Everyone loves Marineland!

Bye! Have a great weekend. I'll 'see' you all Monday morning as usual. Don't labour even though it's called Labour Day!


kxx

Marineland here we come!

The Kaye's are leaving for Marineland in the morning so I'll try to do a super-quick blog before we leave. That means unless I can sneak internet access, no blog Friday. And don't think I won't try. I have a streak to uphold.

So we're only going for a few days but because of the rabbit, we need someone to come in and feed it. See why I love my cat? No maintenance. I can leave the thing to take care of the house for up to four days. Unfortunately I can't trust him to feed and water the stupid rabbit so my neighbour is coming over. Because of this I have to clean up.

Why, you ask? I'm happy to explain. See, I treat other people as I'd like to be treated. That also works in reverse. I expect people to do what I would do. If I was given a key to my neighbour's house and permission from same to come in, I'm going to snoop. That's just the way it is.

Now don't get me wrong, I won't go through their closets trying on clothes or raid their fridge to watch the satellite feed on their plasma screen tv (although that sounds delicious). I'll just take a $.50 tour. I'll look into all the rooms and sort of check the layout of the place. I'll walk over to their windows to check out their views. That's all. But see the need for the sweep and tidy? Don't tell me you wouldn't do the same.

So I'm off to do some errands and cleaning before work. We want to be completely ready by 8am tomorrow which is the time we'll leave tomorrow. It's the first exclusive holiday we've had in years. Usually we piggyback our trips to dovetail with something else. This time it's only for us. Can't wait!

kxx

Fun weekend with Mr.A

Okay so a couple of weekends ago my dad and his wife came over for the weekend. It was to celebrate his birthday which actually is today. He's going to New York to celebrate so he wouldn't be here. He's 70 and would not like it if we let it slide. So we had his favourite coconut cake (made by me, naturally) surprsed him with my brother and two fights.

You know when you're spoiling for a fight? When you just need to have it out and you know the next thing you say is going to start one? That's how I was feeling by day 2.

We had two good ones:

Arguement #1: Church

Daddy: It's Sunday today. When last you took your kids to church?
Me (mentally): It's ON.
Me (aloud): Christmas 2007

That was a good one. He called me a bad mother and I called him a rigid old goat (not in so many words... after all, he's still my daddy). The crux of my arguement was that we teach the kids to be nice people and that we stress "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". They can pick a religion that suits them when they get older. I'm just not a big fan of stuffing my religion down a kid's throat before they can make a choice of their own. It's like your parents getting you a tattoo when you're 5. When you get old enough to get one of your own, the one your parents got you may not be what you've chosen. It may be but maybe not. He just kept saying that the children wouldn't know the word of the Lord. Hmm. Oh big deal. By that point I was ready to move on. To

Arguement #2

Me: So Daddy, you're going to Trinidad in a couple of months. Where are you staying?
Daddy: At Frances' family, of course.
Me: For 3 weeks?

This was the start of the if-you-have-family-anywhere-you-have-to-stay-with-them-or-else arguement. This is a West Indian thing. Maybe a non-North American thing. I'm in the unfortunate position of being both Canadian and West Indian. But I would never spend 3 weeks in another woman's house. To me it's an imposition. It's inhospitable. And don't you dare suggest staying at my place for that long. To my dad if you do go to a hotel, you are telling the people you know in the city that their house and by extension they aren't good enough for you.

That's okay if everybody involved is West Indian but what if part of the couple isn't? That just not what Canadians do. Can you imagine me bringing my entire family to stay at your place for 3 weeks? Maybe overnight. And that's just a maybe. I did stay in London with Kathy for 6 days. But I was alone and that was just a few days. I would never ever impose for 3 weeks. It's ridiculous.

I argued that I'd be putting the host family out for all that time. Daddy said that the guest gets a key, comes and goes as they please and cleans up after themselves. I say, where does your holiday come in if you're cooking and cleaning for yourself? That's when he called me selfish and I agreed. I'd rather stay home then stay in someone's home for an extended period of time. Nyah.

So as usual, we had a great visit. It also explains why he never comes for the day even though he lives a 2 hour drive away. It's always an overnight visit. Now I get it. I don't want it but I get it. Sigh.

kxx

Awww, no more Olympics

I just spent 2 weeks in the depression on my couch watching the Summer Olympics in Beijing. I've loved most of it. Ping Pong, I'm looking at you. I felt my Canadian pride come out as I rooted for Adam Van Koeverden (kayak) and Ian Millar (show jumping and 61 years old). Yes, there was that American swimming guy but seriously, the US wins so many medals, is it really that amazing a feat? Yeah, yeah, the US is a medal machine. They have so much money and infrastructure and training facilities... they'd better win. But a poor, cocky kid from Jamaica that lives and trains on that tiny West Indian island? Now there's a story.

Anyway, it's over and I wanted to share this website that was forwarded to me about a week ago. How cool is this? It shows elite olympic athletes at every size. I loved seeing that. Things like that do wonders for my often skewed body image. If that weightlifting girl has an Olympic body then there's hope for me yet.

kxx

Happy Friday!

I'm about to have a fantastic weekend what with a dragonboat regatta tomorrow and a gorgeous sunny day to enjoy it. Heaven on earth. I'm not even going to let the fact that I have about 50 more favourite videos to share with you and only one measly post left to do it. Well, how about this one? It's a perpetual fave and mirrors my mood today. I've seen it maybe 78 times and I've yet to watch it without at least smiling. Try.

kxx

More YouTube fun

I'm thinking that I should have saved this YouTube stuff for when I'm at Marineland and can only check in for a few minutes a day. Oh well, prepare yourself for some pretty sucky blogs come the end of the month.


Now onto bigger and better. I still love this song by Alphabeat. I tried to get it on iTunes and supposedly it doesn't exist. That's an irritation because they don't play it on the radio here. So I'm stuck either watching it on YouTube every couple of days or downloading some shady music platform that'll have it but also give me some skeevy, itchy virus. Huh. I'll wait, thanks. Enjoy.

kxx

YouTube Wednesday

Did you think I'd go all week without posting one of the Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog songs? All the songs are amazing but this one is my favourite because it shows the main characters and all their personalities. Captain Hammer is a hero but a total ass; Penny is an idealist and Dr. Horrible (Billy) is fighting the urge to be completely evil.



Just before this scene, Dr. Horrible had accidentally introduced the woman of his dreams to his arch enemy (Capt. Hammer), when a speeding van went out of control and the 'hero' was forced to save her. Dr. Horrible spends the day spying on their first date. Watch and love. And get it for a mere $4 on iTunes.



kxx

Okay, this one defies description

I just have no words for this one. Okay, well, one. Bizarre.

kxx

Monday fun

Loving YouTube lately. I had a rare visit from my most awesome brother over the weekend and I was telling him about all the things he should see there so I thought I'd give you all another week of my favourite YouTube videos.

This first one is a lot like the "daft hands" one I posted last time I did this except it's with bodies. The girls doing this have great moves and despite (or maybe because of) a slight porno vibe to it, it's in my favourites file. It's called "Daft Bodies"

kxx

As usual, my Friday/weekend plans verge on the ridiculous

My dad was supposed to come tomorrow for a surprise birthday celebration. While I was at work yesterday he called Scott to tell him that he's coming today instead. Scott, completely man-like, said fine. FINE? Aaargh! That means the trip I was planning to take with the kids to the nearby chocolate factory is out and it's all hands on deck for cooking and cleaning as we only have about 8 hours to do what I thought we could do in 24. Why, oh why did Scott throw me under the bus? And what about dad's wife Frances? She knows about this surprise thing. She's a woman. Aren't we supposed to stick together? Grr.

So now I have to clean the house, bake a coconut cake, clean the rabbit cage, blow up the air mattress, do laundry, grocery shop, buy a birthday present and basically pull out what little remaining hair I have to prepare for this stupid thing. And when my dad comes he stays for the entire weekend. I can't wait until Monday...

kxx

How is this funny?

I'm not a political person. You have to be smart and worldly for that. What I am is nice. So I can tell when people aren't. This isn't. I mean really. I like to treat others the way I'd like to be treated and if people posed for a photo for me in blackface I'd be livid.

Yes, the Chinese have been less than forthcoming when it came to the opening ceremonies. They suck when it comes to human rights but this is just petty. Don't you have to rise above this stuff to make the other realize their mistake?

Off my soapbox now. Nothing more to see here. You go back to your life and I'll go back to my iPod.

kxx

Rainy day

Well, it's cool and rainy. There are no movies at the multiplex that are suitable for kids. I have to be home by 3pm so I can get ready for work. What should we do today?

Videos!

We are just going to lie around in our jammies and do absolutely nothing. Yes, the kids will tell me many times that they are bored. Yes, no laundry or cleaning will be done. That's just the way we roll today. Deal with it.

kxx

I love this thing!

Taking time out from loading up my iPod to say hi to my peeps. I managed to get every cd that means something to me plus Dr. Horrible. Next I'm off to iTunes to buy some more stuff. I have tons of room left. I'm delighted with this thing and it looks like 4gb is fine.

There's nothing like a new toy to get the juices flowing, is there? I'm spending the day in the house to do this and clean a little. Very little as it turns out. But who cares? Whatever I do, I can do it with a soundtrack. Tomorrow I'll take my new favourite toy shopping for new clothes. I'm terrified to drop this thing...

kxx

Birthday Fun!

So I had a really fun birthday yesterday despite where I thought it was going to go. Last year when I turned 40 and went to the Lookout on Cabaret Night (look it up on Facebook... good times) it was amazing. Nothing could compare.

But this year took the cake. Almost literally. Scott volunteered me to bake a 30th birthday cake for my niece.  I decided to make her my favourite cake so at least there'd be a teeny focus on me. Hey, she may be 30 but it was my day too.

So when cake time arrived, they bring out 2 flaming cakes. I think "why did they have me bake a cake if they already had one?" Then they put one of them in front of me. Heh. Oops. So much for my magnanimousness.

So that was the family do. Did I mention that Scott bought me that iPod Nano? It's really pretty and silver and Already loaded with Dr. Horrible. Sigh.

Then it was off to dragonboat practice. I thought I was going to be late but I hoped on all my birthdays that they wouldn't leave without me. 15 minutes later, they were still on the dock getting instructions from coach Bevin. Yay! When they found out it was my birthday (okay, I told them) they made me paddle the boat alone while they sang me the birthday song. Have you seen the size of these boats? Plus there are 22 people in it. Cute. I bet they'd be surprised to know that I loved every second of it. Ha.

A great day. I love my birthday!

What a wife!

Yesterday was Scott's birthday and that momentous occasion didn't even get a mention on here. What kind of a wife am I? I'm so self involved! Don't I suck? I mentioned Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog ...have you seen it yet? It stars Neil Patrick Harris and it's absolutely WONDERFUL and... I'm doing it again, aren't I?

Well in real life I didn't forget his birthday. We had a nice little celebration after I got home from work and between commercials for the finale of So You Think You Can Dance (self involved again...). We had chinese food and my own invention Key Lime Cake for dessert. The kids and I bought him special presents, them from the dollar store and me from the video store and I even wrote him a haiku:

Happy birthday, love
Hope all your wishes come true
I sure know mine have

Yes, it's lame but I never admitted to being a poet. I'm just a lowly blogger waiting for that book deal to fall in my lap. Look, I'm doing it yet again. I'm incorrigible.

So I hope yesterday was good for my special little guy. He really is pure awesomeness even though he doesn't have a PhD in horribleness like my latest secret gay boyfriend. I'm home today so it's laundry day. Hee.

kxx

It pays to be fat

Okay, just slightly fat. Actually I'm a "Clydesdale" which, frankly, is insulting. It just happens to be the most giant horse in existence. It's like prehistoric sized. The only thing more insulting would have been to call us "mastodons" or something.

Anyway, the Clydesdale designation meant that in the triathlon I did last week I'm over 150 pounds. That's the bad news. The good news is that it turns out after all is said and done I got a silver medal in the category. So how conflicted am I right now? I always think I need to lose a few pounds but if I did I would never have been in the category that got me a second place finish. I need to munch on that for a few days. No, not literally...

kxx

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

My secret gay boyfriend and my favourite accessory. It's like all my Christmases have come at once....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDaszN9ByxM

k

I’m obsessed and I don’t care

Who:

*Is virtually lip-free?
*Can sing like an angel?
*Looks like he is so white he'd go up in flames faster than a vampire if he spent too much time in direct sunlight?
*Has an adorable squinty tic?
*Is openly gay and in a committed relationship?
*Was a child star? Then ironic self-parodizer? Then tv star? Then internet superstar?
*Has a PhD in Horribleness?

My latest crush/obsession, that's who. Right now I'm humiliatingly in love with Neil Patrick Harris. I've googled him till all hours of the morning. I've watched him talk on YouTube just to see his lips (what lips?) move. I've watched Dr. Horrible so much that when my kids or husband walk by the computer all they say is "Again?" shaking their heads, rolling their eyes and muttering under their breath. I woke up this morning with this song in my head probably for the 6th consecutive day. I can't get enough of him.

I know how likely it is that a gay man's head can be turned by a Canadian Black suburban housewife/mother of 3 so I'll just love him from afar. In my dreams he (as Dr. Horrible) and I (as his faithful henchwoman Brown Sugar... move it Moist) cut a swath of destruction through the blight that is Planet Earth. The world is a mess and (we) just need to rule it. Don't we dear?

Sigh.

Flugtag!

I had enough energy after Saturday's events (another reason why I can't wait to do this again) to take the kids to the RedBull Flugtag on Sunday afternoon. Two and a half hours in the hot sun of watching people literally jumping in a river. You would not believe how much fun this was.

I'd seen this before just on tv and video clips so I knew what to expect. People who worked all summer to make a human powered gliding machine that really had no hope of flying but sure did put on a good show. What I didn't expect was the mini plays they put on, many involving the team knocking out one member and attaching him to the doomed craft before they pushed it of a nearly 3 storey drop. The teams had music, themes (monkeys and bananas or Sex and the City, etc.), some even had dance routines. The whole thing was so entertaining that I could almost forgive the organisers for running out of water halfway through the thing so that all we had to drink was RedBull. Hm.

So if this comes to your town, it's free (except for the $2.50 water or RedBull) and you should go. We laughed our asses off and had a great afternoon.

kxx

12th!

This is old news to those who know me from my various online boards or in my life. To you all, I'm sorry to have to make you go through this again. But I came in 12th people! TWELFTH! Top 15 in that triathlon I did on Saturday morning. I'm still vaguely stumped as to how it happened but it's right here online so I guess it's so.

Feel free to click on that little camera icon to see how much fun I had.

I met a terrific woman named Judith who hung with me during the swim and saw off and on all through the race. We took photos together, hugged a lot and the happy face balloon on her bike was a real help to those of us who couldn't find them during the transition.

I got my number written on by arms and legs in Sharpie marker by a stranger. I always thought that triathlete's numbers were written using some kind of space-aged waterproof liquid, but nope, just a garden variety Sharpie.

It's too bad there were no photos taken of the swim. There you would have seen me dog paddling, wheezing and then just water running (the water was waist deep) the 200m. Wow, that was bad. Thank goodness for the bike leg. I don't even want to discuss the run which I thought was going to be 3k but ended up being 5 which I didn't realize until I passed the 4k pylon along the route. Hmph.

Anyway, I'll stop boring you with this. Suffice it to say it was amazing and probably the most fun I've had all summer. The marathon I'll never do again. But this? I wish I could do it every weekend. It was So. Much Fun. I can't wait until next year.

kxx