I was walking to the post office today and was amazed at the amount of dwellings that have sheets, flags, newspapers, you name it for curtains. Mind you the street i was on is a bit dodgey and more than one had smashed windows and garbage strewn around. I find it all rather bizzare though.
I've been ridiculously busy trying to get all of my travel stuff in order, pictures, visas and the like. Which brings me to vaccinations. I just spent the same amount on vaccinations as i did on a cheap trip to the Dominican a few years back...crazy i tell ya!! I had 5 needles and everything under the sun put into my body. I feel better now as that has been completed and my applicaion has been sent off so now i wait and hope that they will let me in :)
I was thinking about blogs the other day and the "friendships" you build with fellow bloggers. I probably keep in regular contact via blogs with my fellow bloggers, moreso than my own real life friends which is also rather bizzare. I'm just curious to know how other's feel about this and whether or not you consider fellow bloggers to be friends? Would you be upset if a blog you regularily read disappeared as the writer was no longer interseted in blogging? Do tell......
I'll be gone for a few days to a conference and then to some training. Enjoy the weekend!!!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Mish Mash
It's not that i'm a super secretive person and my family is rather close, but i have a tendency to not tell them much of anything that is going on. This is why....
I had to go for my 2nd annual this year as they found some abnormalities so i told my mother. The morning of she would not stop talking about it to me, trying to make me feel better i suppose, but was concerning me even more. Then clearly she told my father as he was calling me sweetie and asking questions. I come home from work that day and my sister asks how my vagina is doing, i was like "she told you too." My brother in law, sister and I go out for dinner and for kicks i ask him if he too has heard about my vagina, he doesn't blink an eye and says "yes, yes i have." I was like for the love of God LOL. This is why i don't tell them much of anything.
This weekend PP and I went to this fantastic restaurant for dinner it was a fusion of Thai and Vietnamese. We ordered the Veggie special and sat across from one another smiling and laughing and saying "hmmmmmmmmm" because it was so delightful. They brought out coconut veggie soup, spring rolls with this amazing peanut sauce, pad thai and veggie curry and rice. It's my new fav place to eat. We were stuffed and it was cheap.
On Saturday i went to a wedding reception with LD. They played NKOTB (New kids on the block) Step by Step, we were laughing and dancing around. Was anyone else in love with this band as a child. I was 12 or so and dragged my mother to a few of their concerts. I also had posters all over my walls and celing, tapes, videos, the Joey doll LMAO. I think i'm going to make an NKOTB cd for my car... We left the recpetion and ended up downtown and it was quite busy. Some guy was eyeing us as we tried to walk around so we made a dash for the bathroom and then some drunk girl asked if she could dance with us. We also saw this girl in a tiny skirt lying in a doorway on the street alone, sideways and all crumpled up with her undies showing. That's safe....ah back to downtown, always good times.
I had to go for my 2nd annual this year as they found some abnormalities so i told my mother. The morning of she would not stop talking about it to me, trying to make me feel better i suppose, but was concerning me even more. Then clearly she told my father as he was calling me sweetie and asking questions. I come home from work that day and my sister asks how my vagina is doing, i was like "she told you too." My brother in law, sister and I go out for dinner and for kicks i ask him if he too has heard about my vagina, he doesn't blink an eye and says "yes, yes i have." I was like for the love of God LOL. This is why i don't tell them much of anything.
This weekend PP and I went to this fantastic restaurant for dinner it was a fusion of Thai and Vietnamese. We ordered the Veggie special and sat across from one another smiling and laughing and saying "hmmmmmmmmm" because it was so delightful. They brought out coconut veggie soup, spring rolls with this amazing peanut sauce, pad thai and veggie curry and rice. It's my new fav place to eat. We were stuffed and it was cheap.
On Saturday i went to a wedding reception with LD. They played NKOTB (New kids on the block) Step by Step, we were laughing and dancing around. Was anyone else in love with this band as a child. I was 12 or so and dragged my mother to a few of their concerts. I also had posters all over my walls and celing, tapes, videos, the Joey doll LMAO. I think i'm going to make an NKOTB cd for my car... We left the recpetion and ended up downtown and it was quite busy. Some guy was eyeing us as we tried to walk around so we made a dash for the bathroom and then some drunk girl asked if she could dance with us. We also saw this girl in a tiny skirt lying in a doorway on the street alone, sideways and all crumpled up with her undies showing. That's safe....ah back to downtown, always good times.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Togo here we come!!
The travel bug bit me years ago when my family decided to take me on various vacations. There was the trip to Florida and New York with PP's family, South Carolina...you get the idea. As an adult i've ventured off to Europe, Japan and a few sunny places like Cancun and the Dominican.
My next destination was supposed to be Dubai which is in the United Arab Emirates. I have a friend working over there and thought a visit was in order....it still is, just not at this time.
Instead i was talking to Jennifer and Dan on the weekend about their plans to go to Togo to visit their old roomate next month. She's over there with the Peace Corps and is going to be coming home soon. I messaged Jennifer the other day and said to count me in. When will an opportunity like this ever present itself again...never i say!! Off to Africa we go!!!
I've been spending my day at work checking out what immunizations are needed and trying to make appointments to get everything in order, as well as harassing Jennifer about scrounging up some moolah. I can't concentrate on work related tasks and i'm rather excited and jittery ... yes i'm a geek!!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
5 Date Challenge Begins
So here is a summary of the weekend:
On Friday i went on my 1st date for the challenge. Fortunately for me and unfortunately for you, I have nothing terrible to report, i had a good time. We met at the Royal Ontario Museum and looked around at the various displays and exhibits. Neither of us was terribly impressed by what we saw and figured most people probably rave about it as it's the cool thing to do. Sort of like that Seinfeld episode where everyone loves the English Patient and Elaine hates it. From there we walked around and ended up at an Asian restaurant for dinner and then headed off to a pub with a patio. Jennifer came and met us for a few drinks. At one point she said "there's your boyfriend" to me and on the sidewalk was this shirtless old man yelling about Christians and waving his finger in the air while swearing. Most on the patio were laughing, some taunting while one guy stood up and yelled "that's my dad, leave my dad alone" which made the entire patio burst into laughter. Cleary there were some mental health issues with shirtless man. The date was really good, Scott was attractive and had a great sense of humour and we got along well. I wanted to give him the finger bone in the Bat Cave but refrained!!
On Saturday i decided Jennifer and I needed poutine for breakfast (it was like 1pm) so we walked a ways to get it and then went to buy the Grey's Anatomy Season 2 dvd which we spent the remainder of the day watching. In the evening we went to a Papua New Guinea Independence Day party. It was fun and i ran into the guy i stayed with in Kyoto which was funny neither of us recognized the other. We left the party fairly late like 4am and ended up going to the washroom at this bar. I come out and see a friend, apparently Jennifers bf had just been there as well, the city really isn't as big as everyone says it is.
Today we're going to watch more of the DVD and maybe head out for some Indian food. Good times!!
On Friday i went on my 1st date for the challenge. Fortunately for me and unfortunately for you, I have nothing terrible to report, i had a good time. We met at the Royal Ontario Museum and looked around at the various displays and exhibits. Neither of us was terribly impressed by what we saw and figured most people probably rave about it as it's the cool thing to do. Sort of like that Seinfeld episode where everyone loves the English Patient and Elaine hates it. From there we walked around and ended up at an Asian restaurant for dinner and then headed off to a pub with a patio. Jennifer came and met us for a few drinks. At one point she said "there's your boyfriend" to me and on the sidewalk was this shirtless old man yelling about Christians and waving his finger in the air while swearing. Most on the patio were laughing, some taunting while one guy stood up and yelled "that's my dad, leave my dad alone" which made the entire patio burst into laughter. Cleary there were some mental health issues with shirtless man. The date was really good, Scott was attractive and had a great sense of humour and we got along well. I wanted to give him the finger bone in the Bat Cave but refrained!!
On Saturday i decided Jennifer and I needed poutine for breakfast (it was like 1pm) so we walked a ways to get it and then went to buy the Grey's Anatomy Season 2 dvd which we spent the remainder of the day watching. In the evening we went to a Papua New Guinea Independence Day party. It was fun and i ran into the guy i stayed with in Kyoto which was funny neither of us recognized the other. We left the party fairly late like 4am and ended up going to the washroom at this bar. I come out and see a friend, apparently Jennifers bf had just been there as well, the city really isn't as big as everyone says it is.
Today we're going to watch more of the DVD and maybe head out for some Indian food. Good times!!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
PETA
I was having trouble deciding what to blog about today, when i looked down at my veggie chili for dinner and figured why not, i'll talk about being a non-meat eater.
About 5 years ago i was surfing the net and came across the PETA (People for the Ethical Treamtment of Animals) website. I clicked on a video that would change my life forever. It was called Meet your Meat and of course was extremely graphic and heartwrenching to watch. I then proceeded to sit for hours and watch every video i could find behind tears.
I don't preach to others what they should or should not be eating. I have suggested to some people to watch the video and draw their own conclusions, but at the very least just watch it. Jennifer and I went to a few vegan potlucks with a group called TARS which is an animal rights activist group in her city. They had various speakers, videos and great food. A good place to network with like minded people. Not everyone there was a vegan, we certainly were not and there was a couple who owned a farm but killed their animals in a humane way.
I am however in constant turmoil with myself because i still eat dairy and eggs as well as shrimp. I saw a horrible video regarding leather and did stop purchasing it for a few years but i've since started again. Apparently i only have so much compassion to go around which is bothersome for me because I do not want to be a hypocrite. It's a bit difficult always having to ask about ingredients when i'm out or travelling where i don't speak the language. In Japan I had a local man order my lunch Okonomiyaki with no meat for me, sure enough they slapped on some bacon anyway. When i told the friend i was staying with he declared "but it's bacon, everyone loves bacon." I used to in all it's crispy goodness, but not anymore.
I'll leave you with a letter i wrote to the Editor of a local newspaper a few years ago:
This is in response to the article titled "Anti-Meat Commercial Too Graphic for Canada." Every year billions of animals are raised to endure lives of absolute confinement and unspeakable pain and suffering in factory farms. There is no justification for our society's refusal to take this suffering seriously, yet attempts to raise people's awareness about these shameful practices are considered by most to be outrageous and extreme.
Case in point the TV Bureau of Canada has deemed a 30 second commercial by PETA "too graphic" and would anger Canadian viewers. It says the spot depicts "brutality against animals", would spark "major complaints" and has been banned in Canada.
I invite you to increase your knowledge of the conditions within factory farms, the premeditated methods of imprisoning, torturing and the slaughtering of animals.
Perhaps then you will view your dinner in a different light.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
I got nothing
I'm going to borrow this from another blog as i rarely do quizzy type of things and quite frankly its Saturday morning and my brain seems to be on hold today.
1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
2. What's your favorite article of clothing?
If i'm going for comfort a pair of pants PP's mom made at her shop, they are fuzzy, warm and it feels like you're not wearing anything.
3. What's your favorite physical feature on the opposite sex?
I enjoy nice lips, i'm a kissing monster :)
4. What is the last CD you bought?
I rarely ever buy cd's i usually burn them. However, i did purchase Pinks latest one.
5. Where is your favorite place to be?
On vacation exploring somewhere new.
6. Where is your least favorite place to be?
Commuting to work. Recently i have seen a lot of blown out tires and accidents, makes me rather nervous.
7. What is your favorite place to be massaged?
I'm going to have to say my feet for sure, and of course my shoulders and back. Nothing is better than a good massage....
8. Strong in mind, or strong in body?
I'd say moreso mind than body, though i'm sloooowwwllly working on the body LOL.
9. What time do you wake up in the morning?
I am up at 6:45am and leave the house by 7:30am. I am not a morning person at all, i loathe mornings.
10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
The blender hands down. I drink protein shakes daily so i need something to whip them up.
11. What makes you really angry?
People who use the word retarded get on my nerves, it's so demeaning . As well, people that are close minded. I really can't understand in this day and age how some can be so homophobic or racist. Come on people.
12. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
I'd have to go with the guitar. I had a roomate who played and taught our other roomate. I really should have jumped in there and learned while i had the chance for free :)
13. Which do you prefer, sports car or SUV?
Hmm, well see sports cars are just so cute, and SUV's are such gas guzzling gigantor monsters. However, i was recently in a friends SUV and it really was quite lovely. I'm still going to have to say sports car.
14. Do you believe in an afterlife?
I do believe in an afterlife, where it is and what it's like i haven't a clue.
15. Favorite childrens book?
16. What is your favorite season?
I have two, i adore both summer and fall. I love lazy summer days when the sun is shining and the nights are long. I also love when it starts to cool down and the leaves change color and the smell of a nice fire. Halloween is my favorite time of year :)
17. What is your least favorite chore?
Sorting my black socks. I despise doing this and would really love to pay someone to do it for me.
18. If you could have one superpower what would it be?
I'd probably like to be invisible. Oh yeah, invisible.
19. If you have a tattoo what is it?
No tattoos for this chicka. I have piercings though, 7 in my ears, 1 in my tongue, 1 in my bellybutton and i had 1 in my nipple a few years back but it grew out. Not doing that again LOL it was wayyyyy too painful.
20. Can you juggle?
I suppose i could juggle a few balls (oh yeah i said it) but i haven't really tried in a very long time.
21. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to...
Definately my Aunt. My mom's sister she died way too young in her early 50's from cancer. I wish i had spent more time with her, i always said i would go and visit and spend the weekend but i never did. She was my favorite relative hands down, wise beyond her years, told it like it was, i really miss her.
22. What's your favorite day?
Wednesday because the weekend is approaching and of course Saturday because it is the weekend.
23. What's in the trunk of your car?
Booster cables, extra washer fluid, umbrella and my gym bag, so practical and boring.
24. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger.
I don't eat hamburgers so i'll have to go with Sushi....hmmmm sushi.
1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
2. What's your favorite article of clothing?
If i'm going for comfort a pair of pants PP's mom made at her shop, they are fuzzy, warm and it feels like you're not wearing anything.
3. What's your favorite physical feature on the opposite sex?
I enjoy nice lips, i'm a kissing monster :)
4. What is the last CD you bought?
I rarely ever buy cd's i usually burn them. However, i did purchase Pinks latest one.
5. Where is your favorite place to be?
On vacation exploring somewhere new.
6. Where is your least favorite place to be?
Commuting to work. Recently i have seen a lot of blown out tires and accidents, makes me rather nervous.
7. What is your favorite place to be massaged?
I'm going to have to say my feet for sure, and of course my shoulders and back. Nothing is better than a good massage....
8. Strong in mind, or strong in body?
I'd say moreso mind than body, though i'm sloooowwwllly working on the body LOL.
9. What time do you wake up in the morning?
I am up at 6:45am and leave the house by 7:30am. I am not a morning person at all, i loathe mornings.
10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
The blender hands down. I drink protein shakes daily so i need something to whip them up.
11. What makes you really angry?
People who use the word retarded get on my nerves, it's so demeaning . As well, people that are close minded. I really can't understand in this day and age how some can be so homophobic or racist. Come on people.
12. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
I'd have to go with the guitar. I had a roomate who played and taught our other roomate. I really should have jumped in there and learned while i had the chance for free :)
13. Which do you prefer, sports car or SUV?
Hmm, well see sports cars are just so cute, and SUV's are such gas guzzling gigantor monsters. However, i was recently in a friends SUV and it really was quite lovely. I'm still going to have to say sports car.
14. Do you believe in an afterlife?
I do believe in an afterlife, where it is and what it's like i haven't a clue.
15. Favorite childrens book?
16. What is your favorite season?
I have two, i adore both summer and fall. I love lazy summer days when the sun is shining and the nights are long. I also love when it starts to cool down and the leaves change color and the smell of a nice fire. Halloween is my favorite time of year :)
17. What is your least favorite chore?
Sorting my black socks. I despise doing this and would really love to pay someone to do it for me.
18. If you could have one superpower what would it be?
I'd probably like to be invisible. Oh yeah, invisible.
19. If you have a tattoo what is it?
No tattoos for this chicka. I have piercings though, 7 in my ears, 1 in my tongue, 1 in my bellybutton and i had 1 in my nipple a few years back but it grew out. Not doing that again LOL it was wayyyyy too painful.
20. Can you juggle?
I suppose i could juggle a few balls (oh yeah i said it) but i haven't really tried in a very long time.
21. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to...
Definately my Aunt. My mom's sister she died way too young in her early 50's from cancer. I wish i had spent more time with her, i always said i would go and visit and spend the weekend but i never did. She was my favorite relative hands down, wise beyond her years, told it like it was, i really miss her.
22. What's your favorite day?
Wednesday because the weekend is approaching and of course Saturday because it is the weekend.
23. What's in the trunk of your car?
Booster cables, extra washer fluid, umbrella and my gym bag, so practical and boring.
24. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger.
I don't eat hamburgers so i'll have to go with Sushi....hmmmm sushi.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Rockstar Lukas Rossi!!
Ok so i have been addicted to the show Rockstar Supernova. It began with 15 contestants competing to become the lead singer of the band Supernova featuring Tommy Lee, Gilby Clarke and Jason Newsted. It is down to the final four contestants and since day one i have been rooting for Lukas Rossi. He's amazing and of course it doesn't hurt that he is also a fellow Canuck. There is just a je ne sais quoi about him that i adore, and he can rock like a motherfucker. If you haven't been watching, check out these two video clips.
This was his very first performance:
Rebel Yell
Oh yeah baby!! Then he showed his softer side with
Creep
Alright one more:
Lithium
Enjoy!!!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Homely Homeless Girls
So this long weekend I found myself up at my friends house which is actually a cottage about 2.5 hours away. LD and I went up, the drive was not too exciting other than the gentleman (I use the term loosely) who refused to let us in when we had to merge. Then, for some strange reason he went into our old lane, i guess trying to get ahead and pass everyone however he hit the end and had to merge back into his original lane. Well of course there was no way in hell i was going to let him over after he refused to let us over. Unfortunately he practically drove into the side of my car so i had no choice, then he started yelling and looking into his mirrors and waving his hands frantically all over the place after he squeezed infront of us. It was quite amusing and we giggled. He had skulls around his licence plate, long hair and an eagle decal on his window. Oh and he was smoking and talking on his cell and apparently driving all at the same time, pure class.
The cottage was good times, other than the weather. The first evening was chilly but we just huddled around the fire having a few bevvies and hanging out. The girls bonded and went for a walk in the pitch dark, uphill for 25 mins to the closest store. We got some sparklers to amuse ourselves on the way back. Big thanks to Rob for the flashlight that did not work :)
Saturday rained alllllll day long. A few brave souls went out into the rain to play a game called "horseballs" don't ask. This is when some rules started coming out. Mark was cold and wanted a fire, Gavin said no fire during the day, we're roughing it. I got out an umbrella to watch the games, Gavin said no umbrella, we're up north. Rob was obsessed with his new cellphone, Gavin said no cellphones, i think he's bossy LOL. Needless to say i ended up in 2 shirts, a sweatshirt, a hat and a raincoat that resembled a garbage bag, bloody sexy if you ask me. As the drinking progressed (we started at 10am) the more hideous we all looked ( i swear it was the rain) and a few of us girls dubbed ourselves the Homely Homeless girls as the fire pit looked like a steel drum of fire.
I must say we were lucky though as we were one of the first few up there and ended up snagging the spare room that we shared, no tents for us. The others arrived throughtout the evening, he said there were going to be 30 people, there were 15. We went to bed around 5am after dancing, roasting marshmellows over a candle and sliding around in the mud all night.
The covered porch was nice but we decided to try out a fire anyway as the rain had died down a bit. Bad idea. I was passing my camera to Mark so he could take a picture and somehow my camera got knocked into the fire. I stood there stunned and he reached in and grabbed the sucker. Funny thing is, it looks exactly as it did before it's fall. The string wasn't even burnt though all of his arm hair had mysteriously disappeared.
It was a really great weekend, just a tad cold. I'm going to show you all the worst possible photo ever taken. As i said we started drinking around 10am in the rain. This photo was probably taken around 1am or so. Not a good looking person in the bunch at this point.
This attire was rather normal for the weekend, hoodies and hats:
Hope you all had a great weekend as well!!
The cottage was good times, other than the weather. The first evening was chilly but we just huddled around the fire having a few bevvies and hanging out. The girls bonded and went for a walk in the pitch dark, uphill for 25 mins to the closest store. We got some sparklers to amuse ourselves on the way back. Big thanks to Rob for the flashlight that did not work :)
Saturday rained alllllll day long. A few brave souls went out into the rain to play a game called "horseballs" don't ask. This is when some rules started coming out. Mark was cold and wanted a fire, Gavin said no fire during the day, we're roughing it. I got out an umbrella to watch the games, Gavin said no umbrella, we're up north. Rob was obsessed with his new cellphone, Gavin said no cellphones, i think he's bossy LOL. Needless to say i ended up in 2 shirts, a sweatshirt, a hat and a raincoat that resembled a garbage bag, bloody sexy if you ask me. As the drinking progressed (we started at 10am) the more hideous we all looked ( i swear it was the rain) and a few of us girls dubbed ourselves the Homely Homeless girls as the fire pit looked like a steel drum of fire.
I must say we were lucky though as we were one of the first few up there and ended up snagging the spare room that we shared, no tents for us. The others arrived throughtout the evening, he said there were going to be 30 people, there were 15. We went to bed around 5am after dancing, roasting marshmellows over a candle and sliding around in the mud all night.
The covered porch was nice but we decided to try out a fire anyway as the rain had died down a bit. Bad idea. I was passing my camera to Mark so he could take a picture and somehow my camera got knocked into the fire. I stood there stunned and he reached in and grabbed the sucker. Funny thing is, it looks exactly as it did before it's fall. The string wasn't even burnt though all of his arm hair had mysteriously disappeared.
It was a really great weekend, just a tad cold. I'm going to show you all the worst possible photo ever taken. As i said we started drinking around 10am in the rain. This photo was probably taken around 1am or so. Not a good looking person in the bunch at this point.
This attire was rather normal for the weekend, hoodies and hats:
Hope you all had a great weekend as well!!
