The One Where I Don't Have an Ego

So I was in Vancouver last weekend, partly for work:

partly for family:

but mainly to GET AWAY. Ha ha, just kidding. Kinda.

It's crazy how much I appreciate air travel these days. What, NO ONE can reach me? Or ask me stuff? No one needs me to take them to the bathroom or get them a drink or anything? For five and a half solid hours? And I can watch TV or watch a movie or read my book or have a nap? Heaven. Spa-like.

ANYWAY, I'm back, it was great, it was exhausting, it was exhilarating. I saw my grandparents in their new digs, I saw my sisters and my nieces and nephews, I saw lots of friends and even more family. I got my dose and it was good.

I also had my check up with the doctor this week and GUESS WHAT?! Sugar levels are... NORMAL. What!? All that pre-emptive whining for nothing. Not that I'm busting out the Jolly Rancher and maple syrup sandwiches or anything, but I'm just so relieved that I don't have to deal with all that. Yet. I'll have another test in 4 weeks or so but until then - Mama needs a BLIZZARD.

Related: I actually had a Blizzard while I was away but I ordered the new mini size. How virtuous am I, right? A MINI Rolo blizzard. It practically doesn't count! Unfortunately I then went to the Marble Slab Creamery (sluurrp, yaaarrrggg, must. eat. ice. cream. yyaarrr, mmmmm) and restraint really didn't come up in the conversation. Weird.

Also related: I ate 3 White Spot burgers in my 5 day sojourn. I got off the plane, got to my Dad's, dropped my suitcase and immediately ordered take out. True Story. I saw this while I was going through the Triple-O drive through for fix #2:

No, I didn't try it. But can you imagine? The best of both worlds. Or something.

My Marble Slab poison: Birthday Cake ice cream with fresh strawberries and pieces of white cake. Excuse me while I wipe off the keyboard now.

Hoping my OB-GYN doesn't read my blog. Hi Dr. Johnson! I was really careful about eating sugar AFTER I finished this ice cream. Really!

Stopped in to see the girls at Beauty Nail and got a manicure because hey! It's good for the morale. Plus it means I have to stop eating for a few hours while I'm there.

This is me with my little sister Jaime (R) her friend Rachel and Tara Johns, writer/director of The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom. We went to visit Jaime's writing class to talk about writing film scripts and making movies and... boobs. You have to see the movie. We had a great time, the students asked lots of great questions and Tara and I were both relieved that the high school days were safely behind us!

Speaking of sisters, I have to post this photo. In the spirit of Pioneer Woman's "keepin' it real!" you have to see what might be the DORKIEST photo of me yet. And it's almost worse because my sister Jennifer looks so completely adorable.

Even my captioning powers fail me.

She did point out that I tend to be the photogenic one so it's payback time. I bet she would revive her blog just for the pleasure of posting ALL the photos we took in this series. Oh ego, get over yourself. Just go look at our wedding pictures and remember the glory days.

Since we're on the subject, here is a self-portrait of Tara and I when we found out that the film was being extended for a second week at Tinseltown.

Oh well. We were excited.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Girl Power, Etc.

I'm still here! Really! Blah, blah, still busy (please see my last post) oh and pregnant. Which is fun and everything but this kiddo is sucking the LIFE out of me already. ALREADY. Ha ha, just kidding, baby. I can't wait until you get here (stork is dropping off, right?) and you can suck the life out of me... literally! Actually I can't wait to nuzzle your fuzzy head and nibble your teeny toes. BAYBEE FEET. NOM NOM NOM.

So in case I didn't mention it already, we had an ultrasound 2 weeks ago and yep, definitely another girl. We're relieved because we have all the stuff already although hoping desperately that this kid is a little more, um, easygoing than her big sister. There's a finite allowance of personality per family, right? Surely Liliane has used up all that Type A juice so fingers crossed that the new girl is kind of a slacker. Or at least likes to sleep and doesn't hate doing her jacket up or wearing snowpants or being buckled into her carseat. Can you tell I'm a little tired of winter?

Speaking of which, since today is actually the first day of Spring, Montréal decided to celebrate with a 10 cm wet snowstorm. Yep, it was awesome. On a related note, I have seriously stopped calculating how much money we've spent on crap-weather taxi rides to and from daycare since January. Just doing our part to keep the car-for-hire industry alive and well here! Sorry baby, hope you like hand me down EVERYTHING because Maman couldn't handle a little bit of slush.

ANYWAY. Now that I'm firmly in my second trimester, I'm waiting for that "burst of energy" I'm supposed to be getting anytime now. Hello? Anyone? The all-around queasiness is definitely gone, but oh ho ho! Surprise! It comes back with a vengeance when I'm too tired or too hungry or the wind blows the wrong way or I get a massage. Yeah, a blissful, stress-releasing, muscle-soothing maternity massage last week made me want to hurl. Sigh.

So that's what's up with me! Aren't you glad you asked? Just be glad I didn't tell you about the pelvic pain (how is it possible to HURT LIKE THAT, THERE) and how I am periodically blinded by homicidal rage towards the upstairs neighbours for, you know, walking around so loudly.

The good news is that Dairy Queen will be opening soon, I have no stretch marks (wait, that first point could be a problem) and I'm totally enjoying feeling this kiddo move around so much. I also appreciate knowing specifically what I need to buy this time around. I have my eye on the Arm's Reach co-sleeper and I'm narrowing down the stroller/car seat combo we need to get. I'm even already checking Craigslist!

I'm also completely looking forward to my upcoming trip to Vancouver in April for the Dolly opening. Which reminds me: Lower Mainland readers - consider yourselves BOOKED for the weekend of April 8th! The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom is opening at the International Village/Tinseltown theatre (downtown) on Friday April 8th and you definitely need to see it!

While we're in promo mode, if you're on Facebook, I'm sure you're already a fan of the Dolly Facebook page. Right? Are we friends or are we friends?

Speaking of Facebook, while you're there becoming a fan of our page, check out this contest that Stéphane made a video for. Click this link, watch the video (it's 30 seconds, you can do it) and hit LIKE. (Where it says "votez pour Stéphane Arbour.") He and I will be forever grateful. Or at least happy for a few minutes.

Alright, time to put this way long post out of its misery. Before winter leaves us completely (don't let the door hit your butt on the way out!), a couple of happy hivernal memories.

Back soon!