my shadow

I've been planning a post of simple smiles -- getting out from work early, having The Boy come over wearing the t-shirt I gave him -- but sometimes sadness overwhelms the happy simplicities of life. 

Just a few days ago we realized that things with my dog, Shadow, haven't been going so well. Last year he had an operation to remove twelve of his upper teeth and for the past week he was showing the same symptoms of irritation, restlessness, unable to sleep, not wanting to eat. 

Yesterday while I was taking care of him (as my parents were at work), my mom calls me to tell me we're most likely going to put him to sleep soon. I don't think I've ever cried so hard in my life. I was determined to cuddle with him as much as I could yesterday. Then a huge storm came and the power went out twice so I had to cuddle Shadow since he's terrified of storms.

Today my parents went to the vet and it turns out it's his bottom teeth that are infected and need to be removed - the operation could break his jaw, and the anesthetic could wear him out since his heart is weaker due to a heart murmur (which was also discovered today). We decided that instead of torturing him with a surgery that would only help him temporarily, we will put him to sleep.  We don't want to be selfish and hold on to him just because we're not ready to let go, and we don't want to constantly have to bring him into surgery.

You don't have to write any "I'm so sorry" messages because it's not anybody's fault. He's lived a long 10+ years and he's cursed with poodle teeth (he's also half-terrier). I just didn't expect it to come so soon, and me and my parents are devastated. 

They decided it would be best if we put him to sleep while I'm in Vancouver - that way I can process it better, have my sister and my niece to take my mind off things, and get used - the best that I can - to the idea that he won't be there anymore.

I never thought I'd be the type who got so attached to a pet - but when you have this cuddly thing laying next to you in bed each night, who comforts you every time you cry, whose tail spins around like a helicopter whenever you come home - you can't help but realize that you'll miss those things, too much.

I'm still looking forward to Vancouver but Tuesday will be tough - it will essentially be saying goodbye to him. I just need strength; and I want to remember him happy. 

Less depressing posts in the future, I hope.

i like to sit on dinosaurs

When I was younger, I went to see Jurassic Park at the theatres with my older sister and a daughter of my parents' friends. I consider it my 'first horror film' before I saw Scream (which traumatized me for a good three months after I watched it). The most memorable thing about Jurassic Park? When the T-Rex came onto the screen and I screamed and - from what I remember - ran out of the theatre. Well, the other day, I sat on a T-Rex -- take that, extinct creature! Was anyone else scared by Jurassic Park?

In all honesty though, Jurassic Park is one of my favourite films :) I'm just excited to make more memories  - whether of the scary variety or otherwise - with my sister (countdown to Vancouver: just a little over a week)! Until then, I'm trying to soak up as much sun and time with friends as I can, while also looking forward to my last work-week at the summer school in the office. Here's some more photos from the weekend:

Don't worry, he's not actually choking me ... hehe ...

We stumbled upon this - by the looks of it - abandoned bookstore which was literally FLOODED with books. I would love to read The Book of Spies, The Encyclopedia of Etiquette, and The Illustrated London News. I decided if I were to ever pull off a robbery, it would be here.

Celebrated one of my closest friend's birthdays on Friday with a buffet and then going to a pub! And then I realized that Kym had her birthday on the same day, so if you haven't greeted her -- belated is still good, I hope! Or you can give her a belated present by checking out Herro Hachi (shameless plug haha).

Now, I have some really overdue awards to share and I'm really grateful to you all :)Thanks for the warm welcome back and for these awards, as well! First, I received the Versatile Blogger Award! Here are the rules:

There are some rules to this award:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award

2. Share seven things about you

3. Nominate 6 newly discovered blogs

4. Let your nominees know about the award!

Thank you so much Tasha! So here are the seven things about me: 

1) I'm left-handed. It might seem like the most basic information about me, but a lot of people don't know that even if they've known me for years!

2) I like having 'nostalgic' evenings where I spend a few hours listening to Spice Girls, or watching old Sailor Moon episodes; uber nerd, I am. 

3) Pizza = perfection and I could eat it every single night of my life.

4) To combat all that pizza-eating, I love going to ExerciseTV and trying out all their workouts, just wish I had more time to do them.

5) I have a nervous habit of biting my nails. In order to get rid of that habit I must have my fingernails painted AT ALL TIMES. That's the only way I won't bite them.

6) Gifts that I consider to be great: hugs and anyone who offers to get me a cup of coffee, haha. 

7) I've had multiple dreams of meeting up with bloggers from around the world and I wake up happy - and wondering if my imagined voices are really how these bloggers sound like!

I'm awarding blogs I've just happened to stumble upon and think deserve this! So I award: Allison, Christine, Emma, Essence, Leesh and Lisa!

And then Bree (who always has amazingly fun pictures) awarded me with the You're Going Places, Baby award! Thank you :) The Rules: Describe where you think you'll be in 10 years and then pass it along to 10 other bloggers!

Firstly I award Margarita, Andhari, Tiara, ko0ty, Krissy, Jess, Kym, Mayra, Nahl and Amanda - because I would love to read your answers! It's kind of terrifying thinking about what will happen ten years from now, but here goes ...

 

In ten years, I picture myself being the happiest multitasker - hopefully married, hopefully with one child, and with photo albums full of travel adventures before that child came along. I would love to be a high school teacher or a professor, have my webdesign company, and  be in the process of finishing up a novel. Most of all, I hope I'm in a location that either I'm surrounded by close family/friends or that helps me feel secure - a roof over my head, food in the fridge, all that jazz. Oh, and a gazebo in the garden. YES!

And if any of you just feel like doing this award, feel free to pick it up!

Okay, this blog is now completely full of ramblings, but I just have to ask:

How was your weekend? :)

wednesday wishes: where have I been?

So, it's definitely been a while! Never fear, I didn't convert to an Amish way of life or have my computer stolen (I would probably cry hysterically and alert the presses if that happened). And I don't want to make excuse upon excuse for my absence, because if there's anything I have learned in the past three weeks, it's that sometimes it's just best to suck it up and truly apologize. I'm sorry for being away for so long - I've missed your blogs and blogging, too. 

And a big THANK YOU, GRACIAS, MERCI BEAUCOUP to every person who signed up for Project Postcard - I've sent out all the pairings so if you haven't sent out your postcard yet, try to do that by the end of this week! For those who signed up a little later and weren't paired - never fear, I'll be doing this again towards the middle-end of August and I'll keep track of those who wanted to join in! Hopefully by that time everyone will have gotten their postcards and we can all do a show-and-tell, as well!

But for now, I'm going to keep it a little light and simple today with my Wednesday Wishes with a twist - things that I wish to happen or continue happening for the remainder of the summer - in no particular order, really :) And if you're tired of lists - just read #7 for some news!

01. More hang-outs with him / more visits to the beach

Both of these things make me a happy camper and this month at work has made me miss both these things terribly.

02. More yummy homemade food

Another lesson learned from working: sneaking away every day to get some fast food on top of the little sandwich you eat at work does not make for a healthy diet. I miss real, good food - like this homemade pizza The Boy made for an excursion to the beach :) 

 03. More amazing moments with friends

When we all come together, it's a bit of a miracle but always good, every time. In this picture we decided to head to a park with a beautiful view after seeing Inception - to take silly pictures and talk about the craziness that is Inception, haha. 

 04. Mmmm, ice cream.

'Nuff said. The one pictured is mango ice cream from an Indian restaurant. Please sir, I want some more.

 05. Meeting up with people I haven't seen in a while :)

This past Sunday I headed to Toronto to meet up with two ladies I love and have known since I was around 13/14. It made me realize that I need more spontaneity - like how we went to the theatres to see Toy Story 3 (so nostalgic/good!) and then snuck into Despicable Me (so funny!) ... okay, maybe more legal spontaneity in the future ;)

 06. See Herro Hachi launch

Oh wait, it just did! A big reason for my absence is that for the past week or so I would work from 7am-3pm and then jump into coding like a madwoman and passing e-mails frantically with an amazing woman who designs fashionably funny t-shirts - but the hard work has paid off :) I am so happy for this site and for Kym, so everyone please check it out! 

 07. Visit Vancouver

My dream this summer was to spend a month in Europe - and unfortunately that's not going to happen this year (hopefully next, fingers crossed)! But if I can't do that, I'd rather spend some time in the other half of this country to visit my sister - I haven't seen her since last October and I miss her to bits and pieces. So I wish I could travel to Vancouver.

Oh wait a minute, I AM! SURPRISE :D

I'm going to Vancouver, baby! 

I just purchased my ticket - I'm leeeaving on a jet plane in a matter of weeks!

Incredibly excited, I am :)

After a long month of working and feeling like my summer is just flying by, my mission is to fly off to see my sister for a couple of weeks and then spend the rest of the summer making the most of it with those I love. No more afternoon naps - I will drink a gazillion coffees if it means more time doing things! Now my question is:

Do you have a 'mission' this summer?

P.S. My #08 on the list? Visiting your blogs more often so I can find out what you've been up to for the past month!

just a quickie (that's what she said)

Just a quick update - life has been a little hectic as of late (but hopefully nothing I can't handle) and I hope to have more of a proper update soon. But thank you all SO much for your response to Project Postcard, so glad you're all signing up for it! If you haven't yet, go the post below for more details! You have until tomorrow-ish to sign upf or it, and then by Friday/Saturday I will have e-mailed you all with your partners! I'll send out e-mails asking for all your addresses soon, if I haven't done so already.

Annnd if you're missing me (teehee), you can find a post by me at In It To Gym It, all about what motivates me to work out, right over here! :)