taking out the trash...

Today I had an embarassing moment. I rarely have these (as my dear friend Shari-Anne pointed out), because I am careful to ensure they don't happen.

...but sometimes you just can't help it.

So it all started last night when I was chatting with Carleigh on the phone (they are at her parent's place for US Thanksgiving this weekend), and she was reminding me to put out the garbage for today's pick up. After we hung up, my immediate thought was: "I should go put the garbage out now"...and then somehow I got distracted with reruns of the Golden Girls, along with some laundry, and a very sudden sinus headache. So I took some drowsy cold meds and crawled under the covers.

At 9:50 this morning, I awoke.

At the very same moment (ok, maybe 2 seconds later) an image of a garbage truck popped into my head. I threw back the covers, ran up stairs to the kitchen, and looked out the window to see if the neighbours still had full garbage cans.

They did.
I was in luck.

I somehow found some shoes (no idea where I got them from), and ran out the front door...forgetting that I'd set the alarm.

The alarm beeping at me, threatening to go full-blast, I madly ran back inside fumbling with the code, when I heard the garbage truck pull up to our neighbours' driveway.

Adrenaline coursing through me, I dashed over to the garbage cans, and yanked them down the driveway through the slushy snow...placing them directly in the hands of the garbage guy.

"Thanks," I said, breathlessly...the wind practically knocked out of me by the whole 2 minute ordeal.

"Um, yeah" He responded.
I don't think he gets greeted too often.

Like some sort of nervous twitch, I grabbed the snow shovel next to the carport, and started shoveling snow while he emptied the garbage cans. Was I trying to pretend I'd been outside the whole time, or like this was my plan: rush out with garbage at the last minute and then leisurely shovel the driveway? Not sure, but I'm pretty positive he wasn't fooled.

And then I went back inside, and happened to take a glance at myself in the mirror.

Let's just say I was not a sight for sore eyes...
...and that likely the garbage guy won't be calling for a date anytime soon.

on that note...

...seeing as I've brought up pop culture...

I love glee.

Love it.

Caught up tonight on last week's episode and shed a few tears.

But so far, the most impressive guest star performance for me has been Gwyneth Paltrow. I mean, the woman is married to Chris Martin, so I shouldn't be surprised she's not tone deaf...but I was impressed.

May you enjoy this as much as I did....



...and this one too...

oh the people I know...or think I know.

Tonight I went to the Canucks game with dear Alicia...who is SO good to me as she allows me to be her hockey buddy and go to games with wonderful seats where I can actually read the players lips as they talk and imagine what life would be like married to a famous hockey player. Ahem.

Anyways...

Alicia and I have this longstanding joke that whenever we are together, I run into someone I know (or at least recognize). Typically this has happened at every Canucks game (we've gone to something like 10 or so together) and on random outings in Vancouver, etc. One Canucks game, we were near the end of the evening and I hadn't run into anyone I recognized...and then, there on the big screen, was a guy who went to CBC for a year. Of course.

So tonight, I'm looking around where we're sitting, and I point out this guy to Alicia:

Recognize him?
For a few moments I was trying to place him...and then as I'm rambling to Alicia, I realize: "Isn't he the guy from much music? The one that does the show where they make fun of music videos?"

And in that moment I realized how much of a geek I am...while simultaneously perpetuating the longstanding joke.

Why Pantene Pro-V and I can no longer be friends.

an exhortation that strikes the heart.

"We take the God of the Bible who is all-wise and all-powerful and we trivialize him. We make him the "Self-help Genie." We re-create him in our minds as our "God-on-Demand" - someone who's "there" when we need him and stays out of the way the rest of the time. Instead of worshiping him and knowing him and growing into servants who want to understand his mission and follow him by faith, we carefully select Bible verses out of context that confirm our conclusion that the real goal in life is for us to be happy. Instead of humbly recognizing that God is impossible to tame, we dare to demand that he get busy and keep us comfortable"

- Chip Ingram, from "God: As He longs for you to see Him"

a rollercoaster that doesn't roll.

The last couple of weeks I've felt low.
Low energy.
Low joy.
Low brain activity.
Low...everything.

Yesterday, after three days in bed, feeling like Carleigh's fourth child, I went to the doctor...who sent me for a mono test. It was discouraging to say the least. I'm currently praying it's not mono...but then part of me hopes it is, just so I know what's going on with me. Cause if it isn't...then what is it? I just don't feel like me. Not the me I know, anyways.

So I'm here.
Working on my last paper for this course.
And feeling low.

On a side note, I'm fearing for Skippy Jon Jones' life. Our dear cat simply doesn't know how to stop eating.
Last night: leftover chocolate cake from Carleigh's birthday party.
Tonight: Carleigh's decorative twigs (sorry, Car).
Tomorrow: Probably a good thing the cleaning supplies are behind child-proof cupboards. I honestly think this cat would drink draino if we let her.

confession. part "i lost count".

I did it. I broke my one rule:

Christmas music starts December 1st.
Post-birthday.

But here I am...listening.
Intently.
Dove right in.
Can't stop.

Next thing you know my room will be draped in fake greenery, twinkle lights, and smell like some sort of baking-scented candle. I'll be reciting Christmas limericks and madly making lists, checking them twice. Oh wait, no, that's someone else. Well, needless to say, this can only be a long slippery slope.

What have i done?

when i get down...

...I listen to this:

a truth.

Some days, being single sucks.
Some days, it feels like you'll be single forever.
Some days, it feels like you'll always have to plan your own birthday party, and ask your married friends to find a babysitter so you can hang out.
Some days, married friends comment on how your single life is so adventurous and free, and you just want them to know it also includes lonely times, tears, tough questions, and a whole lot of waiting around.
Some days, you just don't want to be the only one having to make all the decisions about your life. 
Some days, you just need to vent.

Today is one of those days.

i love this place.

If you're unfamiliar, this is a painting of Main St., Vancouver. On the right is the Ivanhoe Hotel, a place I call home 12 nights a year when I bring CBC students into Vancouver.

The Ivanhoe has a certain rhythm. A certain smell. A certain sound (usually the ancient heating system...or the sounds of the late-night crowd at the pub below...whichever is louder). A certain "I can't believe that just happened" feel, such as the time Steven Segal made a movie in the building (which went straight to DVD by the way). I walked into a lobby full of African-American "SWAT" men. I can't say that's ever happened to me anywhere else. I love it.

What I really have grown to love is the people of the Ivanhoe. There's Chris who runs the front desk; then there's Chris who runs the cafe; and there's Chris who runs the pub. Yup, I'm serious. (Ok, well actually Chris #3 just gave up the pub and took over the cafe from Chris #2, so now there's only 2 guys named Chris).

But honestly, there are some wonderful people with incredible willing and protective hearts who take care of me and my students when we come into Vancouver. (I even ran into one of the maintenance men on the ferry going to the Island for Christmas last year - we had a little conversation about life and I had to chuckle at how life unfolds as I walked away).

Each time I'm there, the routine is similar. When I lie in my bed on the fifth floor of the Ivanhoe, I look out my window and watch the lights of Science World as I drift to sleep. At least two hours later I am awoken by some craziness outside below on the street. But that's part of the charm. You never know what you'll get, but you can be sure it will be interesting.

All this to say, I've grown to appreciate a place that as a child I saw as dirty, dark, and scary. Whenever I eventually move on from my role at CBC, I'm going to miss the Ivanhoe, the Chris...es, and the "who knows what" that keeps it interesting. I may just have to visit.

...and we wonder why.

This week I'm sure you heard about the 10 year old in Spain who gave birth.

The reaction is shock and amazement from us in North America: how did it come to this?

And then today I watch this, which we tend to watch and think "how cute"...but really, what happened to kids being kids? By encouraging this, do we then cut childhood short?

how i know i'm an optimist.

Sitting in Starbucks, an older man comes up to me.

I hear:
"Hi love, can I steal your chair?"

Then I realize...he actually said:
"Am I allowed to steal your chair?"

I'm a glass-half-full type of girl.