It’s not officially a party until someone throws up on the dog………

This last weekend was a very happy and exciting one for my family. I don’t believe we've all been together since early 2012. Since we are a close family, any chance we have to get together-we try to make work.

The occasion for this particular gathering was my grandpa’s housewarming party. My Uncle and Aunt were able to put a little house on their property, just outside the city, for him. I would like to take this opportunity to gloat that my family built this all on their own from the ground up. Why? Because they are a talented bunch and know how to get shit done!

I drove myself up from Edmonton on Friday. We had lots of other family members from Edmonton, Calgary and parts of Saskatchewan. The trip took me 5 ½ hours and I pretty much hated every minute of it. I am a bad traveler and since that drive is so BORING-one tends to really notice the time.

But of course I made it and was so excited to see my family again. Immediately upon arriving I cracked the first of many beers J

Because my Uncle is a genius, he rigged up a keg in a fridge with the tap on the outside. It was dubbed the “kegerator”

I arrived at 5:30 or so and it was a long day, so by 10pm I was just really tired. More people had arrived by that time but I was too tired to even continue drinking much less start with the shots.

I have one Uncle who is a bit of an instigator (you know who you are!) He likes to get you to do shots with him. The problem with that is that everyone else wakes up the next day feeling like garbage-but carries on, and he sneaks away for a nap!

Anyway, I went to bed at 11 and was mercilessly teased about it. But I do not care. I woke up Saturday feeling fresh as a daisy!

I had to share a bed with my cousin. This is not new to us. We’re only 6 months apart and have had to share a bed since we were kids.

The problem with going to bed early is that when drunky drunkerson came downstairs she was not exactly quiet. There was the tripping and falling and the giggling for no apparent reason, and my personal favorite- trying to pull open a door that slides….

I prayed she wouldn't be sick. Happily Jesus loves me and I was spared.

The next morning I got up to go to the bathroom around 7am. Unfortunately while I was in there, the power went off! It is really dark in a basement room with no windows or other source of light…..that is all I’m willing to say about that.

The power was off until 11am but Timmy’s will always fix what ails ya!

During the day, my cousins were playing golf and boccie ball and everyone was mingling and having a good time. Supper was of course, delicious! I did notice that after supper, quite a few peeps were drinking water-except some of the younger ones. (they will eventually learn)

As the oldest cousin, it’s a weird age range I’m in. When I was young all my aunts and uncles were to be respected and revered (still are) as they were “grownups” and they always knew best. But now, I’m at the age they were when I was a kid and I do not feel like a wise grown up at all. I still feel like a kid around them sometimes. So it’s really weird to be somewhat on the same peer level now. I’m pretty sure I will be using “Aunty” and “Uncle” until I’m old and gray.

Likewise with the cousins. They are all into adulthood now too and that makes me feel super old! I used to hold and cuddle them, change their diapers, and give them baths. Now to see them with drinks in their hands, with spouses or significant others, having a chat is just a weird kind of feeling.

I wonder if that’s how the aunts and uncles felt as us older ones came of age?

But enough of my rambling….

Saturday night we sat around the fire just enjoying each other’s company and happy to be together again. There was a challenge laid out that my cousin and I, being somewhat citified would not be able to spend the night in the tent. Having spent the last year working on a farm, I have somewhat lost my “yuppiness” so I was game, but I wondered about my cousin. But she apparently promised herself that if she made it the whole night she would treat herself to a shopping trip. Of course, she stuck it out-that girl would not let anything get in the way of a shopping trip!

Sunday morning I woke up and went in the house. I noticed something seemed wrong with the dog. I went to pet her and noticed a weird stain on her head. That is when I was informed that one of my cousin’s friends threw up on poor old Angel Now that is one hell of a party!

We had breakfast and I headed out. It was sad to go, but I was happy to be home.

As we all get older and have our separate lives and other family members etc, we don’t get to spend as much time as we used to, but we will always be a family, and always come together when it counts.

Thanks to Aunty and Uncle for their hospitality and all their hard work putting on the get-together. It was a blast! My family is the shit! J

Well……this is just awkward…..

I debated back and forth for about a week whether or not to write this post or not. Technically, it’s nobody’s business -BUT -I've always been very open with my posts and I did something totally stupid so I guess I have to own up to it….

To what am I referring? Well, apparently one should wait a tad bit longer before gushing and oozing their declarations of love…..

Posted my undying devotion and happiness last Thursday….single by that Saturday afternoon…..

Awk…wa…rd…

I should have known it was a sign from the universe on Thursday when I tried to post and I kept getting an error message. That was its way of saying “shut your pie hole” I've never done anything like that before, I've always kept things between me and close friends etc, but there was something about J that made me so giddy (translation stupid) that I felt I just had to share.

The breakup was mutual and amicable enough-At least at the time. There was a bit of a conversation about trying to make things work this past week, but I was the only one interested in putting any honest effort into that.So don’t feel sad that I’m upset or anything….there were things I think on either side that we were not happy with. You know how it is when you first meet someone and you get that sort of film over your eyes and they walk around with a halo on their heads?

Yeah…..that fades….

And when the film comes off and you find yourself switching from “Omg you’re here again!!! “to “Omg, you’re here…again….” Then perhaps you need to reexamine.

I will concede that it went waaay to fast and I knew that, but you sort of just get sucked in and kind of go with the flow. I’m not going to disclose the reasons for the breakup, because that is both personal and not important, although I suppose if you’re a close friend you already know…..(seriously a very strange reason on his end)

So, I’m doing a.ok…I will go on dates again when I want to, but still happy with the way things are and my life as is. Still have a good job, good friends and family etc. Single or not, life is still good.

I've got my foster kitten thing happening and surprisingly it keeps a person very busy. They actually kind of are like little babies that need a lot of attention and looking after.

I wasn't wrong when I said my Jamie made my heart beat again…he totally did, and I’m grateful for that, so maybe that’s all that needed to come out of this particular relationship.

Live and learn, onward and upward and all those other clichés……

For lack of anything better-update time…..

I wracked my brain trying to think of something to talk about, which usually comes very easily to me as I do seem to have an opinion on almost everything….when asked for it or not J

But there is no one particular topic that I’m super passionate about or have been for the last couple weeks. I've been distracted and sick so I guess I’ll just do the cop out and “update” everyone on what’s been going on.

So,let me think-what has been going on that’s worth updating since I started my blog a few months ago. Well let’s see-I did end up talking to Crypto once or twice after the whole big bust up in January. As usual you go through the “well maybe I misunderstood or had no reason to get quite so mad…” but as it turned out, No I did not misunderstand, and yes I had every reason to get mad. That boy is a useless waste of skin. That’s all the time I’m willing to waste talking about that.

Guitar lessons came to an end last week….Much to my utter dismay, I do not seem to be able to master the guitar with absolutely no practice at all…..Imagination that…which is too bad, because I did really enjoy it. But to be honest- I was horrible at it. It was likely due to the lack of practice as well as the inability to master rhythm or a beat of any kind. Guitar Hero sure tried his best, but I just couldn't do my fair share. Which led to stress (being a type A personality trying to learn something is not easy) and then self-criticism and a lot of self-doubt. Since it was supposed to be a fun little hobby, I decided to take a little break. Luckily guitar hero said I could come back whenever I wanted to try again. He really is a cool dude! I’m glad I met him and hope we can somehow stay in touch.

I still love summer-I’m just disappointed as all hell that I didn't seem to get one. I waited soooo long for the sun to peek over the clouds and the snow to disappear off the ground so I could wear my pretty dresses and sandals and suntan. 2 months later, it’s raining, soggy, wet, and cold and I’m still as pale as Casper. I tried wearing a dress a few times regardless, but the hurricane like wind took care of that little wish-I’m sorry, I do not wish to advertise my underpants to the world.

I think we had that one super hot week at the beginning of July, when I was on holidays. Which would have been nice, had I actually gone anywhere. Instead, my mother and I were essentially trapped in my little sauna of an apartment, trying not to go Lord of the Flies on each other.

I've also been super sick off and on since January. Likely due to lack of quality nutrition in my diet as opposed to the “open bag, insert food in mouth” eating plan I was on. I had a wicked sinus infection in February and I’m now just recovering from an 18 day stretch of something that seems to be mutant strep throat. I will definitely have to improve things.

Volunteering is still going well. Not only do I get to go schmooze kitties and love them, but I’m also getting my first batch of “foster babies” on Friday. Little kittens that are too small to go up for adoption right now. I’m so excited I could just pee myself……(uh, I wouldn't though)

I guess the “biggest” and most welcome change has been boyfriend. (I told you I was distracted) Anyone who has read Outlander and fallen in love with Jamie Fraser will know what I mean when I say I found my Jamie. It has been an interesting adjustment for me to make, to be honest, to have someone around who obviously cares about you, and you sit there and scratch your head and wonder why? I guess that’s the downside of low self-esteem. It must be annoying for him to constantly reassure me, but I’m doing my best and getting there slowly. I’m just thankful the man has infinite patience and kindness with me.

All I know is that my heart has suffered some awful blows the past 10 years and as a result, I closed it off and shut it down. My Jamie has made it beat again.

Note dear reader: this does not mean I live in fairy tale land and that there aren't going to be any fights or discussions or disappointments at times. I’m sure that there are things about me that drive him batty or annoy him, just as things about him do me.

But generally speaking-I found a good man and I hope he realizes that my sarcastic bluntness is part of my defensive system , and has always been my way of protecting myself from vulnerability and heartbreak.

So I think that’s pretty much it-I have nothing to complain about because I think for the first time in a long time I’m balanced out. Good job, good friends and family, and a good man.

So when I feel like writing again I will….

Ciao for now J

I am a very lucky gal :)