The Jeff R Project

August 25, 2007 was the date that Chris and I officially took possession of our first home. Today marks the 2 year anniversary of that event and we both marvel at how much time has passed.

A friend mentioned he thought it was just about a year and when I corrected him, he was incredulous. So was I when I started to get in touch with it.

Chris and I couldn’t be happier that we bought a condo when we did. The market changed shortly after and we may not have qualified for the mortgage we got, in fact, they removed that mortgage product eventually. Sure, we might have paid a little less a while later, but probably wouldn’t have been able to get a place we liked. Hard to say.

We’re now talking about the future again. How long do we stay here? Do we try to rent for the Olympics and make some money? Where would we move when we decide to sell? Things like that. We’ve made a “little” money on this place, nothing major so we’re not about to rush off just yet.

2 years flew by in a heartbeat. In some ways, I really hope the next 2 don’t go as fast.

So there’s apparently a series of books called “The Twilight Saga” that are being made into a series of movies. Maybe you’ve heard of it? The first one came out last year and was called Twilight (huh!). And apparently there’s another one coming out called Twilight: New Moon. Sounds cool.

Ok, I’m kidding. Unless you’ve been living under a beaver dam, you know about Twilight. Hell, the even filmed it here in Vancouver. Chris and I avoided the movie in the theatre and eventually I ended up watching it after it was released on DVD. Seriously? Vampires that sparkle in the sunlight? Oy.

So there were a few highlights of the movie and one of them was of course the guys. What can I say, I had to dig deep for something to enjoy. I’m not talking about Robert Pattinson. I don’t think he’s that attractive at all. Taylor Lautner on the other hand is seriously cute (assuming you ignore that hideous wig he had to endure). Here’s a shot of him with short hair from Twilight: New Moon.

So much better without the wig! Anyway, if you watch the commercial / interview below, you see lots of stuff from the new movie, including a first look at the new werewolves and it actually looks better than Twilight! Here’s hoping.

Chris sent me this photo that he found online somewhere. The only response I could think of was “Seriously? What the f**k were they thinking?

There are certain things about this sign that need to be talked about, but I’m not at all sure where to start.

First – I have to give them HUGE props for the bad-ass mo-fo on the sign. Even without the qualifiers (we’ll get to those), if he tells me not to go swimming, I’m not going swimming or anywhere near the pool. I won’t even want to see the stingrays.

And seriously? Even the stingrays have AIDS? Um. Kay. Exactly what do the guests here do with the stingrays?

How much time did the employee spending making this sign? Does the hotel have enough guests to warrant it if they employees are busy making bad-ass signs?

Well, in the end, I guess I’m glad to see they have a sense of humor. I’m not sure I’d put it up in my business, but that’s just me.

I’ve known my parents for 41 years now.

I’ve known my brother for 37 years.

I’ve known my boss for 9 1/2 years.

I’ve known my husband for 5 years.

These collectively are my most important relationships (ranked by time) and the most important thing about maintaining them has been communication.

Recently, this has been first and foremost in my mind because of a variety of issues and when I boil them all down, they all come back to communication. The issues and disagreements I’ve had recently with friends and family may have been preventable with better communication and less attempts to “control” on my part. My attempts to control led to getting stressed out with worry, which let to lashing out (in my own way).

Communication has also been important with my dad’s illness. Keeping in touch on the surface just so I know what’s going on, but also communicating the important part he has played in my life. He’s not going anywhere soon, but it’s never to soon to say “I love you” again.

My brother posted an alarming status on Facebook so I had to get in touch with him and get the details. Had I kept in touch more previously, I probably would have been less alarmed.

Talk to the people who are important to you. It doesn’t have to be a 7 page hand-written letter, a simple 2 line email might be enough. Or maybe a heart-felt handmade card is more your style. A trip to visit them after a long absence? or even a 5 minute phone call.

Only you can gauge the size of response needed, but I encourage you to communicate well, and often with anyone who’s important to you.

Ever have one of those weekends?

Things are cruising along nicely on Friday afternoon, work is wrapping up, you’re looking forward to the weekend, you’ve got yourself some good plans, and enough downtime to relax before Monday springs back up?

Maybe you make it through Friday night, maybe you make it all the way to Sunday morning.

And then it all goes horribly wrong?

There’s nothing worse than wasting a weekend being sick. And I’m not talking about a sniffle. I’m talking the “I drank some water from a country a shouldn’t have, ate food I know I’m allergic too, rubbed my face in poison ivy and then, just for kicks, threw a box of thumbtacks on the floor, rolled around in them and jumped in a vat of iodine**” evil sick and gross.

Yup. Sucks. And that’s really about all I’m going to say about it.

**With apologies to SNL