Happy 2008

Well I don't think that the move could have gone any better given the conditions. We had Charlie full right up, Cam's dads truck fully loaded up, and a u-haul trailer fully loaded. So we had quite the convoy going for us. The drive started really early for us. We got out of Edmonton about 4:30-4:45 am.....yes AM! The roads through Alberta were great. They were bare although windy. So for Cam and his dad having to drive the truck and trailer was a little tougher due to the winds. The roads in BC were usual BC winter driving. Some spots just had wisps of snow while others had a lot more snow coverage. We chose to take the BC Ferry from Crawford Bay to Balfour. We really couldn't have planned it any better. We basically drove right on to the ferry. Felt bad for Zoe, I am sure she had to go to the bathroom again, but she had to wait till we got to the other side before we could let her out. She was a true trooper through the drive. I made sure that she had a spot in the car that she could sleep and be comfortable. She has always been a great traveller. We arrived to Nelson just in time for supper. We didn't really unload anything from the move. We were all pretty bagged from the long drive.

Christmas came and Christmas went. It is always nice to have family around and visit with friends. I really love Christmas and enjoy the holidays. This year felt a little different due to the fact that there was no rush to get things organized to make a long trek back home or back to work. We are here till the middle of January before we fly out to Australia. So Cam and I are busy trying to get all the little things together before we go and have things somewhat organized for when we get back. For example: Charlie he needs to be inspected and insured in BC. We were going to wait till we got back to do it, but I realized that his registration in Alberta expires on February 28th. We get back on February 25th. Not really leaving us a whole lot of time to get things together for him before he turns into a pumpkin and we can't legally drive him. So it is the little things like that that need to be done and organized before we go. I think I might have a little bit of obsessive compulsive disorder going on.

Either way the trip is coming up so quickly. I am so excited, not ready, but very excited to go. I'm not sure how updated I am going to be able make my blog. So if I don't I will get back at it once I return from my trip.

Happy Birthday ZOE!!!!!!!!!!

Today four years ago my little pug was born. Soon after she came into my life (february 14th, 2004). On her second birthday I cried, I realized that she is only going to get older and then leave me. For some, you might think that is a silly way of thinking or that she is just a dog. However, if you are a dog owner you understand where I am coming from. It is amazing how much joy, laughter, and love these little creatures bring you day to day.

So this morning when I woke up I scouted out my little pug, and sure enough she was in her bed (she has a queen size bed in her own room, for now) so I picked her up and gave her lots of kisses and cuddles and gave her a treat, or two. I feel bad that she has to stay at home all by herself on her birthday, but I will be home soon enough and I will probably give her more love and cuddles and treats.

Here's to Zoe! Momma loves you, and I guess so does that guy (Cam)that lives with us.

Breanne 'procrastinator' McLean

I'm not sure why this is, but I like to procrastinate things till the very last mintue before it has to be done. I am not sure if it is because I have no conception of time, or if it is just because I am lazy. There are only 24 more days till we are on the road moving our stuff back to Nelson and I haven't packed a single thing. The same thing happened to me when we lived in Cranbrook. Cam came home from firefighting the week before the movers were coming to help me with some last minute packing, and to his surprise I hadn't packed a single thing. So, we managed to get all of our belongings packed in two nights, and have everything ready to go for the movers. We don't own a lot of stuff so it really doesn't take that long. I don't like living in a house that is empty. It just feels cold and bare so I will hold off packing for as long as I can. However, with this move I want to purge through my belongings and get rid of many of the things I have that I don't need anymore.

Even with with wedding I found myself procrastinating things till the last minute. If it weren't for my sister I don't think I would have been able to pull it off. I think maybe I think of myself as super woman and I can whip off anything and do anything is a short amount of time. I guess I just don't think about how long certain things will take me to accomplish. I suppose the worst thing about being a procrastinator is that I cause myself a lot more stress than is needed for any situation. Even with that baby blanket that I did for my friends I think I finished it about two weeks before we were leaving to visit them. The end product was beautiful, but I caused myself a lot of stress trying to finish it in time to give it to them. Oh the life I lead for myself.

So I guess that brings me to my epiphany on this topic..... I need to be more assertive and more of a go getter and just do the things I need to do as they arise. I am a planner by nature so it just doesn't make any sense that I procrastinate things. We will see how this goes. I think that the move will all work out just fine even if I wait till the last week to pack, life always has a way of working itself out.

Banff for the weekend!!!

Any chance I get to have a three-day weekend I will take. Fortunately Cam was able to take the Friday off so that we could both have a three-day weekend together. Friends of ours invited us to join them in Banff for the weekend. We would rent a chalet/condo for the weekend and live it up in Banff. The nice thing is that the suite is complete with a kitchen with everything from utensils to a full sized fridge and stove.

So this morning we woke up around 8:30 and got ourselves out of bed, showered, and ready to go. We were busy packing and making sure that we didn’t forget anything. My heart went out to Zoe because we have arranged for Danielle and Ryan to look after her for the weekend. So she got to watch us pack and leave her behind. Then we were off.

I don’t think I really appreciated the mountains or just the general beauty of our provinces joining together till I moved to Edmonton and my new skyline and view were tall buildings. The Rockie Mountains are something to be admired. I love them this time of year because they are capped with snow, yet the roads are still relatively dry. Living in BC, I’ve now realized, I took the beauty and the enjoyment of it all for granted. There are so many activities that you can do. Hikes, bike rides, snowshoeing, cross country skiing. Now you can do all of that stuff in Edmonton too, but the scenic views are lacking. I guess if you aren’t into that kind of stuff then Edmonton is great. There is a lot to do here, but most of those activities occur indoors.

We made good time and arrived in time to meet up with your friends and go in to town to have a quick bite to eat before our supper reservations at the Fairmont Castle in the Mountains here. It was an amazing meal and amazing service. Saturday our day included a great breakfast and then we were off on a road trip to the Athabasca Ice Fields. It was amazing up there and just looking at how far that glacier has traveld and the debris it has left behind. It was very cold and windy there, thank goodness for car starters to get the car warmed up before you get in :o) We went out for a really nice supper to Saltlik Steak House. I belive it was called. It was good. I don't know what it is about the service in Banff, but it is a wonderful experience. It is almost like the people are happy to be there working and serving you. It is a nice change from some of the service you recieve in the city. Once we were done with supper we wondered over to Wild Bills bar. It is very rustic, but enjoyable. After a few drinks we headed back to the room to drink some more and have a fire.

Sunday we just got up and left early. We were going to go into town and shop around, but we decieded that we just wanted to get home at a reasonable time and get ready for work on Monday. Besides the pug probalby missed us and wanted to go home. All in all it was a great weekend with great friends! I would love to go back to Banff, but I think I want to see it in the summer months. Or even late spring. I don't mind the snow, but it is really quite cold there with the wind. It chills you to the bone. I am glad to be home cuddling with the pug and my husband on the couch watching the Grey Cup. What else would I be doing on a Sunday afternoon?

De-junking and De-cluttering

39 Days and counting till we move back to BC! The next 6 weeks are going to go by so quickly I won't even know what hit me. Between plans that have already been made, to Christmas parties, to packing Cam and myself are going to be quite frantic getting everything organized and ready to move. This weekend we decided to get a start on it. So we went down into the basement to take a little inventory of stuff that we have, and get rid of the stuff that we don't need anymore. There was a huge pile by the end of our tirade, stuff to get thrown out, stuff to go to Goodwill, and boxes we need to keep to pack the stuff we have upstairs. Like my mom says though, no matter how organized you are, you are still going to be busy and frantic getting everything packed up. I want to disagree with her because I think that Cam and I did a pretty good job this weekend getting everything together and separating things that need to go to the dump, or go to Goodwill. We have all the boxes organized in a corner of our basement that are waiting to be filled and ready to go. We have always had the room to store boxes so we have managed to keep the majority of boxes from stuff that we have bought, for example: my kitchen aid mixer box, or our x-box box, or the box from our computer. So that will make packing that majority of the belonging that we are still using easy. Our philosophy when cleaning up is; if we haven't used it in the last year that we have lived here we obviously don't need it at all. I find it hard to let go of some things, only because some things hold some sentimental value to me, but I have to be realistic when it comes down to it. Even when I am packing the stuff that we still have out I will be eliminating a lot of it. Because for the past year and a half it has just sat there and not been used, so I don't see me requiring it down the road. I have gotten along just fine for the last year without it. If that make sense?
We really don't own a lot of stuff, so moving for us will be rather straight forward. I am just excited to what the new year holds for Cam and me. It will be interesting to see where we are this time next year. I am hoping in our own house.

First Snow of the Year

Sunday morning I woke up rather early due to the time change. So I was out of bed making my coffee at about 8:00 am.....on a Sunday I know pathetic. Meanwhile the pug and Cam slept upstairs. I don't have many complaints with it though. Only because if Cam and the dog are both upstairs sleeping that gives me my time to do what I need to get done and things I want to do. Usually when they are up I have to entertain both of them. Whether it be taking the dog out, giving her a treat, feeding her, or playing with her.... to giving Cam things to do, or entertain him in one way shape or form. Usually there is football on so I can put that on and he is happier than a pig in mud. So, I really do enjoy the few hours of the weekend mornings that I get time to myself. This Sunday morning I woke up to snow. There was a good blanket of snow on the ground! Usually this would upset me and make me want to curl back up into bed and hide from the fact that winter is approaching us. Not today, I embraced the fact that there was this white snow on the ground and the sun was shinning brightly through the windows. It made me really happy. All day Sunday I was thinking about how great the holiday season is and how much I enjoy going home to the Kootenays. Generally I don't like snow because I don't like winter driving. It scares the crap out of me. But today I didn't really have to go anywhere or do anything.
Then Cam got up and decided that we had to be productive humans today and actually do something other than sitting on the couch. We only had till 2:00pm because that is when kick-off was for the Indy/Dallas game. So we went and did our running around the city, we went to Rona (to fix the door I kicked in, I guess I did more damage than I had thought), Save-On-Food, and London Drugs (so I can finally finish the thank you cards I have been procrastinating, although I did just get the professional pictures). It felt a lot like Christmas out there while we were out. The decorations are coming out, the trees are put up in the stores to be sold.... all this kind of stuff excites me more than Cam would like. He isn't a big fan of Christmas, but I am working on that. AHHHH I love the holiday season. All the baking, and the holiday cheer.
The pug loves the snow. She loves to go out and eat it, and run around in it. It wasn't quite deep enough for her to really enjoy it, but I am sure more is coming soon. So pull out your mitts, scarfs, and toques people the snow is a comin'!

Happy it is Monday...Odd...

Yep I am sure glad that it is Monday. Only for the simple fact that Cam gets home today. This week of him being gone hasn't been the best week. I have realized that I am the type of person who likes to look after others not myself. I find that I have a very nurturing personality and I enjoy looking after others. Making sure that their needs and wants are satisfied before my own. So, when I have no one to look after I guess I feel lost in a way. With Cam being gone for the past week I have had no one to look after or feed. That is the major issue I have, when it is just me I don't feel like cooking or preparing much in the way of nutritious foods for myself. I will eat out too much or I will have a bagel for supper, or a sandwich, or soup. Something quick and easy. It definitely takes a toll on me and my body. The lack of vegetables and fruit. Today I woke up with a really bad stomach ache. So I am thinking because of my lack of nutrition that my body is accustom to my immune system is a little weak and I am getting sick :o(
Tonight I am going to go home, go grocery shopping and get some vegetables, fruits, and a whole lot of other healthy foods. Because Cam is home tonight I am sure that things will get back to normal and I will start looking after him and myself!

Although I did have a really good weekend. Saturday was a much needed day indeed for myself, as well as my girls here. I spent the day at the mall with my sister Danielle and my very good friend Michelle. After we finished our pedicures I went home and picked up my dog and headed over to Michelle's house for the night. She has two dogs and all three dogs got along really well. Us girls went out for a very nice supper at Opium and then headed back to Michelle's for more drinks and we played with Michelle's new hot rollers. We were up late gabbing, laughing and sharing past stories with each other. We have quite the history us three girlies. Living in the city I tend to feel lonley at times and miss my friends from home. Having Michelle and my sister in the same city as me is so wonderful becuase I know I always have them. I have new friends that are from here, but friends that I grew up with and know me and who I am is the most wonderful thing to have. We don't hang out nearly as much as I think we would all like to, but we all have rather busy lives at the moment. Michelle is in the nursing program at UofA, and my sister..... well she works a lot. It was just really nice to have a weekend of girly things and girly time.

Kicking Down the House

Yesterday wasn't the best day for me in anyway. Cam dropped me off at work in the morning, and we said our goodbyes. I won't see him now for a week. He got sent to Prince George for work :o( So I carried on my day at work how I usually would. When I got home from work Zoe was happy to see me as usual, and so I leashed her up and got her ready to go outside so that she could do her business. As I was walking out the door I for whatever reason locked the handle on the door and closed it..... instantly as soon as the door slammed shut I realized what I had done..... oh crap, I just locked the dog and myself out of the house..... Keys are hanging on the key hook, purse with wallet and cell is sitting on it's regular perch..... crap crap crap.... what am I going to do the only other person with a key to get in is Cam and he is on his way to Prince George. Otherwise I would have just gone for a walk around the neighbourhood till Cam got home from work at his regular time. I didn't have a phone to call anyone with, or find numbers to people that could rescue me (other than my sister and Ryan their numbers are the only ones I remember). I was screwed. I thought for a second to walk to my sisters house but then that would mean that I would have to walk through a sketchy part of town..... So that was out. I am not very close with any of my neighbours to use their phones to call a lock smith, provided one would still be open. I thought to beg the bus driver to let me ride the bus back down to work, but I had the dog with me.
The only choice I had was to kick my own door in. Three kicks and WABAM!! I'm in. Minimal damage was done to the door, I am still able to close and lock the door. I had to screw in the handle back into the side of the door a little bit, but all is well and I learned my lesson. I guess worst case scenario I might have to replace the door. We will see what Cam has to say when he gets home.

The Forever Debatalbe Topic

I don't know why but I think for as long as humans exist on this planet there will always be the debate as to why girls are different from boys. The other night Cam and myself were out walking Zoe around the block so that she would do her business before bed. We have been rather busy the last week and a half and she has been couped up in the house with no one really around for her. So, we decided on taking her for at least a little walk. Anyways, as we were walking we got to discussing about me :o) hahaha.... I was saying about how I am unable to shut my brain off. I am constantly thinking about my day, things I need to do, things I've done.... everything. I can't just not think. Cam was saying how he can sit down and turn his mind off no problem and not think about his day or things that has to be done. Not think about anything? I asked. I find this hard to believe because the human mind has to be thinking about something at any given point. He assures me that he is pretty mindless when he is sitting down and watching tv, or in bed going to sleep. He isn't thinking about his day, he isn't thinking about things he needs to do. I guess that is where I come in, I have to remind his ass of things he has to do. So I guess what I am wondering is.... can all men just shut their brains off? Can other woman shut their brains off and think of sweet nothings? Am I the crazy one? hahaha don't answer.....
I find that because I am unable to really 'turn' my brain off I'm constantly thinking and it affects me more than I realize. The constant racing thoughts are a symptom of my panic disorder. Just if I am in one of my attacks the thoughts are fed through a lot quicker pace. I believe that this blog site for me has been a really good vice for me to be able to voice my opinions and share my thoughts and just put them out there. Who's reading my blog that would care? Well I am sure there are friends and family members that read it every once in a while that care for me and care about what I have to say..... oh dear..... I am letting my mind wonder. ON that note I am going to end this here.
But if anyone out there in blog world has any input to tricks or ideas on how to shut their brains off I am all ears....boys and girls..... I am interested to test my theory if woman can possess the power to shut off their brains and if there are any boys out there that can't shut off their brains, or if I am just making assumptions based off of Cam and me?

An Exhausting Weekend

It was a long weekend. We started on Saturday morning with classes at Aqua-Tek Scuba with Shawn. We went over a few chapters, got our gear organized and ready for the afternoon in the pool. We got to go home for a break before we had to go to the pool (lucky pug she didn't have to hold her pee/poo for the whole day) then it was off to the leisure centre for our pool training. We learned a lot of useful things in four hours. Then Cam and I had to rush home to get ready to go out for supper for a friends birthday. We made it to the dinner an hour late...oops...others were late as well. It was a great supper! Awesome food! It was a little pricey but that's okay Cam and I both don't mind paying for good food.
Then on Sunday morning it was back in the pool for more training. Then more classes in the afternoon at the shop. When they are teaching you to scuba dive they are basically teaching you 'worst case scenario' situations. So what to do in case something goes wrong, because lets face it you are 100 feet underwater and you can't just go to the surface because you can die you need to know what to do if something goes wrong. After we finished filling out the rest of the paper work at the shop we were done that part of our training. It is just the open dives we have to complete now. Which we are doing this upcoming weekend.
Because we are braving the elements and doing our dive in COLD water we opted to take our dry suit course. So, again we were in the pool last night learning how to dive with our dry suits. What a feeling that is. It is amazing the difference that you feel in a wetsuit compared to a dry suit. I somehow managed to injure myself while learning. I guess I descended to quickly and my ears didn't equalize for me on the way down how they usually do and by the time I got to the bottom my left ear was in a bit of pain, but I HAD to finish this course. My dives this weekend depended on it. So I cleared my ear the best I could and equalized it the best I could and continued on with the lessons. I just couldn't go as deep as Cam could because the pressure was too much for my little eardrum to deal with. It is still a little tender today, but I think a good nights sleep as well as sleeping with my left ear on a magic bag will help to dislodge the discomfort. So I should be in top form by the weekend because we will have to go 80 Feet by the end of the weekend. Or at least I have a feeling we will because once we are fully certified we are able to go 80 feet on our own. I don't intend on doing such deep dives in the future, but you never know.

Weekend is here!

This weekend is going to be so much fun. Tomorrow morning Cam and I start a scuba diving course which is a two weekend course. So tomorrow we start with Classes in the morning and then we are in the pool for the rest of the afternoon. Sunday we are in the pool in the morning and class in the afternoon. I am so excited to learn and play around in the water. Growing up on a lake every summer has fueled my love of being in water. However, I don't really like cold water. The thought of being able to breath while I am underwater and play around learning buoyancy and all the skills I will need to know for diving is very exciting to me. The only down side to this program is that we have to do our open water dives (4 of them) next weekend in a lake just outside of Edmonton. It is going to be COLD! However, we are taking a dry suit course (on Monday) so that we can wear long underwear and fleece while we are diving underwater. So really the only part of us that will get wet will be our faces.
When we were in the Dominican in 2005 we went scuba diving there, and we both loved it and from that point both wanted our open water diving ticket so that we didn't have regulations to how we could dive. We procrastinated till now and are finally doing it. Would have been nice had we done this in the summer months, but what can you do, our trip down under is fastly approaching and we want to see the Great Barrier Reef while we are there so we are doing it! I am assured that with the dry suit and wearing long underwear underneath will keep me relatively warm for the open water dives. So I guess the trick is to learn how to do the skills in the pool quickly and efficiently and get in and get out of the lake ;o) Wish us luck!

Counting the Days

I am so excited for what the future holds for Cam and I. After yesterday I am so ready to get on with it and move out of Edmonton. On my lunch yesterday I decided to go and try to find a bathing suit in the mall. Because it is lunch time there are people everywhere, that is just to be expected. At the same time though I would assume people would be a little more courteous towards their fellow man. I don't think I have a bigger pet peeve than slow walkers, or people who block the escalator when you are trying to go up. People will walk in groups of two or three and block pretty much the whole walkways of the mall. You try to go around but there are always people coming towards you as well, so you try again when the coast is clear, and then for whatever reason the group of people need to shift that way and walk the same direction you are trying to get around them in. AHHHH it is so frustrating. So finally you get around these people and you can carry on your way at your pace to get to where you are going.
As for the escalators, people like to stand beside each other on these things. So if you are trying to walk up them you can't because you are blocked by the people ahead of you. Just because it is an escalator doesn't mean you can't walk up/down it, or at least move over if someone is coming up behind you or down behind you and wants to get around. If there were stairs I would take them, but there are only escalators in the City Centre Mall. I gather that people are just lazy.
Everyday I take the bus to and from work. I enjoy the time I have just to sit drink my coffee and go to work, or just unwind from my day. I usually bring my Nano with me because I like to listen to my music. There are basic rules for the bus, that they have posted as advertisements on the bus. It reads:

Now I am not saying that I follow all these rules to perfection, but I try to be as courteous as I can towards other on the bus. And the other day I was listening to my music and I could hear the persons music across from me over my own. I think that is just completely inappropriate. Most people don't want to listen to what you are listening to.
I think I would be foolish to believe that it is only in a big city that this kind of stuff happens in, because lets face it there are inconsiderate people all over this fine planet of ours. I guess I just haven't noticed it as much till I moved to the city here and have lived here for a year and a half. I think I would end up snapping on someone if I lived here longer than I am.
Everyday there are things that just boggle my mind that I see in Edmonton. Like yesterday Cam and I were driving out to West Edmonton Mall, and we saw a little kid probably between the ages of 5-10 riding his bike along one of the busier streets without a helmet. It just made my stomach turn upside down to think of the things that could happen to this little guy. Where are his parents?
Either way, sorry for the angry post, yesterday was just a very frustrating day for me, but on the up side I got to talk to one of my best friends on the phone for a while (Nikita I love you and miss you terribly) and I got to buy a new bathing suit for scuba diving! So my day didn't end too badly :o)

Random Post

I am having one of those days when you just feel.... good. I can't explain it or pinpoint why I am so happy. On the other end of that I can't think of a reason why I would be sad. The past couple of days I have had some friends from my past contact me. It is odd how this is the week that people want to contact me. It is great! I love reconnecting with old friends.

One of the people who has contacted me is a friend from LONG ago. When I was living in Vancouver. Her and her mom lived down the street from us, and we played all of the time. She was a great friend and we had a lot of good memories. Then my family moved away to Nelson, and she moved to Surrey. I think we exchanged a few letters here and there when we were younger, but we loss touch after awhile. Life gets busy. She found me on Facebook and wrote me a note asking me if I am who she thought I was. So now I have found out that she has two daughters, still living down the coast and is doing well. I am very excited to start chatting and catching up. A lot has happened in the past 18 years since we have talked!

Another person who contacted me is a friend I went to college with in Castlegar. She was a great friend while I was going to school. I don't know how I would have gotten through it without her. She is such a beautiful person inside out. She now has a baby, and wants more. Everyone is having babies.

Lastly is a friend who I met through curling. He is one of the most kindest people I know. We haven't curled together, but we have been at some of the same cash spiels together and have shared a few drinks and laughs here and there. Again life got busy and I lost contact with him. I look forward to curling with him for the 2008/2009 season.

With these people contacting me it makes me wonder who else is going to sneak up from my past and surprise me with a little note. Only time will tell.

Can Barely Contain Myself!

Well this week is the week that we book our plane ticket for our big adventure. For those of you who don't know, Cam and myself are going on a little adventure over seas! Yep watch out Asia and Australia we are coming. I am so excited to go and visit these cities and take in all the culture and heritage these places have to offer us. I admit I am a little frightened to be a minority in a country, but I think that just comes from only being in Canada and my lack of overseas travels. From what I have been reading about the certain cities that we are visiting, they are all very tourist friendly, and relatively safe. http://wikitravel.org is a great site to guide you and give you some information.

Our first stop looks like it will be Singapore for three days. Then we are off to Australia for four and a half weeks. Then finally to Tokyo where we will spend a few days. For me it is really hard not to plan many things to do in these places before we go. Cam and myself discussed how we want to kinda fly by the seat of our pants so that we don't feel so rushed and on a time limit to get to the next destination. As long as we know when our flights leave and where they leave from anything we do in between that time is ours to do what we want. This is hard for me only because I like to have everything planned. I am a planner.

No matter what this is going to be an amazing trip, and we are going to see amazing things. I am trying so hard to save up my money so that I can do a little shopping while I am down there. Mostly on the way home because we have a long four weeks in Australia that I don't want to be carrying a bunch of stuff around that I don't require. We are only taking backpacks I believe.... this really is going to be a test for me. I am kind of a princess when it comes to travelling. I like comfort, but I am up for whatever. I have Cam.

I am sad that I will be without my pug for a month, but I think she will be just fine at my mom and dad's house while we are away. Hopefully she isn't too mad at us when we get home.

Golf Clubs for me.... and they are PINK!

So, Sunday(Sept 9th) morning I wake up and I just wasn't lovin' life. I was just stressing about work and giving my notice and my workload and just everything to do with all the bullshit here. So needless to say I wasn't in a great mood. So I wasn't really wanting to get up and out of bed and Cam was trying to make me. After he climbed back into bed and we talked about what was bothering me he got me out of bed, and we made plans to go to the driving range with Ryan at 1:00. I used Cam's clubs becasue I didn't have my own. I was hitting the balls pretty good and I realized that this is totally a sport that I could see myself doing long term. I love whacking balls ;o) So now the trick was to talk Cam into buying me some clubs of my own. I have wanted these Wilson Hope clubs for some time now. Not only because they are pink and they have little painted pink ribbons on them, but because they went towards a good cause. We went to sports check in the mall and they had completly sold out in all of their stores..... I was sad..... so there was another set there for $189.99 and Cam was saying that we could get those ones for me instead because they are pink.... but we would need to buy a bag, and a putter to go with the set because it didn't come with it.... so add that up and we were lookng at spending about $300.00 on these no name set. I told Cam that we should wait on it for right now becuase they aren't the clubs that I really want, and we still need to go grocery shopping and such so we can think about it and look on the internet to see if we can find the ones that I want online. So we left the store and went grocery shopping. Then we came home nad we looked online and found some on ebay and some on the Wilson page, but I wouldn't have them till who knows when because they would have to be sent out to me, and we wanted to go golfing here before the season was totally over. Then we found out that Golf Town had them and they had two stores in Edmonton.... one on the North end of town and one on the South end of town. So becasue we are closer to the North end one we opted to go to that one to find them..... after being there for a few minutes and the guy looking around trying to find one of the two sets that his computer siad he had he couldn't find any..... but the store on the South Side had 5 sets.... ugh..... why didn't we go there first..... it is Sunday, stores close at 5, we are on the north end, and it is 4:15.... how do we get to the southside before it closes in 45 minutes..... I was starting to think that this might not happen..... but Cam insisted that he could do it and he would get me my clubs..... so he drove like a madman accross town and we made it there with 10 minutes to spare..... and they had my clubs!!!!!!!!! I was so happy. So for the set I got I got a putter, a bag, and a whole set of irons, a driver, and woods..... Way better than that no name brand that I was going to get otherwise, and I got them all for $350 (i got a glove and some balls, and tees too) So it turnedout that it was a way better deal getting these Hope clubs than these Alien brand ones, and the shafts are graphite..... so they are super light. AHHHHH I am so happy and excited to go out for a round..... I just need to learn to actually hit the ball now. Sometimes I hit them good other times I slice it...meh whatever it is all for fun. But yeah that is my golf club story.

Yesterday, Sunday September 16th, I got to go out and hit my first round of golf. We only did nine holes. It was a great course for a beginner like me. I can for sure see myself playing the game of golf for many years to come. I am so looking forward to taking some lessons next year and hitting a little white ball around.

Middle Information

So I was tagged for a meme. I am flattered that someone wants to get to know me a little better :o) I will do my best to fill it out.... my middle name is kinda long....

Post these rules before you give the facts. You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.) When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post and then choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don't' forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

Here were go:

C - Caring. This one maybe too much. I am the type of the person that will always put others needs before my own. I think this is one of the things that I don't want to change about me. I enjoy seeing others happy, and if all it takes is making someone laugh, then I will do that.

R - Reasonable. It is the Aquarian in me. I am very down to earth when it comes down to it. I try to see things from all aspects before jumping off the handle and getting relaly mad about something. I like to process my thoughts and gather my feelings, and then deal with the situation. I know for the whole wedding process I tried so hard not to get too worked up over the little things. That even goes for my life now. I have a simple motto that I live by.... I just think to myself is this somehting that I am goign to be upset about months down the road. Is it even going to be a thought or still affect me down the road. No....okay then why stress myself out and get upset over the fact now. Be reasonable think about it, share my feelings on it, and be done with it. I don't find the need to pick fights where there don't need to be any. It is just too stressfull on me and those involved.

Y - Yearning. HAHAHA okay this one is kinda funny because it is so me. I always want new things. If there is a new electronic out there that looks like fun, I want it. If there is a new cell phone that I fall in love with and really want...I want it now, even though I have a perfectly fine cell phone that meets my needs. I am a very passionate person so if there is something in my mind that i want to do I will try to do to the best of my abilities. I've learned I can't always get what I want.... although eventually I do and it works out....hm...Fate! But till the day I die I am sure there will always be something that I yearn for and want.

S - Self Esteem. This is something that is a touchy topic with me. Due to some of the things I have been through in this life of mine I lack the feeling of self-worth. I tend to be a little insecure (although I don't really admit that one out loud to often, I front it well). It is something that I am working on and trying to 'fix', and I believe with time it will come. It is one thing for people to tell you your great, it is a completly different thing finally feeling that way about yourself. I'm almost there I know it.

T - Tolerant. Cam will tell you how tolerant of a person I am. In the 8 years that we have been together we have had many ups and downs. He would always be working out of town, and instead of me uprooting everytime he went to a new town or location to work I opted to stay at home, and work and try to save money. We've been together for a long time, but if you actually break it down into months that we were together in the same city we've been together for 6ish years. Regardless, we are together, happy, and newly married. Life is good.

A - Ability. I guess I am the type of person that there are many things I would like to do, but I don't. I need help getting my butt kicked into doing these things. I will try, but it takes a bit of persuading and actually getting me out there to do it. For example.....I grew up on a lake every summer, so natuarally you would think I would know how to ski, or wake board, or some sort of water sports.....nope. Years and years of asking and trying to get me out there I just wouldn't go, but I would always be envious of those who did and wish that I could do that. Then finally just a few years ago I tried wake boarding, it was fun. I loved it. I unfortunatly didn't get a chance to go this summer due to the wedding caos, but next year i would be willing to give it a try again. Another good example would be when I learned to drive standard..... for whatever reason I just never could stop and start. I would stall, so I was frusterated with it and vowed only to ever own automatic. Till one day Cam took me to a parking lot and forced me to learn. Eventually after many tries I got it. Something inside of me clicked and I understood how to drive standard. It was such an amazing thing for me to learn this. I am so happy that I now have that ability. I don't feel as trapped into only owning automatics anymore. I believe that everyone has the ability to do whatever they put their minds too, they just need little pushes every once in a while.

L - Loving. Another word to go with this one would be loyal. I am a VERY emotional and caring person. If you are my friend you are my best friend. I will do anything for a friend. Stick behind them no matter if they are wrong, right, or otherwise. I think it might have to do with my ability to be understanding and caring. I find that good friends are hard to find, so when you do, hold on to them for as long as you can becasue it sure can hurt when you lose them. Growing up and going through teenage years are really hard with this because most girls are emotional roller costers and can be very mean. So it is easy to just cut them from your life and be done with it. Down the road you think, geeze maybe I shouldn't have acted like that when I was younger and we would still be friends.... life is full of little lessons as I have learned. Learn as you go I guess. :o)


Well that is is. That is my middle name summed up for me. As for tagging others to do this....hm.... the people that I would tagged is Allie, but she has already done this. Her sister Christie, but she has been tagged by Allie.... So I am going to tag Nikita - she is a great friend of mine who I love very much and is going through this thing we call life as well. You can check her out over at http://nmpopoff.blogspot.com. I will also tag my cousin Amber. She use to be huge into blogging. Then her life got busy and she didn't have time to keep up with it. So lets see if she will do it. http://thenewadventuresofpursejunkie.blogspot.com/.

A Newly Wed Resolution

Instead of a New Years Resolution.... Cam and myself have decided to make a Newly Wed Resolution. We have discovered, as of late, how lazy we have become. Our couch is like a magnet and we are stuck to it at night after we eat supper. We will get up to do the occasional chore, such as take the dog out, make our lunches for the next day, make a snack... such things like that. On Sunday we both kinda had the same thought.... "we are lazy sacs and it is bullshit" We both usually are in pretty good shape, haha, okay Cam more than me I've always been lazy and still manage to stay somewhat in shape. Either way, we have both made a pact to be more active. So these things include walking the dog more, going on bike rides, my new thing golf!, and anything to stay active and feel good about ourselves. I have also taken on Yoga. I have a video at home that I have had for years and never really watched it or did it. It only takes me about 20-30 minutes a day to achieve a basic yoga work out. I am planning on starting to take classes in the very near future, but I just want to get myself limbered up lets say a little more than I am now. I have realized how inflexible I am at this point. I have a lot of tension in my shoulders and neck and I find it hard to be as flexible as I once was. When I discovered this fact I was a little mortified because simple things that I could do before I can no longer do as well. Very frustrating. The yoga studio that I would go to is very close to where we live, and I think that Cam will come with me if he arrives home from work and gets ready in time to go.

So far we have been doing really good. We take the dog out every night for a 30-40 minute walk. I do my yoga while Cam is at work, and it still gives me time to make supper in time for his arrival home from work :o) Monday night we went to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls each.... I had to use my new clubs..... And last night it was kinda rainy so we just took the dog out for a little walk. I think Cam was hoping to do a little more activity, but I had already done yoga, and went to the grocery store to get groceries for supper, so I was kinda beat from a long day. I think tonight if weather cooperates we will go for a bike ride. I would love to go to the driving range and hit some more balls, but that can get costly if we do it every night.

We are both very excited to get ourselves back into shape and be happy again with ourselves physically and mentally. So here is to our new lifestyle..... let's hope we can keep it up!

Post Wedding Blues??

I am not sure if this is normal or not, as of lately I have been feeling used and unappreciated. At work, at home, all round. I am not sure why this is. I just got married, I should be happier than a pig in mud.....*don't get me wrong, I am so happy to be married to the man I love*....but I guess just all around in life don't feel appreciated or compensated for the person I am. I tend to put other peoples needs before my own. This may have to do with the fact that I had grown up in a small town. However, in the city people like me get taken advantage of. Or at least this is how I am feeling. I feel I get taken advantage of at home and at work. I think mostly at work, and it trickles down to home. When really the little things I do at home aren't really what's bothering me.... I don't think. I feel like I deserve a raise, however, how do you ask for one and turn around in a week or two to tell your employer that you are leaving at the end of the year. Arg... what to do. Overworked and underpaid..... is this the way life is always going to be?

(Example of differences I find from city to small town: It always amazes me how people forget a simple thing like manners. When you hold a door open for someone don't you deserve a simple 'Thanks'? I would say 2 out of 5 people will thank you if you are so kind to hold a door for them. I think I realize this so much because I work in the heart of downtown. It is a busy place, with a lot of connecting buildings and A LOT of people. There are children that come into our office and instead of saying "can you please turn up the volume of the tv?" they will just yell from across the room "Can you turn up the volume!?" Most times I will say back to them, "Can you please say please and thank-you?". I am not sure how parents feel about this, but I don't like to tolerate rude behaviour. So, this doesn't help with the feeling appreciated aspect of things.)

So, I am wondering, is this because of the wedding being over? (and yes I have been procrastinating thank you cards, soon I promise) Am I feeling lost over the fact that I don't have something huge that I am planning, and requires the majority of my time? Or is it simply because I am lazy and don't have the wedding to blame for my laziness?

Well no matter what the cause is for my sudden case of the blues I am going to nip this thing in the butt before it gets out of hand. I am thinking that I have to take more initiative and get off the couch and fill my night schedule with something for me. Yoga? Good possibility. Going to the gym? Another good idea. Walk the dog nightly? A fantastic idea for both her and me and maybe we can wrangle Cam into the works. I am however, a creature of habit and schedule. So I need to find a way to get in all of my 'must do chores' and the things I want to do.

I apologize for this blog, it was more of a posting for me and my sanity and getting thoughts and feelings out in the open. However, if anyone has any thoughts to my craziness and a possible solution on how to deal with it I am all ears ;o)

Once all is said and done............

I can't believe that a week has already gone by since 'the wedding'. I must say that I am relieved that it is all over with. I am not sure what to do with my time at this point, but I am sure something will spark my interest. I am really enjoying the fact that I can finally call Cam my husband. I didn't expect much to change with us and our relationship when we decided to get married, and through the whole engagement, but I find that I have this strange sense of happiness come over me. I feel as if we have started dating all over again. It is great!

The name change is going to be the most difficult I believe. Already at work I have been trying out my new last name..... I still want to sign the two "ll" in my last name. However at work, when packages come in, I have been practicing signing McLean.... isn't so easy. In due time. It is just going to be a long process to change my name with everyone that I need to change my name with. Who will I forget to call, and how will it screw things up for me in the future..? I really don't think it is that big of an issue.

I have delegated Saturdays to be our dinner date nights. I think that once all the hustle and bustle of the week is over it is nice to be able to sit down just the two of us (maybe we will ask people to join us one day) and have a nice supper for the two of us. Because I don't work on Saturdays this gives me time to go get all the ingredients that I require and the time I need to make these fancy meals. Our first was stuffed pork tenderloin, with herb spaetzle and sauteed veggies. Yes I made it myself!! Somehow, with the help of a wonderful cookbook that everyone should own, I was able to make everything required for the supper from scratch even the spaetzle. The cookbook is called: Favoured Flavours From Fiddler's Green Restaurant by Lynda Manson.

So I guess now that people can't ask us "when are you guys getting married?" the next question in line is "when are you going to have babies?" hahaha little do these people know we have other plans for right now, and sorry to be the bearer of bad news but no babies for a little while :o) We have Australia to conquer yet.

I really think that being married is just another chapter in my life that I have now started to write. I am looking so forward to everything that lays ahead of us on this little journey we have embarked on. I have a wonderful husband who loves and adores me with every flaw I may have, and I absolutely adore and love him. And the pug is happy now that her mommy and daddy are married.

And then there was 8

Finally my last day of work before I go on holidays for a week, and what is great about these holidays is that at the end of them I get to get MARRIED!!! I am so happy and excited. I am trying to keep my cool and composure over the next 7 days but I know it is going to be hard to contain myself when there are people all around me getting me excited.

Luckily Cam also only works till 2:00pm today so that means that we will get on the road a little earlier than we had expected. Which is good, however, we won't get to Nelson till midnightish.... I am sure we will have our good friend RedBull with us to help guide us there. I am a little upset that it is so hot in Nelson right now because there have been so many fires spark up, which means smoke everywhere, and ash falling from the sky. Being with a now retired forest firefighter I don't mind the smell of smoke because to me that smells like money :o) HAHA Anyways, life is good and all will be well.

I am not sure what to expect after all is said and done. I am not anticipating too much change, but you never know. Cam and I have so many changes coming up for us that it is so exciting how everything is just falling into place. First we are getting married, then in December we will move all our stuff back to BC, then in January hop on a plane to Australia, then once we finally come back (if ever...wink....wink) we will move to Vernon to eventually purchase a home and start our little lives together and who knows maybe a family.

Anyways I am off, I need to get some stuff done before I head home.

The story of Zoe

Back in 2003 I was still living at home. I wanted a puppy so badly. I feel bad saying this, but our dog Otto was just old. He wasn't really him anymore, he was more so a fixture in the house that would get lost outside because he was blind and he couldn't hear very well. Cam and myself had made a trip up to Edmonton to visit my sister, Cam had some interview for the ministry of Alberta to go fire fighting with them. There was this little black pug/boston terrier at PJ pets (quick note, I would never buy a puppy from there). I was so in love with him and the way he was terrorizing the other puppy that was in his kennel with him. He was just cute. I wasn't prepared to spend $1200 on a dog. So we had to leave him behind and finish our shopping. I knew in the back of my mind that a pug was the type of dog that I wanted from then on. we ended up heading back home to Nelson without a puppy :o( I was a little sad that I didn't rescue this little guy from the horror of living in PJ Pets. Once we got home I made a deal with Cam, if when we go back to Edmonton near the of the month, and that little boston/pug was still there I was allowed to buy him. The end of the month came and we made another trip up to Edmonton for Cam to do a fitness test with the ministry. The puppy was no longer at the store. I was a little sad, but I really didn't want to pay the price that they were going to make me pay for him. So back to Nelson we went.

I started researching and learning about the pug breed. I searched the internet for information and tips for training and taking care of them. Delicate little buggers, but worth it in the end. The good definitely outweighed the bad. Now the trick was finding myself a little puppy. Again I searched the internet. Finally one day I came across this ad on the internet; Edmonton Journal classifieds. I thought I would give them a call and see if they still had some puppies available. They did!!!

After conversing with the lady and figuring out that they were not a puppy mill, and that they usually don't have to put ads in the paper to sell their puppies, I was overjoyed that I had a very good chance at getting a new puppy. They only had two males, and one female left. The female was the one that I wanted, however, there was a family coming over that night to look at her and possibly take her home with them. So I told the lady that I would gladly take the male. I would prefer a female but I would still love a male, but I would think about it and get back to her in an hour. After an hour I called the lady back and the family had already come and gone to look at the puppies, and they decided to take the male that was slated to come to me. I couldn't be happier because that meant that I could have the little girl that I wanted. I guess they didn't like how busy this little girl really was. Most children want a cuddly puppy, one that they can hold and pet. Well this little girl doesn't have any of that with strangers. She gets to excited when new people come that she just wants to play with them.

I told the girl I would take her and I would be sending my sister over to pick her up. And that is exactly what happened. Danielle and Ryan went over to the lady's house to get my puppy. So, they had her for a little while before they brought her to me in Nelson. I can still remember the first time our eyes met. It was love at first sight. We have been inseparable since. The rest with us is history.... I love my pug, she loves me and it is odd how attached you grow to these little creatures that you take into your life and care for. I am hoping that she stays young forever and that I will always have her. It is true what they say..... once you go pug you never go back :o) I believe that, I know for me and Cam that we will always have a pug in our lives. They have such a personality that is indescribable.

I love my pug.

29 Days and Counting

I feel like I am cloud nine right about now. I haven't really been part of many weddings, other than being a guest. So, when I started planning mine I didn't really know what to expect, or to expect from others. So I have found myself just going with it and going through the motions of planning this. I like to use magazines, book, online advice just to confirm things for myself that I am not completely out to left field with planning this wedding. Actually I am lying, my sister is my source for planning the wedding. Without her I would be months behind schedule for doing things. She likes to make sure I stay on top of it and get the things done that I have to get done. She likes to give me time frames that I have to get things done. Usually I am compliant with her and make sure they are done, but I do get distracted easily. There aren't enough words in the English vocabulary to express my appreciation for my sister. My family and wedding party have also been such a huge help with the planning and organizing all as well.

I am constantly finding myself second guessing decisions that I make, and making numerous lists. I think I write a new list each day of different things that I have to do. I only have a few more weekends to go and I am confident that all will be done and all will go well. I have to make a few sacrifices along the way, like getting up early with Cam on Saturdays to drive him to work so that I can have access to the vehicle for the day. With only a few weeks before I go home for the wedding there are all those last minute tasks that need to be accomplished and because I work 8-5 everyday that conflicts with many other businesses that have the same hours. So that leaves me Saturdays. Saturdays I brew a big pot of coffee and confine myself into my wedding room and jot down all the things I have to get done, and do them till I am done. I tend to be easily distracted by different things.

The dog usually likes to bother me for walks so I often feel compelled to go out for walks (which I have been very delinquent with lately... sorry Zoe)Then I am hungry so then I have to make something to eat, and the list will go on and the distractions will keep arising. So I guess in hindsight it is for the best that I am up at 6:30 in the morning to drive Cam to work so that I have a good portion of the day to do things before stores open.

I am so excited for these last few weeks before we go home for the wedding. I plan on taking everything for what it is and enjoy every second because this time only happens once in a life time so I want to enjoy it while I have it. I can plan for Australia and the rest of our lives together after the wedding.

Thinking meme.....

Alrighty Christie you tagged me because you wanted to know..... here we go:


Four things that I have learned or experienced in the last four years


1. Number one would probably have to be experiencing my engagement. I am so fortunate that I have found the love of my life and after this summer will be married and starting a whole new adventure together which I am hoping includes more puppies and children. So with an engagement comes the planning of the big day. Things for me have come relatively easy so I have been able to enjoy every moment of it. I haven't had too many stresses, and again I thank my sister for that one. She was living with me for the majority of my engagement; therefore, we were able to sit down almost nightly to plan and decide on things and run ideas by each other. We somehow got way ahead of ourselves with the planning that it has made things so much easier for us now as we are getting closer to the date.


2. Deciding to go back to school and take Dental Assisting. I am so happy in my job and my career that I have taken. It is so satisfying being able to help people. I remember one case, once we finished the appointment she started crying. This lady had lost most of her teeth when she had bone cancer. We were able to give her back her full smile with implants and some crown and bridgework. She felt like she could smile again and not be judged based on her teeth. I find that people tend to be quite vain when it comes to their teeth, but why not? Teeth are the first thing that people see when you smile at them. :o) (sorry I might be a bit bias when it comes to this topic)


3. I have learned that like my mother, and my grandmother, I have a panic disorder. I was very ill for most of last summer. I didn't know what was happening to me or my body. I was so consumed with trying to figure out what was going on and why that it was occupying most of my life. Then finally my mom told me that you can't spend your time trying to figure out why it is happening, you have to accept that it is happening and learn to cope with it and live with it or it will run your whole life. So with the tremendous help of my fiancee Cam, and my sister Danielle, and others of course but these two were living with me every day with it, I somehow managed to accept it and deal with it. I am now able to feel them coming on and will be able to control them and not let them get out of control. I am so thankful for the support that I have at home to help me through my rough times. I have Cam and he is my everything and I truly believe that I would be curled up in a ball most days hiding from the world if it weren't for him and his never ending love and support.


4. Last but not least..... Zoe. I have got to say this is the biggest factor in my life that I never expected. When I talked both my mom and Cam into allowing me to get her I never realized what this little pug had in store for me. In the first few months of having her, she managed to poison herself, get stepped on, be bitten by an ant.... oh the list goes on. She has taught me the meaning of patients. I never realized how much puppies can be like having children in some ways. They require a lot of attention and training, daily face washes, exercise, they need to be fed.... oh the list is never ending. But I love my pug and all the joy she brings to me on a daily basis. She is so intuitive to how I am feeling if I have had a bad day or a great day. She knows and she knows exactly what to do to fix the problem, or just put a smile on my face. I love my pug!!


Four things that I want to try and do in the next four years


1. GO TO AUSTRALIA!!! If all goes according to plan, Cameron and myself will be headed off to Australia for the month of January. I am so excited. I don't know what else to say about that other than I'm going to Australia.


2. Buy a house. With the housing market the way it is here in Edmonton Cam and myself have decided to move back to BC. We figure if we are going into debt we should just buy where we want to end up anyways and start paying off that house. But honestly who knows where this world will lead us.


3. Have children. I have always wanted children, so maybe within the next four years I will have the joy of little ones running around our house.


4. Pull off this wedding in August. As far as I know mostly everything is in place, but the way I see it at this point is that as long as all the legal stuff is done and at the end of the day Cam and I are married that is all that matters. The rest is just a big expensive party that we are hosting.

Lazy Blogger

I am such a lazy blogger, and to those who read my ramblings I apologize. Things have been a little crazy since the wedding became only 4 months away. SO much has happened and gone on. My lifestyle has changed, and some life decisions have been made. I am so excited for the wedding and what is to come after. In the past month I was given a bachelorette party, so I will have to get the disc from my sister so that I can post some pictures on here for people to see. So don't give up on me yet, I have stories to tell. I just need a moment of quite with a BIG cup of coffee and give'er.

Till then.....

A great weekend!!

How great of a feeling is it when you have such a great weekend. Unfortunately Cam and I spent a lot of money over the course of three days, but in the end it was all worth it. Our weekend started with a few drinks with some friends of ours out at West Edmonton Mall. Pretty relaxing environment and good company always makes for a good evening.

Saturday we woke up early because we knew we had a lot of things that we wanted to accomplish throughout the day. First we went to Sears to do up a little gift registry for the wedding. I mostly did it for my shower because people have been asking my mom where we were registered for gifts, and the truth is, is that I don't want gifts I rather have gift cards from places like Sears, or Home Depot because we have everything that we need really, but there are a few costly items that we want. Oh well, so after being harassed by my mom for a while I decided to do it. It wasn't as painful as Cam and I thought it was going to be. Which is good. After we completed that task we were off to get some stuff for me for my new bike. I needed a helmet, but I ended up getting a camelback as well. Cam also needed a new bike pump for at home. So after that we went to go and get Charlie and oil change, which ended up taking longer than anticipated only because we had the fuel filter changed as well. SO he is a very happy little car!! Once we were finished with Mr. Lube we went over the Independent Jewelers to pick out our wedding bands. I won't divulge what the bands look like only because it will be a surprise to those at the wedding ;o) They also polished up my engagement ring, so it sparkles again!! We then went home and had some lunch then we were off to pick up my new bike. Once we got to my cousins house we sat out on the beach and visited for a little bit, then it was on our way home to take our dog out for a walk. On our way back from our walk we ran into a very nice elder man. I didn't realize how long we were there talking to him. But I felt good after we left because he lives by himself with his dog, so I am sure the human interaction he received from Cam and myself made his night :o) Once we got home we were both bagged so it was pretty much chill and watch tv then off to bed.

Sunday started just as early as Saturday because I wanted to get to Costco before the craziness started that usually transpires on a Sunday morning there. Once we finished there we went to Save on Foods to finish up the rest of our shopping, we then donated $20.00 to the Breast Cancer Foundation and we got two hotdogs, and 2 pops in exchange. Not to bad of a deal if you ask me ;o) Anyways so once we completed that we went home and unloaded groceries and then got our stuff together and went out for a 1.5 hour bike ride. My butt sure is sore today from it, but it was worth it. Cam and I rode around and we chatted about some big life changes that are going to be going on with us soon enough. Once we got home we packed up our stuff for supper and headed over to my sisters and Ryans place for a bbq. It was a perfect way and supper to end our fantastic weekend.

I am looking forward to many more weekends full of events that Cam and I get to do together. This will be our first summer together full time. He is usually out fighting fires by now. At first I worried that I would get sick of him being around, only because I am so accustom to him being gone and having to do things by myself, but after this weekend I am very excited to see what will happen this summer.

4 Months

I only have 4 months to continue to pull off this wedding. Most of the work is done, just the little details left. Still no high stress is coming my way. I get to wear my dress today, because I am going to go and get it altered. I am so excited to get to put the dress on again! It is so beautiful and I wish I could wear it all the time. It might be harder to part with it after the wedding than I would expect. My bachelorette party is quickly coming up, then soon after that the wedding shower. I am so excited I just don't know what I am going to wear yet. I have ideas though :o) I just got back this past weekend from Nelson. It was so much fun to go home for the weekend. I brought along a friend from work with me. So we made it into a girls road trip. The roads were a little scary going from Red Deer into Calgary, but after that it was smooth sailing. Made back some good time ;o) The way home was great, except I had only had one hour sleep the night before, and Meghann only had 1.5........ so needless to say we were both in need of some rest, but we made it back safe and sound.

My mother comes up to Edmonton for a visit in a few weeks here. I will have to put her to work to do a bunch of wedding stuff while I am at work. Keep her occupied. I don't really have much else to report. My life right now is pretty plain. Cam starts his new job on Monday so that is really good. He won't be as pouty anymore about being bored with school. He will actually be out in the field working and making some money. Then soon after that we will be looking into buying a house. I can't wait to buy a house and make it ours. Hopefully we can find something that will have a back yard for our little pugorita!

I apologize to those who read my blog often, I have been lazy on posting things that have been going on. I guess I will have to take some time this weekend and catch you all up. Till then back to work I go :o)

Every Morning

Good Morning,

Every morning (during the weekdays) I ride the bus to work. I take the same bus almost every day. The number 3. If I am lucky Cam will take the bus with me half way. I see the same people almost everyday. I call them the regulars. There is a lady who sits in her designated seat and keeps her bag beside her so no one can sit there till one of her fellow bus mates gets on later on down the road. Then there is this other man who sits right up front so that he can talk to the bus driver about who knows what. It is painful to listen to this man some mornings, thank goodness for my nano. There are many other people who are regulars as well. This morning was a heart warming moment for me on the bus. There is this man who takes the bus every morning to work I would assume. He isn't a business man or anything like that I think he is more a labourer, lower income kind of individual who may be in his 50s. A very nice man from what I have gathered from taking the bus with him for months. He waves and says hi to all the kids on the bus and chats with different people all the time. There is a mother who rides the bus most mornings with her baby in a stroller, and her daughter can walk on her own. When they get to their stop the bus driver gets out and helps this lady with the stroller down the steps. Then the mother comes back to the bus and grabbes the little girl from the bus, and as she swings her from the bus the little girl says "weeeeeeeee!!!!" it is very cute. This is a morning ritual for them and it usually puts a smile on most peoples faces. This morning he got on the bus, and sat beside the mother. As the mother and the little girl, and baby were getting off the bus the girl paused and gave this man a huge hug :o) This was such a precious thing to see seen as it is Friday the 13th and all. I am having a great day because of them. It always amazes me how non prejudice young children can be.

Proud Mommy

I am such a proud mommy this past weekend. I have the best pug in the world!!!! Friday afternoon I decided that my dog looked a little scruffy. It looks like spring is in the air because she is losing her winter coat. So she just sat down and let me brush her for a good hour. Usually this is quite that task when it comes to her. She doesn't like brushings very much, but she just took it in and enjoyed eveyr minute of it. Or so it seemed that way. She wasn't too egar to get away from us. Then on Saturday Cam and I decided that it was such a nice weekend here in Edmonton that we should seize the day and take our dog out for a walk. We had to go to the store to pick some stuff up anyways, so put on her leash and off we went. She walked right beside Cam and me the whole way. She wasn't tugging on her leash or wandering all over the place. However, there were many puddles that were around so we had to dodge over those somehow so then she would do what she had to do to get past them. She would love the shallow ones. She could get a drink from them and walk right through them. As soon as the puddle would get to deep for the monkey she would jump out and go to the next puddle to see what that one had in store for her. She loves puddles, who knew? She got to meet a puggle (beagle pug cross) he was only 7 weeks old. Very very cute. By the time we got home I thought I owned a black pug. She was DIRTY. So we had to carry her right to the bathtub for a bath. Bath's usually aren't her favorite, but for whatever reason this time she just stood there and let dad scrub her down. I was so proud at how well behaved she was. She got an extra treat for the day. Again..... I LOVE my pug :o)

March Madness

The month of March has been complete madness for me. I have been so involved in my surroundings that I haven't had any me time to work on my blog. We have been busy entertaining guest at our house. After Cam's sister Jenn left we took a week off and just relaxed and enjoyed a little down time before the madness of March began.

The beginning of March my best friend came up for a visit. Nikita was here for a long weekend. It was so much fun. I realized how much I have really missed her. When we were going to school in Cranbrook we were basically together 24/7 especially after Cam moved out to work in Alberta. It was great we had a fantastic living arrangement and understanding. While she was here visiting she was offered a job to fill in for maternity leave for a year at my office. I think after careful consideration she wasn't too interested as she had other obligations in Nelson. We then found out that one of our employee's was leaving us, therefore a full time position opened up. So again I offered it to her, because I thought how great will it be to work with my best friend in an office full of my other new friends. So hopefully she can come for that job, but if not then maybe another time.... I am in Edmonton for a while.

This upcoming weekend is one that I am most looking forward to. All of my bridesmaids are going to be here under one roof, yes poor Cam and Ryan. We will have a weekend full of laughs, good times, and maybe the occasional tear. I will be busy this week arranging for things for us all to do. My best friend Nicole is coming from Kelowna, it has been about 1.5 years since I have seen her. My cousin that I grew up with like a sister, Brynn is coming from Montreal, and I haven't seen her in 2+ years. I live with my sister, and see my other cousin Amber frequently. I don't really have many words to describ how excited I am for everything. It seems as the day is approaching I get more and more excited, and fall more and more in love with Cam.

It's Here!!!

It is in and it is gorgeous :o)

My DRESS IS HERE!!! I am so excited. I came home from work on friday afteroon kinda bummed. I went out shopping with a couple of girls from work and we went to LuLuLemon to buy some new pants. I was really excited about this. I really wanted a new pair. I don't know how, I can't really explain it, but something came over me telling me not to buy anything today. Think it over, don't be impulsive as I usully am. So I watched these two girls buy whole outfits at LuLu and I didn't buy a thing. I was a little bummed.

So here I was sitting on my couch listening to Cam and his buddy Carl exchange stories about what has been going on in their lives. Then all of assuden Cam turned to me and said, 'oh, by the way some lady called today and said your dress was in.' He then turned back to his conversation. I quickly took one look at my sister and we both got VERY excited about this news. At that point we both cleared our plans for the night and we were off to pick up this dress that we have been anticipating the arrival of. So we kinda made a night out of it. We went out to West Ed Mall, and then tried it on and 'ewwd and awwwd' the dress and then I paid for it and we went for supper to Cheesecake Cafe. It was an excellent night. One of the best Friday nights I have had in a week ;o)

I had the pleasure of trying on my dress this morning after my shower to see how my veil looked with the dress. Perfect! So now all I have to do is get it hemmed. That is it. This dress fits me as if it was made specifically for me. I need no other alterations other than the hem. I am so happy right now. I would post a picture of it, but then that would ruin the surprise.

Mawhahahaha

Where have I been?

Good morning all :o) I know it has been a while since I have last posted anything. Things have been a little busy as of late with going to Vancouver, Cam's sister Jen coming for a visit, and getting back into routine. This is going to be such a busy month for us in this little house of ours. One of my best friends is coming to visit me next weekend (insert huge smile here), my bridesmaids are all coming this month to visit and get delegated to (wink wink, insert even bigger smile) and my sister and Ryan move out at the end of the month. I have come to my own terms with Danielle moving out. I know that it is a good thing not only for her and Ryan, but also for me and Cam. I think that Zoe might take it the hardest ;o) crazy dog she loves everyone. Anyway I just wanted to say hi to those who read my little blog and that I will be back at posting more stories to share soon.

This is Zoe's bed, courtesy of her favorite auntie Danielle. I think that we need to find a new cover for it that we can wash regularly. She loves to play and fight with this bed, but most of all she loves to sit on it and wait for her family to come home.

Twins! Can't live with them, can't live without them.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my sister and myself. It is one of us at our finest ;o) She is my twin and probably one of the only people that knows me, truely. She is the most intuitive individual that we know. As of lately there has been something bothering me a lot, and is making me quite upset over the little things. There are going to be many BIG changes going on here in the near near future. First up is the moving out of my sister and her boyfriend Ryan. As of April first we will no longer be living together. This saddens me because I feel like I am losing my best friend in a way.... obviously I could never lose her, however, I won't have her around just to take off with to go shopping at the mall, or to talk to at 11:00 at night if something is up. Just those little things. It is going to be more difficult due to her being on one side of town, and I don't know where Cam and I are going to be as of yet. I am truely excited for her as this is a HUGE step for her and Ryan, I am just sad for me a little. She has been such a huge part of my wedding planning and it makes everything so stress free as of right now with the planning. In the end I know that all will be well and we will keep going on the way we are, we will just be living in different places. The more I think about it, the better I think it is for my relationship with Cameron. I think he has had enough living with roomates for one lifetime :o) I think one of the good things is about the move also, is that She can still drop by and sit with Zoe in the afternoons and keep her company while she is waiting to catch a bus or go to one of her other jobs. I don't mind as long as she doesn't make a mess.....

Happy Valentines

It is valentines day so I thought that I would share who my special valentine is. This is Cam he is my life. I don't know what I would do without him. Either way this is my hunny and I love him :o)

Usually I am not one to really celebrate Valentines day, I think that it is just another holiday made up by card companies to make money. I don't feel that I need a special day to tell someone that I love them or that they are special to me. Also, I don't get a day off in lieu of this holiday so...... yeah.

Update

This picture does not do this piece of work justice. I can't believe that I made this. (sorry to be tooting my own horn but....) I give it to the baby this weekend. I am so excited to give it to the family.

What happened to sportsmanship in hockey?

So, last night I went to an Edmonton Oiler's game Vs my boys from the Vancouver Canucks. The game was awesome Vancouver beat Edmonton 5-2. I had so much fun and I enjoyed watching the players in real life rather on the TV :o) Anyways, I noticed at the end of the game how the players just left the ice. They didn't shake hands after the buzzer went. They all just head for the dressing room. After a few minutes something kinda came over me...... Why did they not shake hands after the game to say something as simple as 'good game'. I am a curler; therefore, we shake hands to wish luck to the opposing team, and shake hands after a game to say good game. That is kinda the unspoken rule that is what you do.

Hockey players work hard for 60 minutes passing the puck, and trying to steal it from one another, and then shooting it to try to gain a point. Why not after the game acknowledge that it was a good battle fought for a win. I understand that during that battle words may be said, and wrongdoings may be done to one another, but it is just a game. Why can't they be more like curlers I guess..... after a game we shake hands say 'good game, let's go grab a beer'. Obviously not the youngen's, they can't drink alcohol ;o)

I had mentioned at work to a fellow co-worker my dismay over this issue, and she informed me that they don't really enforce shaking hands at the end of a game in Jr. hockey anymore. I was absolutely shocked that they wouldn't encourage more sportsmanlike behaviour to these young boys playing hockey. I remember growing up going to watch my brother's hockey games, a lot. Usually they would shake hands or even give a low five after the game. They may have not liked the opposition very much after the game, but at least they acknowledged that it was a good game played between the two teams. NHL players are role models to many young up-and-coming hockey players. What kind of values are they teaching these young boys by acting the way that they do after the game..... just walking off the ice after the 60 minutes are up. No chance to acknowledge each other. All I ask for is a simple handshake. I know that in the Olympics they shake hands after the games, also in playoffs they shake hands, why not all year around.



I don't know. That is just something that I wanted to share. Feedback is always good or some insight to something that I guess I am clueless to. I say bring back shaking hands after the game, teach these young boys that it is just a game.


Well for happier thoughts look how small my little Zoe was when we first got her. Isn't she adorable :o)

Monday Morning Blues

It is Monday morning, probably the most hated of all mornings. I woke up this morning with an ache in my stomach (probably due to eating that Chinese food before I went to bed), and my eye lids as heavy as lead. Why is it that we find it difficult to wake up and get going on a Monday morning. I am sure that the weekend is just around the corner again...... I guess you can't beat the inevitable of having to get up and go to work for the week, and it has to start somewhere. So, I am asking if anyone has any advice on how to rid the Monday morning blues to let me in on the secret. Luckily for me, however, I have a pug that greets me every morning with a toy hanging from her mouth. She greets me in the morning with so much excitement and happiness to see me. At least she knows how to make me laugh first thing in the morning. I love my pug :o)

Always remember

Today is the 7th anniversary of my Grandma Koehle's death. She passed away on February 2, 2000. So I just wanted to express some feeling that I am having today.

I still feel her presence with me from time to time. The hurt never goes away, but it gets easier to deal with. For some reason I am finding this year harder than others. There are times when I have a problem and I am seeking advice from somewhere, or someone. Eventually some solution will come to me in time, and I believe it is my grandmother's wisdom that I think I hold within me. Every time my Grandpa tells me that I remind him sometimes of her, or that I will do something that reminds him of her, I kindly reassure him that Grandma will always live on in each of her children, and grandchildren. We all posses her attributes in one way, shape, or form. I think that if I could even be half the person she was, I am doing pretty well and will be okay. She never had unkind words to say about anyone. She believed that if you didn't have anything nice to say, not to say anything at all. I am sure unkind thoughts were there, but she would never share them out loud to any of us, and that is what helped make her such a beautiful person inside and out. her undying kindness to every living creature. I treasure every summer I use to have with her out at our family cabin. She would sometimes bring her 'rye' travelling case. The contents of the little case were her rye, her pepsi, and her jigger, there may have even been a glass in there too..... Grandma and Mrs. Burge would sit up at the cabin sipping rye till my grandpa would drive them both back into town after supper. My only wish would be that she could be with me on my wedding day, but I know she will be there in spirit. I can't have any regrets because with regret comes hurt, and I know she would want that :o)

So tonight I think I will go home and pour myself a Rye and Pepsi (her favourite) and drink to her and the memories that I will always take with me.
Cheers Grandma, I know you are around somewhere looking out for us :o)

Zoe and Peru

Can you tell which one is Zoe?
This is Zoe and her brother Peru. It was such fluke that we found them really.
Here is the story:
My dad would usually come and pick me up after work, and he would bring Zoe along for car rides. You couldn't leave the house without taking her for a car ride if she knew it was to come and get me. If you didn't bring her along, she would give you attitude for the rest of the day. On our way home we had to stop by the store to pick up some milk and some other things. I opted to stay in the car with Zoe while my dad went into the store to get the groceries. I usually don't like to leave Zoe alone in vehicles for any amount of time really, especially in the summer. While we were waiting there was a family in the vehicle next to us ready to leave the parking lot when they realized that there was a pug in the vehicle next to them. They started to make a bit of a fuss over Zoe, as most people in Nelson did when they would see Zoe. So I started to talk to them and quickly learned that they too had a pug. So knowing this I asked a few questions as most pug owners do when they meet fellow owners; Where did you get it?, How old?, What color?, Male or female?, Spayed or neutered?, Little questions like that. I quickly put the puzzle pieces together and realized that they owned Zoe's brother!!! All of us were overly excited that we had found one another and what a small world it really is. This family had just moved from Edmonton to Nelson earlier in the spring. My dad then returned to the car, so we exchanged phone numbers in hope to get these two siblings together for a play date.

We got home and told my mom the story and she was just as excited as I was to find them. Not even 20minutes later I received a phone call from the family asking if I would mind meeting them at a near by park to get the two of them together to play. I of course agreed and grabbed some poo bags, and Zoe and off we went. When we got there I was shocked at how much they looked alike give or take a few pounds ;o) (male pugs tend to be a bit heavier than female pugs.) I believe that both the dogs knew that they were related. They played a lot and hard. They would run around side by side, give each other kisses, nip at each other..... just like real siblings. When we decided to part ways Peru and Zoe both didn't want to leave one another, but we managed to head home. When I finally got Zoe home she slept the rest of the night. This was the first time I had ever really seen Zoe actually play with another dog. She usually doesn't like to play with other dogs, unless they are pugs, or Trinket (see previous post 'Zoe and Trinket') I do believe that they knew they were siblings.

Unfortunately we only got them together a few time before we moved to Cranbrook then to Edmonton. So hopefully our paths will meet again. If not, then at least I have photo's to reminisce of the time they had :o)

Pedway Traffic Jams

Alright I am pretty new to this whole big city thing. I work right downtown in a very busy building. There are many busy buildings in the downtown core, and they are all connected by either pedways or a mutual doorway. I do like the luxury of having the pedways only because I don't have to walk outside when it is -30 outside with wind chill....brrrr. For those of you who don't know what a pedway is, here is the definition:

A pedway is an elevated walkway for people, connecting buildings to each other, high rises, or the street. They are used as a quick way to move from building to building, away from traffic and unfavourable weather.

What I try to do is not leave our office at lunch that way I don't have to deal with pedway traffic jams. I find them really bad in the morning, at lunch, and after five. Mostly lunch aaarrgg. So my problem with the pedways is this: I think being from a small town I am accustom to people being more aware of their surroundings and people walking than it is here in the city. Here in the city people are so self absorbed that they will walk right into you, or just stop when they know that there is a line of people behind them. I like to think of myself as a fast walker, I don't like to hold people up that are behind me, so I guess I sometimes expect the same from others.

I really don't think it is hard to be more courteous of our fellow man and let people pass you if you are a slow walker. I understand that some people have limitations to their walking and that is fine, but for those of you who don't pay attention and are just being ignorant, all I ask is that you be a little more aware of your surroundings. Sorry to use the blog as an outlet to complain about one of my pet peeves, but I had to let it off of my chest.
In closing:
Fish heads to those who are slow walkers and ignorant about it
Flowers to those who are courteous :o)