Black Friday

So I know all you out there want to know about my Black Friday Shopping. Well it was FUN!

I went with K-Bot, J-Potty, Dew-Drop, and Mamaz. We got up at 4am, that's right folks I can't get enough of early morning in the summer so had to try it in the winter! Not as fun, far too cold. We were out the door around 4:30ish and there was only 1 car ahead of us in our line crossing the boarder. Cool beans.

Our first stop was the Factory Outlet mall in Niagara Falls (though all of our stops were in Niagara Falls, we didn't get far). Stores like Coach and Juciy were crazy long lines to get in...lucky none of us are into that. We were there for Bath and Body Works, in which I was able to pick up some Christmas presents and a free Snow Kissed Berry body wash for myself! We went into Old Navy but there wasn't much we wanted in there, though the boys needed new jeans and they were only $15 that day.

It was almost 6 so we headed over to Joann's and there was already a line, 10 people but still very much so a line. So we got in line and got in and guess what, every adult that came in got a $5 gift card. SCORE! I needed some material so I divided it up between the 5 of us so we could each use the $5 gift card and then the 20% off coupons. I also picked up 2 dress patterns 99cents each! Flannel was on for $1.29 a yard, and that's pretty much the only material I bought. I ended up saving $150 and spent about $40. That was exciting.

Next was Walmart, I thought that it was going to be bad, I mean they had barriers set up in front of the entrance. But it wasn't bad at all and it was only 8ish by that time. We went to buy a new plastic container set for K-bot's lunches (the set was 40 pieces for $9) however they didn't have any left. We seen they had blu rays on for $5 so we set off to the entertainment department looking for that but nothing, so we were ready to head out, walking by the ladies underwear department we spotted the blu ray sale. We stopped and it ended up it was a mix of dvds and blu rays for $1.98 - $10. How can you beat that?! So we bought some DC Universe dvds for K-Bot(those were the $1.98 ones) as well as Blade Runner. Then we bought Batman Begins on blu ray($5) and The Wizard of Oz($10) as well as some Christmas present blu rays I can't write about.

Next we went to target, and by this time it was about 9 and the line hadn't gotten much smaller. The line was from the cash around the back of the store and wove through the isles. So we walked around to get warm before heading back out empty handed.

Before we headed home we stopped at Tops for some fresh doughnuts. Best doughnuts ever, if you are over there find Tops and have one, also have some of their pizza, it's to die for!

We came home and then drove to Canada Computers in St Catherine's so K-Bot could buy himself a solid state hard drive. And walked the Pen Centre but didn't see much there.

And that was my shopping day. Oh I should add I also got a Blueberry Maple pie at McDonald's, try those too they are great!

The Crocodile Theory

"You may very well be well bred

Lots ot etiquette in your head

But there's always some special case, time or place

To forget etiquette"

~Never Smile At A Crocodile

During markets as we set up for the day we all chat about random things sometimes, on one particular weekend a group of us were discussing books. Jurassic Park came up and we talked about the amount of swearing in it, I argued that it was all within reason, if I was on an island and about to be eaten by a dinosaur it is directly within reason that I would let out a swear (or some other non appropriate witty remark). My father in law, listening in on this whole conversation said "well I wouldn't swear, those words aren't in my vocabulary". Our conversation ended there, but I have continued to think about it, I mean swears aren't my everyday words either but then again my everyday doesn't in anyway involve being eaten by a dinosaur.

I was listening to the Peter Pan soundtrack yesterday and singing along to Never Smile At A Crocodile (I never made it through the movie as a kid but have always been able to sing every word of this song) and when the lyrics at the top passed through my mouth I got it. Even Disney song writers think that you would forget etiquette in certain situations. I told this all to KBot in bed last night and he agreed that I had a very valid point. I told him that I would call it the Crocodile Theory, and that if ever I got my hands on a dinosaur I would test this theory (no worries KBot will make sure that I never get a dinosaur, he is funny about allowing my theories to be tested. Alas I shall never have a theorem).

I have always been a believer in the small slice of pie, you know that one that says it will happen no matter how unlikely the situation? Yeah definitely not the real pie, if it is real I believe in the big piece and then seconds. For those of you who read this and are Doctor Who fans, I finished my Crocodile Theory Pie rant with this, there is always that small slice of pie and you know where it is KBot? In the corner of your eye, that place you never want to look.

My Mind...Have You Seen It?

So it runs in my family to just loose your mind, and I am doing it with my regular style (early and with a great sense of humour).

I can't remember anything, I am completely useless when it comes to remembering something. Of course that is also greatly dependant on the amount of space between me and the item of remembrance. At the grocery store, can't remember a thing that I went for. Arrive home, remember every item. Irony, much like gravity, could have a heartless female dog reference.

A couple days ago, and I only remember this because I was so on that night, my computer made a click noise. K-Bot asked what that was and I said a start over click from the computer, he kindly informed me that computers don't make a start over click. In fact they don't make any clicks at all. He then asked how long it has been doing that, I sat and thought for a minute, then said well today and yesterday for sure I can't remember past that so lets just say forever.

Oh I've Done It ALL!

So K-Bot and I have been together for 7 years this October. That's more than enough time for him to learn that I have done it all and yet he still looks amazed at me when I say I have done certain things.

A couple summers back we went to ZooZ in Niagara, where I was first in line to pet the boa constrictor. K-Bot couldn't believe that I would do this, my reply "Not my first time, I have petted them before you know". Apparently he didn't and is still amazed that I would be first in line for that.

A couple months back we were watching TV and there was mention of an animal auction, K-Bot said he had never heard of such a thing, then asked had I, well yes I had. In fact I had been to one as a girl! My Uncle took my sister and I for the day to the livestock auction in Wainfleet. I got the strangest look from K-Bot when I said this, apparently this isn't something that he expected me to say.

A couple weeks ago we were watching a show and the people were riding elephants, when I proclaimed that I had ridden an elephant as a little girl! K-Bot just turned, and now being familiar with my I've done that's, said "Yeah that doesn't surprise me, you've done everything it seems". I replied "Well I haven't ridden a horse....no wait I have done that too!".

I don't feel like I have done it all, not even done it some, but apparently I have lived a very full life of random experiences. Next on my list? Riding a camel (though I think I may have done that before too) and petting the sting rays and nurse sharks at the Toronto Zoo if I can this weekend. K-Bot will be there for that one, but it doesn't mean that he won't have that "you've done it all" look on his face! After that? Shark fishing in Cali? Who knows!

It's The Perfect Time Of Year For...

Scary movies!!! As soon as I feel that crisp fall air blowing in, I get all excited for scary movie nights cuddled up with K-Bot. That is probably as far as I go with liking Halloween. So we have been watching some scary movies (Scream Series, Halloween Series, and Urban Legends Series so far). I really enjoy the illogic of the classic, killer chases down all the teenage lovers and kills all but one girl, and no matter what the kids do the killer survives, movies. Woah what staying power that Jason has!

It's silly to think that the killer knows where each of the victims are all the time, that no matter what he can find them, and that no matter how slow he walks he will always catch up with the running victim. I have read a lot of articles on how these were created to keep teenagers from having pre-marital sex, I can see that. The virgin always lives, and, in the case of most of the Friday The 13th movies, the couple always bites it right in the middle of the horizontal mambo.

I have been thinking about these movies a lot since watching them, and maybe it isn't all about sex (I know! That IS a crazy thought). But hear me out, what if it is about a fear of death and God? I mean there really isn't that many people/beings that are omnipresent/omniscience, I mean some of the victims could be chalked up to a general assumption of human nature when being stalked by a killer and watching your friends die 1 by 1. No one wants to die, or at least while in their prime and having a good time (and I mean there were no frownie faces on those teens as they entered that camp for a week of unchaperoned fun) and we learn from a young age when some one dies they are being called back to Heaven by God. So why not have some sort of distorted image of God as some sort of grim reaper type character if you haven't really been taught much about death and God? The killing of young couples while having sex also fits in with the whole God image as well, I mean who else made that a sin?

I don't know, this is just what I have been thinking. Maybe I am looking too far into these movies, or maybe I am seeing just what they want me to see (enough to know that I will be killed by that half rotted, super human, revenge filled, man that is inevitably right behind me as I strip in front of my teenage boyfriend....wait is that K-Bot? NOOOOO K-BOT NOOOOOOO!!!!!!)

Not A Trekkie In The Bunch

So apparently I teach a class of Lucashounds...

This past Sunday I had K-Bot help me teach my Valiant 8 class (lucky me also got the Valiant 9 class and Valiant 11), it was a chaotic class what with everyone being back together for the first time all summer. I was having trouble controlling the constant talking by every student over my teaching when K-Bot talks over everyone saying "If you are all good and listen I am sure Sister Eady would love to tell you a story about who she spent the weekend with last weekend". Well talking stopped as I assured them all that it was a good story. I got my lesson done and proceeded to tell the story of me being at Fan Expo and meeting Chewbacca. The kids, although all Star Wars fans, were not impressed (what do you mean you didn't meet Luke Skywalker and Anakin Skywalker?).

So they were completely unimpressed, so K-Bot asks "Do any of you like Star Trek then?", to which he received this response "Isn't that the channel before teletoon on TV?". Sigh, I guess K-Bot was right when he told me that no one likes Star Trek anymore...

Email Conversation

So I thought that an email conversation K-Bot and I had today was funny enough to share.

L- What's for dinner? Thoughts of dinner is what get me through the day.
K- I don't know I'm thinking more so Toppers, but I can't be sure.
L- Choose or die!
K- If you try I'll throw the cat at you, it's close enough to a tribble.
L- Hmmmm that's the trouble with tribble-cats.
K- Defending the world against the tyranny of the non smoothed foreheads.

In case you are lost, and I am sure you are, it is all Star Trek over here. Mainly a fascination as of late with the Klingon race.

Laura Math

So as those of you out there know I have red hair, it is a VERY visible trait. I also have blue eyes, which apparently some of my friends don't even know. So I am a rarity, red hair and blue eyes is the rarest of all the combination traits. Some sort of mutation on the albino gene, and for those of you who know me in the sun this all makes sense and is totally believable. Red hair itself is rare, I went most of my life not knowing many other red heads. I was reading about this and only 4% of the world has red hair.

I hated my red hair as a child, I couldn't go anywhere without people stopping me and touching me and telling me how lovely my hair is and how much they would pay to have it. Wearing my hair down and curly just made this worse. I was always an attention getter, especially when standing along side J-Potty who was dark skin, dark hair, dark eyes. I am now VERY proud of my red hair, and as for the attention? It has died down but I now love to preform for people and get attention so when I do get that attention I relish it!

I was left wondering just how many people are like me. Since I love math I decided to figure out an approximate number. So here is my math:
P = World Population
R = Red Head Population
L = Laura - Red Hair, Curly, Blue Eyed, Female
E = Eye Color
S = Sex
H = Hair Type

L=R(P x 0.04)÷E÷S÷H
L=(6,865,905,599 x 0.04)÷3÷2÷2
L=274,636,224÷3÷2÷2
L=91,545,408÷2÷2
L=45,772,704÷2
L=22,886,352

So an approximate percentage of the population that is like me is 0.0033exp%. That is a number not taking into account the fact that red hair and blue eyes are the most rare combination and would therefore not be an equal division like I have used. But because I don't have exact numbers I had to do the best I could.

Fan Expo - Sunday - Day Three

And then there was one. One last day left of celebrities, nerds, and that smell that could only be described as commitment to ones cosplay suit.

K-Bot and I arrived right on time Sunday, we were early but we had to use the bathroom in the mall across the street. And while on that subject, Simcoe Place Mall has the worst bathrooms ever, it could have been the convention across the street but come on. When I went in Sunday morning there was only 1 usable toilet and NO soap (come on what is this Peterborough?). On the bright side there were 2 iTunes cards that they were giving away at Fan Expo on the counter in the bathroom so I picked them up hoping they were still good and what do you know, they were! 12 free tv show episodes, total score! But back to the Expo.

So we got in quickly, like the line was where we were Saturday and within 5minutes we were in! I b lined it right to William Shatner's booth, and thought "there aren't many people in line to see him, what's the deal?" That's when I turned to my right and seen the line was all the way down the convention centre... So we quickly got a place in line and the wait began. It is now just after 11am... K-Bot says if I want Adam West's autograph I might want to go get it since there is nothing better to do in line, after much convincing to go it alone I was off. WHAT A MISTAKE! Up till this point I have been chatting freely with people in line around me and making new friends, but now alone I was to face a crazy guy. I got into Adam West's line (what line? 5 whole people? Shatner had a bazillion) and the guy ahead of me turns and looks at me, I ask if I am in the right line and he replies "do you like Adam West?" I say yeah I like him, my eyes darting down to the box he has in his hands... He turns back and says "I love Adam West". That's when I notice CRAZY EYES! Luckily for me a family came in line behind me, to which I listened in on their convo and turned to talk to them about William Shatner's line. We chatted till it was my turn to meet Adam West. What joy! THE ADAM WEST! I walked right back to my spot in the William Shatner line all giddy, I had met Mayor Adam West (Family Guy, watch it!). I was almost to the front at this point, did I mention this line was to only buy a ticket? Yep a ticket to get an autograph and/or a picture with William Shatner. I bought a ticket for both...$160... What can I say? I am a girl in love!

So it is now 1pm and I am in the real line for an autograph. He wasn't even there yet, he was in a spotlight on himself downstairs till 2, this was going to take forever! We sat facing a brick wall, K-Bot said he wished he had got to meet Adam West, he didn't even know what he looked like after all. Well K-Bot wish granted, because not 5 minutes later security busted through our line, "NO CAMERAS, NO PICTURES!" Adam West walked by, and then back again. I guess even Adam West needs to use the bathroom. Wow that was so cool Adam West 3 times in one day, this day was great! At 2pm the line started to move, and quick, could William Shatner be there and signing this fast? That's when this really good looking girl walked by holding a guys hand...hmmm...she was familiar. She said hi and waved as she walked by everyone in line, very friendly! OMG K-Bot that was Summer Glau from Terminator the TV show (and also Big Bang Theory for you geeks). She was so super nice and just as pretty in real life! Well I barely had time to recuperate after seeing her before I was at the front of the line for William Shatner. I got to say hi, oh sweet bliss looking at this man! As I left the line I also seen Ernest Borgnine, yeah I know he is SO OLD!

Once we left the insanity that was the William Shatner line (now 3pm) and K-Bot and I were able to face each other and talk what was the first thing out of my mouth? "F that Edward, William Shatner is the best! I cried when I said hi". That's right folks, I had a girl moment and cried at the sight of William Shatner, but who wouldn't cry at the hands of Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise?

So it now being 3pm we headed downstairs (oh no not the dreaded downstairs from yesterday?!?!?) to catch a Q and A with Michael Dorn (remember him from yesterday? Worf?). Man I am happy I went to that, he was so funny and SUPER cool. I even walked all the way to the front and took a picture of him, too bad my camera is crap and none of them really turned out. I think the best part was someone asking if he would ever go into space, his answer was no it is too dangerous, at which point a fan yelled out "But Worf is no chicken!". His response? "Yeah that's funny".

We got out of there at 4pm and headed up to line up for the William Shatner photo op, which was to start at 5. Well that was another LOOOOOOONG line up. But once again it moved fast once he was there. And I didn't feel like such a looser in love with a 75 year old man when girls my age were squealing in the hall after having their pictures done with him. I didn't get my picture that day so no picture to post, but when it comes in the mail you can expect a post. So it is now 5:20 and it closes at 6 so we wander up to the top floor, which was pretty empty by now and see what deals there are at closing time. K-Bot wanted a black and white Joker statue he had seen the first day for $25 but that one was gone and the others ranged in price from $45 to $145. I asked the guy with the $45 one for a deal, he said $40, I walked.

So that was our weekend. A long weekend. It is now Wednesday and we are still tired from it all, and we weren't even out late each day, I think we were home by 9 every night.

Would I go again? Yes if they had celebrities I wanted to see I would be there in a heartbeat. I know some people had problems and even I didn't like being stuck in the basement Saturday afternoon but it was a chance to eat and I couldn't change anything so I just went with it. I had a great time and got all the things I wanted out of the weekend. My only real disappointment? Having to go back to markets this weekend! But who knows maybe this is the weekend I meet Carrie Underwood (apparently she lives there now).

Fan Expo - Saturday - Day Two

So seeing the crowds Friday and knowing that Saturday is the big day at Fan Expo K-Bot and I got up extra early and got on the road. We were meeting J-Potty and Dewdrop there when it opened. Luckily since we checked in Friday we got to go through re-entry Saturday morning, NO LINE! Well that's what we thought, turns out Dewdrop was running late so I offered to wait out in line with J-Potty, K-Bot ditched us quick found his friends inside and was able to go to the Batman Under the Red Hood panel. It wasn't as bad Saturday in line, it moved quick and within an hour I was able to run back through re-entry and catch J-Potty coming in the other side of the building (part of me wondered if this is what heaven is like, lots of people, lines, and finally being in and with family and friends). By that time Dewdrop was there so J-Potty left and stood in line with him, K-Bot and I got to attend the Tron Legacy Presentation. Now that was cool. Might I add right now that everyone, even if you don't know the original, should see that. K-Bot and I even said we would see it in 3-D, now that's something as both of us don't agree with spending that much on a movie, but this one is worth it. So in the presentation we got to see a trailer and 7 minutes of the movie in 3-D, as well as game play of the game out this holiday season, and then we got to meet the guy from the original movie (he played Alan and Tron). What a way to spend just over an hour!

So that brings us to just after noon. Know what happened at noon? The Fire Marshall shut the floor down! Yep we were in the theater in the basement, J-Potty and Dewdrop on the top floor shopping and waiting for us. No way of getting to each other, people stuck outside in the heat pressing against the glass doors, people inside pushing and wanting to go up to the shopping area from the lower levels. I am not one for crowds so once we heard what was going on we called J-Potty on the cell and said we would have to wait till everything opened back up before meeting again. K-Bot and I found a quiet place without a lot of people behind the theater in the basement and had lunch. And that's when we realized J-Potty and I did a backpack switch since mine was empty and she said hers was too heavy. K-Bot and I in the basement at lunch had ALL the food for our group, J-Potty and Dewdrop upstairs had nothing but my hoodie and the program in my backpack. So after a nice quiet and relaxing lunch on the floor in the basement K-Bot and I got in line to get back upstairs (people were trickling up). We were able to get back up on the shopping floor by 2ish and from there we met up with Dewdrops friend and the 5 of us wandered and shopped and chatted. At 3pm K-Bot said he was going down to do get a picture taken with Michael Dorn (for those not in the know, he is the man who played Worf on Star Trek the Next Generation). He was back up to us by 4 and we were done shopping and taking pictures and ready to sit. There is no where to sit there so we decided that maybe we would go to a panel or presentation of some sort, we all agreed on a horror short film showcase at 5pm. What a terrible thing to see, I wish we would have went to the Spotlight on Archie Comics, those movies were first off not horror, and second off terribly gross. But it was cool, non crowded, and sitting so we stayed. After all the standing and walking all day and then an hour of sitting in a cold room we all had seized hips and knees and decided to call it a day. We said our goodbyes and headed home.

Saturday was not a very big celebrity spotting day. The only person we seen was Trevor Boris from MuchMusic. That was pretty cool as I really think he is funny, but he was taping for a show so we didn't get to talk to him.

The crowds parted long enough for J-Potty and I to get our pictures taken with lego Star Wars Darth Vader and Jango Fett.

Fan Expo - Friday - Day One

So K-Bot and I spent the weekend at Fan Expo in Toronto. It was fantastic, and I must add Sunday was the best day of my life! It was one of those weekends you have too much fun and not enough sleep.

Friday
So doors opened for those who pre-purchased tickets at 2pm, we got there shortly after 2. We had been told Friday was a slow day and not many people show up, boy was that wrong! The line up was crazy, it was not hard to find where Fan Expo was being held as there were huge crowds and of course large groups of die hard fans in costume. After 2 1/2 hours in line we were in, walking around the floor shopping. As soon as I was in I headed straight to the Exclusives booth and bought the Star Trek Original Series Omnibus comic. Then we wandered around the outside of the floor till we got to Boom Comics where I just had to stop and get a Get A Sketch Cover Muppets Comic. The artist was on hand to draw your choice of character on the cover, I chose my favorite Animal. From there we searched many comic book sellers for the Lost Boys comic, which I found for a very reasonable price (I had been looking for it for several months and couldn't find it for a decent enough price). We continued to walk around for a while, meeting some friends and some other people we haven't seen in ages. After a few hours we went downstairs and for a brief period of time attended a panel on DC Comics, it was not very interesting for us. We quietly left that panel and attended a Q and A with Peter Mayhew, better known as Chewbacca. We decided after another walk around the floor that it was time to head back home (yes we drove to Toronto from Kitchener and back everyday).

Before we left we met a celebrity though, we were lucky enough to meet Richard Wilkinson from MTV Canada. What a hot looking man, he is ever so dreamy! I was overcome with emotion meeting such a large star! He even stopped and talked to us, how lucky we are! I know you are all jealous.

Anniversary Card

So K-Bot and I have been together for well over 6 years now, almost 4 years in marriage. So what would an anniversary card say for people who have been together this long? Well I wrote one for him the other day (see we still love each other, it isn't even our anniversary and I make him a card).

They say a wife is a permanent part of you...Kinda like those white spots on your face you hate.
You go through a lot of work and pain to get rid of them, and they go away for a bit.
But dang if they don't come back!

I Should Have Seen THAT Coming....

So we have had Sugar for just over 3 years now, and she has been such a great addition to our family. But she has a bad habit, a habit I should have seen as something that would end in me being disgusted.

When we picked her out at the Humane Society I noticed that she ate dust bunnies. I thought that so funny at the time, "I will never have to worry about those pesky things" I thought to myself. Well turns out she will eat anything non food off the carpet, which has been a constant dig-whatever-it-is-she-is-eating-now-out-of-her-mouth-before-she-swallows fight. So what made me shriek GROSS!? Well it happened a couple months back, K-Bot was sitting at his computer and after a long day pulled up his shirt to show a large belly lint collection. He promptly pulled it out and tossed it to the ground. Or at least he THOUGHT it was to the ground and not to the cat shaped shark under his chair that jumped out and caught it and swallowed it before I could even comprehend what in the world was going on. SHE ATE THE BELLY LINT!

Needless to say K-Bot got a very stern talking to about throwing lint willy nilly like that and has not thrown his lint out of his belly since (now he takes it out to show me and then puts it right back).

Thought

So I was thinking wonderful is full of wonder right? Then why is awful not full of awe?

I asked K-Bot and he agreed it was a valid thought.

Awful should mean 1 of 2 things.

Awful - full of awe or wonder.
Awful - full of awww or cuteness.

These are the kind of things that keep me from sleeping.

Team Jacob or Team Edward?

So I read the Twilight books and really enjoyed them, but that's where it stops. I am not obsessed, I see the movies but am very able to recognize that it isn't real. This summer has been a bust so far for reading so I decided that during our weekly Harry Potter Uno games K-Bot and I would listen to the Twilight audio books. We have listened to about 3 hours of the first book, K-Bot says it isn't bad but it isn't his type of book (he likes British written or space books). So what does this have to do with picking a team?

Well last night K-Bot comes home from work and we are making dinner together talking about how Kristen Stewart is a terrible actress and horrid singer. Not much more to say to that so I figured the conversation part was over and things went quiet. That's when K-Bot looks at me while stirring Hamburger Helper and says, "You know I don't see what Bella sees in Edward. Jacob is so much better, that guy is ripped. Edward just watches her while she sleeps, it is creepy". I was shocked, but decided I had to ask "So are you team Jacob then?". He said he was. We had a brief argument as to what one might see in Edward, the only thing we could think of was that he was old fashioned and that is romantic.

K-Bot didn't ask me what team I am on, I usually answer Team Jasper just to make those "twihards" loose it. However if you need a real answer I would have to base it on logic. I had the chance to be with the good looking very pale every girl wants to be with him guy, or the tall dark handsome runs warm has too much hair guy. I really hope you see where I am going with this and you don't assume K-Bot is the pale guy, I chose K-Bot so therefore I too must be a Jacob-ite (hahahahaha all manner of ites indeed).

If I were to choose a vampire I thought attractive I would say Eric from True Blood. Look him up and tell me that Edward is better. Also in case "twihard" heads haven't exploded yet, I seen the preview for vampires suck and it looks so funny, though completely stupid (that type of movie was good with the first scary movie but have become over done stupidity after that).

Trailer Antics

So short story today.

A couple weeks ago we stopped in for a quick visit at my parents trailer. We chatted and had dinner together but left before bingo as we needed to get home for church the next day. As we leave J-Potty starts to laugh really hard and directs us back out of our parking spot and then leans in the window and says to K-Bot through giggles "I wanted to yell but there were people around. Let's do it missionary style".

My sister the comedienne.

Always Find The Crack

So as I have mentioned on here before I watch Fringe, and if you are into science fiction I suggest you check it out. Anyways the episode before the season finale (I know I am a little late posting this) had a female police officer character in it and she had this special pen that she carried around. One of the other characters on the show seen it and questioned her about the saying on it. "Always find the crack". The guy asked what it was suppose to mean, I myself figured some sort of drug bust after all she is a cop. However she said that it meant the crack of light. That no matter how dark a place might be there is still always a crack of light somewhere to be found.

So why am I posting this now instead of in May when it aired. Well that is simple, I didn't think about it much till yesterday in primary. During sharing time the lesson talked about not having Jesus in our lives and how it is referred to as being in the dark. Then with each step we take towards him there is a little more light, until we come to his presence again and there is no dark anymore. I started to think that it isn't fully dark without him, there will always be that crack of light, through which we can find the way to come unto him. Even in the depths of despair in our darkest moments there will always be that crack of light. All we have to do is keep looking for it.

The Relationship That Almost Wasn't

So back in October of '03 K-Bot and I had just started to hang out, which was pretty cool for me because he was a SUPER COOL guy. We hung out for the first time the weekend of General Conference and really got along, it helped that he thought I was awesome and funny, which I am. So we hung out every weekend after that, even if I had to hang out at Sugar Plum because he was working. We were just really good friends, we were inseparable. So it wasn't long before the whole ward was a buzz with the gossip of me dumping my then boyfriend and spending all this time with K-Bot. We denied and denied but no one ever got the hint that we weren't together. I had broken up with my boyfriend because I was no longer happy and he didn't have a girlfriend because his last relationship was a bad one. Just two people swearing off dating and instead hanging out as friends. How come when women do this they aren't said to be in a relationship but if a guy and girl do it they are?

So while this is all going on J-Potty and I had been staying at our Grandparents on weekends as our parents would go away and we would stay back to get home work done. Every night we would tune into 98.1 and listen to Delilah, she had such a good going to sleep voice and always played bedtime songs. So J-Potty asks me out right if I am dating K-Bot and I said no, it was really bothering me that everyone was saying I was but I swore I wasn't. Things got quiet and out of no where a commercial comes on and says "are you in romantic denial", well that did it, serious conversation to loud outburst of laughter. J-Potty said I was in romantic denial. That was a Saturday night, Sunday we faced more gossip about dating, once again denying it. But that commercial stayed in the back of my head, J-Potty telling me I was in romantic denial. That was enough to push me over the edge. After much thought, and even a pro and con list (which I still have in our scrapbook) I called up K-Bot and said I wanted to be his girlfriend because I felt something for him. Luckily he had somehow at that same time also decided this and I was not left out to dry all humiliated.

So thanks to J-Potty and a conveniently placed radio commercial K-Bot and I have been happily together for 6 years 8 months and 20 days. And you thought that the conveniently placed commercials only happend in the movies or on tv shows.

Fwd: Man Rules

So I received this forward at the beginning of June. I am not one to forward on stupid junk, but I thought that Mamaz, JPotty, and KBot would get a kick out of it so I sent it along.

Man Rules

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down, finally, the guys' side of the story. We always hear 'the rules' from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules! Please note these are all numbered '1 ' ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say 'nothing,' we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really.
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or motor sports.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight. But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Soon after KBot emailed me back saying all of it was true, especially the not being a mind reader part and just asking for what we want. This lead to a long email conversation with him saying that women should be upfront about something and say what it is they want. I was very quick to point out that sometimes women do and it is quickly pointed out that they have many similar traits to a female dog (I have never really understood that whole swear at all, I mean how is a female dog like a mean woman?). KBot said he understood but that asking for what you want and being upfront didn’t mean you would always get what you want so you would therefore have nothing in common with a female dog. So we agreed to experiment with how he would react if I was forward with him all the time and told him exactly what I would like of him.

I wish I would have started this as soon as we got married, but I was still in that whole mind set of “if I am too stern or forward he will not like me and therefore leave me” so I would hint and hint and if I was upset I would cover it up and always did what he wanted to do. That has lead to many regrets, like just after we got married I seen Muppets underwear at Walmart and brought him over and picked them up and said it would make a great birthday or Christmas gift, he agreed and we went our separate ways to shop for each other. I was SURE that I was going to get them, but I was very sad to see I didn’t get them Christmas morning. Now instead of saying something or just buying them myself I did nothing, assuming that maybe I didn’t deserve them. Recently I asked KBot about it, he said he had no idea that I had wanted them. So we went to every Walmart we passed by and they no longer sell Muppets underwear. I missed out on something I wanted because I was not being honest with my husband.

So as for how the experiment is going, well it isn’t an experiment anymore. It was really nice just being completely honest and saying what I want and not having to feel bad. I rarely fight with him anymore because there are no hidden sad feelings. And since I started being forward KBot appreciates it so much I usually get what I want, and for the things I don’t get I don’t feel as much need for them afterwards.

First Week Back to Markets

During markets things tend to get a little silly, I think it is the sleep deprivation. Sometimes during my silly K-Bot needs to put down some rules. These are the ones from this week:

~You cannot brush your teeth with chicken wings. You will never get it done as you would just end up eating it.
~You cannot have pulled pork or ribs for breakfast. No matter how saucy or delicious.
~Sharing your pulled pork means letting me have more than 2 bites (yes I did get my pulled pork at the appropriate time of as soon as it started raining and I had nothing else to do, I think it was 10am).
~You cannot add pickles to pulled pork, that does not seem right. That was ok with me as I didn't have pickles, but it would have tasted great if I did!
~You are limited to 1 pulled pork a day, even if you whine and cry about it.
~You cannot eat anymore cherries in case you poop the bed.

I hate the rules my husband imposes on me. Luckily the lady who sold me the pulled pork said she will serve me one every Saturday at 7 am. So take that space coyote.....I mean K-Bot!

Finding Meaning in Winnie The Pooh

When I am travelling (which I have done alot of this past month), I find it really hard to sleep in a different bed and dark scary place (I am afraid of the dark). So something that helps me sleep away from home is my ipod, I take it with me everywhere. I have a collection of over 6,000 songs, some movies, some tv shows, and several audio books. The thing that always helps me sleep, without fail is Peter Dennis's reading of Winnie the Pooh. It is perfect, soft British accent, soft outdoor back round sounds, and soft light flute music between books. I never get very far along, I think I may have once heard the third book! So what does this have to do with anything? Well I was listening to the introduction for the millionth time and some parts stood out for me and got me thinking.

"You can't be in London for long without going to the Zoo. There are some people who begin the Zoo at the beginning, called WAYIN, and walk as quickly as they can past every cage until they get to the one called WAYOUT, but the nicest people go straight to the animal they love the most, and stay there"

This made me start thinking about life, and how we can sometimes loose sight of things in life. How we can move along our lives quickly going from start to finish without ever stopping. And then there are some that know what they like and want and stay there awhile to enjoy their passions. I started to wonder what one I was, it has been awhile since I was at the zoo but the last time I went I was kind of the person who goes from start to finish but at the same time I also spent the whole day there and enjoyed each animal (my favorite was not at this particular zoo).

"I had written as far as this when Piglet looked up and said in his squeaky voice, "What about Me?" "My dear Piglet," I said, "the whole book is about you." "So it is about Pooh," he squeaked. You see what it is. He is jealous because he thinks Pooh is having a Grand Introduction all to himself. Pooh is the favourite, of course, there's no denying it, but Piglet comes in for a good many things which Pooh misses; because you can't take Pooh to school without everybody knowing it, but Piglet is so small that he slips into a pocket, where it is very comforting to feel him when you are not quite sure whether twice seven is twelve or twenty-two. Sometimes he slips out and has a good look in the ink-pot, and in this way he has got more education than Pooh, but Pooh doesn't mind. Some have brains, and some haven't, he says, and there it is. And now all the others are saying, "What about Us?" So perhaps the best thing to do is to stop writing Introductions and get on with the book."

I thought of friends with this paragraph. When we are kids we have lots of toys and each seemingly has a purpose and time to be our favorites. I thought about how these are our first friends, how we start making connections to different personalities and find use for different types of friends in these small make believe groups. We have friends that are our long time friends, that seemingly know us best and with whom we have many adventures and memories, our Winnie the Pooh friends. We have our friends that are school friends, they help us with homework or studying and make us feel better if we may not know the answer all the time, our Piglet friends. Then there is the rest, the nervous hard working Rabbit friends, the sad but true Eeyore friends, and our bouncing off the walls party have a good time Tigger friends.

I may take alot of grief over the fact that I read Winnie the Pooh (and yes I do have the books and I have read them, it isn't just that I listen to them) but I have always loved the stories of a little boy who loves his toys. They are my fall back books, if ever I can't choose what to read I start them again, and always enjoy them. I think that we can find so much in the pages of childhood books. They are the books we start with and learn from, I think that no matter how old we are we can still learn from these books. If you haven't had the chance to read these books, take some time now. Maybe use it as a family story time book. A A Milne always felt that his stories were not just intended for children.

What To Talk About In Bed

K-Bot and I have been together for 6 and a half years, and it seems we have run out of personal things to talk about. You can only talk about your work day so many times, after all it is the same thing day in and day out. So what is there for us to talk about? Well we always find something and it always entertains K-Bot. Here is a list of recent discussions:

~Quantum Tunneling - I explained this to K-Bot, though he is the one who studied it in school (he got to take physics) so he didn't get much out of it. I practiced it to no avail, again. Then discussed the likability that I would indeed pass through, more probable is the scenario of only my top layer of atoms being able to pass through his top layer of atoms resulting in becoming the only pair of non-sibling conjoined twins. I then worked over the equation of the possibility of that happening and said that the equation should also include Murphy's Law, as it could easily happen during a private moment in a place no twin should be conjoined. K-Bot enjoyed this theory.

~Deer Preservation - Should the Government regulate a feeding program through harsh winters to ensure survival of deer, or should Mother Nature be left to what she does best, or in other words survival of the fittest. Doesn't it go against the circle of life to interfere with nature in such a way to greatly change the eco system, and then what happens to the weak deer that are now dependant on man?

~Radioactivity - When you nuke a bug do you not worry or even consider the probability of a spider man scenario? It is not at all impossible for you to radiate a bug and then that bug to bite someone and make a super hero, the word you would use is improbable. So what is the likelihood of this, and what exactly would happen. Surely it is even less probable that the resulting super hero would be exactly like spider man, a radioactive spider doesn't know who it is biting. More than likely if you have the material to do this experiment you are either the Government or a bad person planning nothing good.

~Perfection - We will eventually be perfected right? Well then what exactly does that mean? Is there a standard to which we will be held? Currently it is pretty much supermodel/actress driven. If we were held to a perfection standard wouldn't that then take away our "usness"? I usually end this discussion with "I may not be perfect but God made me perfectly me. I currently don't know what this means", K-Bot smiles and shakes his head.

~Pinocchio - So Pinocchio says "my nose is going to grow", it has either 2 ways to then go. First, it doesn't grow, which means he lied, which then means it would grow, which is the truth so it wouldn't grow. Second it does grow, which is the truth so it wouldn't grow, but is a lie as he said it would, so then it would, but then that's the truth so it wouldn't grow.

~Star Wars - So K-Bot has an advanced diploma in photonics, the study of light, and we love science fiction so we watch Star Wars. We then discuss how the light sabre is either more advanced than current understanding of light or not at all a probable weapon. You see light doesn't end, it eventually grows dimmer the farther away you get yes but those light sabres are some what short. There is no way for the light to just end after maybe 3 or 4 feet (I really don't know the measurements of a light sabre). Plus should they hit one another they would simply pass through not make hitting noises. But all this can be summed up in, it wouldn't make a good movie if the theatrical effects weren't there.

~Newton - Why does he get the distinct honor of being the one who discovered gravity? Was it not here all along? That honor should go to the first person on Earth, Adam. K-Bot says he is important because he discovered the effects of gravity leading to the eventual knowledge that gravity is (I currently forget what K-Bot said, I was really tired by this point), however I am sure you don't need an equation to tell you about gravitational effect, I am sure at some point well before Newton some one had to have fallen and said "Crap that really hurt. I was up then went down and the Earth did nothing to catch me nicely. It seemed as though I sped up as I fell down".

~Gravity and the Need for Planes - I argued that we don't need planes, that all physics and the study of gravity ever did to help us get to a point to use planes was useless. A plane can easily be flowen anywhere and used as a weapon. However if we still had ships, I called it Titanic boats, then most of the world would be safe and all we would have to protect is the outward laying coasts, and that would be far simpler than an entire continent. K-Bot says that planes are a necessity. I had to argue the other direction as I have gone 23 years without needing one, he on the other hand has driven to California in a van with his family, he NEEDED a plane then.

As you see we speak mainly in the improbable vs. impossible. We both love science and so that ends up driving the conversation. Big discussion nights happen when we wind up watching the Discovery Channel.

To My Mamaz on Mother's Day

Dear Mamaz, it is once again mother’s day and I am once again forced to think of how thankful I am that you procreated with my father.

Well it was ott year and many a moon ago that you either were having a really good night and let slip your birth control regime or, and a lot less likely, you chose to procreate. None the less you got knocked up, way to be Mamaz, you have shamed your family. I also find myself thankful this time of year, that you didn’t take the very logical choice after taking a good hard look at your husband, my father, and abort my fetus butt. Great choice, it is working out very well for me. I feel if you would have taken that step you would have robbed the world of the pleasure of my existence.

I am sure you had plenty of chances to kill me, and many a good reason for such a heinous act, but for some crazy reason I was spared and that was awfully nice as well.

For this and the many important life lessons you have taught me, such as making poop on the toilet (which I practiced again tonight, see I DO practice something), and for coming in with a glass of water when I called because of nightmares (I didn’t even complain that it was always warm and I don’t like warm water, thus proving I am the best daughter ever) I am thankful. I know you didn’t choose me but I guess you took one look and said “When God hands you a lemon, you should make some lemonade” (though I would have preferred you making a lemon meringue pie).

From the daughter you didn’t kill/mame/choose, to my Mamaz who makes the best of everything, and allows me to just be me. I love you.
* As a disclaimer Mamaz probably didn't ever want to kill me but I was the first child and we all know that is the experiment child. I suppose she got a passing grade on this science experiment as she got a real baby, my baby sister J-Potty.

Hank's Retirement

When I was young, the first song I sung was "There's a Tear in My Beer", a classic duet between Hank Williams Sr & Jr. I loved that song, so much so that the tape that contained it was the only thing I would listen to in the car. We went to Marathon and back (13 hours each way) and that was the only tape I would allow to play. When I was 3 my Aunt Debbie bought me a Hank Williams Jr shirt. It was perfect. The Phoenix on the front that read Hank, and on the back, you guessed it, Hank Sr & Jr with "There's a Tear in My Beer" scrawled across. It was my favorite shirt, of course at the time it was a night shirt as it was an adult size small. Seems they don't make country shirts for kids back then, especially if they had beer written on them. I eventually grew into it and it was always a part of my wardrobe. My in-laws learned of my song after we got married, and I would wear my shirt and they would laugh. However it has been 20 years....and even the best of shirts are not to last that long. My mother in law noticed that it was starting to be a little see through (though I always wore a long sleeve shirt under it) and had MANY holes in it. She suggested that I get it framed, "so as to make it last longer". Longer than 20 years? I refused, I said it had a lot of life left in it. However after MUCH thought I decided it was time to hang up the old shirt and maybe get myself a new one. So I hunted down a frame, which I got 80% off at Michaels, and retired my Hank. A sad day, but a happy one. Now the shirt I have loved for 20 years will have a proud new spot on the wall for 20 more years of love. In case you are wondering about the tape, it still works. I listened to it everyday on the way to and from college, K-Bot learned to love it. I kept it in my car up until I retired the shirt and thought it only fitting they retire together. It is now sitting on my desk, beside another treasured possession my Geri Spice Girl doll, while I decide exactly what to do with it.

So far the hunt for the new concert shirt is unsuccessful. I am currently getting by on my Hanson shirt, sad so sad. I really need to go to a decent concert!

Now to see what K-Bot will allow me to do with the other several shirts I have had since I was a young kid. These include: yellow downtown Shining Tree, Caps Hunting and Fishing Store Field Staff, and a white Bancroft shirt with a big beaver on the front.

My Sister the Chef

So I have had the great fortune in the past few weeks to spend some time with my sister. Mamaz is always SO happy to see us come home, then we are there and she is SO happy we leave. So I am sure some of you are looking at the title and saying, "But you said she is a student/nurse". And to that I say yes she is, but this isn't about her time at the hospital, this is about when she comes home and cooks.

So she was home for reading week, and brought her boyfriend to meet the family (mainly Fajaz as the rest of us had spent time with him the weekend we spent in Belleville). Mamaz and I had some stuff we were busy with and J-Potty really wanted a cake for after dinner the one night so we let her be in charge of that, please note she is 21. We figured she would do it and there wouldn't be a problem. Well half an hour later we had half a cake and half a black smoking cake like thing. We couldn't believe it, well maybe it was just the distraction of a boyfriend!

So we are home again another weekend, this time no boyfriend and K-Bot joined in. We are starved for dinner because we were waiting for Fajaz to come home to eat, however Mamaz, after MUCH complaining, said to just go ahead and eat without him. So we decided on pizza, Mamaz had bought a bunch of frozen pizzas. So J-Potty decided she will cook it, we all agree. A while later she calls us up for the first pizza, already out and cut on a board. I was a little suspicious but was too hungry to ask questions. Well the bottom was burnt. Nice. Again. So I decided that she needed to hear me complain and quickly said she wouldn't let that happen to the second pizza. So she goes to get it out of the oven, she prefers not to use a tray apparently. She is now trying to get a pizza out of the oven on a carving fork. I tell her it won't work, she says it is how she got the first out. Ok fine I will watch. I watched. And it failed. I watched the pizza break in half and one half stay on the grills and the other fall into a mess at the bottom of the oven. J-Potty, K-Bot, and I say a big "OH NO", and Mamaz calls from the other room "What happened?". And being as we are all children and it is apparently the thing to say, we all reply in unison "Nothing!". So before Mamaz could come see what had happened, J-Potty scooped up the pizza and put it out on the cutting board. Mamaz still knew though, because the oven was hot so we couldn't wash it and the pizza had landed on the crack so some of the toppings ended up in the drawer.

J-Potty is no longer cooking unsupervised.

LDS Traveling Bookstore

So with my Cardston Bookshop flyer I got this coupon. It says to share with friends so I am. There is also a list of places they are visiting at the top. You are all SO WELCOME!

Friends

So I read an article from O magazine on friendship, and no I don't read that magazine the article was on cnn.com and I thought I would read it. This lady had moved to a new city far away from her previous home and had been living there for some time and began thinking that she needed some friends to hang out with, so she began her search. I really felt for this lady, I moved to Kitchener 3 and a half years ago and at first I had every intention of going home all the time and still being part of my old friends lives. But apparently I moved on and we could not be friends anymore, or at least that's how I see it as NONE of them talk to me anymore. So that only lasted so long, now Kitchener is home and I love being here, when I am in Niagara I long to be back here, HOME. So after being here this long I want friends here, girls to get together with and be able to chat with.

I have never been good at making friends, I had a sister that is pretty much the same age and Mamaz babysat 2 girls that were also pretty close to my age so I never needed to make friends as I had 3 built in friends. In elementary school it was easy, I went to a small school and knew everyone, childhood was easy. Middle school and high school were harder, seems I didn't have any friends, but J-Potty soon joined me in high school so I was able to rely on her to be my friend once again. However J-Potty cannot follow me every where, so I am here making new friends. Which I don't feel is going very well.

Sure on facebook I have a long list of friends, but most of those are family members or people I just know through meeting once or twice. So I decided to go out more when I am invited to things. I am invited so it seems someone wants my company, so that's a friend right? I have no clue. I feel so on the outside of things all the time. I go, and I have fun, but most of the time I just feel like I don't fit. I fit age wise and that's something, or at least I pretend I fit age wise, turns out I am very young, but age isn't so much an issue. I find that I never have anything to talk about in a group of women who all have kids. So I feel pretty alone in a group with that. But then there are the other things that get talked about that make me feel even that much more on the outside. Pets. Seems not only am I the youngest and the only one without a kid but I am also the only one with a pet. I get points of view, I do. I get that people love their kids, and I love kids, I assume I will have some someday. I get people don't like animals, that's cool nothing says you need to. But then sometimes it gets taken too far and I am left thinking "why did I bother coming? I could be at home where I wouldn't be hurt by any one's words".

But then maybe it is me, maybe I am more sensitive than I think or want to lead on. Maybe I haven't ever had friends and I don't know how this whole thing works. Maybe I should speak up when things aren't going well.

I will admit most of the time I feel included, I mean the invite is the first step, and someone usually talks to me while I am out and I usually am happy and the night is fun. But then some nights I find it not at all "cricket".

Marriage Inc. An Email to a Husband

So here is a copy of an actual email I sent K-Bot:


Dear Kyle,

I was thinking about marriage last night, and here is what I came up with. Marriage is like a business merger. When first proposed no one knows how it is going to work, and the change has everyone voting no. Then there are months of finely executed deliberations and compromises. The newly merged company must then find a new location that not only suits the needs of its workers but also allows for growth and development, and is still close to suppliers. Once the companies merge and move into the new location there is that awkward "hey" as workers pass in the halls, pretty much strangers. But after a few business meetings and after hours drinks employees soon find themselves great friends and quickly forget what it was like before the merger when they didn't have these friends in their lives. After a couple years the company is able to asses the outlook of the company and this can go one of three ways.

First, the company can see the merger was a mistake and they are going to need to declare bankruptcy. This being said the assets are divided and everyone walks away, saddened that this was not a fruitful venture and later having to settle for a different placement sometimes even in far away places that require either a commute or a total move of ones life.

Second, much like the first the company can go bankrupt. However this time the employees have so much faith that they are able to liquidate all assets and go without pay and work harder than they ever have before to make the new company work. Sometimes this pays off, other times it makes the employees more resentful. You never can tell with employees is what I always say.

Third, business projections are good. They show steady growth throughout the coming years, though as any economist would point out there will be low points but rebound is always attainable. So the company now decides that it needs to grow some more and move into a nicer building and starts to acquire other small companies to outsource some work to. But you know, just the work that none of the now valued employees who have been there working hard since the beginning want to do.

After many a successful year, the company then closes its doors for good, proud of the success they had and the jobs they did. But they don't just leave everything empty, by now they have acquired many a small companies that will in time grow and merge with other companies and continue the legacy started with just two small companies.

Kindest regards, your co-ceo,

Laura D. Barton-Eady

Celebrity Crushes

*updated with the ages of each celebrity, after seeing some of the ages I am starting to think K-Bot is right in saying that I have a problem.*

So we all have them, so who are mine? Well ladies and gentlemen I am sure you will be surprised. Most girls my age (or most girls) are currently into the whole Edward and Jacob thing which is HIGHLY overrated. Do these people realize that they are in love with characters? I mean I doubt Robert Pattinson (spelled it right, right? I don't care) is really like Edward, you know piggy backing you and climbing trees and creepily watching you while you sleep.... So I am married and I am sure most of you have had the pleasure of meeting K-Bot so you know by now I have odd tastes. So here is my list:

Alec Baldwin (52). He is HOT, something to be said about the grey in his hair. I swoon when I watch 30 Rock. And by swoon I mean I tell K-Bot all the things I would do to Alec and the things I would imagine he would do to me. I have also told him that he may have to raise Alec Baldwin's love child after my trip to New York, which I have already planned on meeting Alec while there.

William Shatner (79). No not young Star Trek William Shatner, but current grey William Shatner. Many a times has he come to my bed in dreams, in which I quite enjoy the talks we have while cuddling.....K-Bot thinks I need help with this. He said it isn't right that I have these dreams and enjoy them.

Robert Downey Jr. (45).Face it as you read Robert you were totally thinking Pattinson, well you are wrong. Who cares about his drug past, kinda makes him and old bad boy. I have many an Iron Man joke for him which makes K-Bot sick when I share.

Matthew Grey Gubler (30). Thus far I have liked them older with some grey, but this one is just in the name. I also have a thing for long hair geekish looking guys. I don't care if he isn't as smart as his character on Criminal Minds he is hot and that hair, LOVE IT!

Jackson Rathbone (25). Finally someone age appropriate! K-Bot is happier with this one, though refers to him as Amanda as he played a man and woman on Criminal Minds. Once again it is the hair and geekish look that gets me here.

Michael Steger (29). Not much to explain here, kinda reminds me of K-Bot.

As for the whole Edward vs Jacob thing, I shall say this; I would love to say team Edward because in reading the book I felt more towards him than Jacob, but when it comes down to whom I would choose as a companion and procreative partner, I would in all reality probably choose Jacob. I say this based on I like K-Bot and he is more like Jacob than Edward. However I like neither so yeah no real point in picking sides, plus they AREN'T REAL!

Goose Egg

So if you are on my messenger list you know that my name on there is D - Kyle's Little Bumpy. I have never explained this, those who were present know the meaning but outside of that I doubt anyone knows the meaning. So let me explain.

When I was a kid I got lots of goose eggs (J-Potty was worse with a constant goose egg in the middle of her forehead and black eyes, we called her a unicorn) I got these goose eggs through learning experience. Mamaz would tell us not to play near the stairs and without fail one or both of us would always end up at the bottom crying. I wonder why it is we wouldn't learn our lesson the first time or the next million times, but all I can think is that with each fall the lesson would get bounced out of our brains. Sounds logical. So eventually I learned to go down the stairs all by myself and NOT on my head, I was now a big girl. The goose egg stage was over.

Well that's what I thought, but love has a way of making you a little clumsy. It was April 2005, K-Bot and I had been together for a year and a half. We were both in college (I was first year and K-Bot was second) and during a break from classes we went to liquidation world around the corner from school. This is where I found the perfect wedding dress.....6 months too early for a proposal and a year and a half too early for the wedding. So why even look? Well my friends it was a bargain, THE BARGAIN. Brand new brand name dress with original price tags (stating that it was over $400) on sale for $30. Yep $30 new. Seems the bridal store had closed down and liquidation world got the gowns and were selling them at a steal of a price. I quickly grabbed the perfect dress ran to the change room and put it on. K-Bot had to step in to finish the zipper, to which there was a small fight about seeing a bride in a wedding dress but that wasn't a very good argument as I was not a bride and he was not a groom. It was a little small, but being a girl and knowing a deal I bought it thinking I could loose weight, I was in the process of loosing it already (when I met K-Bot I was 140 and had quickly started to loose weight, by our wedding 3 years later I was between 90 and 100). So they gave me a nice box to fold my dress in at the register and the rest of the day was spent thinking of a way to tell my parents what I had bought and what I was planning. When I got home I brought the box to my room with a bunch of school stuff, I had finally decided to put it on after dinner and just show them. So after dinner I went to my room and put the dress on. Mamaz and J-Potty were shocked but thought that the dress was pretty. It was too long for a short person like me so as I bent over to pick up the front of the dress I cracked my head off of the back of one of the dining room chairs. Within moments I had a dark red spot in the middle of my forehead and a nice size goose egg. Smooth. K-Bot laughed SO hard, kissed it better and said that I was now going to be his bumpy.

So why post this now? Well the other night I became his bumpy again. He was on the phone with his mother and I decided that I wanted to help make the salad while he lay on the couch. I pushed and pushed the top of the chopper, but alas I was not strong enough. I got it in my head if I jumped on it all quick like I would be able to do it. Well I probably could, had it not been at the end of the counter under the oven hood. I jumped and caught my head right on the corner of the hood. I clasped my hands over the now lump on my hair line and ran for a mirror (I was talking to myself so that I wouldn't think it was so bad), I had a VERY quick look, all the time remembering back to K-Bot's head injury at the trailer and how much blood comes from a cut head, and there was nothing but a big red lump. When he finished on the phone K-Bot asked about all the talking I was doing in the kitchen, to which I told him and he once again laughed. Luckily this lump has decided not to stay long, it is now down but VERY squishy.






So I don't have a very clear picture of me wearing the dress but here is J-Potty with my wedding stuff. I am sure had her fingers not been so big she would be wearing my rings as well....

Makeover!!!

Ok so while down in Niagara for the week not only was I sick (still am, is 2 weeks too long to stay sick???) but I also had to go to the dentist. If you follow me you know that nothing ever goes well for me while visiting the dentist. This time was yet another experience for me....one that left me laughing though so not as bad as previous visits.

So to start off I had a morning appointment for a filling, which I was feeling even sicker needing to go to. Filling = Needle and Needle = Nervousness and later a drugged up Laura. So I go, feeling like I might puke on whoever touches my mouth first, the dentist comes in looks and says it is now 2 cavities. WHAT?!?!?!? How in the world does that happen? Oh well same tooth so not too big of deal. Then comes the mother of all questions, "Do you want a needle or no?". I have a choice?!? I asked if it would hurt and she said that it wouldn't since it wasn't near the root, so I said no. That's right folks, I said no to drugs. I get my filling and skip out of there proclaiming to be even more amazing than I thought and wanting praise for being a big girl.

While there I had asked about having a cap put on my one tooth that didn't descend all the way. This was inspired by Mamaz and J-Potty having caps put on some of their teeth. I asked and was told to come back for a 4 o'clock appointment. Huzzah, I always seem to end up at the dentist same day. I figure I got 1 good appointment I want to run with that, not come back to see what crazy bad things fate has in store for me. So I go back at 4 and sit in the same chair, the dentist walks in and after some jokes about not seeing each other in forever she gets to work. Once again I am asked if I want the needle, and once again given the choice I say no (see I am a poster child for say no to drugs). As the chair is going back the dentist proclaims I am going to get a makeover....I felt so sick! She explains what is going to happen and starts. She started by cutting down my one front tooth I have left that is real, I was sad to see the ridges go (I use them as my comfort when I am nervous, either using them to bite my lip or running my thumb nail across them much to K-Bots distaste). Then she starts the cap for my tooth. As she is cleaning out the area with water she sprays it all over my face! She quickly goes to clean up, but not what you are thinking. Kleenex seems so wasteful in this instance that she uses the blower for your mouth to dry my face, thus causing all the water to blow into my eyes. She apologizes and I say not a problem and she goes back to work. I lay thinking what else could happen, this seems like a hidden camera show. Well I didn't have to wait long for my next makeover accident. As she is smoothing out the cap a piece breaks off and flies into my eye. She didn't notice, and I just lay there now determined to keep my eyes closed as this seems to be hazardous. I was happy that it ended without anymore accidents.

In the end I look so much better, if I do say so myself. I still have the sight in both eyes, I seen the eye doctor yesterday and he said they are perfectly healthy. The best upside? Since my teeth all align now, I can devour my chicken wings better. And really what more could I have asked for in a makeover, also I will never play makeover again I PROMISE! (at least without eye protection!)

For those counting this makes 3 and a half fake teeth for me! Old age here I come!

Niagara Falls Tourism

So as most of you know I am originally from Niagara Falls. I have noticed friends like to vacation there, to me I don't know why as there isn't anything that great there, but while vacationing there they seem to stay in the tourist district. There are 2 things wrong with that; first the price, things are cheaper in Niagara I promise just get out of the tourist area. Second is that there is so much more to do and experience while not sitting in some over priced attraction that while it is neat and all it has been done far too many times. So I decided to make a list of things residents do or see (or in other words school trips!).

Lets start with History. Niagara is FULL of history, we have a war and everything people! The war of 1812, look it up! So that being said here is some history sites:
Brock's Monument - Located in Queenston Heights Park (more on that later), this is a tower of sorts that you are able to climb up (stairs located inside, no need to King Kong that tower!) and from the top you are able to get a view of the Niagara River and surrounding area. This is open May-Labour Day 10am till 5pm.
Laura Secord House - If you know the war of 1812 you know Laura Secord, if not then stop by for a guided tour and some information on a very brave and clearly in shape woman. Open May - Labour Day 11am till 5pm. Admission applies.
Mackenzie Printery - home of rebel printer William Lyon Mackenzie contains 500 years of printing technology. Open May - Labour Day 11am till 4pm. Admission applies.
Fort George - See a fort where the British stayed while fighting the Americans. Open May - October 31 10am till 5pm. Join in after dark for the Fort George Ghost Tours, running May/June Sundays at 8:30pm, July/August Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 8:30pm, and September Sundays at 7:30. Admission applies.

Free sites and activities:
Queenston Heights Park - this is a really great place to have a picnic in the summer. Lots of green grass space for playing and eating, pavilions available for those who don't want to sit in the sun all day. Splash pad for kids to play in, some playground equipment as well. An added bonus this park is on one end of the Bruce Trail. This is a great hiking/walking path than leads across St Davids and through to Fireman's Park. This trail is located along the escarpment so you can get some beautiful outlooks of the Niagara area.
Fireworks over the Falls - Ok so this is in the tourist district, but come on you aren't going all that way to NOT see the Falls. No matter how dangerous and boring I may find water falling hundreds of feet to the ground powerful enough to create hydro electric power, you will want to see this. These fireworks are every Friday and Sunday at 10pm starting May 21st, and every Wednesday in July and August.
Hike the Gorge - So you see the Falls, you see it every time but you want something different and a little more close. So my friends head on down the parkway to northern Niagara Falls where you will find a hike path that leads to the stone beach of the whirlpool. This trail is a few hundred stairs (300 and some ought, I counted once), it can be slippery so wear the proper shoes and try to stick to the path as much as possible. This is safe for your kids as long as they listen and understand the danger, I walked it once with a 5 year old cousin just fine. This is not a swimming area, but did I have to tell you that? I mean it is the whirlpool. Also I will not lie those who jump the Falls often times end up here, so maybe scout the waterfront for bodies before letting your kids see the wonders of the whirlpool.
Happy Rolph's - Ask anyone who is from the Niagara Region where they went in the summer and you will hear Happy Rolph's. This is a bird sanctuary and petting zoo. There is hand sanitizer and wash stations near most every animal. There is a park to bring food for a picnic lunch and some playground equipment. In the back of the petting zoo is the 9/11 Memorial Hike Trail that overlooks Lake Ontario. This is located in Saint Catherines. Open May - October 10am till dusk.
Living Water Wayside Chapel - Take a scenic drive or walk down the Niagara Parkway and stop at this chapel, known as the Little White Chapel to residents. This is the perfect place to rest on a walk or to stop and get some cute pictures of the kids in a pint sized chapel.
St John's Conservation Area - Located in Pelham this conservation site has a hiking trail as well as a Rainbow Trout pond. In the summer you can fish the pond, however it is catch and release so no worries about what to do with these fish on vacation. Open April - September 8am till 8pm.

Cheap Attractions:
Port Dalhousie Lakeside Park Carousel - this historic carousel is a MUST on any residents list every summer. Located off a Lake Ontario beach, yes you can swim at this beach, sits this beautiful and inexpensive carousel. Rides will put you back 5cents a person. Open June 8 - September 7 10am till 9pm.
Pick Your Own - Niagara on the Lake is known for its fresh fruits so why not head into the country and find some pick your own farms.

Where to eat:
Basell's Restaurant and Tavern - located just out of the tourist district in downtown Niagara Falls, this small restaurant may not look like much from the sidewalk but what it lacks in style it makes up for in the serving to price ratio. This is an inexpensive place to eat and actually get full. Portion sizes are perfect for the hungry traveller tired of high priced low portioned tourist food.
Somebuddy's - if you love chicken wings, these are the best in town. They serve a variety of "bar food" (IE burgers, pizza, sandwiches, etc). May I suggest an order of medium won tons to go with your meal?
Avondale Dairy Bar - ok so you probably want a meal, but it is summer and this is no time for diets so a must is a trip to the dairy farm (with cows to look at and all!) for some FRESH AND REAL ice cream. Located in Niagara On The Lake, open March 13.

Americas:
Aquarium of Niagara - located in Niagara Falls New York this small aquarium is full of fun, sea creatures, and just a sprinkle of learning! Open year round 9am till 5pm. Free parking, admission applies.

Where to stay:
So as I said earlier the tourist district is expensive and well lets face it money isn't as plentiful as previous years so where can you stay for less? Try Lundy's Lane. This street has plenty of hotels ranging from cheap and creepy (IE near the strip clubs) to middle class (Best Western Carin Croft). You are within minutes of the tourist district still but in the city enough to have eateries that are close and cheap.

Winter:
So you don't want to take a summer trip? You want to see Niagara in the winter? Good choice, there are less tourist to crowd the areas and such beautiful and breath taking sites. Here are some thoughts:
Falls - the mist that comes off the Falls in the winter freezes on the trees and make the most beautiful icing on trees. Bring a camera or you will kick yourself.
Festival of Lights - a free light display that runs down the Niagara Parks and Dufferin Islands area. Features Disney lights for kids and some plain old pretty scene lights. Starts in November and runs till January.
Rockin New Years Party - free concert in Victoria Park across from the Falls. Bands are usually decent, but what is spectacular are the countdown Skylon Tower Bug and the Midnight Fireworks display.
Fireman's Park - this park located in the city has great hills for sledding once they have snow.

The Future

So K-Bot and I have been looking at houses lately, yet another reminder we are not young teenagers anymore. We haven't really decided much yet other than we want one, and it could possibly be a nice small bungalow like my parents. We don't know how many bedrooms we want, and don't even get us started on how many bathrooms.My parents house for a referance (back in 1988 when J-Potty came home from the hospital, hence the decorations).

So the future is almost here (I hate that it always seem JUST out of reach). So what do I think my future looks like? Well I see a nice 3 - 5 bedroom bungalow, with a nice grass yard, completely fenced backyard, a BBQ is a must, 2 kids (not too picky here, I am happy with any combination), Sugar Petals sprawled out over the bed in the dark cranberry painted master bedroom, and a black lab pup named Bocephus (I am picky here, it will be female). K-Bot sees a small dog, but I say it is a black lab. I could possibly settle for a retriever, other colored lab, a brittany spaniel, or an irish setter, but never a small yappy dog.Me and my black lab Ebony Echo. See how happy I am to be a small child and have a dog?

I have decided to re shoot this picture with Gun-Gun, but he is a little too fast for a picture. I think it would make a cute parallel.

New Year, New Meals

So what is the number 1 way to gain 40 pounds in a bit of a hurry? Eat only boxed foods. K-Bot and I have, for the first 3 years of marriage, eaten a whole lot of packaged foods. We shop every week and go down the same aisle and buy the same things, week after week, year after year. However after seeing how much I gained (K-Bot is more sensitive to how much he gained) we both decided this year we would be better about what we eat.
Boxed foods aren't really the issue with me...ok all the issue. I refuse any dairy since it makes me sick (though since buying 1% milk this is getting better). I won't eat vegetables, and as for fruit....well lets say that markets is all the fruit I eat for the year. So my diet is usually meat and snacks, just as any five year old would have it!
So this year we are cutting back the meat, finding things that will get my dairy intake up, and I made a list of fruits and vegetables that if K-Bot was buying I would eat. Our plan is to shop every Saturday for groceries, and Sunday afternoons we will hang out in the kitchen and make some cool new meals. So far it has been great, other than the obvious tears and tantrum the first week out that I didn't get any snacks at the store, which wasn't true K-Bot got lots of fruit for me to eat. I eat 1 salad a day with my dinner, K-Bot eats 1 with lunch and 1 with dinner. As for dinners we wanted to try some new things; so far that is Joe the Shepherd, Homemade Lasagna, and Jose the Shepherd. K-Bot named the Shepard's Pies, isn't that fantastic?

Here are the recipes (though I work like my father, never with a real recipe and always forgetting what I did right last time).

Joe the Shepherd is simply sloppy joe bottom with a layer of corn and mashed potato top

So sloppy joes, easy enough, brown 1 lbs ground beef, add chopped onion, tomato paste (I water mine down a bit, more sloppy and easier to mix), Worcestershire sauce (to taste), chili powder, paprika, black pepper, roasted red pepper and garlic. Now you can stop here and have sloppy joes or you can toss that in a casserole dish and add a good layer of corn and mashed potatoes. Now K-Bot swears my mashed potatoes are the best, I add milk and cheese to make them creamy. I like mozzarella for this but anything can work. I also add chili powder, paprika, black pepper, french fry seasoning (this is the best), chives or green onions, and roasted red pepper and garlic. Mash and toss on top of the corn. Flatten nicely and top with bacon bits, paprika, chili powder, and roasted red pepper and garlic. Warm in oven at 350 for 20 mins.

Jose the Shepherd is taco bottom with a layer of corn and mashed potato top

Brown 1 lbs ground beef, add taco mix as package requires. Toss in casserole dish with layer or corn and mashed potatoes. See instructions above for topping. Warm in oven at 350 for 20 mins.

Lasagna

2 layers of cooked lasagna noodles. Layer of ground beef cooked with onions, chili powder, paprika, black pepper, roasted red pepper and garlic, mozzarella, shake cheese (I forget the name, we always call it stinky cheese), and sauce (I used Hunts Red Pepper and Chili sauce). Layer of lasagna noodles. Layer of ricotta cheese mixed with green onion and spinach (maybe going to add mozzarella to this mix next time). Layer of lasagna noodles, sauce, and top with mozzarella. Warm in oven 30-40 mins at 350. Have to say this tasted better the next day, I think because it had time to sit and stew.

Last night to make Jose the Shepherd, Lasagna, and a salad it took us 2 hours. However we had the mashed potatoes pre-made from last weeks Joe the Shepherd.

Christmas Gifts **forgot to add link

So it is the new year and the holidays are over, diets have begun, and life is starting back to normal. So what did everyone get? This seemed like a small year to me, not many gifts but all quality gifts (in my opinion the way it should be). So here is my list

~ Clarinet, I played for a year but never had my own till now, so excited to start again!

~ Flannel lined Aero hoodie

~ Aero t-shirt

~ 2 hat and scarf sets (white and purple)

~ purple mittens

~ LARGE metal mixing bowl, we needed one SO badly

~ oven mitts, as the last pair met with some BBQ sauce

~ a set of onyx bird candle holders

~ nativity scene that lights up, kinda bothered me how my other one didn't

~ 2010 cat calendar

~ seasons 2, 3, and 4 of Alf, I had bought season 1 a while ago but the others were too expensive

~ 2 sets of slippers

~ 2 tank top and underwear sets

~ rainbow heart housecoat

~ amethyst heart necklace

~ bamboo mixing spoon

~ Japanese cherry reed diffuser

~ orange body wash

~ pj set from la senza, LOVE it so much I never want to take them off

~ serger with all the items I could EVER need for it

~ 2 sets of socks

~ lots of chocolates, candies, gift cards, and money

I might be missing some things but it is so hard to remember a day that seems to fly by in a second after so many months and weeks of planning!

I also was able to get some boxing *week* sales (remember when people weren't lazy and it was only 1 good day of shopping and the deals were worth going out for?)

~ new duvet cover (link), but I guess it is only new if you had an old one, our duvet has been naked on our bed for a year

~ new curtains for the bedroom, going out tomorrow to hopefully find a new rod for them

~ 2 Aero long sleeve t's

~ mascara and cool color socks

~ our ornaments for next Christmas; mine is a phaser gun, circa Star Trek the Original Series, which is already well used. K-Bot got Swedish Chef from the Muppet Show.

As for new years resolutions? We have a few, the usual, change in diet, save more money, make the next decade amazing. We are already planning out the next projects we will do including chair pads and a matching table cloth (getting good use of the serger).