it's good being a girl

because you can do things like hang pink chandeliers in your bedroom

or, rather, you can buy pretty pink chandeliers and then have a handsome man install them, complete with dimmer switch

happiness is .....

LICE!!!!!

I thought you all might want to share this joyous time with Maggie and me. After receiving the dreaded phone call: "Maggie has head lice" and then spending $120 on Revolution that may or may not work but will deworm her automatically (good to know) the following ensued:

came home to find that a) the outside taps have been turned off due to the unseasonably cold
weather we have been experiencing and b) that my landlords were out for the night so I couldn't turn the water on nor use their bathtub for the de-lousing bath I have to give Maggie I c) resorted to using my (thankfully larger than normal) shower stall.

Soaped her up, wrapped her in towels to keep the medication where it has to work for the requisite 10 minutes (we did 20 just to be absolutely sure), then back to the shower
stall for the big rinse.

On the plus side, I will be able to pee in private from now on --- I had to actually pick her up and carry her back to the shower for the rinse. Even the extra special cookies didn't entice her to
come in under her own steam. And then I had to go into the shower with her, fully clothed, to get all the shampoo off of her. That was an experience I don't soon wish to repeat!

One thing I have to say --- Maggie is a trouper!!!!!

Bath complete, dog towel dried and Revolution applied (fingers crossed), we got cosy by the fire, enjoying our rewards --- a free-range, organic chicken carcass and cookies for her, wine for me.

We thought it a good idea to photo-document the ordeal, just to make sure you get the complete experience.

Fondly,
Kathryn & Maggie

scary things are bound to happen

laptop + digital camera with recently discovered video function + cute dog = two cute, albeit potentially boring, videos "now showing" at YouTube. Not sure how this whole thing works, so fingers crossed, here they are:

The first one is our first attempt, Maggie's Close-Up (she really is THAT cute)
The second one is video proof that Maggie does love her new Mouse-Bear and that I am not a total failure as a mother.

Enjoy (and I promise they will get better)

Maggie's Close-Up

The Mouse-Bear - the scrap of dirty looking fabric in the bottom left of the frame is her original bear, so you can understand why it is time for an upgrade.

mes deux sous

I know she's super popular and on the "A" list and does all sorts of great things in Africa (for which I truly applaud her), but I mean really. Those tatoos all over her body just make her look cheap.

you have your therapy and I have mine

Let me start by stating, rather emphatically actually, that I do not, as a general rule, like shopping. Period. My sister actually goes to such an extent as to say "oops, look at that! we drove around aimlessly for an hour and wound up in the mall parking lot. Well, seeing as we're here ...." knowing full well that if she had asked if I wanted to go to the mall I would have run from the room. €

That said, this week I have purchased the following:

A Lulu Lemon hoodie
A chocolate brown cashmere sweater from Banana Republic
A pair of jeans
A coat from Banana Republic
Various and sundry cosmetics
oh, and a new laptop.

Why? Because the Sailor is "doing some serious personal counselling" (as mentioned in my previous post) and every time I wanted to see him, I bought something instead. Instant gratification and all. A true example of retail therapy.

Only thing is, though, is that retail therapy, unlike regular therapy, is not covered my extended medical benefits.

I think I might just present him with an invoice for it all. He is the source of my need for the therapy after all.

what a difference a year makes

I was sorting through some old emails last night and came across one that I had sent to, well let's call him the Sailor, after finding out through the office grapevine that he had gone on a romantic getaway over the Christmas holidays.

an excerpt:

"either you are just plain stupid or are really good at acting it or are just plain mean --- I can't quite decide which

listen, I know you don't owe me anything in the way of an explanation, but common courtesy might be nice ---- how do you think it felt to hear about your booking a romantic getaway over the Christmas holidays as part of office gossip?? you move on pretty damn quickly which makes me wonder all sorts of things

if you wanted to hurt me, you did. congratulations.

quite frankly, I expected better of you and this just makes me question everything about you and everything that you have said and makes me feel like a complete idiot for having actually thought you were a decent person and for caring about you at all. you know I actually thought that there was an outside chance that we could have at some point been friends again, but I guess not. and that makes me very sad, because I did so value your friendship. "

his reply (part of it anyway):

"Please accept my apologies for having acted in a way that was hurtful to you. I have always treated you honestly and with integrity and will continue to do so.

I too had hoped we could see a friendship survive what has happened, and still hope for that. I also would be happy to support you as you look to move to another organization, presuming that is still your intent."

All the pain and anger and hurt that I felt at the time came flooding back and made my head spin. And I am involved with this same man again? Am I insane?? Maybe. But wow, have I changed since that email a year ago. I am stronger and more confident and self-assured and happy.

He, the Sailor, is dealing with some residual baggage from his marriage and the wreck he made of his own life last year. He is taking some time for some intense "personal counselling" but I see a light at the end of this tunnel and don't feel any of the hurt or anguish or uncertainty that this would have caused me last time.

Seriously, what a difference a year makes.

holiday dogs

we don't have kids, so ......

yet another example of why it is such a very good thing that I do not have children

When I brought Maggie home to live with me I bought her a cream coloured fleece teddy bear. She has suckled that teddy bear on a pretty much constant basis since that day. It is now more a scrap of dirty fabric than a bear, but still we refer to it is her bear.

She has a toy box full of toys, including several she received this Christmas, that go virtually ignored by her. Visiting dogs are pleased with them, but she couldn't care less. It's all about her bear.

Maggie turned 8 yesterday and I bought her a new toy -- a really weird looking rat type thing dressed in blue and white striped footy-pajamas. It was on sale at Old Navy for like $2.00 so I couldn't resist. Apparently Maggie can.

I washed her bear last night with the doggy towels and put it in her toy box. I then put her new rat in front of here everywhere she went -- on the couch, by the front door, in my bed. NOTHING.

It's like I am forcing her to love this new rat and her not obliging me is an indication of some sort of huge failure on my part.

And this is with my dog.

Can you imagine the damage I would inflict on a child???

faith restored

It has been a crazy winter, weather-wise, for us living out here on the left coast of the country -- rain, snow, sleet, hail, sun, we've had it all in spades ! (and then some)

This morning broke with 6 inches of fresh snow and it hasn't yet stopped coming down. Yes, Maggie was beside herself with glee this morning when she saw that the ground was once again white but all I could think was: man the commute is going to be a bitch! (one of the drawbacks of living pretty much at the base of a ski hill, though I live in the city, is that we get snow, lots of it, and the roads are steep and Vancouver is not at all prepared to deal with this combination).

Having faith that I would indeed get to work, I trudged out to the bus stop at my usual hour, only to wait with "the gang" for a good 50 minutes or so, in the cold and snow, while no busses came in any direction. Just when we had about given up hope, a truly lovely soul stopped and offered 3 of us a ride down the hill to catch the city-bound bus.

Bless her heart!

Thanks to that I was less than an hour late for work and have a warm and fuzzy story to tell.

2007, day 2

So far the beginning of 2007 is a whole heck of a lot better than most of the first half f 2006.

My mother commented that I wasn't as "cranky" this Christmas as I was was last. I pointed out that I was not "cranky" last year. The truth of the matter was that I had just had my heart broken by someone I was very much hung up on (I realize now that it wasn't really love), I HATED my job, I wasn't eating and was pretty much crying at the drop of a hat about anything and everything you can think of.

This year it's different --- I love my job, I am eating again and am, quite possibly for the first time in my life since I hit double digits, actually almost happy with my weight and how I look (note that I said almost, 20 pounds or more will make me happy), and am in a relationship with a wonderful man, surprisingly the same one that caused me such heartache last year, that is healthy and honest and well, wonderful.

Here's to a fabulous 2007!

kiss-me mascara rocks my world

"Hi Katie: Just to let you know that Connor is up in doggy heaven now very calm and happy… he had a very peaceful passing with the help of our vet Dr. Brault, It wasn’t easy to make the decision but couldn’t go away knowing he could go anytime… hasn’t eaten for 2 days and jus stands and stares out into space… the vet did a thorough exam and the lymphnodes had grown larger and more of them throughout his system… he was so strong he was fighting right until the end.. had him for walk this afternoon and also took him to a party at Blundellls last night which he loved… dad and I are a mess and the house is very empty…however, he is happy and at peace at last.. I have that incredible poem you gave me about doggy heaven and will get it out now. He was cremated and when his ashes come back we will bury his and Seamus’ side by side in the back yard… Dad will dig the hole tomorrow as the ground is still soft…. Will talk to you tomorrow, lots of love Mummy"

well my eyes certainly weren't dry after reading that but at least my mascara didn't run

scary santa claus

When I was 3 years old I was absolutely terrified of Santa Claus. So terrified, in fact, that I actually made my father "call" the North Pole and tell Santa not to come. He could leave the presents at the neighbours' house (hey, I was not a stupid kid), but coming into the house while we were sleeping was not something I thought would be a great idea.

I am now 38 years old and I thought that my fear of Santa was long gone. Boy, was I wrong! I was just out running some errands and there, standing on the corner of Granville and Robson was the scariest looking Santa Claus I have ever seen, yelling obscenities at all who passed by.

Merry Christmas

misquoted

An article was written about one of the companies I work for and it was not flattering. Untrue and very biased, but unflattering nonetheless.

What bugs me most about it though? The fact that the opening paragraph of the article is a "transcript" of a telephone conversation between me and the "investigative journalist" and let's just say that I come off as slightly less than intelligent. My name isn't mentioned anywhere and outside of those in the office (and anyone I choose to show the article to) no one will know that it is me, but still, who wants to be portrayed as a "dumb receptionist"?

(especially since I am not a receptionist)

I hope he gets coal in his Christmas stocking.

a leopard doesn't change his spots I guess

Last year the end began with this email:

"Not ignoring you, just completely consumed with work"

Which led to him coming over and breaking my heart.

We have since gotten back together, slowly and comfortably and we are both in a much better place than we were last year. or so I thought.

We had our company Christmas party this past weekend at a 5-Star luxury resort and I brought him as my date (neither of us work at the place we worked at together last year, so that obstacle at least is gone and we can be more "open" about our relationship). It was, simply put, magical.

Then this afternoon I get this email, at work:

"Thank you for a very enjoyable soiree and Saturday in the Village. It was a great event - fabulous job organising - and a pleasure to meet many of your colleagues.

I am excited for you at company as it seems to be a great organisation with lots of energy and integrity. Good landing place you chose!

Will be thinking of you as you prepare for your parents' arrival and hope you have a great visit with them. As for me, my daughter is now back in town so things are spooling up quickly to add to the zone of activity that always surrounds son and the Christmas season. And of course, the factory continues on.

But then there is always more skiing."

I feel sick to my stomach.

update

ok, so maybe I over-reacted or was reacting to what has gone in the past, kind of how like I always expect him to cancel plans we have made and then he doesn't. I really have to stop doing that if this relationship stands any chance of working

better now

diamonds, etc.

A work colleague came over to my desk yesterday and asked: “want to see what Cam (her bf) is giving me for Christmas?”

She then went to a jewellery store’s website and showed me an engagement ring.

Now call me old fashioned or a hopeless romantic or whatever, but I would like to believe that if someone knows me well enough to ask me to marry them that they will know what ring I will love for the rest of my life without my having to be in on the choosing. And beyond that, I just don’t think that one should propose on Christmas. Or Valentine’s Day. Or on any other recognized or Hallmark “holiday” for that matter. It kind of takes away from the spontaneity and specialness of it all.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with finding a lovely blue box tied with white satin under the tree ….

what a difference a year makes

Last year his idea of fashion was Dockers (with pleats). Need I say more?

Last night he called to tell me that there was a big sale at Holt's (if you are Canadian and reading this you know where I mean; if not, think Neiman Marcus, Barneys, or similar) and why don't we go there and get that Paul Smith suit we were looking at last week, you know with the no--pleat trousers.

I am so proud of him.

Really, it's the little things in life

Bringing me the Style Section from the Globe & Mail on Saturday morning, knowing that it's really the only section that I actually read (I may pretend to read like realm news and stuff, but that's just a ruse). That's a sure-fire way to start earning your way back into my heart.

a bi-polar kind of day

Yesterday morning I woke up in a ridiculously good mood. no reason, was just happy. GOOD

Early in my work day I was told that I was a "low priority" by the EA of one of our Directors. Excuse me? Me? a low priority? I don't think so. BAD

Later I had lunch with a friend and former co-worker whom I have not seen in ages and we have been, unsuccessfully, trying to connect for months. A great gab session. GOOD

On my way back to the office I got swamped by a stupid car and had to spend the rest of my day damp. BAD

Early evening I went to my first yoga class in a very long time and it was fabulous. I left feeling refreshed, centered, calm and mellow. GOOD

When I got home there was a message from Jake's dad (the boy I was seeing this summer) wanting to chat. GOOD? BAD? dunno

I returned the call only to be confronted with "I knew you weren't telling the truth when I asked you if you were seeing anyone else this summer. I saw you with him on Sunday and you looked quite cozy together!" definitely BAD

(There was more to that conversation but it doesn't bear repeating - basically accused me of lying and/or cheating and insinuated that I was not a very nice person. So very glad that I dodged that bullet, let me tell you!!)

Spent the remainder of the evening snuggled on the couch with a lightly snoring Maggie. GOOD

let's hope this day has remembered to take its meds!

Friends like this are priceless

an email exchange between two sane, responsible, successful women who are firmly grounded in reality:

"Hello,

Have just returned from my elopement with Sir Clive. It was lovely. There will be no pictures - it was all we could do to avoid the paparazzi. My ring is enormous but must be kept in a vault in our Swiss bank because if it was ever stolen the value of it would bankrupt the world's economy. The honeymoon was, well, I will not digress. Eventually, I will have you out to our country estate (perhaps you have heard of it - Wales?, lovely little place, mountains, lots of shoreline, the Help speaks with a funny accent).

I am home now for a while, maybe we can meet up for errands or a coffee sometime. I know yours and George's schedules are as frightful as mine.

Let me know.

Mrs. O"

"Greetings,

Indeed, George & I heard wind of your recent elopement and would have sent our congratulations earlier but we were sequestered at his estate in Lake Como and, well, let's just say we were "busy".

I am, unfortunately, home as well and my schedule is remarkably clear, at least for today and tomorrow.

Cheers!"