Alright, so we leave tomorrow for West Africa, i'm all packed and heading up to stay with Jennifer for the night. If all goes well, we arrive home on November 8th. I havne't a clue if i will be able to blog or not, so check if you'd like but no promises here. Chances are i'd rather be dancing with the locals or chasing wild animals than sitting in some stuffy room infront of a computer. I'm bringing my camera cable just in case so i can post pics of our fabulous African Lady dresses, cause who am i kidding, i love computers!!!
Apparently there is a halloween party on Saturday with some Marines..who knew!! So we may not totally be missing the festivities after all. Anyway take care everyone and i'll be in touch at some point....so excited!!!!!!
As an addendum. I was heating something in a styrofoam container in Jennfier's microwave. She looked at me and said "what, do you want to get cancer?" and then pointed at my nether region and said "oh wait, you already have it." This is going to be a lonnnnng two weeks LOL.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Safari Vests & Basketball
So i went to visit Jennifer this weekend. Friday evening i hung out with her bf while she volunteered, we watched girlie movies...oh and Lucky Number Sleven. I'm sure he was thrilled.
On Saturday Jennifer and I went to Okonomiyaki House for none other than Okonomiyaki of course!!! It's this delightful Japanese pan-fried batter cake that is made with flour, eggs, shredded cabbage and whatever else you would like to put in it.
Soooo Good!!! If the opportunity ever presents itself, I highly recommend you try it.
I ended up at a costume party that evening dressed in a Sari. There was an Indian couple there that were so in love with my outfit they offered their spare room to me for the evening. Really great people, i enjoyed talking to them.
Oh Dan if you're reading this i found the perfect outfit for the plane ride to Africa, i hope it won't embarass you too much....
Sunday evening was date #2 at the Raptors game. (Shockingly after taking the above photo he still wanted to hang out with me). I was able to get some really great seats for free, 5 rows up from the court great. They played Cleveland so hottie Lebron James was there * wipes her drool*
It was a really close game, Raptors won 91 to 90 and to top it off Mr. Samuel L Jackson was in the front row hanging out watching the game. He's the blurry figure in the red hat...unfortunately he was across the court and apparently my zoom sucks.
Here's a pic from their site
On Saturday Jennifer and I went to Okonomiyaki House for none other than Okonomiyaki of course!!! It's this delightful Japanese pan-fried batter cake that is made with flour, eggs, shredded cabbage and whatever else you would like to put in it.
Soooo Good!!! If the opportunity ever presents itself, I highly recommend you try it.
I ended up at a costume party that evening dressed in a Sari. There was an Indian couple there that were so in love with my outfit they offered their spare room to me for the evening. Really great people, i enjoyed talking to them.
Oh Dan if you're reading this i found the perfect outfit for the plane ride to Africa, i hope it won't embarass you too much....
Sunday evening was date #2 at the Raptors game. (Shockingly after taking the above photo he still wanted to hang out with me). I was able to get some really great seats for free, 5 rows up from the court great. They played Cleveland so hottie Lebron James was there * wipes her drool*
It was a really close game, Raptors won 91 to 90 and to top it off Mr. Samuel L Jackson was in the front row hanging out watching the game. He's the blurry figure in the red hat...unfortunately he was across the court and apparently my zoom sucks.
Here's a pic from their site
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
The Week From Hell
It has been a rather trying four days for me. Since Saturday i have:
1) Ripped my knee open like you would not believe. My own clumsy fault however it's quite bad and rather sore.
2) Had a kitchen fire. I was boiling water and almost left the room while i waited but thank goodness i did not. I look at the burner and see a flame under my pot so i pull the pot away and whoosh, more flames so i turn off the burner. Next of course i blow on it (i watch too much survivor and should realize this is a way to make the fire grow, which it did). Finally i remember the fire marshall from my grade 5 class and throw a pot lid over it. I wait a few seconds and lift it to even more flames. I throw it back down and wait a minute wondering how i'm going to call 911 and grab bunny at the same time, however this time the lid did the trick and it was out. Of course the house reeked of smoke and it turns out it was not at all my fault. Someone else had cooked before me and left grease in the holder under the burner and it caught fire. Of course they had no idea it was there.
3) I was leaving for work on Tuesday, went to pick something up off the floor and BAM pinched my Sciatica Nerve. I've been off work and on muscle relaxants ever since. Not good at all, it hurts to walk or get out of bed, or cough.
4) Got the results back from the doctor and have to go for treatment. I'm assuming the cells were pre cancerous and they have to freeze them...ewe. Then they fall off like scabs, how disgusting. I'm going after my trip as apparently stuff oozes out and would most likely show through my khaki attire :P
5) I also had a bit of a fiasco trying to get some bloody pictures developed. They have been a thorn in my side for the past few weeks and finally I was able to deal with them this evening. Thanks LD!! Oh and a shopping cart somehow managed to slam into my car as we were leaving the store.
I've been a bit of an emotional wreck all week and had quite the cry today, it was very cathartic. So needless to say i am VERY much looking forward to the weekend where i can just relax and have a good time. Any funny jokes that will cheer me up until then?
1) Ripped my knee open like you would not believe. My own clumsy fault however it's quite bad and rather sore.
2) Had a kitchen fire. I was boiling water and almost left the room while i waited but thank goodness i did not. I look at the burner and see a flame under my pot so i pull the pot away and whoosh, more flames so i turn off the burner. Next of course i blow on it (i watch too much survivor and should realize this is a way to make the fire grow, which it did). Finally i remember the fire marshall from my grade 5 class and throw a pot lid over it. I wait a few seconds and lift it to even more flames. I throw it back down and wait a minute wondering how i'm going to call 911 and grab bunny at the same time, however this time the lid did the trick and it was out. Of course the house reeked of smoke and it turns out it was not at all my fault. Someone else had cooked before me and left grease in the holder under the burner and it caught fire. Of course they had no idea it was there.
3) I was leaving for work on Tuesday, went to pick something up off the floor and BAM pinched my Sciatica Nerve. I've been off work and on muscle relaxants ever since. Not good at all, it hurts to walk or get out of bed, or cough.
4) Got the results back from the doctor and have to go for treatment. I'm assuming the cells were pre cancerous and they have to freeze them...ewe. Then they fall off like scabs, how disgusting. I'm going after my trip as apparently stuff oozes out and would most likely show through my khaki attire :P
5) I also had a bit of a fiasco trying to get some bloody pictures developed. They have been a thorn in my side for the past few weeks and finally I was able to deal with them this evening. Thanks LD!! Oh and a shopping cart somehow managed to slam into my car as we were leaving the store.
I've been a bit of an emotional wreck all week and had quite the cry today, it was very cathartic. So needless to say i am VERY much looking forward to the weekend where i can just relax and have a good time. Any funny jokes that will cheer me up until then?
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Khaki Vests and so forth
So Jennifer wrote this ridiculously funny post about what she thinks i'm going to be wearing in Africa, check it out it's hilarious.
I'm going to show you all a few of my favorite shoes, and you tell me if you think i'm the type of gal to be wearing khaki vests and tilly hats.
While were at it, let me show you a few strange items that i owned at one time as well.
This is a corset purse that i fell in love with years ago. I never use it anymore as i've grown up....but just a little bit.
This is a coffin purse that my dad made for me when i was a teenager, now it's a jewelery holder in my closet...again i've grown up a little bit since then.
Halloween is fast approaching. Do any of you still dress up and if so what are you going to be this year? My favorite costume that i wore a few times was Mrs. Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction. I only have my head shot unfortunatley but the rest of the outfit was great. I had a big needle sticking out of my chest with blood all around it and surprisingly a lot of folks figured out who i was. It was from the scene where she OD's and is brought back to life. Good times.
I'm going to show you all a few of my favorite shoes, and you tell me if you think i'm the type of gal to be wearing khaki vests and tilly hats.
While were at it, let me show you a few strange items that i owned at one time as well.
This is a corset purse that i fell in love with years ago. I never use it anymore as i've grown up....but just a little bit.
This is a coffin purse that my dad made for me when i was a teenager, now it's a jewelery holder in my closet...again i've grown up a little bit since then.
Halloween is fast approaching. Do any of you still dress up and if so what are you going to be this year? My favorite costume that i wore a few times was Mrs. Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction. I only have my head shot unfortunatley but the rest of the outfit was great. I had a big needle sticking out of my chest with blood all around it and surprisingly a lot of folks figured out who i was. It was from the scene where she OD's and is brought back to life. Good times.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Come on over...
My co-workers and I were discussing children a few weeks ago and how innocent and carefree they are. One woman watched as her young son invited a child over to play that he had never met before....they laughed and dug in the sand and had a great day. They didn't know one another's history or anything at all about the other and yet they were instant friends. Why is it as adults we want to know so much about someone as and before we befriend them?
We want to know their history:
Have they ever been married
Do they have kids
What was their childhood like
Did they have a good relationship with their parents
Any addiction issues
The list is endless. The youth where i volunteer told me about this card game Bismark that you learn in jail, so if someone knows how to play Bismark run for the hills. Why can't we be more like children and just accept each other as is regardless of all the baggage that may be attached?
We want to know their history:
Have they ever been married
Do they have kids
What was their childhood like
Did they have a good relationship with their parents
Any addiction issues
The list is endless. The youth where i volunteer told me about this card game Bismark that you learn in jail, so if someone knows how to play Bismark run for the hills. Why can't we be more like children and just accept each other as is regardless of all the baggage that may be attached?
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Love the Weather
So us Canadians get a long weekend as it's our Thanksgiving and so far the weather has been wonderful. It's warm, sunny and absolutely gorgeous outside. I spent the afternoon on Saturday at a baby shower which was a bit different than most i've been to. This one took place at a golf course and had a 3 course meal very posh and lovely. After, a few of us decided to hit up a small pub and linger on the patio to get the last bit of sun in for the day. Linger we did, we ended up staying there for over 6 hours just catching up and chatting having a few pints and some dinner. An unfortunate moth flew down my top and ended up dying in my bra, how disgusting. It was hilarious though as we were quite dressed up and a few people commented on our all black attire wondering where we had come from. They figured a funeral and laughed when we said a baby shower (I had red shoes on, counts for colour). Needless to say after such a long day, i was in bed on Saturday night at 10:30pm.
Today my mother and I decided to go hiking. We rarely ever hang out and figured we'd take advantage of the great weather and enjoy the area in which we live as we never bother to do so. We just went down to the gorge and watched the JetBoats go through the rapids before heading back up. Here are a few photos:
Oh and i'll leave you with something silly i did. I was at a friends house the other day, she pointed out some white stuff in my hair and asked what it was. I had no idea what she was talking about, so i looked, put it on my finger and tasted it. She then yelled and laughed and asked if i had been outside "what if it was birdshit?" I had never thought of that...EWE!!
Today my mother and I decided to go hiking. We rarely ever hang out and figured we'd take advantage of the great weather and enjoy the area in which we live as we never bother to do so. We just went down to the gorge and watched the JetBoats go through the rapids before heading back up. Here are a few photos:
Oh and i'll leave you with something silly i did. I was at a friends house the other day, she pointed out some white stuff in my hair and asked what it was. I had no idea what she was talking about, so i looked, put it on my finger and tasted it. She then yelled and laughed and asked if i had been outside "what if it was birdshit?" I had never thought of that...EWE!!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Keep that thing away from me.....
Alright so not the best week. I found out the results from my annual were the same so i had to go in for a biopsy. Going once a year is bad enough, three not so great. Especially when the 3rd visit consists of getting sprayed with vinegar in my womanly area, magnifying glasses and a sharp pointy long metal thing that resembles a juice opener going on in and ripping a few pieces of my cervix out or cells or whatever...good times. Needless to say i was quite upset when i heard about this on Monday but then i thought of Rosemarie Siggins whom has nothing to do with my vagina by the way :)
I watched a documentary on her this past year, she's dubbed the woman with half a body. She was born with a rare genetic disorder and her legs were amputated when she was just two. Rather than be confined to a wheelchair she has used her arms and hands as her main mode of transportation. Rosemarie loved cars and became a mechanic, she found a man to fall in love with and married him and then became pregnant. Rose's pregnancy was extraordinary and ground-breaking, no-one with Sacral Agenesis had ever given birth and all but one doctor advised her to have an abortion. She did not and gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Her mother who pretty much held the family together passed away and Rosemarie was left to care for her father who had not only Alzheimers' but schizophrenia as well, her 29 year old brother who has the mentality of an 8 year old and her son and husband.
Rose said "A lot of people with disabilities feel that life owes them something, and I was raised in a way that no, no-one owes you a dime. The world doesn't owe you anything, this is what you have and you use your resources and you get through life. My personal opinion is, get up and go for it, just do it."
This woman is an absolute inspiration to me, she's overcome so much in her life and has the most remarkable attitude, she's just amazing. I cannot possibly feel sorry for myself when i remember Rose and her inner strength and will, we can all learn something from her.
Completely off topic, SS posted her old prom photo, i thought it would be fun to do the same. Check out the gold shoes whew!! It's strange that i look much better 9 years ago than i do now, shouldn't i look worse back then LOL. At least i know i have potential :)
Monday, October 02, 2006
100th Post
So after a very long long week of learning (mock trials, sex offender casemanagement, human rights training) i hit up the big city for some fun and went to visit Jennifer.
Her friend rented a roller rink at a place called Rinx. We first sat and watched a game of whirly ball, almost a cross between bumper cars and basketball. This poor old man was in one of the cars and for about 5 mins was turning the stick trying to move his car but could not and noone was helping him. It was rather amusing. So we put on the old school skates and off we went. It as so much fun, i felt like a kid again. There was a disco ball and they played all 80's music like Boy George and Madonna. We played tag, hockey (apparently i cannot shoot and skate at the same time, i ended up on my ass)and Jennifer tried to give me a wedgie but denies it.
After the roller rink we went to an all night art show around the city called Nuit Blanche, it was open till 7am but we petered out around 3am.
"The city will be buzzing with activity as we break down the barriers between art and public space. For one sleepless night the familiar will be discarded and Toronto will become an artistic playground for a series of exhilarating contemporary art experiences. Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is a free city-wide event featuring more than 130 contemporary art projects for you to discover."
One exhibt was numerous fog machines over Philosopher's Walk that you could go through, they had Elvis titles along one street in the windows of apartments glowing in neon pink, there was a disco in the middle of the street which was rather disappointing. The one i enjoyed the most was at a homeless bathhouse and was an exhibt on Roy and Silo two gay penguins at the Manhattan Zoo. It was dark around the pool except for candlelight and a video playing and there were all these balloon penguins floating on frisbess in the pool. Very cool stuff, Jennifer has some great photos but they are not in my posession yet.
We also met some strange characters along the way. There was the man who was out jogging and had a strange resemblence to Lincoln from Prison Break. He was crossing the street as were we and put out his hand and tried to shove a bedazzled hair clip into Jennifer's hand. She looked perplexed but took it anyway, i suggested she bleach the shit out of it or regift it, in any event i wasn't going to wear it. We also met a friends new girlfriend. As i've said the city is not as big as everyone seems to think and we ran into some friends at one of the exhibits. We were introduced to N's girl. She looked completely unamused, closed her eyes sloooowwwly and opened them, rolled them even and said "hi." Granted it was hot and there were people everywhere so it could be cause for a bit of crankiness however i've never met someone so bleh. She even commented to him that she was going to "be bitchy later if we don't leave FYI." Wow!!! Perhaps i'm just used to terribly friendly people, of which she was not.
On Sunday we dressed up in Sari's and went to the 8th annual Kalanidhi Indian Dance Festival. This was also very cool and many people were admiring our outfits which was quite the compliment. Strangely though we had the most attention on Church Street which is the gay village when we were walking home. We also went out for amazing Indian food.....yummmmm!!! I was drooling a la Homer Simpson. The staff were also very appreciative of our garb.
So after roller skating for 2 hours straight and developing bruises and blisters, and then walking around in the rain for 3 more hours straight, i'm keen to take it easy for the rest of the week :)
Her friend rented a roller rink at a place called Rinx. We first sat and watched a game of whirly ball, almost a cross between bumper cars and basketball. This poor old man was in one of the cars and for about 5 mins was turning the stick trying to move his car but could not and noone was helping him. It was rather amusing. So we put on the old school skates and off we went. It as so much fun, i felt like a kid again. There was a disco ball and they played all 80's music like Boy George and Madonna. We played tag, hockey (apparently i cannot shoot and skate at the same time, i ended up on my ass)and Jennifer tried to give me a wedgie but denies it.
After the roller rink we went to an all night art show around the city called Nuit Blanche, it was open till 7am but we petered out around 3am.
"The city will be buzzing with activity as we break down the barriers between art and public space. For one sleepless night the familiar will be discarded and Toronto will become an artistic playground for a series of exhilarating contemporary art experiences. Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is a free city-wide event featuring more than 130 contemporary art projects for you to discover."
One exhibt was numerous fog machines over Philosopher's Walk that you could go through, they had Elvis titles along one street in the windows of apartments glowing in neon pink, there was a disco in the middle of the street which was rather disappointing. The one i enjoyed the most was at a homeless bathhouse and was an exhibt on Roy and Silo two gay penguins at the Manhattan Zoo. It was dark around the pool except for candlelight and a video playing and there were all these balloon penguins floating on frisbess in the pool. Very cool stuff, Jennifer has some great photos but they are not in my posession yet.
We also met some strange characters along the way. There was the man who was out jogging and had a strange resemblence to Lincoln from Prison Break. He was crossing the street as were we and put out his hand and tried to shove a bedazzled hair clip into Jennifer's hand. She looked perplexed but took it anyway, i suggested she bleach the shit out of it or regift it, in any event i wasn't going to wear it. We also met a friends new girlfriend. As i've said the city is not as big as everyone seems to think and we ran into some friends at one of the exhibits. We were introduced to N's girl. She looked completely unamused, closed her eyes sloooowwwly and opened them, rolled them even and said "hi." Granted it was hot and there were people everywhere so it could be cause for a bit of crankiness however i've never met someone so bleh. She even commented to him that she was going to "be bitchy later if we don't leave FYI." Wow!!! Perhaps i'm just used to terribly friendly people, of which she was not.
On Sunday we dressed up in Sari's and went to the 8th annual Kalanidhi Indian Dance Festival. This was also very cool and many people were admiring our outfits which was quite the compliment. Strangely though we had the most attention on Church Street which is the gay village when we were walking home. We also went out for amazing Indian food.....yummmmm!!! I was drooling a la Homer Simpson. The staff were also very appreciative of our garb.
So after roller skating for 2 hours straight and developing bruises and blisters, and then walking around in the rain for 3 more hours straight, i'm keen to take it easy for the rest of the week :)
