Shannon and me at Nursing Grad Formal

Boxers or Briefs

There's the age old question that's been asked for thousands and thousands of years......boxers or briefs? If asked in high school or before, I would answer "boxers only". Then later in high school, my answer to this age-old philosophical questions would slightly change to attach brief; boxer-briefs mostly, but boxers often as well. But now, I have been awakened to the amazing Calvin Klein underwear! These are by far the most comfortable underwear and my answer has yet again changed. I now wear briefs and trunk boxers the most, boxer-briefs sometimes (usually to workout), and boxers the least. Although, commando definitely still pops up now and then (no pun intended lol). So now I'm curious....what does everyone else wear? And will my answer to the question change again in the upcoming months to years?

Hiccup Cure

This is a picture of Emilie and me trying to stop Anne's hiccups. I read somewhere that if you stimulate the vagus nerve on the forehead when someone is hiccuping that it will trigger the diaphragm to stop spasming. The first few times I did it to Emilie and Anne it worked; although, now when I try it doesn't work. It always seems to work on Anne though.

Canadian Please

My American friend Brandon posted this on my Facebook wall and I think it's ridiculous! haha.

Me, Laurice and Emilie before going dancing

"It's not too late to ask yourself if you really are the person you want to be, and if not, who do you want to be"

Flexitarian

Flex-i-tar-ian-ism (n.) is a semi-vegetarian diet focusing on vegetarian food with occasional meat consumption. A self-described flexitarian seeks to decrease meat consumption without eliminating it entirely from his or her diet. There are no guidelines for how much or how little meat one must eat before being classified a flexitarian. Flexitarianism is distinguished from pescetarianism (i.e., one who eats only fish in addition to vegetarian foods), as well as pollotarianism (i.e., one who eats only poultry in addition to vegetarian foods).

I am a flexitarian. I now (ever since watching Earthlings) consious about what I eat and what the process to get or make it involved. I don't make meat or buy meat for myself anymore because I think my desire for a delicious steak is not worth the suffering the cow had to endure to produce it; however, I have not cut meat out of my life completely. Eating meat is a big part of my family's culture and also when visiting friends who make me meals with meat, I believe would be rude and sometimes insulting for me to deny it. So I do still consume meat at select times, but I no longer eat it alone or when I have the chance to not to. Who knows, maybe one day I will be a strict vegetarian or maybe a vegan, but until then, I am content being a flexitarian; not to mention the word is cool! haha.

Mom happily in love with her significant other, Jean-Guy

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." ~Tenneva Jordan

My mom and her best friend Eddy

My Mother Teresa

My mom is the most amazing person you could ever meet! Years ago, friends of hers gave her the nickname "Mother Teresa"; not just for the similarity in name, but because the amazing person they both are. My mom raised me, my brother and sister on her own and she still managed to not screw us up (if I can say that myself lol). And not only did she raise us, but she always wanted (and still wants) us to have the best opportunities possible. She would sacrifice things for herself so that we could be enrolled in different recreational activities or do different things at school or go on trips around the world, because that was more important to her than her getting new clothes, or pampering herself or really doing anything for herself. She always said that her kids are her top priorities and that she'll start focusing on herself when my sister had finally left for university and my mom would have no kids at home to focus on.

My mom taught me so many things over the years, and I am who I am because of her. I know I'm in school to be a nurse because of how she raised me to care for others. Despite the insanely challenging, hard times we have gone through as a family, my mom has always remained a rock and even at her weakest, she was wonder woman; I can only dream of having a quarter her strength. I'm sooo proud of her and I love that our relationship is closer than it ever has (some may say a little weirdly close lol).

My mom has some quotes or sayings that she says often (which often drive me crazy) and I thought I'd share a couple:

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" - This one is definitely my LEAST favourite one, even though it's kinda true but I wouldn't admit that to her ever.

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened".

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away".

Love you Mom! :)

My beautiful mother and I

More Than Just a Mother

You are my mother,
and I your son.
No matter what,
I'll love you a ton.

You're more than a mother to me:
you're a friend, a mentor, and protector of three.

I know it must be hard to be mom and dad,
but I'm so glad, because there's no one else I'd want it to be!

You always know just how I feel,
and how you treat me is so surreal.
I can't believe how perfect you are!

You're the angel watching over me;
whom I love more than sky or sea.
You're my guardian angel that protects me from harm.
You're the wind beneath my wings.
You hold me up tall,
and catch me when I fall.
I don't fear the world, cause I know that you'll always be right beside me.

You showed me this land while guiding me by the hand, and now I understand why you did it.
You want us to excel at everything, and have the best possible life.
You don't need to worry though. We'll be fine.
After all, we've had you to show us the way.

2003