Mercury Rising

I spoke to my half-brother Andrew for the first time in 5 years on Saturday and I have come to realize a few things. First off, when you're almost 22, it's incredibly hard to find something in common with a 13 year old boy. Especially, if you don't really know that boy. Also, that saying that guys only think about one thing? Totally true. He was bragging to me about how his mom bought him a Maxim. For the record, his mom happens to also by my mother, but I don't consider her to hold more than the title of "genetics donor". I remember exactly what she was like when I was Andrew's age, and Sue was more interested in being my friend than being a good parent. Even as a teen, I knew that some of the things she said and did were completely inappropriate for a child to hear or know about. Part of me realizes that because she hails from Germany, where sex is viewed completely differently, her views are different. At any rate, Andrew was super excited. I guess she hasn't changed after all these years (I haven't spoken to her in 6 years). Not surprising.


My parents are in the process of renovating their home in order to get it on the market. Great house and I doubt they'll have any real problems selling it. They don't plan to live directly in the city, a bonus. Too loud, and croweded in the city for the likes of them. I figure they'll live about 30-45 minutes from here. That's what Dad wants.


Lilly and Christopher (my sister and brother in-law) met the President over the weekend. Christopher was named "Best Soldier in New England" a pretty big honour from the sounds of it. Must've beat out a huge lot. He was wounded serving the United States Military in Iraq. IDE exploded and hit his arm if I am remembering correctly. Dad was saying he got himself a promotion last month too.


Last night Abby and I went for a drive around town. It was a good to get out of the house. We looked at some used cars and there arew a few I want but completely out of my price range. I'm hoping to have another $500 by the end of the summer to add to the total. Already at $1500! Sweet. This time I'm going to really get into my new car, you know? I want to get some nice decals for it if possible, and take better care of it in general. Not that the Mercury (pictured above) wasn't well cared for (look at the shape of it for a 96!) but I want to really take care of the new one.

I can feel my stress level rising and I'm worried about getting sick again. It's that time of year. Two years ago my cousin's brought home a vomitting bug that made everyone sick for 24 hours. I was "lucky" and threw up for 10 minutes straight to the extend that I broke all the blood vessels in my face, neck and eyes. Hurt like hell. Last year I had a "bacterial infection" in my throat, concentrated mainly on the left side. I didn't realize it right away because it had flu like symptoms. I was sick for almost a week, and it took 2 more to recover. I am hoping I don't get sick this year. But with my allergies going nutty...who knows.

Cleaners, Coke and Cash

I have tried many-a household cleanser in efforts to get a "cleaner clean" as it were. Strange, but it's sort of become an obsession. First it was with my mop, which has a scrub brush on it, so I can scrub the floors, then use the sponge to get at the water. But even better than that, is "Great Value All Purpose Cleanser" from Wally-World. This stuff could eat through lead, I am sure of it. I cleaned the bathroom yesterday, and the tub (which I was cleaning with Gel-Vim for months) took 2 minutes to clean. The cleanser started working right away and I didn't even have to wipe hard at it like you see them doing in the commercials. I lightly wiped at it, and sparkling. No joke. Sparkling. And the price? $1.99

I don't normally "pimp" products unless I fully believe in them. Pepsi, for one, I will tote til the day I die. I'll drink a Coke product (not Coca-cola or diet) like their Ice Tea or a Rootbeer but that's it. I don't like the way Coca-Cola tastes for one. I also love my insurance company, the Co-Operators. I get a great deal on my insurance payment (read: less than $80/month) for my age, plus the great service I always get when I'm in there. If I call them to look something up for me (I'm going to be buying a new car...or rather new-to-me car) they'll do it on the phone or call me back and give me the information I require. I'm a loyal customer and have in turn had at least 3 people get insurance with their company because I recommended it, the service was just as I had said, and now they too are satisfied customers. Word of mouth. Best advertising there is.


Okay so enough about that...yesterday turned out to be not so bad of a day. I got a cheque in the mail from H&R Block that they'd messed up on my tax refund and instead of the $813 bucks I got, I should have got about $1081 instead. So, there was the additional money (plus the cost of them doing my taxes since they buggered up) that I was owed and really could use right now towards the car. AND I got my cheque from the Co-operators for the money I get back once I cancelled my insurance. Suffice it to say, I was rather happy. :)

Early Morning Musings

Before I get into my daily life I thought I would explain the baby to our right here. His name is Logan, and the nephew of my best friend Abby. She was showing me some pictures of him the other day and I thought he sort of looked like Doug Heffernan from King of Queens. Maybe it's the green shorts or the chubby cheeks. Or maybe it's that look in his eyes like someone made a crack about his addiction to Krispy Kreme (which I understand are like Tim Horton's donuts to you American readers). If you've never seen the show before, one of Doug's favourite sayings happens to be "Shutty".


Moving on!





My parents called last night to tell me some big news. Actually, I was surprised to hear from them since we'd spoken Wednesday night. Dad got home from Louisiana on Tuesday (he was there again to help rebuild a house he'd assessed in October of 2005) and I wanted to see how is trip had gone. So, naturally, I was surprised to hear from them again so quick. The news you ask? They sold their bookstore and are going to be selling their house. I'm shocked. I'm pretty sure I said "wow" about 10 times in the course of the 10 minute conversation, maybe more than that. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents, and them moving to this general area (they live in Nova Scotia and I live in Northern New Brunswick...(get a map kids if you don't know what I'm talking about...Canada...)

That being said (that I do love them) I can't explain this slight anxiety I am having over them moving here. I'll be here for the next few years due to my work (I'm a morning show host at our little radio station) and that doesn't bother me. I don't think my parents would live in the City but 20 minutes from here, where my grandparents live. Or get a house out in the boonies on the water or something. So, it's not like they'll be on top of me.

Maybe I just don't want them to be 'dropping by' or seeing me crusing around town or whatever. Could be that lately they are extremely religious and it's not that I have issue with that so much as I have issue with their trying to get me into it. I do not want to go to Church. I wish they'd respect that.

I'll probably feel better about this as time goes on. At least I'll see them more than I do my grandparents (it's been 2 months since I last talked to them) who are busy with their own lives.

Better be off to work.