Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas)

This movie is inspired by a true story, which happened during the World War I, for Christmas Eve 1914, in many different places of the battlefront.

“When war breaks out in the lull of summer 1914, it surprises and pulls millions of men in its wake.

And Christmas arrives, with its snow and multitude of family and army presents. But the surprise won’t come from inside the generous parcels which lie in the French, Scottish, and German trenches.

That night, a momentous event will turn the destinies of four characters: An Anglican priest, a French lieutenant, an exceptional tenor and the one he loves, a wonderful soprano and singing partner. During t his Christmas Eve, the unthinkable will happen: rifles will be left at the bottom of the trenches to go to see those opposite, shake their hands, exchange a cigarette and a piece of chocolate, wish them Merry Christmas!”

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies
We should find in each man’s life sorrow
And suffering enough to disarm all hostility”
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


I loved this movie… it’s one that I wish everyone would see. I highly recommend it.

Trailer:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/joyeuxnoelmerrychristmas/
L

The Enjoyable Tele-Marketer

I get this call from a guy…I wish I’d caught his name.

He’s trying to sell me the Globe & Mail and let me tell you, he almost convinced me of the Joy and Pleasure I can receive from this Well Oiled Machine. There are Puzzles and Comics and the latest Sudokus. He proceeded to tell me how this magazine has changed his life…he’s a better man because of it. At this point he proposed that I try it on a trial basis and then when it Blossoms into something Beautiful I can sign up for a longer term contract.

If I don’t jump out of bed and hit my head on the ceiling he’ll be surprised…but don’t worry, their Stealthy-like Ninja Carriers won’t ever wake me up…they’re that quiet.

Their handy vegetable based ink won’t get all over my clothes or the furniture.

When I politely refused the offer of this incredible magazine he then told me about the Beautiful Saturday paper I could sign up for, telling me I would Cherish it as it is Therapeutic Value at its finest.

When I again politely refused he made me promise that if I change my mind I’ll “Grab the Bull by the Horns” and let this magazine change my life.

When I commented on my enjoyment over the phone call he informed me that he hasn’t even started on the coffee, that he’s only drinking some Safeway like Cola. He’ll be a bit more peppy once he gets the Coffee. I’m not sure he could have been peppier.

I know this might sound unbelievable but I haven’t exaggerated any of this…all of the descriptive words I used above were his…I enjoyed the call so much that halfway through I started typing up notes. He actually said all of that stuff above. There was also something about how nothing would make him happier then me signing up and something about him river dancing if I subscribed.

My favorite part was the Stealthy-like Ninja Carriers…I actually had him repeat that part.
L

Sexy

“That looks…sexy”

I’d just made up this very nice little chart for a report I’m working on. Upon giving it to the person I was doing it for that was their response.

It made me chuckle and seemed blog worthy.

Nothing about this particular chart was very sexy. It was a map of Canada with boxes of information surrounding it. Funny how different things look when they're important to you.
L

Thoughts of a Rainy Day

If the weather were my mood today it would be dark, cloudy and rainy.
Despite my really great weekend I'm sad.

When I was little my Barbie's always had the same name...My average time at every job I've worked is 3 years. I've been in Calgary for 6 years and only lived in 3 houses, all within 8 blocks of each other. I don't like change...I don't like when change is forced on me...

I don't like when people think they know me and it turns out they don't have a clue.
I worry too much about what others think...
I should be nicer...

Most of all I don't like drama

I shouldn't blog when I'm sad
L

Sunday Dinner with Cam

Ever had an evening so good you weren't sure how any other would top it...last night was that night.

Sunday dinner with Cam was full of many pleasant surprises. We were a little concerned about the dinner because Cam was nervous and we felt we'd kind of forced him into hosting but all our concerns were for naught...Cam not only held his own but he took it to the next level.

It started off as any other dinner, set up and preparation. None of knew what we were eating but we'd been given very specific instructions on what to bring so we were looking forward to seeing it all come together. Kabobs were on the menu for the evening and the question was raised...what makes a shish kabob different than a regular kabob? Jane is happily cutting some meat we found in the fridge when Cam opens the oven to reveal mostly cooked marinated steak and chicken, in an act of pure instinct Jane freezes, "Cam am I cutting up your dinner for tomorrow?" The fridge meat was in case we ran out, which we didn't but it was a beautifully classic moment.

I was whipping cream in an ice cream bucket due to the lack of a bowl when I noticed cream all over the counter...when using an ice cream bucket to whip cream make sure you check for cracks in the bottom of the bucket. :o)

Cam amazed us once again by pulling out "the BBQ set". It was so awesome it defies description. Dinner was delicious, dessert was a perfect ending to the meal.

Next came out Catchphrase...I'm a little ashamed that the girls were beat 3-2 by the boys...it never should have happened. Personal highlight of the evening "Shut up Nathan!" I don't think I've laughed that hard in a year, it brought me to tears. Thanks Cam

Just when we thought the evening was coming to an end Cam stepped it up again and out came the smores.

The evening ended with a chuckle after us being not so subtly kicked out so Cam could head to bed...the memories from this evening will be long lasting and hopefully the next dinner is not shadowed by the overwhelming success of this one.

One of the highlights of 2006 for sure!
L

Middle Name Pride Day!

Happy Middle Name Pride Day!!!

Hope everyone is celebrating...I have a pretty sweet party planned for the evening. We're all going to go by our middle names for the evening.

If you didn't already get the evite you should stop by my house tonight at 7:00, it's going to be a good time!

Hopefully I'll update this with pictures of the actual event...hope to see you all tonight!

Have you ever had a day where you were so bored that you typed up your grocery list and organized it by the layout of the store? (I know, pathetic) That was my day yesterday...today looks like it will be about the same...hopefully I'm wrong.
At least that was the first really boring day in a while.

Stay tuned for Middle Name Pride Day Pictures
M (Michelle)

Bowling

I went bowling on Saturday. I don't think I've been bowling for at least a year. Last time I went was with Cora and Ken and I can't remember who else. I just remember my shameful game. I was terrible...luckily I vaguely remember someone being worse than me (but it was pretty bad). So this weekend when someone suggested bowling I had my reservations.

The last time I went was ten pin and this time we decided to play five pin which apparently makes a HUGE difference. After warning everyone multiple times how really bad I was I somehow managed to come in first in my lane and second overall...twice! I was more surprised than everyone (especially Nathan who got beat by a girl twice :o). It turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable evening.

So the moral of this story...don't give up on something if you're really bad at it...just try a new variety of the same something! You might be surprised.

(As a side note, by the time I got to the end of this blog I remembered vividly my last bowling experience. There were three boys there that made things extremely complicated...one of them I was just beginning to be interested in...one I'd held hands with but wanted nothing to come of it and one I think I should be interested in. I bravely attempted to show equal interest in all three so no one's feelings were hurt and I think overall it was pretty successful. Take my advice...don't go with three boys you might be interested in...not good.)
L

I Carry Your Heart

So I watched the movie In Her Shoes this weekend and despite my low expectations I loved it! It was such a great girl movie. In the movie they read this poem that I think is really beautiful so I'm going to post it here...just because I can :o)
L

i carry your heart with me

I carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

ee cummings

Relient K!!

So last night I went to this fantastic concert. I went to see Relient K! They’re such a great band, if you don’t know who they are you should go here and check them out…it’ll be worth your time.

http://www.relientk.com/news.aspx

So it was my first real “mosh pit” experience. Up until this point when the opportunity to mosh presented itself I’ve opted out but this time I was with some fun, hard core moshers so I committed and in I went. I’ve gotta admit, I enjoyed the experience a whole lot more than I expected and I was a lot tougher that I thought I’d be, I discovered that I can hold my own in the pit.

We maneuvered our way in and eventually, after shoving like mad we made it up to the very front. We pushed, we jumped we screamed and got soaked as security gave us water. We decided it should be a rule that all girls must put their hair up in the pit because dealing with girl’s hair everywhere is unpleasant.

The opening bands were Maxeen (pretty great), you can check them out here http://www.maxeen.com/intro.html and The Rocket Summer who I think are super lame but you might like them…you can go here http://www.therocketsummer.com/ It doesn’t get any more EMO than this. I did touch the lead singer’s leg as he crowd surfed over me, too bad it wasn’t someone I actually liked. I got a guitar pick from Relient K though, that’s something right?

Sadly the night had to end sometime and before we knew it, it was all over. We lay exhausted at home drinking water and drying off.

Thanks for making it a great night Aaron, Kim, Irena and Mikyla (sorry about the spelling)
L

Cookie Scandal

So Last night we decorated sugar cookies for FHE. Jane made some great heart shaped cookies and some nice pink icing, all we had to do was combine the two. Since small group FHE is routinely at my house I had the leftover cookies. I thought it would be a nice Valentine gesture to bring them to work for my co-workers.

Now I think I’m an honest person…I don’t steal, I normally drive the speed limit.

I don’t know what possessed me today, but I took full credit for those cookies. They raved about how good they were and wondered how I had the time to make them. Two girls even asked for the recipe…so I gave them “the recipe” (my own personal one). They asked about the icing so I made up some ingredients. I modestly accepted their praise thinking the whole time "What am I doing...I didn't make these cookies Jane did" but it was too late...the damage had been done.

“Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.”
- Proverbs 12:22

How will I ever live among this web of lies!

(Sorry Jane)
L