This year Jenny and Aaron, veteran Winterluders, invited us along to Ottawa. Jenny booked hubby and I at the Alanbury House Bed & Breakfast, complete with resident cat Penelope and jacuzzi tub. It was wonderful.

We skated, ate Beavertails, saw a great trampoline exhibition by the Canadian Olympic skiiers and snowboarders.

I finally committed and bought a snowboard. I went to The Lounge on the recommendation of my friend Tony (who designed their website). I was told to talk to Josh. I walked in, met Josh, gave him my backstory (still a beginner, don't want to fall, etc.)... he walked over to the rack of snowboards and pulled out the Solace by Ride, made especially for women....

When I saw the beautiful little pandas staring up at me... the clouds parted, angels sang, and the heavens spoke, "this is the chosen one".

Josh pulled out a couple more less pricey options, but I'll be honest, given that the techie specs of the board seemed to fit my needs better, I was willing to pay extra for cuteness. I don't think I had a choice. The snowboard had chosen me.

I haven't had a chance to ride it yet, but even if I never ride it, just looking at it brings me happiness. I may just hang my zen board on the wall in my living room and use it for art instead of sport.

It truly is a thing of beauty.

Be Like Mike.... 's Sister

If you want breast accoutriments like Janet Jackson, search no longer.... you can buy them at Tribalectic.com (attaching barbell sold separately).

Even though I bought a snowboard this weekend, I can't help but wish with all my heart and soul that this was me, at Monkey Mia resort in Australia, petting dolphins.

I was very saddened to hear that Adam Sandler's dog Meatball died last month. Of all things, he died of a heart attack. He was only 4.

Today was Go Red for Women day to promote awareness of heart disease in women. Apparently women don't recognize their heart attack symptoms and just the awareness could save your life.

They say that most heart attacks start slowly. Here are the symptoms:

- Chest discomfort... in the center of the chest... lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body... can include discomfort in arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath
- other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

To learn more, go to the American Heart Association site. If you enroll, you can get this very cute pin.

Movies Movies Movies

Daniela has been using Netflix for years and recommended it many times over. Last month I FINALLY signed up and I love it! For $20 a month, you get as many DVDs as you can watch... three at a time. Each time you send one back (even if it's a month later), they send you the next one in your queue within days.

I started off renting Colin Firth movies:
Pride and Prejudice: Vol. 1 (vg)
Pride and Prejudice: Vol. 2 (vg)
My Life So Far (g)
Fever Pitch (g)

Then went for a semi-mainstream George Clooney movie:
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (vg)

And moved on to Indy flicks:
Y Tu Mama Tambien (vvg)
Whale Rider (vvg)
The Shape of Things (good, but pissed me off)

Today I received 'I'm With Lucy', which likely isn't good, but rented it because I liked Gael Garcia Bernal in Y Tu Mama Tambien. Side note: Gael is also going to be in the new Pedro Almodovar movie, Bad Education.

And coming soon, my queue contains:
Capturing the Friedmans
Lost in Translation (worth watching again)
Queer as Folk: Season 1 (also worth watching again)

I like Netflix not just because it's convenient, but because it's so easy to search for movies... think how difficult it would be to go to the video store and find all the movies for your Christopher Guest Movie Marathon Party.

Another marketing point they should pick up on... the ability to rent Malibu's Most Wanted without getting dirty looks from the Skater Punk Video Store Clerk. (Not that I'D do that, I just recognize it as a benefit).

Strangeness

Couple strange things occured on my ride home... first, I'm stopped by 3 deer standing smack dab in the middle of the road. I beep, they barely move... I yell, "get out of the road!" Again, hardly a flinch... I yell again, "don't MAKE me come over there!"... they wander off very slowly...

Observation: the deer this year have extra fluffy fur

Than, a guy on a bike rides by. Why is that strange, you ask? Because he's riding his bike at 10pm, on a Wednesday, in 23 degree weather with a wind chill factor of about 97 below. Strange!

Bubblicious

Janet Jackson SOOO meant to do that. You don't wear a solar-burst ring thing without expecting it to be seen.

Celebs are just out of control with their antics these days. On that note, why is it that it seems like the only male nudity you see these days are old guy's butts? Jack Nicholson (Something's Gotta Give), Danny Devito (Big Fish), Harvey Keitel (every movie he's in)...

I love all things Aveda. Not only are their products wonderful, but they also donate to Rare to help protect the planet. Couple of my faves:


Curessence Damage Relief
Shampoo and Conditioner


Hand Relief lotion

... meanwhile... elsewhere in the world...
Dead Whale With 5 Foot Penis Explodes Onto Streets of Taiwan.

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

Ma'am, would you like some fries to go with that bicept curl?

Jenny & I worked out today... fourth day this weeks... very good, you say? Yes, but for dinner, I followed up with a bacon cheeseburger and fries.

Also this week... Jenny brought in a GINORMOUS tub of Laffy Taffy. I only like the banana flavor, so I'd root through and pick out all I could find... getting more scarce with each passing day. Today, with my stress level high and no yellow wrappers visible, I desperately dumped out the tub and managed to find one last handful of golden buried treasures. Barely a minute passed and I had devoured six of them. Take time to read the jokes, you ask? NOPE... peel, eat, peal, eat, peal, eat... I stopped myself with four left, which I brought to Joel, shaking, and asked him to save me from this downward spiral...

I'm scared because I'm well aware of the fact that you can buy a whole tub of JUST BANANA. I have done so in the past and it wasn't pretty. Three women, one tub, gone in 3 days... works out to a 20-a-day habit. That's 750 calories worth of sugary banana heaven in one day!

Now you know why I'm worried the addiction will kick back into full swing. Damn you Willy Wonka!

Hello, my name is Tina, and I'm a product addict, with newly restored internet connection and a weakness for clever marketing...

These Lube-in-a-Tube lip balms from Urban Decay are cool-looking, cool-sounding, and probably taste yummy. The description on Sephora reads: This rich, creamy shea butter and mango-enriched lip balm leaves your lips smooth and kissed with a hint of sexy, vanilla-mint infused color. Gotta get me some NYC.


Also just ordered some new Cleansing Queen goodies. With names like Liquid Lingerie, Sugar Daddy, and Butter Me Up, how can you resist?

I know alot of us are bunny huggers, but this Penguin Batting game is still fun.

For the past few weeks, my internet connection had been getting worse and worse, to the point of driving me insane.

When I first call, they say "no problem found, it must be your computer". So I delete many applications & files, check for viruses, reinstall my operating system... no improvement. Call again... they send two burly-guy techs, who show up, reaking of smoke, get snow and dirt all over the rugs (yes, I was too meek to ask them to take their boots off... I HAVE seen "The Cable Guy"... but honestly, shouldn't they have a policy...), and tell me "can't find a problem". So I install an upgrade to my OS (XP) and overwrite the old one. Still can't connect.... dying to book flights for Florida and/or Vegas but connection is too slow or gone. Pulling hair out. Another service call, another big burly technician (who wears grocery bags on his feet so as not to dirty the carpet)... yep, it's the modem... it was shot.

Back to lightning speed and getting my internet fix nightly. Hopefully will blog more now.

ME, as told by dictionary.com...

...in terms of my job:
Entry: disappointed
Function: adjective
Definition: saddened
Synonyms: aghast, balked, beaten, blue funk, cast down, chapfallen, complaining, defeated, depressed, despondent, disconcerted, discontented, discouraged, disenchanted, disgruntled, disillusioned, dissatisfied, distressed, down, downhearted, foiled, frustrated, hopeless, let down, objecting, shot down, taken down, thwarted, unhappy, unsatisfied, upset, vanquished, worsted

...in terms of my environment:
Entry: freezing
Function: adjective
Definition: cold
Synonyms: arctic, biting, bitter, chill, chilled, chilly, cold, cutting, frigid, frost-bound, frosty, gelid, glacial, icy, nippy, numbing, one-dog night, penetrating, polar, raw, shivery, Siberian, snappy, wintry

...in terms of my marriage:
Entry: enamored
Function: adjective
Definition: in love
Synonyms: amorous, attracted, besotted, bewitched, captivated, charmed, crazy about, crazy over, devoted, dotty, enchanted, enraptured, entranced, fascinated, fond, gone, gone on, hipped on, hooked, infatuated, loving, nuts about, silly about, smitten, stuck on, taken, wild about

...in terms of missing Mom:
Entry: brokenhearted
Function: adjective
Definition: devastated
Synonyms: crestfallen, crushed, desolate, despairing, despondent, disappointed, disconsolate, grief-stricken, grieved, heart-sick, heartbroken, heartsore, inconsolable, miserable, mournful, prostrated, sorrowful, wretched

Not only is Google a great search engine, but they are the coolest company ever. I noticed today that their language page not only includes Italian, Portuguese, German and the like, it also includes Klingon, Bork, bork, bork!, Elmer Fudd, Hacker, and, ymay avoritefay, igPay atinLay!! atThay isay ootay unnyfay!!

If not for family/friend proximity issues, along with the fact that a shack in CA costs more than four houses on my street put together, I'd strongly consider trying to get a job with them.

I am spoiled. I got lots of great gifties for Christmas... with the piece de resistance being a new wedding band. After 12 years of marriage, hubby surprised me with a new wedding ring earlier this year... and for Christmas, the matching band...

he is so wonderful, I am a lucky girl!

And many other great gifties...


a watch from Hubby


Peace of Mind gumballs from Hubby and Jenny (Hubby needed a hint on this one, Jenny instinctively knew that I'd love them)


I also got lots of yummy bath & body products from Sis, since she knows I am a beauty product addict... but they will likely cause a severe increase in my intake of sugary substances... either that or I will be caught licking my own arm and deemed insane...


Gingerbread Man body scrub


mini body powders (one in cake scent!)


Marshmallow Cocoa Body Whip


Pomegranate Body Polish... this one from Hubby

....and many more adorable things. Again, I am spoiled and it doesn't go unappreciated.

Made it through Christmas. Lots of good mixed with broken heartedness and anxiety. Had the family over on friday... not used to having so many people... or any for that matter, but... it went fairly well, but not without drama... Stepdad (and his no-show "new" woman) and Stepbrother (who didn't feel invited even though I didn't even know he was going to be in town) and my drug-addicted-perverted-tank-top-wearing-in-the-middle-of-winter Uncle.

I just thank God I have some truly wonderful people in my life that I can get through. Though I still wish Mom were here to comfort me.

In knowing that all this drama would upset Mom, I resolved myself to believing that in Heaven, souls have no feelings other than happiness. So Mom cannot feel regret or guilt or anger or sadness. So though she sees us, she doesn't worry about what goes on here on earth, she is at peace.

Last night I started to read "The Five People You Meet in Heaven". In it, the main character (who dies), experiences that exact thing - no pain, no sadness, no regret, only peace. I know it is fiction, but it brought me comfort to have my ideas reinforced. I'm only a bit in to it, but so far, it is a good book.

We exchanged gifts with Jenny & Aaron last night... J & A had done the most adorable wrapping job, completing each gift with Oscar sticker nametags. Jenny made me a very cute shirt, sticking with the heart theme of last year. Gifts are so much more special when they are made for you. I tried to pretend like I made the Nigella measuring cups I got for her, but that joke only went so far...



She showered me with other gifties too, including a small christmas tree (as she knows I'm still a little too Christmas-leary-lacky-cheery to have a big tree), Rudolph character ornaments for the tree, and a Starbucks espresso cup ornament, which I WILL be using as a real cup after the holidays =) And Origin's Peace of Mind gumballs, which I will probably chew up while trying to survive having the family over on Friday.

Hubby also got good gifties, enough poker chips to start his own Celebrity Poker Showdown. Now if only he could get Jude Law to show up, because, according to my Jane magazine, he is the celeb I am destined to kiss this year.

And Oscar got Grizzy a Pug "The Dog" Squeaky Toy and a huge bag of biscuits. Grizzy is quite pleased!