My Hubby Is A Good Man

Garth has become a collecter of Vinyl lately and went out to browse at some of his favorite suppliers and just returned with this treat for me. Yeah!!!!!

Saw 2 Review : You Can't Top The Original

I would give this movie a 2 out of 5. In this sequel, the writers chose to use more victims, more story twists, more gore, etc. Instead of two people trapped in a bathroom, we now have eight victims wandering about in a house attempting to figure what their connection is before their demise. We have the increasingly violent muscle man, the frightened young boy, the mysterious Amanda who we recognize as a survivor from the first Saw, plus a slew of other minor characters that you realize early on aren't going to be making it very far. The main issue I have with this sequel is that we don't learn very much about the characters and therefore don't care quite as much when they are violently offed.
In any case, there are definitely some stomach churning moments.

Click on the image to see this awesome view of the Toronto Skyline taken from Centre Island.
Source: http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/

Warm Winter in Toronto

Toronto is having an unusually warm winter so far.I am not complaining, but it's strange.

This will be added to my wishlist.

As well as loving celebrity gossip, friends and family know that I'm a bit of a trial junkie. I've got a thing for the criminals and the law. In 2004- 2005 I followed the trials of Robert Blake, Michael Jackson and Scott Peterson. I am still amazed at how a seemingly normal looking guy who everyone seemed to love and had no criminal record could end up murdering his wife and unborn baby. Since the trial a bunch of books have come out about the Scott Peterson trial.Of all the books this one appeals to me the most. It is not written by someone that a reporter, former lover, former lawyer or distant relative trying to make a buck. It's called, "For Laci: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss and Justice." It is written by Laci Peterson's mother Sharon Rocha. It's the first time an immediate family member has spoke in detail about the disappearance of Laci. Sharon says she plans to use money from the book to start a fund for search and rescue in memory of Laci and Conner.

Sharon Rocha will have her first in-depth interviews in more than a year with: Katie Couric on Sunday, Jan. 8 (7 pm, ET) on "Dateline NBC," and on Monday, Jan. 9 (7 am, ET) on "Today," "Larry King Live" (CNN) Jan. 9, and Nancy Grace (Court TV) and Greta Van Susteren (Fox) Jan. 10.

The shooting on Boxing Day outside the Eaton Centre deeply disturbed my husband and I. This act of violence was committed in areas we frequent. This election season when the parties in each riding call to ask if we are going to vote, maybe we should ask, "Convince me why we should." I think that politicians have absolutely NO understanding of what is going on. I feel that politicians, often, live in their own bubble, much like anyone of us. Their needs, are not the needs of the single mom who has 3 children, and needs to work 2 jobs to survive and can't afford to send her children on field trips or pay for tennis lessons they have always wanted because the rec centre in the neighbourhood closed down due to government cutbacks. It is these government cutbacks from youth programs that has affected youths of today. I believe the violence we are seeing today is a result of youth boredom in impoverished communities. Educational curriculum for children needs to include problem solving and conflict resolution skills, build on values of mutual respect and nonviolence. We all need to live less in our bubbles and work together to strengthen community cohesiveness. Secondary factors, include access to weapons and the responses to violence, including policing presence, access to social services, courts and corrections. We need changes to our legal system. We put the politicians in office to speak on our behalf. We employ them, insist they make changes to our legal system. Every time a gun is fired on our streets, it's not only the shooter who is to blame, it's us for not putting a stop to this behavior.

Another great holiday has come to pass. We had a Chrismakuh full of family and friends, good times and way too much food.
My plan for the next few days is to get the house back in to shape.


A few things I have in mind for the next few days besides sitting here in front of the computer:
1. Learn to use my new I-POD
2. Watch a few movies or some really bad T.V.during the day.
3. Take my Daughters out to lunch and an afternoon movie.
4. Cook a few balanced meals for my family, you know like a real mom.

How Blessed Are You?

If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following:
57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south
8 would be Africans
52 would be female
48 would be male
70 would be non-white
30 would be white
70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian
89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual
6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and all 6 would be from the United States.
80 would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
1 would be near death
1 would be near birth
1 would have a college education
1 would own a computer

When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for both acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent. And, therefore . . .

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ...you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week. -If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation...you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful...you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them, or even touch them on the shoulder...you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch.

I could have used this the other night

Last Thursday as I was travelling home after a 12 hour dayshift at the hospital I got caught in a traffic jam. This was due to the construction taking place along the 401 highway during the evening and night hours. Of course as all nurses do, I neglected to relieve my bladder thoroughly through the day. Well let me tell you, I was sitting in traffic with so much pressure building in my bladder and no bathroom in sight for quite some time that I was actually contemplating trying to pee in a water bottle. (yes I know it is not possible that it would have worked out as well as I imagined) My temporary lapse in sanity passed and I was able to stay strong and focused until I made it home. How I could have used one of these items.......

I just quizzed my daughter

After reading this, I just turned to my youngest and asked her if she knew what "Pringles" were made from. She replied, " I don't know French Fries." I probed a little more and she told me that French Fries were made from mashed potatos. I've always know she is brilliant.

We are back

Leslie and I headed out Sunday morning and arrived in the falls by noon. We were able to get early check in at the resort. When we arrived in the front lobby there was quite a bit of energy buzzing about. It ended up that we were staying at the resort with 300 kickboxers from the U.K. who were in town to attend the world kickboxing event. We spent a brief time checking out the resort, our room and where the RNAO conference was being held the next morning. We then headed out to spend the afternoon shopping in Niagara-on-the-Lake. What a quaint little area with beautiful shops. It was a fun afternoon. We went back to the hotel to freshen up and get ready to go out for dinner. Enroute to dinner we were able to see the fireworks over the falls. It was spectacular. We had a nice meal at the Keg. We headed over to the new Fallsview Casino after dinner. I am not a fan of gambing and never have been but I thought I would throw caution to the wind and risk $20. I left with a profit of $ 30. It was no big win but I was thrilled. I must say that I did not sleep well that night and missed my own bed. The mattress was too soft. Today we attended the Conference and it was interesting networking with other nurses and clinicians who are working on similar projects within their facilities. My hope was to return home after this brief excursion feeling refreshed both personally and professionally. Mission accompished!!!!

Look where I am going

I am leaving on Sunday to attend a conference with the RNAO on Monday. I am so excited. A mini vacation courtesy of my place of employment. This is the first perk I will be enjoying since taking on this new project. Simple Pleasures keep me motivated.

Happy Halloween!!

My little Go-Go dancer and Kitty Cat had a great time trick or treating. Their friend is dressed as Herimone from Harry Potter. It was a perfect fall evening.

This was predictable

My family and I went to see Zorro II this past Saturday. My husband and girls enjoyed it and I found it painful at times. Wait until DVD.

What......Racheal McAdams starred in Mean Girls?

I watch this movie with my girls often and never relized that the blonde beside Lindsay Lohan was Racheal. She looks as if she is saying to Lindsay, "After this movie, I am going to have the career that you wanted.....and you'll be making Herbie Fully Loaded."

What a sad state of affairs

In the article someone makes a reference to this chaos being related to a curse. I think not. Blame it on a lack of humanity.

Katrina

I am so grateful that I am able to tuck my children into their nice warm and dry beds and watch them drift off to the land of sweet dreams. It is then that I cruise the internet to Celebrityville where everyone is draped in diamonds and designer bags and shoes. I enjoy being a voyeur of the stars but every once in a while Mother Nature rears her ugly head and the images I am now seeing as I surf the Internet are horrible images of people stranded and unsafe, sewer rats running down the sidewalks, homes are lost and peoples cherished possessions are gone forever. Click here if you want to help.

You know You're from Toronto when.......

A really great parking spot can move you to tears.
You can recommend about 3 good body piercing parlours.
You make well over $100,000 and you still can't find a nice place to live.
You realize there are far more rainbow flags in the city than Canadian Flags.
When the temperature rises above zero degrees, you yell "Woohooo! Patio weather!"
You enjoy watching channel 47 multicultural TV
You're guaranteed to know at least one person on every episode of Speaker's Corner.
You haven't been to the CN Tower since you were six, but still have nightmares about that damn turbo elevator.
You've had at least 3 bicycles stolen in the past 10 years.
You've partied with at least one of the members of The Kids in the Hall
You've fantasized about having sex in Casa Loma
At least 3 of your friends have moved to Vancouver
You turn your nose up at any establishment frequented by the S&M crowd. (Scarborough and Mississauga)You never, never, never swim in the lake
You know "The Beaches" are really called "The Beach", but still say "The Beaches" just to annoy all the nitwits who live there
You ever had a birthday party at the Organ Grinder or The Mad Hatter
You can say "world's tallest freestanding structure" ten times fast
You know the correct answer to "Where do shopping carts go to die?" is "The Don River"
You speak better Chinese than French
The word "cabbagetown" doesn't strike you as particularily amusing
Castle Frank subway station remains one of the great mysteries of the universe for you.
You know what the bathrooms in the First Canadian Place are REALLY for
You don't know where Fort York is, but have a vague recollection of being there in a past life
You know where to find Dim Sum, Sushi, Curry, Pad Thai and a dildo at 3 am on a weeknight
For the last time, it's pronounced 'TRONNA'!
You consider eye contact a sign of hostility and an invasion of your privacy.
It takes you half an hour to get to work by TTC and you are the envy of all your friends.
You mourned the death of the Spadina Bus.
You know someone who went to high school with at least one member of The Barenaked Ladies or RUSH
You laugh heartily at people who refer to highway four hundred and one.
You can manuver your bike across Queen st. without getting caught in the streetcar tracks.
You know the difference between souvlaki, moussaka and spanakoptia.
You can name at least three locations of The Beer Store that are open till 11 PM.
You have NEVER been to the Hard Rock Cafe
You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Toronto.

Attack of the fly

Right now there is a HUGE fly hovering and dive bombing over my head and when it is not zeroing in on me it is dive bombing at the computer screen. I am afraid it wants to attack me. AGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

Why do weekends whiz by?

Had a great weekend with Hubby and my daughters. My youngest daughter A is finally on the mend after being sick with some sort of virus last week. She had been spiking a temperature so we kept her home from school on Friday. Unfortunately this meant she missed her end of the year field trip to the zoo. G and I spent time gardening and enjoying the backyard while the kids played in the pool. Friday evening we rented "The Woodsman," starring Kevin Bacon. Kevin plays the role of a middle age child molester, who is released from prison after serving his 12 year sentence. I would not recommend this film and found it difficult to get into. So, needless to say, G will be picking our next flick to view as I have been batting zero. Brooke and I spent the day on Saturday, having lunch and shopping at the mall. She is growing like a weed and I needed to get her a new bathing suit as she has outgrown the one I just got her in February. We had a successful day and managed to find her some other nice summer stuff. I think we managed to get everything on sale. Saturday evening we retreated downstairs to stay cool and watch "Indian Summer." This is a feel-good story about 8 friends revisiting the summer camp they attended 20 years earlier. It has a great cast and
an effective blend of drama and comedy. Sunday, G and I took the girls to the cinemas to see "The Perfect Man," with Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear and Chris Noth. It was exactly what I expected, Cute and Cheesey. G, then treated us to a early dinner at East Side Mario's........Yummm. This evening we played volleyball with the kids and neighbours. Just 3 more schooldays.