Fun Giveaway

No not here.... here!

A friend of mine is doing a giveaway on her blog. $35 gift code for csnstores.com. So I checked it out. Super cool stuff.

What do I have my eyes on?

Why a pair of ruby red slippers! My Wizard of Oz fascination isn't over yet!

http://www.csnstores.com/Funtasma-CONT50G-R-FXT1033.html

I love them so much I think I might get them regardless of winning.

So head over to the blog for a chance to win! Good luck to all, but I hope I win.

I am a wicked witch...hence the shoes.

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).