Seen and Overheard During Ottawa Girly Weekend, 2006

• Toronto to Ottawa: a three hour trip.
• The reason we are not allowed upstairs is not bathroom-related, it's more to do with the secret meth lab.
• Skating on the canal at -26 degrees is a ten-minute activity.
• While skating in aforementioned conditions: "I wish my nose was closer to my face."
• "They don't have a beaver tail stand inside the Rideau Centre? Of course they do!" (Note: no beaver tail stand was located on the premises.)
• On the Rideau Centre: "It's a mall. Of course they have lockers." (Note: no lockers were located on the premises.)
• Beaver tails should be eaten ONE per sitting. Never two. Two is repulsive.

• Whereas it's necessary to wear 5 individual layers to go outside (or, say, skate on the canal in -26 degree weather), it's perfectly fine to leave the house with wet hair.

• When in doubt, wear two sets of pants.

• "That's soooooo blog-worthy!" (Also used as a threat.)
• "WHAT?! They don't zamboni the Rideau Canal???!! Of course they do." (Note: no zamboni was located within a five mile radius of said canal.)
• "Why does Switzerland compete in the Olympics? I thought they were neutral."
• "How do you make salt water? It's not just salt and water, is it?"
• "I LOVE my new onesie!" J-Dog

All in all, another excellent weekend.

The Indignity Continues

Whether it's the Flying Nun...

Or "Madeline"...

someone is so not impressed post-surgery.

Toothless Joe

Happy heart day!

I'm sad to report that some of us had better days than others. Unfortunately for him, Joey had multiple surgeries today. Expensive for a poor law student? Why yes. But as we say in the Land of Law Debt, "that's what The OSAP is for."

During his dental procedure, J-Dog had a total of six, very rotted teeth removed. Yes, this is a lot, even for a dog. The vet said they were so far gone that they just pulled right out. Nasty, but necessary.

In addition, on this the most romantic of days, Joey also had a permanent end put to his stud career. Mr. Joey bid a fond farewell to his two fuzzy friends and has now gone from "M" (male) to "CM" (castrated male) on his vet records . I was seriously debating keeping the Fuzzy Boys around but in the end I chose to go ahead since a CM's cancer risk is reduced over the long haul.

His Ottawa vet, Dr. Miller, told me that he recovered very well from the anesthetic - always a concern with a pug - and is in the "warming cage". I'm not sure what that is but I think I want one, too.

Joey will be able to come home tomorrow. For right now, his only friend at the hospital is his inanimate IKEA buddy, Mr. Bear (left). Although Joey's relationship with Mr. Bear basically consists of trying to chew his head off, at least it's a piece of home away from home.

As for me, I am going out to dinner to a vegetarian place with some law friends who are also "sans significant others" today. Should be fun... especially if the blizzard outside subsides. I wish I had a pair of Yaktrax to make it a bit easier.

AB

About Me

"Live never to be ashamed if anything you do or say is published around the world – even if what is published is not true.”

Please. God. Let me try and remember this.

Hello! If you’re reading this, chances are you already know me. Which is good because “About Me” moments make me uncomfortable. Almost as much as “get-to-know-you” games. (Maybe I don’t want to go to your picnic, and... I thank you.)

What does that say About Me?

Here is what I will say: I am an ISTJ. I may be the biggest “J” in the universe. The only reason I manage to retain any friends at all is that I am also a very big “I”. (Very small “S”, moderately large “T”.)

I am a law student, knitter, pug owner, feminist, recovering perfectionist, and according to these people, a “breast cancer activist”. Cool. After seven years of “dating”, I am recently engaged to my best friend. He is my rock and my ultimate source of love and inspiration. I try to be a good friend and I am lucky to have the absolute best girlfriends a gal could ever have. Ever.

A lot has happened in the past few years. I graduated with an HBA, with distinction, in Political Studies and Women’s Studies from Queen’s University. I then got a full time job at My Favourite Community College and worked it for two years until sanity would no longer permit my continued employ. My parents separated (but are not divorced), I no longer see my mother for a number of complicated reasons, the family house I had been living in for 20 years was sold (but not before I was unceremoniously evicted), I quit my job, my Toronto home base is now with my fiancé and his mother’s family, and recently my father and a best friend’s mother got engaged.

Paging Jerry Springer…

Of course, the next logical step was to go to law school in Ottawa. I am currently in L1 and loving it. The first term is over and can be summed up thusly:

• Law school is not like The Paper Chase if you can keep yourself moderately organized;
• Torts – much more than just chocolatey desserts.

My roommate in Ottawa is my law buddy, Joey. We started living together on December 27, 2005. He is a five year old pug, former Canadian and US (California) dog champion, former stud, and cover model for Dogs In Canada magazine (February 2004). His current projects include begging for yogurt, trying to eat my lamb tape measure, keeping me from losing my mind, and watching me pick up steaming poo and carry it around my Ottawa neighbourhood.

I try not to lose myself in the glamour of it all.

So that’s About Me. I hope this blog (blawg?) will keep me connected to friends and family far and wide. Drop me a line if you visit, and stay tuned for much bloggy goodness!