In no particular order....
 
I had a nice time visiting with my friend S last week.
I found there were a few moments though when I felt uncomfortable as she tried to gossip about some good friends of ours.
I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
I couldn't help but wonder, if she's willing to make fun of our closest friends in that way, what must she be saying about me?
I don't miss that kind of high school nonsense.
 
I did, however, have a lot of fun shopping with her for our murder mystery dinner party.
I cooked a fabulous meal with some much appreciated help from S.
I don't imagine I could've pulled it all off as smoothly without her.
I was really impressed that all our guests totally got into character -- costumes, accents, props n' all.
I shared a lot of great laughs and was happy that the night was a complete success.
 
I spent the better part of the last week granny/house sitting, while J's folks went to Florida for a real estate conference.
I ended up throwing out a lot of crap from their fridge, looking for ingredients to cook with and only finding a bunch of expired food.
I didn't tell Grandma M that the chicken stuffed with cheese and broccolli that she couldn't stop raving about, was actually not real chicken.
I would love to see the expression on J's mom's face after Grandma M tells her to buy 'my' brand next time instead of what she usually buys -- and then when we inform J's mom that it's actually fake meat.
I know J's mom will never buy 'my' brand, because the last time I cooked for his parents, his mom absolutely loved the dish I made until she discovered that it wasn't real meat... then she casually stopped eating it and offered the rest to J's dad, insisting that she was simply full.
 
I was sad to learn earlier this week that the doctors have put J's other grandma, Grandma A, on palliative care.
I was glad that we were able to have a nice little visit with her on our way to and from granny-sitting, and I look forward to seeing her again when we celebrate her 90th birthday next weekend.
 
I really love Grandma A's absolutely positive outlook on life in contrast to Grandma M's constant complaints.
I do, however, get a real kick out of Grandma M because during most of her complainy stories she ends up referring to someone as a bee-atch, a prick, or hell on wheels.
I felt like I was in high school again when we snuck in a can of beer to split with Grandma A on our way home from granny-sitting. (Not that we had to sneak it in to the senior's center, but it was fun to pretend that it was a covert mission.)
 
I am really pleased with the direction our script outline is going in.
I have found that we've had some excellent breakthoughs, even though it often means we take one step forward and two steps back.
I hope that we can *finally* start the real writing process by the end of the week.
I watched Good Will Hunting again the other night and found it to be such an incredible inspiration -- what a perfectly written screenplay!
I would be thrilled if we could write something even half as good as that.
 
I have been having very vivid dreams lately.
I had one the other night where I was at the end of a path on a small peninsula surrounded by bright aqumarine water. I dipped my feet into the water and it left a silky aqumarine residue. Olive branches bowed down from above while others lay at my feet -- some olives were raw while others were pickled with pimento centers. I saw a bike with a note that said, "Free Ride. Help Yourself." I saw the shadow of a large sea turtle beneath the glowing water. I saw another turtle with a crow painted on its back. My great aunt and second cousin lived in the house at the end of this path and invited me to join them for tea and pie.
I found a lot of symbolism in that dream.
I had another interesting dream last night that reminded me of a person who I haven't been friends with and have barely spoken to since the fourth or fifth grade.
I then awoke to a completely random Facebook message from that person this morning which said, "I saw a few of your wedding pics...I wouldn't have even recognized you
if I saw you. They're stunning!!! Congrats to you and your husband."
I have to start setting my alarm, because it's much too easy to keep sleeping in when I'm enjoying such sensational dreams.
 
I always cry on Remembrance Day. I can't help it... the moment we tune in to the ceremony on TV, the tears start welling up in my eyes.
I especially choke up whenever the camera does a close-up on one of the elderly WW2's veterans.
I was very surprised when the cameras cut to Kandahar Afghanistan, and I saw my brother-in-law's face bowed in prayer.
I felt blessed to have had that opportunity, as it wasn't something I was expecting, and yet at the same time I felt almost guilty. I know there are many others who must really be missing their loved ones today and were probably hoping for a quick glimpse of their face on TV. I like my brother-in-law 'n all, but living across the country from each other, we've actually only met a handful of times, and so I can't say that I miss him now that he's overseas. I do hope that his family got to see it though.
I was sure to email him and another girl I know who is a military nurse to thank them today. While it certainly isn't a job I would want, I really admire the people who have that kind of passion, courage and desire to want to make a difference in the world.
 
I can't afford the speed at which my hair grows.
I have crazy long mousy roots and it's been less than three months since I was in to see my hairdresser.
I know I should start dying my hair myself again, but anytime I try, I can't get the exact colour right, and I end up with a thick discoloured margin at my part.
I also feel guilty whenever I try to do it myself and it totally shows, and then I end up going back to my hairdresser again a few weeks later, and I know that she knows I have betrayed her. (Ha... that sounds so melodramatic. I'm sure she doesn't care and is just happy that I came back.)
I have been wearing my hair back in a ponytail a lot lately so the roots don't show quite so badly until my budget allows me to make another appointment with her.
 
I can tell that winter is just around the corner as the weeping willows have finally turned yellow, and the few remaining leaves stubbornly cling to near naked branches.
I like how my cats' little heads perk up to the sounds of migrating geese. I know they'd give their right whiskers just to go outside.
I should really bring in the patio furniture cushions before it snows, so they don't get all moldy again next Spring.
I have moisturized my whole body three days in a row now (except tonight) in hopes to make it into a habit and avoid dry skin again this winter. I have a feeling that tonight marks the beginning of me falling out of the brief moisturizing trend. I never have the discipline.
I have started taking a multivitamin and glucosamine though, so hopefully that is a trend I can stick to... as long as J reminds me every morning when he takes his.
 
I know I'm not an American, but I couldn't take my eyes away from the US election coverage last week.
I found our recent Canadian election dull and unfortunately predictable.
I know most might say I wasted my vote when I gave it to the Green Party, but I don't care. Conservatives were sure to win in this region no matter who I voted for.
I was totally surprised to see a Communist Party candidate on our local election ballot. Ha. WTF? Who knew?!
I have to vote for city counsel members on the 15th, and so I had better get informed on where they all stand.
 
I was doing some research on the Kelowna election the other day at the website kelownaelection.com, as I have been following the issue of our local bunny breeding problem.
I love the sweet little bunnies, but I do agree that yes, the rabbit population has swelled incredibly high and something should be done.
I realize that if the issue were big grungy rats rather than soft baby bunnies less people would be interested in this problem, but whether the creature in question were rats or bunnies...
I would still be as equally as disgusted upon reading the following passage, "This spring, the City of Kelowna hired a contractor (EEB) to address the growing feral rabbit
population. EBB's stated method of dealing with feral
rabbits is "culling". In response to public pressure, EBB (in
conjunction with City Parks) stated that they would manage the rabbits
in three ways: giving them to rescue groups, killing them by lethal
injection, and shooting them. Unknown to many, the third strategy was launched first.
EBB's hired gun managed to kill 400 rabbits before a security guard on
night duty happened to witness an incident of cruelty, whereby the
shooter and his daughter proceeded to stomp a wounded rabbit rather
than applying a second pellet to the animal."
I am furious. No animal - whether bunny, or rat, or cat, or gopher -- should be stomped to death. That's just f*cking sick.
 
I should probably end this blog post now because I really want to do a little more work on the script before bed, and yet...
I don't want to end this post on a sour note about people stomping on fuzzy bunnies.
I guess I will have to think of something else to write about...hmm....
I know!
I will end this with a few of my favourite quotes torn from my Facebook page, because it's easier and quicker than trying to remember them off the top of my head:

• "You must be the change you wish to see in the world" ~ Mahatma Gandhi (Love this quote - best advice ever.)


• "Do one thing a day that scares you" ~ Anonymous (Also advised by the protagonist in our screenplay.)


• "I've always believed that the mind was the best weapon." ~ Rambo (Yes, I quote Rambo on my Facebook page... want to make something of it?)


• "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity." ~A lucky/prepared guy (Also known as "that really awesome guy who wants to help finance our movie.")
  

I hope to make the rounds soon to catch up on what's going on with all of you... but for now, good night.