Guest Blog - Jello shots + Bingo

= a ridiculous drinking game = a bad idea!

Sometimes what starts as a good/fun idea turns into a mess.  Such is the case today as my week in Lynn Valley, helping Johanna house sit while her parents are away, draws to a close.  We decided that today would be spent relaxing at home after a long work week.  What we didn't really anticipate was the effect a tray of jello shots would have on our plans.  At this point, the screen is too bright for me to keep typing so I'm going to defer the rest of this to Jojo...

Or maybe not...see what I mean about this combination being deadly?

Video Stars

I apologize to anyone who reads this that isn't a hockey fan.  I don't have much else going on these days because the playoffs make me anti-social, causing me to check my calendar for game days (as if I didn't already have them memorized lol) before I can agree to plans.  It's a bit sad I know but if you're a (crazy) fan, you know exactly what I'm talking about.  It's game 2 vs. the Blackhawks tonight so obviously it's all I can really think about at this point.  Every fan has their own superstitions when it comes to games but the best fan movement always comes in the form of songs & videos for the playoffs.  I'm leaving you with the collection thus far since I'm about to start watching them to gear up for the game.  I promise I'll be back with a non-hockey related post tomorrow!

Till I Collapse

Revenge of the Fallen

Canuck Boat (Love Boat Theme Parody)

Game Day (Rebecca Black "Friday" Parody

Destroy the Blackhawks

How the West was One

Canucks Rule (Cee-Lo Green "Forget You" Parody)

Black Red Yellow (Wiz Khalifa "Black and Yellow" Parody)

Canucks 2011 Official Playoff Opener

Steady

Yesterday the Canucks started their run for the Cup with an exciting win over the Hawks.  It's easy to get caught up in all the hype and expectations, but we've been here before people - planning parade routes after early wins, etc.  Let's take a page from the always awesome Keep Calm and Canuck On.  The road to the Stanley Cup finals is long and hard so remember,

PSB

The regular season is over and for those outside the sweet sixteen, it's time to trade skates for golf clubs.  But for the rest of us, the most magical time of the hockey year is about to begin.  All I know is that sometimes the Universe recognizes your passion and tips a bit of luck in your favour - like getting me tickets for Game 1, Round 1 of the 2011 Playoffs!!!  This is what I like to call Post-Season Bliss (PSB) =)

Luongo was a beast tonight, making some incredible saves (you know it's serious when it's it's in italics!), leading the team to a terrific 2-0 win over the Hawks.  Wanna bet they'll be busy drowning their sorrows at the Roxy tonight?  This is the most electric time of year for fans and I'm so glad I got to see the team start things off right.

Paper never looked so sexy

Newest addition to the plaza

Towel Power Man!

Waiting to be waved

The view from the 14th row
in Section 319

Fin's latest toy shoots 10
shirts in 5 seconds

Towel waving frenzy!

Steps

Sometimes, life decides to have a bit of fun at your expense.  I'd love to say there's an easy way to get over whatever roadblock gets thrown down before you, but let's face it - how are you supposed to learn without a little blood, sweat, and tears?

I've had my share of screw ups and sticky situations, so you think I might have retained some knowledge as to how to avoid them or at the very least, get out of them gracefully.  Sadly, this is just not the case since I've apparently developed a bit of a block with this particular topic.

Unlike certain programs, there aren't any set rules for dealing with problems or moving on.  Sometimes, talking through the issue works best, other times it's better to just walk away and wash your hands of it.  The one constant I find when dealing with anything, is my friends.  Without them to talk through all the garbage with me on my quest for the truth in a situation, I'd be forever lost and always in trouble.

Blah

Some days just don't seem like they are worth the effort.  Monday is probably the day that feels like this the most.  Maybe it was because I was at work an hour earlier than usual or the fact that a group of birds all decided to poop on my car at the same time on my way to work (seriously, they got most of my windshield and the splatter goes all the way back to the trunk!!!) but today feels like I should have spent it soaking up some rays in the park while reading a good book.  Instead, I sat at my desk for 9 hours and worked away on my computer.  Then, I drove back out to North Van to stay with Jojo while her parents are in Mexico.  What wild and crazy shenanigans do two 20-year old females get up to?  Left over Chinese food and two hours of Keeping up the Kardashians on the E! network, followed by an episode of Chelsea Lately (which was the highlight of my day since she had Joshua Jackson on as her guest!) and Dancing with the Stars.

The week can only get better from here right?  Here's hoping...

Pieces

I'm not sure if it's scary or comforting to look back on things I've written years ago and realize what I said then is still relevant in my life.  I suppose it depends on what subject matter we're discussing.  If I was talking about universal themes and life in general, then I guess it's comforting to know the world hasn't changed that much.  On the other hand, reading my previous statements on moving forward, the future, and other similar subjects is somewhat frightening to see how little I've actually been able to embrace those declarations and turn them into reality.  Once in a while though, I come across something that I have a new appreciation for.  This is a post from almost a year and a half ago (September 27th, 2009 to be exact), also titled Pieces:

When your life consists of multiple different worlds, it's easy to fall apart slowly. On the other hand, it's also extremely easy to have them all implode simultaneously. Tonight, I let a few of my worlds collide and it was interesting to say the least. It felt like the evening was coming together and crumbling all in the same moment.  

As per usual, I had to set up my office in my room since people combined with alcohol always seem to think it's a good time to have a life talk with me. Not that I mind, it's actually the opposite. Most of the time I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing with my life, it's nice to be able to help someone else make sense of theirs. 

This is something I struggle with constantly; the possibility of losing yet another piece of myself, never to actually get it back. We patch our hearts with empty promises and hope, but we're never quite the same again. I stood before the staff at our annual Princess Sail Away party the other day and delivered an emotional thank you, but how can you really express just how much some people have changed your life? 

So tonight, I throw this out there to anyone that may be carrying a piece of me with them, intentionally or not, thank you for the difference you have made and for the pieces you've left in my care.

From what I remember, I was worried about feeling incomplete because I had given too much of myself away.  What I realized tonight is that I don't want to be complete.  At this point, the option of self-preservation just seems like an empty, lonely life.  I want to keep giving parts of myself away to make room for the pieces I get from my friends.

From late night designated driving (like the wee hours of this morning) to bellini lunches to hotel parties, every moment teaches me something new even if it takes me a while to figure out exactly what it is.  We don't just "patch our hearts with empty promises and hope," we patch it with each other.  We should never be the same as we used to be because that means we've stopped growing.

I used to want normalcy, whatever that actually entails, but now I'm happy with the unexpected (mostly).  It's not enough to just make it through life, focusing of what if's and debating opportunities until they've already passed by.  It's about standing up for what you believe, taking that risk, and possibly falling on your face; and I think I'm finally okay with that.

This being the end of the Princess season, we are faced with the possibility of not really seeing each other over the course of the next several months. It's always a bittersweet time of year since the joy of making it through another season is tainted with goodbye.