New Puppy

Introducing the new puppy... (He still has no name... Mom likes Tucker, Dad wants Troy.... I like Tucker... we'll see what his name is!)

(above) Me and the puppy (he's nibbling on my ear hence my weird face)

(above) ins't he adorable?

I'm babysitting the little guy on Tuesday when my mom goes to get her hair done. I am so excited to see him again - he's sooo cute and tiny! His birthday is September 11th, 2005, so he's 9 weeks old (He was born 1 week before I got married!) September 11th is also my cousin Jenn's birthday and the day my sister got her driver's lisence a couple of years ago!

Troy?

Zeus asleep on my bed. I love it when he put his hands over his eyes.

Hopefully when I get to the magazine shop tomorrow after my class, there will be a copy of Dogs in Canada Annual waiting for me, so I can purchase it. I am thinking of purchasing 2 copies - one to keep and one to frame. After all, it's my FIRST published image ever.

Last night was uncomfortable and awkward. First off, the party didn't end up being a suprise in the end, Jamie and I were the 2nd couple to arrive to the dinner at the restaurant, when Jamie thought we were going to be late, was mad at me for leaving 5 minutes late, yet I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant at the time (precisely) that we were expected to be there. The birthday boy was supposed to arrive at 6:15pm, but they didn't show up (and were with the rest of the people attending the party) at around 6:30pm. So we sat at the table at the restaurant with a couple that we didn't know, and it was very awkward. Dinner was okay, and then we went back to see their new apartment and for some birthday cake, and by 10pm I wanted to leave. We had been sitting there for over an hour on their couch, and pretty much bored. I should NOT have eaten the piece of cheese cake that I did... I regret it now, as it wasn't even that good. I was disapointed that we lost the hockey game (5-1) and that sucked too. (It was on the TV for background picture (with music on) and it was sad to lose). I was sooo happy to get home to my pj's and crocheting and desperate housewives! This is my scarf below, I can wrap is around 2-3 times around my neck, that's how long I made it. I like it that length. It's perfect.

Shortly I'm going over to my parents house to meet Troy. (They decided on Troy over Tucker or Austin or Jackson). I liked Tucker best, but whatever, it's not my dog. I can't wait to meet the little guy! Anyhow, I will NOT forget my camera!

I slept in today until almost 2pm. I couldn't believe it was about 1:44 when I got up. I was just zonked, and didn't set an alarm. I haven't slept this late in ages! Maybe even years! I should get ready soon, to go over to my parents, but I'm still in my pj's. My crochet scarf is coming along very well.

Almost Done My TV Marathon

I watched 2 episodes of Desperate Housewives of Season 2 (I finished Season 1 last night almost done my marathon!) and worked on my scarf that I'm crocheting. It's coming along very nicely. I think that 2 balls of yarn might be okay. If not, I can always get more.

After lunch, we went over to Jamie's grandmother's house to visit her, since she just got back from a week's stay in the hospital. She had a reaction to a medication that they changed on her recently.

We stayed there for a while, it was nice to see Jamie's cousins, and I had a nice chat with Jamie's Aunt Tania. She's very sweet and we always have good conversation.

We stopped off at the liquor commission on the way home, and picked up a port gift for my dad for the holidays, some bottles of wine for our house as well as a bottle of wine for Michel, who's birthday we're going out for shortly. On that note, I must go get ready. (Just finished watching another episode of Desperate Housewives, which means I only have 4 more episodes left to catch up to the episode airing tomorrow. I think I can do it!!!

If I'm back early enough I'll write later. I don't know what time we'll be home as we're going for dinner and then we're going back to the birthday boy's house. And they don't exactly live around the corner (about half an hour away... if not more).

2 Month Anniversary

Today is my 2 months anniversary with my husband! Wow, I've been married for two months!
Class this morning was productive, I got some more of my illustrator project done. It's due next Friday, so I have more time to work on it, still. I have Tuesdays off and every afternoon, so I am not worried about getting it done! Not at all!

After class I came home and watched some Desperate Housewives, then after lunch I watched Survivor and Apprentice from last night with Jamie, and then more Desperate Housewives. I have 2 episodes left of Season 1 and then onto Season 2 to catch up to where it's on TV at the moment.

We have guests over for poker at the moment and and I played the first game (didn't win) and now game 2 is on, but I didn't feel like playing the second game.

There is a party going on upstairs - (I was asked permission if it was okay - since his parents are on vacation for 3 weeks) and they're doing some awful kareoke. It's the son's girlfriends birthday and she just graduated from nursing, so he thought since his parents were out of town he would throw a party.

I'm going to get back to the last 2 episodes of Season 1 of Desperate Housewives, and take the scarf I'm crocheting (it's turning out really nice) into bed with me! I absolutely LOVE crocheting! So much more than knitting, only because knitting is really hard on my "early-arthritis" as I call it. I have really bad joint pain in my hands.

The dead scarf

Jazz likes to sit on my chair with me when I use my computer. At first I thought it was cute, so I took some pictures today. But now I find it very annoying! If I don't sit back completely in my chair, he jumps behind me and rubs himself against my back as if I am a scratching post for an itch on his back... or something! Anyhow, I like the way these pictures came out.

After class today, I came home and watched some Desperate Housewives (2 discs left to go, and I'm loving it and addicted!) while watching it, I took care of some stuff around my office.

I worked a bit on my mother-in-law's scarf - however it is now pronounced dead. When I changed the colour for the first time from red to brown, when tying this velour yarn, it ripped. Anyhow, I figured that I could just sew it, and give it some stitches to hold it together. Well, it started unravelling. And after working really hard on it, it's an unfinished project... in the garbage. I swear, I will never ever work with velour yarn ever again.

So I feel really bad, but I am sure that my mother-in-law will understand. I picked up some other yarn and worked a bit on this crochet thing. I understand what to do- but I think I am forgetting to do something, because as I go up the rows, it's getting thiner and narrower by the row... so obviously I am forgetting to do something! What a piss off! I think I am going to google "how to crochet" and figure out what I am doing wrong!

Tomorrow I have any early class again, 8 am every morning 4 days a week, and I am zonked. It's a workshop period tomorrow, so I have to get work done on my illustrator project that is due next Friday. Wow - it's due next Friday - already.

Tomorrow afternoon Jamie & I are going to visit his grandmother in the hospital (a medication she was on - she reacted to - she's going to be okay).

I have a ton of stuff that I want to get accomplished tomorrow, and then tomorrow night we're having friends over for poker. Our usual Friday night gang.

Saturday night we were supposed to have my friend Fritz (whom I graduated from photography with) and his long time girlfriend. However, Jamie forgot to mention to me that we have his friend's birthday dinner at some restaurant off the island (where they live) and we're going. So, reluctantly, I emailed Fritz and asked him to come the following weekend, and he emailed me back to tell me that it's okay, that next weekend is okay! I feel really bad, but Jamie said he would take the blame for it - it's his fault he forgot to tell me, and well... yeah. I called the restaurant we're going to - to ask if they have whole wheat pasta (it's italian we're going to), and they said that they don't have whole wheat meals right now, but Monday they are getting their new menus in, and as of next week, they will have whole wheat. Not until Monday? I hope they have something for me to eat on Saturday night!

I cooked dinner tonight. Jamie was VERY impressed and he said he can no longer say that he's the only one that cooks. I have been very daring and trying lately. I found this recipe today, altered it a little bit and voila... it was FANTASTIC!

Mediterranean Chicken and Pasta Bake

Chicken cut up in pieces (as much as you want to fill the bottom
of your 8x8 or so sized cooking pan)

1 tbsp Bertolli Olive Oil or Canola Oil
4 cups baby spinach leaves
1 pkg Lipton SoupWorks Minestrone Soup
1 can diced tomatoes 796 mL
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp finely sliced black olives (optional)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or marble cheese

Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C). In a large, nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat, brown the chicken in olive oil. Remove the chicken from the skillet and arrange in a single layer in a well-greased 8-inch (20 cm) baking dish. Place the spinach evenly over the chicken. Combine Lipton Soupworks Minestrone Soup mix with the tomatoes, basil and black olives. Spread this mixture evenly over top off the spinach. Add on top the green, red, yellow or orange pepper. Cover with foil and bake for 55 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 10 minutes more or until the cheese is bubbly.

(PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES, COOK TIME: 65 MINUTES APPROX).

It's a Boy!

And his name might be Tucker or Jackson or Austin... still trying to figure it out. And he's 9 weeks old!

Yes! He has a funny cone on his head. It's for his ears - so they stand up.

This new puppy - who will come into my mom's arms next week at some point - will become a champion too.. just like our beloved (RIP) Tyson. (Who left us at the age of 2 and a half of a heart attack - I'll get into that another time - don't have the energy to type that up right now. Maybe tomorrow).

I can't wait to meet the little guy! Straight from CT, USA.

(I wish Jamie loved these kinds of dogs too - and he does - just doesn't want a dog this big as a pet. When I'm ready for a dog - It'll definitely have to be a medium to big sized dog. I can't STAND yappers like my grandmother's dog, like my brother's girlfriend's dog - or like my aunt's dog. Small dogs are yappers! Ugh!)

Isn't he beautiful?

Finally ... but not!

I finally got my check in the mail this morning from Dogs in Canada Annual for Purina using my photograph. Small problem though - even though the check is written out to someone at my address - I am definitely not "Gwenn Armode" and I have no idea who that person is. So someone out there probably has my check to their address... unless my check was the only mistake. So I called the woman that I deal with at Dogs in Canada, and left her a voicemail regarding this situation, and I have no idea what to do. This is totally not cool, what they have done. I can't really cash it - since the check is not in my name. I wish I knew this person, so I could have it endorsed and then cash it. The lady called me back - but I missed her call, and she asked me to call her back with the other person's name, so that they could figure out what to do about the situation. I just am going to laugh about this situation.

I finished my aprons for my sister-in-law and mother-in-law for Xmas. I wrapped them up with wooden spoons and rolled it and tied it with a ribbon. I bought "wine bag" gift bags - cuz they were rolled long, and it fit right in, and it looks great!

I have been feeling very Martha Stewart lately. Kinda funny, actually. I have been crafting things, creating things, making homemade gifts and crafts, cooking a lot more than usual. Is there something wrong with me or is this normal? I'm kind of laughing about it... I don't know why?

I need to sit down and start my wedding scrapbook - with the pictures from the disposable cameras. Also - my wedding photographer has until this Friday to call me with the news that my proofs are ready - or I'm calling her and telling her when I will be swinging by for them. She told me 3-4 weeks I'd have proofs, and now it's 2 months on the 18th (Friday). Wow.. I can't believe I've been married for 2 months already. And married life is not really that different from life before being married. I wasn't sure what to expect. But things are great, as usual. (Knock on wood).

Other projects I need to finish asap - my mother-in-law's scarf. The scarf I started for myself. The gift basket for my father-in-law for Xmas (I finally came up with an idea for him for a gift - now I just need to figure out what to get my dad - WHY are men so HARD to shop for?)

On another note - I made fish for dinner tonight, it was really good. I love making salmon. I figure out just the right (and super easy) way to make it.

Sleep tight.

Bedroom Ghost

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Apricot Roast

I went to Walmart after class today and I picked up a crochet kit for my mother-in-law for her birthday and some yarn that is variegated. (Gorgeous colours!) I also picked up some blue yarn, pink yarn and grey yarn for myself. I want to figure out how to crochet an afghan for my bedroom (In blue and grey) and use the pink for a scarf for my new jacket.

I got fabric markers at Walmart so I can finally finish the project I've been meaning to work on. I wanted to make my sister-in-law and mother-in-law aprons (with a personalized design) on the front. I found plain white aprons and I am writing "Andrea's Kitchen" on my sister-in-law's and "Norma's Kitchen" on the other. I will post pictures when I'm done! I also bought an extra one to make for myself. I am going to wrap theirs up all pretty in a nice gift bag with some wooden spoons. My mother-in-law taught me that it's best to cook with wooden spoons when making her family's meat sauce recipe. One can never have too many wooden spoons!

This evening Jamie and I just chilled out. I watched with him Trump's Apprentice which we had on tape, Las Vegas at 9pm and CSI:Miami at 10pm. I'm gong to crawl into bed now and watch Without a Trace from Thursday night which is on tape.

Tomorrow I have a ton of stuff to do during the day and then I'm off to the hockey game tomorrow night. For dinner, I decided to try a new recipe. So I found something online as a start and altered it. I ended up with:

APRICOT ROAST

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1.5-2 pounds meat for roasting
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
1 package of dried apricots

DIRECTIONS:In a large heavy skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, brown the meat on all sides. If the meat is too large, cut it in half first, and brown in two stages. Place the meat in a suitable oven safe cooking container.

Add onions to the drippings in the skillet. Saute over medium heat until the onions are beginning to brown. Stir in garlic, and cook for 2 or 3 more minutes. Pour over the meat in the container.

Empty one package of dry, instant onion soup mix over the browned onions and meat. Arrange all of the apricots on top of the soup mix. Pour enough water around outside of meat, not on top, to cover the sides of the meat. Cover.

Bake at 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) for 1 hour. Check liquid; if dish is starting to look dry, add a bit more water around meat. Cover, and cook another hour. Remove lid, and stir apricots into gravy. Leave uncovered, and cook for about 20 more minutes. Meat should be very tender.

I served this with whole grain brown rice. It was delicious. I'm starting to get a knack for this cooking business. I did however set off the smoke detector. That was kinda funny!

Smart & Not Smart Cats

I just cleaned up my bathtub so I could take a shower, as our cats left us pee in the bathtub and we came home to another surprise of poop in Jamie's office on his chair and on the floor. You see - when Jamie's dad came Friday night to re-set our alarm since it went off - (I'm going to have to call the alarm guy tomorrow) he accidently closed the door in the basement that blocks off the laundry room- which holds the 2 cat litters. So the cats had no access to their litter on Saturday nor today until we got home. I think my cats are absolutely SMART to pee in the bathtub - and not like on my bedroom or den or office carpet floors. Also - why did they choose Jamie's office to go number two? That I don't know - but I'm thinking it's the closest room to their litter box - maybe that was a decision. I feel like I'm going to find a surprise somewhere that I haven't been in the house yet.... but so far - we've cleaned up all the messes we could find. Poor cats. They barely even touched any of their food in their normal dishes nor in the food feeder which I got for when we go on weekend trips. (I would never leave the cats alone while we're on our honeymoon for 2 weeks though - but for a weekend - no problemo!)

Well, I'm going to go blowdry my hair (I think) and hop into bed. It's almost midnight and I have an 8 am class tomorrow. I like having a morning class only on Mondays, and then off until Wednesday morning 8am. It's like a mini vacation at the beginning of the week - right after a weekend. I love it!

Weekend Photos

This is the scarf that I'm working on for my mother-in-law. It's coming along pretty nice, I think. My mother-in-law likes it - that's all that counts. I need to figure out how to treat this material - it's called Velour. (I think) Anyone have any suggestions? I need so that it doesn't shed little pieces all over my mother-in-law's jacket when she wears it. I'm new to knitting and new to this kind of yarn - so any help would be fantastic.

Above is a picture of myself with my nephew.

Merlyn taking a picture of me taking a picture. He has his own camera now, the one he's holding, however, it doesnt take actual pictures, you need to fill it up with water, and when you pretend to take someone's picture, it splashes water out of the lens area. Very funny. I thought it was really cute, that's why I got it!

3rd Birthday Party

Last night we got a call on Jamie's cell phone from the alarm company, that our alarm was going off. So we called Jamie's dad - we would have gotten the next call on the list, and he ran over to our place to shut off the alarm. Anyhow, it was a false alarm, with the motion detector - which we're sure was set off because one of the cats - so when I get back home, I'm going to have to call the alarm guy and get him to come back and fix it - again. He already adjusted it after the cat set off the alarm a few days after we got the alarm system installed. Thank goodness it was just a false alarm - and thank goodness Jamie's dad and step-mom where able to go to our place (we live close to them) and investigate for us. Such annoyance. I am starting to really hate this alarm system unit. We've already used our false alarm with the police due to an error in turning on the panic button and it's just non-stop problems. The alarm guy is going to have to come and fix it. I couldn't go to sleep until Jamie's dad called us back after checking out our house. Thank goodness everything is fine. Such a relief!

The party & the food was fantastic - curtosey of my mother-in-law and I helped set up and clean up, and felt useful (as I didn't cook or bake anything for the party).

My nephew got some nice birthday presents for his 3rd birthday - the lucky guy. And after he opened each gift, he went over and thanked the person who gave him the present by giving them a hug and a kiss. It was cute. When he got to our present (he opened ours last - saved the best for last - lol), he opened the card, looked at it so seriously and said "Happy Birthday Jungle Monkey". We all laughed hysterically because there was monkeys on the card that had a big number 3 on it! It was cute. I guess you had to be there.

I worked on my mother-in-law's scarf - and it's now officially coming along great! I was able to get a lot accomplished. My sister-in-law showed me how to crochet a very simple stitch, which I was able to do the casting on. Then when it came to the part where I had to start doing the first row... yeah, that was fun.. Seems easier on the hands than knitting, but I don't know... Maybe I need a bit more time to sit down and do it to learn it. I did have my mother-in-law sitting next to me over my shoulder because she wanted to learn how to do it as well, so that also wasn't exactly the best learning situation. Maybe after I'm done her scarf (I'll post pictures later when I get home - the progress is coming along GREAT) I'll work on the crochet thing. However as far as my scarf for my mother-in-law, I need to figure out some way to treat it. It's a velour yarn (that's what the packaging says) and it's like "shedding" when I am actually knitting it. Little pieces of fuzz are coming off, and I am not liking it. So, I need to figure out what to do... Anyone know anything??

Dinner was fantastic - my mother-in-law's home made lasagna (I know the recipe now to her meat sauce, so now I can make it perfectly). After the "extra" people left - we had dinner just close family, and with 2 of my sister-in-law's good friends. It was nice, had some wine, and everything was great.

Everyone has left now, and I see that the episode of Nip/Tuck that I missed on Tuesday night because I was at the hockey game is on CTV in just a few minutes, so I'm going to go put my pj's on and sit down in front of the TV, and veg.

...And maybe work a little more on the scarf...

Tofu

I got my illustrator exam back this morning, the one I took 2 weeks ago, I'm pretty happy with my mark - I got 16.5/20 (82.5%). I am very happy with that mark. I think I got a higher mark because I decided to do all 5 logos instead of just 4 that were required. This morning I sat through my illustrator class basically looking for images to use to recreate and turn simple shapes into this image. Sounds easy - but it's really not. I was able to find an image of a really cute bug, and I'm going to re-create it, but I started it, got frustrated and then decided to surf the web for the rest of the class. I didn't want to leave early as it would cont as an absence (rather a half absence) and I already missed last week, so I didn't want to miss anymore. I saw her attendance records and I only have 2 absences (The friday before my wedding and last friday) Basically, there is a problem if you've missed more than 3 classes in a row, or 5 classes over the 15 weeks course period. So I am okay, so far, in ALL my classes. I don't usually tend to miss class. However, this morning I was sitting in class thinking, "How long til I get to go home pack up my car and leave for my nephew's house?"

The drive wasn't so bad. 3 hours exactly. We left at 1:30pm, and got there around 4:30pm, chilled with my sister-in-law for a bit, and then went to go pick up my nephew from daycare. He was excited to see us.

Took a nap for almost 2 hours after picking up my nephew and then was woken for dinner. I was really happy to have been able to take that nap, because I am not sure how I drove for 3 hours as I had only gotten 6 hours of sleep on Thursday night, and was up very early for class.

Dinner was fantastic - a tofu stir-fry on noodles (and for me on whole grain brown rice), I actually don't mind tofu. I am not a vegetarian, but I don't mind different stuff.

Spiderman Balloons

My oral exam this morning went good, better than I expected. I didn't like the topic though - we had a brainstorm on ideas on the "perfect video game". I'm not a gamer. I contributed enough, and when she let us out on break, I asked her I was okay on my contribution and it was a-okay! Three people didn't show up for class this morning, which sucks to be them, as the oral exam was worth 20% of our final mark. Two of them pleaded to be allowed back into the class after break, teacher allowed, but she said it wouldn't affect their 0% for the exam. She was even very lenient, allowing class to start at 8h15 am instead of 8h00 am. And people were still late. I have no respect for those. After break, she actually didn't keep us more than 10 minutes. We wrapped up and got to leave.


I went out looking for Spiderman Balloons for my nephew’s 3rd birthday party this upcoming weekend. However I couldn’t find any, anywhere. I found a ton of other spiderman stuff, which I purchased for the Spiderman party on Saturday. I checked 2 pharmacies, 2 dollar stores and Walmart. I remembered a store near my parents house that I saw Spiderman Balloons at the other day, and I called my friend Laura in my class who lives around the corner from the store I saw them at, and she happened to be in the shopping center I was thinking of, and she went and picked me up the last package of Spiderman balloons. Phew! Task accomplished. All I need tomorrow is bagels, chopped liver and Jamaican patties (if I can find) to bring to my sister-in-law. (She can’t get any of those in the town she lives in). I will see what I can do after class and before leaving.

This evening Jamie picked up dinner, and now he has two friends over for the hockey game (The Canadiens are playing in Pittsburg tonight, I think). I cleaned my desk and my corkboard (long overdue), finished some laundry, half packed my bag for the weekend (so we can leave asap tomorrow after my class) and wrote out the addresses for my Chanukah Cards (Xmas cards are next on the list – yeah I like taking care of things early!) and also wrote out the addresses on the invitations for Jamie’s 30th birthday party – which I’m holding a texas hold’em night. I hope he likes his party! The invite list keeps growing, but I think it’ll all be good.

I’ve been sitting in front of my laptop now, watching The O.C., CSI and now ER is about to start. I’ve also managed to wrap my sister and mother’s birthday presents (their birthdays are in December, but I got their gifts so I decided to wrap them).

Library Memberships Cost?

Class this morning was absolutely freezing (note to self - bring in an extra sweater next week (and I was wearing a long sleeved shirt today with a sweater!)) We were handed out the handouts for the final project and we went over it in detail. Our teacher went around going over everyone's subject for the final project and she approved of mine - I just have to remember that if I am going to do the subject of dogs, and I'm planning on using cartoon dogs, then I must keep the material (body copy) light, and not too heavy. I don't to have the images fun and the text heavy reading. That wouldn't be good.

This afternoon I worked a bit on my creativity journal, I just want to finish it already so that I can have it done before it's due. Technically I have one journal that is done - but I took it to the next level and decided to work on a second one - since I finished the first one. My second one is coming along very nicely. I am loving this project!

After parking my car back home I took a walk (in the rain) around the corner to the Jewish Public Library. I inquired about a membership - I had no idea that it costs money to join a library. I walked around - deciding if I wanted a membership or not - but they didn't have the greatest selection, and I tend to like to own books, so I decided that I wasn't going to sign up today. If I sign up in the month of November, I get 20% off my membership, and since I'm a student, that would be 20$ instead of 25$. Regular membership for non-students is 50$. INSANE! When I lived at my parents house, the local library cost nothing for a membership - you just had to live in the area. I'll think about it. November (for the special) isn't over yet.... so... I'm not worried. But I really wasn't impressed with their selection.

Jamie just got home from work, but he went to his mom's place first to pick up some stuff that we're bringing to his sister's place for my nephew's 3rd birthday party. His mom was cleaning out her house - and we're each loading up our car to bring stuff to his sister. Jamie's dad just dropped by with the cake for Merlyn's 3rd birthday, and some home baked goodies for us! Jamie wants to play cribbige (card game) and watch some tv. So I'm off for the night.

I'm a Bridesmaid!

Today I took my car in for my winter tires and did a bunch of errands - what a long day!
Jamie and I then left for the hockey game tonight. What an exciting game! We won 3-2 (Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay) and it was a good game. I had a lot of fun.

My cousin Jenn called me today and asked me to be a bridesmaid for her September 3rd wedding. I am sooooo very excited! On top of it - the colour that she chose, Chocolate Brown - will TOTALLY suit me! Very pleased about that! Thank you Jenn! Thank you!

Jamie's calling me to go to bed - it's past my bedtime as I have to get up early for class tomorrow. Not in the mood to wake up early again - but it's got to be done. I just searched the web for some images for class tomorrow - we're starting our final project - which is a magazine cover or contents page, plus a 2 page spread. So I've decided to use a 'dog' theme, and I'm bringing in my last year's copy of Dogs in Canada Annual, as well as some pictures of Scooby-doo. I haven't really decided what I'm going to do yet - but I think this project will be really cool. (And I can't use a subject that I've used in the past - which is understandable, but I haven't used a dog theme with her yet - so I'm hoping this idea pans out!)

Goodnight. Sleep tight.

Slow Cookers. Can one have too many?

On top of not being able to sleep last night, I had a dream that I was pregnant - or rather getting pregnant. I know that I'm ready to have a baby - and I want a baby - but not until I'm done school. And I know that I am not pregnant but the dream felt so real. (I've never experienced pregnancy before - so the dream is as real as I can imagine it to be real.. you know?) But waking up from that dream - wow. I really want to have a baby! It was such a magical feeling. One day.... maybe one day soon.... but not until I'm done school! That's for sure!

I raked up all the leaves on my front walkway and trashed all the garbage that has blown onto our property (so gross). I even found a really wet newspaper (from who knows when - which probably couldn't have been ours - because Jamie has me calling up the Gazette the second his paper is late in the morning!). Took me almost an hour - but I cleaned up the outside quite nicely. I am very impressed with the clean up job I did. And I felt good afterwards.

Made plans this evening to see a friend - my friend Julie - that I used to work with. I hadn't seen her since my wedding, even though I didn't really hang out with her at my wedding - since there was soooo many people there for us. I did hang out with her at my bachelorette - that was nice. We used to work together, for 1 year, but I met her before I started working at the video store in August of 2004. I used to have a locker next to hers back in college when I was doing my creative arts degree (so even before my 3 year program in photography that I just graduated from in May). So I've known her since about 2000-2001. She's actually really good friends with my aunt's sister's son Jon. Small world.

I went over to her place, and we ordered dinner. I hadn't seen Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (the movie that's released on DVD tomorrow) with Johnny Depp (OH DO I LOVE JOHNNY DEPP!) Anyhow, I had it on my zip.ca list - and they mailed it out to me - I got it in the mail today. I figured it wasn't Jamie's type of movie - he couldn't care less for these types - so I knew that I could watch it on my own or with a friend. So now I can mail it back to zip.ca and get a new movie! (I love this dvd mailing membership - don't really have to leave the house, besides returning it via mail - but there is a mailbox really close to my house!) Now I just need to watch the original - Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory - apparently it's better than Johnny Depp's version. I hope to get to that this week. I have so many movies and TV shows on my "want to watch list" it's nuts!

Julie gave me Jamie's & my belated wedding present. She had come to the wedding - but the gift was too big and too heavy for her to bring to the wedding. I opened it up just now - a slow cooker. NOT ANOTHER SLOW COOKER! What am I to do? I got THREE for our engagement party. I returned 2. I got another 2 for my bridal shower. I returned those 2. I got 2 for the wedding (including this belated one). Ugh! That was why I registered. If people would have looked at my wedding registry - they would have known that I received one already, and don't need 7! How many of these things do I need? JUST ONE! LOL. I feel bad - because I will thank her for the gift - but what am i supposed to do about it? I already have one that is opened, and that has been used. There was no gift receipt with it - and I will NOT ask her for one.

Well - I'm going to crawl into bed and watch Las Vegas which I taped this evening. So happy that I have the day off tomorrow. I have to go to Goodyear tomorrow and put winter tires on my car. I think I'll have lunch with Jamie since I'll be near where he works!

Continuation of Star Wars Marathon

I slept in today, and then watched Episode 1 The Phantom Menace from Star Wars. I am really enjoying the series. I worked on my creativity journal while watching.
I got a bit more laundry finished today, my last load for a while - woohoo! And I thought that laundry never ends! For now it has! And god bless the Clorox Bleach Pen - it got a stain out of a shirt that I love! (I think it was pasta sauce!)

This afternoon I was glued to the game bejeweled for a couple of hours and then Jamie and I had a family dinner for my brother's birthday tomorrow, as well as my grandmother's birthday tomorrow and to kill another bird with the same stone, we celebrated my grandfather's birthday - which is November 16th. We went to this pasta restaurant near my place that now started serving whole wheat - so it was great for me!

My grandmother (my dad's mom) knitted some scarves and I got to pick one for myself, but there was an all pink one and a pink one that had some white in it - so I went for both! She had made like 10 scarves, a purple one, a blue one, a red one.. etc.. and the 2 pink ones.... my sister took the blue one, and I wanted both pinks! LOL. They were both awesome, I just couldn't decide. I have to start knitting again the scarf I'm working on for my mother-in-law. I promised her it would be done by my newphew's birthday party - which is next Saturday. I think I can find time to finish it.

When we got home, I tried watching Star Wars Episode II, but it wouldn't play on my computer, so I will try on my dvd player tomorrow - it was getting late and Episode II seems to be longer than I, which was longer than VI which was longer than V which was longer than IV... crazy! Each episode keeps getting longer and longer! I will try to get through the last 2 movies tomorrow.... 4 down, 2 to go.

I just finished watching OC from Thursday night, and now I'm going to crawl into bed and watch CSI from Thursday night as well, and try to fall asleep. I've got to get up early tomorrow for my 8 am class.

Night.

Star Wars Marathon Begins

This morning I slept in. Much needed. Then I drove Jamie right away to pick up his car from the garage, and he had something fixed on it. Then on my way home I stopped off at the Deli around the corner from our house, and picked up some goodies for lunch and for sandwiches for school, etc...

Then I started on Episode IV A New Hope, of Star Wars. I liked it. I wasn't sure if I was going to or not. Then I took a break, started up some laundry, and then started Episode V Empire Strikes Back. Watched that one in complete. Ate dinner, folded some laundry, took care of a few things, and right now I'm in the middle of Episode VI Return of the Jedi. I watched exactly about half of the movie, then got this urge that must go to the pharmacy and pick up windshield washer fluid (as it is on sale for .99 cents) and bleach. While there, I was only able to find one random bottle of windshield washer fluid (SOLD OUT ON THE FIRST DATE OF THE SALE! - They're getting in more on Monday) and one random misplaced bottle of bleach. So weird. Both items were not where they were supposed to be! Jamie requested 5$ worth of chocolate for him and Daniel (who came over this evening to watch the hockey game).

Now I am going to go back to watching the end of Episode VI, and *maybe* start and see if I can finish Episode I. It's tough - when they're close to 2 hour movies, some even a little more than 2 hours. (Episode VI is 2h13 minutes!) Crazy! But I'm enjoying them, and now people can stop looking at me funny that I've never seen an episode ever in my entire life.

Just Another Friday Night

I'm listening to a cd by Donavon Frankenreiter. My friend Erin who got back from Australia a couple of months ago had the cd and told me I had to listen to it as it was "so good". So she gave me a copy and I'm listening to it. I had totally forgotten about it - and since I've been doing a clean-up lately, I've been finding stuff. I am actually hoping that I find a few other things that I've been looking for, but don't you usually find stuff when you're not actually looking for it?

This morning I did bubkiss - and that's the way I wanted it to be - even though I had a bunch of chores that I should have done. (Laundry, cleaning my bathroom, cleaning my kitchen blinds, etc)... I did manage to do a bunch of little things around my office, since I was doing bubkiss in my office.

Met Jamie at his garage before lunch to drop off his car (getting 2 things fixed) and then we went for lunch with some ex-co-woker of Jamie's (one who is coming tonight for poker). After lunch I dropped Jamie off at home (his car will only be ready tomorrow) and I went to the post office to mail a few items and pick up chips for this evening.

Ah - doorbell... Check ya later.