Moved

I have relocated to here.

Tagged

Was tagged by Jen and I'm a willing spirit, so here goes...

(x) Been to Canada - Lived here all my life.

(x) Been to Mexico - Yep, twice. Cabo San Lucas before the touristas found it, and Mazatlan...in the previous century.

(x) Been to Florida - Yep, Ft. Lauderdale in my 20's. What happens in Florida, stays in Florida.

(x) Been on a plane - Many times, and I love flying. I'm the offspring of an airline employee and have done silly things such as go to Hawaii just for the weekend.

(x) Been lost - Yeah

(x) Been on the opposite side of the country - Been as far a La Belle Provence thus far, but would like to go all the way east.

(x) Swam in the ocean - Yep, several actually.

(x) Cried yourself to sleep - On very rare occasions.

(x) Played cops and robbers - Nope

(x) Played with a Tonka Truck - Yep

( ) Recently colored with crayons - No recent crayon action.

(x) Sang karaoke - Once, many moons ago at a company Christmas party...never again.

(x) Paid for a meal with only coins - Sure, back in my drive-thru days - those twoonies add up fast!

(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? - Yep, never say never because things change.

(x) Made prank phone calls - As a kid, yeah.

(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue - Yes

(x) Danced in the rain - Danced & jumped in the puddles too.

(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus - Must have, right?

(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe - Yep

(x) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about - Yep

(x) Blown bubbles - Yes!

(x) Made a bonfire on the beach - Sure

(x) Crashed a party - Yeah

( ) Crashed a wedding - Uhhh, nope.

( ) Crashed a funeral - No, that would be in very poor taste.

(x) Gone ice-skating - Yes, when I was little. Never very good at it as my ankles just do not cooperate.

1. Any nicknames? Piat, Tishy, Giggy, various terms of endearment (honeybunch, sweetie, baby)

2. Mother’s name? Shirley

3. Favorite drink? Bellini

4. Any tattoos? Nada

5 Body piercing? only my ears. (6 holes)

6. How much do you love your job? I like the work, but it is time for change.

7. Favorite vacation spot? Beach, sun, sand, room service.

8. Ever been to Africa? No, but making plans to go.

9. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Nah

10. Ever been on TV? Yes

11. Ever steal any traffic signs? Oh yeah, I have liberated my share.

12. Ever been in a car accident? Several

13. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? Currently 4-door, previous was 2-door.

14. Favorite pie? Pumpkin!

15. Favorite Number? 6

16. Favorite movie? No one fav, but I like The Shawshank Redemption.

17. Favorite holiday? Christmas

18. Favorite dessert? Cream puffs are pretty damn good.

19. Favorite food? Seafood or maybe a good steak . Oh, and I have recently been reminded of the yumminess of Cheddar Bay Biscuits! OMG!

20. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

21. Favorite brand of body wash? Don't have one. Doesn't mean I don't wash, just means I use bar soap.

22. Favorite toothpaste? Crest Whitening

23. Favorite smell? Tough call but I like it just after it has rained.

24. What do you do to relax? Nap

25. Do you have a message to your friends reading this? Send money!

26. How do you see yourself in 10 years? Ideally I'll be traveling the world and having adventures.

27. Furthest place you will send this message? Maybe Australia. Depends what freaky kind of google searches land people here.

28. Who will respond the fastest? Maybe a stranger, somewhere. If you do it post a link so I can see it, k?

Girly

I am not, generally speaking, a girly girl. I'm not dainty & frilly and I don't obsess on my appearance all that much.

Yesterday, however, I spent the better part of 4 hours at the spa. Facial, manicure & pedicure. All divine. Pretty much a heavenly way to spend an evening.

Maybe I am girlier than I thought...

More Than 100

Ok, so I did the 100 Things thing, and I actually had an easy time of it. I'm now thinking of other things I could add and am wondering if perhaps my 100 Things will morph, over time, into 122 Things, or perhaps even 147 things. Pondering my additions, I am.

The Demise of the Twist Tie

Not sure if you have noticed or not, but there is a decided lack of twist ties in the world these days. With the advent of the tie top garbage bags, not to mention Zipl0c baggies, there is little need for the good 'ol twist tie.

This comes to mind because I actually found myself in need of one, and alas, nary a one could be found. Aside from the fact that there are less and less of these things in the world, it does not help matters that I cannot keep my hands on them when I do find one. You would think me knowing they were a rare commodity would help, but nay.

I take the twist tie off of whatever I am opening, and damn if the thing doesn't pull a Houdini and disappear. I swear, I open a bag on the counter, put the tie down on the counter beside the bag and when I go to close it the damn tie has disappeared into the counter top. Same damn thing happens with me and those little bread bag closer dealies. What the hell? Is it just me?

I Am Who I Was

According to my Kindergarten teacher, this is who I was at age 5.

January
Betty is a capable, observant child - she can work on her own or with a group equally well. Her decisions are mature and logical and she expresses her ideas well, both verbally and in her art work. Coming along beautifully!

June
Betty's clear logical thinking is delightful to work with. She often has a solution to problems that come up. Her quiet manner and sense of humour have soothed troubled waters many a time - she is also learning to be firm in her place in the group and to assert her "rights". She is selecting interesting friends from both boys and girls and particularly enjoys the more individualistic personalities.

I think it is very cool that I am today, very much the person I was at age five. I like that.

The Sound of Music

I have recently rediscovered the joy of music. Our home stereo has been disconnected for quite some time (don't ask), and so aside from my vehicle I really don't listen to it anywhere. That all changed recently.

Recently on TV I keep hearing really cool songs. Song I have long forgotten about. Once I figure out what the song is I download it and eventually I have enough to burn onto a CD. Really quite cool to rediscover these tunes. Not all of them are one hit wonders, but some are obscure and not in line with my usual genres so I feel lucky to find them.

Add that to the fact I also recently received an MP3 player and it would be fair to say that there is always a tune in my head these days. I like that.

The Impossible (updated)

I am seeking the impossible. I must be, for I have searched high & low with no luck, and I am a skilled searcher. I want a pair of non-patent, black, peep toe, stacked high heels, and I'm not just talking CFM shoes, because I want to actually be able to walk in them too. Not far, mind you, but walk, nonetheless.

I don't think I am asking a lot. I can find 3 out of the 4 but not a full pull. If you have seen these impossible shoes, please let me know where.

Ok, so today I found pretty much the shoe I described above...however they were matronly. I want sexy shoes, not matronly shoes.

Off to try Kazzy's suggested site. Looks awesome!

Ok, so I found 3 pairs that I like, but still not 100% what I am after. The first two are good, and the last pair would be perfect, if they were 100% leather and 0% polka dots. Off to do some more searching.

Boobs

If you don't care to hear about boobs, then stop reading now. For the record, there will be no pictures.

Does anybody like bra shopping? Maybe some 36B chick somewhere has fun shopping for pretty little decorative items, but seriously, for me it is no fun. I have a rack that needs support, and that is not easy to find. No two fit alike, many are ugly or huge (in terms of coverage) and most are expensive. It is just not a fun time. Ranks right up there with shopping for jeans and bathing suits.

Sometimes being a girl sucks.

NaBloPoMo

Today being the last day of October means that tomorrow some folks will be doing the NaBloPoMo thing. Will I count myself among them? Oh hell no! But I will do my best to support & encourage those who do choose to self inflict.

All Hallows' Eve

Well, it is done for another year. Hallowe'en in the suburbs came and went rather quietly this year. Oh, there were still fire crackers & teenagers haunting the streets, but overall, quieter than usual. Only 33 kids this year, which is considerably down from years past. Maybe it is a dying tradition.

Things at the house were a little lower key this year too. I am just not motivated to go all out, and so there were decorations, but less.

Highlites of the night included;

- A wee vampire who hollered "Tricker Treat" at my door in lieu of knocking on it. Good thing he was loud!
- The lady who commented on the more elaborate display from year, which let me know that the effort had been appreciated, even if it took a year to find out.
- The tiny skeleton who sauntered up to the door, pop can in one had and the other outstretched, reaching for whatever I might be giving out. I could imagine his teenaged self sauntering about the streets with a beer can in one hand and the other...well, you get the idea.
- The group of good natured teenagers who I called "big trick or treaters" and who humourously corrected me by saying they were not big, just experienced. :)
- And lastly, a boy wearing an Afro wig who informed me that he was Michael Jackson, and did proceed to enthusiastically bust a move when I asked him to dance for me. Said he never could get the hang of that moon walking!

I Think I Have Lost It

Either I have already lost it or I am about to. I just do not have anger these days. It is gone. Replaced by...? Well, I am not really sure. I just know I do not have it in me to rage about the road. Passionless about it, really.

Might have to start posting about everyday life in here. Gah! The drivel that might flow if I just let my fingers go. And, now I am rhyming. Lovely.

Special Things

I recently dug out an old box of memories. I originally went looking for my high school annuals, but I found so much more.

My Mom saved some hair from my first haircut and put it in an envelope for me. My Dad did the same with the first tooth I lost. I found both of those envelopes in the box of special things.

I also found quite a few handwritten letters. These go back some 20+ years, before we used electronic means to communicate. I love that I still have them. They are indeed special things and important to save. Seeing these letters made me want to write. Something I have not done for quite some time, actually. I used to do it a lot. Mostly letters to people, but also sometime just letting the thoughts flood out of my head and onto the paper, for no one to see but me. Those letters, the last ones, contain only the truest of content. If after writing one of those you give it to someone to read you will know what it is to truly bare your soul. Powerful stuff.

In the box of special things I also found several books from my childhood; nursery rhymes & favourite stories. A joy to discover, really.

It has been an odd year and I find myself looking backward more so than forward.

Someone recently reminded me to dream. That it is what we are supposed to do. Somewhere along the way I forgot that. It was an important reminder, and I am glad to have been given it.

100 Things

1. I like to put my thoughts in writing
2. I do not do it enough
3. Mosquitoes love me
4. It is not reciprocal
5. I am an only child
6. I very often feel the need to fix other people’s problems
7. When I was a kid I wanted to be a Veterinarian
8. I love listening to music
9. I have NO talent for making it
10. I am accident prone
11. I was raised to believe I can do anything
12. I read voraciously as a kid
13. I should get back to doing that
14. I am a procrastinator
15. I love staring into the campfire
16. I am generally not a social drinker
17. I drink to get drunk, but I only do this a few time a year
18. I like the sound of Chad Krouger’s singing voice and I love the sound of Tyler Connolly's singing voice.
19. I learned to drive in a 1968 Ford pick-up
20. I knew how to drive stick by age 11
21. I am a sentimentalist
22. My friends confide in me…sometimes so do perfect strangers
23. I securely hold a lot of people’s secrets
24. I give good advice
25. I could play with puppies all damn day
26. I am not superstitious
27. I am a very good judge of character
28. I love to travel
29. I am not squeamish about blood
30. I am intelligent
31. I watch too much TV
32. I love the smell of tomatoes on the vine
33. I am big on details
34. I talk very, very fast
35. My brain is going even faster behind the scenes
36. I giggle like Betty Rubble
37. I am slow to forgive
38. I appreciate a quick whit
39. I have completed the 60k Weekend to End Breast Cancer
40. I am a firm believer in Karma
41. I am good in a crisis
42. I like cold coffee drinks but will not drink hot coffee
43. I cannot read in a moving vehicle without feeling ill
44. My appendix tried to kill me in 2004
45. It damn near succeeded
46. Morphine makes me hallucinate like a son-of-a-bitch
47. I could never become a drug addict
48. I usually have a pretty clear idea of how I want things done
49. I am a keen observer
50. The only bone I have ever broken is my toe
51. I broke the toe two weeks before my 60k walk
52. I stepped on a nail the same day
53. See # 10
54. I do not know what I want to be when I grow up
55. I am prone to road rage, but have it better under control now
56. No really, I do
57. I am strangely captivated by Jacob Hoggard
58. I like to sleep in
59. I learn by doing
60. I like to play crib, my Mom taught me when I was small
61. I have good instincts
62. I am picky about grammar
63. I am the go-to person at my workplace
64. I tend to need to know the reasons why
65. I have one dimple
66. I am not meek
67. I have been in negotiations for two union contracts and also spent 9 weeks on a picket line
68. I wear my Great Grandmother’s ring
69. Change scares me, just a little
70. I have long eyelashes
71. If I am wrong I will admit it
72. I am rarely out of control (see # 17)
73. If I do not know how to do something I will figure it out, or ask – it will get done
74. I manage money for a lot of different groups
75. The smell of Lilies of the Valley reminds me of my childhood
76. I am in awe of the power of the ocean
77. I think petunias are pretty
78. I have philanthropic tendencies
79. I think big pick-up trucks are sexy
80. I love a starry night
81. I very often catch the time 12:34 on the clock, and it is not intentional, it just happens
82. I feel zero guilt that my blog is long neglected
83. I love powerful thunder & lightning storms
84. I had my last cigarette on Jan 1, 2000
85. I like having my toenails painted
86. Currently they are blindingly pink with dainty little white flowers
87. I want to go to Egypt, and Scotland, and Australia…I have a lot of wants
88. I enjoy what I do for work
89. I’ve been doing it for way…too...long
90. Proper spelling is important to me
91. I like to reminisce
92. My longest friendship spans 34 years and is ongoing
93. I don’t trust easily
94. I am a planner
95. I really like old Craftsman style houses, like 100 + years old
96. I can be bossy
97. I could drink bellinis all day long
98. One day I will
99. I can curse a blue streak, and sometimes actually do
100. I am long past due for a sunny beach vacation

Observations

Father's Day is coming up soon and I was in the card aisle perusing the cards. Now, I know that there are ALL kinds of Father's Day cards out there; Dad, Father, Father-In-Law, Step-Father, Father figure, To Dad from Both, Funny Dad cards, religious Dad cards, To Dad from Daughter / Son...and then I saw it. I couldn't believe my eyes. "To Mom on Father's Day". What the fuck? She just had her own damn day last month. Whose the genius who came up with this one? Must be the dumbass who forgot their Mom on Mother's Day and needs to find a suitable suck-up card a month later. Whatever.

Second observation; why the hell can't people just walk on the right side of the aisle in the store? Why must I keep ending up face to face with the idiots who don't follow this common practice? These must be the same assholes who drive sideways across the parking and not up and down the lanes like the rest of us. Sheesh!

Killer Cat

Just about had a heart attack this morning. If not for a very quick brake foot the title of this post would be Cat Killer, instead. Foolish feline decided to run across the road right in front of me while I was on my way to work this morning. Blur. Brake. Scream. Next thing I know my purse is on the floor and I'm sitting there wondering if there's a squished cat under my tire.

Not a great start to my day but better than if I'd actually hit the little fucker.

Alligators

Alligators...I'm up to my ass in them. Seriously, I don't think I'm going to come up for air again until the Easter long weekend. I've got plenty to say, don't think I don't, but I just have no freaking time to write the shit down. Oy!

Random thought of the day; I need a hair cut.

I'm A Good Mom

I'm a good Mom. I've always believed I was but recently someone told me, and it felt really great to hear. I'm not your typical Mom and my beloved is not your typical offspring. My baby is a black Labrador Retriever, named Coal. He was gifted to me by Barney as a wedding present. He is beautiful, and smart, and funny, and sly. He is special to me in every way, and he is especially different in one way. He has eilepsy. I do for him what any Mom does and I fight for him in every way and make sure he has the best of what he needs and wants. The irony is that allegedy there was concern that I would end up being epileptic, but instead it is my sweet boy dog who is afflicted, and not I. The universe is funny that way.

I Got A Passing Grade. How About You?

You paid attention during 80% of high school!

68-84% Pretty good, you know that there are libraries and newspapers, and you remember what you've read. You were a child that wasn't left behind!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?

The Trouble With Silver

It was the week of morons in silver trucks. WTF?

To the driver of the Silver Tacoma truck, plate # 7259KG, - why did you find it a) necessary and b) acceptable to pull out of your driveway right in front of me when you didn't have a hope of getting up to speed before I arrived on your ass? What the hell was that?

I'll tell you what that was. A mistake! How do I know? Because you thought better of it this morning. Yer learning, but it's a slow process.


Silverado truck, plate # 0621KD - nice move over that solid YELLOW line to complete that illegal lane change. Yep, you're a moron!

Somebody Post My Bail

I've blogged about it before here. This corner has been an ongoing issue since before I bitched about it and the insanity continues. This very evening I was once again cut-off by a fucktard who turned out in front of me. He didn't even slow down. I kid you not. He came flying around the corner at me and cut me off. I laid on the horn as my blood began to boil. I drove, horn blaring & lights flashing at this asshole until he careened around the next available corner and out of my path.

The time is coming, where I will lose control. I can take down plate numbers & I can call the cops, but mark my words, the day will come when I will catch up with one of these fuckers and inflict bodily harm. So get your cheque books ready, because I will need someone to bail my ass out of jail. I kid you not. The time is nigh.

I Want Some Of These!

The Spinning Disc Of Doom

Yesterday I saw, dangling from someone's rearview mirror, a disc. A compact disc, to be exact. Yes, a CD, dangling in all its one shiny side glory, alternately blinding & then distracting a driver, who should really know better than to dangle music/data as a decorative item. What the hell were they thinking?

Random Grievances

Here we go, in no particular order;

Kevin is a jackass. He drives a p/u truck with some sort of writing on it. Part of the writing is his name and phone number. Not really sure what he does for a living, but what he does for a hobby is fail to yield the right of way and cut-off oncoming traffic by turning in front of them. We can now all have some fun by calling Kevin at 999-9062 and telling him what a tard he is. Smarten up Kevin.

Drama Queens - I've had my fill. Our relief receptionist at work is always on the phone with this person or that person and frequently bursts out with "WHUUUUUUTT?????" at the top of her vocal range. Surely there's been a death, or a horrific accident! But no. Each and every time it's something positively mundane, involving her kids or her pets. Nothing serious. Nothing important. Just loud and shrill. Shut the fuck up.

Where did you learn that shit? Seriously. Who the fuck taught you to drive? Did your parents not teach you anything? Gah! Little girl, that long line of traffic ahead of you was caused by a red light. We all had to stop. Well, all of us except you. You instead chose to drive in the oncoming traffic's lane, and then over into the painted lines in order to access the left hand turn lane. The one that many of us ahead of you were also intending to access. Thing is, we waited our fucking turns. We didn't drive into oncoming traffic and we didn't piss off a bunch of other drivers. So, you made the next light, and I did not, because, well, for the most part I obey the rules and I'm not a fuck-up like you. Because Karma is so sweet I did catch up to and got a chance to observe your other moves, such as tailgating. It's a lovely thing to do in the rain. Smart too. Now, I'm not very patient with fuck-ups like you and I wanted you to know, so that's why I stopped about 2" behind your car, got your attention and told you "you're a fucking idiot". In fact, there were two lights so I did it twice. I know you saw me too because your eyes were as big as saucers while you were reading my lips. For those who may not recognise what an asswipe you are here's how the general public can find you. This stupid bitch drives a silver Honda Accord, license plate 198 EEV. Oh yeah, and she also has a homemade "N" taped to her back window. Yes, a homemade "N". What a reject!

Oh the weather outside is frightful. Rain & snow I can take, but wind? Well, that just makes me afraid that the neighbour's trees are going to fall on our house. It's not a farfetched idea, and considering their size, they'd do quite the number on our house...and potentially on our existence.

Grand Plans

I had grand plans for my two weeks off work. I did not accomplish anything remotely grand. On the upside, I do feel well rested and that's been a long time coming. So, I take it back. I feel grand.

On the downside, my alarm clock is going to ring its fool head off at 5:45 am tomorrow and I'm going to have to get up. Fuck!

I Just Wanted Some Light Reading

So I thought I'd hit the "next blog" button and see where it would take me. I was hoping for some light reading, maybe some humour, but no. I got fucking spammed! http://randomblogbutton.blogspot.com/

I don't want to read the 100 links to whatever topic you decided was right for me. I don't want to know how to increase the size of my non-existent penis & I especially don't want to buy your fucking drugs!

Now piss off and present me with something light & fluffy to read! Now!!

Skeeved Out By A Creepy Guy

Today I was in the checkout line at a department store. I had a shopping cart full of stuff, as did the guy in front of me. Do you ever look at someone and instantly they skeeve you out? A quick glance and you just get creeped out? Today, that was the guy who was in front of me. He kept checking out what everyone else was up to, rather than just waiting his boring old time in line, like the rest of us. He hopped up and sat on the conveyor of the empty till next to us, then jumped off like 10 seconds later. He moved his cart around, back and forth. He spent far too much time trying to see what was in my cart. Too bad for skeeve boy that all of my stuff was in a plastic tote with a cushion on top, blocking his skeeved out view! Fucking creepy guy.

Far too nosey and dressed far too much like Magnum P.I., and with the moustache to boot! Creepy!

Accident Waiting To Happen

I am an accident waiting to happen. I swear, it's like a cloud that hangs over me. Some might say that I am just not careful enough. Others might say it's something more powerful. A force, if you will.

Bruises, scrapes, stitches, butterfly bandages, road rash, dog bite, emergency surgery; been there, and done them all. Here are some highlights, in a mostly chronological order;

Dropped scissors into my leg - butterfly bandage (Dad)
Fell off my bike - stitches in my chin (ER)
Fell partially through a wharf - one leg stuck & bruised
Cut my fingers carving a pumpkin - stitches (ER)
Bitten by a dog - large gaping wound, no stitches (& no Dr. in the fucking ER) - 6 weeks to heal
Sliced head open on a locker handle - stitches (ER)
Took a softball line drive in the shin - twice in one week, same spot - permanent bruise & chunk missing from shin bone.
Crashed an ATC (my fault, bad judgement) - tore my ACL, soft tissue damage - Dr., Physio Therapy - permanent damage
Emergency appendectomy - 5 hrs undiagnosed in ER, then 5 hours undiagnosed in a second ER the following day, followed by admittance to yet another hospital, finally diagnosed with a ruptured appendix - 8 days in the hospital - major surgery
Stepped on a nail - tetanus shot (ER), combined with breaking 1 toe (both, within 10 days of completing a two day - 60k walk)
Various burns - frying pans, lamps, oven, etc. etc.
Screw driven into and through thumb nail - did it yesterday and it fucking hurts!
Numerous sprains & twists, bursitis, tendinitis and a rotator cuff injury.

Yes, it feels like about 80% of the time I am injured, recovering from an injury or about to be injured.

Wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Where Do All The Words Go?

I have countless things to say and blog about, really I do, but when I sit down in front of the computer, I get writer's block. And it sucks.

Injustices, observations, idiocy, commentary and judgement are all on the tip of my tongue as I travel the highways & byways. Hell, they're screaming out of my mouth in most cases. I think I need one of those recording devices. Nothing fancy. Just something that will record long enough for me to tell the story as it unravels so I can post it later.

Also still have to figure out how to get the photos out of my phone. Too many license plates for one little phone.