Our Perfect Companions Never Have Fewer Than Four Feet.

Today, Cliff and I stopped by my parents house to pick up a few Christmas presents from my Dad's side of the family, because I had to work on Boxing day, and missed visiting with them that day.

My mom was sitting in the living room next to the cat post, where my cat, Bob sat on his haunches, looking rather despondant and not even lifting his head up when I scratched behind his ears.

"He hasn't eaten in two days." She said.

I looked at my cat, who did look rather weak and gaunt. I slid my hand from the tip of his nose to the base of his spine, scratching him above the tail where he usually loves being scratched, and got very little response. He didn't even lift his head.

"I think he's going to go in a few days."

"Oh."

I continued to pet my cat, gently. Feeling his spine through his skin, and I didn't know what to think. Cliff was waiting in the car. I shouldn't stay long. I told my cat I loved him, a few times, actually... Grabbed my stuff off the chair, kissed my mom goodbye, and then left.

It's hard to know that my cat is going to die.

I didn't take him when I moved because my apartment building didn't allow cats, and truth be told, my dad loved him so much that I didn't have the heart to take him away. The damned cat waited at the door for my dad like a puppy when it was time for him to get home from work. I might have picked him out of the box of kittens 14 years ago, but it was my Dad who got most his affection.That's okay, though. Dad earned it.

Bob still came up to me for pets and cuddles occasionally. He came when he required a lift up to the window sill, or a scratch at the base of his tail, or help reaching a rabbit fur mouse he'd batted too far under the couch to reach with a paw, or when I'd had a rough time with a relationship and needed a curled up friend in my lap, he was there.

I got in the car, and Cliff asked me what I wanted for dinner. I just started crying.

I'll miss my cat, when he goes.

We tie bright ribbons around their necks, and occasionally little tinkling bells, and we affect to think that they are as sweet and vapid as the coy name "kitty" by which we call them would imply. It is a curious illusion. For purring beside our fireplaces and pattering along our back fences, we have got a wild beast as uncowed and uncorrupted as any under heaven.

– Alan Devoe

The Coolest...

Link ever. It's called "dreamlines".

For artsy fartsy people like me, this shit is the neatest. Try more typical keywords, like "sunset", "love" or "ocean".

It's very clever, and a very unique, beautiful concept.

Cum on, folks!

Oh, Oh... Ohhhh, Oh, yes! Yes! Don't stop! Reading, that is.

Just to spread awareness, today, December 22nd, 2006 is International "Global Orgasm Day".

What, you don't believe me? Think I'm full of crap? Think I'm making up *excuses* to cum? (Like I needed an excuse...)

Well... Check it out for yourself. (Though, the link is most likely NSFW, what with being discussing cumming and whatnot.)

I'd just like to say that I've done my part with a little help from a willing boyfriend who thoroughly enjoyed his participation, in contributing to "effect positive change in the energy field of the Earth through input of the largest possible surge of human energy a Synchronized Global Orgasm."

I've participated twice, and may yet participate again for this worthy cause before the night is up.

Now now. Don't be shy. *winks*

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name:	Linds
Birthday:	May 1st, 1980
Birthplace:	Burnaby, B.C.
Current Location:	Surrey, B.C.
Eye Color:	Brown
Hair Color:	Brown
Height:	Five Nine
Right Handed or Left Handed:	Left
Your Heritage:	French Canadian and English
The Shoes You Wore Today:	Nikes
Your Weakness:	Chocolate, Sweet, Honest men.
Your Fears:	Loneliness.
Your Perfect Pizza:	Ham, Pineapple, Mushroom and Double Cheese. Oh Yeah.
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	The year is almost over. I'll say next year is advancing myself personally and emotionally.
Your Most Overused Phrase:	Fuck.
Thoughts First Waking Up:	Fuck.
Your Best Physical Feature:	Eyes, lips, Face, Legs.
Your Bedtime:	11pm, usually.
Your Most Missed Memory:	Aiden, my best bud in elementary school
Pepsi or Coke:	Coke.
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Mickey D's.
Single or Group Dates:	Single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Lipton
Chocolate or Vanilla:	Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Cappuccino
Do you Smoke:	Yes.
Do you Swear:	Yes.
Do you Sing:	Yes.
Do you Shower Daily:	Yes.
Have you Been in Love:	Yes.
Do you want to go to College:	Already did. It costs a lot.
Do you want to get Married:	Yes.
Do you belive in yourself:	Most of the time, yep.
Do you get Motion Sickness:	No, not usually, to my recollection
Do you think you are Attractive:	Most of the time, yep.
Are you a Health Freak:	No.
Do you get along with your Parents:	Yup!
Do you like Thunderstorms:	Yes, I like to walk in them too.
Do you play an Instrument:	In order of skill: Skin flute, Guitar.
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	No.
In the past month have you Smoked:	Yes.
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	No.
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	Yes.
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	Yes. I work in one, at the moment.
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	No.
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	Yes.
In the past month have you been on Stage:	No... I don't think so.
In the past month have you been Dumped:	Nopers.
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	No.
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	Nope.
Ever been Drunk:	Uh... yes.
Ever been called a Tease:	Yes.
Ever been Beaten up:	No.
Ever Shoplifted:	Yes, when I was young and stupid.
How do you want to Die:	I don't like thinking about that. Preferably very old, and sleeping.
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	A Grown up!
What country would you most like to Visit:	Austrailia, Russia, new Zealand, Italy.
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	Blue, Brown, or Green
Favourite Hair Color:	Brown. The world needs more brunette men.
Short or Long Hair:	Short. I like the back of a man's neck.
Height:	taller than me.
Weight:	irrelevant.
Best Clothing Style:	doesn't matter. Jeans, or a suit. Or anything in between.
Number of Drugs I have taken:	1? How is this related to the person I'm "looking" for?
Number of CDs I own:	Many. they threaten to smother me in my sleep. at last count in iTunes... 719. Not all of them are imported on my Computer, though.
Number of Piercings:	9
Number of Tattoos:	9
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	Many. I'm neurotic, though.
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

a Brief...

Note, that the 2006 compilation *will* be up sometime, probably on Friday, when I actually have time to think, or breathe. Or do anything that requires doing anything that isn't involved with work.

Yes... I'm... I mean... *it's* coming.


Loves ya!

Mmm! Tastier!

I just recieved a package via Canada Post in the mail from my dear friend Sean! The contents being one handwritten letter, and one ENORMOUS bag of lindt mixed truffles. Whoooooooooo hah!!

Thanks Seanners! I'll put these chocolates to very good use!!

XXOO

Linds

Mmmm.... Tasty!

Dinner tonight was gooooood... Lazy man's dinner. Who made it? I did, of course. Maybe that should be Lazy woman's dinner, then.

Linds' Tuna Casserole

Ingredients:

1/3 bag of penne rigate noodles

2 cans of chunk tuna, drained

2 cans of mushroom soup

1 can of creamed corn

1/4 cup of parmesean cheese

1-2 tablespoon(s) of freshly ground black or tricoloured pepper (depending on how much bite you want to it.)

Optional:

1 small bag of plain potato chips.

Directions:

Bring water to a boil in a large cooking pot, toss in noodles and salt water.
Boil noodles until Al Dente, and drain in a large colander, toss noodles back into pot.
Add all canned ingredients, and mix thoroughly.
Add in Parmesean cheese and pepper and mix.

If you want, place entire mixture into a baking pan, and cover with crumbled plain potato chips, baking at 350 degrees for 15-25 minutes until the top of the dish is golden brown.

Serves 4, (Or half a plate for Linds, and three (rather enormous) helpings for Cliff. I honestly couldn't tell you where he keeps it all.)

Matchmaker, matchmaker...

Though, I've already found my match. What the hell. Give it a try.

Do you Match Me?

Take My MatchMe Test

Brought to you by:
OkCupid - Free Online Dating!

Friday Five...

1. What do you wear to bed?

Skin.

2. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

I sleep on the left side of the bed. When Cliff leaves for work at quarter to five in the morning, I sort of sprawl diagonally, corner to corner, for maximum sleep satisfaction.

3. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?

Nope, but I often find myself cuddling one of my many pillows if I end up sleeping in late. I'm not one for "stuffed animals".

4. Blanket/bed hog?

I, most definitely am NOT a blanket hog. My cuddly bedmate, however... *grumbles* Let's just say the phrase "One good turn gets all the blankets" is VERY apt. As for the classification "Bed Hog".... Weeeellllll... I think I may be guilty of that on occasion...

The Man: Hey, can I have some of the bed?

Me: There's heaps of room right HERE! *indicates space between him and myself*

The Man: There's tons of room on the other side of you, too. I'm hanging on by a cheek, here.

Me: Gah! Fine... Here!

5. Do you make your bed everyday?

I never used to give two shits about making my bed, but since I got my kickass medieval captain's bedframe, I've realized how very nice a freshly made bed looks, and how much LESS effort it takes to just collapse on the bed after a long day at work, instead of having to push aside craploads of blankets. My Grandmother should be proud.

We Are What They Want Us To Be... In The End.

Okay. I was doing a little thinking. Dangerous, I know.

It's hard to phrase the right way, But I think in each relationship we are in with whoever we are with, we change to suit them.

Not extreme measures, mind you, or at least not ME changing in extreme measures, or even my boyfriend doing so, but we seem to slightly change to better suit our partners preferences.

Ugh, this is all coming out *wrong*. It sounds like I mean that we turn into Stepford wives/husbands. Let's phrase this another way.

Over the years, I've grown from being rather domineering, prudish, and advantageous individual, into someone who is usually very sweet tempered (most of the time), pretty giggly (but not ditzy), relatively easy-going, devoted and fairly honest. (Hey, little white lies never killed anyone, did they?) I'm also sensitive and pretty empathic to other's needs and desires.
I'm still direct when I've got something to say, I'm still determined and loud and energetic...

With Erik I was little miss intelligentsia. That's not to say that I'm NOT intelligent anymore, it was just a focus on our relationship. Erik is a brilliant man. I had to keep up. I also partied harder with Erik than I did in any other relationship. During that 6 month long stint, I spent more money on alcohol and accoutrement than I have in the last 4 years prior to it combined.

When I was "with" Devin... Ergh... I was (too) empathic, too accepting, and too generous with my emotions and time.

And with Cliff, I'm turning into what could be the perfect little housewife, when I'm not working my 52 hours a week.

Shocking, isn't it?

I cook, clean, and quite willingly contemplate having his babies. I imagine sitting next to him in a rocking chair 40 years down the road. I spend 98 percent of my time off work, with him, (though, oftentimes in completely different rooms, doing different things) I fall asleep at eleven pm, after reading my novel and chatting with him for about an hour prior to sleep. I'm so sweet it could make your teeth rot, (and it's wholeheartedly genuine!) I (mutually) spoil him with affection, I ask him how his day was at the end of the day...

It's all pretty foreign to me. But it's so very cool.

So my questions are these:

1.) "When did I grow up behind my back?"

2.) "When's this whole crazy, fantastic life going to come crashing down around me?"

Hungry Yet?

1. How do you deal with stress?

It depends on how much stress there is around me. Usually it is handled well up to a point and then I snap, lose it, yell (or sometimes not, depending on the situation) and then end the whole thing crying.

2. Do you have a favorite "comfort food" and what is it?

Macaroni and Cheese, Toast with butter and strawberry Jam, and obviously, chocolate.

3. Do you have a "comfort activity" and what is it?

Reading a book or sleeping.

4. What days depress you and why?

Typically, I'm depressed but more because of exhaustion on Christmas Eve. I often find myself near (or in) tears on the 24th of December on the way home. Retail (and previous to that, working in a bakery) is exhaustingly busy work, with snarky, rude and frustrated people buying last minute objects/goods, and the typical feeling of running around like a maniac trying to get everything they need together for them, and then knowing that you have to run around to visit various family members on Christmas Day. I usually never end up staying at home on Christmas eve, I end up going to my parents, or, this year, going to Cliff's sister and brother-in-law's place. I'm almost worried because of how the last few years have been.

5. What days excite you and why?

Halloween, for sure. I love seeing kids excited and dressed up in cute costumes. Not so much for the adults because Halloween gives men the excuse to dress up like women, and women the excuse to dress like sluts. Christmas because I get to see the reactions of my loved ones and friends when they open the presents that I've thoughtfully purchased and wrapped all fancy-like.

6. Given a choice, and imagining that money and time were no object, would you rather cook dinner, eat out or order in?

There's something ultimately satisfying in cooking a luxury meal for yourself and company. I'd buy gourmet ingredients and spend a good hour and a half laughing and preparing the food with someone. There's also the joy of spoiling someone else.

7. What is the most elaborate meal you've ever prepared yourself or purchased at a restaurant?

I've made two meals that I'm very proud of, that stand out the most of all of my cooking, both of them for other people. and both were simple and fun to make. (As long as I did all the prep beforehand.)

The first was garlic butter sauteed tiger prawns, a wild baby greens salad with crumbled feta cheese and italian vinagrette dressing, 2 AAA centre cut steaks, sauteed onion and mushrooms, mixed corn and baby snap peas, red wine and then with homemade cheesecake drizzled with strawberry coulee and real whipping cream for dessert. Pure decadance.

The other meal was sweet ginger garlic stir fry, with cubed chicken breasts, sauteed in virgin olive oil and rosemary, with snap peas, carrots, corn, red, orange and green diced bell peppers, onion, 6 cloves of garlic, a generous amount of fresh ground pepper, and ground kosher salt. I served it on a bed of steamed white rice. Dessert was... Well... I won't get into that.

8. What food do you find yourself making and/or eating way too much?

Cliff has proven to me that when I thought I had an addiction to chocolate, it was nothing compared to him. I've never met someone where chocolate had to be eaten at least once every day. I think I'm madly; hopelessly in love.

9. What was your most disastrous cooking/eating out experience?

Would it be a cop out to say that I have never really had a bad cooking experience other than over cooking rice or noodles, or perhaps not cooking things for long enough? (usually cassaroles)

I can remember a time when one of my roommates decided to make hot wings and the smell of it cooking under the broiler was awful. It made my landlady gag, and she had no problem coming downstairs to tell us that it smelled like we were baking vomit in the oven. I think it was the orange juice mixed with cayenne pepper sauce that put it over the edge. Whoever the fuck wrote that recipe should be shot.

10. Would you rather cook for someone else or have them cook for you?

I love, Love, LOVE cooking for someone special.

11. What was the last thing that you ate?

Pizza. It was breakfast, at eight thirty am before I decided to crawl back into bed and die for another six hours. I'm not feeling well.

12. Who was the last person you shared a meal with?

Cliff. We camped out and ate pizza in the bedroom laughing and goofing around until we "played Yahtzee" and fell asleep exhausted. Yeah, that's it, Yahtzee.

13. What is your favorite all time dish (recipes welcome)?

My Auntie Marina made this dish, and I swear to god, it was all flavour. I think it was just Chicken breasts baked in mozzarella and spices. Oh god was it amazing. thinking about it is making my mouth water. I've never asked her for the recipe, I so should. I think it's just the fact that there was probably an entire huge block of mozza in there that made my taste buds freak out.

14. If you could eat one thing for an entire year, what would it be?

Cliff says "pussy". Uhm... I... Uh... Gotta go. See ya. *winks*

Grrr..

I've lost my glasses somewhere in the house and can't see them to find them.

Is that irony? All I know is it's annoying.

I guess it's back to sleep for me. Cliff's home at five thirty or so, and his eyes work just fine.

It's because of days like this, I seriously fucking contemplate lasik eye surgery.

yoinked from myself... Again. God I'm lame.

I AM: Happy with who I am with, and where I am living. Anticipatory.
I WANT: Resolution.
I WISH: I'd turned the light off in the living room. Dammit.
I HATE: Being sick.
I MISS: Some of my friends. I've been too busy.
I HEAR: The sound of my boyfriend snoring lightly (sometimes) as he sleeps with his head on my shoulder... So I can't get up to turn the light off in the living room.
I WONDER: A lot of things. If I am what I think I might be and what it will do for my life.
I REGRET: At the moment, not much.
I AM NOT: Perfect. Though I'm damned near close.
I DANCE: Like a dork.
I SING: When I'm happy.
I CRY: Not as often as I used to.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: Patient.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: A veritable voluminous volley of vowels. Damn you, V for Vendetta.
I WRITE: Stories that make people feel things. Happy, sad, giggly, jiggly, nerdy...
I CONFUSE: My letters sometimes when I write by hand. I'm always thinking a few letters ahead and my damned handwriting can't keep up.
I NEED: ANOTHER RAISE!
I SHOULD: Do the laundry.
I START: With the mere push of a "button".
I FINISH: Shaking and gasping.

Good Evening Ladies and Germs...

How are you guys doing?

I'm doing great. Tired, ill, a little cranky, but on the whole, very, very good.

I've been working upwards of 52 hours a week now that the holiday hours are in full swing, and training craploads of brand new employees. It's kind of fun, and very exhausting. All of my new trainees are between the ages of 17 and 21, so I've got hordes of little man-geeks in training to manipulate as I see fit. It's kind of like babysitting and nerd school at the same time. Does that make me the Head honcho Geek? Threats of spanking for bad behaviour seem to go across quite nicely and end up with appropriate results.

my Man-Geeks-in-training keep on telling me that I'm too serious, though. Me? Serious? I just don't encourage the pranks between staff ("I don't care if you do it, I just DON'T want to know! Ignorance is my protection! Oh, and don't fuck with me.") I don't encourage the flight of miniature helicopters through the mall, because I don't want to get screamed at by Mall Admin. This just seems logical.


Typical conversation with my employees consist of shit like this:

Me: "What are you guys doing?"

Man-Geek-in-Training #1: "Downloading some stuff."

Me: "What are you downloading?"

MGiT#1: "remixes of music from Final Fantasy."

Me: *rolling eyes to heaven, stifling laugh* "God, you guys are such NERDS! Cute, but WOW... Nerdy." *walks towards store exit* "Oh, and get a girlfriend!"

I seem to be getting more and more tasks tossed onto my list of 'stuff to do at work', and I know for sure I'm going to appreciate my vacation when I take one.

I'm getting into month number two of living with my boyfriend, Cliff, and things are going quite well. He was pampering me today, while I wheezed and whined and doped myself up with as few as possible painkillers on the couch. We've only had one argument in the past 2.5 months, based upon miscommunication, due to the fact that last night I was owly and grouchy, because I felt like poo, and seemed to be taking it out on him when really I wasn't. Whoops. Other than that, it's a few minor squabbles and smooth sailing. This is good.

My nephew decided to share his strep-throat with me, masked in kisses and "I love you, Auntie Lynn"'s. Unfortunately, I can't attribute malice to a seven year old who gives me kisses and loves whilst infecting me with streptococcus. The cute little bugger.

My Year end compilation will be posted up sometime between the 15th-20th of this month, as a Christmas present to my friends, near and far. It's 23 (roughly) tracks of high-bitrate, mp3 music-y goodness, from stuff I've not been able to get enough of this past 12 months. Save about 170 megs of space on your hard drive, kids!!

Depending on the situation (more on that, potentially, in a later post, further on in the month...) The cover has been completed, (though constantly under revision due to my own picky tendencies) and I've been doing a lot of design work for some pretty constant clients over the past few weeks as well.

Oh, and because I suck, and couldn't manage to remember to wish people a happy birthday ON their birthdays, despite constantly reminding myself, A happy belated Birthday to Miss Melissa, A happy birthday to Miss Jerilyn, and a happy early Birthday to Miss Elizabeth.

Okay. It's time for bed. I'm bagged.

Kisses!

L.