It amazes me how someone can love you -- even when you don't see them that often. I often like to boast of greatness but I am not exaggerating when I say that my nephew loves me. I can honestly say that I love this kid back. He is amazing. We've been hanging out a lot since I came to visit and today he told me I can never leave. Awww.

He adamently refuses to sit for a nice picture with me. Every picture I have of the two of us depicts us up to no good so without further adieu...

As most of you know, I came home to host a baby shower. Harry was super excited to meet "Neil's baby." He just never grasped the idea that it was Neil's sister that had the baby. My new niece is always referred to as "Neil's baby." It's actually kind of funny. Here he is meeting her.

In other news:

Tonight I went out for supper with Kendra, Alyssa and Danielle. It was fun. Three ladies I truly miss. I love how we can all be super busy with our grown-up lives but still get together and not feel awkward -- even though we may only see each other now once or twice a year.

I have been busy making Christmas cards. Have I actually found something "arty" that I like doing??

Most of you must know that I'm in Regina for a visit. Apparently I brought the cold. I arrived last Wednesday night and it's been cold and snowy since I arrived. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were spent doing the usual: errands, shopping, visiting... and planning a baby shower. Saturday night I went to a "tacky tropical party" dressed in turtle neck sweater, jeans and lei. I stuck out like a sore thumb. I got to catch up with a few people I haven't seen in ages and it was kind of like high school all over again except for the fact that I was sitting there wishing I had an eloquent excuse to leave. I just wasn't in the mood for such festivities. I did get to visit with some people I hadn't seen in a long long time and that was enjoyable. Sunday was the baby shower and in my humble opinion, the shower was a success! There are new pictures to be seen at http://underwood-baby.blogspot.com/.

Anyone who knows my family will know that they are all a bunch of freaky night owls -- so naturally, since arriving, the earliest I have gotten to bed is 4AM (sure enough I am writing this at 4:07AM local time). I don't think I have ever been so tired. Ever. Today was the day to get back on track and I slept most of it -- felt very refreshed when I woke up at 4:30PM after a 3 hour nap. The problem with an afternoon nap -- well, I am still wide awake right now, that's what!

Must try to get myself to sleep.

Don't worry AO and Neil, I'll probably come home next Saturday. I know you both must be missing me horribly (heehee).

Oh, I just thought I should add that I have watched 2 movies since arriving... You, Me and Dupree -- hands down the worst movie I have seen in a long time. If you're ever going to listen to one thing I tell you: avoid, avoid, avoid this movie. Tess, my mom and I should go on some Stan and Kenny-like quest to get our money back from Owen Wilson. I want my $5.99 back.

The other movie we watched was John Tucker Must Die. Not as bad, but not good either.

Sam started it...

1. I am the oldest of four -- I'm #1! I'm #1!
2. I secretly believe that my parents wish they had stopped after me -- after all, you can't improve on perfection -- therefore yes, I can be a bit of an asshole.
3. I get along with my brother Tim (he's #2) -- we have very rarely ever gotten into a scrap that has lasted longer than 5 minutes.
4. I used to fight with my sister Tess (she's #3) constantly -- both verbal bashing and physical scrapping -- she used to steal my stuff. I'd say we get along now because there are a few thousand km's between us. She is one of the moodiest people I know -- but that's ok, she has a cute kid.
5. Joey (#4) is 13. I am 30. No, he's not my step brother. Yes, we have exactly the same parents. What can I say, my parents are in love. Ewww!
6. I am an auntie to Harrison (3) and Ashley (1.5 weeks).
7. Yes, one day I will bear children -- but I want to be extra drugged up when it happens because I HATE PAIN.
8. Irrationality and extreme tempers run in the family.
9. My husband is quite honestly the smartest person I know. When he tells me what he does for a living it seriously makes my brain hurt.
10. I hated the movie The Matrix because it made my brain hurt.
11. I hate shopping by myself -- yet acknowledge that when I go alone I am most productive.
12. I have a BA (major Geography) from the University of Regina that has proven to be completely useless.
13. I have a BEd from UBC and its usefulness has yet to be seen.
14. My first name is Krista and my middle name is Tatiana -- thus I was the inspiration for the conjoined twins in BC.
15. All of the dishes and linens in my house match and I'm extremely anal about this -- I think this stems from living in a very artsy fartsy atmosphere growing up where nothing matched.
16. My sister, brother, and mother all have artistic talent and I don't. We used to take family vacations to Banff every Labour Day weekend growing up and my mom would buy us "sketch books". We'd go to the same place every year (Bow Falls) and my mom would make us sketch. One year in protest I "sketched" our ugly brown Areostar minivan.
17. I was born in Regina, Saskatchewan -- it was the seventies, and the year of the dragon.
18. Cartman would hate my parents -- stupid hippies!
19. I love South Park.
20. My love for music was fostered by my parents -- I can remember my mom letting me stay up late to watch "Friday Night Videos". My first favourite song was "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper. I even hosted a Cyndi Lauper party -- there are pictures to prove it.
21. At one of my birthday parties in elementary school -- we played "Pin the glove on Michael Jackson".
22. I love Home and Garden TV.
23. Vancouver, in my mind, is one of the most beautiful cities in Canada. Ottawa too.
24. Neil and I have talked of retiring in the Gulf Islands and running a B&B.
25. We went to Maui on our honeymoon and it was amazingly beautiful.
26. For Neil's sister's wedding we stayed at a beautiful 5 star resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The poverty outside of the resorts there is staggering.
27. My wedding day was perfection. I wouldn't change anything.
28. I used to be a rye whiskey girl -- then one night at a "dirt road" party close to Condi -- things got ugly, my girl Kendra and I shared and finished a 40, got shit faced smashed, raced through culverts in the dark, watched her dad get flipped while squaw-wrestling and more... Worst hangover of my life. I, to this day, get a queasy stomach if I even so much as smell rye.
29. Neil and I had our first date at Delberts -- at a Honeymoon Suite concert. How can it not be love???
30. I love the rain and I love snow. Christmas is just plain weird without snow.
31. My husband caters to my inner child -- he has in the past bought me the world's largest super soaker water gun (it can barely be lifted when full -- it's Fan-freaking-tastic!) and for my thirtieth birthday bought me a Nintendo Game Cube because I always grumbled that I never had a "gaming system" as a kid.
32. We are both nerds -- we love computer games. We play Civilization together a lot -- I'm actually ashamed of the hours we log.
33. My nephew Harry is the smartest kid I have ever seen. At three, his vocabulary is AMAZING. We chat over the phone often.
34. I miss my lady friends. Since leaving Regina, I have found making new friends hard. I am stubborn, set in my ways and not really willing to put myself out there... I thought that it would be easier and it's not.
35. I am already invited to a party in Regina next weekend. Would it be completely class-less to show up to host my sister-in-law's baby shower completely hungover??? (Kathy, don't worry!)
36. My biggest vice is pop. If we have it in the house, I drink it.
37. I played basketball. It used to be my life. I was quite good too -- honest. When I stopped playing, I thought I would miss it. I didn't.
38. Toronto is my home now. It's ok for now. After living here and in Vancouver there is no doubt in my mind that I am a "small city girl".
39. I am currently listening to the new album by The Decemberists -- Crane Wife. It is very good.
40. Electric Version by The New Pornographers is one of those albums that I have that just can't seem to be overplayed.
41. Truth be told -- I cannot stand country music. It is worse than fingernails on the chalkboard. Neil likes it and it could be grounds for divorce down the road.... [relax, I kid]
42. My cousin Shannon just got engaged! Congratulations! Beware the crazy/well intentioned aunties!!
43. I am not spiritual. I think religion often clouds good judgment.
44. Treherne, Manitoba. Do I really have to elaborate?? Craziest May Long ever!
45. The drive from Vancouver to TO was long but very beautiful.
46. Seattle was a cool weekend getaway.
47. I want to visit NYC in the winter. I want to see the tree at Rockefeller Center lit.
48. Organization is my middle name. I have systems, lists and more systems.
49. People always say that you should do what you like... if I could turn the clock back 5 years I'd look way harder at careers that would provide easier entry to the work force and job security.
50. Beer is gross.
51. I love chinese food. My grandma oma used to say I'd marry a 'china man'... she wasn't being racist, I just really like chicken balls (ok, so I'm more partial to ginger beef -- I just thought chicken balls sounded funnier...)
52. While in Vancouver, I learned to like sushi and master [sort of] chopsticks
53. I like to laugh. Life's too short not to have a sense of humour.
54. If you ever heard my family talk to each other -- you'd think we all hate each other. We fire insults like some family's hug... it's just our way...
55. I like spicy food. Mexican, Thai, Indian... bring it on!
56. I love Gilmore Girls. I want to be just like Lorelei Gilmore -- the super cool, imperfect mother. The mom who gets it -- who's head isn't stuck so far up her ass that they've lost touch with what it's like to be a kid.
57. I love watching hockey for "Behind the Mask with Kelly Hrudey". Some athletes make terrible sports commentators [like say, Steve Nash -- thank God he got traded to a better team so I didn't have to endure that more than once] -- But Hrudey, he's awesome! He always sounds professional, informed and classy.
58. At Grey Cup in Calgary (2000) we got picked up by this crazy old lady in a scooby doo van -- she offered us a ride to the game, and the people I were with hopped in. I just stood there on the sidewalk thinking, "my mom told me not to take rides from strangers....' I was 24. I did eventually get in and we did indeed get to the game.
59. At the same event as above, our friend Terry led the end zone in a rousing rendition of "Green is the colour.." [the riders weren't in the game] then proceeded to get the crowd chanting, "STORM THE FIELD, STORM THE FIELD..." by the end of the game - security was shoulder to shoulder across our side of the field...
60. Also attended Grey Cup 2005 (Vancouver) and will be going again next year when it is in Toronto.
61. Whenever I am in Regina, my mom, my sister and some of my aunts head to Uplands Pizza for coffee, pizza and their super yummy fries. It has become a tradition of sorts.
62. Neil and I love Tom Petty. We always used to say that we'd drop everything if the chance to see him arose -- it did, days after we moved to TO -- he was soooooooooo good. Dream realized!
63. We are planning a trip to Europe. Must get my travel bugs out of my system before getting bogged down by child. My attitude about child rearing may or my not be influenced by having a newborn brother in the house at age 17. Best Birth Control Ever.
64. Am super competitive! I hate losing. I am a bad sport. I love to gloat. -- at least I'm honest.
65. I hope that Todd is thoroughly distracted with the new baby that it screws up his ability to read Neil's thoughts and that he's so off his game it throws off their sick ability to dominate at cards... I am predicting a good Canasta year for the ladies. I have no worries about Kathy's abilities to focus. She a pro.
66. When I lived in Regina -- we used to host parties all the time. We'd make spaghetti and have everyone over for a good old-fashion, drunk fest. One extra crazy "Spaghetti Fest" even has its own soundtrack -- "Songs from a Spaghetti Incident." It's hilarious.
67. I make "best of" music complications every year.
68. I've thought about going back to school and taking a web design course.
69. I am a music snob! I like guilty pleasures true enough -- but I turn the volume down at red lights... and the windows are always up when they are playing.
70. I love programming my ipod for the car.
71. TV is so good. Me loves it -- I watch Gilmore Girls, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, LOST, House and Grey's Anatomy. Thank God for the PVR!
72. Blogging has become a bit of an addiction.
73. Wow -- I'm only at 73????????
74. I get intense sinus headaches when I fly.
75. I am the only person in my family that has good vision -- no glasses pour moi!! I've never really had a bad dental experience either... knock on wood.
76. Doctors freak me out. Nothing like stripping naked, putting on a paper gown -- need I really elaborate further???
77. I'm not a sentimental person. Knick knacks and paddy-wacks are junk.. period.
78. I often wonder why women have to shave their legs... Seriously, who came up with this?? I seriously hate you. I understand that it feels better being all smooth and what not but man...I hate doing it. I'll just admit it -- I rarely do it in the winter. My poor husband!
79. Pet peeve: Men that don't tweeze their eyebrows -- START!
80. I guess this ties into #77 but I am not a warm and fuzzy person. It works for some people but more often than not -- I find it fake.
81. I made my own Christmas cards 2 years ago -- it took a LONG time to finish them. I'm thinking of making them again this year -- someone, please tell me I'm crazy.
82. I secretly think about putting my sister on TLC's "What Not to Wear"[I love Stacy and Clinton...] and my mom on HGTV's "Neat" or "Clean Sweep"[it would kill her though...].
83. I'm a worrier. I over think things a lot.
84. I tend to have the belief that multiculturalism should be a 2-way street. We embrace other cultures and other cultures embrace Canada. Why do we as Canadians accept anything less??
85. I like to read about and be informed about politics. There is so much stupidity around us all the time... people really need to shake their heads and get informed. Opinions can vary but god damn it -- be able to back up your beliefs with well thought out debate. Case in point, the TO municipal elections --we got a million flyers about how certain candidates were "Pro-Israel" -- WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT???????? Last time I checked the city of TO wasn't responsible for foreign policy of any kind.
86. Worked at Shoppers Drug Mart for 6 years [met lots of great people]. Worked at Pier One for 2 days [stupidest organization ever].
87. First employer: The Real Canadian Superstore
88. Taught in Coquitlam and North Vancouver.
89. I prefer teaching older students -- Kindergartens scare me -- I'm not a fan of snot and jam hands.
90. I have a built in alarm clock. I can't sleep-in anymore. Sometimes that is frustrating.
91. Auntie O -- I'm coming to do laundry tomorrow! Sometimes I am not cheap, sometimes I am. Like how I hate paying to use the washers and dryers in our building. For what we pay for rent, it should be included. So I take my laundry to my aunts most weekends and do it for free. I repay her with the pleasure of my company, with my charming personality and my sharp wit.
92. Woo Hoo -- into the final 10!
93. Christmas morning at my parents is chaotic but fantastic. So much fun.
94. Ahh 1994, the year I graduated from high school.
95. I love red wine. I can drink copious amounts of it but I hate that it stains your lips. Neil and I used to tour the wineries in the beautiful Okanagan. Guess we get to try out the Niagara region now!
96. I'm a night owl.
97. Tomorrow I plan to check out the Chapters Outlet Store. We've driven by a few times and they have a huge sign on the side of the building that says, "Everything under $20". I am super excited!
98. I always over pack. I swore I was only taking one suitcase when I flew home this week. Looking at the piles I've started... it will be 2.
99. When will this list end???
100. Yay! It's over!

Congratulations, you made it to the end.

I was tagged to do this by Sam , so here goes...

One book that changed your life?
I can't think of one book in particular -- I have always been a reader...

It started with Nancy Drew and Judy Blume books {RIP Dribbles}, Encyclopedia Brown, Anne of Green Gables, Heidi, Little Women, Choose Your Own Adventures, Chronicles of Narnia {Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the best one} ... to the novels read in high school like, The Old Man and the Sea, Of Mice and Men, Ordinary People, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, Brave New World, 1984 -- to popular literature like Bridget Jones, High Fidelity, About a Boy -- Jane Austen -- chick lit -- then when I became a teacher I started reading a lot of timeless/ageless lit -- Oh the Places You Will Go, The Giving Tree, Ella Enchanted, A Wrinkle in Time, Harry Potter, The Giver, The Bread Winner -- I can go on and on.... I heart books.

One book you have read more than once?
Here are 2:

1) Pride and Prejudice -- Jane Austen

Ok - I am a huge nerd, I will admit to reading this novel over and over and then on top of that...oodles and oodles of adaptations of it online. One of my most beloved heroines.

***********************************

2) Bridget Jones's Diary -- by Helen Fielding
It just solidified my belief that no woman is perfect. Bridget personifies what I like to think of as a "normal" woman. We all have fears, flaws, embarrassing moments...

Sunday 1 January
9st 3 (but post-Christmas), alcohol units 14 (but effectively covers 2 days as 4 hours of party was on New Year's Eve), cigarettes 22, calories 5,424

One book you would want on a desert island?
Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Lord of the Flies - William Golding

just in case I a) need survival skills b) find myself on a raft with a tiger c) find out I am not alone

One book that made you laugh?
High Fidelity - Nick Hornby and Bridget Jones's Diary -- see above

One book that made you cry?
Rilla Of Ingleside -- L.M. Montgomery

If you have ever read the sequels to Anne of Green Gables -- this is book 8. I have read this book so often I have had to replace it because the pages were falling out. My new copy doesn't match my very worn out set of Anne books - grrr. It never fails to make me sob uncontrollably.

One book you wish had never been written?
Can't think of one...

One book you are currently reading?
I am currently reading: Rachel's Holiday -- by Marian Keyes

I've read it before but Neil insists that if I am going to fork out $ for books [instead of using a library], I must re-read the small library I currently own. It is the tale of Rachel Walsh, an extremely immature drug addict [she would call her problem 'recreational drug use'] who ends up in a rehab centre. Not that she is overly worried - she thinks it will be like going to a spa. Essentially it is the humorous tale of one messed up girl and how she gets her life back in order. A very easy read.

One book you have been meaning to read?
Under the Tuscan Sun -- Frances Mayes

The movie is my all time favourite feel good/feel better about yourself movie. I can watch it over and over. I have been told that the novel is very very different from the film, but I'd still like to read it one day.

Anna Karenina - Tolstoy

I have started reading this novel a handful of times and have always lost interest part way in -- one day I will conquer this book!

I will tag (the only people I know that might actually do it!)
Morphy
Tim

Have I ever mentioned my love for you-tube?? Neil and I were looking for a particular Rick Mercer clip that we wanted to email around...

(Click here and scroll down to October 31st to the 'Cheese Ad Spoof' and then further down to October 10th and watch 'A Message from Health Canada')

...and instead started watching videos from previous seasons. We really enjoyed his take on "traditional values."