Kassie

Today Shannon told Kassie how they are going to go for a trip on a ferry so big that they can drive their car on it. Kassie started to get upset and said she didn't want to go. So Shannon keeps telling her how much fun it will be, how big the ferry is and how they are going to go to an island. At this point Kassie is almost crying. Finally Kassie says that they only 'ferry' she's ever seen is Tinkerbell, and she doesn't think she wants to see a fairy that is big enough to carry the car! Isn't that the cutest!!!

Nearly Grown Up...

To answer the question once and for all.
How Much Longer Are You Going To Be At SFU?
I have 30 credits to go which is at MOST 10 classes. At the very least it is 6 and a half classes. Do I see the light at the end of the tunnel? No. I'm still scared to death that'll flunk out and finally admit to being a lifer at shoppers. That's scarier than the shining and nightmare on elm street!

cruiser chicks

Sarah and I went for a cruise around coal harbour and the sea wall monday. We decided that having super cute bikes made it much more fun. We borrowed the bikes from Justis- they are for sale in his shop The Denman Bike Shop. I have to admit that when I saw the price of the bikes I was more than a little nervous!!!! As Sarah said on her website, we only had one helmet (which Sarah wore) I was more worried about damaging the bike then I was my head.
I think I look super cute on the bike! After a few blocks I got use to back peddle brakes.
Out front of Whit's place. Justis gave me an earful about how I shouldn't be wearing flip flops on a bike. We were both wearing flip flops until I called Sarah to tell her about the shoe clearance going on at the bay! Big mistake, that girl can't pass up a shoe store without buying. How can Ryan possibly think she only owns 20 pairs?!!

In this heat Slurpies are considered required

Just a quick update for those not in Van City. Sarah is back in town, and I always get lazy updating the blog. Anyways, I watched some of the baseball tourney (which they won) got a fairly wicked sunburn and ate far too much sushi. I went and saw Pirates of the Carribean, not as good as the first, but I think thte 3rd one will be really good. Number 2 seems to be just a build up to #3.

Sarah, Ryan and I also went for a day trip up to Whistler- It was a long trip because of the construction, it was nice I haven't been there in years. We stopped for cheese sticks in Squamish I remember them being soo much better. We also stopped off at Warren and Karens in Brakendale and met D-Boz the Pit Bull. The dog has some bad manners! He would run around growling with a ball in his mouth and then run up behind you and while you're standing there, and shove his head in between your knees!

Nana turned 90 on Monday, I went out for possibly the worst food ever at the jiffy wiffy waffle house. It was my first time there, hopefully the last! I also went and picked the apples off her tree, but it's too hot to do any canning, the thought of turning the canning pot on....ugh! Hopefully the weather will change-otherwise I won't get any canning done.

Last night I went to laugh lines- the headliner was really good. The warm up act was a 73 year old gramma. It felt really wrong to laugh at her, and all her jokes were really raunchy, which made it even more uncomfortable. There was hardly any AC in the club, I think I lost about 10 pounds in sweat! I think the club did it on purpose, I didn't even bat an eye at the $7.50 drinks.

As I'm sure everyone in Vancouver is already aware, It is SMOKING hot here. Bus journey's are no longer enjoyable. There are lots of deoderant ads on the bus and skytrain, but I swear no one in Vancouver has ever used any! I am actually starting to long for rain. 2 nights ago I managed to sleep a little with the help of a cold shower and an ice pack. Last night I decided to forget trying to cool my house down. Instead I made a bed on my balcony! I highly recommned it, I was actually able to sleep.

In the last 2 days I have had nearly 150 comments posted on my blog. They aren't from anyone I know. I have no idea why I'm being spammed, but it's getting to be annoying. It's not that the comments are bad- it's comments like "This blog has lots of information for a beginner like me!" They're nice, but there's just too many. So from now on when you post a comment, word verification is required. Just enter the word/letters shown. Hopefully this will stop the spammer.

Wading Through the Pox

... one child at a time. Kassie has chicken pox. Kaitlyn is coming down with the pox. The daycare kids have all been exposed. The neighbour's kids have the pox, the neighbour has the pox. Shannon is sick too. So what does this all add up to? Between 7 and 9 children with the pox, 2 out of commission mothers and one neighbour (me) who gets to run the daycare. Do you think Costco sells industrial sized calimine lotion?

Sleeping Beauty she is not!

"CLEVELAND (AP) - Officers who went to a home to serve a search warrant found a skeleton in the bed where an 80-year-old woman said her mother was sleeping.
Police believe the remains belong to woman's 98-year-old mother, who hadn't been seen in at least three years. Officers went to the home Wednesday to serve a search warrant for building, housing and health code violations, but the woman said they couldn't come inside because her mother was sleeping. After persuading her to let them in the house, the officials pulled back the blanket on the bed and found the skeleton.
The daughter, whose name was withheld until her family was notified, was taken to St. Vincent Charity Hospital.
Cuyahoga County coroner Elizabeth Balraj said Thursday she would need more information to identify the body, which showed no signs of injury.
Police Lieut. Thomas Stacho said no charges were expected. "

She must be crazy if no charges are pending. How long did she figure mom was going to sleep for?

I am shocked! Here's a pic of the guy behind cats in sinks and kitten war:


I don't think I can endorse his sites anymore. He probably has a kitten mill where he forces the kittens to be cute and pose for pictures. Very cruella de ville.

Better than cat's in sinks

I can't remember if I ever posted the www.catsinsinks.com website on the blog or not. Check it out if you like cats in sinks. Here's a sample:

But now these people have made a new site about kittens!!! http://kittenwar.com/

First Freebie received!
I received the sample of greenies today, it's a cat treat that is supposed to freshen breath and clean their teeth. Her breath smells like chicken now. Not what I'd call fresh. But she likes it, and I have a coupon to buy more. It is also salem's first piece of mail- it is addressed to her, not me.

My fridge died this morning. It's going to be 28 degrees today and it is the start of a long weekend. Not good. Luckily though I called the co-op fridge guy 2 days ago, so hopefully I might get a new fridge soon. Shannon is going away this weekend, so I plan on moving my food to her house. Good thing too, because my freezer has around 30 jars of jam in it. I don't think I can eat that much jam. The only thing worse is when my hot water tank quit in Christmas day!

contradiction

I was chatting with someone recently about how blogs are like diaries. At the time I agreed. But no, this isn't a diary.

Dear Diary,
----I don't open like this, I also don't include obscure little haikus about my computer.

blinking,
I have mail,
the ink is low.
Office Depot savior.

Thankfully this is not a diary. And that was not a haiku, it was a Senryū

Bye Bye Bert

sigh

I have a bit of an update for y'all.

Worms:

I joined a discussion group/forum that's all about vermicomposting. I'd done my research before I started, but I was a little worried because I only had a few worms. But everyone was really nice and said that I was doing everything right. Well apparently I am. The worms have had babies! They are only about 3/4 of a cm long and kinda white in colour. So that's good! I was worried that I didn't have boy and girl worms, but hey no worries they don't have sex- they reproduce asexually- did you know that?

I also did 6 batches of strawberry freezer jam in the past week. I have put a posting on my local freecycle site that if anyone has a fruit tree, I'm willing to take the fruit off their hands. Hopefully that way I can get more fruit for free. If you are interested there is a link in my links section- people post stuff that they don't want or stuff that they want- the only rule is that everything must be free. You must apply to join the group.

free is the right price for me!

Name: Evian Affinity
Freebie Type: Free Sample
Availability: Canada only
Get a free sample of Evian (yes, like the bottled water) Affinity skincare products. Choose between Original Hydrating Lotion or Oxygenating Cleansing Gel. Sign up for your sample at www.evianaffinity.ca

Name: Downy
Freebie Type: Free Sample
Availability: Canada only
Go to the Downy website, click on "request a free sample," then fill out your info to get your free sample of Downy plus Whitening liquid fabric softener. One sample per household, and only while supplies last!

Name: Nike Fitness Dance DVD
Freebie Type: Free DVD
Availability: U.S. & Canada
Register to be a member of Nike.com and then sign up to receive a free Nike Fitness Dance DVD featuring Rihanna. You should receive the DVD in four to six weeks. Hurry! Offer is only good while supplies last!

Name: Greenies
Freebie Type: Free Sample
Availability: U.S. & Canada
Click on "Get Greenies" on the Greenies site to get your free sample of cat or dog treats. Ships in 4 to 6 weeks.

Shannon got me hooked on free samples, lets see how many of the samples actually show up.

Warning!

I just received 21 comments on my blog in 8 seconds. I dunno who it is but they have included a link to click. I wouldn't click on it. I have no idea what it is. Be warned

ha!

Busted....

Since reading Sarah's last post, where she heard that word on the street is that you have to do at least one ship excursion, I have found the page that lists all the excursions and their prices. So up for the voting I think. What sounds best?
Cabo:
$69
Cruise to the Chileno Reef marine sanctuary and experience the fun and adventure of sea kayaking. Begin your adventure from Cabo San Lucas aboard the Adventure, a specially designed 90-foot boat tailored to offer enjoyment for all ages. Cruise for approximately one-hour along the coast passing world class championship golf courses, miles of unspoiled serene beaches, breathtaking landscapes and secluded untouched coves. After arriving at the protected marine park at Chileno Reef, your experienced guide will offer instruction before boarding your two-person “sit-on-top” kayak. Venture out with your guide for the approximately 45-minute kayak from Chileno Reef to Santa Maria Bay passing extravagant rock formations carved by sand, air, and sea. Stop at Santa Maria Bay where you may rest for approximately 30 minutes on the white sandy beach, swim or snorkel. The Adventurer will pick you up in the bay to begin the return voyage to Cabo San Lucas as the friendly crew provides chips and salsa and serves margaritas, beer, and soft drinks.

$19 -cheap and is only 45 minutes long
Travel by boat to view Cabo San Lucas’ famed rock arches, where the Pacific meets the Gulf of California. Your approximately 40-minute boat tour explores Los Arcos, the majestic rock arches where the waters of the Gulf meet the Pacific. Watch for wildlife including pelicans, sea lions and seals as Jean-Michel Cousteau provides taped narration of the area’s ecology and points of interest. Enjoy a complimentary beverage while surveying magnificent views of the coast, Los Arcos, and your Princess ship at anchor.

$49
Your guided kayaking adventure visits the dramatic rock arches at Los Arcos, then you don a mask and snorkel to explore the marine sanctuary at Lover’s Beach. Transfer by water taxi to the kayak launching area, where you receive an orientation on how to kayak and your mask, snorkel and safety vest. Board your two-person sea kayaks and paddle across San Lucas Bay, passing Pelican Rock and circling the dramatic rock arches of Los Arcos. Continue to Lover’s Beach, where the waters of the Pacific and the Gulf of California meet. The offshore waters are part of a marine sanctuary; you have a short time to swim, sunbathe or snorkel. Board your kayak and return to the kayak launching area, where a water taxi transfers you to the tender pier. All snorkeling equipment including safety vest, instruction and supervision, bottled water and transportation are included.

There are about 20 different snorkelling tours, so apparently that's the thing to do there. There is also whale watching and swimming with dolphins!!!

Mazatlan:
As much as I'd love to spend $50 to see a flip-flop factory.... All of the excursions sound awful. But I think the deer island one is the one Sarah and I plan on doing, but on our own (without the blue haired ladies)
$67
Travel to secluded Deer Island for swimming, hiking and a guided kayak trip that is suited for beginners. After a short transfer by taxi, board a catamaran for the 40-minute cruise to Deer Island. Disembark at the beach on the island’s leeward side, where you find chairs, ample shade, bathrooms and changing facilities. Swim or take a guided hike of the island that leads to stunning views of Mazatlan, the coast and the Pacific. After a short safety orientation, board your kayak for a 45-minute guided paddle along the island’s shore. (These simple "sit on top" kayaks do not require prior experience.) Board your catamaran for the return cruise to Mazatlan.

Peurto Vallarta
$99- I really want to do this one!!!! Is rappeling hard?
Explore the jungle canopy of the Sierra Madre by air-sailing from treetop to treetop. Receive a briefing onboard and then drive to a private reserve in the Sierra Madre, where professional guides help you master the techniques of using horizontal traverse cables to travel through the jungle canopy. Glide through the trees 90 feet above the ground along a series of zip lines, jungle bridges and across a Tarzan swing, pausing at special observation platforms in the virgin forest to observe plant and wildlife. At the end of your adventure, rappel 70 feet to the forest floor. SPECIAL NOTES:This active excursion is designed for passengers in top physical condition.


OOO or this one! Price isn't listed
Experience the thrill of discovering the flora and fauna in the jungles of the Sierra Madre. Designed for maximum adventure, this tour takes place in an area of pristine, unspoiled forest where scenic beauty and rich ecological habitats create a true tropical paradise. This active 6-hour excursion brings out the child in all of us. The adventure begins with an off-road adventure when you board a Unimog 4x4 and drive into the heart of the tropical forests where you'll learn a variety of wilderness techniques, ride mules, splash through streams, rappel through waterfalls into natural river pools, and soar 200 feet above the ground over the jungle foliage on a 1000 foot zip line! Our trip leaders' knowledge of the landscape and wildlife makes these trips unforgettable adventures - and their expertise ensures a fun, educational and safe trip into the wilderness. Discover and explore the extraordinary flora and fauna hidden away under the canopy of the jungle.

$69
This one sounds good, but I think it might be the same place that Arnold Scwartzenegger's Predetor was filmed. Others have said to avoid that tourist trap.
Relax on board a modern catamaran as you cruise south of Puerto Vallarta following the spectacular tropical coastline of Banderas Bay. Your journey takes you past some of the most picturesque scenery in Vallarta, where dolphins and humpback whales are often sighted during the winter months.The morning is spent at the tranquil cove of Majahuitas, an unspoiled area of natural beauty on the southern coast of Banderas Bay. Only accessible by sea, Majahuitas is the desert island beach of everyone's dreams. With swaying palms, and a sheltered cove with crystal clear waters which offers ideal conditions for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking.After lunch aboard your catamaran, head off to Yelapa, an old charming Mexican fishing village set in it's own natural cove. Long a famous day trip from Puerto Vallarta, Yelapa has become a must on most tourist's lists, but since there are no roads in, this tropical paradise is only accessible by boat.The tiny village is a true escape from civilization. If you love the outdoors and want to spend time exploring nature, this idyllic spot is perfect for you. Hike through the jungle to the Cola de Caballo waterfalls, swim in the cove's protected waters, or just relax on the expansive sandy beach. As you cruise back to Puerto Vallarta, the on board fiesta wraps up a day full of fun-in-the-sun with an open bar, dancing, music, and entertainment provided by the friendly crew.

So what would you do? Check out the other options at: http://www.princess.com/shorex/index.jsp

Garden!

So this is my garden! There are Iris's, a dhalia, basil, oregano, dill, sage, rosemary, lemon balm, mint, a hosta, a succulent, and a hydrangia

There is also a couple of cucmber plants













On the far left is a lilac tree that will eventually be moved to another location.
In front of the Lilca is a green pot that Katilyn and Kassie helped me plant garlic and regular chives in last night.











This is a pot of iris's that Dad and Judy gave me. There is also a calla lily just coming up.

















This is the veggie garden. There are Walla Walla onions, lettuce, beans, radishes peas and strawberries. Look how big the lettuce in the middle is!












This is lettuce that I started from seed, It'll be ready to eat in about a month I think.












This is another type of lettuce that I started from seed. The huge gap in the middle is where the carrots would have been if the squirrels hadn't made a feast of them!









And these are beans and radishes. These beans grow in a bush instead of a vine. We'll see what happens!





~

Domestic Goddess- darn toot'n

Now THAT's my blueberry pie! Looks pretty good doesn't it? It was really good. The recipe said to use 3 Tbs of cornstarch, but all the reviews said that was not enough, most said 4 was perfect and 5 made jello pie. So I chose to use 4. It was way to runny. The next one will have 5 Tbs. Should be perfect. It didn't bubble over at all, it did however spill it's juices all over my carpet like a CSI crime scene. That's how I found out that I needed more cornstarch. So I'm also including a review of Shout Carpet Stain Remover. Works like a damn. No stains left on my carpet.

I'm not a rat stuck in an endless maze!

www.gethuman.com
The key to getting a real person on the phone. No more following the endless promps that inevitably end with "I'm sorry that option is invalid, please try again." The genius behind this website has cracked the codes, and listed their secrets. Like say you wanted to call Sears credit card - how would you ever know that in order to get a human you must press "0000000; and then press 0 at subsequent prompts" or that at Virgin mobile you have to ... "At prompts say "English", "More Options", "Ask a Question", "Live Advisor", "Something Else", then enter mobile # or say "I don't have one." wheew! This could be a lifesaver. It's an american based website, but there is some Canadian stuff, like the code for Air Canada.

We all have our moments of stupidity

Salem hangs out on my balcony, there is no way for her to get off of it, I leave the door open all day so she can come and go as she pleases. This morning I was making breakfast, when I heard a noise, not a crash, more of a thump. So I go out to investigate. I don't see anything, I figure she has gone inside. I look down to see if anything is amis in the neighbour's yard. Then I see my neighbour standing there, open mouthed. Seems Salem was watching him dig (moving the Rodos finally) and she lost her balance and fell off the balcony, landed on their patio umbrella, bounced off and hit the ground, where she promptly remembered the dogs. 2 retrievers. It all ended well. Thankfully the dogs are training to be seeing-eye dogs, and are well behaved enough to not kill a bewildered kitty when told. 8 Lives Remain.

As for my moment of stupidity:
I was contacted by a guy about a week ago who wanted to buy one of my books. However he wished to pick the book up in person, rather than have me mail it. He sent me several emails, one of which was where he suggested that he pay me cash in person. I hoped he would go away. Instead he bought the book online, from me. So I emailed him and agreed, sure you can get the book, lets figure out a time and place. My Idea: Come to shoppers (where my male co-worker would hand him the book instead of me). His Idea: Can I come by your house between 10:00- 11:30 tonight.
ALARM BELLS
um, no. I don't think that will work for me.
Panic at the disco. So at 12 noon Shannon, Angie, Emma, myself, 3 kids and 4 cell phones await this guy. As we wait we joke that this guy may not be a mass-murderer/stalker, but may actually be super hot and be the guy I eventually marry. In the end he was just some normal guy in a very nice mercedes. However thanks to Shannon, almost the entire co-op knows my stupidity. We now have a new policy in place- no pick-ups thank you very much.