tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52886156678592346412024-02-20T12:33:48.527-08:00Daily ramblings and other things...Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-54175839115214041312012-07-28T04:18:00.002-07:002012-07-28T04:18:37.066-07:00Lucy the kidney, 10 years later.<br />
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Some people know about the story of Chris and I and the kidney named Lucy, but for the rest of you who don't know, here it is.</div>
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This story starts off innocent enough. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, but instead of he classic storyline of "boy loses girl", instead it can be replaced with "girl gives boy kidney and they live happily every after". </div>
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When Chris and I met it was love at first sight. I had just graduated from an intensive Musical Theatre program in Toronto and Chris was in the middle of film school. I was 19 and Chris was 20 and we met in November 2001 on the set of a student film. Everyone on set could feel the sparks, and I found myself wishing the shoot would last longer than three days. Luckily we were able to be mature enough to exchange phone numbers and on January 3, 2002 we had our first date. We went to see the movie Gosford Park and afterwards shared vegetarian chilli at a cafe downtown. It was one of those dates you see in the movies where the couple is so in tune with each other that you know they are just meant to be together forever. If it was a movie I am sure the audience would have been rooting for us.</div>
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It was around this time that I found out Chris had kidney failure. He didn't seem sick though and never, ever complained about it, so we continued our whirlwind romance, not knowing the very near future held a very grown up decision for the two of us.</div>
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In March we headed down to New York City to visit my brother with a couple friends. Chris seemed fine on the trip until the end when he started to feel sick and started throwing up. His energy levels were still okay, and even after throwing up all night he came out sight seeing with us every day. It wasn't until we got back to Toronto that we realized his kidneys had taken a turn for the worse. Up until this point medically, Chris was only taking pills to try and control or hopefully reverse the kidney failure, but we knew if his kidneys were getting worse it was time for the medical procedures to progress.</div>
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The condition Chris has is called Interstitial Nephritis. He was diagnosed a couple years before I met him. Up until his diagnosis he was always healthy. No one in his family has this disease and they don't think it's hereditary. He came home from a trip to California with his cousin Jake and his ankle was swollen. The swelling didn't go away and one night it got so bad and swollen he went to the emergency room. After a series of tests, and many hospital visits they realized he had gout, and shortly thereafter found out his kidneys were failing. Chris was sent to Toronto to meet with a nephrologist (kidney doctor) and given the news that he would need a kidney transplant, and possibly soon.</div>
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No one knows how Chris got this disease. If you Google it you will find that it can be caused by medications or infections. I know Chris' mom Carol beats herself up about a possible illness that went untreated, or an allergic reaction to something that she might not have been aware of, but the truth is no one caused this and it never could have been caught or treated. This was a weird fluke that an otherwise incredibly healthy kid was tossed a crap hand and now had to deal with a very grown up reality.</div>
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So when Chris and I got back from NYC he immediately went to see his doctor and was told he would have to start dialysis treatments. Chris was set up with a procedure to create a fistula in his arm for the dialysis needles. A fistula is created when an artery and a vein are connected for the purpose of dialysis. In dialysis they take a certain amount of blood out of your body to clean it and then replace it back into the body. This procedure must be done three days a week and lasts four hours each time. Not a lot of wiggle time left for a social life. We spent every dialysis session together, Chris reciting movies in his head, listening to music or reading and I made sure we had sushi or Subway sandwiches with extra southwest sauce to keep us well nourished.</div>
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Around this time Chris' doctors told him he had to begin the task of trying to find a living donor for his kidney transplant. In Canada the average person can wait up to eight years for an organ, and sadly many of these people die waiting. We have one of the lowest rates of organ donation here in Canada. Some of it has to do with the fact that we also have a low rate of automobile accidents and gunshot deaths, because a person dying from cancer or other diseases would not be a candidate for organ donation since their organs would be too damaged to transplant. </div>
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The great thing about kidney transplants is you can use a live donor. We were all born with two kidneys and the body actually only needs one to survive. Poor Chris had the task of asking family and friends to think about being tested to see if they were a match. It's already a touchy subject, but as a 20 year old kid it was a hard thing for Chris to do. Chris is the type of guy who would not ask for anything and keep his condition to himself, so this part of the living donor route brought him completely out of his comfort zone. People were tested and they all came back negative.</div>
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Then comes me. Call it blind optimism, but I just knew I would be a match. I was tested early and I remember sitting Chris down and telling him that if I was a match he had to realize that he just had to take the kidney and thank me, and not to worry about the fact that his brand new girlfriend was giving him an organ. Chris' sister Jen had also just turned 18 and was now old enough to donate and was tested too. A few days after the test Chris got a call that both Jen and I were a match, with my kidney being an even better match than his own sister. See? We were a love match, right down to our kidneys. We named my right kidney Ricky and my left kidney Lucy. Sometimes you have to find the humour in the small things.</div>
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After a series of tests to make sure my body was fit for surgery and my kidney was healthy and easily transplantable, it was determined I would be a perfect match for Chris. Lucy the kidney was going to be given to Chris for safekeeping. My parents must have trusted my gut and already loved Chris since they never for a second objected the decision of their 19 year old daughter to give her boyfriend of 4 months a kidney. My mom was even tested to see if she could be a donor. Everyone wanted to see Chris get better.</div>
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Remember during this time we were also going through the beginning stages of our relationship, trying to fit in movie and dinner dates around our dialysis sessions and hospital tests. Chris was hospitalized a few times for scary reactions to the treatment, including one time when he got so sick ,so fast he was going in and out of consciousness and I had to act on his behalf for all the emergency treatments that needed to be done. Our relationship grew strong quickly.</div>
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On August 20, 2002 Lucy the kidney was taken out of me and transplanted into Chris at Toronto General Hospital. I was in hospital for a week and Chris was in hospital for almost three weeks because he had suffered initial rejection that was quickly fixed by the staff at Toronto General combined with the staff at St. Michael's hospital. Lucy is thriving and Ricky is working hard to keep my body functioning too.</div>
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Five years after the transplant Chris and I were married and chose to donate money to Trillium Gift of Life foundation instead of giving a little gift for people to take home. It was such a wonderful feeling to see all our friends and family wearing their green ribbons on our special day in support of organ donation. </div>
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So why share this story now? Helene Campbell was given national and international notice for her search for a double lung transplant this year. I want to keep organ donation in people's minds. Like Chris, you never know when you might quickly become sick and need an organ to live. If we talk about donation with our friends and family it keeps the discussion open and it lets everyone know our wishes. You can sign your donor card, but if your family is in grief and can't bare the thought of your organs being given away, your wishes are overruled. A simple chat letting everyone know that you support organ donation is all it takes to help out people like Chris or the thousands of others hooked up to dialysis machines who aren't lucky enough to have someone willing to be a live donor.</div>
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I also write this because this year marks the ten year anniversary of Chris' transplant and it is also our first celebration with a new little someone growing inside of me. Yes, you can donate a kidney and still enjoy a healthy pregnancy. The proof is my little boy kicking me in the ribs are I write this. I think about his future and hope that if he ever needs an organ there will be people willing to donate one to him too.</div>
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Questions about organ donation? <a href="http://giftoflife.on.ca/">Trillium Gift of Life</a> has all sorts of information, including the religious standpoints on organ donation (Spolier alert- they all support organ donation)</div>
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<br /></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-319999827734132682012-02-15T17:43:00.001-08:002012-02-15T17:43:44.541-08:00I won&apos;t get into too many details....But there is this couple I know. Having an affair. And they think no one knows. Because, well, I guess they are either too smitten with their "lovers" to realize, or too dumb to notice. <br />
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It bothers me. Again, not to get into details, but it's inconveniencing a few people. Namely me on more than one occasion.<br />
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I've talked endlessly about the situation with a friend. We are both dumbfounded about the whole thing. This amount of effort going into this affair seems exhausting. I have no idea how they can carry on anything else in their lives with the seemingly endless planning that must be involved. Like so much planning there must be charts involved. Possibly secret logbooks of some sort. <br />
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So the question is really this: when does enough become enough? When does it become pathetic and sad? I feel any affair is immediately pathetic but this one....well. It's almost like watching good tv or maybe bad tv. <br />
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Happy Wednesday!!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-48826346109282031682012-02-09T05:19:00.001-08:002012-02-09T05:19:21.178-08:00KitesThe funny thing about childhood is the memories we keep. As a child I remember there always being two kites in the trunk of my mom's car. Two kites for the two kids in my family. Two kites always ready to fly if the wind picked up. The funny thing is I can picture those two kites in the trunk as clear as day, yet I can't actually remember flying them. <br />
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Memories are a funny thing. I'm sure if I asked my parents about our kite flying they would have loads of stories about carefree days in the park, with picnics. Perhaps we flew them at the beach. But I still hold my memories of those colorful kites in the trunk of my mom's car just as dear to my heart. <br />
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Happy Thursday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-86285346158275190812012-02-08T16:27:00.001-08:002012-02-08T16:27:41.538-08:00Boston night walksI've been to Boston many times, especially in the last three months when I average about once a week for work. <br />
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While on layovers I've done a ton of stuff: aquarium, JFK library and many visits to Quincy Market for food. I've wandered through Boston common and the public gardens, had a pint at Cheers and walked the freedom trail. I've even spent two delicious meals in Harvard Yard, eating burgers with the smarties. <br />
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What I've never done? Wandered just on the other side of Quincy to admire Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in America. And since it's so stunning to see at night it's really a shame I waited this long. <br />
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Happy Wednesday!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsuYVBy2r5RlS-uS10ETqZpphBGGceCMpl1guZaT8Mg5Zrz4CNPWtM1xVKBhv_hErTw62rsCmIv_iee7Kk3c5J9z-l0xqVetfhzCJFk-N9Zw5p7f28YWGr27oQpeKGzfZ_av1BX0ywUY/s640/blogger-image--1810321515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsuYVBy2r5RlS-uS10ETqZpphBGGceCMpl1guZaT8Mg5Zrz4CNPWtM1xVKBhv_hErTw62rsCmIv_iee7Kk3c5J9z-l0xqVetfhzCJFk-N9Zw5p7f28YWGr27oQpeKGzfZ_av1BX0ywUY/s640/blogger-image--1810321515.jpg" /></a></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-48566992420233417172012-02-08T16:18:00.001-08:002012-02-08T16:18:03.905-08:00Giacomo&apos;sTonight, while in Boston for work, I had the pleasure of going out for dinner with a couple pilots in the North End. Also known as little Italy. <br />
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For those of you who don't know Boston, the north end is really the place to go for food. Hanover street is especially beautiful at night since the street is lined with restaurant after restaurant of amazing Italian eateries. Tonight we hit up Giacomo's. <br />
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It's pretty easy to understand why locals and tourists line up in the bitter cold for a bite here. The food is reasonable and delicious and even though the place was packed, we never felt rushed to vacate our prime window seats. <br />
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My meal? Shrimp on linguine in a spicy creamy tomato sauce. Perfection. <br />
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Happy Wednesday!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVX6FEfOqjJaifEsu8socl2I6y0TABehbUvjDye3EdZ6n79NddNaMzUXDRO0Sfc7iykw0_2ev6M_qbeeKpEkG33hIsVt9XvMdWQp8yKXDmRcosSXGa1qhCh8n0NBSFs-Y1_Jc3zW_lRUc/s640/blogger-image--2045198699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVX6FEfOqjJaifEsu8socl2I6y0TABehbUvjDye3EdZ6n79NddNaMzUXDRO0Sfc7iykw0_2ev6M_qbeeKpEkG33hIsVt9XvMdWQp8yKXDmRcosSXGa1qhCh8n0NBSFs-Y1_Jc3zW_lRUc/s640/blogger-image--2045198699.jpg" /></a></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0East Boston East Boston42.368052 -71.023172tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-24812934179054087862012-02-08T11:19:00.000-08:002012-02-08T11:20:09.248-08:00Back again all over again....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; ">So, in search of the name of a lip gloss, I just spent the last hour reading over this old blog. It actually got me pretty emotional. I remember all those daily ramblings so vividly and I am a little confused why I gave up writing....<div><br /></div><div>I guess the main reason I stopped was because I became a nanny and found a lot of the day to day stuff I was now experiencing was not very interesting to outsiders. Would anyone care if little A or little G slept through the dog barking? Or that they started to say my name and it warmed my heart up so much it nearly burst?</div><div><br /></div><div>So now I am a year into a completely new journey. We moved out of our beloved neighbourhood and are in the suburbs. I don't get outside as much as I did before and I never spend any time just going for a walk downtown. This makes me sad. I miss the old hood and wish I was still living there, although I love my condo.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what is this inspiring me to do? Get out more. See more friends. All my knitting friends have now moved to different towns and we have to make plans months in advance. My job as a flight attendant means I am getting up super early, and often ending my day in another city. When I'm at home I just want to veg out on the couch in front of Netflix.</div><div><br /></div><div>But this is now who I am, yet it's who I have let myself become. I no longer yearn for the workouts I used to do. I never see my friends. I'm tired all the time. I don't get outside because I am too lazy and have no one to meet. But I miss my old life and I promise to take it back.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyone with me? Anyone want to take back their better habit days?</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Wednesday!</div><div><br /></div><div>p.s.</div><div>The lipgloss was Rimmel Kiss Off colour First time, and it's still available on amazon :)</div></span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-6801547040583690412010-05-12T17:51:00.000-07:002010-05-12T18:22:16.601-07:0010 days down, too many to go.I have been refined sugar free and dairy free for 10 days. Am I insane?<div><br /></div><div>Let's back up a little bit here.....I have been doing <a href="http://www.bootycampfitness.com">Booty Camp Fitness</a> since January and ,while I have been seeing amazing results in my strength and endurance, my scale keeps going up. I have been reassured by my instructor that this is very common when you start to get stronger because your muscles are more heavy...blah blah blah. The truth is I stuff my face full of cupcakes, donuts, potato chips and chocolate bars. Daily. I am not going to be completely honest here, I used to eat so much sugar that it was vile.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sammy Kennedy, the creator of Booty Camp, came up with a challenge that I decided to accept. For 8 weeks give up refined sugar, dairy and cut back on alcohol. Add one large salad. Along with 45 minutes of continuous exercise daily. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why did I decide to do this? Here is why:</div><div><br /></div><div>1)I have been working out like a champ for five months and I know my results would be better if I my body was being fueled properly. Better food=better energy.</div><div><br /></div><div>2)I have been wanting to see how much I rely on sugar to keep me going during the day. How often am I actually reaching for sugar and not realizing it?</div><div><br /></div><div>3)I am worried my bad eating habits will influence the girls I look after. Will they start eating cupcakes every day because they see that I do? Monkey see monkey do....</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here I am 10 days later. I feel awesome. My energy levels are so high and I have lost 3 pounds. Until now my weight has only been going up. I am a little hungry but I am sure it will just take a little time for my body to get used to getting rid of the extra sugar.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last weekend I decided to ease off the restrictions for one night. I met up with some friends at a pub and I had some delicious fried food and a few beers. The night ended early and I went home to bed. At 3am I woke up in awful pain. The fried food was coming back to get me. My body was revolting against me and it taught me a lesson. Do not eat like crap after you have been eating so well all week. I will never do that again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Wednesday!</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-1421861487087452212010-04-04T18:57:00.000-07:002010-04-04T19:07:23.293-07:00Writing 101You might never know it from this blog, but I would like to become a writer. I am 15 pages into my first screenplay. Applause please.<div><br /></div><div>Since I was a little girl I have always wanted to write a movie. I tried to write a play a few years back but I had a lot of trouble getting the ideas on to paper. The structure always seemed scattered, the characters one dimensional and the story <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">convoluted</span>. A great idea in my head didn't transfer to the page.</div><div><br /></div><div>For Christmas my husband bought me a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MacBook</span> and Final Draft. I also have started to use <a href="http://marilynhorowitz.blogspot.com/">Marilyn Horowitz's book</a>. It is awesome! My characters are now coming alive and my story is easily coming into place. I am really enjoying the process!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Sunday!</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-63985687956465953292010-03-24T20:11:00.000-07:002010-03-24T20:17:08.530-07:00Secret joys.Tomorrow will be my one week anniversary with my bike. So far, it has been blissful happiness. I have realized I am finding joy in small things. For example, every time we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">accidentally</span> find a bike lane. This evening after leaving our friend's house we found two new bikes lanes. As a walker I never even looked at the road but now I am finding myself completely overjoyed at the prospect of new spots I can safely ride. <div><br /></div><div>Another surprise joy? Riding my bicycle all by myself on a zero degree crisp morning. The wind in my face never felt so good. I actually found myself saying "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Weeeeeeeeeeee</span>!!!" out loud as I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">whizzed</span> around a curve. Bliss.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Wednesday!</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-41055288486544747932010-03-22T16:15:00.000-07:002010-03-22T16:29:05.933-07:00I bought a bicycle last Thursday. I live in downtown Toronto and was looking for a fast way to get around the city. As everyone living in Toronto knows the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TTC</span> is definitely not a fast way to get around the city. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">TTC</span> is the Toronto Transit Commission and their slogan is "the better way" although I am not quite sure what they are comparing when they say "better way"...better than a horse and carriage? better than hopping on one foot?<div><br /></div><div>Anyway....</div><div><br /></div><div>My bicycle is tangerine coloured. It is a cruiser bike. I bought a wicker basket for the front that has a floral liner in it. My helmet is "shocking pink". NO one is going to miss me on the road.</div><div><br /></div><div>This evening I had a bit of a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">dilemma</span>. It was my first day riding to work and then part way through the afternoon it started to rain. I couldn't decide if I wanted to bike home in the rain or leave my bike at work. The main reason I was so torn was because I know it is going to pour rain tomorrow and I was more concerned about having my bike home to ride to work on Wednesday morning. </div><div><br /></div><div>I bit the bullet and decided to ride home in the rain. The pluses? I was pretty much alone on the road in terms of other cyclists, so I was not constantly being passed. I have no problem being passed but as a new rider it makes me a little bit nervous to share my bike lane when I am already terrified about being hit by a car.</div><div><br /></div><div>The minuses? My soaking wet pants and shoes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Was it worth it? Hell yeah!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Monday!</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-35037897056984636362010-03-14T14:26:00.000-07:002010-03-14T14:46:10.665-07:00The ole scaleTwo months ago I started exercising again. Over the past few years I have been very unsuccessful with exercise. I actually really, really love to workout. I love the feeling after a workout when I realize I have made my body a little bit stronger. I love sweating. The problem is that I am not very good at sticking to a routine. I have come up with all the excuses in the world. I don't like to run alone at night. I don't like to run alone in the morning. I don't like to run alone because it is boring. I just ate, I can't workout. I haven't eaten, I can't workout. I can't workout before bed. I am too tired in the morning to workout. And the list goes on.<div><br /></div><div>What keeps me motivated is the changes have I noticed since I started working out. I no longer get tired in the afternoon. At all. No three o'clock sleepiness for me. I also no longer feel I NEED a coffee. You know that feeling, when you wake up and can't see straight until you have a cup? That feeling has disappeared. I still enjoy my morning cup but I can now wait a few hours before I have it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The strange thing about my new workout? My weight has actually gone up but today I can almost fit into a skirt I bought during college AKA my skinniest time period. I guess I never really believed that muscle is heavier than fat. My body fat percentage is 21.3% down from 26.6% and I can't wait to drop it even lower.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the point of this post? Please exercise. Your heart will love you and the added results of energy will be worth it. I promise.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Sunday!</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-46689439232340669912010-03-11T15:02:00.000-08:002010-03-11T15:14:56.749-08:00Macarons=heaven<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8TYerkepyy2ixYvd1AflKBOLqrfbC-C9S7gZUWJBDcSJ8W6t17eMGjmHnsfv1QleFBY1Z-3WrY5C2V4H_2NX2it_HL9hnApxCSSx579IVMDhDlt7pX0LHUfFOJyJn8bJCf0Rf8Jvpx4/s400/158180078_e9c27cf139.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8TYerkepyy2ixYvd1AflKBOLqrfbC-C9S7gZUWJBDcSJ8W6t17eMGjmHnsfv1QleFBY1Z-3WrY5C2V4H_2NX2it_HL9hnApxCSSx579IVMDhDlt7pX0LHUfFOJyJn8bJCf0Rf8Jvpx4/s400/158180078_e9c27cf139.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I am not a macaron expert. Until two months ago they never even registered on my radar but NOW I feel I might die if I do not try every flavour. I am talking about French macarons. You know what I am talking about...those colourful little sandwich type pastries you always see in montages of Parisian food shows? Pastel colours...<div><br /></div><div>Well, I saw them in pictures too but I always assumed they would be dry and crunchy and flavourless. I am not sure why I made that assumption because I was dead wrong. My favourite blog <a href="http://www.domesticsluttery.com/">Domestic Sluttery</a> has an obsession with them. They seem to be constantly posting new spots to try them around London and you can almost hear them drooling as they were typing up their new reviews. When I had read the fourth review I thought to myself "Self, if these bloggers who I feel have amazing taste in most everything love these macarons what am I waiting for?" and that signalled the beginning of my love affair.</div><div><br /></div><div>I picked up my macarons today at a place called Nadedge in Toronto which is right across from Trinity Bellwoods park on Queen street W. Like I said, I am not a proper connoisseur by any means but what I do know is I gave away four macarons to four different people and every single one of these people gave me impressions of utter joy as they sunk their teeth into their little taste of heaven. </div><div><br /></div><div>So what is a French macaron? It is a sandwich cookie of meringue that is filled with either icing, ganache or a fruity jelly. Please try one if you see them. You can thank me later.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Thursday!</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-46779366911138076582010-03-11T12:47:00.001-08:002010-03-11T12:56:54.955-08:00Character love.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://laineygossip.com/pics/skarsgard%20bosworth%2011mar10%2016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 443px; height: 640px;" src="http://laineygossip.com/pics/skarsgard%20bosworth%2011mar10%2016.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I am now on the fourth book in the Sookie Stachouse series. This is the series that HBO's True Blood is loosely based around. I am addicted. It has vampires, werewolves and other "supes" but it is super smutty. And who doesn't love Sookie. I wish I WAS Sookie. These books are amazing and I have now been buying them in twos because I know when I finish the first one I will want to immediately want to start the second one. My mum can never start a new book the same day she finishes an old book. It's like she needs to let that one dwell or something. That being sad, she has stayed up very late finishing one book just so she can get to the next book waiting on her night stand. I digress...<br /><br />The thing about the Sookie Stackhouse books is that I have totally, head-over-heels, fallen in love with Eric. Like silly fallen for him. The strange part is that because I watched the series before I started reading the books, I have also fallen head-over-heels in love with Alexander Skarsgard. I swoon when I see his photo.....like the one posted above....sigh....<br /><br />So it begs the question, does good writing mean I have fallen for him or does good acting mean I have fallen for him???<br /><br />Happy Thursday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-6057303072802660172010-03-09T15:53:00.000-08:002010-03-09T16:10:38.195-08:00Another crazy dayWhat am I thinking about today?<div>Tonight is the last night of my eight week <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">boot camp</span>. We have measurements tonight. The last time we had measurements was four weeks ago. At that time I lost 22.5 inches. I felt amazing. I was on top of the world and so proud. This week I am not feeling so confident. I missed two of the classes from this round four week period. I have been mostly eating like crap. Ugh....but I am going to still be measured to see how (badly) I have done.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am doing <a href="http://www.bootycampfitness.com">Booty Camp Fitness</a>. Like I said, I am on the last day of my 8 week session. Every week my amazing teacher Susan switches things up. The first few classes we played tag as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cardio</span> warm up. How fun is that? Now we are doing agility ladders and I pretend I am in the army. It makes the hour go faster.</div><div><br /></div><div>I liked the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">boot camp</span> so much that I have already signed up for a second session. In fact, I signed up for a interim session as well. I will have two weeks with no <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">boot camp</span> so I am hoping I can start running outside again.....</div><div><br /></div><div>Alright, must throw on my sneakers and get outside.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Tuesday!</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-10313012588180114002009-11-27T20:15:00.000-08:002009-11-27T20:24:37.297-08:00Friday night movieI went out to the movies tonight with a couple girlfriends. We saw New Moon. I will not apologize for it.....or the fact that it is the second time I have seen it so far.....<br /><br />Anyhow, upon arriving home my living room is full of boys watching South Park so I have retreated to the basement with a glass of wine and my kitty Jakob curled up beside me. What a perfect time to blog.<br /><br />Life as a nanny is wonderful still! The girls crack me up every day and I almost feel the need to dedicate a whole page to "Little A's" phrases and the things she comes up with....this toddler seriously cracks me up. The Christmas Tree has gone up at work and she sits looking at it telling me what all the ornaments are...until i turn my back. At that point she starts to take them off the tree and then pretends she didn't know this is not allowed. This happens often. It is really, really funny but I, of course, keep a stern, straight face when I politely ask her to hang them back up.<br /><br />My insane knitting has progressed quickly. C promises to take a bunch of photos of the stuff I am knitting so I can post it. We will see if that ever happens....I bought this fab new knitting book called <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Boutique-Knits-20-Must-Have-Accessories/dp/1596680733">Boutique Knits</a> and I recommend it to anyone looking for wicked accessories.....I have already knit two hats this week!<br /><br />Happy Friday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-6237705856556168452009-11-03T17:49:00.000-08:002009-11-03T17:59:13.807-08:00Technology-arghhhhhh!!!!It is common knowledge I am not technologically inclined. In fact, many a computer has leaped to their tragic death to avoid contact with me. Humans I can handle......why must I be made to try and figure out a PC?<br /><br />I think the "PC" thing is the problem. I grew up with Macs.....we were happy, Macs and I. We typed papers together, we designed graphs and charts. We even started emailing. Then I met C. He was not a "Mac guy" and bowed down to the unholy god that is also know as "computer games". The games C liked to play were not compatible with Macs. My first question was, "why would you play a computer game when you can go outside and actually talk to people?" and then I remembered I was blogging.....hello kettle, this is the pot calling.<br /><br />I digress....<br /><br />This weekend we were in NYC cheering on my brother running in the marathon. We had an amazing time and my mom emailed me some photos. I clicked on "download"....and the stupid, freakimg pictures have entered into the abyss of this stupid computer. I tried searching for them and, instead, three copies of every photo that is on this godforsaken computer has come up.<br /><br />I do not want your pity. I do not want your computer related advice. I just want a f#%&*ing MAC.<br /><br /><br />Happy Tuesday.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-61461841969444676452009-09-18T16:51:00.000-07:002009-09-18T16:57:55.884-07:00I am on the ball...I have accomplished a lot today! This morning started off with laundry, I took the girls to <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/parks/riverdalefarm.htm"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Riverdale</span> Farm</a> and then I can back home and cleaned. I have caught up on a week's worth of Young and the Restless, I did yoga AND I finished knitting my first Christmas present! I basically rule....<br /><br />Last night at knitting night we convert a new member....my new co-worker Jennifer! Well, hopefully she wants to come back....<br /><br />What's new? Fall TV!!! The only good thing about this wretched season is the new TV shows. My favourite so far is Glee! Has anyone seen it? Fab...really, really fab.<br /><br />Alright, I am cooking a delicious meatless meatloaf for dinner with mashed potatoes and asparagus...mmmm...and C brought home key lime mini cupcakes. I am in heaven!<br /><br />Happy Friday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-62300736070548491132009-09-04T19:42:00.000-07:002009-09-04T19:51:24.261-07:00Long weekendToday I slept in until 10:30am. That, for me, is insane. This might show you how tired I have been lately. <br /><br />I have now been Mary Poppins, aka a nanny, for over a month. I am still absolutely loving it but it is putting a serious cramp in my energy level. That being said, I have also been switching <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">my</span> sleeping schedule to try and revolve myself to C's later schedule.....and until this week eating poorly. Anyhow, I am now back on track, eating well, catching up on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">zzzz's</span>. Life is good.<br /><br />What have I been up to these last few weeks? Loads. The girls are keeping me on my toes but I have also started watching True Blood AND Mad Men and I am seriously addicted. I watched the first two seasons of Mad Men in a week....the second season in one day. This is a problem. This will also show the people who "just can't get into it" that Mad Men gets <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">waaaay</span> better after the first four or so episodes. True Blood kicks ass and I now have my inspiration to try and look like Anna <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Paquin</span>...holy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">smokin</span>' hot body!!! I got a new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pilates</span> DVD so we will see how <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">successful</span> I am at using it...<br /><br />So, I will write more later. For now, sleepy time so I can be bright and perky for a breakfast in the Beach tomorrow morning!!!<br /><br />Happy Friday!!!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-11927480477361991192009-08-10T19:02:00.000-07:002009-08-10T19:11:38.408-07:00What's going on....Life has gotten busier. Or I have gotten more tired. <br /><br />It's a good thing, believe me. <br /><br />When last I blogged I had just taken a nanny position which I am LOVING still. This is how my days go:<br /><br />9am-arrive at work<br />9:15am- set out on an adventure with A, toddler in a stroller and G, 6 weeks old in a sling carrier. We usually end up at the waterfront watching the boats and airplanes land.<br />Noon-arrive back for lunch and time with their Mommy<br />2pm- 4pm Quiet reading and A goes down for a nap.<br />During her nap I feed and cuddle little G.<br />4pm-5:30pm playing inside or across the street at the park.<br /><br />I spend my days in the sand...I am actually starting to develop a bit of a tan!<br /><br />What I have learned from a toddler this week:<br />1. It is okay to read the same book over and over as long as you enjoy it every single time.<br />2. It is fun to laugh for no other reason than because someone gives you a funny face.<br />3. Ask for a cookie. Usually if you ask someone will give you one.<br />4. If you are strapped into a stroller you might not always have control of where you are going but if you ask loud enough to go to the park you will probably end up there.<br /><br />Happy Monday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-73635752582904801612009-08-04T19:58:00.000-07:002009-08-04T20:10:59.268-07:00Nanny, day 2.Okay, so I am aware that I have only been doing this nanny thing for two days BUT I am loving it. I basically get to be a kid again. Okay, so that is not entirely true. I get to be a kid half of the time and a negotiator the other half. My "charges" are two little girls. A is 23 months and G is five weeks old. Little G is pretty chill. You put her in a sling, she cuddles and sleeps for the majority of the day. I am sure once she gets older life will get more hectic but for now she sleeps, poops and eats. Today she was smiling at her Mommy which was really adorable.<br /><br />Little A rules. She is hilarious. Coolest kid ever. This afternoon after her nap we went into the kitchen to have her afternoon snack. A is just learning to talk and her vocabulary is expanding day by day. Her mom is trying to keep the kids on the same schedule so naps will become easier in the future but for now G sleeps most of the day. Her mom warned me that if A she sees G sleeping she wants to w<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ake</span> her up. Anyhow, I am in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">kitchen</span> with A and a cuddly sleepy G. A is having her snack and looks at G and says "'wake?" meaning "is she awake?" and I say "No, G is sleeping". A looks back at me and put a finger up to her lips and says "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">shhhh</span>!" which is obviously her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mimicking</span> what her parents say to her at home when the baby is sleeping. A then says quietly, "Morning G!" and then a little louder...and then a little louder. G is still sleeping.<br /><br />At this point I really want to see where this is going to go. So A starts to give G kisses on her head. First gently. Her kisses then start to become more and more aggressive. Still nothing. I am not stopping it because I want to see how her little toddler mind works. She <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">asks</span> to give G a hug, so I let her hug us both. G keeps sleeping. It is right around this time that A sees her tactics didn't work and she goes back to her snack. It was pretty hilarious.<br /><br />Happy Tuesday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-64613290878812539292009-07-28T15:54:00.000-07:002009-07-28T16:08:31.711-07:00This week so far....So, if you count the week starting on Saturday, which I am going to do for this purpose, have been very busy.<br /><br />Saturday afternoon brought with it flood number one. In Toronto we had some flash flooding. My bedroom is in a basement.....my bedroom was flooded. C and I were in the backyard trying to stop the water and in the bedroom bailing out water from the window well. It was a very unpleasant experience.<br /><br />Saturday evening brought over our friends Pete, Nathalie and Adam and loads of fun card playing. That made me happier. I drank away some of my stress.<br /><br />Sunday afternoon brought along even more rain and there was no stopping the flood this time. The carpet was ripped out and it is now a damp concrete and a metal bed frame in my formerly serene bedroom. Needless to say, the air mattress we have been sleeping on in the spare room has not been giving me restful nights.<br /><br />Monday was happier! I spend the afternoon with some cool ladies and their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bebes</span>! I played the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">role</span> of "mom" without having to actually go through the pain and stress of having a child and it got me ready for my new role as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">uber</span>-nanny. Or nanny-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">extraordinaire</span>. No, I will not simply be a "caregiver" I will be the coolest person they will ever get to hang out with! This will be a task since everyone who knows me will probably agree that I am mostly lame....<br /><br />Today I tried a little bit of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">uber</span>-nanny role and spent the morning with just one of my new "wards" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Aoife</span>. She is the neatest little kid. We went to H&M, Shoppers <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Drug</span> Mart and ended up for an hour at the park playing in the sand and enjoying our yummy snacks and water. One thing about me? I have no issue getting dirty in the sand and actually chatting with my little friends. One mother followed her toddler around chatting on the phone and not even interacting with the child....made me very sad.<br /><br />I also successfully bottle-fed little Gwen (4 weeks old today) This was her first bottle and she took to it so well....this means I will be much more flexible since I can be out longer because she won't need to see Mommy for her food. This makes me elated! I can go to the waterfront! I go go to further away parks! This summer will be grand!!!<br /><br />Happy Tuesday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-39328791681065877092009-07-24T17:47:00.000-07:002009-07-24T18:02:37.115-07:00Tripping Daisy...I have Tripping Daisy's "I've got a girl" stuck in my head. I still call this song one of my favourites. I plugged it into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">itunes</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Spacehog</span> also showed up. When I got Resident Alien I played it non-stop! It was a great album. It is missing from my collection.....along with a few others. Maybe I loaned them and forgot about it. Maybe they were left at other people's homes.<br /><br />The album I miss is Twice Removed by Sloan. In my opinion they peaked at this point. The album is solid from start to finish. Maybe this dates me....."If I drink concentrated OJ..." I remember very vividly listening to this album on my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Walkman</span> on the way to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">high school</span>. Cheryl and I were even in one of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">their</span> videos at York University....<br /><br />What did you listen to in high school?<br /><br />Happy Friday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-25563874785585494612009-07-22T18:30:00.000-07:002009-07-22T18:46:54.894-07:00In other news....I am officially a nanny. In two weeks I will be caring for a month old infant and a toddler. Scary, yes? How did I go from the girl who cringed at children to the one who wants to care for them? If anyone says something about my biological clock I swear I will hunt you down....<br /><br />In other news, C and I have just made our living room into a Moroccan theme. The funny thing about this is that our dining room was supposed to be Moroccan themed. We then realized we NEVER go into our dining room. There are two of us living here. To be honest we usually sit in front of the TV and eat out meals. The theme is a work in progress so I guess we will see how it works out....a good excuse to drink mint tea? Who knows, next week it could be back to green and pink. My styling is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">tres</span> schizophrenic sometimes....<br /><br />Tomorrow "new girl" starts at work and I am thrilled. K and I are buying croissants and lattes to celebrate. We are going to sweeten her up (or butter her...croissant...get it?) so hopefully she will like us forever.<br /><br />Alright, enough blabbing...must find a new book to read. I just finished "<a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Paris-Enigma-A-Novel-Santis-P-De/9780061479670-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527paris+enigma%2527">Paris Enigma</a>" by Pablo De <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Santis</span> and LOVED it. C bought it while we were in London. Highly recommend to mystery lovers, or Paris lovers, or history lovers. Or book lovers I guess. Pick it up, you'll love it.<br /><br />I also read the new Marian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Keyes</span> book "<a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/This-Charming-Man-Marian-Keyes/9780141039695-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527marian+keyes%2527">This Charming Man</a>" and liked it too. A few years back I became OBSESSED with Marian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Keyes</span>. I read every book she wrote....and then...well, the only way I can describe what happened is becoming allergic to her writing style. When I started to read one of her books my mouth went dry and I felt slightly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">nauseous</span>. I had overdosed on the lovely Irish author. This is the first I have picked up since and it was fab. Intelligent chick lit.<br /><br />The third book I finished this month is "<a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Obsession-Deceit-Really-Dark-Chocolate-Kyra-Davis/9780373895533-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527Kyra+Davis%2527">Obsession, deceit and really dark chocolate</a>" which is one in a series of mystery novels by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kyra</span> Davis. This is another author I love, but that tends to give me the dry mouth thingy. I overindulge on authors. It is completely my fault. These books have clever, clever titles and I love the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">heroine</span>. I just read another new one has come out so I guess I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">will</span> be picking that one up to...<br /><br />Does anyone have a book recommendation? Nothing too heavy, it is summer after all. Message me if you do.<br /><br />Happy Wednesday!!!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-12761858896741638942009-07-16T13:47:00.000-07:002009-07-16T13:51:07.604-07:00NASA....hoax or truth?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Science/Images/astronaut-free-flight-above-earth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Science/Images/astronaut-free-flight-above-earth.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Adding further fuel to the conspiracy theories, NASA admitted this week that they erased and taped over the original moon landing footage. Really? You didn't really think it was something you might want to look back on in the future? Their reasoning? It was being used for more of a "live TV event" than anything else......stunned silence from the rest of the world is the appropriate response.<br /><br />The idea that maybe the moon-landing WAS all an anti-Soviet cold war hoax is starting to seem more and more realistic.<br /><br />Happy Thursday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288615667859234641.post-48490959567316163352009-07-15T12:27:00.000-07:002009-07-15T12:32:27.967-07:00If I ruled the world...If I ruled the world there would be cupcakes in every coffee shop. Fresh ones with sprinkles. <br /><br />If I ruled the world coffee would be served in a french press and it would be dark and hot. And no one could speak to another person in the morning before having at least two cups....<br /><br />If I ruled the world champagne would be a mandatory beverage every night after work. Maybe it would even come through the taps....<br /><br />What would you do if you ruled the world?<br /><br />Happy Wednesday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09000409324351070388noreply@blogger.com3