Our camping trip

Kay, so you know how we went camping for labor day weekend, right? Well our biggest mistake was trying to drive to Harrison Hot Springs, which is normally about two hours away, on the Friday, when everyone else in the free world is going camping. We left here at about 2:30 to make our way into Langley, where my sister works. I had to stop at her work on the way out to grab a part for her bbq that I was borrowing. So it took us about an hour and 25 minutes to get there, when it would normally take about 45 minutes that time of day. Brutal. After that we made our way into Chillowack to do our grocery shopping and then pick up Anastasia. That took forever as well. The traffic was a nightmare and we were starting to worry about getting there after dark. Well after our shopping, stopping at walmart for an extra tarp, and picking up the rug-rat, we arrived at the campsite at around 8:30 at night! We had to shine our headlights on our site so we could put up the kids tent, fill the air bed, make their beds, put up our little dome tent, fill it with our junk, and then make a bed for Kelly and me in the back of the van. Phew! What an ordeal! Needless to say, it was happy hour after that.

Apparently, the night before we arrived, my buddies that we were meeting up there got reprimanded a couple of times for their loud partying. So the park security was hovering around a little. This one guy who worked security, Jim, actually stopped by after his shift for a beer. He warned us of the bears and how to react if one wanders into the campsite. He advised us about different breads of bear and their dispositions. he talked about food storage and how to protect our coolers and seemed really knowledgeable. Then he went on to say that there were big foots living in the park...hmmm.... so I say, "wow, Jim, you know a lot about this stuff...how long have you worked here?" And he says...wait for it..."A month and a half" LOL I almost fell out of my chair! It was so funny that this guy only just started working there. we were all expecting him to say 30 years or something. what a hoot. I just had to get a picture with Jim...

LOL anyhoo, we went to the beach the next day and played in the sand. Alicia drew in her sketch book and made a sand sculpture truck.

Kelly blew up a floaty for Anastasia to play with (you have to click on this picture to see the look on his face. too cute.) and, I gotta tell you, that little girl can take the cold water. It was pretty darn chilly but you wouldn't know it by how she jumped in.

OUCH! I stubbed my food and now it's all swollen!

Arrrrrggghhh I'm a monster with a claw foot!!!

Okay, so we got a little silly playing in the sand. LOL

And of course we played guitar in the evening and sang by the camp fire. Alicia is getting so good on that guitar and sings so nicely, it brings me to tears every time.

That's my girl.

So the following day we cleaned up our site, played a little badminton, dropped Anastasia off at home and made our way back to our little townhouse in Richmond. It only took a couple of hours to get home cuz we left on the Sunday rather than the Monday when all the other suckers were stuck in traffic. It was fun...but now I'm in moving mode.

I hope you all had a great long weekend! I gotta go do some packing now!

Hey Y'all!

Hey blogging buds! sorry I've been so stinkin' busy these days I haven't had time to post. Moving is still in the works, car problems, taking up my time...I will get my poop together though, and resume blogging. right now I'm in the middle of a set of highlights, so I cant write much. I'll be back soon.

Good Bye my Beautiful Aunt

Well, the time came this morning, for my beautiful Aunt Ellen to leave this world. My dad's baby sister has gone to heaven. There is such a sadness in my heart today. My only consolation is that she is finally free of the fear and the pain and the sickness. My grief is partly selfish that I got to know her so late in the game and didn't have the benefit of her presence in my life until I was all grown up. And then for such a short time. My grief is greatly for my dad, who loves her so much and will cry for his baby sis. It's greatly for Curtis, who loved her better than anyone ever could and will cry for his sweetie pie. It's for Ellen who lost her life so young and will not grow old with the love of her life. It's for the whole world, who whether they know it or not, has lost a precious treasure. One that gave love and compassion for everyone, and saw beauty in every day things. One that had magic in her words and got pleasure out of giving to others. She will always be in my heart, for evermore, and every good thing I ever do again will be in her name.

Summer Fun

Here are my two little sweeties at the skating rink.

I decided it would be nice to take the girls and have a little fun. I was pretty impressed at their abilities. I had Alicia skating since she was 2, but it's been a while and she still does pretty darn well. Anastasia has been a few times, but was really brave about letting go of the scooter (basically a walker on ice) and going it alone.

We managed to get out of there with very few injuries, which is a good thing, because the next day we went to Play land!!! This first one is on the scrambler. We tried to ham it up a titch whenever we spun close to Kelly, who was ready and waiting for the photo ops!

Here are our girls during the mini golf portion of our day. Fore!!!

Things started getting a little competitive at the golf course. Everybody wants to be Tiger Woods!Okay, you two...simmer down! LOL

Typical Dad ends up carrying everything. LOL I have the cutest little family!

Hey, how did I get roped into this!!!????!!!???

This one cracks me right up! This was on the big wooden coaster that has been at Playland for a few decades. I love it, obviously...

This one is on the last ride of the day...the log ride...should have been called the "sog ride" cuz you get soggy on it. It is basically a roller coaster in water...great for a hot day. Is it just me or is this picture hilarious!


We had so much fun we ended up staying for 7.5 hours! We played games and won stuffies, we ate warm mini donuts and burgers, we went on every ride we wanted to (for Kelly that was one ride and then he got queezy...snicker snicker)we played mini golf, and just had a really fun time.

this is one of my favorite pictures from our day at Playland. It was taken by a stranger that was behind us in the mini golf. He was all long black hair and piercings in his face, but the boy takes a great picture! I think I'll have this one framed. To me, it's the perfect picture from the perfect day.

I wrote this post when I first started my blog. My beautiful Aunt is so sick now, that she can't write in her blog anymore. She can't get out of bed without help. I know she's leaving us and sometimes I feel very logical about it, as though I've mentally prepared. But after reading Curtis' last two posts, I realize that there is no way to prepare. I sit here broken hearted, tears falling and just feel sick. I reread all about the crane project and cried my eyes out. So many people love this wonderful woman. She's an angel on Earth.

This is my beautiful Aunt Ellen, who has inspired me to start blogging. My first recollection of her was at her first wedding when I was about 7 years old. After that, I didn't see her again until last summer when she came to visit us in BC.
My Aunt Ellen has an energy about her that just makes me want to stop and smell the roses. I read her blogs daily to keep up with her thoughts and feelings, and she just makes me wish I could be near her. It's funny how you can see some relatives and wonder where the heck the genetic connection is. With her, I instantly felt a kinship. I felt like I was talking to a long lost sister rather than an aunt. This picture was taken the day she left BC. I had said my goodbyes the night before, but ran back over to my parents' house the next morning to catch her before she and her wonderful husband Curtis left. The reason, to get this picture.
As I mentioned in my last entry, my sis, my daughter and I made a calendar for my dad last year for Fathers Day. The calendar featured my dog Frisky in various costumes representing a significant event or holiday for each month. I figured, what could be more significant for that month than her visit with us?
My Aunt has been suffering with some pretty heavy medical issues in the last couple of years. Cancer is so cruel. It can take away so much, and yet she always seems to have time, energy, and concern for others. Just reading her blogs shows me that. Seeing the concern and love that pours onto her from former students, fellow bloggers, and friends is a direct indication of how many lives she has touched and continues to touch each day. She's a truly lovely person with an obvious passion (and skill) for writing stories of her childhood, and of daily events that can make you smile to yourself, or well up with tears.
We were all lucky enough to meet and get to know her husband Curtis as well. I rarely see a couple so much in love. It shows in the way they look at each other, talk to each other, and take care of each other. Truly inspiring to those of us who haven't found Mr. or Mrs. right just yet.
I was reading Curtis' blog the other day and my heart swelled so much I thought it would burst. He was talking about how happy it made him to see my Aunt happy, and I just thought it was the sweetest, most genuine sentiment. So heartfelt I sat there grinning from ear to ear while at the same time tears stung my eyes. Of course, I can't even get through an episode of Little house on the prairie without bawling, but still!
Anyway, I've only laid eyes on Curtis and Aunt Ellen a handful of times, but I love them both. Somehow, they move me, sap that I am.

The Vancouver Zoo

Warning! Dangerous animal! Do not tease or touch!





Well yesterday was pretty overcast, so there was no beach for me! I took most of the week off to hang out with Anastasia while Kelly was at work. She's with us for about ten days, so we thought we'd do some fun, adventurous things. Yesterday we went to the Vancouver Zoo. It's about an hour and fifteen minutes from my house, but it's well worth it. The place is huge and is constantly being improved. A couple of years ago I was there with a friend and, as we walked by the hippo enclosure, we marveled at the bravery of two zoo workers who were getting dangerously close to a hippo that was soaking in a pool of water. The next day in the news, it was reported that one of the hippos had died. That explained the bravery. Anyway, after an investigation, it came out that the conditions that the hippos were living in bordered on abusive and were most certainly neglectful.

Well, after all the finger pointing and threats to the zoo, there has been massive improvements that are ongoing and the hippo's enclosure is now a haven for these guys.

Here's the little lioness sunning herself with the girls.



It's hard to see in this pic, but I think these were the baboons. I just liked the pic cuz it's a nice one of this rare "blue haired booger nugget."

So for today's' adventure Alicia, Anastasia, and I will be off to the arena to go ice skating. Stay tuned for the riveting photographic evidence of our day! LOL

Summer Rocks!

One chilly evening at the beach, we asked a passer by to snap a picture of us. We laughed and laughed when we viewed the pic because it looks like it was taken from three miles away and it may or may not actually be us.



Since Kelly has freakishly long arms, he's able to take pics of us himself. lol.


It's such a nice beach and less than a half hour drive, so we love going as often as possible. As the sun goes down, the sky looks so pretty. It is a little vacation for us every time we go.


Tonight, Anastasia comes to stay with us for the week, and I'm taking most of the week off, so I'm hoping for great weather so I can take her and Alicia to the beach. I love Summer.

I love summer!

Ok, clearly I'm going to suck this summer for blogging. Kelly and I have been hangin out on the beach every day this week after work. There's just no time! I'm so behind on keeping up with my reading, too, I can only hope everyone is slowing down right now. I've got some pictures we took on Kelly's phone that haven't made it onto the computer yet, but when they do, I'll post them. we are so incredibly lucky to live in a place where a 25 minute drive gets you to a sandy, sunny beach. Anyway, between our summer outings and preparing to move, there are just not enough hours in the day. I'm gonna write my M.P. and ask if we can't maybe tack a few extra hours onto the end of each day. LOL! If only it was that easy. Anyway, sorry I suck so bad at posting. I'm sure after the summer when it's gray and rainy I'll get my game on. Take care all!

Good News!

Y'know my salon is in the house my parents rent, right? Well my parents have decided to move and buy a place of their own, so they found a really nice townhouse and I'm really happy for them. Because of this new developement, I have had to look at my options. Plan "A" was to appeal to my parents' landlords and see if they would let Kelly and I take over the rent. Plan "B" was to find a job at a salon and work like a normal person, and plan "C" was to start looking for a job at a hairdressing school as a teacher. Well, my folks spoke to the landlords, who have agreed to rent the place to Kelly and I. Yaaaaay!!! This is great news to me. A bigger place, the salon right downstairs, and I get to keep the business I have been building for the past 10 years. I'm a happy camper.

Anyway, now I'm starting to pack, paint the walls back to white (yuck) and bring boxes over every time I go to my parents' place. I'm pretty busy, so I'm not gonna be on my game with the blog for the next couple of months. I'm still gonna post, but it seems hard for me to get more than a post or two a week at best. Moving is so busy, I want to get as much done in the next couple of months as I can. That way life is easier when moving day comes.
Anyway, gotta go do some hair!

Aaaahhhhh Summer

When I was a kid I had a bitchy friend named Theresa. She was really moody...like when you'd sleep over at her house, you'd wake up at a reasonable time, and she'd sleep until one in the afternoon. Then when you were about to starve to death, so you'd try and wake her, she'd rip your head off.

So one day, we decided to actually get up at a reasonable hour, get ready, hop on a bus, and go to our favorite beach in Vancouver. We had planned to meet some friends there, but wanted to get a good log to set up beside, so we headed off before anyone else did. We got to the beach and found the perfect log close to the water and fairly close to the concession stand. After laying out our towels and blankets, we lay down to catch some rays. Aaaaaaahhhhh, I've always been a sucker for the sun. At the idiotic age we were, we had no regard for the damage it could cause, so we slathered ourselves up really well with lots of baby oil, and both of us drifted off into a deep sleep.

When I opened my eyes, the sun had moved over quite a bit. How long had I been sleeping, I wondered. I looked down at myself to see that I had been sleeping long enough to get a nasty sunburn. Looking over at my friend, I noticed that she was still laying on her tummy sawing logs, but had a towel thrown over her diagonally covering about a third of her back. I gingerly lifted a corner to see the contrast between the blinding white skin under the towel and the bright lobster red skin that had been exposed to the sun for God knows how many hours. Yikes! I tried to gently wake her by saying her name...then I shook her shoulder and said her name a little louder. On the third try, she didn't open her eyes, but she did screech, "Leave me alone!" When I tried again, she screeched something starting with an "F" and ending with an "OFF!"

By this time, I had just about had enough of he temper, so I did what anyone would do. I carefully replaced the towel diagonally on her back so that it lined up exactly with the crisp line that the raging burn had created, put some sunscreen on my own burn, so as not to let it burn further, and went to the concession stand for a nice ice cream cone. Sweet dreams Theresa...

Needless to say, the girl suffered pretty severely for her bitchiness. She agonized over her burn for a week, and then peeled like an onion. LOL Not to mention the fact that she looked ridiculous with a diagonal line across her back, one side so red it was almost purple, and the other white as snow. You know, on the way home from the beach she was sitting in one of the courtesy seats and I was sitting in a seat right beside them when a little old lady got on the bus. She looked at Theresa who quickly spat out, "I'm not giving up MY seat!" So I gave her mine. She just never learned that nothing good comes of being so bitchy!

Oh FYI, my burn turned into a nice golden tan. Hmmmm. karma? Perhaps.

our busy weekend

Okay, so here's Kelly and I just before going to his friend's wedding. Alicia took this picture of us outside our townhouse.



These ones are Alicia and Anastasia at the salmon festival here in Richmond on Canada day. It was a lot of fun, just watching them goof off together.
It was a nice warm day, in fact, Anastasia needed some fresh air on the way home.

That morning I had colored Anastasia's hair blue. She's funky.

We had such a busy weekend, on Saturday we went to the mall in the morning, a wedding in the evening, and then a party that night. Then Sunday we were at the Salmon fest, and then we had to take the round trip from here to Victoria on the ferry to bring Kelly's little one home. So Monday was a nothing day and I loved it. We slept in late, hung out around the house, had a little visit with my sis, and then came home and watched a movie. We borrowed "the lake house" from Kelly's mom and dad...it stunk. No more time to write, I'm afraid. I've been on the computer for a while now, so I'd better get something done today. LOL.

LOL

My bad, my bad! LOL
Sorry guys, I just haven't had time to post lately. I feel much better now about the ball thing. It's really the farthest thing from my mind. Kelly and I have been in the process of moving him in with Alicia and me. It's so weird that I've been so commitment-phobic for so long, and then I meet Kelly and 4 months later we're shackin' up! I'm really happy, though and it feels so comfy and right.
Anyhoo, we took the girls to our local Canada Day festival on Sunday and blew about a million dollars on an ice cream each, a drink each, and putting Alicia and Anastasia on a couple of rides. The crowd makes you want to go postal, too, but ya gotta go into these things expecting it to be hot and crowded. Then you're typically left with one or two tickets, which get you on nothing, so you either have to buy more tickets or give your extras away. Hmmmm...I think I'll stand in the ticket line again so I can stand in a ride line again...NOT! LOL so I handed my remaining tickets over to the nearest stranger and we made a break for it. I have to say we did great on the parking. Just slid right in there, no probs.
So anyway, it really was a nice day and we all had fun, in spite of my ramblings. I hope you all did too! I have a couple of stories bangin' around in my head, so next time I'll post one of them. Take care!

I'm so pissed

I'm so pissed off, so I'm gonna use you guys to vent my frustration. I've been playing on my baseball team for ten years now. When Drew and I started dating the first time, he would come out as a spectator, and eventually he began to play for the team. Then when we broke up, he stopped coming out to ball. Well, after a season or two, Drew started coming out to watch again, and then, again, he rejoined the team. That was when we decided to try being in a relationship again. As you all know, due to his inability to be honest in a relationship, it fell apart and ended after about 7 months. Okay, so that's the back ground information.

When I began the season this year, I was told that Drew didn't want to play because of what had happened between us, but his friends were urging him to shake it off and come out anyway. So he ended up playing for the team after all.

So I've found it very awkward this year because he's made some good friends on the team, so now the team seems very divided. Nobody is mean to me or anything, but if Kelly and I are on one side of the field, Drew and his posse are on the other. If Kelly and I wander over to hang out, Drew wanders away, followed by all his friends, leaving Kelly and I standing there together. This is getting so uncomfortable, I'm not having fun anymore. I told the team manager that I will play in the games if they are short females, but if they don't need me, I'm staying home. I don't want to leave them in the lurch, but at the same time, it really sucks to feel so excluded.

Now I'm just finding out that we're having our baseball team party, but I haven't heard a thing about it. Like, excuse me, I'm not invited to my team party? It's being held at the home of a good friend of Drew's so I guess this is Drew's team now, and not mine. So why the hell should I care if they need me or not? I just want to quit and be done with it. I almost burst into tears on the field when my "friend" who's on the team told me about the party. The fact is, I'm going to a wedding the day of the party, and I have an invitation from another friend to go for drinks at her place that night, so I couldn't have gone to the baseball party anyway. But "ouch" it stings that I'm being left out like this. Am I in Junior high again? And how did the entire team manage to keep it so hush-hush about the party? Like, don't talk about it around Sharon, she's not invited. But we'll use her to fill a spot on the team so we have enough girls.

Anyway, I'm so done with this crap. They can stuff it.

Clean livin'

My friend Kiki, who lives in Greece, and I did a lot of things together as kids and as teens. I'll never forget when we decided to start exercising at the local swimming pool. They had this aerobics class that we signed up for with all the best intentions.

Now Kiki's Dad was a pretty strict guy, so he insisted on driving us too and from the pool to make sure that we were actually going where she said we were. That was no problem, since we had every intention of going to the class and becoming a couple of hard bodies.

We hopped out of the back seat of Mr. Kyrmizoglou's car...yeah, I know...Kyrmizoglou...and made our way to the aerobics room. We found a spot and watched as the instructor set up. Shortly after, the class began. We dipped, we kicked, we flexed, we pushed, we pulled. We stretched...pant...we repeated...pant, pant...we stepped...wheeze...we crunched...cough...pant...we looked at the clock to find we'd only been there for 10 minutes!

I glanced over in my friend's direction to see that she was looking at me with pain in her eyes. She goes, "do you want to go to MacDonald's?"

So needless to say, we were out the door and across the street scarfing burgers and fries within minutes! Of course we had to make it back in time for her father to see us walk out of the front door of the pool, but that was no probs! By the time his car pulled up in front of the building, we were strolling through the double doors looking like we'd just had the workout of our lives.

Aaaaah, nothing like cleeeeaaaan livin! That was the best Macworkout I've ever had!!!

Just some stuff

So I had my parents and Kelly's parents over for dinner on Saturday so they could meet. It went really well, though it was pretty much the hottest day we've had this year so far. Maybe not the best day to have lasagna in the oven for an hour. We had two fans going and all the doors and windows in the house open. The lasagna was nummy, by the way. We also had salad and garlic bread with cake and ice cream for dessert. mmmmmmm.

Last night we were invited to Alicia's school for awards night. Apparently she was receiving an award for something. They don't tell you what award you're getting, only that you're getting one. So it ended up to be for her visual arts class and the award was what they call a "passion for learning" award. I was a proud mama.
The person announcing the names of the recipients was the librarian of the school. Wow, talk about booooring. No oomph what so ever! Just droning on in a monotone voice, like could they have picked anyone with less enthusiasm and energy? I don't think so. It truly was like listening to one of Charley Brown's teachers...wa wa, wa wa, wa wa...

Anyway, shouldn't make fun, I guess...just kidding! Ha ha did anyone out there buy that? Shouldn't make fun...snort...aaaaahhhhh.

Anyway, I'm just doing cuts today, so it's a no brainer day. Only two more to go, and then I'm off to buy a $35 000 000 lotto ticket. Fingers crossed! Actually, my next one is in 5 minutes or so, so I guess I should wrap it up. Didn't really have anything to post about today, so forgive me for talking about nothing. LOL. Maybe next time I'll come up with something fascinating to say. Don't count on it, though. ;)

He swept me off my feet!!!

Kelly is the sweetest, most romantic man I've ever known. I don't want to give you all cavities, but the man is like no other man I've ever met. He lets me be myself and loves me for who I am. He's confident enough to let me take the straightening iron to his normally curly hair (He looks like he's up to no good in this picture...yup, definitely got something up his sleeve.)





...and he's trusting enough to be comfortable with me cutting his hair short. Wow, he looks different, eh? Oh my God, he's so cute no matter how he wears his hair!!!

He's a great Dad to his daughter, who obviously loves him like mad. Here they are building a lego town. I think some poor lego dude was being eaten by a lego shark when I took this.

He has a great sense of humor, which is a must for me. I enjoy laughter in my life and wouldn't last with someone who couldn't get silly. I love the fact that he can strike a balance between the child within him and being able to carry a serious conversation. Last night Alicia and I were clicking our heals together in the living room, and Kelly grabbed the camera to capture this little nugget...LOL That's a ripper!



Okay, besides how wonderful Kelly is, look how well our kids get along. These were taken at the mall. They're just like sisters. AAAAAAWWWWWWWE!!! Aren't they the cutest?






Okay, so now that I've gushed all over the place, a couple of weeks ago, Kelly and I were standing in the living room, when he suddenly took me in his big strong arms and began to slow dance with me. Isn't that so romantic? So we were swaying back and forth and I was just getting swept away. He gazed into my eyes, and then began to go in for the dip. Oooh, how fun! So as he begins to dip me, his foot slips from underneath him sending us both crashing toward the coffee table! (Just as a side note, there was a candle holder on the table that Alicia and her friends slightly broke. It just needed a little glue to reattach one of the pieces.) So, I crash into the table first, as Kelly struggles to maintain some control over the fall, and he follows me down nailing my cheek with his shoulder! We ended up totally warping the coffee table, and as for the candle holder that was in two pieces...now it's in about six pieces in the bottom of a garbage bag. If it wasn't totaled before the "dip" it most certainly was after. LOL. I know, I told you he's romantic. The great thing is, we can laugh about these crazy things. I can't believe I've found someone so perfect for me. I've never been happier, even with a bruised cheek!

Sweet sweet revenge.

My brother Dennis took great pleasure, as a child, in scaring the living crap out of his siblings. He loved to hide around corners waiting for his victims to happen by and then pounce, causing his prey to have a heart attack. Dennis and my sis Sheryl had asthma and sometimes, late at night Sheryl would creep into his room to borrow his inhaler if she had run out. One night she opened his door and quietly sneaked over to his bedside table so as not to wake him, and as she slowly reached out to pick up the inhaler, Dennis' hand flew out and grab her wrist! She just about fainted. He loved that kind of stuff.

One night, as Dennis was getting ready for bed, I saw an opportunity to get him back for all the heart attacks he gave me as a child. I sneaked into his room while he was in the bathroom and quickly climbed under the covers of his unmade bed, making sure to lay in a way that looked like I was just part of the wrinkles in his covers. from under the covers, I heard Dennis enter his room. He hummed to himself as he got undressed and put his PJ's on. It was everything I could do to contain myself as he went about his routine, completely comfortable in his assumption that he was alone. I heard him make his way over to the door, and then saw the lights go out from under the blanket. He shuffled over to his bed, and as he drew the covers back, getting ready to climb in, I sat up screaming "BOOOO!!!"

Aaaaah, sweet revenge! There's nothing like it, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. I just about peed myself laughing at his reaction. It was so sweet to see the familiar terror that was usually in my eyes, but this time was in his. It only lasted a moment, but it still lives on in my memory. He was a great sport about most things growing up, and this was no exception. I could tell he could appreciate the time and patience it took to pull that off. And I was just a little snot. My sister also appreciated the prank. To this day she brings it up, smiling at the prospect of someone getting even for all the times he jumped out from behind potted plants, or just simply walked up behind an unsuspecting victim and jolted them from behind. Snicker snicker snort...Still cracks me up to think of it...

Man, was it that long ago that I posted last??? Wow, time just flies! Anyway, last weekend we went to Kelly's parents' house for dinner. Kelly had to help his nephew with his computer and since he and Kelly's sis live only a few doors from his folks' place, we thought we'd get together. Also, I wanted to introduce Alicia to his family, so she came along. Kelly also suggested we bring Frisky (our little dog) which I was a little apprehensive about, but went along with after a few repetitions of, "are you sure?"

Anyhoo, we had a nice dinner with Kelly's family, but for the most part, he and his nephew were a few doors down dealing with the computer issue. It was a little awkward because I could tell his Dad was tired and I felt a little like they were babysitting us while Kelly was gone. Besides that, though, they are very nice and hospitable. It just maybe wasn't the best way to introduce them to Alicia and Frisky.

Out of nowhere, Kelly's sister's dog, (thank God not Frisky) who fallows their dad around like a shadow, starts dragging her ass down the carpet, leaving a nice brown skid mark about two or three feet long. His dad was not happy. I think his exact words were, "#$%*$*&#!!!!!!" I may be mistaken, though.

After the crap had been scrubbed out of the carpet, Kelly and his nephew, Christian, came in and started wrestling in the living room. It's a small condo, and his mom was reminding them of that, but the rough housing continued. Kelly's little girl Anastasia ran to one end of the coffee table, grabbed hold, and gave it a tug to make more room. Well the thing must have been held together with Elmer's glue because it collapsed into, like, six pieces onto the living room floor, spilling all of it's contents all over. Again, dad's head almost popped off. The poor guy just wanted some peace and quiet and his house had been pooped on and his table broken.

By the time we got into the car to get home, we were all pooped. Sigh. I'm kind of pooped just posting about it. Anyway, gotta go shampoo this set of highlights.

This song is one I wrote last year. Thought I'd share it with you all. I hope it works. It took for ever to upload!

Pink Flamingos

When my sister turned 40, I wanted to do something special for her. Something that would tell the world (or the townhouse complex) that her Birthday was something to be acknowledged. So I got to work on a couple of projects. The first was a big sign that read, you guessed it, "Lordy Lordy look who's forty!" I made sure it was huge and painted with bright colors, so that all who emerged from there townhouses would see it. My next project was my favorite of the two. I took a few sheets of green foam that I had bought at the dollar store, some pink pipe cleaners, and eighty tiny googly eyes and got to work. Out of each pipe cleaner, I fashioned a perfect little pink flamingo standing on one leg. After this long job, I put a spot of glue on the bottom and poked all forty of them into the foam sheets so that they stood up. Then I glued two little eyeballs on each little flamingo. I couldn't have been more pleased with how it turned out, so on her Birthday morning I sneaked over to her door, hung the poster with some balloons, and lay the sheets of flamingos on the hood of her car, so that they would be the first thing she saw when she opened her door. She got a real kick out of that, and brought them to work to show her coworkers. One of the things that I requested of her was that she pay it forward. The next person that she knows who turns 40, she has to pass the flamingos on to and they have to do the same. I think it would be funny to see how many people will get the flamingos. Our girlfriend Daveen will be turning 40 next, so we are going to pass the little flamingos on to her next month. Sheryl was suggesting that whomever gets the little guys, write their date of birth on the bottom of the foam mats and sign it, so if they make their way around the lower mainland, people can see the journey they have had!