Happy Meal

This morning, I was up at about 7:30, and I was feeling alright, considering I slept on the couch. (I washed our sheets on Saturday, and I still haven't put them on). I'm so lazy.

Anyway, I got up early and when DH (edited for Hayley: DH = Dear Husband) asked me to go get him coffee, and me a muffin from Timmy's, I gladly went because I was a little hungry. When I get home, there's the most adorable, happy breakfast waiting for me. I just had to take a picture of it.


Isn't my husband just the cutest thing ever? He made breakfast for him too, but it was just boring. Mine was happy, and it pretty much made my day. :) I smiled all throughout breakfast, and now when I read this post I'll smile too. Now that's a Happy Meal. ;)

In other news, its Victoria Day here in Canada. Don't ask me what its for... I asked the Canadian I live with, and he didn't *really* know... He says its for the Queen's birthday... but her actual birthday isn't today... It could be (he said) but he doesn't think it is. Oh well, I still hope Victoria has a happy day... whomever she may be. ;)

Its a blah day...

So, only two girls showed up last night, I'm glad they did though. I'm the Beehive leader, and both my girls showed up, (We have 2 of each till September). I'm so proud of them. Granted they're sisters, and about a year and a half apart age-wise, but we 3 leaders got to bond with them and it was pretty fun.

We slept in the tent. May in Canada is lovely during the day... night however, is freakin' cold. lol Well not too cold, but cold enough that you shouldn't camp-outside-and-sleep-on-the-ground cold. I only got maybe 5-6 hours of sleep, because my nose was cold for at least the first hour or so I was trying to fall asleep. I kept tossing and turning, it was horrid. I'm glad I had a nice, warm sleeping bag though. So I had to scooch down in deeper so my head was covered and I suppose either my nose warmed up, or I just was so exhausted that I just passed out. Either way it was after midnight when we finally got to the tent, and just before 8 when I woke up.

We had pancakes and sausage links for breakfast, the girls made breakfast (Beehives are 12-13 years old, and quite adorable while making pancakes too) and it was quite nice to not have to be in charge of anything for once.

When I got home, the house was literally turned upside down. My husband tried to do a nice thing for me by moving my desk downstairs (how I had hinted a week earlier). This is to give him more storage upstairs (I basically relinquished all control over the 3rd bedroom when I suggested that I guess.) He said, when I hinted, that he didn't need more storage upstairs, and that it was a silly little idea. But apparently ever since that time, he'd been planning this major move with his brother and his dad (neither of whom showed up to help, but alas, he had planned it none the less). So, my desk is now in our would-be dining room (we have no dining room table, we eat at the tv for now, with the coffee table and a little Ikea side table thing for now. Maybe when we're actually grown-ups we'll have a dining room table and eat like normal folk.)

Anyway, so my desk and computer are down here, and all is lovely. I'm even supposed to get a delivery of my stuff from Buffalo today. :) Thank you Dan & Shara!

Other than that, I'm exhausted from helping clean all day, and not getting enough sleep last night. My neck is also a little sore. Not much left to do today but wait for my stuff. I've got meetings at 9 and 1 tomorrow for church... should be a good, long day. *sigh*

I'm still bored... and a little blah too. *'nother sigh*

Drama-rama!

I think I love drama. I think I'm drawn to it like a little moth to the flame.


Some (DH) may say I create it on purpose... but I don't really really think that I do. Especially if it makes others angry... I no likey. But when things are chaotic, it sort of drives or motivates me to get movin' and do something.

Like today, we've been planning a pre-Girl's camp Camp for a few weeks now... so far I haven't been able to contact any of the girls to confirm their attendance. I already know that 2 of them (one for SURE as she's in NY) won't make it. (There are only 6 girls total...) I was put (this morning) in charge of calling them all and making them come. I'm not that kind of gal, really... Hopefully in the next 4 hours, I can rise to the occasion and get them to come! We're planning smores, pancakes, and all kinds of fun camping stuff! We're even sleeping outside in tents! (If it doesn't rain of course).

Anwyay, there's that, I went grocery shopping earlier, I already showered, I have to go pick up my pills, and some chicken at my FIL's house, and pack, all before camp at 7pm. AHHHHHHHHHH!

I think I'm going a little nutso, but maybe that's ok. :) Hopefully I don't explode.

My hiney hurts!

So, our little Hamilton 5th Branch adopted a little section of Highway a month or so ago. We went to clean it last night for our combined YM/YW activity. (I guess its my little part of "going green"). On Highway 403, we've adopted the York exit, on and off ramp, and in between. I want to name it Gilbert. We cleaned in between last night. The off ramp actually goes up and over the on ramp, so there's a tiny bit in between that is kinda steep! Anyway, I was the first to venture up the steep part, because I saw a ton of garbage/bottles/coffee cups, you name it. I usually think that Canada is just a really nice, wonderfully green place... Seeing what I saw last night though leads me to think otherwise.

Among my findings, there were a few old tires, part of a car's bumper, cigarette butts, condoms (unused, but not in their wrapper) and a small collection of porn vhs videos. I'm so thankful that *I* was the one to find those jewels, instead of one of the innocent kids (well they're mostly innocent) ;).

It is utterly amazing the things that people toss out. If nothing else, bending over for an hour and a half, and lugging around these HUGE bags (big enough for me to sleep in), and trying not to fall down a mountain-side... Anyway, it has truly given me a new found respect for the environment.

Garbage does not just magically disappear when you huck it out your car's window... so STOP DOING THAT! Get a little bag for trash and simply put it in there. It's not a strife, really. You'll be saving me and my little hiney a whole lotta pain! I didn't even know I had muscles back there!

I'm also going to strive to go green too. (I don't have Cable TV, so I heard about Ellen's Going Green show from Hayley's sister Heather's blog. And I've been thinking about it ever since, so thank you both for your entries.

I have about 3 canvas-type bags that I do tend to bring with me when we go shopping. I also use the boxes they have there, and later put them in the recycling. (Mostly though, this is because most stores charge you $.05 cents a bag, not because I'm thinking greener on purpose. :() I'll try to use those more often. And if I don't, I'm definitely recycling the plastic bags that I DO use.

Hamilton is a lovely little city, we have glass/plastic and paper product recycling bins that get picked up weekly. We also have a food bin to cut down on any food waste going into the normal garbage. Last week we didn't fill up a normal garbage bag, so we're using the same one this week. We're definitely cutting down on our waste. :) I'm just super glad that I live somewhere that has recycling options available.

Hubby also wants to replace all the normal lights with those cool compact flourescent bulbs. He thinks it'll MAJORLY cut down on our "Hydro" bill (That's what Canadians call their electricity bills. I think its strange), so we'll hopefully be doing that soon too.

As for a hybrid car... I'm just trying to get my normal car back from Buffalo *SIGH* and maybe my bike too... Until then though, I'm walking and losing weight! woohoo!

This entry reminds me of that old cartoon "Captain Planet". GO PLANET!

lol

Holy Hail!

And boy do I mean HAIL! We had a real nice storm roll in around 6:30-7pm and it stayed for a few hours... During the storm though, it was hailing! The hail was HUGE too! (Well, biggest I've seen anyway). Hubby says he's seen golf ball sized or bigger. :-o I grew up in Hawaii man... we just don't get hail there. Its not scientifically possible... and if IF it is, I've never seen it in the 16 years I lived there.

So, me being the precious lil' hawaiian... skidaddled outside to take pictures of the stuff, and I picked up a few of the bigger pieces, and brought them inside to take pictures of them. I'm a geek, I know. I'm still not 100% sold on the word "blog" but the whole time I was caught up in the hail drama, I was thinking "I'm so going to put this in my blog!" So maybe that word is growing on me... and not in the infectious diseases way either. The jury is still out on that one.

Anyway, here are my lovely pictures, I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I'm also inclding a little picture of our backyard. I helped mow the lawn on Monday, and I'm still quite proud. See, the ghetto lawnmower my landlord has is electric, but so whimpy. It cuts out when you try and cut anything taller than an inch. And, since this was the first cutting of the season, all the grass back there was just like how it is around DH's motorcycle. Like 1-2 feet tall. It was so tortureous trying to mow it! You had to hold down some tiny red button so it wouldn't keep cutting out, but doing so made my fingers hurt. It was near impossible. Anyway, I do hope you enjoy the newly cut grass, and my little hails. :)

I had to change the brightness on this one a LOT, hopefully you can still see how long the grass *was*... I dunno.

If you ask me, these hails are HUGE!

For you crazy Americans out there reading this, that is a Canadian penny, its got the Queen on it, and its exactly the same size as the Abe Lincoln pennies. ;)

I hope you enjoyed this adventure as much as I did, although I seriously doubt that. lol

Why pay retail, when you can pay MORE?

Ok, so as you know, we list a TON of stuff in our eBay store. TON. Anyway, last week, I listed this fancy Estee Lauder age controlling cream. It retails for like $63.50 for a 50ml jar. I didn't quite yet want to sell it, so I listed it for $69.99 thinking no one would be THAT silly and purchase it... Let alone BOTH of them. :-o

Boy was I wrong. They were purchased today. Not that I'm complaining. We could really use the money (gas/electric/rent)... It just is mind boggling to me.

Usually we mark prices up on stuff that has been discontinued, and people gladly pay for it, because that's the only place it can be found. This stuff though, it's still sold online, at retail counters... It's everywhere still!


OH, and we got our first negative feedback yesterday from a jewel of a bidder. Her first emails to us were rude, demanding, and threatening. Hubby is working on getting her banned from eBay entirely. There's no reason for this kind of abuse. Her item was shipped on the 30th of April, and she's complaining already... Her mail is mixed up with Mother's Day cards, that's like the 2nd biggest shipping time of the year! Oh, and she already put a PayPal dispute through... she'll probably be granted that because the bidders are always right. It's a drop in the bucket... 1157 other people have NO complaints about us. This one is just like a little splinter (no not the rat from TMNT)... the kind stuck in your finger that just won't go away.

Ah well, another day, another trip to the post office.

Not much happenin'

It is a boring day in our house today. We did sell like a TON of stuff since Friday that we'll have to ship out today, so I'm just writing up customs labels, and finding packages to mail this crap in. Its not really crap... but whatever. It's the bane of my life right now.

Anyway, I just got my Kraft What's Cooking magazine today, sorry but its for us folks in Canada only... There might be a US one, but whatever. I don't know. Anyway, I just ran across a really fun looking recipe for a SUPER easy ice cream cake and I want it! Look at how cute!


MAN i want some! There is a whole page spread in the magazine with step-by-step pictures and instructions... It is so pretty! And its made with ice cream sandwiches! Something I love anyway! :D Must make this some day... maybe for a Young Women's activity!

OOOOOOOOO I just noticed there's a spot near the end of the recipe that has a video! Y'all should watch it! :D Man I need some ice cream!

My Journal Lesson

Today in Young Women's I taught lesson #15 from the Manual 2. It was about Journals. Something I hold very near and dear to my heart and soul. I started a journal in like 1990, I was 11, almost 12. I didn't REALLY get into writing too much in it until *I* was in Young Women's myself, and learned that we are commanded to keep a journal. I brought my journals to show, and I even shared a few entries with the girls, and they giggled at how hilariously stupid I was back when I was there age. (Like for example, when a cute boy at school gave me a piece of gum... not only did I save the wrapper... I saved the gum as well. I did wrap it in plastic wrap... but its just SO SILLY to look back on that entry today.)

I'll cherish my journal until the day I die I'm sure. I also had a Journal Jar that I had made from a few sites. It asks questions about their favorite aunt, uncle, what their house was like growing up, all kinds of things to get them thinking, and interested in keeping their journal, and making it something they can love in 10 years.

They were all SUPER excited about it too! We're even having a Journal Jar mutual activity on Wednesday June 6th. :) Hopefully they can all make their own, and they'll be super excited about their own journals from now on. I really feel like I was able to reach them, and you can't put a price on that. :)

Here's the word document I used to create all the strips of questions and what not for inside the Journal Jar. http://www.hawaiianshells.net/Journal_Jar.doc If you do use them, keep in mind there are some that may not fit (like where were you when President Kennedy was shot? I personally wasn't alive then, but feel free to change them to be more updated.)

I should somehow, sometime take a picture of the Jar, but I left it at church, on purpose. I'll figure it out sometime. :)

Keep a journal. It is a commandment.



PS: Happy Mother's Day mom! :) (Don't worry folks... I called her like 3 times already!)

Immigration update/Thanks Mom!

My mother has graciously agreed to LOAN me the money for my application.

Funny, they want $885 US or $1040 CAD, and with the exchange rates as they are right now, its cheaper by like $150 bucks to send it in US funds. I guess it just goes to show how horribly the US economy is suffering right now. (I'll refrain from making any political commentary about that, because for ONCE this is in my favor.)

SO... AGAIN, the application has been sent off. PLEASE pray for me/with me that they actually ACCEPT it and PROCESS it this time! *crosses fingers too*

Label/Receipt Number: 0310 2990 0001 5578 1870
Status: Delivered
Your item was delivered at 9:33 AM on May 9, 2007 in BUFFALO, NY 14203.

Wow, they got it 2 days after mom sent it. Right on Priority Mail! :-D

Anyway, I severely hope there are no more delays with it! I just want to go get my darn car already!

Madison is ok :)

Quick baby update! She's doing fine, they went home Thursday afternoon. We got to visit them last Wednesday at the Hospital. She's beautiful and just perfect! See for yourself! Oh, and they dropped the "River" as her middle name. She currently doesn't have one.

Happy Mommy Brandi with baby Madison. 5/3/2007 (2 days old)

All kinds of bad news...

I've been feeling a little down and somewhat hopeless lately. As some of you may know, my car and most of my stuff is still stuck in Buffalo. Every SINGLE day, I have dreams (some may call them delusions of grandeur) of just crossing the border, and getting them back, my car, my crap, everything. It doesn't help that there's at least 10k worth of cosmetics there that I could sell and help our financial situation.

I got news on Friday (well, I didn't actually get it till Sunday, because my computer was broken all weekend) that the new license plates for my car can't be requested by mail. The lovely folks watching my car don't want to drive my car into Canada because they believe the license plates are flagged at the border due to all the crap that has happened with my car in the past (not that I can blame them, I really owe them so much more than they know). So I was going to request new plates, and I just found out that I can'd to that by mail.

To make matters worse... my previous post about my Immigration application being in April 5th... well they too sent back a letter (AND my entire application) saying that the funds receipt I had sent along with my application (The one I had paid last April in Canada, when I had originally wanted to apply as a sponsored spouse) is no good at their Buffalo Visa office. So now I have to apply for a refund for the original funds, which is a headache and a half. Thankfully I asked my parents for temporary help for the application fee, which, when I receive the original refund, I'd send them a check for, and they have ever so graciously agreed to do this for me. Which hopefully will allow me to cross the border in August to go to my youngest brothers' wedding.

*sigh*

I wish things were different. I wish I had my car up here. I wish I had some chocolate.

:-\

Suspicious Cereal

In an earlier post, I had mentioned that some Canadian brands of cereal were different in Canada than the US. Here is prime example #1 of Kellogs' Special K.

It looks like Rice Crispies. Tastes JUST like USA Special K though. It is kind of a fake-out. See, for those few Canadians reading this, they don't know what US Special K looks like... Well, it has BIG flakes. BIG. I remember as a kid, we used to eat it, and to fill up the morning boring time of eating, we'd try and find who had the biggest Special K piece. Some of them were like the size of a quarter or BIGGER! What's up with Canadian Cereal? Its the same with Corn Pops. They're supposed to be light and fluffy with a light glazing of sugar coating over them... lots like pop corn. In Canada, they're more like Kix. It is somewhat of a let-down. Anyway, click on the picture, it'll take you to a HUGE picture so you can see the up-close shots of the individual bits.

That is all for now. Until I purchase Corn Pops to post that picture as well. I WILL get to the bottom of this! (Or to the bottom of my cereal box, whatever happens first. :))

Baby update :)

Apparently Brandi hasn't been able to hold the baby yet. Madisyn was in respriatory distress, because of the cord. It was wrapped around her neck and her whole body, so I think they said she's on IV in the NICU. We'll more than likely get to go see them tomorrow. :) Other than the minor cord issues though, they said she's perfect. 7lbs 5oz. :)

Congratulations Brandi & George!

My sister in law (DH's sister) had her baby this morning at 6:40am, she got to the hospital at 6:25, and was in labor for a whole 15 minutes! She had a baby girl, so now I get to be Auntie Shelley to TWO baby girls this year! (Paula (my sister) is having a girl in Mid June!)

Apparently the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck, and her lungs were full of fluid... I'll post updates as we get them. She hasn't settled on a name for sure yet, but they like Madisyn River R. I'm sure she's going to be beautiful though. Not sure how much she weighs either, they took her to the NICU right away.

Let's hope nothing is too serious! They told Brandi that the baby is ok! I really hope so. I'm glad I don't have to keep calling it "it" or "your baby" or "the baby" it's a GIRL! :D

Stamping!

I am by no means, an avid stamper... In fact, most of my stamps are stuck in Buffalo! I really must get to them ASAP. Anyway... I've recently discovered a whole WORLD of stamping and stamping people... who are more stamp-enthused than I am! (DH doesn't believe it though).

It's Splitcoaststampers! I'm so far LOVING it. I've only been a member for a few days, and already I want to buy everything there is out there! I have really got to get my car back, then I can go to Michael's! Anyway, its a lovely community, and I'm learning lots, getting a lot of ideas, and breaking the bank all in one fail swoop!

I've even made my first card in over 6 months this past Saturday! YAY me! :)

Dang city workers!

As if my pulsatile tinnitus isn't enough to keep me awake... There are city workers not too far from my house, jack-hammering the road up, because there was water seeping out of the cracks in the road.

Silly stupid me called the city and reported this strange water leakage... the next day they came and spray-painted about 5 pink lines going one way, and some blue lines going the other way...

Now its past midnight, on a monday, and they're tearing the road up looking for the leak! I called them about it last WEDNESDAY! And by that time, I'd noticed it since the Sunday (at least) before that! It is now the following Monday oop, TUESDAY morning (super early, mind you...) surely it isn't THAT important that they need to do all this right now is it?

We haven't lost any water pressure over the last week... so what gives people? WHY do you have to steal my precious sleep? IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!? :( I may cry... There's also two very large apartment buildings in the same viscinity (did I spell that right? where's the spell check button? ;) n/m I'm delirious)... and I'm sure they all have jobs or school to attend in the morning... There's going to be a LOT of mad people on my street. Let's just hope they don't find out it was ME who called all this in to the city in the first place.

Oh geez, now my entire house (it's a crappy house) is vibrating.

I suck. the end. *sigh*

Tell me I'm not a hypochondriac...

Ahh the joys of the internet. The internet allows me to self-diagnose myself, and find some relief. I've lately been getting this constant whooshing in my right ear. Its my heartbeat. Apparently I've got pulsatile tinnitus. I swear it is SO loud, people around me would be able to hear it. It's not normal... but thanks to the internet, I've found some company to my misery, and by reading her posts, and updates, I've gained some comfort in this.

It does, however, quite suck, that I may have to live with this. You really have no idea how annoying it all is, unless, of course, you've experienced it too. For now, I shall wallow in self-pity for a little while longer.

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+
In other news, I'm going with my sister-in-law to Oakville tomorrow to pick up her babys' bassinet, they're the only ones that have this one, and seeing as how her due date is tomorrow (the 24th) and there's no baby yet, she'll be needing this quite soon. :) I'm going to be an Auntie again!

That's the bassinet she's getting, It's apparently a 5 in 1 a portable sleeper, bassinet, bedside sleeper, play seat and changing table. It looks absolutly adorable, and we'll be purchasing it tomorrow. Also, she said she'd let me drive WOOHOO! It's been a while, as my car is stuck in Buffalo. *sigh*. Later :)

"There's a Mormon," by Jeff Foxworthy

I thought this was funny, and highly reminiscent of my mormon upbringing, so I'll post it here. :) enjoy (PS, most of these "jokes" won't make sense unless you're quite familiar with the LDS religion, and that's ok. :) )

---

"There's a Mormon," by Jeff Foxworthy:

If all your dishes have you name written on them with masking tape...
You might be a Mormon.

If you postdate your checks while shopping on Sunday...
You might be a Mormon.

If you believe Heck is the place for people who do not believe in gosh...
You might be a Mormon.

If your mom was pregnant at your sister's wedding reception...
You might be a Mormon.

If you pray that your food might "nourish and strengthen your body"
before eating doughnuts...
You might be a Mormon.

If you think Jell-O is one of the basic food groups.....
You might be a Mormon.

If at least one of your salad bowls is at a neighbor's house.....
You might be a Mormon.

If you've ever written a "Dear-John" to more than two missionaries on
the same day.....
You might be a Mormon.

If you were frustrated when your son "only" got accepted to Harvard...
You might be a Mormon.

If you have on e kid in diapers and one on a mission...
You might be a Mormon.

If you have never arrived at a meeting on time...
You might be a Mormon.

If you have more wheat stored in your basement than most third world
countries...
You might be a Mormon.

If you've already got your order in for volume 50 of "The Work and The
Glory"...
You might be a Mormon.

If you think it is all right to watch football on Sundays as long as a
direct descendant of Brigham Young is playing...
You might be a Mormon.

If you have to guess more than five times the name of the child you're
disciplining...
You might be a Mormon.

If you automatically assume that BYOB means, Bring Your Own Burgers...
You might be a Mormon.

If you go to a party and someone spikes the punch with Pepsi...
You might be a Mormon.

If you arrive to an activity an hour late and are the first person there...
You might be a Mormon.

It's been a slow week

Not much going on in this neck of the woods. I bought some New (smaller) Gap Jeans (because the jeans I've been wearing are so big on me, I'm now able to take them off without undoing the button and zipper on them...) on eBay last week for $13.27 + s/h ($8.49 to Canada), and I'm waiting to receive those. See, I told you it was a slow week.

I found a little Italian shop that sells every kind of pasta you could imagine, and their prices aren't too bad either. I've never seen what ziti looks like before. I didn't realize it was like a Penne but longer, very interesting. I just got some Penne Rigate x2, Fusili, and some Linguini, but I'm tempted to go back for more. ;) I still have some of my spaghetti sauce in the freezer from when I made that.

Question... very random, I know... but why can't they sell ground sausage like they sell ground beef? You know... Without that sausage casing? I hate that casing. It's such a humbug. I want a poud of Italian Sausage without the casing. Is that too much to ask? Or are they not allowed to call it "Sausage" without the casing? bah.

I should end my musings for the day... I'm not making much sense anyway. ;) I think I'm just hungry. :)

Speaking of... Special K and Corn Pops cereals are so different in Canada. I'll have to take pictures sometime... its freaky. The end.

Added @ 10:15am:
WooHoo! My sister in law, Brandi, just called me and wants me to come baby-stuff shopping with her. (I keep calling it Baby Shopping, and it confuses my husband, because no real babies are for sale anywhere...) Anyway, that'll happen probably around 11, and I need to dry my hair and finish some laundry before she gets here. :) She's about 8 months and 2.5 weeks pregnant... She doesn't know if she's having a boy or a girl, but my new neice or nephew is definitely healthy. She and her Husband George were married in Mexico last January (2006). :) yay!

It is Official.

The Canadian Visa office in Buffalo, NY has received my immigration application this morning. :)

Label/Receipt Number: 7005 3110 0002 2004 3222
Status: Delivered

Your item was delivered at 9:50 AM on April 5, 2007 in BUFFALO, NY 14203.

YAY! The end.