The World of Munson

Risque Doesn't Live Here

2007-08-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

Driving past a lingerie store the other night, I made a comment of how I used to shop there when I lived out in that city, years ago. Of course, I failed to mention that all I ever bought was panties and pajamas.

Adam responded "So, when are you going to start wearing that stuff?".

Me: "What do you mean? Lingerie? Like the sexy kind?".

A: "Yeah. Or are you just going to keep wearing that dirty wife-beater?".

For the record, the so-called dirty wife-beater is actually a cream-coloured tank top that is part of a pajama set, thank-you-very-much. Because it's cream, he thinks it looks like a man's sweaty wife-beater.

Coincidentally (or not really), my girl QC is planning on a boudoir photo shoot. She asked if I'd ever do it. My answer? A flat out no way. I have nothing sexy to wear!

No, really - I just don't see myself as sexy in the least, and I honestly don't think I could ever pull it off. It just ain't happening. No photographer will ever capture that because it's just not there. And I don't photograph well even fully-clothed - it would just be worse without.

Maybe I'll reconsider after I get the girls all fixed up and re-perkified.

BREASTS

2007-07-19T20:59:00.000-07:00

Tits. Melons. Ta-tas. Boobies. Hooters. Yabos. Cones. Rockets. Guns. Scuds. Whatever you want to call 'em, doesn't matter. If I could change ONE THING about my body, that would be it. Seriously. It ain't pretty. After two babies, some serious growing (then shrinking), nursing and stretching - doesn't exactly make them nice to look at. I've never been self-conscious of the size - I'm ok with that part. It's the stretching and saggy part that I don't like anymore.

Why is it they don't make bathing suite & bikinis with the kind of "lift" that a good bra has? I've never spent $100 on a bra - but I sure did on a bikini that still isn't very flattering in that area. WTF? I think I missed my calling as a swimsuit designer.

A couple weeks ago, I went to lunch with a contractor that I know through my work. We (or he) decided to go to Earls on Robson, namely because of the "eye candy" there. I went for it. I think we spent about 80% of our lunch conversation on the "are they real?" conversation regarding our server. It made me wonder: what is society's obsession with big, beautiful breasts? And why is it that we just have to know if they're real or fake? Because really, when I get mine, I don't care if people are guessing whether they're real or not. The only thing I'll care about is that they'll be wonderful, beautiful, I'll be able to wear those tank tops with the "shelf bra" (shelf? seriously?) and not have to still wear a bra underneath in hopes of keeping the girls above my belly-button, and they'll be (like in the Seinfeld episode) F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S.

However, here you can read a great story on the one's God gave me and how I love to show them off in public.

Hope

2007-07-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

espoir

I took that off my kleenex box. It's "hope" in French, for those who are not bilingual. Yes, I purchased a Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation kleenex box. Totally random, but thought I'd share it.

Once again, I received a word and mulled it over and over in my head. And all I could ask myself was "What is the first thing you think of when you see the word 'hope'?". I actually wanted to ask my children, but they weren't there. So then I thought of what the word would mean to a 4-year old and then a 9-year old - and not any kids, but mine in particular. Here's what I came up with:

Top ten things my 4-year-old daughter "hope's" for:

10) That she can to wear a dress tomorrow

9) That we're having mashed potatoes with dinner

8) That we'll go for a walk and end up at the playground later

7) That she'll get to play with Meghan - her 10-year-old friend that lives across the lane

6) That her best friend Kira will be at daycare tomorrow so they can play together all day

5) That Papa will come over and bring her chocolate

4) That she'll be allowed to sleep in my bed tonight

3) That she can wear her "flip-flops" until the end of time

2) That she'll be allowed to stay up and watch "So You Think You Can Dance" tonight

And the #1 thing that Olivia hopes for on a daily basis:

1) That Mommy is picking her up today

And for Evan:

10) That we'll be going camping soon

9) That one day, he'll go on a cruise ship

8) That the Titanic will be raised one day

7) That his buddy Cameron will like all his new Pyrate Lego

6) That he gets the Black Pearl for Christmas

5) That he gets a cool teacher for grade 4

4) That if Juneau is in Heaven, that he's with Kaine (yes, he actually did say that to me - the kid's deep)

3) That I eventually put the little TV in his room

2) That he can mow the lawn again and Papa will give him money for helping

And the #1 thing that my 9-year-old hope's for:

1) That he'll get to go to a Canucks game next season.

And my hope? That my children remain healthy and happy and keep dreaming.

Survivor

2007-07-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

As I sat here pondering my very first Blog Off subject, I realized that I am totally not cut out for this type of thing. I rolled this word "Survivor" around in my head until I actually started singing the Destiny's Child song out loud. I don't even like Destiny's Child.

The next thing that came to my head was the show Survivor. Yes I watch it. Yes I like it. But do I want to blog about it? Uh, not really. All I want in relation to the show is when I get voted out of the Blog Off, maybe I can be told "The tribe has spoken".

So finally, in chatting with a friend about it, I came up with the trip I took with Carly and the kids to Victoria to see the Titanic exhibit at the Royal BC Museum. What came to mind is when we were all given replica boarding passes of real passengers that were actually on the doomed ship. At the end of the tour we were given a chance to look at the list of survivors and lo and behold, I was the only one that didn't survive. The other three thought it was a hoot. Sadistic? Possibly. But is that telling me something?

I admit - I really hummed and hawed (sp?) about joining the Blog Off. What did it for me is basically that it's for a short period of time and also it's for a very good cause. Then I thought to myself, ableit briefly, that maybe I'll shape up my blog that was dying a slow death. Perhaps some people, other than my 2 or 3 regulars that only check to see if I've done anything lately, will start reading it again. And just maybe, I'll come out of this a Blog Survivor. (Cheesy? Um yeah, read my archives...)

What's In A Name?

2007-05-30T20:20:00.000-07:00

I stole this from Kris. She didn't tag me but I'll pretend she did.

1. REAL NAME: Kelly

2. GANGSTA NAME (First 4 letters of real name, plus izzle) Kellizzle

3. DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color & animal): Green Cheetah (Could also be my ninja name?)

4. SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, and childhood street): Ann Palmdale

5. STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom's maiden name.) Smiketar

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color & favorite soda) Red Rootbeer

7. IRAQI NAME (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, any letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of you dads middle name, ) Einal

8. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (grandmother/grandfathers first names) Virginia John or Marie Ralph

9. GOTH NAME (Black & the name of one your pets): Black Dante

10. NATIVE NAME (Fun activity, element in nature, name of wild animal) Dancing Rain Cat

I will tag Carly and Courtney...this one is too funny.

Happy Mother's Day

2007-05-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years, I've received some interesting home-made gifts from my children. A few have made it to the mantel, some on the coffee table or the fridge and some...well...they've gotten "lost" over the years.

Tonight, I opened a wonderful gift that Olivia made at pre-school. This one will definitely make it to the mantel and be held onto for years and years.

First, there was a card she made with a poem on the front:

My little handprints on the walls

On the mirrors and in the halls

I'll be grown some day

And all those tiny handprints

Will surely fade away

So here's a special gift

Just so you can recall

Exactly how my hands looked

When I was very small

Beware the New Neighbour

2007-04-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not know, I've recently moved. I am slowly getting settled into the new crib. So far I'm loving it. And the downstairs tenant? Single mom of a 6-year-old girl. All she said the day she was moving in (when we were talking about bedtimes and the "mommy quiet time" that takes place afterward) was something along the lines of enjoying a glass of wine and my ears perked up. She looked at me and said "Yeah, I love wine". Can you say instant connection?

It also just so happens that I've moved directly across the street from an old friend of Dum-Dum's and his wife. Nice family. We haven't really been in touch much in the last 3 years since "the breakup" but it was more because I had in my head that he was Dum-Dum's friend, I'm not going to make other people feel uncomfortable, stuff like that. Apparently I had no reason to worry because they hardly talk to him anymore - they've grown apart since P is now a family man and actually grew up and matured a wee bit (while that's a big fat NO for Dum-Dum).

So, I saw my new neighbour a week ago doing some work in his front yard. Apparently he's not aware of the fact that I take photos of my neighbours when they're dressed funny or inappropriately (or are just wardrobe-aly-challenged?) and then post the photos on the internet. Should someone warn him? Or shall we wait until I am ready with my camera? I gave him a freebie that day. I even kind of warned him. But next time...I won't be so nice.

A Moment of Munson

2007-04-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

Munson: I want sparkles on my cheeks

kelly: (exhausted sigh) Maybe for your birthday?

Munson: Um, no. I want a purple watch.

kelly: A purple watch? (Did I hear this right? Like she can tell time)

Munson: Oh, and make-up

WTF? She's turning 4. Lord help me.

Needless to say, I'm having a drink right now.

Suite Relief

2007-04-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

Remember me?

Yes, I'm still alive and kicking. Barely...

I'm just here to debrief you on what's going on:

I wrote two final exams this week. One word: BRUTAL. I get massive anxiety when I have to write an exam and it honestly puts my entire body and mind through hell. Yes, I know, I seem to do it enough that I should just get over it but...I can't help it.
I move this weekend - which has just added to the anxiety. Yes, I am relieved to have found a place that I L-O-V-E and I am excited about it but at the same time it's very bittersweet. I won't be coming home to Adam every night and it's tough. We'll still see each other a lot I'm sure but...it's still tough.
We sold my truck. I am so sad to be saying good bye to my truck - I love this thing! It's the first brand new vehicle that I bought for myself and it's never given me trouble and I just love it. So this is hard...although saying goodbye to $500/month car payments is not hard. And never having to pay for gas is pretty sweet too. If you don't know, I've had a company car since January and it has been INCREDIBLE. Especially since the price of gas has gone up to $armandleg/litre.

So, in a nutshell, my nerves are shot, I've barely slept in two weeks and I'm planning on having a textbook burning at my new place next weekend. Anyone want to join me?

FIRED!

2007-03-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been fired?

I'm on an email list for Comedy Central and they sent me a link to the trailer for this movie, FIRED!

The title alone piqued my interest, so I watched.

I'm DYING to see this one.

Check it out

Unfortunately, there are no theatres showing this in Canada. Or Washington State - thought I'd give that one a try too.

I just love the whole concept - if you have any good stories about being fired, send them my way - I'd love to hear them.

Baby Steps

2007-03-06T11:44:00.000-08:00

They say that the most common New Year's resolution made is: put an end to procrastinating. They also say that procrastination is the toughest habit (if it even is a habit) to break.
I personally don't make resolutions - I don't particularily enjoy saying I'm going to do something (or stop doing something) and not following through.
That said, I do admit I have a horrible habit of procrastinating. Everything. From paying bills to returning phone calls to studying for exams - I leave it ALL to the last minute (or even worse - past due). I would love to change that about myself. But how? I don't know if its a habit or just my nature.
I was thinking about it today while I was sitting at the car dealership after dropping my vehicle off for some service that it was due for. I was actually somewhat proud of myself for getting it done when it was due, rather than waiting another month, which would be my usual. So I thought to myself, since I'm feeling so on-the-ball today, I am going to start taking the steps to improve on that horrible fault of mine.
My next step? To get the ball rolling on selling my old car. So I'm going to wrap this post up and get my butt oustide and start cleaning it out and getting it looking (and smelling) all pretty to sell.
Step #3? Start studying for my final exam which is in less than a month. Tomorrow. (Baby steps, remember?).

The Countdown Is On

2007-03-01T22:08:00.000-08:00

That's right, folks. Only 55 days of "training" left. Er, shall I say healing?

Because, Mr. Mark-My-Words said: If Rocky can box at 60, then I can thread the needle at 35. And I wasn't the only one to hear this. I have witnesses.

April 25, 2007 - he turns 35. And I will film it.

Adam's threading the needle.

Oh, he says no now...but we'll make sure he has plenty of liquid courage to get him going. He keeps telling me that his toe hasn't healed from the last attempt. Check these out:

24 Hours Post-Incident - look at that swelling on his right foot!

48 Hours Later...look at that swelling and the beautiful bruising beginning!

So don't forget - April 25. Can't wait!

Up Close & Personal

2007-02-26T22:20:00.000-08:00

This blog is pure fluff tonight. I don't know why - I didn't sit down at the computer with any intentions to post at all today. I'm just in that sort of mood, I guess. Maybe it's the muscle relaxant I took a couple hours ago because I did something awful to my back today.

Maybe I just felt like posting some random photos....

Random shots, of animals, people, things in my life that sometimes have me wondering "How would I feel if I drank a glass of wine with that muscle relaxant?".

It's not really a question, by the way....

Or maybe, with this sudden cold weather (again) and snow on the ground (yet again), I was feeling a bit nostalgic for some warm, Summer weather...

Er...maybe not.

Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting

2007-02-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

The little man went through his first test at Tae Kwon Do last Friday. Needless to say, he passed and now has upgraded to the yellow stripe belt. How proud am I? Extremely. (I aplogize for the poor quality photos - next time I'll make sure I'm actually in the room instead of outside and having to zoom in).

It was quite a process - he actually had to learn a little routine (they call it a pattern) over the last couple of months. When it was his turn, after a half hour warm up, he was called out to the floor with two other little white-belt boys and they had to go through the pattern in front of the Grand Master, about 5 or 6 black-belts that are also instructors, everyone else that was being tested and of course, parents and siblings that are watching. It's gotta be nerve-wracking for these kids, especially for the first time.

But he did it almost perfectly (he just wasn't punching properly) - and then he had to sit around the edge of the mat and wait. And wait. And wait....while everyone else did their testing in groups of 3's & 4's.

Then, once all the patterns were complete, they lined up about 6 at a time and had their turns at kicking the wooden board to try to break it. Each person had 3 try's, then they had to sit down and wait for the others to go through. Evan had his 3 try's, but didn't manage to break his. Then, they all got to try again - and lo and behold on Evan's first try he broke it! The look on his face was priceless. It's like he almost didn't believe that he had just broken a board with his foot. I couldn't get a good picture of him breaking it, but next time I swear I'm going to video it. Give me a break - it was our first experience in this and I wasn't really aware of what we were in for.

Good Times

2007-02-18T20:06:00.000-08:00

I've been overhearing some snide remarks made about not having posted about this yet and I can just hear QC sighing "It's about eff'n time" right now.

Just over a week ago, my beautiful BFF put together an (exactly one month overdue) amazing little Girls Night Out 30'th Birthday Bash for your's truly. Unfortunately, I'm not the best with the camera-duty so you can view most of the pictures here.

We started out with Piera picking me up (though I was chauffer for the drive down because apparently I'm a faster driver? Whatever, I'm not legally blind in one eye). The first stop: Bloom Essentials for some pampering. Though I have to say, I almost forgot about receiving a luxurious massage when I heard a voice that I hadn't heard in almost 3 years. I think I just about screamed when I saw that beautiful smile of Siobhan's - what a wonderful surprise! I managed to get in a quick embrace before I was whisked off for my sooooo relaxing and much required 45-minute-long massage. Aaaahhh...it was wonderful. Courtney had her massage once mine was complete and she had that exact same look on her face when she walked out as I did. Meanwhile, Siobhan, Julie and Bex had pedicures and some gorgeous-looking toes after and our girl Carly had her very first manicure. I was going to post a photo of her Vixen-like nails on here but I think I'm going to save it for some future usage.

After the pampering and some wine and goodies we moved on to dinner and martini's at Delilah's. The food was fabulous and the drinks definitely lived up to our expectations. It was there that my wonderfully patient friends got me to open my gifts - hand lotions from Courtney and Bex (is that an age thing? I need to moisturize more now?), an intriguing-looking book from Bex (I can't wait for my mid-term to be done so I can sneak some time in to read it), a Starbucks gift card from Shivvy (that girl knows my weakness for vanilla lattes), an adorable little pink dish and some cool trinkets from Carly (who had also previously given me an uber-cool "Class of '77" t-shirt) and the kicker from Julie:

First, I opened the card that read: Now that you are youth-impaired, I got you a few essentials. I hope Adam is ready for you transformation now that you'll be sitting on the couch in your granny panties with rollers in your hair, mask on your face & eyes, drinking your precious Tassimo coffee.

In the bag was one of those gel eye masks that you keep in the fridge (great for hangovers!), a clay mask for the face, a package of hair-rollers, a pack of capuccino for the Tassimo and my very first pair of granny panties.

How awesome is she?

Now, I know I'm supposed to have Adam take a picture of me all decked out like she said on her card and, believe me, it will happen. But for now, since she seems to be so enthralled with all the goodies that I brought home after that night, you'll have to settle for mini-me:

We actually had a fun time putting them all in her hair. Then afterward she wanted me to try to paint ladybugs on her toes but we had to settle for polka dots since I'm not the most artistic (especially with a nail polish brush on the teeniest of toenails).

All in all, I had a fabulous birthday and will definitely remember this one forever. Thanks to everyone that made it as wonderful as it was (even the out-of-towner that couldn't attend in person but she was definitely there in spirit!)

The Launch of Flat Evan

2007-02-15T10:23:00.000-08:00

Last year, when Evan was in grade 2, his class read the story Flat Stanley. It's a neat little story about a kid who was flattened when a bulletin board fell on him. He had wanted to visit with friends in California but it was too expensive to go by plane or train. Since Stanley was so flat, his parents mailed him to see his friends.

After Evan's class read the story, they all drew their own Flat Stanley's. Of course, most of the kids drew themselves instead of Stanley. The teacher then left it up to them if they wanted to mail their Flat Stanley's to people they knew in other cities and have those people send back photos of Stanley visiting all the different places. Unfortunately, Evan didn't have his ready in time to be taken to Paris last February with his future bride, Carly (snicker). However, his travels did eventually take off in September when he was taken to New Zealand and Australia courtesy of Nan & Papa Smith. (See photo of Flat Evan hanging with his Nan at the Opera House in Sidney Harbour).

I think this is the cutest thing ever and have been contemplating a blog just for Flat Evan. What I have finally decided to do is let the little guy take off and see where he ends up. Evan and I will make up a little note with Flat Evan's story, put him in an envelope with some instructions and send him off. His first destination, of course, is San Diego, California. You know who you are.

The going-away party will have to coincide with a certain someone's birthday dinner this Saturday...which just happens to also be KRISTIN'S 30th BIRTHDAY.

It's So Barren In Here There's An Echo

2007-02-15T10:07:00.000-08:00

I've actually been a wee bit social lately and between that, a demanding job, demanding kids and American Idol auditions there has been no time to blog. Or check blogs. Or read my 126 new emails, for that matter. PLEASE - I can hardly keep up with text messages these days.

And for those of you that I don't actually talk to on a regular basis, I'll have to update you on my life changes.

Adam and I have been having a difficult time lately juggling our commutes to work and dropping off/picking up children from various schools and caregivers. We both have joint custody situations and it's difficult that we live in one suburb, my kids go to daycare and school in another (close by) and Claudia goes to school close to where her mother lives, about a half hour drive in the opposite direction. So you can understand our frustration. Adding drop-offs and pick-ups to our already long (an hour +) commutes to work makes for an extra half hour or forty-five minutes. Then by the time we get home, we're so exhausted we can barely carry on conversations with each other.

So our solution? We are going to move. He's going to move closer to his work and Claudia's school, and I will move closer to my kids' daycare and schools. It's the only way to do it and save our sanity. We are very much still together and we will still spend as much time together as we do now (we always have those days where we have no children and will happily spend the entire time together, just the two of us). There is absolutely nothing wrong in our relationship - which is what makes this so weird. A lot of people are having a hard time accepting our decision. I mean really - had we never moved in together, would that have been weird? I don't think so.

Whether or not other people can accept our decision doesn't matter to us at all. What matters is that we're happy, we both think that we are making the right decision and we both feel that our children will be better off being closer to their friends and their schools and spending less time being driven back and forth all over the place. And you never know what the future may bring us - I'm sure we'll be living together again at some point in the future.

Besides, doesn't absence make the heart grow fonder?

My Honey Away From Home

2007-01-31T22:03:00.000-08:00

I've discussed this topic once or twice with QC and even as I type I'm still not sure how to approach the subject.
I have worked in numerous offices for the past 11 years now and I'm noticing this funny little trend. For the most part of those past 11 years I've been in a steady relationship. And, again for most of that time, I've lived with my man. Total monogamy.
Yet, at most of the offices I have worked at, I've befriended someone of the opposite sex, that eventually becomes my Office Spouse.
It's nothing bad. Completely innocent. It usually involves a lot of advice-giving (work-related and personal), lunches, joking around, sometimes insults and the odd "eff you". But it usually makes being on the job a little more fun, especially in a static office environment.
Ah, I remember my first one....Ray. He worked in the mail room. I was only 19, it was my first office job and about 10 months after I started there was when I first moved out of my parent's to live with Dum-Dum. About 4 months after that I found out I was pregnant with Evan. We had a big laugh (later on, of course) about the morning after I found out. I walked in the mailroom, asked for some supplies and then just looked at Ray and said "Oh yeah, and I'm pregnant" and walked out. He didn't know if it was a joke or serious and he didn't want to talk about it in the office so when we went for lunch that day and I started to cry, he figured it out.
Then there was Martin. Martin was younger than me by a couple years (Ray was about 7 or 8 years older than me). Martin was such a typical young guy - loved his fancy cars and name-brand clothing. Thought that driving an expensive car meant everything. But he was fun to hang out with. I still talk to him once in a while and hate to say that even now, 7 years after I first met him, he hasn't changed a bit.
After Martin I had a bit of a dry spell. I had Olivia, went on maternity leave and then didn't go back to work until Dum-Dum and I split up. Then I worked a year in a hell-hole where there were maybe 6 male employees out of 100 people. And socializing was a no-no. There was only one single male that worked there that talked to me but he kind of creeped me out. (Julie, you know who I'm talking about).
Then Tony came along. He had the horrible task of training me. Hands-on. Which meant hours together in the car and months of him introducing me to all the right people. And with tons of marketing comes tons of lunches, dinners, golf tournaments, hockey games...you name it. He has made the biggest impact on my career than anyone - and done me a lot of good. He's also given me so much great advice - on work, my kids, my relationship, everything. I owe a lot to him and he will remain a great friend to me for a very long time.
And now...at this job that I've had for just barely 3 months? I've started making friends. There's the young crowd - a group of 4, 3 girls and a guy, that are in their early 20's, just starting out. They're pretty cool, and it feels strange to be the "old girl" because in the past I had always been part of that young crowd. Two of the girls in that group have actually invited me out this weekend to a club and I am considering going. And my desk is next to the one guy who is the Office Spouse to all the younger girls.
The interesting thing is, this Office Spouse or Work Spouse is way more common than I thought. I've heard of a lot of people that have a Work Spouse. Even older people that have been married for years! So how common is this? How many of you have a Work Spouse?
Not just me? Check out some articles I found about this subject: Wedded Work Bliss, Platonic Office Romance, Married On the Job

Anyone Seen This?

2007-01-18T21:15:00.000-08:00

Following up after this post:

I wasn't interested in it when it first came out - I've seen him on Da Ali G Show and really didn't think I could stand a full film about this guy, but the more I hear about it and see photos like this, the more I want to see it.

Any thoughts from people that have actually seen it?

The Biggest Loser - Corporate Style

2007-01-17T13:30:00.000-08:00

I've recently joined in with a group of 21 others in my office in a weight-loss challenge. We throw in $2 every Friday (started last week, on the 12th) and for 10 weeks we weigh in. The person to lose the most weight in the end wins the pot. I thought to myself: What a great idea! All I need is a little motivation.

I know I won't win, but it's helping me to have this 21-member support network to shed a few extra pounds. Everyone shares their healthy eating and exercise tips and its a great way to bond with some of the people around the office that I don't normally get to chat with.

So last Friday I weighed-in, 2 pounds more than my scale at home has been telling me. And I've had a bit of a rough start. I've been craving potato chips like crazy! In hopes that its just my body wanting cruncy and vinegar-y stuff, I opted for a crisp salad and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Which I just splashed all over myself. Does red vinegar stain?

I'll try to keep posted on my (hopeful) weight loss - although I won't disclose my actual weight on here, I'll note how much I've lost (or gained....a good possibility).

29 And Hanging On For Dear Life

2007-01-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

This is yesterday's post...unfortunately, BLOGGER sucks and I couldn't post it.

Oh God, just one more day and I'll be {gulp} 30. Ick. Why does this hurt me so much? Are the good times over? Is this the beginning of "Cougar-dom"?
It all started in November, when I got this wonderful new job. For the first time EVER I wasn't the youngest, or part of the "younger group" in the office. What happened? There's a whole slew of 20-somethings in this place and I've just be bumped up into the "older" crowd. I don't get invited to go for beers on casual Friday's. I get invited to the retirement lunches, though. WTF?
Yeah, there's the upside. When you call in sick, no one accuses you of being hungover. No one clock-watches because I don't take extended lunches or drag my sorry ass in late every day (due to being hungover). I'm just another hard-working, frumpy old mom with pictures of her kids on her desk and Advil in her drawer. That takes advantage of being reliable and responsible by emailing her friends and blogging during office hours.
So is it all uphill from here? More birthdays, higher numbers, no more big milestones to look forward to until perhaps retirement, at which point I just have to hope I have enough RRSP's to manage to get me through.
Wish me luck...

A Love Like No Other

2007-01-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

I've fallen and I've fallen hard.

Now that we're together, I am so blissfully happy. I now feel....complete; my senses...awakened.

I love you TASSIMO!

SEASONS GREETINGS

2006-12-26T12:35:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My Life Thus Far

2006-12-15T18:47:00.000-08:00

This was passed on by Kris...

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
0 6. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said "I love you" and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had/Have amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your cds
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the snake river
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in a Rocky Horror Picture Show
96. Raised children (well, currently working on that)
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school (not full time, though)
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach (unfortunately)
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read "The Iliad"
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone whodidn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

63 out of 150...not bad.

(Ok, the cow thing was at Maplewood Farm in North Vancouver and it was after a demo, they let you come up and try it a couple times so I didn't exactly fill up a whole bucket.)

Loud & Proud

2006-12-14T20:01:00.000-08:00

Last night, I braved the local mall and took my kids to see Santa. I went right after work - didn't even go home to put on comfy jeans or grab a bite to eat. It actually wasn't bad when we got there. I guess most people go home to put on comfy jeans and grab a bite to eat before they hit the mall.

So we wait in line about 30-45 minutes, they chat with the big guy, get a picture, grab their candy canes and we hit the food court for some crappy mall food (for the kids - I opted out. Just smelling Evan's hot dog made me lose my appetite). Then I dropped them off at their dad's (it was his night) and finally got to go home and put on my pajamas.

I flop on the couch, flick on the TV to veg out for a bit and relax when Adam comes upstairs, big smile on his face. When I got home he had been on the computer and I could hear him clicking away so I knew he was playing poker. Apparently he won a tournament so he was all proud. But, he was even more proud of this:

He basically came home from work (early) and polished off ALL the beer in the house. For no reason - just because.

And he was so proud that he actually wrote on that little piece of paper: I DRANK THESE!

December 13th. And he signed it. Yes, he signed and dated it!

Wow - what a man. Needless to say he passed out on the chair upstairs watching Die Hard with me.

Ugh.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

2006-12-12T20:44:00.000-08:00

...and when I run out of white, I'll open a bottle of red.

CHEERS

I am (almost) 30 years old and I still can not figure out what is so great about New Year's Eve. It always seems like such a big deal to celebrate a new year, but you wake up the next morning (sometimes with a wee bit of a headache) and the world is exactly the same. It's just another 1st day of the month. Big freakin' deal.

Don't get me wrong - I've been to some pretty fun New Year's parties in the past. The best was the big one - year 2000 - when I went with a big group of friends from work. We had a fabulous dinner at the revolving restaurant overlooking Coal Harbour in downtown Vancouver (of course it rained, so the view wasn't as spectacular as it could've been), then on to the Hyatt for 4 different ballrooms of drinking and dancing and then a piano bar on the rooftop suite. It was great. But I really have no desire to pay $100+ every year to do the same. I just don't care enough.

To be honest, what I look forward to more is December 30, for a certain someone's birthday. Perhaps it's because we usually don't go to sleep until 5am December 31, having had a little too much wine...I don't know.

So my plans for the big 'Eve this year? Dinner and maybe a movie with the kids. And the kicker? Last year, us adults had a fondue night, so this year it'll be chocolate fondue with the kids. Maybe I'll even add a little sparkling applejuice to be traditional. Rock on. Anyone care to join?

33 Shopping Days...

2006-12-06T21:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, I realize it's less than that 'til Christmas. That's actually the countdown to ~gulp~ my BIG 3-0. It sucks. I'm soooo not looking forward to this one. I really REALLY am not ready to say goodbye to my 20's. I mean, I can't even keep a job at one place for more than a year...

That's right - I've changed jobs. Again. I'm back to commuting downtown, working in an office all day, in a cubicle (ick!). No more coming and going as I please. No more fabulous lunches, wining and dining. No more golf tournaments! Well, I guess the odd one, but not like how it was at the last place where I got paid to schmooze. But, now I go home to my family every night at 4:30 (except for when I have class - which I need to continue doing, unfortunately), leaving the work on my desk where it will be the next day.

On the bright side, my new job, although I'm very busy, I am WAY less stressed. Other than the studying I had to do last week for my final, I have felt great. And the commute? Well, I'm back on the train, so I just sit there and either gaze out the window, read or chat with P if we catch it together. It's great! So relaxing. And one thing I've noticed is that I haven't put gas in my car for 12 days. That's a new record - I usually filled up once every five or six, depending on how many claims I went out on that week.

What does all this mean? Really, what's in it for you? Perhaps something or someone I observe during my commute (oh god, this one woman's hair!). Or perhaps more embarrassing stories (certain things can only happen to me). Or, perhaps, I'll just have all this spare time, to sit, and think...you'll have to wait and see.

Not only that, but I believe I have a one year anniversary coming up.

Winter Weather...in Autumn

2006-12-01T20:58:00.000-08:00

This is great - a friend of mine emailed this to me and it made me laugh out loud:

Weather Warning

Chilled Vancouver commuters faced their second day of winter hell today, as an additional ¼ centimeter of the peculiar white stuff fell, bringing the lower mainland to its knees and causing millions of dollars worth of damage to the marijuana crops. Scientists suspect that the substance is some form of frozen water particles and experts from Saskatchewan are being flown in. With temperatures dipping to the almost but not quite near zero mark,Vancouverites were warned to double insulate their lattes before venturing out.
Vancouver police recommended that people stay inside except for emergencies, such as running out of espresso or biscotti to see them through Vancouver's most terrible storm to date.
The local Canadian Tire reported that they had completely sold out of fur-lined sandals and snow tires. Drivers were cautioned to put their convertible tops up (so I did), and several have been shocked to learn that their SUV's actually have four wheel drive, although most have no idea how to use it.
Weary commuters faced soggy sushi, and the threat of frozen breast implants. Dr. John Blatherwick, of the Coastal Health Authority reassured everyone that most breast implants were perfectly safe to 25 below.
"The government has to do something," snarled an angry Trevor Warburton. "I didn't pay $540,000 for my one bedroom condo so I could sit around and be treated like someone from Toronto."

Ain't that the truth...

Overdue

2006-11-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

I forgot that I had wanted to post pictures of the kids' in their Hallowe'en costumes.

A little late, but they'll be happy I posted it. (Sorry I didn't get Claudia in her's - while I was trying to snap pictures pre-trick-or-treating and during their little party, she was getting her makeup done and I missed her).

Captain Jack Sparrow:

...and Curious George:

28.5 Shopping Days

2006-11-25T10:23:00.000-08:00

With all the Christmas blogging going on, I was trying to think of any Christmas traditions that I have. Other than the usual baking and decorating. The only one I could come up with is the way I like to wrap my gifts.

First, I pick a time when I'm all alone. It works well for me that my children go to their father's every second weekend. Also, Adam works Saturday's and Claudia doesn't get here until Saturday night. Or, an even better time (since these free Saturday's are mostly spent running errands alone), in the evening after the kiddies are in bed.

Second, I pour myself a drink. Traditionally, to keep with the Christmas spirit, it's rum & eggnogg.

Third, to get even more in the mood, I throw on some Christmas music. Seriously. I love it.

Then, I flop myself on the floor, surrounded by bags of gifts (usually pre-sorted by child, so as not to get too mixed up), my big rubbermaid container of wrap, ribbons, tape, bows and tags, etc., my drink and usually my curious furry friends and get to work. I'll sit there for over an hour sometimes, depending on how many gifts I have to wrap, or how many drinks I have. And I'll do this about 3 times throughout the month of December, as I run out of hiding spots for my gifts and realize it's just safer to have them wrapped and hidden from snooping children.

Aaahh, the joy of the holidays...

32 Days...

2006-11-23T21:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks Kris...I've been absent for too long!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nogg - it's the only time I drink rum!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Depends on the size....bikes can't get wrapped

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Coloured on both.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No

5. When do you put up your decorations? I usually start the first week of December, although I'll put out WINTER decorations (some candles and stuff that aren't necessarily Christmas-themed but are Winter, and I'll keep them out until February)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? We don't really make a special dish.....but I do love stuffing!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: The time my mom ran out to buy extra bulbs for the lights on the house to replace the odd few that had burnt out. She didn't notice that she had bought blinkers (it was a new concept back then) and my dad went up and replaced the burnt out ones and couldn't figure out why these one's weren't working either. We were getting all frustrated watching, then suddenly they'd blink on and off again. But they were all in random spots on the house - it just looked so funny! We laughed our asses off.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember - I think I was in denial for a long time though.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? It depends - last year, we didn't have the kids on Christmas Eve, so Adam and I opened our gifts to each other. This year though, we'll wait.

10. What kind of decorations are on your Christmas Tree? Mostly breakable and expensive stuff that I buy AFTER Christmas every year when it's all 75% off. I'm sure my cats will have fun breaking my shit.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it. But its rare that we get it on Christmas.

12. Can you ice skate? nope

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I dunno....last year I got an awesome push-up bra.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Having the family together, definitely.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Italian Christmas cake (I can't spell it); gingerbread cookies

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? When we were kids, my brothers and I used to go downstairs and sit around the tree and just talk and look at all the lights and decorations.

17. What tops your tree? A star, I think

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love watching people open the gifts I give them

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Sleigh ride

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yummy? yummy

Deck The Halls

2006-11-23T20:49:00.000-08:00

Crap, I haven't blogged in so long that I almost forgot how to sign in...

Thanksgiving has now come and gone - now it's time to get inundated with Christmas advertisements, music, decorations....the list goes on.

Oh, don't get me wrong - I love Christmas as much as anyone. I love to decorate, wrap gifts, send my cards, bake, watch all the great movies. I love it all! But sometimes, things seem to get way too out of hand and it bothers me.

I had a conversation with my parents tonight about it. I told them that Adam and I had discussed not buying each other anything this year, other than the piddly little stuff that we put in the other's stocking. We've discussed this, but not actually agreed on it yet, but the more I think about it, the more I like that idea. Are we just getting old?

Last night at dinner, Evan and Olivia were discussing what they are going to ask Santa for when they go visit him. At one point, as he's trying to narrow down his choices, Evan turns to me and asks "Do I ask Santa for just one thing, or can I give him a list?".

I told him that when he writes his letter to Santa, it's standard to write down three things, but when you go see him in person, ask for the one thing you want most.

He seemed satisfied with that answer.

Olivia just stared at me - I could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she silently scanned through her mental list. Then she nodded and said "Ok, Littlest Pet Shop it is".

You gotta love a kid that knows what she wants.

The Latest from the Rumour Mill

2006-11-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

Oops, She's Divorced Again...

http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=240825&GT1=7702

Ok, I know it's lame, but now where is K-Fed going to get his paycheques? The guy's got 3 kids. And, second-most-important: did she have him sign a pre-nup?

I dunno...maybe she just has the baby blues...

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T13:55:00.000-08:00

Have a great night....

A Hallowe'en Tradition

2006-10-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, I actually wrote this post last Monday, but was having trouble getting my photos on the blog. It's a little late...my apologies.

Yesterday, I took the kids to the Pumpkin Patch.

There was the weird...

...the wacky...

...ah, good times!

Although...

2006-10-18T22:32:00.000-07:00

In my little state of "Bah, Hallowe'en", I did manage to help the kids out with a little Haunted Gingerbread House.

And, aside from Munson having to be told numerous times to quit eating the candies (notice the missing jelly beans on the roof?), we did have fun. As well, much to Evan's delight, there was TONS of yummy orange icing leftover to lick...(and have strange looking orange-stained fingers for the remainder of the day).

Eat, Drink and Be Scary

2006-10-18T17:07:00.000-07:00

(Taken from a sign I saw on a diner window in New Westminster)

Hallowe'en is coming...and I'm so not in the mood. I don't know what's wrong with me - I usually ~LOVE~ Hallowe'en. I decorate. I dress up. I go nuts. This year, I took out all my candles and indoor decorations but have yet to put out my lights and gravestones and light-up bones and my new sign that reads "MORGUE".
What is up with me?
First off, it's Dum-Dum's turn to take the kids out, so I won't even see them that night. Secondly, I am on call that whole week and I have a feeling I'll be hearing the pager go off on Hallowe'en. Third, I haven't received any party invites so no reason to get a costume for myself.
I just feel so ho-hum about it this year; it's weird.
Is anyone else feeling this?

Lame Excuse for The Week

2006-10-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Here's my lame-ass excuse for not having blogged in a while: our computer had a virus (eek!).
Yep, she done gone and got herself a bad one.
It's clean now - we've exorcised the demons.
Now I must re-enter all my contacts back into my address book and re-save all my favourites. What a pain in the arse!
I'll be back...

Who Is This Kid?

2006-10-01T20:54:00.000-07:00

Munson's bringing sexy back...I have no idea what is with the pose, but I thought I'd share this.
My batteries had died on my camera and I didn't change them for over two weeks. I went to take a couple pictures last night and was shocked to see this picture on my camera. I really don't remember her doing this!

To make up for the un-Munson-like picture above, here is something a little more of the norm for her:

And yes, that is a pumpkin toque.

my bad

2006-09-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

I keep trying to work on a post titled "A Day in the Life of Munson". It's not working out for me.
See, the thing is, I'm one of those awful working moms who leaves her children at daycare every Monday to Friday. Go ahead: say it. I've heard it all before. I choose to have children and then I pay someone else to raise them.
To a degree, yes, this is true. But in my defence, how else am I supposed to live? I need money. Then how do I make money? I work. I don't have a husband to do that for me. I don't wish to rely on Income Assistance (the fancy way of saying "welfare"). So, I'm a bad person who pays someone to watch my kids while I cart my ass to an office every day to work.
In all honesty, my kids are better off. They spend their days with a woman who has two kids, now in their 20's, who appear to have been brought up very well. She feeds them good, homemade food, which I would most likely not do as much as she does. She takes them to the park on any day that it's not raining; sometimes even when it is raining. They get exercise and fresh air pretty much every day. She does crafts with them - on a regular basis. I hate doing crafts; always did, always will. She bakes with them - I don't have the patience to do more than crack an egg, add water & oil and put it in the oven. She's makes stuff from scratch! She teaches, she helps with homework, she nurtures and loves them as if they were her own. I think they're much better off with her than they would be with me!
What's worse about all this, is my childrens' daycare is unlicensed. The shock! The horror! Yes, they go to a very qualified caregiver who doesn't want to deal with all the red-tape bullshit that comes with trying to get licensed. Because she is unlicensed, she is allowed to cuddle and hug and kiss any child that has fallen and scraped a knee or bumped his head. She's allowed to take a child's temperature and administer medication at her discretion (a little privelage I gave her after the third time she phoned me at work to ask if she's allowed to give my suffering child a couple of Tylenol). She's allowed to banish Olivia to a room for misbehaving and flick Evan in the ears for not listening. Regardless, my children love her like they would a favourite Auntie (I don't dare say grandma - she's too young and she'd probably cuff me up the side of the head for that). And we feel very lucky to have such a wonderful person in our lives.
So the whole point of this post was to explain my struggles with the post I am attempting to compose and that I've now decided to recruit my daughter's caregiver to make notes for me so I can complete it.
I know a lot of readers are running out of patience (sorry Julie!) but please bear with me. I had a rough week. Actually, month.

Hold My Calls

2006-09-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't been around and I apologize.
To be honest, I'm having a dry spell.
I am also currently attempting to finish a novel I purchased in July and had to wait until I was done with all my studying and the other novel that I was already into.
My new class starts on Monday (tomorrow - eek!) and I'm barely half-way through this book but I have to finish it before I am forced to read a lame textbook all about Liability.
And football started so I'm on my own avec les enfants as Adam is preoccupied.
I am, however, excited about my very first NFL game next Sunday. I will be going with the Falcon's #1 Fan, her man the Cardinals fan and my live-in KC fan. I don't care that out of my group I'll be the only one cheering on the Seahawks - I'll have an entire stadium backing me up. I plan on drinking like a rowdy College freshman and perhaps (depending on how the game goes) acting like one too.
Please be patient with me - more to come.

I KNOW You're All Jealous

2006-09-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

Poetry via text messaging.

Here is a little message I received the other day, in a response to my message about eating lunch alone:

"And even though I know how very far apart we are...It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star!".

I believe I responded "Gag me with a spoon".

And then, of course, it got a little out of hand after that with the gagging comment...as I'm sure you can imagine.

Have a great long weekend!

The Nuggets

2006-08-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

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.

Ms. Smith Goes to Court

2006-08-27T14:31:00.000-07:00

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.

Staples Says It Best

2006-08-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

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 pumpkin 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.

Great Big Ball of Fun

2006-08-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

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 Munson Tonight - It's Just Me

2006-08-13T22:28:00.000-07:00

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.

The Beginning

2006-08-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

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.

Bumps in the Night

2006-08-05T18:26:00.000-07:00

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.

Guilty As Charged

2006-08-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

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.

Randoms...

2006-07-31T17:49:00.000-07:00

I know, I'm sorry I haven't done my Beaver Lake post yet. Bear with me. It's been a very busy and stressful week but it should start getting back to normal now.

I wrote my final licensing exam today. If I don't pass this one, it's the end of the road for me. Just in case, let me know if you see any good job postings around.
My ex is currently moving into a house within a few blocks of where I live. Good or bad? We'll see...
I'm so tired right now that I actually forgot the 3 or 4 other things I wanted to say here. Shit.
Addition to the previous story of my weird neghbourhood: the cops came by the other day and took someone away from the Redneck house two doors over. Can we all say marijuana grow-op?
Last week was my first ever schmooze-fest in the Insurance industry - I actually had to stand at the tee-box on the 4th hole at a beautiful golf course and KISS ASS all day. It was cool but I'll never do it again. Unless they supply me booze. And a partner.

I promise y'all that I'm going to get some decent sleep and get my camping post done. This week.

Oh, and thanks to all my new visitors and especially Kris for sending them to my boring-ass blog.

The Wild Mountain Cow of BC

2006-07-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

I'm back from camping, but still have the kids with me and we lost one in-law (mom flew home) but one is still here.
Will post something worth-while in a couple days I promise!
I'll leave you with a camping photo.

VIVA ITALIA!

2006-07-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

And that's about all I have to say right now...

You Think You Have Weird Neighbours?

2006-07-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my hood. AKA "The Ghetto".
I live on a middle-class cul-de-sac in the 'burbs consisting of the typical vinyl-siding homes built a decade ago. Your 2-storey pastel specials. Nothing spectacular.
You'd think that living on a cul-de-sac, it would be quiet, maybe full of children riding their bikes around. Not really. Every house on this street has a rented out basement suite. Which means there is a serious lack of parking. And wayyyy too many cars. Yes, my kids are allowed to ride their bikes but they have to stay on the sidewalk (I know - my bad. But it's only on this street that we have that rule). And if a car comes, they have to stop.
We even have a little park just about 7 doors up. It has two little playgrounds, kind of cute. Let me just note that by law, in park zones around here, the speed limit is 30 km/h. Besides, if you're driving into a little cul-de-sac and it's not a very long street, you'd think people would slow down. But no. Not on my street. People floor it. Not just young teenagers either. EVERYONE. It's scary.
Anyways, back on to the real subject of this story.
There's this house across the street from us. Probably the biggest house on the street. Owned by a middle-aged Asian couple. OK, now aren't Asian's famous for their beautiful Oriental gardens? Well, not these two. Their front yard consists of concrete. They've made the entire front of their yard a parking lot. And a makeshift sign sits right at the front near their front door with the words painted: No U-Turn On Property.
Now we've figured out that they must have two suites in their basement because one guy parks his big (pedophile-type) work van and then goes through the gate at the left side of the property and another guy and his little girlfriend and sometimes his son park at the other end of the parking lot and go through the fence to the right of the property.
The guy on the left seems pretty normal. Don't see him a lot. Probably mid-thirties, goes to work, plays hockey, we wave to each other, that's about it.
The guy on the right needs his own post. I'll try to shorten it and squeeze it in here though. HE'S A FREAK. Here's a typical evening with him coming home from wherever he has been:

drives down street towards his house
turns into driveway, full speed
slams on brakes
reverses, fast
slams on brakes
pulls forward, fast
slams on brakes
reverses again
slams on brakes
you get the point, he does this about 3 or 4 times each
parks car, gets out
locks car
pulls on driver door handle, up and down, about 5 times
pulls on rear d/s door handle, same thing
walks around vehicle, pulls on rear passenger side door handle
same thing, front passenger door handle
you know the drill, walks around the car about 5 times doing this, staring into the car windows, sometimes he stops to look underneath the car
finally stops, starts walking to his fence
turns around, sprints (not walks or strolls but SPRINTS) back to the car, does the door handle thing one more time, looking in car, looking under car....
FINALLY goes through the fence and inside.

He does this pretty much every night. We don't always see his car coming, sometimes we're just sitting in the living room watching TV and hear the frantic jiggling of his door handles and then we watch him. F-R-E-A-K-Y.

Now I get to my initial reason for this post. It's a beautiful, sunny, hot Saturday morning. I'm tidying up my house (OK, more like going into the kids room and throwing out some of the crap they have that just takes up space but don't tell them). I catch sight of the middle-aged Asian owner of the house across the street, washing his car. Normal thing to do, right?

But today is special. He's dressed special. For this, I needed to grab my camera and take a picture.

Yeah, that's right folks. He's wearing Daisy Dukes! How short are they?

For this, I took a close up:

I mean really: who else gets this kind of view right from their living room window?

GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!

2006-07-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hi - I'm alive, don't worry. I am studying for my final exam (tomorrow morning - AAARGH) and trying to keep up with MY TEAM in the World Cup. Sorry folks, I'll be back. I swear!

Must....go....watch....now....

Supahstar!

2006-06-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

Our beloved Munson, Prima Ballerina style:

The whole class of 2-3 year olds surprised us all by behaving very well the whole time backstage and in the dressing room and then FLOORED us by behaving just as well on-stage. No mishaps, no tears, one girl fell but I think it was because she was giggling so hard. It was a hoot! And so darn cute...I must say.

And now, little Munson wants to wear make-up every day (especially lipstick!) and has asked me twice today when she dances again. I just tell her when she starts pre-school. ~sigh~

Come On Why Don't You

2006-06-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Got this email from Julie, thought it was funny, so hear y'all go: http://www.callme.nm.ru/.

Here are some pictures from yesterday to buy me some time until I do a real post.

We went bowling for Evan's birthday party. Yes, Olivia is wearing a pirate hat. And check out how cute her little bowling shoes are! (notice how the cheeky little buggers all refuse to even look at me when I take a picture?)

Is this not the coolest pirate cake EVER? No, I didn't make it myself. It cost about the same as a small wedding cake, but it was pretty cool.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....matey. His actual birthday isn't until July 8, which, coincidentally, is the day after Pirates of the Caribbean II comes out. Guess what he's doing for his real birthday. When he's older he can go down to the beach with a bottle of rum and dance around a bonfire. For now, he'll have to settle for pirate lego and pirate-themed bowling parties.

New Adventure

2006-06-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

It's set. July 16, we leave for Beaver Lake Resort for 6 days of camping with all 3 kids and the in-laws. I'm looking forward to it - it looks like a nice place. I've never been to this campsite, I found it on-line, so hopefully it's as nice as it looks. Besides, I'm sooo ready for a week off and a little vacation down-time. Although camping is still a lot of work (you're still having to make beds, make breakfast/lunch/dinner and clean up) it's just fun. And getting the kids to help is a little easer (we use paper plates, so no worry about them breaking stuff!). And I've decided to keep a little journal this time. Actually, it's something I want to start doing for every vacation we take from now on. Now that I'm into the scrapbooking thing, I need to record what's going on to coincide with all the pictures.

We'll see how it goes - a month from now, when I'll be posting in between loads of campfire-scented laundry! Ahhh...the joys.

Don't Stop Believing

2006-06-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...I've been a bad girl. It's mainly because nothing interesting has been happening in my life. Really. Here's all that's been going on:

my ex has decided that he doesn't have enough money now to satisfy his habits, so he's going to move into a house with two of his mook friends. With two kids?? Over my dead frickin' body! The only way I can stop it is if I catch him doing stupid shit (which he does all the time - it's the catching him thing that's hard!). I am currently recruiting spies. If interested, apply via email.
my daughter has her first dance show coming up. She had her full dress rehearsal last Sunday and danced on the stage for her very first time and did great. Keep your fingers crossed that she's not going to be the kid that has the ultimate meltdown on stage and runs off crying.
I got 58.5 on my midterm. Out of 60. I think it was the highest mark in the class. I'm not usually a bragger but DAMN I'm good! Final exam coming up in a few weeks - if you don't hear further on it, don't ask...
my current favourite show: So You Think You Can Dance. I'm so glad it's back. It's making me consider taking dance lessons starting in the Fall. We'll see how far I get.

I now need to get some work done but I promise I'll be back. With a topic, next time.

PS - No one has guessed who my favourite band is. Am I going to have to start giving hints?

New Stuff

2006-06-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

Again, I've been tagged...

10 Favorites

Favorite Season: Fall. The air is so nice in the fall and when it's sunny, it's that orangey colour - I love it!
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Time: That time after the kids are in bed and Adam and I are alone.
Favorite Food: Too much to choose from: sushi, Indian, Greek, pasta...
Favorite Drink: Caesars
Favorite Ice Cream: Orange Sherbert
Favorite Place: Punta Cana (so far - I haven't been to too many places)
Favorite Sport: Golf.
Favorite Actor: Joaquin Phoenix and of course Johnny Depp.
Favorite Actress: I love Joan Cusack. She's way too cool.

Currents

Current Feeling: Tired, sore, pissed off that I'm sore
Current Drink: Nothing at the moment. Glass of water pretty soon.
Time: 12:01pm
Current Show on TV: TV is off right now. Last night I watched So You Think You Can Dance
Mobile used: Nokia for personal use, Sanyo for business
Windows Open: Yes - it is muggy.
Current Boring: My reading list - I have to finish my text books before I can get to anything good!
Current Clothes: Grey capri workout pants and black t-shirt.
Current Thought: Is Olivia sleeping? She's supposed to be napping but last time I checked she was playing.

Firsts

First Nickname: Kiwi
First Kiss: Jesse Bouma, grade 7. I swear I saw him in a bank commercial!
First Crush: I think it was Travis Dolan. Lived a couple doors up from Kristin.
First Best Friend: Nikki.
First Vehicle I Drove: Oldsmobile Delta 88
First Date: Mike Paprocki (sp?) - he took me to a dance at my Junior High School. My mom loved him because he went to Catholic school. It didn't last.
First Pet: A kitten named Datsun. I wasn't allowed to have pets so my boyfriend kept her but we ended up giving her away because he couldn't handle it.

Lasts

Last Drink: A Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks
Last Kiss: My daughter as I tucked her in.
Last Meal: an egg salad sandwich yesterday evening
Last Web Site Visited: BringBackBritney.com.
Last Movie Watched: Derailed.
Last Phone Call: My mom.
Last TV show Watched: So You Think You Can Dance

Have You Ever...

Have You Ever Broken the Law: I guess speeding in my car counts.
Have You Ever Been Drunk: Yes.
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: Yes
Have You Ever Been in the Middle/Close to Gunfire: No!
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: Yes.
Have You Ever Broken Anyone's Heart: Yes. I'm so ashamed.

Things

Things You Can Hear Right Now: Brent doing dishes
Things You Can See Right Now: My computer and surrounding area.
Things On Your Bed: Nothing - cleared it off before I came down here
Things You Ate Today: Part of a croissant - Olivia decided to eat the remainder.
Things You Do When You Are Bored: Blog, watch TV, read, take a nap

Places You Have Been Today: My kids' daycare, work, the doctor for Olivia, the bank, Europe Bakery and Starbucks

Things On Your Desk Right Now: My camera, empty drink containers, a BBQ lighter, pens, various crap...

Choices
Salt or Pepper: Salt
Hot or Cold: Cold. Easier to adjust

Place You Want To Visit: Greece. Those white buildings with the blue water and the sun and the beaches - looks too nice.

Pure Madness

2006-05-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, for some strange reason, I allowed myself to get invited to a Martini party at my friend Tricia's house. I was supposed to be studying for my mid-term. I somehow got it in my head that I'd still be able to do this(?). Fuck, whatever.
Adam had to work the next day, so we arranged that he'd drop me off at Tricia's house and then I'd cab it back later so that I could sleep in a bit and still be home for Claudia. Incoherent is fine, she's 10, she can handle it. Apparently I can't.
The evening started out slow - for a while, there was just 4 of us. The good bartender Amy made us a melon-type martini - very yummy, went down a little too quickly, don't know how that happened. We chatted, gossipped, music low in the background. Amy made us a second. A little stronger - more like your standard vodka martini. That one was more of a sipper. A couple more ladies arrived. Music started getting louder. We got into the spread in the other room - lots of yummy food (and the strawberry brie from M & M's is to DIE for!). Then we suddenly started gunning. I honestly don't know how it happened. But there was a lot of mixing involved, which probably had a lot to do with my tummy troubles the following day. By this point, the music was blaring (I heard the words "as long as we piss of the bitch next door I'll be happy" somewhere along the way as well). We started grooving. A certain nurse got provoked into calling in sick for her morning shift. 2 cabs arrive and off we go - to the Foggy Dew. Good times.
Kelly goes home some time around 3am. Barely manages to brush her teeth and somehow crawls into bed. Wakes up some time around 10am. Feels like shite. The rest is a blur, but I somehow manage to crawl back into bed around 11:30 and sleep 'til 2pm. Then get up and decide it's time to do some housework and study and feel like shite some more.
Am I bad? Yes. Still have a bit of that headache today. But was it fun? Definitely! Will it be done again? Absolutely.

You Asked

2006-05-26T23:40:00.000-07:00

Further to Carly's comment about my inability to update this blog (shit, I hadn't even checked emails in 4 days!), here's my response.

#3) (Coles notes version)
Once upon a time, there were these two friends. Kind of like Thelma and Louise. No, more like female versions of Matt & Ben.
One of them decides that she's going to go into the office and catch up on a little work on Saturday morning. The other had just met some cool guy from Whistler and he was in town with his friends for the day and she wanted to hook up with them so she was going to catch a ride into the city with her friend and then they'd catch up together later.
So, uh, for the story let's just call the first one Kelly, heads out Saturday morning and picks up uh, oh, let's just call the second one Carly, at 9am as planned.
The two are driving down the empty highway and Carly, for some unknown reason, pulls out a mickey of Tequila from her bag and suggests a drink. She may have been half-joking, I don't know. Kelly, half-seriously, says "Hey, I have a glass!" and proceeds to dump the change out of the glass that somehow left the bar with her one evening and was just sitting in the cup holder.
By 9:30am, there's an empty bottle of tequila on the floor, Kelly's day of playing catch-up at work is completely shot and if the liquor store had been open that early in the morning, the two of them would've been completely incoherent before noon.

The End.

*This story based on actual real-life events. Names have not been changed because neither one of these girls is innocent so there's no reason to protect anyone.

#2)
Does anyone reading this know who my favourite band EVER is? (Carly, you're not allowed to answer until other's have had a chance)

#1)
Carly is fascinated that I have an assistant. She's not a PERSONAL assistant, she's just supposed to do a lot of the clerical stuff for me when I'm on the road. Either way, Carly appears quite amused by this fact. So Carly, I'm handing the podium over to you now. List 10 things that you would like to make my assistant do.

The Arctic Zone

2006-05-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

This is my office. At least it feels that way. And when the weather is nice and hot and sunny outside, it's worse inside my office!

So I come to work in a pretty skirt and short-sleeved sweater and open-toed shoes and freeze my butt off.

Even my tea is cold now.

I'm going to make some cup-of-soup and tomorrow, I'm bringing my Magic Bag to work. Not just for my cramps, but to keep me warm.

I can only quietly complain on here - if I say anything in the office, they'll crank the heat and then I'll be sweating to death. So I'll just keep quiet and plug in the little heater under my desk and continue my cup-of-soup diet.

If You Only Knew

2006-05-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to the combined birthday party of Munson, Claudia and my big brother Dean. It was at Dean's house, which I'm grateful for. We barbecued hot dogs and hamburgers, played a bit of Bocce, ate cake and enjoyed a few beverages. Good times.
Not to mention all the gifts. It's great - I don't need to shop for the girls until back-to-school shopping begins.
And the previously mentioned cake? Not bad... it even came with a little necklace.

All I can say now is, thank GOD the month of May is almost over. There were 10 birthdays for friends and family this month and, now that I'm completely broke, we can work towards July and the other 8 or so birthdays we have to look forward to....

On A Roll....

2006-05-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

So I wandered around that website and found this one and HAD to do it.
Only I hate white chocolate....

You are White Chocolate

You have a strong feminine side with a good bit of innocence thrown in.Whether your girlish ways are an act or not, men like to take care of you.You are an understated beauty, and your power is often underestimated!

What Kind of Chocolate Are You?

Oh well, it's not a bad description!

Nothing More

2006-05-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

You Are New York

Cosmopolitan and sophisticated, you enjoy the newest in food, art, and culture.You also appreciate a good amount of grit - and very little shocks you.You're competitive, driven, and very likely to succeed.
Famous people from New York: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Tupac Shakur, Woody Allen

What American City Are You?

Munson Turns 3

2006-05-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

You know how they always say you spend a fortune buying kids wonderful presents for their birthdays or Christmas and then after, you wonder why you spent so much on them because they end up spending more time playing with the box?
Not Munson.

She prefers the bubble wrap.

She does, however, really like her gifts as well:

Like her new Nemo fish tank. It's the cutest thing! We had bought one for her cousin for Christmas and when we went to their house on Boxing Day, she had it all set up and Olivia fell in love with it. So I bought her one a week later. But being the mean mom that I am, I waited until May to give it to her on her birthday. I refuse to buy my kids stuff during the year (except necessities, of course), but I have a closet full of stuff that I've bought them and wait until their birthdays to give to them. And now I also have a secret drawer.

Back to Munson - when my dad asked her what she got for her birthday, she told him "Cake". The kid LOVES cake. Today is the birthday party at my brother's house and on the way, we'll be picking up the Strawberry Shortcake decorated-birthday cake from Safeway.

Here's her other favourite present (and should I be worried about skankdom?):

Her new bikini and her new flip-flops. We bought them yesterday and as soon as we left the store, she sat outside and took off her running shoes and socks and asked me to cut the tag on her new "slip-flops" so she could wear them right away. At least the bikini she waited until she got home.

I figure I can wait until September to refer to her as my pre-schooler rather than my toddler. ~sigh~

Munson is growing up so fast...

Snip Snip

2006-05-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

Guess where Dante (er...Dumbass) is going in 3 days....(Evil laughing in background)

Will update after his little operation is complete. Mwahahahahahaaaaaaa

(sorry guys, I've been swamped lately and must go do some actual work now and read some of my textbook afterward. I promise I will be back with something interesting to tell soon)

Welcome to The Ghetto

2006-05-02T22:27:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we had new neighbours move in next door. We hadn't really met them - they were busy moving, we didn't want to bug them (yet!). Until tonight.
Dumbass (my new name du jour for little kitty Dante), decided to explore their roof. And not be able to descend. Hence his new name.
Adam and I tried calling, using our little stepladder to coax Dumbass down. To no avail. So Adam said he'd knock on the door, introduce himself and ask if he could go to their upstairs to try to call Dumbass to the window. Didn't work, Dumbass decided he'd get more scared and crawl further up into a corner of the roof, away from the window.
So, I then asked our nice, friendly new neighbour Sammy if he had a ladder. He said yes. I put on my brave face and said "Ok, I'll go get him". I HATE heights.
I shakily climb up the ladder onto slanted roof (with nice, strong clay tiles....that I can hear moving beneath my feet). Did I mention I'm wearing crappy little slip-on moccasin-type shoes? I grab Dumbass, who is also shaking, queitly crying, and suddenly VERY clingy. And now I have to climb down the ladder with him? Are you kidding? Adam, barefoot and all, climbs halfway up and, a few scratches later, I manage to pry Dumbass's claws out of my back AND my front at the same time and hand him down.
I'm calling the vet tomorrow to book Dumbass in for his "operation" in hopes it will calm him down.
I must now go apply antibiotic ointment to my wounds.
Oh, and I'll order some flowers and have them sent to my nice new neighbours as well.

I Thought This Would be Easier

2006-04-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

Carly has assigned me the letter J to work with - I must now list for you 10 words starting with the letter J and what they mean in my life. Here it is:

Jacob - My favorite store for buying work clothes. Classy, lots of black & white, classic...my best clothes come from there.

jell-o - I used to L-O-V-E the stuff. Now I just love making it with Evan - I have to let him do the stirring. I DO like jello shooters, though.

jasmine - funny, I was talking with my dad about this earlier today. We were reminiscing about sitting outside at my Grandma's house in Ventura, playing cards and the smell of jasmine in the breeze. If I think hard enough I can almost smell it.

Johansson - as in Scarlett - she is so HOT.

Joaquin Phoenix - I think this is why Carly assigned me the letter J. Ever since Inventing the Abbots this mysterious man has piqued my interest. There is this deep, dark, gloomy air about him that I find absolutely irrisistible and incrediby sexy. ~sigh~

January - my birth month. No explanation required.

Jeopordy - I love this show. I'm like Rain Man when it comes to Jeopordy. I hate it when I miss it.

Juneau - my kitty, not Alaska. He's my sweet boy - he's pretty, all big & fluffy, and loving and friendly.

Julie - I met her at my horrible job at HBT. She made it not-so-horrible. Fun, sweet girl - love her to pieces.

Japanese - gardens & food. Love them both.

Not Another One Like It

2006-04-27T22:10:00.000-07:00

One day, about a month ago, Adam was going through this box he has that's been sitting on top of the big entertainment unit in our living room. There are actually 4 boxes, but there's this one that has just random things in it. It has some miscellanious souveniers from Mexico, some old pictures, cards, jewellery items and...well....THIS:

I realize that it's kind of hard to see, so here's another angle of it (possibly giving you a better idea of what it is):

Yes, folks. It IS a Cheeto shaped like a penis. Head and all. But it doesn't end there. There is also this:

This one is coral. Same idea. It looks better from the side, but my photography skills were lacking. So are we all seeing the pattern?

And where does he keep these items? In this:

I'm almost done. I have just one more item to show you. Let's just say that whatever Adam did in the past, before he met me, he can keep to himself. I'm not asking questions. It's really none of my business.

Yes, those are digits. He says they're massagers. Whatever. Just so you know the actual size of the above...um...objects, I've given you this:

The only conclusion I'm going to come to on this is that those are obviously man thumbs. ~snicker~

Yay Spring

2006-04-24T14:37:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the first warm one in about a billion days so of course, the kids spent the entire time outside. This is how Olivia appropriately dressed herself:

Yes, she insisted on the jean shorts, the funky plastic sunglasses and boots. Not plain old rubber boots but full-on wool-lined Winter boots. Sexy. I'm sure there are many girls walking around Toyko dressed just like that right now.

And that's a little magnifying glass she has. Don't worry, I haven't taught her how to fry ants with it yet.

Here are the other two:

I can't wait until Summer!

For A Good Cause

2006-04-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

My son brought home a pledge form last week for the Jump Rope For Heart at his school. I remember doing the same when I was in Elementary School. Basically, each division has all the kids in it jumping rope for as long as they can (though there is a time limit). It's to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the kids have to collect pledges and they can win prizes. Only this particular one has a lot of meaning to my family. My dad had a stroke just over 3 years ago. He was only 55 years old at the time and it came to us as such a shock and a real eye-opener for everyone in my family.

My Grandmother, just 2 years before, suffered a severe stroke as well, which resulted in her having to live in a convolescent home where she eventually passed away. Again, that one came as such a complete shock to my family and was absolutely devastating.
A couple years ago, my now ex, his mother, a 4-year-old Evan and I drove down to California for vacation. While we were down there, my parents were down in Ventura visiting with my Grandmother and dealing with some of her estate stuff, getting ready to sell her house. My parents took me to visit my grandma at the home she was living in and then later that same day we ALL went back for one last visit. When we were in her room, she showed signs of recognizing all of us, including my mother-in-law whom she had only met a couple of times before. Then my dad said it was time for all of us to leave so she could rest. I was the last to leave the room, it was so hard. She couldn't really talk, she just sort of mumbled, but I finally said bye and gave her a kiss and hug. And I walked out of that room without turning back. It was so hard, but had I turned around it would've just been so much harder to leave. As I went out into the hall, I turned from the doorway and just leaned against the wall and started to sob - I could hear her nail clicking on the tray that was over her bed (I think she had just eaten her dinner) and I knew she was trying to get my attention so I would come back and not leave. It was so horrible - I think I've only ever told Adam that story because I can't even think about it without crying. That was the last time I ever saw her.
I'm not asking anyone for pledges, but if you feel that this is something you would like to make a donation to, give me a call or send me an email. The form has to be in by Tuesday, April 25th but even if I can't get the money from you by then, I can put it in myself and fill it out for you and I'll collect it from you later.

My Collage

2006-04-20T21:58:00.001-07:00

I have nothing worthwhile to post tonight, so I'm just going to post a bunch of pictures.
I had THE most boring day today. I spent the entire day at a Negotiation Seminar at the Justice Institute. It's a weird requirement for my job - I need to get something like 20 credits for the next two years in order for me to become a Level II Adjuster. So I need to take these extra credit seminars and luncheons and stuff. The one I went to today is worth 6 credits, so that's a nice chunk, but it took me out for a whole day, sitting in some stuffy classroom in a concrete building that has wayyyy too many uniformed people walking around. (This is where police go for training as well as paramedics and security guards and who knows what else). AND it made me miss another seminar that would've been an easy credit because it was at some lawyer's office downtown, only an hour and a half long and your lunch is included and you basically just half-listen while you're eating. Ah well, I'll catch the next one.
Let me get you another picture.

Olivia just looooves her baby cousin, Landon. He is irrisistable. He's so cute and so happy and he never makes a peep - even when he's being strangled by that crazy blonde cousin of his.

Speaking of the crazy blonde chick - she has a crush on a boy on Evan's baseball team. She's borderline obsessed. It's sad. But cute, in a crazy, obsessed kind of way. I just realized something - she doesn't even know that her dad is this kid's Godfather. Is that kind of insestuous?

This picture is kind of old, but I always liked it so I wanted to post it. I just love the fact that I'm holding a beer and sitting on my 2-year-old son. As Adam always says: "You can take the girl out of the trailer, but you can't take the trailer out of the girl".
Well said Adam, well said.
I'm done for the night. My throat hurts, thank GOD tomorrow if Friday, and I want to get a little action before my man falls asleep on the couch. Seriously.
Actually, the idea for another post came to mind but it's a serious matter so I have to draft up a whole new one.
Besides, I know no one's reading anyways...

Hard To Come By

2006-04-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

I got myself a good bitch. Here is an excerpt from a conversation that took place yesterday evening, as we're dishing up dinner in the kitchen:

A: I am awesome. You are SO taken care of. I am the best boyfriend any girl could ever ask for.

K: And what am I?

A: You'd make an okay boyfriend.

A: And, I realize now that I can let myself go. DOUBLE UP!

His ass had better not get any bigger...

And the night before, as we're making our bed with fresh, clean sheets...

(A has made some sort of snide remark so I run around the bed to smack him)

A: You're like a 1950's husband!

K: What?!

A: Well, you come home from working all day, your dinner is on the table, the kids are playing nicely, the laundry has been done and you STILL have to beat me!

K: (Laughing) And I expect you to perform later, don't forget. Go make me a drink.

Random Thoughts

2006-04-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

I keep meaning to post but it's being outweighed by the fact that I have 2 Insurance text books to read (so exciting) and we've been so busy with the kids lately I either (a) get no time to sneak off to the computer or (b) I've been so tired by the time we scoot them off to bed all I can do is lay on the couch and watch the tube. So here is some random crap to keep you enthused for the time being:
- We watched A History of Violence last weekend. Interesting. It was good, not as great as I initially thought it would be. And I've never seen a 69(er?) acted out in a movie before! Just for that fact I probably won't be lending this movie to my mom & dad. Unless they ask. Then I'll just have to warn them.
- I finally found the USB cord for my camera and am able to upload pictures again!
- Adam and I took a little weekend excursion to Seattle two weeks ago (or 3 now?).

We had a great time, but man, what a confusing city! It's ok when you're on foot, but it is a city of one-way streets so when you have a place you want to get to, and you're driving around, it is so difficult to find a street that goes the right way. And to top it off, we grabbed one of those tourist maps that shows you the downtown hotels and shopping districts etc. but the streets on the map are not accurate so Adam and I had a few Amazing Race moments there where it appeared I didn't know how to read a map but really, the map was wrong. There were some tense moments, but we made it through with only one semi-big fight and next time, we're buying a real street map. Anyways, it was a good weekend, we ate so much seafood and shopped 'til we dropped.

- Speaking of Amazing Race - as you may have noticed, I didn't give an update on last week's episode. That's because they changed it to Wednesday nights from Tuesdays and guess what night of the week I'm at school? Frickin' bastards changing the day on me. I almost thought about switching to the other night that the course is offered, but it's further away and I'd never make it in time.
- Does this look like a nipple to you? (Bottom left corner)
Apparently, it's an ear, but I thought it looked a little dirtier than that. I suppose Adam is smarter than to give a cat a bath without a shirt on...he was actually hoping there'd be more of a struggle but it wasn't too bad. Dante gave me a good slice last time I bathed him. (Although I'm sure you can see that little death-grip Adam has on the scruff of his neck - I guess that helps too). Juneau, on the other hand, actually likes his bath. He'll just wander around the tub, checking things out. And he absolutely loves being wrapped up in a towel and cuddled after. It takes all the joy out of trying to torture your cat with bathtime. Oh yeah, and speaking of nipples, here's a picture of what Dante used to do to Juneau (I say used to - they don't do it anymore. At least not that I've noticed). Yes, that's Dante (male) suckling on Juneau's (also male) teat. Looks rude. My blog is getting dirty tonight!

Those are my ramblings for today. I'm going to wrap it up because my brain has pretty much turned to mush at this point and Supernanny is on. I must go see how much worse other's kids are than mine - I get great joy out of it.

(BTW - I'm so very proud of my Space Needle picture - I think it's quite cool and when I figure out my photoshop crap I'm going to make it black & white and probably print it for the office)

And one last goofy picture of Munson...wearing her hat to cover up her Munson-hair.

And For My Next Trick

2006-04-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it - the state of this blog is currently bor-ing, I know. And I'm not at my busiest either, so I really have no reasonable excuse to give you. Yes, I work Monday-Friday, yes I have kids that keep me busy, but I'm off work at 4:30 every day and my kids are in bed by 8:00 every night. And I don't go to bed until 11 on most nights. So that's 3 hours of what? Currently, it's drinking wine (or Ceasars) and laying on the couch watching brainless reality TV. I am supposed to be reading for my home study course, which I do, but not as much as I should. And starting in 3 days I am taking another course so I really should be doing a lot more studying now. I'm a procrastinator, and it gets me nowhere. So, starting now, I'm going to try my best at getting my work done when I should get it done and stop leaving things to the last minute. It can be my Spring resolution (since I don't have a habit of making New Year's Resolutions). Someone needs to keep tabs on me though - any volunteers? You'll need to email me or call me on an almost daily basis and kick my ass. Adam's not the man for the job - he was supposed to do that 2 weeks ago to get me to exercise and he hasn't done it at all.
If you care, you'll help me...and then, with a little more edumacation, I might actually have something worth-while to post.

And Further To...

2006-04-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

Aforementioned skirt - I ate an orange at my desk later in the afternoon and dripped orange juice on same and now there is a nice mark on skirt. So much for saving it until the weather got better - first time I wear it I have to ruin it! Of course, it has to be 100% silk....photo to follow.

And I get home from work yesterday and tell Adam the story and all he says is "When did you buy a new skirt?".

This Has Got to Stop

2006-04-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

For the second time in a matter of 3 months I've worn something new to work and in the bathoom decided to scratch that itchy spot that's been annoying me all day and lo and behold - there's the price tag!
Now, here's my excuse: both times they were items that I had purchased months prior and just never worn and both times I got dressed in the dark bedroom so as not to disturb sleeping beauty who doesn't need to get up as early as me. And both times the tag was hidden beneath either a sweater or, as it just so happened today, UNDER the item of clothing, against the skin. (A skirt that I apparently purchased for less than half-price - yay for me!)
I guess I've now learned that I need to check these things prior to leaving the house. And, as none of my readers are co-workers, I have most likely escaped any teasing. At least at the workplace.

Lavalife Baggage

2006-04-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, I met Adam on lavalife.com. I know a lot of people that would never do a thing like that, but it was something that started out as a trial, turned into some fun and I just happened to meet a really wonderful person on there out of pure luck.
We met in January of 2005 and it was great from the beginning. He lived in Vancouver, and I lived about 45 minutes away in Coquitlam. By May, we had decided enough was enough - dragging our children back and forth constantly just to spend some time together was getting pretty hectic, and at each of our places we had just enough space for ourselves and not enough for the "extended" family portion. So, we moved in together June 2005.
Back to the lavalife story - when we met and decided that our relationship was going to be a real relationship, we both went onto the website and removed our profiles, that was the end. If either of us had stayed on that website, it would've just shown that we weren't ready for a relationship and were obviously still looking. So that was the end of it all. Lavalife was history to both of us.
Fast-forward to 3 days ago when I get an email from someone I don't recognize. I'm aiming to delete it, thinking it's junk, and see the subject line: Are you seeing my boyfriend?
As Carly would say: WTF?
Curiousity gets the best of me and I open the email to read: "Just wondering. Found your email address and a phone number I don't recognize.".
I could've ignored it, dropped it, left it alone. But no, I don't. I reply "No, I'm not - I've been with the same guy for over a year and we've been living together since last summer". But now, what I really want to know is: How did MY email address turn up NOW? I haven't had anyone contact me in ages. WTF??
Anyways, had to share it. I thought it was interesting. Poor girl...

Job Description

2006-04-06T13:18:00.000-07:00

Normally, I wouldn't discuss my job on here. I shouldn't, but I figure I can do it in a sort of roundabout way. For those who don't know (not like anyone other than friends or family are reading my blog), I'm a claims adjuster. Not the most glamourous career in the world, but it was the highest-paying interesting job I could find. And somehow obtain.
Adam tells everyone my job is as an escort. He's just jealous. In this industry, it's very little what you know and a lot more who you know. There is a lot of marketing (i.e. selling yourself) and networking. In other words: lunching, golfing and sitting in booths at hockey games drinking.
So yesterday, I go for a 2-hour long lunch (marketing) and then an hour and a half at the Auto Show (networking). All on company time. It's not often I get to do stuff like this, but it's the fact that I do get to do stuff like this that makes me work harder when I'm NOT doing stuff like this. We do work our butts off and put in more hours on some days than most people don't so this kind of stuff is a little pay-off, once in a while. Although when I told my boss that I'd be gone all afternoon, his reply was something along the lines of "I don't care - I'm gone too" and he walked off with his golf clubs in tow.
The Auto Show was pretty cool - I'd never been before, and I love all kinds of cars so for me it was pretty darn exciting. I freaked out when I saw the Lotus Elise and wish we could've spent a little time alone, but that's ok. I saw her. AND the new Shelby. Yeah, that's right guys - there's a new one. Not as sweet as Nicolas Cage's baby in Gone In 60 Seconds (Eleanor?), but still pretty hot. ~sigh~

Amazing Race Junkie

2006-03-29T21:47:00.000-08:00

Since my team is out I can bitch about the other teams:

How come Ray & Yolanda are always breathing so heavy? I thought they were super-athletic long-distance marathon people? She's got wayyyy too much junk-in-the-trunk.

Go Fran & Barry - I LOOOOVE how mean they were to Lake & Michelle (Uh, are they not a total example of "I slept with my assistant and now she's pregnant so I have to marry the stupid twat"?)

I kind of wish that it was a non-elimination round just so we could see the Pink Double-D's claws come out at an airport or bus station and gauge out Mr. Redneck's eyes - that would've been some great entertainment! Oh well, just as good that they're gone. Horny Frat Boys have already forgotten them.

I'm going to get myself a t-shirt that says "Bowling Mom". Yep. Too funny.

Stay tuned for next week....I can't wait to see Mo's temper tantrum! She's done pretty good so far - I figured she would've spazzed out already at this point.

A Little Slow

2006-03-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

Some interesting facts about KELLY

No piece of Kelly can be folded in half more than seven (7) times
Kelly is the only planet that rotates clockwise
Kellys melt in vinegar
American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one Kelly from each salad served in first-class
Kellys do not produce acorns until they are fifty (50) years of age or older

Ok, here are some real ones:

I have reading glasses that I don't wear because I hate how I look in glasses (and they're old and hurt the backs of my ears)
I was born year of the Dragon and have a tattoo on my back that is the Chinese character for "Dragon"
I'm a college drop-out
My mom and I share the same birthday
For 3 days before I menstruate, I have serious cravings for salt and regardless of how bad it is, I give in
I wish I was more motivated to exercise
I'm ignoring my kids right now and I'd better get back upstairs to see what they're doing

Glamorous

2006-03-24T23:55:00.000-08:00

In a Past Life...

You Were: A Genius Mathematician.
Where You Lived: Saudi Arabia.
How You Died: Typhoid fever.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

Embarrassing Story #2: Kelly's Wardrobe Malfunction

2006-03-24T23:23:00.000-08:00

I'll get straight to the point on this one - I exposed my breast in public.
To make a long story short, I met my girlfriend Tricia at the beach one hot summer day after work. We'd been trying to plan to meet for two weeks and finally were able to pull it off. We actually meet passed the road to the beach and you can take a trail to a wharf that goes across the lake (yes, lake - not ocean) and jump off that. There seems to be a lot more 20-somethings at this part of the lake.
So we meet and I have my bikini on under my shorts & t-shirt. We walk to the wharf and there's a few of her boyfriend's friends there (who are also, I should mention, all friends of both my older brothers as well). We lay out our towels and I take off my shorts and my t-shirt and then OOPS, there's a boob! In front of EVERYONE. I quickly shove the weight back into my bikini top and pretend it didn't happen. Tricia is just staring at me, wide-eyed. So we sit for a bit, in an uncomfortable silence. I slowly regain some composure and Tricia and I decide to jump in. She says to me, once we're alone in the water "Oh my God, your BOOB just popped out?" (or something along the lines of that). My answer: a nonchalant "Yeah, I guess it did. Oh well". It would be a little different if I didn't have two kids and friggin breastfeed and completely deflate afterward. Aaaargh!
From now on, I wear a one-piece.

Only Once

2006-03-23T12:50:00.000-08:00

I don't even know why this came to me right now - I'm sitting in my freezing cold office, eating my tuna macaroni salad that Adam made for me, reading blogs and then I just decided to post a new one myself. And for some strange reason, this came to me. It's an embarrassing moment in my life. I don't get embarrassed easily, and to be honest I wasn't embarrassed at the time. But, it's a good story (if I can tell it right) and I feel like sharing.
It was over 8 years ago, before I had any kids. I was working downtown and taking the commuter train in every day while my boyfriend at the time took my car to work and was supposed to drop me off and pick me up. It had been a long, drizzly day and I was grateful to be getting home. I got off the train and lo and behold, the prick wasn't there (which was normal at the time because he was never a reliable guy, much the same now). So, as we had agreed every other time he was late, instead of me waiting outside in the cold and rain, I would walk the two blocks to the nearest Starbucks and wait there. At least I could sit with a coffee and read the paper. So I did. When I got there, though, I was dying to go pee. I had this fear of using the washroom on the commuter train because it rocked so much I was scared the door would slide open while you're using the facility.
Keep in mind, also, that this was about 9 years ago. I had on these pants that zipped up the back, and had these sort of suspenders attached to them. It's not as bad as you're picturing right now - they were all black dress pants and I actually was skinny enough back then to wear the suspenders under a tight sweater and you can't see the lines. Oh yeah, AND it was "that time of the month". So, I went in the bathroom, did my thing, came out and got in line to order my coffee. As I'm ordering, these two construction workers in their mid to late 30's are standing behind me. One of them suddenly taps on my shoulder "Um, miss - your zipper is open". It takes me a second to realize that it's the zipper that goes right down my back and my ass and my pants are gaping open and they're staring right at it! I just say "thanks"as chipper as I possibly can and zip it up. And he says "That's ok, we don't mind". THEN he says "and I like your tattoo".
I'm telling you - things like this can only happen to me. And ONLY ONCE. Besides, I don't think I own anything that zips in the back anymore anyways.

A Repeat, I'm Sure

2006-03-19T08:38:00.000-08:00

I'm sure I've done this one, but my answers change EVERY time so here goes again:

Subject: How well do you know me?

Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Walk The Line
2. Napoleon Dynamite
3. Sleepless in Seattle
4. Office Space
(I could easily go on here - there's about 20 movies that I would (and do) watch over and over)

Four places I have lived:
1. Coquitlam
2. Port Coquitlam
3. Surrey
4.

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. Amazing Race
2. The First 48 (The REAL CSI)
3. Crime and Punishment (It's the REAL Law & Order)
4. Jeapordy!

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Punta Cana
2. Disneyland
3. Oregon Coast
4. Tofino

Four web sites I visit daily:
1. Royal Bank
2. For work, usually Mapquest
3. other bloggers
4. msn.com (just because it's my homepage at work)

Four Favorite Foods:
1. Butter chicken with naan
2. Steak & mashed potatoes
3. The Buffalo chicken burgers Adam makes
4. cajun chicken

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Back on the beach in Punta Cana
2. Disneyland
3. anywhere hot & sticky (my body soooo needs humidity right now!)
4. Back in bed

Four Friends that have been tagged that I think will respond:
1. Carly-Ann
2. Kristin
3. Piera
4. CLAYTON!

I've been tagged. so here it goes...delete my answers, replace with your own and send it back to me and on to other friends!

STRESS

2006-03-15T14:47:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know I have been a very, VERY bad blogger lately. I have had a lot on my mind - and not a lot to publish on here. I've been working my butt off at my new job and I need to be licensed in order to continue with this job. I took an exam for my license the day after I started working here and I was told "it's not too hard, just read the material and you'll be fine". Are you frickin' nuts?? I later find out that you need 80% to pass and half the questions was material I had read...no wait, more or less skimmed through. Didn't quite memorize. Needless to say, I didn't pass and just wrote my re-write yesterday morning. Only now, the pressure is SO on. If I don't pass this one, I can't take another re-write for 6 months. And in that time, I doubt I will have this job any longer becuase I'm really no use to them until I'm licensed. So, it's do or die. And I wrote it yesterday. And now I want to die. Every time I think about it my stomach goes in knots and I want to puke.
On the upside, if I lose this job I will probably be blogging a lot then....and hanging out with the cats.

Sergeant

2006-02-18T16:43:00.000-08:00

This post is loooong overdue...

The day was July 8, 1998. It was blistering hot. There was a full moon that evening. And a sweet baby boy was born. He had dark brown hair, bright blue eyes and he could raise one eyebrow as if he was deep in thought. Yes, my little man Evan decided to finally join us. After a bit of prodding (labour was induced, water was broken with a knitting-needle) and about 12 blissful hours of labour (momma was just so glad it was almost over) he came out into this bright world with a good wail and looking like a full-blown WOP. Seriously, I wanted to name him Marco. His dark hair was parted on the side like he had just combed it and he looked like he'd been in Mexico for two weeks, his skin was so dark.
Now, this 7 1/2-year-old is still as sweet as ever and that dimple of his I know is gonna melt a lot of hearts. It already does!
Evan has his share of nick-names like his sister Munson. I think Adam has made them all up. One is Big Shooter. The other? Sergeant Stroker. Because apparently he's been caught "standing at attention" a couple times. So he's a boy? What boy hasn't?? Anyways, the Sarge has apparently stuck and since Evan doesn't really know the origin of this name, he actually thinks it's pretty cool.
He's a smart little guy - he loves to read, watch movies, listen to music, play lego and anything to do with Star Wars. He honestly thinks he's a Jedi. He's a great listener - the grandparents love him because he'll just sit there and listen to EVERYTHING you have to say. And he's genuinely interested.
Little Casanova has more girl-friends than guy friends, which I find strange but what can you do. I asked him who he wants to have at his birthday party this year and this is what he told me: Sidney, Teyla, Cara, Mariam, Alyssa, Claudia (of course) and CARLY. ???? Whatever. Even his grade 1 teacher still pines over him! His class this year is right next door to her and she still gets visits from her "boy" (as she lovingly still calls him) for hugs and hellos at least twice a week.
All in all, Evan's a good guy. He's had his ups and downs and being a sensitive little guy, he's got a pretty hard shell on him.
So here he is, the Sarge - I'm stuck on what else to add about him since I'm being a little hassled on this so this'll be it for now.
Adieu

See, I told you...

2006-02-18T16:35:00.000-08:00

I know, this is a short post. But my mom sent me this picture taken on her's and my birthday (same day) and when I look at this picture I start cracking up so hard. I TOLD you Olivia is nuts! (See previous post about Munson).

I don't really know if she was laughing, screaming or just making a face but it was way too hilarious for me NOT to post it.

And I've been getting a lot of flack for for not posting anything recently. I started a new job last week and before that was studying for an exam - don't worry, once I get back into the working groove I'll be back at 'er. Hang tight.

You Are Sworn to Secrecy

2006-02-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged once again by Carly, so here you are. Five Guiltly Pleasures (and I'm assuming by guilty pleasure it is something that I love to do that I should be incredibly ashamed of?)

1. Salt. I love salt. There are certain foods that I just can NOT consume without adding salt. I know it's bad for me but I think that in moderation I should be ok. I have very low blood pressure so I'm still in the safety zone. I'm sure I'll die from it some day though, I'm sure of it.

2. Shopping. If I could, I would honestly shop till I drop. I love to buy clothes - for myself, Adam, the kids. I love to buy stuff for the house. Heck, I even ENJOY grocery shopping! And drug stores? LOOOOVE 'em! They should put up little cabins in factory outlet parking lots for people like me. I'd spend entire weekends there.

3. This one is so bad. I'm a people-watcher, which is fine. But I make fun of people ALL THE TIME. It's so bad. I don't do it alone - I usually have an 'unnamed' accomplice. But, as Adam says, there is definitely a nice little spot by the fire reserved just for me...in Hell.

4. Celebrity gossip. My mom buys People magazine all the time and when she's done with them, I read them. Lately, it's more been for Adam and I to fight over who gets to do the crosswords in them (how geeky are we?), but I do like to read. Did you hear what Nicky Hilton said when she saw Mischa Barton at a club the other day? "What is that fat pig doing here?". HAHAHA. I just love it! And why does Katie Holmes smile like a freekin' 6-year-old? Tom Cruise is gonna go way more insane than he already is and she'll end up with a restraining order against him.

5. Reality TV. I shunned it for years. Then I started watching the Amazing Race and loved it. Then I met Adam and he got me to watch the American Idol auditions and thought they were hilarious. Now I watch Survivor, and absolutely LOOOOVED So You Think You Can Dance. Those guys were amazing! I still can't be bothered with the Bachelor and Big Brother and Fear Factor stuff though.

And remember, what happens on Kelly's blog, stays on Kelly's blog.

Moi

2006-02-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Last Alcoholic Drink: Red wine after dinner last night
Last Car Ride: This morning, dropped kids off at daycare then ran errands.
Last Kiss: Olivia, when I dropped the kids off.
Last Good Cry: A couple weeks ago when my ex was 2 hours late picking up the kids and I was more angry about his irresponsible nature.
Last Library Book checked out: Holy crap - it would've been about 9 years ago in college.
Last Movie Seen in Theatres: The Exorcism of Emily Rose - it was months ago!
Last Book Read: A non-fiction crime novel called The Surgeon's Wife
Last Movie Rented: I think it was Skeleton Key
Last Cuss Word Uttered: It was the eff one, moments ago, and it was to Dante who I'm gonna kill in a second
Last Beverage Drank: Coffee.
Last Food Consumed: Bagel chips with cream cheese on them.
Last Phone Call: And old friend from Ranch Park - Nomayne
Last TV Show Watched: The Morning News
Last Time Showered: Yesterday after my workout - I'm going in the shower as soon as I post this.
Last Shoes Worn: Black leather boots that just go up to my calves.
Last CD Played: The Killers in the car, as per Olivia's request.
Last Item Bought: Some silk plants from Michaels
Last Download: It was from Nick Jr. website for Olivia - something to do with Dora the Explorer.
Last Annoyance: The guy that ran the stop sign near Evan's school yesterday and almost killed me - thank goodness I'm an attentive driver.
Last Disappointment: The way I was treated at the job I just quit - I didn't want it to end that way, but it was out of my control.
Last Thing Written: A letter I started to my friend Carly, who will be jetting off to Paris in a few days
Last Key Used: My front door
Last Word Spoken: See above regarding the last cuss word uttered....
Last Sleep: last evening from about 10:30 - 6:00 this morning
Last Sexual Fantasy: It had something to do with Adam and I being away somewhere on a remote beach - I keep dreaming about a vacation alone with him!!
Last Weird Encounter: With the ex-boss on Tuesday when she told me to leave
Last Ice Cream Eaten: I don't remember - I almost never eat ice cream. I think it was Spring Break last year when I drove out to Langley with the kids just to get Baskin Robbins.
Last Time Amused: Reading a comment on my blog from my sister-in-law. I actually laughed out loud. (Before I swore at my cat).
Last Time Wanting To Die (figuratively): I think it was a few minutes before I quit my job, I felt really sick to my stomach because I felt so bad about it.
Last Time Hugged: Adam, this morning - we were moody toward each other last night and I needed a hug from him.
Last Time Scolded: I don't know - it was probably in December before I finished at my other job, my old supervisor BEEACH. I probably didn't read her mind correctly.
Last Chair Sat In: Other than here at the computer - it was in my car.
Last bowel movement: Ok, who put this question in here? This morning, if you really need to know
Last Underwear Worn: White bikini's with a pink flower on the front
Last Shirt Worn: black sweater
Last Webpage Visited: I just read the headlines on MSN.com

The End.

This is So Rad!

2006-02-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

As I sit here and catch up on 3 weeks worth of emails from my friends and family, I come across one of those memory lists. You know the ones - they remind you of how old you are because they list the prices of chocolate bars in 1965 and old hair styles and heartthrobs. This particular one was written for girls that grew up in the 70's and it has inspired me to jot down a few memories of my own from the 80's. Now, I was born in 1977, so much of the early 80's I don't remember just because I was so young. But here's what I do remember:

You Were a Kid in the 80's If You Remember: (and if you don't remember it's because you smoked too much pot in high school)

Home-made Halloween costumes like the one's in the above picture. (Halloween in my kindergarten class in 1982)
You wore stirrup-pants with your jellybean shoes.
You had pink lipstick that came in a Crayola tube shaped like a crayon (I still remember the weird flavour of that stuff!)
You wore a huge hair clip with a big fabric bow on it, or a banana clip. (this is where a picture of Kristin would come in real handy because I know I have a pic of her wearing one somewhere.....)
You tried to dress like Cindy Lauper or Madonna for Halloween one year but your parents wouldn't let you.
You dreamed of having a phone that looked like a duck and quacked when it rang (like on Silver Spoons).
The song "You're My Obsession" was always in your head but just the music, not the words.
You raced home to watch 3-2-1 Contact or an After School Special because Kirk Cameron was in it.
You had a K-Way jacket that you would actually fold up into the little pouch and wear around your waist.
Everyone wore neon - especially on the sides of your bicycle shorts.
Thriller and Cindy Lauper's "She's So Unusual" were your first albums or (as in my case) cassette tapes.
Your mom was your hero because she braved the stampede to buy you your first Cabbage Patch Doll.
You used almost an entire can of hair spray to hold up your bangs.
Tight stretch jeans.

And as you grew a little older.....

You had a bad poodle-perm as a teenager in the 90's (I am NOT including that picture)
Guys sported mullets, and they were darn cool.
You tight-rolled your jeans and wore them proudly with your Club Monaco or Mondetta sweatshirt.
You dreamed of a boyfriend that would have longer hair than you.
You danced the running man to C & C Music Factory, Black Box and Bel Biv Devoe.
Hammer Pants.
Eternity perfume.
You wore jeans cut into shorts with black tights underneath. R-E-D H-O-T. Yeah baby.

And a little later....

My favorite shoes: my 8-hole Doc Marten steel-toed boots.
Mosh-pits.
Cutting the bottoms of your jeans so they would fray in the wash.
Grunge.
You quoted stupid sayings from Wayne's World and ended every sentence with "NOT".

Holy shit, were we losers or what?

I guess I'm IT

2006-01-27T20:26:00.000-08:00

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

2006-01-22T20:32:00.000-08:00

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!

2006-01-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

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

2006-01-19T21:45:00.000-08:00

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

2006-01-16T17:57:00.000-08:00

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

2006-01-14T14:03:00.000-08:00

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

2006-01-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

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.