Oh, Tom Selleck

A few weeks ago my mom and I went to an auction. We had no idea what to expect but I was excited. When we walked in we could hear the auctioneer and he sounded just like you're thinking he would. He was talking really fast and you could only make out every 5th word or so. We each got a fancy number to use for bidding. And by fancy - I mean a piece of paper with a number written on it with marker.

It took place in a huge banquet room which had all the auction items around the room with rows of chairs throughout the middle. Upon walking around the room we quickly realized it was a glorified garage sale. There was a ton of crap with the odd awesome thing mixed in. My initial thought was that people were there for the furniture and had to patiently wait for the useless junk to get auctioned off first. I should have known better and realized people will buy anything. ANYTHING. Like a basket of doilies. Or hideous hand stitched bird pictures. Not that I should talk because wait until you see what I bought.

We were sitting at the back of the room so when the guy held up the item he called "a wooden family". I was intrigued. I couldn't really see it well, but it sounded pretty cool. He started the bids at $5.00. No bites. He dropped it down to $1.00. I really wanted to experience the auction and get to use my fancy bidding number, so I bid. Someone bid $1.00 so I went for $2.00. And I won!! The immediate words out of my mother's mouth were: "What the hell are you doing?"

But then they brought me my wooden family. And I loved them.

CHECK OUT THESE MOUSTACHES!

I like imagining the history behind these little guys. Where did they come from? Who owned them? I smile just thinking about it. No, actually, I laugh because they are pretty ridiculous - in an awesome way.

I'm pretty sure I'll never go to another one of these weird auctions. I'm quite content with the experience and the new moustache friends I got out of it.

Favourite of the Day: I just had to google how to spell moustache.

Feel It

My new favourite song is Feel It, by Jakalope. While the song is new to me, it actually came out in 2004. My friend Steve told me about it. Basically he said "Listen to this song. This girl is kick-ass and you'll love it". He was right.

Random Fact: I did some reading on the band and found out they sing the theme song to Degrassi: The Next Generation. Funny eh?

Favourite of the Day: I'm still on holidays. Enjoying my last day off after a fun road trip with a great group of people. Lots of laughs.

Short & Sweet

My mom made tie plates yesterday. So the kitchen smelled like anise. I don't know what conversation took place in the kitchen. What I do know is my niece Jana walked into the dining room and said to my dad:

"You know what Papa? Auntie Amy thinks the kitchen smells like anus."

My dad said "huh" with a bewildered look on his face. And I laughed my head off.

It's past my bedtime....

Earlier tonight I cleaned out my inbox. I just signed in again and saw this message:

.....and I laughed and laughed. "Why thank you for noticing, Hotmail." *blushing*

Favourite of the Day: Shaw came today and brought me a brand new PVR. PLUS they extended my promotion package because they felt bad about the poor customer service I received. This was after I emailed them and called one of their employees a 'dick'. I feel bad about that. Sorry 'Jeff' - I hope you didn't get fired. Either way - Shaw kicks ass and takes care of their customers the way a good company should. To all you fools still with Bell - what are you thinking??????

Where were you?

Today marks the only "where were you" conversation that happens during my lifetime so far. Our parents generation have the JFK, John Lennon and Elvis conversations.

We have the 9-11 conversation.

I was lying in bed. I woke up to the sound of my dad's employees in the kitchen. What? The staff doesn't go in the kitchen? They only go in the basement - where the office is. In my pajamas, I made my way to the kitchen to check out what everyone was watching on the television. I normally would never hang out with the staff in my pajamas, but this was an exception.

I was going to LSSU then. I had class that day. But cross the international border to go the Unites States? I don't think so. Instead I stayed in front of the t.v all day. A day I'll never forget.

My stomach was sick thinking of what was going on right before my eyes. And I knew I couldn't even comprehend the magnitude of it all.

Could anyone?The hero is commonly the simplest and obscurest of men.

-Henry David Thoreau

Adcock Gardens

Remember that cartoon in the early 80's called "Fables of the Green Forest"? That cartoon comes to life at Adcock Gardens. Emmilia, Fern and I went there on Thursday. What a sweet, hidden gem that place is. I love the pond filled with lily pads, water lilies, frogs and turtles - complete with a wooden arched bridge and row boat.

I don't know the story about the family who owns the place. I wish I did. My imagination envisions it to be a husband and wife who are happily retired. Who fill their days tending to their garden and they couldn't be happier. Their children have moved out and are raising families of their own. They cherish the days their grandchildren come over and run through the garden to tend to their favourites. Whether it be getting dirty in the pond catching frogs, or picking crab apples off the trees. I picture the woman to wear a messy bun and old blue button up plaid shirts.

They drink tea in the morning, eating toast and reading the paper in silence before starting their day together. They have a crafty sign on their bedside table that reads "Always Kiss Me Goodnight".

And I bet they do.

Favourite of the Day: I just showed this to Mike at work and he said "If that really were Fables of the Green Forest, that frog would be wearing glasses".

10 Years to Celebrate

My mom & dad, with Avery
- August 25, 2000

Ten years ago, I begrudgingly put on my Blockbuster Video uniform, knowing my sister was in the early stages of labour and I couldn't bail on my shift at work. Thankfully, when all was said and done, I made it to the hospital in plenty of time.

A decade has gone by and I celebrate 10 years of a beautiful girl.

A girl:

-who is passionate and sensitive and feels with her heart.

-who's bald little head was quickly loaded with bouncing curls that make you cringe with envy.

-who cries out in a movie theatre when an animal is injured - completely unaware of anyone else in the room. Because her heart aches at the thought of someone else in pain.

-who greets fear with confidence. She conquers any roller coaster, while the rest of us chickens stand to the side with our stomach in knots.

-who challenges her mother, because she knows what she wants and fights for what she believes to be true. A characteristic that will only help her succeed in life.

-who is a waterbug, just like me. She can swim for hours on end. We made up a golfball game in the lake. I know she cheats at it. But I do too. (Don't worry, I usually let her win)

-who used to sign her name at school with the middle initial "H". And told everyone her middle name was "Horse" (her middle name does not start with H)

-who told stories that were full of adventure and imagination about her and her best friend Janie. You would have never guessed that Janie wasn't real.

-who brought a newspaper clipping of Motley Crue to kindergarten for show and tell.

-who innocently tested her match-making skills in finding me a mate.

-who has made me laugh with so many one-liners....I couldn't begin to list them all.

I can't believe how fast ten years have gone by. I miss her chubby cheeks and blowing zerberts on her soft baby belly. I miss the Boston accent she grew when she couldn't say the letter 'r'. I miss the way she would run to me and squeal with delight when I would come over to visit.

But I look at her now and I smile at the wonderful girl she has become. Happy Birthday to my sweet Avery.

Father, Mother, Brother, Sister

I took this picture on Thursday. I was excited to find this turtle family hanging out in the sun.

This prompted me to remember when I was in golfing in North Carolina three years ago and took the picture below. I called this family the Berenstein Turtles. Doesn't it look like they're posing?

This only leads me to one question:
Why do I get excited to find turtle family's?

Favourite of the Day: My major crush on Daniel Tosh from Tosh.0. (His line about double rainbows and unicorns almost shot soup out of my nose today).

Big Eyed Freaks

My niece Avery's birthday is coming up soon so I emailed my sister to see what she might like as a gift. This is her emailed response:

"She wants a big eyed freak from Zoo Zoo. She is no longer collecting Webkinz and has moved on to these. They are these Russ Stuffies with giant eyeballs. They are about $15.00. She was just there and saw them. She wants the elephant, the mouse, or she said there was a bear she liked there too.

Those are some ideas. She hasn't asked for much else. Other than them, the skateboard.

Later gater"

It seems I did not read this email in great detail. I was mainly focused on remembering "Elephant or Mouse". I decided to go to the mall and buy her birthday gift today. I walked into Zoo Zoo and wandered around looking for these toys. The owner came up to me and asked if I needed help. So, I asked him where the "Big Eyed Freaks" were. He said he didn't know. He had never heard of them. I said my niece had wanted one for her birthday. He thought maybe they were a new up and coming toy and offered to look into them for me.

I thanked him and wandered around the store a little more. I decided to call my sister to figure out where to buy these things.

Me: "Hey, where do they sell those Big Eyed Freaks?"
Her: "Zoo Zoo"
Me: "No, I'm at Zoo Zoo and they don't know what I'm talking about."
Her: "Please tell me you didn't just walk in there and ask for a Big Eyed Freak"
Me: "Um. Yes, I did."
Her: "hahahahahahahahhahhahaha"
Me: "................."
Her: "That's not what they're actually called. Avery just calls them that."

Then we were both cracking up. I had to go back and explain to the guy that there is no such thing as a Big Eyed Freak. Which may only be funny to me and my sister. But when Avery hears this, she is going to LOVE this story.

And she better like the damn elephant too.

Friday Night

Coke Machine Glow

by Gordon Downie

Here we are on the highway.

Here we are on the road.

Here we are in the parking lot's

pink Coke machine glow.

Here we are in the bedroom.

Here we are in the bed.

Here we are

beside each other

after everything

we've said.