The Cottage Life

Went up to a cottage last weekend and it was everything the cottage should be - crazy partying, good eats, lots of relaxing, driving home in traffic, being eaten alive at dusk... Here's a recap of events and of course, with my personal commentary. Before we get started, a big THANKS to Colin who was kind enough to allow stragglers like myself to visit his beautiful cottage. With that said, ah hem...here we go.

Friday: The drive up

Drove up, nothing too eventful except...I hate driving slow. If car were meant to go 100km/h, then why does the speedometer go up to 220km/h? It's like since we're born with 2 legs, why should we only use one of them and limp around all day like an idiot? I don't mind driving in traffic and going with the flow but...I'm not going to follow someone's car all the way up Hwy 400 for 90mins. Just not going to happen. When Colin offered to have us follow him up, I graciously declined because 1) his instructions seem pretty easy to follow 2) it's a pain to follow someone in steady traffic. However, as I was cruising along, Sheila decided to tell me to slow down cause Colin's car can't go that fast and she was all concerned that we would pass him and get there too early. I would have rather pulled over, eaten some crap to from the side of the road, and then drive again at 140km/h than to slow down! In the end, Colin didn't take his normal car and we were the last car to arrive on Fri night, but they had just beaten us by 15 minutes.

Friday: At the cottage

Couldn't really see the view, met lots of people, starting drinking 5 minutes after arrival...just chillin and excited to be there. Dinner was served to a hungry crowd...at first they all sat down on one side of the table and devoured their grilled chicken like it was an eating competition!

After dinner, had a big music jam with 5 guitars, 2 drums and a tambourine. I should've brought my triangle...would've should've could've! Sat out on the deck, went into the hot tub, stayed up late...perfect start to the weekend. And oh, btw, was drinking the whole time.

Saturday: At the cottage

During the day, had a yummy breakie, tanning, drinking, tanning, drinking, eating lunch, went on the boat and had try at tubing (one of 2 tubing virgins who gave it a valiant try! yeah girl power).

I was obsessed with documenting the sunset withphotos every 5 minutes. I got all artistic and tried to remember everything I learned in photography. What a loser I am!?!?! But I'm proud of my photos, it's one of my 'things'

In the evening, had a sing-along, got attacked by killer mosquitoes, made dinner (very good communal effort), the boys had a giant texas hold'em game (ROBERT WAS THE BIG WINNER, with the most STAMINA to outlast all the other boys). Was a loser and went to bed 'early' cause I was zapped from the sun and drinking all evening. But had a lovely wakeup call at 6am when everyone who hadn't gone to bed piled onto my mattress and we proceeded to have start the night for the second time. Eventually, I got rid of them but not after having some good laughs and then got a few more hours of sleep.

(This is Robert by the way)

Sunday: At the cottage

Everyone was in rough shape...except for those of us loser who went to bed early. Had another yummy breakie, played some cards indoors cause it started to rain, went into the hot tub when it cleared. I had planned to lay low Sunday in order to get out early and head home for softball...but that didn't happen. When will I ever learn! Got too tempted by the hot tub, went in, had a few drinks...which meant I had to wait longer before driving home. Smart move ! Eventually hit the road at at 5pm so we had to be lucky with the traffic to get back in time for softball...which of course didn't happen. Oh well, c'est la vie.

Good times...but don't know if I could spend every weekend at the cottage. I'd like to have the option to do so, but I'd miss the city. I found myself thinking I wanted to go to a Club! AH, soon, I may become a gino...

Weddings are F.U.N.!

If all weddings are like the one I just went to...YOU ALL BETTER GET MARRIED SOON AND I BETTER BE INVITED!!! The drama... emotions... pretty dresses... nice dinners... champagne... limos... special attention as one of the maids of honour...non-stop partying...


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Wednesday: Errands around town, then the bachelorette in Boston. (Boston + limo + hotel + Prince Willy) x (a crap load of alcohol) - (the fact it was Wed night) = pretty good bachelorette party.

Before: What ladies, having a civilized dinner at a quaint restaurant in the North End of Boston...






Later on: Notice how my eyes aren't focusing straight anymore...








At the end of the night, I had picked myself up a BIG one and didn't have to go to bed alone...









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Thursday: Rehearsal Day, was on my best behaviour. I got dolled up in a non-skanky way and got down to business. Got lost going to Francestown, NH (pop. 50). The Town Meeting Hall where the ceremony was held is so beautiful...very New England.





Later that night, rehearsal dinner was yummy and Nicole gave us girls a great gift!





Later later that night, when most of the wedding party relaxed at the bride's house, the naughty maids of honour went out on the town and didn't act like fair maidens...instead were more like inebriated wenches - at least I was... (sorry Chrissy!)

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Friday: Reception hall set-up morning (a wee bit stressful), manicures, open house BBQ, final preparations, late night run for Smirnoff at the grocery store (Toronto needs that, ASAP), eventual nightcap in the hot tub with a round of drinks and whining, but no cheese though.

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Saturday: THE BIG DAY!

Early morning trip to the salon, get dressed, limo ride to the ceremony, the actual ceremony (crying, smiling, sweating, standing up straight - all went perfectly), photos in the heat and humidity, limo ride back to reception...

At the reception, dancing, eating, toasting, drinking...afterall, the wedding party did have a $200 tab which we didn't finish btw...how shameful?!?! I tried my very best...but I didn't have too much help. And I didn't start drinking until after my toast...such self control! Cried when Nicole danced with her mommy...my heart was warm when I saw how happy she was with all her loved ones around her. Surprisingly, my feet didn't hurt, at least not until the very end after 12 hours in my sparkly shoes.



And then they were gone, all was done, they went on happily on their honeymoon. To celebrate a wonderful week, the naughty maids of honour (sorry again Chrissy, but I was) went out with other naughty people and consumed more beverages with some live loud background rock music. Went back to the hotel, passed out...don't remember anything after but I'm pretty sure there wasn't anything to remember...

On a sad note...Sarah had the reluctant honour of being a nanny to Prince Willy and he had been contained in her boot (Australia = boot, US & CAN = car trunk) and with the wedding week over, he had a rough but fitting end. You served us well Prince Willy, I'll miss you. Much love, MWAH!




So.....WHO'S NEXT???

Advice for Living in Canada

I'm the proud host of 3 friends from Japan...they're not literally living with me but they are here and I feel a certain obligation to ensure they have a good experience, even though they are all in different corners of this country.
Madoka is in Halifax, Aiko is in Saskatoon, and Etsuko is in Edmonton. Now, how much fun can they have out there? Plenty...but I feel I need to give them some tips on living in Canada, with Canadians....etc

Cause during the first week Aiko was here, she wrote me that she was basically bored out of her mind cause there was nothing to do. Granted, she wasn't with a host family or living on campus...she chose to be more independent and rent as a normal student. Very brave of her...partly with my encouragement...but I'm very proud of her. But when she told how bored she was, I nearly crapped my pants with anxiety and guilt! What had I done? I had recommended her to go to Saskatoon to get a real English experience....what did I do?

Luckily, now that her orientation has begun, she's doing better. Poor thing, didn't know how the groceries worked, bought too much food for herself and was forced to eat a whole pack of chicken at once cause they don't use the freezer much in Japan. The concept just didn't occur to her...

So, let's give these gals some advice, OK? And be nice...and helpful please...I'm watching what you write...and keep the language simple, at least for the beginning.

Lonely, I am so Lonely....

I can't believe I'm admitting this but it needs to be done! I'm such a big baby! What a sucky realization for me...when I thought I was all independent and tough...what BS!

My parents went on vacation last Friday and are returning tomorrow night (1 week total). Before they left, I was all excited, to have the house to myself, to be free of nagging. I knew it would be a bitch to cook and clean for myself, but it was a fair trade off....but I never knew this would happen.

My worst nightmare came true....I felt lonely and I missed them! Not so much over the long weekend, I was too busy having fun and enjoying my days off and making a mess at home. But as work week started up again, it was a pain in the butt to take care of an entire house on my own. I've lived on my own before, I've even lived in foreign countries on my own...and I never felt lonely there. What the F&#K?

As I brush my teeth before going to bed, I found myself wondering why it was so quiet...I woke up in the morning and no one was there buttering my bagel with me...no one was fighting over the newspaper with me...no one was there to nag me to pick up my crap in the hallway....so I picked it up all on my own. It just wasn't the same! To top this all off....I decided to sleep in my mommy's bed on Tues...at least I didn't have the night light on...I swear, I didn't!?!?!?

It's amazing how I've gotten used to living at home...as I whine about living at home and flirt with the idea of moving out....I can't believe I've reacted like this! I've never lived at this house all by myself before....a front yard/back yard, 3 storeys, 5 bedrooms...that's a lot of space for little ol' me.

This week has given me something to think about....reflect...ponder....at least until the nagging, bitching and fighting resumes....then this week's feelings will become a shameful shameful memory for me. I'VE MISSED MY MOMMY!

Feel free to call me and laugh at me. Leave a message if I'm not home.