Trish McEvoy #3 – Snowdrop & Crystal Flowers. It has a very pleasant, sweet, wintery scent. But don’t expect this to be one of those “light” fragrance. Even though this has a slightly heavier scent than most fruity perfumes, it is not harsh on the nose at all. And it lasts for the entire day too! I have tried on the other Trish McEvoy’s perfumes, but this one still wins my heart. One bad thing is that this is a bit pricey. There are two sizes: 0.5 fl oz – $48 and 1.7 fl oz – $78. These can be purchased at Nordstrom online and retail stores as well as Trish McEvoy online store. I bought a small bottle a few years back at Nordstrom, but I couldn’t find it anywhere when I was searching to buy another one for the past month. The sales lady tried to have me buy the big bottle, but I didn’t want to because, first of all, it is quite expensive in my opinion and also I didn’t think I will be able to use it all. So I was just going to wait until they restock on the small bottles. But when I came home this afternoon, I found this sitting on my desk. It was my birthday present from my sister and her boyfriend.   =)

All in all, this is one of my two favorite perfumes. (The other one is Gucci Rush 2 – thought I’d just mention that.)

Luam just posted her latest video to “Mannequin” from new artist Trish (not Britney’s)! Check it out – I’m loving it. She adds a bit more character to her choreo along with that grungy vibe we absolutely love. Keep watching for her dancer/student’s pop-n-lock version. Enjoy!

I absolutely <3 my 2 week old Nokia E75! Ever since it first came out in May, I initially knew I wanted to have it. Come six months later, I finally own one! And perfect timing indeed. Since it’s out with the old and in with the new, having a new phone tops the list. Among many others, of course. But even though there are some things which surely can never replace that special person, having these things makes life more manageable and easier to get by every day:

1. Makeover!- I had this yesterday as I waited for my family to finish watching the Pacquiao Vs. Cotto game. For the first time in my whole life, I got red acrylics on my fingers. I never did this since I thought they would make me look like a prostitute. Lol! But to my surprise, they were actually nice on me.  

2. New Earrings!- One of my trademark characteristics is having three piercings on the right ear and two on the left. But since I was at school, I was not allowed to wear earrings. So now, I bought new earrings and I am still looking for somewhere I can have the third one pierced again [it closed already ]

3. Go Shopping- Unless you don’t have much money yet, you can opt for window shopping instead. Oh! Did you know there is an uuuubber cute jacket in Warehouse, Greenbelt 5. Angel and I are planning to buy it.. Well one of us is anyway since it costs P5,000+.

4. Eat Out- Had dinner with Angel at Kitchen.

5. Aren’t your friends the best? When I told my friends the news, they all consoled with me instead of telling me “I told you so.” And for that, I thank them so muuuucch! Love you girls: Angel, Cristel, Trish, Mimi, Denise, Chris [oh Chrissy, will tell you when we do have that inuman na].

6. Plan a Christmas Vacation with your friends- Girls, let’s go to Lago de Oro. Wakeboard tayo! Sometime this December before you all leave me alone for Christmas. Hell, I can even spend money for that guy why can’t I spend it on people who truly care for me?! Let’s go girls!!

No I don’t know why I did that either, but at the same time I couldn’t resist, well I’m sure we’ll find all sorts of things like that in our lifetime! <<WAT! Anyway, on that note we return to the matter in hand, this blog! Now in my last few blogs I have been bragging about how much, well, nothing really happens, not saying thats particularly changed, but, well, a few things have happened over the last few days I thought I’d share with the world!

We’re off to see Nickelback!
I know what you’re thinking, damn Ben why didn’t you add that in to your blog title, thats pretty epic, dude, or something, but well the reason I didn’t is … well, let me explain. On Wednesday night I got a phone call from Rob asking if I wanted to see Nickelback, and I was like, well, yeah of course, so agreed that the details would be filled tomorrow, which would also be when it would happen, put the phone down. So, I’m like, yeh, Nickelback gig, rock on! Then, I later found out that it actually was the Christmas Light switch on at Leeds, which would be still alright had it not be for my Mum informing me from Real Radio, who just so happen to organise this event of epicness, so yeh brill, trust me the replacement is worth waiting for!
So, me, Rob and James (Rob’s brother) set off to the bus stop where we met Ben (not me obviously) and set off to the bus stop where we we’re to go to Dewsbury to meet Trish, who’s Trish, well its Rob’s new GF, don’t you read my blogs, arrrghghh! ….Anyway, so, bus to Dewsbury, train to Leeds, wooo train. I actually got an extreemly cheap ticket for the train, I had £10 and it was like 30-odd pence, yeh love carrying that change, then my ticket never got checked so in reality I could of probably just not got one and enjoyed a light pocket, but I now had a determined challenge to spend my change through the day, wayy! So, we arrived in Leeds and who did I see, well, on Rob’s birthday I saw Ashley from College, well this time I saw Michael from College, when I’m saying from College, I mean last year when the course wasn’t full of di**s. So, had a chat to him, turned out he was off to the same place but was meeting his girlfriend, so yeh, so eventually I joined the gang and continued on to the rather expectedly large crowd. It was absolutely chucking it down which was bad, the Nickelback not performing was confirmed, ugghh, but Pixie Lott is still coming, wopty flipping duu, refrain me from doing summersaults in excitement, OK maybe that was harsh, if anything she’s quite good looking, anyway, and my age + 1, I know, bonus, anyway again, but the fact that Nickelback wasn’t here meant they’d to fill the gap and who with, well the first was the crap X-Factor singer who had that hideous dress and was fat, link at the bottom of this blog of a YouTube link. But then, ooo it all started to kick off, on the stage came Loraine Kelly!!! OH MY GOD, IT’S that one from LK Today thats on when I’m either not awake or at college, or have much better things to do or watch. Then when they filled the rest in with idiots dressed in costumes singing ‘Frosty The Snowman’ which call me rather weird I don’t actually know the words to, I think we’d had enough, definitely Ben had, Rob later said it wasn’t happy that Ben didn’t like it, but, Rob, seriously, face it, it wasn’t the best of shows! Anyway, so, where to go now, well, we ended up tracing all the way back to Cleck and going to Weatherspoons, then James had to go home, and huhh, so Ben took James home and I was left with Rob and Trish, who later had probably the biggest fuss to going home I’ve ever seen, seriously if I had a Guinness World Record adjudicator with me, we’d have a record on our hands, all I’m gonna say is he wasn’t like that with Beth, so thats a good sign, anyway, look at me talking about people on here, oo! It’s not like I’ve revealed that some people **** in the toilets and shout it on an almost full bus or anything! I think we’re even. Anywho, so yeh, so I went with them for the journey and ooo it was indeed a fun journey, to Dewsbury, then in the Red Corner, Rob “Fore the Taxi” and in the Blue Corner, Trish “I’ll walk I’ll be fine”. I’m not dissing them, I’ve just never seen someone have so much fuss over each other, anyway, when the night ended we got home, on the same bus as well, ooo! But then came a bluddy other trouble, just as we were getting close to our stop, the bus lights turn off and he goes the otehr way, ARTGHH, so we ran out of the bus basically, we almost got deported!
YEAH! Anyway, oh yeh I spent my money on McDonnalds, I got Large and a Small portion of fries as their just isn’t enough in the portion of large, don’t you tink, oo and some Munchies! Spent rest today on Lucozade and toast, woo living the high life me!
When I got home I gave my Mum a heart attack which was kinda funny, it probably wouldn’t be if it was an actual heart attack but ya know what I mean.

Anyway, just gonna finish by letting you know that Windows 7 Review will happen when it happens, the RKUK Toolbar will have an update soon with Yahoo! Bing and Dogpile search added, thanks for the requests guys. We’ve got a proxy site, oh and Selection 77 is out. Breath it, breath out, it is indeed all starting to happen. Such a pity its gonna absolutely pi** it down all weekend … bugger. Oh well, I’m a Celeb starts on Sunday and of course X-Factor where surely Lloyd should go now!

Anyway, thats all for now, E-Ya Later

Ben

http://rkukmedia.ning.com

—

YouTube Link;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Q142RaG3Y = The blond one!

We will miss you all. Keep in touch ya! have fun and study hard….

I love the things that just feel “right”: the brush sliding between my fingers, the scratch of the pencil on the page, the mixed satisfaction and the concern when I know I’ve bugged you long enough, you’ll finally be a little honest and stop trying to be so tough.

I love crashing, raging storms when the rain makes the window panes shake, the hail tries to make off with the shingles, the bang of the thunder makes my skin crawl and my heart race. I like natural disasters and I get excited when I see the destruction on TV (I have to remind myself that people are hurting)

I like having a plan for those dark alleys.

I love to get down on the floor with some hula hoops and maybe a giant bouncy ball and  play hard with the little kids. I love to tell them they did a good job. I love to ask them to teach me how. I love asking them “Why?” They give the best answers (and what’s even better, their answers make sense to me) I love a good day of hard work outside

Maybe it’s just the Mama in me, but I love it when a little tike falls down and scrapes his knee. I love to scoop him up, say “Hey big man, hang on a minute. I’ll go get a band-aid and I’ll fix you right up.” When I get back there’s a tear hangin’ on his cheek and his lip bleeds a little. I love to tell him how brave he’s being and watch his face light up with pride.

I like hearing people breath. *Shrug* call me weird.

I love being with my extended family. Extended that is, not adopted. Well, I love that too, but that’s not what we’re talking about right now. I love being in the kitchen while we’re getting supper. Nana’s checking the roast, Austin is snitching the green beans. Mama’s asking Tracye how work is going, Kathryn’s telling Mama that the rice is ready and complaining about how ridiculous her professors at nursing school are. Scott pinches Tracye’s butt as he walks by. She roles her eyes; he chuckles, steals piece of bread; she swats his butt in return (it’s ok, they’re married. Two kids.) Austin gets kicked out of the kitchen. Being a senior and a big boy, he is in the way. I sit at a bar stool and watch the fun. Garry comes in search of sweet tea, Rhonda is attempting to tell Daddy about when Steven got into Poison Oak, but Daniel and Hannah (the younger two of she and Garry’s three kids) keep interrupting with small tales of their own. Nana calls me every name of every child and grandchild except for my own before she gets frustrated and says, “YOU! Get me some flour.” We make a little fun of her, but she smiles reluctantly and takes it well. After dinner Mama, Tracye, Kathryn, Austin and I will all snuggle together on Nana’s couch and fall asleep (or at least come close) watching a movie. Scott will have to go to work ( he works nights). Garry and Rhonda are trying to get the kids to settle. Sarcasm flies back and forth like it was a hot potato, but that’s ok. It’s just like saying “I love you” but with an eyebrow, a hip, and a southern drawl.

I like a hard, painful sob when it’s needed, but silent and less violent tears are better for the next morning ( I tend to do my crying at night)

I like to close my eyes and count my steps. In case I ever go blind, maybe I’ll be ready? I don’t know. I just like it.

I love to sing until my voice hurts (which is different than one’s throat hurting) and dance until I feel my own weight when I am sitting down.

I love to walk on my toes. Not like tip-toes. Like a monkey. Toes curled all the way under, I stand on my knuckles. There are a few things (that I know of) that have been a part of me since day one: my “excited” face, (I saw a home video of me on my first birthday and I made the face even back then) I’ve always picked and chewed at my thumbs, and I’ve always walked on my toes. There ya go.

I like not going over my text limit for the month.

I like the feeling of well-worn pajamas and lived-in jeans. The same goes for people, I supppose… except I don’t wear them or live in them. Same principle though.

I like to touch things. I like to know how things feel. Do they feel they way they look like they’d feel? I like to smell things as well. For instance, right now I smell like Adam through and through. Four of us sat friendly on the couch and watched a movie. He slept on my shoulder. There is a shirt in my dresser that smells of Cheyenne, a box on my shelf that smells like cigars. If you put carpet samples in front of me I could tell you which one is on my bedroom floor just by smelling it. My Daddy smells like books, leather, and spearmint oil. Amanda smells like McDonald’s onions, coffee, and apples. Cheyenne smells like leather, dust, shampoo. But everybody has something else to their smell that I can never put my finger on… that one final ingredient that is just “them”. Those that are far away right now (Mandy, Kody) are hard to identify. I think of their smell and I can’t make it be specific, even though I’d know it anywhere. It’s the same with my Mom, even thought I see her everyday… she just smells like Mom. Camp smells like sunshine, rain, dust, tears. I’m not being sentimental, it really does. Chris smells brown and red. Don’t laugh. My senses bleed together on that one. He just smells like him, and when I think of him I think brown and red. Nevermind. Cait smells… Cait.

I like to sleep. I like to dream in my sleep. I like to wake up slowly, but not stubbornly. When I wake up or can’t sleep, sometimes I sing in the dark. One morning mom said to me, “I was up last night and I was going to come check on you, but I heard you singing and I know you like to do that when it’s just you and Jesus, so I left you alone.” She was right. Thanks Mom.

I like to pray out loud. Sometimes very loud. Sometimes in complete sentences and paragraphs and monologues. Sometimes in fragments that finish in my head. One day after school I slammed my door and immediately began ranting and praying about some  frustrating part of my day. Mom came down the hall, poked her head in and said, “Honey… Who are you talking to?” Embarrassed that she heard me and slightly amused, I replied, “Uh… Jesus. It’s ok, Mom.” Mom nods as understanding dawns, “Oh yes. Yes, that’s fine. I thought somebody was IN here!” And back down the hall she went.

I like calling Cheyenne and talking about boys. Girlfriends are fun for that reason anyway… but she’s my only sister who’s my age. That makes it better. She’s here, she’s now, she gets it not because she’s been there, but because she LIVES there. It’s great. Just had a boy conversation today actually. It was wonderful. I love her. She just… gets me. Mandy and Amanda, Cait and Trish will know what I mean (at least I’m fairly certain that they will).

I like coming to school in the morning and finding Hannah waiting for her hug. She has no idea how much it means to know that it matters for somebody. She wants me to love on her, and she lets me do it. It’s so encouraging.

Wow this is getting really long. Goodnight.

Puddles filled every single little nook and crack of the road. Water covered every surface, and moved in little rivers when it overflowed one hole to another one. The rain had to have been happening for a long time, because only when it rained for hours did it get everything wet like this.

As I peddled my bike towards the nursing building, I concentrated on two things:  not hitting the deep puddles so hard the water sprayed onto my foot and keeping my sunglasses dry. Sunglasses before the sunrises? Well, it was the only way I could think to keep the water out of my eyes.

Although I gave myself the same amount of time to get ready for clinical in the morning, I somehow managed to arrive at school earlier than normal. That happened to be a good thing however because I had two choices. I could either park my bike by the nursing building and let it sit in the rain for the next two hours. Or I could park my bike under the awning at the library, all the way across campus.

Yet, as I rode up University St., never had I seen so many cars. They filled the street I was on, the street I just turned off of–everywhere! I worked my way up the hill, in fear of one of the cars cruising past me and spraying me with water. Or worse, not letting me turn onto the sidewalk. I couldn’t imagine that so many people had class at 8:00 AM Thursday morning.

Well, they don’t, I realized as I turned onto the sidewalk. An elementary school is up the road. That’s probably the source of all the cars.

For some reason, the rain decided to spite me, for although it rained during the whole short ride to school, it stopped just as I began to walk quickly (I don’t run) across campus. Still, the water was everything, puddling up on the sidewalk and pooling in the grass. Although the temperature was comparatively warm with what it had been–nearly 50º–I was thankful I wore closed-toed shoes or else my feet would have been very wet.

I pushed open the door to the lab classroom, only to find nearly everyone else there. The only seat near the front was one all the way against the wall. After considering squeezing between the rows to put my stuff down, I changed my mind. I still wanted to change into a skirt. (I can’t ride my bike in a skirt after all. It’s too full. But I change as soon as I get to school from what I call my biking pants. They’re really just denim pants though.) i asked a girl to put my stuff on the seat behind her and ran upstairs to change.

After I came downstairs, I squeezed my way between the table and the people, hitting my thigh on the corner of the table in the process. Carefully, I laid out both my wet pants and my wet jacket, hoping they would dry soon. By then, class was just about to start and I discover, much to my dismay, that my clinical group is moving into another room. So I have to gather all my stuff back up and trudge in there. Luckily, I didn’t hit my leg on the table this time.

First, Jessica, my clinical instructor, collects all of our sheets. I had to do a case study yesterday, and turned that in today. (I love the case studies. But with real people, it is harder.) then, we get split up into groups based off of a) our experience and b) who we have been paired with before. Jessica didn’t want to pair is up with someone we had already been with. (Although, based off of that, I dread being paired up with this one woman, though I will not say why yet at least.)

I was paired with Trish and we were asked to find out what her meds were for and what we would teach her. Trish is interesting. I know she’s an immigrate from China and has been here seven years. When speaking in front of a group, she is quiet and almost shy. But when I worked with her one-on-one, she became a bit more confidant and vocal. Not loud or demanding, but willing to ask questions and to talk some and smile. (She doesn’t smile often.)

Yet, when we were going over the drugs, she happened to have the two that dealt with the patient’s congestive heart failure and she struggled to tell us about them.

Now, I, on the other hand, wanted to tell the patient too much almost. Because Jessica told us to educate the patient. I took that to mean that we would be giving a small teaching session. We did not. Instead, we had one group tell us that the patient had congestive heart failure (CHF)  and then we reported that the patient would take lasix and something else. Then they said the patient had a stroke, so we reported that she would take coumadin, and she would get the protime test done every month, and she would eat the same amount of vitamin K each day, if she wanted it. (Vitamin K is found in things like salads.) I also wanted to mention the alcohol consumption, because she shouldn’t be drinking alcohol, and that she needed to take only the prescribed dosage of Tylenol, because if she took the large amount of Tylenol, then that would hurt her liver.

Jessica ended with pointing out several things that we need in our interventions on our care plans. We need to be assessing and teaching. She also mentioned two more but those are the big ones.

We tried to take a math quiz after we were done with that, only just as we began the math quiz, these strange voices began talking. I’m seriously, if I thought that ghosts were real, I would have been convinced this place was haunted. It actually distracted me more than much of anything ever had, to the point I couldn’t remember how to do the problem. Then, I could figure out what gm stood for. I knew the mg were milligrams and mcg were micrograms but not gm. I realized half way through that they were grams.

When I left clinical ahead of everyone else, the rain still fell, drenching everything in sight with an overabundance of water.

Well, I have finished the backgrounds and info for the main characters of the musical I am working on, Eccentrics.  Here they are!  All (c) J. Minter 2009-2010

Characters:

Gary Rekhs (REHK-uss)—Born and raised in New York City, both parents are deceased after living long lives (they had him in their late mid/late fifties). Works professionally as a stuntman, trainer, and fight choreographer.  The economic hardship has given his industry a hit as well.  Now about twenty-eight, he advertises in public as Gary the Ninja (in full costume), and makes himself for hire as a jack-of-all-fighting-trades.  He is bisexual, very open and blunt, but not in a way that makes him unlikable.  He often assists others emotionally, and often believes he could do better as a therapist, if he could afford to go back to college.  Has an unintentionally worldly-wise demeanor, and although he is a kind soul, can be overly rational.  Almost always wears his mask while in the city so as to distinguish himself.

Trish Mathis (MAY-thee)—An extremely successful adult movie (porn) actress under the stage name of Mattie Burns.  Originally from Connecticut, she has worked primarily out of Los Angeles and Miami until recently, when she set up permanent residence in New York City.  About to turn thirty, she has intelligently made a large amount of money, and chooses to retire at the peak of her career.  The rare smart porn star, she has held out to demand the most money possible for every job, and has no STDs.  She has never known honest socialization, or an honest relationship.  She has never even had sex she wasn’t getting something very important for (never known true intimacy).  She is a strong woman who can still get what she wants, but at this point has removed her implants and strongly wishes to simply be left alone in terms of her previous job.

Carl Roland—A flaming gay construction worker.  Originally from Pennsylvania, he has an M.D., but chose to pursue manual labor due to its consistency and his distaste for working professionally in medicine.  Often prone to rather immature behavior, he is very artistic and does not let his obesity restrain him from clubbing and frequent dancing.  He is a hopeless optimist, and is often preyed upon by others.  However, he is always able to find someone to pick him up, as people are attracted to his charisma.  But he also has issues with codependency, often fearful of actual commitment.  He is the one gay guy the girls don’t actually want.

Bella Purthis (PURR-this)—An atheistic old woman who finds odd jobs as a mystic.  Originally from Ohio, she had work as a professor of psychology and theology at NYU until she was cut from both departments after an incident where she hosted a religious debate for students that erupted in violence.  She has been unable to find any more work as an educator, due to blackballing by one of her Protestant superiors.  She draws on her knowledge and works varyingly as a fortuneteller, a palm-reader, a psychic, and a part-time therapist.  She has a dim view of people, which makes her an unsuccessful therapist.  Viewing the world coldly at first glance, but with reluctant warmth after further introductions, she still finds time to work at soup kitchens a few times each week, where she gives the benefit of the doubt to anyone below her.  This trait is not always admirable, however, as it can sometimes make her appear overly charitable.

Norman Mayhew-Lincliffe (MAY-hyoo LIHN-cliff)—A sixteen-year-old from London who has terminal cancer.  He won’t specify about his disease, but he has a limited amount of time.  He explains that his death will most likely occur spontaneously over the course of a minute or two due to the way he is medicated.  He is a total asshole who now exploits his predicament to gain sympathy and kindness from others.  Has only had sex once and has come to America to look for more.  The Make a Wish foundation flew him to the USA, and then he grabbed cash and took off into New York on his own.  He works by manipulating other people, but when it comes to connecting, he is completely inept.  He sort of wants to connect with others, but knows that that isn’t who he is.

Brigit (BRIH-jit)—A music prodigy who received tutelage at Juilliard until the charity paying her tuition folded during the economic collapse.  Found on the streets of New York City, she is parentless and a ward of the state but has been lost in the system and has never had any last name.  She has been determined to be seventeen, about to turn eighteen.  She is now homeless and living with two women who protect her but also attempt to pimp her out for money and food.  She is very intelligent and is excellent at reading people.  She has a demeanor of confidence that commands respect, and is very attentive to presentation.  She steals a shower at least three times a week to make herself presentable.  Able to survive very well, she finds ways of cheating her pimps’ clients out of their money, but leaving them unable to complain to the police or the women.  She often enlists help from others who never realize that she is homeless.

Trish in bliss with dolphins

I swam with over sixty dolphins yesterday … what a magical morning!  This was a special time that seemed out of time really.  The dolphins were gently spiraling together in pods of fifteen at times.  Often I just floated quietly in one place and seemed to be a magnet drawing them to me.  They would all rise to the surface to take a breath and I would find myself in the middle of the pod … dolphins to the left and right and directly below me … surrounded!  It felt as though their message was that we don’t need to reach, push, manifpulate or demand what we want … allowing the universe to bring to us that which is of joy and love is the way.  Their message went right into my heart and I knew the truth that when we allow inner peace and joy to prevail, despite what the outer world or our circumstances exhibit, we become the magnets, the attractors of that which reflects that inner state of mind and heart.  This photo will bring you into their world.  This is me yesterday … in timeless bliss.

For some reason, it took me over a week to read Alice Munro’s Too Much Happiness. It wasn’t that I didn’t like it — I enjoyed it very much, as I usually do with her books. It was beautifully written, but I had a difficult time getting into the second half. I don’t know why! The first half was really great — full of surprising and often horribly uncomfortable moments. That’s one of the great things about Munro — you’re reading along, minding your own business, when bam! — an entire family has been murdered in a terribly gruesome way. And the story soon finishes and you have no choice but to go on to the next one, never to read about those characters you felt so deeply for again. It’s strange, but I like it.

This collection of Munro’s stories is especially twisted. Lots of adultery — it seems that Munro’s got quite the husband-stealing fixation these days — violence, dark secrets and darker pasts. You won’t believe what some of the characters get up to. But it feels real! And possible! That’s the creepiest part, I think — it’s as though Munro is describing anybody; just an ordinary person leading an ordinary life. But these characters get up to the most extraordinary things, and it works perfectly.

My biggest gripe is with the book’s final (and title) story, “Too Much Happiness.” It was different (should I describe it as Russian historical fiction?) and fresh and I liked that about it, but I felt confused throughout a large portion of the story. I was tired when I was reading it so maybe my faculties were not 100 percent, but I had a difficult time keeping track of who was who and what time period it was and how all the characters were related. It was hard to enjoy a short story when I spent the little time I had getting to know the characters trying to figure out who they were! I feel a bit silly now. Maybe I should re-read? What do you think — did you read it?

— Trish

P.S. Today was my first day at House of Anansi and Groundwood Books! It went very well but I am completely brain-tired. Lots to take in, even more to do. Looking forward to more tomorrow.

P.P.S. Oh my goodness! I almost forgot to tell you. My hometown, Guelph, is featured in Too Much Happiness! One of the characters visits the city’s “cathedral” (it’s really just a big church), Church of Our Lady, and Munro describes it perfectly. I was thrilled!

Nerds unite! On Oct. 24, 2009, readers everywhere will be joined in a marathon 24-hour session of nonstop reading, blogging and drinking superhuman amounts of coffee. I will be holed up in our apartment somewhere, with my blanket and a stack of books. (And my laptop, of course.) I’ll be keeping you up to date on my progress throughout the day and I’ll also be cheering on my fellow book bloggers who are participating in the challenge. Yay! The only thing left to do is get my reading material ready to go. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should add to my list? (I’m looking for great fiction — as always — and I’m hoping for books I can fly through.)

If you’re interested in joining us bookworms for a day of reading, sign up! There will be prizes, mini-challenges and lots of other fun stuff. Do it!

— Trish

I’m taking part in my first ever craft swap…..with Trish. These are her wonderful knitted creatures.

Seems like Are and Bee can still deliver those Dubble You Tee Eff moments. This one from Trish just smacks it: a Golden Era Tim-sounding beat, some Bjork/Portishead electro distortion, the sound of a wilting cartoon flower and some not quite there singing. You wanna have it.

Shout to Robin over at So Bones for the tip on this one.

Novelist Lisa Moore

I finished reading Lisa Moore’s February last week but have been dilly-dallying about writing this post, even though I Loved this book with a capital L. So, when I found out that it had been left off this year’s Giller Prize longlist, I was finally shocked and appalled into blog-writing submission.

What the heck, Giller people? Did you not read this book, with its heart-wrenching moments and its sparse and beautiful prose? Did the captivating story about Helen O’Mara, a woman who loses her husband in the 1982 sinking of the Ocean Ranger, not interest you? Did the seamless switching between time periods and family stories not demand your attention?

You must be crazy, then. Because this book was fantastic.

I loved Lisa Moore’s first book, Alligator. So much so that I was afraid this book would not live up to my expectations, which of course it exceeded. February is so well written it should be illegal. Moore describes Helen raising children, getting older and longing after her husband through a series of beautifully ordinary moments — searching for a lost dog, going into bars looking like “Somebody’s Mom,” doing yoga and noticing the different shapes of the other women’s bums in front of her — that feel familiar and alive. Her writing is so present, so evocative. I could really feel Newfoundland beneath my feet as I read, and I could see this woman and hold her children and feel the cold emptiness next to her in bed. It was remarkably pleasurable to read this book, even though it was sad as hell.

Please, do me a favour and read this book. Or tell me you’ve already read it (if you’re extra-cool you will have) so we can gush together. It’s nice to gush, sometimes.

— Trish

P.S. Now, I want to tell you something. But as soon as you find out you’re going to be all like, “Oh, so that’s why she reviewed February. What a shameless promoter of the publishing company she works for.” But it’s not so — I’ve been waiting for February from the library for months now. I have to wait for my Can-lit, just like everybody else. Anyhow — I’ve been hired as the new Online Content Manager for House of Anansi Press and Groundwood Books. I start October 5th and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

I’m sure plenty of you out there have seen my famous “Oiled Up” video. It’s just a fact that I look GREAT when I take some oil and cover my body to make it shiney and smooth. Don’t believe me? Check below …

Does it make your mouth water? LOL!

Check me out later on tonight!

xoxo,
Trish!

Hey guys!

I thought I lost this pair of underwear! It’s easy to see why after considering how small they are. I’ll be wearing these tonight, but hopefully not for very long …

Check me out here! Shows last from 11PM – 1AM EST.

xoxo,
Trish

Hey boys!

I’ll be online tonight so you should come by and see me. In case you couldn’t catch the last show, here’s what you missed.

Click here to join me!

xoxo,
Trish

What’s a zip set? It’s a collection of pictures and a video for you to enjoy. How you enjoy them is up to you of course.

Check it out!

Click here to purchase and download!

xoxo,
Trish

Hey everyone. And welcome! I’m Trish and here’s where you’ll find links to my cam shows, pictures, and every so often I’ll ramble about things going on in my life. I update every day and you won’t want to miss it because, let’s face it …

… I’m good looking, damnit.

xoxo,
Trish

 One week in the states.Suprises, funtimes (kirkbuzzers, hahas, & ambatchus.) Good times, nervous times, talking times, silent times, laughing times, sad times, worried times, praying times, stepping out of my comfort zone times, angry times, scared and insecure times, sleeping times, dancing times. GOD time. Yes, there was alot of moments that filled up my “time” there. Some were good, some were hard.

Tuesday- arrived at 5:50 pm. Logan and Adam came to pick me up in Logan’s truck. It was fun. We talked about everything. I mean everything. ( illogical ness of marriage from the world’s perspective, sound boards<ok so I didn’t join in on this one> hockey, football, curling, cars & trucks, food & many more topics) Stopped in Cheyanne had chipotle-can I say yum?!?! Went to Walmart-haha. Four words – Adam and “Stop Smoking”  GREAT times. Arrived at the Seymours, got tackled by Stephie in the dark.(Steph: (as she hugs mandy) “HEY! guess what? WE’RE THE SAME SIIIIIIZE!!!!” Mandy: “I KNOW!” *hugs tighter*)The four of us talked for a while. Logan and Adam left. Steph and I sat on “Amanda’s Bed” and talked for awhile. Then went to bed.

Wednesday- Woke up at 5:00 am.  Got ready, read my bible, headed to the Dining Hall. Walked in gave Adam my camera. Adam told Cait he had a surprise for her and she had to close her eyes and hold out her hands. I was maneuvered in front of her. Adam told her to open her eyes. She opens them, inhales and holds me for a long time. We then tell her to go wake Amanda up and tell her that Adam has an emergency and needs to see her RIGHT away in the kitchen. They come in the back door, i’m standing next to Adam. She looks at Adam, looks at me lets out a squeal you could say, runs, picks me up and twirls me around and hugs me for a long time. Laughter. The rest of the day was spent hanging out, going to classes, more hugs from other FSBers. Talking, Catching up.

Thursday-Woke up around 5:30 am. Went to breakfast in the dining hall, cait almost screamed because she forgot that I was there and was all excited to see me again Went to classes, chapel ( got announced by Amanda “MANDY’S HERE VISTING FROM CANADA, STAND UP MANDY) shakes my head, chilled, talked with steph for awhile (Mandy: “You’re horrible. You should go to hell.” Steph: “I know. So should you.” Mandy: “I know…*sighs* that’s one of the things i’m looking forward to about marriage…*smiles*” Steph: “…Hell?” Steph/Mandy: HYSTERICAL LAUGHTER!!!!!!) danced in seymours kitchen, made cookies, foot war, tickle torture, much laughter. Many much good times. Had pizza for supper. Screamed when Amanda tried to open the door before me when Trish arrived. Opened the door to see Trish standing about 5 feet away feet firmly planted ready to take the impact of my hug. She smells good just as an FYI and has the most prettiest blue eyes. I love her. We came in, more hugs all around. Talked, enjoyed each others company. Wert for a walk with Jessi, came back chilled, went to bed.

Friday- Slept in. Went to chapel, went to Psalm’s class with Trish. Mrs. Meysenburg was subbing. haha good times. Went to lunch in the Dining Hall. Found out Chris was in town. Went for a walk, talked with God. Came back, talked with Steph, okay more like vented to Steph. Helped get ready for that night. Mandy: “Our group is special…” Steph: “Ed.” Cait: “Exactly. That’s why we all joined together!” Amanda: “Birds…WITHOUT feathers?” Caleb, Paul, Adam, Trish, Amanda, Cait, Steph, the Seymours, and I had supper. Mrs. Seymours lasagna. Amazingness. Played Balderdash. Ambatchu – What a mad southern woman says to her child. “I’m going to Ambatchu!”  Many much laughter. Watched Mulan. Adam- If i was a guy, i’d notice those legs…” Steph: “If you were a guy.” Adam: “Yeah. If i was…Oh.” Amanda slept over. ( Amanda, Steph and I) talked about everything and anything because it was 1:30 am)

“Weight is only numbers on a scale, she told herself, and her mirror just another point of view. Squinting at her naked reflection when the moon was waxing and the angle just right, Mary Gooch saw beauty in the poetry of her contours, in the expressive, expansive, edible flesh, and understood why an artist sketching nudes might find appealing the mountainous gut, and favour the pocked shore of sloping thigh, and enjoy the depth and shadow of pendulous breasts and multiple chins.”

— The Wife’s Tale, by Lori Lansens

I’m pleased to report that my previous description of The Wife’s Tale as wonderful-so-far has been upgraded to good-all-the-way-through. I really enjoyed reading this book — it had a tantalizing “page-turner” quality that was unexpected and kind of thrilling. I can’t really describe why — it’s not as though it was a paperback murder mystery or something — so I have to chalk it up to the author, Lori Lansens, deftly creating anticipation with a cleverly told story. And although I had some issues with this novel (mostly due to some of the characters and what felt like a rushed ending), I am able to somewhat forgive, thanks to the main character, the live and pulsing Mary Gooch.

The novel opens with Mary, who has recently achieved the staggering feat of topping 300lbs in heft, on the eve of her 25th wedding anniversary. Her husband, Jimmy Gooch (known simply as “Gooch”), doesn’t make it home from work that night, and somehow Lansens manages to distract the reader with enough well-constructed back story to keep from revealing his whereabouts for about a third of the book. In this time, we get to know Mary and the “obeast” (her insatiable hunger); we smell her grotty grey nightgown; we taste the melted chocolate as she tears into a shipment of Laura Secord. And when Mary finds her only clue to Gooch’s location, receipts from a mysterious Bistro 555 on Queen St., we’re there with her in the pick-up truck with the cardboard roof, stuck in traffic on the 401, circling for parking on Queen, wading through snow and slush in old winter boots.

Mary follows Gooch’s trail to California, boosted by the $25,000 he’s deposited in their shared chequing account through a secret scratch ticket win. Along the way she meets, is helped by and herself helps a collection of friends, some relatively one-dimensional (a divorcee with a cheating husband and three screaming tykes), some cheesy (a large platinum blonde named Frankie who gives Mary a makeover) and some surprisingly touching (a harsh, arthritic mother-in-law). For the first time in her life, Mary starts to feel free, as the pounds fall from her frame and she establishes an independence she hardly even knew was missing.

There was a definite sense of redemption at the end of this novel, and I appreciated it even though it felt a little too perfect. There were a few gaps I felt a bit cheated by — for example, when Gooch begins withdrawing large amounts of money from their bank account Mary wonders and wonders where he is, but never goes to a computer to find out why, only saying easily that “they won’t disclose that information over the phone.” So frustrating! And there’s one unexplained character — Gooch’s step-father, Jack — who plays an important role for a reason I could never seem to grasp. But, even though there were things I didn’t like about this book, that didn’t stop me from feeling a genuine kinship with Mary and enjoying the current of her story thoroughly.

Chime in, if you have had a chance to read it — I’m curious to know how the ending resonated with others. Do you think it has a shot at any major literary prizes? I’m leaning towards no, but I can bet it will be on many a book club list. It’s a perfect book club book — I highly recommend it for any clubbers out there looking for next month’s read.

— Trish

]]> http://juwolsadvice.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/suck-it-up-and-kiss-tha-bosses-ass/ Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:47:00 +0000 .hack//Juwols http://juwolsadvice.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/suck-it-up-and-kiss-tha-bosses-ass/

LOL! I mean, take it from me….well, I dont condone giving the President of the company the Monica Lewinsky treatment….but….

Just a “Hello”. A “Hi”. A “How was your day? Mines was great!” Try to add some names in the conversation. A wife’s name….children…..

“Hi bossman…..yeah, and how ’bout Mike finally said his first word?!”

Yeah, that sucked…..but check the statistics…

.hack//Juwols graduated in 2006, and since then, I’ve had over 13 jobs. Why such a high number?? No-Kiss-Ass-Skills!!! Duuuuh!!!

Usually, I just throw on the hoody and keep it moving. I dont have shit to say to you, you dont have shit to say to me. I’m just here to work and get a paycheck….

But, little did I kno my Super-Friends, That that little conversation, that little “Hi, That little “Whats-Up”, could of made a big difference….

Because nobody wants to fire somebody that Kisses-Ass…Laugh at your Corn-dog-ass-jokes…..Chats with you at the company picnic when everybody is scared to out of the fear of losing their job for saying that your jokes is really what Kisses-Ass….

Nah, you would rather fire Donald Trump.

And is the recession over? Is it isn’t, Kiss that Ass!!! If not…Then please, put the Lip-Gloss back in your man-purse…Check your left pocket and pull out your Dignity!!!

I really believe that a lot of life’s lessons can be learned from WWE wrestiling…(sorry, I just cracked up typing that dumb-ass statement….) So here’s a video of the proper way to kiss ass…