bugs beware!

well, despite Angie's optimisim, I am content to say that spring (NOT summer!) is here. And this is how I know...

so far, in the past two days, there have been three different species of creepy crawlies that have met their demise from a skillfully handled kleenix in my pinch of death. two of these incidents occurred right here, on my computer monitor, while the third occured on the bathroom floor. two were different versions of the creepy crawly spider, and one was a eensie-beensie bug that landed on my screen.

so if you are, or know of a bug, that is crawling out into the new world of life and regeneration, stay away! i have kleenix boxes in every room and i'm not afraid to use their contents!

and it's not my fault that it's gonna rain....that ol' spider myth doesn't carry water! (tee hee hee)

update

okee, nothing too inspiring or thot provoking here, just a good ol' update on my life the past few days, because i've been so crazy busy i haven't even been online much or talked to many of you at all!

1. Started my new job (p/t) this week....Tuesday was a bit weird, just not how i expected it to be. I couldn't even find a pen in the office to do my work with! And my keys didn't work in the doors, And then i spilled my soup all over my lunchbag! and a few other things went bumbly on me....not a good start to the new job...nothing serious, but i had a hard time sleeping the nite before, so i was working on about 3 hours of sleep.....i hate those nites when you lay there, trying so hard to relax and fall asleep....and that's exactly why you can't! Wednesday, my second day on the job, felt more like i thot Tuesday would. Got more stuff to do, got more responsibilities, met more people, etc. So i think this job will be ok. I just don't like the process of change, and getting used to something new.

2. I'm sick. i dunno with what....i thot it was a cold (it started on the weekend with a sore throat, then progressed into a cough). But now it's just a VERY stuffy head, and runny nose, and tons of sneezing! My mom suggested it may be allergies....

3. i'm tired. Aside from starting another job, I've been crazy busy with piano (i'm accompanying 5 voice students in their festival competitions next week), and i'm trying to get my studying done for my music history exam (may 15). So that has resulted in some LONG work days.....about 10-14 hours per day! And all this has been stressing me out. It's kinda like being back in school....i keep telling myself "Lyn, you've been this busy before, you can handle this!" But after a year of relaxing, after a year of having very little stress/busyness, this feels a bit strange.... So if y'all could pray for me in the next 3 1/2 weeks, it would be much appreciated! And if you could forgive me for my lack of time to spend with you and keep updated on your lives! I'm trying!!

But tonight, i took the evening off of studying and practising - in order to tidy the house, do dishes and clean the kitchen, do laundry, fold laundry, and bake a pie! Man, it's sad when that's my evening off, eh? Oh well, it's only for a short time....

Well, i think that's about it, and it's time for bed, but i gotta get some studying in yet tonight! So talk to you all soon! (if you consider mid-may to be soon) - lol!

really??? no....you're kidding....

the warning on my bag of Peanut Butter Eggs reads "may contain traces of peanuts".

no, really?

and the foil around each individual egg says "nutty" right on it!!!

good thing they made that clear, eh? i could have died, and then i would have sued! because i can eat peanut butter, but not peanuts!!

shoes

well, i'm not a girl who goes crazy for new shoes, new footwear, new styles.

but i am in need of some classy (work-dressy), yet comfortable to walk in sandals for spring/summer, should it ever arrive

So I was looking while in Calgary, and came across a really nice, and affordable pair at transit, but they did not have my size. Ok, i'll just look in S'toon then!

Well, midtown had nothing, but they said they were getting a shipment in soon, and may get those ones in, so they took my name and phone # and said they'd try to find some for me.

The next day, I went to centre at 8th, and transit there didn't have them either - technically....but the saleslady said they did have one pair of black 10's, but they couldn't sell them to me because they had to transfer them to midtown. So i said ok, thx. anyways, and left.

Then, it dawned on me that those may be MY sandals sitting right there!!! If midtown had actually phoned around to their other stores to see if they had size 10, and if they found them at 8th, then they would have requested them, and they'd be transferred over!

But i did not go back to check if this was the case. I think i'm a bit afraid that in the same timeframe, someone else asked for the exact same pair of sandals......but it's also a bit of an adventure, to see if i do get a call and if my sandals come in!!!! So i guess i'll just wait....or maybe i'll go call and check right now!

(insert witty title here)

It's like starting an essay for school, I could never come up with a good first sentence, I would be so stumped trying to start the paper. Now, i cannot come up with good titles to start my blog. Perhaps partly because i never know what i'm about to write.

Well, I guess an update on our trip to calgary would be in order here, as that's the newest news in my life.

It was pretty good, very relaxing and laid back, with TONS of shopping.

The Good Friday service was amazing, it was very real and relevant to me this year, i think partially because of the passion movie....like pastor Leyton said, we've heard the story for so long, now we get a chance to see it! And i know that I am a very visual person....

And OH MY!!! My sister n bro's church (Center Street Church, Calgary) just built a new 14 million dollar building.....their old one was too small....so the old one (seats around 1000, with tons of classrooms, extra space) is now the YOUTH building! And the new one (seats 2200, has a separate 300 seater wedding/funeral chapel, a coffee shop, and pretty much looks like a shopping mall when you walk in) is incredible!!! Here's a link showing the outside of the building.....but you have to go there to really experience what it's like : http://www.centrestreetchurch.ab.ca/about_csc/ggr/plans/aerial_rendering.html
It covers 17 acres, about 2 by 2 city blocks. And inside the foyer, they have a huge, 2-storey waterfall structure, which falls into the baptismal tank at the bottom....very impressive.

And of course, aside from the building, the church there is very healthy, alive, and inspiring. My bro-in-law leads one of the worship teams, and they played this weekend, and it was a very awesome time of worship....and the sermons are very challenging, relevant, and Biblical. What more could you ask for? But I am very thankful for Ebenezer, which provides the same thing (with less people) for us here in S'toon.

Ok....on to the rest of the weekend - and I guess I'd better keep it more brief, since I'm only at Friday noonish now! Friday, relaxed all day, went for supper with the Epp's (who were in Calgary visiting Amy), went swimming at their hotel....then went for coffee to an AMAZING place, that many of you have heard of.....Krispy Kreme Doughnuts! There was hardly a lineup, probably because it was later in the evening...AND the "HOT" light was on! For those of you who don't know (which I didn't until Friday), when the "HOT" light is on, you get free full-size samples of their original glazed donunts while you wait in lline to buy more. And you can watch the machine making the donuts - a big production line thingy...very impressive! My favorite part of that is the glaze machine, it's a continuous waterfall-like sheet of white glaze pouring down over the donuts that are passing under it. So, between 6 of us, we got 2 dozen of these beauties, and even got to wear the official hats! (www.krispykreme.com) And they are the most amazing donuts ever! You just have to have a hot-fresh original glazed yourself! There were also these two little girls in the booth next to ours, and they were running around in circles - their mom had given them 2 each! And I can tell you, that after a couple, I had a sugar headache too! By the way, 12 grams of fat per doughnut!

Okee...Saturday can be summed up in one word: SHOPPING! We spent about 10 hours in my favourite Calgary mall - Chinook Centre. (www.chinookcentre.com) Amazingly, I did not find anything at Old Navy, where I usually spend most of my shopping $.....but I did pick up about 6 new shirts for my new job (I start next Tuesday), a jean jacket which I LOVE, and a bunch of clothes for Tony too....had supper at East Side Mario's (Yay! We are getting one on 8th street here in S'toon! I LOVE their unlimited salad and garlic loaf, and the fish n chips is wonderful stuff!) (www.eastsidemarios.com)

Sunday, relaxed all morning, had brunch at a one-of-a kind restaurant called Diner Deluxe. (www.dinerdeluxe.com) It has this fun, 50s decor (like the chrome tables and chairs from 50s kitchens)....and the food, once again, is amazing.....I had the mushroom, spinach, and white cheddar omelette, Anthony had eggs benedict over smoked salmon, and my sister had the Sourdough french toast stuffed with Gouda and Canadian bacon - I think that's what I'll have next time I'm there! Then we went walking (we had to, after all the food we'd been consuming!) Church was at 6, again, a very good service, with an extended worship time afterwords. Then supper at Earl's with my sister n bro and the Epp family....THEN we convinced Phil and Shirley that they really HAD to come to Krispy Kreme to experience the whole thing - they hadn't come with us the other evening. So back to krispy Kreme, another dozen purchased (this time just for me n tony).....but we did bring a lot home, and distributed some around the city.....and I even have one left! but it has Robyn's name on it........if I can stave off the temptation long enough...

Okee...the last day now: Monday - breakfast at Starbucks with my sister n bro, then they had to head off to work, so me n tony went to IKEA, got a few bits n pieces for the house (picture frames, kitchen rug thingy, candles, a couple bedside tables, and a duvet cover). But they were out of stock on the side table we wanted for our living room - a smaller, square version of our coffee table. Ah well, we'll just order it online. Then lunch with the Epp family, a bit more shopping (new lipcolor and 5 cds for $35) and on the road back to S'toon!

Some of you have probably heard that I recently realized that I really like Phil Collin's music. Well, I finally got one of his cds, and I REALLY enjoy it! We also got the Dangerous Minds soundtrack, the Men In Black soundtrack, a U2 album, and ...... one that was definitely NOT Tony's pick..... *shania* - I like some of her songs, ok???? I know, it's country......I'm sorry if I've let you down!

aha! an epiphany!

okee, so i'm actually at the computer when an inspiration for a blog hits! wow!

caring is so much harder than not caring.

for a long time, i was in a "don't care" mode when it came to people around me. but for the last while, i've found myself burdened with other people's issues, etc. (like as in, my heart and mind won't let me just ignore them...)

this has lead to situations in which i must make a choice, to give up some time, energy, and perhaps resources to "care", or to turn my back, and pretend i didn't notice the need.

a few months ago, i could turn away without feeling regret, now something is compelling me again to stay, to listen, to try to help....it's funny, because i used to see this as one of my characteristic traits, and it had been gone for a while and is now coming back....

well, i know it's been a while....but here's an update on me.

1. i got that job, my new boss is shorter than me, i get a big raise over my current position, and i start p/t on apr.20 and f/t on may 18

2. my life has suddenly gotten very busy and a bit stressful.....not only do i have to attend training for my new job, work my old job, and keep up my active "housewife" life, i am now playing piano for over 30 songs in the upcoming music festival, and my very last music exam (history, for my piano degree thingy) is coming up quickly. So if i seem a bit stressed, busy, or not as laid back and cheerful as usual, i'm sorry. i'll try....

3. what do you do when you know a friend is hurting? when you know they're not happy with life, but they won't talk about it? and i want to help, to sit down with her and just listen, maybe try to come up with some steps she can take to try to improve the situations that are getting her down....but the opportunity is not there?

4. going to calgary this weekend, for a lovely easter holiday to visit my sister n bro-in-law. we've been planning this for a couple months, so it should be a relaxing and exciting time!

okee, i know that was not terribly inspiring and stuff, and most of you probably knew most of it, but oh well, it's a new blog for y'all to read. lately, whenever i think of something to blog, i'm not near my computer, and when i sit down to write it later, it's gone or it's no longer relevant. Oh well, ain't that how it is!