I Need a Vacation

I haven’t been on a true relaxing vacation in a few years. Sure I’ve taken a little time off here and there. This year I took time off for my Brother in Law’s wedding, but it wasn’t for ‘me’ or relaxing/refreshing/rejuvenating like sitting on the white sands of a tropical paradise with a fruity drink dressed with an umbrella.

I need some time off for myself (and Colin)

In August Colin and I have booked a week off, we will drive up to Sudbury for a few days to see P&K and their house and hopefully head off to a cottage for the rest of the week.

I’m looking forward to no internet, no laptops, no phones, no cellphones, no Blackberry. I am far too attached to these items day to day. . . . .

Damn you Groundhog! Damn You!

 Montreal Weather Conditions 

We have a darn snow fall warning here in Montreal.  We had over 10cm overnight and another 30cm is expected before dinner tonight.

My normal daily commute is about 25-30 minutes, today it was 1.5 hours! The tinest flicker of snow and half the driving population forgets how to drive, so its a horribly stressful**

I guess its true what they say “March comes in like a Lion”.   I think litte Wiarton Willy is in his snug litte burrow laughing his furry butt off at us right now.  Darn rodent!!

**Definition of Stressful that came into my email inbox today:

Stress:

The confusion created when one’s mind overrides the body’s basic desire to choke the living shit out of some asshole who desperately needs it!

Pig Pig Piggy Pig

For my New Years entry, I expressed my hope that every had a wonderful new year, and enjoyed the coming year of the Pig.

Now that the true Chinese New Years is upon us, I’m getting an absolute ton of hits for people searching “Year of The Pig”

In the interest of the communication and continuation of information, here is some tidbits of info about what this new year of the Pig will bring.

 source    source

Years of the Pig ::: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

 

 

According to customary superstition, the Pig type is usually an honest, straightforward and patient person. They are a modest, shy character who prefers to work quietly behind the scenes. When others despair, they are often there to offer support. This type of person is reserved with those they do not know too well, but as time passes and they gain confidence, those around them may discover a lively and warm-hearted person behind that mask of aloofness. Despite those born in the year of pig having a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, they have few close friends who understand them and share their inner thoughts and feelings. It is easy to put trust in pig type; they won’t let you down and will never even attempt to do so. Such people simply want to do everything right according to social norms.

Also according to customary superstition, that these people are not vengeful creatures. If someone tries to take advantage of them, the pig type tend to withdraw to reflect on the problem and protect themselves. All they need in such situations is a little time to find a constructive way to respond. The people of the pig type are conservative creatures of habit. They dislike being made to travel too far from familiar surroundings, unless it is a trip to the countryside. They love nature and are never happier than when they are out somewhere, far from the city.

There is a tolerant and peaceful side to the character of Pig types. Such people are never afraid to allow others their freedom of expression; they do not want to cause arguments and if there is any way to avoid arguing, they will probably take this option. They are not weak, however, and if the situation forces them to fight these people will rise to the occasion, whether it is to defend themselves or those close to them. People of the Boar type are the most admired by others.

People born in the Year of the Pig are chivalrous and gallant. Whatever they do, they do with all their strength. For Boar Year people, there is no left or right and there is no retreat. They have tremendous fortitude and great honesty. They don’t make many friends but they make them for life, and anyone having a Boar Year friend is fortunate for they are extremely loyal. They don’t talk much but have a great thirst for knowledge. They study a great deal and are generally well informed. Boar people are quick tempered, yet they hate arguments and quarreling. They are kind to their loved ones. No matter how bad problems seem to be, Boar people try to work them out, honestly if sometimes impulsively. They are most compatible with Rabbits and Sheep.

Famous people born in the year of the Pig

• Alain Connes, mathematician
• Alan Tudyk, actor
• Alfonso Ribeiro, actor and singer
• Alfred Hitchcock, British film maker
• Andrew Jackson, 7th US President
• Arjen Robben, Dutch football player
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California
• Billie Joe Armstrong, musician
• Bryan Adams, singer
• Carlos Santana, musician
• Chiang Kai-shek, Chinese politician
• Dannii Minogue, singer and actress
• David Letterman, talk show host
• David Tennant, actor
• Elton John, singer
• Ernest Hemingway, writer
• Ewan McGregor, actor
• Fab Five Freddy, graffiti artist
• Fabian Barthez, French football goalkeeper
• Flavor Flav, rapper
• Henri Lebesgue, mathematician
• Henry Ford, inventor
• Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Senator
• Humphrey Bogart, actor
• Jack Ruby, assassin
• Jada Pinkett Smith, actress
• James Buchanan, 15th US President
• Jenna Elfman, actress
• Jermaine Dupri, rapper and producer
• Jerry Lee Lewis, singer
• Jimmie Walker, actor and comedian
• Johnny Knoxville, Actor, DareDevil
• Juelz Santana, rapper
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball player
• Karen McDougal, model
• Ken Watanabe, actor
• Kevin Spacey, actor
• Lasith Malinga, Sri Lankan cricketer
• Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore‘s first Prime Minister
• Lee Remick, actress
• Leonhard Euler, mathematician
• Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez, rapper and singer
• Lucille Ball, actress and comedian
• Magic Johnson, basketball player
• Missy Elliott, rapper and singer
• Morrissey, singer
• Nicholas Brendon, actor
• Parker McKenna Posey, actress
• Rachel Weisz, actress
• Rob Corddry, actor and comedian
• Ronald Reagan, former US President
• Rosetta LeNoire, actress
• Rozonda Thomas, singer
• Shawn Wayans, actor
• Sasha Baron Cohen, British comedian
• Snoop Dogg, American rapper
• Srinivasa Aiyangar Ramanujan, mathematician
• Stephen Harper, 22nd Canadian prime minister
• Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
• Thomas Jefferson, 3rd US President
• Tracey Ullman, actress, comedienne
• Tupac Shakur, actor, rapper, and poet
• Winona Ryder, actress
• Woody Allen, writer, director

I Luv U!

Its Valentine’s Day!  Remember to tell your someone special you love them!

So, in that spirit. . . . .I love you Colin.

Top 10 Rejected Love Hearts Candy Sayings

Hog Wild! Happy Groundhog Day :: Spring is Coming

Today is Groundhog Day. I wonder if little Wiarton Willy will be seeing his shadow or not!

To be updated!

**UPDATED**

Wiarton Willy’s Official Website

SPRING IS ON ITS WAY

There was no shadow on the ground
Which means that spring will come around.
Flowers will bloom and life will begin
The waters will warm then we can jump in.

Children will laugh as they learn to ride
Boaters will rise and fall with the tide
The golfers appear out on the greens
People line up to taste new ice creams.

A warm breeze will brush on your cheek
The waters will rise on some of the creeks
Farmers will plant their first set of crops
Windows and doors will open on shops

The Town of South Bruce Peninsula is worth driving to
If your looking for springtime activities to do.
Ride a horse, catch a fish, hike the trails, if you can.
So many things to do you might need a plan.

If you don’t have time to enjoy everything.
Feel free to visit again in the spring.
There’s plenty to do throughout the whole year.
Especially now that spring time is near!

C. Wyonch

I’m Crap ::: I Slept Through It

You know that feeling when you can tell your starting to come down with something but you don’t know what it is. . . .

Yesterday was such a day. Iin hopes of relieving or avoiding altogether some of the on set of sickness, specially since it was New Years Eve, I took a swig of “all in one” cough surup (which in my defense did say ‘non drowsy’ on the bottle). Thankfully the use of a motor vehicule or heavy machinery wasn’t on the cards for last night.
By 10 pm I was out like a light. And I feel like crap this morning.

Colin and I have a habit of not doing anything interesting for New Years. I’m adding this to my resolutions for next year. I want to do something or go somewhere for New Years Eve.

New Ray of Sun in the Graham Family

Baby Solenne was born on Friday 29th December 2006 at 5:05 a.m. She was born at Toronto East General Hospital after a long labour. She weighed 9 lb. 6 oz.

Congrats to Jo-Ann and Andrejz. . . . . .

Thankful for our Service People

Please think about all the servicemen and servicewomen who are overseas.

I personally may not agree with the political reasons they are there, but I support the service people – they patriotic and are doing the jobs they were trained to do. . . .

They are doing and seeing things I don’t think I would be strong enough to live through.

What ever Happened to the Good Ol’ Traditional Christmas Card?

Don’t you just love opening your mailbox seeing all the brightly coloured envelopes, fancied with stickers and other glitter. . . . .I love getting mail!

I’ve been quite disapointed this year with the number of Christmas cards I’ve received. . . .but for the record, its not that I have been forgotten. . . .

I have gotten a HUGE number of ‘Email Greeting Cards’ this year. . . .

WTF!

Do people just not have the time, the money, the resources? Man, if I can find the time to do them, it should be easy-peasy for anyone really. . . .Or should I be proud that the special ‘older’ people in my life choosing to embrase the internet revolution?

I pride myself on having personalized Christmas cards made, (with pictures of the moggies of course) each with a quick little handwritten message.

Each card stamped, sealed, stickered. . . . I even have Colin sign them. (I sign for the cats)

My opinion is that email Greeting Cards are an “extra” you send your family or friends, or something you send to your ‘cyber’ friends. . . .They shouldn’t be sent in lieu of a card to your family and friends . . . . .

Busy Week, I guess this one is busy every year, isn’t it?

Got alot on the go this week.

Monday 18 – Take the Car in in the evening

Monday 18 – Tempo goes up

Tuesday 19 – Manny goes for the big snip-snip. He has to stay over night because of the polydactyl claws he is having removed. He is also getting a Micro Chip

Wednesday 20 – pick up Manny.

Wednesday 20 – Dentist appointment in the evening

Thursday 21 – Getting my hair done, this is also ER night

Friday 22 – My Work Christmas party. . . .

Saturday 23 – long drive back to Ontario for Christmas

Sunday 24 – last day of shopping (gotta get something for Colin). Houldcroft Christmas Eve Shindig. Must get candy for the Gingerbread House.
Monday 25 – Christmas. ‘Nuff said. Spending it with the DeCaire’s

Tuesday 26 – Boxing Day. I don’t actually get this off, but I ‘m using my banked Thanksgiving Holidays to get this off. Graham family Christmas

Wednesday 27 – Cousin’s Party.

Thursday 28 – Driving back to MTL

Damn Lazy Blogger, Procrastination, Adventures in Christmas Shopping, Parties, Kittens and Databases.

I think I got it all in the title. . . .

I’ve been a lazy blogger in the past week. Mainly due to some projects at work I need to get finished, and some research I’m doing for some new projects for the new year. I’ve been asked to help the website team come up with some content for the website, write some articles etc and give it some meat for the re-launch at the beginning of the upcoming paintball season. I’m looking forward to it.

The IT guy at work has got a very clean idea for the website, and if we follow the model it should work out nicely-with room to expand and make changes as needed, unlike the current version which is very graphic based and takes a dog’s age to load. My poor mother in law hasn’t had the chance to see any of the websites as she only has a dial up connection.

I’m not sure what the ‘look’ of the site will be, but I don’t have to worry about it much. As long as I’m coming up with the ‘meat’ there are others set to worry about the fixin’s. Should be a cool project though.

I’ve got some ideas for articles, but I really need to get cracking and think of some more, I’m not sure what else I can write about to be able to fill a website for a year. What do paintballers want to read about. . . . . . .hummmmmmm

This past Saturday Colin and I took to the shops to get our Christmas shopping done. I HATE Christmas shopping this time of year, and for those who know me – this is VERY VERY late for me to be doing shopping.

I am one of ‘those’ people who shop in August and September, and have everything WRAPPED by the first day of December, life happenened on me this year – and even though I’ve had my tree up since just a smidge before Halloween, and my cards done, addressed and stamped since the second week of November I still feel like I’m falling behind! (I hope everyone has got their Crimbo cards by now)

I took my holiday heart burn stress busting tropical fruit flavoured tums, and my twice checked Christmas list and away we went in good spirts. We were very successful, managing to get everything on the list barring what we were getting each other.

I’ve started wrapping. No where near done though.

Saturday Night we went to Doug and Pixie’s house across the street for a Christmas party. They’ve just finished renovating their basement, its just fabulous! They did most of the work themselves. They even built their own fully stocked bar. Good work you two!

We found out that Manny’s Mom’s owner, Cynthia, is pregnant. They are very excited!!

We also got to meet the new ‘parents’ of some of Manny’s siblings, and this week we hope to have a little kitten reunion with one of his sisters, now called Bootsie.

Today I’m working on fixing stuff in the new database for the European opperations, I’ve had such a busy weekend I didn’t get through as much of the changes as I want (or needed to) but then again it is the weekend, and its not like I’m being paid extra to do it. I’m doing it for the team, I hope they appreicate it. I’ll get everything sorted for them barring the paint. I don’t know when I’ll have time to devote to fixing the paint, I hope there is someone else in the office that can do it. I have my big Prospect Project due this week, and I need another month to finish it   We’ll get it finished. . . .  .

 

Ho, ho, ho. . . .bahhhhhhh humbug!

Am I done shopping yet?