Random Channel Surfing

March was kind of a bust, but it did reinforce one thing to me: I have the most supportive, loving, and kind-hearted people in my life. Thank you, family and friends. (I feel that I don't say it often enough.) Now that we're 10 days into April, I'm thinking that 2017 is kind of, sort of, maybe, possibly getting better. (I think.) It's not easy for me to ask for help, but you've all come through for me.  I know you guys don't follow this blog, but I hope you know that everything you've done for me has meant the world to me. I appreciate you all and I thank you for your love and understanding. Thank you.  #MotivationMonday  #IJustNeededAnExcuseToPostThisPictureOfAFlowerHeHe

Throwback to August (top pic) and last weekend (bottom pic) with my three little birds.  Now that I'm entering the last week in my twenties, I'm especially thankful for these three women and everything that they have contributed to my life. I love them and I feel especially blessed to be a part of their lives and all their major milestones.  It's ironic to me that 2008 was the year that brought the most changes to their lives. The year I was falling in love with a city, Nicole and Janis were falling in love with their guys and Jenn was graduating from nursing school. The year I was so ready to leave Edmonton, my friends were expanding their roots to the city's soil. But our trip to Montreal in 2014 proved something to me: that while I adore Montreal and will end up there one day, these three women are integral parts of my life. Their love, support, and friendship is vital. They are a constant reminder that despite my fears and unease, "every little th...

As I mentioned in previous entries, Rylan's actual birthday is October 31st. To celebrate his lovely life, Nicole and Rylan always throw what is, in my opinion, the best party of the year.  There's yummy food, amazing people, tasty booze, bumpin' jams, and hilarious costumes. Really, I blame Rylan and Nicole for my new-found love and appreciation for Halloween. As is always the case with me, I took a buttload of pictures. I'm sharing a few of my favourites with you.  Hipster Ariel and (Ashley) Spinelli. Two Disney heroines who are out to fight the patriarchy. Beautiful Char - This girl is so amazing. Mary Poppins and "Chip On-his-shoulder". Swingers! Sch-wing! Professor Chaos and Spinelli. Two animated badasses.  I truly love Seth. Not only is he the kindest soul, but he's all kinds of fun!  Our lovely hosts: Grandma and Grandpa! (Side note: Don't my friends clean up well??? For senior citizens that is...) Grandma ...

It's a new soundtrack  I could dance to this beat  Forever more  The lights are so bright  But they never blind me  Welcome to New York  It's been waiting for you  Welcome to New York

  I'm feeling nostalgic.  This time last year, I was in Montreal with these good-lookin' kids. These pictures were taken on (what I think) was the best day we had there.  We started with some breakfast at a bistro a few blocks from our "apparte"; got caught in a storm; went shopping at Ste.-Catherine (where I bought us girls friendship rings); got loaded off $2 hi-balls at the world's cheapest sports bar; got more liquor at the dépanneur, which proved to be quite a fun experience for the boys; drank at Place Jacques-Cartier (just like the locals do!); watched the boats at the Vieux Port; had poutine at Nix and my old stompin' grounds, Montreal Poutine; and kicked off what was, without a doubt, the best holiday I've had to date.  Montreal is amazing, but being there with my gang made it SO MUCH BETTER.

It's always so much fun when I can see my lovely girls during the week! It's a shame that Jenn couldn't join us, but she's usually so tuckered out during the week that when she bowed out, we totally understood. Also, side note: I strongly recommend Magic Mike XXL. So much hot. Too much hot. I almost want to watch it again haha!

(I totally stole my title from Omar Mouallem on twitter.) This week, Alberta, the province that most people ( Mark Ruffalo , for instance) refer to as the Texas of Canada, elected a different party. We went from being Canada's most conservative province, to one that elected a socialist majority government. What was once mostly Progressive Conservative blue bled New Democrat orange. Even my hyper-conservative riding in Edmonton's southwest elected a New Democrat. And it's funny to me how seven short years ago during the federal elections, most people on my Facebook feed were disinterested in politics and were apathetic (you can read about that here ). Now, seven years later, all anyone can talk about is politics. As Dustin so cleverly said on Wednesday (the day after the election), "Today, all my Facebook friends become politicians." And they all did. Or, rather, all (the majority of) people on Facebook can do is argue about whether or not we're going to...

I decided to visit Mel in Vancouver this past weekend. We met at a bar (the Black Frog) where I met her friends Tona and Mac. We didn't stay at the Black Frog (whomp-whomp) 'cause we had to head out to a grad show at this very awesome venue a few blocks away. Mellie so smelly.  I really dug the decor there: cartoony monkeys and humans hanging off the walls and from the ceiling; plushy couches and high bar stools; accent lights and twinkle lights. It was beautiful inside! It seemed like a very fit venue for such a diverse and creative bunch. Animators are artists who, I feel, grew up wishing that they lived in the world of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, where humans and zany cartoons coexisted. Animators are hilarious and friendly and weirdly shy and very enthusiastic about the media (magazines, television shows, movies) they consume. Animators are, for lack of a better word, interesting. After the grad show, Tona went with us back to Mel's place, where we sat and chatte...

Chantal married Ryan last night and it was a beautiful ceremony. They're so smitten with one another. Funny, but the first time she was engaged, I knew I wasn't going to be invited. Tarek never liked me (I am very aware of that) and she and I had grown so apart, that I kind of figured I wouldn't be there on her big day. Fast-forward to last night where I witnessed just how much she loves Ryan and how much he loves her. They're so adorable and they're so in love and it warms my heart. I fucked up, though. I won't document the reasons for said fuck-up or what it is I fucked up, but I will say that the shame I feel right now will likely persist for a long while and, well, that sooks. I'm updating this to include the only selfie Nix and I took. Look at me! I'm a highlighter!

Camping is not my first choice when I'm planning a short trip. No. I usually think about going to St. Louis to visit my sis and her family, or about going to Calgary to see a concert, or about going to see Mel in Toronto. Camping is never my go-to and it's especially not ever on my list of trips I'd like to take. Like, ever. And it's not that I don't like camping, or that I've never done it, but rather that when I think of taking trips, I envision myself touring museums, or seeing a band live. I never really think about campfire and woodsmoke. I never consider sleeping on the cold soil. I never think about spending an entire day in the sun. But this May long weekend, the three ladies, their fellas, Dustin, and I met at Pigeon Lake for one of the most loved-up weekends I've had in a long time. Our days consisted of snacking and chatting and we passed the time enjoying ourselves by the fire at night. Our last night, the coldest night, we picked each othe...