Tabs

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

EEK!!

Today marks one month till my 200 km bicycle ride. I need to up my training, but I think I will be okay. I know that a lot of my energy will stem from my fellow participants's energy that day too. We will be taking an amazing journey together and I am super excited for it!

I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Dear Internet People

My best friend is getting married on Saturday. She planned a beautiful outdoor wedding. Unfortunately, Mother Nature has planned scatter showers and possible snow. Please use all the power of positive thoughts and send nice weather wishes our way in Alberta. Much appreciated and you know I would do the same for you.

May the wind be always at your back,
Laura



I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Friday, May 21, 2010

A story...

Once there was a girl. She fell in love with a boy. And the boy said he fell in love with her too and she believed him. She gave him her heart.

One day the boy dropped her heart. And it chipped, but she polished it off and gave it back to him because he promised to take care of it. And the boy did seem to be more careful for a little while.

One day the boy dropped her heart again. And it broke into two. The girl was disappointed that he had been so careless. She tried her hardest to mend the two pieces back together, but the chip wouldn't let the pieces sit right. She wrapped her heart up to protect it. The girl realized the boy didn't want her heart enough to keep it safe and told the boy that he had to go.

The boy came back to the girl and pleaded his case. He would do everything in his power not to wreck havoc on her heart anymore if she would let him have it again. She wasn't sure. She loved him, but he had been so careless in the past. The boy revealed many of her heart's hopes and dreams and promised the girl that if he could have it, he would make sure not only to fix the heart, but also to let those hopes and dreams grow into reality. And she believed him. She gave him her heart.

But the boy hadn't been completely honest with himself. And because of that, he ended up lying to the girl without meaning to. In his haste to escape and feel free, he dropped her heart again and this time it smashed into millions and millions of pieces. He didn't even bend down to help her pick it up.

The girl collected all of the pieces and tried to put them back together. Some pieces fit in different places which changed the shape of her heart. Some pieces seem to be gone forever. The girl thought she would have to continue through life with pieces of her heart missing.

In her sadness, she started doing new things for her. And with each new accomplishment, she found a sparkling piece of life that glittered in the sun and fit into one of the holes. The clouds started to move away as her heart became filled with beauty and kindness again.

One day the girl was out for a walk. And she met a boy. Who was nice. And in his hand he had a gift for her. A piece of his heart that would fill the last hole in hers.


The end.


I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

What I am Reading Wednesday

For Food and Fiction this month, I am reading Do Androids Dram of Electric Sheep by Phillip K Dick. This was the inspiration for the movie Bladerunner, which I plan on watching after I am done reading this. I have to say, I find this book pretty intriguing so far. All of the obsession with animals especially!

It's mentioned that the Owls were the first to die - dropping out of the sky and at first it was seen as humorous, but then worrisome. Owls symbolize wisdom, so the owls dropping dead means the loss of wisdom? And my co-host mentioned how she found the Ostrich being this prized, valuable bird to be surprising as it is a flightless bird and I think about how when the ostrich is in danger, he (or she) buries his (or her) head so as not to face it....there has also been a lot of mention of chicken heads in this novel so far too. Why all the bird symbolism!?! I am super excited to discuss this novel tomorrow night. So I better hurry up and finish it.






I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Monday, May 17, 2010

My life in a list -- favorite fiction

1. Bridge to Terabithia : I know what's coming, and (possibly because of that) I still ball my eyes out every time I read this classic kid lit novel.
2. Oryx and Crake: I am a sucker for dystopic futures. I loved this so much my cat is named Oryx
3. The Handmaid's Tale: Again...dystopia!!! The procreation ritual is super creepy too.
4. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle: A high society girl who joins the ranks of pirates. Another favorite from my childhood
5. Fall on your knees: I recently read this for Food and Fiction and seriously --everything VC Andrews wishes she could have written about in a meaningful way.
6.The blind Assassin: I might have a weakness for Margaret Atwood.
7. Tay John : Can Lit mythology!
8. The Old Man and the Sea: a sad tale
9. Song of Solomon: Had to read this for a class and fell in love.
10. Veronika Decides to Die: this book inspires one to really appreciate life.

I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Saturday, May 15, 2010

A lot can happen in a week....

My friend and owner of GirlTalk Events is moving with her family to Vancouver. GirlTalk has been a big part of my life this last year and it's future was somewhat up in the air. On Tuesday, it was proposed that I become a co-owner with two of the other hosts. I know how hard it can be to make new friends and step out of one's comfort zone and try new activities while meeting potential new friends. GirlTalk has built up my confidence as well as my support system. I want other women to have this opportunity as well.

So, this week I am now a co-owner of a company! And it's a little bit scary, but mostly exciting. I'm slightly feeling overwhelmed, but ready to take GirlTalk to amazing new levels.

www.girltalkevents.com is the webpage if you are in Calgary and surrounding area and want to attend some great events to meet some fabulous ladies.

What a month! New car, new company, new chapter.

Wait...did I mention I bought a new car?? It was my birthday present to myself. A 2010 Toyota Corolla S. Toyota has been offering some amazing breaks and I was able to get 5 year financing with 0% interest. A free loan :) Also, I apologize for the horrible pun.




I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Thursday, May 13, 2010

What I Read Wednesday

Sorry this is a day late.

Last night WordFest hosted an evening with Chuck Palahniuk and I attended. This was the first time I saw an author read and it was entertaining, strange, fascinating and enlightening. He is on tour promoting his new novel Tell-All and Calgary was his only Canadian stop. That was pretty awesome!

He read to us a short story that he is having published in PlayBoy later this year. A dark tale that was uncomfortable. Off-colour jokes woven through a tale of a father on his deathbed and a son who couldn’t deal with losing his father. Shocking, yet I found myself laughing at the inappropriate humour.

Then Mr. Palahniuk threw out blow up academy awards and the audience competed to blow these up the quickest – the prize looked like cans of Spam. What everyone needs in life :)

The novel Tell-All has an interesting story line and I look forward to reading it. Especially after a Q and A session where Chuck offered up some insight as to where his ideas begin and how they are perversely twisted to create the stories that his fans can not put down. Or he could have been feeding us all a bunch of BS and maybe his stories actually come out of nowhere and are meaningless.

I am still reading Playing with Fire. Almost done (today at lunch it will be finished) and I am no more a fan of Fleury then I was before. In fact, I am tired of how great he is (guess what? He is even the greatest in rehab!!! Grr!).



I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Monday, May 10, 2010

My life in a list -- Things I want to do this Summer

1. Road trip to The Gopher Hole Museum --yes seriously...what is this place??
2. Attend Calgary Folk Fest again. Last year was my first time and every moment of it was awesome!
3. Spend a day in the park downtown reading and people watching --I did this once a couple of years ago and met this cool guy who was walking his parrot. I wish I had a camera because Molly (my dog) and the Parrot were nose to nose at one point checking each other out. One of my most memorable days.
4. Road trip to mountains for a picnic
5. Rollerblade from Edworthy Park to the Zoo and back along the river
6. Roast hotdogs and marshmallows over an open fire
7. Road trip to Sylvan lake to spend a day at the beach
8. Gorilla Garden some sunflowers
9. Sit on a rooftop patio, sipping cocktails until the sun goes down
10. Staycation in the city to enjoy lazy days of summer the way you should


What are your plans this summer?




I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Might be looking at a part time job again...

...to start in July. Just to make some extra money to fund fun things -- like a vacation or shoe shopping. Similar to what i had at the toy store working a couple evenings a week). Going to look at how I can juggle my money for the next little while though.

Did my taxes last night and it looks like I should be getting about $1700 back. Trying to figure out the responsible thing to do with that (most likely my credit card) although I would like to get a kitchen table and chairs as well.

I need to start making money work for me. I'm tired of working for money.


I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

What I am Reading Wednesday

For Books and Brunch this month, I chose the tell-all story from hockey great(?) Theo Fleury Playing with Fire. I figured this might be interesting as he lives in Calgary,I live in Calgary and I still get excited when I see my hometown in print.

That said, this ice and snow (haha, I'm hilarious) filled memoir is kind of pissing me off. Theo seems a little full of himself. Yes, I realize he was probably a great player, skater, stick handler, goal maker etc. But does every single paragraph have to reiterate how great he is? Even when the pages are filled with drugs and drinking, he still has to be the best party-er there is. And of course he would get The Great One to write the opening.

This book is also timely as recently Graham James's pardon from the Sheldon Kennedy case has been made public knowledge and maybe Theo could help put the sick (four letter word inserted here) back behind bars where he belongs.


I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

I'm so close!

I have to raise a minimum of $2500 in order to participate in the Ride to Conquer Cancer. As of today I have raised $1990 and only need $510 to reach the minimum! It's so exciting and surprising and heart warming to see every one's generosity and support. I have until June 20th to raise all of my funds and it sure would be awesome if I surpassed my goal :)

Check out my spoke bead army now! For a minimum donation of $10, you can get your name written on a spoke bead and become part of my ride. I just spent tonight placing beads on my spokes and all spokes on my front wheel have been bead-dazzled!



I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here

Monday, May 3, 2010

My life in a list- My perfect day consists of...

1.Irish Coffee sipped on the balcony
2.Shoe Shopping
3.Pedicures
4.A long soak in the bathtub
5.A fantastic meal. Something like the Vegetable Couscous I had at The Sultan's Tent the other night
6.Sunshine
7.Dancing with my best friend
8.Reading in a gorgeous garden
9.Watching the Sunset
10.Holding hands with someone who loves me

What does your perfect day consist of?

I am participating in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you would like to sponsor me, click here