It's about time!

All you Becky Bloomwood fanatics out there, there's good news! Sophie Kinsella is finally releasing a new book from her Shopaholics line!
Her new book Shopaholic & Baby will not be released for sale until February 2007... but for all the hard-core fans out there, there are hidden excerpts all throughout her website!

Will Becky and Luke have a girl? Or a boy?
I hope it'll be a mini-Becky!

A true coffee lover

I was at Starbucks yesterday and witnessed a crime. Sitting at the table next to mine, were two teenaged drag queens. Well, they weren't really drag queens, but they certainly had the potential for it. It was a Saturday afternoon at Brentwood Mall out of all places, and they each wore enough make-up equivalent to a circus clown.
Anyway, that wasn't the crime, though it should have been. They are guilty of being one of the reasons why Starbucks are able to charge such ridiculously high prices. They had both ordered a tall Caramel Macchiato each. A wise choice for the common coffee-lover. The first queen had not only requested extra caramel in hers, but after sitting down, continued to add SIX packs of sugar to her next-to-smallest cup of joe. SIX!!!! The second queen had added a shot of vanilla to hers, and I guess being the wiser of the two, had opted for couple packs of Splenda instead. Reason for Splenda? I overheard her (okay fine, I eavesdropped...) say it's because Splenda has less calories. I'm sorry, but if you're going to order a sugar bomb drink and then proceed to shoot it up with an excessive amount of sugar, do calories count at this point??
They also decided to start up a mini photo shoot featuring both of them holding their cups of Starbucks for proof that they indeed are sophisticated enough to drink Starbucks. I almost wanted to knock their drinks out of their hands and watch the sugary liquid splattered against the walls dripping onto their faces in slow-mo after listening to them argue about how "ugly" they looked in the pics. "OMG! I look hideous! LOL" "Get lost bitch! You look gorgeous! I love your eyeliner!" "OMG! You really think so? I used brown instead of black today! But I still think I'm ugly" "Yeah right, you are the hottest thing!"
After some mindless gabbing about how blonde they should dye their hair, I've decided I've had enough. "Should I go Jessica Simpson blonde? Or Gwen Stefani blonde?" "I'm thinking since it's such a big change in my life, I should dye it not as blonde and if I like it, then go back more."

I really can't stand fake coffee drinkers...

What's your pirate name?

My pirate name is:

Black Bess Kidd

Like anyone confronted with the harshness of robbery on the high seas, you can be pessimistic at times. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Brown like a hot cake!

So I just came back from Vegas with some girlfriends, and boy, did I have the time of my life! This was hands down the best Vegas trip I have ever had! Having two girls with me celebrating their birthdays didn't hurt either! Viva Las Vegas!!
This wasn't any ordinary visit to Vegas though. 5 girls, 5 nights, all the possibilites! The first night there, we landed at 42 degrees AT NIGHT! Couldn't really tell how hot it really was since it was windy as hell. One downside was that we landed in the older part of the airport which was kinda old and dingy and not fabulous like the newer part I was accustomed to. I can't really remember what we did the first night, but I'm sure it consisted of a lot of walking. However, I do remembering sleeping a little earlier than expected. I remember thinking to myself, if there was one night I would be sleeping...it would be the first.
Yes, now that I think about it, we did sleep early because K and I had been up a whole 24 hours prior being at a party the night before and having only 3 hours sleep after having to start packing the day we left.
The second day I anxiously hit the pool area at about 9am. We layed in the heat until the sun finally showed up at about 10:30am. Not a total loss of time since we ate breakfast at poolside in the meantime. (A tip: ordering breakfast by the pool was way cheaper than ordering breakfast in a restaurant. $8 for eggs, toast, meat, and homefries as opposed to some $12-15 at a restaurant).
4 of us stayed by the pool for about 4-5 hours waiting for K who apparently was really tired and slept in. This day was when I got a starter tan: a tan that fades to prep for a better color the next time. At night time, Diva and I were really tired and decided to go to the room for a nap. LOL! We napped for about 2-3 hours while the other girls went for a stroll in a sandstorm (insert "sandstorm" by Darude here). When they came back, L and K decided to nap while Diva continued her slumber. I woke up not wanting to waste another minute in bed. Plus there was a massive thunder and lightning storm going on. It sounded like the Caesars Palace freebie show. DJ and I decided to go search for some grub. There's something about walking in warm rain that's just so sexy. Made me want to wear a thin white t-shirt and stick my chest out and spin like Jennifer Love-Hewitt in "I know what you did last summer". We finally ended up at Chipotle which is like a fast food mexican joint. Sort of like Red Burrito here in Vancouver. We took it back to the room and woke up the other bitches. We then strolled some more towards Venetian to check if their 24-hour hot tub was accessible to anyone. I was able to score a bite of DJ's delicious burrito. Man was it tasty!
Next morning came and after learning my lesson, I didn't head down to the pool until about 10am. It was great timing because sun was just coming out. This time all five of us were there working our tans all in a row like a cheesy 1980's Hawaiian Tropics commercial. We met up with Nick (correct me if the name's wrong, I totally had a brain fart!), a 17-year old self-proclaimed talent agent represent-in the likes of Lindsay Lohan. Eventhough he was as full of shit as a horse in a 3 hr Christmas parade, he was a blast to hang around and we looked forward to seeing him daily. Hi fives for "eh's" and "mochas". After the pool, we strolled next door to the Aladdin to look for some late lunch. After a long brainless debate on which is better: a 2 for 1, or a 3 for 1, we got to this place called Max's or something like that. This is totally the best place to go on your Vegas visit! You choose 3 drinks and only pay $10.95. And don't mistaken these for the watered down crap you'd expect at Moxie's. They were 4-5 generous shots of alcohol each. Delicious and yummy, we each had 3 plus some freebies thrown our way by our server/bartender. Drunk and purple-lipped, we walked around some more before goin back to get ready to dance!
With a good buzz going on, we decided to go attempt to get into Pure nightclub. For those of you who don't know, Pure is one of the most sought after places to be. It's home to DJ AM. We got there around 11pm and the lineup was just insane! Then a bouncer came up to us and asked if we wanted "a bottle" cuz it was the last one. Not down wit the lingo yet, we looked at each other then we finally asked what it was. Basically, you buy a bottle and it comes with your very own VIP room. Sounds good right? The going rate for a bottle was $375!! I almost choked on my own spit when I heard that. He kinda convinced us by telling us cover was $30 each anyway, and if we got enough people, the room would pay for itself. Thank god the other 2 girls came back in time from checking the front because we were about to go for the bait.
Not only did we not have to wait in line (which probably would have been about 2 hours), we didn't have to pay cover and were treated like hot bitches!
Pure nightclub was nothing I've ever experienced. It's too long to write about, so if you want details, just ask. Highlights included: yuckster from Alberta, Nick Carter, dry hump line, $7 water and for K, Big Blue. Oh, and the best one was, "mmmm...god bless you and yo mama too". Got back to the room at about 6am after having the best Cobb salad ever.
Next day, got to the pool at about 10:30am with no sun in sight. It was overcast and pretty breezy, but still warm enough to hop in and get some slight color. We were graced by a guy and girl recruiting ladies for OPM nightclub that night. I felt so wanted!! After a little Blackberry action, they left with our names on the guestlist! We stayed at the pool for another few hours before heading up and out. Walked around Aladdin again and visited the Palms hotel to see if we Diva could get a tatoo from Hart & Huntington and possibly be on tv! Heading back to the hotel, we were looking forward to getting some drinks in us. We got to OPM at about 11:40pm with 20 minutes to spare for some free champagne. I guess we should have taken a clue when there was basically no lineup. At least we didn't wait in line, we each got a rose stem, and all the champagne we could down in 15 minutes. Again, won't go into details, but it wasn't much fun and we left shortly after 12:30am after the Ying Yang Twins crunked my ass and wanted some girl on girl action. We left the sad ass party and headed down to Treasure Island Tangerine where the real party was. We again attempted to do the no lineup. We almost didn't make it, but with some charm and a few "it's my birthday!" later, we got in after waiting only a few minutes. I remember Tangerine from my last visit last year, but I had much more fun this time around. Most amazing thing of the night was K searching for Big Blue in hopes he would be there...and he was!!! Highlight of the night was being invited into the main VIP room were Grey Goose flowed like tap water. Let's just say it wasn't my shining moment, but I still love the stuff straight up. Thanks to K for putting me to bed and helping my limp-self take off my shoes. You rock! I had a good night's rest while the other girls had some breakfast and got a glimpse of a real sausage.
The next day, I was so hung over, I felt like shit. Not enough to hold me back from yummy buffet before take-off back home.

I had a blast with my bitches and wouldn't trade that experience for the world. Loves ya. Almost forgot about how Diva got her Merlin hat. LOL!! Thanks for that memory, Diva!!!

Unfortunately our trip came to an end without any daily journal or isolated video confessions. I'm so disappointed, but at least I have the memories forever in my head. Thanks for the awesome trip girls.

Got some nice color thanks to the many many hours each day at the pool. Time to keep workin it.

Varekai!

The sweetest, most gracious and most beautiful friend took me to Varekai two nights ago! Girlfriend K had gotten some tickets as gifts and asked moi! I felt so honoured and it was my very first cirque, so I was so excited and delighted to be going.
I owe you one, Girlfriend K. Maybe in Vegas, I'll return the favour!


All I can say is, "WOW!" I've never seen moves like this before. It was two and a half solid hours of pure entertainment. Would I go to the next one? Hell's yah, I'm in total regret I haven't gone to any yet!

Highlights of the night? Me and I girlfriend K debating whether or not to tell "Golden Arches" that we did not want to watch her Morrocan-style "cheeks-behind-the-sari" dance. Confused? Well, while we were lining up to enter, my eye of an eagle caught something horrifically embarassing. The girl in front of us was wearing a black thin sari-type wrap skirt. Being in the spotlight from the sun, all you could see was her thong and dimply bum. We didn't know what to do, so we just stood behind her. I felt bad for her, but wasn't sure if it was my business to let her know. Oh well, by the time the show ends, it would be dark out anyway. And if she wore it all summer long, then someone else would have to be the bearer of bad news.
Walked into the tent that exposed an elaborate setting of mystic magic. Almost didn't notice that "Golden Arches" sat next to us! What are the chances?!?
Another highlight was bumping into hot "Kevie" who sat on the other side of girlfriend K. Serious...small world.
The main highlight of the show was the Hot and sexy Dragon Ball chandelier duo. Yumms.



Disappointments?
The snacks for the rich.
Popcorn = $4.50/bag
Bottled Water = $4/bottle
Small bag o' M&M's = $4

Going broke after buying only 2 items = priceless.

I'm also very disappointed with the DVD I bought after the show. One would think being the "cirque du soleil" and costing $39, it would be worth every single penny. Sadly wronged. I was excited to sneak a peek yesterday. Sound quality was almost non-existent. The camera angles kept changing which gave me a headache. Most the cast was different which made for an entire different experience, especially the two funnies and their comedy acts (they were the best of the show in Van, but I almost didn't even want to watch them in the dvd).
The DVD just didn't do Varekai justice.
Pay the $100 and get the real deal.

The Devil's Child

Thank you everyone for all your support. Thanks to all those who called, wrote and listened. After almost filing a missing's person report, the Devil's child, AKA my sister, finally called home.
Still not knowing much about her whatabouts or what she's doing in CHINA, at least she is alive. This does nothing to help our relationship, if anything, I've lost all hope for her. All I can say to her is have a nice life, because from this point on, I really don't care. My limits and patience with her have been pushed way too hard. I just hope she can one day look back on all this and feel regret that she put nobody's feelings before her own.

Missing Person

I have a sister. Well, I had a sister. She turned into someone I didn't even know. She was a great sister until she turned about 17. Same old story - she hung out with the wrong crowd and being easily influenced, she drifted further and further apart from the family. Many times stressed, we were often crushed at the person she became. Not knowing what to do and how to help her, we often thought of sending her to live with my aunt in our small hometown.
I've asked for advice from many friends on what to do and advice from personal experiences. I always got the same answer: "You have to let her learn from her own mistakes. There's nothing you can do. She'll grow out of it."
It's been almost 4 years and nothing has changed except our hopes that she will someday smarten up. If anything, she has gotten worse and has moved out a few months ago and I stopped talking to her. I wanted her to know that I cared about her as much as she has cared for the family, which is little or nothing at all. She has even told me to my face that she would pick friends over family. It hurt real bad since our family has always been there for her through thick and thin. She moved out before and when she needed to come home, the door was open. Any time she needed money, I would always bail her out. Would her friends do the same for her?
Right before Mother's Day this year, she informed the family that she was going to Vietnam with a friend for vacation. Red flags everywhere. She has already stepped into the path of no good, doing sketchy things and knowing people who dealed drugs. Why Vietnam? She has always talked about saving up money to go on vacations, but always failed to do so. If she couldn't even save up a few hundred dollars, how could she afford this $1K plane ticket to Asia? There were so many things wrong with this picture. She didn't leave a phone number or an address claiming she would give it to us once she finds out. She was leaving for two weeks. It is June 11th today. Two weeks turned to three and no word from her since she called from Asia on her cell phone when she arrived. Very short call her telling my mom that it was really hot there. When she called, she told my mom she would be returning home on June 9th. Since the 9th, we have been non-stop trying to reach her. Her cell-phone has been turned off and of course, she didn't leave any details of where she moved to. We called her previous jobs hoping to get some clue of where she lived. Nobody knows anything.
Do I panic? Should I care? What should we do? We have thought about calling the police to file a missing person's report, but are we ready for that? The only thing we have to go on is her mail (which she still uses the home address). I have opened every single one hoping to see some recent transaction that will tell us where she is. Every bill I have opened is past due or over limit and therefore no recent transactions. I did, however, find a bill for AIC Global Communications which she must have signed up for long distance calls before she left.
Turns out she has been calling this one number in China almost everyday for 3 weeks before she left. Do I call the number? Should we go to the police with it? Will they be able to help us? Is she in danger?? Wasn't she supposed to be in Vietnam?? The family has agreed that we will first call the number tonight (around the same time that she has been calling it) before going to the police.
Let's hope it'll give us a clue on where she is.

The Gramma That Couldn't Handle It

How old should you be before you start to feel too old for things? I'm 26 and sometimes I just feel like I'm 50. Headaches happen way too often, I bruise easily, my hearing sometimes gives...I feel boring.
As an attempt to liven things up in my life, I have gratefully been accepting invitations to wild parties and clubnights from my wonderful girlfriend. Just the other night, we girls went to Caprice Nightclub here in Downtown Vancouver. The last time I stepped foot in a club (not including the New Year's unexpected 80's party held at the Aquarium) was last year in Vegas. Mind you, I was able to handle that because the night did not last too long. I've also noticed that my alcohol tolerance level has gone to shits. I'm sure I can get drunk from a bottle of cough syrup these days.
The night was young, and we were skeptical about being able to get into the club. We have what some would call, the Caprice curse where an uncontrollable power forces the bouncers or other roadblocks to prevent us from getting in. Our luck changed this time. We got in with minutes to spare before the guest list cut off time. Eventhough I've been there once before, I couldn't help feeling this great accomplishment for having entered this sacred haven. It was like a secret society where only the priviledged were blessed with such experience. Well, it was a secret society of pimps and hoes. The place was swarming with Pussycat Dolls gone wrong and guys who think they can crunk. **To the guy who was brushing the dirt off ya shoulders...don't.** Something should be said about the sweaty girls who think they got the moves by groping the speakerboxes - get an ass and get off the equipment. It ain't called booty poppin' if ya ain't got the booty. All I can say is, if you can't join em', watch em'.
The night was more entertaining than anything, but I would say the best part was when girlfriend K got Boy-Gotti to get girlfriend DJ in who was rejected by "Big Old Man Bouncer". All Boy-Gotti had to do was point and say the magic words: "Hey, her!" Loves those Gotti boys. After a few elbow drops to the head, drinks to the legs, some shards of glass and mighty shoves later, the night of booby shimmy-shimmies were over. Thank god, cuz my gramma legs couldn't take much more.
Following club tradition, a feast of greaseness was in order. Having not eaten for about 15 hours (this was almost 3am), even a cow-gut burger with solidified lard fries sounded stellar --> off to McD's we go.
Met girlfriend DJ there where she hopped into my car to do the spinaround through the drive through. Got to the window and proudly placed our order. Merrygo rounded the block to get back to the parking lot to chow down.
A few chomps and sips later, we see Aunt Jemima runnin' towards us. Shysta! Our door locking and window rolling couldn't have been more in sync. Aunt J first went to my window mumbling words of spare change? I said, No. But hey, what authority do I have?? She went to all four windows hoping to chance and luck out. Lucky for us, another car drove in and with the might of an Olympic sprinter, she dashed towards it. Another rejection later, Aunt J comes running back asking the same from us and this time adding a mumbled, "Can I have a bite?". Hell's no, she ain't getting any part of ma fillet o' fish. A few burps later, it's time to roll out and roll home. I drive as close to girlfriend DJ's car door as possible and right when the click of my opened door was heard, all head's were turned back to Aunt J who was breaking a sweat trying to get to DJ before she enters her car. Concerned for DJ's safety, we screamed for her to hurry, and she makes it just in time. Aunt J comes around and does her mumbling again. Everyone gets home alive.
Next morning, after just a few hours sleep, I force myself to get into work by 8am.
My head ached, my feet hurt, I had loss of hearing, and tired as hell.
I felt sorry for my body, but...it was all worth it. Another story to tell my grandkids.

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas...

Hazina is a British Columbian!
Here is the latest story about Hazina the hippo from the Telus Christmas commercials.

If you would like to adopt a hippo today, visit The Greater Vancouver Zoo website.

Watch out!! Here I come...again!

Ok, I've totally neglected my lemonadeparade, but things will changed. My new goal...I'll call it my half-way-to-New-Year's goal will be to get in touch with myself more often and write about the foo-foos in my life again.
Obviously I can't do it at work...some highschool bitches might find it again, I won't say names, but they need to be critically decked one.