Last Thursday night I went to meet Lyall for the opening reception of our friend Zack Woods “Vlitma Ratio” show at the Art Bar at the Gladstone Hotel.  I was really impressed by his paintings and you should go and check them out while you can.  His show runs Nov 17-30.

These are my favourite paintings from the show.  For all the paintings check out my Picasa

I finally got to meet Lyall’s girlfriend who thought I was a made up friend because we’d never met before.  I was supposed to meet up with them a few times when they were in Toronto but didn’t end up going so she started calling me Polkaroo Chaddy was there and it’s honestly been at least a year since I’ve seen him.  And of course Taylor and Zack’s gorgeous wife Janelle (who is the woman in the bloody nose painting).  It was so great to see and hang out with you guys!

Lyall can haz cheezburger?

Me, Zack & Chaddy

Just a quick update today.  Packed my house all night and hopefully I hear about the apartment we want for Dec 1.  Otherwise Kyle & I are going to be homeless and sleeping on couches til Jan 1.  I really don’t want to move on my birthday so keep your fingers crossed!

I’m going back to Florida today and leave for the airport in an hour.  It feels like Christmas I’m so excited to go back and see my new Pony Who knew?

I’ve got to work during the week while I’m there but luckily I need my Mac, my Blackberry & an internet connection and I can work anywhere.  Gonna try my best to work on the beach under an umbrella.  How amazing would that be?  It’s such a beautiful island that I’m going to and it’s going to be warm & sunny the whole time.  I was feeling a little guilty about having another trip so soon, but I’ve been working so hard and been through a lot of crap this year that I deserve it!

Sunset on Fort Myers Beach

Gotta pack a few more boxes before I leave.

Have a great weekend!

My first Show & Tell in over a month.  I’ve been saving up a bunch of links but I won’t bombard you with them all at once.  Tomorrow I leave for Florida for another five days.  I am so excited to go and be warm for longer.  I’m seriously going to try and work on the beach.  Hopefully I can steal internet from somewhere.  I’ll just be walking up and down the beach with my Mac trying to get a signal.  Such a nerd.

Last night was the opening of my friend Zack Wood’s art show at The Gladstone called Vlitma Ratio.  It’s running Nov 17-31.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Check out the sign on the window.

• Speaking of Florida I saw on Perez Hilton that the state has started using Robo-Deer to deter hunters from hunting out of season.  Interesting.
• These forced perception photographs are amazing.  The first one in the pool is my favourite and the little girl holding the man.
• A man named Frank proposed to his GF Kasey the old fashioned way, but had friends with iPhones & a Macbook candidly capture the proposal.  Beautiful and so thoughtful.
• I am fascinated by ruins and abandoned buildings.  I want to explore them all.  These 10 Creepy, Beautiful, Modern ruins are amazing.
• Whether you are Pro-Life or Pro-Choice – you should read this account of a man dealing with Pro-Life protesters outside an abortion clinic. I too have stopped and tried to talk to these pathetic people outside a local hospital on the day they performed this procedure.  I asked one woman “What if you daughter was raped and got pregnant, should she be forced to keep it and what would the impact be on that child, knowing they were a product of rape”.  They told me that there is always adoption.  But can you seriously imagine living with that for 9 months or growing up and learning how you came to be?  Or not having the choice to bring a horribly deformed/unformed child into the world and then it suffers and dies at birth.  Obviously I am PRO-CHOICE.
• Hilarious – Halloween costumes of the 80′s.  I so remember these.  Don’t think we ever had them but I’m going to have to ask Mom if we did.  Do you guys remember these and did you have one?
• I am in LOVE with the Luxirare Travel Bag.  This is my dream carry-on bag.  Black with metallic pink lining, it looks like it was made for me.
• Found these Top 10 Female Turn Ons on the Sex, Cigars & Booze site.  What do you think ladies?  Are these all things you like/look for in a man?  I have to agree with them.
• The founder of Zappos Tony Hsieh on why he sold the company.  A very interesting read
• I love me some Slash and his performance of the US National Anthem is amazing

That’s it for this week.  Have to pack for Florida and pack up my house.  I have to move out on Dec 1 but don’t have a place to live yet.  If you know of a good 2bd in the Beaches for Kyle & I let me know!!

Last night I went to the Hotmail & Cocktails event as Casie‘s date.  It in the Distillery District and it looked so magical at night with the big Christmas tree and lights.  It’s the first I’d really thought about Christmas this year and I’m really looking forward to it.

The event was at Stirling, which I’d never been to and it was a pretty nice space.  The open bar was definitely a hit and they served us sweet potato fries, asian style vegetables & noodles and sliders.  And there was an amazing dessert tray which we conveniently sat beside.  Sooo good.  Hotmail seems to be pulling out some interesting new features – check out the #HMCocktails Twitter for all the details.  I’m a die hard Gmail user and I’m not sure I’d ever go back to Hotmail but they have definitely been paying attention to what their email users are saying.  Less spam, larger & easier attachments, better previews in mail and a Sweep function.

After the presentation we walked over to Betty’s for drinks and I got to meet Andy the iPad.  He’s the first iPad I’ve ever seen and I’m going to have to play around with one more before I really want one.

Casie I <3 you so much.  Thanks for taking me out on a date and holding hands across the table It was so great to hang out, have some girl time and catch up.

In Florida I finally got a tattoo that I had wanted for a really long time.  It was done by Jason Laurendeau and he’s in Ft Myers at West Coast Tattoo.  My parents appreciated the sentiment but weren’t as pleased with me getting a new tattoo as I am, but I honestly love it and I’m so happy with it.  It’s close to being healed now so I’ll post another pic when it’s finished, but here’s some of the session.

For all the pics you can check out my Picasa

After Halloween we needed a day in the pool so Tanya and I met up with Jason to walk down to Diamondhead Resort where my Mugga was staying.  Got to meet one of the coolest dogs in the world Irwin, an Australian Cattle Dog and he conned me into throwing a ball for him all week. Such a nice dog.

Irwin

Spent the day in the water drinking Rum Runners and then went down to the ocean for the first time in years.  I’m pretty scared when I can’t see the bottom but I walked out up to my waist to the sandbar.  Pretty brave.

Jason, Carly, Tanya

Had an early night and woke up the next day to do some work, then Jason took me on an adventure around the islands.  We went to a lighthouse (don’t remember what it was called) and drove around Captiva and Sanibel Islands.  Then he took me to a wildlife reserve because I wanted to see a real live alligator.  It took 4 miles and being eaten alive by noseums (sp?) but we finally found one.  I was pretty excited but scared that it was going to run and get us, but he just stayed in the water and stared.

After Alligator hunting we went to meet up with Tanya, Jenny & some of their friends at Outrigger to have drinks and watch the sunset.  It was so beautiful to watch on the beach and there were dolphins playing in front of us.  So beautiful.  And walking back in to shore I found a hermit crab!

Jenny & Tanya

Popout

After sunset we went out for dinner at S.O.B and I tried some Yellowfin Tuna.  It was so good I ate 5 bites.  I know it doesn’t seem like much but I’ve never eaten fish.  Was never in my diet growing up and I don’t really like anything I’ve tried.  Sushi I don’t mind but this was excellent.  I will definitely order it for myself the next time I’m in Florida

Spent the day with Tanya & Jenny which was really nice to have girl time.  Got to meet her beautiful dog Maddy.  I really want one of my own!  Then Kris came down and we tried to catch a stormy sunset.  It was too cold and windy so it didn’t last long.

A few more days of beaches, drinking and sun and then I was supposed to fly home.  Instead I changed my flight at the last minute and ended up staying for 4 more days.I have to say that it was probably the best vacation I’ve had in a long time.  I couldn’t have met a more awesome person down there and the last 4 days were amazing.

We spent the days drinking on the beach watching the sunset at night – I got to see baby dolphins learning how to fish in shallow water.  Watched some man work while they built a bonfire, layed in a hammock and relaxed. Went to eat at Baywalk Cafe and it was amazing.  And I had a gourmet beans & rice dinner made for me.

Jill, Irwin & I by the fire

Found a cool beach area to hang out just the two of us.  I also got a whole jar full of wonderful things from Florida – starfish, seashells, fossil.  I asked tons of questions about everything I saw and actually learned quite a lot.  Did you know that there are 3 different types of mangrove trees – red, white & black – and I can tell you what seeds are from which tree.

I saw a dead horseshoe crab, a lizard eating a mole cricket, sand fleas – which aren’t really fleas at all, just creepy white roachy looking bugs – UGH.  I saw a huge palmetto – which looks like a giant cockroach – inside a carnivorous plant. I got to watch dolphins a whole bunch of times – which will never get old – and pelicans fishing. It was a real wildlife adventure and my tour guide knew pretty much everything I asked about.  I also got to watch him marry a couple in a trailer park, which was pretty awesome too.  Such a great adventure.

I also got tattooed, which some of you saw on FB.  I’ll post the session right after this so you can see.

I really had the best vacation I could’ve asked for and it completely changed my perspective on all the crap from the month before.  Now I’m back and better than before.  Feels great!

Our beach spot

So you may have noticed that I went MIA in the middle of my 30 Days of Blogging Challenge.  I don’t want to talk about it so I’m not.  All you need to know is that I’m back and better then ever!

Regular blogging is starting again today.  I’m going to try and post daily so we’ll see how that goes.  I’ve had quite the adventure so far this month.

My mom sent me to Florida for a week at the end of October to clear my head and visit my cousin who was home for vacation.  I really needed the break after the stress of the month and it really helped me put my life in perspective.  I feel like a brand new girl and it’s time for me to do all the things I’ve wanted but couldn’t being tied down or with responsibilities.  I’ve got to look after me and Harley now and he’s pretty easy going

I’ll be sharing more about these new ideas in the coming weeks but right now I want to show you all the wonderful things from Florida.

Sookie – cutest 3 legged dog ever

Me & Tanya

Day 1 was Halloween at The Buddha – it was pretty fun but Tanya and I were tired so we went home early.

On Halloween night Tanya and I got dressed up and went down to a grown up house party with our family.  Had some drinks and snacks and then went over to meet up with her brother Kris.  We walked in to Kyle getting his costume on and he needed some help doing his makeup.

Getting Kyle ready for his debut

It was even funnier when his mom came home.  Then we headed over to The Cottage to meet up with Jenny & the Harlem Globe Trotters.  The girls looked so great and I had an awesome time.

It was so nice to wear a dress and no jacket outside.  I didn’t bring a costume so I was going as a Canadian and then Tanya found these clip in horns.  Apparently my devilish ways worked in Florida

Caleb is 6’7″

So fun to hang with my cousins and Florida friends.  I could totally be an island girl

Kyle’s rack is courtesy of Tanya & I as well.  We’ve got bra stuffing skills.

We had such a blast on Halloween and then I met Captain America.  Who knew spandex and tube socks were so hot?

Almost have the rest of the vacation photos up and I’ll post later today.  For a look at them all click HERE

Just catching up on Glee and I am in love with this version of the song.  I’ll be back soon.

Who knew…