and Donna was her name...

Confessions and Musings

2012-02-12T07:43:00.000-08:00

1) 3d Ultrasound pictures of babies creep me out.

2) Sometimes I watch Dr. Phil to feel better about my life decisions.

3) Last summer I jumped on the Sheepdogs bandwagon. Heard they were on The Rolling Stone and without thinking about it, I instantly loved them and downloaded their album. I now realize it was all hype and I don't really like the music all that much. I'm just a indie hype whore I guess. Borderline hipster if you will.

4) I really don't get Frank Zappa at all.

5) I waste too much time.

6) Until 2 years ago, I really believed that Neapolitan ice cream (the strawberry/chocolate/vanilla combo) was named after that Famous French conquerer.

7) When I was 12, I thought I wanted to marry Tommy Puett

8) When I was 14, I learned how to play the intro to Thunderstruck AND Enter Sandman on guitar to impress a guy. It was all in vain. He went for big chested figure skaters.

9) I need spell check to spell the words their, believe and receive correctly. The whole 'i before e rule' is a complete farce if you ask me.

numbers

2011-11-26T19:16:00.000-08:00

3-half marathons I have ran

4-years I have been teaching

418-songs purchased on my computer after 1 year

5-online dating websites I have registered for (it's getting out of hand)

1-men I have met in 'real life' from online dating websites

32000-dollars I owe in student loans

6-towns/cities I have lived in since graduating from high school

5000-population of my hometown

31-Christmases I have experienced

5-times I have been out of the country

3-brothers I have

88-number of people in my graduating high school class

1-times I have been to Vegas

2-dogs I have had during childhood

3-universities I have attended

87-face book friends

800-students at the school where I teach

6-provinces I have visited

21-years I have been playing guitar

16-years I have been running

3-areas of my body that are currently injured due to running/walking

0-cars I own

1-cars I have written off

0-houses I have bought

0-kids I have

0-roommates

3-guitars I own

3-glasses of wine consumed prior to writing this blog

2-apartments I have lived since moving to Moncton

1-fish I take care of

33-age of next birthday

The Thoughts that Ran Through My Head While I Ran 21.1km

2011-10-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

1st KM: Why am I doing this again?

2nd KM: I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

3rd KM: I must be 10km in by now.

4th KM: Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run.

5th KM: I am going to pass that skanky bitch in purple.

6th KM: I feel like I am going to throw up.

7th KM: I wonder if that guy will let me borrow his bike...

8th KM: Thank God I didn't throw up.

9th KM: That skanky bitch in purple is trying to pass me! I'll show her.

10th KM: Voice 1: I am getting dizzy. Voice 2: Don't be a pussy.

11th KM: How much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck....

12th KM: I want something else. To get me through this...semi charmed kind of life.

13th KM: How many songs by Coldplay are on this F--king Ipod anyway?

14th KM: The Mississippi Delta was shining like a national guitar...

15th KM: Onward to Dieppe.

16th KM: What's another 5.1 KM at this point anyway?

17th KM: Death Cab for Cutie? Really? skip Nick Drake? Not what I need to hear right now. skip Bon Iver-Buzzkill skip Fiest skip

18th KM: Childbirth can't be much worse than this...

19th KM: Push!

20th KM: I am going to make it.

21st KM: I did it.

For Those Who Preach Confidence

2011-10-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

What is with this whole idea about confidence?

People tell you all the time:

confidence...confidence...

you need more confidence...

you should be more confident...

Confidence is sexy.

Confidence is the key to success.

It's as if confidence can be easily attained.

As if it were as simple as going to the grocery store and buying it.

You should drink more milk.

You should eat more vegetables.

You should have more confidence.

"Excuse me, store employee.

But where do you keep all the confidence?

Is there a confidence aisle?

Oh. It is kept with self-image and self-worth and self-esteem is it?

I see."

What's the cost on this confidence?

My Honesty?

My Modesty?

My Courtesy?

My Shyness?

My Awkwardness?

My Self-doubt?

My Imperfections?

My Humbleness?

My Motivation to become a better person?

Wow. That's a high price to pay.

Maybe I'll try to eat more vegetables instead.

Music

2011-10-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Today

I turned off my radio and

opened my window and

just listened to the sound of wind blowing through the trees.

It was nice.

Adventures in Online Dating

2011-09-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

Headlines Decoded:

Not looking for head games- This person gets roped into head games quite easily.

Looking for friends- This person is married

Looking for a real man/woman- Not 100% sure but maybe they are sick of the blow-up doll under the bed?

Can't handle me!- Nobody can handle this person. Not exactly a positive thing.

Hello- This person might actually have a life and thus does not have much time to put thought into a headline.

Sick of drama- This person thrives on drama.

FINAL FANTASY- This person lives in a video game like reality.

Looking to chat- This person is married.

Looking for 'the one'- This person is looking to get laid.

Checking this out- This person is married.

LOL- This person speaks in annoying acronyms.

Hooray for Boobies: This person is a 'Boobie enthusiast'.

Spmeone who knows how too treat me- This persn wants spmeone who has similar literasy sklls.

Someone who is themself- This person wants someone with multiple personalities.

Appear as you are or be you appear- ????

I might look like a player but I'm not- This person thinks he is attractive and that you are gullible.

PEEK-A-BOO- Run as fast as you can!

Where I am from

2011-08-17T17:40:00.000-07:00

Fog horns

Lighthouses
No traffic lights

Small Streets

Drivers stop for you to cross the streets
Salt water air blows from the North Atlantic
Rain falls horizontally
Drink tea with mom
Drink beer with dad
Buy beer in gas stations
Big ocean is everywhere

Watch the ferry come in

Then you watch it roll away again
Stray cats
Baseball caps
No Walmart (but there is a Bargain Giant)
Buoys bob aimlessly in the water
Boys ride aimlessly on their bikes
Old men converse on the Government Wharf

Dialects

Accents
Beaches
Rock

All of these things make me smile.

Race to the Sea

2011-08-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

So I was awaken from my slumber at 9:17 this morning with a phone call to recruit me to run a 13.2 km leg of a relay race at 12:20 today. Of course I said yes, why not. I had anticipated that it would be a beautiful, scenic and refreshing run along the coastline. I ate a breakfast of champions, got dressed in my gear and away I went to register at my start point.

And I would like to say that despite the short notice to run this race that I kicked ass in it. Not the situation. The scenic route that I thought would inspire me to run the best race of my life only inspired me for the first 5-6 km or so. After that I got dizzy, sweaty, and as well some unsettling prickly sensations in my limbs. I kept going and thought I could beat it and get to a better place. Not so. I tried a different tactic whereby I thought of something that pissed me off, you know, get me fired up. Fail. Finally, in my pathetic and dehydrated state, I succumbed to my own demons and slowed the pace to a groggy and discouraging walk. No song on my Ipod could get me going again. Not even ones by Nick Drake in his peaceful mysterious bliss or The Verve in their alternative magic. From then on it was a 2-3 minute trot alternated with a sluggish and staggering 10 minute walk to the finish line.

So here is the interesting part. Lately I have developed a minor (albeit completely irrational) fear of the number 13. Check this out: There were 13 teams, meaning there were 13 runners running at a time. We were to run approximately 13 kms. The race took place on the 13th of August annnnnd I started to flounder at 1:00 - the 13th hour of the day! As it happens I was the 13th runner to finish my leg of the race. Uncanny I say.

At least I got a cool new T-shirt out of it.

To do list

2011-08-12T17:40:00.000-07:00

Ok Ok. So I am not a fan of the summer to do list. I mean why put pressure on myself during a time when I am supposed to be free of pressure. But I did have a few items in the back of my head at the onset of summer and I feel that this is a good time to comment on the status of each item. Here it goes:

Use new passport by leaving the country-check

Learn to play Ventura Highway on guitar-fail

Read at least 5 books-In progress but I am thinking novellas are the way to go at this point.

Catch up on Days of our Lives-Check. And it only took 18 minutes (including commercials). Things don't progress at a blinding pace in the city of Salem. Except for human development. I saw a new male character around 20 years of age, very handsome. And I thought; I don't know who this guy is but I bet he was born in 2009. That is how aging works in that show. Meanwhile, Stefano has been in his 60's since the mid 80's.

Go to a spa/salon and get a tutorial on how to apply make-up-fail

Visit my brother in Toronto-check

Read 'Brave New World'-epic fail

Sand, prime and paint 15 year old in-tables donated by my parents-check

Write more frequently-check

See a band in my top 5-check (U2!!)

Alright there is more that I will add at a later time. I am a little tired. I have summer brain.

Mother-Daughter Moment

2011-08-12T17:37:00.001-07:00

Mom: Donna, I was watching Dr. Oz just then and I learned something interesting...

Me: What did you learn?

Mom: Well a study shows that most men prefer women with big hair over big chests.

Me: Good to know.

Mom: Yes, I thought you'd might appreciate that.

a couple of things

2011-08-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

1) Family Feud: I love that show but it drives me crazy! For example, on today's episode a category was 'what America thinks is the sexiest vegetable'-which is stupid enough in itself but the first answer was 'apple'....what? Then after a pervy old man responds with 'zucchini' and gets the turn for his family, what response does his equally pervy wife come up with? Banana. Sigh. It is a true test of patience to sit through a full episode and not scream at the TV.

2) Brave New World: Alas I vowed at the beginning of the summer that that I would read this literary classic that I had unjustifiably missed in my high school and university years and it would completely change my perspective on life. And here I am 48 pages in and I find it the least bit riveting, provoking, stimulating...all things the back cover promised. In fact, I don't think I will finish the damn book. Am I less of a person? Less of an intellect? I have no idea. But I have concluded that there is a reason why I minored and not majored in English, I guess.

There's no place like it.

2011-08-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

Below is a beauty of a cover of Blind Faith's 'Can't Find my Way Home'. It is rare when I find a cover that I enjoy as much or more than the original but here is one. It is a song that I associate with relocating to and within New Brunswick: Initially in Fredericton, I got lost in the downtown area the first night I got there and I went around in circles while listening to this song on my Ipod (yes it's possible to get lost in Fredericton). Then I got a job in Moncton and moved here without knowing anyone. I felt lost for a while and I stumbled upon this cover by following John Mayer of all people on twitter of all places and it seemed so fitting I guess. I'd like to think I have found my way somewhat since then but I am still not there.

It will be nice to spend some time in NL (my first home).

Ellen McIlwaine - Can't Find My Way Home

2011-08-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

Things I have learned recently

2011-08-02T13:20:00.000-07:00

1) Life is more enjoyable when it happens outside of your head.

2) That 'he loves me- he loves me not' game you play as a little girl with daisies is also played as a single woman in a different capacity.

3) Bitterness and impulsivity is a very bad combination.

4) Growing pains do not cease to exist after adolescence-they continue well into adulthood.

5) That 'a watched kettle never boils' saying can be modernized with 'a watched inbox never gets messages'.

6) Nothing is better for restoring your spirit than spending time with an old friend.

7) I might just have a potential career in making fridge magnets.

If I could have a Music Awards Show, here is how it would go:

2011-05-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

Best Harmonica Solo:

1) We Can Work it Out-Stevie Wonder Version

2) Don't think Twice - Bob Dylan

3) We're Here for a Good Time - Trooper

Best Lyric with Food-Sexual Innuendo:

1) 'I got Bim Bam Banana Cups, Dixie Cups. All flavours and Push-ups too'-Ice Cream Man by Van Halen

2) 'Squeeze my lemon till the juice runs down my leg' - Travelling Riverside Blues by Robert Johnson

3) 'I'm not Bluffin' with my muffin'- Poker Face by Lady GaGa

**Honourable Mention goes to 'Pour some Sugar on Me' by Def Leopard

Best Song about Monday:

1) Tell me Why I Don't Like Mondays by Boomtown Rats

2) Monday Monday by the Mamas and the Papas

3) Manic Monday by The Bangles

Most Abrupt Song Lyric:

1) 'Give me my money back give me my money back, you bitch' Song for the dumped by Ben Folds Five

2) 'F**k you, f**k you very very much' F**k you by Lily Allen

Sleaziest Lyric:

1) 'I took her word I took it all beneath the sign that said U-Haul' Hotdog by Led Zeppelin

2) 'She's my cherry pie' Cherry Pie by Warrant

Best Song about a day of the week:

1) It's Friday, I'm in Love by the Cure

2) GoodBye Ruby Tuesday by the Rolling Stones

3) Manic Monday by the Bangles

Best Van Halen Song with David Lee Roth:

1) Ice Cream Man

Best Van Halen Song with Sammy Hagar:

1) Standing on Top of the World

Best one word verb song title:

1) Sing by Travis

2) Stop by the Spice Girls

3) Go by Pearl Jam

Most Redundant Song Lyric:

1) 'Only Time will tell if we stand the test of time' Why Can't this be Love by Van Halen

Best Song about a Walrus:

1) I am the Walrus by The Beatles

Best Song about an Octopus:

1) Octopus' Garden by The Beatles

Best Use of Reverb in a guitar solo:

1) Same in Any Language by My Morning Jacket

2) Just Like Paradise by David Lee Roth

Best Song using one word in the Chorus:

1) Panama by Van Halen

2) Victoria by The Kinks

Best Song that Glorifies the State of California:

1) California Dreamin' by the Mamas and Papas

2) Going to California by Led Zepellin

3) California Waiting by Kings of Leon

Best Nonsensical Band name:

1) Death Cab for Cutie

2) Fountains of Wayne

3) Rainbow Butt Monkeys

Best Song written for Sexually Frustrated guys who want to get their girlfriends to put out and seem romantic at the same time:

1) More than Words by Extreme

2) Sea of Love by the Honeydrippers

Best Song written for Sexually Frustrated guys who want to get their girlfriends to put out and don't really care about seeming romantic:

1) Add it Up by the Violent Femmes

2) I want to ____ you like an animal by Nine Inch Nails

Songs that seemed to be written specifically for a Beer Commercial:

1) Tub Thumping by Chumba Wumba

2) Good Time by Inxs

3) Let's Get Rocked by Def Leopard

Best song using just a woman's name in the song title:

1) Victoria by The Kinks

2) Gloria by Them

3) Kate by Ben Folds Five

Best Song about Coaxing a woman named Eileen:

1) Don't Walk away Eileen by Sam Roberts

2) Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners

Grocery Gong Show

2010-11-27T17:16:00.000-08:00

My last grocery shopping was spectacle to say the least. Here's why:

1) I was on a stubborn streak. As far as I was concerned, I could function completely fine without a car and I certainly did not need a cab.

2) Cashiers at the grocery store are not telepathic and will not pack your grocery bags according to your preferences. At the same time, I did not want to be THAT lady who dictates how her groceries ought to be packed so that when she stubbornly walk home she will not need to stop because one of her limbs have gone numb.

3) I did need to stop with my groceries around when I noticed that my limbs are going numb. To call a cab? You wonder. Noooooo. Instead I stopped (with traffic passing by) to strategically redistribute the items in my bags. Milk and coffee cream and produce in one bag? Big mistake.

4) From then on it was a constant battle to keep my heavier bag (weighing close to 50 lbs) slung over my shoulder and in doing so I lost several strands of hair that got caught under the handles of bag.

5) But the stubborn streak persists and in my mind I would not even stop if a stretch limo pulled up to offer a ride. Nooooo. I would prevail with my groceries.

6) While all this is happening my iPod was positioned in my purse so that with each stride the volume was going up and down haphazardly. Therefore adding to my frustration but noooooo, this would not be a setback from walking home with 100 pounds of groceries.

7) Just as I get it in my head that I am perfectly normal and that people passing by are oblivious to my stubborn streak and numbing limbs and losing hair to heavy bags and annoying volume on iPod; don't the secretary at my school pull up and roll the window down and didn't I say 'hi how's it going?' as if everything were perfectly wonderful. Seriously.

8) So here it is. I have groceries but no dignity, the cars passing by had some entertainment and the blog world has another pointless post. Fantastic.

Don't sweat the small stuff...

2010-11-11T15:40:00.000-08:00

Such as:

Infinite amount of crumbs that come out of my toaster
Coffee grounds
Flies in my apartment. Just when I think I have killed them off, I see them buzzing in front of me...they're like Stefano on Days of Our Lives.
Surround sound used by tenant living directly under me
The song "I would do anything for love (but I won't do that)" oh god the fact that it is 20 min long and has a parenthesis in the title is just too much to take...
Slipping on chick pea salad and not being able to run because of it.
My chandelier, it is truly ugly.
Apartment Leases. I really want to get out of here.
People who use big words ALL THE TIME.
Posters that fall off my wall.

Okay that is all for now.

Welcome to my life...8 years ago

2010-04-03T17:03:00.000-07:00

It is truly an amazing glimpse you can get of your own life thanks to Archived Reply messages from your email account--I had forgotten some of the things I did and said at the age of 22--Here they are in no particular order:

hello _____
yip thats right its kind of stormy here lately wed we had no school cause it was sooooo bad twas real nice not too bad here now me thinks me may go for a run havent made any really fancy plans for tonight ( like um a liquer buffet ahem) however breezeway draft might be in the works nothing special went down town last night so i dont want to do that again tonite anyway what was that you said about karen being in japan i saw her today going into cartier did you say that she was already there or planning on going anyway doesnt matter does it
by the resume turned out fine thanks alot!!!!!!
take care and have fun tonite
love donnalou

hey ___
whats up how is life in the high class harlow town have you met the new interns yet?? did you show them the key spots of new harlow (ie jumpin jaks) thats pretty strange about the mun students banned from chequers and marquis whats the scoop on that ___ told me that much info oh welll hope it is nothing i did ha
anywho not much on the go here trying to get settled away in my new aprtment more of a matchbox then an apt however i can deal with it for 4 monthes my roomates seem pretty decent pretty calm compared to some of the people in cabot thats okay with me i guess saw some of the class the pasrt few days like ____ and maybe a few others seems weird to see the here on campus in st johns it kind of make my trip seem a bit realer though
are you planning on visiting here in the future you really should
anyway better go
take care ___
donna

hello ____
what happened i wonder cause ___ had the same thing happen when i wrote him last week how are you all settled in montreal?? anything but settled here dont have any hangers or groceries or pots pans or dishes.....and the list goes on ya know there is alot more to living in an apartment than meets the eye....my roomates seem alright so far i think it is going to be okay we re sharing a phone between 4 girls so thinks may get a wee complicated at times trying to get in touch with some friends in town breezeway opening night will definitly not be the same without you!!! nobody wants to go early they dont have the same priorities as you and me ____they have to stay home and watch shit like surviver yuck
anywho _____ will be getting in contact with you in the next few days shit forgot my number already does that surprise you though i will write and tell you that tommorrow okay
take care
love donnalou

hey ___
how are you Christmas here now having a few drinks with my dad and listening to music having a very relaxing time and you?? love to see you in your kilt for the wedding sounds like an excellent time!! you are right in a way you know seems like i have never been away oh well it is something i am already looking back on and appreciating immensely!! well anyway happy christmas!
Take care
donna

hello and merry christmas
well ___ it was great hearing from you man jesus christ whats up!! sounds like you have a lot on the go just relaxing here on a christmas eve here with the parents had a big drunk last nite for tips eve ( do you have that in scotland?? it is a big nite whereby we celebrate the nite before christmas eve by getting really tipsy--just an excuse to get sloshed i suppose) going to toronto in four days to see my brothers going to spend new years eve with them --looking forward to it anywho better go and wrap my presents take care and have a great holiday
yours truly
donna

hey ____
back in canada kind of tired cant go on a big tear as i origionally planned oh well you missed a great meal on plane today salmon with an unknown green substance on it of course i ate it (really really hungry okay) anyway hope youre all ready to go have a great 2 monthes travelling i want to hear some good stories when you get back!!
take care
donna

Hi ___
wow doesnt this just grab your attention its almost 6am here now i am just waiting for my ride to come pick me up and drive me to heathrow cant believe its all over here blows my mind how fast it all went well anyway hopefully i will see you later on tonite--if i can get a ride from my aunt bells if not send me the number from where you will be and i will call you we can talk without it costing a billion dollars a minute well must go zip up my hockey bag that will take a good 20min at least! have a good flight!!
take care
love donnalou

hello _____
how are you doing got back from ireland last nite wow what a great 2 days i had dublin is soooo amazing it is so much like st. johns it is scary the faces alone were familiar i would walk on the streets and see people that i swore i saw before in nf saw one little girl that looked exactly like the girl i babysat at home ( whos dad was from ireland)
the streets look alot lke home as well there was a section called temple bar where it was just a huge section of bars and pubs and of course as you may be guessing that reminded me of george st it was crazy there were people playing outside for cash except here they were all talented
oh and i went to the guiness brewery which was such a big deal for me it was soooooo great guiness is awesome so awesome i drank pint after pint the past two days and well i saw the repercussions of that on the wieght scale last nite got to lay off the beer in general. but anyway back to the brewery it was 6 floors of info all about giuness then a really cool bar on the top floor which was circular and had glass all around it so you got this amazing view of dublin
what else did we do oh got a picture of bonos bar " the kitchen" it was really obscure literally a hole in the wall i hope it came out though all in all it was a great time you really have to go there sometime and i will for sure go with you because i really want to return for a longer visit someday i was so content there the culture and atmosphere was so familiar anyway i will tell you more about it when i show you the pictures and stuff i bought i will try to call again sometime before i go home write back soon and take care
love donnalou

hello b
how are you this is your buddy donna in harlow i am at school right now just got a couple of free minutes so i decided to write everyone i can see how your frind found it stressful here interning sometimes i think what exactly am i doing here this would have been so much more simpler in canada however i do not regret coming over here that is what life is about after all eh challenges i have travelled a bit i went to bath and cambridge an london it was all great th towns are beautiful i think i may go to greece for half term if yyou have any travelling pointer write me so anywho how is flight attendent school are you enjoying halifax
write me and let me know how you are doing take care
cheers
donna

hello ___
glad to see your trip to st johns went well everything is well in townie land i am assuming youre soooo lucky to go to the breezeway i havent gone to dance clubs in awhile might go to jumpin jaks this weekend week from now and ill be in greece yay i think i may send postcards to everyone then taught my first full day yesterday i was so exhausted afterwards the morning was excellent but the afternoon oh god the afternoon was crazy just a chain of disasterous events i dont know if they learned enything i was just praying for 3:15 they were soooooo wired however at the end of the day i still wanted to be a teacher so i guess that is a good sign hey anyway better go eat lunch chat later>donna>ps the reason you havent gotten your gift yet because it was sent back to me apparently the address that i wrote on it didnt exist could you please send your address to me and then i will send it again

hi _____
how is it going i am in the uk it is alright too the city is beautiful only got lost once by myself there is so much i want to talk to you about i miss having you around and you're probably thinking well yeah of course you do!! anyway how is your program going was talking to a girl here from montreal and from her perspective getting accepted is quite an accomplishment she should know eh so yeah dalhousie can just screw themselves start school tomorrow kind of nervous however i just visited the school today and i am really happy about it , it really seems okay anyway that is all for now write me back!!!!
take care
donnalou
ps unfortunatly the tattoe prospect is looking rather bleak if you know what i mean maybe i should go to italy or something yeah yeah thats what i'll do

Uncanny

2010-01-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

Today, while a raging blizzard confined me to my apartment...watching bad reality TV...I decided to check my email account for the first time in two months to find not 1 not 2 but 872 new messages in my inbox. This amazing insight of a horoscope being one of them:

Your horoscope for January 2, 2010
The answer for you today, Donna, is yes. Explore, reach out, and expand your mind in the far corners of your world and beyond. There is no need to tie yourself down to practical reality. Don't restrict yourself to linear thinking. Take a time out and enjoy some time in the clouds. You should find that information you receive today would be extremely helpful in the pursuit of your wildest dreams.

So the Uncanny part? The bad reality TV I was watching was none other than Real Housewives of Orange County Marathon. My faith in astrology is officially renewed.

ten for ten

2009-12-31T19:49:00.001-08:00

As I sit here ten minutes before 2010 commences, I will develop an official list of ten things I want to do within the next ten years:

1) Run at least one marathon.
2) Travel to or at least through Alta, Sask, Man, BC (the provinces I have not been to yet).
3) Learn at least 10 songs that are above a grade 6 RCM level on Classical Guitar.
4) Visit 5 European Countries and Scotland and Hawaii and NYC
5) Complete a Master's in Counselling Psych (thesis route).
6) See top 5 bands/Guitarists that I have not already seen in concert (Ryan Adams, U2, Eric Clapton, Pepe Romero, Dave Matthews etc) **bands are subject to change.
7) Write a song
8) Raise a dog
9) Volunteer in a soup kitchen on Christmas Day
10) Play Classical Guitar for a audience that is greater than 2000 people.

Hope everyone's new year and decade is full of health and happiness.
Peace and Love.
Donna

Inspiring (as far as astrology goes...)

2009-12-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

"There is light enough for those who wish to see," wrote French philosopher Blaise Pascal, "and darkness enough for those of the opposite disposition." I'm hoping you will align yourself with the first group in the coming week, Aquarius. More than ever before, what you choose to focus on will come rushing in to meet you, touch you, teach you, and prompt you to respond. Even if all the smart people you know seem to be drunk on the darkness, I encourage you to be a brave rebel who insists on equal time for the light.
Freewillastrology.com

It's time for another one...

2009-11-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of good and bad things that happened on the weekend...little insight into my life.
Good Things
-Buying a new cookbook which has been written specifically for moronic non cookers like myself. It actually has instructions on how to boil an egg.
-New cookbook inspiring me to go to grocery store and buy stuff like sesame seed oil and balsamic vinagar and feta cheese and couscous.
-Red Wine
-The word couscous...it's fun to say.
-Naps.
-Candy Cane hot chocolate.
-New shirt.
-Flavoured coffee.
-Running just as the sun goes down.
-Time to play guitar.
Bad Things
-First failed recipe from new cookbook...potatoe pancakes...they were chewy and tasteless. I might have done something wrong.
-Getting chased and yelled at while running by little kids that I think are from my school and pretending not to hear them.
-Writing sentences with awkwardly sentence structure.
-Pile of work I must get done for tommorrow.
-Hearing crap like meatloaf and kiss and styx every second song on my radio.
-Chorus of screaming children in big box department stores.
-Chorus of annoying pigeons that congregate on my roof.

Bus Trip

2009-10-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Unlike my last trip there were no digusting stories about the hotel room...bus ride -- different story. It was quite interesting. It involved over hearing people in early 20s' engaging in the following behaviors:
-pulling plastic bags over heads
-drawing happy faces with sharpies in plastic bags while on heads
-popping plastic bags and laughing
-snorting illegal substance
-commenting on effects of illegal substance
-mocking foriegn accents
-laughing hysterically at mocking of foriegn accents
-calling each other bitch
-self diagnosing ADHD (at which point I thought...and your hyperactivity and innattention has NOTHING to do with the fact you snort coke? hmmm interesting)

bottom line is I need to somehow someway buy a car...

As seen in my Inbox....

2009-07-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a sampler...Assume what you wish.

Granicus has flirted with you!
LOVE SCORE: Moon trine Saturn - you're in control‏
Tip: Eat this cereal to protect your blood vessels . . .
mike1971t is waiting for you!
thesplitsss has flirted with you!
Christoph3r is waiting for you!
Tip: Choose this cancer-fighting party dip . . .‏
Frugeon is waiting for you!‏
Blur: Live this Sunday!
wrabbit01 is waiting for you!
you have meeting requests!
RELATIONSHIP ZODIAC TAROT: Find your true love at last!
Relive Hard Rock Calling‏
kskill has flirted with you!‏
Tip: Eat this steak for your heart . . .‏
guy69er is waiting for you!
Tip: Get the new "it" herb for summer . .
Help Causes Feed America‏
gottaloveme is waiting for you!‏
SOUL MATE TAROT Jupiter retrograde - where's your love match going?‏
pudge49 is waiting for you!

This and That and Everything In Between

2009-06-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

**I will address the really sad thing first. I found out several weeks ago a former student of mine died in a Motorcycle crash. He was 17. I taught him gym when he was in grade 5. He was a student a teacher never forgets. One of my first memories of teaching was him asking to use 'the pisser' while I was trying to do a scooter relay with 29 kids. He was always trying to be funny. Overall he was a good kid and my thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time although they probably do not remember me....I will always consider them to be a memorable part of my life. The posting of the lyrics to Turn Turn Turn was a response to the news.

**It freaks me out just a little when I sweep up and and a piece of 'dirt' crawls away from the pile.

**I have completed my umpteenth year of being single but feel like less of a loser freak because of it. I do not know if that is a bad or good thing. I really like someone but I can't show it...well I really can't decide if I do like him...story of my life.

**I think I take things less personally than I did 5 years ago....progress!!!!

2009-05-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear its not too late.

***Bob Dylan

Random Musings

2009-05-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

things I should have done today but didn't:
Plan
Report writing
Go to the flea market
Eat vegetables
Clean Bathroom
Interior design
Buy plant
Shower
Research
Work on application for course
Fold and put away laundry

Instead I:
Aimlessly looked for songs to download
Drank water
Thought about hungover I was
Ate french fries
Consumed coffee
Contemplated my love life (or lack thereof)
Modelled new shirts I had bought the previous day in mirror with various pants and skirts
Exercised my thumb muscle with the remote control
Watched and failed to understand documentary on the economy
Practiced writing name with left hand
Watched E Hollywood true story on Full House
Wrote this blog

When you are this good at procrastinating, It is impossible to be bored!!

There's lots of fish in the sea, sure there is...

2009-04-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

You just have to halfheartedly join a few dating websites to find these gems...

Like, this one:
Nice Guy Seeks His Soulmate
I'm 33 years of age. I'm from Canada. I'm about 5'7 with brown hair and brown eyes. I'm a supervisor for our local newspaper in the production department. I consider myself to be a nice guy who's always looking for a new friend to chat with. My philosphy in life what Jesus taught in the Bible, LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS HE HAS LOVED US.. You want to know more, just ask.

Or maybe:
SWEET'S 2 THE SWEET!!
I am what would be considered as a Doom/stoner Metal Head,and would like 2 find a woman who likes 70s movies,cars,music, clothes & weed of course.If you want to chat we can add me as Morphiis_666

How about:
spontatenous
Joyfull, spirited, nice looking, wildand free

If joyfull is not what you are looking for try:
save a horse ride a cowboy
if u want it , here it is come and get it !

Or, if you like contradictions maybe:
I'm not overeager! Notice me!
I just need someone to give my love to and to receive some as well. I'm not the type that sucks life out of people. I tend to provide energy instead. If you like that way that sounds then chances are you'd like me too. Give me a shout sometime. I look forward to hearing from all of you.

If you are looking for self confidence why not a:
hunkey male
This must be the hardest part!! - here goes... I like me... therefore there must be something good about me.

Or, maybe apathy is more attractive:
So .... how am I doing so far ?
Hey, I am just kinda bored right now, hence why I am doing this. I'm a fun guy. I am very athletic.

Um.....What?

2009-03-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

Your horoscope for March 19, 2009
Spiritual and metaphysical studies may take up a lot of your time today, DJ. You might want to dig into the various scriptures of the world's major religions, or you might want to try to make it through the works of Mme. Blavatsky or Alice Bailey. If you want to try, this is the day to do it, because your concentration can be very strong today - though it will be necessary to take a lot of breaks!

2008-12-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

"Whoever has, shall be given more and more," reads the Gospel of Matthew, "while whoever has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him." Pronoiac translation: Whatever you choose to focus your attention on, you will get more of it. If you often think of everything you lack and how sad you are that you don't have it, you will tend to receive abundant evidence of how true that is. If, on the other hand, you dwell on the good things that make you feel grateful to be alive, they will probably multiply. *
--Freewillastrology.com

Likes and Don't Likes

2008-09-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

Here is what I like: (In no particular order...) Laughter and red skies and purple skies and twizzlers and old photographs and concerts and painting and tetris and bagels and coffee and beer on tap and blueberry wine I buy at the market and the smell of woodsmoke in the winter and beaches and mascara and stuffed crust pizza and swimming in fresh water and my hair straightener and french fries and that point when I have almost mastered a song on my guitar and treehouses and good conversations with friends and family and the colour blue and skirts and WKRP and the idea of running a marathon and discovering new amazing music and new socks and coming home and thunder-storms and basketball and campfires and rainy days and sunny days and Thursdays and sleeping in and macaroons.

Here is what I don't like. (In no paricular order) The sound my cellphone makes when it's on low battery and small talk and celebrity obsessed news shows and celebrity obsessed celebrities and reality TV (most) and dirty floors and mean people and mean people who pretend to be nice and those who think the world revolves around thier cause and people who don't give a shit about their cause and people who don't even realize they have a cause when they obviously do and boredom and intolerant people and stupid drivers and overly assertive middle age women who are rude for no reason and mood swings and corn syrup and indoctrination and insomnia and how every important piece of documentation seems to disintegrate on me and how people seem to feel so entitled and miserable.

I Just Like It

2008-09-14T11:03:00.000-07:00

I really like writing one liner blogs.

Thanks Ginger

2008-08-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

Bold the ones you’ve done and add one at the end…
1. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins.
3. Climbed a mountain.
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive.
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid.
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone.
8. Said “I love you” and meant it.
9. Hugged a tree.
10. Done a striptease.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Stayed up all night long, and watched the sun rise.
15. Seen the Northern Lights.
16. Gone to a huge sports game. (for certain definitions of huge)
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables.
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars.
21. Changed a baby’s diaper.
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower.
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity.
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment

28. Had a food fight.
29. Bet on a winning horse/dog
30. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
31. Asked out a stranger.
32. Had a snowball fight.
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier.
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb.
36. Enacted a favourite fantasy.
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip.
38. Taken an ice cold bath.
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar.
40. Seen a total eclipse.
41. Ridden a roller coaster.
42. Hit a home run.
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days.
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking.
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day.
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment.
48. Had two hard drives for your computer.
49. Visited all 50 states.
50. Loved your job for all accounts.
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced.
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
53. Had amazing friends.
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country.
55. Watched wild whales.
56. Stolen a sign.
57. Backpacked in Europe.
58. Taken a road-trip.
59. Rock climbing.
60. Lied to foreign government’s official in that country to avoid notice.
61. Midnight walk on the beach.
62. Sky diving.
63. Visited Ireland.
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love.
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them.
66. Visited Japan.
67. Bench pressed your own weight.
68. Milked a cow.
69. Alphabetized your albums.
70. Pretended to be a superhero.
71. Sung karaoke.
72. Lounged around in bed all day.
73. Posed nude in front of strangers.
74. Scuba diving.
75. Got it on to “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye.
76. Kissed in the rain
.77. Played in the mud.
78. Played in the rain.
79. Gone to a drive-in movie theatre.
80. Done something you should regret, but don’t regret it.
81. Visited the Great Wall of China.
82. Discovered that someone who’s not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog.
83. Dropped Windows in favour of something better.
84. Started a business.
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken.
86. Toured ancient sites.
87. Taken a martial arts class.
88. Sword fought for the honour of a woman.
89. Played D&D or another RPG for more than 6 hours straight.
90. Gotten married.
91. Been in a movie.
92. Crashed a party.
93. Loved someone you shouldn’t have.
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy.
95. Gotten divorced.
96. Had sex at the office.
97. Gone without food for 5 days.
98. Made cookies from scratch.
99. Won first prize in a costume contest.
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
101. Gotten a tattoo.
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on.
103. Rafted the Snake River.
104. Been on television news programs as an “expert”.
105. Got flowers for no reason.
106. Masturbated in a public place.
107. Got so drunk you don’t remember anything.
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug.
109. Performd on stage.
110. Been to Las Vegas.
111. Recorded music.
112. Eaten shark.
113. Had a one-night stand.
114. Gone to Thailand.
115. Seen Siouxsie live.
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone.
118. Buried one/both of your parents.
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off.
120. Been on a cruise ship
121Spoken more than one language fluently.
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone.
123. Bounced a check
124. Performed in Rocky Horror.
125. Read - and understood - your credit report.
126. Raised children.
127. Recently bought and played with a favourite childhood toy.
128. Followed your favourite band/singer on tour.
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars.
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country.
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did.
132. Called or written to your MP/Congressperson.
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over.
134. …more than once?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge.
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking.
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did.
138. Had plastic surgery.
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived.
140. Wrote articles for a large publication.
141. Lost over 100 pounds.
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback.
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray.
145. Broken someone’s heart.
146. Helped an animal give birth.
147. Been fired or laid off from a job.
148. Won money on a TV game show.
149. Broken a bone.
150. Killed a human being.
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle.
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph.
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced.
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol.
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery.
159. Had sex on a moving train.
160. Had a snake as a pet.
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing.
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours.
164. Visited more foreign countries than US states.
165. Visited all 7 continents.
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days.
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
.168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground.
169. Been a sperm or egg donor.
170. Eaten sushi.
171. Had your picture in the newspaper.
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime.
173. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about.
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions.
175. Gone back to school.
176. Parasailed.
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach.
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes.
180. Read The Iliad.
181. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read.
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them.
183. …and gotten barred from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you.
184. Taught yourself art from scratch.
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt.
187. Skipped all your school reunions.
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language.
189. Been elected to public office.
190. Written your own computer language.
191. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream.
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care.
193. Built your own PC from parts.
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you.
195. Had a booth at a street fair.
196. Dyed your hair.
197. Been a DJ.
198. Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal.
199. Written your own role playing game.
200. Given a tramp a sponge-bath
201. masturbated a caged laboratory animal
202. pretented you liked kevin-smith movies when you secretly didn’t
203. deliberately, personally, and purposefully insult someone to their face to cause as much harm as possible
204. sold any part of your body, or any product from it, for money?
205. had a secret published in post-secret?
206. sent food or wine back in a restaurant?
207. and regretted it?
208. Seen a bioluminescent tide.
209. Robbed a grave?
210. Taken a microgravity airplane (or spacecraft!) ride?
211. Inspired a painter.
212. Had a three-way conversation, speaking 3 different languages (sometimes all 3 in one sentence) and everyone understood.
213. Held a raptor in your hand.
214. Been excommunicated from a major religion.
215. Breastfed during a rock concert.
216. used fake ID
217. Held a new born baby.
218. Dialled 911

Spooked

2008-08-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

Put your music player on shuffle. Press forward for each question.Use the song title as the answer to the question. No cheating!

1. How am I feeling today? Rebellion (Lies)
2. Will I get far in life? Hey Joe
3. How do my friends see me? Change
4. Where will I get Married?: American Music
5. What is my best friend's theme song?: My Favourite Song
6. What is the story of my life? Manamana
7. What was high school like?: Happy
8. How can I get ahead in life? Queen Jane Approximately
9.What is the best thing about me? Brass In Pocket
10. How is today going to be? The Key
11. What is in store for this weekend? I'll Fly Away
12. What song describes my parents? I Know
13. To describe my grandparents? Strawberry Swing
14. How is my life going? Don't Rain On My Parade
15. What song will they play at my funeral?: Digging a Ditch
16. How does the world see me? Death and All his Friends
17. Will I have a Happy Life? Something to Talk About
18. What do my friends really think of me? Run For Your Life
19. Do people secretly lust after me? Rolling People
20. How can I make myself happy? Take a Picture
21. What should I do with my life? Think For Yourself
22. Will I ever have children? Surrender
23. What is some good advice for me? Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
24. What's that smell? The New Year
25. What is my signature dancing song? Honey Bee
26. What do I think my current theme song is? Dance If You Want To
27. What does everyone else think my current theme song is? 'til I'm Gone
28. What type of men do you like? Sing
29. Now click next and that will be the subject of this note : Spooked
30. Your overall theme song?: When the Ship Comes In

Part Two
One] What is your life going to be like in five years? Ticket to Ride
[Two] How is your love life going for you right now? Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde
[Three] What pisses you off the most about the opposite sex? Hampster Dance Song
[Four] What do your parents really think of you? What Is Life
[Five] What do you think about the world and its current state? Animal
[Six] What is the worst thing that's ever happened to you? Back in the Saddle
[Seven] What will your first/next time having sex be like? Let's Talk About Sex
[Eight] What is your main goal in life? Planet Telex
[Nine] What do the boys at your school think of your looks? The Rising
[Ten] What do you really want in life? 3 Little Birds
[Eleven] How are you going to get far in life? Goldfish Bowl
[Twelve] What do say when you're in a bad mood? Ave Maria
[Thirteen] What about when you are really happy? Let It Rain
[Fourteen] What do think of yourself in general? With a Bullet
[Fifteen] What is your life's theme song? ABC
[Sixteen] What are you going to do this weekend? At the Stars
[Seventeen] How can you try and make yourself happy? Soul Meets Body
[Eighteen] What song will they play at your wedding? Jigsaw Falling Into Place
[Nineteen] What about your funeral? Ready to Go
[Twenty] What or who makes you the most happy? Purple Rain
[Twenty One] What am I even doing on this Earth? Shiver
[Twenty Two] How am I going to die? Blue Sunday/Peace Frog
[Twenty Three] What is some good advice? Smiley Faces
[Twenty Four] & What's some advice you'd never take? Not Too Late
[Twenty Five] Will you ever have children? Dancing in the Moonlight
[Twenty Six] What is high school like for you or what will it be like? Faraway so Close
[Twenty Seven] How are you feeling today? Sister
[Twenty Eight] What's your general outlook on life? (I'm Your) Hootchie Cootchie Man
[Twenty Nine] What are your last words going to be? (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher
[Thirty] What song is going to be stuck in your head all day? Cross eyed Bear

Oh Yes! Another Quiz!

2008-05-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4. What does it say?
"He thinks about the possible textual characteristics that affect reading performance"

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What's there? A wall.

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?. Law and Order, SVU

4. Without looking, guess what time it is: 11:05

5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time? 11:00

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? Traffic outside

7. When did you last step outside? Hour and half ago. What were you doing? Running

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at? TV

9. What are you wearing? Housecoat.

10. Did you dream last night? Cannot recall.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?. My Master's Degree and nothing else. That decorating job was 20 grand!!

13. Seen anything weird lately? MTV

14. Make something up: Roses are red

15. What is the last film you saw? Hairspray. Time for another one I think.

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy? A house, cook and cleaning staff for house, house for family members; plane ticket to everywhere; Guitars; and charity stuff.

17. Tell me something about you that I don't know: I see dead people; no not really; I just don't know what to say.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics what would it be? Everyone would have enough food.

19. Do you like to dance? Yes

20. George Bush:. Dubya

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her? Hazel

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him? Cameron

23. Would you ever consider living abroad? Yes

24. What do you want to say to God when you reach the pearly gates? Hi.

25. Do you snore, grind your teeth, or talk in your sleep? Yes

26.What type of music do you listen to? Blues, Alternative, Rock, Roots

27. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN? 7:00 pm

28. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW? To know what I want

29. WHO DO YOU MISS? Family and old friends

30. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION(S) Guitar and Guitar and Degrees

31. HOW TALL ARE YOU? five feet three and three quarter inches.

32. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC? Sometimes

33. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK? Sometimes

34. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX? Brown wavy and blue or brown eyes.

35. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING/BEING PROPOSED TO? Next to the ocean.

36. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK? Please.

37. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA? Stuffed crust

38. IF YOU CAN EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Bacon double cheese burger combo from wendy's with a frostie.

39. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED? No

40. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND? Whatever fits and looks decent. Not a slave to brands.

41. DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW? You Beta believe it!

42. WHAT KIND IS IT? Pepe the beta fish!!

43. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL MOST OFTEN? Mom and Dad of course.

44. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST? Badly grammar

45. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF CANADA? Yes

46. YOUR WEAKNESSES? Beer

47. FIRST JOB? Information delivery specialist's assistant. (I helped my brother with his paper route)

48. HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES? No

49. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Feminine version of Dad's name and my Aunt May and my Mom.

50. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE? Sunsilk (purple bottle)

51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey

52. ANY BAD HABITS? Binge drinking and overconsumption of sugar,

53. WHAT IS THE MOST EMBARRASING CD ON YOUR SHELF? Starship's Greatest Hits.

54. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME? Here I guess.

Why...Part II

2008-04-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

-Why did my dishwasher catch on fire (an appliance with water??) and result smell--comparable to an incinerator?
-Why do we encourage 'inventive spelling'
-Why is shampoo in French 'shampooing' and condioner in French is NOT 'conditionering'??
-Why do my apartment light switches need to be flicked in opposite directions to turn both lights they control off/on?
-Why do I read Cosmopolitan?
-Why did I download a bunch of Hall and Oates songs last week? Ok it was just one but I am still perplexed.
-Why is phonics so complicated within the English language?
-Why do drivers around here risk hitting a pedestrian to turn left?
-Why do I still have the ugly desk peppered with ugly snowboarding stickers (not to mention an I *heart* hooters sticker) that the prior tenant kindly left behind still perched in my living room after six monthes?
-Why do people buy Bon jovi and Nickelback albums.
-Why do we bother with prepositions?

2008-03-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

Wedesday, March 28, 1990

I feel okay the teacher don't look at this jornal so I could write stuff in it but I don't.

Signs I am not mature enough to be this close to 30.

2008-02-18T17:21:00.001-08:00

Viewing microwave popcorn as a viable entree.

Hours wasted through spider solitaire.

Psychological Addiction to hair straightening iron.

Over-consumption of fruit gushers.

Inability to commit to.....anything.

Telling mom it was seasoned chicken breast I cooked for supper even though we both knew I was exaggerating and that it was only shake n bake.

Owing on taxes from 2005.

The fact that the only people who are showing interest are the banks.

My preference of cereals with sugar as the main ingredient.

The cat and mouse game I am playing with the telephone company, cable company heat and light, student loans......etc.

Well Surprise...Surprise

2008-02-17T17:57:00.000-08:00

This one-new-thing-a-day-until-I-turn-30-deal......

Is a complete bust.

(These things happen)

On a positive spin, today is my one year anniversary with blogger.com!

To commemorate this joyous occasion, I shall smother blogger.com with wifely love!

2008-02-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

Blog Therapy

2008-01-28T10:14:00.000-08:00

I hate cooking. I have zero motivation to cook anything that requires more than 3 ingredients. I have decided to blame this on my parents. They failed to buy me that easy-bake oven at the tender age of eight.

While I am at it I will blame them for my lack of domestic ability in cleaning.....why couldn't they get me one of those toy vaccuum cleaners that had all those little coloured pebbles in it? And one of those fisher price washer-dryer sets?

How different would things be?

Would I be sitting here today, writing a blog as my french fries cook on the oven. With clothing strewn over the place....

I am not serious of course.

Thursday, Jan 27, 1989

2008-01-27T19:18:00.000-08:00

I just came back from the library. Science was ok. Oh I can't wait for next Friday for two reasons
1. I'ts going to be my birthday
2. I'm getting my report cards back. Well that kinda can wait but I want to know if I passed or not. I know I passed my French test 93% what a relief. I feel ok nothing really exciting happened today I'm going to have my writing test today

Sunday Jan 27, 2008

Just noting how much summative evaluation was used back in the day. I wonder how well my current students would deal with that system.....So much more formative assessment used now. Better or worse....I am not sure.

And what a studious kid I was....geesh.

Also worth noting that I don't get quite so excited about my birthday these days...maybe I should though

Wensday, January 26, 1989

2008-01-27T19:10:00.000-08:00

I'm switting switting for two reasons the two reasons are:
1. because I'm hot
2. because I am wondering if I passed some of my exams. I'm a little sure I studied enough but did I check it over enough? (only once) I don't care if I didn't get 100% I care if I pass. Oh I hope I passed I really do I'll try my best to hope I passed because when we get our report cards back I'll be ten years old

Friday, January 20, 1989

2008-01-20T19:40:00.000-08:00

When I come back from school I will be facing tests letters numbers blanks. And when I get my report card back in early February which is the month I was born in and early there probilly talking about the 5th or 6th I hope I'll pass my French exam part 2 is what I am concerned about the second page I beleive I got 1 right the rest is just wrong. I'm not very good at French anyway.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

19 years later.....

Still not that good at French
Still facing letters numbers blanks....

Last year of the roaring twenties bring new adventures...

2008-01-16T18:23:00.000-08:00

Ok. So has anyone heard of that women in New York who challenged herself to do one thing a day that she has never done before. Ever. For everyday for her last year of her twenties? No? Yes? Well, I am planning on doing it too. The same thing. Well not the same things. I have my own list I want to complete. Well part of a list anyway. Well actually I am not close to having 365 things but I will think of more....as the year progresses....And like her, I will chronicle it on blogger. Because I like the idea. So yeah.
Here are the things I have thought of so far:
-Watch the entire superbowl ---> Should be easy considering it lands on my birthday.
-Call that 1800-number off the smarties box.
-Busk on a street downtown for money. (I will give the $ to a charity)
-Eat sushi.
-Play a harp
-Dye my own hair blue
-Go to a zoo
-Make pottery
-Write my name in Chinese characters
-Enter a poetry or writing contest
-Write a famous person
-Snowboard
-Learn how to salsa (for real)
-Decorate a cake
-Adopt a pet rock
-Oil paint
-Eat Chinese food out of cartons like they have in movies
-Write a letter to a magazine or newspaper (and hopefully have it published)
-Go to a roller skating rink.
-Learn how to say a phrase in Serbian.
-Wear something neon pink to work.

Ok that should get me through the first two weeks.
Could the 2-3 people who regularly check out my blog suggest anything?

Thanks much.
-

.

Happy New Year Quiz

2007-12-28T18:30:00.000-08:00

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before? Blogged.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No and Yes.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit? Canada
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? Energy.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Aug 27. Started new teaching job, and Oct 18 Graduated with masters.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Masters and New job.
9. What was your biggest failure? I missed the bus a few times.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? A couple of viruses, nothing serious.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Taylor Guitar.
12. Where did most of your money go? University
13. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Finishing....Starting over...
14. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder – Happier.b) thinner or fatter-Same c) richer or poorer – Richer.
15. What do you wish you'd done more of? Travelling.
16. What do you wish you'd done less of? Thinking.
17. How will you be spending Christmas? At home with my family.
18. Did you fall in love in 2007? No.
19. How many one-night stands? Zero.
20. What was your favourite TV programme? CSI
21. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No.
22. What was the best book you read? The Bell Jar.
23. What was your greatest musical discovery? Motown.
24. What did you want and get? Masters and Job.
25. What did you want and not get? An all expense paid trip to Hawaii.
26. What was your favourite film of this year? Knocked Up ( I did not see many films by the way)
27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Went to the market and bought blue berry wine....went home and drank it with friends. I turned 28.
28. What is one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? How can one begin to answer a question like that? Immeasurably?
29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? Student to professional metamorphisisisis
30. What kept you sane? Running.
31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? No one.
32. What political issue stirred you the most? War.
33. Who did you miss? Family....friends...I don't see enough of
34. Who was the best new person you met? I met lots of great people. I can't decide who is best.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007: Trust your instinct.
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "gonna rise up, find my direction magnetically" - Eddie Vedder.

2007-12-28T18:09:00.000-08:00

1. Who are you currently texting? Nobody
3. Are you dating them? Yes, I date nobody.
4. When was the last time you were truly happy with your life? Yesterday.
5. Whens the last time you showered? Yesterday. (no connection to the last question)
6. If you're single, why? I have a detachment disorder.
7. What did you do at your lowest point in life? Cried.
8. What were the last two TV shows you watched? CSI and Young and the Restless.
9. Who's a celebrity you find extremely attractive? Ethan Hawke
10. When was the last time you saw your boyfriend/girlfriend? Please see number 6.
13. Last kind of cereal that you ate? Reece Puffs.
14. Have you ever cried and didn't know why? Yes.
15. What are you wearing on your feet? A black sock and a brown sock.
16. Who was the last person you slept in a bed with? Next...
17. What year was your worst school picture taken? Grade 6, 7, 8 and 9. It is a four way tie.
18. Do you have any plans for tomorrow? No.
19. Do you like your name? Most of the time.
21. What was the last thing you drew on? Hmmmm, when was my last in service?
22. Do you feel lonely at times? Yes, do you?
25. Who was the last person to make you happy? Meaghan
26. Do you have feelings for anyone, and if so, do they know? No and like no.
27. Things you first notice about the opposite sex? Eyes.
29. What usually causes your fights with your friends? I do not fight with them.
30. Have you ever dated someone so ugly that everyone kept making fun of? Shallow.
31. Do you like being in pictures? No.
32. Who was the last person you've seen throw up in person? Some kid probably in school.
33. Have you ever been more attracted to a significant other's sibling than them? No.
36. Do you tend to fall for people easily? No.
37. Have you spent more time in your life single, or in a relationship?Single.
38. Is your bed room window open? No.
39. Do you have any tattoos, if so which hurt the most? No.
40. Where is your heart? In San Francisco.
43. Do you know anyone with a lisp? Yes.
44. Who was the last person to call, what did they call for? My brother's friend. They called to talk to my brother.
45. Who's sent you the oldest text message in your inbox? Phil
46. Would you rather be cheated with, or on? On. I would not like the guilt.
47. How many drugs have you done in the last 7 days? I am high on life.
48. Who was the last person to make fun of you? My brother
49. What was the last movie you watched? Reality Bites
50. Do you like talking on the phone? It is ok.

Let's call it a day.

2007-12-05T17:30:00.001-08:00

Things that were not so good about today:
-Breakers not working.
-Icey sidewalks
-Luke warm tomato soup for lunch
-Paper jams in the photo-copier
-Surprise evaluation on worst lesson I have ever taught. (Can we say zero behavior management skills? Grim.)
-MP3 player losing power in the middle of my run.
-Going into repayment status for student loans.
-Deadlines being pushed up.
-Having to explain about amputated pinkie for zillionth time.

Things that were good about today:
-Licourice
-Coffee
-Prospective blind date (could be not so good--> stay tuned)
-Smell of woodsmoke in the winter evening air
-Jokes with co-workers
-Reflection of myself in 12 year old guitarist when she plugged in her new electric acoustic guitar for the first time.
-Music
-Realizing I made it through another day.

I can do this.

A Letter Addressed to Myself

2007-11-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Me at 14:

Don't worry that you have glasses the size of your face, a chest that would make a wall paint itself green with envy, an array of pimples or that you have a horrible taste in fashion. Look around you! It's called adolescence. Being popular is very overrated. You will eventually "catch up" with all those "popular" beauty queens who seem to have it all. You might even have a few chats with them years from now and though you will see that they are quite lovely people, you will also realize that they were no better than you.

And you really need to stop comparing yourself to others. You are not inferior to your peers just because you have yet to experience what they have experienced. So what if you have not kissed a boy or tried smoking? (especially smoking, don't go near it or I will kick your ass!!). You have lived only fourteen years on this earth, I know you have hear heard this a million times but you have many more years ahead of you. You have loads of time for that crap.

And speaking of boys, stop spending your time and energy crushing on the popular hockey players. Trust me, although they are very cute and highly sought after by the rest of the girls in the school, you are missing out on other truly wonderful guys who will appreciate you for who you are and make you way happier.

And keep having those ridiculous recurring day dreams about owning a black electric fender guitar and playing thunderstruck on it in front of the whole school. And keep dreaming you can win an Olympic gold medal in biathlon even though you have never skied or shot a rifle. And keep thinking that it's normal to play Stairway to Heaven on repeat for hours at a time. It is who you are.

And it is ok to have socially awkward moments like falling up the stairs or losing your cool in front of your crush, and being embarrassed and turning a scarlet red. Nobody is perfect and it is not only you that has these moments. These socially awkward situations will occur way into adulthood (It was just the other day that I walked right into a floor cleaner in front of my co-workers). Just try to learn from them and have a sense of humor.

Oh and by the way, you are developing a superb taste in music for your age. Except for the Bon Jovi. Please can the Bon Jovi.

And try not to let "friends" who are fickle and always seem to be putting you down get to you too much. They have serious troubles of their own. They will discover how great you are someday and treat you with the respect you deserve. Either that or you'll find new ones who will.

And when you feel that the weight of the world is on your shoulders and you can't feel any lower, talk to mom and dad about it. They understand you way better than you think.

Remember you are and will always be your own best friend.

Finish Strong.

Yours truly,

Me at 28.

Five Fantastic Things that Have Happened in the Last Month.

2007-11-04T16:07:00.000-08:00

To feel better about forgetting about paying my bills, lack of dates, an apartment I can't seem to keep clean and generally feeling incompetent at my job, I have compiled a list of five things to make it all seem better. Because self pity is just lame, I need to focus on the positive. Here it goes....

1) A spontaneous 1AM bag-pipe jam session at a recent party!---actual bag-pipes!---the guy was really talented! Annnnd it interrupted a string of hideous Bon jovi songs. Bonus.

2) Halloween discount candy. I don't think this needs any further explanation.

3) That guy I can't seem to ask out, but he's awfully cute and nice so this makes it positive. I think.

4) Muppet Show. Series Two. On DVD. Yessssss.

5) Spinach Artichoke Dip. Mmmmmmm. I am going to have some now.

A Room with a View.

2007-10-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

Among the things visable from my window are:

1) A trailor park.

2) A 649 billboard advertising a 20 000 000 jackpot.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

To Do List

2007-10-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

I need to...

Plan
Self advocate
Get dental and medical insurance
See a doctor (or two or three)
Consume more vegatables
Stop thinking I am ugly
Buy orange juice
Stop worrying about going blind
Do something fun for New Year's Eve
Pay my income tax from 2005
Get outside today
Invest in school supplies
Stop procrastinating
Floss daily
Give to more charities
Practice guitar
Make a payment on my credit card
Talk to old friends more
Invest in a T.V.
Buy new glasses
Think more positively
Be more assertive
Get my wisdom teeth taken out
Take vitamins
Grow my nails longer on my right hand
Set up telephone banking
Buy a new shirt
Ask that guy out
Find a coffee shop that sells fair trade
Stretch before running
Buy drawers for my clothes
Forgive myself
Better manage my time
Shave my legs
Stop overanalyzing
Smile more
Wash my face
Buy lip gloss
Develop math programs for my students
Focus
Learn how to cook
Remember
Buy furniture.

Why?

2007-10-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

Why do so many people like to squeal their tires here?

Why can't some kids just learn how to read?

Why do I always think I will pick up only one or two things at the grocery store and never get a cart and end up trying to carry fifteen items to the check out and making a complete ass out of myself?

Why does everyone think I am ten years younger than I am?

Why do I hear of so many politicians and government representatives going out for lavish steak dinners every other night and yet so many kids are coming to school hungry every morning?

Why do I put things off?

Why am I not married or in a relationship?

Why can't I find any decent fair trade coffee in this city?

Why am I writing this blog?

Well That Was Enlightening: The Sequel to Part Deux. (Thanks Random Facebook Freind)

2007-08-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

WRITE EXACTLY WHATS ON YOUR MIND, AND DON’T CHANGE IT
1. Your ‘ex’ and You = Indifferent
2. I am listening to = Pete Yorn
3. Maybe I should = Pack
4. I love = Music
5. My best friend(s) = Moi
6. I don’t understand = Lots of things
7. I have lost my respect for = Where do I start?
8. I last ate = Hot dogs on Pita bread--> Big mistake pita breads are too chewy in nature to be used in this manner.
9. The meaning of my display name is = Family name preceded by a feminine version of my dad's name
10. I will always be = Learning
11. Love seems to = Uh.....be profound and like deep or something
12. I never ever want to lose = Sense of humor and hope
13. My myspace = Myspam
14. I get annoyed when = I encounter red tape
15. Parties = Potential good times
16. Simple Kisses = Goodness
17. Today I = Procrastinated
18. I wish = I could be cool
TODAY HAVE YOU:
01. Have you cursed?: Probably
02. Have you gotten mad at someone?: No.
RANDOM-
Q:Is there a person who is on your mind right now?: Yes
Q: Do you have any siblings?: 3 older brothers
Q: Do you want children?: At this moment, no.
Q: Do you smile often?: I try but sometimes I forget to and those are the times some random jerk on the street informs me to smile and I will look nicer and this pisses me off to no end.
Q: Do you untie your shoes every time you take them off? With my runners I do.
Q: Are your toenails painted?: Yes, light blue
Q: Are you a friendly person?: Yes
Q: Who’s bed others than yours do you sleep in?: Just people I visits, well not their beds per say but their spare beds
Q: What color shirt are you wearing? Grey
Q: What were you doing at 9pm yesterday?: Holy crap that was a full 24 hours ago, I can't remember that!
Q: I can’t wait until: I do not want to wish away time at this point.

I just have to say.

2007-08-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

It does not do much for your self-image when
you are walking down the street and
you stop at an intersection and
the car pulled up behind you
has a stereo that is playing
Fat-bottomed girls by Queen
at a very high volume.

Sign of Emotional Maturity

2007-08-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

I have lost count of how many times I have watched Reality Bites. But I was watching it the other night and made a staggering realization. I disagree with Wynona's choice of Ethan over Ben! I couldn't believe it! But I see now that Ben is ultimately the guy who is not only responsible but he respects and genuinely cares for her. Sure Ethan is an attractive musician with an alluring aloofness but man he is such a jerk! (and I bet if this movie was made today he would be all emo-->yuck) And I get this now. Am I emotionally mature or what??!?

Hopes and Fears

2007-07-08T16:10:00.000-07:00

Ok this will be a serious one. For the most part. I will not get too morbid. (your welcome)

I will start with the negatory.

Fears:
Blindness in a literal and figurative sense
Failure
Isolation
Giant Black Poodles
Embarrassment
Performing
Myself (ooooh)
Critics
Climate Change
Starting over
Driving
Violence
Getting caught in elevator doors

Hopes
Love
Joy
World Peace
To make meaningful contributions to other's lives
Confidence acquisition
All expense paid trip to Hawaii
Ability to trust and take risks
Adventures
Euphoria
Good Metabolism
Wisdom
Acceptance
Endurance

11 courses in 11 monthes

2007-06-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

I am done. Already. It has all come and gone so quickly that I sometimes wonder if it all really happened. Then I look at my loan statement and think otherwise. Anyway, I have dropped the 12th course due to the simple reason that I did not need it to complete my degree. Also the email I received from the instructor did not compel me to stay enrolled. Words like 'homework assignment' before classes start along with readings entitled 'pedagogy primer' would send anyone running, I think. Can anyone tell me the exact meaning of pedagogy by the way? A B.ed and M.ed has not made this term any clearer.....

It is an unexpectedly weird time because I am saying goodbye to the wonderful people I have met throughout the year. I realize that this was envitable but it has happened so suddenly...one second they were here then poof...gone....(temporarily or otherwise) moved on to places such as China, London and Cape Breton. They did not have the decency to acknowledge that the world revolves around me and thus remain here until I have left. I miss them. So far beer on tap and twizzlers have not filled the void. I have recently moved on to red wine and movies starring Ethan Hawke. Will let you know how that pans out.

As one of my friends put it: "we always will have facebook". Right.

It is now time to think about the times ahead....new job...new home....real world crap. I find this exciting and terrifying. But I will prepare as much as I can and think positively (this probably means excluding terms like "real world crap" in the future).

I will be ok.

The glass is half full.

I am fortunate.

That is all I have to say for now...

Well, That was Enlightening, Part Deux (Thanks Brother)

2007-06-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

1. Your Middle Name: May, Joyce
2. Age: 28
3. Single or Taken: Single
4. Favorite Movie: When Harry Met Sally
5. Favorite Song or Album: ColdPlay-->Rush of Blood to the Head (I think)
6. Favorite Band/Artist: Zeppelin
7. Dirty or Clean: Clirty
8. Tattoos and/or Piercings: Nada
9. Do we know each other outside of LJ?: Yes
10. What's your philosophy on life?: Drink coffee and be happy
11. Is the bottle half-full or half-empty?: Half Full (except during that time of the month when everything is crap)
12. Would you keep a secret from me if you thought it was in my best interest? Of Course
13. What is your favorite memory of us? Eating sour jubes on random park benches in St. John's on a sunny day. And of course watching Saturday morning cartoons.
14. What is your favorite guilty pleasure? Social networking websites and twizzlers
15. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you: Used to play at open mike nites just for the free beer as a poor student
16. You can have three wishes (for yourself, so forget all the 'world peace etc' malarkey) - Love, more love and a free condo (fully furnished) in Manhattan
17. Can we get together and make a cake? Yah. It would have to be Cheesecake though
18. Which country is your spiritual home? Poland---joking-->I have no idea (I have nothing against Poland though)
19. What is your big weakness? Beer on tap
20. Do you think I'm a good person? Yes (!)
21. What was your best/favorite subject at school: English/Gym
22. Describe your accent: West Coast of NL
23. If you could change anything about me, would you? Never.
24. What do you wear to sleep? T-shirts, night gowns, pj pants...etc
25. Trousers or skirts? Skirts
26. Cigarettes or alcohol? Alcohol.
27. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together? Eat sourjubes on a random park bench (except the yellow ones) and laugh a lot
28. Will you repost this so I can fill it out for you? Tada....

Highlights and Epiphanies.... Freddy Style

2007-06-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

My time in exotic Fredericton is coming to an end. I decided to compile a list of highlights and epiphanies that occurred throughout the year.

Highlights:
Seeing a skunk at night the size of a labrador retriever (ah no exageration)-->scary and exciting all at the same time!
Witnessing a real pumpkin sacrifice---> oh yeah been waitin' my whole life for that one.
The Samosa Controversy at the Farmers' Market-->intense
Finger Painting in a Grad Class.
Discovering that some people out there are crazy enough to dye their canine's fur blue
Pondering the function of a tantruming three year old's behavior in Chapters-->Thank-you Professer of Introduction to Emotional Behavioral Disorders. Thanks a lot.
Simulating the research process while playing with dinkies and road map sketched on a chaulkboard.
Watching a stuffed donkey do smack.
The Rockin' Rodeo--> Use your imagination
Seeing an actual beaver run accross campus--> This happened, I stand by it.
Having women in long black coats try to convert me. No, I don't want to learn about Jesus our Saviour and the pathway to righteousness today and I certainly do not want one of your business cards. Thanks all the same.

Epiphanies:
Just because someone has a Phd doesn't mean you will learn anything from them.
$1 spent at the dollar store is not always $1 well spent.
Wheat thins are no substitute for real nachos.
Procrastination is evil and something I am determined to conquer, however this will happen later in life.
Social networking website=Time suckage of the worst kind

Spell-checker=a@# saver (i.e. I have somehow lost my ability to spell)

Forrest Gump had it right: Life is indeed like a box of chocolates....mmm chocolate
It is possible to live without a T.V.
Ketchup is a sketchy and relentless substance that will fuse on your plates and not come off without hours of soaking. This makes me think twice about eating it. But only twice. I always end up eating it.
Take out coffee and itunes=Money suckage of the worst kind.
Credit card companies will find you anywhere.
A pot of coffee CAN turn my day around.
I will be thirty in two years.
Red Wines costing under $12.00 are the same quality at that point---> Save four dollars and opt for the $7.92 bottle.

Picture it: Deer Lake, 2001...

2007-05-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

A 22 year old woman from a small town in Newfoundland, is about to embark on a journey to Toronto. She is hungover, sleep deprived, and a little distraught about a huge fight she had with her mother earlier that morning. Not wanting to make small talk with anyone on the plane that is departing to Halifax, she sinks back in her seat, and closes her eyes. and attempts to catch up on some much needed sleep. Slowly, slowly, she drifts into a state of peaceful sleep as the rest of the passengers trickle into the plane until PLUNK a man sits into the seat next to her and talks loudly to himself about the number of the seat......she opens her eyes ever so briefly and closes them again only for the man to abruptly turn and introduce himself and provide her with too much information regarding his occupation and overall feelings about flying and dash eights and etc. She is mildly annoyed but smiles politely and nods and closes her eyes once again hoping he will "get the hint". He doesn't. The following dialogue ensues:
Man: Soooooo I fly a lot.
Woman: Oh
Man: Yeah, I have come across many different people over the years.
Woman: I bet.
Man: Sooooooo I have this thing I do when I meet people I fly with.....
Woman; mmmmhmmm
Man: Yeah you see I ask them what the most bizarre or funny name they have ever encountered. For example, I once heard of this guy whose first name was Bob and second name was Loblaw as in the food store chain, you see?
Woman: Sure
Man: Well it doesn't seem so bad when I say it like that but when you put the two names together you get Bob Loblaw, its pretty darn funny....*gufaw gufaw.....snort...gufaw*
Woman: Ha....ha....ha
Man: I mean what do some parents really think when they name their children? *Gufaw.....snort*
Woman: mmmmhmmm haha...ha
Man: Sooooooooo whats your funny name? Come on!
Woman (amazed she is actually reciprocating): Well there was once this girl I went to school with....her first name was Madonna and her last name was Knott....and when the teachers called her full name in class...Madonna Knott it kind of sounded like that Muppet Show song so a few of the boys went " doo dooooo da doo doo" in the background.
Man: Oooooooh ah, that's a good one good one....*gufaw...snort*
Woman: Yeah, ah, Thanks....

And that was the end of the conversation....

Blog Readers....that woman....was me.

Don't know why I am remembering this conversation , but I am hoping that writing a blog about it will purge me of this memory.

Oh yes and Madonna Knott or Bob Loblaw, if you happen to be reading this....sorry?

Estrogen Overload

2007-05-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

I need this moment to be immature and shallow. This is my one and only time. (I swear).

So I was running (surprise) and I catch up to this girl (and I refer to her as a girl instead of a woman for a reason) in her mid to late twenties walking with a guy.

And something struck me about this gal.

She was wearing a very short skirt.

How short?

Well, short enough for me to write a blog about it.

It was long enough to cover barely her butt. Usually skirts of this length are accompanied by leggings or tights and a pair of figure skates. Not with this girl.

She would have made any laker-girl look like a prude. I mean really. Why does one choose to expose so much?

I mean Pussy Cat Dolls auditions are in the next room. Sorry.

Moral of this story:

If you ain't shoppin' for a baby, don't cha buy your clothes at Baby Gap!
Don't Cha!

And one more thing before I de-claw myself.

Tight white pants are NEVER EVER OK!

Ever!

Alright I am done now. Now where were those nail clippers.....

Day in the Life of a Single Female Grad Student

2007-05-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

645am: First alarm goes off....it is abruptly turned off. Proceed to roll over. Yeah, so I am REALLY going to get up at that kind of hour when I am not required to by employment or other commitments...Hmmmm why do I even set alarm for that hour?...I can be optimistic when I wants to be.

919am: It occurs to me that I should get out of bed. So I do just that.

925am: Check up on social networking websites that shall remain nameless.

930am: Percolate coffee, toast bagel...drink water....usual breakfast routine.

940am: Consider the meaning of life while drinking a cup of coffee.

10am: Time for daily run.

1130: Back from run. Time for a shower. Oh yes it is.

1145: Dry and straighten hair.

1200: Smoothie time!!

1pm: Leave apartment to complete errands (which ends up to be a complete waste of time which most errands usually end up being.....)

3pm: Back from pointless errands. Check email. Prof has sent an email with a 40page journal article and assignment that is due next week. How nice.

330pm: Prepare leftover store bought pizza for early supper. Discover that bread knife purchased at dollar store for a buck the previous day cannot cut left-over store bought pizza. At all.

4pm: Read a portion of the journal article from class. Marvel at how getting down to work so early. Such Initiative!

430pm: Get things together for class. Decide that take-out coffee is a necessity today. Will not make it through a 3hour class without one. Proceed to buy coffee and go to class.

715pm: Back from class. Enjoy a glass of wine with some cheese and crackers.

730pm: Check Social networking site-again.

735pm: In a sudden burst of energy, clean bathroom and kitchen.

755pm: Marvel at how clean the kitchen and Bathroom are.

8pm: Drink some more wine. Eat some more cheese.

815: Call mom and talk to her.

9pm: Write blog about a day in the life of a female single grad student.

This moment of insanity is brought to you by the letter I.

2007-04-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

I would like to pass along an interesting thought process that occurred to me while running today. It was a cloudy day and all the snow and ice had pretty much melted leaving an incredible amount of dust and debris behind. The City of Fredericton is super conscientious about cleanliness and appearance and has therefore employed people (mostly men) to sweep this dust away from the sidewalks onto the road. I ran past at least 40 of these men in bright orange vests over white shirts and jeans. Blame it on the endorphins generated by running but I had the most hilarious thought:
Would it not be funny if all these men with their brooms spontaneously broke out into a choreographed song and dance? You know, Broadway Musical Style--
Skipping about with pointed toes and maneuvering their brooms ever so skillfully while singing about the disparages of sweeping dust off a sidewalk.
Yes, to most people this would not be funny. I realize that. But it gave me the most uncontrollable urge to smile. Kind of made me think of that Deep Thoughts with Jack Handy skit on the old SNL episodes. Which made me smile even more.
The end.

Well that was enlightening...

2007-03-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

55odd things about you.
1. Height? Five feet, four inches <--How is this odd?
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? No
3. Do you own a gun? No
5. Do you get nervous before "meeting the parents"? Yes
6. What do you think of hot dogs? They are good to eat once in awhile.
7. What's your favorite Christmas song? Hark the Harold Angels Sing
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee
9. Can you do push ups? No
10. Is your bathroom clean? Yes
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Silver Locket
12. Do you like painkillers? Yes
13. Look to your left. What do you see? A wall
14. Do you have A.D.D.? Sorry, what was that?
16. Middle Name? May and Joyce
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? 1.What am I thinking about? 2.This is a waste of time. 3. I need to buy coffee cream.
18. Name the last 3 things you bought in the last day. 1. Snickers bar. 2. A dozen bagels 3. Kit Kat bar
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly. 1.Coffee 2. Water 3. Wine
20. Dream car? I honestly do not care for cars.
21. Favorite Concert? Pearl Jam at Mile One
22. Current worry? Lack of Money
23. Current hate? Bills
24. Favorite place to be? Backyard of my parents' house
25. Least favorite place to be? Waiting room at the Doctor's office
26. Where would you like to go? Hawaii
27. Do you own slippers? Yes
28. What shirt are you wearing? A grey polo styled shirt
29. Do you burn or tan? Burn then tan
30. Favorite color(s). Blue
31. Would you be a pirate? No, they are too mean
32. Name something that happened to you in 1995. I nailed a fade away three pointer during a basketball game. My first and only.
33. What songs do you sing in the shower? Respect by Aretha Franklin, Golden Years by David Bowie, and Ticket to Ride by The Beatles
34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? I had these creepy fuzzy blue dog slippers with glow in the dark eyes...
35. What's in your pockets right now? Lint
36. Last thing that made you laugh? Accidently dumping half a bottle of vinegar on my french fries.
37. Best bed sheets as a child? Strawberry Shortcake
38. Worst injury you've ever had? I cut my pinky finger off in a lawn chair. I kid you not.
39. Do you need a haircut? YES
40. How many TVs do you have in your house? 0
41. Who is your loudest friend? Meredith
42. Who is your most silent friend? I do not exactly have any "silent" friends.
43. Does someone have a crush on you? I really have no idea.
44. Do you wish on shooting stars? Yes
45. What is your favorite book? Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
46. What is your favorite candy? Sourjubes
47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding? Wink and a Smile by Harry Connick Jr. or a Kiss to Build a Dream on by Louis Armstrong
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
49. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping
50. What was the first thing you did when you woke up this morning? Looked out my bedroom window.
51.What is your favourite season? Fall
52. What is your sesame street alter ego? Cookie Monster
53. Do you shower daily? For the most part.
54. Have you ever eaten sushi? Not that I know of.
55. Can you curl your tongue? yeth.

Music and Memories

2007-03-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

Although I try not to be someone who has a "soundtrack to life", there are songs that take me back in time. I must note that the reason for these associations is the sheer contrast between the meaning behind the lyrics and some of the the ridiculous scenarios I happened to be in. Other times I do find an eerie connection. And sometimes, there is just no logical explanation.

Here are some of the songs and times.

15 years old. Big Glasses. Frizzy hair. Tapered jeans. Tight top revealing cleavage I do not have. Bad perfume. Video Dance. First date ever. I am dancing with him. He is completely wasted. Can barely stand up. Sloppy smile. He is feeling pretty darn good. I look over to see that my best friend is dancing with the boy I am really "in love" with.
Song Playing: Whatta Man. Artist: Salt -N-Pepa Featuring En Vogue

11 years old. Participating in the winter carnival lip sync. In front of the whole school. With four friends. Standing like statues. Except for some Impromptu miming. Maybe we should have rehearsed this more than once...
Song playing: Express Yourself. Artist: Madonna

16 years old. Friend's parents are away. It is Christmas. So she has a big Christmas party. I might have had too many. No longer sober. Then I hear the coolest song. I am compelled to sing along quite loudly to this song. In front of everyone. I am the song. The song is me. "I'm special, so special"
Song playing: Brass in Pocket. Artist: The Pretenders

12 years old. Hanging out. With friends. They are dating boys. I am not. They are talking about boys. I become disengaged from the conversation. My attention is instead directed towards the most magical song on my friend's cassette player. Inspiration. I come to the conclusion that I will not be an official guitarist until I learn how to play it.
Song playing: Stairway to Heaven. Artist: Led Zeppelin.

18 years old. Starting university. First night in residence. First night on my own. Lots of crazy strangers. And I live in the same building as them. They are drunk. They are loud. I mingle. Wide eyed. Then I resign to my new room. It is not even 12am. I am exhausted. Overwhelmed by new freedom and uncertainty. I fall asleep despite all the butterflies.
Song playing: Silver Springs. Artist: Fleetwood Mac

26 years old. It is morning. I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I was awoken at 4am by the sound of my roommate hitting the wall. Altercation. Her boyfriend was beating her up again. I summoned the courage to threaten to call the police if he did not leave. Stomach in knots. She told me it was all her fault. That is what she believes. "A vampire or a victim--it depends on who's around"
Song playing: Far Away So Close. Artist U2.

27 years old. Said my goodbyes. I am going to start over. Sixteenth hour of travelling. Thirty minutes from home. End of daylight is approaching. The only things that seem to be moving are the bus and the beautiful sun. The bus is moving to the tempo. The sun is setting to the melody.
Song playing: Brothers on a Hotel Bed. Artist: Death Cab for Cutie.

It is good to remember.

Career Development

2007-03-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

It is that time. I am nearing the end of my masters program, anxiously awaiting to be thrust back out into the wonderful world of work and repayment status. In anticipation of the job hunt, I have decided to revamp that resume and cover letter. And while I know I am emerging from university as a sought after and highly skilled professional, I take nothing for granted. I have therefore developed a list of skills/titles/zany habits that I ought to exclude from this new and improved resume. Here it is:

Titles:
Wall Starer
User of Snooze Button
Plant Killer (not intentionally!!)
Burner of Pasta, Rice, and Microwave Popcorn
Chaser of Metro-bus
Obsessive Coffee Drinker
Channel Flicker
Avoider of lawn chairs
Extreme Procrastinator
Writer of Blogs
Beer drinker/guzzler
Analyzer of um stuff
Bus Monitor

Skills:
"Highly skilled at tetris"
"Commodore 64 Proficient"
"Ability to retain vast amounts of information regarding pop culture"
"Ability to sleep in past 12pm on any given day"
"Can touch nose with tongue"
"Has perfected the art of making kraft dinner"
"Ability to spin basketball on one finger for approximately 2.5 minutes"
"Highly skilled at 'Rock and Roll Jeopardy'"
"Ability to play 'Stairway to Heaven' on guitar while sleeping"
"Ability to drink a full bottle of red wine in one setting"

Awards:
Team Member- Grade Five Floor Hockey Champs, 1989
Best Grade Six Penmanship-1991
Foul Shooting Champ-1993
"Little Miss RA--AA" 2000

questions

2007-03-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

I have spent the longest time relying on other people to answer the following questions:

Am I talented?
Am I dedicated?
Do I work hard enough?
Am I competent?
Am I crazy? Not crazy enough?
Do I make a good friend?
Do I make sense?
Do I have enough fun?
Do I think too much?
Do I think enough?
Do I love enough?

To name a few.

Then it occurred to me, the person who really needs to answer these questions is (drum roll)......me. How did I miss that? Did I want to miss that?

It also occurred to me that I should slack off in the "asking questions" department.

Good to Know.

2007-02-22T19:50:00.001-08:00

My desk is a chaotic place .

Tonight my attention was diverted from an action packed adventure of a journal article to a little piece of paper nestled between a tube of blistex and a sharpie.

I do not know where it came from nor how it found its way to my desk.

It resembles one of those bits of paper you might find in a fortune cookie.

This is what it says.

"You are capable of seeing a philosophic meaning in the everyday events of life"

And then I was compelled to write a blog.

What does it all mean?

How does this little piece of paper know?

Dude.

Life can be very odd.

That's What Dreams are Made of....

2007-02-17T10:28:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the things (for lack of a better word) I have aspired to be at different points in my life. Eric Erikson might have had fun with this entry.

Childhood:
Teacher
Ventriloquist
Store-keeper
Nurse
Professional Roller-Skater
Housewife
Perfume maker
Biologist--specializing in insects
Back-up dancer for Debbie Gibson or Janet Jackson
Back-up singer for Starship
Actress on "Another World"
Waitress

Adolescence:
Social Worker
Olympic Speed skater
Sports Journalist
Waitress in one of those 60's themed restaurants where they wear roller-skates and poodle-skirts.
Nurse
Grammy winning musician
Physio-therapist
Actress
Writer
Guidance Counsellor

"Adulthood":
Guidance Counsellor
Elementary Teacher
Writer of Children's Literature
Marathon Runner
Occupational Therapist
Classical Guitarist
Music Teacher
Massage Therapist
Resource Teacher

"...and when your deepest thoughts are broken, keep on dreamin' boy cause when you stop dreamin' it's time to die..." from Change by Blind Melon.

What? Rules? I never cease to amaze myself...

2007-02-16T16:54:00.000-08:00

This is a official /personal code of conduct (if that should even exist) for my blog:
I Donna Shall...

Avoid at all costs the use of : ) or :P or : ( or : S or any other absurd combination of punctuation marks/letters to convey any kind of emotion. I will instead use (gasp) Actual Words!!!

Refrain from writing LOL after any random comment....For example "I am shy...until you get to know me...Then you will discover how much of a wine drinking whore I can really be..LOL" Alright, clearly, disclosing that I am a wine drinking whore on blogger.com did not make me "laugh out loud" and chances are, it did not make you "laugh out loud" either.

Only speak positively of others.

Avoid self deprecating humour. Because I am beautiful. And I am not being sarcastic. Because then I would be breaking this rule.

Resist the urge to erase something I have written because I think it might be inadequate.