Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Cool Aunt Raye

It's a picture kind of month. And yes, this is me holding a baby.. Don't worry, it's not mine. I just borrowed him from my brother I must admit that I haven't gotten used to the whole "baby-thing" but he is nice and warm and smells like talc. He has soft hair and cute fingernails and sleeps alot. I am amazed at how quiet he is. He's a fuss-budget and a wiggle-puppy, but that makes him endearing, not annoying. And it does feel different to hold him when he's part of the family and not just "someone's kid". I have a little more confidence with him. I think Rob and Kat are absolutely amazing for bringing this new soul into the world. I thank them.

Monday, March 28, 2005

Birthday Babes

The Rye gang at my birthday bash.
You know, I don't think thirty ever looked this good.
Talk about a group of friends coming into their own!

Cheers to Cathy for the pics. They are the only ones I have.

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Paralyzed

It's coming down to the wire on end-of-year projects. Actually, "the wire" has probably arrived and I'm now trying (desperately) to not fall off it! I have three major assignments due this week - one worth 10%, and two others each worth 30%. The very fact that I am calculating their academic weight illustrates the dire straits that I am in. I have not commenced any of them. Okay, I've done some mild research for each. I've mulled the general ideas in my brain for the last month. But I cannot get the thoughts in my head to crystallize into articulate pellets that I may actually make into a tangible product. I am paralyzed.
You see, I get to a certain place in my procrastination-fueled stress where I become incapable of actually producing any work. This is where I am now. I am so tense over these assignments that I am afraid of them. I would rather hide in my bed, under my covers, then address the reality of these assignments. This is not a good thing.
I only have these projects left and my school assignment days (for this degree, at least) are over. I should be joyously rattling these things off. But I am not. I am paralyzed. Even my supertitious attempt to wear my best "get shit done" pyjamas has failed. I don't know what to do next. I know the outcome will be all-nighters at the last possible second. I know that I will eventually get something done and I will cross my fingers that it is good enough - and it likely will be. But those back-of-the-brain thoughts do not help my rational brain that is screaming: "YOU ARE BEHIND. YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME. YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING NOW. WHY AREN'T YOU WORKING?"
Really, I don't know why. I just can't.

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

The Birthday Blog

Exactly one week ago I had my 30th birthday. So upon reflection, here are the highlights from the first week of being thirty...

Wednesday, March 16:
11:30am - Laurentian University
The day had arrived and normally I would do NOTHING on my actual birthday. By nothing I mean sleep till 2, watch 3 movies and eat all my favourite foods. Getting dressed would be optional. However, on this particular birthday I had an in class presentation with my Business Strategy group. We had to present an analysis of the diversification strategy and future direction of Tredegar Industries - fascinating, I know. But we nailed it! When the professor says you did an "excellent" job, you have to feel chuffed. First score of the day!

1pm - The Pub
Go for a beer after class - that was the plan. A small gathering to celebrate my birthday and the presentation victory. Well, cheers to Briguy and J-man for officially turning this into a shooter afternoon. 8 shots and 3 glasses of beer later...

Thursday, March 17:
5:45pm - The Pub
Yes, back again! Time for pitchers of beer (not green) with the boys from labour relations class and the professor. Nothing like liquid cereal for dinner.

7pm-Benders
St. Pat's party/fundraiser for a friend's school group. Lots of people to see. More beer. Good chance to wear my green, Irish-inspired earrings. Always need to find the fashion edge.

10:30pm-Georges
Time for T - friend extraordinaire! Got a lovely wristlet bag inscribed with "S is for Shopping". Thanks to J-man I get MORE shots - AGAIN! Who says I'm the one who's always putting on the pressure to drink?!!

Friday, March 18:
1am-Home
Presents from the family sitting on my bed. A card from my grandfather that made me cry. A copy of "The Incredibles"!! And an envelope of money from my parents. Have I ever said how much my parents rock?!!

Saturday, March 19:
5:45pm-Burger King
You know that there is nothing better than a juicy, mayo-soaked, reheated Whopper to start the evening. Cathy and I even had a 2for1 coupon! That's TWO Whoppers for $3.15!! I think we may have to establish Burger King as a pre-event tradition as we did the same thing before her welcome back party.

7pm-Cathy's Place
Mini fashion-show time. I have been planning my outfit for months and had slowly gathered all the elements (dress, boots, earrings). Cathy, is currently working through a wardrobe re-alignment so I brought a small sampling of my collection to doll her up. Totally fun. Must admit to being a tad jealous of how HOT she looks in my clothes.

9pm-Brasserie Frisco's
At the dinner place. Two martinis in and have to admit that the group of 12 I had planned for is not going to show up. The waiters start to dismantle my long table. Break it into little, serviceable pieces. I suddenly felt rejected and totally uncool - I can't even get friends to come to my birthday party! And then Scott walks in the door. And shortly afterward, Mike appears with his new woman. And its a Rye U nostalgia-fest. The goat's cheese dip arrives, more martinis and I get warmed up with food, raspberry vodka and friendship.

11:30pm-Therapy Lounge
Just beat the rush to bar. Actually get a table and some seating. A little crowded and the food-fueled sobriety means the party-edge has dwindled. But what a great space! Older, hot, stylin' crowd. Lots of Jagermeister and Red Bull being poured. Pounding dance and mainstream groove reverbing off the walls - totally my scene! More good conversation and some dancing.

Sunday, March 20:
1pm-Zupa's
Cathy and I do the downtown tour looking for a breakfast place. The line outside Cora's suggests that going brand-name is pointless. The hike to Marche is a litte too long. So we backtrack down to Peter St. and there, off to the side is Zupa's - a whole in the wall deli with all-day breakfast. Greetings from Leo-the Mustache Man. The tables have vinyl checked cloths. Soccer is on the television. The new-Canadian faces are welcoming behind the counter. And the plates are full and tasty. Me: scrambled eggs, sausages, real potato slice homefries, and toast. Cathy: french toast, bacon, fried bananas and fresh strawberries. As Cathy says: "you can taste the grease in the coffee". We've found our breakfast place.

3:30pm-My Brother's
Meet my nephew for the first time. Get to hold a little 10lb bundle of family future in my arms. Perfect. (Oh, and we ordered BP pizza too!)

Monday, March 21:
11am-Mississauga
Spent the night at my Uncle&Aunt's place. So nice to have family around that you can randomly crash with. Stayed up late watching cheesy romance movies on TBS. Then, a guilty pleasure of "Dawson's Creek" (Joey chooses Pacey and they sail away!) before heading back home.

Tuesday, March 22:
6pm-The Independent
Pick up my film full of birthday memories. And what's this? I shot the roll twice? All my prints are double-exposed? I have NO pictures of my birthday? This cannot be! And yet, it is.

Wednesday, March 23:
3pm-Home
A week later. The story is over. Lessons learned:
J-man likes drinks as much as me.
I can rock a hot dress and heeled boots.
My family loves me - a lot.
It's easier to lie about your age when you don't have the pics to prove otherwise ;)

Friday, March 18, 2005

A Moment in Time

My brother and his son.
I saw this picture and almost cried.
It is one of "those" moments.

Monday, March 14, 2005

Me and 30

This week opens with a feeling unlike any other. When the week begins I will be 29. By the end of it, I will be 30.

I'm not sure that means anything in the world today. There are still jokes about the "big 3-Oh". I'm aware that it seems to conotate a state of adulthood. I know I can't get working holiday visas anymore. The jury is still on on whether it bestows cougar status. But really, what does 30 mean these days? I have fewer unmarried friends than not. Only one of my best girlfriends has children.

When I was 16, I believed that by 30 I would be a teacher. I would be married (probably to another teacher). I would, likely, have two kids. And yesterday, as my step-dad and I were watching Mr. Holland's Opus, I made the point that "I have nothing in my life that I thought I would have at thirty". Even my education is still six weeks from completion! But my life, thus far, has been full of things that I guess I wanted more.

In three decades of life I have lived on a sheep farm, lived in the city, travelled across the bulk of Canada a multitude of times, watched chinook clouds roll in over canola fields, danced in grain elevators, collected lady bugs and tent caterpillers, made best friends who span the globe, graduated with honours from high school, been in school and community plays, survived my parents' divorce, been loved by two step-families, learned to solo-canoe - ride a horse - climb a mountain and hunt, failed at university and returned victorious, had my own apartment, mentored 120 young Canadians, visited Mexico, England, France and Japan, lived in Australia and New Zealand, done bungy jumping, rafted five major whitewater rivers, fallen in love with a good guy, tried to love a bad guy, collected unrequited crushes galore, learned how to walk in heels, become an aunt, and -wow! - so much more.
Nice to have lots to celebrate! Cheers!

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

An Introduction

To the world I present my nephew: Taggart Robert Lemke.

Monday, March 07, 2005

With Welcoming Arms...

"Anouncing the birth of Taggart Robert Lemke. Born at 6:57 pm, on Sunday March 6, 2005 at Trillium Hospital In Mississauga. He weighed in at a stunning 9 pounds 1 oz. but depsite that Kat did it all au naturelle (amazing girl)."

So I'm an Auntie now. The first grandchild on this side of the family has been born - my mother is a basketcase of joy. I have a nephew. I am so excited that I ate cake for breakfast. There is not much you can say in words that actually does justice to the wonder and happiness of moments like this. All words seem inadequate to impart the reality of new life in the world.

So a couple of words on the name then ... named after the three men that came before him.
Lemke from Rob's father.
Robert is his father & Kat's father's middle name from his father.
Taggart is a reference to McTaggart, Rob's mother's father on whose birthday he was born!
I think its the coolest thing ever, and Tag Lemke is a super-rock-the-world name if I ever heard one.

Congratulations to my brother Rob and his incredible wife Kathryn. Welcome to the family Taggy.

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Ice, Ice, OH Baby!

As an early birthday present, my mom took me to see the Celebration on Ice show tonight. As the die-hard, cheesy, skating fan-girls that we are, it was a real treat. Mom was concerned about the seats, but they were perfect - 8 rows up and at the end where the skaters' entered. And a program to end all programs!

Kurt Browning, Elvis Stojko, and Brian Orser for starters. Still all in fine form (although they jump a little bit less) and Browning in particular - newly bald - retains his title as the Gene Kelly of skating. At this point I have to mention the butts. No really, they are worth mentioning. If anyone ever questions why women love men's skating, the toned butts have to mentioned. Oh, and they're better in person, only 8 rows away, swathed in blue, red and violet lights...

Other performers included Shae-Lyn Bourne-who has gone solo and is now the definition of slinky, some upcoming Canadian talent and our new men's champ - Jeffery Buttle. Buttle is a Sudbury boy, so the hometown crowd was wild for him. Deservedly so. He is on the edge of exceptional. You can see the Tolar Cranston in him. Look out World Championships.

However, the real treat was the inclusion of two duos I had never seen who are doing radically different things with skating. One team was from the Ukraine and have melded acrobatics and figure skating into a cirque de soliel on ice spectacular. They do lifts that are full extensions of one person on the hands of another towering over the ice - incredible! The other pair (a married team) do a rocking combination of pair's skating and death defying tricks - including a rotating spin using a neck harness! You have to see it to believe it!

My last highlight was the wonderful skate by the youngest members of the Sudbury Figure Skating Club. All about 4 years old, two little boys and eight sequined girls skating shaky laps around the rink. It was so heart-warmingly cute that I cried.

And then there were more butts...

Friday, March 04, 2005

Sudbury ... the Detox Centre for Film Addicts

Fridays are my free days. Thanks to the "student weekend", I have no classes and usually spend the day reading magazines at Chapters, trying on shoes at the Shoe Company, indulging in retail therapy at Winners and taking in a matinee (or early show now that universal pricing has arrived and the before-6pm incentive is gone). But what to do when the multiplex in town is a wasteland of film choices? Okay, yes, it is the off-season for movie releases, I'm aware of that fact. However, there are 12 rooms in the local SC so something should be availabe each week. But a review of today's choices prove otherwise (in spite of the large number - 5! - of openings):

Are We There Yet? - who cares! The real question should be why has this film made $75M?

Be Cool - you know, this may have to be my "methadone" choice, but only because I can be Elmore Leonard's bitch. But I'm thinking this is going to be more Big Bounce and less Out of Sight and therefore, nowhere near Get Shorty territory. I mean, Christina Milian = WTF?

Constantine - it is calling to me. Although it's not exceptional, I can't seem to get it out of my head. Will be checking it out again at the budget theatre for sure once it gets there!

Cursed - cause we really need an American version of Ginger Snaps and cause that 'Dawson's Creek' writer needs drinking money to kill the pain that is his current career.

Daniel & the Superdogs - enough said.

Hitch - playing in TWO theatres this film has proven (at $120M and counting) that people like Will Smith SO much that they will pay to hang out with him, as himself.

The Jacket - where the deadly angles of Adrien Brody's nose and Keira Knightley's jaw fight for screen time in a convoluted, time warp thriller - gee, that's got "must-see" all over it now, doesn't it?

Man of the House - why? because apparently we need more Christina Milian this weekend.

Meet the Fockers - yes, some films never die and linger on the vines that are mid-level city theatres until every last bit of juice can be dried out of them. It's sad really.

The Pacifier - because the new generation needs a Kindergarten Cop and Vin Diesel thought it would be fun to be in a movie with Faith Ford (WTF?) and a duck.

Pooh's Heffalump Movie - why is Disney doing this to us?

Son of the Mask - where interesting performers (Jaime Kennedy and Alan Cumming) make rent money.

See the dilemma here? At a time when Hotel Rwanda, Being Julia, Assassination of Richard Nixon, Vera Drake and Kinsey are in theatres, I get the above choices for Friday veiwing. Time to just huddle in a corner and shake away the craving I guess. Wish me luck.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Jump Start the Month

Today was an absolutely exceptional one. It was filled with SO many positives, that I am sure the remainder of the month will be dreary in comparison. I provide you with the following evidence:

1-I received an email from Dave kindly commenting on this site. I haven't heard from him in ages, and it always makes my heart smile when I do.

2-The Fickle Feline herself added me to her blog list - I have officially entered the zone. I love Kat's blog more than I can say - it is an inspiration.

3-My best friend Natalie has confirmed to come ALL THE WAY to Toronto to celebrate my 30th birthday. If there is one person who would make that day complete - it is her! She and her awesome husband will travel from Montreal just for me! I feel loved and special (so that keeps me from feeling old).

4-I got my hair cut today and it looks fabulous. Good enough to receive comments stating that fact! There really is nothing like a new cut to make you feel great about yourself.

5-I had my graduation pictures taken. And, low and behold, there are actually a couple of shots that DO NOT make me look like a squint-eyed turtle. Also, this activity confirms the upcoming end to undergraduate studies - I made it folks! (fingers crossed and knocking on wood)

6-I received more incredible news from my first choice MBA school (St. Mary's). It appears the I will be eligible for the maximum number of transfer credits therefore cutting my time in the program down to one year (12 consecutive months). As well, this reduces my tuition costs by almost half and with my scholarship amounts to a tuition cost of $3300 for the program! That's less than I paid for this year! Now, I have books and everything else to pay for, but an MBA for under 4 grand - that's an exceptional deal!

See, I had 6 happy moments today! SIX! How many days have that many good spots in them? So I'm off home to sleep with a smile on my face.