Had a fantastic weekend hanging out with Pam! Swimming and "blindly" ignoring no diving signs, watching a girly movie, pretty nails, fresh berries out of the patch, gorging on fruit, eating the best homemade burgers ever, hanging out with her family, chatting, lying on the grass reading, being wacked by rhubarb stalks. lighting up sparklers, sitting on the swing watching backyard fireworks and a hug good bye.
















One of the best long weekends I've ever had! :P
















Also spend some time at home...outside taking pictures, going for bike rides, cutting up my huge haul of rhubarb, and pitched tents in prep for next weekend.




















See here for complete compilation of pics.

Nothing can prepare you for the impact this movie will have upon your out look on Mother Earth. Just seeing the evidence, the stats, charts, lies, myths, melting ice caps, disappearing lakes, ice shelves breaking apart, drought, massive floods, hurricanes growing into distructive masses....

What have we done to this planet so graciously given to us?

Forgive us for our ignorance.

My older sister Christina has moved back to Ontario! The twins are reunited! :P This afternoon dad moved her into the apartment - this makes 3 siblings living together, crazy we know!

Welcome home Beaner!

It's been a while since I've blogged - here's a photo to tide you, my readers, over until a "real" post.

Tonight(Friday) was a blast!

Laserquest is sooo much fun! I am so going to do it again! Maybe part of a birthday bash in September and we'll be doing the Ironman - 1/2h of running around and lasering people.

Good times with Elisha and Alex or should i say Parthos, Aramis and Athos? Now to rest my sore muscles..

"Just think,you're here not by chance,but by God's choosing.
His hand formed you and made you the person you are.
He compares you to no one else.
You are one of a kind.
You lack nothing that His grace can't give you.
He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation." Roy Lessin

_____________________
Came across this quote in a new book soon to be released (Called- Lisa Jefferson).

Now here's a memory I miss people would forget:

Me barfing into a garbage can at Canada's Wonderland. Got a nice mental picture? Good. I have a story for you.

Back in Sept '01, I went with a bunch of people to Canada's Wonderland - 5 boys and 2 girls (including me) to be exact. Dustin, Mike H, Mike P (and his date), Kris, Dave and me. At one point of the day the boys got a brilliant idea of dragging me onto Drop Zone. The ended on a happy note - i thought it was so awesome!
Then we went over to the Bat. I had already said that last time I went on a rollercoaster like this 2 years ago I felt quite icky. But i thought I could handle a backwards rollercoast the second time. Oh how I was wrong! I felt very sick when we got off, pretended to be fine then finally confessed I felt sick. So I sat a ride out, watched as they went round and round and round and round on a ride....*mad scamble for garbage can*

Me: *stand up after emptying stomach*
Dustin: "You call that barf?"

Let's just say I will never live this moment done, was reminded of it tonite and being back at Wonderland on Saturday. I'll never forget that place because of that one memory.

Although I wasn't the only one to have a rough day that day - Mike P got a bloody nose after the one ride.

What a memory to cherish! Or not...

Spend my Saturday afternoon with my friend Jenn at Canada's Wonderland taking in the sounds from a couple christian bands - TFK, Kutless and Jeremy Camp.














It was a fantastic time and I really enjoyed Jeremy Camp's performance - out of the 3 we heard today, he's the reason I wanted to go. This was his first time having a concert in Canada. What an amazing artist!














I also purchased a couple tees which are pretty sweet.

More pictures will be posted later here.

T: "How to make the rest of your life, the best of your life!"
M:"Stop working here."

*grin*

Ah, gotta love comebacks!

Got my hair cut, highlighted and temporarily straigtened on the weekend:

Friday nite - at 'rents place




















Saturday nite after a day at wedding




















I am a girl of many looks :P I'm really digging the straight, such a nice change compared to constant frizz! :) If only I could get the hairstylist to do my hair for me everday....

a girl can dream!

"Alfie and Daisy Fish passed away peacefully today, Wednesday,
June 14th, 2006, in the early morning hours. Survived by Bubbles and Mason
Fish of the same residence. Lovingly remembered by Bubbles and Mason, and by
Joe, Linda and Pam Smith of Wingham. Special friends of Fabrique of
Waterloo, Michelle DeWit of Waterloo, and Arlin and Joanne Dreise of
Guelph. Fondly remembered for their playful demeanors and big
appetites.
Visitation is today from 1-3 p.m., with burial services taking place at at 4 p.m. Resting at "The Garden" cemetery, Wingham. Donations to the "fish tank fund" of Pam Wingham would be greatly appreciated as expressions of sympathy."

Aww poor little fishies...and here I'm the one that didn't feed Fabrique for days! :)

Joanne and Arlin were married on Saturday






















What a beautiful day!

Pam and I also got to hang out a lot and chat it up!



















(I'd post the pic of both of us but I really dislike it)

For more pics - check out photos here.

Lesson #1 of the day: Don't take neo-citron at work, causes (a) great diconnection between mind and body (b) randomly nodding off while typing (c) glazed look and absolutely no ability to focus (d) would pay anything for a snooze...

Dunno how I'm gonna make it thru the rest of the day :S Although come 4:30 I'll be wide awake - always happens.


*Will post about weekend soon

Back from wedding of my friend Joanne...will post more later..pics too (the few that actually turned out..grrr..)

You know that saying?

"Dance like no-one is watching?"

well I do that...

in the elevator! :)

(tonight's silent song in my head - "river of babylon by Booney M", don't ask!)

M: "Believe it or not, I can drive"
R: *snort*

Why does no one believe me that I can drive?

First car I drove and dad showed me how to drive:
(1984 Chevrolet Caprice Classic)
We just gave away this car this spring - it's still in running condition, just not exactly safe to drive anymore












Second car my parents owned that I drove when I came home on weekends from college:
(1996 Mercury Grande Marquis)
This was my grandfather's car of which he upgraded to a 2001 edition and we got this one












Third car my parents now own since their accident 2 years ago:
(1995 Ford Crown Victoria)
Parents wanted another big car after accident since that's pretty much what saved them










My dad's old delivery truck I drove only a few times:
(1998 Ford Econoline 350)
I didn't drive this truck very much but rode in it a lot when I helped my dad during the summer













My dad's current truck:
(1991 Ford Ranger)
I drive the truck when I need to get around on weekends when I'm at my parents place

Co-worker was humming this:

Links are now restored! Transformation complete!
(except for the small prob with my profile pic and the text semi beside it)

Enjoy, more posts to come.

Hint: Egg-beater. elementary school, phys. ed.

Dollars to donuts?

why not:

Toonie to timbit?

I'll give you weird.

TOMATO SOUP cake.

Enough said..

until it comes out of the oven.

Wish my taste buds luck.

I'm gonna be the next Nashville star!! Check it out:

Here.

TOP TEN things to say when caught sleeping at your desk!**

10. "They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen..."

9. "This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time-management course you sent me to!"

8. "Whew! Guess I left the top off the Whiteout. You probably got here just in time."

7. "I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new business strategy."

6. "I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance."

5. "I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress. Are you discriminatory toward people who practice Yoga?"

4. "Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out how to handle that big accounting problem."

3. "Did you ever notice sound coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?"

2. "Who put decaf in the wrong pot?!?

AND THE #1 best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk...

1. Raise your head slowly and say, "...in Jesus name, Amen."

**Uh, thankfully for me I never had to use these lines at work despite the nodding off numerous times...:D

I am tired of the drama
I am tired of the calls
I am tired of the tears
I am tired of the false personna
I am tired of the immaturity
I am tired of the disrespectful
I am tired of pretending everything is alright when inside I just want to scream.

I can only stay silent for so long,
I will crack like the whip on a horses' fleshy body.

We are all replaceable,
do you think you aren't part of this equation?

You claim to do no wrong,
yet the evidence is very clear.
We are not blind nor do conversations fall on deaf ears.

Sometimes things don't need to be said,
or shared at this time,
just put yourself in everyone else's shoes.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
is all I ask for.

New layout almost complete! Links need to be restored and profile pic updated to match colour scheme.

Thanks to the Original Cyn for your mad skillz in creating my header!

Any comments on my new blog digs?

How sad that this is true.







Click on image for a bigger size.
Source: here

---------------------
It makes me laugh and smile when people think of me when they catalogue their books....:D You are the best Emily!

Seriously...what is next?

"...developing a wireless system so some Nike shoes embedded with a sensor can communicate with Apple's iPod Nano music player to track a runner's performance and help choreograph songs to the moment."

Maybe someday I'll own an iPod but presently due to my past ear trama I can't listen to headphones for very long periods of time...wouldn't be worth spend'n the dough on it, sadly.

Thumbs Up
- Dinner and movies with my Steph! Not near enough time to catch up on the past uh, 8 months that has past since our last visit.
- Shopping (for shoes) with my sis.
- Da Vinci Code movie with Dee, Elisha and Jason. I think the movie was well done but since I've read the book there wasn't any suprises. It was really cool how they incorporated the history into the actual picture....mirages type of effect.
- Awesome Alias finale
- Picked up "Last Holiday"...a funny chickflick.

Thumbs Down
- Just My Luck, horribly cheesy movie. Don't waste your money.
- Horrible, horrible headache most of Sunday. Can't remember how I made it home after church.

Pam is the best.

"... aye, twas a bonnie day indeed, and yes lassie, t'ats a wee bit o' Irish ye've thrown in there.. but that's a'right, because you just so happen to be talkin' to a wee Irish lass indeed"

"...good-nite me wee lassie, and may your days be as bonnie as the memories of our far fair shores of Ireland til we meet again. Ye'll be in me thoughts always.



















Anyone feel an urge to hit up the pub for a pint?

This comment was left on my flickr site under my new blog photo:

¡Hermosa mirada, maravillosa sonrisa!

translation...

Beautiful glance, wonderful smile!

Either this person is blind or being very kind.

F: "I've eaten more calories than a small country!"

My alter-ego "Nanny" pic is now gone!

Any more comments about my photo? Considered them ignored.

You don't mess with Uptown Girl.

The David Crowder Band reportly has another album dropping click here to read about it. It's about time! Well more and less I'm just happy to hear they are finally promoting B Collision of which I heard about months ago yet their website has no mention of it.














Can't wait to hear another fantastic album - I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

So this morning at the counter at starbucks, I asked for a Grande non-fat Tae Chee (sp) um, yeah...that's special. Chai Tea latte Michelle, chai tea.
---------
Oh I need to clear something up for Jerkwad:

I can come into work "late" with a cup of Starbucks. Why? Let me give you the rundown. I only have 2 options of when I can catch the #9 bus that runs from King and Uni to work- 8:10, 8:25.

So in the morning on my street I can catch the following #7 buses: 7:52, 8:02, 8:07.
In order for me to catch the early #9 bus I have to leave my house at 7:45 so I can get the 7:52 #7bus (and sometimes the 8:02 matches up with the early #9) that gets me at King and Uni to grab the 8:10 #9. BUT this gets me to work at 8:20.

If I catch the 8:07 #7 bus I get to King and Uni at 8:15 giving me 10min to wait for the 8:25 #9. this gets me to work at 8:40. This is the timeline I've been taking since the winter altho I plan on changing that soon. The thing is - regardless that I saunter in at 8:40, I don't leave work until 4:40. ALTHO, at the same time I have to wait that long because I can't catch the 4:30 #9 home because I'd have to leave work early.

Confused yet? Welcome to my world where my life is ruled by the bus system and the instability of it sometimes...

...pass the tea, bag!












Either my taste buds are sorely off or someone has pulled an ole switchero with my tea. I like orange pekoe and all but was really looking forward to a cup of Chai. :(

(I will find you pranster!)

Don't have time/too lazy to read the Da Vinci Code? Or want a short version of "decoding" the book - check out the videos on this link:

http://www.beliefnet.com/templechurch/

I recommend going thru all the video clips led by the Master of the Temple Church (which is a church in part of the book).

I have a hard time fathoming what an impact this book is having on the society and culture of today - tourism, art, artist, Church, history, religion, book sales.....makes you wonder how long this "craze" will last and what the lasting impact will be. Especially with the movie coming out in just a few weeks time. (Besides the fact that Dan Brown is making a pot load of cash in benefits.)

WOW.

Dear "Anonymous" commenter:

Thank you for that delightful comment - "you look like a nanny". I'm assuming you are refering to my blog profile picture of which I've been planning to change since this is not the first time I've been told this. Or maybe I moonlight as a Nanny and u just let out my secret! :)
Sincerely,

Michelle

There are some people that wave and others who shout. I prefer the friendly wave.
>
>>
>>>Didn't your mother teach you that if you have nothing good to say, to say nothing at all?
>>
>
But I guess that would make you a mute.

Reasons for brain going into overload last nite:

The 3 interesting convos:
1. friends relationship issues and definition of being "in love"
2. a friends upcoming wedding and honeymoon
3. debating the new role I now have a church - is there a need or is it forced?

House:
- what's going to happen to Foreman? Will he die like the first patient?

Gym:
- trying to watch House with 3 other tvs tuned to different stations and working up a sweat.

Da Vinci Code:
- only 70 + pages to go, it's 12:30 AM and my eye balls are burning.

Having 3 very diverse conversations with people between phone calls and editing a write-up, watching House, working out and reading the Da Vinci code until 12:30AM - has made for me too much to think about.

I think tonite with 3 shows to watch, my brain will return to it's normal mushy-ness.

-----
Random overheard line:
"....drive-by ignorance"

I wasn't going to post about this since it's already a huge story back home and across the region. Last week 4 Canadian soldiers died and one of the men (Cpl. Matthew Dinning) was from the town of Wingham (of which I went to the local high school for 4 years). I am just astounded at the amount of support from the community that has been non-stop from purple ribbons adorning trees and poles, to 2,300 people showing up for the funeral this weekend. I guess that's what tragedy does.

CBC coverage, click here for video.
CTV coverage, click here and here for video.

2,300 attend funeral for fallen Canadian soldier
Updated Sat. Apr. 29 2006 11:30 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
An estimated 2,300 people gathered in Wingham, Ont. to remember Cpl. Matthew Dinning, a Canadian soldier who lost his life in Afghanistan one week ago.
Dinning and three other soldiers died on April 22 when a roadside bomb destroyed the G-Wagon jeep carrying them as they travelled from Gumbad to their home base in Kandahar.
People streamed into a hockey arena in the town of 3,000 people about 150 kilometres west of Toronto to attend the funeral for the 23-year-old who was born in Richmond Hill, Ont.
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Ontario Provincial Police attended, wearing formal dress uniforms.
Purple ribbons adorned trees and storefronts through town, placed in memory of the fallen soldier.
Those at the service got to watch Dinning's life unfold on a giant video screen as his father Lincoln showed home movies of Matt singing O Canada as a young boy, appearing as Robin Hood in a school play and speaking at a wedding.
(partial article)

"Thank you for loving me. Thank you for hearing me." David Crowder (All I can Say)
--------------
What a great way to spend a Sunday:

• lunch with some friends
• refreshing and honest talk with someone I hardly know
• napping in a stream of sunlight
• reading
• doing some devos with my sis
• ordering in pizza
• veg fest in front of tv

(Click here for more pics)

You are looking at..















...the new Hope Fellowship Young Adults Co-ordinator!

Had a good discussion with the Pastor today in regards to my role in the church. BUT I have mixed feelings as to where my focus will now be turning. He begged me to stay on in Sunday School for another year and to drop Praise Team....I had a feeling that was what he was going to suggest. I like Praise Team though...more and less because I feel appreciated after every service and it's a relatively easy responsibilty. Sunday School is not my strong suit but things may change come the fall when I take over the age group that I co-teach right now.

So much to think about and so much to plan!! I'm excited to been given the go ahead with this role now and I'm running with it!!

I love that I am accepted by this church and encouraged/welcomed to be a part!

(In reference to clients picking crap web designs when they have a choice of better designs)
Cyn:"It would be like paying for a manicure but only getting your nails cut"

M: "'....tis getting late"
Ch: "Didn't realize it was creeping up so fast to 1am" (she is a different time zone)
M: "It's not even midnite!"
Ch: "Why are you going to turn into a pumpkin?"
M: "No, but the 2pm brickwall hurts"

From Gilmore Girls
L:"Oh shoot, I forgot my circus elephants in the car and I didn't crack the window!"

M: "T, are you Christian Fo...
T: "Yes I'm a Christian, are you going to marytr me?
M: "Yeah, with my water gun"
T: "Ha, ha"
------
T: "This book is like candy, cotton candy." *pauses* "No, it's like.....crack. What some crack?"

How big is your Umbrella?

:P

Sometimes I wonder how they come up with book titles.

Classic example.

Why must you tease? Weiss is back. Vaughn is alive. Crazy killing lady is back. Will Tipin is going to reappear. Maybe we should call the next episode Reunion? This show has gone nuts!

*Update*
Did some spoiler digging and apparently Sark will return to the series and maybe even Francine! I can understand Sark but we all saw Francine die, twice (both the real and clone). Oh and there is talk of them showing how evil Sloane is and always has been - now how does that not suprise me? And we may see another Rambaldi device - which I totally called last night after they performed the surgery on Syd - they want her amniotic fluids for something! Only 6 episodes left and good bye forever Alias.

Here's to the next couple Wednesday nites watching the show on a huge flat screen in HD with two lovely ladies! (Making friends with neighbours is the best thing ever!) Cheers.

---------------------------
TYS for the nite:
S - "My computer is super fast, it's like Jesus"
S - "A Mac is like candy"

A taste of the summer to come:

....sun shining down warming the skin
....warm wind with a hint of humidity
....reading a book outside on a grassy hill
....sunglasses
....eating dinner on the balcony enjoying the sunshine

all that is missing is a bbq...

*sigh*

Happy Easter!
Up from the grave He Arose!















I am in denial of much great depth that I have to work tomorrow....so without further ado, I shall talk about my weekend. I had a very interesting time at home from Thursday nite until Saturday afternoon - going home is never a uneventful time.

The best part of my time at home was grabbing my camera, lying on the grass hill in front of the house and just soaking in the beautiful silence, the cool fresh air and the damp smell of fresh dirt/grass. (oh and lets not for get the 101 photos I took!) Dad and I also took a gander down the path to the back bush..it's been quite some time since I've been back there.


In a moment of that afternoon I thought to myself that I never want my parents to leave that plot of land - it would be like ripping out a part of me if that ever happened. I love having a forest just moments from the doorstep, being able to sit under hundred year old maple trees, have campfires and roast marshmellows on a crisp summer nite, lying on the grass watching the stars. For as much as that sounds cheesy, i miss the country life. (I know this isn't the first time I've said this).

Anyways, this post is taking me forever to get posted....adieu for now!

Oh for some fab photos of my adventures of home - click here.

P.S. I've become a shutter bug.

It's been 14 weeks since I started keeping track of all novels that I've read...and I've been able to read a book a week! Quite amazing I know! Or sad, depending on the way you look at it. :P

Amount of books read so far?

*drum roll please*

Fifteen!!!

No wonder my book shelf looks like this...



















Or the floor beside my bed...

Ain't it a beaut??

It's love at first sight.

And shameless amounts of stupid photos.

It's my first ever digital camera of my own!

Canon PowerShot A610
5.0 MP 7.3- 29.2mm

M: "So D, Pastor e-mailed me last night and said I can be 'semi' in charge of young adults now".
D: "We don't need any leader, we are not an organization!"

GAH!

H (to guys): "We want to go camping!"
G: "The kind where u have to pay?"
H: " Uh, yes."
*grumble grumble*

GAH!

My response (and Heather's) = stupid boys!

H: "Men don't know the administrative things that need to be done"
Pastor: "That's true, don't listen to D!"

I don't care what the guys say at church, I'm realizing my passion is for building a young adults community and giving back to the church so I'm gonna take this role and run with it!

I'm insanely giddy right now, especially odd since I'm at home by myself, alone on a Saturday nite. Went shopping...oooh, got a pair of sandles for the summer, a blouse (to add to my growing pile in my closet), a polo shirt (i love them!), a roots umbrella and a movie (Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe), watched some tv and now just chill'n in front of my comp.

I also just got an e-mail from my pastor about YAG. Apparently I am officially "semi" in charge of the Young Adults at my church if I want the job - to quote: "that is if you want it….and I know no one else can do a better job"

This makes me excited!! *claps hands* I've already got a ton of ideas for events and ways we can help out the church - now to run them by Pastor Mike. And update the website:
Hope Fellowship Young Adults

How true this cartoon is. And here I thought this only happened to my family. :)

Can anyone cure the 2pm Brick Wall? Or at least put some padding on it so I can sleep?

M: "Some people's children!"
R: "No, some people need children!"
M: "I think it's a little too late for that"

(Well done R, you gave me some blogable material.)

New quarter released this week for Breast Cancer Awareness. I hope one of these end up in my wallet!

These have got to be the best Christian t-shirst I have ever seen! This is definitely wearable apparrel that isn't strickly bible thumping - more comical then anything.









































For more of these tee's and some funny satrical stories - larknews.com

1. Thanks goes out to Heather for suggesting to go to Embassy - good times and so miss the worship! Oh and welcome to world of Christian music! There is some good stuff out there! (Shawn McDonald and David Crowder are the best!)

2. Having 14 ppl over and not getting help with dishes from guests = huge mound of dishes (to yet be tackled completely - I know what i'm doing tomorrow nite)

3. My digital camera shopping spree is on hold still..

4. I'm Lion-o. Err, no that would be the song I'm listening to.

5. I have yet to read another book by weeks' end, I have to keep up my record!

6. Map decoded from an episode of Lost:




















This is so crazy! But cool. :)

Shopping with Ivan for prom dress 8/10
Dyeing my sis's hair 7/10
Chicken Little 9/10 (cute movie!)
Losing an hour of sleep 2/10
Sunday School craft 1/10
Hosting Lunch 8/10
Feeling like Spring 10/10
Ice Age 2 3/10

the Meltdown event was a success! Despite the crazy amount of people that showed BUT such a great sign of things to come!! :D