Suburban Princess

Yesterday was my last day at work. It was really fun. My manager even had me sit in on an interview with a potential candidate for my position, which was nice and I got to add my own input! Lots of people came by my desk to say goodbye and a bunch of us went for Thai food for lunch. They ordered a couple of desserts too, telling the waitress it was my birthday (maybe hoping it would be free)and she came over with mango ice cream and deep fried bananas with a candle on top, singing "happy birthday," so everyone joined in! It was so funny. Then when we were going back to the office, the waitress walked by and said, "Bye - happy birthday!" which started me giggling again.

It was actually hard to say goodbye. My manager kept hovering around my desk, chatting, and when I went to say goodbye he hugged me and said he was sorry to see me go. As I drove away from the office I kept thinking to myself, "I just made a huge mistake. I just really blew it. I just totally screwed myself!" When my kids get older they better appreciate the sacrifices I'm making to be home with them while they're little!

The absolute high part of the day was meeting Rigby, Clay and Carly's friend Jason last night for Audioslave!



After a rocky start when I locked my damn keys in the car and had to call a tow truck, we were off to GM Place. I was so excited when the show was starting, almost excited as superfan Clay, who almost ditched us for not moving fast enough.



I almost couldn't contain myself when they came onstage and started playing. I really like their new album Out of Exile and hearing it live only made me like it more. Chris Cornell looked great (even though Carly thought his haircut looked brutal, and I had other concerns about his physique, to be detailed later).

Carly's friend Jamie came by and she went out for a minute to talk to him, and when she came back, she said he'd told her that the Spoonman was there! I was so excited, I almost wished she didn't say that so I could be surprised. When Chris Cornell introduced him and brought him out during "Spoonman" they let him play a bit longer than he did in the actual song, which I thought was pretty cool.

And can I just say, when I hear those first few chords from "Rusty Cage" I get chills?? As soon as I heard that, I got goosebumps everywhere. EVERYWHERE. (I'm playing it as I write this, and started the song back at the beginning and yup, still get 'em too.) I was so excited I was jumping up and down and stomped on Clay's foot, and had to calm myself down before he decked me for dirtying up his shoes.

But the Rage songs took the cake. Chris Cornell left the stage (I don't know why I keep calling him "Chris Cornell" instead of just Chris, I just can't for some reason) and the band played what he called a melody, then started in on "Bulls on Parade." Holy crap. The crowd went bananas! All the Rage songs got way more of a response than even the new Audioslave stuff. I was in shock, even though Carly had told me that the same thing had happened at the show in Seattle a few months back (that I almost got to go to instead of Carly.) Back in "the day" I was a big Soundgarden fan, and while I knew some Rage songs I wasn't a huge fan. Now I can say I have a bit more love for them, and have downloaded a few songs since the show.

The only Soundgarden song I wanted to hear that they didn't play was "Jesus Christ Pose", but I've gotten over that.

Okay, so the big question of the night was, "Does Chris Cornell have man-boobs?" I swear when he was jumping up and down that I saw movement. I did. I pointed it out to Carly near the end of the show because it was bugging me, but he didn't jump anymore after that, almost like he'd heard me.

Man-boobs?

The debate continued in the parking lot where Jason declared that they were pecs, and even pecs jiggle if they aren't flexed. I wasn't aware of that, so I'm willing to believe the lack of male mammaries, but I will be trolling for recent topless photos of CC before issuing final judgement.



Oh, and this was the first concert I've been to and bought a shirt. I was so thrilled because the shirt I got looked exactly as I'd hoped:



Very fun night.

Bex ended the show at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments

I got this from a message board I visit. Who's the top five on your laminated card, and who's a backup?

My laminated list:

David Beckham (Another reason I like English football, and the nickname Bex)
Johnny Depp (Could IMDB have picked a more unflattering photo for his profile?)
Jude Law (Even though Rigby sent me an unflattering link about his "lack of substance" in certain areas...)
Steve Young (the reason I am/was a 49ers fan, even though I don't even follow football)
Hayden Christensen (I'll watch Star Wars with my kid any day)

And an honourary addition to my laminated list:

Olivier Martinez

My backups:

Michael Vick (Sorry Rigby, he only makes my backup so far)
Jamie Foxx
Cillian Murphy
Adam Levine
Kobe Bryant

Tag - you're it.

Bex ended the show at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments

I'm having a great day. This is my last week of work, and although I'm sorta sad to be leaving, I'm happy that I won't have to truck my kids back and forth to my mom's house 45 minutes away anymore since our nanny went back to school.

I'm also super stoked about the new iPod nano I just bought online last night! Eeeee! I can't wait until I get it, I ordered it through work, and the website says it should arrive a day or so after ordering. I got a black one, just a 2GB, but it holds about 500 songs, so that should hold me. I am so so so excited!

I also got a digital camera (thought I'd take advantage of the employee discount before I quit.) My old camera died about a year ago and I've been using my mom's really old digital camera, so I finally got a new one.

I'm also excited because I'm seeing two shows this week - tomorrow night Rigby and I are going to see Green Day/Jimmy Eat World. I'm not as big a fan as she is, but hey, it's a show and I'm just there for a good time. Then on Thursday (my last day at work) we are going to AUDIOSLAVE! I am so excited I get giddy thinking about it. I know I sound like such a huge nerd, but I missed seeing them in Seattle a few months back (at the Paramount, where I saw Johnny Mathis last November, which is a gorgeous theatre and would have been an amazing concert) so I'm so thrilled that I get to see them after all.

There's other good things going on too - a few people at work asked for my card, so if all goes well, I could end up with a new freelance client or two. I also am going to check out a networking group my friend Deb is a part of, so it will be nice to get around people even though I'm not going in to the office anymore.

I am also really excited because I've started thinking about Xmas shopping! Devon wants pretty much anything Star Wars, and since we've watched the old movies (Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) and two of the new ones (The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones)and I have to say I'm a fan now too. Particularly of Hayden Christensen, but that's another post.

Life is good today.

Bex ended the show at 8:57 AM | Permalink | Comments

I was getting sick of that puke colour on my blog, and I don't like any of the templates available, so it's basic white for now until I can figure out how to make it look better. Yeah, I know, it looks really boring, but hang on and I'll get it looking fit for a...

Bex ended the show at 3:13 PM | Permalink | Comments

YellowandOrange didn't tag anyone, but since I'm a complete sucker for these types of things:

10 Years Ago: Ten years ago I had just moved to Vancouver from Abbotsford and was about to move in with Hubby. We weren't even dating anymore, but his sister had just moved here from Halifax with her boyfriend, and Hubby told her I'd be cool to hang out with, and got her to call me. We started hanging out, and by default Hubby and I ended up together again. We moved into Beach Towers on Beach Avenue, the best place I've ever lived - ever! I got a job at a law firm downtown and felt like I'd reached the top of my game. I was happy - life was good.

Five Years Ago: Hubby and I had just moved from our basement suite in Walnut Grove (Langley, BC) to another basement suite in Westwood Plateau in Coquitlam. Devon was eight months old. I was growing tired of staying home alone with a baby while Hubby was gone with our only car all day, so I got a part-time job at Fitness World, and while the club was under construction we were selling memberships out of a trailer in the parking lot. I worked with four or five other people and some days it was so slow we'd just goof off all day. It was so much fun, I almost felt sad when the club opened and we were working in the gym and doing actual work. I got quite good at the bus system with a stoller on my days off when I wanted to go spend my paycheques too.

One Year Ago: We had just moved into our new townhouse in Pitt Meadows and I was working on my freelance business. I was actually really busy over the fall. Hubby and I did the Atkins diet most of last year, and he lost 40 pounds and I lost 25. (I've gained about 15 back though, so once I'm finished at my job I'll have more time to go back to the gym.)

Yesterday: I got up and took Devon to kindergarten, then came home and gave Camryn a bath and had a shower. In the afternoon I took the kids to the dentist, and they did so well that I decided to take them to pick out a new movie each. Mommy found a movie she likes (Almost Famous) and helped herself to one too. Had friends over to play after that. Then last night the babysitter came over and Hubby and I went to watch a friend's hockey team (he is one of the coaches) play in Delta, and went to Cactus Club for some food and drinks after. Fell asleep promptly around 2:30am.

Five Songs I Know All The Words To:
1. The Iceberg - Ice-T (probably some of the crudest lyrics I know)
2. The Seed - The Roots
3. Its Great to be an Engine - Thomas the Tank Engine
4. Bob the Builder Theme Song
5. Track #8 (I think - can't remember what it's called) on Gwen's L.A.M.B. album

Five Snacks:
1. Chocolate
2. Those low-carb, whole wheat tortilla chips I bought - yum
3. strawberries and cream
4. Black Cherry diet Jones soda
5. Green grapes from Langley Farm Market

Five Things I'd Do With $100 Million:
1. Pay off debt
2. Take the trip of a lifetime
3. Give enough money to get my family and friends comfortable
4. Invest
5. Buy a Jaguar XK8

Five Places I'd Run Away To:
1. Hawaii
2. Seattle
3. England
4. Australia
5. Somewhere in the South Pacific

Five Things I'd Never Wear:
1. A poncho
2. Those hippie skirts that are popular right now
3. Gotta agree with Toni - those half sweater things
4. Anything cowboy or western
5. A sweater set

Five Favorite TV Shows:
1. I
2. don't
3. watch
4. T
5. V

Five Greatest Joys:
1. Playing with my kids, especially when we play horsie ride, and I buck them off
2. Writing something I am proud of, and getting great feedback
3. Those late nights where Hubby and I lay in bed and laugh our heads off at dumb stuff
4. Road trips, getting on a plane to go somewhere new
5. Spending the whole day reading a good book, and not having anywhere to be that day

Five Favorite Toys:
1. My computer
2. The iPod nano I am going to buy
3. my cell phone (I love text messaging)
4. My debit card (loooove to shop)
5. I would say my digital camera, but since I am using my mom's old one since mine pooped out, it doesn't really count. (But I might get a new one before my job is over so I can get a discount!)

Five People To Tag:
I'm not going to tag anyone either, since a lot of the blogs I read have already done this - except Carly - or Clay - you're up!

Bex ended the show at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments

This morning my daughter Camryn was wandering around with a blanket wrapped around herself, singing, "I wuv being a Pwincess, she wuvs being a Pwincess, I wuv being a Pwincess, she wuvs being a Pwincess..."

I started laughing and said to Hubby, "Did you hear that?"

He said to her, "Wow, Camryn, you aren't the only one in our family that loves to be a princess!"

Well, at least he's acknowledging it.

(She got the song from this kid's show, Backyardigans.)

Bex ended the show at 7:01 PM | Permalink | Comments

In honour of Carly and our trip to Seattle last weekend (which I will get around to posting about later) this post will be all about Michael Vick, aka Ron Mexico.

For those not in the know, Michael Vick is the quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, whose #7 jersey I agreed to wear to the Seahawks game on Sunday and hence had to slink out of the stadium after a score of 21-18, and even had to bear the humiliation of two skinny Seahawks snitches making fun of me behind my back (more about that in an upcoming post!)

Anyway, the story is that Michael Vick contracted herpes, and when he went to be tested/treated at a clinic, he went under the pseudonym "Ron Mexico."

First, I have to post this hilarious bit that Carly sent me via email that I could not stop laughing at:

Nobody wants to use Michael Vick's chapstick

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick can't seem to find a single teammate who wants to borrow his chapstick.

"I can't explain it. It has UV protection and everything," said Vick. "It's perfect to wear during a hot day of training camp out in the sun."

Vick said he thinks he can remember some teammates accepting his offer of chapstick when he's asked in the past. But this year it's different.

"Dude, you must be out of your f*king mind to think I'm going to rub anything on my lips that have touched yours," said lineman Patrick Kerney. "Ask me that again and I'll knock you out. And I've already applied chapstick today, thank you very much."

The reaction has been similar among most Falcons.

"He asked me the other day if I wanted some as we were walking out of the locker room," said running back T.J. Duckett. "I looked at him like: 'Brother, you crazy!' Like I want his nasty chapstick. If I'm going to get herpes it's going to be from a girl, not from my quarterback."

Okay, now that I've caught my breath and can sit in my chair straight again, here's another little tidbit from MSN that proves Carly and I aren't the only ones who love the Ron Mexico moniker:

ATLANTA - The NFL doesn’t want Ron Mexico to play for the Falcons.

Since that name was listed as an alias for Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick in a lawsuit filed last month, people have gone to the NFL’s online store to order Vick’s No. 7 replica jersey with a personalized “MEXICO” on the back.

But fans trying to order the customized jersey now get this message: “The personalization entered cannot be accepted.”

Hmph, sounds like the NFL needs to get a sense of humour.

And can I just say how much I love the name "Ron Mexico?" Can that get any sexier? I mean, herpes aside and all, I think I might just start to dig Mike Vick because he uses the pseudonym "Ron Mexico" for cryin' out loud! Geez!

Not to mention that rumours were swirling about whether he was gay, and when asked by an Atlanta radio station, he answered, "I won't even feed into that . . . Everybody who knows me, knows how I get down..."

Hellooooo?! That is so hot!

Anyway, here's to Ron Mexico...and to Carly, here's to you!

Bex ended the show at 9:33 PM | Permalink | Comments

My contract at my job is up, and I decided not to continue and instead go back to freelancing and being here for my kids. It's a tough decision. I still doubt it some days. But alas, my last day is Sept. 29.

So in honour of my leaving, here are a few things I will miss about my job:

10. Getting up, having a shower, doing my hair and putting on makeup before 8am. (Believe it or not.)
9. Listening to the Jeff O'Neil show on the Fox during my morning commute.
8. Scouting the building for any male specimen over a 7.
7. Having a day where I feel like I'm a part of something.
6. Not getting the chance to wear the mascot costume.
5. Sitting in meetings and goofing off and laughing.
4. Making fun of the advertising manager for loving hockey so much.
3. Writing fun stuff.
2. The cafeteria food - the roasted cornish game hen, blackened cajun tuna, and the stir fry with shanghai sauce particularly.
1. My manager chanting, "We're here, We're queer, we're not going away!" when suggesting what I should write for some teaser ads for a Grand Opening. (Still laughing over that, maybe you had to be there..)

Bex ended the show at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments

As Carly mentioned in her blog, we are taking Clay and Hubs to Seattle this weekend. I can't wait it's going to be so fun. We're staying at the Vance, going to an NFL football game (my gift to Hubby for his b-day) and will generally haunt downtown Seattle to see what tickles our fancy (besides the Vance staff, of course.)

I have a ton of things to do in the meantime, and I don't have any new blog entries to entertain any of you over the weekend (I've got a few drafts halfway started but not finished.)

TTFN!

Bex ended the show at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments

I forgot to post about this earlier - when I was at the Oasis show the other night, it really bugged me to see all the people wearing England jerseys, jackets and shirts. I strongly doubt that all those people, like the England-shirt-wearing dude in front of me and Rocket with the wanna-be-David-Beckham mohawk (that was flat on top by the end of the night) are even English! I had to resist the urge to ask random people, "Excuse me, are you English? No? Then why the hell are you wearing that jersey?"

I know the guys in Oasis are from Manchester. I get that. But just because the guys in the band are a certain nationality do we all have to break out the national gear? Do people wear Canadian stuff to a Tragically Hip show? American stuff to any American band's show?

Maybe I'm just overreacting. It wouldn't be the first time. But it still bugs me.

My dad is English, (and still has his English citizenship even after being in Canada for 35 years) and his family takes a lot of pride in their English background, so I'm open to the possibility that I'm being a little snooty about this.

Bex ended the show at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments

(And to prove he doesn't look like he has Downs....)

Today Hubby is 31! Yay for him! As he said to me last night, "Now you get to enjoy six months with an older guy again!"

He's off at the Canadian Open Golf Tournament with a friend today and we won't see him until tonight. Then tomorrow he's going to play some football. And next week we are going to Seattle for the weekend and will be seeing an NFL football game, which he's really excited about as he's never been to one - and he's excited to be seeing Michael Vick (aka Ron Mexico)in action.

I'm taking Devon to a martial arts school open house today as he's been begging me for Karate or Tae Kwon Do lessons. I want him to see what it's about first, and we'll see how it goes.

Bex ended the show at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments

Went to the Oasis show last night. Rocket was my "date." We decided to have dinner at this Italian place on Broadway and skip the first band, Kasabian, but by the time we arrived at GM Place, Jet was on and we only got to enjoy the last song of their set. (And Rocket was really just going to see Jet, too!)

Anyway, all I can say about Oasis is that it's a damn good thing they have good music and Liam has a great voice. Because good lord, they do nothing on stage. Nothing! I did come prepared for that because I was talking to someone at work who's seen them live before, and he said Liam just stands at the mike with his hands clasped behind his back, and sometimes he'll shake the tambourine around a bit.


No kidding...

Well, that is exactly what he did during the whole show. It kind of annoyed me at first, but then once I got used to it it was kind of funny. Between verses of the songs he would walk away from the mike and just stand there, with his hands clasped in front of him, staring out into the crowd (or the distance, I couldn't tell which) with no expression. I commented about how he looks like he doesn't give a crap about being there, to which Rocket said, "Yeah, like he's thinking, "Geez, why'd I come in to work today?"

Anyway, Rocket and I had a great time. We were gettin' down in our seats, locked arms and swayed from side to side with our arms waving (in a German sort of way, minus the leiderhosen) and having some laughs at Liam's expense. And at the end of the night when Liam said, "Thank you all for coming, you're very nice people," I said, "That means, thanks for not throwing your boot at me," and Rocket said, "Yeah, thanks for not beaning me in the melon!" and we burst into peals of laughter. Then as the band walked off stage after the encore, (which was really good, they played a great rendition of "My Generation," which was probably the most energetic they got all night, in my humble opinion) Rocket started clapping and said, "Thanks buddy, thanks for coming to work today!"

Thanks, Liam. Thanks for going in to work last night. At least we had a good time.

Bex ended the show at 7:35 PM | Permalink | Comments

This week it was announced that Gwen Stefani will be doing a concert in Vancouver on November 20! And I was able to get pre-sale tickets thanks to Carly's friend who hooked me up.

Shelley and I are going to see the show together, which will be so fun, the last time we went to a show together was the Backstreet Boys in 2001! Okay, that's a little embarrassing to admit, but we went with Sheri and decided we were just going to go have a great time and scream our brains out. I was hoarse for two days afterwards. Hubby thought I was a huge dork.

I am so excited! Gwen is so cool, and I hear she puts on a really fun, high-energy show.

Can't wait!

Bex ended the show at 7:22 PM | Permalink | Comments

Carly emailed me this survey (I love surveys and questionnaires, as stated in "101 Things About Me")

I decided to fill it out instead of cleaning the house like I told Hubby I would while he went out to run an errand. Suddenly as I'm finishing up and about to add the email addresses in, I heard the garage door opening...YIKES! I had to quickly save it as a draft in Word and shut the computer off, and run upstairs to make it look like I had done something or I'd have to listen to his whining.

Did I tell you I loved surveys and questionnaires?

1. Your name spelled backwards?
*nahguav acceber

2. Where were your parents raised?
*Mom: Winnipeg, Manitoba.
*Dad: West Hartlepool, England.

3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?
*Probably the update to a program of some sort.

4. What's your favorite restaurant?
*Charlie's or Carlos' Mexican

5. Last time you swam in a pool?
*A week ago in Kamloops :)

6. Have you ever been in a school play?
*Yes, I was in a mystery story in grade 5, and I was the maid - (and the maid did it!)

7. How many kids do you want?
*Just the two, thanks.

8. Type of music you dislike most?
*Country, with rap a close second.

9. Are you registered to vote?
*You need to ask??

10. Do you have cable?
*Nope, been without it for a year. Miss it from time to time, but not enough to get it again.

11. Have you ever ridden on a moped?
*Wouldn't be caught...

12. Ever prank call anybody?
*Ever heard of Walter, Chauncey Jackson, and Mr. Chen? (Well, it wasn't me actually calling, but I was party to the whole affair.)

13. Best friends?
*Hubby, Carly, Janet, and Shelley

14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?
*No I would not.

15. Furthest place you ever traveled?
*Charlottetown and Cavendish Beach, PEI.

16. Do you have a garden?
*No. All my plants are fake, for their own safety.

17. What's your favorite comic strip?
*I don't read comic strips. There was a Dilbert comic I read about 8 years ago that really made me laugh for a long time once.

18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem?
*Sure do, but not all the extra verses.

19. Bath or Shower, morning or night?
*Morning shower, or mid morning shower, or afternoon shower.

20. Best movie you've seen in the PAST MONTH?
*Sideways.

21. Favorite pizza topping?
*Bacon.

22. Chips or popcorn?
*Neither, but if I had to pick, it would be chips I guess.

23. What color lipstick do you usually wear?
*I have this sample lip gloss in a cool little clear plastic cube from Estee Lauder. Can't remember the name of the colour though, it's a cross between brown and "blush." I put it on in the morning and never bother to reapply, though. (*Sad update - I was at the Estee Lauder counter today and the consultant told me they don't make them anymore! *sniff*)

24. Have you ever peed somewhere besides the toilet?
*That - is - gross.

25. Have you ever been in a talent show?
*Yes, lots! Mormons love talent shows!

26. Orange Juice or apple juice?
*I don't normally drink juice, but sometimes some cold OJ hits the spot.

27. Who was the last person you went out to dinner with and where did you dine?
*Hubby and I went to Cactus Club the other night.

28. Favorite type chocolate bar?
*Oh, all of them! Not a big fan of the nougat ones though.

29. When was the last time you voted at the polls?
*May 17.

30. Last time you ate a home grown tomato?
*What a weird question! Dawn gave me some from her garden when I left Kamloops just last week! They were so good!

31. Have you ever won a trophy?
*No, but I won a tiara, does that count?

32. Are you a good cook?
*I can make good stuff if I try, but I lack the desire.

33. Do you know how to pump your own gas?
*Yeah, who doesn't?? My five year old likes to "help," even he knows how!

34. Did you ever order an article from an infomercial?
*Yeah, I got the "Sounds of the Seventies" CD series. Still have 'em, they are so great! I also came VERY close to ordering this mini food processor one day - I still think about it sometimes.

35. Sprite or 7-up?
*I don't drink pop, but if I had to pick, it would be 7-Up.

36. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work?
*At Wal-Mart I had to wear that dorky blue apron. At Fitness World I wore black yoga pants and a Fitness World track jacket.

37. Last thing you bought at a Walgreens?
*Postcards for my kids in Seattle! Although whenever I think of Walgreens I think of when Aaron and I walked to Walgreens near our house in Vegas and that's where we bought a pregnancy test when I found out I was pregnant with Devon.

38. Ever thrown up in public?
*Yup, in Las Vegas when I was pregnant with Devon. Going to work with Janice, she went inside 7Eleven and I was waiting in the car, I felt so sick I got out and ran beside the building to puke, looked up and saw a busful of commuters at the bus stop beside me.

39. Would you prefer being a millionaire or find true love?
*Love is nice, but so is "lotsa dollahs!"

40. Do you believe in love at first sight?
*I believe in infatuation at first sight.

41. Can exes be friends?
*They can be, but I never have been friends with any of my exes and never would want to be.

42. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital?
* Ginny when she had Vienna.

43. Did you have a lot of hair as a baby?
*Not a lot.

44. What outgoing message is on your voicemail?
*Hi you have reached the Vaughans sorry we can't take your call right now, but please leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks.

Or something like that.

45. What's your favorite color?
*Purple

46. What was the name of your first pet?
*Kitty, a stray we took in. We just started calling her that before we realized we would be keeping her.

47. What things are in your backpack?
*I don't have a backpack. My purse has all kinds of junk in it though.

48. Favorite thing to do before bedtime?
*Watch a movie

49. What is one thing you are grateful for today?
*A hubby who will sometimes do the crap I don't want to do.

50. What are you thinking about?
*Food.

Bex ended the show at 6:56 PM | Permalink | Comments

A few weeks ago our neighbours came over for a drink. We were all chatting, and her husband starts in about how she spends so much money on the house, and she said, "Oh, come on, you get something out of it too," to which we all laughed and Hubby said, "So you ladies will give it up for home decorating stuff?" and I said, "Sure - I'll whore myself out for home decor."

Well, today we redecorated our 2-year-old daughter's room, new bed, new dresser, bookshelf, bedding and reorganized the whole room. We're planning to paint as well once I decide on a colour. I was almost more excited than she was:













Guess I'm going to be busy tonight.

Bex ended the show at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments

I sent this article into the owner of this website a few months ago and just got an email from her the other day saying she loved it and had posted it to her site. I'm thrilled! Here it is!

Bex ended the show at 4:39 PM | Permalink | Comments

I was getting my hair done last night and my stylist and I had a great time talking. He suggested I read some of Christopher Hitchens' work, a writer for Vanity Fair and sometimes for Slate.com. So I looked him up today and found I agree with him on a lot of things. Here's a quote I found from the San Francisco Chronicle that I really identified with:

Q. What kind of world do you want your children to inherit?

A. Struggle. I think most people want their friends or family to have a peaceful future. I don't think that's possible or desirable. Far too much work is done to make children feel their world is safe and reassuring. That's a tremendous waste of time for teachers, who should be spending time teaching poetry, history and science. For Valentine's Day at school, my youngest daughter, who is 12, sends a Valentine and gets one. When I was a kid, it was a day of extreme anxiety and tension, as it can only be and should be. One: Will you get a Valentine at all? Second, will you know who it is from? Because it would mean someone had or hadn't made an effort, and yours had already been sent. These anxieties are important. They prepare you for life. She gets a Valentine from the entire class. They might as well e-mail one from the headmaster to everyone. It's painless. Excitement-free. Risk-free.

I love that quote, as I have often thought we are keeping one another down when we award every kid the same way and for mediocre things. My son's preschool had a huge preschool graduation dinner last June with 200 attendees, ranging from parents to grandparents and friends, and we all sat for an hour while we watched each child (about 40 kids, from 2 different classes) get on stage and recite a nursery rhyme. Each child wore a paper graduation cap and were given a "diploma" and a yearbook containing pictures from their year at preschool.

Hello?! People, it's PRESCHOOL! Nobody fails, you just show up and play with toys and sing songs and make friends! That's the point! And when I suggested that next year we just do it on a class level, with just the parents and some refreshments, and we could still enjoy the nursery rhyme recitations, I was politely told that "people wait a long time for this event, and we've been doing it this way for 12 years, so I don't think we'll be changing it."

Hubby and I were also talking about how when the soccer season ended in March, every kid in the league was given a medal. I realize that at the 5-year-old age it is not competitive, and no scores are kept, but what did they accomplish that warranted a medal? Even the kid in the league with the worst sportsmanship, pushing other kids and not playing by the rules, got a medal. For what?

Maybe I'm just a crusty downer when it comes to stuff. I'm not the kind of parent who pushes my kids too much, and I worry about how my passive, sensitive son will get by in this world, but I try to give them the tools to survive with, rather than try to make every situation easier on them.

Thoughts?

Bex ended the show at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments

A long time ago my friends and I used to play this from time to time for laughs. Your soap opera name is your middle name and the name of the street you live on. Since I live on a numbered street it doesn't quite work, but going by the last street name I lived at, mine would be:

Caroline Cusick











Your stripper name is the name of the first pet you ever had and your grandmother's maiden name:

Kitty O'Rourke

Bex ended the show at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments

I've had this little nugget sitting in my Blogger Dashboard for ages as a draft, because I was going to add pictures like Carly did, but I don't have time to go digging around in my garage for them right now, so here goes anyway:

It's the latest blogging fad, and how could I resist?

1. I like Valentine’s Day because it reminds me of Valentine parties as a kid, and my birthday was always around that time.
2. I’ve always wanted a dog and never had one. I wish I had a beagle, and I’d name him Chauncey Jackson.
3. I’m the oldest of three girls in my family.
4. My dad has always called me his “firstborn.” I love that.
5. My name was Michelle for the first few days of my life, then it was changed to Rebecca after someone told my parents my nickname would be "Mickey". (I've never known a Michelle who was nicknamed Mickey.)
6. I had my tonsils out when I was 19.
7. I love shopping so much that even buying groceries is sometimes a bit of a rush.
8. My first kiss was with Carmen Wilcox when we were 12.
9. I almost married another guy before I married Hubby. (The guy was the lead singer in a band called Precious Blood *shudder!*)
10. I have always loved to write, and now I actually have a job doing just that!
11. The only reason I entered the Miss Abbotsford Pageant was to prove that I could do it. (Well, sort of - I was the second runner up)
12. I have a tiara.
13. I love staying up all night, and wish I could do it every night.
14. When I was a kid I used to hear the word “guerilla” on the news and thought it was a band of people who went around the world terrorizing people while wearing gorilla costumes.
15. Carly is my partner in crime.
16. My friend Rocket and I have this weird connection like we're soulmates, and Hubby agrees.
17. I love Chinese food.
18. My favourite “holiday” is New Year’s Eve.
19. I met a guy once who played drums – he played his drum kit to “Roxanne” by the Police and I was so turned on I could barely stand it.
20. I never had a Cabbage Patch Kid. I bought my daughter one this past Christmas and she doesn't want anything to do with it.
21. I have learned I am not a very detail-oriented person. I leave details to other people.
22. I don’t enjoy multi-tasking either.
23. I see a lot of myself in my friend Janet. She always seems to know exactly what I’m talking about.
24. I have always, even now, had a thing for the “bad boy.” Tattoos and goatees still do something for me.
25. I hate Britney Spears.
26. I love Johnny Depp, David Beckham, and Jude Law.
27. I consider myself a conservative, but feel like I can’t admit it sometimes because I don’t agree with some of the Conservative Party’s social policies.
28. I was in Amway for nearly 2 years.
29. I borrowed some books from my Political Science professor three years ago and never returned them. I still feel guilty, but too embarrassed to go back and return them.
30. I love politics and love talking about them.
31. I don’t like religion and can’t be bothered with it.
32. I cheated on Hubby when we were dating (he knows now!)
33. The first concert I ever went to was the Cutting Crew at the Centre of the Arts in Regina, Saskatchewan.
34. I don’t care about meeting famous people.
35. I look like Charlize Theron in my passport photo – unfortunately I resemble her when she played Aileen Wuornos, the serial killer in "Monster."
36. I had a mullet in grade 5 – Hubby calls my school picture from that year my “lesbian picture.”
37. When Hubby and I were first married, a guy three floors up in our apartment building was murdered and he lay dead in his apartment for two or three days before anyone found him.
36. The Vance Hotel has become a part of my daily thoughts, even though it’s been four months since I was there.
37. I’m too scared to watch scary movies anymore.
38. I never got “the sex talk.”
39. I'm a fiscal conservative, and a social liberal.
40. All the guys I ever dated who dumped me later apologized.
41. I would love to travel more, but never make it a priority.
42. I love laughing with my friend Shelley, we laugh at the dumbest stuff and she understands my sense of humour.
43. I would feel a sense of loss if my kids grew up to be lefties.
44. I am worried about the day my cat Roofus dies. He’s 11 years old this year. I always make sure to give him a scratch and a hug when I go to my mom’s.
45. I still remember my full address and phone number from my old house in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
46. I had a French teacher who didn’t like me for some reason and I quit taking French because she made my life in her class miserable.
47. I’m glad I didn’t go to university when I graduated from high school. It would have been a waste at that point in my life.
48. I feel a little bit of despair when I hear another American company has bought out a Canadian one.
49. To this day I still think the curfews my parents gave me as a teenager were lame. I was always grounded because I never abided by them.
50. When I was in high school, there was a garage band around town who heard about me being a Mormon, so they wrote a song about me.
51. I’ve learned that I’m a city girl, and I don’t like living in the suburbs that much.
52. I have no desire to ever go to Toronto.
53. I was always really tall for my age but stopped growing when I was about 12 or 13. I’m 5’4 now.
54. I lived in Las Vegas five years ago and while it was nice, I wouldn’t choose to live there again.
55. I quit being a doula because I couldn’t stand other doulas. I only attend births for friends and family now.
56. I was at the births of my nephew and my niece and I feel a little special bond with each of them because of it.
57. I think political correctness is out of control.
58. I wish we’d named our son Jude. The only reason we didn’t is because we had a “no ex-girlfriend/boyfriend names” rule when naming our kids
59. My favourite flowers are tulips.
60. I think I have nice-looking feet.
61. I once owned a great pair of black patent-leather pants.
62. My favourite sandals when I was a kid were tan/brown suede with coloured beads on them.
63. My mom’s side of the family comes from the Red River French-Canadian fur traders who married the Native women, thus giving me Metis heritage.
64. My dad’s side of the family is English, Scottish, and I’m guessing some Irish. 65. My great-grandmother’s cousin was Louis Riel’s mother. (Figure that one out!)
66. I never understood Shakespeare until I read Antony and Cleopatra on my own one summer while suntanning.
67. My best friend through high school was Dawn. She and I shared a locker in grade 12 and had a Rolling Stone cover in our locker of the Red Hot Chili Peppers naked with their hands over their jewels.
68. I still have that Rolling Stone cover in a box in my garage.
69. My favourite movie is Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. I saw it in the theatre for the first time with Aaron’s friend Matt, who leaned over halfway through it and said to me, “Do you understand what’s going on or what they’re saying?” I answered, “Yeah,” and he sat back and muttered, “I don’t.”
70. I gained a new appreciation for the city of Seattle when I last went there with Carly.
71. I still laugh when I see a picture Sheri faxed me years ago on my birthday, of me dancing at a party, superimposed with O.J. Simpson.
72. I have only been a bridesmaid once.
73. I like watching old Star Wars movies with my five year old.
74. I’m anal about kids (even my own) messing up my house because I hate cleaning up after them.
75. I like having tea parties with my two year old, but instead of having a proper tea, we like to knock the lid off the creamer when we’re pouring it and go crazy, knocking the whole tea set off the table, while laughing maniacally.
76. If I were to have a pen name, it would be Layla O’Rourke.
77. I hate confrontation, and only in the last few years have started forcing myself to start dealing with it.
78. I think the Tragically Hip are lame, as well as Nickelback and Coldplay.
79. I love to have people over and love to entertain, but I hate cooking. A lot.
80. I’ve done the kind of camping where you build yourself a shelter out of a tarp and sleep under it and build your own fire to cook with. I wouldn’t do it ever again.
81. I love, love the Christmas special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” I collect figurines from the movie and watch it several times during the holiday season.
82. I read a book I really enjoyed last summer but I can’t remember name of the title or the author.
83. They say you’ll know your perfect wedding dress when you see it. I found my perfect wedding dress, but I couldn’t get it because I had to have a dress with sleeves in the kind of ceremony I was getting married in.
84. I didn’t like “The English Patient” and turned it off halfway through because I was so bored.
85. My favourite book as a kid was “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
86. I love Gwen Stefani.
87. I wanted to change my daughter’s name to Olivia for the whole first year of her life. My husband refused and thought I was a nut, and now I’m glad I didn’t.
88. I love newborn babies.
89. 13 is a lucky number for me.
90. I pick my cuticles and bite my nails and have since I was a kid.
91. I’m terrified of jellyfish and I’m afraid of cutting my feet on barnacles.
92. Basically I think all marine life are scary.
93. I never felt more pathetic than when I used to go to the $1 a slice pizza places downtown for lunch because Hubby and I were so poor when we first got married. In fact I used to go to the place that charged $0.93, so that with tax it came to $1 even and I wouldn’t have to pay the extra 7 cents.
94. I don’t think anyone has a more infectious laugh than my friend Tyson.
95. I remember my mom being sad when John Lennon was shot. I was five.
96. I don’t like sushi.
97. People who really like hockey bug me.
98. I have a fond memory of my Grandpa taking me to the store and buying me a toy hairdryer with a brush and comb.
99. I have always loved makeup, and hated that my mom wouldn’t let me wear it until I was 14. (I did anyway.)
100. Some days I crave double-layered chocolate cake.
101. I love filling out quizzes and surveys, and will even answer phone surveys if I have the time, because I like the fact that I get to talk about what I think! (Any surprise there?)

Bex ended the show at 1:33 AM | Permalink | Comments