Back to retail, back to rage

I realized that since I quit Chapters, I have not had nearly as many rant-type posts. It is not because I didn't like working there (I really did!), but that retail can often bring out the worst in people.

Case in point: last night at Walmart. To give a little back story, while perusing the store during the (allegedly) amazing anniversary sales at Walmart last week, I stumbled upon selected seasons of "The Gilmore Girls" for $13 each. So...considering that Denise and I were at a loss now that we couldn't watch it on t.v. at 4:00 pm every day and we had developed (or in my case re-visited) a bit of an affection/addiction to the Girls, I gladly scooped Season 4 and 5 up and took them home to join our ever-growing family of TV on DVD.

Cut to me, last night. All was well until I tried to watch a few episodes fro disc 4 of Season 5 and realized that the disc wouldn't play at all. After an embarrassing garbage dive, I found the receipt and hightailed it off to my fave late-night hangout with my trusty roommate in tow. When I went to exchange the DVD, I was informed that the store policy for returning things that were originally wrapped in plastic was that if the plastic was removed, they could not be returned...even if they were defective. The girl told me reluctantly that I could exchange it for anything else in the store, but that I couldn't get cash back.

Does anyone see the flaw in the logic here? As much as it would be convenient, defective items are not labelled as such, and especially not outside the plastic. If something is defective, how is that my problem? Why should I essentially have to pay for something that doesn't work? I don't usually get upset while shopping, but I let my displeasure be known with this "policy". It seems absolutely ridiculous! I was lucky that there was another copy available so that I could exchange it, and I only barely restrained myself from asking the Customer Service girl if she could please tell me if disc 4 in this copy would work.

So, the moral is: don't buy DVDs from Walmart unless you are psychic. That, or find a way to get the discs out without removing the plastic.

Wait...maybe I have figured out why the DVD was on sale...

"you've seen how I sparkle when fall nips the air"

I am so excited for the weather!!!

Fall is my favorite season for the following reasons:

-the smell of the change in season...I swear I can actually smell a difference and it is wonderful!
-the clothes which include sweaters! cardigans! jeans! jackets! layers!
-the turning of the leaves...at the College there are actually quite a few trees, and so my drives to and from are so colourful and beautiful
-riding in my car is not the slice of purgatory that it was all summer (black interior+no air-conditioning= an armchair in the waiting-room of Hell)
-the beginning of school which always fills me with a sense of renewal and promise

I know that I am probably going to be nay-sayed on every side, but I love the cooler weather. I am a true Canadian girl, and the heat just makes me cranky and sweaty. In the fall and winter you can always throw on a sweater or jacket (and look amazing!!). In the summer, however, I can only take so many things off without embarrassing myself and/or others.

Thoughts? Arguments? Collective sighs of relief for the reprieve from the desert-like heat?

Comments are always appreciated!

Poetry Day ( with a little bit of jenny for free!!)

I stumbled across a blog today and I found some words of wisdom: "It's ok to wander. It's ok to explore."

These words made me think about how I can often get so caught up in worrying that I am not moving forward in my life, that I am not more "successful". At some point I think we have to realize that it is ok to stop where we are for awhile and look around us. We might meet someone new, we might be able to help someone in a fundamental way, we might be able to take a vacation, we might start seeing ourselves in a different way. We might even learn something valuable about ourselves or someone/something else.

Awhile ago, my Dad told me that instead of moving "up" in his career, he was going to branch out. He started to find different boards/foundations to be a part of. As a result, he started to develop new interests and discover strengths and abilities he didn't know he had.

I have realized that I want to do the same things in my life. I love to be involved in a lot of activities, service opportunities, and jobs: it helps me feel like my life is more fulfilling, I get the chance to meet so many great people, and I can stay busy.

It is so important to be happy where we are in our lives. Sometimes that does mean taking a breath and looking around for awhile. I found one of my favorite poems by Robert Frost today that I think adds something to my thoughts and discussion. I have a special place in my heart for Robert Frost, because I inherited a collection of his poems from my Grandpa after he died. My grandpa loved and wrote poetry, and I have always felt a special bond with him even though I was 12 when he died.

Have a wonderfully happy weekend!


A Time to Talk
by: Robert Frost

When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don't stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven't hoed,
And shout from where I am, What is it?
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.

The sky is falling...

For the delight of everyone working or attending class in the Andrews 2700 wing, there has been massive roof construction going on today. This has included and has not been limited to constant banging, noises that have literally shaken the building, and doors and pathways blocked (different ones every hour so that one feels as though she has taken crazy pills).
There is nothing like a rhythmic banging to aid you in your efforts to come up with personal and professional goals for the upcoming year…

In other news, the heavens seem to be smiling down on all my wonderful friends, and I am beginning to wonder when it will be my turn. While Denise was reunited with someone from the past, and Ashley has suddenly found herself in a regular-type relationship, all I can boast is an awkward side-hug that is probably better left unmentioned, and a strange Pot-luck goer who was a little too attentive for someone I have never met. Sigh. I am about one happy friend away from singing that I “guess I never will be lucky in love” Quel Fromage!

I hope you are all having a wonderful week!

Until next time…

the best Monday in a long time

Hello to you all and a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed welcome from the land of the non-ill. It feels amazing to be able to breathe again...two nostrils, no waiting!! I am actually having a fantastic day thanks to a busy schedule today, a lazy Saturday, a late night pizza session, a "great talk" with a good friend or two, and a beautiful sunny day.

So, not only was Saturday a lazy day, but it was also the first Ashley Flickinger Poetry Exchange extravaganza (she didn't name it that) We met at her house for an evening of poetry reading and delicious drinks. There was a handful of people there and I only knew about 2 of them. I read 3 of my poems,which was an extremely nerve-wracking experience. I think they were well received...there were snaps aplenty, but I think there were also a few people who may have been asleep.

This week looks to go quickly as it is busy and ends with a bang...Stake Conference.

Keep dreaming, everyone!!

The fisherman's friend is more like a frenemy...

I have always liked to compartmentalize my life. (Maybe that is why I can't help liking Don Draper, even if he makes the worst decisions when it comes to women!!!) When I was younger, I didn't like to mix friends and family, so I would rarely invite friends to stay over at my house. I was protective of both parties, and didn't want misunderstandings or confusions. These days, I hate mixing friends from different parts of my life (work, church, etc) because it is often so awkward to bring people together who have nothing but me in common. What should we talk about? Me? Seems a bit egocentric.

Am I a different person with all of those people? If so, is that a bad or a good thing?

Not sure what prompted these musings, probably my swollen glands are pushing my brain into new and strange shapes which, in turn, is provoking some unusual thought activity.

Yes, I am sick - like unto the proverbial dog, and all that. I am 85% sure that I do not have the flu of the pig-people, just a seasonal cold; but I am washing my hands every 2 minutes just in case. (I am a good girl and do what the President tells me!) The result is that my hands are severely chapped (I could probably use some goose grease and a pair of kid gloves right about now) and I am wasting a lot of water and soap. On the upside, I am hopefully not passing on germs to my fellow staff or any of the students. If I had gotten sick just a week before this, I could have stayed home from work, but this week was chock full of beginning of the year commitments. I plan to have a very relaxing Saturday...purely medicinal, of course.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Pretty much going to ruin your Thursday

Hello party people...and those who are shut-ins (I respect every one's right to socialize or not...according to their will)

I have come to you today to tell some truly horrific news: The Criminal Justice students at the Lethbridge College are no longer required to dress up in professional wear on Mondays.

Wha-a-a-a-a-at?

This information will mean nothing to you if you are one of the following people:
1. Someone who has never attended or been employed by the Lethbridge College, LCC, or any other handle it has been given
2. A personage of the male persuasion (unless you are the type who does enjoy the sight of a clean-cut man-boy in a suit and tie)
3. A heartless and obviously blind female.

I am 32 years old, but I enjoyed the sight of a veritable sea of youngish men in suits as much as my 20 year old self did. It really brightens up a Monday. Honestly, sometimes it was the only thing getting me to work after the weekend.

So, now it is back to a "case of the Mondays" for me every week. Sigh.

Anyway, to cheer you all up, I have found a poem that I wrote about 2 years ago to the month. You will be happy to know that this one does not have a story from my life behind it...merely musings. When you read it, please allow me the privilege of misusing a comma and inventing a word. It is poetry, after all!!

September 2007

This is how my heart breaks:
one awkward regret at a time.

Oh, I had visions
of different scenes-
ribbons of eloquence
that would stretch out to
bring you back
when my beautiful words
(my perfect words)
had made you understand

But.
those shiny bands
(who can tell how strong?)
were severed by my ineloquence
and your silence.

JKO

Smoking never loooked so good...

O.k., wow.

Denise and I are hopelessly addicted to a little series called"Mad Men" that airs on AMC Sunday nights. I will be the first to say that the show is a little bit racy; however, with a main character that looks like Don Draper, and with the costumes and overall design of the show (which is set in the 1960's), we can't seem to get enough.

Did I mention that we love Jon Hamm as Don Draper?

In the spirit of my love for the show, here are a few other things I am crazy about right now:

Reading

Grey shoes

lentils

chocolate lava cakes with fresh raspberry coulis

my white sunglasses

The Office

Ciao!!

For L.

If she taught me one thing,
It is this:

Know what you want and never
Settle for less.

This is it:
I wonder if she wanted to go?

This one goes out to all the bois, and Rachel of course...

Here is something from "The National Post", Saturday Aug. 8th:

"Corinne Maier, mother of two, has some advice for would-be parents: Don't. Resist the societal pressure to procreate, she argues in a witty manifesto against parenthood called No Kids, 40 Good Reasons Not To Have Children. "This little book is intended to further discourage those potential parents everywhere who are beginning to wonder if having children is really worth the trouble," she says, adding that children will kill your desires, transform you into slaves and, inevitably, disappoint you. The book caused an uproar when it was released in her native France, a country that boasts a baby boom."

There has been a lot of response/backlash about this book in the Post, and all over the internet.
Here is one of the responses by a columnist from today's edition of "The National Post". It gave me hope that there are still people of optimism and faith in the world.

"The future freaks me out"

Question: Is an event that features both Barry Gibb and Miss Havisham memorable or just downright crazy? This is a query that I tried to answer yesterday.

Last night I attempted my second foray into the wild world of the 31+ Singles scene. There were a few ladies going from my ward, and they invited me to attend with them. As Denise was out of town and I was at a bit of a loss, I acquiesced.

The event was held in Barnwell, and it was an aptly named "Corn Bust". As per usual, I was the youngest one there. Really, I felt like such a fraud while we were all introducing ourselves, and the common descriptive statement was "I have (insert # here) grand-children and (insert # here) great grand-children" (As Andrea says, "Yowsa"!) I did dance twice, both with men over 50, and the one was definitely a septuagenarian if he was a day. He was also the one who, after I told him where I worked, said "You must be good at your job" (with no real further explanation of why he thought that) and pulled me a little closer.

The d.j. was a regular entertainer, with comments and stories enough to choke a horse. He mentioned three times that he had a girlfriend (yeah, yeah, we get it!!) and when she finally showed up, she brought her teenage kids along. The music he played was eclectic, ranging from Bon Jovi's "Have a Nice Day" to Abba's "Take a Chance on Me" to Randy Travis and "Forever and Ever, Amen". Despite the range of music, however, the only dancing that was done was jiving and a slow two-step. I invite you all to picture people trying to jive to Bon Jovi. It will boggle your mind. There was also an ongoing battle between the d.j. (who has a girlfriend, don't you know!) and the "older" folks there. They would ask him to turn down the music, He would, albeit begrudgingly. Then, when the next song came on, the volume would start to rise again. This delightful cycle continued until we left at 10:30.

Now, back to the celebrity and fictional character I have already mentioned. As for Barry Gibb, he was definitely there, hair and beard firmly in place. (Although, sadly, not talking about the issues) I saw a few people try to talk to him, but he only sort of twitched or mumbled. I was really hoping he would favor us with a song, but that wish was not realized. As for Miss Havisham, there was a lady from our ward who was there who I had never really talked to before. She is in her 60's, now single, and as crazy as anything. She started telling us a story that had happened 20 years ago. A man had wanted to marry her, but when she said yes, he married someone else instead. Luckily, it was revealed to her in a series of dreams that she would still be married to him one day. She thinks about it every day, still dreams about him, and although he is still married, it has been revealed that on a specific day next year, they will be wed. I tried to keep an impassive face throughout this story, and I think I succeeded. The rest of the ladies I was with were also keeping up a pretty good front, we all avoided direct eye contact with one another, and waited until she was gone to express our confusion and fear for her well-being.

The announcement for the next activity was that it was going to be held at my new favorite spot, the Magrath Stake Campground. However, everyone was encouraged to bring their great and grand children, so I am thinking that caveat automatically excludes me form an obligation to go.

As much as I joke and mildly exaggerate about the whole experience, I really do feel very out of place and extremely young. I don't think I have to feel guilty for not wanting to go.

Anyway, have a wonderful weekend, one and all.

A hodge-podge...to say the least

For all of you readers out there...and I know you are few and far between...the reason that I have not updated recently is that I am just too darn lazy. I should probably be more embarrassed to admit that, but no. In some sort of defense of myself, things have picked up a bit more lately and promise to even more in the coming weeks. This cheers me as I enjoy being busy, as much as I may complain otherwise.

(Sidebar: if you are a fan of Amy Winehouse, come down to the library at the Lethbridge College immediately because she is sitting right beside me....oh, that hair...)

There are a few things that are keeping me busy.

1. I have learned how to correctly use a colon: it is important to have an independent clause preceding it, and it generally sets off a series or summary after. Thank-you to Braden for peaking my curiosity about this much maligned and misused punctuation mark, and thank-you especially to the Google for always answering my questions, no matter how big or small.

If you liked that, a quote from Kurt Vonnegut Jr. regarding the semicolon.
Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college.

2. I participated in a Lethbridge Stake rite of passage -making Elephant Ears at Whoop-Up Days. I was very hesitant to participate; however, it was brought to my attention that the money goes towards the Youth programs and so I felt a sense of obligation. Luckily, we had the opening night at the fair, and so it wasn't overly busy. It was a lot of fun to work side by side with some of the people in the ward that I hadn't really gotten to know before. The weather was quite cool as well, and it wasn't too hot inside the booth.

3. I am now the Young Women's President in our ward, and while I am very nervous to take on the responsibility, I am so excited to be a part of the girl's lives. I had a first meeting with my presidency, and we all shared the same vision for how we want the direction of Young Women's to go. We have a lot of great goals, and I hope to win many a Ward Council in the upcoming months.

4. I have been reading voraciously as of late and here is a list of my latest books -

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. This was an absolutely delightful novel, written entirely in letters. The characters are engaging, and the story is sweet with moments of humour and intensity. Read it, you will not be sorry.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I wouldn't describe this novel as delightful, rather creepy, Gothic and absolutely engrossing. I read it all in one night, and about 2/3 of the way through, I was so scared that I envisioned myself laying awake all night in sheer terror. Thankfully, the creepiness abated with the resolution of the story and the explanation of the mysteries, but there are some fantastic final twists that kept me hooked right until the very end. If you do not like Gothic literature, you may want to either avoid this book, or read it during the day times only.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This is ostensibly a book written for teens, but the themes of death and selflessness resonated with my (very few) adult sensibilities. The story takes place in Nazi Germany, and it gives an interesting perspective on what it must have been like to be a German under Hitler's regime. It is absolutely heart-breaking at times, and I cried for my last hour of reading the book. If you like books about the holocaust, read this one. If you are looking for something both sad and triumphant, read this book. Read this book.

I will end this grotesquely long post with a poem by John Updike that I think captures my feelings about Leita's death. It has been almost 2 months, but I still think about it almost every day.

Perfection Wasted

And another regrettable thing about death
is the ceasing of your own brand of magic,
which took a whole life to develop and market —
the quips, the witticisms, the slant
adjusted to a few, those loved ones nearest
the lip of the stage, their soft faces blanched
in the footlight glow, their laughter close to tears,
their tears confused with their diamond earrings,
their warm pooled breath in and out with your heartbeat,
their response and your performance twinned.
The jokes over the phone. The memories packed
in the rapid-access file. The whole act.
Who will do it again? That's it: no one;
imitators and descendants aren't the same.

Everything you have been waiting for...and possibly less

So, here it is. Blog #200. I have to say, I thought there would be more fanfare than this...maybe trumpets playing, a montage of me alternately writing and reading my posts, Martinellis and a large cheer when I pressed the "Publish Post" button. Sadly, there are none of those things. Only a dark kitchen and a sick roommate on the couch....hooray!!

Also, please don't think that because I waited so long to write it, that is going to be a mind-blowing post. Sorry, you just get par for the course today.

So, now that this post is starting to feel like a viewing of "Wolverine" (Ummm, is the story ever going to start?), I will get to the point. I spent about 2 hours the other night reading over my blog from the beginning. It was a disturbing, eye-opening, funny, heart-breaking and banal journey that has brought me to right here in 2009. I realized a few things:

1. I sure love a good list
2. While working at Chapters, I loved a good rant
3. I sure wrote a lot more before Facebook
4. I think I used to be funnier
5. While trying to be cryptic to other readers, I am now pretty confused about some of the things I have written about.
6. I do some seriously stupid/questionable things.

To illustrate the last point, and to celebrate a return to Poetry Day, here is something I wrote last night. It comes after I read a line in a book that I may have had a run in with last year. Didn't work out so well then...and...still pretty sad. However, I hope you enjoy.


A brief moment of understanding E.D.

I once told you these words:
"You are the man
I have always wanted to meet".
Actually, to be honest,
I wrote you the words-
I just couldn't form them
with my mouth.

In the most cliche of all confessions
they wouldn't shape around my teeth.
Only parched
in my desert of a throat.

They did, however,
fairly sing from my fingers
and fly
to press precariously on the page.
Then with one unbelievable leap
(arms wide, eyes shut)
I sent them careening to you.
Settled in.

And you?
(the story suddenly swoops
your way)
You said nothing-
wrote no response
to my most fragile
and feathered offering.

And hope?
Well,
it's perching still-
with dark eyes
that glitter on my bruised soul.

Back from the "sad"

O.k., so here it is: Post #199. It almost feels like a penultimate one, but fear not, gentle readers, I will not be stopping at 20o.

I am sorry for the lack of posts as of late. My excuse is that not only did I call into work "sad" the other day, I have been using "sad" as an excuse to avoid many things. Washing my car, cleaning my room, doing the dishes (thanks to Denise for helping me out here), and also writing on the blog.

If you are following Denise, you will know that there is a hole in our lives right now. I also miss Leita terribly. Her memorial service was on Saturday, and I wish I could sit down with her to find out what she thought of it. I think she would have loved to hear her mom talk about her early life. I am pretty sure she would have forgiven me for singing pretty shakily during my song. I know she would have loved to hear Denise's words about their friendship, and seen the beautiful video presentation she put together. I really would like to know what she thought about the crazy lady, who, during the "open mic" session, said that she hadn't known Leita. This did not stop her from telling the story of when her roommate, Cindy, had died from cancer 30 years ago. The story was long, but at least it was mildly inappropriate as the lady implied that Cindy visited her on a regular basis. I suppose that like Cousin Stickles, funerals brought back her own sad loss.

Anyway, things are slowly getting back to normal. I have been promising a HP6 review, so here it is: I didn't especially love it for the following reasons

1. It wasn't as dark as I wanted it to be. It almost felt like a romantic comedy at times, and the intense parts of the movie were few and far between.

2.They added stuff that I didn't like, such as the burning down of the Weasley's house. Huh?

3. The Harry and Ginny story wasn't great. I prefer the kiss in the book, and when , in the movie, Ginny bent down and tied Harry's shoes, I couldn't stop myself from yelling "Barf"!

4. I thought Daniel Radcliffe's acting left much to be desired. He did such a great job in the 5th movie, and so I expected the same level of emotion and intensity in this one. However, he just seemed embarrassed to be part of it all, or kind of like a guy who just wandered in to Hogwart's.

5. Dumbledore's death happened too quickly, and the movie ended too quickly after he died. In the book, the scene in the tower where Dumbledore was begging Snape to kill him was heart-breaking, but in the movie, it just went by so quickly.

6. I HATED the reveal of Snape as the "Half-Blood Prince". It came at the most inappropriate and awkward time, and it felt like they just threw it in at the end because they realized that they had just let that aspect of the plot get buried under everything else, and they had better hastily tie it up. When Snape suddenly says "I'm the Half-Blood Prince" it was way too cheesy, and I had to restrain myself from yelling "I'm the Half-Blood Prince in the manner of "I'm Darby Shaw!" It is probably a good thing that Jess wasn't there...

After all of that, I didn't hate the movie, I just thought it could have been better. Maybe I am just getting tired of HP movies. So, bring out your torches, and lynch me any time. I know that most of you are still mad I didn't like "Wolverine", and that I am still refusing to see "Star Trek".

I think I am just getting crotchety in my old age.

See you on the 200th post!!

"The temperature's rising, it isn't surprising..."

Here is the ice-cream combination that I invented last night: key-lime ice cream with raspberries and marshmallows. Oh, Marble Slab, you do indeed bring delight.

I am going to see Harry Potter tonight, and so the next post should hopefully be a review of the movie. I would get to it tomorrow, but it might interfere with my plans to find a tree and lay under it all day. It is supposed to get to 31 tomorrow, so I can't think of anything better to do...

Enjoy the heat!!!

Dear Leita,

You have been an incredible support to me through all the years that I have known you.

Remember when you were the Compassionate Service Leader and were ready to help with anything? I am sorry that I didn't use you more. When I wanted to plan a party for Denise, you were there to help make it happen. When I wanted to get my dream of a Mid-Singles group off the ground, you came up like an organizing fiend and it became a reality. Our first activity was such a success, and it was due to your advertising and ingenuity. I don't know how I will continue it without your dedication and perseverance.

You were an amazing friend to me. I remember we had a girl's sleep-over about 3 years ago, and you brought the game "Girl Talk". It was the first time I had played it, and there is a picture of me out there pushing a penny on the floor with my nose. You always reached out to me when I was anti-social, and I was so glad to find out that we were actually family!! In the last year, you have shared some of my favorite experiences and events, from birthday parties to the Mid-Singles Conference in June. I will always treasure the experience of tag-team speed-dating with you. I thought we were a dynamic duo! I am sorry I ditched you on the Saturday for the lamest of all reasons, and I wish you would have told us how sick you were feeling. You always thought of others before yourself, though. I wish I could have been a better friend to you. I wish I had been less selfish.

You will continue to be an inspiring example of someone who has great faith in Jesus Christ. This was evident in your faithful temple attendance and your endless service to others. As you lay in the hospital, you were more concerned about the mid-Singles activity, and us remembering friends' birthdays than yourself. Your quiet acts of compassion were noticed, and I know that you will be serving even more people now that you have the full capacity to do so.

Let's be honest, there were things about you that drove me crazy. You lived by extremely high standards and you wanted everyone else to as well. I am afraid that many of us failed you numerous times. You always wanted to include everyone, even when there were people we couldn't stand to have around. Once you had an idea, you would see it through until the very end, even if it was uncomfortable for others. You were driven and determined, and you often got me out of my comfort zone. Thank-you.

Leita, you will be missed more than words can ever express. I am a better person for having known you, and I hope that you are well and happy and working hard and laughing with all of our awesome ancestors. Please say hi to them for me!

Love,
Jenny

A bright and blustery good morrow to you all (I actually don't know what that means...) I am blogging in celebration that I have finished the "Term End Reflections" for the two students I work with. I h-a-a-a-a-a-t-e paperwork, and when I get it finished, I like to spend at least 30 minutes doing something completely frivolous. I can't count the email I sent to my Dad about the program for the reunion (accompanied by many frantic texts to various family members: "Will you be performing?") because that is only work of another variety...though not technically College related. Good thing my boos is away for the afternoon.

Anyway, that was a ridiculously long intro, so I will get to the crux. Young Women's Camp is this Thursday. I am alternately hot and cold about it, but I am semi-excited to purchase a day-pack, hat, and wine gums, assemble a tinfoil dinner, borrow a sleeping bag from Jean, get some ear plugs for the girls who will be sharing my tent, and try to come up with some awesome ideas for the firesides I am organizing.

It is so interesting to be doing these things in the role of a leader. There is a lot more work, and you have answers for things, but it is nice to have people look up to you. Just another step on my journey to adulthood, I guess.

I feel like I'm 4 all over again

Here is the story of the day.

Today I had to get the first of two mumps vaccinations that I need in order to assist one of the students in volunteering at the hospital. The reason I was getting injected was because my immunization records have been lost somewhere in this province. For three days I called every health unit in every town I have ever lived, only to find out that my immunization records were last seen leaving Magrath in 1989...and they never made it to their intended destination of Cardston. Kill me!!

Cut to me today at 10:30, sitting in the waiting room of the Lethbridge Community Health Unit, surrounded by infants. When I went into get the shot, the nurse asked me if it was for my child. I had to tell her, that no, it was actually for me, but that due to my fear of needles, I was probably going to be a bigger baby than most of the actual babies who were in there. The nurse was very kind, and I made it through relatively unscathed. I didn't faint, but my heart rate wasn't too leisurely paced.

The best part of this story is that I have to go back for a second shot on July 27th.

Here's hoping that the rest of my day goes better...

"You kids can't handle the quiet parts!!"

This week was the opening for "Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen" (Duh-duh-duh...)

Will I be seeing this movie in the theater? The answer is no. In case any of you have not heard the story, I fell asleep while watching the first Transformers in the theater...twice. Yes, I fell asleep at the exact same moment in the movie both times - basically as soon as the big action scene is beginning. In my defense, I went to a 10:00 show both times, I am not a guy and therefore was not cheering and crying through the whole movie, and let's be honest, action sequences are too boring for me to pay attention to.

So, because the sequel has even more action, and considering I may have lapsed into a bored-coma during the trailer for Fallen, I will not be in attendance. Well, unless some ridiculously handsome gentleman offers to pay for me, buys me some cola-type beverages, and takes me to the earliest show they have (although, not a matinee, cause afternoon is my sleepy time...I really am an old lady).

You also need to know it isn't just me who thinks this might not be the best movie of the summer; I decided to go for back-up. So, for your enjoyment (or outrage), here are a few reviews of the movie (see The National Post, Wednesday, June 24th, 2009):

"It's like watching a blender for two hours while someone shouts at you. And then the last half hour is the same, except it's more like having your head strapped to a washing machine while you watch a blender and someone shouts at you." -Paul French, FHM

"At once loud and boring, like watching paint dry while getting hit over the head with a frying pan" - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

"Go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together. Then close your eyes and use your imagination. "
- Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun-Times

You can stand under my umbrella, Ella.

I had such a great moment on the weekend when I went with the youth for a baptismal trip to the Temple. As we were waiting to go in, I noticed an old man walking by us. Well, what I actually noticed was that he was really, really old. Like 180,000 years old. He was extremely stooped over and moving at a pace that would make a turtle impatient. As he passed me, he said that he liked my shoes. (I was, of course, wearing my bright yellow heels) I said that I did as well, and he remarked that they were actually gold. I said that I referred to them as my golden slippers. He loved that! The exchange absolutely made my day.

I really do get more comments about those shoes than any others I have. People must love the colour yellow.

Anyway, on to another week, my last one alone. It has already started out great with the most wonderful rain this morning. I have to say, I enjoy the rain so much more now that I have a car, and don't have to schlep around on the bus.

Have a wonderful Monday!!