawa City Jail. Most of the hostel rooms were old cells, while I lucked out and stayed in one of the former guard's rooms/offices. It had lots of character and was reportedly haunted...though I saw nothing...I had the room to myself the first two nights, then a couple of Japanese gals joined me, and then for the last two nights, we were a full room (of 8). My friend S. joined me from Waterloo for those last two nights and we explored the city a bit. My feet were swollen and sore by that point, so we didn't go far. I also stumbled, (big surprise) and fell face first in front of the Parliament buildings...skinned my knee and rolled my ankle (quite a twist).

I also made the leap and got a new tattoo, this one on the back of my right hand, the Celtic trinity knot. It hurt some, but overall wasn't too bad. I had it done at Universal Tattoo, one of the best tattoo parlours in town (reportedly). I had been pondering another tattoo for some time, and was glad to finally take the plunge! I also went downtown with the daughter of an old friend (the daughter is now 20yrs old) and she was inspired by me to have her nose pierced. We captured it on video...

We took in a light show on Parliament Hill, which was awesome. They played a film commemorating 400 years since Quebec was born (Quebec City that is). The purple floodlights were my favorite though.

The Byward Market was okay, but lots of imported crap, sold by Canadian and immigrant vendors. I prefer to purchase locally made products, so the only thing I bought was a leather bracelet (import crap) and a necklace containing a grain of rice that had my neice's name written on it - he did it right there for me).

We managed to find a great little restaurant called Chez Lucien, just off the market which was terriffic - great value for wonderful food, and cozy atmosphere. I can't say as much about the rest of the meals in Ottawa, save for the luncheon at the conference. S. and I also managed to discover some awesome homemade ice cream and treated ourselves to a banana split. The dog bucket was at the ice cream stand.

Terrible Neglectful Blogger

I've been super busy this summer, however hope to get some photos up today from my summer vacation in eastern Canada. Stay tuned...

Henry's Photo Shoot

I was just fooling around with my smaller digital camera, so snapped a few of the younger puss this afternoon. He was very cooperative and happy to pose. Stormy was not...

Feeling Whoopsy

So all of a sudden at work, I began feeling whoopsie in the tummy...yeah, I wanted to hurl...and somewhat dizzy, so I decided to take myself home, nearly stumbling to my car...WTF? And then when I was coming out from putting my jammies back on, I had reached down to pick my skirt up off the floor and when I came back up, I swayed a bit and conked my head on the doorframe...holy shit that hurt...now there is a red mark on my forehead...what a loser

So here I lay on the sofa in the living room, watching M*A*S*H on DVD, with a kitty.

Whoopsy...yeah...

And then I went out to get a bite to eat...first I tried some Kraft Dinner...it was beyond expiration, this I discovered when I had already cooked the pasta and wondered why the cheese powder was so dark...add hot butter and milk and I soon found out...ewwww...so then I opened a can of beans...only to discover they were beans in tomato sauce, which I don't like. I prefer beans in molasses, home cooked if possible, but Heinz does make a decent baked bean, in molasses with pork. So scrapped that, as I really don't like it. Opened up a can of the right stuff, and we were off and running...finally...

Now it's time to lie down again...

10 Things You May Not Know About Me

Because I'm out of ideas for blogging, I fell victim to a simple meme...

1. I had my motorcycle license when I was 14 years old. I drove my father's moped, and later, his dirt bike and ATV.
2. My very first job was pinsetting in a bowling alley. Yes, that was before they had automatic pinsetters.
3. I know how to tie and set a rabbit snare.
4. I passed my driver's license on the first try. My sister did not.
5. I own a gun. A .303. I do not have it with me.
6. I did not attend my high school prom. I went camping with friends instead and got really really drunk. And of course, went out with someone I didn't really like...but hey, after 20 shots, anyone would look good...
7. My very first boyfriend has the same name as my brother.
8. I know how to change the oil in my car AND the sparkplugs (thanks Dad).
9. I was a Brownie, a Girl Guide, a Pathfinder, a Junior Leader, and a Lone Guider (leader)
10. I met Queen Elizabeth and she shook my hand.

Nothing To Bitch About

Now THAT's fresh...I must be happy for a change...I haven't posted in several weeks (2 of which I was on vacation, a little road trip) and I find I have little to blog about here. Imagine THAT. I could go on about Henry again, but he is actually coming around. The key is to take all of his toys away before bedtime, and bar him out of the room in the early morning. I thought Stormy might have an issue with the door being closed, but for the last few hours of my sleeping time, he is content to just hang with me. Then when he gets antsy, I just let him out, and by then, Henry is looking for him and they both leave me alone for a bit. I think I may even get up and open the balcony door, as that worked for his "respite worker" ha ha...she just got up when he was at her door and opened the door to the balcony, and he went directly out and hung out in the sun there.

I may decide to keep young Henry around after all. I think he might turn out to be a great cat in the end...after all, Stormy was a little bastard for a while and look how great he turned out.

Relay For Life

I participated in the Cancer Society's Relay for Life this year, team captain of The Midnight Sunflowers. We managed to nearly double our goal, and had a great time at the relay. It was an all-nighter for some of the team, though most hauled out by 1am, leaving just 3 team members (one of them a 9 year old) on the field until the finish at 7am. I was the lone team member left at the end, completing the final lap. The weather was amazing, the sky bright all night. The darkest it got is captured in one of the photos here. I learned some ideas for next year and look forward to planning an even better time!

The folks in yellow are cancer survivors. The white bags are luminaries that people purchase for $5 and write something on a note and staple it to the bag. I bought a few, but could not possibly buy one for every family member I've lost to cancer...sadly there are too many. In the morning, the sun hit the luminaries, casting a shadow off them that looked eerily like headstones.

Wednesday Whine

I'm close to snapping. Going Postal...punting that fucking cat right off the balcony and into the woods to the wolves. I haven't slept a full night in months. I have tried everything I can think of. Now we're down to the last straw, and Henry is getting his walking papers TODAY. Yesterday he managed to chew the spiral cord off my phone. Yes, another fucking phone bites the dust in this household. Granted the first 3 were due to a short in the jack. And now Henry chose my most expensive phone to chew up. Last week it was the VCR...he knocked that off the dresser and it was found dangling behind it by its cord. Now it's dead too. I simply cannot, will not, refuse to, and will be fucked if I put up with one more night with that fucking cat. I have put out feelers to a couple of friends, so if they don't want him, he is going straight to the pound. Stupid cat. His worst behaviour is that he is up half the fucking night, prowling around, digging, rooting, scratching at my bed, jumping after my feet when they move, rattling at the window, purrupping, meowing, you name it...stupid cat.

and then there is the matter of the laundry room. It closes at 10pm every night, and opens at 8am. In theory...this morning I purposely got up at 8am, like I do every morning that I do laundry, and dragged my laundry to the laundry room. Except it wasn't open. So I dragged my laundry back to my apartment. 8:15am I went out again. Still fucking locked. Ok, I'm getting even more frustrated now. Dragged my laundry back to my apartment, yet again. 8:25 I go out again, meet some guy in the hallway who asks me how I'm doing...not the right time to ask...normally I would just say, fine, and move on. Today I told him I was frustrated. So he asks why, and I tell him I have been trying to get into the laundry room, and have dragged my laundry out there twice already. So then he apologizes...turns out this guy is the one who was supposed to open the door at 8am. He slept in. So I told him that I got up early just to do laundry. Another excuse - "sometimes I sleep in"...whatever. Just be lucky you are opening the door now, because I was moments away from taking my axe to the door.

Don't mess with a stressed out, overtired, frustrated woman.

I Think

My friend D sent me this today...cracked me up. Simple, but funny.

So True

Tell me about it. I paid $1.459 tonight for gas. My little Corolla cost me $56 to fill (and it wasn't completely empty) which is fucking ridiculous. So now...

Memorable TV Character Moments

Harvey Korman died today. I remember him well from The Carol Burnett Show. They were friggin hilarious. My favorite tv moment on this show was when Carol dressed up as Scarlett O'Hara in her green velvet dress made from the curtains...with the curtain rod left in. I ROARED!!! And Harvy was Rhett Butler...funny as shit...and now he's gone. Rest in Peace, Harvey...

Other memorable tv moments for me are...

• when Radar gave Col. Potter a horse for his birthday on M*A*S*H...Sherm teared up in that scene...
• when Pamela Ewing woke up, and it was all a dream. I recall not being particularly happy abotu that, as did most fans...
• when Grace meets the only woman Will ever slept with on Will and Grace...the entire episode was killer funny...everyone had great lines in that episode.
• the boyfriend cleansing ritual episode on Friends...
• when Mark Greene dies on ER...sad as hell...
• when Les Nessman gets attacked by live turkeys...he thought they could fly...WKRP came out on DVD and when I watched the first season I laughed all over again

and so on...

Nighttime Faux Pas...

so I went downtown tonight about 10:30pm to run to the bank machine...payment coming out tonight, needed to deposit some cash to cover it. I was in my pyjamas...which normally isn't a real big thing because I usually have a coat on because of the cold. Until today when I didn't wear a jacket and realized as I'm strolling about, I have my souvenir t-shirt from Alaska..."I Got Laid in Chicken, Alaska" written in BIG BLACK BOLD letters for all to read...I bought it as a joke, and in certain company, will wear it. Mostly it is a nice soft t-shirt that I wear around the house, and usually to bed. So there I am, strolling about downtown, trying to cover my chest without looking like I was covering my chest...

It was a beautiful sunset downtown though...