Squiggy

My coworker Cheryl adopted my boss's fish, but had to leave him here for a couple of days. I took it upon myself to amuse Squiggy today. I can't help but feel a real connection with the cute little guy!

LoveLi

Pretties

I woke up earlier than my alarm this morning, and after a quick potty break was about to dive back under the covers for another blissful 45 minutes of slumber when I my eyes were treated to the most beautiful sunrise coming through my window. It was one of those types of sights that is so unbelievably gorgeous you literally cannot move your gaze away without feeling wracked with guilt for taking nature's natural beauty for granted and knowing in some mysterious way that at some point in the subsequent hours of the day you will be smote down by god, having been deemed unfit for life. So, no going back to bed for me.

Then, on my way to work, I passed by some very pretty flowers, and again, pretty sure that if I didn't take a pic it would be the last time I'd ever see a pretty flower AGAIN, I made a fool of myself in front of the construction workers and city maintenance men wandering around near City Hall looking for something to do, and snapped a couple of shots. Love the lovely colours on what is, for all intents and purposes, a Monday morning.

Bleeding Love

This love thing is trickier than I thought it would be... 

So long, summer...

Age of Aqueerius!

Last Saturday was the Edmonton Pride Parade (yes, TD, we realize you sponsored the event, but you don't OWN it) and it was SO fun. I wasn't feeling ultra-festive, but fortunately my best friend knows when I'm trying to wiggle out of a social engagement and refused me my out (heh heh). Anyways, I'm incredibly thankful that I was there and part of something so amazing and fun and so full of life, love, and colour!

It was especially meangingful that I was there because, while I would have gone anyways to show my support for the members of the GLBTQ community that I love, I'm also a member of that community and felt especially proud to be there. Which is what the day is for :o) I just wish my Lianna had been there, because it is the one time of the year when we could have held hands on Jasper Avenue without feeling like it might not be a good idea.

Am I the only one who doesn't feel that this float offers an extra bit of incentive for joining Team Edmonton sports club? Tee hee ;o)

Josh's good friend, and my friend too (though I haven't seen him in forever!) Sean was somewhere on the Queer Bus... a good friend of HIS owns The Empress Ale House, which hosts Beers for Queers. Apparently it's super fun, and since it's practically right down the street from me, I'd better make it there at least once this summer...

I loved this float! So bright and rainbow-licious!

Loved this one, too... for the same reason as the pic above :o) Colour and balloons and smiles and boys in speedos! Yum! The guy in the blue one put on a little show for spectators at the beer garden at Winston Churchill Square!

Yum! Suckers are the perfect Pride Parade treat :o)

Well, except for the obvious eye candy ;o) My two favourite boys sporting their Pride Day beads!

Summer Snow

Someone could spend a lot of time making wishes on all this dandelion fluff :o)

Bits and Trips

Contrary to popular opinion, Farm Town isn't the ONLY thing that's kept me from updating my blog of late. Truth be told, there's been quite a few things happening in my little world - quite a few things involving quite a LOT of emotional turmoil. I tend to shy away from any sort of creative expression in times like these... firstly, because my general mood always taints everything I touch. And, secondly, I need space and a serious amount of elapsed time before I can get enough perspective on things to be able to share about them.

So, yeah. To avoid incomprehensible ramblings, I've simply avoided writing anything at all. But, today I'm feeling a tad gregarious, at least in a bloggy-type-way, so decided to put forth an update, of sorts.

This is the face of an allergy sufferer. See the redness under my poor little achy nose? PITY ME!! It's been about two months of constant sniffles and sneezes now, and I'm about ready to hang up my hat and just plain call it a day.

Someone started a fire in the dumpster behind my building. At least, I assume someone started it. Intentionally. Because I think everyone around me is secretly an arsonist. Waiting to slice open my achilles tendons and set me on fire when I least expect it.

Josh and I went to Elephant & Castle last Friday. I got the Bangers 'n' Mash because it sounded fun. When it came out, the first thought I had was, I need to get a picture of this for Kelley because this meal would make her ill on SO MANY LEVELS. So, here ya go, Kelley :o)

And, at some point when I wasn't quite paying attention, Edmonton bloomed... and along with it, my heart.

My OTHER Job

For those of you who don't share an office with me and have yet to be subjected to my new favourite hobby, allow me to introduce you to...

Farm Town! Above, you will see "me", or at least, my Farm Town alter ego, cleverly named "Natalie" to disguise my true identity. Next to "me" is my new goat, given as a gift from one of my Farm Town "neighbours" some time yesterday. His name is Billy. Obviously.

Below, my farm :o) Please keep in mind, people, that it is a work in progress. Even now, I have roses and carnations blooming, and a field of sunflowers to tend!

The newest addition to my farm is the barn... it sure does add something to the scene, doesn't it?

And, here "I" am again, this time flanked by my spotty dog. On the other side of me is my water well. Sure comes in handy!

So, yep, I'm sure into Farm Town. Gives me something fun and completely inconsequential to occupy my time with, and for that, I'm thankful.

Spring!

Everything seems to be changing so quickly - I walk by a bud one day, and a bloom the next. These pretty flowers decorated a tree alongside the path I walk to and from work. They were so beautiful I had to try and get a good picture of them... they made me think of someone special ;)

View From the Top

So, thanks to some construction going on at the Coast Edmonton House, Lianna got a free upgrade to her suite. The result? This totally sweet view! Pretty beautiful, isn't it? Having someone visit from out of town really got me to view the city from a totally different perspective... instead of just passing through the usual kind of scenery, I got to experience every sight and sound through refreshed senses. Truthfully, there really isn't any other city I would rather live in than Edmonton. And, I feel pretty lucky that I get to call it home.

Of course, there are some things (or some ones) that other cities have that would entice me to make a move I wouldn't otherwise consider...

On The Way There

Just a picture I took from the plane on the way to Las Vegas. The little winky glint at the top is the moon. It was just a sliver then, but on the way back last night/uber-early this morning the moon was a huge gorgeous crescent. I would have snapped a pic of it but my camera battery was dead and Dani's camera was tucked away in her carry-on. I would have asked for her to dig it out but she was pretty busy freaking out in the seat next to me. A little turbulence managed to turn her into a wreck in mere nanoseconds... which, as far as sights go, almost made up for not getting a tangible memory of what it's like to fly alongside the moon.

Big Sky

I took this while I was waiting for the bus after work today. I love those days when the sky just seems huge and robust, full of whatever it is a sky can be full of.