Isn't it your favourite?

Conversation with co-worker:

Me: That is my favourite paint chip!
Her: You can have a favourite paint chip?
Me: You can when it's in the shape of a grasshopper.

Grasshopper paint chip

Photos from my trip to Ukraine

All photos from my trip to Ukraine can be found here at my Flickr account.

If you would rather not wade through 500 photos (even though I did separate them into topic) you can see a few choice pics via my Facebook.  Even if you don't have a Facebook.  Or, if you're not my friend.

Friends and Family of Ukraine
Kiev and Dniepropetrovsk pictures
Dogs and Cats of Ukraine
Alupka, Yalta & Ay Petri 
Count Some Dude's Castle
White Palace

Children I stalked in Ukraine

One of my favourite things to do is take pictures of little kids without them knowing it.  Now, yes, this is creepy and stalkerish, but not if you're a tourist!  No one notices you taking pictures when you're a tourist.  So, I got to take pictures of some of the most adorable kids and didn't get arrested.  Win win!

Waiting for the tour to start.

Tuckered out

Waiting

In awe

She was adorable. The next shot of her, she's smacking her Dad on the head.

All dressed up!

My favourite part about Ukrainian children is that they dress like children.  No little girls dressed like tramps here.  The moms are the only ones who do that.  Being a little kid seems to last longer here and they just go along their merry little ways.  At the beach, they didn't need swim suits and no one freaked out that some crazy person was going to be there.  In town, they were little kids in spring dresses, overalls, and adorable outfits.  I loved all the kids I saw.  And I talked to them which freaked the heck out of all of them.

I really need to get my own kid so I can stop bothering everyone else's.

Monty in a normal sized sweater

I have finished the second doggy sweater. This one fits and Monty is much pleased with it. I will likely make another one as there are changes I plan to make to the design, but the overall concept is great. So here he is standing tall this time.

Look Mom, it fits!!

Side view.  I sit like a good boy.

Flowers and running away

I am leaving my husband.  Yes, it's only for 8 days, but it will be a glorious 8 days.  I'm not pleased to be leaving my husband and dog behind, but I am pleased to flee this province, my job, and all the crap associated with it all.

I have been testy lately.  I am bored and irritated.  Work is making me angry and listless.  I don't want to talk to anyone or do anything and I just want the whole world to leave me alone.  I know what you're thinking, "How is that different from every day?"  Well, "shut up" is my answer.

I haven't had a holiday in awhile, so I think -- for my sanity and the sanity of my husband -- a little running away is just what I need.  I am fleeing to go visit Ky for 8 days in the sunny and fair weathered Vic BC.  I haven't had a break from work and home since September when I got married.  And, as fun as it was, it was not a break.  Before that, I had a break in July, and I moved.  So, that wasn't much of a break either.

When I don't get breaks from work -- long, extended weeks or two away -- I get apathetic.  No crisis, no trouble, no emotional turmoil, can make me give a flying rat's pat toot.  This is not so much how a counsellor should be.  Most of the time, I care.  Deeply.  If I don't, I can pretend.  But now I have been having a hard time even pretending to pretend to caring.

Thus the break.  I am taking time to recharge -- hopefully with my empathy, but also with my humour.  Because right now?  I'm grouchy AND not funny.  Who wants that?

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An aside: The Guy bought me flowers "Just because it's been awhile since he bought them last".  Yay!  I took a couple of pictures with the sunset setting on my camera and some others with normal setting.  Someday, I hope to know how to take pictures without "auto".  But not right now.

He's a good man. I think I'll come back.

Pictures you find when you're going through boxes

Since LynnieC is here this weekend, I have forced her to help me go through boxes of family memorabilia which is taking up my entire garage and basement storage.  We cleared out boxes of books, knick knacks, etc.  It lead us to a great deal of pictures which were unsorted and highly amusing!  People are really going to wish we didn't find these pictures, but too bad.

Here is one of my father in a witch's hat with a teddy bear.  Why?  I do not know.  But it is awesome.

And here is one of LynnieC as a pirate.

The piece de resistance: my crazy Grandma and her two sisters doing "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."  Old people are hilarious.

Grandma, Auntie Jean, and Auntie Margaret.  

I think it's a good thing Auntie Margaret wasn't "speak no evil" as she cannot be quiet that long.

Warning: My cleavage may punch you in the eye. Sorry about that.

My wedding pictures are in!  Yes, it's almost three months since we got married, but there's an explanation for why they are so late.  


My photographer fell off a roof.


The plan was to have the pictures back a few weeks after the wedding.  However, my photographer and his wife had to go out of town for two weeks, so the pictures were pushed into the middle of October. But, just when they returned from their trip, they got the flu.  With the H1N1 flying around everywhere, it was understandable that the pictures would be a little later.  Like the end of October.


And then my photographer fell off a roof.


He spent some time in hospital as they tried to determine if he had a brain bleed on top of the broken collar bone and cracked ribs.  Then he spent a long time resting in order to be able to be awake for more than an hour at a time.  The second CAT scans showed no brain bleed and no brain damage (which everyone was so thankful for knowing another family who did not have such good news).  He was on the road to recovery! He then started physio.

But, today while I was in bed with a migraine, the pictures arrived at our door!  Once I was awake (and the light wasn't making me want to rip out my own eyes) The Guy and I loaded the CD into the computer.  And started the process of uploading over 950 pictures.   It took over half an hour and by then I was almost late for my meeting.  


But, finally, I have uploaded a select few onto Facebook.  I narrowed it down to 59 pics.  Here they are.  Don't worry if you don't have an FB account -- you don't have to for this link. 


Later I will upload all of them to Flickr so they will be held safe for eternity.   I'll let you know.

And then Christmas threw up in our house

Since we got our tree up yesterday, I thought today would be a good day to decorate for Christmas.  And, since I got a new camera for Christmas (that I got to open early! -- because it was never wrapped!) I get to take awesome pictures of said Christmas decorations.

Christmas Angel

Our "fireplace"

Tree fully decorated

The topper -- a penguin in a hat

Don't worry.  

Dave Letterman made the tree this year again.

Family Heirlooms - Cowboy edition

I have a plethora of crap in my house. I have my own crap - things I have been collecting and buying for about 30 years in the off chance I will someday read it, use it, need it, or be able to sell it. Add to that some of my sisters' crap they left behind in their many moves and my father's crap which he thoughtfully left behind when he high-tailed it out of the country, and my house is one hell of a mess.

With an upcoming move and wedding in the future (although, I guess that's what upcoming means) I have decided it is high time I cleaned up some around here. This motivation is brought to you by "accidentally slept all day" and "am totally not tired". That and the number "3".

I started in the basement. And hauled it all upstairs. Why? This is where the TV and computer are. Duh. I went through all the books that someone brought to my house from my grandparents farm after they died. I guess I should just be pleased I did not also get their entire collection of Readers Digests and National Geographics dating back to 1893.

Then, I unearthed the box of toys belonging to my father. GOLD MINE. Well, if gold were being offered for little plastic toys of Cnl Custard, a buffalo, and a sheep with missing feet (that somehow mysteriously still stands). While I was taking pictures of everything for my father to look at and tell me what to do with things, I thought I would show everyone else what we discovered.

This is the coolest (and most sellable) item down there.
An original "Wagons of the Old West" Wooden kit. Very cool.

An old knife scabbard. No actual knife to go with it,
but it's leather and has my Dad's name carved into it.
Who doesn't need one of these?

And no house is complete without the metal statue of an Indian Chief
that displays the date and year.
The inscription on the little button part reads "Rosetown RCMP"
which means the RCMP gave out these statues.
Ah, irony. They rounded them up and then used them for knick knacks.

I remember playing with these when I was a kid,
so I guess I'm impressed they lasted so long.
Not sure what happened to the sheep's feet, but he can stand anyway.
He doesn't let a disability get in the way.

The rifle makes me happy. It is a 5 inch metal rifle.
No idea where it came from, but it is awesome.

Gallery showing

The couple who are doing the photos for The Guy's and my wedding are being featured at a local coffee shop this month. It's pretty exciting, so I am encouraging all local friends to head there and check them out. Not only will you see some great work, but you will be insanely jealous about the professionals who are shooting my our most special day.

Here is the write up on them:

Free Lense PhotoGraphic is holding a new photo exhibit called 'Glimpses of the World'

During a 14 month journey through 17 countries across Europe, India, Polynesia and the Far East
Svetlana and Alf saw and photographed the uniqueness of places, people, architecture and nature
that are a must to see.

This exhibit displays the grandeur of Rome to the peaceful tranquility of the backwaters of southern India.

Atlantis Coffee Victoria Ave. and Hamilton St. are host to this exhibit, so why not come and enjoy your favourite tea or coffee and feast your eyes on images that will inspire you to go out and see your own 'Glimpses of the World'.

My life in fashion: A history in pictures

At a young age, I learned to rock both the suspenders and the faux fur stole.
You're jealous. Admit it.

I was quite fetching in my spring hat and two piece.
My belly still looks like that. So do my thighs.

Early on, I realized a low neckline was the way to catch attention.
I believe this was my father's dress.

Again with the cleavage.
However, this time, I distracted people with a lovely chapeau.

Ky and me

LynnieC and me

Photo memories

This is how I remember my childhood.

Won't know what hit him

This picture is NOT Montel. Even though it looks exactly like him. And will look even more like him when I make him wear bunny ears next year for Easter. Awesome.

Picture provided by http://stephanierice.smugmug.com/

Happy Easter to Monty

I gave Monty the empty lasagna pan to lick out. He's been in this corner for 25 minutes already. I'm not sure if he's still breathing regularly. I figure he'll pass out soon enough.

Self Portrait FAIL

I know, I used a gamer term. Whatever, I'm hip with the new fab lingo. And when you see these pictures, you will know why I used it.

Here is my first attempt. Not sure what I found so amusing, but there it is.
Could my nose be any bigger??

And here is my "Muppet" face. In this one, I was trying to be serious and smile.
Instead, I just look a little mental and surprised.

Oops! Flash is on.

There. FINALLY. A decent picture of me with my new hair. I like it.

Pictures of Monty

Here are some links of pictures of my one remaining dog Montel.

Cute as can be.
Gradumagation.
Football jacket.
Halloween hula.

Happy Birthday

Today would have been Mom's 60th birthday. Almost 5 years she's been gone. I miss her now more than ever before.

Mom and Dad preparing to leave for their honeymoon in 1974.

A vacation tale in pictures

I'm back. I had a good time, but am glad I'm home. I'm tired. I have a few days before I have to go to work which is good because apparently I am heading into a crap storm. Sigh.

We walked to a cove. There were rocks.

Vicki likes rocks.

I was pensive. And so I took a picture.

We went to a grove. There were trees. Lots of trees.

I like trees.

This picture pretty much explains our weekend. Lots of silliness.
If there was also food and a fart cloud in the shot, it would be complete.

Regularly scheduled posting should resume tomorrow. For now, I am starting to watch all the TV I've recorded for the week.