As I don't want to disappoint my readership (Mom and brother), I am writing this new blog for you right now.

Of course, I haven't much to say. Well, actually that's not true. Lots to say, but don't know where to start.

So instead, I will show you pictures of me eating in various locations.

Here is a picture of me eating gelato in Italy. Note the giant scoop.

Here I am in my kitchen, eating some kind of vegetable that is difficult to make out. It's green though. Good for me.

This is me at a wedding, eating ice cream. Note the look of pure joy on my face.

Finally, here I am with twinkie in mouth at my brother's 30th. It was a white trash theme. I don't normally where that much blue eyeshadow. Honest.

How I plan on spending my weekend

Bring it on, yo.

Have a good one, everyone.

What's this coffee-making machine you speak of?

Now that we're all a big mushy pile of goo from looking at a pic of my nephew... let's move on to other things.

Like the fact that I'm heading to Ottawa in 2 days to run another half marathon race. And the fact that I really, really don't want to.

(That's right. I said it. I'm a runner and I just do. Not. Want. To. Run. The Race. Perhaps it's because I've already inflicted myself with the torture of the 2 hour (plus) run. And yeah - once? Is enough, thank you very much.)

Or, we can move on to something else: the exciting news that my office finally has a coffee maker!! Again, you heard me right. We are in the year 2009 and my place of business just recently got a coffee maker put into the kitchen.

(Also - I'm not a coffee drinker, so you would think this news wouldn't be that exciting to me. However, I do make these homemade lattes every day and they taste SO much better with freshly brewed Starbucks coffee than with the instant crap I was previously using. Hurrah for modern inventions like coffee makers!)

Hows about we move on to the fact that yesterday, I was quite honest (read: brutally honest) with my boss about something and - surprise, surprise - my boss didn't seem too happy with my honesty at first.

Later, hubster asked me if maybe I wanted to perhaps approach the whole "honesty" thing a little more carefully around someone who could easily fire me. And - surprise, surprise - I was all indignant at this comment. I was all: "Hey - I'm just an honest person. I don't like to sugar coat. And if that ain't okay... than I don't wanna be right!!!" And.... then.... I thought about it a little bit.... and yeah. I realized that a little "discretion" really isn't a bad thing.

Anywho.

So that's what's up with me. And now, for your viewing pleasure (and your daily intake of vitamin "goo"), here is another picture of my nephew.

Hez: You have cute dimples, nephew.
Nephew: I like your honesty, Auntie.

When you're having a bad day, come here.

This.

Just this.

Nothing else matters anymore, does it?

Picture time!

In lieu of writing anything today, I present to you this Completely Random Collection of Photos.

First on the docket: The. World's. Most. Cutest. Dog.
Beware... he may just burn your eyeballs up with his cuteness.

And for no real reason, other than the fact that I love this pic, my adorable second cousin, with head cocked to one side in incredibly cute youthful curiosity.

Adorable kid: What are you doing to my toy, Hez? Let me play. Please?
Hez: Forget it, kid. You can't win me over with your perfectly wonderful blonde hair and innocent, cherub-like rosy cheeks. It's MY turn to play with your Christmas present, dammit!

2009 is shaping up to be the year of the weddings for hubster and I. Here we are in 2007, looking all smart-like. We clean up but good.

Hubster had a real "thing" for the empty chair sitting next to him at the last wedding we went to. I didn't really get it. But he loved Chair. I think I even heard him say that Chair was so witty and fun to be around. Who doesn't love Chair?


Shortly thereafter, I discovered that I sort of had a thing for Chair, too. Hubster wasn't wrong.

I suspect that all of this came about because of too many of these.

And also these.

Chair or no Chair... weddings make us mushy.

Fun with photoshop

I'd like to take a moment and show you what people at ad agencies do when they're not busy.

But first, I must introduce you to the creative team at my current place of employment. (Clockwise from the top: Tall writer, happy art director, gangster art director, gang-sign-flashing writer.)
(We were at an "offsite" which is code for: drink lots of booze and act crazy).

Next, let me introduce you to German pop sensation, Tokio Hotel:

And finally, how we spend our down time at work...

(Click on the pic for a lovely close-up!!)

I did it!!

So the race is over!!

Good things about race day:
1. The atmosphere is SO exciting!
2. The people watching from the sidelines are so supportive and encouraging
3. Crossing the finish line and seeing my husband, brother and parents-in-law there to cheer me on was fantastic
4. I have such a sense of accomplishment now - I ran a half baby!!

Bad things about race day:

1. The shooting pain in my leg began at kilometer 4 (which was unfortunate since I still had 17 kilometers to run)
2. My body is obviously mad at me and wants me to rest (so I will)

But in the end, I did it. I ran my first half marathon race. Woo hoo!!

For Momsie

It's much later right now than I would normally write my blog. (It's about 4pm on Monday). I really prefer to blog in the morning - that's when I'm more eloquent with the way of the words.

But anyway - here it is. In all its glory. My post about how proud I am of my Mom.

Yesterday, my Mom ran a half marathon. That's 21 kms. Yes... 21. We ran it together in preparation for the half marathon race I'll be running in 2 weeks (Mom will be on vacation - unfortunate scheduling conflict).

Anyway, since she can't be there for the run - this was her half. It was my 60 year-old mother's half marathon day. And she did amazing.

To tell you the truth - she did better than me! (I'm suffering from some leg issues which cause major pain). But that's no excuse. I don't want to take away at all from what my Ma accomplished yesterday or how amazing she did.

It just goes to show that when you put your mind to something - you can really do it. It doesn't matter how old you are. Or how much experience you have. Or what you've done before. Or what you'll do after. All that matters is that you set a goal and achieve it.

That's definitely what my Mom did. And I couldn't be prouder of her.

When I'm running the race in two weeks, it won't be the same without her, but I'll keep her in my head (and my heart). And I'll make it through with flying colours.

Just like she did yesterday.

Back to myself

Okay... feeling better today.

I talked to some friends and to my hubby and they helped me get out of my mini-funk. I'm back to feeling like this again:

For all who don't know, that's my Dad. This picture may answer many questions you have about how I got the way I am.

Man, I love my Pa.