*Twilight* meets *Dick in a Box*

Love!

Don't know what I am talking about?  Only my most favourite SNL skit ever featuring my one and only Justin Timberlake.   *sigh*

Seaway District High School needs YOUR help...

... to win their very own HYBRID school bus.

The following e-mail was sent out today to all Upper Canada District School Board staff.  It is for a great cause and they really did do a great job.

Good morning-

Great news from Seaway: A few weeks ago, a group of our grade 12s entered an online contest ("Canada's Greenest School") and- of over 400 submissions- their video was selected as one of the top ten entries in Canada. This now puts Seaway in the running to win our very own hybrid school bus. Pretty exciting. It now comes down to online voting, so we're really hoping we can get your support! We're the only high school in Ontario to make it to the top ten- and, geographically, our closest competition is an elementary school in Burlington- so hopefully the support of the entire UCDSB will give us a shot at being #1 and winning this hybrid bus. As of yesterday, we're 2nd in Youtube views with 920, so we are continuing to try to get as many people as possible to see the video and vote for Seaway! Please take a few minutes with your class to log on to www.canadasgreenestschool.ca and support the only local school in the competition. Voting for the finalists opened April 22nd and ends May 5th. You can vote once per person per day.

On behalf of the Seaway Green Team, thanks for your help. Let's see if we can win this thing!

You can see the You tube video and vote here  or, to just watch the You-tube video, click here and see The Seaway Green Team in action.

On behalf of these students, thanks for taking 3 minutes that can make a difference to them.

Happy Monday.

Bonne Fete, Stéphanie

Je te souhaite anniversaire qui est
aussi merveillex que toi. 

Je t'aime.

Stéph et Mell - NavCan 2006  ~  layout by Stéphanie

Can this be any sweeter??

I got one of those e-mails from a friend this morning.  A chain e-mail that has travelled the globe with photos that were taken in 2008.  Regardless of when they were taken, they absolutely melted my heart.  I couldnt resist sharing them here.  So cute.  This is the blurb that accomanied the email:

This Dachshund is fostering this little guy for another mom who couldn't take care of him. He had his eyes closed, but by now they are open. He is just a little bigger than her other pups. She loves this little guy as much as the other puppies and she is nursing him back to health.

He is the cleanest pig-uppy ever because she loves him all the time. HIS NAME IS PINK.

 

 

Enjoy your day...

**vroom*vroom**

all leather interior, heated seats, tinted windows and a sunroof.  I have always wanted a sunroof.  yay!

Back to School ... take 2

Most of my (small) blog world sweeties likely don't know that, at the beginning of January, I dropped out of Carleton University.  It just wasn't for me - starting with something like English probably didn't help either.  I struggled with making this decision.  It was very hard for me to admit defeat.  To not feel like a failure.  I looked at the withdrawl screen several times before I was actually able to hit that one button that removes me from the class.  Finally, with only hours to spare, placed the curser over the button, took a deep breath (literally), closed my eyes and clicked.  After a few more hours I felt better.  I realized that it was I that made the decision to drop out and no one else.  I didn't leave based on performance.  I didn't leave because I was failing.  It was an educated decision made knowing that, after 11 years out of school and I was not defeated.  I was leaving with a B average.  Finally, I was able to hold my head high and remove the shame that I felt.  I always felt that university wasn't for me.  I am too much of a hands on learner.  At least now I will know for sure and, in 10 years from now, there will be no questions.  I am happy and content with my decision.

All this being said ... over the past few years, I have always felt a pull towards something but never felt worthy or creative or talented enough to follow through.  After going back to school (which I did enjoy) and looking at blogs and links and images, that pull just got stronger and I finally decided to go with it.  While I don't feel creative or talented enough, I do feel worthy.  Anything that is going to expand your mind makes you worthy so .... I am now registered in the Basic Digital Photography course at Algonquin College.  It is the first of 8 classes that will earn me a Photograhy certificate.  It starts on May 3rd and I can't wait.  I am very excited and inspired and eager to see what I can do when I am not just playing. 

Regardless of whether I walk way with only knowledge and the ability to take better pictures of my Fruit Salad* or the confidence to take on some paid work during my summers off ... it seems that remembering my student number after 12 years came in handy!

*Fruit Salad - the name given by me when talking about my nieces and nephews.  Beginning with my oldest niece whom I always told "you are the apple of my eye" and continued with her sisters.  Then came my sweet nephew, Matthew.  Very stocky and plump with a teeny tiny head ... my pears were born.  When my daughter was born, we decided to give her the name Hannah.  Trying to cram in as much as I could during or short time together, I called her Hannah Banana and teased her about her name.  Months later, what I had done hit me.  My children (or child) are my bananas.  When/if my brother and sister have kids, they too will assigned sweet fruits.  And that, my bloggers, is not only what my fruit salad is, but how it originated as well.  *sigh* how I love them so ....

Tan - this one's for you ...

Teeheeheehee.

2 down ... 1 to go.

If you ask me who my scrappin' faves are, I would say that there are 3 total.  I mean, I love many and  I admire many but there are really only 3 that I would list as my immediates for wanting to event with.  I was lucky enough to scratch Donna Downey off that list last April.  I am now lucky enough to be able to scratch Tim Holtz off my list.  Oh if you could see me jumping for joy right now.  A pretty sight, it is not but the sheer joy is obvious.

On May 2nd, Tanya and I will venture to Scrapbook Quebec in Laval to take classes with Tim Holtz.  While there are 4 classes being offered over the two days, we opted to only do 2 of them.  We were lucky that the ones that really appealed to us were both on Sunday.  Our day will start with the Journal Journey class.  Afterwards we will be joined by Meg and Renee for Idea-ology Intrigue.  Did I mention that I CAN NOT WAIT??  I am so excited and stoked.  Only 24 more sleeps...  (surely there is an app for this.  eeks)

*sigh*  2 down and 1 to go. 

Found a strain that I couldn't beat!

What a  loooooong weekend.  I am so in need of another.  Thanks to my first ever flu and the fact that I have a uterus, I missed this beautiful weekend because I was in bed for most of it.  Bah!

It did start out promising though.  My friends and I ventured over to Massena after work on Thursday.  Of course, any trip there wouldn't be complete without enjoying the best ever chicken wings.  I ate about 5 or 6 of them - - not normal.  By the time we got in the van to go to the mall, I looked at the ladies and said "I feel like I have a lead balloon in my stomach." - - not good.  We got to the mall, came up with a plan and dispersed.  My goal ... just get K was he needs and go sit down and wait.  Forget about me.  Even walking was painful.  I just needed to go to that one store then sit and wait.  Apparently my body had other plans.  I made it to Champs, picked up 5 shirts for him, went to the cash to pay ... and then it happened.  I felt it.  I tried to ignore it.  I don't do this.  Not when I am sick.  Not when I am pregnant.  Not ever - other than that one time, as a result of alcohol, I havent done this since I was about 8 or 9 ... this can NOT be happening!!  Oh but it was.  I asked if they had a bathroom .... "no, go to the food court."   Fear.  3 steps towards to exit.  3 steps back to the cash.  I am not going to make it.  Back room and garbage can here I come.  Throwing up for the first time in about 28 years ... here I am.  It was awful.  I was so embarrassed and mortified.   They were understanding and empathetic but still ... it was awful.  On the plus side, I was feeling a million times better but definitely not a hundred percent.  I ventured back to the food court to wait.   My friends were great.  If it hadn't been for them seeing me carry a garbage bag out of the store into the mall garbage, they would have had no clue what had just happened.  They offered to call it a day and leave but I couldnt let that happen.  Besides ... I was feeling MUCH better - - right??

Wrong!  I managed to gather 2 jeans for K and a shirt for me then had to pay and sit again.  The lead balloon was back.  Thankfully, we were heading home after that stop.  I was going to make it.  Wrong again.  I got into the van and, thanks the the overwhelming aroma of 150+ chicken wings in the back seat, I was up close and very personal with a Walmart bag in the parking lot.  More humilation.  Not fun having your friend see you this way ... even if they are completely understanding about it.  Thanks to a front seat ride with the air conditioning in my face to keep the smell away, I made it home.  Everything was left in the car, bed I went and only woke up twice for some garbage pail and porcelain love.  Thankfully - if there is anything to be thankful for - the flu decided to hold off on showing me 'double love' until I got home.  Whew ... I cant even imagine dealing with both of those on the road or in public places.

So needless to say, I was sick.  I slept most of Friday and Saturday.  I missed the car rally.  I lived on Ginger Ale.  Just when I thought I was going to be good to go for the last two days ... I was plagued by some seriously awful cramping Saturday night (and still going today.  oy).  Front and back.  I mean seriously ... wtf?  My uterus isnt good for what it needs to be good for .... does it really have to remind me that it is there, with a vengence, every few months? Oh vay.  Can this weekend get any worse?  Fortunately, it didn't but I am definitely in need of some time off to get things done now.  No room painting.  No canvas painting.  No photo editing.  No nothing.  Thanks to my bed, my laptop and season 5 of Alias (GREAT show!!!), I made it through the weekend finding horizontal relief.

So .... how was your Easter?

Enjoy this short week.