meet ashley.

bloomsburypie @ 2009-10-31T16:23:00

2009-10-31T20:23:22Z

Xenites Unite!... again.

2009-10-15T11:58:30Z

Hai guys.

I'm not dead, I swear.

I'm just REALLY obsessed with this website:

http://xena.yuku.com/

My username is cookingwithjuices, if anyone wants to check it out. :P Hope you guys are well!

Excitement!

2009-01-09T01:17:56Z

Sooooooooo... I am busting at the seams because there is now a distinct possibility that we will be able to visit London in May. :O Jenny's mum found a great deal through her travel agent that includes airfare to and from Germany, two nights' accomodations (who knows where) and a 'show' (um, WICKED is the show) all for $325! Canadian dollars! And that's for TWO PEOPLE!

So, needless to say, I am actually giddy with excitement. It's not set in stone by any means, but be assured that you will know when I know. :D

A Look Back @ 2008

2009-01-04T13:30:17Z

Stolen from blob.

01. Was 2008 a good year for you?
Yes. One of the more stressful years of my life, but also filled with joy and a more full understanding of what family means.

02. Where were you, and who were you with, when 2008 began? And where will you be when it ends?
I was with Jenny, at our old apartment. I may have been asleep! When it ends, I will be with Jenny in our current house, probably sleeping.

03. What were your biggest achievements of the year?
x. Getting married. That was a huge one.
x. Moving, even though I didn't want to.
x. Being a good friend.
x. Becoming a better partner.
x. Figuring out my Masters stuff (for better or for worse).

04. What was your biggest failure or regret?
x. Not standing up for myself.
x. Not keeping up with jogging.
x. Saying things I shouldn't have and not saying things I should have.

05. What did you do that you'd never done before?
x. Got married.
x. Petted a sting-ray (it were slimey).
x. Worked on my car all by myself!
x. Rode a champion show horse.

06. What did you hope to do but didn't manage to?
x. Lose weight.
x. Get a Playstation 3 (ha ha).
x. Save money.
x. Get a raise.

07. Are you going to try to do these things this coming year instead?
I'm going to work on it (except the Playstation 3, that's just decadent).

08. Did you make any major decisions? If so, what were they?
I decided who was coming to the wedding. That was hard. I decided not to apply for my Masters this year.

09. Did you explore any new ideas or concepts you had never considered before?
I realized it is possible for me to be happy without drowning my creative self in academia. I realized I want to be self-employed.

10. What did you learn?
Family is family is family. I like my family.

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Everyone who helped with the wedding, especially Jenny's sister who stuck up for Jenny about some wedding issues. Rachel and Blair for being such great friends.

12. Whose behavior upset you?
Again, Jenny's sister, sadly.

13. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I'd made an effort to visit my parents more, but I always feel this way regardless of how much I see them.

14. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying, bitching. All necessary, of course.

15. What did you get really excited about?
Moving, though that bit me in the arse.

16. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Both of my managers (twin sisters) had babies this year.

17. Did anyone close to you die?
No one close.

18. Did you attend any weddings or funerals?
Oh my, yes. No funerals, but we attended four weddings in the summer including our own!

19. Did you miss anybody?
I always miss someone.

20. Which countries did you visit?
Just this one. Though that's not really visiting.

21. Which new places did you visit?
Jenny's aunt's new house in Cambridge, my uncle's new farm in Stirling. That's about all I can remember.

22. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Late December I got a cold and am still fighting it. I burned my leg in November and it's still healing (almost back to normal sans giant scar).

23. What was the best thing you bought?
The new computer. I'd say the van but it's still in the shop so it's yet to be determined whether it was a smart purchase or not.

24. Where did most of your money go?
The wedding, paying back loans.

25. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier, in general.
b) thinner or fatter? About the same, I think.
c) richer or poorer? Hard to say. We've been smarter with money but we still have none. So, maybe richer.

26. What was your favorite film of the year?
Burn After Reading.

27. What was your favorite TV program?
The Riches, Third Watch, Xena.

28. What was the best book you read?
The Time Traveller's Wife.

29. What did you want and get?
x. A new house.
x. A wife.
x. A newer car (er, in the shop).

30. What did you want and not get?
x. To lose weight.
x. A roommate I can stand to be around.
x. A newer car (as it's still in the shop).

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 25 and went to the Toronto Metro Zoo with Jenny, Rachel and Blair. :D

32. What was your personal fashion concept of this year?
Pajamas. Jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, and pajamas.

33. Did you make any significant changes to your appearance?
I found a stylist who knows how to cut curly hair (yay!) and got new glasses.

34. Which celebrity did you fancy the most?
Probably Molly Price because we started watching Third Watch and she's kinda buff and wears a uniform. Mmmm Faith Yokas.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The stay of parliament that's still going on right now. Bastards. We voted in the damn government (as much as I dislike it), now they've just decided we made the wrong choice so they might overthrow it. Democracy at work, people.

36. What world event affected you more than any other?
I don't know... US Election?

37. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 22 (wedding, duh), and December 18, when Jenny's dad made it home safely from Afghanistan.

38. What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
So What by Pink, The Garden by Mirrah, Womanizer by Britney Spears, Tegan and Sarah's "The Con" album.

39. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Not especially.

40. How many one-night stands?
Just the one. Kidding.

41. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I have basically lost all respect for one person. I think hate is too strong a word, but I distrust her, I have no respect for her, and I basically can't stand to be around her. And she comes back in 4 days, barf.

42. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I re-discovered Tegan and Sarah. Yay :)

43. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I had kicked someone out the first (or second) time they fucked up. Just gimme one more chance.

44. What kept you sane?
Work, Jenny, an uncompromised sense of self-assuredness in my values.

45. Who was the best new person you met?
...I can't really think of any.

46. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
War, good god y'all, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin'.

47. What would you like to happen in the coming year, either personally or in a more global sense?
I would like to move mid-year to a sweet new apartment, have an awesome vacation in May, take my niece horseback riding and of course, World Peace.

48. What are some of your personal goals for the New Year?
Get fitter (how cliche). Walk my dog more. Have more sex (what? It's true).

49. What would you like to avoid?
Weight gain, stress, arguments. I'd like to avoide killing my sister in law but that might not be manageable.

50. And finally, where do you see yourself in a year's time?
Ready for the next big change - moving wherever the wind takes us (Jenny will be almost finished teacher's college), maybe looking at buying a home, finding something work-wise that has to do with my degree. We'll be about the same, debt wise because as I pay off my loans, Jenny is accruing more. Ha! It's a vicious cycle.

Yay, bring on 2009!

Interesting...

2008-11-26T23:13:27Z

bloomsburypie @ 2008-11-14T21:01:00

2008-11-15T02:25:47Z

It has been about 400 years since I did a proper entry. I'll try to make this one decent.

I'm married now! The wedding was great, I have to say. We spent the night in a really nice posh hotel room with fancy drinks and chocolates and a jacuzzi. It was really nice. The honey moon ended there, unfortunately, and we're now on month 3 of living with my ridiculous 18 year-old sister-in-law. It's madness. I think I'm losing my mind. She steals from us, eats non-stop and lays on the couch all day. Seriously. She's living with us in order to attend school but she hasn't bothered to go this week.

To make a long story short, I feel cheated and angry that we have been cheated out of our first year living together as a real live married couple in order to do this ungrateful tit a favour. Grrrrr. We're supposed to live with her for two years but there is NO WAY I am doing this again. NO WAY.

Anyway! Hmmm, news! I had my Birthday back in October, which was really nice. I turned the big 2-5, and we went to the Toronto Metro Zoo to celebrate with our friends Rachel and Blair. It was fun. They gave me an amazing sweatshirt that says "I'd rather be watching Xena: Warrior Princess" across the front. It's an apt statement about my life in general, I think.

This entry is going to be a bit all over the place. There's news on the me-potentially-doing-my-Masters Front: I have been told by my profs that my idea is doable, interesting, and that I should definitely follow through with it. My problem now is whether or not I actually want to do it. :S It would be a huge decision, as well as a huge expense. The tuition alone is $12,000 for the year, and I would have to drop down to part-time hours at work, and somehow pay for books and travel and things like this. I'm not sure it's what I want to do. I wonder if it's just a bandaid solution to me not knowing what to do with my life. Bah! It makes my head spin just thinking about it. I've also waited a ridiculous amount of time to start thinking about this again, since applications are due in February. I just don't know what to do. Yikes. :( So that's where that stands.

I'm really excited for Christmas, as I am every year. Jenny really wanted to put our tree up tonight but it's far too early in the season. We haven't even got any snow yet! Well, we did, but it's gone now. We may still not have any by December, but it's hard to get into the Christmas spirit without snow... for me, anyway.

Oh, for those of you who don't watch Grey's Anatomy, I should explain my icon. Callie Torrez (the brunette) finally hooked up with her ladycrush, Erica Hahn (blonde), and OMFG it was AWESOME. They were gorgeous together, although they had to do the whole Lesbian Panic thing. Once they finally got into it, the writers/producers decided it was JUST TOO HOT and they kicked Hahn off the show. >:O Jerks. Just way too hot for everyone involved. So now they're going to introduce a new lesbian character who will partake in some "mild flirtation" with the newly affirmed bisexual Callie. Damn! I hate politics.

And speaking of politics. Obama for the win, baby. California for the lose.

It's almost bedtime. Was there anything else I wanted to say? Did I mention I want to mangle my sister in law? Oh, I did. Hm. I feel bad for my co-workers who have to listen to my rants every day. I get greeted with a sympathetic, "How are things today?" every morning. Gah. I'm looking forward to her trip back to Germany over Christmas! She'll be gone for a full month. While I'm happy with our decision not to live with her for another year, this will force us to move yet again next summer. One option for this is to move in with my parents. Barf! I know. It would be rent-free, however, and they have an apartment in their basement. It would be slightly awkward but cheap and convenient. Well, convenient for Jenny. For me it would mean finding a new job or commuting two hours (total) every day. On the plus side, I could afford to work less, which would be handy. I'd be back with my horses, who I miss like crazy.

I'm working on the pros and cons of just about everything in my life right now.

Anyway, I'm now completely beat and am going to retire to bed with my hunny. Hope all is well with everyone. Good night, all. :)

Huh?

2008-11-11T01:01:12Z

Clearly, Brittney Spears decided to use the distraction caused by the US Presidential Election to get hot again.

See here:

Brittney Spears - "Womanizer"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZSLIq6YiRY

*Is confused*

bloomsburypie @ 2008-09-18T18:41:00

2008-09-18T22:42:03Z

Can I just say that season 5 & 6 Gabby is hella sexy? See the icon. Love the icon. :D Such a saucepot. <3

Clearly I don't post in LJ enough anymore.

So You Think You Can Dance

2008-08-01T10:40:10Z

I just need to share these two awesome performances from SYTYCD on Wednesday night!

Chelsie & Twitch, Hip Hop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDGul7j2TMo

Marc & Courtnie, Jazz (I LOVE this choreographer AND this song... and the dancing is amazing)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr3sfkBHoQM

And now, upon watching it for a second time, I think the Marc & Courtnie one is easily my favourite performance of the season! Awweeessooommmeeeee...

bloomsburypie @ 2008-07-16T16:38:00

2008-07-16T20:42:20Z

Just a quick update. We are in our new house! Yay! Space! The landlord is officially a git but he seems to respond to CONSTANT REMINDING.

Going to put dinner on. Hope all is good with you (and you and you and you)...

ed. reading this over I immediately thought of, "Constant vigilance!" hehe.

bloomsburypie @ 2008-05-12T08:50:00

2008-05-12T12:53:49Z

It has been a year since Germany. :( I console myself knowing we will be back there this time next year. :D

Jenny and I at the Schloss Hotel, May 6th 2007. Fresh off the plane... Jenny looks drunk, but she's not. Hehe.

Comment and I'll...

2008-04-23T22:09:13Z

Stolen from blob :) as always.

Comment and I'll...

1. Tell you why I friended you.
2. Associate you with something - a fandom, a song, a colour, a photo, etc.
3. Tell you something I like about you.
4. Tell you a memory I have of you.
5. Ask something I've always wanted to know about you.
6. Tell you my favorite user pic of yours.
7. In return, you must post this in your LJ. (whatevs.)

bloomsburypie @ 2008-04-17T19:31:00

2008-04-17T23:32:38Z

I heart my new icons. <3

Meme

2008-04-07T14:27:02Z

Stolen from blob.

Answer the questions with words you would have used when you were a kid. :)

1. The space between two buildings containing a footpath: alley
2. A knitted item of clothing worn over a shirt, without buttons: sweater
3. The act of not going to something that you're supposed to go to: skipping
4. Playground game in which someone is "it" and has to touch someone else who then becomes "it": tag, freeze tag, tv tag, etc.
5. Playground truce term when you want a break from the above games: tee, and you had to make a "T" shape with your hands.
6. Playground term you say when you want to claim something: mine
7. Slip-on shoes worn for school sports in the days before trainers: runners
8. Small round bread: bun
9. Sweet course that follows the main course: dessert
10. Scone: pronounced to rhyme with "gone" or with "moan": "moan"
11. Generic term for a bird: bird
12. Round food stuff made with batter on a griddle, which is brown on the outside: pancake
13. A delicacy that you feel is particularly local to you: shipwreck
14. Term of endearment: dear, honey, sweetie
15. Someone who's soft and easily feels the cold: wimp
16. Tourists: em, tourists.
17. A field boundary: edge
18. You see a group of animals standing in a farm building. They have udders and go moo. Complete the following sentence: "Look at those ____ standing in that ____!" Cows, barn
19. You haven't had anything to eat in a long time, and your stomach is letting you know about it. You would also like to be warmer. You say: "I'm starving and freezing cold."
20. Your friends invite you to enter a haunted house: "Freaky!"
21. A man who dresses flashily with lots of expensive jewellery: pimp!
22. What do you say in a shop when you are handed your change?: thank you, thanks
23. Generic friendly greeting: Hey!
24. Slang term for a pair of trousers: pants, shorts
25. Slang term for left-handed person: I don't think I used one.
26. Pronunciation of Shrewsbury? Newcastle? Glasgow?: Never woulda said these names. ;)
27. Two pieces of bread with a filling: sandwich
28. A playground way of saying someone is out of order: "That's not fair, I'm telling" etc.
29. Dialect terms for hands, ears, face – and, indeed, for any other body parts: I think we just called things what they were supposed to be called, lol.
30. Terms for someone who looks miserable: ugly!
31. Potatoes: taters
32. Pale round food stuff with a brown base, lots of holes in it, which you serve hot with butter: crumpet...mmm crumpet.

bloomsburypie @ 2008-02-07T19:41:00

2008-02-08T00:47:23Z

Has anyone seen the new show, Exes and Ohs? It's supposed to be oh-so-lesbian chic, but it could be terribly stereotypical and written by pseudo intelligent power hungry dykes (a la The L Word)...

anyone? opinions/impressions?

News & gratuitous picspam

2008-02-01T12:02:40Z

I ordered the whole Xena series on DVD.

Oh. em. gee. :X

I am too excited to be allowed!! And now for your viewing pleasure, wee picspam. Sorry flists.

bloomsburypie @ 2008-01-07T07:46:00

2008-01-07T12:50:55Z

two words: sweeney todd.

that is all. :)

***

it's really gorey, but brilliant. and i mean, come on! helena bonham carter! johnny depp! yaaaay!

i freaking love helena bonham carter. :D

Wedding stuff!

2007-11-04T01:26:37Z

Venue is booked, in-laws are booking flights from Europe, caterer is booked, officiant is pending, ceremony is planned!

OMG *breathe*

OK, get this: we're having a Wiccan ceremony. It's going to be tweaked, obviously, but it's very nature-ish and feminist and not God-y. :D And we get to hold hands and have them tied together. :D

I'm a mad updater tonight. I have my driver's test on Monday... right now I only have my G1 which means I can only drive with someone who has had their license for 4 years. I can't drive alone, and I have all kinds of restrictions. I'm a good driver, I just failed the test to get my G2 last time (G2 allows me to drive on my own). Bleh! I don't want to take it! But I have to, and I hope I pass. :( The test was hard last time, but I didn't have much experience then... so we'll see! Wish me luck. :D

bloomsburypie @ 2007-11-03T21:18:00

2007-11-04T01:21:45Z

You should download:

Feist - When I Was a Young Girl
Feist - Secret Heart
Flight of the Conchords - Jenny

Deathly Hallows

2007-11-04T01:18:19Z

Did I mention I sobbed like a child when Dobby died?
...Or that my heart feels like it's being squished when I think of Dumbledore's plan, and Snape's loyalty?
...Or that I always forget about Lupin and Tonks until I actually re-read the book?

Yarrrrrr... I LOVED this book. All three times. Oh, man.

P.S. Dumbledore is gay. :D

P.P.S. This icon makes me weepy.

bloomsburypie @ 2007-09-20T08:32:00

2007-09-20T12:35:56Z

WHoa. The Canadian dollar is at $0.9997 to the US $1 right now. That's pretty amazing. Two years ago it was $1.65 to the American $1.

I'm not sure if I'm saying it correctly... anyway, the CDn $ is almost equal to the US $ right now. And that's pretty sweet. For me. But not for people who sell to Americans. Amerians are like, "Bitches stole our dollar!" lol.

Oh ye neglected Livejournal.

2007-08-14T23:04:45Z

OMG. I want a horse. I mean, I want a horse here. In the town where I am living. I found out there is a horse rescue in my town, and I think J & I actually drove past it the other day. I just assumed it was a regular horse farm. Yay, horse rescue! Maybe I could volunteer there. :D My boss invited me to her house in the next couple of weeks to meet the trainer who is training her weanling. He has his work cut out for him, but apparently he's really talented, so I'd like to see how he works. It was nice of her to invite me, anyway! And she also said I can stop by any time I need a horse fix. :) Once I get my license I might be there every other day, hehe.

I want this horse.

http://www.cannington-horse-rescue.com/sassy.html

I think the next horse I get will definitely be black. Years of having a white horse and a horse with lots of white have jaded me. ;) Plus, black horses are lovely. And facial markings will also play a role... I like white markings, but I don't want to much white since Abduhl has had so much trouble with his 'white markings'. He's a white horse, but he has grey skin with pink areas under the fur. Those pink areas have always caused problems with extreme sunburn.

Listen to me, going on about horses. Jeebus.

edit. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned this, but both of my horses were rescues. Technically we rescued them. I'm not sure where they would have ended up, but they were surely headed for slaughter. :( We knew nothing about them, but they have been amazing horses for us for the past 10 years. So I'm definitely leaning toward a rescue instead of buying for my next horse. ;)

bloomsburypie @ 2007-06-25T14:18:00

2007-06-25T18:18:22Z

No new apartment for us.

Am v. sad.

Oh well.

bloomsburypie @ 2007-06-18T16:43:00

2007-06-18T20:48:00Z

The attic apartment in our building has become available.

We're on the list. I don't think we'll get it... but I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT IT!!!!! *cries* It's beautiful, two bedroom, very classy and cute. I LOVE it. I've loved it for two years, but we couldn't afford it before. NOW I WANTS IT. It has a skylight and tons of storage and a cute kitchen and a deck. *WANTWANTWANTWANTWANT*

*cries*

For real.

WANTWANTWANT. Trying to express the wantingness here. I would have a room of my own. SQUEE. Plzzzzzzz let us get it... :oP We even offered to take it earlier than expected (there's an issue with current tenants leaving too soon) and pay more than they're asking. AHHHHH. *WANT* Sigh. It's just so cute. :o(

I should stop now. :oS

bloomsburypie @ 2007-06-06T17:47:00

2007-06-06T21:47:33Z

Oh, my God. We've started wedding plans.

Help, plz?