Writing while exhausted.
It’s dark, cold, and raining like crazy…in the middle of ’summer’.
I don’t mind the weather, just wish I could be somewhere else to enjoy it.
You know, like curled up in bed, watching Grey’s Anatomy, with a big plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and, idealy, I’d be in New Zealand.
I’ve been trying to not focus on being in NZ so I can enjoy the last month(!) I have in Canada…but today, I don’t care.
I’m a sappy, girly, whiny mess and loving every minute of it.
Sleep has been interesting in the last week. I am sleeping, but it’s not a deep sleep that leaves you all nice and refreshed. Because of that, I’m beyond exhausted, which is actually pretty entertaining.
A few days ago, while still sleeping, I carried on a conversation with Chad…for 10 minutes. By the end, I was in this state of being semi-aware of what I was saying, while having no control over the words leaving my mouth.
Chad filled us in on highlights of what I said:
“CANDY!”
“They won’t let me work…I’m too strong…and fast”
“SHUT UP! I’m trying to tell you about my dream…”
“You must think I’m crazy…”
One night, I should record myself while I’m sleeping…I’m sure it would be an interesting watch.
To My One and Only Baby Sister.
As your older sister, I could use this post to tell embarrassing stories like the time you used Tupperware as drums and screamed “TOODLES MOMMAY!” over and over at the top of your lungs while Chad and I hid in the bathroom until we thought it was safe to come out, but I’m not going to do that.
Instead, I’m going to tell a story…about you (no kidding).
As soon as I found out Mom was having another baby (she sure can pop them out, 4 kids under 6…Go Mom!), I knew it would be a girl. No matter how much people tried to warn me that it might be another brother, I had convinced myself that I was getting a sister.
I wanted you SO BAD!
I was nearly six the night you were born, but I can remember every detail. I was sleeping in a pitch black room when Angella came in and woke me up.
“Dayna, you have a baby sister.”
I only smiled and fell back to sleep, content, because I had thought about you so much, knowing you had arrived was expected (and let’s face it, I am SO out of it when I get woken up that I don’t really understand what’s going on).
The next day we all went to the hospital to meet you (wearing the latest fashion, of course.)
Dear.Lord.Why?
Little did I know, Chad had wanted you really bad too. So bad, in fact, that he held you too tight and would scream and cry if we tried to take you away from him (could both of you please remember this moment when you’re in the throws of an adolescent screaming match? kthx).
When I pried you from Chad’s hands and held you, I thought to myself, “She’s MINE!”
Not to make my lil bros jealous, I love them just as much too…but at that age, I was getting sick of dressing them up as women (no matter how much they seemed to enjoy it):
I needed the real deal, which I found in you:
please don't kill me for posting this
Now, You are 15. FIFTEEN! You’ve turned into a bit of a mini-me, so much so that certain people *cough*Marissa*cough* are using you as my replacement when I leave. I guess it was inevitable seeing as we’ve shared a room, clothes, hairstyle (you copycat), *ahem* attitude, and oh yeah, the same gene pool.
But you are definitely your own person, and an AWESOME one at that:
Happy Birthday, Courtney! I love you, and remember that I’m making you a yummy/pretty cake to make up for any embarrassment.
A-Zed
Hannah did this meme last week and although she didn’t necessarily tag me, I thought I’d play along.
A. Attached or Single? I’m not literally ‘attached’ seeing as we live an ocean apart (only 35 more days), but I am very much taken.
B. Best Friend? Not including Matt, cause that’s kinda a given…it’s a bit of a toss up between Danielle and Marissa. You girls can fight it out 
C. Cake or pie? I only enjoy one kind of each. Chocolate Cake or Lemon Meringue Pie.
D. Day of choice? Sunday. It just has a nice, relaxed feel to it…until about 8pm when you start realizing that you have to go back to work the next day. Monday = EVIL!
E. Essential Item? Depends on how essential you want to go! Running water/food/shelter/deoderant aside? My laptop.
F. Favorite color? Green
G. Gummy bears or worms? Worms…I feel bad for the bears, they’re too cute to be eaten.
H. Home town? I was born in Prince Rupert, but I’d probably call Gibsons my hometown.
I. Favorite Indulgence? This particular type of fizzy sour cola bottle. The last time I found it was in NZ and only at Woolworths (they’re the real reason I’m going back…kidding!)
J. January or July? Wherever it’s summer! Jan in NZ and July in Canada!
K. Kids? None, currently (or for a loooong while), no matter what Marissa tries to tell you. For the last time, I did NOT go travelling for 9 months because I was pregnant!
L. Life isn’t complete without? Not to sound too cliche here, but I’m going to go with faith & love.
M. Marriage date? “The distant future…the year 2000″ Oh, how I love me some Flight of the Conchords.
N. Number of brothers/sisters? 4 of each 
O. Oranges or Apples? I’m all about citrus, so Oranges.
P. Phobias? I don’t think my fears reach the ‘Phobia’ level, but #1 would have to be heights, particularly over water *shudders*
Q. Quotes? “But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”
William Butler Yeats
R. Reasons to smile? Don’t really have any reasons not to
S. Season of choice? Summer all the time please
T. Tag someone. Sharon (if she’s up to it)
U. Unknown fact about me? I yawn when I’m nervous…which sucks because my yawn isn’t all that attractive.
V. Vegetable? broccoli
W. Worst habit? I start things and don’t always get around to finishing them.
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? Weird question…I’ve only ever had an Xray and didn’t like it, so neither.
Y. Your favorite food? Meat.
Z. Zodiac sign? Libra, although I couldn’t tell you what that means or care any less about it.
I got my groove back
This last weekend was spent doing all things domestic because
A) I’m not leaving all my organizing to the last minute per usual and,
B) I needed to prove to my mother (and myself) that yes, I can keep a house clean, yes I won’t kill your plants.
It was pretty successful, besides turning my room into an even bigger mess during the process of organizing. I can’t figure out why it happens…
Anyway, I also spent a *little* time, backing up/reading old blog posts. I’ve tried (and failed) to keep a journal multiple times, even though I got so much joy in reading about the multiple crushes I had when 13…or 8.
So I’m pretty impressed with myself for having blogged about my life regularly for almost the last 3 years. GO ME!
I know it’s a good thing to realize the image you’re putting out there, and obviously, what I write on here is only one very tiny aspect of my life and should be treated as such. But I think I’ve started worrying too much about what I write.
There’s really no reason for me to be either…this blog is kept as positive as possible while still being real and somewhat candid. I’m not about to spew every thing that’s going on but I do want to remember why I started this site in the first place, and write like I used to.
This blog is to keep my family in the loop, maybe meet a few new people, and most importantly, for ME, so I can look back in another 3 years and actually remember what I was doing (cause my memory umm, SUCKS).
Alone and Nerdy
I have about 7 unfinished posts saved in drafts. This is proof to how random my brain is…I start on one topic and then go off on another before I finish the first one.
Anyway, I’ve been enjoying a week alone, just me and the cat who likes to run around the house chasing her toy sock at 3:30 AM. It’s good times.
While I like time by myself, I’m used to it only lasting a few hours, not days. There’s a lot of things to keep me occupied, but I miss the background noise of fighting teenagers that living with people brings.
I pre-warned my mom that I even though I would do everything right, her flowers might not look so good when she got back.
Plants do not like me. I swear, they see me and whither.
However, they are all still alive *knocks on wood* and the only odd event was the localized flood around her magnolia tree (which so wasn’t because I left the hose on it for 3 hours).
Also, not to get mom’s hopes up or anything, but the house is looking pretty darn good…proof I can kick domestic ass (when I feel like it)!
My new site is still (kinda) on hold because it’s being difficult and I was getting overwhelmed by my nerdiness in trying to fix it. I have 3 options for a new theme, and can’t really make a decision on which one. They all will involve a little tweaking since I don’t like certain aspects of each one. For example, if I used the 2nd one, the green background would be white, and have a darker text. Let me know what you think
My brain feels like it’s going to explode
I spent a little too much time out in the sun yesterday and am now a florescent shade of red. Not to mention, sore, overheating and dehydrated, with tan lines. Hawt.
The sun and I are no longer on speaking terms…at least until this burn goes away. So I spent today inside working on my never-ending list… and my new site specifically.
Excuse me, as I SMASH MY LAPTOP AGAINST THE WALL! *ahem*
I would never actually do that, but I did feel pretty close to it a few times today. I’ve put my new site on hold for at least a few days…
And now I’m off to bed since I can no longer keep my eyes open and mah burn is aching!
The FUN Side of Leaving the Country!
PROJECTS! LIST! and ORGANIZING!
My week has been filled with it ALL! Needless to say, I’m beside myself with excitement.
With only 7 weeks until I leave for a country millions of kilometres away, my list of things I need to get done is getting loooong . Luckily, I get just as much joy adding to my list as I do crossing items off.
This was every single article of clothing I had:
Now? It looks like this:
A shopping trip is desperately needed as that is actually all I have to wear. My old clothes were put in a garbage bag and left for the vulture Courtney to get her claws hands on. Those clothes didn’t even know what hit them….I’ve taught her well.
Organizing all my important papers is the next thing on my list. My shredder and I will have hours of uninterrupted good times. Can’t.Wait.
I cross-stitch. Yeah, I know I’m pretty much the only person under 50 who does, but I like it! It brings back good memories of living at the airport and Math class with Marissa (we still got decent marks even though we never paid attention…we’re smart like that). I’m doing this one for Gail, who has a few that she wants to get done before Christmas. Good luck!
Finally, I’m going self-hosted!!! I’ll be switching to my new! very! own! domain! in a few days once I figure out how to work the damn thing. If you guys didn’t think I was cool nerdy enough already, I’ve asked Marissa to guest post on my new site. By asked, I mean Marissa forced herself on me and has even threatened me if I read the post before I put it up. Hopefully, the guidelines I gave her were abided by…
I doubt it though.
Back from the Dead
I ended up spending pretty much my entire long weekend in the city.
Friday and Saturday were spent trying to find a dress for Sunday’s wedding, eating sushi, and going to the beach.
Unfortunately, my skin refuses to tan this summer, so no matter how long I was outside, I would always come in whiter than when I went out. Go figure.
The wedding on Sunday was so much fun! I got to hang out with a few of my girl friends that I don’t get to see very often. Three of us showed up wearing black, prompting a lot of people to ask whether it was planned (really, really, not).
I didn’t get any good pictures of the actual wedding, thanks to my bad angle and crap camera, so I can’t show you how the groomsmen carried the groom up the aisle on their shoulders while ‘The Final Countdown’ played in the background.
Or how the Maid of Honour did not stop weeping for the entire ceremony.
Or how us girls restored to using our programs to fan in between our legs because it was so freaking hot in that building! We’re classy like that.
After the wedding, we had a couple of hours to kill before the reception, so we decided to go to the pub for a few margaritas. Then we ended up in a dragon boat, on the river, while wearing high heels. Good times.
Emily, Jenah, and I
Poor Sarah had really bad allergies and ended up going home
Of course, the reception was fun too! They had little fishes as centre pieces. I wanted to bring ours home, but I don’t think they would’ve lasted the bus ride.
Jon and Kat
I was fully planning on being home Monday and Tuesday, but that didn’t happen.
Last week my brother, Drivemuch Lance, totalled his car. He was fine, I think his ego was bruised more than anything.
He had to tell the hot female cop that he crashed while trying to pick up his 4 litre jug of iced tea that was spilling all over the front seat. Nice.
Dad had been looking for a new car for a while and took Lance’s crash as an excuse to buy a brand new Malibu and sell his old car to Lance.
Since Lance lives in the Okanagan, we decided that Dad and I would drive both cars, Lance would take the bus and we’d meet halfway in Merrit. It was a long drive for a short visit, but it was nice to be able to see Lance.
On the way back, I played with dad’s car. The guy isn’t much for new technology, so I had to show him how to work certain things. He caught on pretty quick, and even made a few calls on his voice activated, OnStar car phone.
But there’s got to be balance between the old and the new, so we listened to the only music station on the built in XM satellite radio that dad liked – the one that played all the songs from the Gaither Gospel videos dad owns. The same ones that I would watch with him while curled up on his lap as a little girl.
