Thursday 31 May 2012

My Spidey Sense is Tingling



It's funny the effect a spider can have on a room of people, isn't it?

Today, while home sick from work, Brandon, his sister and I were watching TV and just otherwise being lazy, when I spotted quite a large spider on the wall.  I, personally, don't have a problem with spiders.  That's not to say I'd like a spider to crawl on me or set up camp in my shoes, but when I see one, it's just another bug.

However, I seem to be the exception to the rule.  Almost anytime I am with people and a spider is present there is some sort of ordeal to do with the spider, getting rid of the spider or tracking the spider.  So, today when the spider was spotted on the wall, I should have known better than to mention it.  I should have kept my mouth shut and continued being lazy.  instead, I pointed it out to them, "wow look at that big-ass spider on the wall".  This began the commotion of whines, watching the spider as it traversed the walls and ceiling of the living room and the desperate requests for me to kill it.  There was a similar situation last night in my bedroom when a spider decided to propel itself from my ceiling down towards Brandon laying in bed.  I had to kill it, just so I could go back to sleep.

Jerry Seinfeld had a good point in his stand up comedy CD/DVD, "I'm Telling You for the Last Time", when he compares women pouring hot wax and ripping hair out by the root and yet still being afraid of a spider.  Check out the video here.

Monday 28 May 2012

Today I Learned...

...time flies (even though in the moments it seems to drag by)!

My adorable dear horse, Sophie, had a vet appointment today for her annual vaccines and health check and while I was there I realized today is her 5th birthday!  FIVE!  How did that happen?!  I'm pretty sure it was just last year I watched her breeder unload her from the trailer and she whinnied over to me in her small, awkward body.  Yet, the math tells me- she's 5.  My baby is growing up.

Then I thought about how awful it would be to have to go to the doctor on your birthday.  Thank goodness horses don't actually know it's their birthday, or I would have had a very whiney and upset horse.


Saturday 26 May 2012

Fun with Siri

The other day, on the long, boring, frustrating commute home from work, my sister in law and I decided to have some fun with the iPhone 4S tool- Siri.  We tried to think of things to say to her that may be off the wall or at least make her respond in funny ways, so naturally the first thing we thought of was to tell her to fuck off. 
She (Siri) proceeded to condemn me for my language, "Shannon, there is no need for profanity" 

So my sister in law told her to to "go shit in your hand" (as is her standard insult when she doesn't like something)
Siri responded, "Shannon!  That language!"
So, my sister in law repeated her request, "Siri go shit in your hand"
To which Siri responded, "If you insist"

We asked her where to hide the dead bodies, and she gave us options: "Are you looking for funeral homes, landfills, metal quarries?"

When I worked with a communications company, and people purchased the iPhone 4S I had to demonstrate the various tools and features of the phone.  Of course, people loved Siri so I thought of fun ways to demonstrate her skills.  I often started with, "Siri, will I need an umbrella tomorrow in Toronto?" to which she would respond by showing me the 5-day forecast.  Customers would be impressed and see her value.  Of course, I had to then show her sense of humour.  So I would ask, "Siri, will you marry me?"  Siri would respond with one of two responses, "let's just be friends, ok?" or "that's not part of my user end agreement"  Customers loved this and it almost always sold them on the phone- among other great features.

In short- Siri provides entertainment.  Gooooo Apple!

Sunday 20 May 2012

Enjoying the Long Weekend



This weekend is Victoria Day weekend in Canada, which is a holiday to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday.  For most Canadians, it's just a long weekend that is usually celebrated with camping, drinking, fireworks and swimming.  It's the weekend most open their cottages and trailers for the season and is the unofficial start to summer for many of us.  Unfortunately, Brandon has to work this weekend- except Monday, so we haven't been able to take advantage of camping or anything away from home this year. 
However, we have managed to get outside for some walks and exploration and been able to enjoy some drinks.  Today, while Brandon was working, I had an opportunity to visit The Big Carrot, an organic food store in Toronto.  Last year, when Brandon lived in that area we found The Big Carrot while walking around the city, and frequented the store each week for our organic fruits & veggies.  Now, living back in with our parents, we aren't responsible for our own groceries.  However, after discussing it (and other green/organic eating habits) we thought it'd be nice to have some organic fruits and vegetables for ourselves.  The cost is really worth it in the end, and that's what so fantastic about The Big Carrot- the prices are reasonable and within a regular food budget.

Realizing I was traveling into the city to head to the organic food store (and how counter "green initiative" that seemed), I tried my best to travel as much as I could via public transit.  While Toronto has a decent transit system, it definitely doesn't span the geographical locations it should (which is always a political debate in the news).  So I was forced to drive a 15 minute drive to our light rail transit system, which took me to the subway.  The Big Carrot is mere minutes from Broadview subway station, so it was a beautiful walk in the lovely summer weather among the classic colonial style homes in the area, which I would love to own.  Homes that I'm sure cost more than all the members of our families' combined annual incomes!  Regardless, it's nice to have dreams, right?
Of course, Toronto and it's people never cease to surprise me.  On my walk, an older gentleman asked me if I wanted company wherever I happened to be going.  I kindly declined.  On my way back, he was still waiting outside his home and asked me where I was headed next, then asked me if my walk was as lovely as I looked.  Perhaps I should have stopped to have a conversation and seen if he'd be willing to sell me his home at 1/10th of the cost it's worth?!

During my travels, I saw two signs that made me happy.  The first on the subway, encouraging passengers to share our small city free newspaper in a light and humourous way:


The second, was at the LRT station which had one garbage and two recycling bags, meaning the city is (hopefully) seeing more opportunities for actually recycling the many items consumers are throwing away.  If only, they would get rid of the plastic bags.


All this discussion prompted me to begin creating and writing my offshoot blog I've been wanting to do for a while now, Eco Econ-scious.  Instead of doing the Eco Econ segment on this blog, I'm taking it onto the new blog, but amplified.  Eco Econ-scious will have tips & tricks on being more environmentally friendly, articles of interest, other blogs and websites relating to anything environmental, organic or just living a better life, and as much as possible all this will be presented with your hard earned dollar in mind.  So, head on over to Eco Econ-scious!  It's still a work in progress, so be patient with me, but be sure to make any suggestions you think would be helpful.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Mac God Answered My Prayer

OK, so maybe not the Mac God.  But I got a new Mac!  Woo hoo!!!  So excited to have my delete, eject and sound keys working...and in record time!  Of course, it's regular amount of time to most, however with the 6 year old Macbook I was using, well let's just say this MacBook Pro is more than an upgrade!

So that's all for now, folks.  I've got a brand new MacBook Pro to play with- so not much time for typing about how wonderful it is, I want to USE it!

Of course, this photo does this sexy machine no justice- it's way sexier in person!

Love a Tree Day

Today a radio station informed me it is "Love a Tree Day". I'm all for loving the environment, in fact I even had a... heated discussion with a woman at work about plastic decomposition and the affects plastic has on the environment. (by the way she was wrong and I was able to prove this to her!) But, back on topic... I love the environment, I just don't know why we make special days for each day of the year. I wonder if I could compile a list of each special day of the year...? Nah. While that would be fun, I doubt it would be satisfying or a good use of my time. So let's leave it at the brainstorming level- feel free to leave a comment with a day of the year you know has been deemed special by the people that be. Twin day? Buy a car day? Feed your dog twice day?

Tuesday 15 May 2012

WoW Love Letter

Today at work during lunch, some coworkers and I were discussing the new RPG game coming out today: Diablo 3.  *yawn*  But of course, Brandon is giving it a try and has been enjoying throwing frogs at his enemies so far.  The conversation turned to World of Warcraft and how some people include it in their wedding vows (and even getting married in the game whilst getting married in person).  Rest assured, this will NOT be happening in our lives.  But it did make me think of creative ways I could show Brandon I listen to him when he talks about WoW.  So, naturally, I wrote him a World of Warcraft love letter.

 

My dear Brandon, my handsome Orc lover,

You must not know the love I feel for you, because you say you always love me more.  Let me explain to you just how I love you more...

I would scream from the Tol Barad (Toblerone) Peninsula (hoping for it to echo among the land), forgetting the fact they call it a peninsula and it is not, in fact, a peninsula at all.  I'd climb to the very top of the Westfall Lighthouse if I felt like I could make it in good time.  On my quest to deliver the news of our love to the entire World (of Warcraft, of course), I would take on whole armies of trolls and I would get aggro on anyone who dare threaten our love, and the fact that I, obviously, love you more.  My love for you exceeds level 85 (and any subsequent levels that are opened up upon expansion packs).

Why do I love you more?  Because you are a wonderful, unique, strong, smart, funny man and your strapping body, in all that armour, gets my blood boiling.  You are an epic mount, with magical powers beyond the virtual realm.  You restore my mana with a single kiss.  I hope I take your breath (bar) away, as you do to me.  Your mining skills surpass all those I have met before you, and I hope one day those precious metals you mine for hours on end will become the ring you use to ask for my hand in marriage.  Your 525/525 rating gives me good confidence you'll create something beautiful!  (Now let's work on those cooking skills of yours).  Your daily quests are always done, and are never forgotten... the same can't always be said for the real world, but we can work on that.  Your hard work obtaining clothing and gear astounds me, though your Cape of Cruelty, your Cataclysmic Gladiator's Waistband and Boots of Cruelty, sometimes leave me wondering what it is you do all day in that virtual World of yours.  How is it that you are exalted in many Horde Reputations, but hated in others?  How could anyone hate you?  Perhaps, it's your damage you cause to the Alliance members?  Your Ruthless Gladiator's Insignia of Conquest doesn't just increase your Agility for 20 seconds, but also my heart.

I promise to always love you, and to never do any direct damage to your heart.  I would run any quest you ask of me, gather any skills or gems needed- to prove that I will always love you (more).  All I ask, is that you introduce me to your Guild friends, Verbosa... I mean Brandon!

I would do all these things to prove I love you more and my love keeps growing each and every day.  This is all provided the system isn't down for Patch Day or maintenance- then all I can do is say I LOVE YOU!!!

Love,
Shannon, Shanners, Bananers, Kermin...