I was off for 2.5 weeks recently and I did absolutely nothing and it was fabulous!!! Seriously, I slept in every day, went to the gym in the morning and watched TV all afternoon! I did a nice big "spring" clean and gave many things away but most importantly I allowed my brain to just shut down and relax!

I was invited to a cottage for the weekend and agreed before I found out it was a Meat Retreat with 10 people, 3 of whom I knew! What!?! I had my doubts I mean hello I don't eat meat and that was the whole point of the weekend but I am sooooo happy that I went! I met some amazing new friends and have not laughed that hard in a very very long time! We played silly games, went for a hike in the snow, drank far too much and just relaxed! Everyone got along famously and I ate my veggie chili while they made sausage....gross to watch!

One of the fellas even made me a sock bun...love it!!

On my last day of vacation I went for a hot stone massage at my favorite spa! I was so freaking relaxed I stayed in the Zen room afterwards for a long time and almost fell asleep! I then used one of those coupon things a friend had given me for the IHOP and had a yummy free lunch!

So I'm rested and rejuvenated and go back to work for 11 days and then I'm off again for another 11 woo hooo!!!

Guess who got more awful news....I'm actually sick of hearing myself whinge so I'll shut up about it but good lord GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK....or wine.....give me lots of wine so that I may cope!

Now that I've gotten that out of the way I need some advice on Tablets! You see I don't necessarily NEED a cute new electronic device but let's be honest, dragging my gigantic monster of a laptop around is no longer cool nor practical! The thing is huge and heavy! I laugh at myself every time I pull it out in public (that sounded mildly dirty) and set up shop. Just the other day I spent my lunch hour in Starbucks watching everyone around me type on their tiny little tablets and cute Macs while I searched for an outlet (it won't work unless it's plugged in) just to give mine some juice! Don't get me wrong, it's been good to me over the last 3 years (minus the 4 times it had to be fixed...thank goodness for warranties) and I will continue to use it at home, it's just that I'm on the road a few days a week and dragging it around is getting to be ridiculous when there are other options available. This sucker has got a 17.3 inch screen and weighs over 7 pounds, it's time to upgrade aka downsize!!

I'm just in the research phase and have been watching videos and reading about different tablets but ask me if I have any idea about which one to purchase! I have a feeling that I would like some type of keyboard, it's not a requirement per se but I do enjoy using them! It seems the Microsoft Surface and Lenovo Idea Pad both come with this option! I've always been a PC gal and have never owned a Mac but I won't snub my nose at the idea of an ipad or an ipad mini....I have no idea what an Android is.....

Essentially I'm looking for a tablet to take on the road, I would like to surf the web, read the paper, check email you know all of the usual things that people do! I wouldn't mind having my itunes (which I don't think is an option on the Surface or Idea Pad) and a USB port would be nice but again not a requirement. I'd like to be able to use skype, maybe watch a movie or two and shhhhh I'd like to play a silly game called City Ville. From what I can gather some tablets don't come with a flash player but I'm assuming you can download one if need be......

Any thoughts or advice is much appreciated!

I use this blog as a sort of record of my life. I try to keep it upbeat and fun but sometimes things happen that aren't so great. I got a phone call a few weeks ago that flipped my world upside down to say the least. It's taken me this long to even process the content but to be honest I still feel like I'm in a state of shock! I don't intend to talk about said phone call but right now I'm struggling with several emotions. I go from feeling sad to feeling angry to feeling completely destroyed to wondering how I'm going to be able to trust again.

I'm hoping that time will help me to heal and I may go and see this woman that I did a class with many years ago. She is very insightful and wise and fun and I'm hoping that she will be able to help me make sense of this all and to help me move on. The last thing I want to be is bitter and resentful I just have to figure out how to open myself up again, to trust fully and completely! In this moment that is not even remotely possible.......I'm hoping to change that in the future!

Right now I just need some hugs!

For some strange reason when the flyers and junk mail begin to clog up my mailbox once a week I sit down with the big ole pile and look away! I peruse anything and everything regardless of whether or not I'm in need of the items. Take for instances homes, I'm not buying a home anytime soon but I'm curious to see what's out there! My favorite is actually going online and seeing photos of said homes. Now maybe it's just me, but if one wants to sell their home and get the most money they can, don't you think they would stage the house or at least clean up?!?! Not these folks:

The next group made me laugh soooo hard! Everyone has their own taste as far as decorating goes and I can appreciate that however, I can picture men running from the door as soon as they step foot inside screaming LET ME OUT!!!! I love pink but this is just toooo much!

This past week I have come across 3 different people in public restrooms that have grossed me out! 

The first woman was at a mall in the States! The bathroom was filthy, toilet paper all over the floor, overflowing garbage's and such! I'm waiting my turn, the first stall opens up and a woman in her 70's emerges, she turns right and heads out the door! The sinks were to the left!

Ladies number two and three were both at a yummy Indian restaurant in TO. Again I'm waiting my turn and notice the door of the last stall open and a woman's back against it on the inside, I'm assuming she's finishing up and coming out. Another minute goes by and while the door is still ajar I see her feet hit the floor and hear the "psssshhhhhhh" sound of someone urinating! She's actually peeing with the door wide open!!! About 30 seconds pass (she's still peeing) and she finally shuts and locks the door! I didn't see her doing her business as I was waiting closer to the 1st stall but hello there were only 3! WTF?!?!

Girl number three came out of the 1st stall while I was still horrified with the exhibitionist a few doors down (who was STILL peeing). She saunters out holding her cell and walks right out the door! 

What the hell happened to being hygienic  and not showing your hoo haw in public?? Even if a person is disgusting and doesn't regularly wash their hands after using the facilities can't they amuse the people around them and do it in public???? And shut the door!!!! I think my new MO will be to shame them "HEY YOU with the FECES on your hands, you forgot to WASH them"!!!!!

Go Cowboys!

I barely slept last night, not sure why but I tossed and turned and woke up completely groggy and exhausted.    I poured my oatmeal into a bowl, added cold water and searched around the kitchen for a microwave. I was staying at a friends house and she used to have one....oh well....tossed that out and figured I would hit up a coffee shop on my way to work. I was trying to be good and have a healthy breakfast but figured the next best thing would be an egg on an english muffin as I was running late. Just my luck a gas station with a Tim Horton's inside!! Of course I totally forgot that some gas stations have the help yourself coffee kiosks which only offer doughnuts, cookies and muffins. I went for the muffin which I'm sure had just as much fat as the cookie!

PP and I were at the same jail today so we had a yummy sushi lunch (which is why I wanted to have a healthy breaky) and wandered over to a shopping centre afterwards to look around. I of course had to use the facilities after my sushi lunch and sauntered into one of the washrooms. I thought it was very odd that they only had 2 stalls in such a large washroom, then I noticed a putrid smell and looked to my left...urinals....why would there be urinals in the women's washroom....DOH! I had walked right into the men's. I could not stop laughing at myself, I made it all the way to the back of the restroom before even noticing I was in the wrong one!

We stopped off at a Tim Horton's before going back to work as one of our friends wanted us to bring her a coffee back to the institution. I go in, order, leave and as we're sitting at a stoplight I look for my cell phone to text my friend to come out to grab her coffee only it's missing!!! Did I seriously just leave my phone at the coffee shop?!? Sure did!! Thankfully the staff put it in a back room and within minutes it was safe pffff in my hot little hands once again. I've had a cell for 15 years and not once have I randomly left it anywhere!

Clearly I could have used a lot more sleep last night and was hoping to make up for the lack of it this evening by going to bed early! Then I found out the Cowboys were playing and had to watch! It was worth it, they won!!! I'll just have to make myself a coffee in the morning and steer clear of any washrooms that I'm not familiar with!

It was sweltering today and I spent the day with a friend and her 5 year old daughter! While waiting for my pal to gather her belongings I asked her daughter "who is in that picture"? It was a photo of her mother probably age 10 and her moms old dog. She answered "my mom and her dead dog"! She then instructed me to follow her as she wanted to show me something....it was an urn with a different dogs ashes inside. Thinking I didn't know what it was she said "the dog's brain is in there" which made me burst into laughter! I probably shouldn't have I mean technically the dogs brain would be in there too so she was right it was just such an unexpected explanation.

We then went to a park with a splash pad and once again she made me laugh so hard! She wanted me to follow her around the playground and kept telling  me to "follow my erections" I was like whaaaa, did I hear that right and then as if on cue "follow my erections" yup I heard it all right! Clearly she meant directions but once again she had me in stitches!

I read the recent newspaper article about a lifeguard being fired in Florida for attempting to SAVE a man with complete and utter disbelief. Seriously?!? He left his designated area to assist a person in distress 500 meters from his post and he was fired?!? Oh wait, they offered him his job back when they found out that his area was still attended by other guards and huge kudos to him for turning them down. They mumbled about "protocols" and "guards calling 911" if such things occur. So the head honchos want trained professionals to stand and watch, wait 15 minutes for emergency personnel to arrive while someone drowns  before their eyes?? I'm actually speechless for once!

Whoa, it's been ages since I've posted on here! Perhaps my life has become rather boring and I have nothing to say or perhaps there's been too much going on.  You know the old adage, if you don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all......

I don't often talk about work on here and I'm certainly not going to start today but I will say that I was off for the entire month of May healing from my surgery, worked the month of June and will be taking the 1st two weeks of July off and another in August which can't come too soon! Calling it a toxic and stressful environment would not even begin to describe the atmosphere at the moment!

There was an unexpected death, a family member of someone very close to me which shook the world or so it felt.

I've had to reach deep for some light as of late. I am grateful for the sun, feeling it warm my skin and soul, for the kindness of strangers, sharing laughter with friends and I am soooo looking forward to some time up north sitting around a fire, drinking and being silly and of course roasting some yummy marshmallows! I am very much looking forward to my time off this summer, I'm hoping it will rejuvenate and re energize me!

I have been waiting a year to have knee surgery and woo hoo the day has now come and gone! Everything went well, I can't drive for a few weeks and will be taking 2-3 weeks off of work. Physio will start once my stitches are removed and then I'll be like new again, only better!

As you can see it's a bit swollen and I'm really hoping that the rest of my body doesn't follow suit and blimp up! That's the only problem with these sorts of things, it's kinda impossible to be active and though I do love laying around in front of the TV as much as the next person, I am dying to go and do something, anything! There are only so many books and mags one can read and shows one can watch before it gets old. I sunk to a new low and taped "The People's Court" for entertainment (it was awful as was expected), I need to get better asap before they have to remove a wall to get me outside!

The lovely Claire is having a book contest! I'm always looking for new and interesting books to read and two of her options have piqued my interest! I would love to read Join Me, I need some inspiration and a kick in the pants! I'm a kind person, I help elderly people put groceries in their cars, I give fresh fruit to homeless people, I go out of my way when I can to assist whomever needs it! Hell I saw something fly out of a woman's bag while I was driving home from the gym and didn't think twice about stopping. We had 80 km winds that day, I was wearing shorts even though it was winter and I pulled over, grabbed the item that had flown out of her bag and then proceeded to chase her on foot for 5 blocks to hand back her water bottle. I try to be a good person, but I could use a little work!

I'm also interested in reading Clara Callan only because Claire's description has intrigued me! She describes it as "compelling, unusual and cold in places, challenging but rewarding and interesting!"

Good luck to everyone and a big thanks to Claire for having this contest!

So it was 22 degrees here this weekend which is amazing for the middle of March! I celebrated by spending as much time outside as possible going for walks and soaking in a hot tub which kind of makes no sense but I didn't crank the heat up so it was perfect and relaxing and lovely. I felt rejuvenated and excited for summer, for hikes and bike riding and exercising outside.

My thoughts reminded me of a website I was recently introduced to called tough mudder. The British Special Forces designs 10-12 mile obstacle courses to test ones strength, stamina, mental grit etc. I watched some of the videos and wondered who in their right mind would want to partake in such a thing. I viewed them again a few weeks later and was actually envious of those willing to take on the challenge. Can you imagine sliding on your belly through ice trying to avoid electric shocks from wires dangling above your head.....hmmm not really! That being said I totally want to do this! It would feel like one hell of an accomplishment and while I can't take part in the challenge this year (I'm having some work done on my knee soon) I think it would be an excellent goal to work towards. Hell just the training for the event would be difficult!

It's my special day today aka I'm turning the big 34! Egad! Every year I get emails and coupons from various places offering me free swag for being a member or having a points card on my birthday. I decided this would be the first year that I would take these places up on their offers and decided to start collecting! Thus far I have picked up:

A yummy Venti Cafe Mocha courtesy of Starbucks! Full fat, full of whipped cream and the biggest size I could get! It was heaven in my mouth!

From Sephora a free mini sugar lip treatment and lipstick! They're super cute and compact and I can't wait to give them a try! They are supposed to "nourish, protect and perfect your pout with a blend of skin softening sugar, moisturizing seed oils and antioxidant rich vitamins" yes please!

I have one of those points cards for Rocky Mountain Chocolate. I rarely ever go there but voila, they sent me a coupon for a free chocolate bar and I chose yummy milk chocolate with almonds! Thank you!

I have been a member of a yoga studio for several years now. Funny enough I've only done a yoga prep class there but have taken other interesting classes like striptease pilates, meditation classes and a program about the chakras. They have sent me a coupon for a free yoga class so I will finally partake in an actual class! Woo hoo!

And lastly Boston Pizza has sent me a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert! Hmmm which one do you think I will get?!?

So I'm standing in line at the bank today between two older gentlemen who appear to be in their 70's. A woman at the front waves good bye to the bank teller and off she goes behind the line up towards the doors. The man in front of me literally walks very slowly in a complete circle so that he can stare at this woman. She has on a figure hugging dress, knee high boots, cute jacket, tastefully dressed. He is now facing myself and the man behind me as he's almost finished his complete twirl. The man behind me makes a noise, nods his head and smiles at the spinner. Nice, I'm caught between two old men sharing a pervy moment! It's one thing to take notice and appreciate another persons beauty/sex appeal whatever but to be soooooo obvious, staring and making noises, gross!! I almost asked them how long it had been since either of them had seen a woman!

You know how in January everybody and their brother are running to the gym to work out and lose weight as per their resolutions, I'm doing the total opposite this year! Not on purpose you see but after working out 5 times a week for 3 months straight something came over me (in January) and I stopped going. Just like that, BAM, my membership started to grow cobwebs and I sat content in front of the boob tube watching quality television and chilling after work instead of working hard and sweating. I'm slowly making my way back, I've been to one class a week but *gasp* tomorrow will make two classes in one week if I can crawl out of bed in time! Wish me luck folks, I'm going to need it!!!

Wow, 2012 has come upon us so quickly! I was looking back at old photos and can't believe it's been 14 years since I graduated from high school or 9 years since I went to Japan, they both seem like yesterday to me!

There were aspects of 2011 that I loved and others that were quite challenging for me. My biggest accomplishment was losing 34.6 lbs in 10 months! I might have actually reached my goal weight had I not taken the whole summer off to enjoy myself but c'est la vie! There is no doubt in my mind that I will reach my goal in the coming few months!

I feel very well rested and at peace which is a great way to start the new year! I was able to take an extra long vacation from work and have been off since December
9th however return tomorrow! I really enjoyed spending time with friends who were visiting from overseas, holiday gatherings, taking the time to read, doing a big spring clean and yes even getting sick. I was bedridden for days due to a cold/flu/infection but it gave me a chance to just rest and relax! I also lost someone who I used to be quite close with. Over the years our paths crossed less and we went our separate ways but it was still such a shock, I mean he was only 40 years old. Kinda puts life into perspective and makes you take a moment to look at what's really important and to reevaluate certain things!

In 2012 I resolve to bring light and peace into my life! I want to surround myself with positive energy, I want to meditate and to relax. Not relax like couch potato relax but to bring a sense of calmness to my life and everyday situations. I have a tendency to be more BAHHHH about certain things than Zen like, I resolve to be more OMMMMMMMMMM (like the Buddhists) than BAHHHHHHH (like me)!!!

Happy New Year!