Journey & Adventure

Just a quick update.  We are mid way through our Philippine vacation and have been having a great time.   We spent last week scuba diving in Dumuagete, Philippines (Negros Island).  The resort was unbelievable, the people, food, accommodations were beyond our expectations. Yesterday, we were on the road again...headed to Legazpi, Philippines to snorkel with the whale sharks.  This is where our trip took a turn for the unexpected.  Our flight was first delayed and then ultimately canceled.  We tried without luck to reschedule our flights for today, but were told all flights to our destination were sold out until March 30...the same day we are scheduled to fly home. So, long story short...here we sit in a hotel lobby in Manila, Philippines - waiting for our rooms to be ready.  This will be the same hotel we will be residing in for the next 3 days....until our flight home. As disappointed as we are about our disruption, travel is what yo...

The weekend has been a blur and I know I'm not alone when I say, the holiday season is sucking the life out of me and of course my wallet.  Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays - I just don't like the panic and anxiety it causes in everyone around me, because sooner or later, a little is bound to rub off. It was J's birthday this weekend, so yesterday we set off to celebrate by going to a movie and then dinner and then because I had too much wine with dinner, I decided to get in some last minute Christmas shopping.  Yes, I went to the mall!  It's be years since I've been to the mall this close to Christmas and now I know why - the people. I don't know how to explain it, but last night I found the mall to be the most depressing place on earth - the looks of panic on people's faces, the picked over shelves, the screaming children (and parents), the rudeness of people trying to find parking spots, everything about it was horrible.  I went wi...

Don't tell my co-workers because they will tattle on me, but I'm taking a "sick" day today.  I'm not actually sick, I just need to get a bunch of stuff done in my life today (dentist, back to school shopping with The Boy, cleaning my bathrooms, getting groceries, etc.) and I'll be damned if I'm going to waste a vacation day on that crap and forget about the weekends - I'm too busy doing fun stuff to worry about the toilets. So, on the back to school shopping thing - how old do your children have to be before you stop buying their "back to school" stuff.   I know The Boy is technically a "man".  (I couldn't even keep a straight face typing that one...LOL! ) Regardless of his age, I feel I should be at least providing the necessities (and a new toothbrush) for him before I send if off into the world.  God knows, today's underwear and sock purchases will probably have to last him awhile.    Now don't get me wrong, ...

Can someone please explain to me why – when it’s still the middle of winter IN Canada, I cannot find a single sweater in the stores? Just a few short weeks ago, there were racks of them everywhere and now, they’ve suddenly disappeared and have been replaced with racks and racks of swimsuits, tank tops and shorts. WTH? Last time I checked, it wasn’t fashionable to wear a bikini IN January, IN Canada, but then again maybe I’m just being prudish. So, with that being said, I want some sweaters… This one would be nice. It's on the conservative side, but nice for the office... (Photo Courtesy of Mount Cashmere) Red is not necessarily my color, but I'd settle for this one... (Photo Courtesy of Mount Cashmere) OR this one... (Photo Courtesy of Mount Cashmere) Or this one... I COULD TOTALLY ROCK THIS ONE.... (Photo Courtesy of Nice Kicks)

Today’s version of Random Thoughts is all about honesty. I’m always excited to see Christmas come, but I’ll be honest – I’m equally excited to see it go. I like it when my version of normalcy returns, as skewed as it may be. Although when I receive my credit card statement, I’ll be wishing I was permanently living in an alternate dimension. Today is the first day back at work since December 23 rd and I’m going to say that it is AWESOME to be here for a few reasons. Reason one - I love my family and my afternoon naps, but I’ll be honest – I’m tired of looking at them, cooking for them and cleaning up after them. Reason two - I can’t possibly stand watching Rio Bravo (again) or any other damn John Wayne western that happens to be on television. Reason three – there isn’t anyone else in my immediate vicinity at work today, so it’s like I’m by myself. Ahhh, it’s so peaceful…almost heavenly. In family tradition, J, the Boy and myself set out on D...

We are now offering a blue light special on "vessels to the afterlife" in Aisle 7, but don't delay or you may be disappointed. With deals this good, your time might just run out... Seriously folks, Wal-Mart in wanting to cash in on the business of death has now started selling caskets online at prices that undercut funeral homes. Now I'm all for saving a few dollars, but I could not for the life of me (no pun intended), purchase a casket online from a discount retailer. It just seems wrong. Just a special note to my husband: if you even think of purchasing one of these special models, I WILL come back to haunt you and I'll be bringing my mother with me.

Since the Lotto Fairy hasn’t granted my wish to become a millionaire, I’ve resigned myself to settling for the smaller things in life. In this installment of “I Want Wednesdays”, I want… Portable Speaks for my iPod. Two of my favorite things are the beach and music and with this little addition, I could enjoy both in one. Portable Grill. I love to eat and typically all I can think about when I’m lying on the beach is “is it lunch yet?” O.K. that thought is not reserved solely for the beach… you get the point – I’m always hungry. This handy little item could solve my problem. Bottle Opener Sandals. Now, I need to find a portable beer fridge than runs on AA’s … Beer Belly. Yes, I already have one of these and expect that it might get even larger if I had one of these. It's a little large and I can just imagine the tan lines it will leave, but if I can't find the portable beer fridge, this might serve me well enough in a pinch o...

Can someone please tell me why razor blades are kept behind “security” shelving in Wal-Mart? You know the shelf with the clear plastic sneeze guard lid on it? This is the same security unit that emits an ear-piercing alarm when you lift the lid to retrieve your razor blades, which it turn scares the beegeezus out of you and puts the pharmacists on high alert for roving bandits armed with packages of Mach 3’s. All I can say - you better be sure you have selected the correct package before you lift the lid because if you do it twice within a short period of time, I’m sure a secret alarm is sent to local law enforcement agencies, alerting them of the potential hostage incident about to unfold. Come on - it’s not like these razor blades could immediately be used as weapons. Considering the packaging they come in, it would require great technical skill and a sharp object before access could be gained – both of which I happen to lack. “Attention Wal-Mart shoppers”, in case you hadn’...