Librarianista

I need to update more!

2011-11-06T14:48:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I've been MIA again. . . so sorry about that! I don't know what to say other than I've been exhausted lately. What makes someone sleep 12-14 hours a night? And no, I'm not preggo! I just feel like I never get enough sleep. Would it be lack of protein or iron? Gotta figure it out. Here's a few updates:

I started a new job in the same library system. I'm a librarian at a branch now, still get to work with teens but now the general public gets graced with my awesome presence more often :)

We booked a trip to Mexico! It's in January! Less than 80 days a way! Yay! We're staying at an all-inclusive in the Maya Riviera.

We had a zombie party last weekend and my sister and best guy pal from Michigan showed up and sang karaoke on my doorstep! Here's a photo from the evening:

We had a zombie bride, a zombie hipster, my sister dressed as the zombie version of me, and I'm a 1950's zombie house-wife. Good times!

I'm reading Tom Perotta's new book The Leftovers and so far it's awesome! Can't wait to write a review.

I need advice on vegan weight-loss! What am I doing wrong? I work out 3-4 times a week and eat healthy but still can't lose anything. Do I need to go gluten-free or just cut back on the calories more? I guess I'm at a plateau.

TMI Tuesday

2011-10-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

1. Name 5 things you did more of before social networking (facebook, myspace, twitter, etc.)?

Wrote notes
Wrote emails
Made actual phone calls
Read books
Wrote short stories

2. Your house is on fire, what do you grab as you run out?

This is easy - my animals would be the first thing I grab

3. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I used to be a night owl but now I'm neither, ha ha. I had getting up and I go to bed early!

a. What time did you go to bed last night?

10:30 PM - couldn't keep my eyes open!

b. What time did you wake up today?

7:00 AM - have to walk the dogs, feed them brekkie, get ready, etc. and I work at 9:00 AM

4. A kid comes up to you and kicks you in the shin, what do you do?

I would say, "Ow!" and probably ask them why they did that?!

5. What three things do you never leave the house without?

Cellphone
Wallet
a book to read

Bonus: Name a place that you visited last week that you’ve never visited before. Briefly tell us about the visit.

Last week I visited Vaughan, Ontario - there's a Dave and Buster's there, bars, and we stayed at a hotel. There's also an Ikea and a giant shopping mall! It was pretty sweet and a good visit, not too expensive. It was a lot of fun!

Big news - we booked a trip to Mexico! We're going in January - now this workout/eating right thing really has to get kicked into gear! How have you all been?

Lady Erica Salvatore

2011-10-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

So today I decided to clean out my SPAM folder and saw an unreasonable amount of those letters telling me there's hidden money for me, somehow - someway. I just need to send some money first and then I'll get lots more. I'm sure you've heard of this before? This scam is sometimes called the Nigerian Scam and you can read more about it here on Snopes.com. This letter was the most interesting, written by Lady Erica Salvatore. She is sending a letter offering money to: EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS, ORPHANS, DESTITUTE, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED CHILDREN,BARREN-WOMEN

Not really sure what category I fall into. . . but I'm sure her sentiments were genuine, ha ha.
When I type that name in Google Images, this is who came up:

Read her nice little letter here:

I am Lady Erica Salvatore, I was married to Sir David Salvatore an Italian Man who is dead. My husband was into private practice all his life before his death. Our life together as man and wife lasted for three decades without a child. My husband died after a protracted illness. My husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals as he had passion for persons who can not help themselves due to physical disability or financial predicament.

When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of (10 Million Great British Pounds) which were derived from his vast estates and investment in capital market and private investors. Presently, this money is still with the Bank.

Presently I write from my sick bed, Because my Doctor had just informed me that i have a very limited days to live. Due to the cancerous ailment which is fast eaten me up .

With this hard reality that has befallen my family, and me I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to fund the upkeep of EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS, ORPHANS, DESTITUTE, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED CHILDREN, BARREN-WOMEN and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped financially .

I do hope you would be able to utilize this money for the said purpose of CHARITY, And also set up a NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION which would be named "FOUNDATION DE SALVATORE", As our family legal adviser would be here to guide you through all necessities .

I am taking this decision because my husband's relatives are Trouble Makers and I don't want a situation where my husband's sweat will be used in material pursuits.

This is why I am taking this decision. Moreso because I do not have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons and I do not want my husband hard earned money to be misused or invested into ill perceived ventures. I do not want this money to be misused hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I do not need any telephone communication in this regard due to my deteriorating health and because of the presence of my husband relatives around me. I do not want them to know about this development.

Do inform my lawyer Barrister Ferrnando Jorge ( barristerferrnandojorge@kimo.com )about my intentions, As we had previous agreed to source for someone who would be able to carry out my last wishes.

Please i need assurance from you that you will act accordingly as I have stated herein.

My lawyer shall be awaiting your response .. barristerferrnandojorge@kimo.com

Your Sister

Lady Erica Salvatore

TMI Tuesday

2011-10-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hey there! I found this cool new link/idea called TMI Tuesday! I think I'm going to give it a try:

List five (5) things you have done that other people probably have not done.

Moved to a different country
Crowned Homecoming Queen of my college
Received a Masters in Library Science
Met John Waters, Lloyd Kaufman, Tim Allan, Eminem, Adam Brody, and a few other famous peeps
Gone vegan :)

List five (5) things you have not done that other people probably have done.

I've never played softball
I've never learned to properly swim
I've never seen an episode of the show House (he looks mean)
I've never lit a firecracker or sparkler
I've never cooked a steak or hamburger

Bonus: What is the oddest thing that you’ve ever seen?

This is a really tough question to answer! It's hard to think of something on command. Earlier today I was telling a story that involved visiting my ex-boyfriend's uncle who is a priest. While we were leaving, his uncle ran out and decided to 'bless' the car we were driving away in. My ex was like, "aw hell naw, this car isn't going to be baptized" and sped away while his uncle chased us throwing holy water and saying some prayer. I doubt this is the weirdest thing I've ever seen, but it's the first thing that comes to mind.

Like The Hunger Games? You should read Divergent

2011-10-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I finally have another book review for you!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Did you read The Hunger Games trilogy and it left you wanting more? This book is definitely in the same vein. I wouldn't say that it is better, but it is a definitely read-alike. It follows the story of Beatrice in futuristic dystopian Chicago. In this world to keep everything simplified and prevent issues, there are five factions representing a virtue that people live and abide by: Candor (Truth), Abnegation (Selfless), Dauntless (Bravery), Amity (Niceness), and Erudite (Intelligence). Beatrice grew up in the land of Abnegation - always giving her seat up on the bus, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, complementing others and dressing very plain and never even looking in the mirror. At sixteen everyone picks their faction - sometimes they keep the same faction and sometimes they choose a completely different one. At the ceremony Beatrice surprises everyone - mostly herself with a choice that goes against everything her family stands for. What makes it worse is that the faction she did choose - Dauntless - has the scariest and most intense initiation process of all the factions. They have to start off by jumping on to a moving train and then off - at the very beginning new initiates don't make it. This book is going to be a series (a trilogy, I believe) and it is a quick and fun read. There's a bit of romance, a lot of violence, and of course the obligatory overthrowing of a corrupt government. If you like The Hunger Games, I guarantee you'd like this book. Why should you trust me? Because I'm a librarian, that's why!

I actually never shush people, but it's part of the librarian look

The publisher made a Book Trailer if you're interested:

Updates

2011-10-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

Hey there! Sorry my posts have been so brief lately. I have to write at least 4-5 book reviews, a few movie reviews - just so much! The past few weeks have been super busy and I still feel like I have caught up on sleep from Las Vegas! Some updates:

Canadian Thanksgiving is next Monday. I think I'm going to try and make a vegan pumpkin "cheesecake" and then I'll post the recipe.
Speaking of food, I had a Doctor's appointment today and according to their scale I'm currently 9 lbs heavier than I thought. NINE! Nine. Nine.
How should I lose it? I've been doing lots of cardio with the running but I think I need to go back to tracking food. Should I use Sparkpeople? Don't really wanna pay for WeightWatchers.
There may be some upcoming changes that I'm going to be really cryptic about right now but there may be a change a comin'.
I need to get my hair done and don't know if I'm going to do the same style as always or switch things up. I feel like I never have enough money to warrant going to the salon but it's not like I go every 6 weeks like a lot of ladies I know . . . .
Why is it when you know you want to lose a couple lbs all you want to do is make baked goods and eat vegan nachos?! Oh wait, you don't have that problem? Just me?

Hope everyone has been doing well!

I ran a 5K today!

2011-10-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

Booking it to the finish line with pal Shannon

It was sooooo cold, blustery winds - lots of rain, but I did it! I ran 5K and my hands still feel numb! I did in about 37 minutes which I'm excited about because my goal was 40. I had to run around a lot of walkers, etc. since it was the Run for the Cure. I raised $50.00 personally and just had a great time! I'm not sore. . yet. . but I feel like I may be this week! It was great to obtain a goal and to be a runner - I never thought I'd get back into running, especially running distance! So happy.

Learn to Run Group photo! 5 for 5 KM!

This is really depressing. . .

2011-09-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

You'll probably hate me for posting this - it's very sad but people need to know that between 9 and 11 million animals die every year in shelters. Every time you buy a dog from a breeder or a pet store you are (unknowingly) killing an animal in the shelter. Want a purebred? We got Winston from the Humane Society and he is a 100% Pug. There are so many shelters and rescue sites for all different kinds of animals. I read this earlier this week and just can't stop thinking about it! I have four rescues at home and I wish I had a bigger place and more time so we could rescue even more!

Why We Do What We Do

A Letter from a Shelter Manager - anonymous in North Carolina

I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are; "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog".

Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.

Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.

If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down".

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt". THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT.

My dog is on more meds than Magic Johnson

2011-09-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

9 different meds!

Winston apparently has seasonal allergies! He's now on allergy meds, 2 eye drops, antibiotic, lip fold cleaner, face fold cleaner, breath stuff, and additional allergy meds! If you ever think of getting (hopefully RESCUING) a pug, realize that they come with MANY health problems. But they're so cute it makes up for it, right?

Right!

Post Vegas Depression

2011-09-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back from Vegas and I'm sooooo tired! I think the most sleep we got in any given night was five hours. I had a great time but am too tired to go into many details. A few tid-bits from the trip:

Mustanging it up

We rented a Mustang to drive around and it was super fun! Vegas is a really hot city though and a black convertible with black interior got quite warm! But we loved it. Well, Nick is looking like he doesn't consider it to be a big deal.

Vegan 4 Life

Got a new tattoo yo! I was planning on getting an origami Crane with my sis (in honor of my grandpa whose last name is Crane) but she ran out of money and I didn't want to get it without her. My pal Joseph (Fatty Vegan) and husband were getting this tattoo so I jumped on the boat to get it too. I love it! But the foot is painful - it was more painful than my ribcage tattoo!

A quote from the trip: "I want to get really drunk tonight, but not like get drunk enough to baptize myself with vodka drunk." Yup. Because when we get together we listen to 'Personal Jesus' by Depeche Mode and baptize each other with vodka. We didn't do that this time, instead we pretended we were at Joseph's funeral and sang along to 'Every Step I Take'.

I'm sure I'll have more to write about this trip later. I'm just too tired, ya'll!

List it up

2011-09-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

1. If you won the lottery, what would be your one random, off-the-wall purchase?

I would say a lemur, but they're endangered so that'd be like a black-market purchase and not good for the little lemur that I couldn't properly care for. Let's say a British style pub.

2. What is popular now that you just don’t get?

Vajazzling (is that how you spell it? I'm afraid to Google it)

3. What would your last meal be, you know, if you were ever about to be executed and you got to choose that sort of thing?

Well, I'd make sure it's vegan even though it'd be my last meal and it could be whatever I want. I'd have vegan bean dip + tortillas + nachos, Tofurkey, vegan mashed potatos, lots of veggies, sweet potatos, and 5 or 6 of Ronald's Donuts from Las Vegas.

4. When is it okay to start listening to Christmas music?

Never. I hate Christmas music.

5. How do you feel about facial hair on men?

I don't really care that much. Nick has huge sideburns and I've always like them. He's recently started to grow a mustache but right now it looks like a dirty John Waters mustache and I kind of like it. Weird, yes?

6. McDonald’s or Burger King? Those are the only two options.

Burger King because they have more vegan options. But I never it either.

7. What kind of soap do you use?

"Dirty" Body Wash from LUSH

8. What movie can you watch over and over and never get tired of?

Annie Hall, Donnie Darko, Scary Movie 3 and Not Another Teen Movie

9. Favorite beverage?

Non-alcoholic: Rootbeer
Alcoholic: Strongbow or Blue Moon

10. What do you want for Christmas?

I don't really ask for Christmas presents too often. I guess I'd like some work-out gear and outdoor running stuff. I'm super boring. Maybe a Nook or a Kindle would be nice. An iPad would be really nice!

Life Post Root Canal

2011-09-11T09:55:00.000-07:00

So, I haven't really updated on what's been going on since the whole Root Canal kerfuffle. Well, when I had my second check up it turns out that I didn't need a second root canal! So they gave me a permanent filling and I have to get a quote for a cap. They said I really should consider a cap because the tooth is connected to my sinus cavity and we don't want to ever lose it. So that's mostly good news!

The other day I spilled coffee on my beloved Blackberry and it died :( It sat in rice for a very long time hoping to resurrect but, alas, to no avail. I have insurance, so with a $100.00 co-pay I was able to get the exact same phone, just a new in box version. So I paid $100.00 for a 2 year-old Blackberry. But at least I have one and it won't effect my contract. Later that week, I found out that Nick accidentally got his headphone jack stuck in my computer :( Thank goodness for Applecare - they tweezed it right out. Unfortunately though, it was a hour jaunt to get to the closest Apple store. Those places are crazy! My sister and faux brother visited over Labour Day weekend and it was so fun!

We had what we call a "Roseanne" party on Friday night. What is a Roseanne party? It's where you dress comfortably, drink a lot, eventually put on bathrobes or other comfy stuff and at one point sing the Roseanne theme song and reminisce what it's like to be semi-white trash. Good times. On the Saturday we went to Toronto for sight-seeing and an all around great time! Saturday night we had a party at the place where Nick's band practices (known as the Jam Space) and that was intense. Let's just say we made up a choreographed dance to "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode that involved getting baptized with Vodka. Sunday we slept in and watched the Notorious movie while I made tofu scramble. Then we went to our fav local neighborhood pub for drinks and dancing (there's a live band). It was such a fun weekend!

And. . can I just point out that I leave for Vegas in 3 days?! How have you guys been doing?

I watched 'Notorious' so you didn't have to

2011-09-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

No dream is too big. . but you might have to die first.

So, I'm not sure where you stand on the whole East Coast/West Coast scene. . . me personally, I've always fancied myself as a Midwest Rap girl - Kanye and Eminem all the way, not to mention ICP :) But I also had a fondness for Tupac and Snoop and the West Coast scene fo sho. I'm a huge fan of Jay-Z so I think he falls into East Coast, not really sure though. My sister is a huge fan of Notorious B.I.G. We've had some major arguments about it before, one a few months ago where she drunkenly stomped off in tears because the entire room was pro-Tupac and she was the only Biggie supporter. She claimed Tupac got by on his good looks and Notorious had to really fight for what he got. Anyway, when she was here she had all of us watch Notorious, the Notorious B.I.G. biopic. A few things I learned from it:

Did you know Notorious discovered Lil Kim and like had a relationship with her for a long time before he didn't even tell her that he married Faith Evans?
Did you know Biggie and Tupac were friends, or 'boys' as they refer to themselves in the movie?
Did you know that Biggie's mother was from Jamaica but in the movie she does not have an accent?
Did you know that Puff Daddy (now Diddy Dirty Money) was responsible for Biggie's fame from the get go? Did you also know that he does this weird jaunty dance every time he was in a scene? They made him look like the best.person.ever in Biggie's life, the wise sage, the helpful friend, the mind behind the money, etc.
Did you know that Puff Daddy was the executive producer of the movie?
Did you know that the cute kid that plays Christopher Wallace as a boy (lil Biggie) is actually his son who was only a week old when Biggie died? My favorite actor in the whole movie.
Did you know that I look more like Tupac than the actor they hired to play him?

I've always had a conspiracy theory that Puff Daddy somehow had something to do with what happened to Biggie in the long run, but I'm kind of afraid to put that on a public blog. I don't know why, I just am. So I'll save that for a personal conversation if you ever want to hear my theories on that.

Basically the movie starts with young Christopher Wallace husslin' on the streets to make some scrilla while his mom works endless hours so he can go to a good school, which he just drops out of and goes to jail. And gets a girl prego. In jail, he miraculously learns how to rap, even though it sounds like he has a mouth full of marbles. Then his friend takes him to wherever Puff Daddy was working (post jail) and Puff Daddy convinces Biggie to get off the streets and embrace his talent. Puff Daddy gets fired but literally starts Bad Boy records like a week later. Then he give Biggie a Big Mac and inside the case is a check for $60,000 for his first record. I think Biggie was more excited about that Big Mac.

He skyrockets to fame after playing a few college shows. Meanwhile he and Tupac are still buddy buddy but at one point Tupac is shot in the same building Biggie was in and everyone blames Biggie and his people, so he gives them what they are accusing him of and releases the song 'I Shot Ya' or whatever it was called. Then Suge Knight is all "aw hell naw, it's on now!" Then Tupac really does get shot for good this time in Las Vegas and Biggie is upset. He gets in a car accident because a 14 year-old pot head is driving his car. Then he decides to go to some award show in California even though he knows it's a bad idea. He gets the idea to make a cellphone call to everyone he ever loved - Lil Kim, Faith Evans, and his mom and then he gets in a car and gets shot and dies. Miraculously Puff Daddy is in a different vehicle.

That's pretty much the gist of it, know what I'm sayin'? Biggie says that literally 47 or 50 times in the movie. You could play a drinking game every time he says 'Know what I'm sayin''? If you drank when he said that and when you saw Lil Kim's boobs, you'd be drunk halfway through. That's probably the best way to watch it.

List failure!

2011-09-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I'm still alive. It's been an intense few weeks - and in 7 days I'll be flying to Vegas! Woo! We just had guests over for the weekend and it's been one thing after another. Remember my summer to-do list? Well, I know I still have technically a few days left of summer -but- it was kind of a fail.

Summer To-Do List

Write Recipes in Recipe Box - I wrote like 7
Sign dogs up for obedience school - fail :(
Lose weight - This is an up-and-down event for me
Make kitchen prettier (new table, artwork, less clutter, etc.) - haven't really tackled this
Grow tomatoes - I've grown a few!! Many are still green
Go to Canada's Wonderland - supposed to go in October
Go to Osheaga Music Festival - So great!
Get a somewhat tan - umm I'm not super pale
Go camping at least once - nope
Go to Sarah's trailer at least once - did once!
Finally print the Blurb Book of our wedding - still a no
Finish/work on motha effin book (academic, not creative) - still a no
Look into taking a supervisory/management course of some kind - taking one in November
Make Etsy shop - Need a special license to sell Vegan Baked Goods online

I did just finish Divergent by Veronica Roth and The Help by Kathryn Stockett that I plan on reviewing. I also want to write a review of the Notorious B.I.G. biopic I viewed this weekend. Crazy. How has everyone been?!

The post where I cause you to be afraid of root canals

2011-08-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

Spotted in Jaco Haasbroek's Flickr gallery, which is full of great stuff.

Hi everyone! So I had a root canal on Friday. I waited all day to say, "I'd rather be getting a root canal. . . oh wait. . I will be!" I was not super nervous as many people said that it would be fine, it's just like a filling but takes a bit longer, etc. etc. Not fine! I sat down and immediately started to get super nervous, I could feel a panic attack coming on. But I tried to get through it. I thought of different songs in my head, anything to distract me from the drilling. And I'm not usually afraid of drills or anything like that. Let me back up by stating that I never even had a cavity before! And now it's wham - root canal time. So the dentist explained a bit of the procedure and numbed me up and started going at it. I realized a few minutes into it that it was her dental assistant's first endo. That did not make me feel safe. This chick was like, "what does the tool you need look like?"when the dentist would ask for stuff. Not cool. Then, about an hour into it I started freaking out pretty bad. I thought there was blood pouring out of my mouth for some reason and I also thought I couldn't swallow or that my throat was closing up. So they had to stop, get me to calm down, and give me laughing gas. Then they went back to it.

Then they took an x-ray and it took about 4 times for them to realize that my fourth root has another root splitting off of it really far up and it is basically impossible for them to get to with their tools. But they went back in anyway to try. Then I mumbled that I needed to use the washroom (which I had been holding for like an hour waiting for them to be done). After that was done, they were still in there for a bit and then they said, "looks good, let's get you sealed up with a filling." And I asked if I should still be sensitive to cold air and pressure? The dentist replied, "No, you shouldn't be." Well I was. So she had to go BACK in and try some more. This is like 2.5 hours. No joke. With my mouth open. Horrible. She put on a temporary filling and I have to go back in on Thursday to assess if I need to see a root canal specialist. Ugh.

As my therapist pointed out - even my teeth are all or nothing! (That's kind of how I tend to live life - I get super involved and all obsessed or I pretend like something doesn't exist)

Have you ever had a root canal?

Randoms

2011-08-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

Hey blog world. Remember when I used to post more regularly? I've been off lately. It's been difficult getting my schedule straightened since Montreal and Michigan, running 3 days a week, etc. etc. The running is going really well! I've also been sick lately - I thought I had an extremely bad migraine and went to the doctor describing my symptoms. She said that it actually sounded like a dental issue - something I hadn't really thought of. So, I went to the dentist and it turns out I have a tooth infection and need a root canal!! I've never even had a cavity! Needless to say, I'm pretty nervous about Friday's root canal. Have you ever had one? What can I expect? It's Friday at 2 pm and I am supposed to have an awesome weekend at my friend's trailer (vacation cottage thingie) this weekend!

Randoms
We bought Veganomicon and have been trying out lots of awesome recipes! I love this cookbook because it's written in a way that's very easy to understand and follow and doesn't have too many hard-to-find vegan ingredients.

We go to Las Vegas in less than a month! We'll be in Vegas with Joseph and Chelsea mid September. We have our tickets booked and we're staying at the Stratosphere. Las Vegas is one of my favorite cities! My top five favorite cities are: London, Dublin, Toronto, Montreal, and VEGAS! I've never been to New York City but I hope to go next year!

I'm obsessed with the show Sons of Anarchy and just watched the entire first season in a few days. Trying to get my hands on the second season!

Our housemate just let me know that he's moving out September 7th! Ahhh! Do we find a new roomie or we do turn his room into a party room? Can our budget handle this? Ahhhh! But we'll work it out.

I have a deadline of August 30th to finish and review about 15 teen books. If you don't hear from me often, this is why.

Okay, well it's time to get ready for running! Hopefully my tooth can handle it.

Brianne's story

2011-08-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends has Ovarian Cancer. I haven't written about it because I'm still personally processing it - I've never had a close friend with cancer before. She started chemo yesterday and she is so strong and positive! You can read her story here and even consider donating to Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope. Do you know anyone that has been through chemo or who have been through something like this? How were you there for them? Brianne's a tough cookie! I <3 her.

Brianne's page

Smitten for the Mitten

2011-08-09T09:48:00.000-07:00

Well ladies and gents - I'm back from Michigan in good 'ol Ontario with two puggies snoring at my feet. Every time I go back, I get a little more nostalgic, homesick, whatever you want to call it. It was fab and over too fast. At one point we even got a flat tire and it was dealt with grace with the help of family and friends that I don't know we'd have in Ontario. Well we wouldn't have help from family - we have no family here. I hate that the economy in Michigan is so horrible because pretty much the only way I could move back is if I gave up being a librarian for awhile and went back to waitressing and working some other job along with that. The only way I'd move back would be if I got a great librarian gig. Which sucks, because when the economy tanks libraries are one of the first things to get cut. It's hilarious that the things that were some of my greatest annoyances while living there are now what I miss most - namely our family. And I miss how cheap it is there - we bought a pet bed for like 4.99! Crazy deal! I went to a beautiful wedding on Friday night and hung out with family. On Saturday I went to an Art Fair and Pet Adoption Fest. I fell in love with a Pekingese dog that needed to be adopted named Godfrey. No, I didn't adopt him. Yes, I worry that no one ever will. How can you refuse this face?!

Can you believe I didn't adopt him?! Now I worry about him, but I'm sure he'll find a good family. Maybe in a week or two I'll have to contact his rescue and make sure. . . .

Hope you had a great weekend!

Getting ready to go home

2011-08-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

What's that quote - you can never home again? So true. I always tell people when I go to Michigan, "I'm going home for the weekend." Home? Isn't my home where all my stuff, animals, and actual living space not to mention, job and husband are? Which would be Ontario. Why do I always call Michigan home? Also, I always miss it - especially when I come home and visit for a bit, I always wish I could stay longer. Then things happen (family drama, horrible economy, etc) and I'm happy I'm in Ontario. I'm perpetually on the fence. I love my job - if I could uproot my job and pay and move it to Michigan, not to mention my cooler Ontario friends, then I'd be happy. Oh and if it had weather Las Vegas.

So, we leave tomorrow morning bright and early (read 5:00 AM) for the 'ol mitten. It's about a 5 hour drive, so we should get there bright and early. I have a wedding to attend Friday night and then it's fam jam time the rest of the weekend. The doggies are coming with, they will get to see their "cousins" which are of dog and human variety.

Where do you consider home?

Awarded!

2011-08-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Osheaga was AMAZING! I got home yesterday around 5:00 and then went straight to "Learn to Run" and actually ran for the first time in forever! It felt SO good. Then I came back and realized I won a blogging award! Whaaaa?! Ah-mazing! I received this award from Cherie at Refractions. You should check out her blog because it's super amazing - her journey as a twenty-something living life with her lovable pet 'Bitch Cat'. Love it. In honor of this award, I'll give you 7 random facts about moi and then give this award to five blogs that I read on the daily!

I'm addicted to reality TV. Currently I'm watching Masterchef and I also watch Hell's Kitchen, Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, Jersey Shore, America's Got Talent - you name it - I watch it and love every moment of it! It's kind of ironic that I watch so many cooking shows but am vegan and can't eat 80% of what they cook.
I always feel temporary. In the past 10 years I've lived 12 different places and always feel the need to move on. I've stayed in the same town now since 2008 and that's pretty long given my recent track record. But I've lived in three different places in this town. I just always want to see what else is out there.
I can read a book in one sitting. Which works to my advantage since I write book reviews and am on a committee to read and short-list a bunch of books. I mostly read books written for teens.
I've considered joining Teach for America and the Peacecorps. I was even accepted into Teach for America and passed all the interviews, only to back out at the last minute. I always wonder what would have happened if I stayed in the program.
I'm paying for WeightWatchers online but never log what I eat. I should fix that.
Not only do I have two rescued pugs, but I collect pug items, pug art, anything with pugs on it I'm all over!
I'm a member of a club made up of my husband and another couple called "The Midnight Society" (like from 'Are You Afraid of the Dark'). We get together and watch scary movies. I love it!

The blogs that I'd love to bestow the 'Blog on Fire' awards to are:

Ashley from Shop, Drop, and Roll. She inspired me to get back into blogging and is an excellent writer! Check her out for great reviews, recipes, and fitness advice!
Ewa from Ewa's Lair. Yes, I sit next to Ewa every day at work but I still love reading about her life - she's had an interesting life and it's always good to check out her blog and see how things are progressing.
Monster from Misadventures of the Monster Farmer-Librarian. I went to library school with Miss Monster and I love reading about her life on a farm and her unique perspective on the world! I miss her!
Alyssa of SocraTeas. Since getting back into the blog-o-sphere, this blog was one of the better ones that I first started checking out on the regular. She posts a lot of lists and I'm a girl who loves lists!
Sarah at Aesthetic. She's a good friend and blogs about vegetarian food and cute pics she finds online. What's not to like?

Have fun checking out these amazing blogs!

Off to Osheaga!

2011-07-29T04:08:00.000-07:00

Well, ladies and gents - I couldn't make it to Lollapalooza this year but I'm getting ready to leave for Montreal's musical festival Osheaga! The line-up looks amazing:

Eminem

Elvis Costello & The Imposters

The Flaming Lips play The Soft Bulletin

The Tragically Hip

•
Death From Above 1979

•
Broken Social Scene

•
Janelle Monáe

•
Bright Eyes

•
Sam Roberts Band

•
Crystal Castles

•
John Butler Trio

•
The Sounds

•
Eels

•
White Lies

•
Yoav

•
Lights

•
Hey Rosetta!

•
DâM-Funk

•
Egyptrixx

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Glass Candy

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Sam Adams

•
Braids

•
Mother Mother

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Galaxie

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Jimmy Hunt

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Oh Land

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PS I Love You

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Viva Brother

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The Luyas

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Typhoon

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Elephant Stone

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El Ten Eleven

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Passwords

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Ana Tijoux

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A-Rock + Shaydakiss

•
Alaclair Ensemble

•
DJ Cosmo

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Ciné-Osheaga - Les cendres de verre

I'll be gone 'til Monday folks! But hopefully I'll have an excellent review written for when I get back.

And I start the 'Learn to Run' program on Monday night (fingers crossed I'm back in time)

Cheers!

Sociological Implications of Star Wars

2011-07-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

Never argue about Star Wars with FanBoys. It will never works. I tried to drunkenly explain that Star Wars is racist this weekend and almost ended up punching 2 FanBoys in the face because they did NOT get what I was arguing. They just thought everything about Star Wars was awesome and you should never have to argue anything about it. I should've just walked away but couldn't give up - it made me so mad!

I'm home sick right now from work because I was bit by a spider and had an allergic reaction. I just wanted to post something so you know I'm alive but I'm kind of out of it on allergy meds! How is everyone doing?

Happy birthday to my other half!

2011-07-20T17:52:00.000-07:00

Today is Nick's 27th birthday. Yes, for your math majors that means I'm 45 days older than him. He jokes about me robbing the cradle, ha ha. I know - he's hilarious. We went to a Mexican restaurant for some vegan burritos (mine was sweet potato - yum!) and then I made him his favorite cupcakes - vegan S'mores. All this birthday baking is horrible for my diet! I should post the recipes though in case anyone would like to try 'em.

For Nick's birthday I will post a poem that someone else wrote:

A Birthday Candle

Donald Justice

Thirty today, I saw
The trees flare briefly like
The candles on a cake,
As the sun went down the sky,
A momentary flash,
Yet there was time to wish

from The Summer Anniversaries, 1960
Originally published in The New Yorker
Wesleyan University Press, Middletown, CT

The Weight of Things

2011-07-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

Ugh, remember how I said I somehow lost 2 lbs over Canada day weekend? Well, I've gained it back plus .6 more! :( I know I need to track what I eat, I never do so there's no way to know how many calories I've taken in. Also, I haven't been to the gym like at all this week (only twice). I want to lose 10-15 lbs by Vegas (and keep it off!) and it's like NEVER going to happen! I mean, I know I'm not obese or even overweight, but I just want to be toned and thinner! I'm thinking of joining a running program in August that runs until October - apparently when you're done you can run a 5K. I hate running. I used to run track (I was a "track star" - I even received MVP and top points my freshman year of high school) - but I was a sprinter. Even at my most fit, I couldn't even run a mile faster than like 12 minutes because I just would get so winded and hurt feeling. But obviously doing the 30 Day Shred like every 30 Days and going to the gym twice a week isn't leading to weight loss. Also I'm doing Weight Watchers - but by doing it, I'm occasionally tracking online and never even posting in forums or anything. Ugh, it doesn't help that I made a vegan Mississippi Mud Cake last night. But it is tasty. . . .

Busy week!

2011-07-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! How's your weekend going? Mine is okay - no plans, but I like weekends like that. We ran a lot of errands today and tomorrow we're steam cleaning our carpets. The fun never ends around here, kids - let me tell you!

This week was super busy - every week during the summer is busy at work because we do many programs and reading incentives during the summer and a surprising amount of children and teens actually come to the library during the summer. Yay for good stats, boo for being sleepy all the time. I also socialized A LOT more than I normally do during the week - Nick's band had a show Wednesday night and I went to see Horrible Bosses on Thursday night. It was pretty hilarious - I'm a huge fan of Charlie Day from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Last night we had a Union meeting - I'm the Secretary for my local Union and we have lots of meetings and biznizz to take care of.

Last night we also watched Insidious - awesome movie! If you love the old school great horror movies like Poltergeist, then I highly recommend Insidious. What have you been up to this week?

Review of 'Room' by Emma Donoghue

2011-07-12T18:02:00.000-07:00

I was very excited to read this book. I find anything about people who have been held captive extremely interesting (I know it sounds really bizarre - I'm also interested in the Amish and Polygamous communities). This is a story told from 5-year-old Jack's perspective. He lives with his mom in a 12 x 12 room that he has never been outside - that's because Old Nick captured Jack's Ma 7 years prior and held her in an impenetrable room. It's so refreshing to read from such a young child's perspective - so much imagination, awe, and intelligence. The author did a great job turning Jack into an authentic character. I felt like I truly knew each character. Room is extremely poignant, moving, and darkly reminiscent of cases like Jaycee Dugard and Josef Fritzl's family that he hid away and abused. The best part of this book is the hope that you're left with. I highly recommend it!

Check out the Book Trailer:

Two worries wiped away

2011-07-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

If you haven't noticed, I'm a worrier by nature. I try to put on a show of being very mellow and laid-back (I am constantly saying 'No worries') but really I'm always worried! From the really small things all the way up to giant things I have no control over, I am anxiety girl. Yesterday I had two worries dissolve and I thought it was so funny how quickly they dissolved and how all my worrying over it could never change the outcome.

Small worry: I went to the gym yesterday morning and couldn't find my membership card anywhere. I searched my entire car. I searched my gym bag. I searched my purse (my purse is the size of a small piece of luggage, seriously). I was so disappointed in myself. I hate losing things. I hate looking like someone who loses or forgets things. It bothers me. When I was in second grade, I realized that I forgot my book to return on library day and I went home sick before it was our time to go to the library so I didn't have to admit that I forgot my book! I didn't want to disappoint the librarian or my teacher, Mrs. Carpenter. So, I walk into the gym getting ready to tell them I lost my card or to maybe ask them to check lost-and-found when the clerk asked me if I had gotten an updated card yet. It turns out they updated the cards this week to key chain cards! So they had to get me a new card anyway. Worry number 1 - small and not even necessary at all.

Big worry: Nick and I are on temporary work permits to live and work in Canada. Our work permits expired in March. We put in to renew them in January, thinking 2 months was enough. Ohhh no it most certainly was not. Since March we have not had health insurance, nor have we been able to leave the country due to our current status and not wanting to put our current status in jeopardy. If we left the country, we wouldn't be able to work until we received our new permit. Since March I've worried consistently that they'd deny us, that we wouldn't get it in time for a wedding I'm going to, that something bad would happen to a family member and I wouldn't be able to go to Michigan to see them, etc. etc. Yesterday I went to my PO Box and saw 2 new work permits there - one for me and one for Nick! Yayayayayayay! Now I just have to worry about getting permanent residency.

I knew I said I'd write a review on Room (a seriously, seriously great book) but after writing all this I just can't find the energy for a review. It will come - I promise! I'll try not to worry about it.

Poor Winston needs surgery. . .

2011-07-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

What are you lookin' at?

So, if you've read my earlier posts you know that we adopted Winston in January. He went in for his 6 month check-up yesterday and we got some bad news bears. He now needs two separate sets of eye drops twice a day (a prescription that is about $70.00 a month) and oral surgery. He has 3 rotten teeth and his gums are also very infected and he may need a few root canals. They quoted us $1100 plus a $300 fee for blood work, urinalyses, all that fun stuff. I'm going to call around and get a few more quotes. We do send money every month into an animal savings account; however, it gets eaten up by his prescriptions pretty regularly. I had pet insurance for a year for my kitty Penny and they never covered anything. I wonder if this would've been covered. . . . we're kind of in a spot financially right now because we're trying to save money for Vegas, Europe, and all our immigrations stuff. And now this. I was thinking about doing Arbonne for a second income but I don't know if I'd actually make any money at at. . . . Arbonne is like Avon but all vegan.

I finished Room by Emma Donoghue last night and it was really good. I hope to write a review tomorrow.

Kappa Iota Cucumber Sandwiches

2011-07-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

So, I was in a sorority when I was in college! Also known as a Social Greek organization. My sorority was the best. Literally the best. It was started as a literary society in 1921 and then turned into a sorority, it has disbanded and gotten back together a few times but the ladies are amazing. I can't go into too many details about the whole pledging thing because there are a lot of secrets involved with Greek organizations, but it was all good times. Well mostly good times, ha ha. Not everything is perfect.

The sorority I pledged in Winter 2003 is called Kappa Iota. It is a local sorority, which meant our dues were less and we didn't have some national organization breathing down our back. It also meant we could throw awesome parties and make our own rules for the most part. Within reason. My pledge class was named 'Ghetto Mafia' and it was 9 instant friendsies. I eventually became social chair and then president of the sorority. My senior year, I was the 'Pledge Mom' (they dubbed me 'Pledge Milf') and I had the dubious pleasure of showing 7 lovely ladies the ways of KI.

In order to 'rush' a Greek organization, the way my school had it set up was you attend a series of events to find out which sorority is the best for you. There are teas, spreads, and desserts. At teas, you visit all the houses (I went to a small school so we had five). You kind of look around, see what's up and eat their food. One sorority went on and on about how they love to eat, they were kind of maniacal about it and I think it's because they were the sorority that everyone said got you naked when you pledged and circled all your fat. Another sorority had a room full of sweatshirts with their letters on it and told me how diverse they were because their sweatshirts were all different colors. Okay. One sorority didn't try too hard and had really awesome cucumber sandwiches. That sorority was Kappa Iota. Love at first site!

After teas, you narrow it down to the 3 sororities you liked best to visit for spreads. I don't really remember much about spreads, I think it was like a lunch or dinner type of thing where you kind of speed dated with the different members of the sorority. I feel like one sorority may or may not have put on a skit. I think KI served pizza and was like duuuude.

After spreads, you pick the final two you'd like to attend. Oh yes, I also must say that after all these events the sororities are going back and voting on whether or not they WANT to invite you back. Some girls 'suicide' and only pick on the whole way and if they don't get invited back, they're done. It's this whole matching up thing that I'm probably not describing well. Some girls were really sad because they'd go looking for their invitation from a sorority and they wouldn't get one and it was really like. . .oooohhhh.......that sucks.

For desserts, it's like a really dressy event. And you eat dessert, as the name suggests. And the sorority does something really sentimental. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to divulge many details about this event so I won't. One day I'll write a tell-all book under an anonymous name or something. After desserts, you go home and decide which (if any) sorority you'd like to join. Then the next morning you fill out a card stating what one you'd like to join and your back-up if any. I didn't have a back-up because that's lame. They have the decency to call you and let you know if no one picked you because if you got all dressed up to go to 'walk-outs' it'd be really depressing to find out in front of everyone that you didn't get picked.

At walk-outs you go up to a microphone and announce what sorority you're joining and the girls go wild and give you a shirt. And then you go back to the house and have a ceremony and get drunk. At least that's what we did. From what I could tell at the other ones they did some kind of dance that involved like rolling around on the ground and singing about paradise and sisterhood and some other stuff. We drank out of champagne bottles with sippy straws.

The end.

Oh yeah, but the whole reason I was going to write this was to share our super awesome cucumber sandwich recipe with you! Handed down from generations to generations.

I have the one that was handed down for generations and generations and then I have the one that I bastardized to make life simpler and to save money, ha ha. And that's the one you probably had in the last few years (if you're reading this and actually know me and went to my college and went through teas) because that's the one that they use now. Anywho, I'll give em to ya both

Photo from here. Not our actual sandwiches.
Old School Recipe

Cucumber
Little rye breads
8 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup mayo
garlic powder
onion powder
chives
cilantro
parsley
dill

Run a fork down a cucumber to make it look fancy when you cut it. I'm not describing this well but basically shred the sides by running a fork up and down before slicing. Slice cucumber then soak the slices in white wine vinegar.

While the cukes are soaking, mash up 1/4 cup butter, 8 oz cream cheese, 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, some chives, cilantro, parsley and dill (not too much dill cuz you sprinkle that on later too). Get the little rye breads from the grocery store (usually in the deli section) and don't spread the mixture on the bread until 30 minutes before you're serving cuz it will get all soggy. Spread the mixture on, and cucumber and sprinkle with dill. We served them open face. Voila!

Bastardized Tiffany Recipe
1 oz cream cheese
1 of those Hidden Valley ranch packets -or- Italian dressing packets, both have been good. I also have used like a dill dressing packet before and that was also good.
1 loaf of that little rye bread previously mentioned
cucumber

Mix all the stuff together, wait until right before you're serving before putting the mixture on the breads, add a cuke and then sprinkle with dill. Easy like Sunday morning.

Of course we made this in mass quantities. Ah, I remember the days spent hungover scoring and cutting a cucumber and yelling for someone to shovel the walkway and vacuum before teas started. Love it!

And for a vegan version (that I've never tried but now I want to!)

VEGAN
1 oz Tofutti Cream Cheese (even get the herbed kind, that be yummy!)
1 of those dressing packets if it's vegan, if not add a bunch of spices
1 loaf of those little rye breads or cut bread with a cute cookie cutter
cucumber

Mix all together! Yay veganity!

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I had to work today here in Canada and as an expat it's a little bitter sweet not being able to party - but hey, we get Canada Day so it's all good! In honor of the 4th of July, I thought I'd post something that I originally read on ASPCA's website on pet safety during the summer holiday.

Fourth of July Safety Tips

Originally published here.

For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:

Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.

And for your viewing pleasure, a pug (not mine) doing yoga:

Lost Weekend and Forever 21 Haul

2011-07-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

Wow - where did this weekend go? I knew I'd get a lot of partying in but wow, at my advanced age of 27 it really takes a lot out of me! Friday was my day off due to Canada Day here in the north, but I volunteered to work at the Canada Day event my town holds every year and I sat at a library booth and told people about the library and registered little kiddos up for the library summer reading club. My husband's band played at the lake later on that evening, as well as our good friend's band. Then to an after party with the rock n' rollers! I'm so sorry (or maybe not, ha ha) to say that I have no pictures from that evening! I actually have zero photos from the weekend. Thus the title Lost Weekend. And I'm super bad at taking pictures! I just can't be bothered, I guess. We got home around 4:30 AM. I looked at the clock before I went to bed, it said 5 AM and I figured 5 to stay alive. . .

Saturday, I woke up with not too bad of a hangover around 11 AM and walked the doggies. My friends were coming to get me around 12:30 for a shopping trip at a mall that has a Forever 21, one of my favorite stores. I just love the styles they come up with/copy off of. I feel so bad that I'm pretty sure tiny sweatshop hands put together my clothing so I can buy it at such a discounted price, but we're in a capitalist society and I can't really change anything about that. I boycotted Walmart for 2 years and that didn't cause Walmart to shut down. Anyway, I digress. I got quite the haul at Forever 21! I bought my husband a pair of jeans - they had a men's section but my husband actually prefers jeans from the female section as he is a skinny jean wearer and also enjoys the stretchiness of women's pants. He pulls it off. So, I got for myself:

Blue Cardigan

This black and white dress, except mine has straps

Denim Snap Dress

Robot Love Necklace

And I picked up some leggings as well. When I shop, I usually pick out one thing at a time to get because I do not like spending a lot of money on clothes. But I saw so much I wanted! Then we ate at SpringRolls, which is very tasty but every time I've been there I've had not-so-great service. Picked up more beer (Red Stripe is my beer of choice, in case you're wondering) and pre-drank at home while getting ready to go to our local neighborhood pub. Partied late into the evening and danced to a great live band! I love it when they play this song:

I had never heard this song until I moved to Canada, now anytime it plays I feel the need to Highland Dance and stomp around. Love it! It's a little weird going to work tomorrow on the 4th of July as an American, but hey - them's the breaks when you live in a dif country.

Oh yeah, and somehow pigging out on fries, spring rolls, curry, bruschetta, and tons of BEER I somehow lost 2 lbs this weekend. Go figure. Must be all that dancing!

Two good newsies today!

2011-06-30T15:11:00.000-07:00

Yay! So today I found out that I was accepted to present as a speaker at the 2012 Ontario Library Association Super Conference in February (this is my third year presenting, I like being a speaker) and I was asked to write book reviews for a magazine! Woo hoo! After the week I had, news like this is very welcome. Do you attend conferences for your job?

Tomorrow I'm working even though it's Canada Day because my library has a booth at our town's big celebration. I get paid time-and-a-half so it's all good. I've always volunteered for anything that is overtime ever since I started 3.5 years ago. Sometimes I wonder why people I work with complain about not having enough money yet they never volunteer for overtime. Oh well, I guess it's easier for me - I don't have family here or kids or much of a social life, ha ha. Do you get overtime where you work?

Well, this weekend I do have plans and I'm going to RAGE both nights! It's been, like, a million years since I've partied two nights in a row. I wonder if the club can handle me?

Happy early Canada Day!

To tan or not to tan. . .

2011-06-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

I know, I know - Hamlet had a way better soliloquy than this, but like the Ham Man I have some serious questions that I'm debating. I just found out that I have 126 minutes left of tanning at my gym and I really want to use them. But the reason I stopped using them in the first place was for health concerns - namely I do not want skin cancer. But the beds are so warm and toasty and they make me feel happier! I put a towel over my face because if you've read any of this blog before you'll probably realize that I'm a pretty vain person and I don't want wrinkles on my face. . .like at all. . . so I tell myself a towel over my face and chest will prevent nasty wrinkles. I read somewhere that the correlation to a frequent tanner getting skin cancer was the same as a coal miner getting lung cancer. That seems like pretty much tanning = skin cancer. Is there a way to tan a little bit and not die? I only go 5-10 minutes at a time at most. I only go once or twice a week. I don't even really get dark. . . I just get a little darker but not much. It prevents me from burns later on. So what do you think? What's your stance on indoor tanning (or outdoor)?

This is the first day of my life. . .

2011-06-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

In honor of my anniversary, I thought I'd share my wedding photos with you!

All photos are copyright David Crane.

Our wedding was also covered by Offbeat Bride!

This is the song we played in our ceremony:

Lyrics:
This is the first day of my life
I swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach

Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don’t know where I am
I don’t know where I’ve been
But I know where I want to go

And so I thought I’d let you know
That these things take forever
I especially am slow
But I realize that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home

Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning
And I thought it was strange you said everything changed
You felt as if you'd just woke up
And you said “this is the first day of my life
I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you
But now I don’t care I could go anywhere with you
And I’d probably be happy”

So if you want to be with me
With these things there’s no telling
We just have to wait and see
But I’d rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery
Besides maybe this time is different
I mean I really think you like me

Tall Soy Cafe Americano Misto with one pump of sugar-free vanilla syrup

2011-06-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Do you drink at Starbucks? I know it's super expensive and like ridiculous on the calories but I've figured out a way to get a great tasting drink and save money AND calories! How can you argue with that?! So, I used to drink a Soy Chai Latte or Cinnamon Dolce Latte (soy) and realized it had like a bagillion Weight Watchers points. Well more like 11-15. Which is a lot when you only get 29 a day to start with. So I asked my sister (who used to work at the 'bucks) along with my friend Sarah (also a former Starbucks employee) on what has the lowest calories. I was instructed to order Grande, Cinnamon Dolce, Soy, Americano Misto. I've since moved down to a Tall and with sugar-free vanilla rather than cinnamon because it's only 1 Weight Watcher Point that way (on the PointsPlus plan).

Now where does saving money come in? If you get a registered Starbucks card, you get free customizations on your drinks! So I get soy milk and flavored syrups for free. So my drink in total is like 2.83. Which is daaaamn cheap for Starbucks. Also, with a registered card you get free drinks on your birthday and free refills on brewed coffee and tea. So, it sounds weird when I go to Starbucks with friends and have this super customized order but it pays off and I totes sound like I know what I'm doing.

Actually today, the barista looked so confused. I realized that she charged me twice for soy and then didn't even indicate misto on the cup. So I ended up with this really weird drink that I paid too much for, but I didn't complain because she looked new and I didn't want to get her in trouble. Do you complain or what do you do when your drink is made wrong? What's your Starbucks order?

My favorite poem

2011-06-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

Lending Out Books

You're always giving, my therapist said.
You have to learn how to take. Whenever
you meet a woman, the first thing you do
is lend her your books. You think she'll
have to see you again in order to return them.
But what happens is, she doesn't have the time
to read them, & she's afraid if she sees you again
you'll expect her to talk about them, & will
want to lend her even more. So she
cancels the date. You end up losing
a lot of books. You should borrow hers.

- Hal Sirowitz

I've lost a lot of books throughout life this way - not just to guys I dated but to friends and acquaintances.

To Do List

2011-06-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed a To-Do list that sprouted on a tab in my blog. I figure if I put it up here I can be more accountable - maybe? It's nothing major, since we rent there's no major home renovations or anything on the horizon. It's just a list of things to get everything together. One of the items is to take my dogs back to obedience school because they're being really mean when they're on the leash being walked (not to me but to strangers). They also go crazy when someone comes to the door. And Winston attacks people when they leave. So I have to fix that.

Well I didn't have much to say today, I was going to post my wedding slideshow but I think it's not online anymore (wah!) Sounds like a lot of people are just having a chill weekend and I'm just happy I don't have to work (sorry Ewa).

Weigh-In, Bling, and more

2011-06-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

Friday's here! Thanks to Rebecca Black, every time I think of the day Friday I hear her voice in my head. . well sometimes it's The Cure, which is like. . . infinity better. So I'm just having a chill night in, Nick's at a recording studio working a new album for his band (check em out here). I'm watching Dateline. This show scares me when I'm home alone, I don't know why I watch it but I can't stop!

I'm doing WeightWatchers Online and had my weigh-in today. Gained 2.6 lbs. I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but if you only have 10 lbs to lose to get to your goal weight, a 2.6 gain is 20 percent! Not that I don't know why I gained. . . .I didn't track half the days and I was over my 29 point allotment on some days. I worked out hard early in the week, but today I hurt my foot (dropped a full Red Bull on it, you wouldn't think it would hurt but I have a ginormous bruise!) so I can't allow Jillian Michaels to kick my arse today. I'm going to go to the gym tomorrow morning, hurt foot and all. I gotta get these last 10 lbs off of me! Any advice on breaking through the plateau and losing the weight?

In other news, I've wanted one of these rings for, like, ever. Well, ever since I saw it on The Hills. Dude, does anyone else miss that show? Anyway, I still want a personalized ring!

Except mine would say Tiffany. Obvi.

So mostly a chill weekend - Nick works Saturday and Sunday. Tomorrow is girls night and I'm looking forward to catching up with one of my bestest gal pals! And Sunday I'm trying Mucho Burrito at some point. I tell ya what, kids, the excitement around here NEVER ends.

Monday is our (Nick and my) two year anniversary so I'm going to do a wedding recap post on that day or leading up to it. We have no plans, might go see a movie or go out to eat. I actually work Monday and have an appointment. Every day is an anniversary when you're young and in love! Cheesy enough for you? What are your plans for the weekend?

Team Cee-Lo baby!

2011-06-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Do you watch The Voice? I am rooting for the judge Cee-Lo and his final competitor, Vicci Martinez. I don't pretend to understand the rules that they have in the show, I just watch and root for my fav. The singing is amazing, all contestants have been extremely musically talented (in my non-musical opinion). So today I wore Cee-Lo's signature Red+Black ensemble in honor of the show. Well actually I did not base my outfit off the show, but made up this back story and it fits so I'm going with it.

I know, not a great pic, I'll work on that.

Shirt, belt, and necklace from H&M

Pants from Walmart yo

Some of you may recognize the bathroom. . . .

If you haven't watched The Voice - check it out!

*this is Niko's least favorite song. He's like the dog days aren't over, they've just begun biaaa!

New Kid on the Color Block

2011-06-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, my dogs are barkin'! People tell me that no one says this in Canada, it is strictly an American saying. I'm like. . .what, have you never seen Uncle Buck? Anyway, such a long day. It's Wednesday but felt like a Monday because I was off Monday and Tuesday for working Saturday and Sunday. On the bright side, I only work 3 days this week! I love weekends.

What does a Librarianista wear to work? Today I tried to rock the Color Block trend. What's color blocking you ask? Well, according to Today, "One of the season's biggest trends is “color blocking,” which isn't just limited to a Mondrian-style print, but it's also about wearing more than one bright color at a time."

I have to get a better camera that shows color in vibrancy.

I wore a bright green shirt with a paisley print blue skirt (the paisley actually had a little green in it). And a crochet flower in my hair.

My sandals are from Ardene

Shirt inherited as a hand-me-down from my sister. I think it's from Rave. Seriously. That store has been out of business for years.

Skirt appeared on my desk at work in a bag of clothing that this other librarian decided to give to me.

Flower crocheted by hand.

This outfit cost me $11.00.

Love my toes! Ewa painted them and did a great job.

Do you rock the Color Block? How so?