Happy Birthday to me

My dad tells me the same story pretty much every year on my birthday: he arrived at MGH (Montreal General Hospital) to find my mother being wheeled down the hall on a gurney en route to the delivery room -- doctor's hand in one hand, smoke hanging out of the other. This was Quebec 1968 after all (my mother maintained for YEARS that she quit smoking while pregnant with each of us. She was busted on that little version of the truth a few years ago).

Don't know why, but I really like that story.

So yeah, I turned 38 today. Big whoop. Funny how that just doesn't seem so old to me anymore. Maybe 'cause I don't feel 38, whatever 38 is supposed to feel like. Looking back at where my mum was when she was 38, I was 13 and in grade 8. I simply cannot fathom having a 13 year old child. Or a child of any age for that matter.

I have to say that this year is starting out better than last. I am in a great new job and am generally feeling pretty good about things. Last year, at least the the last half of last year, was pretty bloody miserable and not one I care to repeat. There are neither dates nor non-dates in my life at present, but that's just fine. Last year's non-date and I are finally back to a place where we can be friends and it seems to be working for us --- though his calls, emails, texts, etc are becoming quite frequent and I'm not sure as to why. However, one of my resolutions at the termination of the romantic side of that particular relationship was to tryto not analyze it all and just let whatever come, come (once I am more secure with it I will share what was quite possibly the most shocking moment of 2006 thus far for me and what also knocked non-date way, way, way off the pedestal that I had put him on and let me begin the healing that I so desperately needed, but that's not now).

As for how I'm celebrating, well I don't really know. My sister seemed very concerned that I had no plans (in fact actually forgot about it until she reminded me) so I think that we are going out somewhere to do something. If we get up to anything exciting, I'll be sure to write about it (or maybe not, depending on just HOW exciting ...).

Maggie & Decker go to Abbotsford

Spent the long weekend in Abbotsford at the request of my three nieces. Well, the request was actually for Maggie and Decker, but I came along as part of the package. (Maggie was visibly relieved that they didn't try to dress her up, too. )

Rule 72(a)

72(a):

When you meet an ex for lunch after not having seen said ex for like a month and when said ex has been looking pretty much like shit and really, really old and stressed for the couple of months leading up to the not seeing him for a month, said ex shall not look REALLY REALLY good. I mean REALLY good.

(So yeah, the hug at the end of lunch may have lasted a bit longer than necessary, but can you blame a girl??)

My newest guilty pleasure

I can't believe I am admitting this (ok, so maybe I can) but I am totally addicted to Laguna Beach. In case you're not familiar with it, this is a "reality series" on MTV kind of like the real OC. I wasn't even aware that I got MTV, but flipping around on the rainy holiday Monday I stumbled across it and like a train wreck I could not look away --- and it was an ALL DAY MARATHON!!! I tell you I am hooked. This is some truly good stuff.

Now I wasn't going to actually admit this new found obsession to anyone, but when I arrived at a girlfriend's place Monday afternoon for lunch, she and another friend were watching tv and the first thing she asked me was "have you seen Laguna Beach??". Well kids, that was the end of life as we knew it. We plunked ourselves down in front of the idiot box and lost ourselves in the world of Taylor and Talon, Jason and Jessica, and then Jason and Alex, and Stephen and LC and the Stephen and Kristin and Casey "the new girl" and all that is fun and fabulous in Laguna Beach, CA.

Apparently we are watching season 2 --- I must, must, must get my hands on the dvd's for season 1.

definitely one of my top ten recent favourite quotes

From Ian McKellen (in part of an interview re his role in the DaVinci Code (though I am CERTAINLY NOT advocating either the book or the movie and not because of any stupid religious controversy, I just didn't like the book and will not be seeing the movie))

"I'm very happy to believe that Jesus was married," said McKellen, an outspoken defender of gay rights since disclosing his homosexuality in the late 1980s. "And I know the Catholic church has problems with gay people, and I thought this would be absolute proof that Jesus was not gay."

some stuff I know

1. one must be very careful about donning the currently-in-fashion-but-that-doesn't-mean-everyone-should-wear-them WHITE PANTS (if you must partake of this trend, please, please, please think very carefully when choosing your undergarments)
2. people lie to get what, where, who they want
3. heartbreak is a very physical ailment
4. addiction affects everyone
5. The West Wing, now dearly departed, was quite possibly the best television show EVER (at least when Aaron Sorkin was involved (not to mention Rob Lowe)) ---- I so wanted to work in that version of the White House glibly spouting witty repartee and boasting a fabulous Max Mara wardrobe a la C.J. Craig
6. the phrase "change is often as good as a rest" is so very true ---- I am LOVING my new job and was not aware until after I had left just how toxic an environment I was working in at the big national law firm (go figure --- working for lawyers SUCKS!!!!!!!)
7. to quote my father (though I am almost certain that the phrase did not originate with him, the context that I am taking it from does) "people never cease to disappoint" (see 6, above for context)
8. I am tired of the cutesy Australian wine marketing, though huge Kudos to whoever came up with the Yellow Tail/Little Penguin, etc ---- BRILLIANT way to market/package what is really over-sugared not so great wine and sell like a gazillion cases to people who don't know any better
9. leggings = bad, wedges = good
10. I am SO worth it