2012 wrap up

These last few days of 2012 have been just as crazy as the rest of the year.

Mom wanted a mother daughter day to Timmins, so on Saturday we went to Timmins. It was uneventful we shopped had lunch came home. I stayed for supper at her house then came home. Soon as I got home my mom sent me a text to invite me to go bowling...wtf why could she have asked before I went home, I wasn't going back to town so I stayed home and dived into a book I bought while in Timmins and enjoyed an old lady night with tea and my book. At 330am the book was done! and I spent sunday reading the second book in the trilogy, now to just wait for the 3rd book to be released. The books that sucked me into another world are Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth. Their about a distopian/utopian society, kind of reminds me of the novel A Brave New World, which I had to read in high school, definately worth taking a look at if your a book junkie like me; and bonus they are teen/young adult books so they are very easy to read.

Tonight we went out for dinner with the family. However there was also some drama going on too....Kelsie broke up with douche bag turtle face at the end of October and got back together with Zac...until tonight. Kels was getting ready for her plans tonight, dinner with us then her and jess and nick and zac were going to party. She got a call from douche bag turtle face, he was in a car accident rolled his car and was in the hospital. And kelsie being the oh so wise person that she is, decides shes going to go see him at the hospital. Now to make matters worse, Zac was sittin in the living room at my parents when she sneaks off, all she says is I'll be back in bit. WTF! 40 mins later Zac gets tired of waiting for her and leaves. We live in a small town...he finds her with HIM at the hospital. Kels takes the douche bag home, Zac follows them. The three of them have a huge blow up, I thank whomever is out there to look over us that Zac had the courage and balls to put his foot down with dealing with those two crazies and say enough is enough and that he isn't going to put up with Kels' games and bullshit and he done with her. Now what I didn't know is that Zac had given Kels a promise ring for xmas and asked her to live with him this summer when shes home from school. All I really have to say is way to screw that one up Kelsie. I don't get why she felt the need to lie to Zac in the first place. Why not be honest with him and say douche bag was in a accident I want to go see him for a second can you take me, instead of leaving Zac an running to him, sure Zac may not have been pleased she wanted to go see him but I think their last day of 2012 may have ended on a slightly happier note. I'd like to say my heart aches for Kels but I have no sympathy for her, I ache for Zac. I recently found a quote on Pinterest that said "Oh honey your not that pretty to be that stupid" it reminds me Kelsie, now more than ever. I do hope that Kels doesn't end up with douche bag turtle face again and that she can somehow find her way and get her head on straight again cuz it does break my heart to see the kind of person she's become. (another example of this is that one of her friends whom she's known since kindergarden, father passed away just before xmas and she still hasn't taken the time to go out and see her!! Any time one of my grandparents passed away my friends were right there, sure it was awkward them not knowing what to say to me but it didn't matter they were there).

I was also privy to a bit of info on the sister in law and brother and their fertility issues. She was hoping to be pregnant by now, turns out they're having a hard time getting preggers. Which doesn't exactly sadden me. In a way it almost makes me want to run out and get preggers, but almost not really since actually being pregant and giving birth is not on my "bucket list" any time soon.

So my end of 2012 was full of drama as it was the first half of the year. I continue to hope and pray that the pregnancy stuggles continue for sister in law and the brother, that Kelsie find her head, that Zac can find the strength to move on and live a happy life, the my mom can remove herself from the drama in others lives, and that I continue to find strength to be calm and stress free and be me.

Christmas

First I'm going to say that I had an okay christmas. I had everyone here on xmas eve for dinner, it was tasty! I made roast beef with mushroom gravy, mashed taters, fancy corn, yorkshire pudding, french onion soup, bruschetta, key lime cheese cake, and english toffee cheese cake. Very good. My only problem was squeezing 12 people into my house, but we managed. We ate, went to church, came back to my place nd played min it to win it games then some just dance and glee kareoke on the wii.

Christmas morning I packed up my gifts and headed to moms for 9. And not really being a morning person, well I but only if I get a good 8 hours of sleep, which I didn't, since we were up to nearly midnight playing games at my house. So I get to my parents house 10 mins late. Everyone is all in a tizzy cuz they all have other places to go. Wrong thing to say to me...I suggest that xmas day is a full 24 hours long, we could change the time of our gift opening, that didn't sit well with mom. Then Nick mentioned something about our traditions growing up about we can open our stocking first, but we werent allowed out of bed until 7am, after stockings we had to get dressed then it was eat breakfast and then dishes and turkey had to be in the over before gifts were opened. The sister-in-law made some quippy remark about being in her pjs and that she didn't know about these "traditions" again like the idle no more movement I'm with the smile and nod no more movement, so I insert my comment of how I'm pretty sure we've gone thru this the last 4 xmas' with her. I don't entirely blame her for her ignorance but my brother has some blame too, still annoys me. So anyway, we get to the gift opening part of things. And I gave Kelsie my usual box of goodies I've collected for her over the year, this year it included a tent, some books, a porno movie (back story to this is she would complain to my mom that the ppl in the dorm room above her were always "wrestling" so I made a dvd jacket cover saying it was all she needed to know about wrestling), and lastly I included about 20 copies of the ontario marriage license application with a note explaining that I had planned to go way worse with her gift but since she split up with douche bag turtle face (the ex) i toned things down but still felt I should include a few copies of this paper. That did not go over well, oh well. So Christmas morming I pissed off Kelsie, Jess and mom, GO ME! Mischeif managed! I've also decided and come to terms that I'm a grown woman and just because I don't have a spouse or kids is no reason why I should always be the flexible one to bend to fit into everyone else's xmas day plans. I say this now but next year my plan is to sleep in and go to moms when I get up, whether its for 9am, 11 am, or 3pm, I'll get there when I get there.

Xmas Hopes

It's Thursday, 5 days until Christmas, 4 days until my dinner party for the family, 2 Days of work, no time to laze around.

I'm organized for the most part. I have a game plan for dinner on Monday. Sunday I'll make the dessert -a Key Lime Cheese Cake and a English toffee Cheese Cake, and the Bruschetta, and the French Onion Soup. I'll also peel the potatoes and leave them in the pot of water in the fridge. Monday morning I'll put the roast in the slow cooker and take out my goodies and bread to thaw. Monday after work, I can make the cinnamon popcorn for after church then I can re heat the soup and toast the bruschetta, boil the corn and taters and make yorkshire pudding. And enjoy everyones company, all 11 people (and probably the brothers 2 dogs) that will be filling my tiny house.

On the plus side I also got the part to fix the pellet stove, I wasn't expecting it until after the holidays so a big YAY there, and a big sigh of relief that my electrical bill won't be "as" high as it could have been if I had to wait longer.

I also made enough tip money this week to buy dog food and get my betta fish :) I'm getting 2 betta fish tomorrow and put up these betta tanks that can be mounted to the wall for some living art, they're pretty neat and suit my living room perfectly. I'll post a pic when Statler and Waldorf are in their homes. (Bonus!!! Who know's where I got the names from??? )

This afternoon I went to get my hair cut, I almost cried at all the hair I left on the salon floor :( I didn't get much length taken off but I did get a bunch of layers put in as well as some side bangs eek! I haven't had bangs since I was 9!!!! I like the new do, but its going to take some getting used to. The Hair dresser was mighty impressed with my self dye job, so pat myself on the back for that one. And I do have to say the black on the bottom and red on top with the layers looks awesome!

I know my parents spoil us at Christmas, hell all the time really. Usually we have one or two high priced items we're usually garanteed to get, some of my past expensive gifts are kitchen aid mixer, the pasta attachments for it, mechanic tool box, this year I asked for a flat screen tv, blu ray player, and then some kitchen gadgets -which I feel I miss out on getting through a wedding shower or as wedding gifts since I have no plans of ever getting married. I also had a list of books I wouldn't mind reading, and for a change this year all I really hope to get are the books. The kitchen gadgets would be nice but I manage without them as it is, and for one person living alone I have 4! yes 4 working tvs in the house, so I really dont NEED another tv.

Happy Holidays! Joyeux Noel! Felitz Navidad! Happy Christmas!
Have a great holiday! (And if this happens to be the last day before the apocolypse it was a pleasure knowing you!)

When it rains is pours

Car brake job.

Broken auger motor in the pellet stove.

Water pump on the fritz.

That's 3 right?

Luckily the next two weeks I'm busy busy at work. Hopefully I can catch up on bills and pay off the repairs and start saving for spring and summer fix it jobs. I don't think I'll be travelling very far this year :( which is disapointing.

Holiday Favorites

One of my favorite things about the holidays is all the old school movies and specials thats play on tv.

My all time favorite is How the grinch stole christmas, the cartoon version. A close second is all Charlie Brown specials.

What are some of your favorite holiday things?

Another easy peasy Pintry

The idea, drill hole in wine bottle, insert old xmas lights and done. And it was pretty easy, the longest part was drilling the hole, on Pinterest it said to use a drill bit and drill, i opted for the dremmel tool and a diamond tipped bit. Drilling through glass is a slow process since you dont want to apply too much pressure and break the glass but once through it was quick enough to make the hole big enough to insert the old xmas tree lights. I jazzed mine up with a little glitter paint cuz hey glitter is fun.

Dad's Keys

I just realized I never said what happened to the lost keys and the dog locked in the truck...

Dad got the spare key, a better flashlight, and his metal detector.  I brought him back to my place, ready to free Molly from the locked truck and find the keys that were lost. He opened the door and lo-and-behold there are the missing keys. He thinks they must have fallen out of his pocket when he put Molly in the truck and she sat or stood on them locking her in and them out. LOL. guess Molly wanted to stay at my house a bit longer.

Pintry success

Another pinterest try, write words on bottle with hot glue gun and paint, easy peasy and it was....making another set to give away as gifts

Start Here

My mom doesn't read my blog. Nor do I have her as  friend on Facebook. I beleieve there are certain things parents should not know and should not get involved in/with. My desicions to unfriend my mom stems from issues with the sister-in-law and cousin/adopted sister. But I'm not going there today with this entry...

Last night my parents brought me my car. The brakes went on it and well its important to have functioning brakes, and I'm not a fan of driving my truck with no 4x4 in the winter (not that you would know its winter I woke up this morning and the snow is melted and felt like a lovely spring day!).

Luckily I have connections, my mom teaches, er, is the special education teacher at the high school, so technically she doesn't teach one class but helps students in all classes. But the shop class is happy to work on vehicles, so buy the parts and free labour to get my vehicle fixed. My car was at the school for a week, but its fixed now. And I have to say a shout out to the shop teacher, he runs his shop like a trusted mechanic should run his shop, they only fixed what needed to be done, even though it was more than I expected, apparently having a 14 yr old car is a money pit. But at the same time he also knows what his students can do, we originally had asked if they could fix my transmission and 4x4 in the truck and Mr. ShopTeacher said he'd love to take on that project but unfortunately didn't trust this group of students to take on the project, my truck is still waiting. Thank goodness I'm a Burkholder and as tradition would have it own more that one jalopie of a vehicle.

Back to last night, car was returned, we had a short visit and a cup of tea. Parents left. Or I thought they did. A few minutes later dad comes in the house, can't find his keys. Oh OH! Time passes as we search for the keys, in the house, in his pockets, in the truck in the melting snow. Nothing, so it was decided I'll take them home to get the spare key and bring dad back. Mom got out of truck, door shut, BEEP BEEP! oh OH! Doors mysterially lock, locking their dog, Molly inside. We all freeze, someone must have stepped on the keys, we check, nope. Huh?! I take them home, on the way home I tell them about the Disney Character question. My dad didn't pick said a villian would be fun, my mom said no to any of the princesses, and no to a villian she'd be a sidekick but didn't say which one. The conversation verved a little bit, she said she's been having students not know what they want to do after high school, and really I don't blame them who knows really what they're passionate about at 17 and what and where they want their life to go, its a tough decision for anyone. To help them, or anyone she's come up with a couple of questions as a place to start:

1. What did you ove to do when you were 5-7 years old? What games did you play? Where did your imagination take you?

2. If money was no object, meaning you'd get paid no matter what you were doing, what would you do?

My answer to the second question came fast and without a doubt. Travel. See the world. The first question I asked my mom if I played with animals when I was young she yes yup, and now that I think about it I had a rediculously large stuffed animal collection, some of which I still have. She also said I was a good traveller even as a child. Maybe its weird or ironic that that's what I went to school for, Travel and Tourism and Animal Grooming.  Huh, maybe she's onto something, maybe you have to look to your past to see your future....

Question Time

Fun Question Time!

One of my cousins asked if you could be any Disney character who would you choose and why??

I could not narrow my choice down, I pondered over this for hours, litterally! Eventually I decided on Sully from Monsters Inc., because he is a big fluffy blue and purple monster with a good heart, he runs a factory that makes kids laugh and harvests their laugher energy to power their town. Not to mention he works with a bunch of funny monsters including two of my favorite funny Disney characters, Roz and Mike Wazowsky.
 

I'm going to break this question down further...

Who's your favorite Disney Princess? Why?

Who's your favorite Disney Prince? Why?

Who's your favorite Disney villian? Why?

Who's your favorite Disney sidekick (goodguy)? Why?

Who's your favorite Disney sidekick (badguy)? Why?

Favorite live actor Disney movie?

Favorite Disney Animation movie?

Favortie Disney Pixar movie?

Favorite classic Disney character, I'm talking Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, etc?



 

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My answers:

 

 

 

Who's your favorite Disney Princess? Why? Mulan, she left home to prove something to herself, her family and everyone else, she's strong, doesn't back down, and even found love along the way

Who's your favorite Disney Prince? Why? I'm going with Aladin here. Not your high brow come in and saves the day type, he's your poor boy who marries up and tries to do good.

Who's your favorite Disney villian? Why? I love the villians, they're so much fun. And for that I have 3 tops one. Ursula, she scared the begeezus outta me when she went all crazy at the end and was huge, Scar, cuz we'll he represents all the drama that can go wrong when dealing with family, and my third favorite villian is Hades, he had awesome blue flamey hair and the god of the underworld.

Who's your favorite Disney sidekick (goodguy)? Why? I think the jungle book often gets over looked, but Baloo he's optomistic versus Bagheera's pessimisim, his intentions are good and tries his best to help Mowgli

Who's your favorite Disney sidekick (badguy)? Why? My first instinct is to say Pain and Panic from Hercules, they cracked me up when the movie first came out

Favorite Disney character who isn't of any importance to the plot but add just a little something to the story, whether its mystery, or laughs, or whatever? The Chesire cat, up to no good and not too sure if hes a good guy or a bad guy, and the character that always cracks me up is the chef from Little Mermaid, his song "first I chop off your head, then stuff you with bread, it don't hurt cuz your dead...and its gonna be hot in my big silver pot...." of course your singing it now in a ridiculously crazy french accents..LMAO!

Favorite live actor Disney movie? I'd expect most people to say the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but I'm going to go old school with the feel good Mary Poppins, Pete's Dragon, Swiss Family Robinson, and Bed Knobs and Broom Sticks

Favorite Disney Animation movie? I'm partial to the animal animation movies, the Aristocats, Oliver and Company, the Great Mouse Detective, the Fox and the Hound, the Rescurers...with the first two that I listed my favorites

Favortie Disney Pixar movie? Monsters Inc.

Favorite classic Disney character, I'm talking Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, etc? Hands down Pluto, I remember having this tape my grandma gave my brother and I of cartoons and disney shows, there was this one part of Pluto and the chipmunk got into the house and it would bug Pluto, it was great fun



I think without a doubt there is no question that Disney is a movie making machine. Albeit some of their recent films do have an extra serving of cheese. But if you look at this list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Disney_theatrical_feature_films the majority of their films are hits (or will be).

"When your curious, you find lots of interesting things to do."

 

-Walt Disney



24 days of normalness

I will be thinking of you for the next 24 days, while you check gifts off your lists, decorate your homes, freeze while hanging Christmas lights outside, write, address and mail your christmas cards, stress out of getting all your baking done...etc...

I am done my Christmas cards, all addressed and sitting on the table ready to be mailed (I think I'll do that next week or the week after so I'm not too super early). My shopping is done. The majority of my baking is done, I have shortbread cookies to do and thats it. My deorations are up -mind you I leave my outside xmas lights up year round, and my indoor decorations are easy peasy too. I have a few craft gifts left to assemble and get get to mail out to friends.

This year even though I work a half a day on Christmas Eve, I'm going to have the family over dinner and after church games and drinks. I'm going to stick with a releatively simple menu of French Onion Soup and Brushetta for appetizers, slow cooker Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes (maybe infused with garlic and herbs), Corn and gravy possibly Yorkshire Pudding since it is Christmas. Then for dessert Key Lime Cheese Cake. I think we may have to start eating at 4pm to make it to church for 7pm. After church festivities is going to be filled with board games, and mom mom is going to make up a minute to win it game, snacks will include shrimp, holiday treats I've baked, and slow cooker hot chocolate with the option of having it spiked with candy cane vodka, which is homemade and currently stewing on the counter. Hopefully the next 24 days will fly by I'm hungry for xmas eve dinner!!!

This year isn't even over and I'm already planning next years gifts and xmas eve. My brilliant idea is a version of the ugly xmas sweater parties. I think it would be hilarious and fun to give everyone ugly sweaters for xmas next year, and make them wear them either xmas eve (including to church) or just xmas day, though xmas eve would be much more fun. Kind of like a surprise ugly sweater party. LOL good times. I may even have to include a few friends whom I send gifts to, they shouldn't miss out on the fun just cuz they don't live near by.

Recycled Christmas

There are no young children in our family at the moment, and after last year's Christmas I've done alot of thinking and soul searching. Having younger children around can make Christmas extra fun with the hopes of what St. Nick may bring, and then playing with all the bounty after gifts are open, but as a "older" family the holidays have shifted, become for lack of a better word boring. Not to mention the difficulty of accepting outsiders (mainly the sister in law) into our family's traditions and having her belittle them or getting the vibe of not appreciating them. In a way for me it would almost be better if they just did things with her family, I'm not looking forward to when they have kids.

In the past I've usually tried to be creative and unique with my gift giving. I feel disapointed when others don't put the same effort into gift giving. This year I've decided I'm not buying anyone anything. I am making all the gifts, with the help of Pintrest. Mom and Dad, Nick and Jess are getting care packages -mini pumpkin tarts, mini lemon tarts, mini cupcakes, bread, lasagna, and shortbread cookies. Kelsie is getting a smaller version of the care package along with some other knick knacks I've found around the house that she may have a use for. Kelly & Larry, Rose, Liz, Jodie & Erik are getting a variety of Pintrest projects.

Today as I tried to cross things off my to do list, that didn't quite worked out as planned since I had  wood stove and water pump issues at the same time!! I seriously need to save my change and figure out a new solution for the water pump. So laundry not done, dishes, not done, floors washed not done...I did manage to bake te dog cookies for a client for their xmas gift from myself and my mom. (I still have to bake a bunch more to hand out to clients at the store for the month of December) oh I forgot to mention my sexy stove I got for my birthday broke too :( the over handle broke last week so dad and I patched it up but it broke again today...digging out the receipt is on my list of things to do. But between baking the batches of cookies I did some xmas decorating inspired by Pinterest. Here are photos of my window treatments (I'll also be doing this at work since it was simple and looks nice). I even found a use some of the music boxes I've collected over the years. Why not put them on display for everyone to see instead of having them on a shelf in my room or in the spare room.

(On a side note the musice box in the middle of the window on this picture is a mouse house all ready for xmas, theres a woman mouse on this side, in the hosue with an xmas tree and on the other side on the outside of the house is the male mouse with a larger xmas tree by their front door, I've had this music box for over 20 years! I'm not entirely sure when I got it, as I can always remember having it, and what makes it extra special is that its homemade, my mom made it.)

 

 

I got my eye on you!

When you meet people what's the first thing you notice about them? Their clothes? Eyes? Nose? Hair? Smile? Teeth? The list could be endless. For me I notice peoples eyes and their smile/teeth. I'm not entirely sure why I notice these things first I just do. Now I remember as a tween/teen I desperately wanted both braces and glasses. Took a while to convince my parents on the teeth front about getting braces, but eventually I did...twice! I ended up being a guinea pig for the local dentist when he did his training to do orthodonics work. The second time I got braces was because after the first time my teeth moved...they still moved, but I'm sure my teeth are in better condition than what they would have been if I never would have gotten braces. Now as for glasses, I eventually got those when I was 18, since then people have suggested I get contacts, but no...I really like wearing glasses! Call me weird.

In this day and age we are flooded with images on what "society" thinks we should all look like and they try to say who and what is hot or not. So for some fun I made up a list of my top ten male celebrities with gorgeous eyes. (Not to leave any of the female celebrities out but I just had too many people on my list with nice eyes so I opted to concentrate on the opposite sex). Here are the pictures of just their eyes, try and guess who there are....

#1

#2

 

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

 

SO who are these handsome fellas with the pretty eyes???

 

 

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#10 -Bradley Cooper

 

#9 -George Clooney

 

#8 -Harrison Ford

 

#7 -Johnny Depp

 

#6 -Zac Efron

 

 

#5 -Daniel Radcliff

 

#4 -Daniel Craig

 

#3 -Hugh Laurie

 

And now my two top I could stare into your eyes and be memorized.....

 

#2 -Jessie Williams

 

#1 -Ian Somerhalder

 

 

Revel in the Glory

Last night while at the Breaking Dawn part 2 movie, I over heard some info that was probably best if I didnt know. However now that I do know it, I want to rub it in the face of those it concerns that I was right and that they should have listened to me.

I won‘t. Well not right away, I‘ll give said people time to adjust and get to a place of peace with their decisions. But one day I will bring it up that I was the voice of reason. I‘ll bring it up once and drive my point home again. And hopefully they‘ll remember that next time what I have to say should be taken into serious consideration.

How many times have you thought you‘ve known whats best and then for whatever reason your advice or ideas were ignored? For me I‘ve felt this on more than one occasion. Its almost like its a gift that others fail to take into consideration. I do know that everyone has to make their own choices and desicions and that we must learn from those that dont go as well as we hoped. Its a painful lesson to make the wrong choices before the good ones. Growing up is hard to do, and unfortunately we never stop growing.

Sister-in-laws (should be outlawed) (plus a hidden pintry)

It's not a secret that I'm not a fan of my sister-in-law. When my brother first started bringing her around to family things, I tried to get to know her and be friendly, and for a couple years sure she had her flaws, we all do, but we got along quite well. Then slowly true colours emerged. The engagement happened, bridezilla reared, I stood my ground, big fight, ugly words, hurt feeling ensued. An (empty) appology was issued, with "plans" to try and ammend things. I've struggled and sorted my feelings and I'm working on trying to be civil with her, its a work in progress. (and this is going to be another place where I can vent).

My latest baffleness when it comes to her and my brother is the following:

Sunday was remembrance day. In school I used to go to the ceremoy either with girl guides, scouts, or with the class, after high school and college, I sort of developed a tradition of going to the rememberance day services with my dad. So on Friday I informed him I'll be out for breakfast on Sunday then we can go to the services, he agreed, said mom might even come too since there's no stairs (mom's having knee issues with arthritis and something about her miniscus). So I show up Sunday morning, and I'm not sure why I was surprised but mom had invited brother and sister-in-law out too, ok fine whatever. We have breakfast homemade egg McMuffins (and the eggs were cooked in a muffin tin via the oven -something I saw on pinterest and passed on to my mom as an easy way to cook eggs so they're all ready at the same time for xmas morning....dad was cooking and over cooked the eggs slightly making them dry but otherwise that Pinterest pin was a success and will be tried again xmas morning). Over breakfast, I heard that my brother traded his wifes perfectly good snowsuit for a plow for his quad. WTF!? Really?!? Then in the next breath tells my dad he's got a job to do now, go open up the driveway BEFORE my dad goes to work, so people can drop their kids off at sister-in-laws half assed day care, then go back after his bus run and finish cleaning the yard. My dad said he'd go after his run but not before. Now in my head, I'm thinking WTF why can't sister-in-law be useful and open up the drive way before her 'clients' get there. Is she so helpless and lazy?!? I wish I could pull that crap and get my dad to come clean my driveway everytime it snowed -I even have a quad with a plow for him. And if she can't use the quad, use a f-ing shovel!!! They live in town -my driveway is easily 2 if not 3 times the size of theirs. Oh and heres another idea -they could get this free-loading basment dwelling "friend" to keep the yard clean. (that is another story in itself which I will get to one day -its a whole other ball game and emotional mess I'm trying to sort out). So apparently I'm some kind of mutant independant woman of this day and age to look after myself and clean my own yard...who does that these days??? Next she has the balls to ask who all is going to be at the remembrance day services...um does it matter? You go to show your support for the vetrans and those currently fighting. Go to support your husbands family history of great uncles and grandparents that fought during WWII, who cares who else is going to be there. Needless to say she didn't come, which to me is very disheartening, selfish and a few other things too. I was pleasantly surprised that my brother came and didn't cave to what the wife wants (this time).

Rant over...for now...she irks me in the worst possible way and most of the time I feel like no one else see it and that I'm the crazy one that is making this crap up, but then there are those one of two folks that see what I see- Thank goodness for them or I very well could be in the loonie bin.

Pin-tries

I have 2 pinterest reviews to talk about today, plus I also have a couple other topics I hope to get caught up on blogging about. But right now while I wait for my dad to go to work so I can sneak off to the parents place for a little mission of mine, its about the pin-tries.

#1- Super cute mini cupcakes. Sounds simple and it is. Use your favorite cake/cupcake recipe and instead of using muffin tins for the cupcakes you us those tiny condiment cups you get at fast food restuarants to put your ketchup in -or in my case the tiny little paper cups generally used for jello shots. And now that I'm thinking about it I actually tried a 3rd thing I saw on Pinterest that went along with the cupcakes. So put cake batter into cups, fill about half way (I did mine 2/3 to 3/4 and some over flowed while baking), and bake as per usual, though do keep an eye on them after 15 mins. The pin I saw recomended spraying the cups with Pam to help with the removal/eating ease, I did NOT do this, and I can eat them just fine. And a little trick with the paper cups is that if you pull along the ridge of the cup the paper folds come apart, do this all around the cup and cupcake is removed easy peasy! The other pin I tried along with this project was colouing/marbling the cake batter. Instead of adding the food colouring to the batter in the bowl, or many bowls depending on how many colours your going for; you add the food colouring to each cupcake and swirl with a toothpick until desired effect is acheived.

Both these Pins worked for me and I'll probably do them again.

#2- The second project was to use Sharpie markers and decorate ceramic dinnerware. You draw whatever on the outside, bake it in the oven, and it's suposed to stay on the dinnerware. I tries it on an soup bowl and sandwich platter thing, I dont really use. Application of the marker was fun and uneventful, as was the baking part. However the test wash did not go well. Some, not all the colours came off when I washed the dishes. I'm not quite ready to give up on this one yet, I'm going to try some different types of ceramic dishes to decorate. I'll update if I find success and my method that lead me to succeeding.

Pin-try

The problem...tangled up ear bud headphones.

The concept...make the wires a bit thicker and less pliable to reduce or elimanate a big tangled mess. to do this the pin on Pinterest took embordering thread -like you would use in your tween years to make friendship bracelets, and tie/knot the thread around the wires of the earbud headphones.

My attempt started with a trip to moms to scrounge up some thread, after a thorough search I finally found some. That night I started the project. First off as a tween I did make a few friendship bracelets so I knew the knot used in this process but let me say the 6 or so inches you need to make a bracelet with is nothing compared to the seemingly endless length of the wires on the earbuds. It took me roughly 3-4 hours in front of the tv to cover the wires. A long process, but so far no tangles!!!

(I'll try and remember to post a pic of the finished project.)

Pin-tries

I‘m not a full fledge addict yet but it is a good site to waste time and for this full time procrastinator anything that helps my cause is worth a shout out. The website i‘m talking about is Pinterest.

There are hundreds and thousands of things on the website, food, decorating ideas, quotes, crafts, everything!

I‘ve found a couple things on the site that i‘m going to try. My mom said she heard about this one person who tries things from Pinterest then blogs about it. I thought it was a cool idea soo as I attempt my Pinterest projects I‘ll blog about results and call them Pin-tries.

This weekend i hope to have two successful Pin-tries to report on.

Fur Babies

This is Pickles, he's 3months old. I'm not a "cat" person, but I keep a cat to control the mouse population in my house. I hate setting and emptying mouse traps more that I hate cats. I did have a gorgeous long haired calico cat for the past 5 years but I think she got eaten by the cayotes this summer :( Hopefully as long as Pickles won't feel the urge to venture outside and meet the same fate. next Friday he goes for his second set of needles then its choppy choppy time when he's old enough. Pickles is Lady's new favorite toy, whereever Pickles goes Lady thinks she should go too, the table, the counter, the closets...

This is Lady. She's my silver Standard Poodle. I rescued her this time of the year about 5 years ago, she'll be 7 in January. She's a nut, mischievious, cute, cuddley, plauful, a brat and bossy. She's a clown and very smart, makes me laugh and you never know what she'll get into. Like she knows how to open most of the doors inside the house; if I have the bathroom door close she'll think I'm hiding something from her and go investigate herself often ending up locking herself in the bathroom :S Not that you can tell from this picture but poodles do have the best soulfull dogs eyes, big brown orbs of love staring back at you. I lucked out when I rescued her too, as a groomer poodles are canvass in our world ready to be turned into works of art. She's had so many hair styles, and dye jobs and expirements done to her, she's very patient whenever I groom her or try something new out on her. Once she's gone I'll seriously think about getting another standard poodle -I'm not a small dog person. (I even have a couple possible names picked out Mokey or Gobo -names from my favorite kids show the Fraggles!)

 

 

This handsome devil is the famous Finnegan. He just turned 6 earlier this month. I adopted him when I took my grooming course. He's been the best dog ever. He's part German Shepherd and part Australian Shepherd. I worked very hard with him to train him, he's a very good listener, two things that I'm incredibly proud of is that he will walk with me off leash in the heal command -I had always wanted a dog that did that and the second thing being he is an incredible Frisbee dog. Summer or Winter, rain or shine he loves his frisbee. He's also really well behaved around other dogs. Finnegan's biggest quirk (or maybe just a point to prove he really is my dog) is that he loves to watch tv, especially when there's other animals or dogs on tv, CSI and the telus commercials are his favorite shows (he even enjoys the cartoon animals on some shows).

 

 

Dogs really do enrich your lives. I can't ever imagine not owning a dog, and if I could afford it I would have a dog farm, maybe when I win my millions this friday on the Lotto Max draw. My next dog is Elvis, he's a boston or harlequin coloured(black and white) Great Dane, another breed I feel in love with. 

 



Civic Duty

A recap on my last blog entry before getting to the civic duty business. I did go help the church ladies make their pies over 200 hundred of them! It was a good time, it's like being surrounded in a room full of grandmothers, it was good for the soul.

Now on to my civic duty, I got summoned for Jury Duty! I have to report mid November to the court house for jury selection! It's not exactly the best timing with me just starting the new job, but then really when does social justice ever come at a good time?

I am nervous and excited all at the same time. I am a huge fan of John Grisham novels and have seen a few episodes of Law & Order, of course I'm not in the south or in NYC so I doubt the court case will be as interesting but it is kind of fascinating to be part of the process. The nervousness and anxiety about jury duty is from going to the court house, I've never stepped foot in the building so it's unfamilar and then the potential of sitting on the actual jury and dealing with possibly 12 other strangers and reaching a conclusion in the case, and having lawyers and the judge and court officals and police and spectators there freaks me out. Rationally I know I have nothing to worry about but the irrational side of my brain has other ideas for me.

And in today's day and age, I also wonder if one would even get picked to be on the jury after posting this blog and a little mention in my facebook status. Could it be seen as being over eager, or biased? Am I tainted? Or I can pretend that like in the John Grisham book the lawyers have teams of people going through the potential jury pool and my blogging/status update could be making me an ideal juror or maybe not?

I also had the fam jam -my parents, brother, his wife, her parents and my aunt over for liver dinner on saturday -well 5 of us had liver the others had pork. Despite my continued dislike of sister-in-law, it went well. However when I brought up my impending civic duty, sister-in-law had no clue what we were talking about! I found it disbelieving and unnerving that at 22, someone could have no clue about how our justice system works. Thinking back to my elementary school years I seem to remember doing something in either grade 7 or 8 about how the justice system works with mock trials; in fact I think we did the trials using fairy tales like Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. Even after explaining things I'm not sure how much she actually understood. It's little facts like that that make me question my brothers choice in a wife, sure it takes all kinds of people to make up this world, but I'm sure my parents tried their best to explain as best they could how things work in the "real" world, there is no way I could ever be with anyone so clueless about some of the most fundamental things in society.

Here's hoping that depite the unfortunate timing I get to be juror number something and the case(s) I hear are semi-interesting. Who knows maybe I could write the next great court drama play, call it, 12 semi indifferential Cochranites in a box? (title up for debate..lol)

an affirmation

Deciding the importance of things....

What makes something more important than something else?

In the grand scheme of things the new job is going well, Im certainly happier grooming full time than driving taxi.

Im still finding myself strugling to figure out what else is important to me and what else I need to do to become “happier“.

One thought thats been rolling around in my head is the idea of adoption or fostering kids, well youth...i don‘t think I want any kids under 6, 9 or 10 would be even better.

I‘m completely disapointed with my love life and social life, not entirely sure how to remedy that except perhaps finding somewhere to volunteer and what better way to get involved in things again than by giving a child a stable home? Its certainly something im contemplating.

I may start a little simpler this weekend by volunteering to help out my church make pies for their sale this weekend. I enjoyed peeling bussels of apples as a teenager, plus I dont think Im working friday volunteering for a few hours cant hurt. And even though i dont attend church on various reasons and personal struggles, I do enjoy the fellowship of the other members.

Thanksgiving for 40+

Thanksgiving Table, set for 40



one end of the tabe...

other end of the tabel...get skinny and squish together!

Cousins; Kirstie, Rose, Steve, Me, Doug, Anastasia


Thanksgiving weekend was a blast! Can't wait until next year to do it all over again!
There was 40+ people for dinner on Sunday, it was great to see an visit with everyone...I also can't beleive how much older we've all gotten. My generation of cousins (in the pic above) are all in our 20s -with me being the oldest at 30, the cousin generation above us have kids in their early teen years, there are no more babies or young kids around -the youngest is 12! Seems like they're all waiting for my generation to start having babies...hint hint guys lol.
Needless to say I didn't miss my parents and the family at 'home' this thanksgiving, they're the ones that missed out on the family gathering, in fact my parents say they want to come down for it next year...



the essence of a Rose

This photo was taken in 2009/2010 over the holidays while I was visiting my aunt Bonnie and Uncle Jack in Qatar with my parents and grandmother. Here my mom and grandma are taking the buggy for a leisure ride while dad, Uncle Jack and I take the quads into the desert on the sand dunes. While we were on this trip, this same day actually my grandma and I also went on a short camel ride. Did I mention that my grandma was in her early 80s on this trip?

My grandmother, the city girl turned northerner.

She was the youngest of 4 girls, until at the age of ten the family welcomed a new addition a baby brother. Over the years I have heard countless tales and antics of her younger years. Then in her late teens she met my grandfather, they married and my grandfather moved her away from her family and the city to this 'god forsaken middle of nowhere' northern town. One of my favorite tales is when my grandma said she spent her first year of marriage in tears nearly everyday, adjusting from city girl to rugged northerner wasn't easy. My grandfather would often come home from work curious to see what crazy antics my grandma had gotten into that day.

My grandparents had 2 boys just over a year apart in age. They would have had more children if my grandmother wouldn't have been so sick after my uncle was born. My favorite story of when my dad and uncle were younger is that my dad was bugging his little brother and I guess really annoying the shit out of him, so little jack went into my grandmothers sewing basket got a needle and poked my dad with it. LOL. instant quiet! My dad didn't like needles, still doesn't, but when he was little he used to faint when he got stuck with one. Uncle Jack sure had some smarts on how to get his older brother to be quiet. Bet at times my grandmother wished she could have poked my dad with a needle to hush him up now and then.

My Uncle and Aunt didn't have any children, and my parents just had the two of us. But fortunately my grandmas extented family -her sisters and brothers are some of my favorite cousins amoung my giant extended family. This Thanksgiving weekend I'm going south to celebrate the holiday with her sister June's family. My decision of going south this weekend was simple, why stay in town and fake it through the weekend with my family and the tension between sister-in law, Kelsie and me when I can go south to be with family that I can be myself and who are glad to see me there. Plus I really do enjoy being around Great-Aunt June's family. And if its something I've learned in the past year is that life is short, and we never have as much time as we think we do.

A year ago October 1, my grandmother passed away. It was completely unexpected, in fact the day before Kelsie and I had gone to dinner with her, then her and I went shopping, little did I know that would be the last little shopping trip I'd have with her.

My grandmother lived her life with no fear, nothing to look back on and say, I should have done this or that. If she wanted to do something she did it. She was adventurous, outgoing, the complete polar opposite of shy. She was kind, fun, generous, chatty, upbeat, friendly with a carefree spirit. Things I can only hope to strive to become more like.

My grandmother was the last of my grandparents to pass on. And though I know my grandmother patiently waited 11 years to be re-joined my my grandfather in eternity I am glad to have gotten those 11 years to fill with more memories. I was blessed in my life to have gotten to know 5 grandparents when others don't get that opportunity.  Nanna and Poppa; my mom's parents, Grandma and Grandpa; dad's parents, and Great-Grandma; my grandmother's mum.

This is That

I love my new job! When you love your job it truly does affect how well you do your job and reduces the stress in your life. Granted I've only been there 2 days so far but so far so good.

This afternoon I logged into Facebook and one of the aquaintances I went to Chile with posted this photo and saying:

 

With all the drama I've been dealing with over the last couple of years I thought it was pretty fitting. In a round about way it also perhaps explains my recent (one of my 30th birthday to me from me presents) tattoo. My tattoo is a wolf howling at the moon, I got the wolf tattoo for a couple of reasons: 1) the wolf is a member of the canine family and I love dogs, they are an amazing creature 2) though wolves are pack animals they sometimes need to leave the pack and be that lone wolf and then find themselves a new pack where they are better needed and wanted. Here's a picture of my tattoo:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ch..ch..change for the better

I took the job. Starting October 1 I will be the groomer at the Cochrane Pet Services store. Their current groomer is retiring from grooming after being in the business for 30 yrs and she appproached me to fill her position. Its an incredible opportunity for me, and I‘m grateful she thought of me to replace her. I am very excited to be the “top“ groomer in town and only after being in the business for 6 years.

And after speaking with my new boss im excited about all the plans he has for a new grooming studio/shop. Over the next couple of years he plans on building a state of the art grooming shop complete with a self serve area for those wanting to tackle their own pets. I‘m also excited to be working regular hours, no more 60+ hr work weeks, no more 5 am wake up calls, evenings and weekend free, i can volunteer again, i could start going to the pool again, i can have a life.

This last week on taxi isnt going to be pleasant, as expected my boss was not pleased to put it lightly when i told him i was quitting. He didnt think it was fair for me to decide to quit without consulting him. Why the hell would i consult him? Theres no way he could match the deal they gave me at the pet store, and its a job that i went to school for. Its my life i get to decide who and where i work for. I always knew that my boss had a way of guilting you into things and making you feel like shit...its part of why I havent been feeling myself for the longest time but couldnt find a way to get out without having another job to go to. Hes a sneaky workplace bully...im glad to be moving on for my mental health. Who knows maybe I‘ll even end up quitting sooner if he gives me a hard time, cuz really now that i have a new job to go to these last 4 days Im only working cuz i didn‘t want to be a complete ass like some of our past employees and just up and quit.

Waiting...

My new possible job opportunity has me sitting on the edge of my seat. No word yet if its a done deal or not. I‘ll do some phoning around tonight to find out as i would start October 1, it wouldnt exactly give my current boss the 2 weeks notice that is usually expected, mind you he has had people just quit with no notice, I dont want to be one of those people though. I hate waiting knowing that this opportunity would be a huge deal for me career wise.

Keep Dreaming...

Talk about fate, coincidence, karma; I received a call this afternoon about an awesome job opportunity. It's all most what I've been hoping, waiting and dreaming for. Not exactly what I was refering to in the previous post but still fits. And in this case I'm going to jump at the opportunity, not going to let this slip through my fingers. I get more details tonight and if all goes well I'll start my new job October 1!!!!

On the down side I'm a bit reluctant to give my current boss my notice, he's going to be pissed and disapointed. I'm not sure if I feel this way because I've been guilted into it or if I genuinely care that my current boss is going to have a hard time replacing me/filling my position.

The Impossible Dream

Have you ever wished against wishes, hoped against hope? Dreamed about having the impossible?

I‘ve often dreamed or hoped for what seemed like an impossible thing or situation. Knowing that it was highly unlikely to ever come true. A good example would be dreaming you would actually win the lottery, and imagining all that you would and could do with your winnings.

Well what happens when that impossible dream becomes a reality? (I‘m not talking about winning the lottery) Do you jump at it? Hold on tight before it slips away again? Or are you in such shock and disbelief it slips back through your fingers? How do you jump at the chance of something that you never in your wildest dreams thought would/could ever happen?

Councelling Confessions

I started seeing a councellor in July. To help with my stress and anxiety...I‘m not entirely sure its working, but I continue to go.

Lying by ommission. Last week she asked if i was medicated, i replied not yet which is a lie. I‘ve been medicated for a month now. My family doc put me on celexa, a anti depressent that helps with anxiety, though i feel less anxious i was hoping it would be stronger than what it is. I also wonder if the councellor even reads my file, the doc and her both have access to it. (I‘ve also been watching the tv drama Lie to Me on netflix...and think it would be facinating to do what they do study peoples micro expressions...and to be able to fool people).

I dont think this councellor and I are a good fit, shes not very prying. Just kind of takes whatever i say...mind you she could have a different opinion in her “notes“.

Last week we talked about me seeing a psychologist to get a diagnosis. I suspect I have either ADD/ADHD or Asperger‘s....i‘ve questioned this for a couple of years now. Having a label may not really mean anything except being able to explain some of the whys and to zero in on effective coping skills to work on.

Stay tuned for more confessions and progress reports.

New Additions

On impulse I got a new kitten last night. :-/ My former cat hasn't been seen in over two weeks (I suspect she either got caught by the cayotes or has decided to call one of my neighboors barns her new home...but my gut tells me it was the cayotes)...she had been a good mouser and beautiful cat as far as cats go. I'm a dog person. The cat in my home is a working cat, they have the mouser position so I don't have to deal with traps or rodents! ew! They also get to kill any other basement critters like bugs and spiders and like I discovered yesterday living in the litter box, toads!! The dogs are not impressed with their new housemate...Lady wants to eat and play with the kitten, but she's a bit too rough at this point and I'm afraid kitty will scratch her eye or something..and Finnegan doesn't want to go anywhere near the kitty, walking around the perimeter of the room to get by it and onto the safety of my lap (and he's not exactly a lap sized dog). After some much discussed thinking and trying out names the new kitten's name is Pick Elle Star or Pickles. (My friend had her sister, which they named Luna).

I'll post pictures of all the furries that live with me sometime soon :)

Clairvoyancy

Have you ever just known something without being to explain how or why? It could be just gut instinct or that your completely intune with your surroundings. Maybe its something more, something bigger than you ever imagine. Do you listen to that instinct? Or ignore it?
Do different people expirence different clairvoyancies? Or do we all have the ability? 
Have you ever thought about why we choose the friends we keep? Why we like certain family members more than others? How you know when someones boyfriend or girlfriend just isn‘t right for them? And then also how you know they‘re perfect for each other? Does our subconsious actively seek out those will compliment our lives rather than complicate them?

Drama Queens and Kings

Drama Drama Drama!

Pick your battles is something my mom would tell me.

For the most part I think I stay relatively low key on the drama spectrum of things. I can recount every huge drama fight/disagreement with my family and friends I've ever had. Generally I'm not the instigator though sometimes I am. And if I am in the wrong I will make amends. If I am not in the wrong I am not backing down on the matter, however depending on the circumstances I will choose to put the matter aside and move on.

I have had my share of dealing with crazy friends and not understanding their choices. Most of which usually had something to do with their boyfriend at the time. All of those "battles" eventually ended when the relationship did, some was a few months others a few years.

The most recent of these drama filled relationships is with my cousin, whom my parents became legal guardian of when she was 14. The same one that just started college. I've reached my limit with dealing with her mood swings and change of self due to the douche bag, master manipulator of a bf she's dating. The lastest drama last night was over a marriage licence application I had found that the two of them had filled out and left in a book of house design plans on the kitchen table at my parents. When I found it I went a little crazy, told my mom, her mom, left her a letter saying how disapointed I was in her. I also talked to a couple friends about it, some said I over reacted, others that they would have done the same. They now can't find the application, the douch bag is blaming me for taking it -why would I take it, they could just as easily get another one if they're serious about getting married?!? I didn't take it, but one of the friends I confided happens to be a cousin of the douch bag, and was talking to douche bags mom and said something about it and I don't know what she then told her son, but he's flipped his shit and I don't understand all this bull poop over a piece of paper. A piece of paper that I'm almost 100% sure my cousin lost or threw out and is now afraid to admit to douche bag cuz she sees how mad he is and doesn't want that directed at her.

It's crazy and insane and I'm done. I don't need to be drawn into this teenage drama bullshit. Its a battle I choose not to participate in. Hopefully my cousin can see Mr. douche bags flaws before too much damage is done. It's time to live and learn baby girl.

Why are some people so prone to drama?

50 shades educated

I read the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy. Being an avid reader of pretty much anything I jumped on the band wagon to see if they lived up to all the hype. They certainly explored a new side of the romance novel, being very descriptive and explicit but still followed the classic boy meets girl, longs to be with girl, girl wants more than boy wants to give, they deal with their issues and live happily ever after..more or less. The ‘big‘ hype of the book was about the older man seducing the younger woman and then engaging in the sexual play of dominating and submissive. For me I didnt find the age difference all that alarming, i dont even think it was a 10 year age gap. And the sexual content wasn‘t as alarming as I was expecting either. Because I didnt get the ‘shock‘ factor of this book got me wondering if I have a freakishly adventure side when it comes to sex or if my generation has lost its ability to be shocked.

Since reading the books, I‘ve been curious to learn how others view spicing things up sexually and their views on sex in general.

While playing games with my parents and cousin and her bf the day before she was leaving for college, she mentioned getting get frosh kit, i immediately said “oo your going to get some condoms!“ Both her and my mom stared at me in shock with the why would I get condoms look. My mom said all the sex ed she got when she went to university was a talk that one in 3 girls get raped at Queens University, mind you that was in the 70s. Not to promote rape, sex should be consensual, but my comment was, just be willing, you can‘t rape the willing. Again more stares and disbelief that these thoughts/words were coming out of my mouth. Then the converstation veared towards STIs or STDs..my cousin could only bring up herpes and aids! What are they learning in sex ed at school these days?!?! We had a little education time about STIs and more stares from mom. My cousin was a bit embrassed by the whole conversation too, but I‘m going to chalk that up to being a young adult and just discovering the wonderful world of sex. And my mom kept saying I do I even want to know, I can't believe your talking about this. (My mom and I don't have the lets talk about everything relationship, in reality not too many people know the real me.) But afterwards it got me thinking we were 3 generations sitting there, and with me seemingly the only one willing to be so candid. Is it just me or do other of my generation feel they can be so open when it comes to sex.

My next senario, was that I was talking to one of my male friends about sex, likes, dislikes, fetishes, toys, trying new things. It shocked me to learn that despite him being slightly older there was alot of things he was curious about but had never done. When I asked why he hasn't tried anything he didn't really have an answer, just blamed it on not ever being with women who wanted to try. I'm not entirely sure I believe that, but it could be true. The poor guy is missing out on what coud be some very good exciting and fun sex. Hopefully I re-sparked his curiosity and he can get to try some of the things, let his inner sexual wild freak flag fly. (after and during our convo he repeatedly called me wild and a freak..he has no idea!) But this also got me pondering, is the fantasy of things untried better than actually trying them?

My last conversation about sex this past week was with one of my bffs and other cousin, who's more like a sister than anything else. Though we've talked about it in the past, this last week I've learnt that we have similar likes and dislikes and are both on the "wild and freakish" side of things and like to spice things up. The one thing we both struggle with is being sexy. My "sexiness" varies from the extreme almost porn-star like that rarely anyone gets to see to the less tame and simple where I think being your true self is the most sexy you can be. What you do think the difference is between; cute, sexy, and hott? (She hasn't read the 50 Shades of Grey books yet, I urged her to get to it.)

Let your wild and freaky sexual side out and have some fun, you never know what you may discover.

11 questions

One of the blogs I read was nominated for a blog award...part of the nomination for it was she had to write 11 random things about herself, then answer the nominees questions and makes a list of questions for the blogs she nominated. I wasn't nominated but figured answering the questions would be a fun way to let fellow readers get to know me.

Jamie's blog and questions...http://aeverydayblessedsoandso.blogspot.ca/

1. I have to steal one – How would you describe your perfect day?
Waking up to a beautiful warm summer day, sunny with a few clouds, with a light breeze, a daytime temperature of about 26 celcius. Spend the day out at my favorite camping spot, with my good friends and family, going for a bike/quad ride..a long one, with our dogs in tow. A picnic while on our ride near a stream with rocks to climb on. Once back at camp head to the lake for a swim with the dogs, drying after the swim in the sun lying on a towel on the beach. BBQ ribs and crunchy potatoes for supper, then an evening around the fire with friends and family maybe a game of horsehoes. Then staying up all night chatting with the friends until the sun comes up.

2. If you find yourself with time unplanned and alone what do you do?
Depends on my mood, read, watch tv or a movie, sleep, play with the dogs outside

3. Are you a trend follower? What is a recent trend you have followed?
Yes and no. Most recent trend i have followed is adding the instagram app for photos on my smart phone.

4. What excites you?
Getting to spend time with the people I truly like/love in my world, whether its for 5 minutes, an hour, over coffee, or travelling somewhere.

5. What terrifies you?
Surpringly quite a bit, the dark, being alone, the unknowns in life, change

6. Where do you feel the most peaceful?
I have a couple spots 1) oddly enough sitting on a park bench in graveyards, i feel comfort and at peace surrounded by all those souls, 2) driving/ cruising the open road and 3) outdoors in general being surrounded by walls makes me feel claustrophobic

7. Do you have many friends? Are they close or casual?
I would say I know alot of people, but only have a few close friends and I'm fiercely loyal to them

8. How did you meet most of the friends you currently have?
Most of the friends I have I met in high school some even elementary school.

9. Do you have siblings? Do you spend a lot of time with them?
I have one biological brother, younger, by a couple years. No we don't spend a lot of time together, it's a shame and something I would like to change. I also have a sorta adopted sister who's my cousin that my parents took in, I used to spend alot of time with her but her teenage years we've haven't been as close, I'm thinking we'll reconnect once she's done college and figures out what she's doing with her life -she started college this week. I also have another cousin whom I'm extremely close to, my sister from another mother, in the past few years we haven't spent alot of time face to face but we talk almost everyday thanks to facebook and texting.

10. Why do you blog?
I used to blog all the time, for years, then the last couple of years I'm not sure why but I had a falling out with the blogging world. But I'm back, its therapy, saying whatever is on your mind, putting it out into the universe

11. What is the blog you have been following the longest? Why do you keep following? t
Jamie's blog (link above) is the one I've followed the longest, I keep following cuz she's a cousin and I like hearing whats going on in her world a half a country away, its a great way to feel connected when we aren't so good at emails and letters (yes we still snail mail, have been for years! probably going on 15 years now!)

Band-aid Removal

What‘s the best way to remove a band-aid? Just go for it and rip it off or slowly work at the edges taking time and care?

I‘ve usually been one to take my time, acess the situation and then carefully, slowly, with afflicting as little pain as possible take off the band aid. My question is do you approach life conflicts with the same enthusiam as you do with a band-aid?

I do. I would much rather avoid conflict of any kind than to jump in and rip and tear at things. But which way is healthier? One of my recent conclusions is that you need to find a healthy medium, sometimes its better to avoid and take the less painful approach but other times you should be assertive and direct. My years of constance avoiding, procrastinating and burying my head/thoughts in the sand have come to bite me in the perverbial ass.

How does one change their methods of coping with conflicts or band-aids after years of doing the opposite?

Insomnia

I haven‘t been sleeping. There‘s lots that has been happening. A couple hours of sleep a night is not enough, i miss sleeping a solid 8 hrs. I started the path to getting this all figured out but its going to be a long road. I‘m hoping that by getting back to blogging will me on that journey.