p.B-l-o-g

My beautiful birth of Courtney

2010-06-02T01:59:00.005-04:00

Here are some of the details of my beautiful birth of Courtney.
(But not all of the details!)

With the help of 2 midwives, we had a 100% natural birth at home. It lasted almost 24 hours.

It all started when I was getting up on an hourly basis due to my 41.5weeks of aches and pains (and pee).

I knew something was different.

It was 5:30am.

Dave was already up and having coffee and watching sports.
He came back upstairs to have a shower at 7am and I told him that I had not gotten back to sleep and that he should stay home with me.

My mom was staying with us, so he didn't think anything was different with me as I was already so far overdue and I always felt terrible each morning after little or no sleep.

But I told him that this time I was feeling strange new intervals of the same strange pain over and over and over...

He decided to stay home (lucky for all of us!) and take care of me.

I tried to get some rest, yet I could feel contractions showing up every 15-30minutes on and off.

After a few hours, my mom had gotten up and was preparing herself for the lunch date we had planned at noon with Dave's mom Lee.
Dave went downstairs, called his mother and explained that today was not a good day for lunch.

He then proceeded to explain 'the situation upstairs' to my mom.
So I'm sure they both paced around frantically while I had some privacy upstairs coping with my pain.

We thought it would be a good idea to watch a movie. What better movie than
Team America: World Police.
It was the first movie we ever saw together, so it made me laugh. I could not get through even half of it.

At around 3pm we called our midwife and it was her birthday, so we felt horrible already for disturbing her. We had just seen her on Tuesday afternoon for a very uncomfortable 'stretch & sweep' to hopefully get things going.
I had promised her I would try not to go into labour and spare her birthday, oh well. I tried.

Genvieve showed up around 4pm, said hello to my mom -who was surprised to our midwife arrive at our house! then she definitely knew that our lunch date was off with Lee and there was a baby coming sometime soon!

She looked happy to see us, as we had made it 41.5 long weeks together.

I used a TENS machine to help cope with contractions which was a lifesaver.

I also had a warm bath half way through and used a birthing ball.

And many many focused Karate breaths. I felt like I was doing my brown belt passage (all over again!).

Our second Midwife Amanda arrived at our house around midnight to assist Genvieve.
What a tough job!

At 1:52am Courtney Julianne was born.
It was a beautiful birth.

The midwives have never delivered such a healthy baby before.
she scored 100% APGAR test.
She was big: 8lbs 14oz, 23".
100% natural.

I got to cut the umbilical cord and it was a very special moment.
Finally she was in my arms.
She cried very loudly and Dad got to hold her for the first time while our midwives took care of me -after I held her skin to skin of course!

Our Scottie dog Lola ran into our room after hearing the first few loud cries, Dave quickly ran downstairs with her (to put her outside!) handing my mom our baby in a wild fury.
It was a very thrilling moment for her! here is our baby! ha ha.

The long day kind of seemed like a blur to me, but it was all so beautiful.

I think that by taking Karate (years ago) helped with my breathing and pain tolerance. This was not an easy task.

We also took Hypnobirthing courses, which was great for visualization techniques and trying to stay focused. I listened to a hypno cd for 2 months every night, and then all day long during contractions.

I loved my beautiful birth.
I enjoyed having a natural birth with all the comforts of being at home.
The pushing felt very extreme, not enjoyable to feel at 100%!
I wish I had a little bit of laughing gas. But I held David's hands throughout and now he has scars on both.

Our midwives left our house around 5am. What a team!
We gave our many thanks again them both.
And we thanked Gen for leaving her birthday dinner date with her friends to be with us.

They also had follow up care at our house 3 times including help with breastfeeding.

Many thanks again to our Midwives and to my husband and to my mom.

Courtney Julianne

2010-06-02T01:48:00.005-04:00

We welcome with love, our little girl
*Courtney Julianne*
March 25th, weighing 8lbs 14oz and 22"

Cola Dog visits the Crowe's

2009-03-23T17:33:00.002-04:00

We sure had a nice time taking care of Cola the Schnoodle!

Lola was very excited to have a new dog to play with for 2 weeks.
She was a great furry bundle of fun and taught Lola that it was okay to snuggle up with Dave.
Lola taught her how to walk on a leash and to race after squirrels.

We were sad to see her leave today, but she seemed very happy to see her mommy!

Lola stood by the door and watched her friend leave. It was pretty cute but sad at the same time for Lola. She is quite puzzled as to where that friendly furball went!?

Maui our Siamese cat is quite happy to have my lap back to sleep on.

We sure hope to see Cola in the future!

MiniPops

2009-01-17T14:55:00.004-05:00

So I was thinking about Kailey and the potential for her to join up with Jalen, Kennedy and her little brother Charlie to become the latest pop sensation in Alberta.
Who needs crappy nickelback when you've got a lineup of my good looking relatives?

I saw her photos posted today on facebook and it looked like a very happy birthday. And it looks like you all had fun at the big bad Leduc pool! I loved watching Kelsie try to synchro swim there. Time goes by so fast doesn't it.

Actually, I don't think I have seen Kailey since her 2nd or 3rd birthday.
I also havent seen my cousin Dawn in about 6 or more years either.
Its difficult to see everyone when you live in Ottawa.
We both wish more of you would come visit or keep in touch a lot better.
Phone Calls are our favorite.
We only seem to get to Alberta once a year now. Its difficult to see everyone.
But we sure had a great time with all of you on our last visit.

We cant wait for Grandma and Grandpa to come visit in March. It will be chilly here, but we think it will be a great trip for all of us.

Kennedy the little fortune cookie

2009-01-16T13:18:00.003-05:00

What a little angel. All dressed up in a pretty little ladies lunch dress.

It sure is fantastic to see almost everyone out for this annual event!

Clearance bin vs Clear thinking

2009-01-15T15:27:00.003-05:00

A lot of hoopla has been generated around receiving a few scraps of fabric called panties wrapped in pretty tissue paper and supplied with pretty hangtags via post.

I was impressed for all about a day with the concept and then got to thinking longer and deeper about the full idea at hand and am more disappointed in the consumer than anything.

Koodos to the garment industry once again for pulling 'lace' over peoples' eyes.

I've worked in the garment industry for many years as a merchandiser and have seen ideas come and go. And I have witnessed all sorts of abuse to coworkers, models and factory workers. The garment industry is tough as nails. It is dirty. Cheap. And full of disgusting people trying to take your money at every cost possible.
I could go on forever about what I have experienced, but people still think its cool to leave comments stating that I am 'out to lunch' for some reason. However, I feel it is intentional to gain more exposure to themselves if anything.

This new 2009 concept of blogging for additional income also astounds me.

Since when did being a twenty-something automatically make you a product whore?

It is what it is girls? think about it.

Its all about trying to act hip so that you can grab free products and more attention to your blog. Or is it to get misc online awards? This is a virtual sellout by any definition.

What normal person would pose in their underwear and post it out there to the world; if not to seek more followers?

My p.blog does not advertise assorted companies on its sidebar for a reason.
Does yours?

I have lived all over Canada and have worked with many people overseas.
As well as the latest fad...anyone remember cargo pants? I used to design them at Buffalo alongside my friend David (Bitton).

But underwear by mail, by any means is a great idea. Dont get me wrong.

I am just not impressed with www.pantybypost.com sending clearance items that are $5.99 and charging $28 for them.

This to me is unacceptable.

They could be sending new items right from the shipping warehouse that has just arrived. If they are in fact working with 'a family run company' (which company isn't?) they could simply share their advertisments and promote the latest collections this way.

"unwrapping something special from my mailbox would be far more gratifying"
Sure, if it were brand new stock!
I think: What a scam!

If your special someone wants to spend his or her hard earned dollars (recession anyone?) why not go straight to the source of new collections?

www.agentprovocateur.com

or here:
http://www.laperlausa.com/USA/servlet/com.dsdata.taxi.tecx.SetIDWebObject?ID=9427&IDType=prd&ColorValueID=0002

or here:

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=9H-229128&page=1&cgname=OSPTYANGZZZ&rfnbr=1939

Do you think Tiffany & CO. would send old clearance items via post?
Think about it.

Oh, but they too send pretty tissue paper and use amazing stationary.

"After years of factory investigation in China , while critical and unfortunate, it is safe to state that none of these factory workers can afford a piece of the garment that they produced and exported to the U.S. The wages that they receive can barely lead them to a sustainable living style."

"As the number of apparel wears branded with “Made in China ” increases dramatically in developed nations such as the United States , the workload of Chinese workers behind the scene producing the products rises significantly as well due to the increasing demand. Conversely, these workers' work conditions did not improve as they are continuously required to produce more for the market, instead, conditions has worsen and become more critical as day progresses due to many factors mainly attributed to corporations' endless pursuit of low production cost."

Source:
www.chinalaborwatch.org/200711204textile.htm

highly addictive

2009-01-14T02:52:00.005-05:00

Not sure what you're listening to these days, Happy 2009, and happy year of the OX.

But I found out last night that Ben Folds is playing in Toronto Feb 17.
But sadly, he's playing at Kool Haus (down in Queens Quay).
Which is a horrible venue.

To me, it resembles a large metal shed.
Or miniature airplane hanger.

Which for music is not the place you want to spend your money.

I once saw Australia's one and only Ben Lee play there alongside Ben folds.
Once they were finished Rufus wainwright headlined the show.
Sound quality was a big let down.
And most people left.

And we had to stand the whole way through on hard concrete.
-talk about getting old hahah.
Even Matt Good plays smaller venues now where you can sit down and watch him instead. He said himself that he was tired of people moshing to his music so he tours alone with only a guitar. At times I wish Ben folds would find smaller venues and do the same. Who is he kidding? I think he is milking the college kid circuit far too long. And his fan base is much larger and cant go smaller.

So we wont be going to see him.
Which sucks as we really love his music and he only plays in Canada every 5 years it seems.

All in all, I'm not on for coffee in February with one of my BC friends that now calls Toronto home.

I was looking forward to Yorkdale mall and Bloor street.

I miss living there.

Ottawa has a little bit of life to it. We try to get out as often as possible. But notice that all of us 30 somethings seem to stay inside and play boardgames or have Wii parties vs hitting the downtown market area. That area is filled with university people and no one above 32. What is a couple to do here in Ottawa? suggestions? Power center shopping, eating at Boston Pizza, hitting starbucks?
I seem almost 100% content mixing my own martinis now.
All this fine china and crystal from our wedding loot must be used accordingly.

Wanna come over to our house in the 'burbs instead?

The time we have spent with our close friends and Dave's parents is invaluable to some storefront eye-candy...or expensive haute cuisine. Mmmmmm fine dining IS missed!

This break is nice. But we will move back one day.

I am a merchandiser and the lack of visual and mental stimulus is killing me slowly.
And Dave is a lawyer and misses going to court and working on Bay Street.
Yet Ottawa is allowing us to breath and learn all about work life balance.

Its highly addictive.

Yet with all the life time, what is there to do in the 'burbs if you cant walk anywhere? Our dog Lola is extra happy here vs living downtown without a backyard. We couldnt take that away from her now could we.

I know, Monopoly anyone?

almost the end of 2008

2008-12-28T03:16:00.003-05:00

I started this blog back in 2004 when it was a brand new online tool and back in a time when no one seemed to know what having a blog was all about or what to write on one. Now it has become a widely used tool across the world. I actually created mine so that I could keep my family updated with what I was up to across the miles while living in Montreal. It was difficult to get everyone to email and use MSN, so reading a daily blog seemed useful.
I also used to write a lot more creative pieces years ago (along with formal updates)yet hope to start again in the new year.

Its been neglected now over the months due to many more methods of keeping in touch with my people.

There is still MSN which I rarely use now but still find quite gratifying for its instant rapid responses.

And I find that Facebook has pretty much taken the place of MSN. Some people use Facebook for email purposes as well and have eliminated their hotmail accounts in the process (due to their expiration from not using within one full month).

There is also myspace, which I joined a while back. I find it to be a fantastic tool for musicians. It is great for finding new talent and spreading the word on existing favorites. Personally, I hardly know anyone that has joined it besides a few of my online junkie friends who seem to use it more for a site of self expression if anything if they're not musicians at all.

For fun I created a full blown myspace page for Dave's old university band 'Mordecai Lingus' one night.

I had their old cd on iTunes and decided to load some tracks for the hell of it.
He expects a full out cult following.

I will let you know how it does.

Last week I joined Twitter and found it to be an exclusive treat once again like my blog used to be. Only a select few are aware of it and use it daily.
However, do I feel it is necessary to let people know what I am up to 24/7, not really but if the technology is out there, why not. Its also linked to Facebook and for now it seems more exclusive to have Facebook status reports updatead 'via Twitter' or 'twittelator' than simply via Facebook.
Or again are we just the types that like to be the ones in the know?
Not sure. Or are we all just lonely and mad at our pc mac world of non-existent human contact. Whatever happened to the days when coffee shops were filled with laughter, good indie music and not glowing mac books and generic cd's.

Through Twitter I was able to exchange a few words with Matt Good the other night. He let me know what his favorite song of all time was. I found the track and agree. But then I wondered if I still lived in BC would hot coffee be on order and piles of cd's exchanged instead; however hopeful. It was nice to touch base with him and the song is one of the most atmospheric and memorable. There is a long list of my own dreamy favorites, if you want to know any of them please just email me.

As for the classic medium of all time=books. I found an old Camus book I bought in Toronto years ago. Exile and the Kingdom. I haven't read it. So I decided to pick it up last night and try reading more offline. I still find The Stranger is one of my favourite books.

As I write this, strangely I just got an email from an old highschool friend that found me on facebook who now lives in Japan. She added me as a contact on her Flickr account. Which I also belong to.
It is a fantastic site for photosharing and seeing a very visual peak into peoples lives...and what they find beautiful too.

Its almost the end of 2008. My sleep pattern is all off track. Thanks for the great year. Its been a long one.

Happy Anniversary Emily & Derek!

2008-08-18T17:55:00.000-04:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Thank you Brent & Beth for the W-gifts!

2008-08-06T14:02:00.000-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday Mom!

2008-07-19T13:17:00.000-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!

2008-07-12T18:55:00.001-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

NIFTY AND FIFTY?!

2008-06-25T23:08:00.001-04:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

Honeymooners

2008-03-13T17:46:00.005-04:00

On the Friday of our trip to Mont Tremblant we went to
the Spa Scandinave

http://www.scandinave.com/

aka: polarbearing...

Come on thats super relaxing fun...esp dunking yourself into the frozen river...!

The first time we went down to the river (which you can see in the background of the first photo) we saw a deer passing over the frozen ice!

"Wow what stupid humans" - the deer must have thought?!...

but we continued down the staircase into the slushy cut-out into the ice

3 times.

It was 5 degrees.

There are also other "cooling" pools that are a warm 12 degrees and an icy waterfall to stand under if you're brave enough.

Dave went right into the river (!) I went in half way, that was enough for me. WOW! My new husband is the bravest man I've ever seen! This river was much colder than the last polarbear club I went to in Saint Saveur a few years back.

After the plunging you have to go to these quiet relaxing rooms.Where you sit and whisper about how cold you just were, or sleep (as it feels like you've just run a billion miles actually..!)

You must do the above in the below order:

A) hot

B) cold

C) relax.

This is the process.

As for the heating stations:

there is:

A) Dry sauna, 200 degrees (think cooked turkey)
B) Steam room

C) Outdoor hot tubs

D) Warm outdoor pool

E) Outdoor campfire (which is constantly burning so you can either heat up or dry off!) --which I did once..just for the hell of saying that I stood in my bikini in front of a roaring fire while it was snowing...now thats camping!

No wonder I caught a cold the first week home!

We had a nice wintery day together and it was fantastic.

Our wedding rings sure got hot in the dry sauna -yow!

It was a great chilly Friday.

Just Married!!!

2008-03-08T00:57:00.006-05:00

February 16, 2008

Yes we did it! At last!

Thank you everyone for sharing our special day with us.

It truly was a wonderful day.

The best day of our lives (so far!).

The W-photo's are now starting to roll in and we have posted them on our Flickr account for you to see them:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peppermintlab/

And if you haven't sent us yours, please do so as we would love to see them -and your special point of view!

Love Patti & David Crowe

Vivienne Westwood blasts government's stance on terrorism suspects

2007-11-04T17:33:00.000-05:00

By Joelle Diderich, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS - Rebel British designer Vivienne Westwood on Monday used her catwalk show in Paris as a platform to protest a British government push to extend the number of days that terrorist suspects can be detained without charges.

Westwood sent models down the catwalk wrapped in T-shirts and silk blankets printed with "56" - the maximum number of days the government reportedly wants to hold terror suspects, doubling the current limit.

After the display, she launched a stinging attack on Prime Minister Gordon Brown, amid growing speculation that he will call an early election.

"I'll be voting against him, definitely. Anything to get him out," said Westwood, who is best known as one of the founders of the punk movement in the 1970s.

Britain's Home Office said that, while a 56-day limit on such detentions has been widely reported, no formal proposal was ever made and that officials are still trying to determine how much longer they would like to hold terror suspects.

Brown, whose second full day in office was marked by a failed terror attack in London, set out plans in July for tough new anti-terrorism laws, saying police need greater powers to hold and question suspects in increasingly complex and global plots.
Currently, suspects need to be charged or released within 28 days.
Westwood accused the British leader of behaving like a "tyrant" and said the measures would not help to protect British citizens against terrorism.
"We need people (in court) in front of the law - this will protect me," she said.

The designer has a history of mixing politics and fashion. For several years, she has been calling for the release of Leonard Peltier, an American Indian Movement activist convicted of killing two FBI agents in a shootout on a South Dakota reservation in 1975.

Lola the explorer!

2007-08-05T10:03:00.001-04:00

We went up to the Crowe's nest Friday & Saturday for Dave's dad Wayne's birthday....and boy did we have a nice relaxing time!

Great weather and S'mores too!

Lola, Dave and I went around the lake in the canoe...saw a few turtles and frogs!

Lee and I also picked some wild raspberries!

We are back in the city now (as I was supposed to work today but now am not!) hope to make some french toast and go for a nice stroll down to the market to look at some wedding invitations! (yes we are still planning along over here!)

haud muto factum

2007-07-31T23:41:00.000-04:00

– nothing happens by being mute.

Stylist and fashion guru Isabella Blow, a vibrant and often outrageous presence on the British fashion scene, has tragically died aged 48.

Thanks to Vogue being written about 3 or so months prior to actually being published/released I read about the loss of Isabella Blow just last week. I could not believe the sad news of the world losing such an icon.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=453384&in_page_id=1879

She had an unfailing eye for beauty, and "discovered" Stella Tennant, Honor Fraser and most famously Sophie Dahl, whom she first encountered weeping on the street after an argument with her mother. Undeterred by Dahl's then-voluptuous size, she whisked her off to Storm model agency and cast her in a Vogue fashion shoot.

But it was her passion for fashion, and her ardent support of British designers, which will be her most enduring legacy. She was an early supporter of Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan and milliner Philip Treacy, using her own body as a billboard to advertise their skills by wearing them at every opportunity.

At the sort of event where most fashion editors would wear workaday black garb, Isabella could always be relied upon to turn up in full fashion regalia - even if it was nine o'clock in the morning. No event was too early - or too casual - not to warrant outrageous clothes, towering heels and a slash of crimson lipstick, all topped off with a jaunty Treacy hat, which she was never without.

There was never a dull moment when Isabella Blow was around. To her many friends and admirers, she was the quintessence of British fashion: a passionate supporter of new talent and an outspoken champion of the avant garde.

She began her career in 1981 as an assistant to Anna Wintour, now editor-in-chief of American Vogue. Returning to London in 1986, Blow worked for British Vogue, The Sunday Times Style magazine and most recently Tatler, as their fashion director. She had a penchant for plucking rich young society girls from relative obscurity in the shires and taking them under her wing before championing them as models.

For her passion and her character, she will be sorely missed. The world is a far duller place without her.

Mystery today surrounded the death of Isabella Blow, one of the British fashion industry's most eccentric characters, amid claims that she may have poisoned herself.

The 48-year-old fashion director of Tatler magazine, a self-confessed depressive, was found collapsed in her Gloucestershire home on Sunday and pronounced dead in hospital yesterday morning.

Her art dealer husband, Detmar Blow, said she had been very ill after fighting ovarian cancer but declined to say whether she took her own life.

7-7-7

2007-07-07T13:39:00.000-04:00

We always talked about this date years and years ago.
Long before it ever crossed the minds of the masses.
We laughed and joked and teased each other about this magical date as this was to be our day to get married as nothing on the calendar would be as lucky for a pair of goofy friends like us who talked and talked on the phone.

Instead we are happily settled into our new home in Ottawa down in the market.
I can hear the peace tower bells ringing in the distance too.

Everything is as lucky as can be.

We arent married yet, but that is on the horizon not to worry.

Off to Otown

2007-06-30T17:24:00.000-04:00

Well I've heard a few requests for more pblog "updates".

So here is one for you. Even though this was meant to be a place for my friends and families that are living

in more distant places such as Edmonton etc. Not for my friends that actually SEE me in the flesh.

Those are the luckier of the sort.

I have also heard that the pblog is to some, a sort of morning ritual.

So thank you for this. I was also told that if I were to post more the readership would return.

Yet I believe that everyone is busy with their facebook accounts and fail to find the time to read blogs anymore.

A Blog, that's so 2004.

I've lived in a quite a few cities to date. Now its time to get moving into the next.
So what if I am taking a break from the dust and cat & dog fur that's flying all over the house as we speak.

I think I have developed some mild dust allergies.
I guess because its my 30th birthday next month its already bringing me lots of good fruitful age-related surprises.

Thanks for that.

I am happy packing up stuff and getting rid of all the garbage that seems to follow us around house-to-house.
Its good to cleanse the house. Get rid of far too many greeting card collections. Odds-N-ends regarding my closet.

Such as my VANS.
Yes I am going to donate that little bit of what was once such a big part of my exterior coolness in the past.

I couldn't donate my collection of concert t-shirts though. Its a real struggle to part with it. I stacked it up to be as high as my knee, then the rest just had to go. I really "edited" it down.
I know that I never wear any of them anymore, not even to bed.

I do not however own the above: "Jails Hot!".
Sorry folks.

As per Ottawa, Dave and I found a nice old 1900's Victorian "row house" as they call it.
My mom says that "row house" sounds very ghetto and I am not supposed to use the term.
I will miss hearing the roars of children 9 floors down below at the school across the dirt path of which, is soon to be a grand new road. And I will miss that fresh ooze of fresh greasy hot tar when it hits +40 some time soon.....Mmmm. Gotta love Mississauga.
I will not miss the 403, or Hurontario traffic.
I will miss the Mississauga city hall fountain that Lola and I walked to.
I will also miss our sister city Kariya Park, and the ducks and its own zen garden with little pebbles raked daily. That's about it.
Oh, and I will also try to forget why it was that we moved here in the first place.

Down below in the open field, no one ever came to clean up the Tim Horton's garbage that I complained about either earlier this year.

There's no reward with complaint. In 2007, no one cares about anything or anyone, or even the state of the environment. I really feel upset about all of this. But what am I to do? put my head back into the sand and keep consuming.

So I had enough of my boycott and went to buy us lunch as I wanted to see who was working there and what this ignorance looked like. I arrived bitter as ever for my sudden hunger.
A bunch of students frantic as ever were microwaving bacon and spilling coffee on the floor was what I saw.
A young woman with a khaki colored hiijab then asked me for my order, and I felt guilty as I asked for a traditional summer Turkey-BLT. She snickered at my reply. I felt bad for not being a vegetarian like I said I would this year. I then went on to purchase soup and coffee. And as my bonus to the combo, I even got a choice of doughnut. How filthy of me.

"Vanilla dip, please"

Ok, off to Ottawa it is. I promise to start-up my creative writing again.
Time to get back to my packing up.

M-GOOD news,
For those that didnt know already, Matt Good is streaming his new cd that comes out July 31st.
iTunes has it streaming, its fantastic.
It will just be hard not to be connected to the internet while we move to hear it this week.
Trust me it will be a fast PC hook-up!

Cheers to you and yours, and Happy Canada Day!

"Abusive Actions" PART: 2

2007-06-13T15:36:00.000-04:00

Hi Patti,

We appreciate your suggestion.

You can make this request from the 'Suggestions' tab on the Help page.

Let me know if you have any further questions. Also, your account was disabled because you took repeated actions that could be construed as spam. For instance, it is a violation of Facebook's Terms of Use to repeatedly send the same message or to make the same post. Facebook prides itself in protecting users from spam, and we take this standard very seriously.

However, after reviewing your situation, we have reconfirmed your account and you should now be able to access it again. Please do not send or post any more form messages. Further violations of our Terms will result in the termination of your account.

Finally, please be aware that when a warning message appears on your homepage, it will generally be displayed for 24 hours. It can be displayed for longer, however, if you continue performing these abusive actions. We appreciate your cooperation going forward.

Thanks for contacting Facebook,

Justin
Customer Support Representative Facebook

How I got suspended from FACEBOOK for animal rights issues, PART: 1

2007-06-12T20:24:00.000-04:00

MY LETTER TO FACEBOOK:

Dear Classifieds Manager/Editor of FACEBOOK,

I am writing with regard to the "free to a good home" advertisements that appear in the classifieds section of the MARKETPLACE.As you may be aware, animals given away for free can, and unfortunately often do, meet gruesome fates.

They can end up in the hands of animal abusers like Barry Herbeck, a Wisconsin man who was convicted of torturing and killing animals he obtained through "free to a good home" ads.

He confessed to taking his kids with him when responding to the ads so that people would be comfortable turning animals over to him.

People known as "bunchers," who obtain animals illegally from random sources to sell to research facilities for profit, often acquire animals by answering "free to a good home" ads.

Small animals advertised as "free to a good home" are sometimes acquired by individuals who intend to use them as bait in training other animals to fight. Gerbils, hamsters, and young kittens are often acquired to be used as snake food.

Animal protection organizations all over the United States and Canada work diligently to educate people about the proper procedure for placing animals and frequently assist people in finding good homes for their animals. I have contacted individuals who placed "free to a good home" advertisements on FACEBOOK to alert them to the potential perils for their animals and have in the past received appreciative calls/e-mails from people who say they never knew that these dangers existed.

FACEBOOK could do its readers and the animals a great service, while setting a very progressive example, by printing a brief warning at the top of the pets section about giving animals away for free.

Readers should contact their local Humane Society for further help with surrendering their pets.

For example,
The Toronto Humane Society supports members of the community who can no longer care for their pets and must surrender them. However, they ask the public to help manage their admissions by giving as much lead time as possible.
If you need to surrender a pet (within Toronto) call 416-392-2273 ext. 2146 to make an appointment.

www.helpinganimals.com

MY REPLY FROM FACEBOOK:

Hi,
Action has been taken on your account, and Facebook Customer Support has received your inquiry. We will review your situation and get back to you as soon as possible.

Thanks for contacting Facebook.

-Facebook Customer Support

Welcome to Ottawa. Please enjoy your stay...

2007-05-06T17:46:00.002-04:00

For those of you that have no clue what we are up to....I will post it here to make things easier.

Dave is currently in Ottawa with our dog Lola and is starting his NEW job tomorrow with the Govt!

Lets hope that ALL goes well for him and it isn't something like SHLLP was for him.

We hope we will have a great fresh start and all should be peachy...or rosey...or something like that!

They are home of the Sens right? how could we go wrong with that?

I have remained behind in Mississauga so that I can tidy up the condo and prep all the stuff for moving!

I am also now going to Edmonton to visit my family on Thursday night until the 22nd.

I haven't been home for over a year and a half.

Yes, I haven't seen my brother and Dad for that long...as well as ALL the rest of you!!!

I told Dave that we should have him come online as a "guest blogger"

so that we can both share our Ottawa and Edmonton stories

while we are apart this month.

Lola doesn't know how to type, but perhaps Dave can add a few comments where necessary.

I cant wait to get home to visit with my family!

We are planning on doing lots and lots of hardcore wedding shopping!!!

Its totally a girls vacation....!

I haven't been to the giant mall in ages.

Waterpark anyone? rollercoaster too?

We will get to go to the giant wedding section/wing of west Edmonton mall all for me!

I am SO excited! it will be a great time!
I always dreamed about going there when I was little girl to try on dresses!

I also hope to go to Whyte ave to have a few pints with all the people I have reunited with on facebook

and all of my cousins that are now "of age" to drink. We have to find a way to sneak in my sister.

She will be 18 on the 27th, sadly I will not be there to take her to the strippers....

wait, gross!

My cousin Chris SO owes me drinks because of the good time we gave him here in March.

Sadly, Dinosaur Jr will be playing on the 26th, so I will totally miss that...oh well.

My brother will have his hands full with running his kids-day-home so I will be over there visiting and

playing with all of Jalen & Kennedy's super cool toys.

I cant wait to play with their kraft dinner colored playdough!

And of course Jalen and I will have a lightsaber fight.

My friend Kelly and her husband told me they were driving to Banff to go ski for the long weekend,

and that I should join them for Spring Skiing in the mountains...

oh! SO tough to say no!

I hope to take Dave to ski/snowboard one day...he will then understand why I hate living out east

We were thinking of going to try out the Swiss Alps for our honeymoon....sound good?

Time to start our honeymoon registry I think!

Anyway,

hope to write more and make more use of the blog from E-town.

And dave, from O-town.

Enjoy.

Love P&D

Facebook Flaw

2007-04-24T00:14:00.000-04:00

Yes I have taken some much needed creative

time off from my pblog writings.

Sorry fans.

I know that you are just as busy with facebook as I am.

Its amazing how many old friends I have found on that

crazy new tool of wasting our little spare bit of time.

Its all about curiosity isn't it?

Its all about messing with fate.

I almost don't like it.

Life unfolds a certain way and we are all just supposed

to roll with it.

None of this, "hey lets be friends again

because I never bothered to be yours way back when in

the first place, sorry!"

baloney.

There was a reason why I stopped being your friend

it happened for a reason.

Just because I can use this

new cyber tool doesn't mean

that its right to do so.

Like in that old movie Flatliners

where Kevin Bacon goes back to find that

girl he once teased so much that he ruined her life

and she ended up living in the ghetto.

He went back and fixed things.

Luckily I don't live anywhere near

Jane&Finch,

but my life has turned out alright.

Sure I threw banana's into the crowd in Gr.9 during a talent show

(don't ask),

not because it was funny,

but because my best friend and I didn't like

the "popular" girls that were sitting in the front row

and always insulted us and called us

alternative weirdos.

Sad isn't it, the mind of a 14 year old.

We also wore black dresses to our grad when everyone wore bad

1990's floral prints.

I sent the pics over to my friend last week for a laugh at how cool we were.

Such rebels.

And noticed that I even

wore classic pearls.

Imagine!

I was teased for the way I dressed.

But now I am "friends" with these people? years and years later.

Is the popular girl now me, because I have lots of virtual friends?

no.

I think Kevin Bacon will add me soon enough.

And my life will right itself entirely.

My friend "Taz" in jr. high locked my friend and I

in the basement in the dark of our school once

by accident?

and we never forgave him.

I even smacked him in the face.

And life moved on to grade 10.

Fresh start, new school, new people.

He found me on facebook and we laughed about the incident

yet I am afraid of the dark and small spaces to this day.

Was I supposed to find him again?

Are the creators of facebook indeed playing with fate?

What do you think?

The photo was from Taz, its a "Keytar t-shirt".

I thought it was funny.

He is a Dj in Kelowna now and married.

I suppose we all grow up at some point?

Others just keep wearing bad t-shirts like him.

Sorry if this doesn't make any sense, its been awhile.

WSPA -Anti-Bullfighting Action

2007-04-05T20:54:00.000-04:00

There are less than 2 weeks left until the deadline for Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to sign the Written Declaration calling for an EU-wide ban on bullfighting. If you live in the EU please help by emailing your local MEPs, urging them to support the Declaration

“Not only would the Declaration complement the EU’s high standards of animal welfare, but it would also send a strong message to member state countries that support bullfighting that there is no excuse for such cruelty in the twenty-first century.” Leah Garcés, WSPA Director of Campaigns

http://www.wspa-international.org/news.asp?newsID=405&type=0

The anti-bullfight Catalonia campaign continues to grow from strength to strength and continues to draw support from animal welfare enthusiasts and supporters from across the globe.
Support the Anti-Bullfighting Campaign ‘Culture without Cruelty‘ and help WSPA to end the cruel sport of bullfighting.

Bullfighting is a cruel sport that pits a bull against men who wield a variety of lethal weapons.
WSPA is working with Spanish member society, ADDA, to end this cruel ‘sport’ in the region of Catalonia, northern Spain.

Get involved with WSPA. Sign their petition and help end bullfighting now.

Why are bullfights cruel?
Most bullfights last for about 15 minutes, with a series of deliberately vicious stages. The bull is taunted and stabbed with a variety of spears, barbed spikes and daggers. These weapons are designed to inflict intense pain and cause blood loss to weaken the animal.

After this period of suffering, the Matador finally kills the exhausted and dying bull. Many bulls die drowning in their own blood because the Matador’s inaccuracy often pierces their lungs instead of the heart.

Following this, a short dagger, or ‘puntilla’, is used to sever its spinal cord at the neck before the bull is dragged out of the arena, sometimes still alive.

Achievements to date
Barcelona City Council declares its ‘anti-bullfight’ stance in April 2004
Over 500,000 petitions collected in support of a ban on bullfighting in Catalonia
Bill to ban bullfighting proposed in Catalan Parliament in April 2005

The future for bullfights in Catalonia
The next and crucial stage of this campaign is securing a ban on bullfighting in the entire region of Catalonia. Such a ban would be a landmark victory for the entire anti-bullfight movement and would relegate this cruel ‘sport’ to the past once and for all.

Sign their petition and help end bullfighting now...

http://www.wspa-international.org/pet_bullfighting_eprotest.asp

bridal boutique #1, Location: Queen Street garment district

2007-04-03T01:22:00.000-04:00

My aunt and I thought I should just get all girly and go try on some
frilly glitzy cupcake dresses in the tacky bridal section on Queen street.

We got in a lot of trouble for snapping this photo!
We were pretty much kicked out of the store before I tried on anything!

But instead to try to make a sale, the girl handed me 2 cupcake Cinderella's

and hovered over me like a mosquito while I was just in my undies!

Also, I cannot believe how difficult it was to get on the pumpkin dress,

I had to "jump" into the dress --believe me it was tough to do even with my long legs!

The bridal assistant was terrified that I had another camera hiding

with me inside the change room!

"no photos, no photos please!"

Like we were headin for the hills with these rare made in china designs!

The flourescent tube lighting was TOTALLY flattering as well!

Anyway it was a success to see what silhouettes I look good in at least...

That was my mission.

And it was amazing to find out that for $1900 you can get a big pile of crap!
I think it will take me a long time to find

"the one"

Seen anything on EBAY? let me know.

king kong arrives at the CN Tower

2007-04-03T00:52:00.000-04:00

Thought we were being funny or something.

I haven't been to the tower in over ten years and at that time it was a whopping $12!

This time it was $27!

Plus $9 to go to the sky-pod.

I couldn't believe all of the security checks we went through to get up there.

Thanks 911!

We then thought about the airport being somewhat inadequate for not having the same nifty machine that blew air on us checking for bombs etc but they do have a designated swab lady.

They also casually took our photo prior to entering against a green screen

--yet it was totally for security purposes.

They then turned our candid mug shot over to a photoshop expert

who puts in a slick CN Tower background

for a cool $25 upon exit.

At least the sidewalk sausages don't cost $27!

Did you know that there is enough cement used in the CN Tower to build a sidewalk stretching from Toronto to Kingston?

Man is quite stupid in my books.

But not as stupid as the guy that holds a world record for hauling misc appliances

up the stairs!

Or the stunt man that threw himself down the stairs

"on purpose"

got cbc?

2007-04-03T00:35:00.000-04:00

I had a great time hanging out and taking my Aunt Kelly and my handsome cousin Chris around Toronto this past week.

We saw most of the great sights that Toronto has to offer including the CBC of course!
Chris was sure he was going to find someone famous within the buildings interior courtyard.

He left Kelly and I at the CBC gift shop and took off to buy a bottle of pop.

I looked high and low for my beloved Evan Solomon, but nothing.

All I got were some giant sized photos of my fav hosts outside.

And there were far too many coronation street items.

I have posted some pictures on Flickr already, but will post some more photos here on the blog too as some require a giant description vs others

such as this one.

What the Quiznos fan said...

2007-03-22T14:43:00.000-04:00

Don Cherry On The Offensive With Stephen Colbert

by Ryan Porter msn.ca 21/03/2007 8:54:00

Don Cherry was in a fighting mood as the guest speaker on Stephen Colbert Day in Oshawa, Ontario, on Tuesday, March 20.

"I didn't know if he was left wing, but somebody told me this afternoon he's a left-wing pinko, and you'd expect a left-wing pinko not to show up and face the music after starting something," the Quiznos fan said of The Colbert Report host.

As if that wasn't insulting enough, Don spit out, "He wears a visor too, I think." We don't know what that means, but it sounds pretty humiliating.

Stephen was given his own day after the OHL team, the Oshawa Generals, lost a bet to the Saginaw Spirit, whose mascot, Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle, had caught Stephen's attention.

If they'd won, Stephen would have worn an Oshawa Generals jersey on-air. But that didn't happen, so instead the mayor's birthday was declared Stephen Colbert Day.

Three thousand people attended the party at the General Motors Centre. In a taped message, Stephen continued to taunt the city. "Bold, innovative, vibrant: none of these words have been applied to the city of Oshawa," he said. "But how about these words: beaver pelt."

Ouch! You know Don Cherry is going to be lurking on a dark side street with a broken bottle of Molson Canadian with Stephen's name on it after that.

Oshawa's 'Stephen Colbert Day'

2007-03-20T12:27:00.000-04:00

TORONTO (CP) - Ever since his satirical news program took to the airwaves in late 2005, American comic Stephen Colbert has revelled in taunting Canada.

He welcomed Canadian viewers to "The Colbert Report" - pronounced "ra-PORE" - when it launched on The Comedy Network in November '05 by telling them: "I am Stephen Colbert. I have balls. If you're lucky, they might just rub off on you."
When the Conservatives booted the Liberals out of power in last year's federal election, Colbert was quick to take credit, crowing: "I fixed Canada in 77 days!"
Now Canada, it appears, is ready to thank Colbert for his repair work by holding a "Stephen Colbert Day" celebration, featuring none other than Don Cherry himself, the type of no-nonsense straight-shooter who would be well and truly adored by Colbert's faux right-wing pundit.

A night of festivities, including a Colbert lookalike contest, is being held Tuesday in Oshawa, an industrial city east of Toronto better-known for its GM plant than its tendency to whoop it up.
"The only cool thing that has ever happened to Oshawa," commented one blogger on her blog It's Gonna Be a Blue Moon Rising.

Shannon McFadyen, a spokeswoman for the city of Oshawa, said Sunday that Colbert himself is not appearing at the event, but added "The Colbert Report" may send a field producer for a future segment on the show.
Nonetheless, more than 1,500 people are expected to turn out at the General Motors Centre, a gleaming new venue in downtown Oshawa that opened in November and seats 6,000, McFadyen said.

"We're getting a really interesting mix of people who are coming," McFadyen said. "There are hockey fans, Don Cherry fans and then sort of younger university students who are really into the Colbert show. We have a group of kids coming up from New York University, for example, and some interest from Newfoundland. It's a real blend of people because the themes are hockey and comedy."

It all started when about two million Colbert fans inundated an online contest to name the mascot of the Saginaw Spirit, a Michigan OHL team. Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle was born as a tribute to the comedian.
Colbert soon threw his support behind the squad and began trash-talking its OHL rivals, especially the Oshawa Generals.

After a public volley of taunts and counter-taunts, Oshawa Mayor John Gray issued a challenge to Colbert on the eve of a recent showdown between the two teams: if the Generals won, Colbert would have had to wear a Generals jersey for an entire show. If the Spirit won, Gray had to declare Colbert's birthday "Stephen Colbert Day" in Oshawa.
Colbert, whose pundit was inspired by Fox News's belligerent Bill O'Reilly, accepted the challenge but had a more humiliating suggestion: he wanted "Stephen Colbert Day" to be declared not on his own birthday, but on Gray's - March 20. And so it was.
"How old are you going to be?" Colbert asked Gray in a recent interview on his show. "Old enough to know better than to take on Stephen Colbert?"
"Hopefully, in the future, yes," Gray, who turns 48 on Tuesday, admitted sheepishly.

One of the highlights of the night's festivities promises to be the selection of the winning Colbert lookalike.
Five semi-finalists have been chosen from across Canada and the winner will be determined by the competitor who gets the loudest cheers from the audience on Tuesday night. The victor wins a trip to New York City, where he'll attend a taping of the "The Colbert Report," a spawn of Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show."

There will also be a hockey challenge featuring a showdown between the team's mascots: the Generals' Shooter and the Spirit's aforementioned Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle.
For the $5 cost of admission, there will also be free cake and Dr. Pepper - Colbert's favourite soft drink.
For McFadyen, the entire Stephen Colbert event signifies that the city of Oshawa, which has long lived in Toronto's shadow, has a sense of fun all its own.
"It's just one of the things we are doing to say Oshawa has a lot to offer. It's an exciting place to be."

the butcher the baker AND the candlestick maker?

2007-03-20T00:48:00.000-04:00

Decided to let those in Ottawa know that we will be up for Easter

to chase the Easter bunny, color some eggs and go to church of course!

(don't worry the cathedral is booked!)

We have to go check out some wedding reception sites (again).

Its hard to find the *perfect* place for our winter wedding day.

We have a few more places in mind

(all of which are now top secret)

Also, we found and reserved our creative gang of wild photographers

and found a fantastic florist!

Now I gotta track down a cake maker unless I try to construct

our giant

foam

tower

decorated

fondant

myself???

At least I designed it.

Hmm, *tiny little ants* ate my

Bonnie Gordon blue fake-cake by the way!

I am hesitant to construct another at home for fun.

Its also pretty difficult to roll fondant onto foam

in a tiny condo

with

3 furry pets!

sounds appetizing huh?

Otherwise, all else is on track...

well except for our lotto 649 ticket that is...

Get your Easter baskets out, the bunny's coming soon!
We stumbled across Mister Munchy, he is no longer the plain 1980's-esque

old fluorescent pink boxed up

Mister Munchy,

he got a whole new look! go see for yourself!

--its about time ya think?

Also my Aunt Kelly and her hockey obsessed son Chris

will be here this Saturday for a week

from good old Edmonton!

Wish we didn't have such a crappy hockey team

Umm...lets see who is left to cheer for...

with some glimmer of hope...

Go habs Go!

Happy Saint Patti's by the way...

2007-03-20T00:41:00.000-04:00

We had a super Saturday full of laughs, super good hair, guinness and green beer.
We met at JC Salons in bloor west village at high noon

and then headed off to the Swan & Firkin
for suds, cheer, glittery green derbys and loads of nachos!
We sure missed those that couldn't join us, but they were there in spirit(s)

International Women’s Day

2007-03-07T19:08:00.000-05:00

Beginning on March 8, as part of International Women’s Day, Amnesty International supporters are calling on various governments, including Afghanistan, Nigeria and Belarus, to ensure that the police and security forces, and other actors in the criminal justice system receive specific training on how to protect women and properly investigate reports of violence against women.

Violence against women is prevalent in every society in the world and cuts across boundaries of wealth, race and culture. The experience or threat of violence inhibits women everywhere from fully exercising and enjoying their human rights. For that reason, Amnesty International is joining women throughout the world to expose and counter violence against women.

TAKE THE QUIZ NOW!

http://www.amnesty.ca/quiz/seeithearit/seeithearit.htm

TAKE 20 SECONDS TO SEND AN E-CARD TO FOREIGN MINISTER PETER MACKAY!

http://www.amnesty.ca/quiz/seeithearit/afghanistanaction.htm

old vineyard

2007-03-01T19:09:00.000-05:00

It would be amazing if Vincent painted somethng more wintery

I wonder how he would paint a blizzard in oil

and how he would represent the colors outside my window today.

And I am sure that this woman would be wearing snowpants as well!

snowglobe glitter

2007-03-01T13:31:00.000-05:00

I am stuck in a snowglobe right now!

Time to welcome March with a blast of snow!

Its a weird view from up in our tower right now

you can't see anything

just racing white stuff.

And the trees down below look chilly too.

Nothing like a blast of snow to get me in the right mood

for planning our winter wedding next year though!

Its a "good thing" too that I have saved every

Martha Stewart magazine too

including her winter issues...

look at all that Christmas shortbread...

a wreath made out of gumdrops how elegant

and peppermint hot fudge sundaes...wow

its a good time to be inside after all!

Apple strudel and fruitcake and montebianco oh my.

Now if only we had a fireplace to cozy up to!

and god created...Lola

2007-02-22T16:40:00.000-05:00

Lola took over our computer today and made this post

She told me that she wanted her thoughts written our here in full text:

This post is dedicated to my pet-parents,

thank you for loving me as much as you would a less-furry child.

And for finally becoming engaged.

You will be my *official* pet-parents
very soon.

love always Lola xoxoxoxo

PS, there's poop in the hallway ;)

Sneaky lass!

Those are such kind words, aww...

such great thought rages through her mind

must have been her Siamese brother and sister

that put her up to this!

(they are all paws and cant type a single word)

despite her being a furry little creature of the highlands

she has some good things to say

big dog small package, that's her motto.

one scott two scott three scott i'm hott

2007-02-22T16:33:00.000-05:00

Urban Scotties

Even in the radical Mary Quant stylized '60's a scottie dog

was the perfect dog to have

heck why not wear matching outfits?

and who does not want 1, or 2

but 3!

Our cats wouldn't stand for it, but they are Siamese

what do they know besides being chock full of trouble!

Lola Havana the Uber sex pot

2007-02-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

Found these old sketches on ebay for sale a while back...

thought they were pretty sexy for the time they were made

question is though in 2007, are all girls that own scotties

pretty as a pin-up?

Hell ya!

weddingbells website

2007-02-16T19:43:00.000-05:00

We thought we should get another website...

only this will be all about our wedding!

Please see the link below!

http://www.weddingbells.ca/wedsite/403013/

I have added a link to the sidebar for future reference!
Enjoy!

& please sign the guestbook!

the password is:

pd2008

if you get logged out

engaged at last

2007-02-12T12:40:00.000-05:00

Its official...

There is a gorgeous ring!

I woke up Saturday morning and Dave said

"pack your bags because I am taking you to

Niagara Falls this weekend!"

I quickly answered with "really...wow...ok!?!"

We made it there for the afternoon and checked-in

then caught a hotel shuttle bus

to see the horseshoe falls

It was so beautiful to be there in the winter!

Totally amazing.

The photos we took were incredible

(and I will post them on our Flikr account, not here)

we were so cold but wanted to keep snapping pictures!

The mist from the falls also makes it insanely chilly!

"Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!"

Everything was covered in thick crystal clear ice

and it was so unreal to see

it was like an ice storm hit x 1000!

(oh the poor trees must be hurtin inside!)

We then caught the hotel shuttle back to our room

and I had a tiny snooze under the ultra warm blankets

while Dave left the room and secretly called my Dad!

and also made all of the special arrangements

for the special night.

The falls actually had the colored spotlights shining

on them, which we thought they only did during the summer

so it was even more stunning to see the falls this way.

We went to dinner and there was

Moet champagne waiting for us when we got there on ice.

We always wanted to have dinner beside the falls!!!

Apparently the entire place knew what was going on and left

us quietly alone yet were secretly watching David's every move...

As for the rest of the story...you will just have to ask us

at our winter wedding

02-16-08

:) (:

flickr pro!

2007-02-06T02:42:00.000-05:00

As a xmas/birthday/engagement gift from our friend Steve in Vancouver,

we now have flickr "PRO"

which will give us a giant-unlimited-posting-capability-upgrade

for our flickr photo account!

Please check it out when you get the chance!

There has always been a link to it on this blog by the way,

and for the record, blogs are for writing,

not just for photo posting!

(I will try to write more in the future)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peppermintlab/

Pigs on Factory Farms

2007-02-01T13:47:00.000-05:00

Finally some good news today!

Just days after Smithfield Foods, the largest pig-flesh producer in the world, announced that it was phasing out the use of cruel gestation crates, Canada’s largest pig-flesh company announced that it will make the same move. Maple Leaf Foods has pledged to phase out these tiny metal-and-cement cages:

http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming_pigs_farms.asp

which mother pigs are confined to for their entire lives.

The cages are too small even for the pigs to turn around.

Smithfield Foods credited McDonald’s with pushing it to make the changes that are now having a wonderful ripple effect—changes that PETA first started pressuring the company to make 10 years ago and has never let up on.

PETA’s efforts are now really paying off for pigs.

Go here http://blog.peta2.com/2007/01/_msnbc_had_to_saypork.html

for all the details on this monumental step forward for the hundreds of millions of pigs killed for food each year.

Thank you for helping us make this exciting victory for animals a reality!

Sincerely,

Marta Holmberg

Senior Street Team Coordinator

mailto:CoordinatorMartaH@peta2.com

P.S. Adopting a vegan diet is the most compassionate thing anyone can do for animals. If you haven't already, click the below to take the Veg Pledge today.

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/p2vegpledge

The luckiest!

2007-01-28T18:02:00.000-05:00

I love you David xoxox

Vasco Warhol

2007-01-28T18:00:00.000-05:00

Awesome!

Vasco the little danish boy wonder

2007-01-28T17:56:00.000-05:00

It sure was great to talk to Robb & Bibi in Denmark this weekend!
Vasco sure is growing up to be such a handsome little boy!
Here is his latest photo!
Enjoy!

donkey for sale

2007-01-26T02:20:00.000-05:00

After nobody wrote in to give me some *new* suggestions for the pblog,
I thought...

how about odd things for sale on ebay?

For starters, today I came across this "DONKEY" pin for sale on ebay.

Yet he kind of looks like a horse to me. Or Joe Camel.
Really there is pretty much whatever you can think of for sale on ebay...

Including lots N lots of JEM dolls!!!

Ok ok, back to the donkey/horse, we have to give him SOME press.

But who would wear him? and to what type of event?
He is made of real gold and real diamonds.
I bet you want him now don't you?

Or,

What about his little brother down below?

"Get ready for the elections now by starting to buy an unusual symbol of the Democratic party. Fun!!"

find the answers for yourself

2007-01-24T23:57:00.000-05:00

What is going on with blogger.com?
I have posted all week and so far there has not been a full recovery of
my usual template. This frustrates me again today.
For your reference, the past few "muppet" photos were sent a while back from my brother Mike
-the Uber dad and Uber photog.

blogger.com now shows up in the NEW and the OLD versions during login, yet fails to recognize my passwords on a regular basis as well. Not sure why, but blogger.com is stubborn and is supposed to help me not anger me.

Quick heads-up:
a) Its been snowing all day over here (finally)
b) Lola's ear is quite sore again and to make matters worse, a dog munched it while jumping up all over her while trying to meet her -making her cry for the first time. It was the saddest thing to hear her yelp and howl, she is the toughest dog I have ever had and I have NEVER heard her cry before. She is moping around the house now. I told her that sometimes it hurts to be super friendly.
c) I applied for more interesting positions
d) I baked banana-chocolate chip-peanut butter-muffins from scratch (wicked)
e) I rearranged the upstairs furniture to make it more spacious...and to better organize my magazines in the office!
f) I made Sheppard's pie -in the microwave (took the easy route as at least I baked today!)
g) enjoyed my footbath "bucket" that Santa gave me this year -"totally relaxing bucket"
h) tried to call Dave's parents but they were out at the theatre --maybe tomorrow we can catch them!?!?
i) the list could go on forever regarding countless other random things,
besides what are you curious about?

a) Toronto
b) pblog ramblings
c) fashion
d) photos
e) animal welfare
f) Internet oddities

???

pblog has faith in you.

2007-01-24T01:45:00.000-05:00

Its always amusing to post here at the pblog and see how blogger.com messes with the formatting when it feels like it should. Sorry for the amusing layout problems.

All I do is post fantastic text and then blogger posts and formats it all for me in under a minute!

On the other hand it is still me who adds all of those great movies, slideshows, oddball links and such. AND I do end up deciding their pretty little order on the blogger "template" AND I even use some of that Uber cool "html" and or "coding" when necessary to ensure that it is ALL in order. So yes in fact its true, I have even figured out how to be an Uber chic geek after all this time.

blogger.com, shame on you for causing such anger.

pblog has been up and running for three (3) straight years now.

(Beat that all of you online journalists)

And so what if Leah Mclaren "disses" bloggers,

I read that the newspaper will be obsolete in fifty (50) years anyway.

blogger.com, its almost like sitting back and wondering if the ghost of Saddam is going to show up floating at my window, or if that first taste of haggis really is THAT wonderful...

or does the constant wave of "post-glitches" as we should call them confuse you as well?

Blogger, have mercy R: Blogger, have mercy

pblog, have mercy R: pblog, have mercy

Blogger, have mercy R: Blogger, have mercy

Or is looking at the pblog daily like viewing one of those 1990's 3D posters

that either come right out and smack-you-in-the-face

or leave you puzzled-for-hours.

Again, sorry for the inconvenience caused.

Another thing I have been wondering about after three (3) years is:

who on this big bad earth is actually reading the pblog?

so the pblog web ninjas were sent out to check-things-out for me and they have come back with their hands full=the UK, Myanmar, USA, Canada, Germany, France?

please leave a comment, as I would love to know what you are doing here. Thanks.

For the rest of you loyal fans, you have made the bond of the pblog a holy mystery.

And may your lives always bear witness to the reality of this love.

Enjoy.

pblog has faith in you.

Shouldn't your parents be as fashionable as you are?

2007-01-24T01:33:00.000-05:00

Making a stunning appearance to the pblog this month=my parents.

My sister Kelsie sent this photo over to me last week to show me my moms snazzy ~up-d0~
that she styled for the xmas party

Very lovely indeed!

The Adoption Option

2007-01-23T14:09:00.000-05:00

Small children mean large dogs: The world of dog fanciers is divided between purebred purists (those who insist on buying a pet with a pedigree, meaning it is one of the 153 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club) and mutt mavens (those who prefer adopting from animal shelters). Rarely do these camps see eye to eye, yet leaders of both agree that small dogs are not ideal for families with very young children, who tend to be rough on pets, and that good family dogs are usually thirty pounds or more and willing to roll with the punches. Mutt mavens believe that the more mixed a dog is, the more adaptable he will be to modern family life; the reasoning is that such dogs, being randomly bred, don't display the intense instincts (hunting, ratting and so forth) that make purebreds sometimes hard to live with.

Taking the shelter route: Whether you have children or not, when starting to look for a dog, a smart move is to bypass pet shops and visit your local animal shelter, where adoption counselors will be happy to introduce good old-fashioned mutts that have passed stringent temperament tests. Little Shelter, in Huntington, New York (littleshelter.com), quaintly calls this process matchmaking. To find the animal shelters nearest you, visit the nationwide directory at petfinder.com.

Rescue heroes: Numerous rescue groups specialize in small dogs and may be found online by searching for small dog rescue or little dog rescue. If you absolutely must have a pampered purebred, simply type in the name of the breed and the word rescue — Westie rescue, for example — and you'll be able to find rescue groups near you that will be happy to discuss meeting your needs (one of my favorites is Peke A Tzu Rescue, at pekeatzurescue. com, which is devoted to all small breeds and minimixes). The AKC's Web site (akc.org) also lists breed-rescue groups across the country.

Age before beauty: Retired? In the market for companionship? Consider an age-appropriate adoption: a senior dog. Such animals are frequently overlooked, yet small or large, elder statesdogs prefer leisurely walks to aerobic exercise and prove ideal pets for people who have slowed down as well.

Taken from: "Too Cute" BY JULIA SZABO

http://magazines.ivillage.com/townandcountry/style/feat/articles/0,,292424_705863-1,00.html

bullfrog power!

2007-01-17T00:22:00.000-05:00

www.bullfrogpower.com

What is Bullfrog Power?
Ontario's first 100% green electricity retailer
Clean, reliable electricity from 100% EcoLogoM-certified energy sources
A new way for Ontarians to support renewable electricity rather than coal and nuclear
A 100% Canadian company dedicated to increasing the supply of renewable electricity in Ontario
Why go green?
An easy way to take real action to help improve our air quality and protect our environment
A meaningful way to invest in a better world for our children, our communities and future generations
A practical way to ensure your electricity dollars are supporting green power production instead of coal and nuclear
How does Bullfrog Power work?
You continue to draw your power from Ontario's electricity grid in the same way that you always have
We make sure that the amount of electricity you buy is delivered to Ontario's grid
You don't need any special equipment, setup or wiring
Your electricity supply is just as reliable as ever
Simply sign up and go!

cuba --si?

2007-01-16T01:22:00.000-05:00

Now that winter has FINALLY hit Toronto,

its about time to go someplace warm on the pblog...

enjoy the flight!

Yes, things are heating up, new environment minister says

2007-01-12T13:39:00.000-05:00

Our new hero?

Canada's new environment minister, John Baird, isn't saying what he'll try to do about global warming, but he suggested in a CBC interview that weird weather has eliminated any doubts that temperatures are rising.

"I mean, I grew up here in Ottawa, lived here my entire life, and I can't remember a winter where I didn't have to use my boots," he told Heather Hiscox of CBC Newsworld. "I left the house without even a winter coat this morning. So that's obviously a huge concern."

John Baird has replaced Rona Ambrose as environment minister.
Baird, who stressed that he was just 20 hours into the job and still needs to be "briefed up," replaced Rona Ambrose, who had struggled to defend the government's have-it-both-ways stand on the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

"Canadians … are pretty skeptical when it comes to climate change because they saw the previous government for 13 long years increase greenhouse gas emission by 30 per cent, at the same time wearing a cloak of green. So Canadians want to see some real action and one that will have results and not just rhetoric."

Canadians want a minister who's going to be concerned," he said.
"I think [Liberal Leader] Stéphane Dion has clearly said he's very concerned about the issue, but people aren't going to look at what you say. They're going to look at what you do, and the Liberals' record on this is pretty bad."

Dion, in a separate Newsworld interview, said his own emphasis on environmental policy may have helped to push Harper to change his tone on global warming.

The prime minister "received a wakeup call, maybe from me, but from all Canadians," but it remains to be seen how serious he is about it, the Liberal leader said.
"It will not be difficult to do more than he did last year. Last year, he cut 90 per cent of the programs for environment and climate change. Last year, he embarrassed the country with his approach regarding Kyoto on the international stage.

"So I hope we will see some improvement, even though it will stay far from what we really need to do … and if he is willing to improve even a bit what he did last year, this will be very positive."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/01/05/baird-interview.html?ref=rss#skip300x250

Global warming of the natural sort

2007-01-12T02:05:00.000-05:00

Here is a great photo to warm up your soul on a January day...
Global warming of the natural sort.
As the west of Canada gets hit by a giant blizzard
(drive carefully everyone including you Rona!)
I sit here and see rain outside my window...
where's the snow?
Global warming? sure.
I miss making giant snowmen with carrot noses and burberry plaid scarves.
Maybe we should ask Rona to make things happen before the 2010 Olympics.
www.ronaambrose.com
You can try to find info on the environment on her website (that is her job right?)
Never mind I found some of it for you=
http://www.ronaambrose.com/news.asp?menuID=105

How Rona can help you=
a) Navigate their way through federal government services
b) Obtain Canadian flags and pins for travel abroad
c) Receive Congratulatory Certificates from the Prime Minister, Governor-General and Her Majesty the Queen
d) Deal with immigration applications
e) A wide range of other services..........what types of services? where are the strategies for helping the environment?

Or

possibly on the websites "Make a Difference" section we can find some solutions on how to help the environment as an individual....nope.
Aw Come on Rona!

Even CBC's Gill Deacon has a book out with helpful tips on how to go GREEN!

Well, maybe Rona and Steven should pick up a few books here:
http://www.grassrootsstore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=278&sm=sub13

At least Tim Horton's wrote me a fine letter regarding their "action plan" and how they were going to make Canada a cleaner happier place to guzzle coffee in. Their mission seemed more believable.
Yet I still see piles of garbage beside my house that they refuse to clean up.

I hate Mississauga. I need to write to the mayor tomorrow.

"Tim Hortons will continue to focus its environmental efforts in four key areas: litter awareness, recycling,composting and packaging."
-THE TDL GROUP CORP.,
Bridget Miller
Operations Services Manager

I could post the full letter for you to read, but it stated:
The information contained in this message is confidential and may be legally privileged.
Anyway, thanks to Bridget for giving me a giant letter candy-sprinkled with
good Tim-strategies.

Its more that Rona could do on her personal website!

December 29th 2006 DMC's bday bash at bp's!

2007-01-09T16:49:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DMC!

We had a fantastic time over at Boston Pizza

eating our favorite tasty boston brutes and guzzling down giant schooners

and misc girlie drinks (for the girls of course)

And lets not forget Brandt and his coors light ensemble which included a hat that he won during the hockey game to match his tasty frosty pint of brew

We sure missed having Brent & Beth aka: SHAFT playing trivia along with

BORT & CORN...(hopefully next year???)

Anyway it was a nice chance to get everyone out having fun!

The honest lawyer turns...32!

2007-01-09T15:58:00.000-05:00

It was Dave's birthday over the holidays!

We had a nice lunch with his parents at

Ottawa's version of London's

*The Honest Lawyer resto/pub*
it was a nice crisp sunny day with a bit of snow

and it was nice to go down to the market area too!

We then rested up for our funfilled night of Boston-Pizza-triva-action

with the rest of the blackburn gang.

(pictures are to follow)

made with sweet love --want to be a hooker?

2007-01-09T01:16:00.000-05:00

www.madewithsweetlove.com/art.html

I was watching late night tv and saw a cool segment regarding Whitney Lee and her

latch-hook artwork (once even shown here in Toronto!)

I thought it was such a creative concept to take crafty latch-hooking and make it new again

in a totally different way.

"What happens when you take some revolutionary sexual politics and mix in a kitch-y craft medium? Besides making an object that is sure to be ultra-hip, you’re producing artwork with a whole new layer of meaning. "

"My work was successful largely because of the giggly irony of seeing a sex-pot image in a medium that you associate with your grandmother. It also embodies a reaction against mass-consumerism, both in the handmade element to the work and the sex-for-sex’s-sake imagery, rather than sex being used to sell a product. In that way pornography is more honest than advertising. "

Want to be a hooker? learn how=

www.madewithsweetlove.com/hooker_learn.html

death of a blazer

2007-01-07T01:43:00.000-05:00

2006-OUT=the blazer & hoodie ensemble

2007-IN=the cardigan & streamer ensemble

Happy 2007

2007-01-06T16:37:00.000-05:00

Much to our delight, we rang in the new year at Dave's parents house
with a mysterious murder mystery party + fodue pots galore!
I ended up being Lady Caroline Mouton ---THE MURDERER!
I had a great time lying my way through the night as a fashionable socialite
with an illegitimate daughter played by Lara.
Dave was an angry calvinist priest and played the part wonderfully...
all those years of hanging out in the anglican cathedral certainly helped.
But he was innocent....
We also found one of granny & grampy's wedding presents=
*1942 champagne glasses!*
We filled the glasses and rang in 2007
in total vintage style!
We also figured out that they make champagne glasses in *flute* form because they sure don't spill as easily!
Matt & Mary had a lot of fun with their paper streamers they brought over...
tossing them about...especially all over me.
Lara stole one of the tiara's and looked grand in it.
Brandt joined Lara and I as we blew our noisemakers in style.
The Beef stock, Oil, Cheese & Chocolate fondue party was a smash!
We also had creme brulee!
Welcome 2007.

paper hats 2006

2007-01-04T14:02:00.000-05:00

Our annual paper hat xmas dinner shot!

got bonk?

2007-01-04T01:39:00.000-05:00

Possibly the greatest xmas gift of all time?

Merry Xmas 2006

2007-01-04T01:35:00.000-05:00

Merry Xmas 2006

The Crowe family Christmas 2006

2007-01-04T01:23:00.000-05:00

Dave, Lola and I had a wonderful Christmas holiday this year in Ottawa!

The above photos were taken on Christmas eve before midnight mass

at Aunt Marilyn & Uncle Bob's place.

Dave & I joked about how small his family is vs mine and how easy it was to

get (almost) everyone rounded up for a nice xmas picture!

Jalen & Kennedy Christmas 2006

2007-01-04T01:20:00.000-05:00

Jalen & Kennedy Christmas 2006

(this sure looks like me and my brother!)

Happy 2nd Birthday Olivia!

2007-01-04T01:16:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CUTIE!

It sure was great to see you over the holidays!!!

Love Auntie Patti & Uncle Davey xoxoxo

PET HEALTH ALERT: NO SWEETS FOR THE SWEET THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

2006-12-22T12:51:00.000-05:00

from ASPCA:
For many people, overindulging in holiday goodies may result in a few extra pounds—but the consequences for our animal companions are much greater if they accidentally ingest cookies, candy or baked goods containing chocolate. In any form ranging from one-ounce baking squares to hand-dipped truffles, chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both methylxanthines that can cause stimulation of the central nervous system, an increase in heart rate and tremors.
Clinical signs—vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity, and increased thirst, urination and heart rate—can be seen with the ingestion of as little as two ounces of baking chocolate by a 10-pound dog.

And while sugar-free sweets may be a healthier choice for you, gum or candies made with xylitol can make your pets ill. Dogs who’ve ingested significant amounts may develop a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures. Data from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also appears to point to a link between xylitol ingestion and liver failure in dogs.

Please take care this holiday season to keep all candy out of your pets' reach—and don't let them in the kitchen unsupervised if you’re baking with chocolate. If you suspect your pet may have eaten chocolate, candies containing xylitol, or any other potentially poisonous substance, call your veterinarian or the APCC's emergency hotline at:
(888) 426-4435 for round-the-clock telephone assistance.
For more information on poison prevention, visit APCC online.

www.aspca.org

Christmas payback

2006-12-21T18:27:00.000-05:00

You know, over the last seven years I’ve given Tiffany & Co. a lot of my money.
I sure have contributed to the blue & to the white. In fact, the store on Bloor has actually now seen the last of my business. I am fed up with the crowds and being on waiting lists while I sip champagne. At least at birks I had caviar and was served at the same time!
Toronto being the city in which T&CO madness has reached an all time critical mass is too much for me now. That being the case, I think it’s time that T&CO paid me back for the thousands of dollars that I’ve spent on their trendy necklaces, keychains, and bracelets. And I know just the things that will make me feel better.

I would like all of your new pretty legacys for my Christmas tree please, Mr. Tiffany.

one per branch! Thanks a bunch. RE: Comments. Don’t care anymore. Do your worst, asses.

Jalen dec/06

2006-12-14T10:45:00.000-05:00

A new picture of my nephew Jalen!

What a handsome fella!

Kennedy dec/06

2006-12-13T17:16:00.000-05:00

My latest photo of my tiny niece Kennedy!

What a beauty!

Maui Christmas everybody!

2006-12-11T19:15:00.000-05:00

Maui Christmas everybody!

my 'do

2006-12-11T19:07:00.000-05:00

baby its cold outside!

2006-12-05T21:48:00.000-05:00

Mama, it's cold outside!

Don't I look awesome in my new winter coat?

We went out today wearing our warm winter coats.

No more wool coats and naked doggies!

yes -brrr its finally winter over here now.

Its about time right?

so time for coats of down and berber linings (that fuzzy lining)

They have salted the sidewalks so much at our building I almost thought about getting Lola some winter booties, but then her and I both agreed that that would be total insanity!

She is a terrier and has a little wirey coat, so she actually requires

her new plaid coat. Her sweater doesnt have a hood like this one does.

Plus if she is the dog of a fashionista, she must dress the part.

The other day we met "Nola" and she was wearing a powder pink

bubble coat with snaps, Lola thought it was lame -so did I.

And "Nola"? she was trying SO hard to be LOLA.

We also ran into a scruffy little dog and he was wearing

a colbalt blue fleece Paul Frank hoodie, nice for Fall weather, but not suitable

for the -10 icy elements today.

Nor as chic.

Lola and I are actually anti-Burberry right now as they still use fur in their lines,

but we hope they realize soon that fur is not cool or fashionable.

Burberry continues to use fur in its designs despite the fact that leading clothing retailers like Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Ann Taylor, Polo Ralph Lauren, and others have pulled fur from their stores forever.

http://www.bloodyburberry.com/

"When plaid goes bad"

Ok I promised to keep this light and friendly!

sorry folks!

I also told Dave this year I should try to attempt to go full out vegetarian

as I care so much for my animal friends.

eitherway, I will be called a hypocrite or a Uber hippy. Whats the nicer of the 2?

I have gone 4 years without major fastfood chains (a $20 bet/joke started in college)

Anyway, I will try and report the progress here at the Pblog. Maybe that will help.

For my brown belt karate training I went a year without

ice cream, all types of cheese and all pizza! -yes pizza. Ok and all junk food.

I guess the Guinness made up for my stressful diet though? ha!

Somehow I got to a size 4 through diet and insane training.

But I can honestly say that I felt amazing and it worked wonders cutting out garbage.

New year, back to all that good stuff. (but more veggie pizza's though for sure!)

Ok back to peta, yes I have been bashed for supporting them in the past, and I DO find their methods a tad on the extreme side, but if you watch the below you will see why fur is awful.

I used to work with it and also with leather (aka: "skins") and have seen enough rabbit pelts and pig skin to make anyone sick.

http://www.bloodyburberry.com/videos.asp

enjoy!

Welcome Gianluca!

2006-12-01T14:55:00.000-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS STEPH AND BEN!

WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HEAR THE GREAT NEWS!

Gianluca Hubbard, arrived two days overdue on Steph's birthday Nov 28th.

Miraculously, Steph was only in labour for 6 1/2 hours and he arrived at 9:25am (which is the same time Steph was born!) weighing 8lbs 9oz. He's absolutely beautiful and we know you will love him to bits.

We can't wait to meet you and visit your proud Mom & Dad!

Lots of love, P&D

Little Lola

2006-11-30T01:47:00.000-05:00

It has been decided that Lola's birthday will take place this Christmas eve

December 24th.

She will turn 4years old.

Even though we are not sure just how old she is.

But her teeth are pretty white, so she is apx 3 years old.

Last year was our first year with her but we were in Edmonton so we were unable to celebrate Christmas with her and couldn't figure out the best date for her birthday.

We also don't know when her REAL birthday is so we thought that because she is a rescued dog that her life has become somewhat of a miracle in the making, so christmas eve being the "happiest" time of the year will suit the little snuggler just fine.

Congrats brandt!

2006-11-21T12:19:00.000-05:00

Congrats Brandt on your new job!

Too bad we all couldn't get together here in Toronto when you were down for your short trip, but we will be in Ottawa next week -for a small visit!

I hope Leroy is ready to see his beloved playmate Lola!

We should all go to Bark & Fitz and grab a big stiff starbucks coffee

-would that be yuppie enough for you gov't man?

I always wondered who actually reads the pblog, besides Brent bugging me for the Crannie wedding pics --yes they will be posted tomorrow...they need some "re-touching"

Readers, please feel free to post comments of what you are "waiting" to hear about.

I'm not that psychic!

Kim in the city

2006-11-14T19:11:00.000-05:00

It was wonderful to see you after all the crazy busy years Kim!

Its amazing that we got to share this small window of time to do such mad shopping and talkin!

You are like a big sis to me, thank you for all of your deep love and understanding.

I will miss your skinny yoga butt prancin around my town!

I also look forward to takin you to all the good places again

anytime you want on your "next" trip!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

a night in the hammer

2006-11-05T19:55:00.000-05:00

Since we now live in Mississauga (shudder) its been a long time since I've had to drive only a small 1/4 of my total daily drive back to Hamilton. My aunt and uncle were in Hamilton for a wedding so I went to meet them for dinner. It was nice to drive again, its been so long, but man I dont miss it. Well I love driving, but not every single day for over 80kms. Urgh all that driving for what? work? thats just crazy nonsense. No wonder I easily gained 1olbs and am just now destressing and trying to lose that evil 10lbs as we speak. I'm sure glad we moved to be closer to Haggar...urgh enough for now I digress.

I made it to Hamilton in a giant rainstorm and there were 2 accidents, but no biggie I made it there in under an hour. The visitors were late anyway. I guess it runs in the family hahah

We had a great time with Auntie Cathy & Uncle Jim in the wonderful world of the hammer.....!
It was a fun time had by all at the swanky 1970's mafia Sirloin Cellar and then at the fine old WESTOWN pub...! There was a live band and we even ran into the wedding party! crazy.

It was fun to just relax with a nice dinner and plenty of wine! Too bad I drank so much.

Afterwards they were going to Ottawa to see the sights. Then to Montreal to see Cara. And then Halifax...for the heck of it! It is their first time out in eastern Canada....I hope they love it as much as I do. and I hope to see MORE of my relatives one day soon!

Actually my cousin Kim will be here on Thursday for a short visit!

Its going to be great to see her and show her around! She is also visiting her girlfriend as well...lets hope the weather cooperates and we can actually go to niagara falls?!?! brrr...!

To Crannie with love...

2006-10-30T17:59:00.000-05:00

To Crannie with love,

PBLOG xoxoxoxoXXXxxx

middle finger salute

2006-10-30T17:39:00.000-05:00

Ummm --no comment here.

death of a boombox

2006-10-23T18:44:00.000-04:00

It is with much regret and giant sorrow to Dave's brother Robb that his wicked slick 1990's boombox has died and was transported to the Charlton avenue curb this past August.

rock on!

Its amazing that we can now fit "most" of our cd collection onto a teeny tiny nano.
Weird isn't it.
I think its a shame...I mean...its just not as cool and or slick to carry a little nano on your shoulder....right?

I think its lame to even carry it on your arm...with mac armband?

thats not cool.

And plugged into headphones? why, no one can hear your music.
Unless you want ear damage. Urgh...

I remember in my high school english class this guy used to walk out and turn on his favorite new TAPE:
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES...
t-u-r-t-l-e power
t-u-r-t-l-e power
it was odd, but funny as hell...

Anyway thats just my favorite boombox experience of all time...

I know that Dave was sad to let the boombox be taken away by some mysterious Hamilton person(s)....but they too will realize that the boombox died along with acid wash and their tigercats.

two cats a dog and a staircase

2006-10-17T16:48:00.000-04:00

The trouble bunch!

All the ladies in the house whatcha gonna do???

2006-10-17T16:40:00.000-04:00

From left: Maui, Mom, Patti, Lola, & Kelsie Chiles=we rule...boys drool!!!

Chinese moon festival!

2006-10-17T16:29:00.000-04:00

ALL YOU CAN EAT MOON CAKES!!! WOW WHAT A DREAM COME TRUE!!!
How we ended up at a chinese buffet is beyond me, but MAN did we have a fun time!!!

k the guest clerk

2006-10-17T16:14:00.000-04:00

Kelsie went to the hammer for a tough work day as guest student law clerk at DMC's firm!
Check out her big sisters velvet ensemble! woowee! Now she see's how hard DMC and the SH team actually work --oops!

Kelsie & mom's Thanksgiving visit

2006-10-17T16:10:00.000-04:00

It was great to see you both!!! We sure had a great time with you!!!

220 B RD W -2 view

2006-10-05T17:39:00.000-04:00

pblog Dear World, series 1:

2006-10-05T17:27:00.000-04:00

220 B RD W

2006-10-05T17:22:00.000-04:00

Urban,
cosmopolitan,
as diverse and exciting as the City of Toronto that lies beside it.

Citygate is well-positioned to take advantage of all its many amenities.

Rising on Burnhamthorpe Road West at Duke of York Boulevard across from Mississauga City Hall, Citygate's 2 magnificent 35-storey towers, with their striking symmetry and articulated cascade design - virtually all glass - will make a distinctive addition to the city skyline.

The outstanding array of condominiums, two-storey lofts and penthouses at Citygate offer an opportunity and lifestyle that very few can resist?

Lola time!

2006-10-05T17:20:00.000-04:00

Finally I get to spend time with my little girl.....

the view from above

2006-09-30T02:59:00.000-04:00

Here's a shot from one of our 2 balconies.
Come on, how often can anyone state that they have not 1 but 2 balconies?

We can.

Jealous? come visit them.

The sun was setting and it actually happened to be still clear out at around 7pm.
The smog was light on Wednesday night.
Not sure why, but I can't complain.

Because we face east we get a killer sunrise,
which I think is prettier anyway...what a nice way to start the day!
...and it is great to dash outside and look out across around 5 miles to the lake before the smog shows up.

The pets love it here and now can sit in the sun all day as our office window starts from the floor up to the ceiling. We are refusing to put up curtains in the sunny office,
so I will try not to run around in my pink pj's too often...you never know who may be watchin.

All those misc urban dwellers out there in the other towers sittin there in their finest, nothin better to do but create myspace sites and drink the night away listening to pixies.

A visit with Lauren!

2006-09-23T20:03:00.000-04:00

It was wonderful to finally meet you today

Lauren!

David and I came to visit your proud mommy & daddy

and you slept all snuggly warm in my arms for a few hours

what a little sweetie you are!

A warm congrats to both Allison & Jeff

Good luck and all the best!!!

this is where I took my graphic design night courses...

2006-09-14T12:45:00.000-04:00

I knew a few guys like this in my high school, they were such "gamers", they sat around on the floor in front of the lockers
playing "D&D" and rolling dice while drinking chocolate milk and Doritos.
The whole long trench coat look I could never understand, and Harley boots.
I watched my classmate transform himself in one semester, from a shy nice plain guy into a trenchcoat/harleyboot guy.
And amazingly his costume worked, and he gained a few friends. He didn't have to eat alone anymore in the cafeteria either.
I thought they looked like losers and their whole dark look was pretty silly.
Once he showed up in an Indiana Jones type hat. But the look didn't catch on in his group. But at least he looked like less of a clone.
Anyway I joked once about another classmate I knew who once was a snowboarder now turned trench coat..
"aren't you a little hot out here in the sun?" I questioned as we walked throughout Elk Island park on an art class excursion
to draw the natural environment. "nope!" he said then turned away and wiped sweat off his brow.
Those guys became so cool that they oozed this new term goth.
It was only 1994, what did I know.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/14092006/2/national-blog-man-identified-dawson-college-gunman-paints-dark-portrait.html

how many boxes does it take to hold my vogue collection?

2006-08-29T23:52:00.000-04:00

Its that time of year again!

Time to sort through all of the massive amounts of stuff that have made their homes here with us on Charlton Avenue West for over the past nine months.

Yes folks!
here's the simple math for you:

9 mths of me driving
+
160km's to work each day
x
5 days a week
+
1 car accident
-
an average portion of my life due to the aprx drive time of 40minutes-3hours
+
2 nervous breakdowns
-
mileage of rental car=2weeks/14 days
+
gas=85.0-112.9/L

------------------------------
total: time to leave Hamilton

Its taken me by suprise how good it feels to cleanse and detox your house and move on to another unwritten path.

This new place even has a pool and a grand piano!
Come on, who wouldn't take a pool and a piano over steel?

It just feels good to pull everything off the shelves and ponder over why I purchased all of these odds & ends in the first place? Humans really are just born to work/produce/consume.

Anyway,
again its late, but this is whats been going on:
I have been packing alone as DMC has a trial this week. Its midnight and I haven't heard from him since 5pm. Not sure where he is or what he is up to. Hope bibby didn't drop him in a tub full of gooey cement.
And to make matters more insane: our apartment building told me that the elevators are booked ALL of Wednesday.
So now the movers that we did reserve for Wednesday said they never received our booking and cancelled on us.
So I decided to go for good old U-haul, and now they tell me that we can't have a truck for 2 days in a row as its "busy season", so I am not even sure if we can rearrange to have it just for "one" day which leaves us to Thursday.
John-the-axe-murderer-landlord screamed and argued that we must be out:
"midnight of the 31st--OR ELSE!!!"

--I am dyin to see John on the porch at 11:30, AXE in hand...

Anyway, hope we can just get out of here sooner vs later.
So I will take apart my PC here tonight and she will cry digital tears...

Lola just had her bath! so she is smelling like Lassie shampoo, too bad you can't smell the daisy-fresh scent.

time to go through the stack of mags leftover by DMC for me to "sort".
"SORT!?" -I said? there is no sorting required!

Just use extra tape!

sniffany & co.

2006-08-23T23:04:00.000-04:00

how cute is this???

kerr's top 40

2006-08-15T22:36:00.000-04:00

Only the finest Malt is allowed down on Charlton ave west

Congratulations on becoming a new lawyer Greg.....you truly are

ALL THAT!

Jibacoa strapless little number

2006-08-15T00:27:00.000-04:00

Its funny how a big Torontonian like me can race around a FANTASTIC country like Cuba in +47 weather heck you can:
-hike
-ride a horse
-swim in a cave
-hike through a cave
-snorkel all over the place
-chase hemmingways ghost out of his hotel
and then race back to my hotel and look THIS good...
did I forget to mention that I was also sick for the past 2 days?

At this dinner we gave our waiter a bag of toys for his 2 little girls, he was SO happy.
Beanie Babies are still cool somewhere on this earth at least...

come on england?

2006-08-14T21:21:00.000-04:00

Before B&B move across the pond we had the chance to spend some time with Brent at BP'S and had a great trivia match --Shaft was the winner.

Beth was busy trying to deliver a baby!

It will be a very sad good-bye.

But we are not saying goodbye.....just "until we meet again..."

We will miss you both very very much!!!

But we are quite happy that you are getting out of the hammer to do what your hearts are telling you to do:

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!
p&d xoxox

MG =She’s In It For The Money Bootleg

2006-08-13T21:47:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeWnWKxd1RU

bad boy astor

2006-08-13T17:57:00.000-04:00

This is Lola's favorite little man "bad boy astor"....does your pet have a fav little critter?

en route!

2006-08-07T21:28:00.000-04:00

A canoe trip around the lake....!
We had no idea what Lola would do once we put her inside the Crowe's giant red canoe,
but she seemed to really enjoy it...!

It was awesome to have her aboard! What a brave little Scottie!
Thank you Dave for being our favourite tourguide too!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

p.B-l-o-g

My beautiful birth of Courtney

Courtney Julianne

Cola Dog visits the Crowe's

MiniPops

Kennedy the little fortune cookie

Clearance bin vs Clear thinking

highly addictive

almost the end of 2008

Happy Anniversary Emily & Derek!

Thank you Brent & Beth for the W-gifts!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!

NIFTY AND FIFTY?!

Honeymooners

Just Married!!!

Vivienne Westwood blasts government's stance on terrorism suspects

Lola the explorer!

haud muto factum

7-7-7

Off to Otown

"Abusive Actions" PART: 2

How I got suspended from FACEBOOK for animal rights issues, PART: 1

Welcome to Ottawa. Please enjoy your stay...

Facebook Flaw

WSPA -Anti-Bullfighting Action

bridal boutique #1, Location: Queen Street garment district

king kong arrives at the CN Tower

got cbc?

What the Quiznos fan said...

Oshawa's 'Stephen Colbert Day'

the butcher the baker AND the candlestick maker?

Happy Saint Patti's by the way...

International Women’s Day

old vineyard

snowglobe glitter

and god created...Lola

one scott two scott three scott i'm hott

Lola Havana the Uber sex pot

weddingbells website

***engaged at last***

flickr pro!

Pigs on Factory Farms

The luckiest!

Vasco Warhol

Vasco the little danish boy wonder

donkey for sale

find the answers for yourself

pblog has faith in you.

Shouldn't your parents be as fashionable as you are?

The Adoption Option

bullfrog power!

cuba --si?

Yes, things are heating up, *new* environment minister says

Global warming of the natural sort

December 29th 2006 DMC's bday bash at bp's!

The honest lawyer turns...32!

made with sweet love --want to be a hooker?

death of a blazer

Happy 2007

paper hats 2006

got bonk?

Merry Xmas 2006

The Crowe family Christmas 2006

Jalen & Kennedy Christmas 2006

Happy 2nd Birthday Olivia!

PET HEALTH ALERT: NO SWEETS FOR THE SWEET THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Christmas payback

Jalen dec/06

Kennedy dec/06

Maui Christmas everybody!

my 'do

baby its cold outside!

Welcome Gianluca!

Little Lola

Congrats brandt!

Kim in the city

a night in the hammer

To Crannie with love...

middle finger salute

engaged at last

Yes, things are heating up, new environment minister says