Hello November!

The hard thing about writing about Derry is that the post almost always ends up sounding political. Truthfully, that could just be me reading my own opinions about Northern Ireland into what I wrote. Maybe other people wouldn't read it that way. Or maybe they would. Anyway, I wrote a post, sat on it for two days, rewrote it, sat on it again, reworked it... it's an on going struggle but I will get it up eventually; I think the one I've most recently wrote is probably the version I'll end up with but I want to sit on it and make sure.

In the meantime, it's November! Not only that but it's the fifth of November! When I was young, my dad always had a bonfire for Guy Fawkes day. The property is surrounded by a forest so we'd accumulate a lot of cuttings and underbrush* we had to get rid of. By November 5th, it was damp enough to have a bonfire. Two birds, one bonfire so to speak.

We don't have bonfires anymore because as the development around us grew, firefighter visits became more frequent (this is more a complaint from my dad and brothers. I usually called the fire department... joking!) so permits had to be obtained and that tends to be a pain in the butt. If I had thought far enough ahead to realise that this year it fell on a Saturday, I might have made an effort to get the permits sorted. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to rely on facebook to commemorate the day.

November is Adoption Awareness Month. Now that I've made you aware of that, my work here is done ;-) And I may or may not blog about it later.

I'm being crafty again and will hopefully have something soon to show you. Also, does anyone have any tips for getting spray paint flecks off of a wood patio? These two things are most definitely related.

*Nothing makes me feel better than watching broom burn. Burn motha-frakker, burn!**

**Um, the spell check wanted to change 'motha' to 'mothra'. I always knew my computer was a nerd!

Book, I mean, Blog Update.

I wish I could tell you I haven't been posting because I've been epically busy but I haven't really. As the weather gets nicer, I've just been spending more time away from the computer. Oh, and I just finished a 1000 page book in two weeks while still working full time, doing some writing for a friend and socializing. Right, it's not the nice weather, it's the 'ohmigawdthisseriesissoooooooooooogoodIcantstopreading' that's keeping me away from posting.

Some of these items I will mention in future posts, but for now:

I went to see Thor with 'the boys' and I really, really enjoyed it. Having to stare at Chris Hemsworth in 3D didn't hurt either.

I attended an adoption information session. My mom came with me. It's safe to say that a lot has changed in the world of adoption in the last 30 years (namely, the cost).

I've watched a lot of hockey. I even watched hockey while Big Bro and I treated mom to a belated Mother's Day dinner. My mom has very little interest in hockey beyond asking us how the Canucks are doing. This is the second Mother's Day in a row that she's let her special day take a back seat to a Canucks game. She is a good, good lady.

I've talked a lot of hockey. I've also made fun of people who don't know hockey but insist on talking like they do. I love the Canucks but we have a lot of bandwagon jumpers. It's almost enough to make 'bleed green and blue' fans want to support another team. Almost.

I went on a date. It was bad. I may do a post dedicated to exactly how bad it was. He punched my boob, managed to infer that I was a creepy because I'd willing go to a Comic Con, and is allergic to cats. It's the trifecta of "there is no way in hell I am ever going out with you again".

I attended the inaugural meeting of the Reynold's Alumni Band Steering Committee. Feel free to openly mock me in the comments.

I am displaying three of my photos at work. Only one is up right now as they were unsure of their total space at the time we discussed my pieces but the other two go up tomorrow. The first one has received a lot of compliments so I'm really happy with my decision to submit my work for showing. It's like I'm a real artist (and I've got the bank account to prove it)!

There's more but, um, book three in the series isn't going to read itself so... yeah. Till next time!

A Real Mom

Do you think you'll ever want to find your real mom?

It is the most common question I get asked when people learn that I'm adopted.

Your real mom?

When I was younger I hated those words. Like the mom I had was a fake. An impostor. A pod person sent here to destroy mankind by infiltrating our every day lives. I would get angry. Sometimes I would yell at the person for using that word, this person who honestly didn't understand that they had said anything wrong.

Real.

I grew up and realised that the best thing was to respond with the words I preferred to use: "I don't know if I'll ever look for my biological mom; my real mom is still a part of my life." It gets the point across much better than yelling.

My biological mom gave me life and for that I will be forever grateful.

My real mom stayed up with me when I was sick, she gave me hugs when I was sad, she was my biggest cheerleader, she bore the brunt of my temper tantrums, she got angry at me when I needed it, she drove me to ballet, soccer, and band, she taught me how to sew, she tended to the flowers in my window box, she played the piano so I could dance to it, and she still loves me unconditionally because, biological or not, that`s what real moms do.

There are so many types of moms in this world--too many to list here--and I wish each and every one of you a wonderful Mother`s Day.

Hockey And Life

The Canucks finally shook the proverbial monkey off their back last night (and perhaps an actual monkey from their pants; that's the only reasonable explanation for how they played in games four and five) beating Chicago 2-1 in overtime of game seven. Sure, it's only the first round and they're still a good ways from being Stanley Cup Champions, but Chicago has been a problem for Vancouver in the post-season lately.The past two years, we've faced them in round two of the playoffs and they've beaten us both times. Incidentally, we were eliminated on May 11th both years.

I watched the game with baited breath and I screamed so loudly when they won that my cats didn't even crawl out from under my bed to cuddle with me until well after I fell asleep. I was also very happy that the game winner came from Burrows. We watched him bungle a penalty shot and then we watched him turn over the puck in the neutral zone leading to the Blackhawks short-handed goal which tied up the game with less than two minutes left, and then we watched as he made up for all of that by sliding the puck past Corey Crawford (who had been a f*ing wall all f*ing night. That boy--he's younger than me, therefore he's a boy--was worth every penny the Hawks paid him this year in that one game alone!). Congratulations, Mr. Burrows. You done us proud.

Burrows being congratulated by Daniel (I think. I'm 95% sure that number is 22) Henrik.

Correction: I looked at the picture again and realised, duh, why didn't I look at the completely

unobstructed number on the freakin' helmet? Sometimes, my stupidity astounds even myself!

[Source]

All I can say at this point is BRING ON NASHVILLE!

My other news is that I am attending an adoption information seminar in two weeks. That's right, adoption. (Mom, sorry you had to find out this way but I hadn't actually phoned to confirm my enrolment when I talked to you on the phone today.) I was adopted at birth. Growing up, I always wanted to adopt (at least) one child. I've had amazing opportunities because of being adopted. I have an incredible family who loves me very much and who I love more than I can ever put into words. I have always wanted to pass that love on to another person who would benefit from a forever family.

Actually adopting is a good few years away but it's something that I've started to think about recently (going out on a limb here and saying that turning thirty last year might have had something to do with it). After a year of talking and thinking and pondering and debating and more talking and, well, you get the picture, I'm taking my first timid steps towards beginning the process.

YAY!