Movie Romance is Dying

Why is it that all the rom-com chick flicky movies are all so damn depressing now? Aren't they by definition supposed to be romantic comedies? ie: romantic and funny!! Last night I rented Catch & Release (I love Jennifer Garner in funny, cute roles and who doesn't love Timothy Oliphant?) and it was such a downer!

Overall I enjoyed it, but if it wasn't for the Kevin Smith character it wouldn't have been even slightly humerous....and the romantic part was bass ackwards to me. The whole basis of the movie was that her fiance had just died and she was now realizing how little she knew about him. They made this big deal about how devasted she was, but it took her no time to jump into someone else's bed. It was supposed to show how she changed as a woman and how she healed, but it was just gloomy and depressing to think that a woman that much in love could so quickly fall for another man.

I only mention this because I've noticed this to be a trend with all of this genre of movies lately.
- The Breakup - depressing (I mean the title says it all!)
- The Family Stone - depressing (loved it, but still not so much rom-com)
- The Holiday - depressing (hope does spring, but it falls flat)

Maybe it's just me. I'm wondering what happend to the When Harry Met Sallys or the Sleepless in Seattles or hell, the Breakfast at Tiffanys?

Four girls convincing themselves...

....to go to Kickboxing Class on a beautiful day...

JW: We all in?

IT: im in but its really sunny and i know its going to be killer in there and i wish i could be outside.

TM: I’m pretty sure I could be convinced to do something outside…….I went for lunch at Glo and now I just want to be in the sun :0( I’m in for tonight too…..

JW: I hear ya, but if we do something outside you know it won’t burn those calories!!!

TM: Party pooper :0(

IT: like drinking on a patio *hehe*... im not sure i believe u.

JW: I promise we can drink on the patio any other night!!!!

IT: fine

CS: LOL I am so with you all! Plus I don't think Sarah will be there so class may not be as organized... Anyway - I agree, I must lose gut!

IT: oh right i forgot she wont be there...

JW: Hmmmm….I’m sensing a mutiny!!

CS: perfect day for the nine and dine idea ;) kidding, we should probably go...

JW: Keep it up! You have almost convinced me! (except I don’t golf) ;)

IT: I think drinks and sunshine were enticing enough hehehe

JW: I was trying to be tough, but who am I kidding? LOL.

TM: love all of the “we SHOULD” go comments :0)
As I said – I could be easily persuaded to do something outside……lifting a drink is very good exercise you know. Plus getting up and going to the bathroom – that’s exercise…..


....in the end, we sucked it up and are going to class!! Sangria will have to wait!!

Happy Cat

Oh what a beautiful morning! The dog woke me up early today for breaky and his morning pee, and normally I would just crawl back into bed, but it was sooo warm in the bedroom that I couldn't sleep anyway so just decided to stay up.

After my shower I still had some time before I officially had to start work, so decided to enjoy my coffee on the front steps. Still shady but lovely and warm!

My cat (Mr. Stoopy....aka: Buddy, Fuzzypants, Silly Kitty) has always been an indoor cat, but most places I've lived there has been a balcony or little yard for him to sniff around in. Except the last apartment, where we lived for a long time (in cat time anyway) and I know he missed his little outdoor excursions because he would sit in the window and sniff at the air for hours and hours.

Ever since we've lived here he's been extra sketchy and barely leaves the bedroom (mainly because of the dog....who just wants to be friends!). But recently he's been spending a lot more time venturing out to join us in the living room in the evenings.

This morning I left the door open for about 10 seconds and he wandered right outside! Now, he's a cat and it's hard to read his emotions, but I'm thinking that today is the happiest day he's had in a while!! While I sat and enjoyed my coffee, he wandered up and down the path, sniffing the new flowers, chewing grass and sniffing the wind. I think we'll have to make this a daily event as it was just so cool to see him acting like his old self again!

Posies are in!

Man, that feels good! To finally have spent the afternoon outside planting my flower garden! It was beautiful today and work was slow enough to allow me to get outside in the sunshine and dig around. I spent about an hour out there this afternoon clearing all of the weeds and long since dead tulips and bluebells and other shrapnel out of the main bed and preparing it for some new greenery. After the blazing sun cleared I went back out and planted the hostas (two different varieties), ivy geraniums (no idea what color they will be, surprise!), and these other daisy-looking things that I can never remember the name of. Everything looks pretty sparse right now, but once things start to bloom and bush out I think it will look great! I'm so excited!!!

I dug all the junk out of the second bed as well, but decided to wait until tomorrow to go plant the few flowers I have left. I'm looking at the tiny little stalks thinking I'll probably have to make another stop at the garden shop this weekend....there's just no way I have enough! I do have this great bleeding heart bush with little pink dangly flowers for the shady end of the bed though and I think it's going to wind up being the highlight of the whole works.

This is the first time ever I've been able to plant stuff in the ground. I've always had suites or apartments that I had to use planters in. Even in the one other house I lived in, we had the upstairs with a deck so still had to use planters. For the last six years (the whole time I've lived in Victoria) I couldn't plant at all. The first place was a dump so I didn't care to plant, the second place had a major wind problem, and the third place didn't have a balcony!!!

I can't wait to see how this all turns out!!! I heart gardening! And I heart pretty colorful flowers even more!!

Back on the Wagon

Yup, after a couple o' weeks of using DBF's pending departure as an excuse to eat whatever the hell I wanted (whether he was eating it or not) I have officially climbed back onto the wagon. Yesterday I did a proper grocery shop and last night I sat down and wrote out this week's daily menus. I love doing this but tend to sluff it off when I know there are two of us to feed and I'm making more spontaneous meals.

Today I am back to walking the dog every weekday and guzzling my 2 litres of water (at least!) every day. My bike is coming back upstairs (poor thing doesn't really have a home and it had to hide downstairs when we had that party) and I promise her that I shall take her out at least three times this week! Yesterday I picked up most of the plants for my gardens too, so that will get me working outside in the sun (yaaaieeee, white girl needs some color!).

The sticker challenge I started at the beginning of the month hasn't gone quite as well as planned, but I like it so I'm extending it through June (but definitely need to get some more inspiring stickers). If this were a test in school, I'd only be getting about a C right now. Bad girl!!

So, here's to keeping busy and keeping healthy and enjoying the outdoors and sunshine!

He's leaving on a jetplane....

Well, it's official....he's gone. :( Poo.

We dragged ourselves out to the airport at 6am....and by 7am he was through security and I was on my own. "See you in August" certainly did not make it a fun goodbye...for either of us. Meh.

Poor honey packed everything he thinks he might want in the next six months into a couple of dufflebags which took up his entire luggage allowance, so no guitar and no extra stuff to make it feel like home. At least all of his photos of me and his boy are on his laptop.... but it's things like his bathrobe that he's going to miss as creature comforts.

I did OK right up until I was walking out the airport door....then the tears came. I held it together pretty good because I had to drive, and at least I didn't cry in front of him....but it was tough. Six months is a long time....even if I will see him in two....it's still not like having him home!

So I'll dig out that to-do list that went on hiatus for the last little while and go back to working on keeping myself busy. I'm greatful to all of the friends that said I can call whenever I need to.... I'll be taking a lot of you up on that. And don't you all forget to call me! Today though, I'm relaxing with the dog (cuz he knows that green dufflebag means Daddy's gone for a while...) and taking some time for myself.

Bon Voyage Sweetie!

Bionic is Back!

Finally!! I've been hearing they were remaking the Bionic Woman for TV but today I finally saw the new trailers. (Thanks Gav!) Woooo! My namesake is no longer stuck in the 70s!!!

http://www.nbc.com/Fall_Preview/Bionic_Woman/

Looks like something that might last. Somewhat Alias-esque, with a good cast and what looks like decent comic book style storylines. Probably trying to ride the Heroes success wave, so hopefully they are early enough not to get caught in an onslaught of copycat shows. The cast looks great! Michelle Ryan seems like a perfect fit for the title role, and who doesn't love Miguel Ferrer? Oh, and I love that Molly Price is in it.... I missed her after Third Watch ended.

It's about time for a new tough-but-hot-chick show to hit the air...and who better than Jaime Sommers! Now all we need is a new 6 Million Dollar Man! :)

A glimpse of nights to come...

If last night is any indication, it's good that I set up that to-do list and bought that bike! DBF was away for the night and man was I bored! Usually I like to curl up and watch some girlie TV....stuff he doesn't like...reality or Grey's or Gilmore Girls.... but man, everything is over and we are heading into bad Summer TV territory. Whatever will I do with myself for the next six months?! Albeit I should have had kickboxing last night (closed for the holiday) so I guess I was feeling more at loose ends than usual....but yuck, I certainly think I'll be more diligent about making plans to get out with my friends this summer!

How do you get beer off the ceiling?

Yup, on the ceiling! You know it's a good party when it progresses to boys slamming beers and spraying it from one end of the kitchen to the other. I don't think I've held a party where that happened in about 10 years! (hmmmm....apparently I got old)

So after a bit of frustration trying to find a day that would work for everyone we wanted to attend, we were finally able to get an impromptu little gathering together for DBF's going away. Being a long weekend and short notice we thought maybe it wouldn't work out...but happily it did!

We stocked up on snacks and smokies and bevvies.... we had hoped for a nice BBQ in the backyard, but the weather disagreed so we stayed inside. Later in the evening it did clear up enough for a great little bonfire down on the beach....I had marshmallows, but to Mikey and Ingmarie's dismay I didn't have chocolate for s'mores. Next time, I promise!

All in all it was a great party and we are so happy that almost everyone was able to make it! Thanks to those that came (and especially those that brought gifties!). We'll have another one in 6 months when he returns.

Pictures are posted here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8197&l=6f3ba&id=545200099

Weekly Video Clip - Fraggle Rock

Talk about a flashback to my childhood! Who didn't love those Fraggles?!! The theme song alone should be stored in the Smithsonian or something. I was soooo excited to land upon this link while cruising around alluc.org.

This is the entire first episode, so you may want to just enjoy the theme song if you don't want to commit the time.

Click here and enjoy!!!

With Spring comes Bees!

Gah! Ick! Ew! Meh, I can still feel the little bugger buzzing around! *shiver*

Just wandered out to the kitchen to refill my coffee and found an extremely large bee (or wasp or whatever) buzzing around the kitchen window. I realize he was just looking for a way out, but bees give me the heebie-jeebies.

But I wanted the creepy thing out of here, so I covered him up with a Ziplock container (I am suprised I didn't need a valium for this!) and slid a piece of paper underneath to trap him. It took some maneuvering but I was able to hold him in there long enough to skootch over to the backdoor and let him out.

I'm so proud of myself!! (but I still have that buzzing feeling around me.... *more shivers* Gah!)

Money Making Scheme continues...

You may have thought I'd forgotten about my Money Making Scheme.... but I didn't!! It may be slow going, but remember I'm working on this until DBF returns in November.

I have added $10 to the pot today...all from one little scratch n win! OK, so we were hoping to be Set for Life, but I'll take the wee bit of cash rather than nothing! Actually I scratched $12, but I always turn part of the winnings back over into another ticket of some sort...that way I'm never really paying for the tickets. :)

DBF also has a couple of 6-49 and Super 7 tickets kicking around in his wallet that we'll have to check when he gets back to dry land. Who knows...we may already be millionaires!!

And away he goes again!

Well, DBF left today for a short week at sea. I know, I know...wasn't he landed until he leaves for Halifax?! Yup, but landed to teach at Venture....and well, Venture students have to train at sea too. So guess who got picked to help out with that?!!!!

At least it's just until Friday, then he's home for the weekend, then back out for just Monday and Tuesday. And hopefully this will be a more fun and exciting trip for him since he's mostly there to oversee the students and make sure they don't crash the ship or anything!

So, I shall take this opportunity to try to get back on track with my "To-Do" list (which of course now has a bunch of new stuff on it). I've got my notes sketched out on some scrap of paper here on my desk so I'll dig that out and go from there. :) Wish me luck!!

Mom's Day!

It's a big day for my Mom today!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

and

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!

Weekly Video Clip - Robot Chicken

DBF is a lover of all things YouTube, so I asked him what his favorite video is. I thought for sure it would be something from Chad Vader, but he presented me with this offering from Robot Chicken.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qJPyAztmas

Enjoy!!

Doddling Drivers!

Argh. So the deal is that we live in the boonies. Not such a big deal if we just want to head in for groceries or a bite to eat at the local restaurant...that stuff is only a 10-20 minute drive. But other stuff that actually takes place in Victoria is at least a 30-40 minute commute. We deal with it, we're used to it, sometimes it's nice to have that extra time unwind in the car.

But when you are heading into town for something and the old granny in front of you on Metchosin Road finds it necessary to do EXACTLY the friggin speed limit it can be maybe a tiny, teeny bit annoying! Ya Ya, they are doing the speed limit....but it's a country road for crying out loud. 95% of the people on this road are exceding the speed limit. I am one of this 95%! Get out of my way!! Especially when you can see in your rearview mirror that you now have 6 cars piled bumper to bumper behind you!! (FYI, there are about a hundred opportunities to pull off and wait for traffic to pass.)

To top this off, at the end of this 10 torturous minutes of doddling there is a lovely stretch of double lane road for the slowpokes to pull to the right and let us speed demons pass. DBF has noted on several occassions (as he has to drive this route to work every morning) that inevitably these doddling farts speed right up to like 80km as soon as they hit this double lane (which by the way is still a 50km zone, just like the entire road they just travelled)...thus making it impossible for you to pass!! Then you are stuck behind them again at the end of the double lane where they return to doing EXACTLY the friggin speed limit again. What gives?!!

It makes no sense. Open your eyes and get out of the god damn way!!!!

*rant over*

Corporate Whore

I admit it. I love Starbucks. It's the only way to get a latte to taste the same pretty much every time you order it. It's bad since I started my working career as a teenager in an independant coffee house and promised to always hate everything corporate. But alas that coffee house is long gone and so are my days of plaid skirts with Doc Martens. Everything comes to an end eventually, including my resistance to the Starbucks movement.

Today I discovered that I am becoming on of those dreaded people that fills most every box on the paper cup though. Usually I'm just a non-fat vanilla latte. Sometimes grande, sometimes tall...depends how bad I need coffee or how much time I have to enjoy it. But today I didn't have time for my morning coffee at home, and after spending 15 mins looking for parking and another hour sitting in a hospital waiting room (for an appointment that took barely 5 mins...but that's another story) I was in desperate need of caffeine. So I decided to go for a grande today. But with an extra shot! Yum! So there's another box filled in. And while drinking it I decided that the other Jamie is on to something with her half-sweet theory. So next time I go I'm going to try the half-sweet vanilla. I don't think this is another box, but it's definitely another modifier...the baristas just love that!!!!

So, my new drink will be: Triple, Grande, Non-Fat, Half-Sweet, Vanilla Latte

Nice!!!

Weekly Video Clip - PB & J

OMG! I forgot Thursday's video post!

Here's a weird little something courtesy of Kristoff:

http://pown.alluc.org/?uid=60 (definitely needs sound)

Pretty Pedicure!

So on Saturday, after a yummy sushi lunch, Charmaine and I trotted on over to Bliss for our "Blissed Out" pedicures. So cool!!! 90 minutes of foot pampering....how could we go wrong?!!! Massages, essential oils, sugar scrubs, mud masks, parafin wax... all topped off with fun French polish. I will sooooo definitely do this again!! In fact, I can't wait for an opportunity to go get this done on my hands. :)

I tried to take pics of my pretty toes for you all to see, but the photos are nothing spectacular to look at and I'm pretty sure you've all seen feet before!!!

Afterwards, DBF met me in town and we took in the Titanica film at the IMAX. Pretty cool, but totally filmed in the late 80s...hahaha. We are hoping to go back and check out the whole Titanic exhibit at the museum before he has to leave for Halifax....it's supposed to be quite amazing.

Bi0nicW0man gets a new ride!!

Yes, finally she gets her much anticipated new bike!!!

After minimal searching and maximum discussion I settled on this little beauty from Russ Hay's Bicycle Shop. The Norco Rideau. I chose the men's frame as it is better suited to my tall body. But don't worry it still came with the comfy, puffy seat I like to refer to as the Mary Poppins seat.

The nice salesboy hooked me up with a cute helmet and installed my water bottle cage for me as he insisted the most important thing is stay well hydrated. (duh!) After I've had her for a little while I will go back for a kickstand, lock, tire pump, and hopefully a cool little odometer so I can track how far I'm riding each week. I'll set some sort of challenge for myself to earn that little gizmo.

For her inaugural ride I took her for a spin up to our property gate and back. 15 mins and that was enough for me!! Bi0nic or not, obviously my cardio is in some need of some serious help! haha! But it was fun and I'm sure I'll be booting along comfortably in no time!!

So by the time Mr. Bi0nic returns from his East Coast mission hopefully I shall have legs (and lungs!) of steel!

Gold!!

In Kickboxing! Finally!! I got my yellow belt last night! Here I am proudly sporting my new belt (with no makeup - just like class - eeeeek)!

Funny timing as I had just told the girls before class that I made myself a promise to go to every class this month. Classes are twice a week and it's pretty rare that I make it to more than 2 or 3 classes in a row. If it's not my back, it's my arm, or I'm sick, or lazy, or whatever. But May is my month to get things done dammit!!!

So now I have my first belt and I feel extra motivated to keep up the good work!!

Congrats to Tiffaney for getting her yellow belt too! Oh and thanks to my gym: www.zuma.tv

Blog-worthy article

My friend Mikey sent this to me today. Now, normally if something is more than a couple of paragraphs long I can't be bothered to read it. I mean, I get a ton of forwards with cutesy little stories and funny anecdotes and I just don't have the attention span to read them all.

But this one is so worth the read! Take a few minutes and you'll be laughing your ass off by the end. Well, at least I was!

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2007/04/30/070430sh_shouts_simms

Stickers!

Haha, ya OK so I'm a dork. I have started a little game for myself.

• For every day that I stick to my healthy eating guidelines I get a sticker.
• For every day that I get some exercise I get a sticker.
• For every day that I remember to take my vitamins I get a sticker.

No, I am not 12. Yes, I like stickers. I have cute ones of Piglet and Pooh and others of little flowers and stuff. My calendar is ugly and needs some pretty-ing up!

So, May has 31 days.... that's a potential for 93 stickers.... so I think my goal should be to get at least 84 stickers.... that's 90%. Aim high!!! Now I just need a prize to work towards!!