Sitting in class on Wednesday night my phone beeped with a text message from my husband.
‘They found cancer in my Dad’
My heart dropped. With everything going on with my Aunt, my Baba and the 2 other cancer surgeries in our families in the last month, I had completely forgotten about my FIL’s situation. He has had on-going, but not overly serious heart problems for several years. About a month or so ago he went in for his regular scope to check on his ticker. During the scope, they told him they found polyps in his esophagus that they wanted to check, just to confirm they weren’t anything serious. About 2 weeks ago, he went in for his biopsy. Wednesday- the doctor called with the news that the biopsy had confirmed cancer. SMIL called us to relay the news. The doctor said that he thinks they’ve caught it early, but that we won’t know what stage the cancer is until he gets further tests and scans.
Along with feeling guilty for forgetting about this situation, I was immediately concerned for Bub, but he assured me that he was OK and that it just hadn’t sunk in yet. His step-brother, who was originally on his way to see F and SMIL when he got the call that FIL didn’t want to see anyone, decided to stop in at our place and make sure that Bub was doing OK with the news. I was glad to hear that someone thought about him and that he wasn’t alone with this life-changing news.
Bub continued to do ok until today. I sent him a text this morning and he told me he was at home (which he hadn’t been when I left for work). I called to see what was up (sick, fired… ??) and he said that he just couldn’t be around anyone. He told his boss what was going on, and was told he could take the day. I’m worried about him because now he’s sitting at home alone brooding, which is probably just making it worse.
FIL is taking the news very hard. Unfortunately, he’s a glass half empty kind of person, so I’m sure he has himself dead and buried already. All sicknesses are the end of the world for him, and he’s a slight hypochondriac, so now that he’s been given news like this that actually confirms that he’s seriously sick, I can just imagine that he feels his world literally crashing in around him. He doesn’t want to see anyone and hasn’t spoken with anyone other than his SMIL since he found out.
I’ve already lost an uncle to esophageal cancer so I know how serious it can be. I’ve done a bit of Googling (since I can’t get information from FIL) to get myself informed on what the next steps are, treatment options, prognosis etc. and what I’ve found doesn’t inspire a lot of hope. Apparently, one of the first places it spreads to is the liver. Great. Another go around with possible liver cancer.
So, in the last 4 months between our families we’ve had 5 cases of cancer. Through my IL’s alone, 3/5 siblings on my MIL’s side are battling cancer, and now my FIL on the other side.
However, I’m not going to panic. Everyone is doing ok thus far (even my Aunt has been transferred out of the cancer center and back to a regular hospital after her condition improved exponentially). I’m going to be strong for my husband and encourage everyone to take it one day at a time. We can’t do anything until we have the results of FIL’s scans. The doctors believe that they have caught it in the early stages so that hopefully means it’s operable. We can’t get ahead of ourselves and we just have to make decisions and deal with things as they come. They man only just turned 50, is strong and healthy otherwise and is a good candidate to fight. If we can get it before it spreads, I think we’ll be ok.
I’m just hoping that I can get home early today so that Bub doesn’t have to be alone. He sounds so down and even refused to cook tonight (seriously… that’s HUGE… he LOVES to cook) and said “I’ll just order us a pizza or something”. I wish his Dad would be open to seeing people because I think it would be good for everyone.
Other than that, the only thing I feel I can say is F*ck Cancer.
Friday, March 12, 2010
A Season of Eden by JM Warwick
.jpg)
Review Part I- no spoilers
I thought I would be uncomfortable with the subject matter of this book but honestly, I think that's kind of the point. I was actually surprised how little it bothered me and I think the fact that Eden is 18 and James is only 22 played a big part in that. She's legally an adult and there's only 4 years between them. I didn't feel that James was taking advantage of, or manipulating Eden in any way.
I didn't buy Eden's feelings for James as sincere at first. I felt more that it was story about a desperate girl in a bad life situation who had become obsessed with conquering the attention of this older "man" for validation. Later, I changed my tune. I think the way the James was able to lead Eden to identify her flaws and want to become a better person.... lets just say by the end, based on heractions and thoughts later in the book, I knew what she was feeling was very real.
I couldn't help but fall for James but I wish we had a little more development on his side of the story. He's the type of person I would have liked when I was in HS... sensitive, passionate... hot.
There were several delicious James and Eden scenes in this book that made my heart flutter and made me want to fly through the story. The author is very good at capturing the nerves, tension, excitement etc of a young feelings.
This was a very fast, guilty pleasure read that I recommend for anyone who enjoys YA or a good love story.
Review Part II- major spoiler
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
What the hell was that ending? Can I even call it an ending? Did I miss something? This is the reason I had to give the book only 3.5 stars. As delicious as I found the read, leaving the end hanging like that almost ruined it for me. I like good solid, well wrapped up endings. Sure I wanted them to end up together, but even if they didn't that would have been okay too...... just TELL ME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER! Don't leave me hanging like that. She confronts him in the church, he kinda smiles, book ends. WHAT? I don't think this is open for a sequel either. I truly think this is the end of James and Edens story.
Perhaps I missed something, but I was so disappointed by the end.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
another quickie...
I don’t really have time for a post, but I’m going to do an update anyway, so here’s the deal.
My Aunt started getting better slowly as of Thursday. No major improvements but she was coherent and actually started drinking a little. Saturday, my Dad decided since my Uncle was going to the hospital, not to go visits her and to spend the day with us (I haven’t seen him in a year). We got a call Saturday night that my Aunt B had returned to normal, her biopsy had been cancelled and that she was either being moved back to her original hospital or released all together on Monday (yesterday). The doctors said that it wasn’t cancer, that it was likely hepatitis contracted years ago during a business trip, as they had originally thought 2 weeks ago. They said it “major liver damage, drastic lifestyle changes (absolutely no alcohol, no rich foods etc) blah blah blah”. As a family, we were in shock. Tuesday night the doctor was telling my Nan to get the family to the hospital because she wasn’t going to make it much longer and then by Saturday there cancelling tests and talking about releasing her? How does that work? We were happy, but also concerned. We still didn’t have a diagnosis and they were just going to let her go? In the past 2.5 weeks we’ve been told it was hepatitis, then it was probably cancer, then it was definitely cancer and now it’s probably not cancer and is likely hepatitis. I’m sorry but when she was on death’s door a couple days ago, "likely" and "probably" are not good enough.
They took her off her meds and IV’s and she made it ½ a day before she regressed again. Her regular doctor returned yesterday and flipped when he found out her biopsy had been cancelled. So… long story short is that she won’t be getting out or transferring out of the cancer center, her biopsy has been rescheduled and she’s back on all her meds. So we’re back to a waiting game and still have no solid answers as to what is wrong with her.
My Baba is the same…. hanging on, being kept alive with feeding tubes and IV’s…. it’s all the same with her and to be honest, I’m at peace with her situation. She’s lived her life and is suffering so to be quite honest, it will be better for everyone, especially her, when she finally lets go.
I spent the weekend hanging out with my Dad. We did dessert and coffee on Friday, we did breakfast, my nephews snowboarding competition and then dinner and drinks on Saturday and then Sunday we went to the flea-market, out for lunch and then Bub made us dinner. Last night, Bub had to work so I took my Dad out for dinner just the two of us and then my sister and nephew came over to have tea and say goodbye to my Dad. He’s going to stop by my place before he heads to the airport tonight. As much as I love when he’s here, I hate saying goodbye. It really, really sucks.
I totally neglected my school work this weekend because my Dad was here. I am so behind it’s not even funny. I have a research paper due next week that I haven’t even started. It’s going to be a lonnnnng freakin’ week getting it all done on top of my regular classes and case study submissions… but next weekend I’ll be able to relax for 2 days before the craziness of finals starts. Maybe I’ll get to read a little? Right.
Okay- off to get some work done and play catch-up some more. My apologies for this jumbled mess of a post. More positive updates to come soon! I’m really not the whiner I’ve appeared to be lately.
My Aunt started getting better slowly as of Thursday. No major improvements but she was coherent and actually started drinking a little. Saturday, my Dad decided since my Uncle was going to the hospital, not to go visits her and to spend the day with us (I haven’t seen him in a year). We got a call Saturday night that my Aunt B had returned to normal, her biopsy had been cancelled and that she was either being moved back to her original hospital or released all together on Monday (yesterday). The doctors said that it wasn’t cancer, that it was likely hepatitis contracted years ago during a business trip, as they had originally thought 2 weeks ago. They said it “major liver damage, drastic lifestyle changes (absolutely no alcohol, no rich foods etc) blah blah blah”. As a family, we were in shock. Tuesday night the doctor was telling my Nan to get the family to the hospital because she wasn’t going to make it much longer and then by Saturday there cancelling tests and talking about releasing her? How does that work? We were happy, but also concerned. We still didn’t have a diagnosis and they were just going to let her go? In the past 2.5 weeks we’ve been told it was hepatitis, then it was probably cancer, then it was definitely cancer and now it’s probably not cancer and is likely hepatitis. I’m sorry but when she was on death’s door a couple days ago, "likely" and "probably" are not good enough.
They took her off her meds and IV’s and she made it ½ a day before she regressed again. Her regular doctor returned yesterday and flipped when he found out her biopsy had been cancelled. So… long story short is that she won’t be getting out or transferring out of the cancer center, her biopsy has been rescheduled and she’s back on all her meds. So we’re back to a waiting game and still have no solid answers as to what is wrong with her.
My Baba is the same…. hanging on, being kept alive with feeding tubes and IV’s…. it’s all the same with her and to be honest, I’m at peace with her situation. She’s lived her life and is suffering so to be quite honest, it will be better for everyone, especially her, when she finally lets go.
I spent the weekend hanging out with my Dad. We did dessert and coffee on Friday, we did breakfast, my nephews snowboarding competition and then dinner and drinks on Saturday and then Sunday we went to the flea-market, out for lunch and then Bub made us dinner. Last night, Bub had to work so I took my Dad out for dinner just the two of us and then my sister and nephew came over to have tea and say goodbye to my Dad. He’s going to stop by my place before he heads to the airport tonight. As much as I love when he’s here, I hate saying goodbye. It really, really sucks.
I totally neglected my school work this weekend because my Dad was here. I am so behind it’s not even funny. I have a research paper due next week that I haven’t even started. It’s going to be a lonnnnng freakin’ week getting it all done on top of my regular classes and case study submissions… but next weekend I’ll be able to relax for 2 days before the craziness of finals starts. Maybe I’ll get to read a little? Right.
Okay- off to get some work done and play catch-up some more. My apologies for this jumbled mess of a post. More positive updates to come soon! I’m really not the whiner I’ve appeared to be lately.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
A necessary update
I feel like I should be posting about what’s going on in my life right now, but it’s something that I’m not overly keen to talk about. I’m just tired of it all. So…. I’m cheating. I’m going to C&P the posts I put on a forum I use quite regularly.
POST # 1- Feb. 22, 2010
This post could go on forever but I'm going to try to keep it brief:
Crappy thing # 1:
Some of you know that my Baba (grandmother) has been in the ICU for about 3 weeks. In that time she's had 3 heart attacks (2 major, 1 minor) and a major stroke. She's lost the ability to speak, eat... move etc. She has a leaky valve in her heart, among many other issues, along with a DNR. As of Friday, the doctors removed her feeding tube. They are keeping her hydrated, but only enough to keep her comfortable. This means that at any moment, I'm going to get a call that she has passed away. Every time the phone rang long-distance this weekend my heart dropped.
Crappy thing # 2:
My Dad called me Friday night to let me know that my aunt (his sister) had been rushed to the hospital from work and they thought she had hepatitis (though they weren't yet sure what kind). Later that night my Dad called again (for the 3rd time, since he's also the one who calls me with updates about my Baba) to let me know that they no longer thought it was hep and that they were 99% sure it was advanced liver cancer. He told me that my aunt was "really not doing well". She has a biopsy scheduled today so right now it's just a waiting game but she is still in the hospital and still very ill.
My Dad's panicked because he doesn't know where to be (with my step-mom and Baba or here with my Aunt) and I'm just waiting for the next piece of bad news because everything happens in threes where my family is concerned.
This weekend sucked.
POST # 2- Mar. 3, 2010
My Aunt took a turn for the worse. They have confirmed that she does in fact has liver cancer. They can't get her jaundice under control and she's weakening very quickly. To make things worse, the whole floor of her hospital is closed off because of a G.I. bug which she has now contracted as well. She is so weakened that she has fallen twice when trying to get to the bathroom and cracked/broken some ribs.
The doctors called my Nan last night to tell her that "it's likely she won't make it much longer".
My Dad is flying in this morning, I'm at work trying to get things wrapped up and then I'm heading to the hospital (about. 2 hours away).... it's a nightmare. I woke up with a nasty throat and chest cold and therefore probably won't be able to get in to see her. I'm still going down though to be there for my family.
The woman is only in her 50's and was perfectly healthy a month ago. How does this happen? I'm so tired.
As for Baba... I can't even think about that right now. She's stable and so I just have to concentrate on my Aunt.
___________________________________________________
So, I went down yesterday and my whole family was there. Bon was yellow. I don’t mean she had a yellow tinge, I mean she was bright yellow. Even the whites of her eyes. It was… disturbing. Her liver is just shutting down and there’s really not a whole lot that can be done for her. She’s also got broken ribs and she’s got fluid buildup in her abdomen.
She is coherent but confused at times (morphine induced) and she has a hard time talking. Everything is very slow and labored. Because she has fallen multiple times (hence the broken ribs) she is no longer permitted to get out of bed. She doesn’t understand why and she really doesn’t understand that she is as sick as she is.
We had to take 2 at a time shifts to go in to see her so I went in with my Nan who is just barely holding it together. It really hit home that even though my Aunt is 57 and my Nan is 79, that’s still her baby lying fragile and sick in the hospital bed and it’s tearing her apart. We got to go with her while she had her chest x-ray, ultrasound and ct-scan and my Nan just kept shrugging and saying she didn’t know what to do. I felt so awful for her.
After we left yesterday they transferred Bon to a cancer center in a different town but still about 2 hours from here. This is good and bad. It’s bad we asked to have her transferred here since we have a good cancer centre and there is a lot of family here, but they didn’t do it for whatever reason and we didn’t know she was being transferred until she was already in the new hospital. They didn’t take her personal things so we have to get them from the first place and take them to her. It’s good because now she’s at a place with the cancer experts who may be able to help her. Even if they can’t save her, they may know how to make her more comfortable. My Dad’s down there today, I’m back at work because unfortunately, I can’t afford to be off. He’ll call if anything changes.
My Baba was put back on her feeding tube and meds at the request of some of her family. So, we’re back to square one with her. She’s not going to get better, the leaky valve in her heart is going to kill her…. the feeding tube and meds are just prolonging things.
I’m just tired, and I’m so busy with school right now that I’m afraid I’m not going to get some of my assignments done. I also have a lovely chest cold that’s keeping me up at night and I'm exhausted and feel like crap. I’m trying not to complain though because I’ll get over my cold and life will go on…. and I don’t want to take anything for granted anymore.
POST # 1- Feb. 22, 2010
This post could go on forever but I'm going to try to keep it brief:
Crappy thing # 1:
Some of you know that my Baba (grandmother) has been in the ICU for about 3 weeks. In that time she's had 3 heart attacks (2 major, 1 minor) and a major stroke. She's lost the ability to speak, eat... move etc. She has a leaky valve in her heart, among many other issues, along with a DNR. As of Friday, the doctors removed her feeding tube. They are keeping her hydrated, but only enough to keep her comfortable. This means that at any moment, I'm going to get a call that she has passed away. Every time the phone rang long-distance this weekend my heart dropped.
Crappy thing # 2:
My Dad called me Friday night to let me know that my aunt (his sister) had been rushed to the hospital from work and they thought she had hepatitis (though they weren't yet sure what kind). Later that night my Dad called again (for the 3rd time, since he's also the one who calls me with updates about my Baba) to let me know that they no longer thought it was hep and that they were 99% sure it was advanced liver cancer. He told me that my aunt was "really not doing well". She has a biopsy scheduled today so right now it's just a waiting game but she is still in the hospital and still very ill.
My Dad's panicked because he doesn't know where to be (with my step-mom and Baba or here with my Aunt) and I'm just waiting for the next piece of bad news because everything happens in threes where my family is concerned.
This weekend sucked.
POST # 2- Mar. 3, 2010
My Aunt took a turn for the worse. They have confirmed that she does in fact has liver cancer. They can't get her jaundice under control and she's weakening very quickly. To make things worse, the whole floor of her hospital is closed off because of a G.I. bug which she has now contracted as well. She is so weakened that she has fallen twice when trying to get to the bathroom and cracked/broken some ribs.
The doctors called my Nan last night to tell her that "it's likely she won't make it much longer".
My Dad is flying in this morning, I'm at work trying to get things wrapped up and then I'm heading to the hospital (about. 2 hours away).... it's a nightmare. I woke up with a nasty throat and chest cold and therefore probably won't be able to get in to see her. I'm still going down though to be there for my family.
The woman is only in her 50's and was perfectly healthy a month ago. How does this happen? I'm so tired.
As for Baba... I can't even think about that right now. She's stable and so I just have to concentrate on my Aunt.
___________________________________________________
So, I went down yesterday and my whole family was there. Bon was yellow. I don’t mean she had a yellow tinge, I mean she was bright yellow. Even the whites of her eyes. It was… disturbing. Her liver is just shutting down and there’s really not a whole lot that can be done for her. She’s also got broken ribs and she’s got fluid buildup in her abdomen.
She is coherent but confused at times (morphine induced) and she has a hard time talking. Everything is very slow and labored. Because she has fallen multiple times (hence the broken ribs) she is no longer permitted to get out of bed. She doesn’t understand why and she really doesn’t understand that she is as sick as she is.
We had to take 2 at a time shifts to go in to see her so I went in with my Nan who is just barely holding it together. It really hit home that even though my Aunt is 57 and my Nan is 79, that’s still her baby lying fragile and sick in the hospital bed and it’s tearing her apart. We got to go with her while she had her chest x-ray, ultrasound and ct-scan and my Nan just kept shrugging and saying she didn’t know what to do. I felt so awful for her.
After we left yesterday they transferred Bon to a cancer center in a different town but still about 2 hours from here. This is good and bad. It’s bad we asked to have her transferred here since we have a good cancer centre and there is a lot of family here, but they didn’t do it for whatever reason and we didn’t know she was being transferred until she was already in the new hospital. They didn’t take her personal things so we have to get them from the first place and take them to her. It’s good because now she’s at a place with the cancer experts who may be able to help her. Even if they can’t save her, they may know how to make her more comfortable. My Dad’s down there today, I’m back at work because unfortunately, I can’t afford to be off. He’ll call if anything changes.
My Baba was put back on her feeding tube and meds at the request of some of her family. So, we’re back to square one with her. She’s not going to get better, the leaky valve in her heart is going to kill her…. the feeding tube and meds are just prolonging things.
I’m just tired, and I’m so busy with school right now that I’m afraid I’m not going to get some of my assignments done. I also have a lovely chest cold that’s keeping me up at night and I'm exhausted and feel like crap. I’m trying not to complain though because I’ll get over my cold and life will go on…. and I don’t want to take anything for granted anymore.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Things I never thought I'd say....
Me and reading ??? We're taking a break.
Okay, that's only one thing, but it's true (at least were books for pleasure are concerned) and I never, ever, EVER thought I would say it. However I'm falling majorily behind in the school department. This semester is over at the end of the month and in that time I have a ton to do:-Research Paper: "The Effect of the Christian Crusades on Isalm of the Middle Ages" (exciting right? no?)
-two case study submissions
-ALL the reading for my OB class.... I'm behind by about 4 or 5 chapters right now and although I don't do the reading for either of my other classes (it's hasn't helped me thus far) I actually get some use out of this text book.
....and then the kicker; studying for exams. The first is on April 1. These exams will be crucial because:
a) I only got 76% on my macroeconomics mid-term worth 40% of my mark... the final is worth 60% and I have to get at least an 83% to get an A overall for the class. I was so pissed about this because I felt way more confident about this exam than I did about any of my micro exams... and I got the worst mark. Go figure.
b) I don't think I did well on my term-paper for my OB class (and I really mean not well, like not even a B) which is worth 35% of my mark, which means that I have to kick ass on that final. We'll see what my mark is next week when the papers are returned. I'm not at all optimistic about it though.
Soooooo.... what does all of this mean? It means that I'm not starting another book (aside from audiobooks in the car) until I'm at least a little caught up. This may mean that I will go the entire month of March without reading a single book for pleasure, but if that's what it takes then that's what I'll do. I have to get my butt back in gear with this school thing. I'm letting my discipline slip.
I wonder if I'll go through withdrawls?
With Glowing Hearts
I couldn't post this yesterday because I was still basking in the glory and absorbing the wonderfulness that is our men’s hockey Olympic GOLD MEDAL WIN!!!!!
When I woke up Sunday morning I just knew…. I could feel it. I knew there was no way I was going to bed disappointed that night and I think the whole country could feel it. This was our year. Canada was coming out of a 4 medal (3 of which were gold) day, we had tied the record for most gold medals won in any winter Olympics and the country had pulled together like never before. We were finally proving to the world how amazing Canada really is and how much we truly love our country. Patriotic? YOU BETCHA! I find it interesting that so many people were so surprised at our level of patriotism. We love our country and we want the world to know it. It’s the best country in the world.
I saw an interview with a US speed skater who said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. I thought we [American’s] were patriotic… but it’s nothing like this”.
If you watched any of the events you saw nothing but a sea of red, white and Canadian flags. Hundreds of spontaneous outbursts of O’Canada were heard in the middle of curling matches, interrupting television interviews and in the middle of the street for seemingly no reason at all! The level of pride we felt and are still feeling is completely indescribable. Several television segments dedicated entirely to the unity and patriotism the country was experiencing, not only in Vancouver but across the entire country, still can’t explain what was happening to Canadians.
I was an emotional and nervous wreck for the duration of the Olympics. It started the night of the opening ceremonies and didn’t end until the closing. It took over my life for two weeks and I loved every minute of it.
First, the commercials. I’ve never had so many television commercials make me cry in such a short span of time….
From the Canadian Tire “First Skate” commercial to the Sidney Crosby/Tim Horton’s “Wouldn’t it be Amazing” commercial, I spent a lot of teary moments on my couch. Any commercial or footage with the “I Believe” theme brought me to tears…. and don’t get me started on the “CTV Difference Makers” segments.
And I can't leave out those commercials that had the ability to get the entire country pumped up.... "Whose Game" and "Force Fate" are the best examples of those.
My favorite moments:
-Alexandre Bilodeau wins our first gold on home soil. His reaction and his brothers reaction.... incredible.
-Charles Hamlin wins gold and hops the boards to hug his girlfriend (also an Olympic medalist)
-Clara Hughes wins bronze in the final race of her career
-Spontaneous O'Canada during the mens curling game
-Women's hockey gold and the whole place erupts into O'Canada
-MENS GOLD MEDAL GAME!--> The icing on the cake of an already beyond incredible Olympics and the ultimate victory. The OT goal scored by Sidney Crosby (fed from none other than my boy Jarome Iginla) was the sweetest way to win that game.
When I woke up Sunday morning I just knew…. I could feel it. I knew there was no way I was going to bed disappointed that night and I think the whole country could feel it. This was our year. Canada was coming out of a 4 medal (3 of which were gold) day, we had tied the record for most gold medals won in any winter Olympics and the country had pulled together like never before. We were finally proving to the world how amazing Canada really is and how much we truly love our country. Patriotic? YOU BETCHA! I find it interesting that so many people were so surprised at our level of patriotism. We love our country and we want the world to know it. It’s the best country in the world.
I saw an interview with a US speed skater who said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. I thought we [American’s] were patriotic… but it’s nothing like this”.
If you watched any of the events you saw nothing but a sea of red, white and Canadian flags. Hundreds of spontaneous outbursts of O’Canada were heard in the middle of curling matches, interrupting television interviews and in the middle of the street for seemingly no reason at all! The level of pride we felt and are still feeling is completely indescribable. Several television segments dedicated entirely to the unity and patriotism the country was experiencing, not only in Vancouver but across the entire country, still can’t explain what was happening to Canadians.
I was an emotional and nervous wreck for the duration of the Olympics. It started the night of the opening ceremonies and didn’t end until the closing. It took over my life for two weeks and I loved every minute of it.
First, the commercials. I’ve never had so many television commercials make me cry in such a short span of time….
From the Canadian Tire “First Skate” commercial to the Sidney Crosby/Tim Horton’s “Wouldn’t it be Amazing” commercial, I spent a lot of teary moments on my couch. Any commercial or footage with the “I Believe” theme brought me to tears…. and don’t get me started on the “CTV Difference Makers” segments.
And I can't leave out those commercials that had the ability to get the entire country pumped up.... "Whose Game" and "Force Fate" are the best examples of those.
My favorite moments:
-Alexandre Bilodeau wins our first gold on home soil. His reaction and his brothers reaction.... incredible.
-Charles Hamlin wins gold and hops the boards to hug his girlfriend (also an Olympic medalist)
-Clara Hughes wins bronze in the final race of her career
-Spontaneous O'Canada during the mens curling game
-Women's hockey gold and the whole place erupts into O'Canada
-MENS GOLD MEDAL GAME!--> The icing on the cake of an already beyond incredible Olympics and the ultimate victory. The OT goal scored by Sidney Crosby (fed from none other than my boy Jarome Iginla) was the sweetest way to win that game.
And for those of you wondering...
-beaver tails are one of the best Canadian treats you'll ever have, and no... they are not real beaver tails.
-those athletes that were accused of not knowing our national anthem? They were singing it in FRENCH!
-we weren't booing our own goalie Roberto Luongo... it's "Louuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu".
- and yes.... here, it's Zed, not Zee.
So, as much as my nerves need the break and my body needs the sleep I am disappointed that the Olympics are over. It was an incredible two weeks that pulled our country together in the most amazing way possible and I hope it can last. I was so proud to be a Canadian, just as I always am. This is truly the best Country in the world and I will never live anywhere else.
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
I was shocked with where the story went because I had no idea that I was getting into a paranormal romance. It threw me at first and I wasn't crazy about the idea of the story, but I got over it really quickly.
I loved every.single.character in this book and that includes the ever annoying best friend. Really... April didn't bother me, which says a lot because I NEVER like the best friend. I loved Jude's perfection and Don's Hagrid like personality and I even liked the parents in this one who don't seem totally clueless as to what's going on in their children's lives (although I guess they kind of are.... it's just not so glaringly "we're the oblivious parents" that so drives me crazy).
I loved the relationship between Grace and Jude, and Grace and Daniel separately. I felt so torn for her. One of my favorite parts of this book is that Grace doesn't give in to Daniel right away. She's not immediately willing to throw her life and other relationships away for the bad boy. She fights it, she tries to do what's right and she tries to be strong.
I easily bought into Grace’s feelings for Daniel because of their history. He wasn’t a stranger, they didn't just meet. They knew each other and grew-up together. It made it more believable for me.
There were several parts of this book that gave me goose bumps (e.g.: up in the tree, out of the roof) and I didn't feel like it was the same old story. Sure, there are some similarities to other books in this genre, but in my head it didn't follow the same predictable path. I'm really looking forward to the sequel to revisit these characters.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)