Monday, January 28, 2008

my brain apparently has little grey matter

***Your Brain is Green***
Of all the brain types, yours has the most balance.You are able to see all sides to most problems and are a good problem solver.You need time to work out your thoughts, but you don't get stuck in bad thinking patterns.
You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, philosophy, and relationships (both personal and intellectual).
What Color Is Your Brain?http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorisyourbrainquiz/

unconscious mutterings Jan 28

Booze :: nasty tasting
Counter :: Terrorism
Action :: Hero
Trial :: Judge
Wheelchair :: Basketball
1-800 :: Late night TV shopping
Chop :: Suey
Relatives ::
Bed sheets :: Cozy
Funnel :: Cloud

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Friday Fill In

1. Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy.
2. I would like a vowel Vanna, please.
3. Eating food that someone else has prepared (and cleaned up after) tastes SO good!
4. Thursday is my favorite day of the week because it has been for as long as I can remember and it usually has REALLY good tv - unless there is a writers strike.
5. My hands are my best feature.
6. We could learn so much from sesame street.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing my group project, tomorrow my plans include sitting in class all day (WAA) and Sunday, I want to do ONE project in the house before I take a nap!

Thanks to http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/ for this blog opportunity!

Monday, January 21, 2008

Unconscious mutterings Jan 21

President :: "Dear Mr President, come take a walk with me.."
Stare :: off into space
Embrace :: full body hug
Movie :: THEATER and Popcorn
Everything :: everywhere
Profile :: picture
Satire :: Colbert
Erratic :: weather patterns
Costume :: Jewelry
Secretary :: underpaid

Friday, January 18, 2008

Link To Shel's Blog

My spousal unit started to blog after I bugged her about it endlessly.
Her blog is up and for some reason she needs some link to it to get something or other.
So I am putting a link here in this post so she can get whatever it is she needs...
Love you babe!

http://byrningbunny.wordpress.com/

wasting time in the afternoon

1. If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say? I would be TOTALLY shocked since I haven't had sex with a man, but I would be very happy and hope it was at least twins.
2. When was the last time you flew in a plane? November
3. What did the last text message you sent say? I was texting about American Idol and I think the last thing I texted was that I would wear the hat that the dude who was singing was wearing.
4. What features do you find most attractive in the preferred sex? intelligence, humor.
5. What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future? finish a project at home.
6. Shoe size? 9.5
7. Been to Mexico? Tijuana baby.
8. When is the last time you had a massage? It was over five years ago and hurt the bottom of my feet so bad I could barely walk.
9. What was the last TV show you watched? The L Word
10. What are your plans for the weekend? house projects
11. If your significant other asked you to marry them TODAY what would you say? I would say "Are you confused? We are already married!"
12. What is in the back seat of your car right now? I have a truck and in the back is garbage right now for the dump.
13. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? working.
14. If you could marry any celebrity today who would it be? P!NK or Neve Campbell
15. Have you ever been to a strip club? not since I applied for work in one
16. What is the best ice cream flavor? Thrify's pineapple coconut
17. What is the last sporting event you watched? EPL Liverpool game
18. Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on myspace? I don't myspace
19. Ever go camping? yup
20. Where is your mom right now? at home waiting to pick my dad up from the airport
21. What color is your watch? Silver
22. Last phone call? The library to say a book we ordered is in
21. Are you allergic to anything? yes
22. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Birks
23. What is one thing you have learned about life recently? not too much recently
24. Do you own an iPod? no, but I do have an MP3 player
25. Do any of your friends have children? some do
26. What do you do at work? work
27. Who was your last kiss? M when I put him to bed last night.
28. How did you get one of your scars? I was throwing one of those exacto knife things into the air and catching it by the handle and I missed it and it dropped into my foot.
29. What is your moms name? Ma, or Mom
30. Are you ticklish? I tell people that I am not and so far they believe me
31. Ever cried for no reason? No, I always have a very good reason for crying
32. Ever broken a bone? yes
33. Do you have any piercings? yes, and hopefully more soon
34. Have you ever changed clothes while driving? yes.
35. Have you ever cleaned up someone elses vomit? yup and it makes me vomit so then I have to clean more.
36. What was the last thing you ordered at McDonalds? cheeseburger meal
37. What is your favorite color to wear? I have a lot of navy blue things.
38. What is the longest plane ride you have ever been on? From South Africa to Europe on the way to Canada.
39. What is the longest road trip you have ever taken? Edmonton, Alberta to Sydney, Nova Scotia.
40. What are your turn-offs?
41. What was your 1st alcoholic beverage? I tasted beer with a cousin, but didn't like it much.
42. What was your last alcoholic beverage? Mikes Hard Lemonade
43. What are you craving right now? sleep

http://www.blogthings.com/areyouahippiequiz/

You are a Hippie

You are a total hippie. While you may not wear birks (I DO!) or smell of incense, you have the soul of a hippie.You don't trust authority (sometimes I do!), and you do as you please.
You're willing to take a stand, even when what you believe isn't popular.
You like to experiment with ideas, lifestyles (what kind of "lifestyle?), and different subcultures.
You always gravitate toward what's radical and subversive. Normal, mainstream culture doesn't really resonate with you. I love the IDEA of being a hippie, but I am more mainstream than this makes me appear.

Friday Fill In

1. The last compliment I got was from _____; he/she said _____. I don't remember the last compliment I recieved!
2. I'm reading my second book for the 888 challenge and two articles for class.
3. I woke up today and thought it sure is dark in here.
4. Why does the sky appear blue?
5. The last thing I ate was popcorn in bed last night.
6. January... is almost over already.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging my flag in the driveway so the MD will plough the snow, tomorrow my plans include moving the bookshelves from the living room so M can't pull books onto the floor and Sunday, I want to have my group assignments completed so I can nap without guilt!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

13 things I know, 2nd Thursday 13 on this blog

Today for Thursday Thirteen I am listing 13 things I know.


1. I know that my parents love me and believe I can achieve anything I want to.

2. I know that I am not patient, though I am WAYYYYY more patient than I was in 1999 when I started working for the division of youth corrections. That job changed me more for the better than any other single experience.

3. I know that the polar ice caps are melting too fast and this is not a good thing. http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/qthinice.asp

4. Maya Angelou said "If someone tells you who they are believe them."

People tell you who they are through their actions and through their words. Many times I have heard the words and seen the actions and still WANTED to believe that a person was different than what they were telling me. In every case I have been proven wrong and people have stayed true to who they say they are. Sometimes it is easier to see this in retrospect.

5. I know that I have a wonderful spouse who has seen my light and who loves my dark.

6. I know that I have a thirty year mortgage. We waited a long time before we bought a house. We may have missed out on some good opportunities, but we are happy where we are and look forward to making improvements on our home. They will take 30 years.

7. I know that I am a lesbian. People treat me differently because of this. How do I know? Because I was an adult before I ever "came out" and so I have lived as a "straight" woman. People have treated me differently because of what they THINK I am and what they THINK I do. Some people who meet me for the first time judge me before they know anything about me and some people who have known me all my life act as though I have changed. It is a part of the fabric of my life and I don't resent it. I know that I resent a culture where children are taught that others who are different are bad, wrong, evil or "less than" everyone else. I don't care if someone hates me when they know me. I am not always agreeable.

8. I know that having "good teeth" is underestimated in this world. Having bad teeth is a pain (literally) and expensive.

9. I know that this year Shel and I will adopt our M and be parents - not just foster parents - for the very first time. We have waited a LONG time to be parents and it didn't happen in the way we wanted it to. I know that Shel would still like a daughter.

10. I know the the death penalty is not a deterrent to crime. Innocent people have been put to death and guilty people have gone free.

11. I know how to cross stitch.

12. I know that music and laughter are integral to my life.

13. I know that I have a lot to learn.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

unconscious mutterings

Dream big :: Go far
Competition :: Olympics
Torn :: Rip
Modeling :: my cousin Matt
Coaster :: Roller
Slut :: man whore
Spread :: I can't believe it's not butter
Amanda :: Oh Mandy, you came and you gave without taking
Romance :: Novels
Paradise :: Lost

888 Challenge

I am updating my list and categories. I have added one category but still need to add one more.

non-fiction (used to be autobiography/biography)
1. Measure of a Man. Sidney Poitier
2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Barbara Kingsolver
3. A Long Way Gone. Ishmael Beah
4. Spycatcher. Peter Wright
5. The Places in Between. Rory Stewart (added)
6. Infidel. Ayaan hirsi Ali
7. Glass Castle.
8. Fish:

Newbery Award Winners (changed from childrens books)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Pulitzer Prize Winners
1. Middlesex. Jeffrey Eugenides (moved to the correct category)
2. Gilead. Marilynne Robinson (the book I am reading currently)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

From the NYT Bestseller list. (I don't want to limit myself to books that have already been written. There might be some good ones published this year)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Banned or "challenged" books
1. Go Ask Alice
2. The Lorax.
3. Lady Chatterly's Lover.
4. The Well of Lonliness
5. Steal This Book. Abbie Hofmann
6.
7.
8.


Books already on my Bookshelf
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.


School reading assignments (added category today)
I am back in school and I have readings I am assigned to do throughout the term. I know that each of them is not a "book" but there will a lot more than 8 of them over the course of the year. Since I have to do the reading for class I will keep track of it here because having it be a part of this process will be added motivation for me to actually read the stuff.

Monday, January 7, 2008

What's in a Name - a bit trippy

I found this on :http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/
Tell me what you think - anything like me?

You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you.You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries.You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice.

You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way.And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life.You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

You can be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life.

You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home.

You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out.Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia.Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing.

You're a strong person.You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.You are very intuitive and wise.

You understand the world better than most people.You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous.You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things.Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times.You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

888 Challenge

We decided this year to get into the 888 challenge. That is 8 books in 8 categories in 2008.
Since we order books together from the library we pretty much read very similar books so it makes sense to have the same lists. Unfortunately, we don't have exactly the same interests and it is a bit of a cop out for me to copy Shel's list since hers is already compiled and mine is not even started.
64 books means more than one book per week and I am already behind because I haven't read anything yet.
Over the Christmas break I was so panicked about not getting enough reading completed I had three books going at once. That turned out to be a mistake, two books I seem to handle ok, three was crazy and I wasn't reading enough in any of them to get ahead. Last night I finished one, almost finished the second and I hope I can concentrate on the third one before the weekend when I am back in school.

Here is the START to my list. I will have to come back and fill it in when I get finished deciding. I also reserve the right to change any book on my list as I go - if I find a better one :)

Biography/Autobiography
1. Measure of a Man. Sidney Poitier
2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Barbara Kingsolver
3. A Long Way Gone. Ishmael Beah
4. Spycatcher. Peter Wright
5. Middlesex. Jeffrey Eugenides
6. Infidel. Ayaan hirsi Ali
7. Glass Castle.
8. Fish:

Children's
1. Invention of Hugo Cabret. Brian Selznick
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Pulitzer Prize Winners
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

From the NYT Bestseller list. ( I don't want to limit myself to books that have already been written. There might be some good ones published this year)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Banned or "challenged" books
1. Go Ask Alice
2. The Lorax.
3. Lady Chatterly's Lover.
4. The Well of Lonliness
5. Steal This Book. Abbie Hofmann
6.
7.
8.


Books already on my Bookshelf
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Friday Fill in

1. This year, I'd like to make loads of home and yard improvements (PRUNE!)2. Travel (and pruning) is what I daydream about most.
3. My hair is a smooge too long.
4. I would like to have more access to Mexican food in my life.
5. I love to have lots of birds and flowers around the house.
6. My boy makes me smile.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed early, tomorrow my plans include working - unfortunately and Sunday, I want to sleep in but I have to work again!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

2007 Year In Review

Hi, folks!I have never done a year in review post, but as I have been looking around at other blogs I have seen a variety of them. I like the idea of doing a year in review and I have even considered doing one before now, but I have to say that I haven't found one I really liked (to copy) and I didn't like the idea of just going month by month and writing what happened in each.
So here is a "survey" I found on http://tiffanyaller.blogspot.com/ and I have copied it to fill in myself - I did adapt some of the questions to be a bit more relevant to me.

Here you go.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
We bought a house this year. I have never done it before, but I highly recommend it - in spite of the mortgage!
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm not a huge fan of the new year resolution thing as it seems to be a let down for me. I did decide with Shel tonight to sign up for this 888 reading thing and I had already decided to read the Pulitzer Prize winners, so I am not sure if that counts for a New Years resolution. I read anyway and it seems to me that saying reading is my resolution would be akin to saying "this year I resolve to breathe."
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No-one close to me gave birth, but I don't frequent maternity wards. Damien's mother gave birth, she's the only one I know of. Shoot - I better say my Cousin david had a baby. I don't know if any other cousins had kids, but I don't think so.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My nan passed away this year. I would say that she is the closest person to me ever to die. I miss her dreadfully and think of her often.
5. What countries did you visit?
I didn't visit any countries this year because #1 I didn't have a passport and #2 Shel couldn't leave the country until late this summer. I DID go to the US border, but I got out on the Canadian side and waited while my brother drove across, did a U-turn and cam back and picked me up, bringing Shel with him and officially "LANDING" her as a resident. YAHOOOO!
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Mexican food - this relates to #5 and my inability to leave the country in 2007.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Date... Hmn. I'm not one to really remember dates apparently since nothing is coming to my mind. Probably moving into our new house at the end of September - was it October? LOL
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think "our" biggest achievement was getting the immigration done for Shel. We still have some things to wrap up but it has been a LONG and arduous process and we are HAP HAP HAPPY it is over.
9. What was your biggest failure? I neglected my family for work.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I've had sinus infection, migraines etc. Shel was REALLY sick in 2007. I have had knee problems and lumpage, but that's all.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I won't say "the house" because even thought it was probably overall the single best purchase, what I was most PROUD of buying and had a lot of fun buying were the presents for Shel's birthday. 50 presents for her 50th birthday.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
We have celebrated the behavior of M as he has grown and developed this year. We also celebrated with Sierra, one of our foster kids who brought much joy and lots of laughter into our home.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I think politicians in general have appalled and depressed me. I think GW should be locked away for life at Guantanamo Bay for War crimes, and his cell mate should be our esteemed Canadian Prime Minister.
14. Where did most of your money go ? After paying outrageous prices at the gas pump thanks to George and company... Here is a story for you. We were in Costco and this lady came to try and sell us this advanced membership thing. I said I wasnt interested only five bazillion times and she kept saying "why?" "why?" I made some comment about how we didn't spend enough thre to make it worth the money back blah blah schpeel she was giving and she asked to see my card and pulled up how much money we had spent in the last few months there. ARUGA! My eyes bugged out of my head like I was a cartoon. We spent a LOT of money at Costco!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting back into school, getting good grades.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007? For as large a part in my life as music plays, I don`t think there`s one song that will remind me of 2007. Everytime I hear the soundtrack to Annie I will think of work this year where we sang songs from Annie everytime this Annie look alike walked by the office.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? same
iii. richer or poorer? richer - not in money really but we are paying a mortgage now instead of rent which feels more stable. ( a 30 year morgage thanks)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? probably travelling, hanging in the mountains, spending time with Zuva. I feel like I am neglecting her. I think I would also like to sleep more.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? work. I work too much and never take good vacations. I always feel I have to stop in at work, or read my work e-mail or call someone about work. This holiday I had an AWESOME Christmas with my family and it reminded me of how much I have missed out on just "being" here.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent Chrismas with my family, not on call and just hanging out in our new place. M and I laughed EVERY day of the vacation.
21. Craziest Dream of the year? I am usually better at remembering my dreams and I can't think of one right now. I have dreamt of people from my past a few times - most recently last night when I dreamt I was in a play and trying to memorize lines.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007? I fell in love with M over and over and over - especially when he laughs.
23. Best trip of the year? The quickest trip was to Banff, but we saw good friends and ate good food and the mountains make me happy. It was totally worth it (but I didn't think so as we were driving home with a screaming baby!) Driving to the border and back was a stressful trip but one we have waited for for a LONG time and totally worth it.
24. What was your favorite TV program? Life
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I hate all the same people. LOL. I don't think I HATE as a general rule. There are a few people who make it to that list, but no-one new this year.
26. What was the best book you read? Sheesh, that's a hard one. I read some crappy books this year. I would have to say "Prep" by Curtis Sittenfeld was up there in the top group.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? I don`t think I `discovered`anything muscally. I listen to a few newer bands and I like Headly.
28. What did you want and get? pruning tools and an MP3 player
29. What did you want and not get? more Asterix comics? I got a lot of everything I wanted except probably "big ticket" items like quads, snowmobiles, ride on mowers etc.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? An old movie which I saw for the first time this year - "Bound" and probably Bourne Supremacy.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? On my birthday I was 1 year older than last year.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? um.... I don`t have an answer to this question. I think maybe if Shel had felt better and would not have been so sick the year would have been more satisfying for us.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? I am likely to be arrested by the fashion police but they couldn't find my house. Today I wore socks that matched my shirt and my co-workers were stunned. I agree it took me all of my vacation to come up with my ensemble.
34. What kept you sane in 2007? I had a pretty sane year. Maybe it was the valium. ha ha.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? P!nk. or Neve. or Sandra. Or Angelina..
36. What political issue stirred you the most? The alleged war on terror
37. Who did you miss? Nana and Sierra after she left our home.
38. Who was the best new person you met? If I could pick only one I would have to pick two. Doug and Kirsten in my new class.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007: well. I learned that if you don`t learn your lesson the first time it will come again so you get another shot at it. It`s better to learn it first time around - especially if it is a difficult or annoying lesson - or you get the bugger again and again.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: I`m not ready to make nice, I`m not ready to back down. I'm mad as hell and I don't have time to go round and round and round.
41. Did you get a tattoo this year? Why yes, yes I did thanks for asking. Man I love tattoos. I have a new tattoo on the back of my right leg. It is a celtic design of a thistle in purple, green and blue.
42. Biggest challenge of the year? At work the biggest challenge was staffing turnovers in my departments which were horrendous but we broke on through to the other side. At home the biggest challenge was TWO house moves in less than ten months.
43. Who was the best "old" friend you met? This was the year of facebook for me so I was happy to become "reaquainted" with many friends from my past. Probably the best for me were a boy from junior high in Nova Scotia and a girl from high school in Saskatoon.