So, on the scrapbooking site, they're getting back into the photo-a-day challenge. Heck, it's about time that I get back into that I'd say. It's been a while since I've taken any photos on a regular basis, and I think it's important and fun to do. I can't say how loyal I'll be to this challenge - but I'll try to keep up with it!

Without further ado, here's my "photo of the day" (actually taken yesterday, but we'll say today)... a card I made for a special someone. I won't say who yet, in case they are reading this message. It is in the mail as we speak, and will probably arrive towards the end of the week.

Also, I'm in love with these pieces of jewelry. The are made by the talented Lisa Leonard. Patrick, can we please, please, please make some this weekend?! (One of my boyfriend's many talents is making silver jewelry... and I know these are right up his ally, albeit a little smaller and more girly than his normal style).

A post with actual substance will follow sometime this week, when my keyboard is healed and when time is on my side.

Here's what we did on Saturday night! I haven't been bowling in ages and it was really fun. The pictures came out a bit psychedelic as you can see, but I find it ads to the effect. It took me a few rounds to warm up, but I managed to bowl 158 in the last game, and that was under pressure, because our time was running out.

I think I need a new keyboard... every time I hit the space bar, it kind of jams, and it's really, really annoying. It's keeping me from typing fast. Okay, as I wrote this it got way worse and now I can barely space at all.....so going to end it here!

Here's one of my new-ish pages, made with some K&C papers from Walmart for a very, very good price! Julie, Alex and I each bought a pack of 36 sheets that had 3 of each kind, so we split them all up, and each got a complete collection. Not a bad idea, and I must say that the company has really re-vamped their style.

Today I slept in until 10:15, amazing! I am currently still in my pjs, listening to music, lazing around, and eventually will work out. Today is leg and butt day, ouch!

School is going well. I had some group issues in one class, but it looks like they're finally all sorted out, and the girl is going to pull her weight, which is a huge relief to me! What that means is that our project is essentially finished, since she is the one organizing everything. In my two other classes, I'm with very awesome groups, so can't complain there. There are only 3 weeks of school left before stage! Well, actually only two because the last week is kind of shortened, since there's Thanksgiving on the Monday, and then some classes are cancelled.

I'm not sure what my plans are today. It's weird when you're used to working or going to school every day, and every other weekend, because when you have time off, you almost feel "lost". I think I will catch up on some work and do some scrapbooking.

Oh, and did I ever mention how much I love this show?

Today I only had one class, so I decided to take my car to school. Finding parking can be rather stressful, and requires a lot of patience if you're going to stick it out and wait around 20-30 minutes for a free spot right in front of the building. Most of the time, I don't mind, since I have time to kill after I come from work, and I've got my iPod plugged in. Today, I paid for parking because I had to get to class on time. Not so bad, $6 for two hours, and that's all I needed. It was really nice to just hop in my car, drive while belting out songs at the top of my lungs, and arrive on the South Shore a mere 20 minutes after leaving.

I decided to pay my lovely boyfriend a visit this afternoon. We had a nice lunch (which he prepared for me) and then chatted for almost an hour about things that were on our mind. It feels nice to be able to confide in one another. I feel like our communication has really been improving in the last little while. I feel like we're in the groove of a very healthy relationship. I'm not saying that we weren't before, but it just feels more authentic now. I realize the importance of us both having our own passions, careers, hobbies, etc, as it brings different elements and excitement to the relationship. In the beginning, I was very needy and clingy, and didn't find much joy in doing things independently. Now I find that I like my alone time, and we both need a little space every now and again. I am so excited for the future, having our own place, starting a family, and getting firmly set in our careers. I love that we can just talk about our values, our hopes and dreams, and then after all that serious stuff, we can just be playful and joke around. Oh, and we also worked out together. I also love that we both hold fitness and health as a top priority in our daily lives.

Okay, I suppose I've been sappy enough for one entry... so I will have to make it a little more rough around the edges by talking about Noel Gallagher.

I adore reading snippets of interviews with the Gallagher brothers. I truly love them as artists, but also as individuals. I adore their sense of humour. I read this part of an interview with Noel the other day, and it just cracked me up:

"Last night I got into bed with me missus and woke up on the middle floor of the house on the couch," he says. "Amazing! I'm 41 and I'm starting this whole new nocturnal adventure."

There are other bits too but I can't seem to find them at the moment and I must go pick up Patrick!

I am so pissed right now! I just had a full blog post all written up and then I navigated away from the page without realizing that the auto-save wasn't working, so I lost everything. Boourns on you blogger.

Alright, well, essentially what I said was that I caught this amazing movie on Illico last night. It is so powerful and explosive, and Eddie Norton (one of my favourite actors) really knows how to bring it. And, let's not forget to admire those guns. It's really too bad that he didn't keep up this physique after the movie. I found it interesting to watch the movie again, at this stage in my life, as I found I could appreciate and relate to it a lot more. I think I am also more emotionally connected to good movies, as I got all soggy by the end and was crying like a baby, particularly during the climax - you know what I'm talking about! When Derek runs into the bathroom and starts screaming "no, no, what have I done" as he cradles his brother... now that just sent me over the edge. And then there's the conclusion, where they cut to a scene of the two boys playing at the beach when they were younger, and Danny finishes his paper:

"So I guess this is where I tell you what I learned - my conclusion, right? Well, my conclusion is: Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time. It's just not worth it. Derek says it's always good to end a paper with a quote. He says someone else has already said it best. So if you can't top it, steal from them and go out strong. So I picked a guy I thought you'd like. 'We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature'."

Now, if that doesn't move you, I don't know what will. We were so sure that was a Martin Luther King quote, but turns out (after a quick Google search - man I love the Internet) that it's but Lincoln. So there you go Patrick.

Alright, well I've gotta wrap up this blog post pretty quick because I have to go clean the bathroom and get ready for work at the library.

I also wanted to point out how excited I am that Heroes and The Office return to prime time next week!

And then I wanted to share a few older layouts with you, since it's been a while since I've made my blog all pretty (although, the quality of these photos is not great, but watcha gonna do?!). Click to make them bigger so you can read the journaling if you want.

I just finished reading this book in record timing - I think like 3 or 4 days, albeit it's classified as Juvenile literature. I'd had it on my list for some time now but never got around to it, but I'm glad I finally did because it's quite good, and I could really see myself using it in a cycle 3 classroom. At the end of the book, there's a reader's guide which has some excellent material in it. It made me reflect on the themes of the book at a much deeper level, which is what I need instead of just tossing the book aside and moving on to the next one. I really think I should officially join Oprah's book club for that specific reason. I am kinda already part of it but don't actually partake in any discussions, and I have read a lot of Oprah book club books, but I think it would be good thing to actually discuss themes and such. I'm all about "engaging" lately. No more going through the motions. Of course, there is always the question of time that gets in the way, especially since I'm working, going to school, tending to family responsibilities, and attempting to keep somewhat of a social life. Anyways, I'll see how it goes. Oprah is supposed to announce a new book club book today on here show, and I'll be sure to tune in...

I'm just about to delve into some school work at the moment, how exciting! I'm not sure what I'm doing for the rest of the day, but Patrick and I might go out for supper. We shall see.

I caved in and went to Simon's today and ending up buying some clothes for stage. Although I feel like I always need to be updating my professional wardrobe since I have a limited amount of clothes specifically for that, I can't help but be overcome with guilt... The main reason is I bought a long fall/beginning of winter jacket that was rather pricey, and then found some other items that fit really, really well (which is extremely rare for me), so I felt like I had to snatch them. But it's not very good in terms of budget. I am still debating with myself whether or not I will keep them - whether I actually need them. I might go through my wardrobe later on and see how many outfits I can make with what I already have. Patrick has told me time and time again that it's just not a good habit to buy things with the mentality that "oh I can take it back if I need to". I agree... and yet I've still fallen into the trap today. Bad!

Alright, enough confessions... off to do work :(

Haha! How amusing is this? I played around on the site for hours - my mom, Carm, my brother and I were laughing so hard we cried. Gotta amuse yourself somehow and waste time not doing homework. I won't bother writing a real post today. Keeping it "light". Goodnight!

So the update is this: I had a yucky wart liquid-notrigened off at the dermatologist's. It burns, but it's not so bad - quick and efficient, but cost 20$. I chose that over the topical cream route just because it's over and done with and now all I have to do is wait for the wart to fall off. I know, it's super gross. I think it's more the word "wart" that is just so ugly, it makes it worse. I think I got it from walking around bare-foot in daycare. Not a smart idea, but often inevitable in the summer months.

The doctor also suggests that I remove my mole just to be ultra safe, but I have to go see someone else to do that. It is small on the mole scale, which reduces the risk of it becoming cancerous, but still, I'd rather just get rid of it and not have to worry about checking it all the time. With all the cancer in my mom's family you can just never be too safe.

I finally found a place where you can download photo collage templates to use in Photoshop! I was looking into doing this ever since Ali Edwards has been showing off her layouts of this nature, but I didn't feel like paying. Well, now I have 30 or more templates for free, and I followed a very simple video tutorial explaining how to insert the photos into the boxes. It was easy, trust me. I'm so not good at Photoshop, and have an archaic version of the program, but it worked! Check it out the templates here and the video tutorial here. Anyways, this is what I made the other day. It's not perfect, but it's a start. I added in some other digi elements that I downloaded for free from 2peas if memory serves me well. I've already posted these photos but they were just what was on hand when I was experimenting.

Also, here is a card I made for the b-day tag club at Scrapbook Centrale. And now off to be productive.

I'm just about to finish this book and it's sooo good! I know I'm well behind the times and all, it's not a new book, but I'm only just discovering this author and I love her work. Her writing just speaks to me on such an intimate level. I feel like I know the characters inside and out; they feel so true to life. I devoured this story in about a week's time (which is really fast considering all the other stuff I have to read for school, which limits my leisure reading). It's quite a touching yet sad story about love, friendship, illness, life and death. It makes you really think about the big, important things in life.

I came across this passage and fell in love with it:

I always think incipient miracles are around us, waiting only to see if our faith is strong enough. If I am standing at a traffic light before I cross the street, I stare at the people on the other side, thinking, why can't we just concentrate, and change places? And I have a real belief that this kind of thing will eventually come to be, this convenient kind of transmigration. "Come over for dinner, why don't you?" we will say into the phone to our friends in California when we are in Wisconsin. And moments later they will appear, shiny with stardust, briefly shaken but mostly without memory of how it happened that they arrived. We won't have to understand it; it will just work, like a beating heart, like love. Really, no matter how frightened and discouraged I may become about the future, I look forward to it. In spite of everything I see all around me every day, in spite of all the times I cry when I read the newspaper, I have the shaky assurance that everything will turn out fine. I don't think I'm the only one. Why else would the phrase "Everything's all right" ease a deep and troubled place in so many of us? We just don't know, we never know so much, yet we have such faith. We hold our hands over our hurts and lean forward, full of yearning and forgiveness. It is how we keep on, this kind of hope.

***

Also... this gloomy/rainy afternoon is making me want to just curl up on the couch with more reading material. I have so little energy even though I'm forcing myself to do a little workout to get the blood flowing and burn a few calories after the pumpkin latte I had at Starbucks last night. Darla and I had a little get-together that involved much gossiping and such. It was fun!

I have to go to the dermatologist soon to see about my mole. I've had it since birth and there's never been a problem with it, but you can never be too sure after all. So maybe I'll end up having it removed. It doesn't bother me to have it, but if there's a chance it could become cancerous one day, I'd rather just get rid of it.

This evening we're going to eat dinner with a couple that Patrick just met, at their apartment. I'm a little apprehensive because I'm generally shy in new social situations, but I think it will do me some good to get out of my little bubble and meet new people. The lady is a Reiki Master, meaning she's an energy healer, which is pretty interesting. Anyways, I'm sure it will go well since she's apparently incredibly nice.

School wise, it's just a nightmare of group work that forces me to fight for my point every time we meet (which is three times a week). We have to design our own school and let's just say that we have very different philosophies, which makes it very hard to come to a consensus on anything. Thus, we go around in circles and are generally unproductive. So, so annoying. But I really like the professor for that class and he seems to be quite understanding (despite coming off quite harshly during lectures), so hopefully everything will turn out okay in the end.

I shoud really get read to go to the doctor's now, so cheers maties!

I'm back! I just want to get down these other thoughts about the concert before I forget them:

1. Awesome drumming skills, Mr. Chris Sharrock! He was so into it, and Pat even noticed that he was twirling his sticks between beats sometimes. So cool, and man, what an new-found appreciation I have for drums after playing RockBand so often.

2. I got an Oasis t-shirt in small thanks to Pat's idea to go to another booth and ask them if they had any left. I had already bought a medium but it was too big, so thankfully I was able to switch it. Ya! Representin' in style.

3. "Fans" who are only able to sing along to Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger, and Champagne Supernova (meaning the majority of people there) really REALLY annoy me. You're not a true fan if you only know those songs. Most of the time I was dying to hear something totally unpredicted and obscure like Cloudburst or Half the World Away or Talk Tonight. Of course it would never happen over here where people don't even know that there are any albums beyond BHN. Oh well, a girl can still dream... I stood up the entire time and sang my little heart out. Yes, I'm that obsessed with them that I know the lyrics to every song on every album (almost).

4. I wish they would have played Liam's new song "I'm Outta Time". I was really looking forward to that (for some reason I thought it was on their set list). I guess I'll just have to wait for the album.

5. Chris Brethour was there, my old Oasis rival from high school, haha! I didn't get the chance to speak with him in person since he had floor seats, but I saw him at a distance and could have sworn he gave me the double-finger f-you sign in good Oasis spirit, but I can't be sure he actually saw me.

6. My ears were ringing like mad when we left! They are sure one loud band.

7. Poor Noel got assaulted at the show in Toronto last night. I can't believe someone actually was able to sneak past security - he ran on stage and violently pushed Noel over while he was in the middle of playing/singing Morning Glory. Apparently he was hurt and may have broken a few ribs, but after going off stage for a few minutes, he came back and did a few more songs. Liam looked surprised at first and then put his fist up to punch the guy but held back. Security already had him at that point thankfully - I can just imagine the media coverage that would have ensued if he had fought back.

I think that's all that's on my mind about the band at the moment.

Here are some new scrapbooking pages I made. They are based on monthly questionnaires from Scrapbook Centrale. You can click on them to make them bigger to read the writing.

I saw my favorite band on Friday night! First we grabbed a bite to eat at Boccachino's. I had a few pina colada's and the boys had beer, which put us in the mood for some fun. We caught a tiny bit of Matt Costa's performance, which was pretty darn good, and then were pleasantly surprised by the talented Ryan Adams and the Cardinals. Pat wasn't really into his more country-type songs, but I LOVED him! What an amazing live performer, his voice is so powerful and his lyrics are profound. He reminds me of a modern-day Dylan, except he can freakin' belt it out. He seemed pissed at the audience, I think because people were yelling out Oasis and showing no respect for his performance. I also read, however, that he's normally a bit rude on stage. So who know? I was freaking out a little bit during his set, because I noticed somebody from "the" band in the sound-booth. I was convinced it was Liam and nearly lost my mind, but once I had a better view of the side profile, I'm pretty sure it was Gem.

Anyhow, when Liam finally did strut on stage, I screamed as loud as humanly possible. It was so loud in fact that I felt like I would nearly pass out when I took a breath between each scream. They walked on stage to "f**kin in the bushes", which most people I'm sure didn't pick up on. They started it off with Rock 'n' Roll Star, and I was singing my little heart out. Liam was quite interactive with us, he seemed in a good mood. I was surprised that he spoke to us so much. He dedicated Cigarettes and Alcohol to anyone from France, then he dedicated Slide Away to all the ladies in the house. I lost it when he said that. I LOVE when he sings that song. Noel was rather quiet throughout the whole show. He seemed a little subdued, maybe even annoyed, no sure why. His "write-up" on the show was positive though, he said the crowd was really good. I just read that in tales from the middle of nowhere, the blog-like thing he's keeping while on tour.

Here's the set-list of the night:

Rock ‘N’ Roll Star

Lyla

The Shock Of The Lightning

Cigarettes And Alcohol

The Meaning Of Soul

To Be Where There’s Life

The Masterplan

Songbird

Slide Away

Morning Glory

Ain’t Got Nothin

The Importance of Being Idle

Wonderwall

Supersonic

Don’t Look Back In Anger

Falling Down

Champagne Supernova

I Am The Walrus

I have lots more to say but am going to be late for work if I don't go get ready now... so more to come later.

School has begun, much to my delight. No, really, I love walking up the Education hill every day. Ha!

I only have three classes this semester, but they are super condensed into six weeks. Which means that assignments start as of next week. I just love how the summer has just begun now, the first week back to school. Anyways, I've already had two out of the three professors and am not worried. What annoys me is the cost of one of the textbooks (107$, come on!), the ridiculous amount of group work that we will be forced into without being able to choose who we're with, and the fact that I have to hand in a 10-page paper and write an exam in December after I've been away on stage for seven weeks. Boo! They keep telling us that "this is the toughest semester" yada-yada-yada. What a great way to encourage us right from the get-go. I'm not worried about the marks since I always end up doing well, top of the class. It's just the "getting there" part that stresses me out, as always. But one day at a time, and I'll get there.

And who can complain when they will be seeing their Liam and co' tomorrow night live at the Bell Center? Let there be love... a dreamer dreams, she never dies... slide in baby, together we'll fly... sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun...

I could go on writing fragments of lyrics the whole night, but alas, the scrap-booking pile is calling me. Maybe I'll actually manage a layout.

Well, I'm just a tad late reporting on my weekend considering it's already Wednesday, but it's better late than never. We had great weather believe it or not. We were able to go out on kayaks and we even got threw into the lake by a mean old giant named Kenneth. The lake water was so refreshing! We didn't want to risk taking our cameras out on the boats, so no dock photos unfortunately, since it's a floating dock in the middle of the lake. You'll also notice that Patrick was practicing his acrobatic skills, lol, pretty flexible guy, no?

Also, last Thursday night I took a trip to the scrappy store and got myself some new Basic Grey goodness.


I love the Ambrosia line, it is just so elegant and rich. But of course I needed the funky Offbeat line as well. I held off on the Eva line. I liked some of it, but overall it didn't do it for me as much as I thought it would. I also got some new Scenic Route that caught my eye. I'm not normally that into that company, but these papers were really nice. Anyways, I spent around 60$ in scrappy supplies, tsk, tsk, I know. But other than that, I've been pretty good. We spent around 20$ for supplies to bring up to the cottage, but that's all.

Alright, I'm off to do some chores and school work. Maybe take a swim too.

Here's Pat's version of the flickr quiz.

1. What is your first name? (Patrick)

2. What is your favorite food? (poutine)

3. What high school did you attend? (MacDonald Cartier)

4. What is your favorite color? (blue)

5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Scarlet Johanson)
6. Favorite drink? (coffee)

7. Dream vacation? (Hawaii)

8. Favorite dessert? (chocolate mousse)

9. What did you want to be when you grew up? (actor)

10. What do you love most in life? (choice)

11. One word to describe you? (creative)

12. Your Flickr name? (I don't have one)

I'll be back soon with a real post about my weekend.