I guess I'm IT

Carly tagged me, so here it is
The rules: The tagged victim lists 8 different points of their perfect lover/partner, mentioning the sex of said partner. Tag 8 victims to join this game & leave a comment on a post letting them know they've been tagged. If tagged before, no need to contribute. (Though I don't have 8 victims....hmmm)

My Perfect Lover/Partner:

MALE

1. Non-smoker. This is a huge deal to me - I dealt with a guy that couldn't quit smoking for way too long and it just proved that he's got an addictive personality. Besides, it's gross and stinky.
2. A good dresser. A guy that can dress himself and co-ordinate his wardrobe ranks very high on my list.
3. Independent - not only can he dress himself, but he's not still attached to his mommy's tit. (Ok, rude, I know - but jeez, some guys honestly can't do anything for themselves).
4. Hard-Working. I mean, every girl wants to marry a guy that's independently wealthy, right? Well, not if he can't earn it himself! I like a guy that can start with absolutely nothing and build himself something - that says a lot.
5. Sense of humour, definitely. I think I can be funny, but I'm not gonna sit here and laugh at my own jokes. You gotta make me laugh.
6. This is a give-in, but he's gotta like kids. Obviously.
7. A good cook. I love to cook and I think I'm pretty good at it - I also enjoy competition. Bring it.
8. Thoughtful - you gotta love a guy that remembers birthdays, thinks about you when he sees something that he knows you'll love and buys it and stops on his way home from work to pick up a nice bottle of wine because he knows you'll really appreciate it. (Even though he's really hoping that you'll get drunk and naked by 9:00).

Now I'm supposed to "tag" 8 people but I don't have that many readers so I'll just tag Kristin, Piera, Julie, Siobhan, Dianne, Tricia, Shelley and Sharlene. Trusting that you'll read this and email it to me or post in my comments....~hint hint~.

134 and Counting DOWN

Good-Bye 2005!

So, it's now 2006. '05 was awesome. I met the greatest man on earth. He's awesome. Seriously. We went away on vacation to the Dominican Republic with all 3 kids - it was the best time I've ever had on a vacation! Then we found a great house to rent and moved in together. And it's been absolute bliss ever since (minus our tragic loss in October).
So does 2006 have in store? Well, I have never made a New Year's Resolution in my life, but this year is different. It's different because I have gained an ENORMOUS amount of weight since one year ago and it's revolting. Just look at that awful picture of me in Carly's blog - the one in the green sweater. I make rude noises every time I see it. I've gone up 2 sizes, I have some serious muffin tops and I just disgust myself.
Ok, I'm exaggerating just a bit. I've gained about 10 lbs. I know it's not ENORMOUS, as I previously whined about above. And most of the gain was after my accident in August. But I do look a lot bigger and feel a lot worse. So now, my goal is to lose that excess 10lbs and go back down to a size 6. And I'm giving myself 2 months. Starting now. So by March 22 I had better look damn good or.....what? What should my punishment be? Can someone think of something and I can finish this? Because all I can think of for now is that if I don't lose it by two months, I then have to lose it by three months.
I'm going upstairs right now to throw out the last of the brownies with the cream cheese icing. I had one after dinner and it was kind of stale.
I'm gonna wear my bikini again this summer, dammit!

This is Like Grade 7 All Over Again!

This is so funny - inspired by my friend Carly's blog who was in turn prompted by another, I have brought to you my MASH results, 2006:

Your husband's name is Benicio Del Toro and you have 4 children. You're a Ranch Hand who drives to work every day in a black Porsche Cayenne.
It's truly a wonderful life when you consider the countless romantic nights you have spent with Benicio Del Toro in your house in Denver, Colorado.

I just wish I could remember how to fold the paper to do that other one we used to do....

Ok, now I'm trying to find some pictures from elementary school but I can't locate them right now (as Kristin heaves a sigh of relief). I did, however, find this one that I had scanned in a couple years ago, of me and my friend Nikki:
I also found some of my grad photos and although I never dated the guy I went to grad with (we were just friends), those will go into the "Guys I Once Dated" blog which will appear some time in the future.

Stop and Smell the ROSES

I know, it's been a couple days. I have a cold and haven't wanted to sit at the computer after work the past two days. I feel like absolute shit. Regardless, I have yet another rant (maybe I'm just cranky?).
Why is it that when people are in a huge crowd, we're barely moving it's so dang crowded, someone has to let one go? I mean seriously. I get off the skytrain, it's a HUGE surge of people, we're going up the escalator at the station, and then suddenly you get this whiff of a rank ASS. And then, the next day, same thing: we're all waiting at the Westcoast Express station, the train arrives, we're slowly making our way on, big crowd again, and I almost GAG. It's freakin' sick. WHY? If I knew who did it, I'd have thrown them in front of the train. I can't even eat a piece of dry toast in the morning, how the hell am I supposed to be able to stomach someone else's shite?
On the upside, commuting on public transit has given me much inspiration. I bought myself a cute little note pad that I scribble my blog ideas in and it's getting quite full. When I have a little more time in front of the computer (and not 20 minutes before I want to be in bed and in a nice Night-time-cold-medication-induced sleep) I've got some good topics to bitch....er....I mean discuss on here. Not to mention the introduction to The Sarge is getting over due. Stay tuned....

[Picture Note: This isn't the Westcoast Express, but it is the old steam engine that is at Fort Steele, BC (West Kootenays - look it up, gorgeous place!)]

Back On the Wagon Again

Yep, that's right - as of today, I'm back at work. What does that mean? It means less blogging and no more checking my email every day. And when it comes to email, I'll probably read the stuff that isn't a "fw" first, then I'll open the picture/movie fwds, and then, eventually, I'll get to the stuff I have to actually read. That's my priority sequencing.
Wow, I only actually had 3 weeks out of work, and believe it or not, it felt like less! Initially, I was kind of hoping to have a mini-vacation in there. Some extra time to do extra little things with the kids and around the house. But, considering I wasn't actively looking for work, I consider myself very lucky. Some people out there have a hard time finding work and don't have the EI cushion that I had. I was quite blessed. And, so far, it looks as though I'm going to enjoy this job. I'm so happy! Exhausted, but happy.
Oh yeah, talk about great start - last night, the eve of my starting this new job, Munson decides that (after a long afternoon at Crash Crawleys) she's too tired to eat dinner so goes to bed at around 6:30. Then, after waking a couple times due to a nightmare and then her head hurting (?), she pukes up an entire day's worth of food. So, I put her in my bed so I can keep watch on her during the night and she doesn't wake Claudia up (since they share a room and bunk bed) and even though she isn't sick at all the rest of the night, do you think I got any sleep? Hell no!
I am now tired, starving, and want to veg in front of the tube after the monkey's are in bed. Which will be 8:00 sharp! ~sigh~ And so it begins....

That was me working at Family Insurance, I think early 2003. I was pregnant with Olivia in that picture - you can sort of tell. I got the "glow" (ie: oily, shiny skin - ew!).

Please Allow Me to Introduce You to

Olivia Rose Strachan

My girl, Olivia, aka Munson, or Bibia, as her good little friend Alex lovingly calls her (as in "Bibia, STOP it!" and then ~smack~ and then she starts crying "Ayex hit me!"). Yes, she is my very own Mini Me, yet blonde, for now. Only she's got a whole lot more personality than I had at her age. This kid is NUTS. She's cute, and she knows it, and plays it up VERY well. She will be on stage one day and I wouldn't doubt that she'll end up on TV. She constantly cracks us up, whether she is purposely entertaining us or just saying what's on her mind.
She let her presence be known to us (well, namely me) from day one. I was sick as a dog from about my 8th week of pregnancy until about 2 hours prior to holding her for the first time. I had that gut feeling from the beginning that I was having a girl, though I don't think I ever told anyone until after I had her. I like the surprise factor. And I like that it pisses people off that we don't know the sex of the baby!
She came out with a bang on May 16, 2003 and was absolutely adored by all, especially her big brother. They still have their sweet moments, once in a while. The rest of the time there's a sign on Evan's door that reads "Olivia stay out".
Now Miss O is a very active almost-3-year-old enjoying her Saturday morning ballet classes and looking forward to starting pre-school next Fall. Though she often tells people (including Santa) that she is 5-years-old and goes to "Evan's school"on the school bus.

She gets a kick out of calling me Kelly, unless she wants something and then it's Mommy. She loves books (especially those Little Critters ones), her new Leap-pad, playing with her doll-house, watching Dora, chewing gum, dancing and the colour pink. Oh yeah, and listening to The Killers in the car, unless it's the Monster Mash or the Chipmunks Christmas song. She is bossy, stubborn and determined and thinks she can con Adam into giving her treats all the time. She is Olivia, we all love her to bits though sometimes wish she wouldn't grow up so fast. I'm sure there will be more of her to come on here.

Top 10 Reasons

I'm Glad I'm a Woman

1. I can "people watch" without looking like a creepy stalker.
2. I get to carry a purse and not be self-conscious.
3. It's ok to get scared once in a while - actually, it can be kinda cute.
4. Parties! Whether it be candles, cookware, jewellery, sex toys - whatever! It always equals good food and beverages and a lotta girl talk.
5. I can smile or talk to babies and children at the mall or on the street without looking like a creepy pedophile.
6. Chick Flicks.
7. The possibility that you can either flirt your way into a club or flirt your way out of a speeding ticket (I've done the club thing a few times and the ticket thing once).
8. I got to take ballet for years and never got teased about it.
9. Giving birth was a seriously awesome experience - and no matter how much pain a man is in, he can never compare it to that!
10. When we gain weight, we gain it proportionately, so our breasts get bigger too. When men gain weight, their penises stay the same size, just making them look smaller. That's funny.

So there you go, my first top 10. It's a little silly, I know, but I really noticed the people-watching thing the other day so I had to put it in somewhere.

My Cohorts

I thought it was time I introduce my co-writers. My partners in crime are Juneau (bigger guy) and Dante.

Mostly it's just Dante - he's decided that now that I'm his stay-at-home mom that he should constantly follow me everywhere. And when I sneak off downstairs to the office to do stuff on the computer, he somehow sniffs me out and must climb all over me, chase my fingers on the keyboard (I type fast) and basically just piss me off. You should see the little scratches on my neck from him attacking my hair while I sit here! My camera is usually down here too but when I try to take pictures of him "helping" me at the computer, he moves so fast it turns out blurry. And, although I haven't seen her since the day she was a adopted, I hear his sister Kemah is just as bad, if not worse. My good friend Carly and I adopted the kittens the same day - her's wasn't a planned thing, she was just coming along for the ride. But who can say no to a cute little kitty?
To make a long story short, when we adopted Juneau back in August we had a beautiful Boxer named Kaine. They quickly became best buds but then Kaine sadly passed away in October and Juneau became extremely lonely. So, we adopted Dante to fill the void for Juneau. And now, Juneau is Dante's surrogate mom. Seriously. They play and cuddle and sleep together and Dante even falls asleep suckling on Juneau's little nipple. Never mind that Juneau is MALE. Adam thinks it's disgusting but I think it's sweet.
So, now you know my kitties and you'll have some clue as to who I am rambling on about here. (If you didn't already know).
Oh yeah, and stay tuned: I'm working on my very first Top 10 list. As I've learned from Carly, I now carry in my purse a little pad of paper and a pen so I can write things down as they come to me. So fun!

Don't judge me...

Initially, I started this blog because I was bored and wanted to randomly write out my thoughts for the world to see. Right? Isn't that what everyone else does? Well, today, it's my personal RANT page. Brace yourself, this may get ugly.
I'm going to start with my parents. My parents, love them dearly, are the world's biggest pessimists. Honestly, if you really want to feel down on yourself, phone my mom and dad and have a five minute conversation with them. I dare you to do it and not have a drink or take a pill after. And they are as anal as anal can be.
So, as an example, my mom phones me today. I look at the call display, see that it's her, and since I'm in a fairly good mood I answer. We chat for a bit, she's excited because my dad (who is retired) isn't home so she has the place to herself. Believe me, that is a really good reason to be excited. Anyhoo, I have a job interview today at 2:00. It's dowtown, no big deal. Her biggest concern? PARKING. "Where are you going to park? Oh, it's going to be so busy. blahblahblah" I say that I'm going to park in a parking lot. Or, if I'm lucky, on the street at meter parking. So what?? Who the hell cares? I have a JOB INTERVIEW for god sake and you're worried about PARKING?? And it's about 10:00am when I'm talking to her and she says "well, I better let you go get ready since you have to leave soon". Um, last I checked it didn't take me 4 hours to make a 30-minute drive. I had to hang up - I couldn't carry that one on any longer. I'll bet anyone my first EI cheque that she'll call me again before I leave.
I shouldn't complain, my parents are good to me. Really good to me. And I don't have issues with them, really. I'm used to them. I can take it. It could be worse. And if there wasn't anything wrong with them, I wouldn't have them to blame my stupid behavior on. We all need a scapegoat sometimes, right? And free babysitting.....

Before and After

Ok, the before shot you can see below, in yesterday's post. But here is The-Kid-Formally-Known-as-Munson. I'll have to make up a symbol for her now.

And yes, she's eating a piece of birthday cake. This was the first of 3 pieces she had on Sunday.

My birthday and my mom's birthday is the same day so we always have a little celebration together with the family and then my mom and I usually do something just the two of us later in the month.

Next year will be the big 3-0 for me. Hopefully I'll be out of the country. I've been so terrible to other friends and family on their 30th birthdays - buying them Depends and Preparation H and Bengay for presents - that I'm afraid of revenge. So, since it doesn't look like I'll be going to Vegas this year, hopefully next year!

[L-R: Griffin (my nephew), Olivia, Evan, Landon (other nephew), Claudia and Virginia (niece)]

What WAS I thinking?

I'm really into this writing thing - I've decided now I'm going to write a book. It will be titled "Dum-Dum" and it will be about how to deal with difficult ex's. Only when you open it, it will just have inside a rope and a Home Depot gift card to purchase a shovel. Because reasonable, responsible people cannot deal with unreasonable, irresponsible people.
That's my rant for the day. ~sigh~

Some sad news for some of you fans out there: Munson got her hair cut for the very first time on Sunday and now she no longer is a true Munson. Give her a couple months, though - she'll be back.

This is it - hi, it's me

Ok, so here goes.
Wow, can't believe I'm actually doing this.
It's my 29th birthday, and I've decided to start a blog. I don't know why....well, I know why. I read everyone else's and think "I can do this". And, I'm unemployed right now and very bored. So, I'll probably only do this until I start working....if that long. And in the meantime, my friends and family and who knows who else can sit and read super-boring stuff about my boyfriend Adam, our kids, our cats, maybe some juicy tidbits about our exes and god only knows what else I'll ramble on about.
So, today's the day I start my blog. Hopefully some of you will get a little kick out of it.