Dienstag, November 30, 2004

Today's Quote

"There's not a game in the world you can play without the risk of being hurt some."

- Katharine Hepburn

Montag, November 29, 2004

5 things I didn't know about my new car


… till I picked it up on Thursday:

a/c
heated seats
cruise control
slot between the back seats for skis
the biggest glove compartment I have ever seen (you CAN fit a whole pharmacy in there)

All this and brand new kick ass snow tires.

OK, I’ll stop now. Hee hee.

Donnerstag, November 25, 2004

Fabulous, Dahling

“In a small celebration attended by one, a 30 year old divorced straight Calgarian woman marries herself”

Hey , if I can recycle that gorgeous black velvet 70’s gown of me ma’s for my Christmas party, I can sure as hell recycle my engagement ring!

The trick, I heard, is to bury it overnight on a full moon. Hopefully the ground won’t be frozen tomorrow night! This action is said to cleanse it of any past emotional ties.

I fell in love with it, really. I’ll never forget the day we picked it up on that narrow cobble stoned street in Downtown Munich.
“We’re going shopping” we grinningly told our coworkers as we set out that March morning from Riessersee, above Garmish. We had collectively decided the purchase was necessary after being faced with two realities:
a) it would be a hell of a lot easier to get his ass into Canada (still ended up taking us 8 years…)
b) there was no way on earth that his Turkish/Muslim Ali Baba of a dad would let us live in sin.

So there we found ourselves. After a fabulous lunch at one of my favorite veggie eateries , standing at the street corner facing the jewelry shop.

“I need a ring for my girlfriend” he awkwardly told the Sales woman. “What kind of ring? “ she coyly asked, raising both an eyebrow and one corner of her richly lipsticked lips. “Just a ring”. Blushes.

I found it shortly after. I had maybe looked at a couple dozen, when I laid eyes on it and that was that. It’s very simple, actually. Just 3 small flat diamonds in a row on a rounded band of gold. I mistakenly thought the 7 was a 1 (‘cause they write them funny over there). Realizing too late- just after he had told the bemused and ever helpful Sales lady that we’d take it.

“Oh, no” I said, thinking this is NOT in the budget. And back and forth bobbed her head as the rebuttal ensued. “You only get engaged once in your life” I think is what he said. And that decided it. The ring was mine.

Well, officially a few minutes later, in the middle of walking down the street, pedestrians on both sides of us. Mr. Romantic hands me the little box with the red bow and says, “here, put it on”.

I’m like, “Right here? Right now? But you haven’t even asked me yet!”

“Asked you what?” he says with a big ass grin.

I remember my trembling fingers as I slipped it on my finger. The tears of joy as I hugged him. In the middle of that street.

Till I said “I have to call my mom” and off we went to find the Post Office.

p.s. Guess what finger I’m going to wear it on now?

Mittwoch, November 24, 2004

Quote O' the Day

he who does not rouse himself when it is time to rise,
though young and strong is full of sloth,
whose will and thoughts are weak,
that lazy and idle man will never find the way to enlightenment.
strenuous is the path of immortality, sloth the path of death.
those who are strenuous do not die; those who are slothful are as if dead already.

Montag, November 22, 2004

mind your own beeswax

That’s an inside joke. Me and one other person. Whose kitchen floor I was lying on till after 1 am, alternately laughing, crying, and trying to prop my feet up on a dwarf sized ironing board and open drawers. THANK YOU, HONEY!!

Man, what a weekend! I worked 20 hours between leaving my regular job at 6 pm Friday and Saturday night. But what fun! We threw a Mardi Gras party for an accounting/consulting firm in this huge atrium right downtown. Complete with face painters, fortune tellers, ice sculptures, two or three different bands playing, and out of this world food. Got a butterfly painted on my cheek. I really do enjoy being a part of this company when we put stuff like this on (and pull it off). The next day was a little tedious, with hundreds of children running about, decorating gingerbread men and sitting on Santa’s lap. Then a surprise 60th b-day party that evening, with a maritime kitchen party theme. I woke up Sunday morning and everything hurt. Good thing I had no plans, just vegetated all day (laundry, a couple of movies) until my fateful visit to see the Queen Bee. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
You Are Green Bean Casserole Soda
Vegetarians taste better!

What Jones Holiday Soda Are You?

Freitag, November 19, 2004

the blue fuzzy sweater that could


And could it ever
Mighty
Like a dragon
Undergoing
Metamorphisus
Butterly like
But with much bigger wings
This is day one
Rebirth
As is every day to come
Becomes
An endless amount
Of opportunity
And joy
All around
This universe
Discovering
It is one




Yup, I saw that movie again.

Mittwoch, November 17, 2004

...dashing through the (non-existent) snow

“It’s the most beautiful tree we’ve ever had!” How distinctly I remember us saying that, as kids. Year after year. Until it became an inside joke. Every year became “the most” in the beautiful tree books. And tonight, my heart rejoices. For I have created my most beautiful tree ever. In my very own space. All on my own, with items out of the padded “delicate unit, handle with care” box, appropriated from the airplane parts company I used to work for.

Okay, so I broke down and got an artificial jobbie. You can’t blame me for trying though- drove all the way out to the garden center almost out of town to disappointedly find it under renovations. What I really wanted was a real one, in a pot, so I could plant it in the spring. Well, the thought was there. Reality? $8.98, from Wal-Mart, 24 inches tall, in a square shaped gold painted pot.

And I couldn’t be happier about how it turned out. Many years I endured a husband who did not partake in (except for his presents and the big meal parts) of my celebration of Christmas as I knew it. I dug the german way- the Christkindlmarkts, with their Gluehwein and freshly baked Lebkuchen, hand crafted ornaments, hundreds and hundreds of years of tradition. I miss the sights and smells of those places, wandering through the stalls all bundled up, stopping here and there to examine the wares.

It’s where I started collecting my angels. I counted 6 (and am sure there were more, at some point), and just a few gold coloured decorations- mini baubles, a strand each of little beads and stars. Our trees were never that big, corresponding to the amount of space we had in that tiny apartment. Until the year we moved to the farm! There, we had space galore, and a generous landlord who delivered a fine specimen one fine evening, freshly cut from the back 40.

How delighted I was! What a sourpuss my worst half was! He christened it that night, and it was forever known as “Scheiss Baum” from that day forth. Bloody Scrooge. Bygones!

Back to my lil tree this year. 2004. It’s got it goin' on. Cause you know what? It’s the most beautiful tree I’ve ever had. Let the season begin!

Dienstag, November 16, 2004

Shift Happens

If anyone knows where I can get a bumper sticker that says that, please let me know. I need it for my new beamer.

Witnessed a truly great feat in cinematic whatchamacallit last evening with my buddy Hans. Entitled "What the BLEEP do we know?" it's pretty darn indescribable, so I recommend you just go and see it. It's bound to affect you on some level, and make you ponder your very existence in this universe. How many mainstream flicks can you say that about nowadays?
Can't say I knew a single thing about quantum physics before yesterday, however am well acquainted with the theory behind positive thinking. Guess the two are related. All extremely interesting and I look forward to seeing it again this week.
That's all. Over and out.

Montag, November 15, 2004

Check Your Toothbrush

Always be true to yourself
is the message I left behind for my Kat. You never do take the good advice you so freely give to others, do you? In some countries they could call you a hypocrite, couldn't they? Nasty people.

Well, it has come to a full stop. Rien ne va plus. Too many winners in the horrible days contest in a row. Knocked on my ass scraped up (ever try picking astro turf out of a gash on your elbow? ewww) chewed up spit out okay I'M DONE. Hear me, y'all?

Enough Prescriptions filled! Or better yet, write MYSELF one. And get it filled. Fill your cup! To overflowing. Every day. It's about friggin time. As previously discussed, we do know the destination. It's following the route to get there without taking too many damaging detours.

Ha. Detours. Car metaphor. Well, you know what, honey? It's time for a trade in. Sadly, that old vehicle just isn't going to get you there, in the long run. No, Siree it ain't. So what are you moping about? Time to let go of the old, welcome in the new. In the form of a superbly up-kept BMW. Now doesn't that suit you better than (although will always remain sacred and special in your heart) the Saturn? Yes.

Yes. We know these things, deep inside. Instinctually. It's just a matter of letting go. Taking action. Excuse the theft from Nike (I'm sure they'll understand)... Just do it!

Not to dismiss the detours. They're fun. But keep the healthy boundaries intact whilst on them. Ja? Ja wohl.
If this sounds like complete nonsense, please disregard. I'll be back to my normal self once all the perscriptions have run their course.

Umm... what's 'normal' again?

Samstag, November 06, 2004

Insomnia

This is fun...

(bold the things you've done)

1. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins.
3. Climbed a mountain. F*$& Yeah! Mt. Niles, Yoho National Park
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive.
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula.
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said 'I love you' and meant it thrice
9. Hugged a tree labour day we '04, Stanley Park
10. Done a striptease hmmm does strip poker count?
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris mais oui
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game hmm does the U of MT count?
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby's diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower Kananaskis
24. Gotten drunk on champagne New Years '92, Garmish... was supposed to be serving it
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you're not ill hello? its now called a mental health day
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip Oh, the glacier waters of Emerald
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking how's last night, with 13 other girls around a futon on the dance floor? Yeah, Baby!
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors freaking lived there 9 yrs
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip Where should I start?
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government's official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Sky diving
63. Visited Ireland AND saw leprechauns
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Bench pressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow close, a sheep
69. Alphabetized your records ummm, CD's
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day tomorrow's agenda in a nutshell
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don't regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who's not supposed to have known about your diary has discovered your diary
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better about to - Spring of '05
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites Troy & Ephesus, Turkey
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie
92. Crashed a party Labour Day we '04 in Van... and whatta party it was!
93. Loved someone you shouldn't have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
just lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup!
98. Made cookies from scratch only!
99. Won first prize in a costume contest
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don't remember anything ...bits & pieces
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage
110. Been to Las Vegas
111. Recorded music
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone
does Belfast count? There was a tank going down the street...
118. Buried one/both of your parents
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
so wanted to- Lorena McKennitt after seeing her in Munich (96?)
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
kept the name "Cafe Prueckel" on the Ringstrasse in Vienna
132. Called or written your Congress
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. ...more than once? - More than thrice?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived.
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone's heart
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle the back of one
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild hee hee hee
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery Wisdom Teeth count?
159. Had sex on a moving train mais oui
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours Percacet, I love you!
164. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
And have a plan to to celebrate Dad's Bday tomorrow. Happy Bday!!
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
Nurhead DID go veggie those few years...
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them
183. ...and gotten 86'ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language
191. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196. Dyed your hair
197. Been a DJ
198. Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199. Written your own role playing game
200. Been arrested


...I wonder what happened to # 40?

All Y'all

You may notice a new list of links (to the left and below the moon) entitled "caught my eye".
I love randomly clicking on that "next blog" arrow and dropping in on different folk's lives.
Should you happen to be one of those folks, Welcome! To the Americans among you, my condolences on your election. I heard that the Canadian immigration website has been experiencing unusually high page views this past week. Come on up! The more the merrier...
Peace out.

Freitag, November 05, 2004

Be Good, Be Kind, Be Truthful and Be Free

And keep your wholly loving eyes on me

- Hothouse Flowers, Songs from the Rain