The Master of the Pathetic Glance

This is my dog. He makes some pretty wonderful faces. Please consider the following. 

Subject A: note the slight head tilt. 

Subject B: the guilt trip

Subject C: the plea for help

Subject D: the .. I don't even know what to call this.

Subject E: the "pet me, I'm cute". Careful, this one is dangerous! 

Subject F: the (no shame) belly rub

And last but not least, the "how did I end up here?" 

Love, Brady. 

<3

Finally! Fall TV!

At last! It's finally time for the premieres of my favorite TV shows... Well. Favourites since Chuck is no more. (*sob*) 

First off, The Mentalist is back. 

Starting season SIX this year... But I'm pretty sure this will be the last one. It's only one episode in, and is already riveting. <3

NCIS: Los Angeles is back. 

Sure, the show is a spin-off from NCIS which has been around forever... But I love this one so much more. Partly because of Deeks and Kensi... But there are other aspects to it that make me laugh. 

Then there's Heartland. 

Whitney... Why did you get me so addicted to this? It's a wonderful Canadian show that is starting its seventh season on Sunday. I love it. Horses, Canada, some cuties, Albertan landscapes... What's not to love? 

I watch a few other shows, including Person of Interest and Bones... But I haven't been following them as religiously as I have these three. 

The other favourites are the British TV shows of Sherlock and Downton Abbey. 

I am now a Downton freak. Thanks, British identity seminar. I'm hooked. Season 4 has begun to air in the UK, but I'm trying to hold out until January when it will air in Canada. We'll see how long I can hold out! 

I'm also fairly attached to Sherlock. It's still on hiatus, but Series Three is coming. I don't know when. But when it happens... I'll be ready! 

Basically... I'm glad it's fall. 

Oh, and tea and leaves and cool crisp mornings. I like those, too. Just... I'm a little excited it's fall premiere season. Can you tell? 

...Anybody There?

Well... It seems I have been a terrible blog-poster as of late, so I'm going to make it up to you. Soon. 

At the end of August, Kait and Marcus got married! 

(Picture by Chris Miner Photography)

... It was exciting! And pretty much perfection in every way. I'm finding it a bit weird knowing that now she lives in PEI, which is not five minutes away. I went to visit them the other weekend, and had a great time. 

I made brownies (with their lovely new mixer)...

...Went horseback riding...

...And played with a bunch of super cute critters

In terms of work, I'll be done for the season on October 15th. I can't wait! Mom and I are planning on taking a shopping trip to the US for a few days right after Thanksgiving. I'm quite excited to go! 

Ummmm... What else had been happening? 

Oh. Right. 

This is what happens when you try to eat in front of your dog.

Pretty pathetic, huh? 

<3

Nostalgia.

How in the world is it late August already? I swear this summer was given wings to zoom by even faster! Okay, it's true. I have been working a LOT, which makes the weeks just whiz by. However, I'm not ready for it to be fall already! I want like three or four or twelve more months of summer. I've been to the beach a grand total of three times. THREE. This from the girl who grew up spending months on this PEI shoreline.

 -- sigh -- 

So I actually had a few days off last week, mainly because one of the best friends I could ever ask for is now MARRIED. What. Her wedding was amazing. Beautiful. I'm so happy for them! And I'm also anxiously awaiting pictures. Has it been a few weeks yet?! Bottom line, weddings are fun, exciting, happy and exhausting. 

But, as August is ending, work gets busier. The Labour Day weekend is possibly the biggest one of the summer, probably because of its "last hurrah" type atmosphere. Yay. My siblings are getting their school supplies together and acquiring snazzy new clothes, while it's all finally hitting me.

                                  I don't have to go back to school this fall. 

My brain is grappling with this concept... And it actually, truthfully makes me sad. I love school. I'm sitting around after work, trying to figure out what avenue I could possible take (Still haven't decided. I know, it's terrible). It's quite scary, and it's like this great beastie is looming over my head, ready to snap down at any second and chomp up any plans I might make for the fall and beyond. Anybody have any horrible beastie spray? I could use some. 

Anyway, I'm desperate for something to look forward excitedly to. I hope I can get a few days off this fall and go shopping in the States with my mommy. I like shopping. And I like the States. Win win? :)

It's... August?

Well, somehow in the blur of the past few weeks, it has stopped being July and is already August 7th! Wherever my summer is going, it needs to slow down! I had four days off last week, which was blissful! The weather was sunny for the most part, which was great, and I managed to read an entire book in two days... (On a related note, I highly recommend "Lighthouse Bay" by Kimberly Freeman) not that it's at all uncommon. I loved having the time to relax and enjoy the story. 

I have been doing agility with Brady, and it's been really fun! Due to holidays and scheduling difficulties we have been unable to attend many weeks in a row. Brady is very super food-motivated... But he's willing to do whatever is asked of him, and isn't scared of much. I had an opportunity to reconnect with an old friend, which is awesome! 

Tonight I'm planning on paying some more friends a visit... In Sackville! I'm super excited, and the next two hours of work are either going to drag or fly... And I hope it's the latter. 

I recently got hooked on Downton Abbey -- it was recommended to me during the school year, and I'm only now getting a chance to watch it. Needless to say, I've finished all three seasons, and screamed at the TV more than once. It's great! Makes me glad I'm a history major. 

So, that's life lately. I test drove a few cars, and I actually loved one of them... If only I could afford it outright! Oh well. 

Plans? Who needs those?

Lately I have been grappling with many competing ideas of what to do now that I have a degree. I have entertained a myriad of options, ranging from super practical to borderline crazy. I've always felt that I'm a bit of a "jack of all trades, master of none", be it schoolwork, athletic ability (HA), artistic ability or what have you. I have a hard time selling my attributes on my résumé, as I don't want to seem too self-promoting. Silly humility. ;) 

Basically, my current job will last until the fall, but after that I need to start looking for something that will keep my bank account happy and enable me to pay off my student loans as quickly as possible. Of course, I've toyed with the idea of returning to school... But by this point it's getting a bit late to be applying for fall 2013. I haven't ruled that option out, though. I'm keen on the idea of getting my Master's degree, I just need to give it lots more serious thought. 

My father seems to think that I should open a bakery. This idea has visions of peanut butter cup brownies and Skor cheesecakes dancing around his head, while I'm just laughing. As my nan says "Sometimes you do things because you enjoy them... But that doesn't mean you want to do that for a living!" I think that philosophy applies very well here. I love cooking/baking for people... But I think the joy would quickly go out of it if that's all I did. Besides, who would want MY baking when there are much better options out there? 

At the risk of sounding cheesier than usual, ever since I saw the movie The Lucky One, I've entertained dreams of owning my own doggie boarding or doggie daycare/grooming/training centre. This dream is one that appeals to me immensely, as it involves being independent, working with dogs and people, and I find animals very rewarding to work with. While I have a degree in History, it's not impossible for me to get some kind of small business training, or take a few dog related courses. Basically, this plan has promise, but it needs some kinks worked out. 

Tired yet? There's more!

I also love (not like, LOVE) books. And reading. Mom came to me today with a printout from the job website... Apparently the local library is hiring a permanent position, with great pay and even some benefits! I know my way around the Dewey decimal system, I like libraries, and it irritates me to no end when books are not catalogued properly. (Silly people, Kingsbury comes BEFORE Kinsella!) Anyway, I think I need to go spruce up my résumé tonight. ;) 

I've also seen myself as a teacher. Whether it be in high school, teaching about the 18th to 20th centuries or at the university level, helping young adults figure out exactly WHY women's history is so cool... It's something I could see myself doing. Would I be strict? Most likely. But (theoretically) I would have an engaged class that wasn't too terribly unruly. ;) (HA. Who am I kidding?)

So yeah. I feel a bit lost and overwhelmed, but I'm trying to be okay with that, because God has a plan. Sometimes I can't see the future  (okay, I never can see the future), but I know he's got some master scheme going and he's probably chuckling at my pathetic attempts to make up my mind. Someday I'll figure it out... I hope! 

A Girl's Best Friend(s)

One of the many things I have been blessed with is an abundance of good friends. I'm the type of person who isn't truly happy unless they have someone to share it with... And while I have an assortment of close friends, I have two that emerge above all others. 

This is us... "Normal". These lovely ladies are the best friends I could ever hope for. Our years of friendship are now almost in the double digits... And Kait is getting married next month! :O I feel old. The other week we had a "good old fashioned sleepover"... We made spur of the moment plans, went for a midnight swim in my pool, and had tea with breakfast in the morning. We went for a walk, 

Went to the Clay Cafe, 

And then out for a late lunch... Which I neglected to take pictures of. (Fail.)

I love that with these two I can be completely myself without fear of being judged or having my intentions taken the wrong way. When I crack a stupid joke, they roll their eyes. They have learned to handle my sarcasm... Which can be very biting if I'm tired. 

I've also learned to walk faster, and how to (attempt) to take artsy pictures and make scrapbooked cards. The jury is still out on that one. ;) We always do a gift swap at Christmas, and usually a fancy dinner. I honestly don't know what I would do without these two. 

... Life would certainly be a lot more boring! 

<3

Pure Summer, A Straight Shot of Sunshine...

No, I did not become an alcoholic in the few days since I last posted... I just happen to have that song stuck in my head and it fit with my sunshiney, happy mood. I love love love summertime! Days like today are the ones I would rather spend lounging on the beach with not nearly enough sunscreen on and a good book in hand. 

All my life I have been going to PEI for at least part of my summer, and most of my family (including my dog) are currently there basking and playing and having fun. I love going with them, but part of growing up means sacrificing the little things... So no PEI for me this week. :( The feeling of the sand between my toes and the salt drying on my legs is one that never feels the same anywhere else. Sure, there is the odd crab, maybe some seaweed and a jellyfish or two, but nothing can beat the salty, beach hair and the inevitable crisped skin. 

Brady would chase the seagulls for hours if you'd let him, he gets so close, then gets excited and starts springing through the water (ka-sploosh, ka-sploosh, ka-sploosh!) and scares them all away... So he chases them all over again! He's a beach dog, and for some reason is always more well behaved when he's over there. 

Another one of my favourite parts of summer are the thunderstorms. There have been disappointingly few that I've seen so far this year, which makes me sad. Lots of rain, but no pleasure in it. When it rains at the cottage, we usually play card games into the wee hours of the morning. Usually it's Skip-Bo, but sometimes we play Take Two instead. I'm a sucker for word games, and Take Two is like a fast-paced individual version of Scrabble (Great. Now I want to play, not work!). We like to watch the thunderstorms over the water when we catch them on PEI. Sometimes the whole cottage shakes with each clap!

The traditional fixings of summertime BBQ are also delicious, although you won't catch me eating seafood. Blech! I love burgers on the grill, and potato salad, and lemonade! (You're making me hungry...) There's a great place to get ice cream not far from the cottage, and we are frequent customers there in the summertime. 

-Sigh- 

Wishing I was actually outside enjoying the beach and water and chasing Brady and the birds all across the sand! ;)

Sometimes Tuesdays Feel Like Mondays...

Today has been one of those days when everything starts out great... But you know before you even get to lunchtime that it's going downhill too fast. Work was pretty quiet today, but there was a lot of "stuff" that just needed to be done, so guess who was the lucky one? That's right! ME! Yayyyyy... 

It's been a weird few days. My extended family had had a rough week, and now mom is a little shaken up. Tomorrow her and my siblings are off to PEI, while I have to work the rest of the week. 

I have a dentist appointment in the morning. Not my favourite kind of appointment, but oh well. 

I need to reorder my contacts tomorrow, before I forget. 

My lower back has been hurting lately and I don't know why. 

My hands still smell like bleach from cleaning the bathrooms at work today. 

The little car I was eyeing on Kijiji was there last night, but gone this morning. 

I can't remember my Instagram password for the life of me. Apparently I've already changed it once, and it's not my two most common passwords. I'm stumped. 

This post was going to be about cowboy boots... But lacking said Instagram password, I can't use the pictures I was planning on using. 

Some pesky neighbour is shooting off fireworks, and I keep thinking they're gunshots. 

I just want new cowboy boots, a car that doesn't guzzle gas, and a hug. Is that too much to ask? 

Everybody Loves Classic Disney! (... Right?)

This past year I lived with a wonderful lady while finishing up my degree in Sackville, NB. She has the most impressive collection of classic Disney movies that I have ever seen! Naturally, I relished the opportunity to watch as many of them as was physically possible in succession. She had a handful of movies I had never seen before, some of which I enjoyed, others... Let's just say it wasn't a loss I hadn't seen them. However, seeing Disney movies that I didn't enjoy as much got me thinking about the ones I love, and what sets them apart. So, with no further ado here are my top 5 Classic Disney movies (in no particular order... Because honestly? Who could ORDER favourite Disney movies? Not me, that's who) and the reasons why I love them. 

Beauty and the Beast

 Think about it. I love Cogsworth's snide and sarcastic comments and I really wish Mrs Potts could make ME tea. Sure, the whole furry beast thing is a little awkward for the first... Well... Most of the movie, but his good heart wins out. 

Don't even get me started on the library. Belle feels like my alter ego at times, she's quiet, unassuming, and loves to re-read books. 

But... That library. -- Sigh --

Ahem. Where was I? 

Oh right. Next movie. 

Tangled

This movie makes me happy in so many, many ways. I love the music, first off. It's guaranteed to be stuck in my head the moment I see even one movie still (currently humming as I type. Not kidding.) and it's also gorgeous and fun. Maximus is the perfect hybrid of trusty steed and loyal companion. As a horse lover, his antics are familiar and also comical. I want one. 

Then there's Flynn, AKA Eugene. 

First off, I love Zachary Levi, the actor who voices Flynn. I also just can't get enough of Flynn' sarcasm, the goofy expressions and the cocky awareness of his own attractiveness. (Hi.) He has some of the best lines in the movie, and I enjoy quoting them anytime I find a suitable opportunity. I think I know what I'm watching tonight.

Sleeping Beauty

I'm not sure why this one ranks so high for me, it might have to do with Aurora's habit of dreaming of attractive men who will save her... Or maybe I just love the typical damsel in distress type stories. Also Phillip. Hmm. Maybe I should have called this post Disney men. 

Hercules

This one is all Meg. "I'm a damsel, I'm in distress, I can handle it." Her attitude makes the movie as fun as it is, and also gives her a bit more agency in the beginning. She's not looking for a guy to sweep her off her feet, and she resists Hercules' attempts to sway her emotions. Sure, they end up together in the end, and okay, he does have to save her. But at least she gets it her way first. Go Meg! Also, there are a few under-appreciated jokes cracked by Hades and his crew... Always funny. 

Pocahontas

"Colours of the Wind"

"Just Around the Riverbend"

"If I Never Knew You"

.... Basically... The music. Oh, and Christian Bale. Heehee. 

Well, that's all for now I think. I might add five more later, but only after some thought. This is serious business, after all! ;) 

My Favorite Four-Legged Friend

This is Brady. He's my friend. He wants to be your friend, too. 

Do you want to be his friend? He's the best puppy I could ever ask for, full of kisses and always, always happy to see you when you walk in the door. He'll be six this August, and I don't know where the time went. Lately I've been contemplating getting another dog. I've been looking on Kijiji, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to resist the cute puppy faces. There is one breed in particular I'm drawn to, and it looks suspiciously like the face above. 

In the (almost) six years we've had Brady, I have grown to love many different parts of his personality. In a way, he is a perfect reflection of who I have become over the years. He is unwaveringly loyal, always ready to greet you whether you've been gone 5 hours or less than 5 minutes. He is loving, and is perfectly content to sit on your feet in the pure enjoyment of your company. He gets excited when people come over, especially when they stay for a while. He loves (loves) food. He likes to show off, and simply must be in physical contact with you at all times. 

I also love food. And people. And companionship. I like to think I'm a good hostess. I'm not so sure about the showing off bit, but hey. I'll be honest, it's gotta be in there somewhere! Living at home again has been an adjustment for me. I love to entertain, and have parties at my place. I haven't done anything since the last movie night in Sackville in March or April... I am craving company. And pizza and garlic fingers. What's with that? 

Beginnings.

In keeping with the attitude of self reflection I've been feeling lately, I decided to start a new blog. I tried this once before, but lost interest rather quickly. I think that, given how much I enjoy writing things, this one might be slightly more successful. What sort of things do I like to write about? That's a really good question, and one I hope to be able to answer for myself soon.

The attitude behind this... project of sorts is to practice expressing myself, to practice sharing my thoughts and the things I enjoy, and to just have a bit of fun playing around. I should probably warn you now of the (likely) excessive pictures of my loveable four-legged friend, and I will promise never to apologize for the corny jokes and bad puns. If you're lucky, I might share some recipes (or pictures of recipes), and who knows what other adventures I'll get up to this summer.

You're pretty much guaranteed a wild ride, some strange stories, cute pictures and hopefully lots of laughs. Are you brave enough to read on?

As you wish.