Moving on up

Come and check me out at my new blog www.quirkycori.ca! 

So excited to unveil it. I'm working out the kinks and am going through the painstaking process of porting over my content and deleting it off of this blog so that it isn't duplicated. It's a lot of work but I'm so incredibly excited about it. Huge thanks to my husband James Harris for making this all happen. I feel really good about this change. 

Look forward to seeing you at the new digs!

What's going on with QuirkyCori?

There are some exciting things happening that will hopefully give me a better platform for my writing.

I'm looking at creating a homepage to showcase my writing, photography and link to my blogs. Yes I said blogs.

I've been toying with some new ideas. I'd love to have a separate area for genealogy writing. I'd love to be able to share my family history story where it is all in one spot and easy to follow. So many times when I start talking about people on my family tree people get interested for a bit and then their eyes glaze over the more I talk. Let's be honest, I can go on-and-on. I find my family history is fascinating, even if most of them were agricultural labourers. I find the journey my family has taken to make it to Canada so interesting.

And there I go again.

I just can't stop!

Moving on, my second idea takes a bit of my travel writing and turning it into a place to be. More specifically, I'd love to be writing about being a tourist in my hometown. There are a lot of things to do here that not everyone knows about.

I was blessed having my parents in my life. They believed that travel should start at home All 6 of us were known to hop on our bikes and head out on different adventures. Wouldn't it be great to harness that enthusiasm and showcase a place that I love?

So lots of things in the works. Looking forward to seeing where I go from here!

Quirky Cori's New Hair

Night Time Terrors

  I'll admit, I do not feel comfortable walking around at night. There is something about not knowing what's coming ahead or what's hiding behind that bush, that tree or car.

  The long shadows could be hiding all kinds of menacing things. 

  That car over there could have a serial killer with a knife ready to take you into a secluded spot so they can torture you slowly using 1000 tiny cuts.

  Inside that bush could be a rabid coyote looking anywhere for it's next meal. Seeing your larger frame is enough to make the coyote drool at all the delicious meat it wants to rip from your bones.

  The branches of that tree could be housing a long snake looking for it's opportunity to drop on top of you and wrap it's cold slow moving scales around your neck tighter and tighter until your airway cuts off and oxygen no longer can flow through your veins.

  There are so many horrible things around any corner, and I've found the best way I know how to cope.

  I walk fast.

  I constantly look ahead and walk confidently. Someone somewhere told me that nefarious people tend to only attack those that look week. If you look confident, they are less likely to take them on - extra brownie points if you can look your attacker in the eye. I'm told they hate that.

  I try to talk to people and at least say "Hi" to people I pass.

  But the main thing I do, which may be unique to me, is in my head I write out what the article will look like in the papers the next day. I think about who would've last seen me, what they would say. I want the strangers to notice me so that it's not just the strangler or rapist taking me on. Perhaps someone who noticed me will also see me being taken by force and shoved into the back of the terrorists van and can call the police immediately and prevent them from taking me to blow up City Hall.

  So far it works out well for me. Been out in the dark with my head held high, shoulders back, and friendly smile and I haven't been abducted yet. 

Stay safe everyone!

Myers Briggs, Me and the Hubby

  After spraining my ankle a few weeks ago, I've been forced to slow down a little. I've been meaning to blog, but like many things, it just kept getting pushed aside as I found myself drawn outside more and more. There were walks needed with the dog, and baseball started again. I've spent some time with my nieces and celebrated many family birthdays. This ankle has forced me to stop a little and put my foot up and rest. 

  Being me, you'd think that'd be the perfect opportunity to grab a good book and read. And sure I did pick up a book, but the one I chose was different than my norm. Plus I didn't read all of it, only the sections pertaining to me and to my friends. The book is called "Do what you are" and it's based on finding careers to match your personality through Myers Briggs testing. 

  If you haven't had a chance to figure out who you are through Myers Briggs yet, I highly recommend giving it a shot. Unlike when I took the test for the first time in high school, there are lots of free online tools to help you figure out who you are. My husband took this one: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp but there are so many out there you can just pick and choose. 

  Through the years, I've been tested officially twice and done a few online just to see if anything has changed. But that's the funny thing - it hasn't. My personality is the same as it was when I was 17 and picking colleges as it is now. As you age, certain aspects of your personality do grow and you become better able to overcome some of the obstacles that are prone by your type, but you stay essentially who you are. 

  I'm an INFJ.

  I'm really introverted. People don't always see it because I have the F for feeler. The F makes me care about people and want to get to know them on a base level. It doesn't mean I'm comfortable in crowds or anything, but it does mean that I'm comfortable talking to people. And in fact, my entire personality is built on wanting to get to know people and understand people. 

  Knowing that my personality type equates to only 1% of the population, you'd think it's rare. However I have two friends that are both the same type. What are the chances that we are friends? One I have been friends with since kindergarten and feel that I can tell her anything and still have the same friendship we've always had. In fact, we've gone months without talking just to pick up exactly where we left off. Did our personality type draw us together? Who knows. 

  What I find interesting is that knowing your personality type can help unlock so much understanding about yourself. Me and my INFJ friend were talking with two other friends about the testing and asked if they had ever done it. Through a few wobbly pops, we got down to the nitty gritty to try and determine where each other lay on the spectrum. There are 16 options and sometimes you can be close to the middle (which invariably everyone was). The hubs was listening into our debate over where we sat on the spectrum. Our discussion intrigued him so he took the test online and was amazed to find out about himself. 

  I don't know if my friends left with the same enthusiasm for the program. If anything, we might have improperly assessed each other based on how we perceived each other. I know that knowing my type has been invaluable in being able to look inward in planning where to go in my life or my career. Here is an excerpt that took from http://www.personalitypage.com. 

The Protector

As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.
INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.
INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.

  "It's like getting an instruction manual about myself" my husband said to me later. He couldn't stop talking about it for days and mentioned it to nearly everyone he came across. Since then he's really been working at areas that are known to be an issue for his type such as finishing projects and giving compliments. I'm really impressed by how much he's accomplished and glad that we were able to spark him to look inward. He doesn't feel as bad about feeling and thinking a certain way because he knows that's what it's like to be an INTP. Here is an excerpt from his page:

The Thinker

As an INTP, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you deal with things rationally and logically. Your secondary mode is external, where you take things in primarily via your intuition.
The INTP is usually very independent, unconventional, and original. They are not likely to place much value on traditional goals such as popularity and security. They usually have complex characters, and may tend to be restless and temperamental. They are strongly ingenious, and have unconventional thought patterns which allows them to analyze ideas in new ways. Consequently, a lot of scientific breakthroughs in the world have been made by the INTP.
The INTP is at his best when he can work on his theories independently. When given an environment which supports his creative genius and possible eccentricity, the INTP can accomplish truly remarkable things. These are the pioneers of new thoughts in our society.

  I highly recommend looking at your type to see where you fit. I find that the 16 types can fit so many people and it will help you understand why people are the way that they are. So much better than your monthly horoscopes and can really help you be the best you that you can be!

Stolen Dreams for The Foundation

  I remember a day when I was in Grade 10 drama class. Sitting in the all black room cross legged on the floor, shoes off. I ended up having a very significant conversation with a friend named Andrew. The conversation stuck in my head because it wasn't very often that you made a true friendship in high school. Oh sure you had friends that you partied with and that you hung out with. And sure sometimes you'd end up spilling all your deepest crushes to a close friend, but it's not that often that you make a connection with someone on that base human to human level.

  Before you go off spouting that I must've liked this Andrew and that's why it stuck out in my head. I do like Andrew, but not in the way that you think. I liked Andrew for just being real. He was the exact same person the first day that I met him, as he was last summer when I ran into him at a music festival. He's one of those incredibly genuine, what you see is what you get kind of guys. He's sweet and charming and even though I don't really talk to him all that much anymore, I'm 99.9% certain that if I needed something he would be there for me. He's just that good of a person.

  Sitting on the drama room floor he told me how he much he was looking forward to the future. He wanted to make music but he wanted to have a family more. He told me that he wanted to have a daughter and name her Drew-Ann and that he thought that Drew was the best part of his name. I remember how much his face lit up under the lights and how great he was at listening and asking questions and letting me do the same. No topic was off limits and even though I don't really remember all the details, I remember sitting in the moment and realizing it was special.

  Maybe the moment stood out to me because earlier a month or so earlier we had lost another of our classmates in a car accident and it hung over our school like a cloud. Mani was on the football team with Andrew and I was the football manager at the time. All of us were connected in our shared loss of such a bright star. Friendships had new meaning and his death may have changed some people. Perhaps it changed me. All I know is that one little conversation from drama class sticks in my head and many others have slipped out of it. Andrew touched my life in a way he may never know just by being who he is and letting me see a piece of that.

  Yesterday, Andrew, now going by the name of Drew, posted the most heart wrenching thing on Facebook. He and his band had come back from playing a gig in Dundas and had left their gear in their truck which they call their tour bus. Someone broke in and stole the truck and all the contents and took off. Knowing how many hours playing and writing music Drew has done, this must be devastating. They asked anyone and everyone to look for their vehicle and their gear. Someone had to see it. Someone had to know where it was. Police reports were filed and the band waited.

  As word spread, devastating news came in from the OPP. The truck was found damaged near Caledonia but the gear was not in it. With all the word out in the music industry, everyone has their eyes peeled to find the gear and get it back where it belongs, most especially a laptop that has all the recent recordings of the band.

  Drew's band was just starting to get their start. They just released their first single to the country market and they were nominated in the top 5 at the Toronto Independent Music Awards. Everything was looking up for the band that has been working for years to find the right sound and get the right recognition. The Waterloo Region Record picked up the story and it was shared at the Hamilton Spectator and other papers. Word is spreading and they've already heard of some leads. Maybe you can help by checking out this facebook album that details all of the instruments and gear that was taken. Maybe you can talk to your friends, who can talk to their friends and the word can keep spreading.

  I don't want music to die for this band. Drew and his bandmates have worked too hard for too long. Let's help them get back to what they do best, preforming great music.

A Groundhog for your thoughts?

  Okay so that's possibly the stupidest title of a blog I've ever written. To be honest, my brain is all over the map and I think I need a big long nap. Of course when I start to nap I begin to think of all the things I could be doing, so in turn I procrastinate against the nap and do something else.
  My husband hates this. He likes to nap and will sleep for a short time or a long time but he sleeps. I'll instead sit and play on my computer, or I'll watch tv. It's very, very rare for me to actually sleep. But today feels like it should be a day I sleep. I've got important things going on. It's going to be a girls night don't you know? A night where me and some of my girls go out for a drink somewhere and then for dancing. It's going to be a great night. I have been looking forward to it for weeks. We don't see each other that often so I cherish these special nights.
  My blog got interrupted by the dog vomiting on the floor. Poor little guy must've swallowed a chunk of some hard cheese toy that my hubby got him as it came out with the vomit. I always worry about those toys. Glad to know my fears are not unfounded. The dog seems to feeling right as rain now that he's puked and gotten let outside to do his business.
  We are so blessed to have him. He's so much different than the first day we met him at the SPCA. He's so lively, playful and loving. He's our dog and follows us everywhere. We actually took him out with us last night and kept a leash on him but didn't need it. He followed us to the car, jumped in and then followed us right back to the house again. He's shown a true aptitude for recognizing our house on walks too and even turns up the driveway when we make it home.
  His name is Baxter. We know it in our hearts as he started responding immediately and it seems to suit him so much. He's small but long and fiesty. We had to go through with a cone on his head after the neuter and tried to keep him calm for as long as we could. We've come to discover that he loves to play catch and we've spent many hours laughing at his antics as he jumps in the air to catch the ball.
  In other news, I'm headed to Manitoba at the end of the month. My dad and I are going to see my great-aunt. Sad to say it'll probably be for the very last time. She had some strokes over Christmas and spent some time in the hospital. She's had fluid on her lungs and we are both praying for her. She's been really lonely since her husband passed away and even more so since she lost her sister. My great-aunt is of Ukrainian decent and has a very memorable personality. She took an instant liking to James and used to flirt shamelessly with him. She's a tiny woman but has always liked taller men. My heart instantly loved her when we met nearly 20 years ago.
  I know you ask, how could I have family reunions every year not meet on of my great-aunts until I was in my late teens. It honestly took my Great Aunt and Uncle some time to make the trek down from Manitoba in a Winnebago but they finally came to the reunion. My dad and my Uncle Ed hit it off instantly and my dad took a lot away from that relationship. My Uncle Ed was the youngest of his family and had a very sharp mind right up until the end. He was a bit of a jokester and had a very dry sense of humor. He told my dad many stories of my grandfather and what life was like for them growing up. My dad's own father had passed when he was only 8 years old so there was a lot for him to know and question over the years as he was moved around.
  My Dad has recently started taking more of an interest in my family history project and has really wanted to go and see the resting places of our family members. Last weekend we went to the Mount Hope Cemetery in Hespeler to try and track down my great-grandmother and my dad's stepfather. We didn't find either of them but we did find my great-aunt Kitty and her husband William. Kitty was a very memorable Aunt when I was a child and I have many memories of being in her little house in Hespeler, admiring her silver tea set while she read my mom's tea leaves. We used to do a lot of visiting when I was a kid and were often over seeing people for tea or coffee. My Aunt Kitty had a boistrous laugh and we loved spending time with her, even if we weren't allowed to touch anything in her house. Just once I wish I could've been able to drink an entire cup of tea so she could've read my leaves. Just once I wish she could've been able to tell my future. I know it would be a memory that I would hold onto for all of my days. Instead she just sits in my memory.
  There are so many people in my memory. Some are just faces, or stories. Some I actually remember interacting with and the feel of their skin when they gave me a hug.
  Lately I've been drawn in by a Maya Angelou saying that I think sums this all up. I'll let her finish off this blog post.

The First Princess of Wales - Book Review

  I know that I haven't done a book review in a long time, but I think that may be because I haven't read anything that really swept me away and stayed with me once I closed the pages (or turned off the ipad/kobo.) This weekend, I had the immense pleasure of finding something that was worth writing about. 

  I'll be honest, having a Kobo has been fantastic. So easy to maneuver, the version I have lights up and it is so lightweight to hold but not too lightweight that you forget it's with you. The biggest issue with a kobo is that if you want to read books they are generally going to cost you money. That's where the library came in. The Cambridge Public Libraries (or if you want to use their silly new name, Libraries Unlimited) allow you to download books online. It's free to use as long as you have a valid library card. I signed up for it awhile ago because I was reading like crazy on the ipad. Now that I have a kobo, I'm really glad to see that I can still get books from them. I signed on the other day and downloaded two historical romances, which as you may know, is my favourite genre to read. The one was your traditional, slightly predictable drama about the Scottish Highlands with lairds and lasses. It was good, but it didn't hit home to me as being something original. Something I would really recommend to someone who wants to read a historical romance. 

   That's where The First Princess of Wales comes in. 

   The novel written by Karen Harper takes place during the reign of the Plantagenet's in England during a very tumultuous time in British History. It's all based on true facts surrounding the very first Princess of Wales, Joan of Kent and her star crossed journey to marry Prince Edward, the Black Prince. 

  I don't think I'm giving anything away by telling you that above. I mean, the book is titled the First Princess of Wales so you have to know that it's coming at some point. What I found remarkable about the story was how much it twisted and pulled your heart in so many directions. You felt for our heroine the entire way through the novel and cringed when she made errors in judgement and cheered when something wonderful happens. You laugh along with her and she bumbles through court and turns from a free-spirited country girl into a lady. At times you want to punch out the king and queen for being, well, kings and queens and you want to shake the royal family so that they can see what you as the reader can see by going on the journey. 

  It was a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed it even if it was a bit long and did have a large number of references to violet eyes and how beautiful everyone was. There was a certain amount of intrigue in the story that kept my mind moving through the pages and wanting to know what happens. I'm also incredibly happy that they stuck as close to the real version of events and didn't fluff over major events to keep the plot flowing. 

   There was a large amount of time devoted to describing the clothing and the fashion of the day which to mean seemed to show how much research Karen Harper put into the story. She didn't get all the historical facts right, but the clothing at least matched well.

  I did find after reading and digesting the book that there was an interesting correlation between the Joan of Kent and the current Princess of Wales, Camilla Parker-Bowles (or whatever her name is now that she's married to Charles.) Both women ended up married to the Prince of Wales after having been previously married and both women were looked at as potentially having relations with the prince before they were wed. 

  Needless to say, if you are looking for a long sweeping romance where you feel swept along and taken on a journey from England to France and back again, I do recommend this book. 

#26in2012 Recap (60 instead of 26!)

Here is the recap of books that I read in 2012:

60 - Calling the Shots - Christine D'Abo

59 - The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton - Catherine Alliott

58 - Hearts Aflame - Johanna Lindsey

57 - Corinthian - Georgette Heyer

56 - Perfect for You - Kate Perry

55 - Cypress Point - Diane Chamberlain

54 - When Snow Falls - Brenda Novak

53 - A Kind of Magic - Betty Neels

52 - Highland Honor - Hannah Howell

51 - Forbidden Fantasy - Cheryl Holt

50 - By His Majesty's Grace - Jennifer Blake

49 - Promises to Keep - Ann Tatlock

48 - Regency Delights - Patricia Rice

47 - Follow the stars Home - Luanne Rice

46 - Mastering the Marquess - Vanessa Kelly

45 - When His Kiss is Wicked - Kaitlin O'Riley

44 - The Naked Baron - Sally MacKenzie

43 - An Invitation to Sin - Jo Beverley

42 - The Angel of Blythe Hall - Darci Hannah

41 - The Delaney Christmas Carol - Iris Johansen

40 - Stonehenge - Bernard Cornwell

39 - Until Forever - Johanna Lindsey

38 - Man of my Dreams - Johanna Lindsey 

37 - Commitments - Barbara Delinsky

36 - Sugarplums and Scandal - Dana Cameron

35 - Days of Gold - Jude Deveraux

34 - The Last Templar - Raymond Khoury

33 - 50 Shades Free - E L James

32 - 50 Shades Darker - E L James

31 - Love the One Your With - Emily Giffin

30 - Just Breathe - Susan Wiggs

29 - 50 Shades of Gray - E L James

28 - Summer House - Nancy Thayer

27 - A Turn in the Road - Debbie Macomber

26 - Harvest Moon - Robyn Carr

25 - Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins

24 - Charming the Prince - Teresa Medeiros

23 - An Angel for Christmas - Heather Graham

22 - Not My Daughter - Barbara Delinsky

21 - Call me Mrs. Miracle - Debbie Macomber

20 - Bring me Home for Christmas - Robyn Carr

19 - Highlander's Challenge - Jo Barrett

18 - A Good Yarn - Debbie Macomber

17 - Highland Champion - Hannah Howell

16 - WanderLust - Chris Dyer

15 - Mistress of His Heart - Deborah Hale

14 - The Duke's Dilemma - Margaret Moore

13 - Manhunting Masquerade - Joanne Rock

12 - Naughty is Nice - Tawny Weber

11 - Voyage of an Irish Warrior - Michelle Willingham

10 - His Stand in Bride - Michelle Styles

09 - Desert Prince, Bartered Bride - Marguerite Kaye

08 - Walk on the Wilde Side - Anne Marie Winston

07 - Daisy and the Duke - Janice Maynard

06 - Saving Grace - Julie Garwood

05 - Christmas at Tiffany's - Karen Swan

04 - Dirty Sexy Knitting - Christie Ridgway

03 - After America - John Birmingham

02 - The Border Vixen - Bertrice Small

01 - Last Night at Chateau Marmont - Laura Weisberger

Blowing #26in2012 out of the water

  I don't know how I did it.

  How did I sit still for long enough to read as many books as I've read in 2012?

  My goal was 26 books in 2012 - or #26in2012. I beat that in the summer time and kept on going. I've read on the couch, in the bath, at bedtime. I've read on the treadmill and while cycling at the gym. I've brought paperback and hardcover books or my ipad in the car and to the park. I've read everywhere! For Christmas my husband purchased a Kobo for his "reading homesizzler" and since receiving it I've read 3 novels on the incredibly light reading machine.

  With only one full day left in the the year I am one book away from 60 books in 2012. 60. Wow. That's astounding. I'd love to start a new book, and I just might but I'm also thinking how nice it would be to round out my family tree with information that I have been able to gleam from our family books. That has become a really strong passion this year - finding out about my history and where I came from.

  No matter what happens in the next day, I know that I've had a successful year.

The Craziness that is November 2012

My life has been an absolute whirlwind lately and it doesn't look to be letting up any time soon. I have a to-do list that is several pages long, and that doesn't even count the one I have at work.

Everything has gotten so wild and it's only the beginning. In years gone by I've tried to get all my shopping done before November 15th so that I can beat the rush - get all that I need to get so that I can just chill out and enjoy the holidays.

Today is the day I book off in November that I use as my day to finish shopping - but I feel like I've only just begun. For the first time, I have no clue where to start and what to get. I also don't even have a good list to pass on for what I want.

Last year, after having lost my mom, I found that the holidays were something to look forward to. I looked towards the lights and the wonder and the joy of the holidays. This year I seem to be stuck behind the rest. I know it's only November 12th and most people won't start thinking about Christmas until at least December 1st, but I'm not most people. I'm usually organized and ready.

Yes, I did start shopping for the holidays back in August when we went to the states and checked out Bonner's Christmas Wonderland. It was wild and overwhelming. Looking back, it seems so fitting considering how I'm feeling now. Perhaps it was an indicator of things to come? Or perhaps it was showing me that sometimes your visions of how things should be, aren't always how they turn out.

The only Christmas related thing I can seem to focus on right now is the Ugly Sweater Society and the Santa Claus Parade this weekend. So excited to get the float together and to see the joy on our teams face as we get the sweaters on and the spirit up. Once that's done I can really focus on the rest of the fun of the holiday season.

The Last Templar - Book Review

This weekend I read another book bringing my total up to 34 for 2012. I'm amazed at how voracious my reading appetite is lately. It's not so much that I have a bunch of books to get through it's that nearly all my waking hours are consumed by getting back to the book and finishing it.

The book I most recently read is The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury and reading it I can completely understand how it made the New York Times Bestseller List.

Set in modern times with a glimpse back into the final days of the Knights Templar the book takes a strong look at the Templar Knights, Christianity as we know it and archaeology around the world. It's no secret that I love a book that has strong religious undercurrents, especially if the book involves relics of a long ago time and action packed scenes where everyone seems to be fighting to get the relic. In this case, the book talks about a lost Templar treasure, perhaps the most damning treasure the world has ever seen.

I read the book in rapt fascination. I was raised in a Christian household but by no means was my family religious. The bible and all the bible stories that were taught had always seemed to me as nice stories. They were trying to point us on a good moral path. I was never really comfortable with the opulence of the church and the more I learned and read, the more I never quite understood how the greed of so many in the church gave it so much more power over people.

My religious beliefs were always "We are all people under god." It has nothing do with our religion, our sexual orientation, the colour of our skin. We are all people. We all seem to worship one god, and I'm a strong believer that faith can heal wounds and bring us through times of sorrow. It's all about choices. It's all within us. This book brought that all back for me.

I was not shocked when reading the "About The Author" on the back of the book flap that Raymond Khoury was a screenwriter. The book was action packed, and I felt that I was right there with the characters, heart pumping, mind racing over all the possibilities and wondering how things were going to come around. I'm happy having done a little research to discover that they turned the book into a mini-series, something which I'd love to watch. I haven't felt this way about any of the books I've read recently, including 50 Shades which has rumors of a movie in the works. There is something about this book that I think will play very well on screen and I look forward to seeing if they can capture the intrigue and wonder that was brought to light on the pages of Mr. Khoury's novel.

Only one minor thing I noticed in the novel that I would've liked more of, but know that most male writers aren't so good at - description. The story was fast paced and quick moving, but there wasn't a lot of detailed description and knowing that Mr. Khoury is a screenwriter probably lends everything to that. In writing scripts you leave a lot of the description to your set design team.

It's a good book and I really do recommend it.

It's getting Sexy up in Here

It's no secret that things have been getting all sexy in my world this summer. It all started with a teeny weeny crush on Thor after watching the movie with my husband. Then I go to a barbecue and discuss hot men with some fabulous ladies who inform me that "everyone needs a list." I have delicious thoughts about that list, and finally put it together in a blog. This much you know.

What you don't know, is that I have finally watched Magic Mike and I've also read all three books in the 50 Shades series. 

That's a whole lot of sexy. 

I was so stoked to go see Magic Mike. It had two of my favourite men to look at - Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey. Watching them didn't disappoint. The story line though... wasn't so good. It was really predictable and frankly, not sexy enough. I know they were trying and really, the dancing guys were hot, but the story really wasn't. It need more... oomph. And yes-it needed more sex appeal. I honestly can't believe they are making a sequel. How can they ever turn it into a second movie? 

My Channing was great - he was the best part of the entire movie. Ladies - if you are like me, you'll like what you see and will be very happy with his performance. Matthew, just looked like he was supposed to - as a slightly washed up male stripper who has been usurped as the big dog in town. Now the Kid - this hot new guy that people were drooling over - he was bad. I didn't enjoy watching him and all I wanted was for him to shave and do something about his bad hair. I couldn't get past how bad it looked and frankly, it distracted from the story line. 

I do recommend watching the movie though - but I think it's a rental. I know - hard to believe since I was so pumped about it, but I think I would've liked watching it at home with some of my girlfriends over going to the theatre and having someone kick my chair periodically throughout the movie. I think it would've been better if we could've cracked some jokes, ate some popcorn together and shared a few laughs at the right times. Even still - I loved that my friends Devon and Steph could come with me. (Thanks ladies!)

Now onto 50 Shades. Everyone is talking about this book. You know it, I know it. And it seems that everyone is either reading it, or wanting to read it so that they know what everyone is talking about. Even guys I know are talking about it, although I don't think many of them are reading it. The book is erotica, and it's now main stream and it's drawn attention to some so-called alternatives to Vanilla Sex. 

Before reading the book, I was told some really awful things about it. I had heard that the writing wasn't very good and that there are certain aspects of the way things are described that are too repetitive. I had in my head that the book would be terrible and that I'd read the first and that would be that. The number of times I saw the words "My breath hitched" made me laugh and the sex which was so incredibly often that it was unbelievable. What I didn't expect was to actually want to know what happens to the characters. 

Book one was an introduction. It introduces the characters and shows how they behave before they meet and begin to get to know each other. It ends abruptly and predictably, but I found that I wanted to read the second book. 

I had heard that the second book was much better than the first. I think that was because the nature of the second book - where it's not all one-sided and where the main characters have some give and take and you see a more vulnerable side to Christian Grey. It was better and it was worth getting through. 

The third book I found could've stopped on a few occasions as there seemed to be some natural breaks in the story. But I get it. I think I get it more than I expected. The books introduce a lifestyle that shows that no matter what your sexual preferences are, your "kinky-fuckery" if you will, as long as your partner is okay with it, it's okay. It also showed that once a couple is married, they may be more willing to be honest about their feelings and what they are looking for from each other. 

 

I've always been pretty open about reading sexual things. I think this gives me a more broad view of what's out there and what I do like and what I don't. I don't need a contract, as they lay out in this book, but at the same time I think this is good to show the prudish people of the world what's out there. So yeah. Read the book. Open your eyes and try and get beyond the slightly juvenile writing and far fetched story line. You can do it. Go on now... I won't tell anyone :)

The List

Recently me and the hubs found ourselves at a party at the beautiful Jenn Eades house (oh Aaron and Pete's house too but they are boys so I don't count them in on this post - sorry guys!)

At this backyard shindig, I had the pleasure of meeting a large group of Jenn's friends including some that she's known for decades. (And no Jenn, I don't say that to make you feel old - because there is no way that we are old if we have so much fun!)

The night started out with a huge but fabulous discussion about Magic Mike - a movie due out Friday that has definitely got my attention. Come on girls - you have to agree that it peaks your curiosity a little as well. Just think of it, a sexy Channing Tatum, Matthew  McConaughey and a multitude of other hotties, slowly taking off their clothes. Oh yeah. It's certainly tantalizing.

All the hot talk about the hot men got people talking about their "List." I know they had lists on Friends and such, but the whole concept of actually having a list of my own hadn't really crossed my mind. I know what I like, but time changes so my list would change and evolve wouldn't it?

But here we were, a group of confident ladies discussing different celebrities that they considered good for their list. What was most amusing as well, was that many of their spouses had lists and they talked about them enough to know who was on each other's list. One of the girls even had a backup list, you know, in case one of her top guys needs to drop out for some reason.

The idea was so interesting, and hearing everyone's ideas was really eye-opening. It was very interesting to see that some of the women had ebbed and flowed, and some were still they would've had adolescent crushes or fantasies about.

I knew that I needed to make a list. Other than the person, or rather character on top, the rest of my list is in no particular order. And here it goes...


1. Thor. Mmmmmm Thor. Oh how you have completely filled my waking and sleeping dreams with your strength and sexiness. Oh I know that the actor looks really good as well, but there is something about a tall muscly guy with that perfect triangular shape - you know what I'm talking about girls - broad shoulders, down to a tapered waist. Hot Damn there is a reason you are my current number one. I cannot wait for more of the movies to come out. Hell, I want to watch the Thor movie, over and over again. If you haven't yet - I highly recommend checking this sexy beast out for yourselves!

2. Within the past 6 months, I've really grown an affinity for the sexy star of Magic Mike, Channing Tatum. Knowing that he used to be a stripper doesn't even phase me. I recently found out that he likes girls that are a little bigger, and since I am, it's even more reason to love this sexy man. There is something about his eyes, and yes, I do know that I'm old enough to have babysat him. that's why this is a dream list, not an actual list.

3. This hunk of burning love has been on my list since the 90's. I try to watch all his movies, without even realizing I'm doing it. I even like his stoner character in Dazed and Confused. In fact, I can still close my eyes and hear him saying "Alright, alright, alright," as only he can. He just exudes hotness, sexiness and man-oh-man his accent is completely droolworthy. Oh yes, I'm talking about Matthew McConaughey. 

4. Another actor who got my attention and was in Dazed and Confused I was a little hesitant to add as in recent years, I haven't wanted to break up his gorgeous marriage. Ben Affleck is someone that I've had a soft spot for, for a very long time.

5. Mark Wahlberg. I'm not talking about the really bad haircut for the movie that is coming out. I'm talking about Mark Mark and the Funky Bunch and the years after where he was more of an actor than a rapper. But hot. Still really, incredibly hot. Yummy!

6. Shemar Moore. Now that is a beautiful man. I imagine his skin to be as soft as butter, his arms strong and a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he only has eyes for me. I loved him on Y&R and can honestly say that I think he wins hands down as the hottest actor to ever be on that show (Oh please bring back the real Uncle Malcolm!) He's also the hottest guy on Criminal Minds. Hot with a capital H!

7. Joshua Jackson. I loved him as Charlie on Mighty Ducks but not nearly as much as I loved him as Pacey on Dawson's Creek. He was everything I want in a man, smart, funny, sexy and mischievousness. Just how I like my man. 

8. Jason Segel - now who doesn't like a funny sexy man? As Marshal on How I Met Your Mother, he's genius. In my head, he's exactly like the character. Lovable. Funny. Loyal and great in bed. :) I think if I met him we could be great friends. 

And that folks, is my list. I wanted 10 but as it's taken me all freaking night to put this together, I think I'll leave it at 8. There is definitely a pattern, although Thor broke the mold (rightfully so - I mean who can be more perfect than the God of Thunder???) So... who's on yours? Don't be shy. We're all friends here. :)

Hand me Downs

Growing up as the youngest of 4 kids - 3 of them girls, I got my fair share of hand me downs. Sweaters, pants, shorts, shoes - nearly all of my wardrobe used to belong to someone else. Even the dress I wore to my grade 8 grad was a hand me down from my sister - do you honestly think I would've worn a pink dress with ruffles and a big floppy pink bow? I like to think it looked really good on me, but I know that if I were given an option the pink bow would've been kiboshed.

On Friday, one of my coworkers gave me some hand-me downs. She had some pyjama pants that she had never worn, a dress top she only wore once and swore never to wear again and some jeans that for whatever reason she never wore - might be the sparkles on them. I was a little hesitant at first. It's been a really long time since anyone has handed me down their cast offs and I wasn't sure they'd fit me, let alone be something that I'd want to wear.

The first thing I tried on was the pyjama pants. They are funky colours, have polka dots and stripes and I had already decided that if they didn't fit/work that I'd be turning them into something crafty and fun. Success - they fit! I'm still contemplating turning one of them into some sort of fabric necklace or fabric flower or something (thank you Pinterest for making me look at everything in a completely different way!)

The second item was the jeans. They are black and a little long, and are actually a little bit big but they are really pretty. I figure until I feel like hemming, I'll be rolling them up all big and 60s style with a wide cuff. I'm a little crazy like that.

The third item was the pretty top that I had immediately looked at and realized was completely not my co-worker's style. It had ruffles and was a very thin gauze-type fabric that you could see through. The fabric was mostly white but had almost a floral pattern of black, grey and dusty rose. My coworker is more of an Ozzy fan, so the fact she had owned this shirt and worn it once was a bit amazing. As soon as I put this shirt on it was like it was completely meant for me. I own lots of tank tops (gotta hide my gigantic mammories somehow) so it was no issue to think that I have white, black and grey that could go underneath. The tones look really good with my skin even and made it look like I had a slight tan. I was so happy that I kept the shirt on all day long and received many compliments.

Sometimes a hand me down is just a wonderful gift that we can give another person. In a way, I can count my coworker as one of my sisters now. Now I only have to figure out how to repay the favour. :)

My jumbled brain

Sometimes an idea for a blog will hit me at the craziest times and when it comes time to sit down and actually do it, I find myself completely lost as to where to start.

The other day I was driving to my sisters from work and looked out across a country field and was overwhelmed with the need to write a blog about an adventure I took while working for the Cambridge Reporter back in the day. I was so set and determined that I would write the blog and post the awesome pictures.

Then life happened.

Life keeps happening all around me and it is amazing and wonderful, sad and painful. My friends and family members continue to have gorgeous babies, plan wonderful weddings, give their hearts to the world around them and their time and their money. It's wonderful and joyous and fantastic.

And when I look around, I just feel like I'm treading water sometimes. Going through the motions every single day. Not really getting anywhere, but not really being left behind either. I'm just here and the days just keep going on. Day turns to night, night turns to day. My ideas float around and then disappear. Sometimes I make something of them. Sometimes I don't but I find it interesting the way my mind works. They way it constantly weaves and sways backwards and forwards. Sometimes it's overwhelmed, sometimes it's completely in charge.

A few weeks ago I was at my dad's house and we were talking about the past and the future but not really about today. (I think it's something that people who have experienced loss are very good at doing.) He was giving me some of my mom's rings, as we are finally dealing with her will, and we were looking through some stuff in the office. He looked at his large bookshelf of photographs and confirmed again that I wanted his photo albums in which I instantly said yes. There is something so wonderful about having the memories all captured together in an album and having my father's words underneath explaining what was happening and the funny story involved. I realize that pictures on a computer screen can never capture that same moment. You don't get the emotion and they are cold.

I began to realize that there moments in my life that on the screen would just seem cold and empty. I looked at some of our wonderful parties we've had over the years and realized that wouldn't it be great to immortalize them into a book. I created a book with some of our wedding photos for my husband for one of our many wedding anniversaries and I love looking at it. Why can't I do that with other wonderful moments?

And so I want to create a book for the Beer Olympics. The big party that I hosted and helped organize for all my friends back in 2008. The pictures for some reason are no longer showing up on the site, but it's still there in essence. I know that I've had some requests to bring it down now that we've gotten older and some of us have become more concerned about our names and images being accessible to employers and the world. It made me begin to feel that it's time to immortalize those memories and images after I'm gone.

I have also been toying with the idea of putting together a memory cookbook of my mom. I needed a recipe around thanksgiving, which was a few weeks after my mom had passed, and I ended up finding all these wonderful recipe cards that she had hand written. Some on scraps of paper with notes as to who she got them from and when. I think it'd be fantastic to put them together with pictures of her so that we have them for all time. I also think it'd be the best gift I can give my siblings to keep and cherish of my mom.

I know that all of this is mourning work. We've been talking in my Coping group about the difference between grieving, which is the feelings we hold inside and don't show anyone and mourning which is the outward manifestation of those feelings. Looking at pictures, sharing stories, crying, all of these are outward and visible and are all part of the process. There is nothing wrong with them and I find great comfort in them all. I feel like she's with me.

This week in session was a hard one. We talked about the moment it happened, when we found out and who was immediately there afterwards. I mentioned how my mom passed and how my aunt who recently passed away was a great comfort to me. She put her arms around me for a big hug and she whispered in my ear to tell me that my mom loved me. In that moment I was filled with so much warmth. I can't even begin to describe it. When my aunt passed a few weeks ago, I found that I had to do the same for her kids. I don't know if they felt the same warmth that I did, but I knew it was an important thing to do. Recalling that story made me cry, and it's making me cry now, but that's good. I need to cry sometimes.

In a way, this blog is also part of my mourning work. It allows me to get my feelings out into the world so that you can see what I'm going through. Some people think I should be all better now and back to my happy go lucky self. Some people have never lost someone that meant so much to them and so they never understand that the feelings linger and that they sometimes manifest themselves in different ways. I'm learning through my group that it's okay if I'm not ready to be around certain people. That it's okay if I change a bit and that it's okay if I don't ever go back to the person that people thought I was before.

One thing that has really been bothering me is the way that some people look to me to be this wild and crazy party person. They expect me to be full of life and joy when out in large groups. They don't know the other me. The one who only feels comfortable and secure with people she knows. They don't know that it takes me 3 days to recover from being in a large group. They have no idea that in reality I'm introverted and that sometimes it's very difficult for me to talk to new people. Sure I can be loud sometimes and I can get rowdy, but only when I'm truly comfortable and feel in control. If I don't have that control, I don't act recklessly.

In many ways, I feel for my husband. He doesn't quite understand, even though he's introverted too. He has found an outlet every week at karaoke. He feels comfortable, included and part of the crowd. He joins in and sings. He laughs and has a great time. Every week he comes home and tells me how I would really love it and whenever music is on he tells me that I should sing this song or that. He doesn't know how it feels to be completely overwhelmed sometimes by the large group and  how it actually hurts inside to think of going up on the stage. I know that the one time I went there were a large amount of people there I didn't know. Everyone was welcoming but I still felt on the outside looking in, like I didn't belong. It's still nice to know that people ask about me when I'm not there, but they don't realize how hard it would be for me and how that one night of going would probably make me want to stay inside for a week.

Sometimes, I will go places where there is a smaller crowd. And sometimes I will still come out of my little shell and talk to people. But it isn't where I'm comfortable. This is my "new normal" as we keep talking about in my group. I feel comfortable there. Everyone has experienced loss. They've all had the heartache that continues to plague me. They've all had moments where they've forgotten where they started and where they were going. They've all been stopped dead in their tracks realizing that what they were about to do wasn't going to work because the person they were going to do it for, or that they were trying to contact is no longer there.

Loss is hard.

And it's jumbled my brain.

This weekend I want to celebrate life. In the only jumbled way I know how, with cherished friends and family, and by myself. I feel that for the first time since my mom passed I should really follow through with the promises that I've been wanting to keep.

Quick Update

I have a few blogs in my mind but until my final assignment is handed in Sunday I think it's not fair to finish them.

Sunday. Eek! How could the past 4 months gone so quickly? Last week I had to hand in a synopsis of my entire book from start to finish. Considering I hadn't even written it all yet this was no easy feat. Luckily I had my husband around long enough to sit with me while I agonized over it sitting in a Pizza Hut just hours before it was due.

I also started out at the Coping Centre last week. As you may already know, I've experienced a lot of loss over the past 14 months. My uncle passed away after a 7 year battle with liver cancer last February, my mom was diagnosed in May of Stage 4 cancer and passed away in September with my dog going two weeks after. A few weeks ago I also lost one of my favourite Aunts. There have been other losses over the past year and a bit and it's made life a little difficult for me. I'm not just the same happy go lucky person that I once was and I'm hoping this group can help me cope with everything.

A few weeks ago I stayed at a fabulous B&B in Stratford called the Blue Spruce on Erie. I have a big ol' blog post written about that in my brain that I still need to flesh out. Before I have a chance, please take my word for it that it's a great place to stay that's not too far from downtown.

While in Stratford I went to check out some dogs as me and the hubs have decided we are ready to find a dog perfect for us. While at the Humane Society they let me walk one of the dogs, a very sweet girl named Chanel, but halfway down the stairs I ended up going down with a really bad sprain. Or I hope it's a sprain. I need to get an xray this week (somehow at some point.)

This week I have 4 family birthdays and the potential birth of two babies that I'm planning on loving like my own. My bestie Devon is having a c-section on Friday and my sister-in-law is due on Tuesday but the baby could come any time. Heck, she could be in labour right this minute and we wouldn't know because of the fact that they don't allow cell phones. So I'll be rooting for them all week. I also have a wedding shower out of town on Sunday afternoon.

All this craziness means that I have zero time to do all the thousands of things I want to do, and I need to instead spend every waking minute working on the first 20 pages of my novel along with a letter to a publisher where I'd like to market my book to. Tonight I've set the ground work on the publisher, again. I had done work at the start of the course but now that I'm writing I feel that perhaps a different publishing house might be more suited to my work.

So yeah. That's as much of an update as I have time for right now. I'll have a bit more time to breath next Monday night but until then - it's nose to the grindstone! Wish me luck!

Harlequin's not so secret secret

I need to let you all in on a dirty little secret.

You can read Harlequin books online.

For Free.

It's crazy I know. But you should check it out.

http://www.harlequin.com/articlelist.html?activeTab=READ

It's given me all sorts of quick reads the past week since my instructor turned me onto it. Might reach my 26 in 52 after all!

My garden today

I'm about to head out into my garden for the first time this year and I know it's only March 11th.

Where did winter go?

We certainly didn't get a winter here in southern Ontario. It came and went so quickly that it's amazed we had any show at all. It came and hit with a force and then melted within days. I can't help wondering whether the predictions in that lovely movie Al Gore made called "An Inconvenient Truth" might actually come true. It talked about how with the way the earth was headed we were going to get temperature extremes and faster, more severe storms. There would be an increase in everything.

I also wonder if this was brought on by that earth quake last year that shifted the earth on it's axis.

Either way, it's the middle of march and I could probably go outside and start planting. I'd love to but I think it's much more important for me to do some cleaning first.

As I mentioned in my last post, I have a lot of dreams for this year's garden. I hope that I can have something that I'm proud of. I guess I'll just have to go off my quote for this week:

"Dreams don't work unless you do."

And with that - I'm off to clean up the mess that was left from last year. I'm off to try and get it all pretty and ready for planting in a few weeks. This means getting rid of dirty pots and digging up roots I should've already removed in the fall. At least the sun is shining.

Exercising with Jenny McCarthy

I did something I very rarely do last night - I went into a video game store.

Yes me. And no, my husband didn't bring me kicking and screaming.

He was on the hunt for some game, I think a racing game or something. He never plays with the games he has now so I wasn't entirely sure what the sudden pull was. We had nothing going on, I was having a very down day so I really didn't care what we did as long as it wasn't wallowing in the sad funk that I found myself in on my drive home yesterday.

Anyhow, enough about that.

We went to the EB Games near our house and immediately upon entering I found an end of rack area set up with fitness games. I've been talking about how I wanted to start getting fit using the Wii for awhile now, but my lazy arse couldn't be bothered to put in any batteries into the balance board so it's just sat there taunting me for a few months. Okay, maybe it hasn't been taunting me. It is hidden behind the laundry and so therefore I did shut it up quite good.

Back to the games. There were a few that I was interested in.

#1 - an MMA Fighter fitness game that was all about punching and kicks and stuff to kick your ass into shape. It had this handy little contraption that wrapped around your leg and was connected to controllers so that it was able to track your movements.

#2 - A Zumba fitness game that had you dancing and shaking your way into fitness. I was very intrigued as I've heard nothing but positive things about Zumba and about how much fun people have. This game would've been cool, but it came with a belt that I could tell would fit around my fat leg and not my fat stomach as they showed on the box. It was built for smaller girls, not for big girls like me, so I ruled it out.

#3 - A game that features a video camera that is mounted to the game where they actually can see you and your progress. You don't have to stand on anything and you can be any size fat ass that you are in order to start. Jenny McCarthy acts as your personal trainer, or at least her digitized cartoon version is. Per the box it says "Fitness that's fun and focused on you."

Intrigued by all of them I called over my hubby. He told me "If you want it, go ahead," and then proceeded to leave me alone to fight over the differences. As you can tell by the title of my blog, the one I chose was #3.

Your Shape featuring Jenny McCarthy

I brought it home, put on my workout gear (minus the sneakers), got the camera set up and prepared to get started. No time like the present right? There were some minor glitches with the camera - the angle it was focused on, that I was wearing black pants and the camera couldn't differentiate between my legs and the bedspread behind me because they were both dark, but we worked through them and I found that I actually felt good from the work out.

Of course I ended up doing extra because I screwed up in the beginning and had the absolute wrong weight set in the system for me and there was no way to correct this once you got past the initial run - which is a big glitch in the game in my opinion. But other than that, I really felt the game lived up to what it said. Because they could see my movements, they were able to tell me what I did wrong, which was a nice feature. Next time, I'm going to wear sneakers though because push ups on a carpet with socks on are very difficult.

So essentially what I'm saying is, thank you Jenny McCarthy for making it possible for fat asses like me to get up and do some exercise. I look forward to working out with you again.

Tearjerker

Today I find myself reminded of my mom.

Today would be her birthday.

I still find it incredibly difficult to imagine that she's gone. That we aren't going to get a phone call. That she won't be there when we pop in for a visit. That she isn't going to walk around the corner. That she won't tell me my hair is getting grey and I need to dye it. We won't hear her criticism and we won't hear her praise.

My mom was a very important aspect of my life. It pains me, today of all days, to think that I no longer have her in my life.

And I know I've said it before, she's still in my heart and in my memories. And I can try and live in her image. But not having her here really hurts today.

Mom, I miss you. I miss all that you are about and all that you were. I miss your smile. I miss your laughter. I miss your uniquely coloured eyes and you twirling your hair.

I miss you.