Merry Christmas!!!

I'm really bad at this. But you knew that.

Well, here we are! The end of another year! I don't know about you, but I'm feeling like this year went by REALLY fast. But I digest; I feel the need to reflect a wee bit on the past year. Don't worry, I'm not going to go philosophical and gushy on you! I'm in this for entertainment value dontcha know?

When was my last post? August? Holy crap. So what can I reflect on from that point (just to get you up to speed, right??)...OH! Remember that time I made it to the finals of the CCC Idol? I won. The whole shebang. I has a righteous trophy. And it's awesome. Because I won. AND I work with/know some of the best people because I had a great support system there to cheer me on! My department was there, all of my husband's coworkers (oh yeah, I got married too!) were there, another department came by after their team building session (they were half cut by this point, of course!) and last but certainly not least, my mom made the trip from BC with my little sister to see it too! So fun. So I'm a super champ, woot!

We finally got the wedding over and done with! And it was FAAAABULOUS but I'm so glad it's over! We had such a fantastic time with our families (and a couple friends) and everything went pretty smoothly! People keep asking me if anything has changed since then, and to be honest, nothing has. At all. Except my name. But really? We've lived together forever. It's not like we're coming in to this blind, right? Silliness. On the plus side, we looked GREAT.

See? What'd I tell you?

Hmmm what else? Now it's Christmas! WOOT! So fun. We're spending our very first Christmas at home! Exciting! However, I have had a couple issues. Actually, I've only had one, and her name is Lily.

So, I love my cat. Very much. She's likely the only child I'll ever have (because I don't like slobbery children, but cats are fantastic) so I spoil her ROTTEN. But she's discovered the joys of a Christmas tree. This is the first Christmas tree that Cody and I have had together, and it's a 6.5 foot fake tree, pre-lit and super pretty and I love it. Unfortunately, so does Lily. I made the stupid mistake of buying jingle bell ornaments. Three guesses who loves them most? Frick. So she bats around at the tree and overall enjoys it quite a bit.

So anyways, every day when I come home from work, I see that there are branches bent out of shape. I've been thinking that she's just batting and pulling on the branches...turns out I'm wrong. She has discovered that she is a cat and can climb trees. So she has been IN my tree. At least 4 feet up, half the time. It's almost amazing.

Not a great picture, but you get the idea. I caught her doing this on a Saturday morning; I heard an abnormal volume of rustling, so I decided to investigate...and then I was so shocked that my first logical reaction was to take a picture. Priorities, right? I had to show everyone what my cat was doing. Blast her.

AND I broke my foot. How, you ask? Well, it is a rather unbelievable story. But I swear that it's true! We had our company Christmas party a couple of weeks ago, and I was dancing on the dance floor. Apparently, we invited David Beckam to our party, and he decided to practice his soccer punt as a dance move. You know what, man? Keep it on the field. Truth is, I have no idea who kicked me in mid-dance. But it happened. I swear! I was kicked in the foot and they broke my...dorsal metatarsal or something like that...MY FOOT IS BROKEN. And I can't even guilt someone into bringing me coffee every day because I don't know who did it. I suppose I could still guilt people...but I don't think that people necessarily care that much :P And I'm stubborn and don't let people do much for me half the time. Ah, the foolish stubbornness of youth...

Well, another year has drawn to a close, and here we are at the end of it all. But thank goodness for the holidays; it gives us a chance to slow down (hopefully!), enjoy some festivities and enjoy the time that we have with our friends and families. Granted, the gifts are FANTASTIC too, but I think that we need this time to rest, recharge and enjoy the time spent with your family and friends.

On that note, I bid you adieu for now. I leave you with a song...that has nothing to do with Christmas...but sure has a lot to do with how I broke my foot. Apparently, some people just shuffle too hard.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!



Hot for teacher

GREAT NEWS!

SO! I got a text the other night from a friend of mine (who was also the Artistic Director of Vocal Motion) and she had some interesting tidings to share! She is the Director and Founder of a music/musical theatre studio here in Calgary; they do private voice lessons, as well as group choreography and theatrical performances and from what I gather, the ages are between 7 and 16. Anywho, she is looking for private voice instructors for the plethora of kids looking for private instruction and she thought of me! So I've been offered a job teaching voice privately at her studio! I'm really excited. This is exactly what I want to do. I've been teaching here and there on my own, but it'll be fantastic coming into a studio with a well-established clientele, you know?

I'll still be working my "day job" as the kids are in school during the day, but I'm planning to teach two evenings a week, 4 or so lessons per night for 45 minutes per lesson. I'm really excited at the prospect of doing this and working with the kids. Not to mention the added bonus of getting paid to do it! There's really something special about sharing and teaching someone how to enjoy music and perform it to the best of their ability.

So yay me!

AND, I performed at the CCC Idol preliminaries on the 15th...and it was AWESOME. I feel like I did really well. I had some pretty dynamite support from some friends and coworkers, but I'm really hoping that I made it through to the Finals so that I can get MORE people out! It was a little nerve-wracking the first time up, and I know that I can do better than I did, but I still feel pretty good about it. I got to perform last, which was EXACTLY what I wanted, and I got the entire bar on their feet dancing, got a standing ovation (which is really not much of a change because they were ALREADY on their feet...but hey, I'll take what I can get!), and a big thank you from the band, and that probably felt best of all! From what everyone told me, the band was having a FANTASTIC time while I was on stage, so I'm hoping that I make it through. Cody gave me a hard time because I was initially a little bit disappointed in my performance because I messed up a couple of times due to nerves, but you're your own worst critic, right? If I make it to the finals, you get a rehearsal with the band though, and I think that would help. But we'll just have to wait and see!

I promise I'll update more and write more entertaining things! I have been sadly lax over the last while, I know...SO BAD. Anywho, I bid you adieu and I leave you with today's SOTD. I'm hoping that by using this as my SOTD this time around, it'll be seen as something of a premonition for my greatness to come...once I get my OWN cult following. But not in the creepy religious "drink the kool-aid" kind of way, but in the awesome, everyone-wants-to-hang-with-me kind of way. Just sayin'. NOW BE AMAZED!!!

I am Proud Mary

So remember that time when I said that I would totally blog on a weekly basis? And then I never did? And then I didn't blog for a month? Yeah, good times.

I have a really hard time sticking to schedule, to be honest. But at least I admit my inability to dedicate myself to writing stuff. A friend of mine (an aspiring author, to be exact) said to me the other day that she was jealous of the fact that I could pick a topic and just go with it. JEALOUS! Of MY writing! I'm still not entirely convinced that she was, in fact, reading MY blog and not someone else's who looked suspiciously like me and/or happened to have the same pictures and profile... Am I flattered? Yes. But on the other hand, I tend to dwell on silly and mundane things. But I suppose those can sometimes make for entertaining reading...

In other news, I have been volun-told  that I am my company representative in the Calgary Corporate Challenge Idol Competition, and I will be performing in the preliminaries at the Winkin' Owl Pub on August 15th at 7 pm. It's essentially glorified karaoke, which is totally cool. If the title wasn't enough to give it away, I'll be singing Proud Mary. Because I'm awesome. In the style of Tina Turner, of course. Everyone needs a little diva in their lives! She brings so much soul to the table, I hope I can embody even a little bit of it! I'm just gonna go out there and give it all I've got and do what I'm best at. EVERYONE SHOULD COME. If I'm chosen to be part of the top 25 performers, I will move on to the Finals at the CCC Midway Party on September 15th. And I plan very much on winning. I think it'll be a good time, actually. This will be the first time that my company has ever officially competed in the Idol competition and we're drumming up a fair amount of interest! I'm pretty excited to see the turnout. I've heard that it's been pretty solid in years past, so hopefully I can get a lot of support...and let's be honest, I'm also out for some recognition. I'm kind of a press-whore, so I'll take whatever promotion I can get! It's nice to be on stage again.

On that note (see what I did there? Note? HAH! I'm hilarious.); I leave you with the SOTD. Can you guess what it is? Is it...Proud Mary?
...
...
...JOKE'S ON YOU!!! It's not. I GOT YOU! YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE! Win. Man I'm awesome.

In all seriousness though, this is Matt Costa performing the Ballad of Miss Kate. Pretty rad, and I've recently fallen in love with this album (Songs We Sing) and you should all listen. I thank ye!

It all ends tomorrow

I'd like to take this opportunity to nerd out a bit. And you can't do anything about it because this is MY blog. So there.

Tomorrow, July 15th 2011, the EPIC FINALE of Harry Potter is released. I am RIDICULOUSLY excited. It's embarassing. This is a big deal, though! There's no denying this is going to be the most amazing movie of the summer. Of the YEAR. OF FOREVER. Okay, maybe that's overdoing it a bit. But I'm jacked.

I purchased advanced tickets a few weeks ago for this extravaganza, and I will be going tomorrow night at 11 pm. I. Can't. Wait. Seriously. It's the end of an era! Think about it: the first Harry Potter book was released in 1997, the first movie in 2001. The Deathly Hallows book was released in 2007, the final installment in the two-part film released in 2011. This series has spanned 14 years; there are people who have literally grown up with Harry Potter. The thought really amazes me, actually.

I'll admit it, I'm a relatively new fan of the series. I started reading the books in 2008, and I had seen a few of the movies before that point. It wasn't until I started reading the books that I really got into the movies, but I'm like that with any film adaptation. I'm a purist, really. Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to seeing the end. But at the same time, I'm really sad that it IS ending.

On a side note, I was on YouTube looking for an appropriate HP video/song to use as my SOTD, and I stumbled across something...awesome...for lack of better word. Apparently, there is a Harry Potter Musical. Fan-made, of course, but nonetheless, it's there. And I watched some of it. And I was delighted and a little horrified. So I will be sharing this with you. IT ALL ENDS TOMORROW...but the wait for the SOTD ends NOW.

Brain spew and stranger danger

I have been WRACKING my brain for days trying to think of something to write.

I didn't really think of anything.

So I'll just word vomit. Because I'm rad like that. And it's how I roll. 

I went and saw Hawksley Workman again this week. I think I'm up to 6 or more of his shows in the last couple years...but I could be wrong. I've seen a few times though, ye ken? As some/most of you will already know, Hawksley Workman is my favorite artist of all time. He's put out 12 albums, no two of which have sounded the same. He's not a big, smashing radio star, but he's got a sort of cult following, with which I am pleased to be associated. We drank the kool-aid. And it was GOOD.

Anyways, I have a profound respect for Hawksley. He's been around for years, written a TON of great music and he's always been REAL. I've had the distinct pleasure of meeting him and talking to him on occasion (and no, I wasn't the girl who broke down and CRIED when I met him; I actually pretended I was with a paper or something so that I could get close enough to him and then I told him the truth. And he laughed. And he hugged me. It was rad.), and he's just a good person. He's so grateful for his fans and for the loyalty that those of us who have followed him for years have shown, and he's truly just in it to make great music and crowd-please. Anyone who's been to a Hawksley show can tell you with the utmost confidence that he just wants to have fun and entertain. He also has a most righteous sense of humor. Made me laugh so hard my face hurt by the end of the show. Every time, you'd think I'd be prepared for that by now! But noooo, I just don't learn...

I will tell anyone who'll listen (or read) how great this guy is. He's a truly phenomenal musician and his stage presence is unmatched by anyone I've seen as of yet. And I like to think that I've seen my fair share of shows in my lifetime! His live shows are fantastic! And I'll go again. And again. And again.

On that note, I leave you with today's SOTD. A fun little ditty called Your Beauty Must Be Rubbing Off from one of his older albums, (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves. It's always been one of my favorite tracks. It's fabulous live, but I can't find a video that does it justice. So this will just have to do for now. Check out his website from my Awesome Rad Stuff tab and try and find a show near you! I promise you, it's SO worth it!

I heart birds

You ever have those moments where you're just overwhelmed with awesome? I'm pretty sure I have them all the time. Not just because I'm so awesome, but because in 114 days, I will be marrying the man of my dreams. He's the one person on the planet that somehow manages to put up with me all of the time and still make sure that I know he loves me. I'm special.

See that? That's my sweetheart, my Cody Bird. I loves him so.

That guy, right up there, is the greatest man in the world and there is no one else in the world I would rather be with. Every morning, he wakes up first and rolls over to give me a kiss before he gets out of bed to have a shower. He faithfully wakes my lazy ass up every day at the same time so that I'm not late for work, but he always comes and snuggles with me for a few minutes before it's time to get up. Morning snuggles have this uncanny knack for making my morning an absolute DELIGHT. It's my first shot of caffeine in the morning.

He always tells me I'm beautiful, even when I feel like I just crawled out of a rubbish bin. He always makes me feel special, even on my worst days where I feel like I'm useless. It's scary how truly wonderful he is. And I don't think he quite realizes it. I can only hope that I show him how much I care and that he is everything to me.

In 114 days, I will marry my soulmate.

In 114 days, I marry my best friend.

In 114 days, I get to be a Bird, too. 

Dear Vancouver Rioters...

I will always love Vancouver. It will always be home to me.

I will always love the people of Vancouver. Contrary to potentially popular belief, Vancouver is full of good people...with the exception of those who were foolish enough to start or participate in the riots following the Canucks Stanley Cup loss of last week.

That was dumb. What were you thinking? How angry and angst-ridden do you have to be to feel that it's a GOOD idea to push over a car and light it on fire? And not necessarily in that order? How does this make you feel better? Does the destruction and the embarrassment that the city will feel now pacify you? Come on. This is madness.

You know what the best part is? The fact that some of you will fess up to your mistakes. I respect you for that. I do NOT respect that you destroyed parts of a beautiful city, however I believe that you may have made the city stronger. I do NOT respect the choices that you made, however I believe that you may now know better. Some of you don't have the guts to turn yourselves in and apologize. That's because you're weak. Because you're children. Because you believe that you are invincible. You're not. Because you're scared. You should be. Remember that time you posed for a photo in front of the storefront window you broke? Someone has that photo. Remember that time you told your friend that you stuffed a lit rag into the gas tank of a car? Someone spilled the beans because it was the right thing to do. You will be caught and you deserve the punishment you will receive.

Dear citizens of Vancouver,
Thank you for cleaning up the destruction that the mob left behind. Thank you for coming together as a community to show that you care. Thank you for trying to stop what was happening. Thank you for standing up for what is right. And THANK YOU for showing what true Canadian spirit and pride means to you.

We are all Canucks, like it or not.

You know what really grinds my gears?

I have a rant.

It drives me bonkers when you offer to help someone and they decline; not for the reason that they don't need help, but declining so that they can play the martyr. THAT, my friends, makes me crazy. I'll hear this person complain about having no help for the next forever-and-a-day, and I'll just swallow my RAGE and smile and nod and pretend to be sympathetic when really all I want to do is smack them upside the head and tell them that I TRIED to help but noooo...you have to do everything by yourself so that you look like a hero. BAH, I say.

There. I feel better. It's amazing how the written (slash, typed) word can make you feel so much better about something. Paper/computer screens are good listeners, I suppose. I've also been told that answering machines and voicemail work well, too...

That ended up being significantly shorter than I thought. That's disappointing...I suppose I just need to find something else worth talking about, yes?

You know what I love? The internet. I just googled "Random Topics" and the top result was for a Random Blog Topic Generator. What a bit of serendipity, eh? Boo yeah. New topic: writing your own music. You know, I dabble in composition from time to time, but it's not really a big strength of mine. I took Music Composition for two years in high school, released my own CD (on a VERY small scale. Because I'm poor.) and did some work with a composer friend in college, but it's not something that I would ever really be able to do exclusively. That being said, however, I'm pretty good when it comes to arranging music. There are a great number of university and college groups, as well as independent groups that will perform popular radio hits that have been arranged a capella (voices only), and I've started down the path of creating these arrangements myself. It's simply another form of expressing and performing and it's also a blast to do. Time consuming as all hell if you're still in the dinosaur age and hand-writing the arrangements, but it's still a righteous way to occupy my mind.

Speaking of a cappella groups, here's a men's group called These Guys from LA, California performing a totally groovy medley that you may find worthy of a listen and perhaps a...SOTD?? See how I threw that in there? Oh, me.

I'd love to hear if anyone else arranges or has any interest in it! GIVE ME FUEL FOR DISCUSSION!! Comment below!

HAPPY BARFDAY CARLY!

Today, I shall compose a tribute. A tribute to my good friend Carly, who on this day twenty-four years ago, graced the world with her glorious presence.

Actually, she probably graced the world with her screaming presence. I feel like this is a much more accurate interpretation, considering the circumstances of birth. Gross.

ANYWAYS, Carly has entertained the hell out of me since we started working together. Mostly because we can't seem to get work done when we're together...we're usually laughing too hard. It's a jolly time. I'm clearly not very good at writing tributes. I get distracted easily, it would seem. This is not the greatest blog in the world; this is just a tribute. There you go, Carly. I infringed upon a copyright just for YOU. That's love, man.

I used to blog on my website, but then I got irritated with how difficult it is to really maintain a website and make it look awesome without wanting to punch a baby...so I stopped. The point is, I used to have a Song of the Day or Song of the Week, depending on how lazy I was. Today, I shall re-implement this practice. And in the honor of Carly's barfday (har, I'm clever); I shall choose something of the delightful persuasion. This one's for you, Carly. Check out Darkest of Discos by Slowcoaster here.

Rock on, Carlyface. I heart you!

A funny thing happened on the way to work today...

Actually no. It didn't. But I just thought I would say that to get your attention. Clever, no?

Hells yes I am.

Anywhoooo, welcome to my blog. I assure you, it will be full of delights and wonders the likes of which you have NEVER seen. And you may never truly see it, for the awesomeness that is my bloggery may gouge out your eyes when casting your vision upon it for the first time. I have just popped your uber blog cherry. Mandee: 1 Hapless Readers: 0.

This is why I should never be allowed to do this.

I promise I'll do this all the time. Truly, I do. I had another website that I was pretty faithful to for a while...but then I got bored. And nobody seems to be able to access it. Therefore, seeing as I'm a press whore (as Kevin Smith so eloquently calls himself) I require the masses to see it. Not just at home. At work. When you are supposed to be productive. Nobody likes productivity. *eye roll* I'm pretty sure that statement could get me fired. But then again, I'm too cool for school so really...yeah. I'm pretty much screwed.

This is a mere precursor to the awesomeness that will come on a regular basis. For reals. HOWEVER, I must cut said precursor short as I have a Stanley Cup final game to watch. FYI, Canucks got this. Game on.

Until next time, I bid you adieu. Godspeed.