indecisive stitches

Yet Another Update

2008-04-06T01:44:00.000-04:00

Hey hey hey...it’s been a while.

I thought it would be a good time to write a quick update of some sort. I had very good intentions on catching up with y’all last weekend but it simply did not happen. And for good reasons at that.

It looks like the bitter end of winter is finally here. The days seem sunnier and warmer. I would like to believe we are out of the blue where snow and cold is concerned. I’m keeping my fingers crossed because this winter seemed to drag on and on. The brightness and that certain smell of spring in the air is definitely improving my mood and those around me.

I’ll be honest. Winter was rough, especially from mid-February and on. I don’t care for airing too much dirty laundry via my blogs so I’ll keep it short and sweet - my anxiety was sky high. Sure, I was stressed in several areas of my life - work, health of myself and of others, and so on. I’ve always been the nervous kind but this bout of anxiety was far from fun. I don’t think it was ever this bad - it came to the point of affecting me physically. However, this time taught me something - it showed me that I do have the strength to get help. And I’m not saying that I’m weak and frail either. Bottom line is - I have anxiety and I want to learn how to control it so every day events shouldn’t be stressed over. I don’t ever want it to get to the point where it was at the end of February and early March. I don’t want to be shaky at the thought of leaving the house. I’m much more conscious of it though and I have talked it through with friends and professionals. I’m trying to get out and get a little more active (I tried Pilates tonight!). I’m trying to find the things that make me happy and challenge me. I’m trying to feel less isolated (which I’m beginning to think is part of the problem since moving to Quebec).

So, do you want the good recent news or the bad recent news? Let’s get the bad out of the way first.

Just when I thought my anxiety was on the mend and I was going back to work (I took a bit of a stress leave, if you will), my dog ended up getting in a really nasty fight with another dog last weekend (though the more I think of it, the more I think he was attacked first). Hence no blog update - I was busy mopping up eight bleeding wounds and trying to not cry my head off. Of course, last weekend was the weekend the boyfriend went out of town. Of course! That’s always when shit happens. Anyway, I don’t want to go into details.

My dog got bit about 8 times, very badly. I felt like it was my fault. I didn’t know what to do because I panicked but I tried my best. I couldn’t get him to see a vet immediately because he couldn’t walk that well and we leave on a second floor (refused to walk down the stairs). We couldn’t carry him. He didn’t want to eat or drink. We managed to get him antibiotics the day after, by the persistance of my friend’s mother. When the boyfriend finally got home, we got him (the dog, haha) to a vet. He had a fever, poor thing. They cleaned, drained, and flushed his wounds. We are continuing to clean/flush the wounds at home and give him peanut butter coated pills. After a day or so, there was such an improvement. The swelling is down and he is affectionate again, he has his appetite and he’s smiling at everything. He’s my silly, goofy dog again - back to his ol’ ways. I’m so grateful, so incredibly grateful. I thank my friends that kept me company on Saturday, my friend’s mom who bent over backwards to find help and talk me through my anxiety, and those who called to check in on me and to give me pep talks. We truly appreciate it. :) Toshio is happy and on the mend! Yippee!

And onto the good news....

I’m learning my first instrument. No, it’s not a piano. Le sigh. It’s still cool and awfully quirky! It’s a ukulele, which is a lot more affordable and easy to store than a piano. It’s a cool little instrument too - it’s a metal-bodied resonator ukulele. It has a very bright tone and it’s loud. I got it last night so I’ve been fooling around on it ever since. The boyfriend has been showing me a few things he knows, general music "stuff", and little lessons I can do. I strummed along with him (badly) to a simple song he was playing on the guitar. With the limited chords I am comfortable with right now, I can play the chorus to Aha’s Take on Me (which is not cool, but whatever) and I can also play along with Johnny Thunders’ Sad Vacation. As well, doing some fingerpicking exercises to that riff in Wipeout. Before you know it, I will be tip-toeing through the tulips. But seriously, I’ve discovered that it is a really underrated instrument. It’s actually really cool to play even though you have to hold it high up and the boobs get in the way.

Other than that, things are good. I’m feeling happier. My dog is happier and healthier. Spring is here and it’s causing me to have weird dreams that guest stars ex-boyfriends and Big Brother contestants. I have a brand new shiny ukulele and another week off work between projects. It hurts the bank account but I’m looking forward to warm days and good books and ukulele lessons and home-cooked meals. And maybe, just maybe, another go at Pilates.

Privacy Policy

2008-04-06T00:25:00.001-04:00

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Shopping Frenzy!

2008-02-17T11:21:00.003-05:00

It was recently my birthday and I treated myself to a beautiful cardigan. I found it online with much searching. It probably wasn't the greatest deal but I thought - I deserve it!

I came across a website that is much like Sephora but deals with many different shopping departments, if you will. It's ShopWiki! You can find everything from electronics to cosmetics. It is great for comparison shopping and finding product reviews. Maybe I'll find myself a Wii one day! You'll find low prices and good deals. What more can you ask for!?

New Year

2008-01-20T03:44:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've written - once again! It's already the middle of January. I have the place to myself this evening and I thought it would be a good chance to catch up on everything I have wanted to do - namely work on a new blog idea I have about conquering goals. Heh, all I conquered tonight, it seems, was the fine art of curling up on the couch and napping. Ah, I think I deserve it.

I've been okay, thanks for asking.

January has been a busy one so far, especially concerning work. And I don't know if it's for all the right reasons. Things, I must say, have been a bit confusing and chaotic as far as work goes. Not necessarily the work itself, just the people working there. I wish I could go into details but that wouldn't be fair or cool of me. Let's just say it's been a little too dramatic for my liking. I've tried to stay away from it and distance myself from it. Things have come to a head - not concerning me - and I hope that it will eventually smooth itself over. Basically, all I want is to go to work, do my job, and come home at the end of the night. I don't think it's too much to ask for. Due to this issue, work has been canceled for five days. And that sucks. Though I was scheduled for over fifty hours this week, my pay cheque is now cut short and it hurts. I have bills just like everyone else.

I have to admit, I did need this "me-time". This so-called issue has been draining and I have been putting in a lot of hours. It's been a little rough on me and my health.

Speaking of which, my health is alright. I've been dizzy since the middle of December - or since I started working a lot of overtime. I'm getting another series of blood tests come Tuesday so check my thyroid and anemia. As well, what I thought was an allergic reaction to something turned out to be a wicked case of acid reflux. Sexy, huh? I've discovered the triggers of it though. And it's all the tasty things - beer, wine, and - gasp, my favorite! - lemon tea.

I haven't had much of a social life since starting work again. My days off have been booked solid with appointments to see doctors and dentists and more doctors. I had coffee with Toly the other day, which was nice. I ran into him as I was coming out of the pharmacy near work. That's what I miss about Winnipeg. You can walk around the village or downtown and simply run into someone which eventually leads to going for coffee. I hope to see some friends soon. Timing has been bad - my days off don't corresponde with theirs, people have been sick, etc.

I had a very quiet New Year's Eve at home. We had my in-laws over for dinner. I cleaned up the place. My partner cooked a fantastic meal. That's that. No pressure and relaxed - just how I like my New Year's Eves to be.

Christmas was lovely. I went back home for the holidays from the 18th to the 28th, I believe. My flight was canceled for the 16th due to a massive snow storm, which was disappointing. I spent a lot of time at home, when I went home, and I didn't really mind. Maybe it was just winter or maybe it was being so run down from working so much. I just wanted to be at home with my parents and my cat, watching bad television (which is a treat since I rarely watch TV in Montreal) and laying low. I did have a few fun nights with friends but I only made it into Winnipeg a couple of times. A bunch of us saw Walk Hard in the theater, which was a treat. It's been years since I saw a movie in a theater (before that movie, the last one I saw in a theater was Kill Bill). I went for coffee. I stopped in at a few friends places for coffee or tea or eggnog paralizers (a tradition of ours, to see Tricia at Christmas and get our fill of eggnog paralizers!). A few of us hung out in the mall, laughing at people and being jerks. It was a fun trip, but a quiet one. Some of my plans fell apart though, which bummed me out. I didn't get to see Nicofelia. I didn't get to see the PostSecret exhibit at the WAG. I didn't get to see Rachel that much or Parris, for that matter. I suppose it's to be expected when I come out to visit at the most busiest time of the year and when my trip is cut short. Le sigh. It was nice to have so much time with family though. I played Scrabble with my mom. I played televised bingo with my dad. I saw my grandmother a lot. I got to play silly video games on Christmas eve with my sister and brother-in-law - I tried my hand at Guitar Hero (it's hard!) and played a round of American Idol on PS2. Good times. Lots of laughs. It was cool to see my brother-in-law. It seems like before this trip, I'd only see him for a good 45 minutes out of two weeks, ha ha.

I've been away from home for three years now. I always mentally prepare myself when I am about to fly back to Montreal. And I always end up having a semi-meltdown in my old bedroom. It is so hard to leave, still. I like my life in Montreal, especially since getting Toshio. I like my routine. I still miss home and I suppose that's normal. I miss being there for my family and for friends. You'd think by now I would be used to leaving but it still hurts. I put on my best face though. No one sees the semi-meltdown. Not only that, it's coming to terms that many of the friends I know - life has moved them in different directions. I don't have as much place in their lives, I'm not so much in-the-know now. I'm a little left out of the circle. Maybe I'm not as important. And I do understand that. It's normal to move on, go in different directions, have new circles of friends. My circle of friends is very small here in Montreal and I notice it gets smaller and smaller each time I go back home too. It's kind of a lonely feeling. Saying that, there are some friends that I see when I go back home and it's like I have been away for three days, let alone three years. We catch up and then we laugh like we always have. That's a really precious feeling. It sounds cheesy to say but it's reassuring to know that these old friends still consider you an important part of their lives.

Anyway, it is getting late. What else can I say before my face hits the keyboard?

Toshio is good! He's happy and healthy. He still pulls on the leash though. He's such a blast, a real joy in my life. He makes me laugh all the time just by doing nothing. He keeps finding ridiculous things in the snow - pants, a small pair of track shorts, jackets, a bagette, a head of romaine lettuce, a grocery bag that was full of bread loaves (which he "killed" and sent loaves of bread flying everywhere). Oh, a frozen pizza slice that he killed, a frozen fish. It makes you wonder what kind of people visit this park, ha ha. We've also discovered that Toshio HATES snowmen and likes to destroy them.

My birthday is coming up in a month. Normally, nothing really happens. Oh! However, this year.....my friend Ren will be coming out to visit me! Yippee! I'm excited. I booked the weekend off - and that better be valid still - and we have plans on going to a show. It should be fun! I hope it will be a good distraction for her!

Written Last Night

2007-11-17T19:20:00.000-05:00

All this work has really caught up to me. It's my first day off of my weekend and I feel like a monster of a cold is coming on. I'm heavy-headed, I'm slightly feverish, and all I want to do is curl up on the couch with a blanket. I'm emotional. I need sleep and soup and kisses on my forehead. Sigh.

The man is out of town, playing in Quebec City tonight. He'll be back very early in the morning as they are driving back after the show. I was left in charge of the dog today. I discovered what fun it is to walk a dog when it's cold and you are feeling like pure crap. At least, seeing the dog act silly and run around makes me smile. Yet, I have to say, I'm not looking forward to going out to walk him tomorrow morning and I doubt my partner wants to take him out if he only sleeps for three or four hours.

It's been a weird couple of days. Not weird, amazingly weird. Just weird; emotionally, regarding people, etc. On Thursday, on my way to work, I was laughed at by some teenagers in the metro station. This was not the first time. For some reason, teenagers laugh at me in this city. And no, I'm not being paranoid either. It was almost something out a movie. This chick pointed at me and laughed a big belly laugh, "HA HA HA, LOOK AT HER!". I didn't say anything, as usual. However, I walked away thinking that this really doesn't bother me. And I was grateful that I didn't let such a comment bug the hell out of me like it did in the past. Moments later, I was standing on the escalator. The man beside me, who sounded a bit drunk, turned to me and said, "I just want you to know that you are very beautiful and I hope you have a wonderful day." That was sweet.

An acquaintance from back home passed away today. It's made me a little sad, even though we weren't close. I will always admire her strength and positivity regarding life and her illness.

I'm done like dinner. Must curl up in bed or drink hot tea....

Travel Blog

2007-11-17T19:08:00.000-05:00

The best advice usually comes from someone else's mouth. Being online allows everyone to voice their advice and opinion, whether it is good or bad. When we travel, we usually talk to others that have been to those particular places. Word of mouth. We avoid the "bad areas", we frequent the "good" restaurants, and we discover all the "must-sees" from those who have already been there.

I found a cool travel blog online. You can read the reviews and opinions of cities and destinations, gathered by the editors at RealTravel. The travel blog is somewhat of a best of; regarding travel stories, recommendations, and travel news. I always think it's kind of cool to read about others traveling experiences. Not only does it give me ideas of where I am fantasizing about going next, but you know what to avoid (especially regarding hotels - once I stayed in a hotel in New Orleans that was chock-full of cockroaches!). Anyway, it's a good travel blog to spend a little time over and reading.

What's cool too? You can create your own travel blog there as well, to share your own stories!

Boring

2007-11-11T16:29:00.000-05:00

I do apologize for doing some website promotion in my blog but I need all the extra cash I can get! I cannot reveal my sponsors - ooh, how mysterious am I? Anyway, I thought I would write a real blog even though it seems as though commentary from friends are limited nowadays. I have to wonder if others are as sick of being online as I am or has everyone moved to Facebook?

I hope you are all well. Happy autumn!

There is not much new at my end of the world. After a long stint of not working, I am back at my job. My work is funny that way. Not "ha-ha" funny either. When there is no work, it's scary. The time off is intense and all my bills stresses me out. I slack off on my sad attempt at budgeting. However, when work starts up again...I transform into a machine. When it rains, it pours - as they say. It seems as though I have been working like a madwoman. I have some regular eight hour days and then I have a monster of a day - nine, ten, eleven hours plus. I can't complain - I do need the money, especially at this time of year. By the end of the week, I am toast. Done like dinner. All I want to do is go to sleep for a good two days. Therefore, my social life is non-existant. I don't have one.

And I can't really say that I mind. Of course, it would be nice to go out on the town and paint it red or get dolled up for an adventurous night. Yet, at the end of the week, all I can think about is being home and comfortable - spending a night curled up on the couch with my partner, the dog at our feets napping away, having a nice homemade meal that I am not in a rush to make. Oh, how domestic I have become!

I can't believe it is November now. Christmas is almost a month away. It is also a month away before I go home again. I have yet to book my flight because I do everything last minute. I feel bad about going, abandoning my dog and my partner. When I went home in the summer, I cried when I left Toshio...knowing that he's sitting there all bummed out and knowing that mommy's leaving. Ugh, it's heartbreaking to leave him when he is giving me that face that says, please don't go.

Anyway, what else can I tell you....

I'm reading here and there, watching some good and bad movies lately, making some wicked autumn meals (like veggie chili and homemade bread and cake), brainstorming for unique and inexpensive Christmas gifts, listening to a lot of Japanese instrumental music from the 60s, still plugging away at my gratitude photoblog, and playing one too many games of online Scrabble on Facebook.

Yep, I'm going through a boring phase.

Easy Travel

2007-11-05T18:51:00.000-05:00

Ah, it's getting to be that time of year again. The time when it gets frosty cold and you don't want to get out of bed unless it's to take a trip somewhere scenic or tropical. I admit that I am not the kind of person who craves a hot tropical vacation - I much prefer an old city full of culture and museums and interesting little cafes to waste the days away in.

I came across a website called Easy To Book. I know I have pointed my readers to those types of sites before, so pardon me if I am beginning to sound repetitive. It's a cool little site much like Expedia but for hotels only. You can find listings for hotels in many cities including Barcelona, London, and Rome.

Check it out - you might find yourself a deal!

Books - July to September 2007

2007-10-21T20:17:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I have babbled on about the books I read (and the ones cannot remember reading). Tonight is the perfect night to check that off my list of things I have been putting off.

1) Red River Story - Alfred Silver
This was a thick and hearty read. I found it for a buck at the used book store in my 'hood. It was a great slice of Canadiana that I just ate up. It is about the first settlers to the Red River area in Manitoba, who came here from Scotland. The characters in the book were real, living people once upon a time. The major events happened in true life. The writer breathed life into these simple people and often complex situations. I read it before going back home to Manitoba and it was perfect timing.

2) The Zahir - Paulo Coelho
There is something I adore about South American writers. The language and the words seem much more delicious and intriguing. And this describes the book - delicious, intriguing, and perfect for a hot summer night.

3) Darker Than Love - Kristina Lloyd
When I went back home, my saucy friend Courtenay gave me the gift of an erotica paperback novel. Insert lusty smile here. Well, what can I say! It was kinda hot. It was kinda saucy. It's a historical piece of smut; full of corsets and bondage and dungeons and spanking. Sweet baby Jesus! I've notified Courtenay and suggested that whenever we exchange gifts, it has to be "an erotica paperback gift exchange".
4) Dying Hour - Rick Mofina
I'll be completely honest with you. I cannot remember this book for the life of me. I think it may have been about cops and murders. Regardless, my mom picked it up for me at a garage sale for ten cents and I rated it as simply okay.

5) When the Wind Blows - James Patterson
Once again, a forgettable read. I want to say it's about murders in Cape Cod but that could be another novel that I read months ago and didn't care for very much. I didn't enjoy it, whatever the case.

6) All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten - Robert Fulgham
Shut up. I needed a lighthearted read about the simple things in life. It was summer and I don't have much of an attention span when it's sweltering hot outside. It's a sweet observational book yet a little preachy for my liking.

7) The Commitments - Roddy Doyle
I read this book when I started working again. I wanted something short and sweet for the metro ride, for my breaks at work - something not too heavy but enjoyable. And I have to say, I did enjoy this book. It's fun, amusing, and there are some great musical references in it. It's a little unrealistic but it kept me entertained.

8) 1000 Pin-Up Girls
This was not so much a read rather than looking at amazing pieces of pulp fiction magazine artwork. It's full of cheese for all the right reasons. What I liked most about this coffee table book was all the old-school advertisements for joke books, gags to play on your friends, high heeled glamour shots of pin-ups, and how to be a hit with ladies.

9) You Are a Dog : Life Through the Eyes of Man's Best Friend - Terry Bain
This is by far the best book I read during these past few months. I bought this book for one of my best friends and I was a bad gift-giver by reading the book before I mailed it to her, oops. I'm glad I did and I don't think she minded. Books are meant to be shared! As you all know, I am a first-time dog owner. This book is written in the point of view of the dog; what they are thinking when they jump on the bed, what they feel when you leave the house for a short while, so on and so forth. My words are not doing this book justice. I may sound cliche. This book made me smile a huge smile. This book made me laugh out loud. This book made me look at my own dog a little differently. And this book, this book made me cry...especially when the dog panics at the thought of what if she-who-feeds-me doesn't ever return home (I always want to be there for my Toshio that once had a boo-boo in his heart! This dog of mine has seriously turned me to mush!). Terry Bain also has another book called We Are The Cat. Check his website at You Are A Dog and his photography groups on Flickr for Dogs and Cats.

On a side note, unrelated to books:
I've recently discovered Ane Brun. Look her up on Myspace. She's a great singer, if you are into singer-songwriter stuff. I'm not a huge fan of female singer-songwriters but I can't stop listening to her work!

He Swept Me Off My Feet

2007-10-06T15:51:00.000-04:00

Last night was just like any other night. We took the dog out for his nightly walk. I was talking and laughing with Zak about this and that. I had a memory of that time I went to Die Maschine with Rachel and Greg, when the bartender fed me glasses of gin and tonic and shots of jag in hopes of getting into my pants but instead I ended up falling off the stool and Rachel caught me. I laughed to myself. Good times.

Lately, my dog has been on edge. He's been a little nervous, barking in the house and being scared of random objects on the street. At night, he has become a little too riled up for our own liking. You know, jumping about and acting like a wingnut for a good five or ten minutes before calming down to his usual self.

Zak and I were walking along in the school yard. I turned to look behind me and I saw my dog, looking a little hyper with that crazed look in his eyes. I saw him run towards me in a slow jog. I turned to look ahead and I thought, he's not going to run into me. His slow gallop turned into a hearty gallop. The next thing you know, I'm on my back in the schoolyard for all the wrong reasons. Ouch.

My dog literally swept me off my feet. And once again, for all the wrong reasons. I ended up landing on the back of my head before the rest of my body hit the grass. No, I did not see any stars or circling birdies like in the cartoons (that would have been awesome though). Zak came to my rescue as I curled up on the grass and cried. I'm a suck, I admit it.

The tears were not cried in the honor of pain. It hurt more to hear my dog get scolded. Yes, he deserved the scolding but hearing Toshio get yelled at broke my heart. He ended up hiding behind the couch for the rest of the evening, looking scared and sad. And that broke my heart too.

I'm surprised and grateful that I am not in worse shape. I don't have much of a headache. My shoulders, neck, and back suffer from a dull ache. I have a slight bruise on my head (I landed on my hair clip) and on my calf. I didn't sleep well and I'm moving rather slowly today. The truth is, it could have been a lot worse. What if it was on cement? What if there was a rock when my head hit the ground? What if, what if, what if. I came very close to breaking my neck, in all seriousness, and I'm surprised I didn't have a concussion (A.K.A: "Pulling a Ren", ha ha. Speaking of Ren, too bad she wasn't here in Montreal. Gin would be lovely tonight over a discussion of head injuries. Maybe this is just God's way of telling me that I, too, need to get a Tamagauchi?).

And please, no lectures on the fact that my dog probably sees me as his equal and I'm not being disciplinary enough. I know this. I heard all about it last night from Zak. I know and I will become more stern of a mistress (heh).

Please, kiss my forehead now. It makes me feel better.

London Calling

2007-10-01T18:29:00.001-04:00

Ah, I have always wanted to go to London. What girl hasn't? Well, I suppose plenty haven't wanted to go but this girl does. There's something curious about the place - it's historic, royal, and full of sexy accents! I have a weakness for a good English accent, forgive me!

I also have a friend that works for an airline. She has a limited amount of friends and family passes. I mentioned that I would love to go to London and travel with her. It won't happen only because flying into the Heathrow Airport is one of the most costly in the world, according to my friend. With the friends and family pass, we would be paying for airport taxes and other such surcharges.

So, in sake of dreaming and fantasizing, I found a cool websites much like Expedia. It gives you cheap hotel listing for London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Oh, one day...my London dream will come true!

Bling?

2007-10-01T18:19:00.000-04:00

Are diamonds really a girl's best friend? It's kind of hard to answer that since I have never had a diamond or any other piece of jewelry given to me. Instead, I wear my plain silver ring that says NEVER COMPROMISE in bold letters and a dog that gives me endless kisses. Oh, I have a boyfriend too. He'll cook me dinner and clean the toilet, so that counts - ha ha.

I'm aching to spend money on myself. I went a little nuts this summer but I don't really have much to show for it. Sometimes, for curiosity's sake, I'll shop around for jewelry even though I don't ever seriously think about buying.

If I ever had a ring given to me, it should be unique. I'm not much into diamonds, unlike most girls. I'm actually a fan of amethyst jewelry. It is my birthstone, yes, but there is something classic about it. I'd love to have a little martini glass ring with a little emerald as an olive - wouldn't that be cool!?

Anyway, here's a decent shopping site for jewelry for you to browse!

Dream

2007-09-29T18:05:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since I have shared my dreams here. I don't know who is amused by my silly night-time dreams other than Dawneth. Anyway, I told my partner that I had a dream about someone and he stopped me - he did not want to know any more. So, I share with you, my lovely blog readers...

I'm in Kildonan Mall, back home in Winnipeg. I'm with a friend. I cannot remember who, but I'm certain it was a male friend. We're walking through the center court area. As with many generic shopping centers, there is this center area with a sitting area (for the old folks and tuckered out parents of teenagers) with a skylight above. So, I'm walking with my man friend...we're chatting...laughing it up. I took a look at all of those sitting in the center court. It's full of goths. Goths, everywhere! And the goths...they had a ringleader in a trenchcoat. I didn't take much notice of who the ringleader was.

As we were walking away from the circle of goths, I heard a heckle.

"What is that? A man!? Look at her hands! She's got man hands! She's got man hands!"

In "real" life, I have had jocko types who have bluntly asked at the bar if I was a man or a drag queen or a lesbian just because I am tall and wear makeup. I never told them "what" I was other than give them a good bark and maybe once I shoved one of the jockos. Anyway, so there I am in the dream getting heckled. I turn around, mad as hell to see who said that. It was their ringleader in the art of darkness. And it was none other than Scott Baio.

I scream. I scream like I never have before. I scream to him that I am not a man. I scream that my hands are not man hands. And I left the best for last for my final scream:

"AT LEAST I'M NOT SCOTT BAIO, CHARLES in CHARGE!"

I walked away and felt incredibly satisfied that I left Scott Baio speechless. And then I felt a tinge of regret when I finally admitted it to myself, "I kinda liked Charles in Charge".

And then I woke up...

Need a Tutor?

2007-09-29T17:51:00.000-04:00

Clearly, I spend too much time online to find quirky and interesting sites that I will probably never use. I always keep my friends in mind when I find strange or useful websites. Once again, my search came up with an interesting site for online tutoring.

It's been a long time since I have been in school. Just the thought of being in school again makes me laugh a hearty and bitter laugh. I would definitely be a good candidate to subscribe to online tutoring. I would most likely need homework help.

One day, I think I would like to go back to school. I am not sure what I would take even though I have leaned towards cosmetic artistry for a long time. And for sure, I don't need a tutor with that - just a practice buddy! I do, however, love English and writing. Maybe one day I'll try my hand at an English class even though it has been well over ten years since being in one. Yikes.

End of Summer Update

2007-09-10T22:36:00.000-04:00

It's about time that I let you know the skinny on what's been happening in the lovely life of Linda. I haven't been blogging and writing as much as I would like to and I hope to get back into the swing of things, especially with summer sadly winding down.

I have to say, I had a truly fun summer. If I were to make a list of things that happened, it probably wouldn't amount to much as far as number of things go. I had a lot of great little things happen to me and, for that, I am grateful.

Firstly, we got Toshio the Happy Good Luck Dog. I remember the night I met Toshio. Zak dropped him off at our place as he was dogsitting at another friend's house. I was so scared! I never had a dog before, only cats. I was scared he would turn on me in the middle of the night and attack me when I was peacefully sleeping in bed. Those thoughts left me very quickly after that first night. It didn't take long to fall in love with Toshio. Somedays, I just look at him and I am amazed at what a wonderful creature he is. I am so very glad he is in my life, it's not even funny. I used to hate dog kisses and dog slobber and dog smell, but now...oh, how I love Toshio's kisses and I don't mind his slobber even when it's all over my nice skirts and I could honestly care less that he smells "like a dog". He's my dog and that's all that matters. He is well, thanks for asking! He is getting better around strangers and is behaving rather well. He is still pulling on his leash everyday. He has had many encounters with skunks recently and, knock on wood, he's been one lucky dog.

I'm sure all of you will remember photographs in my previous entries of the distinguished Chester the Cat that lives on my balcony. Just recently, we found out the history of Chester. His owner finally took the time to find her cat, after months of him living in a Rubbermaid container on our balcony. She told me that his name is Vendredi, which means Friday in French. He was born on Good Friday and he is seventeen years of age. He's an old man cat who does not want to go home, she said as she manhandled Chester. Last Wednesday, Chester started to look ill and I started to worry. I know he is not my cat nor is he my neighbor's cat. He is simply a cat that chose to live on our balcony in a blue Rubbermaid container for a house. He looked frail. He could not close his mouth, tongue hanging out. He had a glob of yellow-ish drool on his chin. He looked skinnier and he smelled rather funky. We were all worried, the neighbors and myself included. He disappeared this last Friday and I thought he went away forever. My neighbor ended up talking to the owner. Chester is back at his first home and the owner is not letting him out anymore. I hope she takes good care of him but I sadly doubt it. I wonder if I will ever see his handsome face ever again?

As far as my health goes, my thyroid has once again turned inactive on me. I had another series of doctors appointments and blood tests which determined this. Overall, I haven't been feeling that bad - just a little dizzy here and there, which I naively thought was the result of the heatwave we were having in Montreal. My doctor upped my medication and I am waiting for it to kick in. I have another blood test at the end of the month. As well, I have started a new skincare regime as per my lacklustre dermatologist. My skin currently hates me for using this particular gel that I am using. I have winter skin; dry and itchy. I have discovered that everything I use on my face contains alcohol which causes my face to feel like it is on fire and my eyelids to become extremely dry. I won't give up hope yet so see if there are any positive results.

I'm still laid off from work and I'm okay with that. Work should be starting up soon, so they say. They have recently handed off some paperwork to do at home and that made me happy. I like working from home. It means that I can work while listening to Guns N' Roses in my pajamas. I'm looking forward to starting work again - it gets me out of the house and it's always nice to have a regular paycheque. I'm not looking forward to dealing with people again and being away from my dog however.

I haven't been writing or being as creative as I wanted to be this summer. I have been taking lots of photographs with my digital camera so I guess that counts as something.

I have, however, been regularly watching that reality show called Big Brother. It's something that I am not proud of and I hate to admit how much I enjoy the show. I rarily watch television so you'd think that I would stick with something "smart". Heh, nope. It's trash television. Is it wrong of me to admit that, for once, I adore how the game is turning out? Is it wrong to be excited to see the person I want to win up there in the final three?! Err, admitting this makes me feel ashamed! One last thing - I love Dick!

I had the pleasure, this summer, of entertaining two out of town friends as well. Nicole came out for a few weeks in August and Ren came out this past weekend. Both visits were full of fun and exploration! I had a blast with them. You know, I don't have a lot of friends here so it was nice to get out and see all these little things I normally don't get out to see. It kept me busy, that's for certain! I went many places during this time too, many places I never knew existed! As well, I blew off some steam via the power of shopping. It's about time that I spent some of my hard earned money on ME. We went for lunch, we saw some pretty cool museum exhibits, we went to many different shops, and we did a lot of walking about. I can't wait until my sister comes out or even some other friends back home. Now I know where to take them even though I might still get a little lost along the way!

Speaking of shopping, I started to pick up a few gifts for Christmas already. I always despised those who shop early for Christmas. Perhaps, it is bitterness for being among the masses that shops last minute. I figure that in the long run, I will save more money by shopping earlier and bit by bit versus all in one shopping trip. I will also save some sanity, which is always a good thing. I picked up something cool for my brother-in-law and something really unique for my sister that I just know she will adore! Maybe this will give me more time to make individual cross-stitched goodies for people this holiday season!

Wow, what else can I tell you?!

What does the autumn hold for me? Hmmm...
Continue taking photos and loving my boo-boo dog. I would love to quit smoking for my health and to save money. I look forward to coming home for Christmas but I don't look forward to being apart from Zak and Toshio. I hope to get my ass into gear and start writing something more than a few blogs here and there. I hope more friends come out to conquer Montreal for a day or longer! I hope to have more drinks and more company over and invite more folks for dinner. I hope to work until late spring but we'll see what happens with my frequently unreliable job. I'll probably spend a little more time exploring Montreal on my own.

All in all, I just look forward to being happy and healthy and getting wintery dog kisses.

Travel, part three

2007-08-23T11:59:00.000-04:00

Here's another website for all the readers out there who are interested in traveling to Paris, France and wishing to stay at hotels in Paris. I haven't been myself but I hear it's an amazing place to visit.

This site is kind of like Expedia, where it is generally cheaper to book through their website versus going directly through the hotel itself. This site offers you deal for hotels in Paris, Paris hotels in the suburbs, etc. As well, there is a French site for Hôtels en Paris. It's worth checking out if you are thinking about traveling to France, whether it is to explore city life or to get away and enjoy the bountiful countryside.

If I could go, I would love to see the historic side of France! Ah, one can dream!

Travel, part two

2007-08-23T11:50:00.000-04:00

Here's another website for all the readers out there who are interested in traveling to Australia. I haven't been myself but I hear it's an amazing place to visit.

This site is kind of like Expedia, where it is generally cheaper to book through their website versus going directly through the hotel itself. This site offers you deal for Sydney hotels, Melbourne hotels, and Brisbane hotels. It's worth checking out if you are thinking about traveling to Australia, whether it is to explore city life or to get away and enjoy the bountiful countryside.

If I could go, I would love to see the wildlife side of Australia! Ah, one can dream!

Travel, part one

2007-08-23T11:43:00.000-04:00

From time to time, I write short blogs brought to you by a sponsor. I will update everyone soon!

I came across this really cool site called RealTravel. It's a travel guide and trip planner to help you out when planning a holiday. There are a lot of different options in this travel guide website - you can post travel guide blogs, share deals with others, learn from other travelers via reviews, and seek advice from professional travel planners. It is very interactive!

This travel guide website was voted as one of twelve essential travel websites by Forbes and Business Week. How can you go wrong?!

Bright Idea

2007-08-16T14:46:00.000-04:00

Since moving out with my partner, I have become drawn to making my home a much better place to spend time. When money is tight, you have to have a home that you enjoy to be in. That was the big difference between our last place and our current apartment. I actually take pride in my home. It's not just an apartment - it's a HOME. Believe me, there's a BIG difference between the two.

Though money is tight, that doesn't stop me from looking around online for cool additions to add to our home. Sure, I can't really afford to buy much...but it's still nice to look! I came across an interesting site for lighting fixtures, which is dedicated to household products such as ceiling fans, faucets, home lighting, chandeliers, etc. There's some very cool things on this no-nonsense site. A little out of my price limited...but amazingly beautiful things to add to your home.

I'm not at the point where I obsessively watch home decorating television shows just yet (thankfully, I have no television!), but I can admit that oooh-ed and awed over a few things on this site. Check out the "Fine Arts Lamps" for some really cool Asian inspired outdoor lighting ideas. Wow, soooo nice!

Tags: Home Decor, Lamps, Lighting

I'm back!

2007-08-02T20:30:00.000-04:00

So!

I should be writing this fabulous blog. You know, one that catches us up on everything that has happened in the last fews weeks. One that rants and raves about what a fantastic trip, without sparing you the sordid details. Believe me when I say that I want to.

However, I'm sitting before the computer and sweating. Sweating for all the wrong reasons. My twelve days in Manitoba was spent in sweltering hot temperatures. I return to Montreal for much of the same. I swear, this delicate flower is wilting.

I'll say this much - I had a blast. My last two trips back home were write-offs, being sick and all. This time rocked. I wasn't sick once! I saw friends, I spent tons of time with family, I kicked ass at American Idol on the Playstation, I took tons of photos (a lot, I'm afraid, weren't as artistic as I liked them to be), I got new glasses, I got a haircut, I spent waaay too much money on cheap shopping (A sweater for $6.99! Capri pants for $9.99!), and so on and so forth.

The downsides, other than the heat, were the terrible mosquitoes and the water. I don't know what it is but Winnipeg water tastes like dirt, even with a water filtering system. Selkirk water is undescribably bad. Not to mention, Manitoba water makes my hair and skin look like crap. Oh, and it always sucks to say bye and feeling like old friends have drifted away because of distance.

I will write in depth of my trip. Perhaps, I will do a photo-blog about it. Looks like I exceeded the amount of photos for my Flickr, so I'll either upgrade or find somewhere else to post them. Until then, hang on tight for a real update!

Poker

2007-07-20T10:55:00.000-04:00

I've been asked to write a quick review of a poker website by a sponsor. I'll be completely honest with you, I am not familiar with poker websites nor am I a participant in poker games. My view is simply the opinion of someone who browses websites on a frequent basis.

First of all, I like the use of color on this website. Of course, the color of poker is green and the color of money - however, it is also my favorite color so it makes me want to linger about. The use of the MAC logo within their poker logo is cute - I don't know if that is a good thing or not. What you can tell right off the bat is that this is MAC Poker Online. And that's a good thing, as I assume it is a bit difficult finding an online poker site geared toward owners of MACs.

What I can appreciate about this website with even my inexperienced eye is that there is a lot of informative updates and information on the main page of the MAC Poker Online website. It is written in a way that respects the readers intelligence without making it overly complicated, especially regarding the rules of poker for newbies like me!

Hiatus

2007-07-16T19:01:00.000-04:00

If you don't hear from me for a while, I'm on hiatus!

I'm going home for 12 days, starting tomorrow! I will be sure to update y'all when I get back!

See you after the 29th of July!

Mailboxes

2007-07-16T18:52:00.001-04:00

Nothing makes me happier than receiving mail. Good gosh, I love letters and packages. I love sending letters. I think the process of letter-writing is a lost art.

Anyway, I came across this website that sells decorative residential mailboxes. Some are amazingly beautiful. If I had a house in the suburbs or country, I would so get one of these. I would be a bit paranoid that teenagers would steal or vandalize them, but wow...I would love one of these. It would bring my love of letter-writing to a new level.

They also have wonderful commercial mailboxes. Take a look at the Regency Cluster Mailbox in black. I swooned when I saw this!

And for those website owners, they also have an affiliate program towards their mailboxes.

Books - April to June 2007

2007-07-04T16:22:00.000-04:00

It's been a few months and I have, once again, slacked off on telling y'all what I have been reading. Well, one book seemed to temporarily taken the life out of me and then I read a bunch of real crappy selections because it's summer (and I felt like reading crap, so there!). Some of these books I have read months ago so forgive me if my memory is a bit sketchy.

1) Tamarind Mem - Anita Rau Badami
I liked this one. Just liked. It is a story of a female in India growing up and reflecting on growing up, as well as with her relationship to her mother. After awhile, I admit, I became a little tired of her complaining about her mother. The novel took a turnaround and the last half of the book was about her mother reflecting on her own life and being a mother. I found this part to be the most interesting. I think the opinions and feelings of mothers are often overlooked.

2) Book of Longing - Leonard Cohen
Ahhhh, my future husband. This is the latest book of poetry and writing he released. I loved it, for the most part. There are some poems that make you feel hot and sticky. Others that make you laugh. There are a few that I simply did not care for. All in all, a good hot, steamy, bathtub or in-bed read.

3) Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis de Bernieres
This is the book that sucked a bit of life out of me and took me a little too long to finish. I struggled through it for the first 167 pages and contemplated putting it down. I stuck with it and I'm glad. I ended up reading the rest of the book lightning quick. I liked it a lot - the characters, the general story, the dialog. I ended up watching the film afterwards. Wow, talk about butchering the story. Insert foghorn sound here.

**And then I read a bunch of crappy, "light summer reads".**

4) Deadly Decisions - Kathy Reichs
Something about biker wars in Montreal, bones, and DNA. Yawns...

5) Midnight Bayou - Nora Roberts
This book's back cover promised me a thrilling read that will keep me on the edge of my seat. In reality, this book made me sleepy. Something about a ghost in the bayou and some rich guy from Boston who decided to renovate and haunted plantation house. I think. These light summer reads are blending into one another.

6) Bone Deep - Darian North
Something about some more bones and DNA and me napping on the couch.

7) Remember Me - Mary Higgins Clark
This was written by the so-called Queen of Suspense. Insert more napping here.

Anyway, in my defense - my mom picked up these light, summer reads at a garage sale. She went out of her way to send them and I figured that I should read them nonetheless. I feel like I have to justify reading those books. It was disgustingly hot out and I didn't feel like reading anything with hearty substance. I'm reading a good book now. In fact, I am very pleased with it. I'll tell y'all about it in my next installment! Stay tuned...

Tags: Books, Book Reviews, Literature, Novels

My Trip to the Dermatologist

2007-06-27T12:36:00.001-04:00

I waited three months to see a dermatologist.

I have complained and talked about my skin before in this blog. For those of you who do not know, I don't have the greatest skin. It is not as bad as before (it was terrible when I was 14 and around 21 years of age) but I still have slight scarring from hormonal cystic acne break-outs. Around PMS, I will have the occasional cystic acne...but as I mentioned, it is not as bad as before. In fact, my skin doesn't look that bad compared to years ago. With age, it is beginning to look pretty good. However, I'm 30 years old and it feels like my face is still 15 - haha. I'm sick of breaking out and I'm sick of the slight scarring. All I want is nice skin for once.

I waited three months for this appointment with the dermatologist.

I pretty much figured that my options were slim as I don't want to go on birth control pills, Accutane, or anti-biotics as suggested when I was 14 and going to the dermatologist. I thought, however, that there might be some other options to explore as it's been over ten years since I saw a dermatologist.

I waited three months to see this dermatologist and I felt like such a number. I was in and out of his room in a matter of minutes. He never asked me about my skin or what medications I have tried in the past, he did not tell me anything about my skin, or even ask "how are you today?". He asked me what I wanted, he took a look at my skin, and wrote a prescription. I seriously waited longer to get fast food compared to the time I spent in the doctor's room. I felt so rushed that I did not get the chance to ask him about another skin concern or a general question about heat rash (my partner is suffering from this at the moment). And I understand that I do live in Quebec but the guy could barely speak English.

Why is that I have to wait three months to see a specialist when he only gives me three minutes of his time? It doesn't seem fair especially when you think of how much money he makes out of my three minute visit!

He gave me a presciption for tetracycline and two different topical gels. Chances are, I won't use this prescription. He never told me what the side effects of these medications are, he never told me if they can be used with the thyroid medication that I am on, and he seemed defensive when I told him that I was on anti-biotics when I was a teen and it didn't work.

I can say this - when I was a teen, I saw a really wonderful dermatologist. He took the time to talk to you, he cared, and he thoroughly explained medications and skincare to you. You could tell he had children of his own. He was warm and gentle and professional. He did not rush you out in a matter of three minutes after a three month long wait to see him.

Anyway, my friend manages a health store. She suggested a number of things that I will look over when I go back home for a little holiday. Maybe I'll ask my family doctor for another referral to a different dermatologist too.

Or maybe I'll just have to live with less than perfect skin as I have been doing since I was 14 years old. Sigh!

Tags: Acne, Cystic Acne, Dermatologist, Skin, Skincare