Happy New Year

Well another year is just about over. We had a nice Christmas. Our church's Christmas Eve service was nice. D, Mom and I went and enjoyed it although the sermon was a little unenjoyable. D worked that day and I was home. Had coffee with Mom at the mall and made dinner, and prepped breakfast. We got up in the morning and opened presents here at the house then headed up to D's parents. D's nephew was very into opening presents this year, last year he was a little overwhelmed by it all. We went and had a nice lunch with my Mom and Dad and then headed over to my aunt and uncles to have a visit there. Then home again to let the dogs out and back to D's parents for dinner. I went to bed early as I had to work on boxing Day.
Christmas turned out well and we made it thru dinner without D's aunt making anyone cry this year. May be the first year I think that I have been there. SO that was a nice thing. It was so great to see the kids. H happy and healthy after his scare this summer and doing well with the diabetes right now. S obcessed with hockey and all the hockey related gifts he had. And C, who is a miracle baby, doing so well.
We got a nice mix of presents and lots of well wishes from friends. It was nice to hear from lots friends and family from away. We had our one year anniversary and stayed in the same room as last year. although this year d din't have to get up at 530 to drive anyone to the airport. we went to a movie and then had a nice picnic dinner. and a great sleep in the king size bed. ahhhh a sleep with no dogs interupting it. Got my pics done and am getting ready to scrapbook them. Now we are having a quiet new years. as usual.

Christmas wishes

Christmas is coming up so fast. It is always a busy time for us with work, visiting friends and fitting in all the family. It is always a bit of a rush. Last year we had a friend here from Japan who was experiencing her first real North American holiday season. This year it is just us Christmas morning and then up to the inlaws for gift opening, over to my Mom's for lunch, then fitting in our dogs and visiting my Dad and Grandma at my aunt and uncle's place before dinner at the inlaws. I love the season, the festivities and the reason for it all. I am looking forward to our churches Christmas eve service, last year I stayed at home. Just needing some time alone.
I am definately thinking of all our friends and family that are not close to share time with and am blessed to have all those that are close by. We have a wonderful group of friends that are here in town but are really missing our friends Russ and \Ang who moved back to Regina this year. We are very excited that they are expecting a baby in the new year along with some other friends in our circle.
This has been a big year with changes in jobs for Doug, school for Doug, and then teaming up with his cousin to buy a business this year. It has been almost a year since we got married which seems hard to believe. It has gone fast but has not been that different as we were together for a long time before we got married. I am happy to be spending my life with my besst friend, who brings out the best in me and supports me so much.
Merry Christmas all.

more holiday fun

warning the language in this video may be offensive to some viewers

a little fun

A sick day

It is snowing and quite Christmassy outside. I am supposed to be at work but instead am here at home sitting in my pjs eating chips... because I slammed my thumb in the car door last night. I had to go to emergency to get a hole put into my nail to let the blood (and therefore pressure out). I had figured it was not broken but the doctor did not check nor did he give me any painkillers. WTHeck? Luckily I had
T3s left from another incident (beyond my control ear drum was bursting) because it hurt a lot. Needless to say I had to attempt to call in to work and not reaching them the hubby had to go and find them at home to say I cannot grip anything in my hand. So cannot really mop and clean.
So I am resting and playing with my dogs who wanted to console me last night but kept trampling me instead as they tried to snuggle. The springers kissed my booboo and the jack ignored me as usual. Springers are very intuitive to emotion so they were sad with me. No really all the descriptions of them say that they pick up on their peoples emotions (they are sensitive)more than many dogs do. We are heading out to our churches annual community dinner tonight with my Mom and D's parents. It is usually a nice dinner with some form of entertainment and the kids and parents who want to get to go swim and all the kids get a gift of some kind. A few of our friends will be there. and I get to go out tomorrow night. Crackers... I have a social life.

Winter Wonderland

Well we had our first big dump of snow. It made the roads horrible for deliveries that night. We took the dogs for a good run the next morning up on the mountain. Dog two got very weighted down with snowballs in her hair. They also found a deer that someone had dumped and butchered over night. Dog three decided that it was food and we had to take him away to keep him from eating from the deer's head.
I have finished all my Christmas prep for this year. Now just the wrapping and all that. The tree is up as well as wintery decorations so the house was festive for my cookie exchange. There were 6 of us and we got a nice selection of cookies. I made two dozen (one of two kinds). I can't help myself from overdoing it. So now I am done with baking too. Now can just relax and enjoy the holiday. Or try to. I love the season but do find it stressful trying to fit in all the family over the few days. I will be busy with work too and so will the hubby. Am also coming up on our one year wedding anniversary. It seems like only yesterday really. This year has flown by.
Our snow has melted away for now but I am sure that it will be back.

how stingy am I?

I have to admit that as i am getting older I am getting more stingy on some things. I do not have lots of money saved and I do have debts, but i have discoverd that you get the same size drink and fries with a smaller burger in a kids meal than a regular combo for a doller less. Never again will I pay 5.29 when I could pay 4 something. I rarely go to the theatre to save the money to watch it at home later on. Seriously though, I spend money on friends, the dogs and then a few things for me but not much. My dogs get haircuts, I do not.... hmmmmmmmm perhaps the priority is a bit misplaced but that is ok.
Winter has startd with a minute snowfall. enough that summer tire car was slipping around last night all over. So I parked and must beat the rush to get my tires changed.

A rainy day

Well today I worked and luckily it did not rain until I finished work. A friend brought her new Rottie puppy to the kennel to show us all. She is very cute and sweet.

Yesterday I cut my hair. About a foot off. The hairdresser always is amazed at how little I care when I cut my hair all off. I know that it can be very devastating for some people. But my motto is it will grow back. She also picked a great color for it and did some highlights. It is nice to have it gone. A much needed change.

I am now on days off, which is good as I am achy today.

A Little Big & Rich

I was driving to K-town last night to pick up my Mom at the airport. Or so I thought. The radio station announced tickets on sale to see John Mellencamp, I thoought that would be an awesome show. I get to the airport. no Mom as the plane passengers disembark. so I phone home and a half hour after I left she phoned to say she missed the flight cause her other plane was late. OK so now I turn around and drive home. Three hours wasted. When hubby was being run off his feet for the business and I could have been helping. C'est la vie.

So I get home and fly online to look up tickets... when I discover that Big & Rich are going to playing in January. I am now torn. That will no doubt be a great show and so would John with Tom Cochrane opening with Red Rider. But I have seen Tom and it was a good show. and I can't really afford to go but well sometimes that doesn't matter. So I am going to Big & Rich and can't wait. Yahooo.

a little BNL

love this song...

You Tube Eh

So canada gets its own version of Utube. It has certainly changed since it started.



Otherwise, I made it out of town for 6 whole hours. WHOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO well for a doctors appointment but also visited our friend T who opened a store recently. Got to check out all the cool stuff in her store. I certainly wish her all the best. Also got to visit with my cousin C and her little girl. Haven't seen them in a long time so it was nice to visit. Hubby is done school for the week and is busy working hard for the business. I am really hoping that it goes well and that working with his cousin works out alright. Have not had a chance to see them at all other th an M coming in for of from work. Hopefully they can get a bit of a work and home balance worked out.

I am up in the air about my work. Owners wife says she wants F to work less to get stuff done and to rest. So she thought I would keep the same shifts till after xmas. But it is up to him and he never gives notice. Just cuts the shifts and expects us to be available. So I have not had any luck with other work cause I can't give a date to start or any idea of when I would be available. Nerve racking as I got bills to pay. So life is a little stressful and I can feel the depression building again. But luckily that is under control.

I have got most of my Christmas present done. Gotta get my baking started and have some new recipies to try. Not sure what exactly is happening for the holidays. Father-in-law is going away for a week which I hope will be good. He has some issues and needs a break from looking after hubby's mom. Well gottta run for now.

A little of this and that

Well I am busy doing Christmas crafts right now. Which is fun enough although the house is frickin freezing as the pets like to come in and out since it is a nice day. I went out to breakfast with my Dad and then we took the dogs for a run on the mountain in Canoe. We have to be careful and can't let them into the bush too much as the bears and cougars are down right now and hunters etc always seem to dump the deer carcasses right beside the road. Real safe fellas. Now they are in enforced sleep time as I put them in their crates for a sleep or they spend too much time watching me to see if I am going to do something interesting.

I got my George Canyon cd in the mail this past week which is good and have been enjoying the country cds I burned from itunes a while ago. D is busy doing his practicum for school and has been enjoying it so far. He had a good review from the high school and now is in am elementary for three weeks. He still has classes for the course and is busy with the business he and his cousin are buying. They take over this thursday and are a little frazzled after one fellow who had said he would stay on told them yesterday that he was not going to. nothing like a little notice eh? I did a couple deliveries the other day for D. I will be helping out. How much I am not sure as my own real job schedule may not be cut back until after Christmas. Which would be great. but leaves me less time to be able to help them out. especially now that they have the two of them and one back up to cover 14 shifts some of which do indeed require 2 or more people on. Unfortunatley this had to happen when D is still in class 6 days a week for the next three weeks. so it will be tough and I will be home alone lots for a bit; however, that is what owning a small business is like.

I have a new laptop that my Dad bought for me. i really have not played with it much but seem to be able to delete everything i right on a fairly consistent basis and have no idea how. It also has windows vista which I don't really know if i like or not but I am unable to play any of my games as they are not compatible with vista. but microsoft is not a monopoly. OK... but I can only play their games... hmmmmm... sounds like a monopoly to me. It is Halloween tomorrow. I did not decorate the house this year. Oh well. We do have a massive pumpkin to carve today though. Yay, pumpkin seeds. Otherwise I have been watching a lot of movies it seems as I am home alone and trying to find things to do. i enjoyed Transformers, and 28 weeks later. can't really remember the others. I am rewatching all my comedies: American Pie, 100 Girls, Sorority Boys, Road trip. There is a theme there I think. And rediscovering all the shows I like to watch. Oh well I better get on with my day.

the saga continues

Breed Specific Legislation

I have to say that i am opposed to BSL. I do not think that banning the ownership of certain breeds of dogs will stop dog attacks on people or animals. The problem that arises is that when will the breed bans stop? Sooner or later there will be very few breeds that are left. And what happens to people that are breeding and showing dogs? They will be unable to continue.
One of the breeds that is getting the brunt of BSL are pit bull terriers (or any dog that people think looks like a pitbull --- which can be any of the bull breeds, boxers, labs etc). There are so many wonderful pits out there that are loyal and great pets. unfortunatley there are also a lot of bad people that own them and make the aggressive. pits were never bred to be aggressive to humans and any that were generally were killed. People have taken the fight drive to a new level. Many of these dogs would not ever fight but are abused into it. The arrest of Michael Vick under dog fighting charges really helped bring the issue of dog fighting and the horrible things that happens to the forefront.

warning this video has some disturbing images of the abuse that pits face at the hands of humans as well as a great tribute.

A little climate change

Whether or not An Inconvenient Truth was made to scare the workd into dealing with the issue of climate change, I am very glad that the Nobel Prize went to Al Gore. I truly believe that global warming has occurred in the past and is a naturally occurring process, however, the actions of humans is contributing massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. This is on a scale never known before. This is an issue that we all should be paying attention to.

A little bit of blue

A little bit of fun from ABBA



Hubby is off at class tonite. He starts his practicum next week which I hope goes well. And he is going to be busys with the business too. I am gearing up for Christmas crafts and things like that. I am halfway thru classes with the puppy and he is coming along nicely; he is still nervous as there are three very reactive dogs in the group. Otherwise I hope I am over my cold.

Having Thanksgiving just passed I hope that we all took some time to think of those things in our lives that we are thankful for. That no matter what is happening in our lives that we have friends and family that bless us.

A little Thanksgiving

So it was Thanksgiving here. I was sick so I did not go for dinner at the in-laws. I stayed home and had a bath and ate leftovers and went to bed early. I worked a few hours on each of my days off this week so I am really bagged. I cooked a ham dinner last night and had our cousin and his family over. So I am now in process of making split pea and ham soup. mmmmmmmmm

On another note I did cave in on my no chip policy. I have to admit I think the 5 plus weeks that I did not eat any was good as I enjoyed them but am not really craving them so much now. There are two bags in the house and they have stayed in the cupboard and I have no real urge to eat the. Hooray.

Rain, rain go away

It has rained off and on here for days. But it could be snow like on the tops of the hills I suppose. It is also Thanksgiving this weekend. We have been invited to the in-laws for dinner but am not sure about going as I am sick and don't want to give it to hubby's Mom. She does not need a respitory infection on top of the COPD. The dogs are sleeping on the sofa as we watch CSI: New york. Puppy is in school and doing alright. He is much younger than the others though. So we are not as far along as they are. Dog two is happy now that he may get to go along with hubby on deliveries now. Dog one( my dog) is feeling cooped up as the weather is not good and the yard is muddy.

A little George Canyon

So hubby bought tickets to see George Canyon in concert. It was great. A small venue so he answered questions people shouted out during the show. Got my CD's signed at the end. I had started watching him on Nashville Star. Sadly he lost that year but has become a known star whil the winner has gone nowhere. Gotta feel bad for them when that happens. Has actually happened to most of the 5 winners. The only other Star alum I can think of doing anything is Miranda Lambert, who all over the charts this year.



Otherwise, I am nursing a cold. Damn you J for sending me this cold from Cairo. LOL. What I wouldn't give to be sick in Cairo... Insteaad I am home listening to dog two bark at her ball. Waiting for hubby to get home from his work and then be on call for his new work.

So a blonde walks into a review contest

hi folks: check out the new contest at So A Blonde Walks Into A Review from her friend, Katja's, childrens boutique Skimbaco. There are some beautiful clothes and accessories there. You can find it at http:blondereviews.blogspot.com or at Katja's web site www.skimbaco.com. I really like the jumpers for girls very cute.
href="http://blondereviews.blogspot.com">

dinner and a dog bite

So we went to friends for dinner. I walked in the door with the wife. Two dogs ran up. One is theirs, one her in-laws. She says this one is "Fido" and I say hello dogs. And this dog goes psycho and goes at me. I stayed calm and moved away and she grabbed him but he did bite my hand. Now this was totally unprovoked and he was serious about attacking me. Had I not been alert, he would have liekly bitten me quite serioulsy. They of course feel terrible and I am not thrilled but not as upset as I should be I suppose. But that is a dog waiting for something bad to happen. Which is too bad for the owners.

After that dinner was actullay quite nice. We visited with some nice people, had a great dinner and some good wine. I know, I know one is not supposed to mix meds and wine but I figured as long as it is not all the time it was OK. And I will confess it.......... I ate restaurant style nacho chips with the artichoke dip. And they were soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo yummy. It was a controlled environment but now, I am craving them more. I want to make artichoke dip and nacho chips for dinner. They were so salty and crunchy.... oh old friends you are so hard to resist. So weak......................

Things:

I played a game the other night called "Things". It gives you an idea and you write what what you think and try to guess who said what. Basically like balderdash I think. So maybe "things you shou;dn't do in the shower" or "things you hate to eat" whatever. A fun game and gets some good laughs. Probably better after a few drinks.
Here's a few of my ideas for the game:
Things you should not tell your mother-in-law
Things you should not attempt at home.
Things better left unsaid
Advice you could live without hearing
What not do with a vaccum cleaner.... ohh the list could be endless
Cravings that you cannot fight... mmmmm.... maybe only play this game with adults.

the crash after the party

I am beat today. Planning hubby's bday party has worn me right out. all that calling and secret inviting and frustration when people never answer you so you have no idea if they are going to show up or not. Do you make extra food? Or just bill them for the pizza you have to order?

Seriously though, that did not happen thank goodness and hubby was surprised for the most part although he had been suspicious something was up he said for a few days. A number of good friends came and all seemed to have a good time. The dogs were at the kennel to give me a break whle I cooked and cleaned the house. The cat also loved this dog free day and spent most of it keeping me company and then slept with us last night. So I got to sleep in today.... no dogs running and tackling me on the bed a 6 am when they get up and go out to pee. No one hogging the blankets while I try to sleep with a medium sized dog trying to curl up on top of me cause he loves me so much.

I have dishes to do, floors to wash, a kitchen to tidy, dogs to make nap... so I think I will join them.

Do potato chips have drugs in them?

It has been over two weeks since I had a chip. I am craving them... I am sure that they have drugs in them so we cannot break the habit. I am fighting it... so weak... seriously though I have been grocery shopping today and by passed the chip aisle. i did stare longinly down it.. so long old friends.

A somber anniversary

Today is the anniverary of 9/11. I was asked today if I remembered where I was. Not really, although I am sure I watched the news before and after work that day. It was a day that changed so much of our lives in a security sense. Or not. Travelling I have found the only obviously heightened security was at American airports. We had an acquaintance that was on the Statue of Liberty with her Mom when this all went down. That made the paper in our small town. I also had a cousin that could have been there as he is a money making banking big wig, but had left for London then. He did have a number of former colleagues/friends killed. So that event did touch my life. Mostly I think that it has brought about scary changes. Anything I say on facebook and via email is scanned by the American government. That scares me. So much power to the wrong people. Too many innocent peoples lives being shaken apart. And too much heartache for the friends and families of those lost in New York. Their lives will never ever be the same. I cannot even fathom how they must feel each year.


Crowds of thousands joined police, firefighters, rescue workers and dignitaries Tuesday under wet grey skies at several solemn ceremonies in the United States and Canada to mark the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.


A crowd gathers in Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center on Tuesday.
(Henny Ray Abrams/Associated Press)
Nearly 3,000 people died when hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania.

Amid the backdrop of a rainy Manhattan skyline, the World Trade Center ceremony began with a traditional drum and bagpipe procession that escorted an honour guard of police and firefighters carrying the torn flag retrieved from the rubble of the twin towers.

Church bells sounded across the city at 8:46 a.m. ET as Mayor Michael Bloomberg led the crowd of relatives and mourners in a minute of silence to coincide with the time the first hijacked airplane hit the north tower.

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"On that day we felt isolated, but not for long and not from each other," Bloomberg told the crowd gathered at a park near where the towers once stood.

"Six years have passed and our place is still by your side."

Firefighters and emergency workers who responded to the flood of 911 calls that came on Sept. 11, as well as construction workers who cleaned up the rubble, read aloud victims' names as those attending the service bowed their heads.

Many emergency workers died as they tried to rescue victims from the twin towers, while thousands more say they are still suffering from persistent respiratory problems because they inhaled toxic dust when the towers collapsed.

In Washington, U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, marked the anniversary with a moment of silence from the South Lawn of the White House. Across the city, officials and relatives gathered at the rebuilt wall of the Pentagon, where American Airlines Flight 77 struck, killing 184 people inside the building and on the plane.

A smaller memorial honouring Flight 93's 40 passengers and crew began at 9:55 a.m., the time the airliner nosedived into an empty Pennsylvania field.



NYC ceremony away from Ground Zero
The list of victims was one name longer than in 2006 as the official death toll was increased this year, after New York City ruled that a woman's death by lung disease was caused by exposure to World Trade Center dust.

For the first time, the New York ceremony took place at Zuccotti Park near Ground Zero, but not at the site itself, as has been tradition.

The anniversary was moved because of the intense construction underway to build a memorial, skyscraper and transit hub at the site where the World Trade Center towers stood.

'It's an open wound'
The CBC's Neil Herland, who covers the United Nations, lives three blocks from the World Trade Center site and said he can see the glow of the floodlights that constantly illuminate the area from his home.

"In many ways, it's an open wound in the heart of New York, an open wound that hasn't been filled in," Herland said Tuesday.

Some families protested the change in venue for the ceremony, so they are being allowed to lay flowers at the World Trade Center site.

"It's still like visiting a grave on the person's anniversary of their death," said Rosaleen Tallon, whose firefighter brother, Sean Tallon, died that day.

Giuliani promises no politics at ceremony
Other family members are upset that Rudy Giuliani, the city's former mayor, was allowed to speak at the ceremony because he is now a Republican presidential candidate.

Giuliani spoke at all previous anniversary events and had promised before this one that his appearance would not be political.

"It was a day with no answers, but with an unending line of people who came forward to help one another," he told those gathered on Tuesday.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic Party presidential nomination, also attended the New York ceremony.

The ceremony has drawn fewer mourners every year, and some question whether the event is excessive. Communities in New Jersey, where many of the victims lived, have scaled back their Sept. 11 events.

Families of Air India victims participate in memorial
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper commemorated the Sept. 11 attacks while in Australia on Tuesday.

"Sept. 11, 2001, was truly a day that shook the world," he told the Australian Parliament in Canberra.

"Six years on, the horrific images from that morning still evoke anger, sorrow and, as intended, terror. The buildings may have been American, but the targets were every one of us."

He noted that 24 Canadians died in the attacks, while other Canadians, like Americans, have been affected by terrorist acts since Sept. 11, 2001.

"So both our countries have been bloodied by terror," Harper said. "And both of us are doing our part to confront and defeat it."

In Canada, those who lost loved ones in the attacks also held a memorial service in Toronto on Tuesday.

They were joined by the families of the victims of the 1985 Air India bombing and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day, who read a tribute at the event.

Maureen Basnicki, whose husband Ken died in the collapse of the World Trade Center's north tower, has joined other victims' families in calling for an official memorial ceremony in Canada to mark the tragedy.

"It's like it happened yesterday," Basnicki told CBC News on Tuesday. "It certainly comes flooding back to me."

Day said the government is looking into the possibility of a national memorial.

With files from the Canadian Press

Body Shop Founder Dies

The founder of ethical cosmetics company Body Shop died Monday night after suffering a major brain hemorrhage at the age of 64.



Body Shop founder Anita Roddick poses for photographers on Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997 in London. (AP / Dave Thomson)

Dame Anita Roddick died at 6:30 p.m. local time at a hospital in Chichester, southern England, her family said in a statement.

Her husband, Gordon, and daughters Sam and Justine were all with her when she died.

"Anita Roddick was admitted to St. Richard's Hospital in Chichester, close to her home, yesterday evening when she collapsed after complaining of a sudden headache," reads the family statement.

Roddick announced in February that she had contracted Hepatitis C from a blood transfusion in 1971. She said she had lived with the virus for three decades, and only found out about it two years ago after a blood test.

She campaigned to get Hepatitis C, referred to as the "silent killer," to be considered a serious "public health challenge".

Roddick was dubbed the "Queen of Green" for her environmentally-friendly, animal cruelty-free business practices. She established the first Body Shop in Brighton in 1976.

The company has grown into a highly profitable, global phenomenon, blossoming into nearly 2,000 stores in 50 countries. The Body Shop became part of the French company L'Oreal Group last year, but remains independently run.

Roddick and her husband stepped down as co-chairpersons of the company in 2002, but she continued to contribute as a consultant.

In 2003, Queen Elizabeth II made Roddick a dame -- the female equivalent of knighthood -- in recognition of her contribution to business and charity.

Greenpeace Executive Director John Sauven called Roddick an "incredible woman" who will be "sorely missed.''

"She was so ahead of her time when it came to issues of how business could be done in different ways, not just profit motivated but taking into account environmental issues," Sauven said.

Roddick said she opened her first Body Shop store intending to simply make a living and help provide for her two daughters while her husband was trekking across the Americas.

"I had no training or experience and my only business acumen was Gordon's advice to take sales of 300 pounds a week," she wrote.

She said her company's trademark green colour came by accident -- it was the only colour that could cover the mould on the walls of her first shop.

With a report from The Associated Press

Afternoon musings

Fall is coming to my hometown. The days are shorter and the nights are colder and the dogs and I are ready to head to warmer pastures for the winter. I mean it is sunny and lovely in the sun... but I am in the house and for the second day in a row my hands are numb. Like, I should be wearing gloves. This is insanity. I am not ready to put away the sandals and break out the mitts and toques.... although I did break out my polar fleece jammies. WOOOOOOHOOOOOO I am bringing sexy back in my house. Or not... but really where did sexy go that it took Justin Timberlake to bring it back? Well I cannot bring myself to find a JT song so here is an oldie but goodie.

a tough one

My hubby is off to confront someone near and dear to us about drinking. We have been concerned for a while, along with many other people. But today this person was downtown and hubby pulled the car around. Inside was a can of 7-Up and a glass (a freaking glass) of rum. So we know that this person is drinking and driving (OK I suspected the last... and I do mean last time I got a ride). What do you do? And much of the family is in denial... or simply does not see thru the cover even though they know our concerns.

It Fall Fair time

It is the annual fall fair, our 110. We go just about every year, although as a child we usually went to the larger one a few communities away. But my 4H sewing days meant entries in the fairs and a day spent judgin stuff. Like I know how to judge a sheep. I mean I like sheep, they are cute and fairly fun to watch but what makes a good sheep? Sadly the number of booths has gotten smaller every year. More political, churchy, pro-lifey beeths. Where is the crap they hock? You know the mops and shammies and cheese slicers that never work when you take them home. This year I didn't really look at the animals or take in the midway, but that is OK. It will all be there again next year.

My father-in-law got to oficially open it this year. It was his 50 year volunteering there. Crazy. So he gave a sort of speech and got a plaque in recognition. And two diferent pairs of people are taking over the job that he did by himself. We went and had our annual 4H hamburger and wandered around. Today I am off and wondering what to do with my time this week.

a day off

Went for a nice long walk on the mountain today with hubby and the dogs. We got some nice pics of us with the dogs. It was sunny and beautiful up there today.

I am semi dieting. And I have not had a chip in two weeks. Some people eat sweets, my addiction is chips. It's not necesisarily the eating it's the habit of snacking. I am craving a chip down to my very bones. I am hoping that by not eating them for a while I will break the cycle or OD on chips. Hubby will come home from work and I will be lying on the bed surrounded by empty bags... seriously. I will eat some again but will hopefully have broken the chronic snacking cycle.

I ama going to see George Canyon in concert. It should be a good show. I first turned onto him watching Nashville Star (the country version of American Idol). He was the first and only Canadian I think to be on the show, there was one season also an Irish fellow. George did really well on the series and ended up the runner up. But I think he has done the best of any of them on the show until Miranda Lambert (2nd runner up in the first season) broke out with her hit Kerosene. It was a shame that Canadians could not vote unless they could get across the border. But he did well and got picked up, up here and has performed with Paul Brandt and others. Thanks hubby for the tickets to go...

A little reflection

Do you ever feel like you are waking up from a fog? For too long I have felt muffled, like I was living life on the other side of the mirror. I worked and lived but everything was flat to me. Finally I went to the doctor and am on some meds. Depression was the diagnosis, well no surprise really, as I have had boughts of it on and off for years but never did anything about it. It is a little like coming out of your shell... I am starting to feel more like, well me. I am reading and actually starting to enjoy again. That is the biggest change so far (well there are other side benfits as well better left unsaid) just finding joy in a day. I am sitting here listening to a country music CD I mixed last night. For me and for a cousin for Christmas. I love country music but have rarely turned it on in the last year. So sorry hubby, you must listen to country again. So I am dancing around the room as my dogs watch confused, and baking, and making pasta sauce to freeze for winter meals.

So here's a little Canadian content with Jason McCoy: The Road Hammers

A little Kids In The Hall

I am on days off. Had lunch at a local coffee shop, bought groceries, sorted thru Christmas craft things, burned a CD for my cousins Christmas gift. The dogs are resting and I am playing on the computer. It's cousins anniversary today, seems like it was not that long ago they got married. The hubby forgot the date, but says he remembers ours. That's good, it's not even been a year yet, so he better.

Felt like some laughs so here's a little funny to enjoy. I really liked this show.

A Dog Blog

So I came home to a dog and cage covered in poo again today. My older springer was sick in her box. Yummy. The house smells, the cage smells, out comes the Mr. Clean. All because she cannot comprehend that eating crap out of the garbage can adds up to stomach aches. Plus she is covered in weird spots that have stuck around for a while so she is off to the vet. She has been very out of sorts the last few days. yesterday her spark was gone. today she is better but still not 100%

a little homemaking

So we had company last night. Hubby's friends from V-town in for the night on the way to Vancouver to get visas for travel in India. It was nice to meet them finally. They came in for dinner and I got to try a chicken-brocoli curry casserole recipe from a friend. Salad, wine, buns, and key lime pie rounded out dinner. We walked down to the wharf and back and then visited a bit. It was nice to have company actually come and stay. Those visists for us have been few and far between for us since buying the house since most people coming stay with their family or the in-laws.
I spent my days off cooking dinners and making beef barley soup for the freezer. And reading. I am part way thru a biography of a survivior of a Japanese POW camp during WWII and African Slavery in Latin America and the Caribbean. Also thru in soe fluff reading to while away the hours on the porch throwing the ball for my ball crazy dog. They are currently worn out from a long walk on the mountain, which became two as when we reached the car some family we had invited showed and we did the walk again. Which is good as now that I am on some meds and hopefully starting to feel more normal I am going to make some real effort to loose weight.
I am 30 pounds overweight at least and was not thrilled to get married that way but too unmotivated to do much about it then. So I am not snacking between meals to start and cutting out junky snack food. I am figuring out which way to go. I may follow Weight Watchers at home as I did not like the meeting and really did not like the weigh ins. If I gained wight back I alreay knew and didn't need to feel like a big fat failure when they all did the faky sympathy face... "oh you gained that weight back this week (unspoken you big fat pig) you'll have to work harder this week". I know they are all on the program and they have to stay within their goal weight or they get fired but I did not find it supportive at all. Not even really from my Mom who has done the program for years. and is one of the worst for saying things like "do you think you should eat that?" and generally helpful comments like that. Luckily hubby is very supprtive and thoughtful about my feelings on that.
Otherwise I am back to work tomorrow for a very busy long weekend as the other girl on staff is off camping for the weekend and the owners are mostly at a dog show. yay me... not.

Randomn Books on my shelves

The DaVinci Code
Clive Cussler all his Dirk Pitt novels
JA Jance all novels
an assortment of Dragonlance novels
the Dennis McKiernan novels
Where To Find It In The Bible
novel writing
Fire into Ice
Hound Health
Walking the Bible
The Miracle Detective
Imagined Communities
Sun Tzu The Art of War
Why I Hate Canadians
a Dr Seuss anthology
Marley and Me
The Clash of Civilizations
The Run of the River

a stolen idea cause I have no idea what to talk about

Five Things: (thanks to Randomn Thoughts for the idea)

1. Five things in my fridge:
cheese
4 different salad dressings
pickles
old milk
diet pepsi

2. Five movies I could watch 100 times
Waynes World
100 Girls
Roadtrip
any Disney cartoon
the original Star Wars series

3. Five songs I love
Not Ready To Make Nice Dixie Chicks
Who Knew Pink
Songs about Rain Gary Allan
Into the Mystic Colin James
I'm An Adult Now The Pursuit Of Happiness

A little outdated geography lesson

There are so many countries around the world and quite often they change borders over the years. The world wars, Korea, the Balkans, disintegration of the USSR, and the many changes in Africa change it, but the general gist is there. Here's a cute cartoon lesson from the Animaniacs.

A little frustration

I am a person who actually likes their job. I work with animals all day and for the most part don't have to deal with people all that much. If I work a job that I have as little interaction with people forever, I think I would be quite content. I work with dogs, own dogs, train my dogs, compete with my dogs... I a am a dog person. That being said, I always know when my dogs shots are due, it's important. Some of the illnesses could cause them to die. I do vaccinate my dogs, although so many people are becoming unwilling, just like with people. So I am sure a lot of illnesses that are not common at the moment are going to become more prevalent again. There are a number of human illnesses just about obliterated in the first world countries that are coming back. If the desire is to reduce the human population or to tie up hospitals with sick children that should not even bew sick int he first place these people are succeeding. OKOKOK, back to the original point.

If you phone and book your dog into a kennel it is your responsibility to make sure that your dog is adequatley vaccinated to meet the kennel requirements. If you show up there and your dogs shots have not been done in the last four years, your dog will not stay there. Period. anyway enough about work...

I am praying for the friends and family of a young man killed in our town by a driver that fell asleep and crossed the centre line, striking his car and killing him this past sunday. His funeral was this week. I cannot imagine the grief they are all going thru right now.

On another note I have become a lurker, I guess that's what bloggers call it, on some good blogs. I feel a little strange leaving messages. Although somteimes I am brave and leave one... if only I had lurkers... perhaps I do. Leave a message. LOL gotta run back to work...

A little ABBA

ok I admit it, I love ABBA. Always have, always will. Am so disappointed that I missed seeing the musical. Cannot believe they were offered 1 billion (yes billion) dollars to reunite and turned it down.



They are still in the top 100 selling albums every year. not too shabby

tired tuesday

So I had my doctors appointment and that went OK. I had my self diagnosis (and many other peoples hunches) confirmed and am now dealing with that.
Had lunch my friend B who moved back from the Charlottes. He and I hung out lots in the dorms. I think I met him thru my friend Jody who was in education with him. We had many dinners and slush runs to Rutland over the last two years I was in K-town. He and Doug became friends to and we've had some good times with him. Am looking forward to meeting his girlfriend soon.
Came home and did some errands and then we took the dogs for a walk on the mountain. It was sunny and nice and a great evening for the dogs to run and have to sit on the rocks and watch them play. It was nice to just get out and relax. Found some new pics to put up onto my facebook page. Yay scanner!!!
I am tired today and so is D, we are not a very lively pair. But the dogs are worn out from their run on the mountain so that is good. D is still fighting the virus he picked up a few weeks ago. There have been some nasty ones out this year. Am currently watching LA Ink while I fight to stay awake.

A little Lord of the Rings combined with The Pogues

late nite ramblings

I am entertaining the dogs while hubby heads to bed. He has had the flu for a while. The doctor has said get over, take nyquil, more or less it is a virus actually so nothing to cure it but time. I worked today a full one as my co-worker had a good friend die in a car accident yesterday. Her sister was a few cars back and watched it happen and then attended the scene. His mom was two cars back and watched the whole thing happen. Makes you feel gross thinking about it.

I am going to the doctor tomorrow for a long time coming appointment. I am a little nervous but hopefully it will answer some questions I have had for a while. I am taking the time to have a coffee with an old friend we have not seen much of the last few years. We are very glad he has moved closer again. I got to enjoy the local roots and blues from my porch again this year. got to hear some. glad I did not get tickedts this year as I worked long hours this week. Gotta jet and take some restless dogs for a walk with the hubby.

A little Canadian content

54-40 whom I saw live and enjoyed greatly here in SA

my peeps

The Late Nite Movie

the sage continues:

Randy's Vinyl Tap

Tonight was an awesome show on VJ records. If you have a chance to find it on the CBC listen to it. They were an incredible label that ultimately closed due to money problems. Here's a few of their hits.


Gene Chandler


the four seasons originally the our lovers.

on a related note Standing In The Shadows of Motown is a wonderful documentary.

A little Canadian content

Paul Gross

A little Chris Tomlin

A song I love to sing in praise team, so beautiful.

Walking the Bible

I am in love with Bruce Feiler's books. Never mind the fact that he is Jewish and I am not. He felt a call to walk the old testament books and be in the lands the books were written about. He used being in the actual places discussed to find an even deeper faith. They are written in an intellectual and spiritual crusade to find a common bond with the lands of his forbears. They are emotional, stimulating, and sparked my interest more with each one.

a day off

for fun:



Went to Vernon and got my scanner today. Hooray. now if I can find a USB cable I can start scanning.

Listened to a neat program on CBC today. They were discussing how the boreal forest and rain forests are massive storage areas for carbon. They use it and lock it into the soil. So when deforestation occurs that carbon is released into the atmosphere and how even reforested areas will take at least 100 years to get close to the same ability to lock carbon in. While fossil fuels are the biggest problem (in some minds anyway as the word has undergone warming and cooling cycles already) deforestation is a huge threat to us.

A little Bruce Springsteen

in honor of finding so many old friends on facebook. for our Glory Days

To blog or not to blog that is the question

I cannot decide if I actually like blogging or not. I have fun digging things I like up and posting them yet... I don't know, it doesn't grip me. I suppose in part because everyone says how it takes time for people to read your blog... well no one reads my blog. Even the people I tell about it. OK two people other than me read it. Every one else I know is meeting people and getting comments. I have nothing... I am cyberly insignificant. (sigh and wring hands)

I think that today it is very easy to feel insignificant in so many ways. Do I really have an impact on peoples lives? Will people miss me if I leave? I feel that in many ways I have made impacts in peoples lives, but maybe not the way that I want. But I am significant in my eyes, I may not be achieving anywhere near my potential (to me) and I do feel a call to do something... the what is not quite clear yet. I am significant in my husbands eyes, and yes to my dependants even if they are pets. LOL. And I am significant in my Maker's eyes.

A little Colin James

Just came back:



Into the Mystic:

Afternoon musings

I am sitting in the relative safety of my home today. I say relative since many things do happen to people at home. Today I hve been thinking of those families waiting to hear any news on whether loved ones are presumed alive or dead in the mine in Utah. Yet again there is a wound on the space shuttle...
I have also been thinking about BC's road of tears. A growing number of young women are going missing in the north. Police will not say if they suspect that it is the work of a serial killer. Personally I would be much happier to hear that, I would rather it was one person or group than to think that all the girls that have been killed have been killed by different people. I find it very scary to think that there would be so many killers in one area of our province.

Ok enough of the depressing stuff... I have two more days then two off. hooray. I am hanging out with the dogs right now. And checking my email, facebook, blog. I am a luddite in many respects. how did I get into all this? and now I am waiting for my scanner to try it out. I have lots of old school pics to get onto disc.

Late nite movie

the saga continues: Chad Vader: Day Shift Manager

A little P!nk

Am loving this song right now. Who Knew?

A Dog Blog

So they have indicted Michael Vick... I can't say that I am sorry to hear that. I will be interested to see the outcome of his court case. There are many people who think that they are going after this man because of his position in pro football but the truth is I am glad they are going after him for these charges of animal abuse. It does not matter who you are, if you commit crimes you should be punished.
I am a dog lover, to any that know me this is hardly a surprise. I cannot even fathom how anyone can abuse dogs to make them vicious for fighting and then watch them maim and kill one another for money. Or how they can drown, choke, beat to death, hang, and electrocute those dogs who lose or will not fight. What these innocent animals go thru is sickening. And no matter what anyone thinks if you can do these horrible things to an animal, it is not a big stretch to be doing it to people.

some classic rock

a little of The Who for D:



with a new spin:



a little fun for today. bridges are collapsing children disappearing. I think we need a little cheering.

A little bit of randomness

This song has been in my head today after hearing it on the radio this morning. So here we go, a little Uncle Cracker:



I am now on my days off. LOL. Which really means I am only working a few hours the next two mornings. Today was alright. A few frustrations at work. Had to stay an hour late waiting for people who were totally unprepared. "what do mean my dog has to have shot's? No one told me." WTF. of course they told you, you just think it doesn't matter. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. If only it was just dogs and no people. LOL

We spent a few nights at the lake which was good. Now we ahve to get back out there and tidy the cabin for the renters who are there for two weeks soon. Me so sad... oh well them's the breaks i guess. They help keep the cabin (or cottage for you easternors) in the family.

Gotta run and have a snack and play with the dogs.

Off to the lake

So I went to work this morning and had forgotten we had changed the schedule and I was really off. The other girl came in but felt like a day off so I worked. good but grrrr. I could have slept in. But now we are getting ready to go the cabin. Swimming and stuff tonight then I will drive in to work in the AM and hubby will watch the dogs at the lake. Then back to the lake and we will all come in friday morning.
Had a nice picnic at the beach last night and a good visit with our cousin. It was a nice evening.
Gotta go get ready. over and out

A half day off

So the last few days have been busy. We went to a BBQ at out cousins, which was busy and we had a great time. Then up to the inlaws for a nice dinner last night. Two nights not cooking hooray. Today I worked a short morning and headed to town with Mom. She had an appointment so I tagged alone to have a day out. I also made an apoointment with the doctor to go in and see him in a few weeks. Had lunch in the mall and wandered around. Then came home and chatted with a long lost college buddy that I found today. I found two yesterday as well. It was a hoot talking with them online last night. So many fun memories to recount. Read books, had a long soak in the tub, played with the dogs... then went out for dinner with the hubby. Then took the dogs and the cat for a walk.

While I have not been watching the news that much for the last while but the last few days there is so much on. Bomb threats to BC Ferries, debate over extending the Canadian mission to Afghanistan or not, more soldiers and civilians being killed in Iraq. There is so much opposition to both situations now that North Americans are facing more losses and are becoming more aware of the governments twisting of facts or fiction for their own purposes. This song is one of my most favorite pieces. It was an antiwar song during the Vietnam protests and is relevant now.

the young riders

Just found this on youtube. I enjoyed this show and quite a few actors got a start on here.

Afternoon musings

why oh why must my dog drop her ball in the bin of clean laundry and then bark until I get it out for her? Why did I just make profiles for my dogs on facebook?

I have finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I liked it, but was actually a little disappointed with the ultimate ending. It had a few good twists and those killed off were not who I thought. All in all a good read. I am sad that it is over. But there are still two more movies. A little harry potter funny from saturday night live:



Things I have learned from my pets: it is always exciting when someone comes to visit, don't sweat the small things, eat everything on your plate, snuggles are always good, it is never to late or early to go for a walk, water is good for you, live life with gusto, a little bit of something never hurts.

A little country

Afternoon musings

A few thoughts from Tim Mcgraw:



Facebooking has brought a lot of fun into my life but this week some sad news to. A man I knew in highschool was killed this weekend in Kamloops. A tree fell onto his truck heading to a campsite. He has left behind his wife and four children. His sister was a year ahead of me and I wish that I was able to go to the funeral, but I will be at work.

It makes you appreciate things a little more. I am very thankful for where I am and what I have. PB this songs for you.

The Late Nite Movie

the saga continues

A little music on a rainy night

Joshua Kadison... I saw him on Canada AM and really liked him. Bought the tape. Really liked it but it didn't seem to go far.

Jessie:



Beautiful In my Eyes (we used this as our cake cutting song)

Don't Fear The Reaper

A real flash back here. Blue Oyster Cult. Funny fact: there is a christian rock song sung currently that sounds suspiciously close to this rift.



So today I worked a part day and then came home to visit the pets. Got some groceries and visited with my Dad. I am teed off on facebook. There are three people I graduated with that are adding everyone else from our class as "friends" and won't add me. WTF? I have lots of people who only know me peripheraly that are adding me and people I spent hours and hours with will not. Wow, well see if they get an invite to the 20 year reunion.... LMAO... be afraid very afraid. muahahahahahaha

Seriously though, I have found another old friend that I am waiting to hear from. It would be very cool to reconnect.

On another front, I am waiting for the new Harry Potter... have just finished a newer JA Jance and Clive Cussler. I am happy to be reading a bit more again. And am listening to music at the moment. Ahhhh.... now to make dinner. homemade chinese. mmm

here comes that rainy day feeling again

Ok to be honest it has been here for a while now as it rains in the sunny Shuswap once again.
I was to have a beach party but everyone ended up busy or with family things (sick kids, weddings, life) so we had one couple with their boys over for a BBQ at our house. It was a nice time and let us have a visit which we haven't done much lately. So the party will be rescheduled for later on.
Today I have a birthday party for a one year old boy. Very fun. Now to find a gift.
The dogs are whining because I am ignoring them in their crates. It is a tough life indeed for them... seriously they are all spoiled and needy. Especially my two who have to be with me.
I am hoping that things are going well in the hospital for the cousin who has just been diganosed with diabetes. I know that getting things balanced can be tough at first and learning all the procedures must be overwhelming for his folks.

Afternoon musings

It is raining again, but that is OK. I did not get soaked at work today like yesterday. It poured all day. Working outside lots does have its drawbacks.

I am wondering today how anyone can possibly justify the amount of money that will be spent on the presidential elections in the states. Millions of dollars. There are kids going hungary, without medicare, without clothes etc... the list goes on.

I am wondering what happened to all the interest that I had in world events. I have lots of issues that I follow but cannot watch the news night after night. Lets have some positive news more often.

I watched the new Harry Potter movie the other evening with hubby amd my Mom. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Must reread books 5 and 6. I am waiting for the new one. I will get in eventually but am not in that big of a hurry.

Now for some good Canadian TV. I liked this show. And the scenery of BC is great.

A little flashback

Enjoy



Today is stormy, we came home to hang with the JRT as he is now afraid of thunder. I have been throwing the ball for the ESS and running interference for the puppy.

I have a headache today, it came on during the afternoon at work. So I am reading and hanging outwith the fam.

Tuesdays off

I got to sleep in again today. Hooray, then went out for coffee with my Dad and lunch with both my parents. Got some books with a birthday gift card. The new Clive Cussler and a newish J.A. Jance. Just finished reading Marley & Me nd I really enjoyed it. Made me remeber lots of things about the dog I put down a few years ago. It makes me cry everytime thinking about it. My three current dogs are flaked out on the couch waiting for me to finish and go play outside with them.

My young cousin has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes this week. A very upsetting time for his parents and the family. On the plus side, this is a manageable disease if you eat right and are dilligent about blood testing, but it is still a blow as he is only a young child. But we are blessed to be in a part of the world where treatment is up to date and there are so many resources available. I have added this family to my prayer list. While they are not believers the power of prayer can do so much. I have seen it in many areas of my life and in the lives of those around me.

Bring back Firefly

So I have now just joined three groups dedicated to this show on facebook. There is a huge cult following for this series by Joss Whedon. FOX cancelled this series after part of one season. At the time its fan base was not great. No one really knew about this show when it was on: a futuristic space series set in the wild west. No aliens, the bad guys are warped humans... gotta love it.

monday afternoon cartoon

a day off

I got up at 4:30 to let the dogs out and then stayed up for about a half hur throwing the ball for them and playing on the computer. Then back to bed to sleep in. Aaahhhhh, so nice to get to sleep past 6AM today.
I am up now playing with the dogs and on the computer again. Perhaps internet was not such a hot idea. LOL. Then off to do some errands. Give the bank money... they are always happy to see me... Get groceries, buy a book with some birthday gift certificates. Yay!! I am always happy to get gift certificates as gifts. I know some people are offended because they feel you did not make any effort to get them one, but I like being able to choose something that I wanted and might not have bought because it is not on my esentials list. i.e bills, food for me, food for the pets. So feel free to give me gift certificates. I can send you a list of places that I would be happy to have one from.
We have a cat that adopted us. It was our neighbors, but they did not feed it all winter (or its sibing) so we ended up doing that. Of course they both had kittens which the neighbors did look after but they moved and have left this one behind. So now we are stuck feeding t. It wants to move in so much, it tries to get into the house, and eats in the garage if the door is open, but I really cannot afford to fix and get shots for another pet. I have done my duty... I have four pets right now and saved another cat off the street lst year. I did everything for him and then gave hime to a friend for her little girl. They love Pierce and he is happy there. I do not want to send this cat to the SPCA since it will live its life in a crate if they cannot find it a home and they might as well just put it to sleep if that is the case. So the search is on for a home for my unwanted but friendly new cat.

A little flashback

VS



you choose which you prefer

Kids in the Hall

Afternoon musings

I am on days off. First order of business was coming home and filling the kiddie pool with water so the dogs could muck around. Makes them much cooler. Checked my facebook and now must feed the dogs. Then myself and the hubby.

I was dringin to work this morning and watching the clouds moving across the valley. It really is quite amazing the way that they form and are able to stay in the sky.

I just found retrojunk and am loving it. So many old tv shows clips and themes.

I have started reading Marley & Me and believe that I shall enjoy it greatly.

Another show from my youth:



The effects of alchohol test:

Reflections

This was one of my favorite TV shows. Based on the beaches of Danang during the Vietnam police action. Or war if you prefer. The cast was wonderful and I enjoyed it till the end. Although I was a little let down with how the series ended. Dana Delaney, Marg Helgenberger...

summer storms

It is going to thunder storm tonight in my part of the world. It is still hot though, but the power has been off and it looks ominous outside. Maybe it will rain and cool off a bit. That would be good.

I am putting this next song in. I was thinking about it at work today. I like Pink. She does great interviews. She is never afraid to be herself and is very passionate about women looking at themselves and the world around them. She welcomed controversy over this song as she said at least then people are talking about how girls are looking up to Paris and Britany as role models instead of strong women who don't have to sell themselves to get their point across. Whatever people may say about Pink she is who she is and certainly does not have to dress like Paris to sell her music. Of course she is decked out in some videos but on the whole stays a tom boy. As a side note I like her husbands reality TV show about his tatoo shop. They both seem very down to earth despite it all. Enjoy:

A little flashback

For those of us who were old (young) enough to enjoy it.

It is too frickin hot

It is hot, hot, hot in my house. All my poor friends and relatives had to suffer along with me tonight having cake. My pirates of the caribbean themed birthday cake. My hubby is so thoughtful to buy me such a cake as he knows that I enjoy pirates so much. Hmmmm... new costume for theme night. LOL. TMI.

So I am very happy to have had a good birthday although I worked and was hot and grumpy for a while before dinner. Dinner was nice and of course it is always lovely to get presents.

My dogs as having baths to cool them off as the heat is making them owly. And they can't be int he yard at night as they may bark and annoy the neighbors. They have fans that blow on them in their boxws at night. It is too hot to have them on the bed with us right now and causes too many power struggles within their pack. And my big girl tends to pee on hubby's side of the bed if she gets upset. Some people have kids that wet the bed, I have a dog who is spiteful...

Off to bed now as I have to get up and work in the AM.

songs for summer

Gotta love this one. It always puts me in a mood for a party, or a little dancing. Makes me want to get away. Enjoy a little UB40.

how about that heat?

So it is 35-40 degrees again today. I am glad to see the sun. I just wich my house did not get so hoooooooooooooot in the evening. We finally got out to the cabin this week and had a bonfire and stayed the night. It was a short trip but a good one.

I am online while the husband runs errands for my birthday today. I am 31 but think I am feeling more like 85. LOL. Two days off was great and I feel a little more human. I am very looking forward to my air conditioned dinner tonight at the pub. I do enjoy going there so chose there for dinner. Last year was a good Italian place in town and I do so love their chicken and spinach crepes in lemon dill sauce with green salad. I had many birthday wishes on facebook today. It was very nice.... and I got a card from my friend in Sudan who is now on her way to the mission in Georgia. For those who don't know it is on the Black Sea and is directly between Russia and Turkey. Yikes.

more songs for summer

I was born a few decades too late I think. So much of my favorite stuff is from the generation before mine. I think perhaps I would have been a antiwar, pot smoking, music loving chick. LMAO

Songs for summer

Summer has hit the Shuswap with a vengence. It is hot. It is good. Here is a song that always makes me think about summer when I hear it.



Cannot remember if I put this one on already. LOL. If I did... it is a classic. TS.

the late nite movie

the story continues...

life without internet

So our neighbors whose signal we stole have moved. I have no access to the online world. And I hve to say that I have not missed it all that much. Truthfully, only I and two others read this so it is not that important. Facebook, I have missed a bit, but again life has gone on. The world indeed kept on turning.

I went to an old friends reception last night. The wedding began as I finished work so I skipped that and joined them later. Dinner was good and the party seemed to be a big success. Our friend T looked happy. Cheers to he and his new wife.

I just worked my 12th day in a row and now I have TWO whole days off. What will I do? Where will I go? Hopefully the beach, if the weather cooperates. I took the dogs for a run on the mountain today with my Dad, which was nice. The kids are happy and tired. Yay, now if it will cool off in the house maybe they will sleep tonite. I cannot blame them really as my house is enough to make me want to move somewhere cooler. Yet I cannot complain as I prefer the warm to the rain.

Our neighbor is going on a rant about dogs again. We are semi good owners in his eyes as we make an effort to keep the kids from barking but he is out to get our other neighbors. His little guys yap quite often, which really does not bother me other than it gets our dogs to bark at them. This same guy has no complaints against any form of human noise, just dogs. Our former neighbors had parties from noon on almost everyday in the summers and drank, and cursed and swore so that I could not sit in my yard as I did want to hear all that. But does he complain about that as he could hear it to? No, cause those people were his budies. Or the man that built furniture from 11pm to 3am for weeks one summer? No, because it never "occured" to him. He has said he knows what to do if they bark. I assume he means poison them again. Now I know I cannot prove it was he that poisoned my dogs before, but it mysteriously ended when we wrote to city hall to say we were going to get the police involved and another woman wrote to say she was going get a lawyer and get a restraining order against him. I have no time or use for this man. I try to make my dogs quiet but they do make some nosie. Less than any of the kids in our neighborhood and ony during daylight hours. So perhaps I will get all the most offensive rap I can find and play it all day on my deck... I am not bitter...I am not bitter.

Just for fun

I loved the first three Star wars movies. I have them on VHS somewhere. I could watch them for hours. I then got into the books and enjoyed them for quite a while.
So for you Star Wars fans

Things I do not understand about my pets

why I cannot pee/wash/have bath alone
why they turn up their nose at their expensive high quality dog food yet eat cat poo
how they can hog the bed when they sleep any other time curled up in a ball
how they can say so much with their eyes
how they can forgive us so quickly
how they can tell when I am going to work
why they get up at 430 in the morning on the days I work and keep me awake after, yet will sleep late on my days off

My dogs have spent the last hour in and out of the house, playing ball. My JRT who is very expressive with his sadness usually tells you when he is not feeling well. Today however, he did not and thru up on the floor between my rooms. While I was distracted one of the others got into the cat food, while the tird stole that ones bone. To my dogs, someone elses is ALWAYS better. Especially when they want it back.

A little flashback

This was one of my favorite shows growing up. I admit that for only having two channels plus the knowledge network I seem to have watched a lot of TV. I loved the dog and wanted a stuffed one so badly. One Christmas I got a dog that sort of resembeled Flash. I loved him... even when his nose fell off and I glued it back on upside down. I still have Flash in a toy box in my garage. I never could figure out though how they were all cousins, yet had no parents. Especially the season "Bo and Luke" went on strike for more pay and they brought in "Coy and Vance". How many cousins did they have. This is why people living outside the US fear travelling in the backcountry we think you are all hillbillies who interbreed. LOL. Not really of course, I would love to travel across the US. I read US history from the time I could read. I loved westerns, and knew so much about the Wild West!!

Here's a little Dukes of Hazzard

Sunny afternoon thoughts

I spent a busy weekend working and visiting. We went to the pub and had a really good visit with a couple friends saturday night. It was very nice to see them and catch up a bit. Canada Day we went and visited my former BFF from highschool and had a great time with her and her extended family. Cute kids, good food, nice visit. Now I am grumping because switching over to a schedule good for both of us at work I am stuck working 13 days in a row. But it is better than the 30 I did last June/July and the 70 I did a few years ago. So I am sad to say I have not been to the lake at all. Next week though I am spending my days off there with some good CD's and good books.
So here is a song that I love, by a Canadian I wanted to marry when I was youger. Sadly that never happened but I still love his musci and find him very good live. His back up singer put us on the guestlist a few years ago when they came to town. Hubby worked at the hotel they stayed at. When the fello heard that we had wanted to go but the tickets were sold out he added us to the list to get in because hubby did such a good job for them. Gotta love him for that.

HAPPY CANADA DAY !!

So today is the 140 birthday of my home and native land. A day to celebrate canadian customs and values, music, culture etc. I have to say there are many good canadians succeeding in business, music and the arts, politics, design you name we're there. I suppose I am proud to be a canadian. I am blessed to live in the country that I do and have the freedoms that I have. Sadly I cannot sing the new version of the national anthemn as I do not know the french section... I am too old to have done it in school. I must also admit to a sad knowledge of my country... I doubt that I would pass a citizenship test at all. It has simply been tooooo long since I studied canadian history at school. And to be very honest had no interest in doing any in college because I had done soooooo much in high school. To help celebrate today... which I worked and am heading to a birthday party for a friend.. here are some classis songs:

1) The Irish Rovers (for a celtic theme)



2) A little more modern from Nickelback



3) From my youth, from Kim Mitchell (also a summer anthemn)



4) getting a bit older now. I was only two when this one came out. But it is still a classic.



5) some classic 60s rock by Steppenwolf



I can say many canadian artists fill out my favorite songs/bands list. The above among them. Enjoy!!

a little INXS

I admit I watch reality TV. Survivor, Canada's worst driver, Tall Ship Chronicles... the list goes on. Although there are many I don't watch to. I loved the Mark Burnett shows on ecochallenge to and although my husband hates this one Temptation Island. I say couples in strong relationships wouldn't be on temptation island in the first place... although a few did leave the show as they discovered that they really did want to be together and one couple got married after doing it. But my favorites were Rock Star: INXS and Nashville star. Here's a little of the new INXS. I liked the old and like the new.

A little extreme kindness

I met these four guys a number of years ago when they came to help Salmon Arm try and get into the Guiness World Book of Records for acts of kindness committed in a day. Our friend ran a kids club (RAK Pac --- or randon acts of kindness) and brought them in. What a great group and a good inspiration to us all.

check them out at http:www.extremekindness.com

A little bit of randomness

I am in the process of making my new work schedule. Me... once again the boss has decided that I should do the schedule. I wish he would make up his mind about that. LOL.

I am sitting at the computer and my puppy came over just to snuggle. Gotta love it.

While I working all weekend. :-( I am going to my friends parents sunday for a birthday party for her. She was by BFF all thru high school. We have grown apart as happens in the "real" world but stay in touch. I am very glad to visit with her and her family. They are all very nice people. I am doubely glad to see her as she is 31 and has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She is doing well at the moment and I cannot wait to give her a big hug!!

I am planning my menus for next week so that I make healthy ones and actually eat. I am in process of using up a bunch of processed stuff in my cupboards and attempting to eat more real food and less packaged. I have switched to whole grain pasta etc and am looking forward to more grains. I do like most... just have to convince the hubby he does't need meat all the time. LOL. This is not too hard as 8 years have brought him around to my way of thinking more. LOL. that being said, I am looking forward to grilling some good steaks this summer. Got some good recipes from Canadian Living to have sides.

some good friends moved and another is moving back this way. funny how these things work out.

I have reread the same trilogy over and over again in the past week. I love it and can reread it all the time. It never gets boring and I always enjoy it.

Tonight I am going to have a bubble bath and read while the hubby baby sits the kids (read DOGS here)... aaaahhhh can't wait.

Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Well I sorta have 2 but the wealthy part hasn't happened yet. Somebody lied to me. LOL

A little flashback

I always loved this show: thank you to whomever made this.



Cause we always need a hero!!

A few everyday miracles

Sunshine
my love for my husband
children in our lives
mexican food (made the north american way LOL)
authors who find a story to tell
people who are brave enough to tell their stories to us
gifts that are granted to us
humility
that cats can purr and dogs can smile
for lifes little moments
for beautiful scenery like that out my window everyday
that I can freely walk the streets and work unlike some places in the world

a little homemaking

I am watching the dogs while hubby mows an elderly lady's lawn. I have done dishes, made dinner, made his lunch for tomorrow, organized the laundry again, fed the dogs... it is not unusual to do this but I feel bad. I am in a down period and my poor hubby is a bit at a loss. He wants to help, which I love about him, but cannot understand that it is not something specific that is causing this. It is life. It is work, money, the dogs, a need for a holiday, a sadness that good friends moved, a wish we got to see our friends here more... a little lack of direction in my life that I need to focus on.
We watched a movie last night at church called Facing the Titans. It is aabout a football coach who is having everything in his life moving against him or just not go his way. He really focusses his life on prayer and God and things start to change in his life. In his relationships at home and work. It was actually what I needed to hear right about now. I do not pray as much as I should. But I have seen the power of prayer in so many areas of my life and the lives around me. I know lots of people who may or may not agree but for me, I can see things working in my life that are hard to explain. It is not a miracle cure, LOL, but I am not alone in my struggles.

The Late Nite Movie (midafternoon)

Another installment of Chad Vader:



I had my doubts but this is funny.

A little Wierd Al

Just felt like something funny:

A bit of honesty

6 Wierd Things That I Do Before Bed Or While I Am Sleeping:

1. I obsessively, compulsively set three alarm clocks so that one will ring for sure and I am not going to be late for work.
2. OK truth time here: I hog the covers... so my hubby doesn't hog them first.
3. I drool and then get grossed out as our dogs always try to lick the pillows.
4. I quite often dream about all manners of things but rarely is my husband in them.
5. I wear polar fleece pj's almost the whole year. My hubby thinks I have a sick obsession with them... but hey I like to be warm... that or nude. LOL
6. I love to read in bed or have our pets snuggle for a while, and then feel bad when we put them into their crates to sleep.

So today I am at home with the dogs, the sun is shining and I am tired but functional. To that end I am planning my taco dinner, making chicken noodle soup from scratch (finishing it from yesterday), hoping to make choc chip-pecan cookies, going for coffee with my Mom, phoning some friends, and probably once again for the eigth time this morning sweeping the floors. I love my dogs but sure wish they could do the sweeping. LOL. I am back to work tomorrow. Here is a summer song for you from Katrina and the Waves (or if you have kids by Aly and AJ)