Today I had a flu shot, had a TB skin test and the Occupational Health nurse gave me two chocolate bars (the little hallowe'en size) and entered me into a draw! Check out the prizes:

1) One paid day off.
2) $100
3) Free massage.

Did I mention that I love my job? My arm is sore from the flu shot. Really sore. Emphasis on the "sore". Oh, it's actually sore from crocheting too much too. :( Finished the one thingy I was working on (Ok, I still have to weave in the ends and add some other stuff, but whatever, it's done). Nearly time to start a new one. Only I don't have an E or an F hook. I don't know my Australian conversions and I'm just too lazy to look it up. LOL

Buzz comes tomorrow night so I better get my act in gear and sanitize and scrub down this dirty place. I so hate housework. It's my absolute least favourite thing to do. It never ends. There is no end in sight. But, that's another blog......

Bridgepoint Health is a super place to work. They gave me a "Welcome" card and Human Resources gave me a Bridgepoint travel mug! HUH? I think I've mentioned I'll be working in the pool and the Wellness Program. I'm getting some extra hours already and can apply for casual hours too to fill in on other floors where needed. They are sooooo organized there. When you are filling in on a floor, you are paired up with a "buddy" to show you the ropes on that floor. You just follow the lead and help out where you need to. I'll get to participate in a Community Art Project too. Patients, friends, family, staff and volunteers are invited to this program that runs for 5 weeks (on weekends). Everyone works on an art sculpture for the community and an artist comes in to lead to the group. We have all kinds of great programs like that. What an awesome place to work! Where people are treated like human beings and treated with respect and above all, each individual is valued. huh? Ooooh! I just remembered! Tai Chi today! Woohoo!

Anyway, I love it. :) Can you tell?

The temperature in Las Vegas, Nevada is currently 94 degrees Fahrenheit. I am so mad at Ross right now!!

I'm a little nervous and what with the wedding and being away for 4 days, I feel disorganized! I'm sure it will all work itself out tomorrow. Right? Ross is on a plane for Las Vegas right now and I'm on my own until Thursday. Mmmm spaghetti and chicken until then. lol

Road Trip
We attended Doug and Kara's wedding this weekend in State College, Pennsylvania. Here are some high lights of the trip there, back and some fun stuff while we were there.
We saw our first snowfall somewhere in NY state. Rob and Jess were ecstatic about the snow.

Saw a giant blow-up Homer Simpson dressed up as a skeleton on someone's lawn in the States.

Saw a firehall with a sign: "10th Annual Gun Bash"

Sheetz is a chain of gas stations in the States. It's carpeted and looks like a new Cineplex inside.

Kit Kat has a limited edition white chocolate version out. Yum.

Lots and lots of "automatic" flush toilets. Some more automatic than others. I especially love the "courtesy flushes". Many Americans don't know how they work.

I worked on my "frigging" shawl all the way there (and never finished it).

Can't take cash out at a PNC Bank. They do not honour "Interac" or "Plus".

While many people's front porches were sporting "bunting", no one seemed to know what it was or where we could get some.

They serve Molson Golden in the bars in State College. Um, why?

Avril Lavigne, Bryan Adams and Bare Naked Ladies are popular there. (I don't think they know that they are Canadian, though.)

"Ontario? Where is that?"

At the border, the customs officer asks Ross where we are headed.
Ross: State College, Pennsylvania
Customs Officer: Why? To see Penn State lose again?

Wooooooooo! GO PENN STATE!!

Went to a bar where pitchers of girlie fruitie drinks were $5. Girls were carrying their own pitchers and drinking from them on the dance floor. The place was full of 21 year olds. One girl was having her 21st birthday - US: Kill her! The DJ played Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Cindi Lauper... do you see where I am going with this? It was like being in high school. Good times. "RASPBERRY!!" "GO PENN STATE!" "YAY CLASS OF 2003!"

$1.25 beers (nuff said)

If someone gives you directions for a "scenic route" in Pennsylvania in the bush, I don't recommend it. Be sure you have a full tank of gas, a well-tuned vehicle and some burly men with you. We had the piper, a man in a skirt (kilt) with bagpipes driving along a backwoods road dotted with hunting camps. The scariest was the Ohio Camp. Those men were standing on the porch cleaning their guns I think. Many had not seen a shower in a while. Jess doesn't think they'd seen a woman in a long time either. Rob Dyson was driving. Me: How much gas have we got? The commentary by Rob and the Piper had me in stitches the whole drive from the church to the lodge. "I don't know you!" (many people had never seen a man in a skirt before).

Things written on the bridal Lincoln windows :

GO LEAFS! (by an American, I might add)
Due in 32 weeks
Go BUCKEYES
Trojan lawsuit pending

A REAL Princess
My dress was lovely and had lots of sparkles all over it. At the reception after hors d'oeuvres, I stood up to go and get another drink from the bar. I looked down at my chair and found it covered in sparkles. Only a REAL princess farts sprinkles.

The "ruby slippers" were also a smashing success! Mind you, I can't walk today!

Weddings give you
* an excuse to shave your legs
* an excuse to get a $60 haircut and style
* an excuse to wear face gunk, lip goo and sparkly shit
* an excuse to buy a fancy schmancy dress
* an excuse to buy shoes and a matching purse
* an excuse to spend $300 on yourself
* an excuse to go away and stay in a hotel for a weekend
* an excuse to totally "chick out" and try to "out-do" the rest of the female pack
* Number 1 thing weddings give you: an excuse to not wear a bra!

Downside:
* have to shave
* have to cut my nails
* should paint my nails (UGH) (stress on the "should")
* high-heeled shoes are not good for my "bad" foot (foot will be swollen and I'll be limping and crying by the time we get back to the hotel)
* have to wear pantyhose (these cut off all circulation to legs and render you unable to eat more than a salad, a pea and one inch of meat)
* being broke when you get home
* it's not about me (and I don't get any gifts)

Ok, I have to make this. Who doesn't love Dukes of Hazzard?? Check out the pillow case!! Somebody get on eBay and get me one of those!

For the past year and roughly nine months, I've had to come up with some some creative answers to this question to make my life sound more interesting than saying "Nothing. Thanks for asking." I've been 1) enrolling in school and "enjoying my time at home", I've been 2) a student and studying so much I didn't have time to spend with friends and family, I've been 3) on work placements and travelling nearly 5 hours/day back and forth from work, 4) I was taking some time to "decompress" after school to transition myself back into the real world and life...

I have a new answer. I am a brand new employee of Bridgepoint Hospital and the position is OTA/PTA. I got the offer letter today. It sounds like it will be a great job and one that is fun! It's sure to be a fun learning experience. I start on Monday! I'll be working Monday to Friday 1-5 pm. Part-time will give me time to take courses, do stuff around the apartment and um..time for CRAFTS! I'm very excited. Did I mention that?
Yay!!

Momma and Amber left after taking me dress shopping for Doug's wedding. It's hot. It's sleek. Now I need shoes, hair, makeup, purse, hosiery blah blah blah. Because, being a girl rocks....... GRRRRRRRRRRR By the way, dress shopping completely sucks when you wear a size 0 and at the age of 32 are still waiting for "them" to grow. Horrifying experience. More later...

Can't login as myself, not reading email.... blah blah blah... Ross is out with Rick. Mom, Amber and I are going to bed to have an early start tomorrow. Let the crafting begin and all of that jazz. Ross, if you read this, fix the computer! "Rader, we have a problem" (see monitor on the right ----->>>>>> note nothing happening.......)

Me tired. Wouldn't have anything to do with answering the phone and door at 4 am though...
G'night.....

Surfing some crafty blogs, I happened upon The Red Sweater. Reading through her blog, I read that her car got broken into. There is humour in this article. She tells a good story. My kind of peeps. I particularly like what she said when two ladies returned her purse in the morning. I'm still chuckling. The good news is, her knitting project survived and so did her gym membership card.

Something probably no one knows about me except anyone who has sat down to a Crockford meal at my dad's house is that instead of saying a traditional grace, we sing. It's a tradition my step-mom Marian started many years ago. We all sit down to dinner and clasp hands and sing the Johnny Appleseed song.

So, I'm sitting crocheting in front of my cable-savvy tv, watching a sitcom (that I have no clue what it's name is). The family sits down to dinner, the son-in-law is asked to "lead", the family clasps hands forming a circle around the dining room table and sings...

Oh the Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord
for giving me the things I need
the sun and the rain and the appleseed
The Lord is good to me
Amen

This year we spent Thanksgiving with Ross's family in Pontypool so we didn't get to sing Johnny Appleseed this time. Funny how you get so sentimental about the little things....

Oh the Lord is good to me......


Nice story for kids about Johnny Appleseed
Apple Recipes
The True Tale of Johnny Appleseed by Margaret Hodges, Kimberly Bulcken Root
The Story of Johnny Appleseed by Aliki

Are you a computer/internet/Blog junkie? Is your job in jeopardy because you just can't tear yourself away to go to work? Are the dishes piling up and the cats starving because there is no one to feed them? Do you find yourself saying "Not now! I'm on the computer!" a lot? Do you miss phone calls because you were in the middle of a very important online Boggle game? Do you find yourself using your online nick in "real life"? When you go outside, does the bright sunshine make you wince? Do you "forget" to get yourself some lunch? Ok, you get the idea. Don't be discouraged. There is help.



Ten Symptoms of Computer Addiction (by James Fearing, Ph.D.)

Self Diagnosis

1.A demonstrated "loss of control" when trying to stop or limit the amount of time on the computer. (Breaking promises to self or others. Promising to quit or cut down and not being able to do so)
2. Being dishonest or minimizing the extent of the time you stay on the computer, or covering up or being dishonest about what activities you participate in when on the computer.
3. Negative consequences experienced by the computer user or his/her friends or family as a direct result of time or activities spent on the computer.
4. Participation in high risk or normally unacceptable behaviors when using the computer. Compromising your morals and values based on the opportunity to remain anonymous and protected on the computer. (a good test for this is to ask yourself if your spouse, partner or family would approve of what you were doing on the computer)
5. An overdeveloped sense of importance for the computer in ones life. Defending your right to use the computer as much as desired, regardless of the fact that people in your life are feeling left out and neglected. (denial of the problem and justification; not being able to hear or feel what the other people are saying regarding your computer behavior)
6. Mixed feelings of euphoria (a "rush"), combined with feelings of guilt brought on by either the inordinate amount of time spent on the computer or the abnormal behavior acted out while using the computer.
7. Feelings of depression or anxiety when something or someone shortens your time or interrupts your plans to use the computer.
8. Preoccupation with the computer and computer activities when you are not using the computer (thinking about the computer and its activities when doing something else; i.e. having a family dinner, working on project deadline etc.)
9. Finding yourself using the computer at times when you are feeling uncomfortable, irritated, or sad about something happening in your life. ( feeling uncomfortable in your relationship, so you will self medicate and "hide out" on the computer) Using time on the computer to become externally focused outside yourself as a way to avoid facing what is happening in your life, and avoiding feeling the appropriate feelings inside yourself. (self medicating)
10. Experiencing financial concerns or problems in your life as a result of money being spent on computer hardware, computer on-line charges, or any other costs associated with computers. (Spending money on computer related items which should have been allocated to other normal living expenses)
If you said yes to one question you may have a problem with computer addiction. If you said yes to two questions, there is a good chance you do have a problem with computer addiction. If you answered yes to three or more, you are demonstrating a pattern of behavior which would suggest that you are addicted to your computer and/or the activities on it.

I don't know about you, but this sounds like everyone I know! Maybe we should form a support group?

We finally have cable. We have been a cable-free household for approximately the past five years. In those 5 years, we've both picked up new hobbies and found healthier and perhaps more constructive things to do with our time. I thought maybe my eyes were going because I got so used to the snowy picture that I barely noticed. If anyone commented when they came over, I'd say "Huh?" and look at the TV and back at them suspiciously. Being a three-channel household wasn't all that bad really. We got CTV and City and Global. Not bad. CSI and CSI Miami, Oprah and Dr. Phil, Law and Order, Charmed, My Wife and Kids, Creepy Canada on the weekends, Survivor, etc. Pretty lucky for only having the three to choose from, I'd say. Last night, Ross came home and channel-surfed for a few minutes because he could. I realized just how clear the picture now is! I had no idea! Now if there are any fuzzy channels, I immediately flip past them. I'm already a cable snob!

What did we watch last night? One of the usual channels - never changing the channel nearly the entire night.

Ross got his new "baby" (aka laptop). It's reportedly "better than the old one". It's a 4 lb, sleek, slim model with a full screen. He's very happy. If he's happy, Her is happy. Amen.

I got a new digital camera. Nothing fancy. Really just a little cheapie deal but I'll be able to take pictures of my projects. It's also a webcam. Yeah, leave it at that. So I'm going to figure out how to install the software, take some pics and hopefully upload!

I still have to make that damned jelly too. And clean. Momma comes tomorrow! EEEK!

Momma comes in two more sleeps! She'll be here Sat. afternoon! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Ok, I figure if I blog this, it'll make it more official and maybe the vacuum fairy will be kind and bestow upon me an awesome super-sucker vacuum. I'm tired of vacuuming the living room and bedroom rugs with my handheld dirt devil. My back hurts. It takes forever. This is 2003. Mind you, my Gram will reminisce about days of old when she, her mother and her sister would drag all the rugs from the house out to the backyard. The rugs would be hung out on the clothes line. Each lady, armed with a broom would then proceed to whack the hell out of the rugs, taking all of their frustrations of living in war times out on those poor rugs. That was their version of vacuuming. Somehow, theirs seems easier. I've done one couch and 1/3 of the living room rug and I've had it. Momma wants a big new super-sucking-the-cats-better-hide kinda vacuum. Got it?

The Hoover Company

And get me one of these while you're at it, dammit!

Isn't she a beaut? For Christmas, I want this framed at the fancy frame store. Click on the pic to see why no one heard from me for the past year.
Please note: (With High Honours) Wanted to make sure you didn't miss it. Jamie said, "I'm just glad you're finished and not dead!" Isn't she awesome?

Seriously though, I am so excited because this is the first post-secondary diploma I've ever received. While I did attend Seneca College, Newnham Campus many eons ago for Accounting and Finance, obviously that didn't work out. I also tried Drafting through a correspondence school and had a perfect grade score but just never got around to finishing it. While this is not a university degree, at least now I know I could do that if I wanted to (and if we win a million dollars).

Ok, I have a rant. Every time I post an article, the default is the pacific time zone. Can't I just set it to darned well stay EASTERN!!!!!?????????

A free pattern for a crochet halter top. I love it! I want one. Now I just need a hot vacation spot to go to so I can wear it. ;)

Knitted kitty basket
Feline Dim Sum
Self-cleaning litterbox
Kitty placemat
Pet Feeder
Pet Waterer
Harness and leash for walks
Nail clippers