Cancer can just f*!# off

September 28, 2007 at 7:22 am (Friends)

Two people I care a lot about were diagnosed this week with cancer.

My 38 year old girlfriend was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer.  My 42 year old non smoking neighbour has Stage 2 lung cancer.

I am out of sorts, to put it mildly, since hearing about both of them.

I’m off to Boston this afternoon to spend the week end with my girlfriend, her husband and 3 little boys.  I need to put my arms around her and remind myself she’s a fighter.  I need to hold her little boys and let them know Auntie Jo Jo will always be there for them.  I need to hug her husband and let him cry on my shoulder.  The phone’s just not cutting it right now.

5 Comments

I outed myself…..

September 26, 2007 at 11:36 am (Stuff)

to Jen yesterday in an email.  I have a new boyfriend.

I haven’t intentionally kept quiet about it, more trying to get use to it myself.

We’ve known each other for 15 years, so not much new to get use to, except for the fun stuff :)   I’m trying to get use to how nice and considerate he is.  And no, that’s not me saying I don’t deserve happiness, more admitting I have dated every loser in the Greater Toronto Area.

His nickname from his pro hockey days is Rhino, so that’s what we’ll be calling him here. 

Rhino’s coming with me to Hilton Head, as the trip is not purely for vacation.  My dad left my sister and I a townhouse on the Island and we need to figure out what to do with it – rent or sell?

So, I leave you with an approved pic of the new beau and the disclaimer that I am not responsible for his sometimes questionable clothing choices.

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6 Comments

Hi, my name is Josie and I am a klutz.

September 24, 2007 at 3:16 pm (The comedy act that is my life)

Decided to sneak out of work and hop on over to Starbucks for an afternoon pick me up.

As we got out of the car, I tripped, fell, broke my glasses and tore the skin off my elbow.

I am a klutz.  Anyone know where I can get a deal on a bubble outfit?

7 Comments

Hey look, bullets again!!

September 24, 2007 at 11:57 am (Family, Stuff, Wonder Boy)

This week end kicked my ass.  In no particular order:

  • I worked 20 hours over the week end, which was not planned and proved how old I really am.
  • I finished 2 papers for school.
  • WB slightly redeemed himself from breakfastgate by doing 4 loads of laundry Sunday afternoon.
  • There is considerable construction going on across the street from me as they redevelop the lakefront.  Apparently no one taught them the whole “Call before you dig.”  Our phone/Internet/cable lines were cut Saturday afternoon.  As of 12pm EST today they are still not working.  A lot of PS2 and movies this week end.
  • WB and I started researching scholarships and bursaries for University.  There is so much to do it gave me a headache.
  • My sister and I finished sorting all my Dad’s stuff.
  • I helped my 6 month pregnant friend pack half her house, as she moves on Thursday.  Packing with a 17 month old running around?  Not fun.
  • I booked a flight to here for Canadian Thanksgiving. 
  • I bought $200 US at the bank Friday and it only cost me….$7.28!!! 

And here is a pic of what I came home to Saturday night…mine is the one in shorts, passed out.

4 Comments

Overheard in our house at 5:45am

September 21, 2007 at 2:53 pm (Wonder Boy)

WB had a Volleyball tournament this morning and had set MY alarm for 5:30am so I could make him breakfast and his lunch.  He’s all thoughtful like that :)

After making his breakfast, I started on his lunch, while blindly guzzling coffee and trying to keep my eyes open.  I heard WB shuffle into the kitchen and the following conversation ensued:

WB:  “What’s this?”

Me:  “Your breakfast.”

WB:  “Oh. (insert sigh)  Not really what I wanted.”

Me:  “Buddy, this isn’t Chateau Grandma, nor is it a restaurant.  And what’s wrong with what I made?” (A home made Bacon Egg M*Muffin on a croissant – figured he could walk to school and eat it at the same time)

WB:  “It’s not the same as the real thing.  It tastes…”

Me:  “Good?  Homemade?  Lacking a crap load of preservatives and unpronounceable chemicals?”

WB:  “Well, yeah.  That’s what makes Mickey D’s so good and yours kinda lacking.”

Me:  “Congrats, you just talked yourself out of a breakfast cook for at least a week.”

6 Comments

May I suggest a different freight company next time?

September 20, 2007 at 3:52 pm (Work)

So, I had a member call me this afternoon, all freaked out because the 45K custom flyers he ordered had shown up and they were damaged.  Now, I feel bad, but it was an insanly busy day and I was brain dead – so the conversation went a long the lines of this:

Member:  ”They’re all over the back of the trailer and flying out the door.  What do I do?”

Me:  “Close the door?”  Start quietly laughing.

Member:  “Not funny.  I’m sending you a picture – you need to get me a credit.”

I have ordered a whole new set of flyers to be delivered ASAP and I’m pretty sure there will be no argument about the credit from the freight company after they see this picture:

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4 Comments

Who knew a Frat house and grow op had so much in common?

September 19, 2007 at 12:16 pm (The comedy act that is my life)

Since my lovely new neighbours have moved in, I have noticed, heard, been awoken by or cursed the following:

  • The wall of beer cases that is forming on their front porch.  A month.  They have only been here a month and there are over 60 cases stacked out front.  And these cases?  They are multiplying at an alarming rate as there was one trip to return them about 2 1/2 weeks ago.   This is our future people.
  • Constant stream of cars at any given time between the hours of Noon and 4am.  I figure they are either sleeping or maybe, just maybe,  attending a class or two during those 8 hours it seems like no one is home.
  • Bed sheets for curtains and not clean or nice ones at that.
  • Beer cans, liquor bottles and pizza boxes littering the back yard and somehow making the jump over the 7 ft privacy fence into my yard :)   Oh, and the odd pair of underwear.  I don’t ask, I just pull out the hazmet gloves.
  • Fights!!  Oh, the late night fights.  Let me tell you, those university girls have lungs on them and the guys??  The use of the English language is enough to make their Grade 8 English teacher hang her head in despair.

And what does this all have to do with a grow op you ask?  Well, as cited by the 6 cruisers and vans with Special Task Force officers – my new neighbours have been growing quite the extensive collection of pot plants in the basement!!!  Can you hear the property values dropping?  The noise is deafening.

Sitting out back last Friday night, we noticed a lot of flashing lights coming from the front.  And then?  Yelling and people trying to run out the back of the house and climb my fence, only to be dragged back down by some 6ft 3 mountain of a man with a rifle.  Who says small towns are boring?

So like the nosy people we are, around the front we sauntered.  I had cruisers on my lawn!!  Officers with guns and rifles pointed at the front of the Frat House!!  Someone on a bull horn advising them they were surrounded and to come out with their hands up!!  I was in the middle of an episode of Cops with no makeup on and a hole in my sweatshirt.  Yep, I fit right in.

I had to answer a gazillion questions that highlighted how obtuse I am to things going on around me;  5 of the guys were hauled off and it took 2 days for the authorities to clean out the house, etc.  So 2 days of yellow police tape and cruisers out front.  I have become such a hick ;)

When WB came home Friday night the following conversation ensued:

WB: What’s going on next door?

Me:  Apparently they were running a grow op and they got busted tonight.  You missed all the excitement.

WB:  Really?!?  Well that explains the other day.

Me:  The other day?

WB:  Yeah, some guy rang the door bell and asked me if this is the house where you buy the pot.

Me:  WTF?!?  And you’re just telling me now???

WB:  I told him to try next door and never saw him again, so I forgot about it.  What’s the big deal?

Me:  Obviously I’ve been lax in some of my parental duties.  For future, if someone stops by here trying to buy drugs, let me know.  Ok?

6 Comments

I am late but can think of nothing better than spreading some love…..

September 15, 2007 at 7:25 pm (Friends)

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Jen was kind enough to award this to me.  Why I don’t know, seeing as I have been either ranting or feeling sorry for myself of late…but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?  Jen is witty and an also awesome late night emailer.  Her procrastination abilities put mine to shame :) .  Her compassion and insight is a welcome part of every day.  And her daughters always make me laugh and astound me with their maturity.  I have asked if we can clone them so I can have my own versions, but she’s being ignoring that request.

Now, if someone would just explain to me how to put these in you sidebars, I’d be off to the races.  And by explain, I mean, I’ll give you my login and password and you can do it for me.  Any takers???  Didn’t think so.  Onto the people who make me smile daily.

Alison at Party of 3.  Not only is she a fellow Canadian girl, just 350km or so down the highway, but she’s a single mom.  Her daughter’s are a wealth of blog material and she is humourous all on her own too.  I heart Alison and wish she had time to blog more.

Sizzle.  What can I say I haven’t said before?  I love her.  And if you aren’t reading her on a daily basis, you should be.

Mooselet.  There are many things I could tell you about Mooselet:  4 kids, 2 dogs, a husband and she’s an expat living down under.  She is funny, compassionate and been an awesome friend to me through a really tough time.  What are you waiting for…go!

Minnesota Madness.  She continues to boggle my mind and make me laugh.  How on earth someone juggles 5 kids, the Big Ug and currently major dental surgery is beyond me.  She is a must in your daily reads and a good friend. 

Major Bedhead.  This is a definite read and one I don’t get to often enough.  She is unbelievably strong and able to put a humourous twist on even the toughest of times.

6 Comments

How I met the new girlfriend….

September 15, 2007 at 6:28 pm (Wonder Boy)

After the bird fiasco and the police raid next door last night, my cousin and I decided to stroll over to the neighbourhood pub and have a beer.  Kinda celebrate the craziness that is my life and hopefully knock me out.  Sleep is my nemisis these days.

As we were walking past the Arts Center, this was coming towards us.  Before I realized who it was, I commented “Oh to be young and small enough to have someone piggy back me.”  Imagine my surprise when we discovered who it was:

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Meet WB’s new girlfriend Kelsi.  Crazy kids.  But she’s sweet.  And polite.  And cute.  And has an infectious laugh, with a beautiful smile.  And WB’s so insanely happy when he’s with her, I couldn’t be happier for both of them.  Teenage love is the best.

4 Comments

What’ll it be…so much to choose from

September 14, 2007 at 10:49 pm (The comedy act that is my life, Work)

Who knew I would have sooo many options to blog about in one night?

I can tell you about my meeting at work with my boss and my boss’ boss to see if I was resigning or not.

I can tell you about the bird that flew into my house within 5 minutes of getting home.

Or I can tell you about the 6 cruisers and a lengthy visit from the local police about my lovely new neighbours.

I’m going to choose work because I’m tired after all the festivities tonight and to short change my darlin blog friends on the hilarity that ensued would just be mean.

For the sake of this post, HB (His Boss) and MB (My Boss).  The following may or may not have been said during the meeting:

HB:  Josie likes working here, we like having her here, the members like having her here, so that is not going to change if I have any say in it – so deal with it.

HB:  Josie takes great pride in her work, which I would hope everyone would and when she has to take bullet after bullet because she’s not getting any support – I would be extremely frustrated as well.  I would have broken a helluva a lot sooner.

HB:  For some reason Josie, you think I’m too busy for you to come to me for issues that are unresolved.  That is going to change today.  I will be there for you whether I am in the office or not.  Just contact me however suits you and I will take care of the issue.

HB:  Josie didn’t come to me in malice but out of frustration.  There will be no grudges held against her as I will not tolerate it.

WB:  I think Josie has a perception issue with me not any actual issues.  I do believe she has blown this out of proportion as she has been somewhat emotional since her father passed.  (I kid you not internets, this is what I deal with everyday)

HB:  I’m sure when you called her a stupid bitch it was a “perception issue” too.  That shits not happening anymore either.

So, if it had not ben inappropriate I would’ve hugged HB.  This afternoon saw a noticable shift in the way MB speaks to me.  I also had an employee tell me I seemed considerably less stressed.  This afternoon was the first afternoon I have enjoyed being at work in longer than I can remember.  I just hope it sticks.

Thanks to all for your comments and support thru this – you guys are awesome, absolutely awesome.

Tomorrow…tales of my bird catching

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