Tuesday 26 February 2008

Getting Cheezy Green


Watching my Best Friends Wedding is bringing me back to all the fun stresses of the time around my wedding. No matter what anyone tells you getting married is not easy. It's tough work.

Of course I don't want this to be about weddings. Not really.

What I really want to talk about is St. Patricks Day. Have you noticed how awesome it seems to be this year? Everywhere I'm going I see green - and I want it! I love Green. I love wearing green. I love that I have green eyes. I love green pony tail holders and bandanas. I love green pants, sweaters, t-shirts. I've even gone out recently and bought giant green hoop earrings and a green necklace. I'm really getting in the spirit!

St Patrick's Day also ties into a wedding. We are going to a stag and doe on March 8th that has a St. Patrick's theme and this will officially be my first time REALLY partying on the holiday. I did have green beer, once. and I always let my Irish side come out on St. Paddy's day by wearing green and occasionally talking with a cheezy accent.

If you didn't know, I can trace my family back to Ireland. One of my grandfathers was born there and moved to Canada when he was three years old. The other came over when he was older - and was let in for his tremendous botany skills. He ended up being a farmer for the most part, but did have some great skills when he was back Ireland. I wish I knew him.

Anyhow, I'm going to bring out all my green (including a few special surprises) and I'm going to party it up on behalf of my friends because they deserve one awesome time at their stag and doe! I really can't wait to be all greened up!!!!

In fact, I think I'll wear green to the wedding on Friday. Guess I'll get my jump on the holiday!

Monday 18 February 2008

The big V-Day

Last week was that holiday that most people either hate or love. So many people get their hopes up around this holiday. They dream of Prince Charming coming and sweeping them off their feet - of secret admirers and of romantic evenings. It's all roses and champagne for valentines day. Of course I know that's a lark. A dream worked up by companies to try and make money by selling their wares.

This year, with James' trip, I had asked for two things - flowers and James' time. We both worked to try and make it time for us - and for no one else. It wasn't about spending a fortune, it was about turning off computers and the tv and focusing on ourselves. James was agonizing over a gift. I didn't want much, but he still wanted it to be special. It was after all going to be the first Valentines Day as a married couple after all.

He brought home steak and I was surprised to see the different types - one for him and one for me with little to no visible fat. (I'm picky - what can I say!) He started marinating right after he got home. To make things special I set up a table in the living room, lit some candles and had James set up our little grill. We grilled our steaks right on the table and enjoyed great conversation. We talked about how good things seem to be going and how happy we've been since we got married.

I know it's sappy, but I really do love my husband. I think I made the right choice and I'm glad that he chose me. I'll never forget his words on our wedding day when we had a chance to sneak off.
"I wasn't nervous at all today. The hard part was proposing - once I made that decision - I knew that this would be a piece of cake because you are the one for me."

Those words, will forever be etched on my brain.

As for this Valentines, my flowers I wanted - well they ended up being some brown and orange plaid shoes. Very cool if you ask me. And his time, well part of it involved helping get his gear together for his ice fishing trip - but that was still cool - because we are together. And that was what I was most interested in.

A Polar Bear with a mustache?

James just called and I am so happy to hear that he doesn't have frostbite, no one fell through the ice and no one was eaten by a polar bear.

Okay maybe a polar bear would have been a little too far south - but Larder Lake is really far up there!

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To celebrate a bachelor party for two guy friends of his, James went up north ice fishing for the first Family Day long weekend in Ontario. The boys left around midnight on Friday - although it was much later than that due to the fact that we got to our rendezvous point and James forgot a very important piece of his luggage - his sleeping bag!

The mission of the trip was to do some male bonding. They've been planning and organizing the trip for months. Kitchen, who is one of the grooms, really wanted to go fishing for marlin. He has high hopes any time he is fishing that he'll catch a big fat marlin. Since going to Florida on a fishing trip seemed out of the question because people would have to take time off work - Richard hatched a scheme to go ice fishing up at his parents cottage. Sure it meant hiking across a lake to get to the cabin, as there is no possible way to drive to the cottage - and yes there was a chance they would fall in. But they are tough men right? Or are they???

There was one stipulation on the trip - all the boys had to grow a mustache. Some had better chances than others and others just grew the faintest of hair but they all did it. James, who started growing a beard to be Fidel Castro for Halloween, was scheming to have the coolest of the bunch. When I saw the finished product, I was shocked at how different he looked. After all, my husband has had hair on his chin ever since I met him. Well other than one time...but we don't need to talk about that.

Leading up to the trip, many of the wives, girlfriends and fiancee's had some issues with the boys safety. We were all counting on Richard to keep them all in check and safe. I think when they get home we all should give Richard some fresh baked cookies or something to thank him for being the outdoorsy type - because heaven knows that my man, with his uncallused hands, is definitely not.

Wednesday 13 February 2008

Televisions Terrific Top Three

Hard to believe folks - a beagle won the big prize. I didn't see it, as I was watching the beloved Jericho with James. To which, I just found out that it didn't get very good ratings. UGH!!!

James and I have three shows that we are completely involved in and plan our night around.

#1 - Lost
We came upon this show because someone told us to download and watch it. They were really intrigued in it and said that we should check it out. We started about halfway through the first season so it didn't take long for us to catch up. We would watch them commercial free, two episodes at a time and before you knew it - we were hooked. We were constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen and where the show was going to go. Much like any new show, they started off with a huge bang, but by the second and third season had lost some of the pop and glitz. Luckily, now that we are back for the fourth season it appears to have regained some steam and will be going forward with some exciting episodes.

#2 - Heroes
The hype leading to the show really interested two geeky kids like us. We were drawn in by the comic book qualities, interesting action packed story line. The show itself allows you to wonder about people and their "powers" and really makes you question why evolution hasn't made more changes to human beings to allow them to adapt. When the show went off the air at the end of the season I was so sad - as I knew it would be months before they brought it back.

#3 - Jericho
We didn't get immediately onto this show and started watching two or three weeks in. The honest relationships and the questions revolving how it all happened brought us back over and over again. Unfortunately, like most people, we would have other things going on when it was on so we would download the show. It was going to be cancelled but there was such a huge uproar from fans that had watched the show after the fact that they decided to bring it back. It is now being dubbed the show the fans wouldn't let die. And am I ever glad they didn't end it. Last night's episode was a good one - and I hope that it starts to gain popularity when it is on television and not just by downloading.

Tuesday 12 February 2008

We are not going to downsize

I have an obsession that has been driving me nuts for the past year. I'm talking about a little game called - ANIMAL CROSSING.

The game itself seems simple enough, you start out creating your own character. They ask a bunch of questions of you and form a profile that matches your answers. Your eye and hair colour and even hair style are influenced by the questions. Once you have a profile, you are picked up by this taxi driven by a crazy peacock. It's raining out and so he's trying to drive you to a new town. He asks you questions about how you prefer things, if you'd prefer a picnic at the ocean or beside a waterfall. Once our questions are done - Voila! You are in a new town, that you get to name yourself. You'll find that there are neighbours and trees and flowers.

First up, you need to do some work at the store. You have to earn yourself a house right? Well it helps you to get acquainted with the town and the people in it. You get used to the controls and how to do things. Finishing the work is easy, and then it's time to play the game. Your goal is to design the perfect town and the perfect house. Decoration is all up to you and they give you many clever options to make your house unique.

The only trick is that you have to continue to play the game, in order to make money, which allows you to buy more furniture and supplies for your house. Also, the more you do, you can also add on rooms and get unique items. Your neighbours always need a hand - either with furniture, or catching bugs or fish. They want you to help mail letters for them and generally, you do all of it, because they give you prizes and if you are lucky - their picture.

James introduced me to the game back in 2005/2006. I've been playing ever since. That is a long time!!!

One room that has been the ultimate goal of any Animal Crossing player is the snowman room. By rolling up snowballs, you can create snowmen. Only by hving perfect snowmen, do you get presents. Wallpaper, carpet, bed, sofa, chair, lamp, clock, fridge, dresser, television and the final piece of the pie - An actual snowman for your room.

James, who played long before me in his town, wasn't very good at this feat. What he didn't know, was that by building the snowmen every day, you get a new item each day. By doing a perfect snowman one day, and not the next and then a perfect one - you will only get the same item as you did on the first day. Somehow - I have succeeded in getting enough furniture to fill two rooms - and I have extras left over. (Yes - I really am that dorky.)

In 2008, I have tried to not play the game. I really REALLY wanted to stop. Problem is, when you don't play you start to get weeds and all your flowers die because you forgot to water them. Your house gets bugs, and the people in the town start to get angry and upset feelings because you haven't come to visit them. Also, if you don't play, then you start to worry that you missed something wonderful, like the aurora borealis, or a special fish that only comes out during certain times of day or season.

Yesterday - I caved. I had to find out what was going on in my town. I found all these weeds and had to run around pulling them. Every person in town accused me of not liking them anymore, and mostly all of the flowers have died or are on the verge. I watered the plants, made sure no one was sick and got out of the game as fast as I could.

Why, can I NOT move on? It's not like Newton really means anything! And yet when I heard that my nephew got a DS, I wondered if he would get Animal Crossing because I want a bigger store. Isnt' that the dorkiest thing you have ever heard? In Animal Crossing, you can go visit other peoples towns and by doing so you get different benefits. The bigger store I want is really cool because it has two stories, and a hair salon. I really hate my hair!

Unfortunately the game isn't nearly as popular as it once was. I don't know how it's going to happen, but someday, somehow, I will stop playing and stop caring what happens in my town.

Until then, it's an obsession that I will not let go of - Even with my crappy hair in the game. At least I get cute hats!

Monday 11 February 2008

On their toes looking for trouble

Life has been rolling on lately - and mostly in the electronics department.

Right now, I am typing away on our new laptop that was purchased with a bonus James got from his freelance work. In front of me on the table is my schnazzy new camera that I love so far. I need more practice with it, so don't be surprised if I show up to random events with the camera in tow. Beyond the table is this lovely widescreen tv - which was our last wedding present.

James really REALLY wanted a tv. He wanted a flat screen, HD widescreen jobbie, so we now have a nice Toshiba 32". We don't have an HD box yet, but the images we are getting are phenomenal. Especially when watching Lost! Oh man am I ever glad it's back. We've been watching a lot of movies since the writers strike started and I'm glad to have a show to watch again.

Actually - I shouldn't really say that - I had a show to watch. A show that's been giving me fresh content every day since I was born, and even before. I'm talking about Soap Operas folks - and one in particular. Those that know me well, know that I was raised on the lives of Genoa City. Oh yes - my mother is a Young and the Restless fan and shared the passion with all of us. There is nothing better than trying to remember how many wives Jack and Victor have had, and how many children are missing from the show just ripe to come back and breathe new life in the show. (Speaking of which, I've been predicting the return of Victor Jr for a long time - and I'm glad they finally brought him in. Sad to see Hope die, but at least it brings back a good story line that will add some craziness to the storyline.)

Now what I don't understand is that with this writers strike, how have they still been able to generate new soap operas every day? Why are the writers for the soaps not considered the same as the writers for say the Tonight Show? It's one of those things that make you go hmmmm.... See I could go look it up, but frankly, I'd rather just watch the Westminster Dog Show.

Oh man, I love dogs. I love cats too, but for some reason a cat show isn't nearly as interesting as a dog show. I really envy Bridgit and her dog shows. She gets to see the best of the best all over the place, because she helps train and raise the best of the best. Her huskies are adorable. Someday I'll go out west to see her and go to one of her shows with her.

Since James and I are starting to look into what it will take to get a house and thinking about what we want, I've come to realize how important it is to me to have a fenced yard so that we can have a dog. We want to have an area to let our little pooch run around and have space to play without getting out and chasing cars. I've had pets run over by cars - and it isn't pretty.

Max, the dog of my youth, was hit by a car. Broke his leg and it was so sad. I didn't think he make it. Later on, we had some kittens born into our garage by a very sick female siamese cat. She gave birth and then slowly stopped coming around. We found homes for all the kittens except one little flea bag one that took a liking to our family. Tom was a a black and white tom cat that decided to move in to our house because he liked us so much. Midnight, the love of my life cat, did NOT like this idea. She hated Tom because like her, he wanted my attention - only he would fight for it. She just got it before and was very snobby about it. I took a liking to Tom with his slightly crossed eyes and before you knew it we had two cats. I was absolutely devastated, when after only a few months of having Tom, I came home from work to find him on the street having been hit by a car. I actually woke up my parents because I wanted them to take care of Tom, but it was too late. It was because of Tom and Midnight's obvious distaste for other cats in the house, that we never got a second cat. Once Midnight died, my parents decided that they couldn't handle losing another pet. Midnight was really special and lived for a really long time. 16 years is a long time for a pet to enter your heart and your family.

Anyhow, the dog show is back on. Guess I'll go back to the new tv and dream of future pets.

L8R SK8R!
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