Neighbour Saga - Pt. 2
It's FRIDAY!!!!! YAY!!!!!!
Okay, now that I have that out of my system lol. I'm excited for the weekend only because we're going out of town for the weekend and I won't have to deal with the stupid people upstairs. Matt went to take rent to the super last night and put in yet another complaint about the people upstairs. 5 nights in a row now the music has been loud, stomping, and loud voices right at bedtime. I haven't been able to sleep properly for 5 night nows. Matt found out that the 2 people we were told had moved out are moved back in now making it a total of 6 people up there again. Apparently this is how it works up there. The brother and sister can tolerate each other to the boiling point, they blow up at one another, have a huge fight, and the brother and his girlfriend move out for about a week or two, and then come back to start the process all over again. Matt also learned that the reason it's so quiet through the day is that the psycho-chick's boyfriend/husband/gigolo/whatever he is works night shift so he's sleeping all day. I got rather ticked about that, because it's alright for them to be considerate and quiet for him while he's sleeping through the day but it makes no nevermind to them about being quiet at night when everyone else in the building is sleeping. Like me, who has to get up at 5:50am every morning for work, I'm in bed by 9:00 trying to sleep, but it never works thanks to them.
Anyway, Matt found out an interesting little tidbit last night. The landlord is trying to get approval to put in an elevator. If they get approval apparently it means that the people upstairs will HAVE to move because they need that apartment for the elevator. Matt and I were puzzled, and Matt asked if that meant we would have to move as well, and Norm assures us that we can stay where we are. There's no need for us to go anywhere. Either way, when Matt talks to the landlady I told him to tell her that if they're not out soon, we're moving. I can't stand this anymore. I love the apartment, but I can't enjoy it with those idiots upstairs. BUT if they do get approval for the elevator, and it goes in ASAP, We'll have no neighbours on one side, no neighbours above us, only neighbours on the other side. It would be sooooooo quiet lol. Here's hoping approval comes soon!!!
Sara
-Who's looking fordward to a weekend of delightful sleep.
Of the Moment...
So what are the songs I'm seeking out on my Mp3 player right now? Here's a top 10 list:
1) Vicarious - Tool
2) Jungle Gym - Jack Johnson
3) Dance, Dance - Fallout Boy
4) Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
5) Golddigger - Kanye West (I love the Jamie Foxx bit hehe)
6) Landing in London - 3 Doors Down
7) Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani
8) The Grace - Neverending White Lights
9) Burn One Down - Ben Harper
10) With My Own Two Hands - Jack Johnson and Ben Harper
It's pretty generic this week, but sometimes you just have to lol. It's all about what you enjoy listening to, right? Whatever makes you happy hehe.
Sara
- Who has to head back to work now.
As I Sit Here...
As I sit here eating my muffins and waiting to go to work, the neighbours upstairs are stomping around. I'm welcomed by the same sound that taunted me while I was trying to sleep last night. I obviously finally fell asleep at some point because I opened my eyes and it was 10 minutes before my alarm. Alright, I'll just get up, no big deal. Eyes fuzzy, feet hurting, and head heavy from sleep I start the shower. The shower felt fantastic, as always. The decision for what to wear wasn't all that difficult, burgundy velvet pants, and my striped shirt. Give Matt a kiss, off I go to get breakfast. All the while the people upstairs are stomping around. It just amazes me how someone so small can be so heavy on their feet and be in so many places at once. We haven't heard from the landlady in a few weeks now, we're wondering if maybe she's not going to try and evict them anymore? I hope that's not the case because she'll find herself short two good tenants p.d.q. Well, not really, because on the whole this apartment is a rarity in this city. Not too expensive, really nice, awesome location (except for the cemetary lol). Anything like this in the city would cost us at least $100 more a month. No thanks. I guess I'll suffer in silence. But it's sad, I'm afraid to put our patio chairs out for fear of having cigarette butts thrown on them. I'm afraid to put a garden in because their teenage son is a little jerk and would probably throw butts in it, kleenex, food, or worse, rip it up. But, I'm going to do it anyway, and if something happens I'll take pictures and inform the landlady. That's all I can do.
Well, my breakfast is done, it's gone quiet upstairs and it's 15 minutes until I have to go to work. I guess I'll shuffle off to....(Nuffalo!!!) the bedroom and get my socks lol. I just noticed it's -2 out this morning....ACK!!! lol Spring got ousted by winter once again! Oiy!!
Sara
-Who's having a blah day today and would have preferred to stay in bed despite the fact she loves her job.
Yeah...no sleep for Sara...
So Colin, Matt and myself went to see Silent Hill tonight. If you're a fan of amazingly creepy psychological thrillers I highly recommend this movie. OH MY GOD!!! I warn you it's not your typical horror movie. It's not one scare after another. There is actually somewhat of a storyline with this one hehe. But, the "dream" sequences, or the "darkness" scenes are delightfully freaky, and the creatures and characters are so creepy!! This was one horror movie that actually sucked me into the action and had me tense almost the whole movie. If you're not a fan of creatures that move in unnatural ways, or freakish deaths, and the walking dead...this might not be a movie you should rush out and watch lol. But, if you're like me and are always looking for the next scare, and love psychological thrillers, then I highly suggest you watch this one.
Sara
-Who doesn't think there's much point in sleeping tonight.
Mmmm Cake....Wedding Plans Pt. 2
So I've heard back from the cake lady in Elliot Lake, and she's basically given me free reign to come up with my own cake design. Once Matt and I decide on a cake we can sit down with her and discuss what can work, what can't, what flavours and icings we want, and what colours. She can also do up a sample for us (which Matt's excited about lol, and me!!) So I hit the internet and started checking out wedding cake pictures, just to get some ideas. She says she also has books we can look through when we go if we'd like some more ideas. But, after about 10 minutes of searching I found two cakes that almost completely sum up exactly what I'm looking for in a cake. one day when I'm feeling brave I might sit down and draw up exactly what I want using these pictures, but for now you have to use y
our imagination lol.
This first picture is what I want for icing. I love the look of fondant, and I really really like the swag look. It's very classy yet very simple (which is exactly how I want our wedding to come across as well!! I try to live my life like that :oP). I love the 3 tiered look, but I don't want all the tiers attached. I want each tier to be separate, since we're serving it as dessert. I have a picture for the cake stand I'd like too!!
The second aspect of the cake is the decorations. I want lilies, since that's going to be the major flower in my bouquet. I found this cake that has stargazer lilies all over it, and that's exactly what I want except I don't want stargazer lilies, I just want regular white lilies. They don't have to be real flowers, infact I don't want them to be. Hoepfully it won't be too much work to make icing flowers!! lol. I'll probably show the cake lady the cake ideas I have and she'll freak lol. For a little bit of accent colour I'd like it if she could add some purple in there, since that's my colour for the wedding. I have some lavender in my bouquet so maybe she can add some lavender in there....who knows. Like I said, it's all ideas so far. OH OH!!! I just had an idea!! I wonder if she could dye the fondant for the swag to match my purple colour??? Could you imagine how sharp that would look with the white lilies??? Hmmmm...I'll log that one away for future reference!!! :oD (Okay, I'm getting way too into this lol)
The stand I like is pretty modern, but I think it's really pretty. It's a 3-level cake stand just like this one, they're all separated to make it easier to serve for dessert. Of course, I can only go with what she has, so obviously this is something I'll have to compromise on lol. The last thing I'd want to do is become a bridezilla lol. So that's basically what I want for a cake. If you can make sense of that, more power to you!! lol...after trying to explain all of this I'm realizing that it probably would be a good idea to draw up an example, as best I can, of what it is I'm looking for lol.
As for the flavours, Matt really wants chocolate cake with white icing, and I'm cool with that. Cake is cake lol. As long as it tastes good and people enjoy it!
So that's all for now as far as wedding plans go! I'm sure the cake will end up costing more than my dress lol...scary thought!!!
Sara
-Who's counting down....13 months to the day until the wedding!
Hurray! Success!!!
My first day of work was fantastic! This is the first time in a few months where I've come home from work chipper, happy, and no headache! I love the centre and all the girls that work there are really nice. I don't think it's going to take me long to catch on at all. Infact I picked up most of it today! I think I'm really going to learn to like this split-shift. I get my afternoon to run errands and just fart around, and then I go back to work for 3 hours. No biggy! I'm very excited!
I left work at 10:30 and Matt and I managed to get everything done today that we wanted to! I rescheduled my hearing test and appointment with the specialist, we paid off our furniture and my ring, and I even got to go out for lunch!! Life is on track. Now, I'm anxiously awaiting my doctors appointment on Sunday....my lady bits aren't quite right and I want to get checked to make sure I'm okay (sorry for the details!). I'm a little nervous because silly me started doing some research and I'm finding out what COULD be wrong...but Matt's telling me to calm down that I shouldn't have done any research and that I'll be fine. All I can do is talk to the doctor and let him figure it out. So, as fun as this week is going to be, I'm looking forward to Sunday. :o) (And mom, don't panic, it's not as bad as you're thinking...I just hurt!)
Ta ta for now!!
Sara
Here comes Peter Cottontail
Well, it's the Easter long weekend. It also just so happens that this is my last day of work at the hell-hole. As of 4:30pm this afternoon I will no longer be an employee of the worst daycare/preschool I have ever seen. There are parts I'm going to miss. I'll miss the kids and two of my co-workers. The rest I couldn't care less about. I've gotten the number of one of my co-workers so we can get together for coffee sometime and just catch up. I'm also helping her look for work so she can get out of there too. The bosses tore into her yesterday and were trying to blame her for something that was beyond her control, something that the "big boss" did of his own accord. She got so pissed off she told our supervisor that she's looking for another job and as soon as she finds one she's gone. Of course that wasn't good news to them because they've lost 4 employees in the last month. Needless to say things were tense around there yesterday. Actually it's been tense all week and I can't WAIT to get out of there.
I'll be gone for the weekend so I likely won't be posting any blog entries while I'm gone. I'm heading up to Elliot for the long weekend. I'll be paying Karla a visit, and I'll be spending time with family. I'm really looking forward to it. And I'll have one less stress in my life with leaving my job today. *happy sigh* Ahhh ain't life grand?? On to $16/hr, full benefits and job security. I love it!!!
HAPPY EASTER!!!!
Sara
-Packs her bags and heads off for a delightful weekend!
BBQ Brush Update...
Matt went out and bought a new barbeque brush today lol. He hasn't put it under the lid, and I don't think he plans on it lol. He plans on looking for a piece of wire to fashion some sort of hook so he doesn't lose it, or accidentally set it aflame lol.
Why yes, Matt, plastic does melt with fire....
LOL In one of Matt's greatest moments of brilliance, we are now short one barbeque brush hehe. We were getting ready for dinner, Matt goes out and turns on the barbeque to warm it up. We get the burgers ready, get my hot dog ready and he goes out to throw them on the grill. As he steps out the door he's welcomed by flames shooting out the back of the barbeque (which is up against a wooden fence I might add lol). He lifts the lid to find the barbeque brush on the grill hehehe. He forgot to take it off the grill before lighting it lol. He runs in grabs the water spritzer and starts his attack on the flames shooting out the barbeque lol. I go out, see the fire and go back in for a glass of water to douse the flames. When I get back outside Matt has just about won his battle with the flames, but I smother the last of them with my glass of water. Honestly, I couldn't help but laugh lol. Matt had to take apart the barbeque so he could scrape all the melted plastic off the grill, the burner cover and the inside of the barbeque lol. I went outside to watch and tried to keep the grin off my face lol. He's laughing about it now, but at the time I think he felt a little silly lol.
So what valuable lessons did we learn today, kids? Don't ever put a plastic barbeque brush inside a barbeque when you're not using it. If you do, ALWAYS remember to remove it before starting your barbeque!
Sara
It finally hit me....
I've been tossing ideas around in my head for something nice to do for Colin for being a new daddy. I've had great ideas for photographs, and different graphic ideas I could do with various pictures I have of him and Keenan, but nothing really struck me. Besides that everyone else is giving them pictures of Keenan and themselves. I wanted to do something that he could look at and know right away that it was from me, and have it mean something special to him. Well, as I mentioned before, I'm in love with the song "With My Own Two Hands" by Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. I was listening to that song when Keenan was in the hospital and I said to Matt, "This is Keenan's song." It's about strength, courage and determination. It's about admitting that you need help, but knowing that you can make a difference as one person. Well, there is a specific part of that song that I think fits Colin and Keenan. It goes like this:
I'm gonna make it a brighter place
With my own two hands
I'm gonna make it a safer place
With my own two hands...
I can hold you
With my own two hands
I can comfort you
With my own two hands...
With my own
With my own two hands.
Now, bear those verses in mind as you look at what I created to give to Colin to celebrate the birth of Keenan, and his new role as daddy.
I have it framed in a nice black frame with white matboard. I'm going to give it to him next weekend when they come to Elliot for Easter. :o)
Sara
Emotional Responses
I was just looking at pictures from NYC that a friend took on her visit there. She went to Ground Zero and took some snapshots. I have to admit that I had a very strong emotional response to a very specific picture.
This picture just blew me away. I immediately felt heartache, I got the shivers and felt on the verge of tears. Immediately, waves of pain, fear, and sadness came over me. I was in no way tied to any of the people who were victims of 9/11, nor was I in anyway linked to anybody who knew someone in 9/11. I suppose my emotional response was simply because I knew what happened there. I watched the events unfold on my television screen unable to comprehend the pain, anguish and tension of what was happening. As a member of the human race I suppose it's almost impossible not to have some sort of emotional response to an event such as 9/11. It would be like seeing the site of the concentration camps from WWII, it's just something that makes anybody stop and think. What makes humans capable of such atrocities? How can some people be so caring, loving, and giving, and yet so many are capable of something as ghastly as the holocaust? I suppose it's part of what makes our world so fascinating. It breaks my heart to think that there are people out there capable of killing, that not everyone is like me and wishes the world could just live in peace. Humanity has been this way since the dawn of time, and things aren't likely to change in my lifetime. It's too bad, because it's almost mind-blowing to think of the amazing things we could do if we just combined our efforts and worked together for a cause greater than the destruction or exploitation of the weak.
Thanks Ang, the pictures were fantastic. You've made me want to go see NYC, even Ground Zero, even though I have a feeling it'll be hard to see.
Sara
-Who's gotten way too philosophical for a Saturday morning.
Childhood Heroes and Memories
I woke up in an odd mood this morning. First off I had two very different songs in my head and they were duking it out for the #1 spot in my head. Neither one won. One was "Landing in London" by Three Doors Down and Bob Seger. It's a fantastic song if you ask me, but I'm rather a fan of Bob Seger's raspy voice. Anyway, the second song was "Down on Grandpa's Farm" by Sharon Lois and Bram. I have loved Sharon Lois and Bram since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. I had one of their tapes that I played and played and played and played. I wish I still had it actually because it would come in handy working in childcare. Anyway, it put me on a search of other childhood favourites. Music lead to books, which lead to tv. So, in hommage of all of my favourite tv shows as a kid, I give to you the list of all my of childhood television heroes. The ones who helped my imagination run free, and gave entertainment during a time when television was still basically wholesome for kids.
The Friendly Giant
I would be lying if I said I watched this show faithfully. My brother was more of a fan than I was, but I do remember the good old "Look up. Look waaaaay up, and I'll call Rusty." I used to love when he played his recorder and I remember thinking, even back then, that he had the most gentle voice. I enjoyed listening to the show moreso than watching it. Odd how we remember these things? The smallest details make an impression even in childhood.
Fred Penner's Place
This show was absolutely, positively a favourite of mine. I used to love the word of the day. That always made a big impression on me. I even loved the opening credits of the show because of the strange sounding instruments, and the "Fred Penner's Place" being spoken in an odd voice. I still can't figure out how it was done lol. I loved watching him hike through the fields and rocks and finally the show started with Fred Penner crawling through a giant log and sitting on the rocks. I loved when he took out his guitar and would sing songs like "The Cat Came Back". In fact, that's the first memory I have of that song. And then of course there was the colourful parrot that lived in the word tree that gave him the word of the day everyday. This was definitely a great kids show. I sometimes wish it was still on lol.
Sharon, Lois and Bram
I will always, always, always and forever remember the Elephant Song and Skinnamarink. I LOVED that dancing elephant. LOL Maybe that's where my love of elephants comes from, who knows. I had my Sharon Lois and Bram tape and I played it endlessly as a young kid. Because of them I know songs like "Hot Cross Buns", "Five Brown Buns", "Horsey Horsey", "Fish and Chips and Vinegar", "I Am Slowly Going Crazy"...the list goes on and on. It's because of them that I have such a huge mental library of kids songs and that my kids love song time at work. One particular favourite that I had forgotten about was "She'll Be Comin' 'Round The Mountain". Kelly played it at work and I had a blast lol. Talk about a flashback! I hope you can still get their CDs when Matt and I finally have kids.
Polka-Dot Door
I don't know anybody my age and older who doesn't remember the Polka-Dot Door. "The Polka-dot door, the polka-dot door, we'll see you soon at the polka-dot door. With songs and stories and so much more (pause for music) At the Polka-dot door!" No, I wasn't addicted to this show at all lol. I loved everyday of the week on that show. They'd go on "tours" of factories, or how real life was. How things worked like cars, trains, or just take tours of zoos or parks. There was always an Animal day, and I LOVED animal day. They always went and visited all their pets at the Polka-Dot Door. I loved story time, and all the songs they'd sing. And best of all, the magic of Polka-Roo. Now, it seems obvious to me now that I'm older, that Polka-Roo was really just the second host of the show, but as a child, I loved when Polka-Roo came. I remember always thinking that it was too bad that one of the hosts always missed seeing Polka-Roo. Ahhh the joys of innocence hehe. This show is definitely a fond memory.
And finally....
Mr. Dress-Up
All I have to say is Casey and Finnigan. The team of Mr. Dress-Up and Casey and Finnigan was something I definitely loved while growing up. I loved everything about this show, from the toys he played with, his friends and visitors, the Tickle Trunk, and all the drawings he would do. It might sound kind of odd, but I distinctly remember watching Mr. Dress-Up and wishing that I could draw like him. And even more odd? To this day, everytime I'm drawing with a black magic marker I think of that show lol. Sometimes I even go back into my memory and think about what it was like watching that show and wishing I could draw just like Mr. Dress-Up. (
and sometimes I'll even pretend I'm on my own kids show and drawing for my audience!!! But SHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhh). There are some days I really miss the innocence of childhood. The joys of learning new things. The fact that everything is so exciting. Maybe that's why I've chosen my career path? I feel the need to make a child's life a little brighter by enhancing their experience and helping them enjoy their experiences that much more. One thing is for sure, when I have my own kids, I'm going to make sure they're able to enjoy all the things in life that I enjoyed as a kid. I don't want them to miss out on a thing.
Of course this list doesn't include things like Romper Room, Today's Special, Littlest Prince, Fables of the Green Forest...there are so many. The list could be almost endless. Either way I enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Until next time...
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink....skinnamarinky-doooo....Sara
