Dear Canada Post

You suck. Srsly. A month and half? I know it was all the way to the UK, but c'mon. I could have put it in a zip baggie and thrown it in the harbour, and the time would have been comparable. Good thing it wasn't a kidney. (I've never mentioned my note in a bottle, have I? Another time...) But I digress. My Nightmare Before Hallowe'en swap package finally got to Talia. The package underneath is scrappy paper that I hope she can use for her origami. The Beetlejuice fabric came in very handy (apparently as a makeup bag :D).

Thank you to Talia and Apryl. This was my first swap, and it was very fun, and I really can't wait to do another one! :D

Why can't the weekend just s l o w d o w n ?

I'm sitting down! Finally!! V. exciting stuff, people! It's been a busy day! First, just let me say that my boss looks exactly like the husband from Sister Wives (I haven't watched it, a co-worker pointed it out). Except my boss has short hair. Maybe it's true that everyone has a twin.

• Let's start at the beginning. Yesterday we did a little shopping, and since Rona is the only place I could get glaze to finish the furniture (is that weird? It struck me as strange. It's in a small jar, and you have to tint it yourself, which is also strange), we went there and got a small hanging globe light for over the kitchen table. Is it installed yet? Of course not, we need a wire pulled. Why is this news? Because we paid $5 for it.

Like this, but the shade is opaque white, with a black spiral sort of pattern. Me likey. $5? Me lovey.

• My furniture painting is coming along. It's CIL Ivory Silk, and then I tinted the glaze with the grey from the living room. The glaze needs to dry for 12 hours, so I still have no coffee table. Rocco remains unimpressed with my antics.

However! The phone table is done! Crappy picture, I know. And the easel with the postcard is not done, but I have a plan. The postcard itself is from my aunt, and it's a very old picture of Bedford. It had been written on, but unfortunately someone erased it.

• Also, this weekend I made peanut butter cookies, banana bread, and white chili for supper tomorrow. My sister came over to spend the afternoon, which she should do more often, and brought homemade egg rolls, bread and cinnamon raisin bread. I did laundry, changed the sheets, rearranged the living room, swept, scrubbed the bathroom, washed and rehung the shower curtain, painted, walked the dog a few times.... I would go on, but... I don't think I did anything else... We have a shingled garbage bin, and a fire pit, but I had nothing to do with that.


• I've been reading Adultery by Richard B. Wright, and it's good so far. I don't want to say too much because every time I do, the book suddenly turns to drivel.


• Rocco had a health check on Monday, and we were informed that Beneful is full of garbage. More nutrition in cardboard, you say? How were we supposed to know?? So I came home and looked it up, and found several things about how people are trying to launch lawsuits, and trying to get Purina to recall it, and all kinds of fun things. So yesterday, we spent a lot of time in the dog food aisle of the grocer going, "Well, what about this one? This one?" and eventually we went to Global Pet Foods and got several samples and Mr. Rocco "The Tank" will be eating Acana.

He's excited about the food; he's no longer reluctant to eat. and there are different flavors so we can mix it up for him. He also has a lot more energy, which means I better start eating my wheaties. (He was not excited about Adam having banana bread and him not having any which is why he has this look).

• I know what you're thinking, 'My GOD, are you ever going to shut up??', and I will soon, I swear. Just one more thing: the corner shelf is up in the bedroom, and it's housing my dirty little figurines collection (the plates will be hung as soon as I actually have some hangers). I don't think I shared these with you yet; I got them at VV during my last visit. How I got to these before someone else must've been pure luck. And for the low price of $4! Oh my lucky stars!!

Don't be hatin'! Happy Monday :D

Spring? Is that you?

I thought I heard someone rustling around out here. Well, come in, make yourself at home, and please, please, stay a while.

The weather has finally been getting nice, and Adam's been living in the back yard. When we moved in, we had no yard. We had trees and bushes that started about 3' from the back of the house. In the beginning, there was greenery... This was what we could see from the deck, and even where Adam was standing was a spot he had to hack out (and he's not really crazy, he just looks that way). In the fall, we had some space
but we still had a lot of thorn bushes, a lot of trees.
Now....we have ducks! (Adam's not eating the stale bread, I swear). There's (obviously) still a lot to do,
but I can't believe how much work he got done (and for the record, I've done nothing out there. He had a little help from a friend of his, but for the most part, it was all him). There was an unbelieveable amount of garbage! And a bag that was leaking something green...
So we have some plans; hopefully this year, we'll get some planting done, and put in the fire pit and some seating. Oh, and this? This is what happens when he refuses to let me get a decent picture.




And up next: COMPLETELY INCONSIDERATE PEOPLE!!
I don't think I mentioned it here, but I almost got ran over last weekend. Or the weekend before? I don't remember exactly, but my sister and I were walking the dog when Mr. Idriveavolvo was backing down his driveway so we kept walking. I assumed he looked. I mean, I don't just get in the car and not look behind me. Evidently he does though. I was much too close to his bumper when he finally slammed on the brakes; apparently he had finally seen me directly behind his car. And okay, I shouldn't have yelled; maybe I shouldn't have inquired if he had any (insert expletive here) mirrors on his car. I'm not perfect, but hey, I didn't jam the bag of dog poo in his mail box. And this is what separates me from the monkeys (I'm walking a fine line, I know).

And then!! Two days ago, I went to the grocery store. I don't like the grocery store. I don't like the feral children who appear to be there on their own, or the people who stand in the middle of the aisle, gawping at the cereal like they've never seen it before. Please, please, you're holding up all the people who just want to get some food and get out. As I was walking out, behind an older lady with a cart full of groceries, the woman ahead of her had 2 kids, about 5 and 6, and a cart with only a birthday cake in it. Halfway between the register and the door (where the carts go!) she got her cake, dropped the gd cart, and walked out. I was flabbergasted (a word I don't use very often). Still, I am stunned that anyone would have such a sense of entitlement, and complete disregard for anyone else. The woman who was ahead of me had to stop and move the empty cart to the side, as there was no way to get around on either side. And this wasn't a frazzled mother, trying to get her screaming kids out to the car. This was a very inconsiderate person, and I hope that in about 10 years, she has some kids who are just like her.

*end rant*

Thanks for sticking it out with me. Rocco's glad I'm done too.

I'm tired.

I know, I know, we're all tired. I thought this was hilarious (and nothing says Happy Saint Patrick's Day like the Boondock Saints!), and if you like Twilight, well, I'm sorry for you. Also, this is my excuse for a post since I have nothing to say. I hope everyone had a Happy St. Patrick's. :D

Rocco says, "Yayayayayay Friday!!"

(We had just went for a walk; this was taken in January, and yes, that door has been cleaned!)

A-Z about Me.

Because seriously, is there anything I like to talk about more? (Stolen from Meridian Ariel).


A. Age: 30. Even though the other day, I was convinced I was 25. I constantly forget my own age. Is that normal? I'll assume it is.


B. Bed size: It's a double.


C. Chore you dislike: I really hate folding laundry. More so now than ever before; thankfully, Adam does that.

D. Dogs: One Rocco-hound.
AKA: Captain Saggyface.

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee.

F. Favorite colour: Blue. It's always been blue.

G. Gold or silver:I prefer the silver colour, but white gold is lovely.


H. Height: 5ft 2.

I. Instruments you play(ed): I could play Three Blind Mice on the recorder. And there ended my prestigious musical career.

J. Job title: I'm a carpenter. Should I ever open a company, I want to call it Schreck Bro. Construction. And if you don't know why, drop what you're doing, and go watch The Money Pit.

K. Kids: Negatory. Children and goats both scare me a great deal.

L. Live: Bedford, NS, CANADA.

M. Mom’s name: Celine. Well, not really. Her name is actually Sylvia, but she has never gone by
that. Actually, I don't know why she was named that, or why she's always been called by her middle name.

N. Nicknames: Trucifer, Trude, Tru, Tr (depending on how lazy the person is who's beckoning), and Rude Trude, which I really never cared much for.


O. Overnight hospital stays: Nevah!


P. Pet peeves: Chewing with your mouth open, slurping your coffee, rude salespeople, feminine hygiene products, people wearing their shoes through the house, telemarketers.... pretty much everything depending on the day...

Q. Quote from a movie: "What kind of clothes do you have?"
"Like the ones I have on."
"So, you got no clothes." From Joe Vs. The Volcano.

R. Righty or lefty: Righty

S. Siblings: Me and Marther.

T. Time you wake up: 5.45am. Which really sucks this week, because it's very dark, and my brain still thinks it's 4.45am. Spooty time change.

U. Underwear: On a good day, clean.

V. Vegetables you don’t like: OHGODIHATEPEAS.

W. What makes you run late: I lose track of time. Like, last week, it was 6.50,and I'm on time as long as I'm out the door by about 7.10, so I thought, 'Okay, I have lots of time to shower' but of course, I didn't, so then I was 5 minutes late. Or I'll be playing with the hound, because I feel bad that he's alone all day, even though I'm 90% sure that he just sleeps all day and plays with his toys, and then realize 15 minutes went by. Or some days, I just hit snooze and think for some reason that I have all this time I just get up in 10 minutes. Wth? Didn't work yesterday, why my sleep-fogged brain thinks it will work today, I just don't know. Anyway. I'm working on it...

X. X-rays you’ve had: dental, right wrist, right ankle, shoulders, and I have papers around here to go for one on my back... somewhere....


Y. Yummy food you make: Adam says, "Everything." Bless him, I think he's trying to get me to fold the laundry. Bruschetta chicken. Ooh, or White Chili.

Z. Zoo animal favourites:None! FREE THE ANIMALS! I'm not all green-peace loving, or anything, but I loathe zoos. They are the most depressing place I've ever visited. I prefer to call them "animal jail."

So, yes, I am back to work. Why am I doing this in the middle of the day, you ask? Well, I have the flu. Yes, the barfy, pray for death kind. I am on the mend, thank you. I'm off today because I thought about 10 or so trips up and down the steps at work, they'd have found me passed out on some dirty paint tarps. So anyway, life in this house lately:

• The bedroom is painted, the trim is done, but it's not really decorated yet, so still no pictures.
• A few weeks ago, this was our kitchen:

The bathroom taps were leaking, like, pouring unto the washer when we showered, and this was the easiest way to access them (other than busting out the tiles. Yay). Turns out the taps were so old that the part we needed was obsolete, so we have to replace the entire valve. Thankfully, we have a friend with plumbing experience, so by the end of the day, that was done, and now we have no leak and an access panel behind the stove.

• Then, the kitchen taps started to run really slowly. Assuming that we got sediment in them from messing with the plumbing, we were going to wait it out until we re-do the kitchen (even though 15 minutes for the sink to fill up was pretty maddening). Even though I firmly suggested that tapping on the faucet really wouldn't help, that didn't stop Adam from going that route, so now we have a slow and leaking-under-the-cupboard faucet.
  Yay, more plumbing.


• And finally, since these things, or so they say, come in threes, the washer has finally decided that enough is enough, and has given up.


• Also, I started painting the coffee table, and the night-table turned phone table, and a shelf. Well, the primer went on fine, but needed 2 coats, then rain came from out of nowhere, so I had to drag everything inside. This was Sunday, since, of course, it rained all day on Saturday. Are they done? Hellls no. I'm learning to love the primer look. (But just until the weekend).

Then I watch the news, and realize that primer, and leaks and all, I'm very lucky, and shouldn't complain so much. The devastation in Japan is just unreal, and I'm crossing my fingers with everyone else that they can get their nuclear situation under control before things get even worse.

Now, I'll leave you with something completely different (that I have no source for, please let me know if you do).

*Insert your own title here*

I need a part time job with full time pay. Any suggestions? I mean, work is going well, but c'mon, I haven't gotten anything done in weeks.

Today has been semi-productive. I got some paint (an "oops" ivory) for the coffee table, and the night table, which will then be the phone table, etc, etc. Hopefully the weather cooperates, and I can do some outside painting tomorrow.

I love smoothies, especially the funky monkey (it's chocolate and banana) from Booster Juice, but I can't say I'm a fan of the price, so I bought one of these

for a little more than the cost of two smoothies. Rock on.

Earlier this week (and I'm a bad blogger because I didn't post right away), I received my swap package from Talia. Awesome.

Sorry about the crap picture, but this is my awesome package. A wonderful Burton-esque tree embroidery, some wrist warmers *I LOVE THESE* and some very nice Japanese Alice in Wonderland material (it didn't show up in the picture, but there's a gold detail in the print. SO very nice. Now, what will I make out of it??). The chocolate was delicious. Was.

So... what else is new? I got a new wooden spoon... It's Jumbo. *looks around. hears crickets*. Oh! I got a Pet Top for the hound, but there's no review, as it's raining buckets, so no trip to the park today. Hopefully tomorrow. Senor Saggyface is very bored today. I am as well....

I'll try to be back with something more entertaining/interesting/creative tomorrow, I swear!