A Point to Ponder..

I was sitting watching T.V. with my son earlier...he actually managed to sit in one spot for more than 1 minute. He was totally engrossed in the kid's show 'Caillou'. It's great that he loves it and will sit and watch it but I really can't stand it. Anytime I watch it I just can't understand why Caillou is bald?!? He's 4...where is his hair. Also, why is his sister who is substantially younger than him (since she's quite often being carried) able to speak perfectly and have more hair than Caillou???? Lastly why do all the characters look the same???

So my point to ponder is really ultimately...why, at 4 years old is Caillou bald???
Answers on a postcard...

Happy Belated Christmas!

I haven't been on here for a while...kind of neglected it a little since work got hectic for me then I set off on an adventure with my son and parents to Georgia for Christmas. It's been a really good Christmas and Ben was super excited about Santa...although it didn't make him behave any better. Somehow it didn't seem to be much of a threat that Santa wouldn't come if he was a naughty boy. It would've been a tad cruel if Santa hadn't come as well so despite the tantrums of a 4 year old he got his fire truck, which looks awesome!
We just had a normal little family Christmas with presents and lots of food etc. However I made this really stupid decision to start my diet just before Christmas. So currently I get to see the Christmas food and try to refrain from eating it. Not going too badly though since I'm down 7lbs. It's killing me though, especially since Christmas always is the time of year with the best food. However the need to fit into my clothes really overtook the need to stuff my face with sweets and feel like an even bigger pie lol.
The after Christmas sales this year are a tad disappointing I have to admit. I did get a pre lit Christmas tree for next year for $50 so I guess I can't complain too much. However I was most miffed today at one store which had a sign outside saying 'additional 50% off all holiday motif', considering yesterday they had 50% off you would think that it would be 50% with an 'additional' 50% off. But no it was just 50% off they said they didn't know why it said additional. So considering that that is what it said on massive signs everywhere and they hadn't changed the offer from the day before except by adding 'additional' you would think that that is kind of false advertising...you would think...

Anyway...hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and has an awesome new year!!

Are the X men looking to recruit?

I was looking at pictures to order on shutterfly this week and uploading some. The more I looked at pictures of me that other people have taken the more puzzled I got. I want to know why out of a group of 5 people am I the only one looking like Cyclops from the X men. Not that I look like a man...or at least I hope I don't...but because I have flipping red eye in every shot. Then when you do the red eye removal thing whatever it does gives you a white pupil. It just looks like you're slightly posessed. The weird thing is...it's not every photo just usually ones other people take. I think I have easily irritated eyes...this is why the insert picture is inverted in colour lol.
I took Ben to the mall last weekend to see Santa and have his picture taken (luckily he is not inflicted with the red eye gene). He was unusually well behaved...maybe it's because Santa was there and he was especially scared of being on the naughty list. I keep telling him Santa can see EVERYTHING but I don't think he believes that that is true. I did also tell him you can't bargain with Santa so if you're naughty then you can't tell him you'll make it up to him tomorrow...it doesn't quite work that way. I was tempted to hide his presents this year so when he came downstairs there'd be nothing there and then give them to him after the shock had submerged but I thought that was really cruel and he's 4 so he'd probably hold it against me forever and I don't think he'd see the funny side of it.
After he got his picture with Santa (I believe they should take more than 2 for you to choose from...in one of his he looks like Santa is really squidging him) he got his 'gift' from Santa (the one you get with 6 photos and pay $20 for). Now is it just me or does anyone else remember getting better gifts from Mall Santas? Fair enough this years was better than the two previous years when he got a 4 page colouring book. This year he got two quite big sheets of dress up Santa stickers. However I remember when I was younger (and now I appreciate how much my parents paid for those photos) getting a toy. It wasn't a big toy and was usually a kind of crappy game but it was a toy and came wrapped. To me, although it's not a toy of value it was still exciting to get an actual 'gift' that you could open. Admittedly I do see the advantage of not getting more crap for Ben to clutter the house with but still...it just didn't seem quite as exciting. Also before I end...I think Mall Santa's should wear proper Santa suits...last year he wore a really awful teddy bear shirt...just wasn't the same.

Totally Rational Phobias Part Two

So my friend Rob kind of put me to shame. He went and decided to some what face his fear. He is extremely scared of bugs and creepy crawlies. We egged each other on a bit and teased each other which resulted in me emailing him pictures of oversized bugs and in retaliation he sent me a picture of the world's greatest goldfish. Advantage for him was that he got his wife to open my emails first. I have also threatened to bring jars of spiders to his house and he's threatened to pay the postman to put a large fish in my post box.

To show me up he informs me on Thursday night that he managed to watch a whole T.V. programme about bugs without totally wigging himself out. Rob and Courtney have a fish tank in their house but as much as I managed was having a plush fish sitting on the table staring at me...and it didn't even look like a fish. So I started thinking about how I can make steps to overcoming a little bit of my fear. To be honest I'd rather not but I'd also like to not freak out at T.V. programmes about fish or the goldfish section of the pet store. So this was my plan of attack...
1 - buy empty goldfish bowl
2 - get comfortable with the bowl approximately 2months
3 - put water in bowl
4 - get comfortable with bowl, water and changing water approximately 4 months
5 - buy wind up plastic fish
6 - bask in the wonder that is my new aquarium and my first steps to becoming non fish phobic
7 - replace fish when rusty

I thought this might possibly be an ingenious solution to progressing in dealing with my fear and also showing Rob that I too can semi face my fears.

Then...I thought about it some more.

Then I realised that someone might mistake my progression for my want for a real fish and buy me an actual real live goldfish. I especially run this risk because based on my approximate time calculations before buying the wind up fish it is 6 months...6 months takes us May which is my birthday. I DO NOT want a goldfish for my birthday.
So I'm back to rethinking my plan.
Maybe I could manage a wind up fish in a cup of water on my desk...

The Two Saga....

It happened again...another call and another debackle over the number two.

-I'll give you the number and then transfer you through
-OK
-1-800-26
-3 6?
-no...2 6
-3 6?
-no...2 6
-3?
-no, 2
-3?
-no, 2 the number before 3
-3? I don't understand
-no, twwwooo
-3?
-no, T-W-O
-T-W-O
-yes 2
-I don't know what you're saying
-T-W-O
-I don't know what you mean
-2 the number after 1 but before 3
-3?
-no...2 not 3
-3?
-no...2...twwwwoooo
-2?
-yes
-2 6x xxxx
-ok so the number is 1-800 26x-xxxx right?
-yes
-NOT 3?
-NOT 3
-OK transfer me.
-Ok thanks...

Again English was not their first language...but still is it really that hard. TWO!!! It's not even close!! I can't seem to change my accent to make it sound more like the number two to other people. I told someone about this problem and they told me not to change my accent but it's kind of hard with calls like this. Although some people are nicer than others and I usually end up apologizing for my accent. Some people are just plain rude though...

-so what is the number?
-888...
-what?
-888...
-what is that!?!? it it it
-sorry it's my accent I mean 8...the number after 7...
-8?
-yes..
-so 888?
-yes 888 xxx xxxx
-so 888 xxx xxxx?
-yes
-fine. Learn to speak properly!

That person is actually an assistant to one of the people I have to deal with and since I'm in the central office and her main point of contact you would think she'd be nicer to me.
I'm still totally perplexed that people keep thinking I'm Australian. The Northern Irish accent does not sound remotely close to being Australian. Although I remember years ago Naomi told me someone asked her if she was Jamaican...not close at all. The funny thing is that recently in the past 2 weeks I've been told 4 times I sound really Canadian...can't see it myself...especially with my TWO! Maybe I need elocution lessons for how to pronounce my numbers...or maybe next time I'll just bang the receiver off my desk...

Wikipedia and Norn Iron so it is...

I love Wikipedia. It really is the best website ever. One minute you're looking at 'Sparta' and the next you're looking up 'poppies' in some sort of wild prolonged random tangent. However recently I've felt slightly dismayed by my source of all knowledge.
It all started when I was in a store and a song called 'Africa' came on but not the version I knew. To be honest this is so far from my taste in music that I'd rather push pieces of wood under my finger nails than listen to it but I was sure this was not the song I'd heard before. So I googled it...and low and behold Wikipedia had the answer. Firstly I found out that this was a cover of the song I had thought it was and secondly I was a tad miffed. I kind of put Wikipedia up there on a knowledge pedestal only for it to be knocked off it when I discovered it had a flippin page dedicated to 'Africa' by Carl Wolf...since when did that deserve a page?!!? It's not even his song! When did music artists get so uncreative that they just keep releasing covers?? I did not go on my usual tangent into Wikipedia that day. I closed the page and sulked.
I use Wikipedia quite a bit when people ask me questions about home. I mean it's really just too hard to explain the vast history of the problems in Northern Ireland to someone. Someone once said to me in total shock that they'd just realised that Bloody Sunday wasn't just a nice song by U2....give me strength. My response was "no...one of the most well known and most violent days in Ulster's history was not just a 'nice' U2 song". So recently I decided to take a proper look at what Wikipedia said about some Northern Ireland related events...have to say it kind of puts a bit of a one sided slant on some of the things.
Unfortunately there is not a Wikipedia page that I can direct people to when they ask the question "Do you not feel so much safer now you're not living there??". Answer in short...no. I actually would be more scared of the random violent events that take place everywhere else. I think most of N.I's problems are targetted. I lived there for 18 years and I don't think I ever once feared for my safety and that included being stuck in a bomb scare which actually had a bomb. Plus I'm young enough to have missed most of the severe violence but both my parents lived through it unscaved.
My friend Pete once asked me if I'd ever seen the Captain Planet episode about Northern Ireland. Captain Planet is a cartoon superhero that was designed to increase peoples knowledge and awareness of pollution etc...and apparently world events. I watched the episode and honestly I think it suggests that all of N.I's problems can be solved if we all co existed and ran bread factories and bakeries together.... click for a bread shaped tomorrow
I mean wouldn't bread just solve all of the world's issues...hunger, poverty, war could all be solved with a piece of sundried tomato focaccia.
So yes in all my readings I was thinking about retarded questions I've been asked about home. Here is my list...and I apologise in advance for any which are not policially correct but it is what I was asked.
Do they have cars in Ireland?
Do they have roads in Ireland?
Do they have black people in Ireland?
Do people only eat potatoes? (originally I thought they were joking...they weren't)
Is everyone in a sort of mob?
Do you own a gun?
Have you ever been shot?
Have you ever seen someone be shot?
Have you ever used a gun?
Can the Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland not just be one place? (ummmmm....)
Is the head of the IRA Michael Flatley? (I think I actually laughed so hard at that one I cried)
I think Northern Ireland in general gets a bit of a bad reputation. It's honestly not as bad or as backward as the people who ask me retarded questions appear to think. The last one is fantastic though...I could just see terrorist organisations putting down their weapons in favour of Irish dancing.
I love Northern Ireland and miss it and although I wouldn't go back to live it'll always be home. I also still love Wikipedia even though it has a page dedicated to 'Africa' by Carl Wolf...it did answer my question I suppose...

Driving Pet Peeves #2

I think this driving pet peeve is one everyone can sympathize with...unless you are the source of my pet peeve. Every monday to friday I embark on a 35-45 minute drive to work along a very busy highway. Admittedly I'm not the most patient person when it comes to driving but I just find my drive to work totally boring and tedious. It's nearly all highway and for the most part has 2-3lanes all heading in the same direction. You would think that having this many lanes the traffic would move fairly rapidly which, on occassion it does...that is until mr 'let's only do the speed limit or lower' comes along and sits in the fast lane. Suddenly you can add a good 10-15 minutes extra onto my journey...not amused.
What is particularly annoying about these people is that the other two lanes are the slower lanes and continue on at the speed they were doing, which is totally acceptable...except they now happen to be going faster than the cretin who has just pulled out in front of my car. It makes it so much worse when they add insult to injury and actually do lower than the speed limit. Then just when they pick up speed and they pass the cars in the slow lane...thank goodness! So you (and the majority of drivers behind you)stick on your indicator, drop a gear and decide to go into the slow lane to pass...Fatal mistake...you shouldn't have indicated...because as soon as you pull into the lane their car magically acquires super speed and they zoom in infront of you. So there you are stuck in the slow lane behind mr break pedal.
I think what makes this whole thing so much worse is that a lot of the drivers who do this actually drive decent fast cars but just don't use them. This happened with a mustang...I drove past muttering that the car was wasted on them. Although I'm sure the driver that was stuck immediately after them was muttering a whole lot worse.
Seriously though if you're one of these people do us all a favour and stop being an idiot. The car behind you blarring their horn, flashing their lights, riding on your bumper with the slightly posessed looking driver is just trying to tell you to get out of the way...take the hint.

Catch Me If You Can

So I haven't been on here for a little while. Life kind of got in the way on that one. I've been busy with work although it's been good. I've been working with one of the directors who's a friend on a new training manual. He does all the hard stuff and I do the diagrams...suits me. It's good though because I'm doing something worthwhile and learning at the same time so I enjoy it. Although I think I revealed my true geeky side. Most people who know me quite well will know I'm totally disorganised and have numerous to do lists which never get done. However, when it comes to presentations and meetings and stuff like that I love making booklets and spreadsheets. It's a horrible affliction but I think I just see it like a big project. It makes people think for about two minutes that I'm super organised until they open drawers of my office desk and see all the paperwork I've momentarily (or forever) hidden. Reminds me of when the flat we lived in in Scotland was up for sale and I used to hide the ironing in the cupboard so that people who were coming to see it wouldn't see the 3 weeks worth of ironing I had. Ironing is the bain of my existance, I'm not like my mum at all and do not find it in the least bit therapeutic. I'd rather eat my own eye out with a spoon than do ironing even if it does make the sheets and my clothes feel so much nicer....it's momentary.

After being busy with work and just before the training meeting I developed a lovely cold complete with cough, sneezing and runny red nose...all the attractive stuff. I have to say the most lovely part about having the cold at the minute apart from the assumption from 75% of people that you've suddenly contracted H1N1 is how people behave towards you. Since when did everyone get so OTT about germs. I mean I just love being made to feel like I have the plague when people shake my hand or touch something I've used and then visibly santize their hands afterwards. I think it's kinda mean and like telling someone they repulse you. I've touched you and now I need to clense myself of your cooties. What happened to when people were kids and used to wipe their noses on their sleeves? I think we should ban hand sanitizer then I can infect you all with my cold and make you all feel super attractive with sneezing and snot.

The Urban Dictionary paints the image the best...

Snot Monster - When someone is so blocked with mucus that they're dripping or spraying snot everywhere, but they have no choice and have to go to work, college, or the pub. Thusly end up gifting their infectious disease to all and sundry.

In amongst my sickness and work I did make it out to two Santa Parades. The one where we live was great. Ben turned 4 at the start of October so he's properly excited about Christmas and Santa this year. My dad had man-flu so my mum and I took Ben to both parades this year. The local one had loads fo fire engines and firemen so Ben was so excited and telling me how he wants to be a fireman...knowing my son he's more likely to be starting the fires than putting them out. The Toronto Parade was horrendous. We got there early...which you have to do to be able to see anything only to be met with a family who put out 8 lawn chairs behind the barricade which made it kind of difficult to find space. We'd taken Ben's stroller since he's only ickle and being a long day it's good to have somewhere where he can sit if need be. Well we ended up leaving early. We got shoved by this group of non english speaking idiots. Santa parades are really for kids so I think that you should really let kids be able to see...these people did not agree. There was a youngish guy standing pushing my mum (who was holding Ben) out of the way. Some large stunted woman in a raspberry coloured coat who was related to the guy was shoving me. I think it was just as well we left because I was minutes away from turning around and telling her to remove whatever it was that she was sticking up my ass or I'd be calling one of the policemen over to have her charged with assult. Then we missed the train by 1 minute and had to wait an hour on the next one to have to stand the whole way home...was NOT a good day. Oh and to top it off I had to keep messaging Ben's dad to put off the time when he could speak to him on webcam because of the delays only for him to be bitchy back and tell me it's just as well he didn't have any plans....I was pretty sure Ben should come first but that's him. I got our annual santa parade photo though and I think mum and I have vowed never to do that again.

Then lastly in my catch up on all the weeks, I decided that I wasn't sick and in pain enough and booked to have two tattoos done last Thursday because that's what you do when you're sick. So I got one done on the opposite side of my back from my lucky number 7...I was all happy because I've wanted it for 9 years but it was frickin sore. Being sick and sitting leaning to the side for an hour is not the most enjoyable. I gave the guy that does mine some free reign with my wrist tattoo which I hadn't done with the other three but just specified no colour and told him roughly what I wanted...ended up I love it and want to get my other wrist done too. I know people say 'won't you regret the tattoos when you're older??' but I figure I'm 24...I have quite a few years before I'm really old and by the time I reach 60/70/80 there will probably be a ton of old people covered in tattoos with holes in numerous parts of their bodies. As long as I like them then that's all that matters....and half of mine are covered anyway.

Totally rational fears

I was at a work function with some co workers last night and we started to discuss phobias. Everyone seems to think mine is a very weird and irrational phobia...I swear it's not...well maybe to everyone else it is. For those who don't know me I'm petrified of fish. Like scared stupid 110% of them. Bugs etc don't bother me, spiders don't bother me...fish send me into a blind panic.

I can't pin point when my fear started...maybe whatever triggered it I blocked out. I just know I was like this when I was in primary school so it's been a fear for a long time. The one time I clearly remember an incident that involved my fear was a form 3 geography trip to a place in Co. Antrim called Ballintoy. I guess the biggest give away that this would not be a good place for me was the fact the bus stopped at Ballintoy Harbour. In pictures it's a lovely place..in reality for me it was hell on earth. We were meant to study rock formations and chalk etc but there was one thing that stuck out for me from the whole trip.

The group was split into smaller groups to make us more manageable so we weren't running wild around the rocks and forming a rebellion against the teachers. My group was led into a small hut and everyone sat around on benches screwed to the wall. It was fine...very smelly but fine. Well...I thought it was until I stood up. When I stood up I discovered the floor was slippy and squishy...when I looked down all over the floor was fish guts and underneath the benches there was part of a gutted fish. I think that's when I wanted to puke and cry. After that one trip I was off school for 2 days...genuinely ill. My mum's a nurse so I wasn't allowed off unless I was actually deathly sick...until I was in 6th year then she would let me off to do work at home (thanks mum!). I think I was about 13 when that trip happened....11years on and I still remember in clearly.

Fish are a very real phobia...it's the eyes, mouth, fins, skin...general lack of legs...oh dear goodness fish with legs would escalate it to a whole new level of fear. It's not even just fish now...it's everything from the sea...totally sucks but I'd rather stay away than hyperventilate in the water. I do admit slightly irrationally when people send me pictures of fish I do end up standing on a chair kind of like they're on the floor...which I know isn't really possible.

One of my friends suggested to me I should get an empty fish bowl for my desk and gradually add things to it. Start off with the bowl...then add water...then rocks..keep building it up. Then when I get to the fish part I can start with a plastic fish and build to a real one.

All I can say is if someone buys me a fish...I'm getting a cat.

Driving Pet Peeves #1

I have many many driving pet peeves that I encounter on a daily basis, however I'm not saying my driving is brillant either. I found one of the most annoying driving pet peeves this morning as I was running a little late for work (not my fault...major traffic jams for no reason..wait you're not my boss so I have no need to explain that). These are the drink drivers...not the drunk drivers...the drink drivers. These are the ones who drink coffee/tea/hot chocolate/smoothies in their car. It's not that they're drinking in their car that annoys me...I'd like to point that out because I do it too. It's more their inability to multi task. You'll be merrily driving along behind them doing maybe 100 and then they reach for their drink and suddenly without any warning their speed drops to 65...no brakes...it just drops. It's like they drink and take their foot off the pedal at the same time in some sort of dual motion. Only to add insult to injury they do this in the fast lane causing all the traffic to have to slow and be overtaken by the slow lane. As you can imagine as this is a drink they don't just take one sip on their journey, they take multiple so every few minutes you're having to slam on your brakes because the idiot takes their foot off the accelerator.

I swear they probably even know they do it but choose to ignore it. My best friend has this afflicition whereby she can't drink and walk at the same time. It can be quite amusing but she knows she can't do it so she yells stop when she needs to drink...she also doesn't block the way for other people because she's nice like that. So my point is that these people I'm sure know they can't drive and drink so why do they feel the need to subject the rest of us to it. It's not that hard to wait for a little while to have your coffee in work...you can use a thermos/travel mug to keep it warm if that's your issue. However if you need to drink and drive at least do it in the slow lane where you don't annoy the rest of us and nearly cause accidents.

Also....on a personal note...to the guy in the mx5 with the sports exhaust who thought he was the best thing since sliced bread and kept revving his engine to hear his exhaust.
An MX5 is a hairdresser's car. (hairdresser's car = car for girls or effeminate men). Point...you didn't look cool and you were too old to pull it off.

Elevators...part 3

It's been a few weeks and the fire retardant blankets are still on in one of the elevators at work...yep...just one. They apparently only have one set of 'good' blankets. So I've changed my mind on this being a threat...I now have a theory. I think it may just a way for the cleaners to avoid having to clean all the metal in the elevators as much. I really don't see why there has to be blankets up for this length of time and in one of the 3 elevators. Actually thinking about it I don't think I've ever seen the blankets up in either of the other two elevators...that's just weird. I really need to get over this fear.

Two years...2 not 3...2

Yesterday I had officially been in Canada for 2 years...yay! I can honestly say I wouldn't change my decision and go back. I miss Northern Irelandand my friends and I do miss some of my friends in Scotland but I love my life here. Granted things have changed substantially since I got here but everything has worked out.

I guess the biggest change was my husband walking out but that was a difficult relationship. Due to this blog being very much a public place I'm not going to say anything about that. However with him leaving came the very real thought that here I was with our son and going to have to do this on my own. Thankfully not fully though...my parents have been a massive help and support. Also...the biggest help was letting us live in their basement. So in two years I've acquired a group of tight knit friendships, a house, a car and a career...not too shabby really.

I tend to take everything as it comes and I just deal with it which has worked to my advantage. I guess with everything that happened and all the horrible feelings that went with it came a great feeling of freedom. That mixed with a new country has been quite exciting.

I always get asked how I like it here and if it's different from the U.K...lots and yes. It's such a different way of life. Everyone is so proactive and wants to live life to the fullest and make the most of what they have. There's is a bit of an obsession with stuff and with people's position or job. It's just very different. There is no real going to sit in the pub every day after work for the whole night because you have nothing better to do (I know not everyone did that but from working in pubs I know a great deal of people did). There is just so much more opportunity to do things and so much more available. I think that this move has been the best for Ben and for me. I really wouldn't change it. It's funny to think this decision had been made before I was pregnant....so that's 5 years ago...wow.

I think if anyone has ever thought of moving away to another country even just for a little while they should just go for it. It gives you a whole different perspective and can turn into a brillant adventure. Although on a side note...Northern Ireland will always be home :) I miss it but don't think I'd want to live there again permanently.

Starbucks Dreams

So this morning I'm sitting putting on my make up and my son comes in and stands beside my bed. I wait for his profound piece of conversation he's about to throw out there at me first thing in the morning and here it goes....

"Mommy, where's my Lightening McQueen stickers?".

Ben LOVES cars, trucks, fire trucks, diggers...anything that's big, fast or makes lots of noise so he has lots of Lightening McQueen stickers.

"Which Lightening McQueen stickers?"

"The ones I got yesterday..."

"You didn't get any yesterday"

"Yes I did" ...I can hear that kind of half whine start

"No you really didn't"

"Yes I did...I bought some at Starbucks"

"Ben...you weren't at Starbucks yesterday"

"Yes I was!!!"

"No you weren't...you were at school yesterday"

"I WASSSSS" as he flings himself on the floor in a 'the world is so hard on me right now' sobbing mess.

So I think my son is now dreaming about Starbucks and Lightening McQueen stickers...either that or daycare is really going all out on expensive day trips. I'll get worried when I start hearing him say in his sleep "grande white mocha please"..."yes some whip, thanks".

At least he's going high end and not Tim's (why does their coffee always taste burnt??) This could be bad though...this might be the sign of an expensive future ahead....more expensive than I had first predicted. Btw...it's not coffee in the pic...he doesn't need more energy thanks.

Elevators part 2...

So I think we've established I don't like elevators. Now I suspect that the ones in work know I don't like them...either that or maybe gremlins exist. Either way...something was responsible for my blind panic earlier.

I get into the elevator on my own...kind of normal and fine. Took a long time to come but such is life. So I hit the button for floor number 4. Doors shut and it starts to move...then...suddenly out of the blue all the buttons light up out of no where! Petrified...I can almost hear horror music in the background (you know the kind from an old Alfred Hitchcock film). So it stops at 2...I get out. I think it's blantantly obvious that I'm not trusting this elevator to actually reach my floor and it's just gonna be me stuck in a small place with little air which makes it so much worse. The only thing worse would be if the man who says "I know where you're going" when I go to the washroom was there too.

So floor number 2 I discovered has nothing on it. Unlike my floor it doesn't really have a corridor. It has about enough room for the elevators and then a locked glass door at either side which you need a passcard for. So basically I've come from one confined space to another one. I press the button to go up and wait....and wait....and wait some more. I have no idea how many times I pressed the button but the more I descended into panic that I'd be stuck in the space and no one seemed to be about the worse I got. And I started to feel really hot all of a sudden...paniced and hot(not in the attractive way). Then I started to think that I bet when an elevator does come it'll just the the same on I got off and it'll be waiting for me to press a button and then I'll be stuck again with a big illuminated panel.

So I hear the ding...and you guessed it...same elevator. However this time it has people in it. So I'm kind of half shamed to get into it since there is no where to hide to pretend I hadn't pressed the button and wait for another one. Safety in numbers and all that...less air but if it breaks maybe they'd rescue us faster since there's more of us. Thankfully I reach the 4th floor!!! I just have to get home now. Seriously maybe it's a shared thing...they know I don't like them so they don't like me either.

And no...it's not an irrational fear...all my fears are rational and sane...just don't every shut me in and elevator with fish, birds and vantriloquist dummies....that's all I ask...not a lot really.

2004...

So I was talking to my best friend and reminiscing about old times together. Particularly a trip we made when I was at university. It was nothing big or fancy...she came over for a week before university ended for the summer so we could drive home together. It was great though and one of the best times of my life. I think it was the haze of dr pepper, melted chocolate, chocolat, Amelie and Breakfast at Tiffany's that added to it's brillance. I was totally overloaded with work that I had to have handed in before the week was over. I was working on my final designs but hadn't finished all of my back up work...I'm not a methodical worker at all apparently. So since Naomi used to do art and was better at drawing than I was she actually helped with some of the back up drawings (Cheers!!). The projects I was doing was based on comfort eating (the theme was comfort) so I had a lot going on with chocolate which, of course, required a lot of experimentation and melted chocolate. I did have a lot of this done before Naomi came over but it's so much more fun when there's two people to mess about with chocolate and go to the supermarket at 1am to binge buy sweets....shop assistants don't look at you as weirdly when there's two of you. So during the day when I was at uni she'd draw the sweet wrappers for me (left over carnage from the night before). Then at night we'd watch films and melt copious amounts of chocolate while I mixed pva and brown paint together and dripped it over fabric. I was never really the drawing type (unlike Naomi)...give me a vat of PVA glue any day!

The drive home was...interesting...both of us were tired and found EVERYTHING hilarious. That...and the large quantities of Dr Pepper we consumed. I think it was partly that drive which made the trip one of the best ever. So in tribute to Naomi and our trip 5 years ago....I stole from her blog some of our totally ridiculous phrases from our journey home...and a picture from our favourite part of Nightmare Before Christmas...note, we were fans before it was the big massive emo tweeny bopper thing to love.

Random things said/seen while in Scotland:

"Look at you being all 'Look at me.'"

"Just 'cos MY nose is small and dainty."

"Heh-ohhhh"

"Well done...want a hula hoop?"

"I have an urge to say 'Your mum is like Juliette Binoche.'

"Eee-niz-buh-luh"

Tiredness can kill.

"Sorry, got distracted by a comfortable bush."

N'M-earns

"I keep wanting to take off my shoes, but I know that's 'cos I'm thinking 'What are you doing in bed with your shoes on?'"

"DR PEPPER!!!"

Retarded thing Clo said last night while watching the spides leave the Lisburn Omniplex car park: "They're all moving, it's like a little herd. Oh wait...that's the road."

Naomi...I was also just thinking remember Underworld...it was so sequins. Lol months of sending sequins and sparkily paper in the mail.

Thank You!

I think I've been going pretty well at this whole blogging thing this time around. It's usually a bit of a mix between sarcastic rants, things I find that are nice and my son's little things that I want to write somewhere where I can always see them. However todays is a little more personal...

I was sitting in church this morning and realising that as the elder read a hymn out that thanksgiving is pretty much the equalivalent toharvest in the U.K. Although I think I like thanksgiving better because when I was sitting there I was thinking of all the things I need to be thankful for. The whole point I know...but harvest just really doesn't convey it as well. The more I sat there and thought the more I realised just how much I have to be thankful for. I mean, I know not everyone reading this won't know the ins and outs of my life but to say that the past 5 or more years have been easy would be a far understatement. So todays post is my chance to say thanks to those who've stuck with me unwaiveringly through everything from being pregnant in a country with none of my family, to getting married, to my less than nice relationship (putting it delicately), to my marriage falling to bits, through getting my son status in this country, to rebuilding my life...and everything before, after and in between. So here it goes..in no order.

To my parents....geez I've put you both through more than your fair share of stress, headaches and worry. I know we don't always see eye to eye but you've always been there for me through everything. Without you both I'd be sunk. I don't think my mum will ever know how much I appreciated every single letter and phone call when I was in Scotland or when she sat with me when my ex left. I can be the worst daughter in the world at times and not really show how much I appreciate everything my parents have done for me...and I'm sure there's more than I know, but I really do know that I love them and wouldn't be where I am today without them.

My wider family (especially my Auntie Stella)...Thank you for all your support with every move, every event, everything...countless letters and emails.

Naomi..."Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies". It's been 12 years...I think we've fallen out 3times...wow. You're my best friend and to say you've been supportive is an understatement. I dunno how many phonecalls I made to you from Scotland and you were there every time. I love you. Dr Pepper forever! Btw...I think Shane got the best wife in the world...you're a perfect pair.

Becca and Rebecca...how many miles apart are we and we're still in touch. Thanks for sticking by me and making everything a little more bearable. I miss you guys!!

Rob, Courtney, Cheryl, Racquel, Rob and Shawn...I love you guys. No one could ask for a better group of friends. You're my ongoing support through a lot of hard stuff. When I sent that one email to Andrew to get involved in a small group I didn't realise quite what I'd let myself in for...but I would never in a million years take it back. I'm so glad you're my friends and my family.

To all my friends in between...too many to mention individually. I love you all for everything you've done and all the help you've been. From just listening, to helping me, to making me laugh and challenging me.

To Ben...Thank you for letting me be your mommy. Thank you for forcing me to grow up and for shaping who I am. I love you and can't wait to watch you grow into an even more amazing person. You are everything to me.

To God...Thank you for never giving up on me even though I wandered far away from you. Thank you for blessing me with so many amazing people in my life and for giving me some of the greatest gifts I've ever received. Thank you for being my strength and carrying me through the hard stuff. Thank you for your never ending love.

Adieu.

Going up?

Ok so I'm not a big fan of elevators. I'm kind of scared of getting trapped in one and it being small and confined and there being no way out. I have a kind of phobia of being trapped...ok, a deifnate phobia. Well today was kind of like the elevator world threw all it's best stuff at me...

Firstly there was 'the pacer'. These are people who pace up and down the elevator while it moves. They seem nervous which in turn makes me feel more nervous. Why are they pacing in the first place...it doesn't make it go any faster and it's a small space so where are they pacing to? They only have about a metre and a half to walk up and down. I think it's kind of rude too because they don't really leave any room for anyone else so you're stuck in a corner in an already small space not knowing if the elevator will make it to your floor where you can get out and find air...sweet lovely open spaced air.

Secondly there was the fire retardent blankets. These coverings just serve to make the elevator seem smaller and they cover the buttons so you need to push them out of the way to find the buttons and then hold them back while all the other people press them too. To add to this whole situation someone in our building ever so nicely writes 'good' on them (apart from one where someone mispelled it and wrote 'God'). I mean what happens if you get in and one says 'bad' it's not like you can escape anywhere. You're just a person stuck in a small space with a defective blanket. Why do they feel the need to inform us as to whether they're good or bad...I'd rather live in blissful ignorance.

Thirdly there was the emergency phone. So I get into the elevator (bearing in mind I had already experienced 1 and 2) and the box is open for the emergency phone. This starts sending off alarm bells in my head. Why is this open??? Did someone have to use it??? Am I going to end up stuck in an elevator on my own and use this push button thingy ma doofer??? I'm not a big fan of phones either if I don't know the person....which is weird...a large part of my job is to answer the phone and make calls. I always trip over my words and sound like an idiot...I do that in elevators too. I need to pay more attention to the floors and the up and down arrows.

I just don't like elevators. Why can't we use stairs. It would help combat some of the weight problems that currently exist if we made everyone take the stairs instead of locking them and only using them for fires. I mean what's the point in that! Meh stupid elevators....please work.

My Lucky Number 7

Today I am the proud owner of a 4 year old.

As of 7.43am my little guy is 4.

Whoever told you that looked good...they lied.

So I'm driving into work today and I turn to my left and see the woman in the car next to me wearing a sun visor and sunglasses with the sun visor of the car pulled down (and it was dull outside)...excessive much. I really thought sun visors died out in the early 90s. They're one of those trends that should be put in a box somewhere and shipped to a remote island with speedos and leg warmers. Very few people actually suit them. They should only be used by golfers or tennis players.

It's not really the sun visor as such I have a problem with. For instance, I googled 'tasteful sun visors' and that picture is what came up. True story. I have no idea how that's in any way, shape or form 'tasteful'. The description was even better...'Bright colored balloons are set against a black background in this lighthearted sun visor that makes a great accessory for outdoor parties.' Outdoor parties...what are you going as...the clown? I mean seriously what outfit could someone put together that would possibly match such a hideous creation. I also googled ugly tacky sun visors...it's worrying there's a market for those...there was A LOT of applique.

Men also tend to suit them more. Although I might be basing this on the women with big hair who seem to style their hair around the sun visor. Think Dallas hair with a ledge. I even found a website that offers women a strapless sunvisor to reduce the risk of 'sunvisor headache'...seriously what is with that??? Why are you wearing something that gives you a headache? I mean, it's not like shoes where you suffer through the pain for the sake of fashion. Sun visors are not fashionable! The website also stated they were 'proudly made in the USA'...really, it's not proud of you.

However while women with big hair (which the woman this morning had) look like they've added a place for a bird to sit, I think one of the worst offenders of the sun visor trend is undoubtedly the people (primarily guys) who seem to think it's cool to wear it upside down. Why? What purpose could that possible serve. They're meant to shade your eyes from the sun...what are you doing with them? You don't look good. You just look like you can't dress yourself or, more likely, are an idiot. What happens when it rains? Are you trying to conserve water on your head for later?...I just don't get it.

The people who wear these without good cause (i.e not for sports) or don't suit them should be shipped off to live somewhere where they can contain their bad taste (or in some cases plain stupid taste). We could create a kind of colony of bad taste to contain fashion faux pas that people refuse to give up. Like old fat men who wear speedos and thongs, 80 year old women with boob jobs who wear bikinis, no one needs or wants to see that! We can also include people who still think shell suits are fashionable, people who wear high heeled caterpillar/timberland style boots, and women who insist that skin tight sliver jump suits can cross over into fashion...not happening. Oh and the women who think it's still cute to wear bright pink furry, with glitter thread, leg warmers....my ex flat mate had a pair...hideous....you're not 8 years old, by now you should have taste.

Just my opinion....but come on look at the balloon sun visor...would you wear it?!!?

Don't lie to me...it's not smart...

I know everyone has those companies they deal with that when you talk to them in your head you're thinking 'that's the biggest pile of crap I've ever heard...do you think I'm an idiot??'. Mine is currently the company who is selling me my house. I would name and shame but I do want it built at some point.

I was meant to be moving in to my house in November but got a lovely letter to say that won't be happening until March. Which is nearly 2 years after I had originally signed the paperwork...lovely. So I had a 'structural appointment'...and took my dad...have to bring the muscle lol. So They tell me they need me to decide on structural alterations that day and sign the document...oh and pay...not a lot to ask really. So I say no I want to think about some of them. So they push and push and she says they need this done because they're starting the construction. To which my dad informs her we live down the road from the site and we know that they hadn't even put the sewer system in. Yeah...got her there. So she agrees I can have a week. So after a week she tells me she needs me to sign more documents and she'll send me them in an email. Funny thing is this email never arrives. So 11 days later I get the email. After I call her 3 times and leave messages and eventually get her. To make matters worse...she's really rude to me telling me how she'd sent it and I hadn't replied...only nice when she realises she messed up and never sent the email!

So you're sensing my annoyance...well she really took the biscuit when she calls 3 days after she sends the email telling me I have to send the info back today (after telling me to take my time because she was busy) and when I said I couldn't she tells me it has to be today because 'they're breaking the ground' (now haven't we heard that somewhere before). Now this is the best bit....what I'm signing and sending back to her says I want a security system and a soaker tub...now how do either of those actually affect 'breaking the ground'...my tub is on the 3rd frickin floor!! I'd be worried if that affected the breaking of the ground since I wasn't told it was gonna be on ground level.

I fail to see why the response had to be today and not monday... seriously I can tell she's lying...just sayin... *frustration*

You really have to wonder sometimes....

So my friend in work sent an email around the office with some funny clippings from newspapers. But seriously...sometimes you really have to ask yourself are people this stupid...

Do you have issues?...really...think about it...

It's been one of those mornings...really truely did not go to plan. It was like a hideous mesh of bad decisions. However the crowning glory of the whole kit and kaboodle was the car in front.

So we're stuck behind a construction truck...going about 50...fair enough but it moves into the right lane as soon as the road goes from one lane to two lanes which is nice. So you'd think we'd all pass....but no...the car in front continues to do the same speed. Then there's lights and we stop so I think ok, surely we'll pass the truck...but no...oh no wait we did but we were doing 60 in an 80 and the car was crawling. I was running late for work so first chance I got I pulled out past the car and in front of the truck in an attempt to pass the car. Yeah...would've worked had the driver of the car not been an idiot and decided to speed up. I was doing a substantial speed (lets not name numbers) and he was going faster than I was to make sure I couldn't pass and therefore couldn't get back into the lane because when I slowed down to get back in behind him...he slowed down!! I got stuck behind a further two construction trucks. So he shot off in the other lane. When I eventually got back into the fast lane I caught up with him...not intentionally, believe me if I'd had a chocie nowhere near him would be good. So the majority of the way to work (going a decent speed) anytime I got close to him he would bolt and when he was away from me he'd slow down...this was nothing do with the other traffic on the road this was just some weird thing he had about not being near my car because the road was clear so there was no need for the irratic behaviour.

Seriously did want to ask him "Do you have issues???...really, you must have.."

Kinda like when I was tempted to get out of the car at traffic lights and say to the driver in front "I believe the pedel your looking for is the accelerator...it would be the one next to the pedel you constantly have your foot on..."

T-W-O

Ok so I know I'm a 'foreigner' but really I don't think my accent is that hard to understand. I know some words cause people difficulty in understanding and I know which words they are...usually numbers. Particularly 2 and 3 whereby people think the number 2 is the number 3. I had one such person today...I even spelled it out T-W-O and he thought I said 00... I mean come on!!! It is not difficult to understand. And then after going through a gruelling conversation where I tried to tell him the number was 2 8 not 3 8 I gave up and said yeah ok and he said "That's what I told you!!??!'...but it was me giving him the number!!! Just when I thought it was over he calls back and tells me the number is for the hospital and asks me for the number again so I repeat it again (now I should point out that the guy is a foreigner too and his accent is not the easiest to understand...BUT at least my primary language is english). So we go on the repeating venture again. I offer numerous times to get the guys to call him instead but get told point blank no he's going to call him. So the guy keeps saying he can't understand me and can he speak to someone else. I had to keep saying no there's just me...it was awful and he was so rude!!! It's 2...2...TWO!!!! NOT HARD!!!

I love him...

"Mommy you're my superhero because you save me everyday....and I'm the fireman with the big fire truck!"

The Hairband....

Matthew - What's with the hairband?

Me - He likes it. They painted his face and used it to push his hair back and now he likes it because it keeps the hair out of his face.

Matthew - So he's obessessed with men and wears hairbands

Me - David Beckham wore a hairband

Matthew - And that's meant to be reassuring how?

Me - He likes girls. He's married. See there's a silver lining.

Matthew - David Beckham's so far in the closet he's found Narnia.

For the last time...he just likes to accessorize! He also likes cars and diggers and all things boyish....and he has a girlfriend!

AHHHHHHH

You know I'm kinda ok with pretty much most bugs...I'm good that way. Some I don't get overly close to but I don't freak out I'm pretty happy to observe them and think they're pretty in their own right. But there's one...one bug I REALLY do not like. This bug I unfortunately encountered tonight. I wouldn't even call it a bug because that would be too kind...it was a beast...a total BEAST.
So I was going to take dinner reminents down to my other nemesis the green bin (really it makes me vomit...I think it's a disgusting thing this country does)...anyway...so I put my feet in an old pair of my mum's slippers that she keeps down in the garage and I feel something cold and wet on my right foot. I instantly pull my foot out after talking a step and start to shake the slipper. A couple of stones fall out and I think of maybe it was just cold stones but I continue to shake and there it was....THE BEAST...a big yuk cockroach. Seriously puked in my mouth a little. AND...it touched my foot!!! So I bolted out of the garage and I really did not want to touch my foot...soooo (good thing I'm flexible) I stuck my foot into the kitchen sink and turned the tap on. I didn't want to scrub it with soap because that would mean touching it and I wanted something more anticeptic...so I grabbed the kitchen cleaner spray and frantically started spraying my foot. So I did this until I had no feeling left in my foot from the cold water.
THEN...I grabbed the bug spray underneath the sink and went into the garage. When I left it looked dead...it was not! It was moving...MOVING....I had to keep moving Ben's Jeep to spray it continuously. I don't think I took my finger off the sprayer. The floor was white and it was still moving!!! It flipped....a fatal mistake and I sprayed every side of it until it didn;t move and was white from the sheer volume of spray...which also killed a small spider nearby from it's fumes...sorry little guy but you were sacrificed for the greater good.
It was truly awful. When I think about it I want to vomit....I might go wash my foot again with the spray....
I blame this on Methody...after 7 years at that school with mammoth cockroaches everywhere you'd think I'd be ok with them. I still remember the day I counted over 30 dead ones in a corridor...think pest control was in that day. I also still remember my shoe having a thin base and being able to feel them squish when you stood on them....vomit...gonna vomit...
It's so their fault...other bugs don't freak me out this much...ick ick ick...

LOL :)

So I've had a little down week and a friend in work showed me some quotes...I found soem rather amusing ones...

Jack Handy Quotes on life -

"Why do people in ship mutinies always ask for "better treatment"? I'd ask for a pinball machine, because with all that rocking back and forth you'd probably be able to get a lot of free games.”

“I hope some animal never bores a hole in my head and lays its eggs in my brain, because later you might think you're having a good idea but it's just eggs hatching.”

"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people.”

“You know what would make a good story? Something about a clown who make people happy, but inside he's real sad. Also, he has severe diarrhea.”

“It's fascinating to think that all around us there's an invisible world we can't even see. I'm speaking, of course, of the World of the Invisible Scary Skeletons.”

BUT....my favourite....


"The difference between a man and a boy is, a boy wants to grow up to be a fireman, but a man wants to grow up to be a giant monster fireman.”

Ohhh shiny scissors...

I found this fantastic necklace on Etsy...totally sums me up. It's that thing of being told to do something then just blatantly ignoring it and doing what you wanted to anyway. There's nothing like the invigoration of running with scissors. It kind of goes hand in hand with that phrase "be careful you might poke someone's eye out" or "it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt"....that's why you don't run near the stairs with the scissors...they're narrow and slippy.

Eventually we appear to have a day of actual proper summer sunshine and hotness. I wore pretty shoes. I probably shouldn't have said that since I've probably now jinxed it. *touch wood* it'll still be summer for the rest of the day and my pretty shoes will stay pretty instead of manky and wet with muddy water splashes on my legs. Love those. Looks like you're just a smidge retarded at doing camouflage and only did your feet and ankles therefore totally missing the point completely. It kinda like I'm going to war but I want to protect my feet...the rest of me not so much.

Yesterday's saga is a little on going...I'm open to job trade offers :) Just for a week or so.

Hug?

It's just been one of those days...

I kinda wish I hadn't got out of bed.

**Update** All sorted thanks to a fantastic friend!...who I love enormously :)

Ben-isms

So after the last post i started to think about some of Mr Ben's funnier moments....

The things that make him special...

After Christmas in Children's Church..

"Did you have a good time in Church?"

"Yes...I played with Jesus at his Birthday party"

"Poka Cola!!"

"I'm bulchie" (bulky)

"Did you just take a picture of your bear?"

"Yea...he's not a bear mommy...Ting's my best friend"

"Mommy, I used up all my hugs today, I'm in a rush"

On the father's day card to his granda that he made at daycare

"I like playing with my granda and our puppy" ...we don't have a puppy.

On discussing a little boy in daycares name..

"What was the little boys name Ben?"

"Saosan"

"Saosan?"

"No, Saosan"

"Saosan?"

"NO granny! Saosan!"

"Saosan?"

"GRANNY! Listen to my words!!! SAOSAN!!!"

(Mum was laughing too hard to respond)

After telling me...

"So Ben what was the little boy's name in daycare?"

"Saosan"

"Saosan?"
"NO, Saaooosssaaannn"

"Saosan?"

"Saosan?"

"GGGGRRRRR...Why are you not listening to my mouth??"

(Hysterical laughter...I know we're mean)

"Saosan?"

"OHHH...Jonathan???"

"YES!"

The arguement over the bears...I was trying to seize the moment and teach about sharing...Instead I lost an arguement with a 3year old.

He takes the bear (lucky) from my bed and stuffs it under his arm(just a note I don't sleep with the teddy bear...he just shares my bed).

"Where are you going with my bear?"

"I'm sleeping with him tonight"

"...but he's my bear...you have Ting"

"You need to learn to share mommy"

"Ok...then I'll have Ting"

"But Tings mine"

"But you have my bear so I'll take Ting...you need to share"

*thinks for a minute* "I'll get you one!...wait here!"

He comes back with a bear he disguarded in the corner

"Here you go mommy!"

"No...that's not the same, I'll have Ting...remember to share"

"No...Ting's mine"

I can tell I'm losing...

"Ok...I'll cut you a deal...I'll take Jeff the lion"

*more thinking* and he goes out of the room from which he yells...

"I've got you Monkey!"

"No, I want Jeff the lion"

So I come out of the room

"But I can't find Jeff" (Jeff is blatantly lying on the top of the pile of bears in plain view)

"He's right there" *I pick Jeff up*

*Silence* "Here have Monkey"

"No it's ok...I have Jeff"

(This was in the morning before I went to work) I put Jeff into my handbag and go to walk away.

"NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Until 2 nights ago he still had Lucky held captive in his bed.

There's so many more...I'll have to add some later.

Ben

Sometimes I think he's just being cute and then other times I think he's trying to push me into extending our family....

On his Ronald McDonald toy "I need my little brother...he's my brother"

Still on the same toy "rock-a-bye baby...SING IT FOR BABY MOMMY!"

On seeing my brother and his girlfriend "I need to wait for my baby sister Morgen"

On going to see my friends "Are you going to see your kids?"

There's so many more...but the best one came this morning...
"Mommy...you ain't got a Ben...you need to go make a new one" (No idea where he picked 'ain't' up from)
"How about no..."

All this from a child who doesn't like babies!
"Ben do you like babies?"
"Only the rubber ones in the cupboard" (the dolls at daycare)

"Ben, do you like babies?"
"No...they're yukkie"
"Why are they yukkie?"
(Totally deadly serious) "...Because they don't have pockets"
He even said it like it was the most normal thing in the world and I was stupid for not thinking of it.

Yummmmm

So I have a new nemisis...roasted salted cashews...discovered the other day and soooo tasty.
Not helping the diet. My perpetual diet. I have about a month to squeeze into that dress from last Christmas...so not happening. It's never good when you need to suck in, pull the fabric together, hurt your back and get your bracelet stuck in your hair just to get the zip up. I give up by the time it gets to the hook at the back. By that stage I need to sit down with a cup of coffee and hope the seam doesn't split
On the upside, I nearly broke my tooth on one...that should hinder the eating I hope!

Also...randomly...what did happen to summer? I'm not liking the muggy, humid, thunderstorm weather we're getting. Why are we getting Tornado warnings in August?? Not pleased. I can't wear my nice shoes. :[

Naomi...

yup...

I Love Stationary!

Yesterday I decided I'd had enough of not having the actual office supplies I needed after talking to a co worker. I know I'm a separate division in the office so can kind of find a round about way of getting what I need via my own boss. It has it's perks :)

So...I took to the Staples website to suss out what I needed (wanted). In hindsight I probably should've ordered from the website but that would take the fun out of actually going and looking at stationary and I'm too impatient to wait for postage...it may have hindered my spending though. With my co worker I went to Staples this morning...yay...I'm sad and I know it. I think I probably could've spent 5 times what I did...there's something about Stationary I really like. Kind of like a weird fetish but not that extreme. I don't sniff the pencils or anything.

You'd think it was Christmas at my pleasure at having a rolodex! (It has business card slots and everything!) Except there's no fat man in a red suit with a big beard...except the guy in the hall who says 'I know where you're going' everytime I (or any female) goes to the washroom...seriously scary.

So for today I'm being a pro activeworker :) Yay me! (And I have my rolodex to play with too!)

(BTW...found the picture on a fantastic blog I now love... http://ohilikethat.blogspot.com/)

My Friend The Enemy -

'Oh, May it flourish forever, That beautiful time of young love!'

And so the Beat goes on...

Well, it does what it says on the tin...my ramblings.
Used to have a blog or 2...did not keep them up so thought I'd give it a final shot. Plus, I'm kinda bored at work...