Putting my thoughts into words over the past while has been damn near impossible, and obviously so has blogging.

There's been lots of drama, more drama than I can handle, and it's left me so emotionally weary I can't even talk about it anymore. But hopefully the holidays will provide some peace and relaxing and a break from the chaos.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and here's to 2008 being a much better year for us all :)

Robert Bateman

Chris and I are going to an exhibit tomorrow at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg. The exhibit is the artwork of Robert Bateman, who is my favourite artist. Above are some of his paintings, which of course, are the sole property of Robert Bateman and are just shown for example only.

We women are complex creatures...

Following suit...

From Denise and Kris' blogs...(I copied and pasted, so it is going to take me forever to put all the u's in favourite, lol)

favourite colors: any shade of purple

favourite color to wear: black, followed by green and blue

favourite dead singer in the last 30 years: John Lennon or Freddie Mercury

favourite male singer: Jason Mraz or Elton John

favourite singer that turns me on: I cannot think of a single singer that I find attractive...

other favourite male singer: Meatloaf

favourite Canadian band: Barenaked Ladies

favourite political Canadian band: Our Lady Peace

favourite Broadway song: "Memories" from Cats

favourite female singer: Natalie Maines

favourite female singer who is most controversial: Alanis Morrisette, if you can really call her that...

My second favourite female singer: Chantal Kreviazuk

favourite dead female singer: Cass Elliott

favourite folk female singer: Don't have one

favourite female rocker: Joan Jett

favourite folk group: The Mamas and the Papas

favourite rock group: Def Leppard

favourite album: "Home" by the Dixie Chicks

favourite song to make fun of: "My Humps" by Black Eyed Peas....ugh!!!

favourite vehicle: A new Camry or Accord

favourite instrumental song: "Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills

favourite classical composer: Can't say I have a favourite

favourite new age artist: Enya, since she's the only one I know ;P

favourite day of the week: Saturday

favourite holiday: Christmas

favourite outdoor activity: Hiking

favourite toy: Digital camera

favourite food: shrimp, followed by steak

favourite fruit: cherries

favourite veggie: Mushrooms...wait, that's a fungus...snow peas

favourite author: Hard to pin down one...Raymond Feist, George RR Martin, Diana Gabaldon, Melanie Rawn, Peter David

favourite book: "Imzadi" by Peter David

favourite genre of book: sci-fi and fantasy

favourite poem: Not a fan of poetry

favourite female poet: see above

favourite horror book: "It" by Stephen King

favourite horror animal: Don't have one

favourite movie of all time: "Star Wars" original trilogy

favourite sci-fi movies: All the Star Trek movies, Serenity

other favourite movies: "Little Miss Sunshine", "V for Vendetta", "Batman Begins", "X-Men" trilogy, "Grease", "GI Jane"

favourite form of exercise: walking, using my gazelle

favourite tv shows: Smallville, Buffy: TVS, Angel, Roswell, CSI: Las Vegas, Firefly, American Idol

favourite sense: Smell, then touch

favourite way to pass the time: Read

favourite comedian: Robin Williams

favourite vacation place so far: Going to the cottage

favourite time of year: Autumn

second favourite time of year: Spring

favourite shoe: Sandals

favourite material to wrap myself in: Polar fleece

favourite phrase: "Argh." or "What the (insert expletive) ?!?"

I apologize...it's been forever since I've posted. I just have not had it in me...to say that I have been blue would be an understatement, but perhaps it's the best way to decribe how I feel.. Very blue.

My mom is in town visiting me for a while, as she is going to watch the birds when Chris and I go away for Thanksgiving this weekend. We are supposed to go up to his family's cottage for Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but so far the weather looks kinda crappy, so Chris may decide not to go. Then I don't know what the heck I will do with my 5 days off. Maybe sleep....

It's nice having Mom visit, though. With her being a couple of hours away now, I don't see her nearly as much as I used to. And now that her meds are working so well, she's totally back to being herself, so it's great to spend time with her (such a difference from when she was living with me and so unbalanced). We are going out for dinner with Elizabeth tonight-they haven't seen each other in a couple of years, so that will be nice.

I hope everything is good in your world!

Hee...

My bouquets...

Mine

Elizabeth's

It's hard to believe it has been 10 years since the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Growing up, Diana was my idol. I would always beg my mom to buy a magazine with Diana on the cover. She was so beautiful and poised, with a flair for fashion that amazed me. Her dedication to her many charities was commendable, not only for giving her time but also for reaching out these people, touching them and comforting them.

I was watching "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" when the news alert interrupted that Diana had been in an accident. I immediately switched to CNN and was riveted to the TV. When the headline on the screen changed from "Princess Diana injured" to "Princess Diana has died", I was devastated. I never knew this woman but her death was just so tragic to me. I got up at 4:00 am to watch her funeral and cried for a life taken too soon and for her boys who would miss her so.

I hope she found the peace in death that she was not allowed in her public life.

I have to agree with Denise...it's only Tuesday, but already it's been a crappy week.

I woke up Monday morning and could barely move with the horrible lower back pain. I am shuffling around like a 90 year old woman. Sleep was elusive last night and at one point I had dozed off after taking a few Advil. I woke up choking on stomach acid that had worked it's way up and it burnt the hell out of the back of my throat. No more sleep for Leah.

I am sitting here waiting for the Tylenol 3's that a kind co-worker gave to me to kick in so I can hopefully get some shut-eye tonight. They have given me heartburn, so I chomped on some disgusting Gaviscon to get rid of that. Ugh...I just want sleep!

My weekend was kind of sucky. I was supposed to have coffee with an old friend from grade school that I met up with on Facebook. Unfortunately, she didn't show up and I was left drinking my strawberry lemonade smoothie alone. Turns out she had reversed the last two numbers of my cell phone #, so she was unable to let me know she couldn't make it. It's too bad, because I really could have stood to see a friendly face, as I have been unable to shake these blues that I have right now.

One fun thing (at least for a geek like me) is that my five seasons of Smallville have arrived on DVD, so I have been watching them in all this alone time I seem to have right now. Really fun show to watch (and Tom Welling is certainly easy on the eyes...). I'm just into Season 2 now.

I have a super long weekend coming up. It's Labour Day, so I'm off Saturday, Sunday and Monday plus I took off Tuesday and Wednesday as well. I have no plans as of yet, other than trying to get some R&R. It will just be so nice to be away from work...I'm about ready to run wild with my machete again ;)

Hope all is well in your world!

Okay, so apparently this video below won't allow imbeds. If you copy the title from the video and then go to youtube.com, you can view it there. Sigh.

Calopsita - Bate o Pé - Cockatiel

Oh my god...this is so cute.

Hello, I'm Eeyore. What would you like to know?

Me: Will my co-workers ever stop driving me bonkers?

Eeyore: Wouldn't count on it, but that's just me.




Go ahead, ask me a question.

Me: Are you the most intelligent creature I'm going to have a conversation with today?

Eeyore: Probably so, but I'm always the last to know.



Got a question? Well, go ahead and ask it.

Me: Am I going crazy talking to an animated stuffed donkey?

Eeyore: I'll ask Pooh, try again later. I've got a question for you, if it's not too much trouble...sorry to bother you, but is my tail still on?


*actual transcripts from Leah's Q&A session with Ask Me More Eeyore.

Where did the weekend go? I swear, it was Friday only a couple of minutes ago...

I had a pretty quiet weekend. Chris and I did a bit of shopping on Saturday. I picked up a new dish rack and Swiffer (very exciting purchases, I know...). It was such a gorgeous day that we spent of couple of hours out by the pool. I made chana masala and samosas for dinner and we had a quiet evening in front of the telly.

On Sunday I think I scrubbed almost every surface in my home. I cleaned for 5 hours straight and still have more to do *sigh*. Having two cockatiels and a budgie is messy business sometimes. Chris came over for dinner-stuffed chicken with rice and veggies. We got in some quality alone time and watched "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone".

Now it's back to the grindstone...ugh, I really do hate Mondays. Unless it's a holiday Monday, then it's fabulous, lol. Three more weeks until we have one of those for Labour Day...I'm on a countdown.

I hope you are having a good Monday wherever you are!

When Chris called me last night, he said,"You sound really weary". I am really weary right about now. Which just proves that I am appropriately named...Leah=weary in Hebrew.

It has been a horrid week at work, with one manager making things incredibly difficult. Even though we work in a competitive business, I do not feel the need to treat fellow dealers like crap or try to rip them off or screw them over. Apparently this is way we are supposed to be...I want no part of doing dealer trades if it involves being as asshole. I have to deal with dealers that treat me like that all the time, but it doesn't mean I have to stoop to that level. Unfortunately with my main manager off this week, I am stuck under the authority of this guy. Not fun.

I was driving home last night after a dreadful day at work. I'm at a stop light and it turns green. I start out and this freaking moron flies through the red light around the corner. If I had not been paying attention I would have written off my car. Luckily I braked hard enough to avoid this bastard by inches and even more luckily the lady behind braked quick enough. I wail on my horn at the guy but he just keeps driving on his merry way. Dickhead.

So my nerves were totally frayed for the rest of the night. I get home and I have a delightful notice from Revenue Canada, letting me know that they want my income taxes paid in full, like, now. Fantastic. I'll just pull $750 out of my ass and send it to them. They got $100 and that's all they're getting for the timebeing. Throw me in jail...at least the rent and meals are free there.

Then I go to do the dishes and one of the glasses has broken in the bottom of the sink. I slice open my knuckle and blood goes everywhere. And for some bizarre reason, my knuckle bruises and swells and throbs all night. Ugh, like I needed sleep anyway. At least if they have to amputate, it's my ring finger. I would seriously handicapped in regards to communication if it was my middle finger.

So I figure at least tonight I could go out for a nice dinner with Chris and relax. No. His dad's girlfriend is coming over for dinner. "But you can come...if you want". Yeah, like that's a fabulous sounding invitation, sounds like you really planned on having me there. So hopefully tonight will be a less disastrous night alone.

Sorry, this is one major rant. But I need to rant somewhere and this is the only place I have.

I love you guys. You help keep me sane.

Happy Birthday, Neicy!

What I Have Learned: by Homer Simpson

When someone tells you your butt is on fire, you should take them at their word.

There is no such thing as a bad doughnut.

Kids are like monkeys, only louder.

If you want results, press the red button. The rest are useless.

There are many different religions in this world, but if you look at them carefully, you'll see that they all have one thing in common: They were invented by a giant, superintelligent slug named Dennis.

You should just name your third kid Baby. Trust me -- it'll save you a lot of hassle.

You can have many different jobs and still be lazy.

I enjoy the great taste of Duff. Yes, Duff is the only beer for me. Smooth, creamy Duff . . . zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

You can get free stuff if you mention a product in a magazine interview. Like Chips Ahoy! cookies.

You may think it's easier to de-ice your windshield with a flamethrower, but there are repercussions. Serious repercussions.

There are some things that just aren't meant to be eaten.

The intelligent man wins his battles with pointed words. I'm sorry -- I meant sticks. Pointed sticks.

There are way too many numbers. The world would be a better place if we lost half of them -- starting with 8. I've always hated 8.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard "My God! He's covered in some sort of goo," I'd be a rich man.

Be generous in the bedroom -- share your sandwich.

I've climbed the highest mountains . . . fallen down the deepest valleys . . . I've been to Japan and Africa . . . and I've even gone into space. But I'd trade it all for a piece of candy right now.

Every creature on God's earth has a right to exist. Except for that damn ruby-throated South American warbler.

I don't need a surgeon telling me how to operate on myself.

Sometimes I think there's no reason to get out of bed . . . then I feel wet, and I realize there is.

Let me just say, Winnie the Pooh getting his head caught in a honey pot? It's not funny. It can really happen.

Even though it is awesome and powerful, I don't take no guff from the ocean.

I never ate an animal I didn't like.

A fool and his money are soon parted. I would pay anyone a lot of money to explain that to me.

Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll get a hook caught on his eyelid or something.

I made a deal with myself ten years ago . . . and got ripped off.

Never leave your car keys in a reactor core.

Always trust your first instinct -- unless it tells you to use your life savings to develop a Destructo Ray.

When you borrow something from your neighbor, always do it under the cover of darkness.

If a spaceship landed and aliens took me back to their planet and made me their leader, and I got to spend the rest of my life eating doughnuts and watching alien dancing girls and ruling with a swift and merciless hand? That would be sweet.

I may not be the richest man on earth. Or the smartest. Or the handsomest.

Never throw a butcher knife in anger.

The office is no place for off-color remarks or offensive jokes. That's why I never go there.

My favorite color is chocolate.

Always feel with your heart, although it's better with your hands.

The hardest thing I've had to face as a father was burying my own child. He climbed back out, but it still hurts.

If doctors are so right, why am I still alive?

I'm not afraid to say the word racism, or the words doormat and bee stinger.

Always have plenty of clean white shirts and blue pants.

When that guy turned water into wine, he obviously wasn't thinking of us Duff drinkers.

I love natural disasters because we're allowed to get out of work.

When I'm dead, I'm going to sleep. Oh, man, am I going to sleep.

What kind of fool would leave a pie on a windowsill, anyway?

I stood in line for almost an hour Friday night/Saturday morning, along with dozens of other fans and was lucky to get my book before they sold out. And I only got 3 hours sleep that night. Was it worth it? Hell, yeah. Great book...I really enjoyed it and just couldn't put it down.

The weather was beautiful this weekend-warm but not humid, thank heavens. We went mini-golfing on Saturday and had an awesome BBQ dinner-steak, caesar potato salad, grilled zucchini and mushrooms...yum!

Yesterday was quite warm, so it was an awesome day to be by the pool. Of course, I managed to burn myself again, but not too bad. We had samosas and chicken curry naan pizza for dinner, along with the leftover potato salad. We then watched half of Muchmusic's top 100 videos of the last decade. Ugh! Number one was "Stan" by Eminem, which was a cool video, but #2 was "Hit Me Baby" by Britney Spears and #3 was "Cry Me a River" by Justin Timberlake...blech!! There was nothing even remotely interesting about either of those videos. And that god-awful "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani was in the top ten. Does that song make sense to anyone???

Now it's back to the grind Monday morning. One of my managers is on vacation this week, so the other one has to work 12 hour shifts. He will be grumpier than hell by Friday. On the bright side, we are having a big BBQ and cornroast for the staff tomorrow, which will be fun.

Hope you all are having a stress-free Monday!!

TGIF!

Exhausted...

I wish I could just flop somewhere and pass out. I have had persistent insomnia for the past two weeks and it is really taking a toll. I really don't want to go to my doctor, because the guy is a complete a**hole and I avoid him like the plague (unless I get the plague, then I would happily share it with him...)

It's been a good movie week. I saw Transformers on Monday, which was better than I thought it would be. It was cool to see the new Camaro in action, even if we won't have them in the showrooms until 2009.

Then last night Elizabeth and I went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It was very goo. Much more character driven and dark than the past movies. Can't wait to buy it on DVD.

Chris has headed up north until next Wednesday, so it will suck not having him around. I hate it when he goes away...it brings back really bad memories of being dumped twice previously when he went away on holidays.

I'm off to Chatham to see Mom this weekend. I really hope the weather isn't too hot as she doesn't have air conditioning. And let's hope my car behaves itself this trip.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Neicy, I hope you have a blast in Denver!

ABC's

Kris was right...this is much harder than it looks...


A is for anxious, Aries, athiest, analytical, aggressive

B is for bitchy, brooding, brown-eyed, bird-lover

C is for creative, capable, clutterbug, Canadian, chubby

D is for daughter, dreamer, dramatic

E is for eager-to-please, emotional

F is for finicky, fierce, friend, forgetful

G is for generous, grumpy, gullible

H is for homebody, hungry (hell, I'm always hungry), hot-headed

I is for introverted, imaginative, indispensible

J is for jittery, jaded

K is for knowledgeable, kindhearted

L is for loyal, listener, lover and of course, Leah

M is for moody, mushy

N if for nervous, nosy, nutty

O is for over-cautious, ornery, obedient

P is for protective, procrastinator, pessimist, polite, predictable

Q is for quiet, quick-tempered

R is for reader, righteous, real

S is for sincere, squeamish, subdued

T is for thoughtful, testy, tame

U is for uptight, unusual

V is for very...something...

W is for wary, whimsical, witty, weird

X is for X-men lover

Y is for yay I'm almost done

Z is for Zed not Zee cuz I'm Canadian!

Happy Birthday, Kris!!

Some pics from RBG this weekend...

There is s little bee on one of the flowers...

Ugh...

A supermodel pose, lol...

Inside the mediterranean garden...

A monstrous bird of paradise...

The fountain outside the RBG centre...

There were really pretty mosaics...

This arch actually passes underneath a major roadway...

This aloe was easily 10 feet tall. I could use it for my sunburn...

Gorgeous lily...

Cool pineapple flower...

A butterfly taking a rest...

The fountain in the middle of the rose gardens...

I adore lilies. These ones were called "Cover Girl" lilies...

"Fair Lady" lily

A pretty covered walkway...

I neglected to make a mental note, but I think these are English tea roses.

Again, bad with the mental note, but I think it is a species of clamatis.

This flower was so striking, yet being the dumbass I am, I failed to remember the name.

It was a lovely day!