Dear Meghan

It has come to my attention that I have a new visitor here and I'm excited. Everyone please give a warm welcome to Greg's supercool sister...Meghan!

I must admit that Greg and Meghan have had quite the influence on me these last 6 months or so. To old friends, this might shock you, so make sure you're sitting down.

I want a tattoo.

*gasp* Shirley's gone bad!
Oh please, I've always been bad. I've just done a really good job of hiding it. :o) I think everyone that seems innocent or pure has some bad streak in them. It's just a matter of when you let it out. And besides, it's nothing weird or freaky, nothing I'll regret getting inked into my skin.

PASSION. Written across my lower back.
Sure, they're a little permanent, but shouldn't passion be a permanence in one's life? It is in mine.

A few years ago, I always said that if I ever got a tattoo, it'd be of a paw print on my hip. Why? I don't know...I must have thought it was cool or something. It was in September that I changed paws to passion and ever since then, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I should probably wait until next year when I'm out of the house and the likelihood of my parents seeing it is less, but...*whine* I want one now!

Right now I'm trying to figure out what font I want it in. I know I can't pull off a graffiti-style one, no block or bubble lettering for me, and not even medieval writing will do it. I'm thinking in the style of an old typewriter. But how to incorporate purple, red and gold sparkles?


1:25 pm

Sunday, December 29, 2002

With A Click Of The Mouse

So I just finished applying to university.This online application stuff really promotes procrastination. But I managed to suck it up and do it all tonight. Ah, my future is now decided...tentatively. That's a load off my shoulders. Anyone care to hear the results?

Too bad if you don't. Here we go...

1. Queen's University: Commerce
Yay for snobbiness!

2. University of Western Ontario: Social Science-Political Science
After two years of poly-sci, I think I'll apply to The Richard Ivey School of Business.

3. Wilfrid Laurier University: Honours Business Administration
Possibly the co-op option, but I'm hoping to work at the FTE conferences during the summer.

Side Note: Anyone ever notice that the guy from Dashboard Confessional can't actually sing?

8:06 pm

Friday, December 27, 2002

Boxing Day Adventures

So yesterday was the big day, sales galore, especially at Best Buy.

6:15 am
Mom: Shirley! Wake up! We have to meet your brother and dad, they're already in line!
Me: WHAT?? (I went to bed at 1:30 am)

6:45 am
After scrounging for parking (can you believe we had trouble looking for spots at this hour?), we find my dad and my brother in line, where they had been since 4:30 am.

7:00 am
The store opens, and the madness ensues. People try to cut in line, some Chinese guy starts yelling, a fight breaks out, profanities and pushing everywhere, I get shoved into a concrete pole...it's perfect riot material.

8:00 am
After climbing over displays and people to grab cheap sale items, we line up to leave the store with over $700 worth of merchandise. By now I'm tired and starving.

9:30 am
It's all I can do to keep dragging my feet alongside my shopping mother.
Mom: Hey, you like this shirt?
Me: I like food.
Mom: How about these pants?
Me: How about some sleep?

We finally made it home, and then to a restaurant for some lunch. Despite the fact that I was now sleepy from food, we ventured to Scarborough Town Center. But I won't go into stories about that.

5:39 pm

Wednesday, December 25, 2002

White Christmas

Can you believe my wish came true? I woke up this morning to see the fulffy white stuff everywhere and I was overjoyed! I don't tell people I'm psychic for no reason! My first white Christmas in what must have been 3, 4 years, and it was wonderful.

Ice skating at Nathan Phillips Square today was the best way to celebrate Christmas. For the first 45 minutes I was less than graceful, crashing into about 4 people, but never falling, not once. After getting the hang of it I was reminded of my love for skating. For the first time in years, I was physically taking part in the sport and not watching professional athletes at the Olympics. It became so easy, it was like walking...taking very slow, long strides and simply gliding. I felt so free, almost like I was flying believe it or not. And as a bonus, it was still snowing, big fluffly flakes falling ever so slowly onto my hair and sticking to my eyelashes. It was beautiful. I must do it again before the break is over.

On the way back, the car windows were really fogged up, and hilarity ensued.

Uncle: Okay you guys, you've got to stop breathing! *chuckle*
Cousin Michael: *imagine extreme innocence* We have to stop breathing?
Me: *big smile*
Michael: *worried look* Why?
Me: Because the windows are all fogged up. *reassuring smile*

A few seconds later I hear gasping.

Michael: *gasp gasp* I don't think I can do it!

You had to be there.

6:41 pm

Tuesday, December 24, 2002

Happy Holidays!

May the season find you well, regardless of what it is that you celebrate.

I hope the next couple of days are filled with those you love, good music, wild laughter, warm hugs, flashy pictures, fattening foods and more joyous joy than you know what to do with. I hope that, as good as the pictures are, they are nothing compared to the memories that will stay with you forever and a day. I hope the next couple of days mirror those of the rest of the year.

Happiness to all.
Cheers.

10:59 pm

Sunday, December 22, 2002

3, 2, 1....

I can't believe there's only three more days until Christmas. I'm supposed to be Christmas' biggest fan and here I am not even feeling...it. There's no spirit in me this year and I don't get it. I love our tree though, and the bizillion presents underneath. I feel like a child again, hopping around picking up each box and shaking it with hopes of figuring out what's inside, even if it's not for me.

97.3 EZ Rock has been playing Christmas music 24/7 for weeks now, and it does a pretty good job of getting me in the mood. That, and wrapping presents. I find it soothes me somehow.

With the help of the Gandhi's scanner and my mother's Singer sewing machine I was able to complete my Christmas project last night. They are all disproportionately lumpy and smell like plastic, but that's what you get when you try to make your own pillows. I keep wondering why they don't look like the ones on Trading Spaces.

Korean BBQ for dinner tonight. So...much...meat. Ugh. I'll have visions of beef swimming in it's own blood tonight.

Sweet dreams.

9:44 pm

Saturday, December 21, 2002

All I Want For Christmas

I was catching up on the Economist & Sun this morning and I caught the annual publishing of kids' letters to Santa. Here are a few of my favourites:

I hope in your eyes I have been good! How are your reindeer?
Does the weather look good?
I don't want anything for Chrsitmas. Instead, could you make my mom's friend Charlotte get better from cancer?
How is Mrs. Claus? Also, could you give my share of presents to needy children?
How are the elves and how many are there? Enjoy and write me soon.
I love you, Mrs. Claus, reindeer and the elves as much as ever.

P.S. If you have any extra time, could you bring me a puppy. I really want one. I love you guys!

Emily Laevens
Markham

When I first wrote to you all I wanted was to come to your house for a sleepover. But after talking with my sisters I would like a Barbie house, a Barbie doll, a Barbie pot, a Barbie scarf, an Elf and a metal fish like my sister has.

Halli Dekker, 4 1/2
Stouffville

Hi, I would like an X-box for Christmas.
What are you doing today? Is Mrs. Claus baking cookies for the big trip? If she is baking cookies, you are very lucky. I like cookies very much.

Christopher Wong
Markham

Please buy me stockings.
I love you.
Please bring me a present.
P.S. Mommy helped me write this. I am only three years old.
Maegen is only one yer old and like dollies.

Michael and Maegan Daffern
Stoufville

I am Lief and I am good, Santa Claus.
I would like a castle.

Lief Johnson
Stouffville


The last time I wrote to Santa Claus at the North Pole, he never replied. The time before that, I was in the 3rd Grade when I wrote to Santa. I asked for a computer. Some 5th Grader from down the hall replied and said no because it wouldn't fit in the bag. Damn him. I asked to further and enrich my education and he said no.
There's no bitterness here.

11:14 pm

Wednesday, December 18, 2002

The Queen Is Dead

Ever have a really disappointing moment? I had a bunch of those on Monday and Tuesday. Ruined my days, most likely the rest of my week. Possibly the next month. Well, maybe not. But I sure don't like thinking about it.
DECA Provincials...and I was so excited! I had high hopes this year, especially after my 4th place finish last year and especially after my 1st place at Regionals. I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up, but it's what I do.

My second oral was a finance problem. I don't know anything about finance. My judge was a CA.
Oh, the irony.

Suffice to say, I will not be heading to Orlando this April, much, much to my dismay.

For now I have not much time to whine about it considering the amount of make-up work I have to do after missing so much school, but that's never stopped me before.

*whine*

7:42 pm

Sunday, December 15, 2002

Another Attempt At Christmas Shopping This Afternoon

I managed to knock my mother off my list with a visit to the skin care aisle at Shoppers Drug Mart.

I have my new headphones from my uncle and am still awaiting my Gaxa CD rack from Ikea.

More importantly, after hours of researching on the net yesterday, I've found my new digital camera. The price is a bit higher than I expected, but then again, I didn't realize I was looking at US prices all of yesterday afternoon.

The Kodak Easy Share DX4330.

I'm giddy just thinking about it. 3.1 MP, 3x optical zoom, 1.8" display.... Of course, what I really wanted was the Canon Power Shot S30, but there's a price difference of $150. The S30 is a GREAT camera, but it's also $600. The Easy Share is a bit easier on the wallet at $450, but it still made my mom's eyes bug out. I'll wait until Boxing Day though, perhaps someone will smile on me and make Future Shop have a huge sale.

All I need now is a good photo printer.

3:32 pm

Saturday, December 14, 2002

Listening to BNL's Brian Wilson

I just realized that yesterday was Friday the 13th.
Oh well. Not like I'm that superstitious anyway.

For perhaps the first time in my life, I have a million and one things to do, and it scares me. I'm procrastinating. What else is there?

Before the weekend is over, I will have about 17 Calculus questions done, 4 tests studied for, a stack of Christmas cards written and signed with love (or something like it), and more gifts bought with the debit card that empties my already scanty bank account. Gifts also include one for me; I've spent a considerable amount of time looking at various digital cameras and researching what makes a good one. I've compiled a list of models that might serve me well and I'm proud of myself.

Eventually, I hope to be proud of myself for creating a beautiful blog site. Tim attempted to give me a crash course in web page making and I think I've made it a goal to have a good one by the time I head out of Markham. I can't wait. I think my wanting a digicam has to do with my new interest in becoming a cyber-smart chick. I hear it's a turn-on.

I talked to Eileen for the first time in months two nights ago. The next morning I didn't think I had laryngitis anymore.

5:18 pm

Friday, December 13, 2002

The Season Is Upon Me

I started wearing my Santa hat around and Christmas finally feels like it's here, despite the fact that there's NO SNOW ON THE GROUND! Bitterness swells....
Hopefully, it'll turn out to be like a cheesy holiday movie, where the adorable child (in this case, me) wakes up Christmas morning to find that everything's covered in two feet of white gold. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I just spent the last hour wrapping presents, and you know that means I went shopping! I've already completed all the ingredients for Gregory's gifts, bought my dad's portable CD player for the kitchen so he can listen to annoying Chinese music, and finally found some iron-on paper. Yay! All I need to do now is figure out how to thread the sewing machine.

Yesterday was our 6 month-a-versary. Greg gave me socks.
I got mad.
But there were flowers in the car waiting for me.
And then came the chocolate. Mmm....Ferrero Rocher....
Finally, my real present, a photo of us in front of his old house smooching in a cute frame. Well, it looked more like my teeth were mushed up against his face, but it's pretty much the same idea. I got him pretty much the same thing, sans socks, flowers and chocolate. Great minds think alike, and us too!

It's Friday night, can you believe I'm at home? I can't.
It'll be a weekend full of Calculus and university decisions.
Whee.

9:33 pm

Thursday, December 12, 2002

That's A Compliment If Ever I Got One

A conversation that occured last night between Greg and Meghan after Meghan had made dinner. (It was noodle stiry-fry with chicken, bean sprouts and snow peas.) Apparently it was quite the ordeal; Meghan's not good with raw meat.

M: Ewwww.....I can't believe I made so much food....
G: Whoa! I can't believe you made so much food! Yeah noodle stir-fry! Score!
*Greg helps himself to an extremely large portion*
G: Yummmm...noodle stir-fry....
M: You're so gross, I can't believe you're eating that stuff. It's disgusting!
*Meghan is still gagging from her raw meat experience*
G: Why is it disgusting? What's wrong with it?
M: That's freakin' nasty man! Smell it!
G: What? It smells like Chinese people.

Me: You think I smell like noodles?!

12:41 pm

Wednesday, December 11, 2002

Laryngitis

n : inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx; characterized by hoarseness or loss of voice and coughing

Boy, do I feel good right about now. Not! Have you ever had laryngitis? Count your lucky stars if you haven't because it's no fun! Staying home from school is fun, but when you're in OAC and your marks actually matter...it's not such a good idea.

I've slept for about two and a half days straight and I just don't think it's possible to sleep anymore...so I'm awake. And coughing. And COLD. And phlegmy. And sniffling. And all the other gross things that come with being sick. I'm not very ladylike when my head feels like it's filled with mucous.

Although, I do think that I sound a bunch sexier. This whole losing-your-voice-and-then-getting-it-back-but-it's-all-hoarse stuff is kind of cool. It managed to turn Gilbert on. *laugh*
*cough cough hack hack*

I think I'll go put on some socks now.

3:06 pm

Saturday, December 07, 2002

A.J.

I just met a really cool guy over the phone. If "cool" means "cute", and if "I just met a really cool guy" is allowed by Greg.

*ring ring*
Me: Hello?
Guy: Hi, can I speak to *muffle muffle* ...-lee please?
Me: Uh, this is she.
Guy: Hi, do you know who this is?
Me: Uhm...I don't think so... *do I know anyone that sounds this sexy?*
Guy: This is A.J., do you remember me?
*by now I've noticed that this guy has a really smooth voice and might just be trying to pick me up*
Me: No... *but I sure wish I did!* Where did I meet you again?
Guy: Uh...is this Halley?
Me: *Dammit!* No, this is Shirley!
Guy: Wow, this is really embarrassing.

Anyhoo, we had a few good laughs. He sounds nice. A few seconds later....

*ring ring*
Me: Hello?
Guy: Hi, can I speak to Halley please?
Me: Is this A.J. again?
Guy: I'm so confused.

6:48 pm

Sunday, December 01, 2002

Potato Peeler For Life

My family always eats fruit after dinner on weekends. And tonight, my mom felt like taking a break so it was my job to peel the fruit.
And then it hit me: I don't know how to peel fruit.
Well, not with a knife. I can only use a potato peeler or my fingers. Tonight, I tried using the knife and got so scared about 7 cm later that I went back to my trusted and rusted friend. The potato peeler brings me such comfort, it's like home to me. Anyway, I'm a wimp becasue I'm scared of knives. Whoopee.

7:47 pm