Do you believe in magic?

I was driving home the other night, and every single one of these larger than life dandylion things were lit up seemingly from within. I was magical, as if the fairies were having a party and using these as the lighting.

I'm still shocked that this picture turned out.

Hello? Can you please tell us how to get to the tundra?

So I drive past this field to and from work nearly every day... okay honestly? Probably every single day. They just finished doing whatever it's called when you bale all the hay together, and I just thought that the way they stacked it looked so cool. They almost look lost, like they are trying to find their way home.

OOoooh sparkly!

If something is blue, chances are it's my favorite colour evar! This weekend my Aunt did my nails and omg I love them, I mean how can you not? Check it out in all its sparkly glory:

Heeey yoouuu guuuyyyss! Part Friday.

Woke up to a text message, groaned and replied... yes I need to be picked up, I'm somewhere on 17th Ave sleeping in the MoHo, no I'm not sure what the address is, you'll call when you're closer? K sounds good. *click*

*groan*

It's approximately 8am, my body is in the process of doing a damage assessment to see if anything's broken, and cautiously checking the status of the digestive system.

*dozing off*

*phone rings* Ok you're on 17th Ave already... It's down the hill, nope don't see you yet... oh yeah, there you are!



We had two great games, I believe we mercy'd both teams... it was a good way to start the ball weekend, get to know where everyone plays and settle in a little. The bit of a break in between was nice too.

That afternoon consisted of jello shots and a team get together at our coach's, where we played volleyball?!?! Because ball all weekend just wasn't going to be enough ;) I made some wicked hot jalapeno poppers, even thought I tested the peppers and put in less than I usually do they were still hot enough to burn you a new arsehole!

The misshap of the night occurred when a beer went down, our hostess was icing her knee so I offered to grab the dust pan. Downstairs under the stairs by the kitty litter. No problem, I can do that, no no no, you stay and ice your knee... Yeah, stood up too fast under the stairs, and proved beyond scientific doubt that I am taller than the space under there. Cracked 'er pretty good, riigggght on top of the bump from last night. *shrugs* what are you gonna do?!?!

Migrated up to the beer gardens, and it was awesome! The bands were wicked, there weren't too many people, just enough for a mosh pit in front of the stage. I'd like to take this moment to thank the three monstrously tall guys who we somehow managed to tuck in behind... I'm pretty sure you kept us safe from the horde all night.

Just as the beer garden crowds were starting to dwindle I decided I was starving, as is wont to happen from time to time ;) There was no pizza to be had, but a perogie stand caught my eye... Babba's Perogies. By the Gods they were the best perogies in the entire world! Having learned how to share in Brownies I was quickly everyone's new best friend.

Now the cool thing they do for the weekend is have free buses running from the beer gardens all over town to prevent drunken idiots from attempting to drive. Great idea! Having a bus driver brake-gas-break-gas-brake-gas an entirely full bus of illegally intoxicated individuals? Noooooo good! We jumped off early, I mean we've walked home from down town a few times before so really, we're close enough.

The thing we didn't realize right away was that we were a block over. Now you wouldn't think that one block would make a lick of difference when you're taking two steps forward and one step back...

But. We usually walk (hike) up suicide hill, so named because it's steeper than the back of your head, and back in the day you could drive up *and* down this narrow street, always running the risk of hooligans launching themselves off of it on the way down and landing on you! Well being over by one block we were on a gentler incline, not so bad one might think... think again! It took *FOORREEEEVVVER* we had to stop for a rest on someone's front lawn! I'm not even kidding you, we never stop for a break on suicide, you look at it go "Holy crap" put your head down and start hiking up the stairs and before you know it you're at the top. Way. More. Bettar.

Crashed out, woke up not feeling too bad, incredible! Sorry but you'll have to wait for the Saturday installment of this weekends episodes ;)

Quote of the past weekend

Don't fake drunk when you're wasted!

Luckily for me I can learn from other people's mistakes too ;)

Hey yoouuuuu guuuyyys! Part Thursday

I just had the awesomest longest weekend evar! I'm not even kidding, I'm so excited about it I keep accidentally hitting the Caps-Lock key and SPONTANEOUSLY YELLING. Ooops sorry about that, told you it was out of control over here! I'm going to have to break this up a bit, I'll try to do it by nightish, and not make you wait too long. Especially since I don't want to forget to tell you about everything awesome!

But seriously it was a fantastic Funtastic weekend. Our team, The Goonies *cue Hey yoooou guuuyys* won the competitive A division of the entire tournament! *Happy dance* there is some ridiculous number of divisions, like A for Awesome through H for Here for the Beer, and somewhere around 150 teams from all over the place.

I had so much fun, that the nights blend together as do the unidentified bruises, aches and pains. The festivities started Thursday night after work... and well, didn't really finish until around hmmm 8pm Sunday night. I'll try to spare you the gory details, and not talk too much about one of our ball players who once stood naked in a creek... Ha. Who am I kidding the story has puke, poop, and the words "How bad could it be?" in it. But that will have to wait for tomorrow night.

Anywhoo Thursday night started out kinda lame, I put laundry on. Super lame. I mean it's a big weekend right? Why haven't I started it sooner huh? Well I got nothing for you... But then I got the call that my favoritest ball girl evar (FBGE) was in town! I made all haste and headed on over to naked boys' house to suck back a couple of beers, meet the new guys on the team, and make fun of the new guy for wearing baseball pants - don't you worry I was envious of them by the end of the weekend... okay my skinned shin was. Anyways trucked 'er up to the beer gardens, and proceeded to bond with my team, catch up and generally dance around and carry on. The two highlights of the night were:

a) attempting to jump through a hulu-hoop while it was spinning around someone's arm, earning myself a goose bump on my noggin', but since I'm not a quitter I tried it again... yeah, I know, slow learner is what you're thinking... in any case I did not make it through, but don't you worry I'm going to keep at it until I get the timing right, or get brain damage. Maybe I can get some free beers NEXT funtastic.

Note: Dear reader, you should probably take a pee break here... I know I sure needed one.

b) My favoritest ball girl evar, had seen some dude who we will now refer to as The Ass, who was dissin' her current boyfriend of forever (BOF) and had said something along the lines of "diss diss diss, we would totally have been a power couple" WTF is a power couple??? I interrupt this to ask you only because neither of us has *any* idea. Anyways, pardon the A.D.D.D.D.D. each time we saw The Ass, she had a little bit of an I'm super frustrated angry "Grrrrr" moment. Well unluckily for him, he was wandering unsuspecting through the beer gardens talking on his cell phone when she pointed him out whist on our way to the watering hole again... Seeing her displeasure I said "Dude, do you want me to take him out?" Now my FBGE, knows that I'm not joking... as at the tourney where we met I tackled some guy who gave me a 7 out of 10 after I did a front hand spring hammered... she lit up like a fat kid in a candy store and says, "That would be great!"

*Hold my beer*. I ran across the entire beer gardens, now dear reader I'd like you to keep in mind that he's like 3 feet taller than me, I went for his knees, rugby tackle style. There was a moment of *squish* before my momentum carried him forward enough to bite it. Got up, inhaled my breath, re-inflated my chest, shook his hand and said "Thanks man!" and walked off leaving him more than slightly confused. Now, in the common affliction I have, known somewhere in France as staircase-wit I realize now that I *should* have said: "YOU KNOW WHY! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S FOR!!!" But alas I did not. My FBGE, loved it none the less. And I was greeted with, my drink and an omg-that-was-so-awesome-he-totally-ate-dirt! and *smiles* bright enough to out-do most high class chandeliers!

Anyways that night ended off with an injury count of two, goose-egg and slightly crushed upper right ribs, complements of The Ass. The squish was so worth it!

We had some minor shenanagins finding somewhere to stay, the BOF curled up on the side of the driveway in a sleeping bag asking in a semi-conscious voice for a pillow, but it all ended well with us staying in the awesomest couple's Motorhome affectionately known as The MoHo.

Well, the BOF crawled up into the over-the-cab space, I crawled into the other sleeping bag at the washroom end and grabbed a stuffed penguin to sleep on... my FBGE went to crawl in with her BOF, well here's the dialog that followed...

BOF: "Hey, there's no room up here! You're not gonna fit!"

FBGE: "Are you f*cking kidding me??!!?"

Me: "Dude, there's tonnes of room down here. You're more than welcome to come crawl in if you want"

FBGE: "Seriously? What do you mean I'm not going to fit?!?! You calling me fat? Jerk."

BFF: "It's too small! Go sleep in the other sleeping bag"

At this point she stormed down, "Harumphed", crawled in with me and said "Fine. But I get to be big spoon!" This started the spark-plug giggles, which fired into full blown tired giggles *s* For the next half hour or so, in drunk-time, I savoured the awesomeness of hanging out with someone I admire, and giggling uncontrollably about nothing in particular, namely sleeping on a penguin. Each little giggle setting off a whole new Nascar race of more giggles. It was one of those moments, like when you were 8 years old... I know, think waaaayy back. When you were hanging out with your best friend in the summer time playing, smiling, and laughing, and its as though everything in the world is exactly as it should be.

Best. Pickup line. Ever.

Via text message:

I'm a bra le reader

Sound it out... it will come to you ;)

So there.

Apparently the theme of the week is cool Grandmas. I was talking to another friend of mine whose Aunt had just passed away and she was asking her Grandma if she was going to attend the memorial.

Grandma said something about it being too hot out, to which my friend said welcome to the 21st century Grandma, most new cars have air conditioning and most buildings have air conditioning... Soooo... you'd be hot for however long it takes you to walk between the two...

To which Grandma replied

"Well why should I go? It's not like she's going to go to mine!"

*licks finger* point indeed. How do you counter logic like that I ask you?!?! You don't. The moral of the story is don't argue with Grandma, she wins. Every time.

Cool Grannies

In a conversation with a friend:
I srsly have the weirdest family on Earth. That's why we have the nickname the Griswolds. hehe. I pointed this fact out to my grandma last night and without missing a beat she said

"well it's a good thing we're weird cause otherwise you wouldn't fit in."

HA! That caught us all off guard. Gotta love cool grannies.

Weeeeeee are the chaaaaaaampions!

That's right We. Are. THE. Champions!

So this last weekend, that we just had, was playoffs for my co-ed ball team. It was epic! My team beat a lower level team on Friday, without me as I was breaking in the newly restored from fire cowboy bar Outlaws, very important business.

In any case, we had to play the Irish a formidable team we had been neck and neck with all season. In case you are wondering they are also damn good drinkers, and bring their own motor home to games just to keep the beer cold. I kid you not!

Well collectively, as a team... we shat the bed and lost to the Irish. Thus sealing our fate to take the long way back to the playoff round. This also got Randy two decent belly slaps, he'd bet one the night before over a bottle of tequila but earned the second one when he flinched. We played and won 3 more games on Sat. including a 5 inning hum-dinger against a team (the Outlaws) that had been drunk when we played the Irish at noon... (coincidence? I think not) whose pitcher managed to get tossed from the game for um harassing the umpire. This being his first game back from a three game suspension. They were already playing with an auto-out and the ump wouldn't allow a second substitution. They were a little upset. Understandably.

The last game we played on Sat was ridiculous, we won by 3 runs... everyone was so played out that we were playing at 1/4 ass, which proved to be just enough. We managed to keep the boys from our team from kicking the assholedness out of a new player who "didn't know any better" than to attempt a shoulder drop or a lifted elbow rather than a slide when attempting to get to a base. It was a little tense as he only tried it on the girls. The consensus was learn how to slide, or go play 'F' ball whatever that is... I'm guessing mens ball where you can do dirty shit like that, but chances are you'll get it back too. Besides we all have day jobs, this isn't pro ball. We all dragged our ibuprofen, sore feet and shoulders home for much eating and sleeping.

This ball marathon on Sat. put us in the dubious playoff position vs. the Irish where we had to beat them twice. Yes that's right, the team we were neck and neck with... as in we win one they win one... we had to beat twice in a row. There was some drinking, and some praying to the baseball gods.

I'll cut to the chase, two tight games, of phenomenal ball were played. Good times were had by all, there were no major injuries, and we were all still friends afterwards... but somehow we beat the Irish. Twice. Yep I'm still pointing that out, I don't think you realize how HUGE that is! Twicceeee. Listen to the sound that makes, just at the 'ice' part... ohhhh yeah!

Waiting for the league to order in our guaranteed to fit winnings... guaranteed to fit and someone only ordered/sent large and extra large?!?! I'd just like to point out that ummm 95% of the women who play ball are in fairly decent shape by todays standards, and in any case still aren't a mens large or extra large. Sheesh.

Soundtrack of my life...

Merry Go Round - Terri Clark... the delicate balance of juggling eggs in the air, giving the proper amount of attention simultaneously to each one in order to keep them all air born, unfortunately it turns into a big bucket of yuck if you lose track of one. single. egg.

Particularly:

Ride like the wind
smile like a child
land with both feet on the ground
the trick is to know when to let go...
of the merry go round.

Seriously?

Actual Windows Event Manager Error Description:
The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer STUPIDSERVER that believes that it is the master browser for the domain on transport BunchOfGarbageAndNumbers. The master browser is stopping or an election is being forced.

I particularly enjoy the bit about an election being forced, it sure makes it sound like the servers are electing themselves. What next? We'll probably be voted off the island as a danger to ourselves. Yep pretty sure that isn't too far off.

Back to my crazy ball game last night...

So I got a decent hit out between right field and right center... go burning round first, and on my way to second I'm getting the "Go third, no wait! Stay at two, go three..." obviously a little confusion Wink So keeping an eye on the ball I round two, they overthrow but either the short stop or the third baseman came up with it, as I'm stopping (there isn't enough time to get to three)

I caught my right toe, and managed the most ungraceful bail/faceplant evar! Now I'm a little concerned because now they're definitely gonna throw it back to two... I look and second is too far away to do the crawling scramble and touch the bag, I haul myself up and launch myself head first in the general direction of the bag, somehow the ball didn't get there before me, in fact the second baseman doesn't have the ball... looking around I realize that the ball is out in right field!

Scrambling up again, I start haulin' the mail to third... I can see my base coach giving the slide signal, third is getting ready for the throw, and the pitcher from the other team is right beside me yellin' "SLIDE!" I go for the Superman slide, wind up on third base, safe. and rest my chin on the bag.

They're only little but I managed to scrape my right knee, left and right elbows and I have a little bit of road rash on my belly of all places lol, that and I had to strip down outside last night as I had so much dirt in my sliding shorts! But seriously sooo much fun!

You will know where I stand

I believe that the ideas in a TV show can change the world if we let them.

I believe that something you have to work for, is that much more satisfying when you actually accomplish it.

I believe we can live together, if everyone would just stop and listen to each other for once.

I believe in the wonder of every day life.

I believe you should pass on kindness, you never know when someone else is running a little low.

I believe we should be gentle with Mother Earth.

I believe that just because someone will pay you for something, does not give you the right to sell it.

I believe there are many things our ancestors have tried to teach us, that we haven't learned yet.

I believe in the magic of storytelling.

I believe that all things are in balance, just because we haven't figured out the scale doesn't cause it to cease to exist.

Star light, star bright...

I wish you love. Love to give, love to receive and love to heal all that has come before.

Philosophication

Today I discovered Project Gutenberg. Okay it was yesterday, but today I realized how incredible it is. *nerd alert* In one seemingly small line of code on the command prompt I invoked a recursive download. I feel like I'm downloading the Internet, and that if I'm not careful my laptop will spontaneously break the laws of physics and melt into a black hole consuming the Universe in its wake!

Although I've been feverishly checking the space constraints on my laptop I've downloaded thousands upon thousands of titles in little over 2GB... with 42GB still left to go, I should be okay. I am a little nervous though as the last posted space estimate for downloading the entire project puts it at 15GB in 2004.

It should be okay, I'll just keep an eye on it. Right? Right?!!? *chews fingers down to first knuckle*

I've been randomly flipping through folders of items that have already been downloaded and I'm excited at the prospect of being able to do it when I will have a chance to read the contents. Its like the first tentative tastes of a meal the cook has not yet declared fit for consumption, that makes your mouth water and your stomach demand more.

This project only has books that are in the public domain, so basically all the classics, Jules Vern, Mark Twain, Shakespear... endless biographies of philosophers long dead. And yet these literary works that I was not spoon fed the puree in school, or forced to dissect into the smallest most basic building block excite me. They hold wonders unread, thoughts I've yet to think, and new perspectives on old ideas that directly relate to problems we still face today. They say that history repeats itself, but how can it not... we take leaps of faith in a direction already tried and expect something different to happen.

Maybe just maybe by standing on the literary works of giants, I can expand upon those thoughts and think something that nobody has ever thought before. Wish me luck, its apt to be a long journey.

A quarter for your thoughts

It doesn't matter how long it's been, some people can call you up out of the blue... and just have no idea that they've made your entire day ;)

Granny's are beautiful

I'd just like to start this post with "I have the coolest Granny ever." Full stop. My Granny is 96 years old this year, and we managed to make it up for my middle brothers convocation and a visit the weekend after her birthday.

Yeah she's getting old, and as far as she's concerned nothing works the way it used to, but she's still all there. She's reached the point where she's a little more puffy, especially when she gets excited to see you. She can't quite hear as well as she used to... definitely noticeable when one hearing aid is broken. And she's hit that timeless age, where she looks like Granny. But she still has a twinkle in her blue eyes, that goes with the knowledge that not everything you tell her is exactly how it is *s*.

She concluded our visit with at least a hug and a couple kisses from everyone, as she can never have too many so she "saves them for later" *melting stone heart*. But she caught me for an extra hug on the way out (twist my rubber arm) and said "You'll always be my little west coast girl".

Don't worry Granny, I always will ;)

Grrr

Arguing about the asinine details of doing something that will have no positive results, when no matter what you say will not be taken into account, and you will probably end up doing it anyway. Arguments like that usually end in "Fine".

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

"Fine" when used by a woman rarely means what you think it means, it definitely does not mean "You win" and is in fact roughly translated to "Do whatever you want, but the decision and outcome are now your responsibility." often this means "I told you so" will be heard in the not too distant future.

This is what he said...

User: "How's it going?" he asked, his visage filled with shame.

User: "If I didn't know better, I'd say that you took down the wiki!" she replied full of rage.

User: Yeah. That's about all my creativity right there.

User: I tried to attach a pdf and use the {viewpdf} macro and the whole wiki seems kaput now.

User: *small* please help */small*

Mighty tech goddess (me): Ah but the mighty tech goddess had forseen the crash of the wiki and thusly had created it in the image of the phoenix, that it might restore itself upon its death, invoking ancient service properties, rising from its ashes and again give access to the collective wisdom of the people, cradling that wisdom that they might be smarter than the sum of their brains and go forth and conquer the wild elements of nature, so that man might live in a controlled environment and be happy.

Working on the boat, I'm sure there's a better way

So in a recent whirlwind trip to the Island I was helping my Dad work on some things on his new boat. And like an ex-mistress, we don't talk about 'The Other Boat' anymore.

In the few days I was there, we got a tonne of stuff done it was pretty cool! We ran wiring for the radio. Stowed spare parts in the bottom of the coffin berth, which is literally a bed area you slide into, going into it the other way to access the locker though is a little claustrophobic. The locker in the bowels of that berth is the length of my arm and then some. Hypothetically we only put parts you shouldn't need very often in there, but I would place money that they will be needed when Marimba is doing the jig.

We, or I should say I drilled holes through the hull for D-rings to secure the dinghy, and the bolts to bolt down the emergency life raft. I am unsure whether that was because I can see the end of the drill bit or just because Dad had been putting off being the one to make holes in the hull... I'm leaning toward the latter, I'm sure it will be my fault if those ever leak...

We drilled holes and ran the cable for the Radar... twice. Okay we only drilled once, but true to form we ran the cable, Dad went to plug it in and went crap... I need the other end! He graciously offered to crawl in under the nav station, but I honestly don't think his hand would fit behind the water thing that the hole is tucked in behind...

Half way through the rest of the directions, it started raining... not really hard but big monster drops of rain. So we moved the Radar top into the covered companionway, however the only position that would work for me to support the unwieldy thing had my butt crack directly under the drip line of the dodger.

"Awesomesauce" and I say that as sarcastically as possible.

All it all it wasn't too bad, we got it all together whilst only getting moderately wet by 'Wet Coast' standards. I'm pretty sure by drier country standards we were drowned though. We attempted to mount the Radar only to discover that despite its streamlined shape it made a great sail, and by the Gods that was right when the wind picked up. In any case it was time we took a break for lunch and we managed to convince my little brother to come help with mounting the Radar.

Previous to taking on a third person to help with the mounting we came up with numerous brilliant two person ideas involving everything from using a topping lift attached to a winch, to using one of the yard-arms, to lashing me to the top of the arch... looking back it was so much easier just having that third person!

After congratulating ourselves on not dropping anything in the chuck, and retrieving the bold I managed to juggle drop through the crack in the dock onto the floaty bit underneath... We tackled the bilge pump *ominous music cue*. We had the pieces of tubing, we measured the pieces, hacked them to size and then convinced them that they really wanted to fit onto the necessary elbow joints... okay they almost convinced us they didn't want to fit but then we brought in the boiling water torture and they conceded.

Now picture this, there isn't a lot of room on a boat, especially under the cock-pit where the engine is... so there's my Dad, a middle aged guy who's managed to stuff himself into the starboard space alongside the engine, my little brother who has climbed into the relatively spacious port locker alongside the engine and myself in the companionway having removed the galley ladder. Basically we make up a triangle around the engine and are attempting to stuff said rubber tubing with two, count them one. two. right angled elbows through a space that made those elbows claustrophobic.

As you might imagine those elbows, well maybe they were a little miffed at being forced to permanently hang out with the rubber tubing, or maybe they just woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but in any case they fought tooth and nail not to fit where we wanted them to go. We ended up with Dad stuffing, my little brother using a hammer and chunk of wood to 'coax' the elbow through and myself with the handle of a scrub brush attempting to direct the wayward end away from anything it could take purchase on to prevent further movement. As soon as it was within reach I had to pull... slowly, one hammer thwack at a time my end lined up and over the pump we were attaching it to, and that ladies and gentlemen is probably the hard way of getting the tubing on the bilge pump!

Best wishes when a babe is born

Hope you quickly learn the harmony for the new rhythm in your life ;) ~S

A good day to play ball...

So despite a zombie level of 12 on the 10 point scale, and weather conditions that had not improved since yesterday... ie: sprinkles interspersed with showers... and even after my coffee and tomato breakfast sandwich with bacon on it I was still not prepared to play ball, let alone enjoy myself. Muscles protested repeated use, ibuprofen better known as I-be-brokens and Gatorade were not kicking in nearly fast enough for my liking. Despite layers that would have made an Eskimo jealous...

Despite all of that, getting out on the ball field, the wind on my face, the crack of the bat, the thrill of the chase... tracking the ball, diving, and coming up with that same ball quickly turned my day around.

Playing a team I used to play on, I forgot we were using the smaller ball for girls (meaning they can hit it significantly further than the rest of the season when we all play with the big balls) ran in thinking the ball was going to stall, realized it sure wasn't and made a jump worthy of sponsorship by Air Jordan shoes and somehow snagged the ball! This was followed shortly by a short pop fly, still pumped from my previous catch... running stride for stride with the guy playing right center, realizing he wasn't going to catch it in the air and busting out the reckless abandon and going for it. In that moment there was no other fielder, for that split second there was only the ball and my glove. The seconds that slowed down came crashing back into reality in a fraction of the time, mashed into a dive roll only to come up with the ball facing the outfield fence. I know that my team members on the bench heard how excited I was, I'm fairly confident that everyone else on the diamonds that afternoon heard it too... even if they had no idea what all the shouting was about.

Same team, one of the fastest guys on the team, a guy I would proudly play field with any day decided to play me short. A taunt of sorts. Now usually that gets into my head, and the only thing I want to do is crush the ball... and for no conceivable reason today was not one of those days where that happened. I crushed the ball! I'm told it wasn't far off the warning track. *smug grin* Stick that in your pipe and smoke it! That's right, you just got burned by a girl... in fact you got uuber burned, like a BBQ I can still smell yah!

Another team we played I ended up in the position of not running into a great situation at 2nd base. It did not look good at all! I slid, got hung up on the short stops feet somehow and was *maybe* a toe width away from second. Miraculously he dropped the ball, and I had mere seconds to stretch every muscle in my body around him and wherever I was hung up on to get to that bag... I'm still not sure how I did it, but man did it feel good!

Although the weather only marginally cooperated, and everything was wet, the beer was certainly cold. At the end of the day sometimes all you can say is "It was a good day to play ball"

Things that make my day

When a complete stranger smiles back, and "Thank you sir" when I held the door open at Timmy's ;)

More than a little busy...

So I've been absent the semi-weekly update of laughter and good times here, and it isn't for lack of them in my life that I would share with you... but simply too much going on at the same time. I realize this is a common thread in my life, and it falls under the ridiculous first world dilemma category, but still it is a mess of my own making nonetheless...

I'm in the middle of working a full time job and attempting to pass a Level 2 OFA First Aid course with flying colours. Only because if you pass with flying colours you get a free t-shirt. Damn that University instinct. I'm not sure if I'll ever get rid of that, I mean seriously. I will eat cold pizza at 7am in the morning, even if I'm full... just because it's free. Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it... maybe wish my hypothetical patients luck, they might need it more ;o)

Wanna go ride bikes?

I was thinking however of a story I once read, where Ancient Gods continued to exist as long as someone, somewhere, still believed in their existence. Y'know there's some little part of me that knows the show Xena is over, and even though it lives on in our hearts and memories... still wants to see Xena and Gab together because I'm afraid I'll forget, or afraid it was just like a dream that I will wake up and it never happened, or that if I forget, all the things that were real about that show will cease to exist.

Casual hallway conversation

On comparing a file system merge to mating a hippo with a rhino...

We may both be big,
We may both be from Africa.
But we aren't even in the same genus.
And I ain't goin' anywhere near his *oop*

The way of the warrior

It really got me thinking when Gabrielle first started following the way of love with Eli, and even though she was taking a different path, she still felt that she was supposed to be with Xena... as all rivers run to the sea, and I just thought it was so cool that although Gabrielle had essentially rejected Xena's way of living so to speak, Xena made the commitment that she would fight for Gabrielle. It was the line "Lucky you don't need to" - basically you've got me, I'll always be here for you.

Then the roles were reversed, when Xena went in to rescue them from Caesars soldiers... and was all Gabrielle needs me to be the best warrior I can be. After they were captured, and talking in their cell, and Xena is apologizing for making Gabrielle turn from her way, she says "Xena, I had a choice, I could choose love, or I could watch my best friend die, I chose friendship" She says it with such certainty and such a calm aura around her, its as if it was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Finally when I recently watched the episode Chakram, when Xena doesn't remember anything of her former self, or that she is a living legend of a warrior... and Gabrielle gets her sais, and says to Eli that she'll do whatever it takes to protect Xena. They've come full circle, and yet they never left, their love for one another is constant throughout.

I guess love really is the strongest word, stronger even than courage.

The transition between winter and summer

I had a great ball game last night, the rest of the team didn't but that's to be expected. It's a new team and despite our great first game of the season everyone is still getting a feel for everyone else and figuring out where to play together. Wow that last sentence sounds a lot like a team grope, I assure you it isn't - we save those for injuries ;)

I batted 1000, got home a couple times and Mr. Thatisnotmyshoe and I showed off a little in field in that we've been playing together long enough that I can call the ball in mid air, tuck my elbows in while he's thinking skinny and somehow manage not to run into each other. Oh right, and catch the ball of course!

It's that time again when the smell of fresh cut grass and the warm breeze caressing your skin just after sundown makes it a magical time of year. That moment in time between sundown and actual darkness stretched out on my drive home, lighting everything seemingly from within and lingered. It was beautiful, and all the more so following the crisp arctic front.

It's not a dumb question

I just find your lack of faith, that I am aware what is going on in my server discouraging.

Balance

I am the friend you can act goofy with
I am your person you can phone at 3am
I'll say I wasn't sleeping, even if I was
I already know you called because its important
because you needed someone to talk to
even if you haven't admitted it to yourself
it doesn't matter what you need help with
I will be the balance to all that have grown up
and I will be the best friend I can be
when that is what you need most in all the world.

Ye old(er) English

There's something to said about the way people used to speak and convey ideas, a romanticism that has been lost in the slang, and bad grammar...

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Silence

Silence can be broken, duct tape lasts forever...

Apologies

I am fully aware that I have my cranky pants on today. But by involving me in idiotic discussions, you are delaying the removal of the cranky pants.

“Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot.” ~Lucy Lawless

Nose blowing advice...

From a good friend of mine, and I quote...

Blow it like a man! ~S

A Keeper

Someone who keeps your memories, and your secrets.

Your person.

Boo-yah!

Another tax deadline approaches

All Income claimed
Even when it meant filing as a small business
All RRSP and Mutual funds entered appropriately
All tax forms filed and submitted on time
Another year successfully survived,
with a little help from Mom.

And thanks to the persons responsible for this ordeal,
all chicken cannons loaded and ready to fire.

Shot:

Shredded paper - the initial attempts to file taxes using the manual method, before giving up and using a program to file them online
Keyboard keys - from all the keyboards broken while attempting to fill out taxes online
Human hair - pulled out during intense periods of frustration
Blood, sweat and tears - saved up from working so hard to generate income, only to have to pay for it twice
Fake KD - what we'll be eating
Ketchup - only thing we can afford to go with the fake KD

B to the fricken 'er

The temperature of my trailer is registering at fricken freezing! I'm so programming in my foul weather gear right now ;o)

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing" ~Norse Proverb

Exploring

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

~T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

On biking to work

It's not the getting here that's the hard part, it's the ride home.

Rock your socks off

Change the things that matter to you now, cause you never know when you won't be able to do anything anymore. I'm thankful for every day that I put socks on in the morning. ~Doofus

Too much

You're doing too much, when you have to tell yourself that you're not going to work tomorrow so that you have time to catch up on everything you need to do in order to fall asleep... only to wake up and go to work anyways.

Self, please slow down... or catch up

Faith

Is believing that what you do is making a difference in this world, sometimes you have no idea whether it is working or not, but you know that it has to be better than doing nothing.

I'm drowning in the sunshine...

The sun is streaming in my window at work and falling on the desk where I'm writing *smiles*

Moments

It takes the smallest of gestures, the briefest of moments to make someones day... the secret is that you may never know which moment.

Within

This way I spend my day
is not where I want to be
The time spent here feels wasted
not forward towards my destiny

There are so many options in this world
New things to see and do
So many opportunities to learn
things that are brand new

I want to do! Try everything
Leave nothing left undone
In this world of day to day
Who is it that has won?

We all have choices that we make
every single day
The one thing we control for sure
our reactions along the way

So if you don't like where you are
or who you've come to be
Pause and keep that worth keeping
redesign yourself its free

We can reinvent ourselves
every second of every day
The only thing preventing us
are the excuses that we make

Experience changes our perception
the way we look at life
But we still choose how we react
to suffering pain and strife

Stop and listen to your spirit
Only you can set it free
When I look within myself
The only one there is me

When you find your soulmate
you'll know it when its true
When you look within yourself
your spirit will now hold two

Get outta my way

Everything is impossible, until someone does it for the first time. ~S

Dear Cosmos,

Whoever is sucking the energy out of me... can you please ask them to reduce the volume of suck to a manageable level? I promise I'll last much longer as a renewable energy source. Thanks.

Why driving and talking on your cell phone is illegal...

It bloody well should be, I just bought whole goats milk instead of skim normal moo-juice because I was trying to grocery shop and talk to my Mom.

So thanks Mom for confirming that it was a good price to buy tomatoes... next time I'll ask about milk too...

*le sigh* I guess it doesn't taste that bad though, being raised on powdered milk and all...

I'm practically deaf... I am almost 50 he said...

Moving things out of the back of the truck the following conversation transpired.

D: What's wrong with you, I carried all four at the same time!

DD: I swam one thousand meters this morning!

D: WHAT?!?!

DD: I... uh. swam. one thousand. meters. this. morning.

D: Oh! I thought you said you swam without a uterus this morning *laughs*

DD: Yeah, y'know you're right, I took it out... I didn't want to get it wet ;o)

Our paths

Although our paths may cross for a time, and we may at times walk hand in hand... there are also parts that we must walk alone, or in our own way.

Sometimes the most comforting thought is that there are thousands of people who have walked this path ahead of you, and although none of us walk it in the same way if they can make it out the other end... so can you ~S

Just let your headstand.... sliiide

Just had a fantabulous week with Mitts in Stoke.

We did more skiing, slept on the floor and finished the week with a t-shirt that pretty much sums us up:

The cemetery is the place to rest

The girl at the t-shirt store found a wicked font to do it in that makes the 's' in Rest look like a snowboard carve.

Love it!

Dear Heros in my life,

You are beautiful and inspirational. There are certain people who shine through the characters that they are playing, and give us a piece of themselves. Thank you for that. From everything I've seen in videos, interviews and articles you are a wonderful person, I'd love to meet you someday.

From bits and pieces scattered throughout the internet we have a lot in common *in a non-creepy internet stalker kind of way*, but the best thing for me, was realizing that if you can make the time to do those things you enjoy, then I can too.

While I know there is often overlooked credit that should go to the writers and producers, you and LL brought that story to life, and gave it something special. You told it in a way that nobody else could, and you made many of us believe in love.

I always joke that my marital status is "single and looking", but the thing is even if you didn't write the scripts... it gives me hope, that for someone to write about soulmates, for all the beautiful songs about love in the world that exist... it really must be out there somewhere, that some people really have experienced it, and to never give up.

It's those brief moments of inner awakening, eye contact with a stranger, crossing paths with a kindred spirit, or that connection with a best friend that makes me believe in my heart of hearts that there is someone out there for everyone.

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle" ~James Keller

I think it's safe to say by the number of inspired people in this forum alone you've lit a fair number of candles, and brought a lot people together. Keep up the good work, and keep your chin up we all certainly believe in you!

~Xaber

Love it or hate it...

This is about the closest I will get to the Olympics in person. I still believe in the magic of the Olympics, despite the fact that much of that magic is shadowed or forgotten in its execution (literally).

I also think that the torch looks like an enormous joint, a tribute to internationally renowned BC Bud. I'm not sure who gets the design kudos for that, but I want a picture of someone smoking it.

Daily music

The sound of guitar chords, even if they don't quite go together... they're still magical.

Bruises in your sleep anyone?

As the day has progressed, and it's been a very nice Friday I must say... I've noticed that I have a couple unidentified bruises just in the indent at the back of my jawline.

No they're not the result of a UDI "unidentified drunken incident"...

But I feel almost as though I got my ass kicked in my sleep last night, and real or imagined, have the bruises to show for it. There's also some tenderness at the base of my skull on the left. Now I know I can be a *very* active sleeper, but this is a little ridiculous. I mean really, and the realm of the power of your mind causing what you believe to be real to evoke a very real bodily response (such as bruising) scares the hell outta me!

I've had some incredibly real dreams in the past, full colour... if I was any good as an artist I could draw it! I just hope this doesn't become a regular thing or it will start to look like I'm boxing at night for extra cash.

Musical challenge

I bought a guitar!

*happy dance* I am heading down to the musical type store today to get a tuner so it will only be my playing that is bad ;o)

Ever the student...

Yesterday I came face to face with something I'd been ignoring.

I'm interested in learning how to use the bo-staff, and I was asked the question "So you want to learn how to use weapons" and I stuttered on the answer, like my brain could no longer direct my lips... and it wasn't indecision, I want to learn it. But up until that point I had only thought of it from a defensive point of view.

It brought me back to the truth. Objects in themselves are neither good nor bad, it is all in how they are used. How we choose to use them. In any case, you need to understand how to use all aspects of something to allow you to choose how to use it and use it properly.

I want to learn how to use weapons, the manner in which I choose to use them will in turn show what kind of person I am. That scares me a little.

Bringin' sexy back

Q-tips, they're like sex for your ears. ~Doofus

When hating isn't quite enough

To quickly made a decent day suck.

Shampoo directions

1) Step in dog poo.
2) Attempt to wipe on wet grass
3) Attempt to wipe on melting snow
4) Check if clean
5) Repeat steps 2 through 5 if not clean

Nerdy directions

foot.stepIn(poo);
while(!foot.checkClean()){
----foot.wipe(wetGrass);
----foot.wipe(meltingSnow);
}

It will taint even a good day enough to make it not so good anymore.

*glaring with a hairy eyeball* at the thought of dog poo on my shoe.

All this pent up dog poo aggression and nothing to do with it *arg*

Puddle duck

Driving at high speed through a large puddle is the closest thing to the joy I experienced puddle jumping as a kid that I've yet to find.

I turned around and did it twice more.

My Grandpa used to call me puddle-duck as a kid, I got my parent's their money's worth out of the little red boots with the smiley face on the bottom. None of the puddles were safe when I was outside...

I quote.

I learn, whether or not its what you intend to teach me.

*Shit eatin' grin*

I'm back to blogging... it was an unplanned hiatus but I'm ready to go, put me in coach! I've missed you.

I've dubbed this new year "The Year to *do* Things"!

I'm feeling exceptionally happy to be here, it could be the light at the end of the tunnel... or it could be the Christmas hangover wearing off - although I'm pretty sure that's not it.

Whatever it is, I feel good. Like I could conquer all the worlds problems if I took them on one at a time. You know, the way the hero in a movie is never rushed by 8 guys at once. Only in groups of ones and twos, and they all go down in groups of ones and twos... hmmmmm

In any case I'm busy, I've got a lot on the go and a lot to look forward to, and I'm excited about it!

I was just telling my Dad about the new year this morning...

Me: I started early, as in end of last year when I did the cub woodbadge training, and got my CORE and PAL... doing the HAM course in March *hoping they have enough people*, buying a guitar, and programming on the side.

If that's not enough to keep me busy I'm looking at taking an avalanche safety course with Mitts, lots of skiing, walleyball, and possibly Martial Arts of some sort... wish me luck ;o)

Scientistically unproven...

Just because something hasn't been proven, well it hasn't been unproven either. Personally we have got to be connected in more ways than we think, I mean really... You have got to know what I'm talking about, especially if you've ever had this happen:

Skittles: "You sound good today!"

A true friend can tell you're bubbling and having a great day, even through a chat window.

Web cams are merely an aid for those who don't know you well enough to know what facial expression you are making as you type something.

Muahahaha

Me: 1

wiki: 0

My ingrained tag/bracket matching skills totally just kicked ass.

I fixed a problem in 2min that the previous fixer attempter spent 2 hours on... w00t!

That's right bitches I went to school for 5 years for this, and although it may not always show through, 2 min vs 2 hours is pretty damn good.

So how do you like them apples?!?

*touchdown dance*

Ain't that the truth...

The following may contain adult language, if you are easily offended go read someone else's website.

This is an excerpt from a few emails that have bounced back and forth through the ether between me and K w/a K... and maybe shows a little more ADD than I like to admit to ;o)

Me: Hey we need to do some crest action, I can't come to the area all leaders meeting tonight, and do you have a scale?

K w/a K: Yes I have a scale..oohhh lets weigh ourselves when you come over tomorrow….

Me: ooh ooh ooh yeah I need to work out my BMI, damn those perogies I just had for dinner ;o)

K w/a K: Ok seriously, those are going straight to your ass!

Me: uh yeah, I especially should not have watched while they were preparing them... not that you could have missed the burbling screams from the perogies on the bottom drowning in hot. melted. butter. Not that that's necessarily a bad way to go if you're a perogie...

No seriously though my friend I lived with in a bachelor pad said it best once:

apply directly to my ass with a spatula

I know when I turn 30 there is a special place for me... or two. So here's to the new year and *doing* stuff!

It all began with a meeting...

Someone once told me that they didn't know why we are all here, but that they believed that things are connected. They thought that we weren't necessarily important in each others lives... but that our purpose was to bring each other together with other lives who needed us. I also believe this is true, and that there comes a time when you have to do what makes you happy, not what everyone else thinks you should do.

Happiness comes in many forms, but I think the easiest way to know you're on the right track is when you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and you have a shit eating grin on your face for no apparent reason. Friends come and go, but only a special few will still call you up to chat when they haven't heard from you in awhile and talk as though you haven't missed a beat of their heart.

Kids. So I think I've more or less recovered from a weekend with the cubs. And I think I've discovered that 5 hours of watching Xena will help me recover from just about anything. I mean so far it seems to be working wonders.

We did a weekend camp up at the old ski lodge, and the weather was great, the kids more or less tried their best to be good and all in all I think the weekend went well.

We did a couple Christmas crafts, went for a hike well let me rephrase that... we went for a drag, played games, made survival kits and built fires in the parking lot. On an official note if anyone from the geek squad asks about the last item, I was dead at the time.

I think the survival kits and the fires in the parking lot were good for all of us. It reminded us that it isn't easy to start a fire, but I know that I can do it, and that there are skills I have that need to be dusted off once in awhile, before they are needed, not when.

I got to teach the kids about tree resin, and where to find it... and do a real life demo of it working to get a fire started when nothing else would. With any luck they will remember that when they need it the most.

The weekend had its ups and downs, mostly ups, but the one thing I'm struggling with is one kid who brings out the immature highschool teen in me. I'm old enough to know better, and yet all I want to do is stick out my tongue, put my thumb on my nose... wiggle my fingers and go "NYAAAAH nyaaahhhh!!!"

I'm not a doctor but it's not normal, and the response he evokes is not normal. I'm sure there is a desgination of some kind, bipoal, schizophrenic, psychotic... but label or not I'm fairly confident he has a behavioural disorder. He can be a super cool, normal 10 year old boy who laughs uncontrollably at fart jokes... and then shortly after be at def con 7 and a half, cussing and swearing and carrying on like a sailor who didn't get laid and woke up with a hangover the morning he has to ship out.

I don't know how this weekend will affect the kids that were there. But I do know this, you can't fix everything. All you can do is try your best, and I know that kids are worth trying for.

It's easy to love those who are most loving. But what about those who need love the most?

I promised a long time ago that I would do my best, so that's what I intend to do...

Sometimes I forget

There is always another way to do something... remember that.

Stop.

Take a deep breath.

Think.

Don't think of the problem, think of a solution for what you need to accomplish. Not why it can't be done. It doesn't have to be conventional, in fact strive to be creative. It makes everything easier in the long run. Don't be afraid of what people think, or offended when they decide that you are 'doing it the wrong way'... There is no wrong, only different. Different opinions, different experiences, different points of view. Don't confuse different with wrong. They are not the same.

Just because you've only seen something done one way doesn't mean that's the only way to do it... It doesn't mean it's the best way either. Pay attention, when someone does something differently its an opportunity to learn. Even if it demonstrates itself as a reason not to do it that way.

Listen to those with more experience than yourself, although they may be stuck in their ways, they've been doing things long enough to find what works for them. This does not mean it will work for you. Using technology to solve an old problem might just be another way to do it. Even the slow cement have lessons to share. Be patient, not only with those around you, but with yourself. Appreciate that things take time, and if its something worth doing you too will eventually find a 'better' way to do it.

Idle Profound Jabber

Me: I used to wonder if I just liked skiing cause I grew up skiing with Dad...
But I love skiing just for the sake of skiing...
Fresh powder, quiet... in and out of the trees
It's beautiful.

Mitts: Yeah when it is fun and you are just by yourself then you know that you love it.

So much anger

So here's the thing, it's totally true that you can't please everyone... unless you're a political genius who manages to get everyone to compromise without leaving them feeling like they've been the testers for 'Discount Al's final exam strength lube' using a wooden splintered spoon sideways...

In any case, it isn't anyone's fuckin' business where I bought my ski pass other than idle passing interest. Don't argue with me, or try to unjustify why I should or should not have bought it at one place vs another. I earned the money I spent on that pass, I evaluated my options and made a decision. If you think it's a stupid decision that's fine, but its not your decision to make. So bugger off.

Like zombies and brains

It's awesome thinking "damn I wish I had a coffee" and then realizing that you do, and you just put it down and forgot it when you got in.

British Religion in Laymans terms

We were talking about the monarchy changes in Britain, where over the period of a few years the religion supported by the crown changed back and forth numerous times very drastically from Catholic to Protestant and back sometimes overnight.

I summed it up with:

Basically, depending on what religion you were it was a bad day to be alive.

Which didn't quite come out as intended but with all of the turmoil I'm sure a fair number of people had days that went for poop. I mean it wasn't uncommon for someone to assume the throne, outlaw the religion they didn't practice and make it not just perfectly acceptable, but almost required to stone people of the opposite religion to death in the streets. So you could be out somewhere minding your own business, showing your support to the crown by practicing the religion of the day and next thing you know they've been overthrown, and you're about to become an example... WTF!

What has been

The people who stay with us in life, well they aren't always a perfect shining example of why you stick with them. Sometimes they're mean and hurtful, and nobody understands why you put up with it, least of all the people who love you most and want nothing but the best for you. They know in their heart of hearts that you deserve the best because they know you're a good person.

The thing is, people change, feelings get hurt and all the rest of the bad things that can happen... but what it comes down to is this, at some point in your life that person was there when nobody else was. They understand your neurosis around certain situations and events, they know your thoughts and feelings without question or explanation... they know you. The good, the bad and the ugly. And well, if they were tough enough to stick by you through the lowest points of your life, whatever it was that they saw in you, they did. They were the person who believed in you enough that they made you believe in yourself again.

So although some people change, for better or for worse, you owe them some part of the person that you are today... and if by some chance you can ever return the favour, the gift of believing in one's self you know you have to do everything in your power to try, because on some level it's the least you can do to repay them.

Yes at some point it's a bad relationship, it brings some part of you down with them. But knowing what you travelled through and came out of the other side of with them, leaves you with hope, a solid forged in the depths of hell piece of hope. And hope is something that everyone needs.

Relative Perspective

Women are comparing themselves to their stay-at-home moms and saying, "I'm not good enough," Kimmel said. "The men I talk to, none of them worry about whether they're a good enough dad. In fact, they are unbelievably self-congratulatory. If they wash one dish, they go, "I'm the greatest Dad! I should get an award for this."

Random Quote

Pac Man
Quote of the Decade:

"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkend rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music."

~Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc. 1989

Stretch it out

Morning run, evening walleyball followed by a morning run = stiffness.

'nuff said.

On a more positive note, working Monday/Tues and then having Wed off for Remembrance day was awesome... even though today feels like a Monday, it's okay because tomorrow's a Friday!

*happy dance* oop except for that muscle RIGHT there!

Wanted

Someone to mind my sanity while I look for a place to rent...

The hardest thing...

I'm not everything I am because you loved me...

I'm everything I am because you taught me to love myself.

Its not just a colour

I think I understand one meaning of the expression "Out of the blue"...

Sometimes, like today for example, I was feeling kinda like poo-shmoo and a good friend called. We had a great chat, including about said topic that had made me a little sad/disappointed in the first place. And the conversation we had was reassuring, and heart warming and all of those warm fuzzy type things.

I guess it pulled me right up "out of the blue" and made my day!

Oh facebook how you amuse me

Hank: "reminder: making mistakes does not give you any authority to give advice unless you learn from them."

Hank: "also I don't have my phone today so if you call me or text me I won't call or text you back."

Erin: "OH NO! Can you hear my telepathic messages?"

Kimberly: "I learn from about 50% of my mistakes. The other 50% I repeat. And about 30% I forget I even made. 19% I write down in a book and review later. 7% I think about at breakfast every morning. 10% I'd like to give you advice on. 13% I regret. 22% I imagine. 34% have to do with boys. 45% have to do with the refrigerator. (obviously there is some overlap... as in, 12% of my mistakes that have to do with boys also have to do with the refrigerator. I could draw you a venn diagram if that helps)"

Suck my ass

Nothing sucks nearly as much as the way you feel as when a good friend completely and utterly disagrees with you, and then continues to tell you you're an idiot... and that they're going to keep telling you until you agree that they're right.

*sigh*

It makes me not want to talk.

It makes me want to never talk again, and just pretend that things ended the way they were when everything was good. I guess that's the denial part of therapy, maybe one day I'll sign myself up, or maybe not.

I know that just writing about it makes me feel better, and I know that if I had an ounce of communication I could explain how it makes me feel and only make my friend feel minorly sheepish if anything.

I might not always have things right, but I know that there are many things I would miss out on if I only ever did things the way they are "supposed" to be done. I like the socially acceptable level of rebel that I am, and I would like to think that if the time ever came where I had to make the decision because of some injustice that I will be able to choose what is right rather than what everyone else is doing.

*thwibbit* So There!

X-Rated Office Plant

"It's a playboy plant, you know one that's a little top heavy" ~Z

There's nothing quite like...

A good poop.

Hate is a very positive emotion...

I think my socks are conspiring to drive me crazy. I hate when they fall down. Time to break the bank and buy some new ones, today's a write off though. Stupid saggy socks. I'm sure it has *nothing* to do with the backs of my shoes being worn out and then applying duct tape to smooth them out, maybe it's time for a fresh strip...

And to think that I make fun of my best friend when her day gets ruined because she put her pants on too soon after applying moisturizer. *sigh*

Its not a hot flash... it's a power surge!

My wife is going through The Change"...
You know, from woman to Grizzly Bear.

~Z

He said: ...I said whatever you want *Honey Bear*

Fresh off facebook

"Yes, I believe in love, yes I am a dreamer. but I am not alone, there are more of us than you suspect, and we've got bombs, truth and beauty bombs." ~Hankie

Love...

“I don't pretend to know what love is for everyone, but I can tell you what it is for me; love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person, love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you.”

How do you know this exists? You don't. All you have to go on is someone that you clicked with more than you thought possible, that experience... no matter how brief, gives you hope that there is someone out there looking for you too.

Handwriting, its what you learned in elementary school

So I get this phone call...

Lady: "Hi is Sarah there please?"

Me: "I'm sorry I think you have the wrong number..."

Lady: "Oh, is this 555-5555?"

Me: "Yes it is..." (now slightly confused)

Lady: "I'm looking for Sarah Vincent"

Me: "Well I'm Sam Vincent, but"

Lady: "I guess it could be Sam, I'm calling on behalf of Passion Parties...

Now at this point I'm thinking aww crap I signed myself up to host a party at Rocktoberfest last weekend... allah damnit!

Lady: "... I'd like to congratulate you, you've won the mystery prize!"

Well apparently it's a lucky month for us! I might have been illegally impaired when I entered the contest though, so that would explain the 'Sarah'... poor lady ;o)

Advice...

A good friend of mine once told me that

"Advice is something we ask for when we already know the answer to something, but wish we didn't."

I think sometimes knowing the answer to something, and actually listening to yourself are totally different. That's why there are some people you ask for advice from more than once. They are the people who can make you quiet enough to listen to yourself. They help you tune out the clamors of the outside world and listen to the inner beat that makes you you.

That's why its so hard to find good friends, they can't just think you're funny or smart or confident and well dressed. They have to be able to hear 'you' over themselves... or perhaps in addition to themselves, and know when your beat is off.

A really good friend can tell when you've got the bass of one song and the drum solo of another song even over text messaging, as though they are standing there with you, with their fingers in their ears while you to try sing the chorus. And somehow through all the ruckus you can hear them as clearly as if they are wired right into your impromptu recording studio, calmly saying "Hold on a minute, just breath... now tell me what's wrong."

And instead of thinking about the notes that are coming up, or what you wanted it to sound like, or even worrying about the wording you pour it all out... sometimes in bits and pieces, all out of order like a bad movie. But by the time you're done, they've become the time keeper... the organizer of the chaos, and they've sorted it all out as though it was never broken up in the first place and lay it out... all the notes in the right order, the majors and minors where they should be, and maybe they don't know anything about the song you were singing, but they've just put the chorus in the right place, and brought the bass guitar and the drum solo into the same tempo... and somehow it all matches your beat.

Unique

I did not realize how nerdy I was... until I had to make all my customizations to my new laptop. Its amazing how over time you get things set up *juuuusst right* and it never seems like you've made that many changes.

Now I know better.

I am unique, just like everybody else. ;o)

Terrible joke: How do you catch a unique rabbit? U. nique up on it!

Laughing with the elderly

The funny sister: "Wow that new hair cut takes 10 years off you!"

Elderly lady: "Great, what does that make me... 92?"

Caution mental image may be disturbing for some readers

The funny sister:

"You know the Mom bum, where its all flat... and some of them have a vagina like a walking jelly fish"

*happy dance*

Okanagan Spring Brewery is going to sponsor our Halloween Party!!!!!

We have no idea what exactly that entails, the website hints at possibly booze, games tables, or other fun stuff... but who cares WE'RE GETTING SPONSORED!!!

I love swag :D

Did she seriously just say that?!?!

Lady purchasing vast amount of pizza:

"I'll get two ham and pineapple, one pepperoni and one vegetarian... I know it makes me fat but I don't care *giggle* It was really good yesterday!"

Does it make me a bad person if I muttered "Obviously" under my breath as I walked away?!!!?

I have the coolest cousins

Last weekend I did a huge trip out to my cousin Matt's wedding.

It all started Tues after work, quick drive up to Revelstoke where Mitt's happened to have come down with her dog Duke which was great! We took in the Banff Mountain film fest with her Dad, and decided the next morning that we might as well drive back to Calgary together - as that's where I was catching the same flight my Dad was on back to London Ontario and the only reason I was bringing my car was to get *to* Calgary.

So we had a great drive, visited, stopped in Rogers Pass at the Parks compound and then proceeded to hike the Hermit. Her Dad's description was pretty much bang on... lots of root and then it's so steep you'd fall out of your flip flops. Duke was hilarious he just didn't know what to do with himself there were so many new smells.

We made it up to the sub-alpine, took some pictures which I'll have to heckle her for and then decided to turn around... Duke was all "what are you doing? the trail goes THIS way" but we finally got him turned around and I was very impressed with his trail manners on the way down. He didn't try to run either of us over or off the trail to get in front, and she made him walk behind her the whole way. He was very good about waiting at switchbacks too rather than cut to the inside and trip you up in the process. All in all *two thumbs up*.

The next day we did an 8 - 9 km "walk" and near the end Duke decided he was done. Now most dogs will slow down, or stop... but not Duke, no he just lay down *ffwump* with his head between his front legs and looked up at you all pathetic like. If he could talk I'm sure he'd be saying "Do we have to walk any further?... I'm tired... will you carry me?... please?!?!"

Made it on the plane, got out to London, and being in the "navigator's seat" (which is how Dad refers to anyone in the passenger seat) I got to play with the new GPS. It was very cool. Not so cool was that Dad had set the waypoint 'roughly where he thought it was', and I had a rough auto cad paper map with directions from my Uncle's house. Needless to say being the navigator I was tasked with figuring out where the paper map matched up with the map on the GPS software. Fine.

Basically the highways all have numbers, but they've been moved so many times that the numbers 'appear' to the out-of-towner (me) to be all over the friggen place. So while I did manage to find the town of Thedford on both maps, highway #79 was in such a state that you could turn the paper map upside down and IT STILL LOOKED LIKE THE GPS MAP. Allah damnit! Eventually I figured it, luckily just in time as it turned out as I got the dreaded "Critical battery level" *shit shit shit*... quickly did the "okay we need to turn left onto highway #21 and left onto highway #79 and then we *should* be on the paper map" *fingers crossed*

We made it, everyone thought we were crazy... but in my defence my Uncle's map did not have a legend on it, but if it did North would have been pointing DOWN.

The next morning at an ungodly hour (my time) Dad woke me up to see if I would go running with my look-alike cousin. We decided that we don't actually look alike, we just have very similar mannerisms... it's amazing the things that are genetic ;o) So did a quick out of bed, out for a 20min jog and shook out the stiffness from the previous two days burst in activity. The cutest was my little cousin "Momma can we stop for Spiderman Ice cream please?". "No hunny it's first thing in the morning, maybe after your nap ".

The rest of the day was spent hanging with my cousins, meeting some long lost cousins from Windsor *lol*, and attending the rehersal dinner etc. and I had a blast, everyone was so cute and so much fun and it was just super wicked! One of my favourite quotes from that evening was "MOM! Why didn't you TELL me that Sam and I would get along so well!" To which her mom turned to me and said "Hey Sam, I think you'll get along *really* well with my daughter!" *smiles*.

We finished off the evening down the beach with a bonfire and a guitar and singing. My best description of my family is that 'what we lack in skill we make up for in volume'. At one point I commented on not being able to sing very well, and my cousin turned to me and said "Oh I wouldn't worry, I think it's genetic". Yes. Yes I think you must be right.

The day of the wedding started off with a HUGE walk down the beach. Knowing now what I do we could have skipped that walk. My one cousin and I ended up relocating cars to another parking area and walking back... including the car that had some of the boys' tuxes in them *oops*.

The ceremony was beautiful, the flower girl stole the show and the rain held off... and the wind was strangely absent. Now when I say the rain held off, I'd like to clarify that there was a light mist throughout that gave the day an ethereal kind of feel. The hushed atmosphere was punctuated occasionally by my littlest cousin cooing to himself followed by baby giggles, he was having a great time!

I think that the cutest though was little Em, throwing flowers at the start of the 'carpet' and then being done for the time being... then after the couple was pronounced husband and wife and just before they were about to walk out as newly weds... Em decided it was time to do her thing, and preceded them down the isle throwing petals and just looking like the cutest little angel.

We proceeded to dance the evening away, interrupted only by tables getting up to sing a song containing the word 'love' in it to prompt the newly weds to kiss. I think their plan to not have to kiss much backfired, as they didn't take into account that our side of the family, and obviously the other side had no problem getting up and making fools of ourselves... especially when if your song sucked you had to do tequila shots. We were all shocked though when they thought our song was really good? Lay all your love on me ~ ABBA from the recently released Mamma Mia

My mid evening funny was when my Aunt, the mother of the groom says to me "You look really ready to party!" and I replied "I am really ready to party", glanced at my watch... double checked it as my time and went "Of course I'm ready to party, it's only 7:00 my time!"

So my Dad who isn't usually much of a dancer, he's usually the guy who sits and watches amused by the rest of us making fools of ourselves got dragged onto the dance floor by one of the new relatives... Apparently her boyfriend thought Dad was trying to cut in, so Dad looked him in the eye and offered to "Deck him"... whoooo boy I almost died I was laughing so hard, poor kid Dad isn't very tall but as he said "he's solid and I don't imagine he expected an old fart like myself go on the offensive". The best part though, was Dad more or less didn't get off the dance floor after that, we danced solidly until 3am when the last bus left and the DJ shut down!

I was impressed with a self admittedly small town girl who copped a squat in the bush on the side of the driveway in her dress and pretty shoes. I mean if I were a guy that would be hot! No having to worry about taking this girl anywhere, she's versatile and adaptable to any situation.

After wishing everyone well we returned to the cottages (because they don't have cabins in London, they are cottages) there were a couple of us die-hards, who grabbed a couple beverages and sat around the campfire until the wee hours. Steph, Chris, my Dad and myself regaled each other with stories from other fun times. There really is nothing quite as magical as sitting around a campfire, there's just something special about it and the time that is shared with those around it.

The next morning sucked but we survived, it wasn't nearly as bad as it should have been, my biggest complaint being that my feet were a little tender. I think between my bare feet and the sand on the dance floor == sandpaper, I literally danced part of my footprints off!

I returned to Calgary tired, rejuvenated and partied out for the time being... hit up a local coffee shop with Mitts and then caught the Greyhound arriving at 11:40pm in 'Stoke. I slept the entire way, waking up briefly at each stop only long enough to check and make sure it wasn't my stop. The trip is so much faster when you do it that way! I was lucky to end up with an empty seat for the first few stops, only sharing with a seemingly nice girl later on... I really hope I didn't snore or drool on her, and that I didn't totally scare the crap out of her when I twitched involuntarily while falling asleep.

The next morning was an early one, and I was pleasantly surprised that being at work on Monday didn't totally kick my butt at 3 in the afternoon. Apparently sleeping does help with that ;o)

When people just click...

You know those people you've just met, or don't hang out with very often... but you find yourselves doing the same thing at the same time? usually followed by giggles... That's got to be one of the coolest things ever!

My Dad refers to people like this as "kindred spirits", and I think that's the perfect term for them. It is as if you grew up together even though you just met, like they're another part of you that got lost somehow and you only just found them.

With all the ball-shit that went on this weekend, the two new best friends that I met showed once again, it's more important who you're with than where you are... It's the people that make things worthwhile not the location contrary to Achmed's "location location location".

Thank goodness for text messaging ;o)

Listening to...

Rain on the roof... and relaxing more than any 'sound of the seashore' cd will ever make me relax.

w00t

This is a post from my gmail account... sweet!

Dirty girl

I'm sore, and stiff all over... it's a good sore though, that one that reminds you that you did something and that yes you are still alive, and no you didn't accidentally slip into a coma during that last office meeting.

My entire set of core muscles are sore no doubt in my mind caused by my bat swing. It even hurts to sneeze. But after a couple big hits this weekend and full-on head-first dive into third base, making me quite literally "the dirtiest girl on or off the field".



I found that point where I remember why I love playing ball... and I'm not sure how I ever forgot it, or let it get lost in the drama.

Ball is all about winning and losing as a team. It's about trying your best but knowing that someone is also there to back you up, or pick you up and finish what you didn't. In return you do the same thing, that's just how it works. Its also about sharing the awesomeness of a good play even when you didn't touch the ball. Its about sticking together for a little bit afterwards to celebrate your successes, highlights and TSN turning points or uuber analyze things so you can do it better next time. Its about working together to do something you can't do alone.

We are the Champions!

This last weekend we competed for the second time in the Paddle Against Cancer, which is put on by the local JC chapter (Junior Chamber International). Last year we competed for the first time with a team composed of people from work. During the practise we were told that we might win a race or two but not to get our hopes up too high because it's hard work racing...

Needless to say we blew everyone out of the water (almost literally), including a major upset of unseating a team that had held the cup for the last 8 years standing! So of course this year we had to put in a team to defend our title. The theme for the weekend was "Las Vegas" so we entered out team "Double or Nothing".

The races this year were awesome, the first team we raced was the team we had dethroned the year before and they were out for revenge, it was a close race and definitely got the adrenalin pumping but we managed to beat them again. *phew*

I'm sad that this is the last year that the JC's will be hosting this event, I really hope that another group is able to pick it up and continue the fun times and support for cancer research.

Battle of Epic Proportions

Must. Have. More. Coffee... Mmmmmmm coffeeeeeeee *blink* *blink* Sorry my coffee hasn't kicked in yet, this is my first legible sentence. Give it a few minutes...

OK here we go now...

Had a quick hotdog-dinner-of-champions followed by wicked-awesome inner tube fights! Its a lot harder than it looks! Especially when one of the scurvy bilge rats blind sides you Nyaaarrrr!

Headed out to Crystal Bay where my cousin is vacationing with her boyfriend's family and we caught up a bit, reminisced about funny family stories (I must remember to apologize to her boyfriend), and joked about crazy profs and midterms and all the horrible things that mark the day to day experiences of University. I miss it, without all the stress, and midterms, and papers, assignments and final exams and stuff.

As we were visiting, we saw a few flashes they started out similar to that of the flash on a camera... shortly however the hills were perfectly silhouetted from behind as if there were multiple explosions lighting up the sky.

We watched in awe as a huge battle raged silently across the night sky, seemingly between a legion of stars and the temperamental lightning. It was the most incredible storm I have seen in a long time. The amount of raw energy was phenomenal.

There were all different types of lightning, incredibly solid forks, to one that came half way down to earth and then changed its' mind and forked back up to another cloud, burning a U shaped bolt into my temporary memory.

There was sheet lightning and then there were sporadic bursts of sheet lightning as if each cloud was in charge of its own sheet. They would each light up in a quick succession of bursts that weren't quite synchronized giving the illusion of synapses firing in a giant over-sized brain. The huge temperature and humidity changes that accompanied the storm as it passed by were crazy!

The strangest thing of all though, was that we could see stars throughout the entire performance. It was beautiful sitting there, eating popcorn and enjoying the free show. I believe in quality time and quantity time... you don't have to be talking to visit, but all in all last night was pretty cool.