ten things

I love playing along with questionnaires, so when Heather gave an open tag to all of her readers I just had to join in. I figured I’d just answer the same ten questions because, let’s face it, I just came home from work (and did the Cardio Dance Blast workout) and can’t actually bring myself to think up ten new questions. So… here they are!

1- what is your favourite song ever!

Currently a tie between Falling Slowly (by the Swell Season) & The Blackest Lily (by Corinne Bailey Rae). I don’t have one single favourite for all time, but I do go through bouts of listening to one song over and over.

2- what would be your death row meal (the last meal you eat on death row)

Um, I shall re=phrase this one and answer the question: what is my favourite meal? (Am optimistic about not ever having to experience death row) And the answer would be– probably a nice eggplant parmigianna with lots of tomato sauce and fresh parmesan. Oh, and a garlicky caesar salad. And Coke to drink. Heehee.

3- if you could live anywhere and your family, friends,job came too where would you live?

I  haven’t been anywhere outside of Canada and the US, so of the places I’ve been I really like the fruit-growing areas around Niagara Falls… and I think West Palm Beach in Florida is gorgeous. If I could pick a place I think I’d like but haven’t been yet, probably some teensy, sleepy village in Italy or Portugal, near the water and with a good used bookstore.

4- if you won the lottery would you still work? maybe not in current job but anywhere?

I would most certainly not. That is, if I won enough money to be able to live a life of leisure, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

5- chips or chocolate for the rest of your life which would you have?

Chips all the way.  Any flavour, including plain.

6- if you could have a talent what would it be (drawing, painting etc not super hero)

I think it would be awesome to be able to sing really really well.

7- what are your goals for this year?

I want to keep exercising; reduce stress; have lots of snuggle time with Himself and the kitten; and hopefully manage to get a raise at work. I would love it if I could quit my second job and just have to work weekdays. Maybe not this year, but it is a goal.

8- where do you see yourself in 5 years

Welll… in 5 years I’ll be 32 years old. Ack! I can’t even imagine a 32-year-old me! Perhaps Himself and I will have a home of our own, or a baby… who knows! I do see myself continuing to be happy.

9- do you carry photos in your wallet and if so who of?

The only photos I have in my wallet are of our two kitties: Sashenka (previous and deeply missed love-cat) and Leela (current love-cat)

10- what would be your dream job?

Hmm… I’d love to illustrate children’s books; do art design for a magazine; edit/proofread manuscripts; or just work at a really cool company. Like a yarn company. Or own a small cafe/bookshop. But I don’t really crave work… I wouldn’t mind staying at home if I was rich enough!

If you’d like, play along! Leave a note in the comments so we can all read each other’s answers!

two cute things

Here are pictures of two cute things from today:

1. my nails

2. my cute kitty sleeping up on top of the bookshelf (it’s really high!) snuggled on Himself’s shirt.

PS: I bought a new phone today. Which I haven’t done since my first (cell)phone in 2006. It was exciting!

first manicure!

So I’m totally not a regular manicure-getter. In fact, I have never had a manicure in twenty-seven years of my life… until today!

But now… I may be hooked. It’s just like the massage thing: never went until I got health benefits which cover massages, decided to give it a try, and loved it! (I’ve still only had one massage, but I do think I’d love more). This afternoon I was a bit bored since my shopping trip got cancelled due to horribly bad weather (super-strong wind, flurries of actual snow, and tons of rain). So I was out, and I saw this cute salon that I’ve never been in, and their window said they did manicures.

I walked in and was like: Hi… do you have to pre-book an appointment for a manicure? And the answer was yes. But then she said I could have one right then, if I had the time. Of course I did! And I chose an awesome fuschia by OPI called Dim Sum Plum:

My nails are pretty short as I’d just trimmed them, but she managed to buff the edges to be very smooth and slightly curved. Also, I was so worried because I have this aversion to emery boards: just seeing someone using one gives me the goosebumps, and I can’t handle using them on my own nails. But my worry was totally unnecessary: she used this awesome buffer-y thing that was super soft and not at all scrape-y.

Verdict: love it! Totally a wonderful treat. Plus they told me if anything happened to my nails within the next few days, just call back and they’d fix it for free. Sweet!

happy may!

Wow, yes, I do in fact still exist. You may recall my mentioning being in the midst of a twenty-day-no-breaks work-a-thon (not at all voluntarily, the schedule just rolled that way… ah, having multiple jobs). Well, as of today I’m on day 19, tomorrow is day 20 and then– FREEDOM! An entire weekend off with nothing to do but shop, relax, and catch up on some rest.

Working non-stop like this has made me slightly (alright, let’s face it, quite a bit) on edge, especially with annoying coworkers. And probably (unintentionally) with Himself (um, sorry love ♥). We’re also in training at work for the New System, which sounds lovely and exciting but consists of a lot of people yelling and getting annoyed at a lot of other people. I wish I could just stand on a desk and yell: “Relax people! It’s just wedding invitations! And stationery products!” But I doubt anyone would care. So I’ll just grit my teeth and wait for the weekend!

What’s been going on outside of work? I’m finding awesome hair and makeup tips here (in fact I have a video cued up right now to watch when I finish typing this) and I’m still really loving braids in all their incarnations. Also have read Martha Grimes’ new Richard Jury mystery (in two days flat- after waiting 3 years for it to be published), and am in the middle of E2 by Matt Beaumont- a funny story told in email, instant messages, etc. I haven’t read his first book, but it’s not really necessary in order to enjoy the brilliant satire.

I’m planning on my next read being The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, as Ive read a good review and it passed my cold-read book-test at Chapters the other day.

What else? I’ve caught up with Project Runway (yay Seth Aaron!) and am now onto Celebrity Apprentice. I really really like Maria’s hair. And Cyndi’s random ramblings.

Anyways, hope everyone’s been having a nice start to the new month: I find April to be a struggle, but May is looking promising. Spring is really lovely, and I’m starting to get excited about summer– ah, the beach. And picnics! Happy May!