I'll leave you with a picture of my kids and my neices and nephews.
And, as you can see - like most 3 year olds, my daughter has discovered...um...er...well, you can see.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
The Nuggets
I was going to post something but I just got home from work and have started dinner and better get upstairs to make sure I don't ruin it.
I'll leave you with a picture of my kids and my neices and nephews.
And, as you can see - like most 3 year olds, my daughter has discovered...um...er...well, you can see.
I'll leave you with a picture of my kids and my neices and nephews.
And, as you can see - like most 3 year olds, my daughter has discovered...um...er...well, you can see.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Ms. Smith Goes to Court
The latest excerpt of "Kelly's an Idiot":
I went to the New Westminster Law Courts at the beginning of August to fight a parking ticket I received back in March. You see, back in March when I got this frickin' ticket, I was so mad about it that I was all "I'm gonna fight this - there's no way I'm paying it! It's not the money, it's the principal". Right.
So half a year later, I finally get my day in court - and do ya think I've got the balls to do this? I've never EVER gotten a traffic ticket before. I've only been in one accident, and it wasn't my fault. And I'm the type that would normally just tuck my tail between my legs and pull out the chequebook. But this time, I wasn't going to. No way - this was not my fault.
So I leave work at about 9:30 to be there by 10:00. I had to allow myself some time because I knew (from being in Family Court there recently) that the Pickton trial was going on and I'd have to wait and get my bag searched an all that fun stuff. I took all the stuff out of my bag that I knew would get taken away (my camera, my phone with the camera, my dictation - no recording devices! - and my multi-tool which could be used as a weapon but I only have it in my purse for the corkscrew) and shove it under the driver's seat. I arrive with about 7 minutes to wait outside the courtroom. There are cops walking around everywhere - other people are fighting traffic violations and stuff - and they're talking with the people they gave the tickets to so they can agree on something before they go in. My guy isn't there. I'm thinking - great, he didn't show up, my argument and pictures are a waste, but the ticket will be withdrawn so that's fine. One of the younger cops smiles and says hi to me. I try not to look nervous. Then they announce that court is about to begin and we can go in.
We file in, one at a time, and I have to state my name to the judge as I enter and then there are two long benches to sit on. I sit at the front, trying to look all ballsy, holding my head high, in my dress pants and sweater and my brand new leather bag that my dad had just bought me for work. I'm the only woman in there, aside from the Judge.
A couple people go up, do their thing - then it's the 3rd guy, and I see him. The guy that gave me the ticket. I know it's him. I guess I should give you the circumstances now: I was in training for my job, and we went out on a claim. I parked my vehicle in the same spot that my co-worker had parked just a couple days before. While we're at the claim, I went outside (I had stepped on a nail and went out to the light to see if it actually went into my foot). And there was a bylaws guy about to give a parking ticket to the lady that owned the building we were in. So I ran out there and stopped in and said that she'd move her car - I was all sweet and apologetic so he said that was fine, as long as the car was moved right away. Then, half an hour later I go to my car and lo and behold I have a ticket. I just knew it was the same guy that I stopped from giving that other lady a ticket. So I was mad. So that's how I knew what the guy looked like.
When he was done with the other parking ticket, he turns to me and says "Kelly?" I nod and he asks me to step out to the hallway and talk with him. I jump up - I'm nervous as hell - and follow him outside. We talk, we laugh (because I told him the story and he even remembered me) and he says he can reduce my ticket to $20. I said fine and we go back in. ~whew~ Relief. Until I sit down...
Now lets sidebar again - a little while ago, I got this little tin of mints at a work function. I had the tin in my purse. It's a cheap tin - the one day I finally decided to open it and have a mint, I can't get it open so I have to pry it. After that, the lid didn't fit on it anymore and it basically came apart and dumped all these little white mints in my purse. They look like little pills.
Well, in my nervous angst to jump up and go out into the hall with the bylaw guy, I guess a few of these "pills" flew out of my purse and landed on the deep red carpet in the courtroom. Remember I was sitting at the front? Everyone could see these little white "pills" on the RED floor.
When I came back in, the old guy that was sitting next to me points to them. So I bend down and frantically try to pick them up and put them back in my purse. And then he says "Is this your crack-cocaine?" and starts laughing.
I told him no that they were mints and did he want one.
He says "No, I don't do drugs".
Then he says "Your crystal meth?".
Embarrassed laughter followed.
I wanted to die.
When I was done with my moment with the judge, I couldn't have gotten out of there fast enough. My face was probably the colour of the carpet.
I went to the New Westminster Law Courts at the beginning of August to fight a parking ticket I received back in March. You see, back in March when I got this frickin' ticket, I was so mad about it that I was all "I'm gonna fight this - there's no way I'm paying it! It's not the money, it's the principal". Right.
So half a year later, I finally get my day in court - and do ya think I've got the balls to do this? I've never EVER gotten a traffic ticket before. I've only been in one accident, and it wasn't my fault. And I'm the type that would normally just tuck my tail between my legs and pull out the chequebook. But this time, I wasn't going to. No way - this was not my fault.
So I leave work at about 9:30 to be there by 10:00. I had to allow myself some time because I knew (from being in Family Court there recently) that the Pickton trial was going on and I'd have to wait and get my bag searched an all that fun stuff. I took all the stuff out of my bag that I knew would get taken away (my camera, my phone with the camera, my dictation - no recording devices! - and my multi-tool which could be used as a weapon but I only have it in my purse for the corkscrew) and shove it under the driver's seat. I arrive with about 7 minutes to wait outside the courtroom. There are cops walking around everywhere - other people are fighting traffic violations and stuff - and they're talking with the people they gave the tickets to so they can agree on something before they go in. My guy isn't there. I'm thinking - great, he didn't show up, my argument and pictures are a waste, but the ticket will be withdrawn so that's fine. One of the younger cops smiles and says hi to me. I try not to look nervous. Then they announce that court is about to begin and we can go in.
We file in, one at a time, and I have to state my name to the judge as I enter and then there are two long benches to sit on. I sit at the front, trying to look all ballsy, holding my head high, in my dress pants and sweater and my brand new leather bag that my dad had just bought me for work. I'm the only woman in there, aside from the Judge.
A couple people go up, do their thing - then it's the 3rd guy, and I see him. The guy that gave me the ticket. I know it's him. I guess I should give you the circumstances now: I was in training for my job, and we went out on a claim. I parked my vehicle in the same spot that my co-worker had parked just a couple days before. While we're at the claim, I went outside (I had stepped on a nail and went out to the light to see if it actually went into my foot). And there was a bylaws guy about to give a parking ticket to the lady that owned the building we were in. So I ran out there and stopped in and said that she'd move her car - I was all sweet and apologetic so he said that was fine, as long as the car was moved right away. Then, half an hour later I go to my car and lo and behold I have a ticket. I just knew it was the same guy that I stopped from giving that other lady a ticket. So I was mad. So that's how I knew what the guy looked like.
When he was done with the other parking ticket, he turns to me and says "Kelly?" I nod and he asks me to step out to the hallway and talk with him. I jump up - I'm nervous as hell - and follow him outside. We talk, we laugh (because I told him the story and he even remembered me) and he says he can reduce my ticket to $20. I said fine and we go back in. ~whew~ Relief. Until I sit down...
Now lets sidebar again - a little while ago, I got this little tin of mints at a work function. I had the tin in my purse. It's a cheap tin - the one day I finally decided to open it and have a mint, I can't get it open so I have to pry it. After that, the lid didn't fit on it anymore and it basically came apart and dumped all these little white mints in my purse. They look like little pills.
Well, in my nervous angst to jump up and go out into the hall with the bylaw guy, I guess a few of these "pills" flew out of my purse and landed on the deep red carpet in the courtroom. Remember I was sitting at the front? Everyone could see these little white "pills" on the RED floor.
When I came back in, the old guy that was sitting next to me points to them. So I bend down and frantically try to pick them up and put them back in my purse. And then he says "Is this your crack-cocaine?" and starts laughing.
I told him no that they were mints and did he want one.
He says "No, I don't do drugs".
Then he says "Your crystal meth?".
Embarrassed laughter followed.
I wanted to die.
When I was done with my moment with the judge, I couldn't have gotten out of there fast enough. My face was probably the colour of the carpet.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Staples Says It Best
I know it's still summer, but if you're like me, the greatest time of the year is fast approaching. No, not the back-to-school stuff - are you kidding? I'm a working mom. The summer doesn't change anything for people like me. Either way, the kids are still up early and carted off to daycare. The only difference is that I don't have to conjur up new lunch ideas at 6:00 in the morning. Believe me, that's no fun. I have picky eaters - one who will only eat peanut butter sandwiches, and one who won't eat them at all.
And no, Adam and/or Rigby, I'm not talking about the NFL season. Although the upcoming trip to Seattle and my very first NFL game is exciting for me.
It's Autumn itself. The whole season. I love it. The smell, the colours, the crisp, cool air...all of it. And its no secret that I love clothes and shopping (ask Adam - he'll tell you) and the Fall just has all the best of everything.
Every year, basically
since Evan was born, my Mom and I take a little day trip down to Bellingham, Washington and do some shopping. We usually go absolutely nuts in Target. They have the BEST Hallowe'en decorations and costumes and accessories. I love decorating my house, but there isn't much in decorations after Christmas other than the few Valentine's Day window stick-ups (still on my front window) and maybe some Easter candles (that I just realized are still on the shelf above the TV). So by the time October 1st hits, I'm dying to start dragging out my decorations. And then, of course, buying some new ones always makes me more into it.
My other tradition is taking the kids to The Pumpkin Patch in Fort Langley. (It was a mention of the Fort by Bex that got me on the subject). We go to Aldor Acres - a farm owned by the Anderson family - and it's an absolutely beautiful place. For any of you that went to the PNE this year and saw Peter the Great (the biggest cow ever), well Aldor is his home. We always start out going through the barn
and seeing the baby pigs, usually a few calves, the horse, donkeys and my kids' favourites: the baby bunnies. You actually get to hold them and pet them, and they're just so adorable it's hard to tear the kids away. They also have some very eerie items in there. The only one I remember right now is the calf that was born stillborn and with two heads. It's in a big jar and is pretty freaky looking.
There's the honey stand where the kids learn about bees and how honey is made and you can purchase all different types of honey.
There's a petting zoo with goats, sheep, ducks, chickens and even turkeys wandering around. And don't worry if you leave the gate open and there's an escapee - there are always a couple of border collies keeping a close eye on things and they usually help you in getting the animals back in.
And of course, the best part - there's the big hayride to the fields to pick out your pumpkins. We always do that part last, because then they stop at the parking lot on the way back from the field and drop you off so you don't have to lug your p
umpkin around forever.
The people that run it - the Andersons - and all the people that work there are great with all the kids and very informative. The property is huge - the pumpkin fields seem to go on forever! And if you're lucky to get a nice sunny day (the last 3 times we've gone we've been very lucky) and you can get some really great pictures of the fields and the hills behind the Anderson property.
Like I said, the kids look forward to it every year, but so do I. And you don't have to have kids to enjoy going to this place - they even have a little market to pick up apples and peppers or you can just enjoy some corn on the cob and a cool, crisp Autumn stroll around the property.
And no, Adam and/or Rigby, I'm not talking about the NFL season. Although the upcoming trip to Seattle and my very first NFL game is exciting for me.
It's Autumn itself. The whole season. I love it. The smell, the colours, the crisp, cool air...all of it. And its no secret that I love clothes and shopping (ask Adam - he'll tell you) and the Fall just has all the best of everything.
Every year, basically
since Evan was born, my Mom and I take a little day trip down to Bellingham, Washington and do some shopping. We usually go absolutely nuts in Target. They have the BEST Hallowe'en decorations and costumes and accessories. I love decorating my house, but there isn't much in decorations after Christmas other than the few Valentine's Day window stick-ups (still on my front window) and maybe some Easter candles (that I just realized are still on the shelf above the TV). So by the time October 1st hits, I'm dying to start dragging out my decorations. And then, of course, buying some new ones always makes me more into it.My other tradition is taking the kids to The Pumpkin Patch in Fort Langley. (It was a mention of the Fort by Bex that got me on the subject). We go to Aldor Acres - a farm owned by the Anderson family - and it's an absolutely beautiful place. For any of you that went to the PNE this year and saw Peter the Great (the biggest cow ever), well Aldor is his home. We always start out going through the barn
and seeing the baby pigs, usually a few calves, the horse, donkeys and my kids' favourites: the baby bunnies. You actually get to hold them and pet them, and they're just so adorable it's hard to tear the kids away. They also have some very eerie items in there. The only one I remember right now is the calf that was born stillborn and with two heads. It's in a big jar and is pretty freaky looking.There's the honey stand where the kids learn about bees and how honey is made and you can purchase all different types of honey.
There's a petting zoo with goats, sheep, ducks, chickens and even turkeys wandering around. And don't worry if you leave the gate open and there's an escapee - there are always a couple of border collies keeping a close eye on things and they usually help you in getting the animals back in.
And of course, the best part - there's the big hayride to the fields to pick out your pumpkins. We always do that part last, because then they stop at the parking lot on the way back from the field and drop you off so you don't have to lug your p
umpkin around forever. The people that run it - the Andersons - and all the people that work there are great with all the kids and very informative. The property is huge - the pumpkin fields seem to go on forever! And if you're lucky to get a nice sunny day (the last 3 times we've gone we've been very lucky) and you can get some really great pictures of the fields and the hills behind the Anderson property.
Like I said, the kids look forward to it every year, but so do I. And you don't have to have kids to enjoy going to this place - they even have a little market to pick up apples and peppers or you can just enjoy some corn on the cob and a cool, crisp Autumn stroll around the property.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Great Big Ball of Fun
Since Carly-Ann did this wonderful feature of my blog in her's, I decided I should post something today. Only I really have nothing interesting going on right now to post. I just ate lunch. At my desk. Again. Because it's so freaking busy. My message to all the People out there: Stop flooding your houses. Please. So I can go back to "lunching" with people for 2 hours and ending my days at 3:00.
No one is coming into my office right now because I ate my favourite sandwich: egg salad with little chopped up onion. Mmm. Adam calls them fart sandwiches for obvious reasons. Even when I'm mixing the egg in the kitchen at home, he'll come in and say "Did you fart in here? Why didn't you warn me?". Then he sees what I'm making and says "Ohhh...fart sandwiches. Ok".
Back to my day at work - the most interesting thing that has happened to me today is that they placed Thriller on the radio this morning so I cranked up the volume and danced for about 20 seconds. A co-worker walked by and commented "Every time I come in here, you're listening to 80's music". That was it. Nothing on my funky moves. Hmph.
As for my home life, the most interesting thing happening there is that I just spent a weekend with no kids and Adam and I did nothing all weekend. We went for a hour-and-a-half long bike ride on Friday night, we both worked on Saturday and Sunday we stayed in and watched golf during the day, a movie and some NFL at night (Seahawks won...but it's only pre-season).
We have a houseguest for a week - Adam's friend's dog, Molly. She's an older golden lab, really sweet, loves to play catch and is deathly afraid of cats. It's hilarious. My cats are so curious so they follow her around and end up cornering her in different areas of the house because she's too afraid to go past them. It's quite sad. Oh, and she's deaf. So when you're outside with her you basically have to jump up and down waving to get her attention. It's a little difficult but she's such a great dog and follows us around so much that we don't really need to call her over. And if you point, she's knows where to go. She's been with us for one night and I already don't want to give her back. If I wasn't at work right now, I'd take a picture of her for the post but you guys'll just have to wait.
I know...it's nothing too interesting. It does get better, really. Gotta run - my message light is blinking on my phone and it keeps catching my eye and distracting me. I guess I should do some work so I can leave in 3 hours. Unless I think up some excuse to leave early for something work-related. I'll let you know what I come up with!
No one is coming into my office right now because I ate my favourite sandwich: egg salad with little chopped up onion. Mmm. Adam calls them fart sandwiches for obvious reasons. Even when I'm mixing the egg in the kitchen at home, he'll come in and say "Did you fart in here? Why didn't you warn me?". Then he sees what I'm making and says "Ohhh...fart sandwiches. Ok".
Back to my day at work - the most interesting thing that has happened to me today is that they placed Thriller on the radio this morning so I cranked up the volume and danced for about 20 seconds. A co-worker walked by and commented "Every time I come in here, you're listening to 80's music". That was it. Nothing on my funky moves. Hmph.
As for my home life, the most interesting thing happening there is that I just spent a weekend with no kids and Adam and I did nothing all weekend. We went for a hour-and-a-half long bike ride on Friday night, we both worked on Saturday and Sunday we stayed in and watched golf during the day, a movie and some NFL at night (Seahawks won...but it's only pre-season).
We have a houseguest for a week - Adam's friend's dog, Molly. She's an older golden lab, really sweet, loves to play catch and is deathly afraid of cats. It's hilarious. My cats are so curious so they follow her around and end up cornering her in different areas of the house because she's too afraid to go past them. It's quite sad. Oh, and she's deaf. So when you're outside with her you basically have to jump up and down waving to get her attention. It's a little difficult but she's such a great dog and follows us around so much that we don't really need to call her over. And if you point, she's knows where to go. She's been with us for one night and I already don't want to give her back. If I wasn't at work right now, I'd take a picture of her for the post but you guys'll just have to wait.
I know...it's nothing too interesting. It does get better, really. Gotta run - my message light is blinking on my phone and it keeps catching my eye and distracting me. I guess I should do some work so I can leave in 3 hours. Unless I think up some excuse to leave early for something work-related. I'll let you know what I come up with!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
No Munson Tonight - It's Just Me
I took this one from Ms. L but I love these things and this one had some questions I'd never seen. Read on...
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? Nope
2. What color are your eyes? Brown
3. When was the last time you went sledding? We haven't had much snow the last two years - it was probably 2 1/2 years ago
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? Hmmm...good question. I'm not a cuddler and I like a cold room but sometimes it gets too cold...
5. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes I do.
6. Do you consider yourself creative? Not one creative gene in my body.
7. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? Jennifer is cute, but Angelina is sexy. If you're asking if I had to go bisexual who would I choose, well Angelina of course.
8. Who was your first crush? Jesse Bouma
9. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? Naw - there's always someone that knows something
10. Have you ever been ice skating? Yes, but long time ago. Not sure if I could do it now.
11. How often do you remember your dreams? I have such a terrible memory. When I was pregnant I'd have super vivid dreams that I always remembered. Now that happens once in a while.
12. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? For those of you who have heard me laugh, I tend to let it out quite often and it always makes me cry. I don't remember the last time I laughed that hard but probably recently and it was probably something Adam said or did. Or Olivia.
13. Can you name 4 songs by The Beatles? Yeah
14. What's the one thing always on your mind? Lately, the time. My job is doing that to me. You always have to write down the time when you talk to someone or they left a message. It's driving me insane because I don't wear a watch and haven't in years.
15. What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could play a musical instrument, namely the piano. Never learned.
16. Do you know anyone in jail? No. Not that I know of.
17. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew? Yes
18. Have you ever been punched in the face? By a baby, numerous times. Brent Hagyard punched me in the neck in Elementary School.
19. Do you own any stuffed animals? A couple that were my Grandma's but even those are in my kids rooms. Oh, and there's a spider beanie baby on the computer speaker. It used to sit on my computer at my old job.
20. Do you have a major crush on someone? Oh, now I just remembered my secret! (kidding)
21. Do you miss someone right now? I miss both my grandmother's a lot and lately I've really been missing Kaine. I think because the anniversary is coming up. Adam and I have been talking about him a lot lately too so I think we're both feeling it. It hurts.
22. What are you listening to right now? Just the hum of the computer.
23. Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry? Not necessarily the death, but every year I watch the Oscars and they always have the "In Memoriam" part on the actors/directors that have passed that year. That almost always makes me cry.
24. What color underwear/boxers are you wearing? I don't remember. I think they're pink striped.
25. Where do you work? In my office in Burnaby.
26. What ended your last relationship? Cocaine. Not mine.
27. What food do you crave right now? None at this moment. Lately I've been big on dark green salads with vinaigrette and strawberries.
28. What was the last TV show you watched? I think that last entire show I watched was Last Comic Standing last week.
29. What is the last thing you ate? Poppycock. Haha, I said cock.
30. Are you on any medication? Read #29 - I probably should be. There's my secret. I stopped taking my meds and didn't tell anyone. My bad. (No Adam, it's OK. I'm still taking my birth control)
31. What side of the bed do you sleep on? The side that doesn't have Adam's body laying on it. I'm not picky.
32. What color shirt are you wearing? My brown hoodie. I was cold earlier.
33. What is your favorite frozen treat? Frozen Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Seriously. Good. Shit.
34. How many tattoos/piercing do you have? 3 tattoos, ears pierced and navel (yes, still)
35. Can you imagine yourself ever getting married? I can imagine. I can also imagine myself driving a Lotus. And if I had to choose...well...vroom vroom.
36. Have you ever done something to instigate trouble? Of course. I'm the baby of the family. How else was I able to get attention?
37. Do you like your nose? I don't like it. Seriously. It's big. And it looks even bigger when I'm tanned.
38. What color is your bedroom? brun
39. Where do you live? Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
40. Are you an aggressive driver? Sometimes. I've calmed down quite a bit because now I don't have dum-dum to make me late for things. Besides, I'd rather be 5 minutes late and ALIVE.
41. What color is your car? Maroon-ish
42. What do you smell like right now? My perfume. Actually, it's a body spray. White Musk from Body Shop. My body has really bad chemistry with most perfumes and I've discovered that I can only wear musky stuff. Which most other people hate the smell of.
43. What is your favorite color? Green
44. What character from a movie/TV most reminds you of yourself? Roseanne. Ok, no. I honestly don't know. Tough one.
45. Do you enjoy giving hugs? Most of the time, yes.
46. Do you own a digital camera? Yes
47. What books, if any, have made you cry? I can't think of one right now. I know I've cried from reading but I just can't think of what right now.
48. Are you a jealous person? Nope
49. 69? What's the question? I don't get it. But if you're asking, well OK.
50. What shoes are you wearing right now? None. Don't wear shoes in the house. I'm barefoot and procrastinating painting my toenails.
51. What is your major weakness? Babies.
52. Do you suffer motion sickness? Yes, though I haven't lately. Again, I'm not with Dum-Dum anymore. His driving is horrible, he always made me sick. I can't usually read in the car although I've been able to read maps. I'm sure if I went to Tofino again I'd get sick - that road is terrible!
53. What's the best pizza? Me & Ed's Gangster - it's all capicolli and pepperoni and salami (sliced nice and thin) and their sauce is the best. Oh, and I looove thin crust. Mmmmm.....
54. Longest relationship? 8 years. That was 7 too many.
55. Are you afraid of thunderstorms? No, but I do get goosebumps.
56. What do you want to be when you grow up? A ballerina. Honestly, if you're answering some sort of 69 question, why is this one in here?
57. Have you ever given or been given an engagement ring? The same guy (you guess it: Dum-Dum) gave me 2. And we never did get married.
58. What was the last gift someone gave you? Cory gave me a pot with Gerbera Daisies - they're one of my favourites. That was on Saturday. Before that, my mom had given me a pedicure for Mother's Day and Adam gave me an awesome new clock radio. It plays nature noises!
59. Who would you call first if you won the lottery? Probably my mom.
60. Can you cook? Yes.
61. What is your favorite jelly/jam? I like my mom's blueberry jam. And blackberry. Basically, any of my mom's jams.
62. Can you swim? yes
63. What is your first memory? I remember how my Grandpa (Smith) smelled - I'd sit on his lap for hours while he chatted with my parents. My dad smelled almost the same but now he doesn't smoke anymore so he smells better. I remember bits and pieces of our trips to my Aunt & Uncle's at Tatla Lake. Like I said, I have a horrible memory but I remember certain smells and those will always stay with me. Weird, I know.
64. What item would you like to have buried with you? Morbid thought. Obviously nothing of much value since I want my kids to hock all my jewellery. I've honestly never really thought of being buried - I sort of assumed I'd be cremated. I know it's bad but the thought of my dead body rotting in a wooden box that my loved one's had to cough up thousands of dollars for just doesn't make sense to me. Throw a big party instead and send my ashes to space.
65. What are three things you're dying to have right now that would make everything just about perfect? Nothing I'm really dying for - Adam and I live it up pretty good. I could stand to lose a couple inches off my waist. How about just a vacation, somewhere hot and all-inclusive where I get waited on hand and foot and the only decision to be made is where we're going to eat tonight.
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? Nope
2. What color are your eyes? Brown
3. When was the last time you went sledding? We haven't had much snow the last two years - it was probably 2 1/2 years ago
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? Hmmm...good question. I'm not a cuddler and I like a cold room but sometimes it gets too cold...
5. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes I do.
6. Do you consider yourself creative? Not one creative gene in my body.
7. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? Jennifer is cute, but Angelina is sexy. If you're asking if I had to go bisexual who would I choose, well Angelina of course.
8. Who was your first crush? Jesse Bouma
9. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? Naw - there's always someone that knows something
10. Have you ever been ice skating? Yes, but long time ago. Not sure if I could do it now.
11. How often do you remember your dreams? I have such a terrible memory. When I was pregnant I'd have super vivid dreams that I always remembered. Now that happens once in a while.
12. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? For those of you who have heard me laugh, I tend to let it out quite often and it always makes me cry. I don't remember the last time I laughed that hard but probably recently and it was probably something Adam said or did. Or Olivia.
13. Can you name 4 songs by The Beatles? Yeah
14. What's the one thing always on your mind? Lately, the time. My job is doing that to me. You always have to write down the time when you talk to someone or they left a message. It's driving me insane because I don't wear a watch and haven't in years.
15. What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could play a musical instrument, namely the piano. Never learned.
16. Do you know anyone in jail? No. Not that I know of.
17. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew? Yes
18. Have you ever been punched in the face? By a baby, numerous times. Brent Hagyard punched me in the neck in Elementary School.
19. Do you own any stuffed animals? A couple that were my Grandma's but even those are in my kids rooms. Oh, and there's a spider beanie baby on the computer speaker. It used to sit on my computer at my old job.
20. Do you have a major crush on someone? Oh, now I just remembered my secret! (kidding)
21. Do you miss someone right now? I miss both my grandmother's a lot and lately I've really been missing Kaine. I think because the anniversary is coming up. Adam and I have been talking about him a lot lately too so I think we're both feeling it. It hurts.
22. What are you listening to right now? Just the hum of the computer.
23. Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry? Not necessarily the death, but every year I watch the Oscars and they always have the "In Memoriam" part on the actors/directors that have passed that year. That almost always makes me cry.
24. What color underwear/boxers are you wearing? I don't remember. I think they're pink striped.
25. Where do you work? In my office in Burnaby.
26. What ended your last relationship? Cocaine. Not mine.
27. What food do you crave right now? None at this moment. Lately I've been big on dark green salads with vinaigrette and strawberries.
28. What was the last TV show you watched? I think that last entire show I watched was Last Comic Standing last week.
29. What is the last thing you ate? Poppycock. Haha, I said cock.
30. Are you on any medication? Read #29 - I probably should be. There's my secret. I stopped taking my meds and didn't tell anyone. My bad. (No Adam, it's OK. I'm still taking my birth control)
31. What side of the bed do you sleep on? The side that doesn't have Adam's body laying on it. I'm not picky.
32. What color shirt are you wearing? My brown hoodie. I was cold earlier.
33. What is your favorite frozen treat? Frozen Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Seriously. Good. Shit.
34. How many tattoos/piercing do you have? 3 tattoos, ears pierced and navel (yes, still)
35. Can you imagine yourself ever getting married? I can imagine. I can also imagine myself driving a Lotus. And if I had to choose...well...vroom vroom.
36. Have you ever done something to instigate trouble? Of course. I'm the baby of the family. How else was I able to get attention?
37. Do you like your nose? I don't like it. Seriously. It's big. And it looks even bigger when I'm tanned.
38. What color is your bedroom? brun
39. Where do you live? Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
40. Are you an aggressive driver? Sometimes. I've calmed down quite a bit because now I don't have dum-dum to make me late for things. Besides, I'd rather be 5 minutes late and ALIVE.
41. What color is your car? Maroon-ish
42. What do you smell like right now? My perfume. Actually, it's a body spray. White Musk from Body Shop. My body has really bad chemistry with most perfumes and I've discovered that I can only wear musky stuff. Which most other people hate the smell of.
43. What is your favorite color? Green
44. What character from a movie/TV most reminds you of yourself? Roseanne. Ok, no. I honestly don't know. Tough one.
45. Do you enjoy giving hugs? Most of the time, yes.
46. Do you own a digital camera? Yes
47. What books, if any, have made you cry? I can't think of one right now. I know I've cried from reading but I just can't think of what right now.
48. Are you a jealous person? Nope
49. 69? What's the question? I don't get it. But if you're asking, well OK.
50. What shoes are you wearing right now? None. Don't wear shoes in the house. I'm barefoot and procrastinating painting my toenails.
51. What is your major weakness? Babies.
52. Do you suffer motion sickness? Yes, though I haven't lately. Again, I'm not with Dum-Dum anymore. His driving is horrible, he always made me sick. I can't usually read in the car although I've been able to read maps. I'm sure if I went to Tofino again I'd get sick - that road is terrible!
53. What's the best pizza? Me & Ed's Gangster - it's all capicolli and pepperoni and salami (sliced nice and thin) and their sauce is the best. Oh, and I looove thin crust. Mmmmm.....
54. Longest relationship? 8 years. That was 7 too many.
55. Are you afraid of thunderstorms? No, but I do get goosebumps.
56. What do you want to be when you grow up? A ballerina. Honestly, if you're answering some sort of 69 question, why is this one in here?
57. Have you ever given or been given an engagement ring? The same guy (you guess it: Dum-Dum) gave me 2. And we never did get married.
58. What was the last gift someone gave you? Cory gave me a pot with Gerbera Daisies - they're one of my favourites. That was on Saturday. Before that, my mom had given me a pedicure for Mother's Day and Adam gave me an awesome new clock radio. It plays nature noises!
59. Who would you call first if you won the lottery? Probably my mom.
60. Can you cook? Yes.
61. What is your favorite jelly/jam? I like my mom's blueberry jam. And blackberry. Basically, any of my mom's jams.
62. Can you swim? yes
63. What is your first memory? I remember how my Grandpa (Smith) smelled - I'd sit on his lap for hours while he chatted with my parents. My dad smelled almost the same but now he doesn't smoke anymore so he smells better. I remember bits and pieces of our trips to my Aunt & Uncle's at Tatla Lake. Like I said, I have a horrible memory but I remember certain smells and those will always stay with me. Weird, I know.
64. What item would you like to have buried with you? Morbid thought. Obviously nothing of much value since I want my kids to hock all my jewellery. I've honestly never really thought of being buried - I sort of assumed I'd be cremated. I know it's bad but the thought of my dead body rotting in a wooden box that my loved one's had to cough up thousands of dollars for just doesn't make sense to me. Throw a big party instead and send my ashes to space.
65. What are three things you're dying to have right now that would make everything just about perfect? Nothing I'm really dying for - Adam and I live it up pretty good. I could stand to lose a couple inches off my waist. How about just a vacation, somewhere hot and all-inclusive where I get waited on hand and foot and the only decision to be made is where we're going to eat tonight.
The Beginning
Last night we had some people over and there was some discussion somewhere that I sort of caught bits and pieces of - you know how it is when there's 4 different conversations going on around you. I totally can't recall it right now, or even who it was, but it was something to do with a first date, or where a couple had met. I think someone even asked me where Adam and I met.
For those of you who don't know, it was on-line. It was on Lavalife.com, to be exact. But our first date (not a real date, but our first time meeting in person) was at Crash Crawlys. With all the kids, of course. AND (how sappy is this?) I still have the pre-meeting email.
From: "Adam Read"
To: <cheetahbc@msn.com
Subject: Hi
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 10:14:29
Hi Kelly,
Are you off work today? Claudia and i were thinking of going to Crash Crawly's today........Maybe you are in?
Adam
So I took a chance (yes, I was off work - it was the Monday following New Year's Day) and, much to Evan's delight (Olivia was too little to get excited about the place yet) replied that I would be there.
We had only started chatting on-line 2 days prior but I figured with an eight-year-old daughter and in such a public place, what have I got to lose? It was actually a lot easier and more comfortable than sitting face-to-face in a restaurant or Starbucks.
I think it was about two weeks later that I took Adam to my cousin's wedding and he met about 50% of my relatives. And about 6 months later we were moving in together. I love everything about this guy - he's handsome, fun, hilarious, sensitive, hard-working, a great cook (and yes, he does most of the cooking in our house) and a quirky enough to sometimes make me feel just a tad bit less crazy.
So yes, you can meet the right person on-line. It's definitely not for everyone, but it was fun for me (I met some really cool people, some complete assholes and some real freaks, not always in person but funny enough just on the website). And no, nothing really worthwhile to blog about....just Adam.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Bumps in the Night
I was going to post about my camping trip while it's still somewhat fresh in my mind. I'm typing this, still not 100% sure if that's my intention. It's the weekend and I'm on call for emergency claims. My mind is soooo not on my blog, so bear with me - I'm winging it. Adam's parents flew in on Saturday, July 15. We had spent the two days prior running around, getting things ready for our trip (ie: our vehicles), not so much for our house at it was pretty much a disaster. That entire day is still a blur to me. It basically consisted of getting things ready, dropping off cats at their "hotel" and buying groceries.
Sunday, we all woke up early, showered, dressed, scarfed down breakfast (except Adam and I, as we were the chickens with the cut-off heads). We pack, load up, get things ready and are finally off some time between 10 and11am.
The drive to Beaver Lake Resort is about 4 hours. Unless you stop a few times, as we did. (Kids = bathroom stops and food). It actually took a lot longer than I had anticipated. When we finally turned off the highway to take the road to the resort I was rapidly losing steam.
I had picked this campsite off the Tourism BC website - it was recommended and since it had it's own website, I was able to check it out and it looked pretty good. Last year we went to Cultus Lake, which is local, so this year I wanted to actually go somewhere. The Okanagan was somewhere that it was far enough away that Adam and his parents would be going somewhere that they most likely hadn't been, but not too far.
So we're driving up this road to the campsite. On the website, it says that it's about 10kms up the road. It doesn't mention that it's a rather rough, dirt road for about half the way. Now this is where I should mention that Adam's father isn't well - last December they discovered that he has cirrhosis of the liver. On top of that, he also has a pretty serious hernia. And a bumpy road does not help either of these two things.
Adam and his father were in Adam's truck. In my vehicle were the three kids, Adam's mom and their weiner dog, WD. About halfway up this terrible road, Olivia tells me she has to pee. She's 3. She does not squat well. It just doesn't happen. She needs a toilet. I tell her we're almost there and ask if she can hold it. She says yes. We're about 2 kms away from the resort and she starts crying. Yep, she's had an accident. But the drama doesn't end there. Adam's mom then, getting a little nervous and worried, suddenly tells me that there's no way his dad can be on this bumpy road. So I say OK, and try calling Adam. No service. We turn around and drive a bit down the road and get service and call. The response? "What are you talking about? This road is fine!". Apparently, the shocks in my truck suck compared to his. So, we carry on.
We finally arrive and get our vehicles into the campsite and discover that Adam's truck has had some serious clutch problems the whole way. We find out where there's a transmission place in Kelowna, the nearest city about 20 minutes away, and make arrangements to take his truck in. For now, we just need to settle in.
I'm shot - with all the drama and me driving that many people (I had expected at least one of the kids to be in his truck for the whole way), I can't keep up any more of the positive energy. There's only so much one person is able to hold up when there's negativity all around. Thank God Adam is the type who can deal. He basically took over from here on in. I went to bed almost right after the kids.
The next day, we deal with Adam's truck, get it dropped off, pick up more groceries (fresh Okanaga fruit!) and, of course, the long-awaited, much-deserved alcoholic beverages. Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh.....
The day is spent exploring the resort - there's a coffee shop that also sells pastry and sandwiches (at Starbuck's prices), about a dozen little motor boats you can rent (at reasonable prices), a huge playground and even a petting zoo (a few goats, bunnies, two ponies). Great stuff for the kids.
In the Okanagan, it doesn't rain nearly as much as it does here on the Coast. You can also expect it to be a few degrees hotter here in the summer and much more dry. Up where we were, in the mountains, it was actually a bit cooler. We still got the sunshine, but at the site we were at, we were surrounded by trees and it didn't warm up a whole lot during the day. Which was actually good - it meant more comfortable sleeping. (If any of you have ever tented in the summer, you know how stifling it can get).
That evening, the kids are in bed, Adam's mom decided to go to bed early, Dad is sitting by the fire reading his book, so Adam and I decided to go for a stroll. We walk down to the water, onto the wharf and just stare at the lake, taking it all in. It's a beautiful place - the perfect place to have a cozy little cabin. It's getting dark - I mean, really dark - so we decide to walk back. I think we had a flashlight, but I'm not sure.
We're walking up the little hill to our site and in front of the site next to us is the garbage. In BC, pretty much anywhere, you need to have proper garbages to keep the bears out. But apparently it was a busy day and the garbage was full, so some people, instead of finding another can, just put their garbage bags next to the cans. We're yapping away, in full conversation, when we suddenly hear a noise in the garbage. Its dark, hard to see - all we can see is a big, black figure. Adam's gives a "What the...?" and I suddenly burst out laughing. We're about 3 feet away from a big, black......
"It's a frickin' COW!" I suddenly blurt out. I don't know why I laughed so hard, I guess it's just funny that you would normally expect a bear and instead you get ol' Bessie visiting your campsite.
She wanders through some sites, takes a big piss in the one just up from us, scares a few more people and, with a Safeway bag in her mouth the whole time, finally wanders off. I tried snapping a few pictures, but in the dark taking pictures of a black cow just doesn't seem to work.
That's about as eventful as it gets. We spend the rest of the week taking the kids out on the boat, riding bikes, visiting the bunnies and goats, attempting fishing, eating like kings (we bought the greatest camping grill!), playing cards, feeding squirrels, making s'mores and relaxing on the lakeshore. And, I just need to add (because it IS all about me) that I had almost NO allergies while I was there. Except for when I visited the goats and bunnies. It was a great time, from what I've heard Adam's parents had a great time and fully enjoyed the kids (and vice versa).
Although, as much fun as we had, it is a lot of work and it's kind of nice to come home too.
Now Adam and I need a vacation.
*And I just want to add, if you go on the Beaver Lake Resort website and turn up the volume, that IS what you hear when you're there. I've never heard live Loons before and it's just amazing.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Guilty As Charged
Re: This post about lazy bloggers like me. I am guilty, I'll be the first to admit it. But, it was a life or death situation! Well, more like a job situation - if I didn't pass this final licensing exam, I would've been out of work. In this entire industry, most likely, as word travels fast. It's like living in a small town where everyone knows everyone else and if they don't, they know about them.
Anyways, got the news today and I still have a job. I finally passed the exam (86% Baby!) and am now a licensed adjustor in BC. ERGO, I shall now be enjoying the remainder of the summer with my reading list and perhaps a little exercise and, finally, some posts. No more school, textbooks, exams...until September.
More to come - since I'm actually at work right now sneaking in this post, I better run and get some work done.
Anyways, got the news today and I still have a job. I finally passed the exam (86% Baby!) and am now a licensed adjustor in BC. ERGO, I shall now be enjoying the remainder of the summer with my reading list and perhaps a little exercise and, finally, some posts. No more school, textbooks, exams...until September.
More to come - since I'm actually at work right now sneaking in this post, I better run and get some work done.
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