Well, so much for getting plans all approved and in motion for moving my Aunt. Less then a month ago, her friend took her to a place that has tiered care to see about her moving into an apartment there. She liked it, and as of July 1st has possession of the new place, but not needing to be out of the other apartment until August 1st. Me being the organized type I am, I'd wanted plans approved so I could work on finding helpers, renting the truck, getting her packed and have the main move day on the 19th. But, last week she didn't feel like planning, and this week (now that she's back from visiting family) is wanting to just rest and not even read the email with my ideas. And, my (trying to do so nicely) stating that I don't want a certain other person helping her move (they do a crappy/disorganized job of packing and are the type who want to be in charge) has got her thinking I'm 'hostile' towards this person. Arrrgh.

So, I've made plans, have people tentatively lined up to help with the actual move, and now have no clue as to what the heck is going to happen when. I think I'm generally pretty easy-going, but in this episode I'm this close to telling her to count me out. I've tried to work with what I knew might happen, but with nothing planned, I've gone ahead and made plans for me. Not to mention that I've just started a new job and am in the home stretch for sergeantry studies.  Oh, and I'm still trying to figure out just when I'm going to fit helping her pack into my schedule.

*sigh*

So yeah, my big catch of the week- I was able to pick up this copy of the Fifth Element from my work due to the fact that the staff at the library were tired to take care of so many people kept checking it out not knowing it can't be played in DVD players and how so many people complained. I'm sure as hell not complaining about this though.

I feel loved when...

The Five Love Languages

My Primary Love Language is Physical Touch

<th colspan="2">My Detailed Results:</th>

Physical Touch:	10
Acts of Service:	8
Quality Time:	7
Words of Affirmation:	4
Receiving Gifts:	1

About this quiz

Unhappiness in relationships is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. It can be helpful to know what language you speak and what language those around you speak.

Tag 3 people so they can find out what their love language is.

Take the Quiz!
Check out the Book

I feel loved when...

The Five Love Languages

My Primary Love Language is Physical Touch

<th colspan="2">My Detailed Results:</th>

Physical Touch:	10
Quality Time:	6
Acts of Service:	6
Words of Affirmation:	5
Receiving Gifts:	3

About this quiz

Unhappiness in relationships is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. It can be helpful to know what language you speak and what language those around you speak.

Tag 3 people so they can find out what their love language is.

Take the Quiz!
Check out the Book

Emily just came over to us, peanut butter and milk dotted on her face.  I looked down into her beautiful, messy face and said, "Hi, Messy Girl." 

"What's that?"

"Your face is messy."

"Why?"

"Because you eat messy."

"Nooo, I eat SANGwiches!"

And with a laugh and a smile, she was off again to eat her sandwich.

So. AX has started.

My dad kindly got a new tablet for me, a spare, so I don't need to carry the incoming Wacom back and forth. WHEE. 4.5x5 is actually not bad. Decided to try it out~


Tried on MangaBullet and decided to do something easy first.
And... you know I have to after the Kirby marathon. XD Meta Knight is so awesome watching over Kirby and his friends ♥ Wah... Ep15 was pretty sad ._.

Ike & Link.
More effort this time. How do people draw oekaki so fast, cuz I took forever...
Drawn on ミルクファクトリー's guest board. I LOVE Milkjelly's Zelda/SSB stuff. Prolly the most prolific Link fansite. So much Link crack, gag, pairing, and pure randomness 8D She comes up with something practically every day. Just take this for example, in which Link tries to cheer up/understand Midna. Don't choke on the ending *cracks up* It's her site's 2nd anniversary, and she's been liking this combi lately. Can't believe myself either. *shot ♥*

CRAP. I forgot Link's sword sheathe strap. OH. And sword is in wrong hand... Ohhhh for composition sake. ORZ

ANYWAYS. So. Yay tablet! I'll play around more later. *make a Tegaki E account later... finally*

TO kyraensui, mingmingcheong, and hellmaster05:

We're meeting at SF and watching Wall-E, YEAH?!
I... dunno what's the meeting time. Noon?

I'll be up tonight, and awake by 10 tomorrow. Call me if the plan's otherwise.

Well, yesterday was my birthday. I'm now 23.
It started with a 500 dollar bill for maintenance on my car. Wheee.

Towards the end of the day, I saw the Hancock movie in mission with several friends. Good times were had.
The movie was pretty much what you'd think of if you thought "Black superman". I got what I expected.

Today, while working I got the call from my boss. The Tim Hortons job is starting up again. The next store is on Sunday the 6th in surrey, followed by another one on Tuesday July 8th in richmond.

I sure hope we get those ones done fast, as I'm going to need to get up early to get there. Then driving home when super tired. Horay for energy drinks!

Oh, and I'm still looking for one of those wrist bands.

This one is from Geoffrey...

We bought a big bag of sugar snap peas at Costco the other day and ever since, G has been asking,

"Mummy, can I have some snack peas?"

*grin*

This circus is falling down on its knees
The big top is crumbling down
Its raining in baltimore fifty miles east
Where you should be, no ones around

I need a phone call
I need a raincoat
I need a big love
I need a phone call

These train conversations are passing me by
And I dont have nothing to say
You get what you pay for
But I just had no intention of living this way

I need a phone call
I need a plane ride
I need a sunburn
I need a raincoat

And I get no answers
And I dont get no change
Its raining in baltimore, baby
But everything else is the same

Theres things I remember and things I forget
I miss you I guess that I should
Three thousand five hundred miles away
But what would you change if you could?

I need a phone call
Maybe I should buy a new car
I can always hear a freight train if I listen real hard
And I wish it was a small world
Because Im lonely for the big towns
Id like to hear a little guitar
I think its time to put the top down

I need a phone call
I need a raincoat

I died in a car crash two days ago
Was unrecognizable
When they pulled me from the gears
No one's fault, no one's bottle
No one's teenage pride or throttle
Our innocence is all the worse for fears
The other walked away alive
Arms wrapped now around his wife

My lover sits, the silent eye
In a hurricane of warmth and word
My mother trembles with the sobs
Whose absence seems absurd
My sister shouts to let her see
Through the cloud of crowd surrounding me
My colleagues call for silence in my name

I died in a car crash three months ago
They burned me until I glowed
And crumbled to a fine gray sand
Now I am nothing, everywhere
Several breaths of strangers' air
And all thoughts ever written in my hand
They plant my tree out in the yard
It grows but takes the winter hard

My lover holds a knife to wrist
Says tomorrow comes, hold on a while
My mother tosses in the sheets
And dreams me holding my own child
My sister plays our homemade tapes
Laughs as tears run down her face
My office door now wears a different name

I died in a car crash four years ago
My tree drinks melted snow
Just eight feet tall a pale and fragile thing
Bee stings beaches bright vacations
Sunburnt high-school graduations
A sparrow healing from a broken wing
This year a glimpse of second chances
Tiny apples on my tree's branches

My lover hears the open wind
And crawls blinking into the sun
My mother leafs through photographs
And thinks "yes she was a lovely one"
My sister can't decide her truth
Asks aloud what I might do
In a conference hall my brief efforts engraved

I died in a car crash
A lifetime ago it seems
Been a decade or two or three
They've just release a new design
Bars and bags front and behind
My fate now an impossibility
Safely packaged hurtling down
The highway hardly make a sound

My lover very much alive
Arms wrapped now around his wife

I really dunno what I'm feeling these days. SJSU, you phail. I loathe the new logo. ~_~ Recap.

Saturday: Donated blood.

Sunday: Went karaoking with my mom, sister, and cousin for 5 hours. Mom sang mostly older Chinese songs, my cousin sang mostly R&B pop Chinese songs, my sister and I were all over the place. English, Chinese, Japanese. Surprisingly my voice wasn't warn out. GAH karaoking is so fun!

Past weeks: Have been playing Twilight Princess. I'm almost at the end ;_; *looks at the pages left in strategy guide* Now I don't want to finish it so fast... What will I play after? We just finished sledding with the Yeti couple. They're so cute. ♥ Hehe I keep making fun of -out of love- Link having a small frame.

Monday: Finally watched Ironman. Freakin' awesome. Also, chopped 4-5 inches of my hair off. Now I have fringes after 4 years.

Today: Other than class and work, watching Hoshi no Kirby nonstop. XD It's kid show cheezy -not the best blend of 2D & 3D either- but GAHH KIRBY YOU PINK BALL OF CUTENESS! I'm seriously just watching it for the fuzzy cuteness. Meta Knight is so COOL in it tho *__* He's all mysterious and always watching over Kirby like a mentor. AND HIS VOICE. Gah I wish he wasn't dubbed in Brawl. His seiyuu sounds so... for the lack of better word, "bishounen"-ish and suave. Oh he's Sano in the Hana Kimi drama CD. Of course he would. BUT KIRBYYY. CUTE METER BREAKS. "Poyo~" I'm gonna have the OP stuck in my head.

Other notes:
アキレスと亀 {Achilles to Kame; Achilles and Tortoise}
Takashi Kitano new movie. Premier in Japan on September 20, 2008. About a talentless but dedicated artist (Kitano) who continues his dream with his wife despite the lack of success. Man I really can't believe this is supposedly a comedy... the trailer can pass as a tearjerker ;_; Or maybe because it's such a sensitive subject... But Kajiura Yuki's composing the score. *_*

Happy Birthday to hellmaster05♥!! REI I WISH YOU THE BEST DAY EVER AND THAT YOU RECEIVE LOTS OF PRESENTS AND SWEETS AND MUSIC!

Now that I've actually had some sleep, I can say that AT war was pretty awesome.
Lee- Erin & I both had to work till about 11am on Friday, so we met up and managed to leave about 12:30pm. Stopping a couple times for gas, or lunch and then supper with the her parents in Kamloops had us arriving on site around 7:30pm. We started to set up next to vanagnessayem but then discovered that was right where the Tir Righ pavilion was to go. Princess Safiye suggested we move to the other side of their tent, and even helped us move the tent. As it turned out, we were right on the edge of the retinue area, which was fine. (we figured no one could complain as we had royal permission to camp there - and no one had told us). We ended up collecting an assortment of friendlies around us, some we knew, others we didn't.  I like having my encampment be one where people hang out.

Had fun socializing a bit, then turned in 'early' to get sleep. Did have the amusing incident of walking by myself to Gate to pick up a site copy (and map) and have a lady suggest I needed a gentleman to walk with me. She apparently has 15 sons in her household (from Avacal) that she's trying to marry off. Thankfully their encampment was out of the way and once she pointed it out, I made sure I avoided that area.

Enjoyed the war scenarios, and the little bit of 'taking charge' during one that helped us win. (my apologies if this sounds like bragging...just really thrilled that my idea helped us win) Haven't been a big fan of rapier wars ever since the fiasco at a war last year, but this one really was enjoyable. Having someone I roped into my plan tell me later that he'd help anytime I have a plan was definitely a moment to remember. It was also a pretty awesome feeling to see my brother-at-arms come and kill the Avacalian who had a moment before killed me. Thanks Lee! Think I need more practise in guarding someone on the field though. At least I got killed before he did.

After the war I walked around a bit with my honourary "brother". (one of them). A friend teased me how every time she saw me I was walking with a different guy. lol. Definitely a by-product of having adopted brothers. Gotta love it! Next to change out of hot sweaty gear into girly garb, and my new veil (beaded by one of the sweetest girls I know...thanks Trista!). That veil turned out to be a saving grace this weekend...kept my head & neck cool when soaked with the icy tap water. Despite that I did end up with a bit of heat-exhaustion, though thankfully Lee-Erin made sure I was looked after, so it didn't last long. Thought I was ok. when I went to court with R. but pretty much collapsed on him at one point. Kevin also was a dear and re-soaked my veil which was a life-saver at that point. At least until the sun went down enough to make one actually shiver a bit. A change of clothes and a bottle of cold scotch made things much, much better.

Being on ret for Owain is fun...he's a neat guy. At the end of my shift he asked to talk to me and asked if I'd be on ret for him & Wrenn. As fun as it could be, I said no, as my focus just now is sergeantry. I did offer to be 'insta-ret' if I'm at an event where ret is needed. I was impressed that he took the time to personally ask.

Am not much for partying, but I did enjoy wandering and hanging out with friends. To a certain extent. I can do without some conversation & actions, but the party was such that it was easy to wander off when needed. At least I had full functionality, even if not quite all my balance when standing still. And I do have an 'off switch' that tells me when I've imbibed enough. Although I was wandering around between friend groups, one friend who doesn't often make statements like that, recommended that I have someone escort me home. I managed to find one person I trusted and they were kind enough to walk with me.

Even had my Baron say that I'm useful to have around. Not only do I bake cookies that I've been told to state a disclaimer when sharing, but I also have tea. I like my Baron & Baroness. Was also pleasantly surprised to find out that the Princess actually knows who I am.

All in all it was an awesome weekend and I'm looking forward to next year. It was exactly the type of event I wanted...friends, fun, low-key and drama-free.

Oh, and the lemon juice trick really does work. Both Lee-Erin & I drank a glass of water with lemon in it every day for the 2 weeks prior to AT War, and we both ended up with maybe 2 bites. Guess mosquitoes really don't like lemon!

The War was a lot of fun. Just the fun, low-key event I wanted. The ride home however, was not.

It started off innocently enough. We left site around 11:30amish, then spent some time shopping in Kamloops (yay Surplus Herbies!) and eating a good lunch. Since it was so gorgeous out, we decided to take the scenic route, and avoid the Coquihalla. Other than needing to run the a/c the whole time, it was good. Except for the fact that the ipod adapter wasn't behaving, which just meant we spent the time yakking instead of listening to music.
We got almost to Boston Bar, then found out the road was closed due to a brush fire caused by a motorhome that caught fire.
Turning around, the funny noise that the truck had been making every once in a while became worse. Much worse. Not sure if we should be driving at this point, we limped to Spence's Bridge and the only place that was open - a bar. Since there was no such thing as cell service, we camped out by the pay phone to try and get ahold of Lee-Erin's nothemetalqueen Dad to find out if it was ok. to drive the truck.  As it turned out, we missed them by 7 minutes, so they didn't get our messages until some 2-3 hours later when they got back from the retirement dinner.  Thankfully we had BCAA, so we put in a call for a tow-truck, and sat down to wait. And got the scare of our lives when a creepy looking dude with stringy hair pulled up in a ratty, tow-truck like vehicle with a handicapped sign. He checked the trailer and came into the bar, but thankfully was just picking up booze. He was really creepy looking.
After a while we went outside and I practised some sword drills, and then the real tow-truck arrived. Ken was a big guy (as it turned out the owner of the towing company), with a bald head and many tattoos. He informed us that the bar we'd been waiting at was a biker bar. Thank God it was pretty quiet when we were there, although the sign on the door "Warning, bathrooms rated 19+. Please don't ask" should have tipped us off.
Ken took us to the repair shop 3.5km out of Cache Creek that would be able to do the work on the truck incase Dad wasn't able to.  Being left in the (literal) middle of nowhere, at a tow yard, was rather an odd feeling. Esp. as the "street" lights weren't working. Camp chairs, a lantern, munchies and bug spray made the wait tolerable. After an hour or so (maybe midnight-ish?), her Dad arrived to rescue us, and he decreed the truck was drivable, but to not go over 80kph. He followed us to his place in Kamloops, where we switched most of the gear to his truck, and after grabbing caffeine and food, we headed home via the Coquihalla. Due to the brokeness of the driver's seat, I was too short to drive, so Lee-Erin was stuck with all the driving. We stopped to sleep a couple of times, and arrived home around 7am. We crashed for a couple hours before showering and heading to work. Thankfully my work was ok. with me arriving 2 hours late. (having had kept them informed of the issues). I managed to get what I could done before the supreme mocha (with extra espresso shots) wore off and I made it home and passed out for 5 1/2 hours.

Oh, and the kicker...the fire is located at (I kid you not) "Jackass Mountain"

Home, sweet home.

The theme song for the trip is:
(I won't try and explain)

Greetings fellow archers,
I will be running the target archery range at Autumn War on the Randle site. Here is the tentative schedule of archery events.This schedule may change if conditions warrant it.
Of course any ideas, suggestions or comments for the range and contests are welcome. Particularly any novelty shoot ideas are particular welcome.
I will need help, LOTS OF HELP. So any TAMS, want to be TAMS, a call is sent out.

Friday : 10:00 am to 12 noon, 3:00 pm to 5 pm.

Saturday : 10:00 to 5:00pm
I will taking a hour lunch break from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. If we have any other TAMS then the range will be open. If not, then the range
will be closed.

Sun 10:00 to 2:00pm.
I will take a lunch break, probably from 11:00 to 12 :00
Range tear down after 2:00pm. Help will be needed.

I will be bringing a day shade for the archery range, along with a 5 gallon water jug with water from my house. Please bring your mug, goblet or cup.

Right now, I am planning royal rounds, IKAC and maybe a York round if there is a call for it. Be prepare to help, as I have not done a York round in a long, long, long time. Any ideas for novelty shoots would be welcome. Again be prepare to help.

War Points:
Declare which Barony you are shoot for. Only one royal round may be shot for war point. The Barony with the highest total of points wins the
war point.

Loaner gear: Loaner gear may be available depending if anyone brings extra archery gear. Loaner gear may be very limited to my personal extra archery gear.

Bring your chair.
Don't Forget Sunscreen and Off.
If you have any question, contact me at tradarcher@seanet.com
Your volunteer hours on the range will count towards your group's volunteer war point.
YIS.
HL Yeoman Knut

Emily brought her tiny treasure box in to us just a few minutes ago and began telling us where she acquired each of her treasures (read: rocks).  She has various rocks that she's pulled out of the garden and one pretty, tumbled rose quartz that we got last month when we went to the Hell's Gate Airtram.  This is what she said to Daddy...

"This is the rock that I got at Hello's Gate!"

I have a feeling the next time we go, we're all going to wave and yell "Hello!" on the tram...

It's the perfect time of year
Somewhere far away from here
I feel fine enough, I guess
Considering everything's a mess
There's a restaurant down the street
Where hungry people like to eat
I could walk but I'll just drive
It's colder than it looks outside

It's like a dream you try to remember
But it's gone
Then you try to scream
But it only comes out as a yawn
When you try to see the world
Beyond your front door
Take your time, is the way I rhyme gonna make you smile
When you realize that a guy my size might take a while
Just to try to figure out what all this is for

It's the perfect time of day
To throw all your cares away
Put the sprinkler on the lawn
And run through with my gym shorts on
Take a drink right from the hose
And change into some drier clothes
Climb the stairs up to my room
Sleep away the afternoon

Like a dream you try to remember
But it's gone
Then you try to scream
But it only comes out as a yawn
When you try to see the world
Beyond your front door
Take your time is the way I rhyme gonna make you smile
When you realize that a guy my size might take a while
Just to try to figure out what all this is for

Pinch me, pinch me, cause I'm still asleep
Please God tell me that I'm still asleep

On an evening such as this
It's hard to tell if I exist
If I pack the car and leave this town
You'll notice that I'm not around
I could hide out under there
I just made you say "underwear"
I could leave but I'll just stay
All my stuff's here anyway

Like a dream you try to remember
But it's gone
Then you try to scream
But it only comes out as a yawn
When you try to see the world
Beyond your front door
Take your time is the way I rhyme gonna make you smile
When you realize that a guy my size might take a while
Just to try to figure out what all this is for

Pinch me
Try to figure out what all this is for
Pinch me
Try to see the world beyond your front door
Pinch me
Try to figure out what all this is for

My step-mother called me a couple months ago to tell me they sued the city and the driver of the street-sweeper that killed my father. Apparently it was proven that through faulty maintenance and bad judgement a human life was lost. In the USA that means you sue people.

I was told that I would be receiving 30,000 dollars from the settlement. My sisters were told. She called us. I don't know why now... To gauge our reactions? To see what we really cared about?

The news conflicted me. It was not going to return my father. Money cannot buy me happiness. I have never been the same since the phone call that came by surprise and tore him away from me.

Today my youngest sister called. My step-mother has undergone proceedings to take the full amount of the settlement. She claims we suffered no monetary loss from his death. That the damages incurred by his funeral and the court proceedings entitle her to everything. She cut off her phone. She left no way to contact her.

I have no idea... I am conflicted.

I guess... She never was my mother, like I hoped and dreamed she was. If she had need for it, to pay bills or something it would make sense to me to pay those things before splitting the money. If she went through all of this on her own and never told us about it. It never would have crossed my mind. What I don't understand is why you would tell someone that all the money they needed to try and start a new life was theirs... and then take it away.

Maybe she wanted to hurt us... for not being there for her? I tried to be. I used to call her every week. After a month or so those calls became requests for money. Money I did not have. I was overcome by depression. I had surgery. I could not work. My husband at the time was not capable or willing to send large amounts of money to the USA. I had to tell her I could not help her. I could not help myself. I lost my job... my debt began to skyrocket, I lost my marriage. I slowly lost my future.

Do I have receipts for money I spent? Do I have any means to place a claim against the ghost of this chance?

Money... Loss...

I am more hurt by her betrayal.