Things that I don't like so much...

~Scraping frost
~my car, these days
~change
~Blow-drying spark plugs
~winter
~bugs of any sort, especially INdoors
~rushing
~mice
~when people don't clean up after their dogs
~Liver
~the toilet seat being left up
~things that are supposed to be closed being left open, and vice-vera
~the smell of wet peanut butter
~washing silverware/drying silverware/putting away silverwear
~typing papers
~the sound of glass clinking to teeth
~being cold
~brussel sprouts
~filthy cars
~saying goodbye
~repeating myself over and over
~when people pretend to listen but really are not
~awkward silences and awkward small-talk
~people who stare for no reason
~disappointing people
~burning or biting my tongue
~zits
~cracking lips
~when people don't brush their teeth or clean their ears (I TRIED not to add this one...)
~broken promises
~when people lie
~ hot water running out
~tripping
~being hung up on
~Uncomfy chairs
~when other people are being neglected or PICKED ON
~Calgary drivers
~parents who let young kids wander unsupervised around city streets (or any street...)
~people who do not know what a signal light is...
~teeth-grinding
~LOUD noises
~bad dreams
~missing my family
~Christmas without my family
~not being close to the ocean
~Clothes that bunch

Things I like :)

~Stars
~Starry night skies
~Butterflies
~PINK
~The beach
~Sand, REAL sand
~The ocean
~Swimming
~Flip-Flops
~Lay-down lawn chairs
~The sun
~Bubblegum (or any gum)
~Stickers
~Ironing
~MAZDA
~Markers
~Bubbles
~Collages
~Daily Notes (YIKES.. but seriously..)
~Watershoes
~Camping
~Shopping
~The outdoors
~Walking/hiking
~Water anything
~Summer days, summer nights
~Reading
~Country music
~Amusement parks
~Quotes
~Movies
~Anne of Green Gables
~7th Heaven
~ L & O (Esp. SVU)
~Snowstorms, and the FIRST snowfall
~Spring days when the snow is melting
~Flowers, especially roses and daisies
~The smell of the ocean, BBQ's, and fresh-cut grass
~BBQ's
~Smores and burnt mashmallows
~Taking pics
~Candles
~Laughing
~Catching up with my family
~Chatting with my sister
~Watching (and remembering) my brothers play hockey and basketball
~Hockey
~The Flames
~Soccer
~Babies
~Kids
~Teens
~Puppies
~Honesty
~Bubble Baths
~True Stories
~Old Hymns
~The 'old days' at my home church
~People who keep their word
~People who keep their stories the same, no matter who is listening
~Being a passenger in a car at night
~Helping people
~yard sales
~pork chops
~getting snail mail
~Hoodies
~Fruits n' Passion
~Hearts
~Hanging out with my friends
~Bonfires
~Off-roading
~Rafting
~Disney Movies
~Winnie the Pooh
~Ikea
~Big Poofy Blankets
~The feeling of drifting off to sleep when you are SOOOO tired...
~Ice-cream
~BLOMIDON
~My mom's cookies (and pretty much everything else she makes)
~Yearbooks
~My Bible
~My family
~"Realness"/genuine people
~Carmex
~Nail clippers
~Fly swatters
~Floss
~NOVA
~Disney World
~Christmas
~Being toasty warm
~Crisp Fall evenings
~Gardens
~Summer Camp
~Oh I could list sooo much more...

More Christmas

At work today, I was very, very bored (but don't tell my boss...). So I made two lists ( I enjoy making lists...). Anyway one list was "Christmas Movies", and the other list was "Christmas Songs". SO I thought I would share these lists (Or maybe I am just excited to think them up again...).

"Christmas Movies":

~Yes, Virginia There Is A Santa Claus
~Miracle On 34th Street (old and new)
~Santa Clause I & II
~Home Alone I, II, and III
~Prancer
~A Christmas Story
~A Christmas Carol
~How the Grinch Stole Christmas
~The Christmas Shoes
~National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
~A Mom For Christmas
~A Charlie Brown Christmas
~One Magic Christmas
~Surviving Christmas
~Christmas With the Cranks
~It's A Wonderful Life
~Jingle All the Way
~



"CHRISTMAS SONGS"

~Oh Come All Ye Faithful
~Away In A Manger
~Do You Hear What I Hear?
~Simple Kind Of Christmas
~It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
~Silver Bells
~Ding Dong Merrily On High
~Nutcracker
~Sleigh Ride
~What Child Is This
~We Three Kings
~I Saw Three Ships
~Little Drummer Boy
~Good King Wenslas (sp?)
~Oh Christmas Tree
~Angels We Have Heard On High
~Angels From the Realms of Glory
~Carol of the Bells
~Have A Merry, Merry Christmas (So This is Christmas?)
~Go Tell It on the Mountain
~Hark the Herald Angels Sing
~It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
~It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
~Winter Wonderland
~Jingle Bells
~Jingle Bell Rock
~Run, Run Rudolph
~Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
~Frosty the Snowman
~We Wish You a Merry Christmas
~I'll Be Home For Christmas
~Blue Christmas
~Something In Red
~Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
~I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas
~Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire
~I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
~Hey Santa
~Up On the Housetop
~Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
~Must Be Santa
~Christmas In Canada
~Christmas in Killarney
~The Twelve Days of Christmas
~Now the Bells Ring
~Sobeys Festive Touch
~Joy To the World
~Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
~Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas
~Let It Snow
~Deck the Halls
~The First Noel
~The Christmas Shoes
~Mary's Boy Child
~Mary, Did You Know?
~T'was the Night Before Christmas
~O, Holy Night
~Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
~Grandma Got Runover By A Reindeer
~To Grandmother's House We Go
~Feliz Navidad
~All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
~Wayne Watson's entire Christmas C.D.


** If anyone has any other Chritmas song or movie titles, I'd LOVE to hear them, please share!! :) Today, or whenever you think of them :) Thanks :)

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!! :)

Okay, so I am SO, SO excited for Christmas. The past two days I have thinking so much about Christmas. I don't know if it is from reading several blogs of others who are very excited for Christmas, or if it's from the crispness in the air and smell of Fall that's been here suddenly the past few days... I LOVE it. Even though I love and look forward to summer all year, I do enjoy the Fall (I think I"ve said that in another post...) Anyway, before we know it Christmas will be here, and I intend on enjoying the season as much as I can this year. The past 2 yrs or so, Christmas has just not felt like Christmas (maybe it has to do with being away from my family, which is NOT good on the holidays...I don't know). But this year, I do not want it to fly by before it FEELS like Christmas. I can't wait to decorate; watch Christmas movies; listen to Christmas music; go around the city and see the lights (not as good yard displays as in the Maritimes it seems, but you never know, maybe there are some light lovers aorund...); make Christmas cookies (yes, I am going to attempt that); find good deals on Christmas Decor (sp?); etc... But first, and soon, I am going to make some great Christmas C.D.'s.

Oh, and for those that enjoy the SEARS CHRISTMAS WISHBOOK as much as I do, it is gonna be out by the end of September... I actually called yesterday (I cannot believe I am admitting this...) to find out... AND they told me that it is some special edition or collector's edition this year ?? (A collector's catalogue??) I forget exactly WHAT the lady called it, but they are charging $5 this year for it, at least here in Alberta, since it is... special. (Unless you've ordered from them this past year? Then I think it is free...)

And More Rain

STILL raining today. For those of you following the car story, it actually STARTED this morning!! Wahoo, knock me right off my feet. However, it did not start after work even though it only rained for like the last 2 hrs of my shift, AND I even put the towel/garbage bag over the plugs, etc right when it started raining (yeah, I think I forgot to mention that part... lately when it's raining or I think it will rain, I put a towel and garbage bag under the hood. It has always worked til today... maybe I should just get new spark plugs?? :) ). Anyway, I thought blow-drying yer plugs in the dark of the morning in the alley was bad. It's actually worse to be in your workplace parking lot in daylight with co-workers and regular customers wondering what on earth you're doing. :) Maybe someone rich will feel bad for me and buy me a new car! yeah, right! One of these days I'll post a picture of my black beauty.

Rain Rain, Go AWAY!!

It is still raining here.. on a higher note, at least it is rain... It's been snowing all day in Banff apparently... Around 2pm they'd had 23 cm already, YUCK. My car wouldn't start again this morning; nothin like headin back to work after 2 days off, and you don't even make it out the alley. IT is SO FUN to BLOWDRY your car while standing in the rain, bent into the underneath the hood, as all the neighbours drive by from inside their warm, dry, RUNNING cars... GRR. And to think, with winter on its way, the best is yet to come.

The Tone of Voice

I really like this poem. I first heard it in high-school, in english class. I think there is soo much truth to its message, and I need to think about this truth more... sometimes my tone of voice needs a lOT of work...

~~~~~~~~~

The Tone Of The Voice

It is not so much what you say as the manner in which you say it;

It is not so much the language you use as the tone in which you convey it.
"Come here." I sharply said, and the child cowered and wept.

"Come here." I said--He looked and smiled and straight to my lap he crept.
Words may be mild and fair but the tone may pierce like a dart;

Words may be soft as the summer air but the tone may break my heart;
For works come from the mind, grow by study and art--

But tone leaps from the inner self, revealing the state of the heart.
Whether you know it or not, whether you mean it or care,

Gentleness, kindness, love and hate, envy, anger, are there.
Then, would you quarrels avoid and peace and love rejoice?

Keep anger not only out of your works--keep it out of your voice.

SlOwLy GoInG CrAzY, and other random thoughts...

ARGH! I am getting SO TIRED of doing schoolwork. It seems like no matter how much I do, I can never get caught up. Student Loan people are again driving me crazy, but seriously, they will not bother me as much as they did last year. I have a letter all ready to submit to the Bridgewater and Nova MLA & MP about what's going on, if necessary, etc... It's pretty bad when # 1- I spend almost as much time faxing, calling, and writing to the Nova Student Loan ppl and # 2- even though I work a very bad paying job, those student loan people think I am rich and barely give me anything, and THEN declare "over-reward" on top of that.

Okay, so I think Winter, sadly, is on its way. The mornings and evenings are super crisp all of a sudden, and Fall is definitely in the air. I don't mind Fall, except that means Winter is just around the corner, and I HATE WINTER!! I do not enjoy being cold, even in the slightest (unless it is on a very, very hot summer day...). I do not like the snow, I do NOT like how they do not PLOW roads in this city (By February there are some very deep ruts in the road from the snow and ice, it's like you are 4x4ing), I really do not like how my car, which works PERFECTLY the rest of the year (for the most part) decides to SHUT OFF while being driven, outa the blue, for no apparent reason, and turns right back on. The mechanics I've spoken to look at me like I'm nuts, so I cannot get this problem fixed. The only TWO good things about winter, in my opinon o' course, are: CHRISTMAS!!! :) WAHOO I LOVE CHRISTMAS!! and the chinooks here. Thanks to these chinooks, it does warmup here quite abit throughout the winter... :) Oh, and I do love a good snowstorm. But we don't get many of those here... not like Nova. Oh, and people are scary drivers here in the snow. My first winter here, on the radio it announced during the first snowfall of the season (2 CM), there was something like 113 non-injury accidents, 5 injury accidents, and 2 fatalities. Scary. But, they don't salt, plow, or use winter tires here...

So yeah, I gotta get some work done on my good ol' black beast b4 winter comes, and there is now a HEAVY SNOWFALL WARNING for Banff and Jasper- Up to 25 cm's.. YIKES...

I just got back from my last camping trip of the season, it was awesome. This time we went to a cabin we've been to quite a bit, and it's a good thing. The first night wasn't cold at all, but last nite was freezing and it rained all night and all day today. I can just imagine if we were all in tents. Yesterday we went looking for all these lakes that were on this recreation map we found, and it was so fun. I saw my first "real" lake since I moved here! :) We also saw 5 deer, goats, and coyotes, cows horses, and one tiny baby horse by the cabin. We had amazing bonfires, and ate lots n lots of good food. We were gonna do some more exploring today, but ended up leaving for home earlier than planned cuz of the rain. We then discovered my wonderful driving machine wouldn't start (spark plugs... good thing I'm prepared- I have 2 extension cords and a hair-dryer in the trunk now for times like that... works wonders when u blow-dry the spark plugs.. starts up right away :) And ppl thot I was nuts the first time I tried that... really need new ones now I guess) ( and a new wiper... Funny how the one on the passenger side wipes wonderfully, and the one on the driver's side just smears the water around... a new car would be nice... :) ).

Hmm.. what else... I'm excited for seeing my BIG LIL Bro play B-ball in January; I'm excited for my lil niece or nephew to be born in April, and I am excited for my sister's wedding in October :) So many good times to come :)

Anyway looks like quite the novel so I should go....

In Memory of September 11, 2001

Where were you when the world stopped turnin'
on that September day
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or workin' on some stage in L.A.
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black
smokeRisin' against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry
Did you weep for the children, they lost their dear loved ones
Or pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white and blue
For the heroes who died just doin' what they do
Did you look up to Heaven for some kind of answerA
nd look at yourself and what really matters
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turnin'
on that September day
Teachin' a class full of innocent children
Or drivin' down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hoped it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak to some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Or stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turnin' on that September day

~In Loving Memory of all of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001~

For all of those who lost loved ones on that terrible day, my thoughts and prayers are with you!

The Crocodile Hunter

I heard the news this morning on the way to work and couldn't believe my ears. Instead of the gang shootings, drug shootings, drug busts, fires in the NE, and the lastest murder that take up the news here waaay too much lately, I heard that the "Crocodile Hunter" had died yesterday. I was so shocked to hear that... SO SAD. He has done so much with so many animals, and is show is so cool and interesting to watch. So many times I was surprised he didn't get hurt exploring and interacting with the animals the way he did... this was still so unexpected. If you want to read the whole news story, click here: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/fans-mourn-crocodile-hunter-death/2006/09/04/1157222051494.html

VERY EXCITING NEWS!!

CONGRADULATIONS JON and ERIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY, I can tell the news... I'm gonna be an Aunt :) WAHOO!!! The first grandchild and niece or nephew for our family :)


I am SOOOOO Excited :) I have been wanting to share this news for... well, some time now... I thot I'd bust. SO yeah, Erin, keep the pics and weekly info e-mails coming :)

I always wanted to know... what American city I am ;)

You Are Miami

Sexy and beautiful, you turn heads wherever you go.A little spicy and a little exotic, you're fully aware of your unique appeal.Totally high energy, you keep the party going early into the morning. Famous Miami residents: Anna Kournikova, OJ Simpson, Enrique Iglesias

What American City Are You?