Ageless Mum

Look at this woman- can you believe that she is almost 80 years old? Look at the woman, not the puppy sillies! Yes, this woman is almost 80 and she is my mum. This picture was taken a few days ago somewhere in the United States (look at the creepy rain clouds in the back ground- looks like a storm is brewing) and I think this means I'll be a firecracker by the time I am her age as well.

Betty White is another woman- WOWEE! I just watched her host SNL last night and my goodness, that woman's still got spice. I'm going to be like her when I'm 88 1/2 years old and I can't wait. I can wait.. but I'm just saying.

Anyway, that puppy is my Mum's new puppy. He doesn't have a name yet and I get to meet him for the first time tonight. Yippee! I'm going to take my fancy dancy camera and take some good pictures of him. I'll post them if they are any good.

How Not To Cry At A Wedding

My good friend Rheann is getting married soon. June 19th soon. And I've come to terms with the fact I am totally going to cry. What the heck is it with weddings anyway? I see her in her dress, I cry. Addressing invites, I cry. Writing this post, I cry. My eyes well up and my lower lip pops out and I just can't talk because if I do... I'll cry.

So, of course, I Googled. Here are some strategies:

"I can't remember where, but I've read that abstract thought is a good antidote to tears. I wish I could find the reference so as to explain the phenomenon. Try memorizing and reciting an abstract poem in your mind, or using your imagination to construct an abstract visual scene to focus on."

"Make a fist and press your fingernails into your palm. Or bite your lip hard (not so hard you make it bleed though, that won't help matters. Causing yourself a little pain to focus on can sometimes stop the tears."

"Look up and rapidly blink."

"Step away from anyone who you're with so that you're alone. Squeeze your nose, take a DEEP breath through your mouth. Stare into your eyes in a mirror and assure yourself that you're going to keep it together."

"If possible, sip some water (or liquid of your choice). I don't know why, but it's very difficult to cry and drink at the same time."

"I know of other people who have successfully used anger to fight back tears, but there are obvious side-risks with that one. Yet other people of my acquaintance tell me that they can make their minds go blank and use an almost meditation-like technique to simply empty their minds of thoughts until the emotional tide recedes. Try closing your eyes and taking deep, steady breaths while trying to clear your mind in this way."

Most of these sound a little- err... scary? Can you imagine me standing at the front with the rest of the bridal party trying to recite an abstract poem in my head? How about trying to channel some anger? Anger and Wedding do not mix- at least I don't think so. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe anger would but just the spice this wedding needs. Maybe I need to be the Brides Maid who carries a flask in my flower bouquet pretending to smell my flowers so I can take a swig.

Not going to happen.

I realised that a long time ago. So, I'm just going to go with it. I bought some AMAZING mascara though that's going to stay with me the whole night. If you have never tried it- you MUST. It's called Kiss Me mascara and it is THE most AMAZING thing I have ever used on my eyes. Way better then waterproof and better then nothing. So at least, if I do have a mini downpour my make-up will stay put for the pictures.

Maybe I will clench up my little fists and dig my nails into my palm- grin and bare it (which looking up and blinking rapidly). Or maybe I'll get so caught up in Rheann's moment that I'll totally forget to cry and just be a fit of giggles. Or maybe I'll just let it all out after the wedding.

Are you a wedding crier?

Do you just let nature take it's course or do you actually have a little trick?

the wonderful photo is borrowed from the Wedding Photojournalist Association

Pirate Cookies

My BFF is shamelessly addicted to Pirate Cookies. If you are not from Canada you may not have any idea what I am talking about. Pirate Cookies are Oatmeal Cookie sandwiches with Peanut Butter Icing. Seriously. And apparently they are delicious!

The other day my friend posted on Facebook that she threw away what was thought to be an empty bag of Pirate Cookies but lucky for her, she checked one last time to make sure. Darn if she didn't find ONE last cookie in the bag- awesome way to end the night! This got me thinking as I lay in bed "Why are Pirate Cookies called Pirate Cookies?- Is there some sort of relationship between Peanut Butter and Pirates that I don't know about... Hmmmm" so I decided I should do some research.

Fast forward a few days to today and I decided to do a little research-- and came up with nothing. Well, NEXT to nothing.

There was an itty bitty little sentence in Wikipedia:

"'Pirate cookies,' with their delicious oatmeal and peanut butter combination, were the most popular of all brands - particularly with poor Lawrence Park families."

What is "poor Lawrence Park families"?

and another link was this: Pirate Cookies

Looks like "Pirate Cookies" was taken over by the South Park Pirates. Great use of the domain name- doesn't help me at all.  

So now I'm stuck. I don't know any of the history of Pirate Cookies and only know that you can make something called a Super Cookie by taking one Fudge-o Cookie and one Pirate Cookie, swapping halves to make a combo Pirate/Fudge-o Cookie. Frankenstein!

My only guess is maybe Mr Christie was a little delirious one night  and decided that a pirate fight happened between the Oatmeal Cookies and the Peanut Butter Icing. The Oatmeal Cookies decided to pillage the Peanut Butter and bury it deep between it's cookie bottoms. Just like hidden treasure... maybe?

I'm not the only one who is puzzled by this either- check out this post. Pretty much the same vague post but with better pictures (I stole one of the pictures BTW, it was the best out there).

So that's my story, or rather my non-story, about Pirate Cookies.

Do you happen to know anything about Pirate Cookies that I don't know?

Confession: i had a crush on a cartoon character

It's true, I once had a celebrity crush on Xander Crews (a.k.a. "Awesome X") from the acclaimed animated series Frisky Dingo. I can't tell you why, I mean the character is A) a complete and total jackass. B) a nasty man whore narcissist C) a cartoon character. I went so far to me having regular dreams about him. Serious. For real-real.

I know, I can't believe it either.

pheffff... feels better to get that off my chest!

"You Can Forget About Being An Action Figure" from Frisky Dingo

warning: if you have not seen Frisky Dingo I must warn you, there is nothing high class about this show. Not one single bit. So before you venture out to seek a little Xander Crews... buyer beware, it's offensive, crude and all kinds of wrong. It will more then likely appal you... even if you are expecting it.

Happy Monday!

Mama, My Friend

Nothing sums it up better then this song by The Spice Girls (yes, I really said that)

Mama-

She used to be my only enemy and never let me be free

Catching me in places that I knew I should'nt be

Every other day I crossed the line I didn't mean to be so bad

I never thought you would become the friend I never had

I didn't want to hear it then but I'm not ashamed to say it now

Every little thing you said and did was right for me

I had a lot of to think about,about the way I used to be

Never had a sense of my responsibility

Back then I didn't know why

Why you were misunderstood

So now I see through your eyes, all that you did was love

Mama, I love you.

Mama, I care.

Happy Mothers Day, Mum (and all the Mums out there)

Lots of love,

image borrowed from Disney Parks Blog

Six Things You Need To Know About Facebook (an article you must read)

The other night a friend of mine updated his Facebook Status to-"Holy Crap! Your status updates (& presumably other posts) are automatically scanned for keywords and linked to related sites..."

questioning him about the update he sent me the following article:

 Six Things You Need To Know About Facebook

within that article I found this link which goes into further details regarding the "connections". It's important for everyone to read just so we all have an understanding of how exposed we really are. I'm not saying that we all "delete" our account and start pen-palling again (which isn't that horrible, I miss the days of pen-paling) but just so we are aware. We each have different boundaries regarding our privacy- some of us don't give a rats butt and others would prefer to keep to themselves. It's just important for all of us to know what's going on because I had no idea.

What are your thoughts regarding this?
Do you care what Facebook does with your information?

Hat Tip to Electronic Frontier Foundation for writing Six Things You Need To Know About Facebook.

HisTory and HerStory

my dad (Kevin) is the second in from the right

I fully enjoy the indulgence of sitting with a family member and listening to them tell me stories of when they were younger. Most of my life my mother has been very open about her many of the adventures, most of which I can recite by heart. My Grandmother told me stories as well about people from her life many, many years ago. It wasn't until recently though that I start to ask my father questions about his past and his family. My father is an intelligent man of few words, he paces himself in life in a very grounded and methodical way.  My mother has a very strong personality and he often steps back and allows my mum to shine in the spot light 80% of the time. It's become very foreground to me that they are aging and won't be here forever and though I can come to terms with that as much as possible, I don't want to look back and realise that I could have spent more time with them. Get to know them as my friends instead of only my parents.

I started asking my Dad questions about his family life. What his mother and farther were like (I never really met them) and what his experiences were growing up. Little things like how one summer he was home from boarding school and his brother and him found a mint plant in the alley to which his mother told them to collect as much as they could. How my father wasn't going to go on in school because he came from a family of 11 kids and they could only afford to send one child away for higher education. My father, at the age of 10 went with his older brother to the school for testing and ended up taking a placement test as well (this was intended for high school students). He had scored so well that the school contacted my grandfather and told him that they would refuse to take the oldest boy unless they enrolled my father as soon as possible. And they would allow him to attend for free. He then went on to learn at McGill -one of Canada's most prestigious schools- and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering at the age of 18.

Things like that are fascinating to me. Hearing about his life... hearing about anybodies life. I've been talking with my Uncle Bob who was married to Trudy. Since her passing I have been keeping in touch with him. He is my mothers older brother and someone I never got to know because of where he lives. Like with my father, I am starting to prompt my Uncle to tell me about what his life was like as a kid. I'm enjoying this connection I have with him, a lot. Just today I received an email from him after I had mentioned that Calgary was having another "usual" springtime freak snowstorm "It's gone from Spring Time to Christmas Time in a matter of 3 hours". He wrote back with a memory from when he was 14:

"Yes ... I remember once as a boy around 14, with a friend, riding my bike past Midnapore ( which was 10 miles out of town ) on a Sunday afternoon and got caught in a snow storm ... we went to a farm house and waited until late evening for my father to pick us up ... it probably dropped 60 degrees F ( 26 degrees C ) and that wind from the north was brutal and we did not have jackets"

I like it because it mentions Midnapore back when it was its own town (now it is a district with far into the city) and my Grandfather who I never would have thought would have come to the rescue. He was busy trying to make ends meet during the 1940's and always working out of town.

History is important regardless of whose it is. It could be world history or stories from your mothers childhood. Never should it ever be discounted because it's how life lives on. Write your stories, read your books, take your pictures and videos too... most importantly talk to people. Learn and listen.  It's important. 

Wouldn't you agree?

Finding The One

When looking for "the one" you may want to consider having similarities to your partner. No, not sticker collecting, karaoke and beer pong-something much deeper. Faults. As lovely as it would be to share the passion for scratch and sniff stickers really it comes down to acceptance of the other persons issues. How better then to have the same issues yourself.

Always late? Not a worry- find a tardy partner for hours of irresponsible fun. Neat Freak? Perfection can be found in someone equally as tidy. Inconsiderate? Who cares because it's obvious that they don't care either!

In the end, what else could there be to possibly fight about?

Music Obsession Monday: Ray Lamontagne

Current Music Obsession: Ray Lamontagne

Ray is a beautiful man with beautiful songs. Richly deep and vulnerable one can't help but fall a little in love with him. Born to a gypsy mother and a violent father who later abandoned the family he struggled to graduate high school, wrote stories, got into fights, read a lot of fantasy books and eventually started working in a shoe factory.  One morning he work up to Stephen Stills' song "Treetop Flyer" which inspired him to become a singer songwriter.

Ray's song are anything but manufactured. They are exclusively his in a way that only he can make them come alive. Like a personally tailored suit, on anyone else it just wouldn't fit.

Nothing less then inspiring... to me.

Hold You In My Arms by Ray Lamontagne

I Still Care For You by Ray Lamontagne

"Lay your blouse across the chair

let fall the flowers

from your hair

and kiss me

with that country mouth

so plain

outside the rain is tapping

on the leaves

to me it sounds like

they're applauding us

the quiet love

we've made"

from the song Empty by Ray Lamontagne

I think he "gets it"

Death Bear

He's real. As real as you, me and Brooklyn (the city he lives in). It's Death Bear. I'm not making this up, if I were he wouldn't be as scary and he would be a bunny. A bunny called Death Bunny and it wouldn't be wearing a black helmet because that's just scary. But I'm not making this up and Death Bear really does exist.

"Death Bear

We all have someone or something we would rather just forget. Things fall apart. Love hurts. Dreams die. But when you summon Death Bear to your door, you can rest assured that help has come. At first you may be intimidated by his stature and color (7 feet tall with a hard, black bear head, black jumpsuit, and black boots), but absorbing the memories of others is a dark art, and Death Bear must present himself appropriately for this solemn duty. Death Bear will take things from you that trigger painful memories and stow them away in his cave where they will remain forever allowing you to move on with your life. Give him an ex's clothes, old photos, mementos, letters, etc. Death Bear is here to assist you in your time of tragedy, heartbreak, and loss. Let Death Bear help you, and absorb your pain into his cave.

Serving all Brooklyn only

Text XXX-XXX-XXXX for an appointment

Free"

Death Bear in the news:

National Post

MSNBC

So, do you have anything for dear ol' Death Bear?

(this post feels creepier then I meant it to be- sorry... Happy Friday!)

The Opera: Why I Didn't Like Don Giovanni

Last night was the final production for the 2009/2010 Calgary Opera season. It ended with a bang- errrr... explosion with the Mozart opera Don Giovanni. I didn't like it. At all. First of all, it had been modernized. Originally, I had been excited about this fact. Written in the late 1700's the production company transported the opera to take place in today's world. Instead of sets and costumes conducive to the period it was originally written the character were now prancing around in power suits, True Religions and cell phones. Instead of being drunk on wine in his final moments of life, Don Giovanni was high on Cocaine and pills. All of this took place in an office building during a merger (I'm not making any of this up). Don Giovanni kept a list of his thousands (and I mean thousands) of conquests in a USB stick which hung around his "assistants" neck. I'm pretty sure it was all put into a spreadsheet using Excel.

I found the "today-ness" of the show to be distracting, within the first 10 minutes of the opera someone had been murdered. In today's world someone would have called 911 on their cell phone however in the opera  the characters ran around trying to play Sherlock Holmes on their own. Of course that would have been natural for the 18th Century but for the 21st? Doesn't fit and just looks silly.  I am pretty sure Mozart rolled over in his grave a few million times at the slaughter that had taken place in this otherwise decent enough opera. It's sad. This ridiculous aspects of this show totally distracted for the true talent of the performers.

The first scene (which was 80 minutes long) involved a fair bit of action- in all senses of the word. By then end of it though, I was falling asleep. There was a lack of melody that often rings through delicate and cheerful with most of Mozart operas. The costumes of business attire and janitor jumpsuits were dull on the eyes and by the time it was over I thought there wasn't anymore that could be done.

*enter 20 minute intermission- most of that spent standing in line for the ladies room*

The second scene (which was just over 60 minutes long) held more of the pretty arias but still I found that I was falling asleep. It wasn't until Don was visited by a "ghost" in the bathroom (seriously) that things got kind of strange. The next thing I remember is Don Giovanni standing in a dumpster in a back alley eating McDonald's with his assistant, which then exploded. That scared the living daylights out of me- by this point I was counting the lights in the ceiling of the auditorium and doing simple math in my head.

Then it was done. There was a mad dash to the door and my dad and I were out of there. Being a true opera lover he had very similar if not more negative feeling about this version of Don Giovanni. I think something more classic would have been a better choice. In the past I have seen operas that had been made with more of a contemporary eye and they have been successful. Opera, to me, is about romance. Tragedy.. heavy emotions that linger in the air like Chanel No. 5. This was nothing of the sort, it felt cheap, dirty and just riddled with STD's. It was more of an opera about Tiger Woods then about a romantic legend and without a doubt, I would suggest that Don Giovanni make an appearance on the next season of Celebrity Rehab.

and that is how I feel about that.

The Opera: Don Giovanni

Tonight is opera night with my dad. We will be seeing Don Giovanni (music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte), a staple of the standard operatic repertoire, it appears as number seven on Opera America's list of the 20 most-performed operas in North America. After quickly reading the synopses I think I have met a few Giovanni's in my life time.

Video Preview of Don Giovanni by The Calgary Opera

Bad news: I forgot my "new" opera glasses at home and the weather is far to nasty to dash home to grab them. Next season!

Intersting Fact: Don Giovanni is the Italian version of Don Juan

"The death of a sinner always reflects his life (Questo è il fin)"

My Dog Dinner is 1 Years Old... about a week ago

It's true! It's hard to believe that I have been posting on this little ol' blog of mine for over a year.

My "First" Post 

That actually wasn't my first post, my first post was a video with bunnies jumping around but the link became corrupt and so it was just a useless post so I deleted it. Not that a post about if I should use my umbrella or not is any more important- but at least it is still all there.

*

So yes, it's been a year and I've learnt nothing new about posting or blogging or any of that jazz. I've learnt that other people seem to have a knack at generating followers and becoming over night success but really, that isn't me.

This blog is me being me and that is that. Nothing more or nothing less. Heck- the spelling isn't even correct most of the time.
Fact.
*

How do I plan to celebrate my one year anniversary/birthday you ask...

well...

considering I totally forgot I'm just going to write this post and move on in my life. Oh and maybe take a bit of a trip.

*

Thank you everyone who reads my mixed up strange little thoughts- it means a lot to me that you are interested in this ol' girls rambles. If you all lived here I think we would go for cake, or pizza at UNA's. Mmmmm....

Or maybe do some yoga on a stinky yoga mat.

I bet you feel like you are missing out now!

Lot and lots of love,

Rouge: Calgary’s Best Restaurant & Top 100 in the World

It was at Rouge when I first fell in love with food. Real love, the kind they write books and make movies about. I was tucked away in a cozy corner with the chilly October night all around the outside of the old red heritage house. I remember cream soups with flavors that matched my autumn mood, tender bison and perfectly paired wine. Love. Pure love.

Again, a similar experience greeted me a few years later when I rang in the New Years with the people at Rouge. Sable fish with Parmesan Mousse, glasses of champagne, a pretty cocktail dress and food to win over the Gods.

Fast forward a few years later to a bitterly cold Wednesday evening, January 14th (my birthday). It was quiet, we were the only people -aside from one other couple- about to enjoy some eats. The waiter tipped down and asked me in a French Canadian accent "Would you like the 7 course meal? The Chef, he would like to make it special for you". Delighted- I accepted the challenge and told the serve "Tell the chef that we have no boundaries- the sky is the limit!" and that was all I had to say. Dish after dish of delicious delights danced out in front of me- each more different then the last. Experiment after experiment- everything was mouth watering and amazing. By the end of it all I was beyond elated that I couldn't contain myself- in a moment of glee I mentioned that I was so pleased that I could run into the kitchen and kiss everyone involved. The waiter stepped a side and with a gesture to the kitchen said "by all means-". So I pranced into the kitchen and exclaimed with sheer delight that this had to have been the best meal of my life, tears were in my eyes as I hugged and kissed each chef.

Nothing will ever top that moment.

That is why I wasn't surprised to read yesterday that Rouge was listed as one of the top 100 restaurants in the world- THE WORLD. I am sure there are many reasons why it has been listed as one of the top 100, everything is top notch without being the least bit pretentious. It swallows you up in such a comforting experience that for years it has continuously out shined anything in Calgary-  in my honest opinion. Congrats Rouge on the notable nod and if you haven't been to it, go- oh... and take me with you. Promise?

Though The Learning Camera Lense

I'm a lucky girl and got a new digital SLR for my Birthday/Christmas. It's been important for me to learn to use it so I take it just about everywhere with me (well, just about any adventure). I don't really know what the heck I am doing but I'm enjoying it. Especially on the off chance that I actually catch a good picture. I would like to share a few of my pictures over the last few months with you. Mostly they are of the area west of Calgary- towards the mountains.

Sunset from Nose Hill in Calgary

Grey Jay or Whisky Jack

The only time you will catch me getting this close to a Wasp nest.

Laura and her oldest dog, Kuma

Kuma watching the sun go down

Sun fading out behind the Rockey Mountains

Calgary's foggy winter amounted to a lot of frost on the trees. This is the Elbow River near my place.

Frozen wonderland

Sun set from the Highway 22X

First sign of regrowth after the winter: Kinnikinnick

Buffalo Bean wildflower- usually the second to show it's pretty little flowers after the Crocus

New green leaves on the Aspens- just burst open this week.

Wild Crocus- the first flower of spring

I went off the regular path into a more secluded area- Looking up into the trees I notice a giant nest that seems to be that of a Hawk or Eagle. It looked a bit old so I didn't think much of it till I saw this "little" (I was a ways away from it) head poke out. Mama Great Grey Owl looking after her nest. Such a special site, a first for me.

That's the end- for now....

Barley Green

A few weeks ago Laura (my BFF) and I drove east of the city towards a little place called Drumheller to pick up her new little pup, Barley. Calgary it situated in some what of a divide in topography. To the west of the city you have sprawling mountains, lush forests and a direct link to the ocean (if you have 11 hours to drive). East of the city you enter into an area called "the badlands"- it dusty, stark and often interesting in a totally different way. Parts of the area are exactly what you would picture if you were to think back to prehistoric times with the Dino's roamed the earth. sadly, on this trip we didn't venture to the Canyons and the Hoodoos. But we did see the little ghost town called Dorthy (which at the time we didn't even know we were looking for it.). Barley, who was just 7 weeks old is still a little squishy face teddy bear- he was the sweetest thing, sleeping in my lap the whole way home.

Little Barley- the first encounter

dry and dusty- the awkward stages of spring in the bad lands

this was considered part of the highway.

Llama's!!! My favorite!

The old abandoned grain tower of Dorthy.

Just a few little pics from our adventure. It does look a bit dryer then usual- coming into spring after an unseasonably dry and warm winter. The farmers are a bit mad but you can't blame them- it looks like the great depression. That sweet little face of Barley's though, it's something else. Check out the Drumheller link at the start of the post to see just how interesting the area can be.