Day 303 - Eat Pray Love & The Burnett Bunch!

This morning Jaco & I left for Fort McLeod. We were off to see Mike & Jenn & the kids. Mike has been waiting to hear on a start date for a new job & we wanted to see the whole family before he left for work. 

We had made plans to go for dinner & a movie this evening. Jenn & I had decided that we would see Eat Pray Love. When we arrived, they thought that East Side Mario's would be a wise choice for dinner. 

We visited for a few hours in the afternoon, Jenn took Harrison & I on a little tour of the ranch where her parents live, while Jaco & Mike chatted inside. Harrison played on his slide/jungle gym while Jenn & I caught up on the past few weeks. They've only moved recently, but it feels like ages since I've seen them last! 

Little Miss Heidi has grown so much! She's still got that sweet, sweet smile - I think she'll always melt my heart! And Harrison's vocabulary is growing as much as he is! He was excited to see 'Aunty Jo' when we pulled into the yard. They are truly two wonderful children! 

I helped Jenn edit a few photos & now that I know what she's after, I can finish up the rest for her. Before we knew it, it was time to leave for town. We climbed into the minivan & headed for Lethbridge. 

I have previously only eaten at East Side Mario's once - a LONG time ago. I surprised Collet for her 22nd birthday & we had the surprise party at East Side Mario's. It has been 8 years since we were there - needless to say, I don't remember what the meal was like. (It was a great surprise party, though!)

We each ordered a yummy drink & soon the salad, soup & bread arrived. They feed you as much as you like prior to the arrival of your main course. We each enjoyed our main dishes. We each ordered something very different from the next person, they have a great menu! Of course, a little desert was in order, hello Peanut Butter Stack! Mike & I share a fondness for PB!!! 

We visited for awhile after the meal & then it was time to head out to the movie. I was so excited to see the film. Perhaps too excited. I should have known. The book is ALWAYS better than the movie. It wasn't a bad movie, it just wasn't as good as I was expecting. The Eat or Italian part of the movie was hilarious & perfect. The Pray or Indian part of the film was okay. The momentum was lost somewhere in this section. By the time Bali or Love rolled around, it was getting hard to sit still. At just over 2 hours, it was a tad drawn out. 

I love Julia Roberts & I loved the book. I could watch the Italian section over & over. Sigh. I miss Italy. My fingers are already crossed that Jaco will get a contract in the Mediterranean. I could SO be Julia Roberts on a 'leave no carbs behind' diet in the Med. Who am I kidding, my pants barely fit now!

I should also mention that it was FREEZING when we left East Side Mario's. We were so cold, in fact, that we ordered tea at the theatre! How crazy is that!? A - that it was that cold & B - they sold hot tea! Naturally we cranked the heat in the van on the way home... Brrr! 

We said goodnight to Jenn & Mike & thanked them for a great date night. We ventured off to the RV for a cozy night's rest...

Lekker slaap,

Maria, Jaco & Valentina

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

T-Rex hits up East Side Mario's

Mama Jay, T-Rex, & Papa M.Bee

Even dinosaurs need lovin'!

The party animal sleeps

Day 278 - Something to blog about...

So yesterday I was pretty much out of words, which is rare for me. I can talk about pretty much anything... (Guess I should dig out my Table Topics to play by myself!) But last night, I was empty. Little did I know that I would have such crazy dreams... I could give Tim Burton (not Tim Horton) a run for his money when in comes to creativity. If I could only control this creativity, I'm sure I could find a way to use it to my advantage. Before I tell you about the dream, don't get excited, it's nothing big, just crazy, I will reassure you that I am NOT on any drugs at the moment. I've always had lucid dreams for whatever reason. Additionally, they tend to jump from scene to scene, so it may be a little confusing to follow.


Okay, so the first part I can recollect was the 'High School Reunion' scene. I was back in Maple Creek & all the kids from school were there. We were chilling out in the pool & socializing - catching up on 13 (!!!!) years of life. Pretty much every girl I went to school with was expecting twins! Yup, Bree, Jolene, Tammy... Way too many twins!!! Jump to the next scene - still at the reunion - we're going into the gym for some ceremony or something. I'm wearing my afro wig & there's Clay - a little tipsy (some things don't change!) & he says, 'WOW! Great afro! Can I try it on?' and before I can stop him (or anyone else for that matter), he rips the wig off my head, exposing my very bald noggin. There was a simultaneous 'GASP!' moment as he realized what he'd done & felt foolish. 


Skip to the next scene - I'm on the ship traveling with Jaco & he has 'hired' me to help him in the office for a few hours a night to give the Nurses a bit of a break. I help from 6-8 each night. Only tonight I was late & the Nurse I was to be relieving was a bit upset! I ran down with my dinner plate in hand & settled in to doing, well, nothing really! I just chatted with whoever was there. Can't remember names or faces. 


Skip to the next scene - I'm visiting with a bunch of ladies - Granny, Mom, Mom2, & Dad's girlfriend. We don't really get along (in real life) & in my dream, I went off on her! I started yelling & screaming all the reasons why we don't get along & in the end, we hugged & everything was fine. Then Granny was getting a back massage from one of the other gals. 


Skip to the next scene - I'm at home in Maple Creek & these 'bad guys' have put up a three story house in the horse pasture (close to the house). They have a fire in their lower level, unbeknownst to them, & it's dry & windy. I'm worried the fire will spread & start our house on fire. I want to put it out, but myself & ???? (one other friend) only have 2 ice cream buckets! We sneak over to the fence corner, but they have snipers out on each corner of the balcony. We can't yell, because they'll hear just a noise & shoot us. We can't approach the house either, they'll shoot us! Oh the drama! 


Skip to the next scene - my Mom, Unka Jer, my brother & I are riding horses. We're galloping through a hilly pasture when Mom does a hard stop on Shufly. He slides nice. Mom says, 'Hey! Did you see that!? Pretty nice!' Jeff says, 'Oh yeah? Watch this!' He kicks his horse into a gallop & just as they reach top speed, he rides through a snow bank that is melting. His horse sinks straight into it & falls over. The horse breaks his leg & when he gets up, his entire back end is paralyzed. The bones from one leg came right out, so it's just the hide. The other leg is snapped in half. Jeff says, 'Oh well, guess that's the end of him.' I freak out & say, 'WHAT DO YOU MEAN? You just took his life! You ruined him! He will never experience life! He's done!' I was very upset. About this time I also realized that Jeff's horse looked more like an elk than a horse.


This is all I can remember for the time being. Perhaps this is why I'm so tired all the time! It's not chemo, it's just crazy dreams!!!


As for the actual day, I really didn't do too much. I visited Nathan & Shauna at EVIC, chatted with a few girlfriends, missed my husband (both on the phone & in my heart), and cleaned the house. I've decided I don't like clotheslines. I love the way bedding smells when it's been on the line, but as for drying clothes... I know, it's green. BUT! I hang up one load & it takes all day to dry. We don't have a big enough line, nor enough clothespins. Half of my clothes fall on the ground every time a breeze comes along, so they end up dirty & still wet by the end of the day! Argh! NO MORE CLOTHESLINES!!!!


I prepared the house for the Jameses arrival tomorrow. I'm so excited to see them!!! It's been a year & I can't wait to hear how they've been! And they just got married, so I'm happy for their hearts as well!!! 


I cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed, mopped, dusted, tidied, reorganized & gosh darn it... I'm beat! Thank goodness I didn't have to cook! I think I'll need Culinary Bootcamp before Jaco & I go too much further!!! 


Lastly... I'm super excited for Step Up 3D to come out in a week (yes, I'm 31 & I STILL love the cheesy teen dance flicks) & even MORE excited for EAT, PRAY, LOVE to come out!!! If you haven't read the book, DO IT!!!!!! I can't wait to see Julia Roberts! I haven't had a repeat theatre experience since Titanic... I could be due! :o)


Have a great night & see you tomorra!
Maria & Valentina
xxxxxx

Do you think she's trying to tell me she wants to go camping?

Mom asked me to help with dishes, but I was busy, so she asked Oceana instead.

Mom & her 'other kids'

Oceana hitches a ride to the house.