Friday, September 28, 2012

Friday… It’s all going to get better from here.

Have I mentioned that this week has been a total pain in the ass?

Hence… I’m thrilled that Friday has finally arrived.  I’m so very ready to get this epic weekend rollin’.

But first… CONFESSIONS.

FridayConfessionalMamarazzi

I confess…that I think I may have gotten myself into quite a pickle this evening.  A few weeks ago, my mom asked if I’d like to help out with the fashion show that one of her good friends puts on at Oktoberfest, and I agreed, thinking I would be like my mom’s little aide or something.  Turns out, I have one of the positions of “official dresser” tonight – I’m responsible for getting one of the models in and out of her outfits, making her look fabulous, and making sure all the clothes are returned to their bags neatly.  Um.  Hello?  This does *not* sound like my kind of gig.  Have these people seen my disaster closet?!?

I confess… that I can’t wait for the fashion show to be over.  Then the weekend fun will really begin.

I confess… that I really can’t wait to just be at Oktoberfest tonight, in the big hall, with a drink in my hand, and hopefully running into many friendly faces.  Perhaps dancing to Ambush too.  Oktoberfest is a wonderful time of year.

oktoberfest-2008

I confess… that a friend and I were texting this morning about how pumped we are for Lynn & Steve’s wedding tomorrow.  Then, my friend asked, “Are you letting Sadie out tomorrow?”  And I said, “Yeah, I’m thinking of giving her a pass for the night”; to which he replied, “Oh.  Well, I don’t really like Sadie, but oh well.”  WHAT?!?!  YOU MEAN PEOPLE DON’T ACTUALLY LIKE SADIE?!?!?! 

I confess… Sadie’s feelings were very hurt.

I confess… that I might still let her out anyways, even if nobody likes her.  I mean, there’s a frigging bus to get her home and everything.  It would be a waste not to take advantage of this situation, no?

I confess… that I may be a little bleary-eyed at Tanner’s baptism on Sunday morning.  I hope that’s OK.

I confess… that this weekend of fun hasn’t even really begun yet, and I’m already kind of anticipating next weekend.  A) It’s Turkey Weekend.  And I love turkey.  B) It’s TUB RAVE!!!!  Seriously, I think that’s my second-favourite day of the year, behind Christmas Eve.  I hope Fudgie is making Caesars.

Tub Rave 2

I confess… I’m very pissed off at Grey’s for killing off McSteamy.  I figured if anyone else was going to fall victim to the plane crash, it would be Arizona.  (Granted, I did believe her to be dead for most of the episode.)  It was a tough episode for me to watch, bringing back memories of our days in the ICU last winter.  But I guess that’s bound to happen with a doctor show, right?

mcsteamy

I confess… that I’m ready for this weekend to just START.  Like, NOW.  Let’s goooooooooooooo!!!!!

Happy Friday, dudes :)

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Getting To Know YOU!!

It feels like it’s been another long week.  Anybody else?? 

Most of the time I feel like time flies by so quickly, but this month?  September?  It can kinda suck it, as far as I’m concerned.  It’s been dragging on for. ev. errrrr.

So.  I wasn’t really sure what to post about today.  My first idea was to whine about the NHL lockout.  I haven’t done that yet.  It’ll have to be dealt with some day…

But instead, I keep seeing this little “getting to know you” segment showing up on other peoples’ blogs, and I thought it sounded like fun.  It’s time for ME to get some feedback from YOU, the little lovelies who come by and check out my posts, whether it be faithfully every day, or from time to time, when you have a chance.

These questions are for YOU – you can either leave me a comment, send me an email {jillianyoung6(at)gmail(dot)com} or even hit me up on Facebook if you’d like.  Feel free to answer any or all of them.  I look forward to hearing from you :)

hello-my-name-is

Who are you? 

Do you blog, too? Leave me your link.  I want to follow you!

Do you remember how you found my blog? A link-up? Another blog?

How long have you been reading?

What keeps you coming back to my blog?

What would you like to see me blog about more?

What is something we have in common?

Tell me a fun fact about yourself!

And now, because you’re all being little dears and sharing with me, I thought I’d make up for it by telling you 10 Random Things about ME Right Now.

Ready?  Here ya go:

  • By the time this week is over, I will likely have eaten more lasagna than any Italian person in the world.  (This is not based on any scientific findings, just my own assumption.)

Lasagna - Messy 500

  • My least favorite time of day is 6:25 AM.  That is the time my stupid alarm goes off, and I literally hate my life until I get to drink coffee.  My second-least favourite time of day is Scary 3 AM Time.
  • My left shoulder has been aching for a day and a half.  I could not for the life of me figure out why, until this morning it dawned on my that it’s from carrying my heavy shopping bags on Tuesday night.  I do not, however, consider this a sign that I bought too much stuff.
  • Between listening to The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, and Chad Brownlee on my iPod this week, I feel like I’m doing my part in supporting Canadian music.  I love them all.
  • I really, really want Elena to pick Damon.  Like, really, really want it.

vampire-diaries-elena-damon

  • Yesterday afternoon, we celebrated Mountainview’s 35th anniversary at the office by toasting with little plastic glasses of champagne.  People kept putting glasses in my hand, and I wasn’t really counting, but I think drank three or four of them within a half hour.  And I’m pretty sure I was a little bit drunk.
  • The wedding I’m attending this Saturday will be my 5th – and final - wedding of the year.   I love weddings, so this makes me a little sad.
  • Yesterday, I said two little prayers, for two different little situations that have been bothering me this week.  One was answered; the other was not.  When I think back on it, though, I’m pleased about the one that was answered.  It by far makes me happier than the other one.  (Cryptic enough?  Yeah.  I know.  Sorry.)
  • I’m super excited to go to Oktoberfest Friday night.  The band playing is Ambush, and one of my biggest regrets in life is getting so drunk at Jared & Holly’s wedding that I was pretty well passed out by the time Ambush took the stage and don’t even remember them.  I will not be doing that on Friday night.
  • One of the best parts of my week so far was getting to eat at McDonalds on Tuesday night.  Yes, I realize how sad that is.  But I love Big Macs.

big-mac-meal-260

It’s almost the weekend.  Thank God.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The Dress Shopping Gods did not smile upon me. But that’s OK.

Yesterday, I pleaded with the Shopping Gods to help me find a dress, quickly & painlessly, for Lynn & Steve’s wedding on Saturday.

They did not listen.

However… The RICKI’S Gods were smiling on me.  Thank jeebus.

rickis

For those of you who know me, you know I’m not the best shopper in the world.  I prefer to do as much on-line as possible, which means that most of my clothing purchases of late have been made on the Sears or Old Navy websites.

Last night, with an $80 Rewards Card from Sears burning a hole in my pocket (and set to expire in a week’s time, eeek!), I headed to Carlingwood with my mother, determined to use it on a new dress for the wedding.  It was my first time actually going to a mall in God knows how long.

A quick perusal of the dress section at Sears left me feeling a little dismayed.  I found only one – ONE – that I was willing to try on.  And though it was a lovely dress, it was wayyy too big on me, and hence looked like a tent.  Epic fail.  The rest were all too small.  Awesome.

The joys of being big & lumpy.  *sigh*

So I left Sears, feeling a little discouraged, but with my sights now set on Ricki’s.

I hadn’t been in a Ricki’s in a million years, but I remembered having good luck with their clothes in the long-ago past.  I wasn’t sure if they had any dresses, but I wanted to give it a shot.

The dress selection wasn’t the best – a few summer choices on the sale rack, and one fall dress that wasn’t my style at all.  But then – then I got a brainwave.

“What if I wore pants and a really nice top?”

BAM!  The sales girl had a whole new project, and before I knew it, my dressing room was loaded with pants and tops that I absolutely loved.  Honestly, I had a hard time choosing the winning combination, because I liked so many of the options!

Once I finally settled on an outfit, my mom happened upon the jewelry section of the store, and the next thing you know,  she had picked out a necklace, bracelet, and earrings that matched perfectly.  And THEN I found a perfect shade of nail polish at the cash.  SCORE!

I asked time and time again – are you guys suuuure that I’ll look fancy enough for a wedding wearing pants?  And I was assured time and time again, that it was indeed dressy enough. Also, I’ll be a million times more comfortable – because I really, really hate dresses.

Now, here’s the problem… While in Ricki’s, I discovered about a hundred other things I wanted to try on.  Crap.  This is why I don’t go shopping.  Once I get going, I can’t seem to stop myself.  I want everything.  And my fall/winter wardrobe so needs an overhauling…

Holy crap, I just realized I can order on-line.

I’m in big trouble…

Oh…and for those of you wondering what ever came of that Sears Rewards Card that would expire in a week’s time?  Well, have no fear.  I have a nephew with a birthday coming up, and a niece with a baptism coming up, so we eventually went back to Sears and I put that card to very good use!

All in all?  A successful night at the mall.

Can’t wait to put on my new duds for the wedding on Saturday! :)

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Random Tuesday Ramblings

It’s Tuesday.  I’m tired.  Let’s be random.

  • Last night, I decided to go all domestic in the kitchen.  BAD IDEA.  It was one disaster after another.  I went for my walk right after work, then returned home to make a pot of my mom’s amazing cream of broccoli soup, and two lasagnas for the freezer.  Sounds simple enough, right?  I began this venture at approximately 6:30 PM.  At 11:30 PM, I was still up, waiting for the lasagnas to cool.  Apparently I did not properly guesstimate how long it would take, nor did I factor in the potential time lost to the disasters.  *sigh*

kitchen-disaster

This was me last night.  Except, I had no man to console me.

  • Once I finally did get to bed, I couldn’t frigging sleep.  Of course.  It was a night of tossing and turning.  I know I actually did sleep, but it was one of those nights when it really didn’t feel like it.
  • Then…THEN!!  I woke up this morning with a sinus headache.  What the frig. 
  • Needless to say, I’m ready for the weekend… Very much looking forward to Oktoberfest on Friday night, Lynn & Steve’s wedding on Saturday, and Tanner’s baptism on Sunday!  (Is it seriously only Tuesday?!?)
  • Speaking of Lynn & Steve… They are officially my heroes.  I’d been trying to figure out how I was going to swing this Saturday night.  I mean, I want to have one or two beverages, of course, but then, how to get home?  Normally, I would just wing it – sleep on someone’s front lawn, if I had to (that’s allowed in Shawville, right??) – but because of Tanner’s baptism Sunday morning, I figured it was best that I get my butt home somehow.  So… Lynn & Steve to the rescue!  The Bride & Groom announced on Facebook last night that there will be a bus to take all of us poor drunken fools home after the reception.  Excellent!!

IMG_7415

My heroes…the soon-t0-be newlyweds!

  • Tonight, I get to go dress shopping for this wedding. I.hate.dress.shopping.  Please, Shopping Gods, look down upon me and help me find something quickly, without much pain involved.  I beg of you.
  • Funny thing that happened this weekend:  My 3-year-old niece Danica was sitting on my knee, pretending to read the wedding thank you card I got last week from my friends Lindsay & Ryan.  I pointed out Linds in a picture on the front, and said to Dan, “Who’s that?”  And she said, “uuuum…LINDSAY!”  And so I pointed at Ryan (she doesn’t know him as well), and asked, “Who’s that?”  To which she replied, “uuuuum… CASSANDRA!”  We believe this to just be a name she really likes, but she had us laughing. (Ryan is super-impressed with this story, too.)

The lovely picture of Lindsay and “Cassandra” (www.juliecbutlerphotography.com)

  • A few of you have asked to see my new ‘do.  Honestly, guys…it’s not as drastic as I thought or expected it to be.  My hairdresser didn’t seem to want to go as short as the picture of Tyra, so I think it’s basically just the same cut I got earlier this summer, maybe a bit shorter.  So you can look at that picture again. ;)

  • A few of you have also asked when I’m going to post a video of myself playing guitar and singing.  And to you, I say… You crazy.  I’m terrible.  You don’t want to see that, trust me!!!
  • Yesterday, I told you all about one of my favourite Hip songs, “Wheat Kings”.  Now I’m totally going through a Tragically Hip phase, and discovered this little gem on my iPod yesterday – one of those songs that I’d totally forgotten about.  Love it.

  • I’d like to give a big shout-out to all my pals who did the Army Run in Ottawa on Sunday morning – I knew quite a few who completed the 5K and a few crazy people who actually did the half-marathon.  I think I’ve been inspired…I don’t ever imagine I’ll be a “runner”, but I think I might actually want to attempt the 5K next year.  (I’ll be walking, but whatever! haha!)  Way to go, guys!! :)
  • I think it’s time for another coffee.

Linking up today with Impulsive Addict and Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday

Talk2Us

…as well Stacy Uncorked for Random Tuesday.

randomtuesday

Monday, September 24, 2012

Musical Monday: Wheat Kings

As much as last weekend was about “Wagon Wheel”, this weekend was about “Wheat Kings”.

The hauntingly beautiful tune by the Tragically Hip was once my go-to song to play on guitar.  I spent this weekend re-connecting with it, trying to perfect it all over again.

(I like to think I sound prettier than Gord Downie, though… I probably don’t.)

Sundown in the Paris of the prairies
Wheat kings have all treasures buried
And all you hear are the rusty breezes
Pushing around the weathervane Jesus

In his Zippo lighter he sees the killer's face
Maybe it's someone standing in a killer's place
Twenty years for nothing, well, that's nothing new
Besides, no one's interested in something you didn't do

Wheat kings and pretty things
Let's just see what the morning brings

There's a dream he dreams where the high school's dead and stark
It's a museum and we're all locked up in it after dark
Where the walls are lined all yellow, grey and sinister
Hung with pictures of our parents' prime ministers

Wheat kings and pretty things
Wait and see what tomorrow brings

Late breaking story on the CBC
A nation whispers, "We always knew that he'd go free"
They add, "You can't be fond of living in the past
'Cause if you are then there's no way that you're going to last"

Wheat kings and pretty things
Let's just see what tomorrow brings

Wheat kings and pretty things
Oh that's what tomorrow brings

The song spins the tale of true Canadian lore; the story of the wrongful conviction of David Milgaard, who spent twenty years in prison for a grisly crime he did not commit.  And it is performed by one of our country’s most beloved bands.

It’s a little slice of “Canadiana”, as much a part of our culture as hockey, beer, and Beavertails.

For me, though? 

For me, it takes me back to my parents’ garage, a cool August evening about ten years ago, when my cousin Troy showed up, guitar in hand, and said, “I hear Jilly’s learning to play, thought I’d stop by and show her a few things.” 

We gathered out there, with pints and lawn chairs, and those few hours of sitting around with the cousin I idolized, my parents, and my siblings, tuning guitars, listening to him sing, listening to him sing with my Dad, listening to his advice, fumbling around with my own guitar and wishing I could be even half as good as him…

…well, they are treasure to me.

When he left, I knew the basics of “Wheat Kings”, and he told me to keep working on it.  When I played it for him several months later on Christmas Eve – the first year I was brave enough to play in front of anyone other than my immediate family -  he told me it was awesome. 

Deep down, I know it will never be as awesome as when he played it, but it was the first song he ever taught me, and it will always make me think of him.

Near & dear, for sure.

I’ll get it back.

***

Linking up today with Miss Angie for Musical Monday.

musicalmondays

Friday, September 21, 2012

Friday. The day to confess.

It’s that wonderful day of the week again…

FridayConfessionalMamarazzi 

Friday, yo.  Let’s do it.

I confess… that in real life, I don’t say things like “Friday, yo.”  It’s the magic of blogging.  Makes me all gangster, yo.

I confess… that I had my mom over for dinner Tuesday night, and she had the prime location of getting to sit and stare at my super-disgusting slime-infested fish tank.  Mmmm.  Appetizing.  And when she asked me if I was purposely trying to kill my fish, all I could honestly say was… “Yeah, maybe a little.”

I confess…  that if I am purposely trying to kill him, I’m only doing it for his own good.  I mean, he’s got that massive lump protruding from his side, and ya gotta think it must be painful.  Or at the very least, uncomfortable to carry around a goiter that size all day.  He probably wants to die.

I confess… that I’m starting to get a little nervous about hacking off my hair tomorrow.  I’m kind of afraid I’m going to look like a boy.  I know, I know.  Tyra doesn’t look like a boy.  But then again, I don’t really look anything like Tyra.  Dear God, am I making a mistake?!?

Tyra-friday-night-lights-5300801-400-268[3]

I confess… I’m super excited that I’ve secured tickets to the Chad Brownlee & Dallas Smith show at The Crazy Horse in November.  Ever since Shawville Fair, I’ve kiiiiinda been in love with Chad.  He’s my new boyfriend.  AND I didn’t think I even knew who Dallas Smith was, but I just discovered that he’s the former lead singer of the band Default, and I used to love Default.  Now he’s gone country.  I may no longer be the Concert Queen of the World, but I’m soooo looking forward to seeing these two in a smaller venue.

Chad & Dallas

I confess… that I’ve had good luck at The Crazy Horse in the past.  It was there that I got to snuggle with Chris Neil.  Maybe this time I’ll get to snuggle with Chad Brownlee.  OR Dallas Smith.  Either will do.  C’maaaan November 6th!

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It’s been a loooong time since I last posted this picture.  I’m due.

I confess… that I don’t really want to turn this into a big musical confession like last week, but Adam Levine is totally my favourite right now.  (OK, I realize I just said Chad Brownlee is my boyfriend.  Whatever.  I can’t pick.)  This is my jam this week:

*UPDATED* I confess… that I am once again guilty of posting a video without actually watching it first.  Thank God this week it’s not so porny.  BUT I failed to realize that Friday Night Lights alum Minka Kelly plays Adam Levine’s wife in the video!!  Too cool!!

I confess… that I hate my face this week.  It’s decided to go all pizza-face.  Nothing like being 29 with the face of a 14-year-old.  Bleh.

I confess… that I WANT ELENA TO BE WITH DAMON!!!!  Someone please tell me they end up together.  Please.  Last night, she told him he can’t kiss her anymore.  And I’m like, “Oh you little liar!  You want him to kiss you again!!”  Gah.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

I confess… that I’m very much looking forward to my hot date with my momma tonight.  We’re going out to dinner, and then we’re going to watch The Hunger Games.  I’m a little worried that Mom’s not going to like the movie, but really, how can you not love The Hunger Games??

I confess… that some might think I’m crazy, but after visiting the cemetery last night, a rainbow appeared in the sky right in front of me as I was driving home, and two seconds later “Free Fallin’” came on the radio… I don’t believe that was just a coincidence…

rainbow

Happy Friday!!! :)

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Maybe I’m okay with the ghosts?

Alright.  This was the post I was planning for yesterday, before I was de-railed by Lena and the opportunity to discuss – yet again -  one of my favourite topics.  (Baby names, of course.)

And you know what?  I’m kind of glad I didn’t go with this yesterday.  Because what I planned on talking about was how I watched Paranormal Activity 3 the night before, and how frigging freaked.out. I was by it.

paranormal activity 3

Today, though?  Today, I’m not as freaked out.  And I’m starting to wonder if maybe I’m starting to be okay with the scary stuff again…

There was a time in my life when I loved all things scary.  In high school, I saw every slasher/horror/ghost movie I could get my hands on.  It was a popular genre at the time, and there was no shortage of those kinds of flicks to draw from.  My group of friends and I often gathered to watch them together – and those are some of my best memories of my teen years.

However, I pin-point the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre as the beginning of the end of my love for all things scary.  I think I’ve told this story before, but I went with my friend Sara to see it in theatres, and we ended up hiding behind our coats, looking at each other, and whispering about how we wished we could turn the sound off, too.  It was awful.  And such a waste of money.  I don’t think I actually watched even half of it.  (And we repeated this scenario several months later in my parents’ basement when it came out on DVD, hiding behind pillows, while our friend Erin laughed at us for being such babies.)

The_Texas_Chainsaw_Massacre_Wallpaper_13_1024

After that?  I just didn’t want to bother anymore.  It wasn’t fun.  I didn’t want to watch stuff like that anymore.  I didn’t like that feeling of unease it left me with.  That gripping fear.  It was too much.  My wild imagination could just blow it all up into something way, way worse.

Since then, I take the notion about once a year – usually around Hallowe’en – that I want to watch something scary.  And I always end up regretting my decision.  And then I’m all like, Did you learn nothing from the Texas Chainsaw debacle, Jill, you donkey??  You. Can’t. Handle. This. 

Seriously.  I can barely handle The Vampire Diaries.

Yet I found myself, once again, leaning towards the ‘scary’, earlier this week.  Let go from work early because of the rain (woo hoo!), I went to the store and perused the DVD rentals.  I finally ended up with two movies.  In one hand, I held The 5-Year Engagement.  In the other, there was Paranormal Activity 3.

Having seen the first two installments of the PA series, and having that sudden and unnerving itch to watch something scary, I ended up going with it.  I mean, I had to know what happens, right?  Me & Paranormal Activity 3  was going to happen eventually – what better time than a rainy, gloomy Monday night?

Well, I was spooked.  Obviously.  I was about 3 seconds into the movie when I started hearing bumps and thumps all over the house.  (Logic would say it was my roommate, Susie, who was upstairs at the time, but of course, logic goes right out the window at times like this.  IT WAS GHOSTS AND DEMONS.  For sure.)

movie-paranormal-activity-3-01small

When the movie was over, and I had to shut all the lights off and head upstairs?  Well, I was doing my usual glancing-over-the-shoulder, did that shadow just move??, vault-myself-up-the-stairs-three-at-a-time-because-something’s-chasing-me routine that always follows one of my ill-advised scary movie viewings.

This is when my mother usually says to me, “Oh my God, you dummy, why do you DO THIS TO YOURSELF?!?!”

I honestly don’t know.  I was sure I was in for a night of tossing and turning and leaving-the-light-on-just-in-case.  I mean, that’s what usually happens after I do this to myself.  Sometimes for days.  Weeks.  I’ve been known to leave the hall light on for months after watching just an episode of Criminal Minds, for crying out loud.

But you know what?  I read for a little while, and then shut my light off like a big girl.  And I actually fell asleep quite easily.  I didn’t have nightmares, and really the only issue was when I woke up at 5 AM to pee, and I kind of got spooked out in the dark hallway.  I had to give myself a little pep talk, like, “Come on now, it’s frigging MORNING TIME, it’s not prime ghost time, don’t be ridiculous.  People are up and getting ready for work.  Scary 3 AM time is long over.” 

(Scary 3 AM time is the worst.  Thanks to The Exorcism of Emily Rose, I will lie in bed for half an hour even if I have to pee really badly, because I will not get up during scary 3 AM time.  I will not.)

So.  This whole experience has left me wondering… Am I back to being okay with the scary?  Should I test out Criminal Minds again, maybe?  Perhaps even Scream 4?

scream-4-teaser

OK, maybe not Scream 4.  (I don’t think I’ll ever not be scared of that mask.)

I really did used to love watching the spooky stuff, though.  The cheap thrill of it all was one of my greatest delights. 

Maybe I’m okay with the ghosts again? 

We’ll just have to see…

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The Great Baby Name Debate: My 2 Cents

I know, I know… I know what you’re all thinking. 

Here she goes again with the baby name posts!!

Yes.  For a girl who has absolutely no children to speak of, I do seem to spend an awful lot of time talking about naming babies.  I actually did have another post in mind for today, but we’ll blame Lena at Mom2MemphisAndRuby for this… She started it! ;)

Ah, who the hell am I kidding.  Any opportunity to talk about naming babies.  I’ll take it.

So, I share Lena’s sentiment in her post today… It’s no secret.  I love baby names.  And I guess I’m sort of a baby name snob, too.  I’ve been known to curl up my nose when I hear baby names that don’t float my boat.  I would never tell someone that I didn’t like their baby’s name, and most often I come around on the name eventually – I do truly believe a baby becomes their name – but I have my preferences, for sure.

I’ve been naming pretend babies in my head for as long as I can remember.  I recall, even as a young child, often telling my mom, “Some day I’m going to name my baby [fill in the blank with whatever name I loved at the time].”  For a while there, I was convinced I needed twin girls so I could call them Bobbi & Billie.  I remember my mom laughing and saying, “I used to want twin boys named Ronald & Donald.  You’ll change your mind about that one, I promise!”

Well, she was right.  Long gone are the days of Bobbi & Billie.  But since then, I have put a lot of thought into the names I’ve chosen over the years, and there are a few keys that are important to me when it comes to naming a child.

1) Meaningfulness – For me, it’s important that my child have a name that really means something to me.  Not just a name that I like “in the moment”.  I like the idea of using family names, and I have a rich history of beautiful names to choose from on both sides of my family tree.  I think it would be such a shame not to draw from that, especially for middle names.  My Aunt Linda once told me she named her daughter Paula Kristine, and while her first name was a combination of the parents’ names, her middle name was just a name she liked at the time, and she regretted that choice.  If she could go back, she’d have picked a family name for her.

2) Easy/Standard Spelling – I’m all for coming up with unique names, but I’m really not a fan of changing spellings of names “just to be different”.  For years, your kid will be correcting teachers and classmates and friends and co-workers.  I mean, I’ve had to deal with it myself, to a certain degree – everyone wants to spell Jillian with a “G” (and I loathe seeing my name spelled with a “G”!!) – and it’s a total pain in the ass.  So if you want to name your daughter “Lindsay”, go for it.  Just don’t go with “Lyndsea”.  (Yes, Linds.  I’m using you as an example. lol!)

3) Forget about who else has used your name – It’s one of my biggest fears… That someday, someone close to me will use one of the names I have coveted for so long before I get to use it.  But honestly, unless it’s a really close relative, or your very-best-long-time friend, I wouldn’t refrain from using the name.  I heard my co-worker once say she wanted to name her son Derek years ago, but because their neighbour’s son was named Derek, she didn’t.  Now, that neighbour Derek is long gone, and it wouldn’t matter one bit if her son had that name.  See what I mean?

4) Go with your gut – If there’s anything I’ve learned watching my friends and family go through the baby naming process, it’s that everybody’s got an opinion. Including me!!  At the end of the day?  Don’t let your mother-in-law or your best friend or your second-cousin-twice-removed deter you from a name you really love.  (Unless, like my sister, you are thinking of Lincoln or Blaise.  Then listen to your family when they tell you those are terrible names!!!)  (Thank God she didn’t have a boy that time.)

5) Think of the nicknames/shortened names, but don’t worry too much about it – This will always be a serious concern for me.  A – I live in Quyon, and pretty much everyone in Quyon has a nickname.  B – I am a Young, and the Young family are notorious for coming up with nicknames.  HORRIBLE nicknames.  Several of my cousins call me Gilly (my dad did, too) and it makes me cringe.  (Don’t even ask me about the terrible nickname they’ve stuck on my beautiful little niece.  It is awful.)  I remember warning Kara about it when she was talking about Lincoln and Blaise.  “Lincoln?  He’ll be Linky.  Little Linky.  Slinky Linky.”  “Blaise?”  Like, ‘Shot down in Blaze of glory’?  Oh, and it reminds me of the word ‘blouse’.”  …Now, all that being said, if you really love a name, forget about what people might shorten it to or use as a nickname.  I admire my sister-in-law’s ability to laugh off the terrible name they’ve given Neve.  She doesn’t care, because she loves her name so much.

So… If I was to have a baby tomorrow, what would I name it?

If it was a boy, I’d have a real struggle on my hands.  I’ve always said I wanted to have a boy named Charlie.  It was my Grandpa Schock’s name, and though I never met him, I always told my grandma I’d name my boy after him someday.  She loved that name so much, and wished one of her own kids had used it.

Just recently, though, I’ve discovered that James is a very important name on my dad’s side of the family, and I’ve fallen in love with the idea of one day having my own little James.  My dad’s father was James Bay Turner Young, his oldest brother was James Claude Young, and my favourite cousin (who shares my birthday) is James (Jim) Bay Young.

My only issue with either name is that I don’t want them to be Chuck or Chucky or Jimmy or Jamie.  I like Charlie.  And I like James.  No nicknames necessary, thanks.

And since I can’t pick…I guess I’d better hope for twins!!

Names I like for middle names: Brent, Cowan, Bay, Turner, David, Jeffrey, Troy

Names I like but can’t use: Blair (because of a guy I liked in high school), Joel (because of a guy I liked in college), and Wade (because of Wade Redden, I’d be teased for the rest of my life.)

As for a girl…I really only have one right now that I really love.  I had this wonderful brainwave several years ago.  I remember my Grandma once telling me that if she could go back, she wouldn’t have named my aunt (her youngest child) Marion – she would have called her Mary-Anne.  She often called her that, anyway.  It got me thinking of how much I like just the name “Mary”, but that it’s just a teensy bit too plain for my taste.  Then I got thinking of female names in my family that I liked, and I got the idea to combine my aunt’s name and my mom’s.  Marion + Elizabeth = Maribeth.  That would be my girl’s name.  Not a doubt in my mind.

I also like the idea of using my Grandpa Young’s name for a girl, and it works well – Baylie.

Names I like for middle names:  Elizabeth, Hazel, Brenda, Marie, Anne, Grace, Pearl

Names I like but can’t use:  Sadie.  For obvious reasons.

I’d also like to mention that I love love LOVE  the names of my nieces and nephew.  Caden arrived kind of before the “ADEN”-hyped names, and if it had been me he would have just been Cade, but I love his name anyways.  And I think Danica and Neve are two of the most lovely little girl names ever. :)

OK.  So.  Thank you, Lena, for rekindling my BABY FEVER!!  Now.  To just find a husband so we can get this show on the road… ;) 

Oh, and for those of you wondering how I’d feel if my future husband and baby daddy doesn’t like the names I’ve picked?  Um, I’m sorry?  Are you telling me the man has a say in this???? ;)

So?  Are you a baby name snob?  Do you go for traditional or trendy?  What are you drawn to?  Do you have rules?  If you’d like to join in the discussion, you can link up on the Great Baby Name Debate over at Lena’s today!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

The Tuesday Random

  • It’s one of those days… Overcast, gloomy, and the rain started to fall a few minutes ago.  In a perfect world, I’d be snuggled up on the couch at home with my quilt and a book, or an old favourite movie.  Today, I’m thinking Blue Hawaii.  Ohhhh how I wish!

elvis_blue_hawaii

  • So, as some of you may recall, I have recently been re-watching all of the seasons of Friday Night Lights, because I discovered I had the fifth and final season on my DVD shelf, still in it’s wrapper, never watched.  I finally finished it on Saturday afternoon, and it was so bittersweet saying good-bye.  Like, kinda made me cry.  I always have this problem with TV shows.  I just have to keep reminding myself, You can start watching it all over again today if you want, Jill.  Tim Riggins will be in your life forever, if you want him.

tim riggins

tim riggins 2

  • Yes, please.
  • You want to know what’s weird?  I was so excited to start Season 3 of The Vampire Diaries once I was done with FNL, but I just can’t seem to get into it.  What is wrong with me?  I mean, this is IAN SOMERHALDER we’re talking about, people.  DAMON SALVATORE!!!!  But all I want is my Tim Riggins and my Matt Saracen back…

damon

riggins-and-saracen

  • Saturday is hair-chop-off day.  I’ve realized I’m probably always going to be the girl who is never satisfied with her hair.  I’m always going to want to go shorter or longer.  Right now, I’m dying to go shorter.  The Season-2-of-FNL-Tyra-Colette-bob is my current goal.  I’ll probably have it for one week before I start trying to magically make my hair grow faster again.

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  • My mom thinks the Tyra bob is a bad idea.  But then again, my mom always thinks whatever I do with my hair is a bad idea.
  • Speaking of my mom.  Yesterday, she and my uncle took my poor little Rav to my uncle’s mechanic in Ladysmith to give ‘er the ol’ once-over.  Like, how much longer can Jill drive this thing before it completely dies in the middle of the road kind of check-up.  I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the mechanic thinks it’s good to go for another while.  He’s going to change the front brakes next week (funny, of all the things that I thought might be wrong with it, brakes weren’t even on the list) – but otherwise, he says to keep driving her, everything’s good to go.  Sweet.
  • Then.  THEN.  My mom took my car home and decided to clean it.  She was apparently a little grossed out by how dirty I’d let it get, both inside and out.  The last time it was cleaned, my dad did it.  So that was quite a while ago… We’re talking at least a year and a half ago.  Dad took pride in clean vehicles, so yes, I know, it would horrify him to see how bad I’ve let mine get.  Mother knew this, and so she decided to rectify the situation.  The thick layer of dust, excessive number of water bottles and CDs rolling around, and the exploded bottle of sunscreen did not impress her. She claims she spent about 4 hours cleaning both the interior & exterior.  She thinks I owe her about $100.  I say that I didn’t ask her to clean it, so I’m hoping she’ll settle for dinner out on Friday night.
  • PS – For the record…I love my mommy.
  • You know, I sometimes forget how Twitter works.  That it’s not like Facebook; that it’s not necessarily your good buddies reading all your stuff all the time.  It could be strangers.  Last week, in the midst of the iPhone 5 hype, one of the radio DJ’s in Ottawa, Hot 89.9’s Mauler, tweeted that he was wondering if it was time to switch to iPhone and leave Blackberry behind.  I replied to him, “iPhone users annoy me.  I’m sticking with Blackberry as long as I can…”  (Sorry, pals who have iPhones.  But I’m sick of everyone telling me how “superior” they are to my Blackberry.  I like my Torch just fine, thanks.)  Anyways… Mauler retweeted me.  And then I got a deluge of replies from randoms ragging on me for being an imbecile.  Like, it almost made me cry they were so mean.  I realize that my calling them annoying wasn’t very nice of me, but they basically called me the Blackberry Bitch From Hell!!!   SO MEAN.  Needless to say?  I despise the iPhone even more now…

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  • I know that some of my favourite bloggers and real-life friends are big iPhone peeps.  Please don’t hate on me in the comments section and make me cry.  You know I love you all.  Despite your phones. ;)
  • Baby girl came to visit last night, and I wish I could bottle up the cuteness and carry it with me all day.  She’s reached the stage where she’s trying to talk, and “tell stories”.  She coos and smiles at you, like she’s really trying to tell you something.  I tried to take a hundred pictures of her, but the flash on my phone makes her eyes pop out of her head… poor babe!  (But still… SO CUTE!!)

Neve 4

Let’s end on that cuteness, shall we?

Linking up to today for Talk To Us Tuesday with Impulsive Addict and Shawn

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…As well as Random Tuesday with Stacy Uncorked!

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Monday, September 17, 2012

My very first “Musical Monday”: Wagon Wheel

Alrighty.  My Friday confessions last week kind of ended up being just me talking about all the music I’m loving these days.  I realize that’s not the juiciest kind of confessions in the world… but it’s what I was feeling.

One of my commenters detected my clear love for all things musical these days, and recommended I link up with Miss Angie at My So-Called Chaos for her Musical Mondays linky party, and I decided to take her advice.

musicalmondays

I did a lot of yapping last week about how I want to start playing guitar again, and you’ll all be happy to know I wasn’t just talking outta my ass.  I actually did play guitar this weekend.  Quite a bit.  My fingertips are still pretty soft, and it hurts, but it’s all coming back to me.  It’s been fun to go back and re-learn some of my old favourites -  as well as pick up a new one - in just a few short days.

Remember when I said that my cousin Kenny asked me to learn the song “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show?  Turns out, it’s actually super-easy to play.  I’ve been working on it all weekend - listening to it obsessively on my iPod, and practicing it on my guitar.  It truly was my weekend project, and “my song” for the past few days.

I’m still having trouble remembering the words, but I’ll get it in time for Christmas Eve, Kenny.  Promise.

Pleasantly surprised to discover the lead singer is a wee bit handsome. Bonus.  (I do apologize, though, for the hoochie dancing “exotic ladies”.  Between this Old Crow Medicine Show video and and the porny Green Day on Friday, I just can’t win.)

And I realize I just posted the Chad Brownlee version on Friday, but…well…you can never have too much Chad Brownlee, in my humble opinion.

Headed down south to the land of the pines
I'm thumbin' my way into North Caroline
Starin' up the road
And pray to God I see headlights

I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
And I'm a hopin' for Raleigh
I can see my baby tonight

[Chorus:]
So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me

Runnin' from the cold up in New England
I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time string band
My baby plays the guitar
I pick a banjo now

Oh, the North country winters keep a gettin' me now
Lost my money playin' poker so I had to up and leave
But I ain't a turnin' back
To livin' that old life no more

[Chorus]

Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke
I caught a trucker out of Philly
Had a nice long toke
But he's a headed west from the Cumberland Gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee

And I gotta get a move on fit for the sun
I hear my baby callin' my name
And I know that she's the only one
And if I die in Raleigh
At least I will die free

[Chorus]

***

I don’t know if Rolly knows this song, but if he doesn’t, I’m going to introduce him.  I think he’d love it.

My favourite is that last line – And if I die in Raleigh, at least I will die free…

What are YOU listening to this Monday?  Head on over to Miss Angie’s and link up! :)

Friday, September 14, 2012

Friday Confessions. Mostly on music. And a little on cookies.

Mamarazzi’s not feelin’ the blogging these days, so Aubrey at High-Heeled Love is taking over the Friday Confessions linky party.  Let’s do it.

FridayConfessionalMamarazzi

I confess…that I went on a music downloading spree last night. And it made my mother mad, because I was “playing on my computer” (ahem… concentrating on downloading songs) instead of chitchatting with her.  Sorry, Ma.

I confess…my cousin Kenny will randomly send me texts telling me to check out different songs.  A long time ago, he told me to listen to “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show, and I did, and I really liked it.  So imagine my absolute delight when I discovered that my new love, Chad Brownlee, also does a version of the song.  Chad Brownlee + Me = meant to be.

I confess…that might be the sexiest thing I’ve ever posted on my blog.  Ever.

I confess…that a lot of you asked yesterday what song it was that Rolly heard to make him think of me.  So I asked him, and he was like, “I have no idea, but I think it was that skinny blonde girl.”  I said, “You mean, Taylor Swift?”  And he said, “Yeah!  That’s the one!”  He said he thought the song was something about ‘our love’.  Or something.  After a quick perusal of my Taylor Swift collection, I’m thinking it may have been the song “Ours”.  But it might not have been.  We’ll never know.

I confess…that during my perusal of my Taylor Swift collection, I re-discovered the song “Dear John”.  I had totally forgotten about it, but I really really love it.

I confess…that while Rolly is a very flattering fellow, I never in a million years have sounded, nor will I ever sound, like Taylor Swift.  Although I do think I rock the shit out of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”.

I confess…that I was complimented on my voice a second time yesterday, and it kind of had me spinning for a minute.  My dear pal Stuey was in the office and he said, “Hey, you sounded pretty good on Saturday night!”  and I was all like, What the heck is going on here today?  It took me a second to remember that I was on-stage drunkenly belting out The Coconut Song with Gail Gavan on Saturday night at Community Day.  Trust me, it did not.sound.good.  And if it somehow magically did sound good, it was all Gail’s doing, not mine.  I was clearly in third place when it came to Gail’s duet partners that night – little Julia singing “The Wheels on the Bus” being the clear first place, followed closely by Audrey doing “The Ring of Fire” in second.

Gail & Audrey doing The Ring of Fire

I confess…that when I watched an episode of Friday Night Lights a few weeks ago and Devin sang Landry a funny little song to cheer him up, I totally thought it was a made-up song.  Come to find out yesterday it’s actually a real song, by The Flaming Lips.  I like it.  A lot.

I confess… that I’ve never really been a big Green Day fan – except for in Grade 6, when I thought “When I Come Around” was the best thing in the history of the world – and of course “Good Riddance”, who doesn’t love that one – but their new song, “Oh Love”, is pretty frigging awesome.  Like, my new favourite I think.  “I’m wearing my heart on a noose” might be the best song lyric ever.  It spoke to me.

I confess…that when I posted that video, I didn’t actually watch it right away.  It turns out, it’s kind of porny.  I apologize for that.  Damn you, Green Day.

I confess…that if I never see a chocolate chip cookie from Costco ever again in my life, I would be OK with that.  They are STILL floating around this office, and just looking at them makes me want to puke.

I confess…that that confession up there is complete bullshit.  I do not vomit when I look at the cookies.  I eat them.

cookie-monster3

Happy Friday, kids :)

Thursday, September 13, 2012

I’m not crazy, I’m just a little unwell.

I had an odd little exchange here in the office this morning, and it’s got my wheels turning. 

Of course it does.  And I’m probably over-thinking things, but…well…that’s kind of what I do best.  Over-think things.

Anyways.  I was barely in the door this morning until my co-worker, friend, and just all-round great guy, Rolly, walked in the office.  He was doing his usual Tazmanian-Devil-spin around the office, when he suddenly ground to a halt at my desk and said, “Jilly, you know what?  This morning, I woke up to my alarm clock just blaring this great song, and I coulda swore it was you singing.”

See, Rolly is this amazing musician.  Like, uh.may.zing.  A pure and beautiful talent that I feel so fortunate and blessed to know.   While I share his absolute love for all different kinds of music, I could never in a million years hope to be as awesome as he is. 

Despite this, Rolly has always nurtured my interest in playing guitar, recommended songs for me to listen to, and offered to help me out with learning more and how to improve my playing.

The fact of the matter is, I lack the raw talent.  I love to play, I love to sing, but I happen to know I sound like a howling cat.  Or nails on a chalkboard.  Whatever.  No matter how much wisdom Rolly imparts on me, I’ll never be that good.  He knows this.  I know this.  And yet, Rolly has always – always -  encouraged me.

So when he told me I sounded like someone on the radio, all I could do was laugh, roll my eyes, and say, “Thanks, Roll – you were half asleep, but I’ll take that as a compliment!”

“No!” he said, “It really did sound like you!  Beautiful voice!”

So again, I give my awkward uncomfortable I-know-I-suck-but-thanks-anyways chuckle, and in an effort to change the subject, I say, “You know, I don’t remember the last time I picked up my guitar…”

Which is a lie.  I know exactly the last time I picked up my guitar.  It was about a month ago.  I played two songs, and my fingers felt like they were being stabbed with knives.  Because prior to that, I hadn’t picked it up since Christmas Eve.  My fingertips have gone soft, no longer calloused; so out of practice that they almost don’t even know what to do anymore…

Rolly offered me a smile, and said, “Well you should.  Pick it back up again.  It’ll make you feel better.”

And then he was gone. 

I sat down, and let the words run through my mind again. 

I frowned.

It’ll make me feel better?  What’s that supposed to mean?  Have I been giving people the impression that I’m *not* feeling well or something?

And then I gave my head a shake.  Truth be told?  I know exactly what he means. 

I’ve been doing some soul-searching lately.  Trying to get back to doing the things that make me happy; that make me me.  It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Rolly has noticed I’ve been off my game for a while now.

I know that I’ve kind of been unwell.  I try not to dwell on it.  I try to ignore it at all costs, in fact.  Sure, it’s been a rough year, but everybody goes through rough times and they survive.  You keep trudging on, you keep smiling, and you’ll be OK.  Eventually.

But I seem to have let go of a few of the things that have always nourished my soul.  I don’t write anymore, save for these blog posts.  And I don’t play guitar anymore.  At all.

How did I let this stuff go?  Why?  When did I become so wrapped up in my own self that I forgot about all of the things that once made me who I am?  The things that I looked forward to?  The things that help me unwind?

Who cares if I sound like nails on a chalkboard?  I sounded like that before and it never stopped me.  Nobody ever came up to me and said, “Just stop.  Now.  You’re horrible.”

But now, I just keep thinking, “I’m no good, why bother?”

Why bother?   Because it makes me happy.

The soul-searching has definitely turned up that realization.  And Rolly’s comment – the “pick it back up, it’ll make you feel better” – has really hit home this morning.

I’ve been unwell.  It’s time to start feeling better again.

It’s time to get back to being me.

I think I’ll start with that ol’ guitbox.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

My Top 3

So.  Yesterday, I was visiting one of my favourite bloggers, Raven, and she was doing this “Top 3” thang that I thought looked like a lot of fun. 

Now, I know I’m not supposed to quote the Raven, but she said she thinks you can tell a lot about a person by their top 3 choices in life.  I totally agree.

So that’s what you’re getting today.  My Top 3.  Enjoy.

Top 3 Movies

  • Top Gun
  • Signs
  • A Time To Kill

Movies

(Honourable mentions to go The Little Mermaid, Blue Hawaii, White Squall, Dirty Dancing, and Jerry Maguire.)

Yes.  I like me some Tom Cruise.  My older sister was a little bit obsessed with him as a teen, and she watched Top Gun.  Like, a lot.  Hence, I watched Top Gun a lot too.  And to this day, I still think it’s one of the best.movies.ever.  As for Signs, it’s my favourite of the M. Night Shyalaman (or whatever the heck his name is) flicks.  Makes me think, every time.  And gives me the creeps.  Double bonus.   A Time To Kill - it was one I shared with my dad.  Very rarely could I pick a movie that he actually liked, but that one?  He loved it.  I still do.  (And it was back when Matt McConaughey was young and sexy instead of aging and skeezy…)

Top 3 Actors

  • Tom Cruise
  • Bruce Willis
  • Channing Tatum

Actors

(Honourable mentions go to Ryan Gosling, Josh Hartnett, Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, and Mark Wahlberg.)

I know, I know.  Tom Cruise is crazy.  Whatever.  I love him, despite the crazy.  And as I shared A Time to Kill with my dad, I share Bruce Willis with my mom.  We quite enjoy him.  (We joke that we only go to the theatre for Bruce – we once saw Armageddon, The Sixth Sense, and The Whole Nine Yards in a very short span of time.)  Now, I realize Channing Tatum might not have the years of experience behind him, but if Channing Tatum is in it… I’m going.  End of story.

Top 3 Actresses

  • Sandra Bullock
  • Katherine Heigl
  • Connie Britton

actresses

(Honorable mention to Drew Barrymore and Michelle Pfeiffer.)

I could talk about boys all damned day, but I honestly don’t pay much attention to actresses.  However, a quick scan of my DVD shelf shows a lot of Bullock and a lot of Heigl.  (Plus, KH is my twin, so I had to  pick her. ha!)  And then, there’s Connie Britton…maybe not so famous, but I’m watching Friday Night Lights on DVD these days, and I adore her, y’all.  (I’m saying that in my Connie-Britton-as-Tami-Taylor twang, fyi.)  I know she played the same role on the big-screen version too.  Girl is awesome.

Top 3 Country Singers

  • Tim McGraw
  • Martina McBride
  • Keith Urban

singers

(Honourable mentions to a hundred billion others, but most especially right now, Chad BrownleeJ’adore.)

Holy mother of pearl, that was next-to-impossible to pick.  I love me lots of different kinds of music, but country is near and dear to my heart, and choosing just 3?  Tough.  REALLY tough.  But I went back in my mind and tried to think of what CDs have got the most play out of my collection, and those three singers stand the test of time for me.  I had to do a toss-up between Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney, but what it came down to was the hair.  I prefer Keith’s.  But  I don’t hold Kenny’s baldness against him, promise.

Top 3 TV Shows

  • Friends
  • Grey’s Anatomy
  • Sex & The City

tv shows

(Honourable mentions to Friday Night Lights and The Big Bang Theory.)

Friends is always in steady rotation in my DVD player.  When Season 10 ends, we start all over again.  They still crack me up on a daily basis.  Grey’s has provided me with so much hotness over the years that I can’t help but rank it as an all-time favourite.  Plus, I just really think it’s a good combo of funny, touching, and dramatic.  And I didn’t start watching SATC until after it was all over, but I quickly became good friends with Carrie, Samantha, Miranda & Charlotte.  Love it.  They have taught me A LOT.

Top 3 Travel Destinations

  • Ireland
  • Hawaii
  • Cuba

trips

I have done very little travelling in my lifetime… So I’m considering it my Top 3 places I dream of going to.  The only one I’ve actually been to is Cuba, and I loved it there, I’d go back in a heartbeat.  Ireland and Hawaii?  Hopefully someday…

Top 3 Books

  • The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
  • Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
  • The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

books

(Honourable mentions to anything by Emily Giffin, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, and…yes…the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.)

That was also really, really tough.  I went with selections that I remember not being able to put down – books I whirled through within a few days (but were of a slightly higher caliber of writing than 50 Shades…)  And also, they were stories that did not leave me immediately.  I still think about The Kite Runner.  Things that happened in that book can still make me feel sick to my stomach.  To have that kind of impact on me?  I consider that a damned good book…

Top 3 Curse Words

  • Fack
  • Gaddammit
  • Mothertrucker

OK, those are the blog-friendly versions.  I swear a lot.  More than my mother would like.  Meh.  I work with 35 men.  What do you expect?!

Alrighty.  So what are YOUR Top 3?  And what do you think my choices say about me??  (go easy)

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Random ramblings on this lovely Tuesday morn.

  • I’m in a really frigging good mood today.  I have no idea why.  But I thought I should report this, since last week I was disgruntled and cranky and whiny and bitchy.  I told you guys I’d come around eventually!
  • The good mood may have to do with the number of chocolate chip cookies floating around this office.  The really really good kind from Costco.  They are leftovers from the UPA Farm Tour on Sunday.  I *may* have eaten my weight in cookies in the past three days…

cookies

  • This admission might have you wondering if I’ve fallen off the better-eating-and-exercising wagon.  Well, not really.  Only the cookies.  Otherwise, I’m still behaving.  Promise.
  • Yesterday, I devoted my entire blog to my brother and his birthday.  I was thankful when I saw him last night at his ball game that he didn’t murder me with his eyeballs.  I did, however, know enough to keep my yap shut when the ladies in the stands decided to sing happy birthday to him post-game.  That might have been the final nail in my coffin had I joined in…
  • It was a chilly night at the ball field last night – so chilly, that I did not partake in any ball park beers.  Well, that, and I couldn’t deal with another hangover like I had last Friday morning.  And also, because I didn’t have my “orangutans” with me, as one of the players remarked.   That’s right – my “orangutans” are a bad influence on me.

Orangutan2

  • I would like to spell it “orangatangs” but spell check disagrees with me.
  • The boys won big last night, mercying the Ottawa Blitz 7-0 after 5 innings.  Now they can finish this off tomorrow night in Manotick, with the game going at 9 PM.  Mother and I are trying to decide if we are really dedicated enough to make the trek for such a late game… I’m still entirely undecided…
  • Back to Luke’s birthday for a minute… his in-laws got him a level and a stud finder.  Us?  We got him a hockey stick.  Priorities, you know.
  • I am very glad that he got a level and stud finder, though.  Now he has no excuse to not come and put up the shelves that I bought ALMOST A YEAR AGO.  I was just waiting for him to get the necessary tools to do this job for me.  Yay!
  • My friend Sharon texted me on Friday night to inform me that Ryan Gosling has been cast to play Christian Grey in the 50 Shades movie.  I sulked.  I have since done some searching on the interwebs, and can’t find any hard evidence to back this casting story up.  Phewf.  No offence to Ryan Gosling, I think he’s a total hottie tottie.  But if Ian Somerhalder is not Christian Grey, I’m going to cry.

ian somerhalder

  • Speaking of Ian Somerhalder… today is the day The Vampire Diaries Season 3 comes out on DVD.  Yes, my Amazon order has been placed.  I hope to be caught up by the time Season 4 begins in October.  Watching Ian Somerhalder as Damon every night for a month?  Shouldn’t be a problem…
  • I feel as though I haven’t devoted an appropriate amount of blog space to Chad Brownlee yet.  Not my friend Priscilla’s husband, but the hockey-player-turned-country-star whom I fell in love with at the Shawville Fair.  I caught his performance on the CCMA’s Sunday night, and the dude can literally make me swoon.  I do believe he’s pretty much a Canadian girl’s dream.  I adore him.

chad brownlee

  • I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention 9/11 today, on the 11th anniversary.  It’s unbelievable to me that it all happened 11 years ago… the memories come back in a heartbeat, as if it was yesterday.  I was a scared college kid, not quite understanding what exactly it all meant, but knowing that the world had changed forever.  It was the first time I’d known a fear that deep.  Reflecting and remembering today, 11 years later…

9-11

Linking up today with Impulsive Addict and Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday

Talk2Us

…as well as Stacy Uncorked for Random Tuesday!

randomtuesday