She's Got

Day 2--Your Least Favourite Song

I thought about this all day and have come to the realization that I hate a lot of songs. Songs like this one.

The other day I was driving to work and this horrendous song came on the radio.

Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes



To add insult to injury I stumbled on a website that will show you what the number one song was from the day you were born, and of course, of course, guess what just happened to be topping the list.

Bah!

Let's hope Day 3 is better.

Unknown Quotients

Oh kids. I would say that it has been one of those days or weeks, but it seems like it has been one of those years. Can you believe that we have already made it half way through 2011. Barf!

This year is strangely wearing me out. My coworkers and I literally count the hours every day until the weekend, and sadly weekend after weekend goes by without getting anything crossed off my to do list. Wasn't I suppose to unpack from my move last September before now?

Look, I definitely learned my lesson. Do not complain about work. Insanely busy at work is much, much, much, much better than no work at all. But sometimes I wish I had a couple of months to myself again, just to get some things done and maybe spend more of my time talking to all of you.

So....hows about another 30 day blog challenge!?!?

I decided to undertake the 30 Day Song Challenge that has been floating around Facebook for some time now.

Day 1--Your Favourite Song

Seriously?!? You expect out of my whole music library to pick just one stellar tune?

So I thought I would leave for you a song that is definitely climbing the most played charts on my ipod.

Girl Inform Me--The Shins




I've seen Garden State....more than once. I thought The Shins were all too played out on my ipod, until a few weeks ago when this song randomly began playing. I've been mesmerized ever since.

You could do worse than The Shins, even if they do remind me too much of Zach Braff. Take a listen if you aren't familiar.

See you tomorrow!

Eastern Daylight Time

Look, I don't feel that bad for not blogging. I personally think blogging is on its way out. One day it will just be another one of those funny internet things that sound vaguely familiar like chatrooms, Netscape or Myspace. But in any event, I'm here for a while yet.

Most of you have all but forgotten, but I really did go to Toronto at the end of April. ("I've got pictures to prove I was there, but you don't care.")

Thankfully I put 21st century technology to use and tweeted the whole trip. I knew I would be much too lazy to write up what we did when I got back, and heaven knows that I took only a handful of pictures.

But here are the highlights, if you are the kind of person that actually likes vacation slide shows.

I mentioned before that I wasn't a very good flyer. I like the convenience of getting to a destination in a short amount of time, but I still don't like anything about flying. I appreciate the free movies and drinks which help me take my mind off the rest of the experience. I, horrendously, was the dreaded middle seat both on the way there and back.  I know, I know, I am one of those complainy people mentioned here.

Toronto is Canada's largest city. It is completely different than Western Canada, and even even though we have some of Canada's largest cities in Alberta, it is nothing compared to Toronto.

We did a lot of walking and took public transit everywhere. I will tell you there is no difference between a bus, streetcar, subway or train.

 

We also did a lot of eating. There was so much good food everywhere. In Greektown we had some authentic Greek food and amazing honey balls.  Fresh, the delightful vegetarian restaurant, where the deep fried tofu was amazing. Huge, handmade burgers at the Great Burger Kitchen and fudge I still dream about from Niagara Falls. It is probably good we did so much walking.

We did the regular Toronto sites. Dundas Square, Eatons Centre, St. Lawrence Market, The Distillery, Yorkville and of course, the CN Tower.

The view was pretty amazing. The glass floor and outside observation deck were pretty scary, and so we didn't spend that much time there, but the SkyPod, a glass enclosure on the spire of the the tower, was impressive.

As we were leaving the CN tower we had a chance sighting of a celebrity. A lady excitedly stopped a guy who had just walked past us. It turns out that he was "Ryan" from All My Children. Not keeping up with soaps, Jenny and I had to look him up on IMDB to find out who he really was.

We walked by the Hockey Hall of Fame like the good Canadians we were, but didn't go inside. I bet Wayne Gretzky is sad.

One of my favourite places we visited was the CBC building. I was hoping to catch a glimpse at my favourite Canadian Broadcasting superstars like Peter Mansbridge or George Stroumboulopoulos


But to my excitement, and the excitement of any Canadian from my generation, was all of the Mr. Dressup artifacts that we go to see!

Jenny and I decided to take the GO Train out to Niagara Falls. The train was pretty easy to figure out and it was only a couple of hours until we reached our destination. We, of course, picked one of few rainy days, but it was still an impressive site to see.

We got lost in the rain trying to make it back to the bus and so we were cold, wet and tired and didn't really feel like taking in all of the cheesy sites that Niagara Falls had.

The trip was over much too quickly. It seems like we squeezed in a lifetime of events into a short six days. But the best part of my whole time was just being able to have face-to-face conversations and jokes with Jenny once again. Sometime you don't know what you've got until it's gone.

A HUGE thank you to Jenny for being such a wonderful tour guide. I can't wait until we are in the same time zone again.

No rest for the weary, life seemed to pick up right where I left it. I am looking forward to my next adventure, wherever that may be.

Just keep doing what you're doing.

As Always,

Eastern Standard Time

So much for my big return to blogging. Can you even believe how dangerously close we are to April? There is no way that a quarter of this year is already behind us. Barf.

Since Jenny moved away in September, nearly seven months ago, we have kept in pretty good contact, possibly better than when we lived in the same house. Our Friday phone calls have become a tradition, and sometimes, like this week, our Friday phone calls extend into Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday...thank goodness for free long distance. For all of you who think the phone call is dead, fear not, Jenny and I are keeping it alive.

With the casual 'see you' at the end of our phone calls, we usually catch ourselves, realizing that with the 2,616km (1626 miles) it could be a long time before we actually see each other. But thanks to the government and somewhat large tax return, it won't be long until Jenny and I will actually be in the same city once again.

I found a cheap enough flight and ran the idea by Jenny. Now with a little more than 20 days left until I arrive in the T-dot (I'm almost cool enough to go there) Jenny and I have been making plans of all the must do places and events.

So please share your Ontario wisdom with me and let me know if all things we would be foolish to miss. (No, we aren't going to the Hockey Hall of Fame.)

Also, this is my first solo adventure. Any travel tips you would like to pass on? Are you a window or an aisle person? (I'm definitely aisle) Anyone else suffer from motion sickness? (When did I become Margo Pike?)

I am hoping to document some my trip, so stay tuned for the updates.

I'll talk to you all again soon. Good luck in your future endeavours.

As Always,

Truth Is I Never Left

I'm still here. I've just been quiet for the last 46 days.

In the five years that I have been blogging, February 2011 was the first month I missed. So for all of you who were concerned, wondered if I had given up my nonsensical ways, or possibly died, fear not. You couldn't get rid of me that easily.

Everyday in 2011 has seemed to go by faster than that last. Work has been insane since the beginning of the year, making typing anything or being anywhere near a computer the last thing I want to do when I get home from work. Combine that with the annoying chest cold I have had for the past two weeks, making falling into bed the first thing I want to do when I get home from work.

Besides there seems like there have been a million other important things going on besides my daily musings. Things like this, this, this, this,this, this and let's not forget this.

Don't worry, I've got more to say, so I'll talk to you all soon.

What More Do You Want?

Phew! Well, at least we made it through another January. January always seems to be the most taxing of the whole year. While I don't put a lot of faith into February being any better, at least January is gone for another year.

I know I am just squeaking this post by, and that 2010 seems like more than a life time ago, but here is my 2010 yearly CD, 'What More Do You Want?'

Who I Am—Nick Jonas & The Administration
(I want to break all the madness but it’s all I’ve have)

Happiness Is A Warm Gun—The Beatles
(She’s not a girl who misses much)

No Such Thing—John Mayer
(I like to think the best of me is still hiding up my sleeve.)

Honey Pie—The Beatles
(So won’t you please come home?)

Mushaboom—Feist
(It may be years until the day my dreams will match up with my pay.)

Don’t Pass Me By—The Beatles
(Does it mean you don’t love me anymore?)

I Hate My Generation—Sloan
(Maybe it’s my fault)

Yer Blues—The Beatles
(Yes, I’m lonely)

Don’t Forget—Demi Lovato
(Did you forget about me?)

You Never Give Me Your Money—The Beatles
(See no future, pay no rent)

To See You—Peter Katz
(I just can’t take you so far away)

Two of Us—The Beatles
(You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out of here.)

Something On—The Tragically Hip
(I know the alienation)

Baby You’re A Rich Man—The Beatles
(How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people?)

Quelqu’un m’ dit—Carla Bruni
(On me dit que le destin se moque bien de nous) (They tell me that destiny makes fun of us)

Let It Be—The Beatles

(And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me)

Yes, you saw that correctly, there are eight Beatles songs on this years album. The original plan was to have the whole CD just be The Beatles, but it felt kinda wrong not including Peter Katz , that I decided to make only half of the album Beatles. So for every non Beatle song, there is a Beatles song that matches up with it. Fun and games on this years compilation! See if you can figure out what songs go together.

To make your life that much easier, I have also made a YouTube playlist of all of the songs. So sit back and take a listen.

Let me know what you think. Any songs on here that you love and/or hate?

Post a comment or two if you know what songs go together.

I'll Have You Know

I tell myself everyday to stop being so lame, but so far I haven't really taken my own advice. I have every intention of actually publishing the many posts that I have just been squirling away for a few weeks now. And I hope to actually let you all in on my 2010 Yearly CD. Fingers crossed it makes its way to your computer before January has left us for another year.

But to not leave you empty handed, with only promises I am sure to break, I found this adorable, true to life video for you. Enjoy!



I really do love you all, and will be back before you know it.

As Always,

Return Of The Fascinating Girl

With darker hair and a much need haircut, I am ready to take on the new year, and  look pretty good.

I did have to suffer through this lady cutting my hair again (Seriously, I need to find somewhere new to go), but at least this time the end results weren't nearly as drastic as last time. And give my hair a few weeks and it will be just the perfect length.

But I think the thing that I love the most is my new coat. After hitting up an after Christmas sale I scored the tailored wonder, severely marked down.

I know what you are thinking, it is the perfect Fascinating Girl coat! I don't know that the picture does it enough justice, but it has put a spring in my step since I bought it.
What do you love wearing? Have you found any seasonal scores?

Auld Lang Syne

Sorry kids, I can't predict the future. I can't tell any of us whether 2011 is going finally be our year, or if it is going to be a year best forgotten. But I can make a suggestion. Why don't we just try and live this year the best we can? Maybe it's time to finally find joy and excitment in whatever is thrown at us.

We are all going to be okay.

Here is our new mascot.

Where Have You Been?!?!

It looks as though December and 2010 itself has almost slipped away without a word from me. I doubt that most of you were overly broken up, or even realized that so many days had passed without commentary from me. After all it looks as if most of you have given up blogging as well.

So for all of you (all three of you) here is what I have been doing all of December.

1. Jenny moved two whole time zones away this fall and even though I talk to her every Friday, and sometimes even more often then that, she came home early in December and we have been spending as much time together as possible. We have been staying up way too late, eating much too much food and laughing like old times. It will be sad when she has to return to her eastern home next week.

2. Thankfully our office Christmas party has long since come and gone. After two unsuccessful tries to find a date to the party and with less than a week to spare, I asked this guy. (Who, yes, is this guy too) The party was as good as office parties go, even though I had to hustle us out of the party somewhat early due to the excessive amounts of business cards my date was handing out. Family and friends were appalled at my horrible date, but I feel like I have been on worse. Maybe it is time to re-read this article.

3. I went through the temple for the first time on December 18. It was a good experience, although not without its first timer faux pas. Between all of the interviews, arrangements and six weeks of temple prep, nearly four months had passed since I first decided I should go. It definitely taught me patience and helped me feel prepared for a lovely day with all of my family and friends.

4. Christmas with all of its noise and chaos came and went in a flash this year. My 1 ½ year old niece made me laugh every day during my time off work. We chased each other around, went swimming and read countless books. She mimicked every word out of our mouths. It is sad to see someone so adorable leave.

5. On top of all of the Christmas rush we even found time to exchange our yearly CDs. I’ll post the details of my CD later, but after the blur that 2010 ended up being, it was difficult to put together a compilation of more than four songs.

What have you been up to?

So with the days left of 2010 quickly falling away, we gratefully have come to the end of another year. It looks as through my January 2010 promise is coming true: ‘We Are Going To Make It Through This Year If It Kills Us.’

Phew.

Stop Filing It Under Lame

I understand I am from Canada, and from Western Canada at that. Cold weather is nothing new. After a slow start to spring and only a handful of days of summer, we were ready to ease nicely into a mild fall, but somehow we were unexpectedly hit with sub artic temperatures last week, and with each passing day it seems to get colder and colder. I think this morning was the coldest at a bone chilling –38*C (-36.4*F) with the wind chill. Even at lunch, four hours later, with the sun brightly shining, it only made its way up to –25*C (-13*F) with the wind chill still –30*C.

I understand that only a handful of you can really understand and appreciate how cold that really is. It is the kind of cold that takes your breath away and even with multiple layers of sweaters, coats, scarves, mittens and boots it somehow isn’t enough to keep you warm for more than a minute. And on those really cold morning, after staying in your warm bed for as long as possible, the cold makes you want to just sit in your car and cry from the drastic temperature change.

I, for one, miss global warming.

But for generations we have been dealing and coping with this cold weather. Here is the story.

Alfred and Fanny Garner, along with most of Fanny’s family was asked by John Taylor to come to Canada to settle. Leaving their Utah home they made the long trek to settle in Southern Alberta. Probably, just like my mother, they were horrified with how large the sky was, were puzzled by jam in a can, and learned the real pronunciation of shone, but settled in and helped to establish the town of Caldwell.

After a particularly cold winter, some of the Utah natives had enough and abandoned their Canadian homes for the Southern climate. Alfred and Fanny stayed, and now five generations later we still live only a couple of hours from their Caldwell home.

I really do love living in Canada. Where else can you get universal health care and butter tarts? But I guess the cold is just something we have to deal with. There is no wonder why the Canadian Olympic team’s uniform included mittens. Besides don’t you have to love a country that thinks 35*C (95*F) is unbearably hot?

Answering To You

Oh ha! More than half of the month has gone and you haven't even heard a peep from me. Although I feel somewhat justified in my long sabbatical after writing way too much last month.

So exactly what have I been up to.

1. Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month)

I debated for while about participating, until a friend said, why not just start? So a few day's into November I pounded out this opening sentence.

The kitchen still smelled like spicy chicken curry or at least that is what Amber assumed the smell was.

Sounds like a best seller to me! But close to the third week on November I only have 400 words. Somehow I don't think I will be making the 50,000 goal this year.

2. Peter Katz

I know I write about Peter every time he makes a stop in town. Like usual, he didn't disappoint.

Seriously, just love him already.

3.  Winter

We had been enjoying a love warmish fall, and then without a lot of warning, winter started earlier this week. To look outside is nothing but depressing. Amazingly we all quickly found our mittens and remembered how to drive in the snow.

As I drove home tonight after work my car politely reminded me it was a brisk -15*C (5*F), and all I could think about was how much colder it is bound to get. But before we all get too depressed, let's not forget where we live, there is bound to be a chinook before long.

4. New Baby

On Monday, November 15, just as the snow began to fall, we welcomed a new baby. Convinced for months that it was a boy, my second niece, Macy Jane surprised us all coming two weeks early.

We are all excitedly looking forward to visiting our two favourite little girls.

So despite how fast November has flown by I have been busy enough. It feels like forever since I have seen any of you. What have you been up to?

And...Scene!

Well, here it finally is, Day 30. Thanks to all of you for reading, even if it was periodic.

So today I am suppose to to tell you about my plans for the next thirty days. To be honest I don't have any real plans for tomorrow, let alone for the next thirty days. But after some thought, I have come up with a list of things that I probably should be doing in November.

1. Decide if I am going to participate in NanoWriMo

2. Happily listen to Peter Katz lull me into submission

3. Clean my room...Oh my.

4. Make a decision about Preference. (Really?)

5. Finally find out if I have a new niece or nephew

6. Find something to wear to my Christmas party...and I guess a date too.

7. Start putting together my end of the year CD.

8. Plan all kinds of adventures, if only to document them for you.

So it looks as if November will be just as busy as the rest of the year. I still can't believe it is November.

Thirty days of writing was a challenge, but thankfully it got easier with each passing day. I suggest you give it a try for your blog. I just hope you don't mind if I am quiet for a day or two....or three.

Good luck to all of us.

Done For Another Year

Well all of my Halloween celebrations have come and gone, and all without me having to hear 'The Monster Mash' or 'Thriller'.  I am still amazed at how much confidence you can get from backcombed hair and black eyeliner.

So on this the last Friday of October, I thought that it was about time that we participate in Fill In The Blanks Friday.

1.The first thing I do in the morning: is cry and wish I had ten more minutes to sleep.

2. Today I wish: I could have had an afternoon nap. We were all so tired and cranky at work today.

3. If I had an extra $100 in my bank account today: (Actually, I do. Thanks payday.) Sadly I have a new car to pay for.

4. Tomorrow I will be: Sleeping in (Do you see a theme here?) I have been looking forward to my quiet weekend all week.

5. Two things that don't go together are: Beans and dessert...sorry Eric.

6. Something I can never pass up at the grocery store is:  Magazines. I buy a new one most every time I get groceries. It's a real sickness.

Here For The Times

I'm not just here to entertain you, but today I'm also here to help you. Not too long ago I stumbled on to a pretty awesome website.

Just admit it, since they stopped making them with cords, we have all lot our phone at one point in time. There is nothing more annoying than not being able to find your cell phone just before you are about to leave the house. You spend precious moments looking under couch cushions, searching all the various nooks and crannies, until you just wish someone would magically call your phone to aid in your search.

Fear not! Your prayers have been answered. Check out ican'tfindmyphone.com. Just enter your number and this handy website will call you (free of charge, I might add) to help you find your phone. It even has a congratulatory speech for you when you finally do find your phone and answer the call.

Another problem solved....you're welcome.

Loving, Living, Everything

As much as I love my blog, sometimes it just doesn't do it for me. So for those boring day to day details and all of those events and ideas that are much too personal to post on here, (They are the back story to all of the song lyric posts.) I have a couple of real, paper and pen, diaries to record even more of my history. (There's more?!?)

Blank notebooks somehow seem kinda intimidating, so I picked up diaries that have a little more to them then just lines.

1. 5 Year Diary

A cute little book that only has five lines to record each day. You would be surprised how fast you can fill up five lines with your day to day comings and goings. It's awesome if you want a daily record of what you have been up to.

2. Wreck This Journal

Perfect for those boring days, or a great way to get your creative juices flowing again. This journal has different ways to use and abuse the book. It is great for those of us who hate to mess up our beautiful notebooks with writing.

3.Keel's Simple Diary

More like a psychology test, this diary is full multiple choice questions to answer about your day. Perfect for when you feel like you have nothing to say. An easy way to just share your peace of mind.

How do you document your life?

Everything Is Going To Be Okay

Today wasn't the best day ever. I was running late all day, no matter how much I tried to catch up I was buried under a pile of work, my throat hurt, I missed more than one person terribly, winter tried to make an early appearance and to top everything, I had no idea what I would write for you today....until I found this. Yes, just minutes before a new day begun, it all felt like it was going to be okay.

Remember The Book of Awesome I told you about a few weeks ago? Here is the author of the book making a pretty inspiring speech. I know, I know, it is 17 minutes long, but well worth your time. Take a break from everything else and watch.

Don't Back Out Now

Aren't you going to be just a little bit sad when October is over?

Today I am suppose to tell you about my favourite fiction book. Most of you know that I hardly finished any of the selections our book club picked. (I still can't believe I was in a book club.) But when picking books of my own choosing and not analysing them to death, I kinda like reading.

So instead of one book, I will tell you about my favourite author. Sophie Kinsella is a British author who writes hilarious, girly books. Years ago, I decided that I needed to do more reading in my life, and I wandered the bookstore trying to find something to whet my reading appetite. I finally stumbled on a bright pink book, "Confessions of a Shopaholic." It seemed more like a self help book, and so I blindly purchased it, and to my surprise had stumbled on a fantastically funny book. The Shopaholic books soon turned into a series of books, each one funnier than the last. (Don't watch the movie...it will just make you sad.)

I was delighted to see that even even the stand alone books were awesome. And I now have quite the collection of Sophie Kinsella books on my bookshelf.

Enjoy a reading from one of her new books. (It's a pretty great book.)



Check out all of Sophie's books, they are well worth your time.

Meow!

I came up with a Halloween costume probably a month ago. I got some super cute sequined cat ears. I know that doesn't sound like much of a costume, but it is different than my standby wings. (Plus a lot easier to work my way through crowds and doors with out the wings getting in my way.) I have searched online and have found some pretty good makeup tips, so now all I have to do is tart myself up, and Halloween is underway.

I am not a huge fan of Halloween, although I use to be more into dressing up, until this story happened.

A few years ago I got invited to a Halloween party. It was going to be THE Halloween party to attend, and I got a special invite by the host, who just happened to be an adorably cute guy. He insisted that it was a costume party and so I spent the next couple of days scouring around for a costume.

I showed up to the party fashionably late enough, and as I entered the party I could see that no one else was dressed up. I ran into the host who, was also dressed up, and thanked me for following his party rule. He said that even though it was a Halloween party, on Halloween day, no one showed up in costume. I tried to ditch my costume to make it look like I wasn't dressed up, but there weren't a lot of alterations I could do. The party was fun enough, once I got over my embarrassment.

So since that time I have had some justifiable paranoia about dressing up on Halloween, and usually opt for costumes that can be dropped at a moments notice.

What are you dressing up as?

It's Been A While

Yesterday I could hold on
Say to my heart: "it won't be long"
Yesterday I could hold on
Wait for the time that you'd come along

But not today
No I'm not ok
I just can't take
You so far away

I just want to see you

Long ago I had a plan:
Roam like the wind, drift like the sand
Long ago I had a plan
And come what may
I could withstand

But now the plan
Keeps me from you
I'm not convinced
I can follow through

I just want to see you

For one more night
I'd throw it away
Just say the word
I'm here to stay

And if you won't
Maybe I will
Love I would kill...
Just to see you.

"To See You" --Peter Katz