The Long Way Home

The Long Way Home by Supertramp is running through my head while I'm looking at these pictures. We drove on the Icefield Parkway down to Calgary and I was lucky to grab these pics along the way.

It was a great drive down. The roads were a bit icy in spots, but there were hardly any cars out, it was lovely and quiet.

It was a great day for stopping along the way to breath in the icy fresh air, and snap a few pics.

7th Inning Stretch

On the way back home from BC after Christmas, we decided to stretch our legs along the way.

Sunwapta Falls is a great little spot to do just that. I haven't seen it in the summer, we usually make better time on the roads, but it sure was a pretty spot in mid-winter....

Peek-a-boo

Wait a second...I feel like I'm in a 'Where's Waldo' print...

Maybe if I just stay still they won't see me.....

D-oh! Couldn't help it...I have to look to see if they're looking!!!

Whew!!! I think I'm safe....they're just passing through....

Sticki-dooing

Ski-dooing is alot of fun.

OOoo!ooooo!!! Let ME drive!!!!

The royal wave, and they're off!!! See???!!! You can easily fit three on this thing!!!!

The Gift of the Year

I was trying to think how I would introduce this, and those who know me (and know me well) know it is a very rare occasion that I am at a loss for words....but I was laughing so hard that someone 1. would think to invent this, and 2. god love my mother-in-law, but we had plenty of yucks at her expense.

Hindsight, of course, is 20/20...I only wish I had captured my brother-in-law's stunned expression when his 4 year old daughter yanked that bad boy out of her Christmas stocking....

Bbbbbbbbbbahahahahaha!!!!

Under the Tree

Christmas, is after all, for the kiddies.

I say this all the time, but I really could care less if I never received one present under the tree, my joy is seeing the reaction of the people I have given presents to.

Sometimes due to logistics or distance, a gift certificate is the best choice, but when you can, something well thought out and from the heart wins hands down every time.

What girl doesn't like a pony???

"Ooooohhhhh, it's a PO-NEEE!!!!" That make it all worth while for me. I was surprised at that, considering I think the poor dear was still half asleep!

The funny thing is at that time my mother-in-law was in the process of making a fabulous fruit salad while this was going on, and somehow the pony got named 'Grapefruit'.

I have absolutely no comeback for that one!

Santa's Reindeer

We came across Santa's reindeer on the way to the cottage for Christmas.

Lucky for us we were paying attention, it would have been a tragedy for Santa trying to haul that sleigh short a few reindeer!!!!

Christmas Eats

My family gears most of what we do around food.


I'm not quite sure if it's the French or the Greek in me, but when we get together, there are lots of eats to be had.


This Christmas was spent with my inlaws at their summer cottage. The weather cooperated and we were able to go walking and skidooing (sticki-dooing by some).


Christmas Eve's Eve was great, I was very touched that my mother-in-law went to the trouble of making sure I had tortiere (as is my side of the family's christmas tradition on the eve of Christmas)....she even had pickled beets!!! ....so I was in heaven!


Next day came the trussed up bird. My father-in law reminded me of my grandfather the way he trussed up that turkey...had the turkey been alive, it wouldn't have stood a chance!

Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh

When these three words are mentioned in one single sentence, many images come to mind:

-Three Wise Men (ha!! had they been that Wise, they would have asked for directions...ba duhn duhn)

-Birthday gifts - I'm not sure how a newborn would have played with these items...of course it's the thought that counts

-Riches both valuable and mysterious

Yes they could be all of the above, but in my household we are very fortunate to have the Three Wise Men all rolled up in one Little Bear.

Worth more than any gold, Paden's first Christmas card that he wrote in his own hand.

The clay lady came to visit the school and this was the end result: a lovely little snowman in the forest with a candle/campfire....you could say Frankincense - we just call him Frank for short.


Last but certainly not least is myrrh. What the heck is myrrh???? Very good question.

I'm not quite sure myself, but I think it would look similar to the lovely little flecks that accompanied the candle craft that Paden did at his daycare program.

I wouldn't trade these riches for any others in the world.

We are so truly blessed.

Thank you Paden for your lovely gifts to us - I promise to hold them dearer than the greatest treasures.

Professional Christmas Spirit

Sometimes it's hard to get into the Christmas spirit...not so where I work.

When you think about it, you spend a good chunk of your waking hour at your place of work. So why wouldn't you have a little bit of fun?

Why not, indeed???!!

We decided the best way to get into the festive spirit, was to have a 'Colorful Christmas Cubicle Contest'. We just finished renovating the work place, and what better way to spruce it up than with a bit of garland???

So that's what we did.

The local television station caught wind of it and came out to film the story and be the judge as to who merited the 1st Annual contest 1st prize.

Prizes were given out, and it got pretty competive between Sales, Accounting, and Payroll.

But the most important part is that everyone had alot of fun and alot of laughs!

Ho HO HOOO!!!!

Nooooo, not another chocolate.....

I'm not much of a sweet tooth generally speaking...

I tend toward the popcorn/potato chip genre, but every once in a while it is lovely to have one of those sweet little confections to pop into your mouth...

However, today, I had had just about enough.

Bernard Callebaut, Godiva, Laura Secord, Purdy's....I think I've tried, I'm sure, at least one of each kind over the last two weeks. 'Thank you for your valued patronage over the past year....here have another chocolate!!'

Tis the season....ho ho ho...hold the chocolates. Crimeny!!!

Here's the thing, and I think it's genetic, because all the women in my family will most likely say the same thing - if it's not there, as in, the line of sight, it's not a big deal....

The problem is when you KNOW it's there, well, you just must have....it, them, the box....

And to take it one step further, and my sisters will concur on this, that we were raised in such a way that we 'ate everything that was on our plate', so who are we to go against the 'nature/nurture' philosophy that we were lovingly reared on....

....speaking of rear, after all that chocolate indulging I'd better be dusting off the treadmill!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Most people who know me will attest to my inability (or desire) to be politically correct most times.
Sometimes that does work in my favor, other times - not so much.

I was speaking to my sister today about being on 'this side of the pond' for Christmas.
We got into the discussion about how much more 'Christmas' friendly they seem to be everywhere else except in North America...heaven forbid someone actually says 'Merry Christmas' outloud.

Hello!
Every year, I can't wait, I mean, really, really can not wait to be able to wish someone, anyone, a Merry Christmas. I love it. And you know what??? So do they.

Starting December 1, out it comes....'Merry Christmas'....at the gas station, the grocery store, the bank, you name it...the salon, the mall, the convenience store, the coffee shop.

'Thank you...and Merry Christmas'... sometimes it's funny to see the looks on people's faces.
I love it.
You say it....then you get the double take....then slowly, ever so slowly the smile appears and gets bigger and wider...they give a quick nod and then say, 'yes! Merry Christmas to you too!'

The way I see it, life's too bloody short to worry about 'offending' someones otherwise delicate sensibilities on saying Merry Christmas....
Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, Best of the Season to you....screw that marshmallow wimpy way out!!!! Strap on a set of jingle balls!!!

Be loud, be proud...'Merry Christmas to All!!!!'...after all, 'tis the season....whether you're politically correct or not....and while I'm at it Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Feliz Navidad and Joyeux Noel.

Deep Observations....by Mark on Weiners

Okay.
Why do they sell hot dog buns in packs of 8, but only sell the weiners in packs of 12?

Deep Observations....by Mark on Speedometers

What's the point of having a speedometer that goes to 220 kms per hour when you're only permitted by law to drive 110km/hr?

Not the Venti, Grande's Plenty

I admit it. My name is Lisette, and I'm a latteholic.
Sad, truly.

We decided to pick up a little 'pick me up' for the drive up to Edmonton to get Paden on Sunday, and stopped by Starbuck's.

They would be horrified if I walked in and asked for a 'double double'!!!

'I'll have a grande peppermint white chocolate mocha with whip please' I tell the barrista at the counter. That's alot of thinking - size, item, accessories...

The cute little barristo making my mocha asks, 'What was that again?', with marker in hand so he can identify it on the cup. 'You want me to repeat that??? Oy, you're hurting my head' I laugh. 'It's good practice' he quips back. Cheeky little thing...cute though, as I wonder if he's actually old enough to be working in there...heehee

So out we go to the truck, lattes in hand. To the right of the truck in the next parking stall is this guy, bent at the waist rubbing his finger on the side of this little Acura coupe. So feeling equally cheeky at seeing his backside I say, 'There's nothing you can do about the dirt, it's winter, you'd better get used to it!!' The guy stands up straight, turns around and lo and behold it's my little barristo!!!

He was pretty good natured about the barb and says,'I just got it painted'.
So I guess he is old enough to work in there as he must have a driver's licence.
Mark comes around from the other side of the truck to look at this little sport's car.

'Niiiccce car', I said. Guy's like it when you tell them they have a nice car.
'Obviously we're in the wrong line of work my dear', I say to Mark.
We think maybe we should be working at Starbuck's!!!!
Barristo boy thought it was funny...I think it's rather sad (not really)......heehee.

Canadian Idle

Before you say, 'hey you've spelled that wrong', i'm here to tell you no I haven't.
Canadian Idle, Calgary Idle...this is what we do on the way to work - or better this is 'how' we get to work...we idle to work because every wimp with a driver's licence is paranoid about snowflakes!

I think that all driver's licences should be issued in the winter and in order to obtain one, people need to demonstrate their ability to drive in winter conditions.

Needless to say I was an hour late for work this morning. We got maybe 5cm of snow, so now I'm wondering if it might just be better to stay at home if it snows 15cm.....

....works for me.

The Science of Ice

So I'm at school picking up Paden.
They do alot of fun activities with them, and I knew as I was putting on Paden's jacket that he had been outside that afternoon because his mittens were a bit wet.
As I go to zip up his jacket, I notice that his right pocket was dripping...
Now, it's -15C here so I know he hasn't fallen into a puddle!
'Bud, what did you do to your jacket?' I ask as I am attempting to absorb the wetness with my mitt...
That's when I felt the huge bulk inside the pocket.
I open up the pocket to find a huge chunk of ice inside!!!
'I was saving it for later', he says.
I'm like, well, it must have been a pretty big piece cause at the end of the day, it was still the size of my fist!
We both had a pretty good laugh along with the promise that all subsequent snowballs will be left outside where they can live long and prosperous lives!!!

What would you do for a Barcalounger?

Now you can see why it's so much fun going to the hockey games, where else could you get adults to play 'musical chairs'??

What would you do for a Big Mac?

Still on the hockey game....at the intermission they have 'Dance for your dinner'...as you can see it's quite entertaining!! The camera scans the crowd to see who's shaking their booty....and then if the crowd cheers loud enough, they win dinner at mickey d's...

Teddy Bear Toss 2007

Today was a great day. We took our three amigos and went to the Hitmen's 'Teddy Bear Toss' hockey game. We arrived early so that we could find parking.

It was a very cold day today, -18C, but that did not dampen our spirits, we knew we would get to see some great hockey.

There's Paden, Mark, and the three amigos Dave Darryl and Larry.

We thought we did pretty good with our choice of teddy's but these folks really went all out...

And this is where they were tossed after the Hitmen's First Goal of the game....

I got beaned by a teddy or two, but not nearly as bad as the one's seated in the club seat section!!

It took about a half hour to get all these teddies rounded up and on to these trucks...

By the end of the game we were told that the attendance was just over 17, 000 people and that almost 27,000 bears were collected for those less fortunate. It was amazing to see so many bears on the ice!! We won the game, and since the Hitmen scored more than 5 goals, we received coupons for Wendy's burgers to boot! Everybody won today, and it was great!!!

Three Amigos

Dave: 'Hi! I'm Dave'.

Darryl: 'I'm Darryl'.

Larry: 'Woof!'

Dave: 'Dude, why are you barking? You can talk you know, it's a special occasion'.

Larry: 'Oh, okay. Hi, I'm Larry.'

All: '''And we're the three amigos'''.

Darryl: 'You may ask, Darryl why are you just sitting there on the couch?'

Dave: 'Well, we're getting ready to go to a special hockey game'.

Larry: 'Woof!! Woof!!!'....'I mean, that's way cool!!!!'

Dave: 'Dudes!!! How did we end up wrapped up???'

Darryl: 'Oh no!! Man! I'm claustrophobic!!!'

Larry: 'WOOF!!!'

Dave: ' Chill my Dudes. It's all for a good cause. You wouldn't want us to get our fur dirty in the toss wouldja??'

Larry: 'Toss??!! I don't want to be tossed!!!'

Darryl: 'Stuff it Larry, this is for charity!'

Take THAT Linsday Wagner!!

'We can make you stronger....'

No. Wait a minute...that's the six million dollar man, not the bionic woman!


Of course I would never suggest that I'm stronger than the average bear, or for that matter, smarter than the average bear...where am I going with this blahg you ask? I haven't a clue I sez to myself.


I had a thought and than poof! gone.


What can I say? it's hard work to make things funny, so I guess I must be working pretty hard, cause looking back things usually seem funnier than they are when they actually happen.


Take for instance, the other evening. We were still at the point of selling our house when we decided (well actually it was my husband) that we should steam clean some of the carpets.

So off we troddle to the store to pick one up.


Once that was all said and done, I loaded (or tried to) the darn thing into the back of the truck when it developed a mind of its own and didn't want to go back.

So idiot that I am, instead of letting it fall to the ground, I stick my hand out to catch it (cause of course I'm the bionic woman)....and manage to break my hand.


Gasp! you say.

I have gone through life missing , nay longing to know what it like to have broken bones...well wait no longer says the evil steam cleaner!



Doesn't that look bionic to you?

Well think about this....do you have any idea what a feat it was to take that picture? LOL
Or to type this blahg??


As my sister sez, shall I call you a wahmbulance?




Just watch as I leap my house in a single bound....
No. Wait a minute...that's Superman.

'How old do you think I am?' she asks coyly....

Do you remember those Oil of Olay ads that used to be on tv?
I haven't seen any for a while, but the actual product causes much joking in our family....every significant women's birthday warrants a bottle of 'Oil of Old Age' from my grandfather....funny stuff. Funny guy.
But I digress.....

I'm not a 'traditionally' lucky person....and by this I mean contests, lottos, that kind of thing. I always joke about being the only name in the hat and still not winning!!! Seriously.
Well, miracle of miracles, I won hockey tickets for two club seats on a draw at work. Needless to say, I was extremely pleases as well as surprised.

So we're at the hockey game, on Saturday night, it's the second period, and I ask my husband if he would like anything to snack. 'Sure I'll have some popcorn and a beer, thanks Babe'. So off I go to the concession stand. There's not a big line up since I went in the middle of the period... so I walk up to the clerk, who happens to be, I'd say late fifties early sixties, and ask her for a large buttered up popcorn and two beer.

'Can I see some i.d. please?'
BBbbbbbbbbahahahahaha.... she's a funny lady I'm thinking to myself.
So I laugh, well it's a blurting kind of a laugh, a blaugh if you will....
'Seriously???!!!' I exclaim, looking at the same time for the hidden camera.
'Seriously M'am, I need to see some i.d. or I can't sell you a beer'.
I just can't keep up the straight face...I look at the sign posted at the front counter that reads, We have the right to request i.d. on customers who look under 30
I say, ' while I sincerely appreciate the inadvertent compliment, I just turned 41, and I'd like a beer please'.....I got the shrug!! the shrug!!!!! (it's my own fault, I loathe to carry a purse and since hubby drove I didn't pack my licence).
'Okaaaay. I guess I'm having a diet coke then (Miss Kathy with a 'K')...my husband doesn't need all those empty calories anyway'.
That will be x amount of dollars....so I hand her my bank card (I rarely carry cash as well)...
'Sorry, we only take cash or credit cards'....again with the blaughing and a slight shake of the head.

'If you would be so kind to hold on to those items' I said in my sweetest voice, 'I will send my husband back with his wallet'...Thank yuuuuu.... and off I go back to our seats with such a look of such sheer puzzlement on my face that Mark couldn't resist to ask what had transpired since I came back empty handed....
Like HE looks any older than, oh, 25!!! (better be dishing out your i.d. buddy!!!)

So off he goes, much to the amusement of the people sitting behind us who just happened to eavesdrop in on our conversation...

So I guess I'm luckier than I first thought, especially in the genes.

Take That Tom Cruise

Quick, cue the Mission Impossible theme song….

It amazes me (after the fact of course) how easy they ‘they’ seem to make everything look in the movies.
Take like for example, scaling a wall and coming down the other side….who comes to mind – Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta Jones, Ahnold, me….
Can you see where I’m going with this?

Part of my job includes being keeper of the keys….all keys.
Since these ‘said’ keys have been in disarray for numerous months before I even came on the scene to find one specific key sometimes is a monumental task. This is on my ‘to do list’ for over the Christmas break, while everyone else is on vacation. First, of course, I always try the ‘master’ key. This particular little gem works on every restricted lock assembly on the site…except, naturally, (Murphically speaking) for the door that needs to be opened.

How do you get the door open you ask?
Well, the most logical (ha-ha) would be to get the locksmith to open it…however, being a restricted access door, the process is a little more involved than just picking a lock. It involves drills and all sorts of nastiness that costs mucho dinero. What’s the alternative I ask? Well, if you get a ladder, climb up, lift the ceiling tiles, you can come down on the other side and open the door from the inside, thus negating the destruction of a $500 locking mechanism.

Sounds easy enough. Not.
Cue the theme music, I’m goin’ in!!!!
What????, you say. Are you out of your mind???? Apparently. Most certainly.

My maintenance guys are older than me, and were out making the site safe from slip and fall etc….it wasn’t the locksmith’s job to go all cloak-and-dagger. I can do this. How hard can it be? I’ve seen it done on TV…..Man, I’m a dolt, I admit it.


So I’m hangin over the door frame (not unlike the proverbial ‘sitting on the fence’) thinking “what the hell were you thinking”, that’s a pretty long way down….
But by this time, I’m kinda (more like really, really) stuck. Bite the bullet you wuss..

K, I can’t hear the theme music for the ringing in my ears and the voice in my head telling me how much this is going to hurt…
Let go, you’re like a cat, you’ll land on your feet….then I start to laugh hysterically, out of the shear ridiculousness of it all and out of fear and out of the fact that I got myself into this predicament so I really have no one to blame but myself.

Let go. Let go! Let go!!!!!
Crap, forgot to push out when I let go, so naturally (physically, as in the subject) weight drops in a straight line.
Swift.
Swift was the fall, swift was the hitting of my arms and wrists, swift was the bruising, swift was the cursing.
I think the cursing was swifter than the bruising…it was definitely more colorful….although…..

So now I’m wearing long sleeve shirts so that people won’t ask me if I’m an abused woman….

The best lessons are learned.

On the upside, the door is now unlocked, and I had it re-keyed to match my master key. Ha! Take that!

Spin Doctor....

Okay. I can spin with the best of them I would wager. Read and comment please, any improvements would be most welcome. This is the ad that we'll be submitting for the sale of our house, does it make you want to come take a look?...if it does, then I've done okay :)



From the moment you step inside the welcoming entryway, you will know you are home. Located on a quiet street in desirable Ranchlands, this beautiful three bedroom three bath townhome will certainly please. Let the natural light invite you to the spacious and open kitchen/dining area with oversized pantry. Relax in the warmth of the livingroom, patio doors to the balcony run the full width of the townhome, ample room for barbeque and patio furniture. Main floor powder room has plenty of storage space. Upstairs you will find three generous sized bedrooms. Master has large double closet and southwest facing window. Four piece bathroom with fabulous soaker tub to help unwind from your day. Basement is finished with den/bonus/workout room as well as three piece bath/laundry room. Separate handyman work area with abundant space for deepfreezer/storage. Mature treed lot with minimal maintenance. Step out your front door and transit will take you to your destination. Walk to schools and amenities. What else is there to think about? Phone xxx-xxxx for a viewing, but make sure your bags are packed. Freehold/No Fees. Realtors welcome.

Like Winning the Lottery

We were successful in our bid to get the house we were looking at.
Talk about nerves, haggling back and forth, possession date this that and the other....

Now begins the task of de-cluttering our house to put it on the market.
Oy.
They (the naysayers) say that this time of the year is not the best time to sell.
I'm out to prove them wrong.

I'll keep you posted.

Who Me?? Impulsive???

My husband will probably laugh reading this, at least I can make his day!!
I will admit, I can tend to be a bit impulsive when it comes to certain things.

This weekend I had just about had it up to here (insert hand at eye level) with my kitchen...well, mostly the cupboards. They are very dated. So we decided to go to Home Depot and price out a few things, like cupboards and such.

Then we got to talking about how it would be great to have more room on our main living level.
We have the bedrooms upstairs with the computer room, but the main floor is compartmentalized so that if Paden is playing with his toys, it is to the exclusion of doing anything else in that space. Wouldn't it be great if we had more room on the main floor?...so now we're talkin' major reno here....if we knock out this wall and extend this to here...blah blah blah....you get the idea.

So by the time we had all that laid out, my very sage husband errs in saying, 'Honey, for what we're trying to do here, maybe we should look at what's out on the market'....well, that's all I needed to hear!! LOL Lets' Go!

The real estate market has dropped off a bit, which is good for us.
There are alot of well priced houses out there that with the sale of our current house (plus a modest profit of course), we may be able to get into something newer for the same money...sweet.

Well, I'll keep you posted.

Steve Austin

So we're driving in the Tuscon and Paden says, 'Mom, I bet I can run faster than the truck'...
Really....
'Who are you? The six million dollar man???', I asked.
'Nope, I'm the hundred dollar man. Give me a hundred dollars and I'll run faster than the truck'....
Only from a five year old.


'Pick a number between 1 and 20', he says...
'Okay, 16', says Mark.
'Now you pick Mom'....
'Okay, 13', says I.
'....And I pick 2', says Paden.
'Who wins???' I ask, already knowing what the answer will be...

'Me', says Paden....
'What was the number you picked??', I ask.
'Five'......
....at least he gave us a sporting chance.

I'll Take Music Lyrics for $200 Alex....

Here are the answers to the previous blahg...

1. Yazoo - Don't Go


2. Rascal Flatts (Tom Cochrane) - Life is a Highway


3. Smash Mouth - Walkin on the Sun


4. Republica - Drop Dead Gorgeous


5. Corrine Bailey Rae - Just Like a Star (you MUST take a listen...probably my new favorite)


6. Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting


7. Garbage - Stupid Girl


8. Madonna - Hung Up


9. Sheryl Crow - Good is Good


10. Jesse Cook (Crowded House) - Fall at Your Feet


11. Gipsy Kings - Balie


12. Hilary Duff - Stranger (my ex's theme song....Ack!! Did I say that with my outside voice???LOL)


13. Berg Matraca - Back in the Saddle


14. Stabbing Westward - Save Yourself


15. Van Morrison - Into the Mystic


16. Justin Timberlake - Love Stoned


17. Simply Red - Sunrise


18. James Morrison - You Give Me Something


19. Christina Aguilera - Candyman


20. KT Tunstall - Suddenly I See

...guess it was just luck of the draw that none of my son's 'Crazy Frog' songs popped up!!! heehee

Don't Forget the Lyrics....

You can blame this one on my sister Danie...

I am so in need of updating my iTunes (the idea is to set your iTunes on shuffle and see what comes up)...this took alot more time than I thought it would, but try to guess the name of the song and the artist...the answers will be posted in the next blog.

1. Came in from the city walked into the door
I turned around when I heard the sound of footsteps on the floor
Love just like addiction now I'm hooked on you
I need some time to get it right
Your love gonna see me through

2. Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

3. It ain't no joke
I'd like to buy the world a toke
And teach the world to sing in perfect harmony
And teach the world to snuff the fires and the liars

4. Backward words he got 'em
Shut up I’m talking
This time you'll listen
But when I look at you you're forgiven

5. Just like a star across my sky,
Just like an angel off the page,
You have appeared to my life,
Feel like I'll never be the same,

6. Everybody was Kung Fu fighting, (C'mon, hua whoo-ha)
those kids were fast as lightning. (Ha, whoo-cha)
In fact it was a little bit frightening, (Hua, hua-hua)
but they fought with expert timing. (Ha)

7. you pretend you're high
pretend you're bored
pretend you're anything
just to be adored

8. Time goes by so slowly
Time goes by so slowly
Time goes by so slowly
Time goes by so slowly

9. Good is good and bad is bad
But you don't know which one you had
She put your books out on the sidewalk
Now they're blowing round
But they won't help you when you're down

10. I’m really close tonight
And I feel like I’m moving inside her
Lying in the dark
And I think that I’m beginning to know her

11. Cuando ski maria dolores
Cuando ski quei mal d'amore
Cuando ski quei mal a su vera
Cuando ski me va al dottore

12. Nobody believes me when I tell them that you're out of your mind.
Nobody believes me when I tell them that there's so much you hide.
You treat me like a queen when we go out, wanna show everyone what our love's about.
All wrapped up in me whenever there is a crowd,But when no ones around;

13. I came down from the Cadillac dude ranch, health spa
Nestled on the edge of town
For fourteen days I've been herbal wrapped, mud packed
Now I'm bustin' out

14. I know your life is empty
And you hate to face this world alone
So you're searching for an angel
Someone who can make you whole

15. We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry

16. She grabs the yellow bottle
She likes the way it hits her lips
She gets to the bottom
It sends her on a trip so right
She might be goin' home with me tonight

17. As I look into your eyes I see the sunrise
The light behind your face helps me realise
Will we sleep and sometimes love until the moon shines
Maybe the next time Ill be yours and maybe youll be mine

18. You want to stay with me in the morning
You want to hold me while I sleep
I was meant to tread the water
But now I've gotten in too deep

19. I met him out for dinner on a Friday night
He really got me workin' up an appetite
He had tattoos up and down his arm
There's nothin' more dangerous than a boy with charm

20. Her face is a map of the world Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl She's a beautiful girl
And everything around her is a silver pool of light The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm She holds you captivated in her palm

No cheating~~

Fall Back Spring Ahead

Daylight Saving Time

what a load of malarky...I fail to see the benefit.
At least I wasn't late/early for anything this weekend. Although it seems that I reminded anyone I came across 'don't forget to turn your clocks back on Saturday'...geez, I must have sounded like a looney tune.

I mean, really, come on. Why do we have to do this in the first place???
It's dark at 5:30 at night!
It was nice to be able to see where i was going this morning, but I'd rather have the light at the end of the day.

Make a 'vee' with your thumb and forefinger, put them together to get the big 'W'...as in, WHATEVER!

Q&A, continued from Earth to Danie

I'll play along...my sister did hers and passed it on.


Favorite movie – Silverado
Last movie I saw- last 'good' movie...Stranger than Fiction...two thumbs WAY up.
Favorite TV show - I would say Damages too, but I can't get that here...so CSI 'the original'
Favorite type of pen- Sarasa in Hunter Green
What do you struggle with – Who???oh what....gotcha...um, keeping my house tidy.
How many siblings- Two YOUNGER sisters
You are the oldest/middle/youngest sibling - Oldest/Wisest? (uh, yeah right)
Pet's names – Our cat Comet...after the book Comet's Nine Lives. And a Japanese fighting fish who used to be called Nemo and is now Scott.
Favorite breakfast – OOO tough one...I'd have to say eggs bennie with smoked salmon instead of the ham
Favorite salad - Greek
Favorite desert – not much for desert, probably vanilla ice cream
Favorite holiday – Canada Day
If you could do anything - visit Scotland
A living celebrity you would meet – celebrity is as celebrity does...Stephen Hawkins
A deceased celebrity you would meet – How far back can I go....how bout Merlin?
Your birthday – 11.16
Favorite pie – Key Lime
Favorite pastry – Mini Chocolate Eclairs
Favorite Christmas song – Anything by Bing Crosby or Johnny Mathis
Favorite soda – Diet Coke with Lime
Most annoying thing people do – email chain mail - hands down.
What did you do last night – cooked dinner for my boys, watched CSI..and Smallville
Any tattoos? - Yes
Pierced ears? - Yes
Eye color - Green
Black or brown accessories (shoes/bags) – Black
Favorite color - Green
The walls in your bedroom are –Creme with brown suede.
You can't wait for this show to start this fall – I can take or leave TV, but probably Mythbusters
If you could have one skill it would be – predicting winning lotto numbers? heh heh


Ok...copy and past it into your own blogs...let's see your answers!

Things That Go Bump in the Night

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -Only this, and nothing more.'

The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe

There's my little dinosaur.

There were many a tappings on our door last night as all the ghosts (yes I actually had one come to the door) and goblins came in search of treats.

I'm not sure who had more fun...the kids out trick or treating....

...or the people who were dishing them out.

We went trick or treating with our new next door neighbors Elisabeth, Lilliam and Malva, who just moved here recently from Germany and had never been out trick or treating before... it definitely was a treat to take them out!!
The boys were SO excited, it was hard to keep up with them.
Of course, things are a bit different then when we, as kids, went trick or treating. We couldn't wait because everyone knew us in the neighborhood, and we definitely knew who had the choice treats...like the candied apples and the puff balls dipped in chocolate...those were the days~ One pillow case hardly held it all, what a haul we would take in...my mother would cringe at all the sugar...good times.

We should be good for sweets until Easter to be sure!!!

Swept Away...

Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married. One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom. The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely. After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the bride-broom leaned over and said to the groom-broom, 'I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!' 'IMPOSSIBLE !' said the groom broom.


Are you ready for this?
Brace yourself; this is going to hurt.


'WE HAVEN'T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER!'


Oh for goodness sake... Laugh, or at least groan.
Life's too short not to enjoy... Even these silly
little cute.....clean jokes



Sounds to me like she's been 'sweeping' around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a Test....This is only a Test....

Yes, well, that is what I was saying to myself as I looked into the mailbox to find a letter from the BOMI Institute. It was only a test. If I didn't make the grade I could always re-write...it's no big deal, it happens to alot of people...

And as I was weighing the envelope in my hand, I was thinking to myself, 'Okay, you can do this, you can open the letter and deal with what's inside.'
Hmmmm, maybe I should wait for Mark to get back from Banff....hmmmm, maybe I should wait for his marks to come in the mail and we'll open them together....

Nope. I may have very few virtues....honesty may be one. That being said, I can honestly say that patience is not one of them. So I slowly rip the seal.

83.
83....I let it sink in....wow, I don't have to do a re-write...I am now laughing on the inside.
...and breathing a huge sigh of relief....and thinking that, yes, I'll be able to be reimbursed...
Well, maybe not so much that. Well, yes, that too. Education costs.

I'll sleep well tonite.
Tomorrow nite, I'll be thinking about purchasing the materials needed for the second part of the course that starts in February. I'll be ready.

When to Turn a Blind Eye

Okay Girls, help me out here.
When it comes to being a woman, there is an unspoken bond that you don't let another woman walk around with toilet paper stuck to her shoe...

Such an instance happened to me this weekend as my husband and I were knoshing at Montana's...

This woman walks by, and as she passes me, I notice a piece of toilet paper sticking out of the waistband of her pants! (insert eye roll here)...Does she not realize, I mean, how could she not realize there is a piece of paper stuck to your touche??!!!

So I leave my table, walk over to where she is dining with a friend, put my hand gently on her shoulder and softly say, 'excuse me, but you've got toilet paper stuck on your pants...'

She gasped, and said 'holy crap!!!' (swear to God)... and tried to see behind her.
To which I said, 'no, I don't think there's any crap, but there definitely is toilet paper'....

I thought her friend was going to split a gut!!! true story.

.....and then there's the extreme.
A few weeks ago, a few coworkers and I decided to pub it for lunch.
We grabbed a high table, and off to the right and down a booth were four women having lunch. (I swear that it's my luck this only ever happens to me.) I casually glance over only to realize that one of the women is sitting rather indelicately and showing the entire world what her mamma gave her....oy.

I got up from my chair, took a step towards her table.....
and promptly sat so my back was to her.

I may be a member of the ya-ya sisterhood, but that would have been way above and beyond the call of duty.

A Shot in the Dark

I was watching Rick Mercer's Monday Report (love him) and he did a great spoof of the Health Canada's attempt to vaccinate people for the latest flu shot. Apparently, there's just so many bugs out there, it's pretty difficult to predict which strain will be hitting at what time. It's kind of like a 'thanks for coming out' thing.

The company I work for was giving free flu shots to anyone wanting to be vaccinated. So, being the masochist that I am, I signed up. But as I'm getting jabbed this morning, I can't help but wonder - does this thing really work? I mean, they could probably put sugar water in it and would I really know the difference?

So wanting to know more, I asked the nurse.
Apparently it's a crap shoot....c'mon baby, big bucks no whammies!!!! Seriously. They don't 'know' for sure, they take a best guess....hmmmmm, let's pick this one, and um, this one...ooooo and how bout this one over here??!!

But even though that strain 'might' not be the one hitting when Health Canada thought it would/might, the vaccine that you 'did' get injected with does build up antibodies so it should help. Uh, yeah. Sure.

Imagine that. Our tax dollars at their best.

I think I'll go buy a lotto ticket.

Deep Observations...by Me on Being an Ass

I am responsible, in part, for the way our facility looks inside and out - physically, aesthetically, ergonomically, and so on and so forth...
Things like making sure the cleaners are cleaning properly (which they are), that everyone has the proper tasking chair, that the appliances stay in good working order...you get the idea.

However, some days, like today, I couldn't decide whether or not I was the cigarette nazi...'no smoking for you!!!'

I took the time and ordered these way cool (from a nonsmoker's point of view of course) cigarette receptacles. You see them just about everywhere. I wouldn't think they would be difficult to comprehend. Yet as I walked out of the main entrance, I swear not two feet away from the darn thing on the ground, was a butt...and I don't mean the kind with the crack in it!

I needed to ASSess the situation. I wanted ASSurance that it wouldn't be a consistant problem.

So being the smart ASS that I am (I sense a theme running here), I sent out a blanket email to 'make everyone aware' that they existed and that if they needed a demonstration on how they work, that I would be happy to ASSist. (what can I say, I'm on a roll)....

The majority of Alberta municipalities have gone nonsmoking. Most restaurants, bingoes and even pubs have a no-smoking policy, which as a previous beer slinger can attest, it's nice not having to go home smelling like an ASShtray (sorry, couldn't resist)...

I don't have a problem with people who smoke, but if you're going to, be cognizant enough to have a bit of pride in your place of work...I wouldn't want to ASSume, BUTT I could be mistaken.

...enough of this verbal ASSault. I wonder once my boss reads my email if he'll think I'm still an ASSet...he may not want to ASSociate with me...(LMAO(laugh my ass off))

Yes Dear...

Yes!!! Deer!!!

I love Kananaskis country...it's one of the best places I know to leave the city behind and de-compress.
Mark's out there on a four day conference with his company, so we decided to head out for a sleepover. We had seen deer the evening before and had hoped our luck would again hold.

The Kananaskis Delta Lodge is utterly fabulous. Their staff is friendly and their service is exemplary. I highly recommend this location for anyone wanting to get away, have a romantic weekend, take in a spa, or get closer to the wildlife....like we did.



Nothing works up an appetite quite like getting out and getting some fresh air. We didn't feel much like sitting in the restaurant (especially since Paden's favorite hockey player was about to stick it to his old teammates), so we ordered in. And, the Avalanche defeated the Oilers, so all was well with the world.


Yup! It's a tough life alright...

Shutter Bug

My grandfather on my dad's side was a professional photographer.
I still have that 'gawd awful' baby picture of me in a hideous polkadotted dress....complete in a frame with brass booties. In his defense though, he did do alot of other great stuff!

All of my family love to take pictures. Paden included.


I think he likes taking pictures of himself the best (he's SUCH a Leo)....

But occasionally there are other things.


Like his favorite stuffie...

or a sunny day...



Last nite we wished we would have had our cameras with us...we had just dropped my husband off in Kananaskis where he was on a four day conference, and as we walked outside around the corner from the room to the main lodge, there was a mamma deer and her young one drinking from the pond, not twenty feet away. We stood there for about five minutes while we checked each other out, and then went on their merry way. Truly a magical moment. We're heading out there tonite so Paden can have a sleep over and a swim in the pool.

I'll let you know if we see anything good.