Can You Hear Me Now?

Update: It’s taking longer than I thought to organize what I need for my next post, and I refuse to post before that. Join my notify list to be among the first to know when it’s ready!

The weird dreams are not stopping. The problem is, of course, I remember them when I wake up and intend to type them out as soon as I get up, and then I don’t, and then I forget them. But MAN, there have been some funny ones. You’ll just have to trust me on that.

One that I remember a little bit of, is that Ashlee Simps0n was my new BFF and we lived in the house I used to live in 14 years ago with my buddy Pete. I was constantly defending her to people and telling them “‘Boyfriend’ was a cool song!! You can’t deny that!”

Last night, Jessica Simpson was my room mate. We lived in the half-duplex I lived in when I lived in Mississauga, ON in the late 1980’s. She moved in with me because “my divorce broke me” and she needed to start over. I found it odd that she came with a personal assistant/stylist who came by to dress her every morning and take her somewhere, but I thought it was pretty cool that Jessica Simpson was my room mate and I needed her half of the rent (because I was a financially struggling student at the time, which I have never been in my life) and never questioned it (to her face). My mom came by one day just as Jessica was leaving, and I said “did you meet my new room mate??” and she said “YES! OMG Jessica Simpson is your new room mate!!!” and we discussed it. How is it that she can be broke? She has records, movies, merchandise, etc. out there, she is on every magazine cover and newspaper, AND she has a personal assistant she is obviously paying. We decided that she must be prepping herself for her next reality show. A newly single gal making it on her own, stripped of all her money and high class life. A sort of “Simple Life” idea, but better, because Paris Hilton was not involved. The personal assistant must be helping her ease into the role. I just hoped that I would be asked to stay on as her room mate and that she would still be living with me, because “that would be cool”.

I think I have been spending a little too much time reading Perez Hilton every day (it gets addictive). All my dreams have had the top gossip-making celebrities in them lately, but you will never find a record by a Simpson family member in my collection. I’m not a fan! So what next… Britney? Britney is my next room mate. I hope she doesn’t bring her BFF Paris, or Lindsay for that matter, because that would just be too much for me. I’d crush them.

My next post is #300. Come back in the next couple days, because I have something great planned to celebrate!

Dreaming about all the treats Auntie Jessica would buy us…

I have to write about the house concert Friday night. I am just so honoured that I was a part of it.

My parents dropped me off, and a few people helped me inside… moving plants off the stairs so I could hold onto the railing and stuff. The house was enormous and beautiful. The concert was hosted by (wealthy) friends of Peter’s parents, and it was strictly their friends and family that were there. Many people over the age of 70, even 80, and a few grandkids under 10. Four generations in all, that I could see. And I had never met any of them. I was the only guest of Peter’s! I expected him to have a few other friends there, as he has some close ones in Calgary. I was shocked and flattered to be the only one he invited.

Caroline, the hostess, was a sweetheart. She gave me a big hug when I arrived and made sure I found a comfortable seat on the sofa. She brought me a glass of wine and a plate of food, which I gracefully declined (the food, not the wine!) because of my new regimen. She went back and filled a plate with raw veggies and chicken satay for me instead. She assigned her 8 year old grandson Jake to look after me, but he was too busy helping Peter to care about me hehe. Future roadie in the making.

Around 8:00 Peter started to play, and it was an amazing set. I can’t imagine a better scenario for a musician to play in than a group of people sitting quietly who came to HEAR you play. No background noise, no one talking, all eyes and ears focused on you. Considering the age range of the group, Peter chose a lot of his slower songs, many of which have incredible stories attached to them. Like the song he wrote for his sister when she got married, and the lullaby for her daughter, and the one inspired by the Laramie Project. One of my favourites is “Forgiveness”, which was inspired by the father of a man who was decapitated by Zarqawi in Iraq. You can read Peter’s story behind this song, hear the interview that inspired it and the song itself on this page. It’s really moving and thought-provoking.

There were about 25-30 people there. And you know, if I was having that many people over for any reason and was serving food, it would be paper plates, paper napkins and disposable cups all around. Not these people… the good china was out. Cloth napkins, tea cups and saucers, silver teapots, fancy wine glasses. Watching them begin clean-up afterwards, loading the dishwasher the first of many times, rinsing plates… I was feeling mighty proud of my lower-class lifestyle, because we’d be tossing everything into garbage bags and be done with it. Not as good for the environment, but better for my sanity. Heh

The food spread was amazing, by the way… everything from a huge variety of cheeses and breads, sushi, chicken satay, and quiche to apple blintzes, chocolate torte, cakes, pastries, etc. I never ate any more than the raw veggies and chicken I was served when I arrived. Go me!!

At the end of the night Peter drove me home, thank goodness, because getting a cab would be impossible. He has a GPS in his car, which has got to be the coolest thing ever. Him and Rob tuned it to the sexy British woman’s voice, so I got to hear her tell us where to go ever so elegantly. “300 metres… turn right. Keep right.” I guess it makes for some sort of female company during those long road trips, but I made sure to tell Peter “she may sound sexy, but you know she’s 400 pounds of white trash talking to you from her trailer with a baby hanging off each nipple and a boyfriend passed out in the other room.”

Oh yes, and Peter had written a brand new song that day, and made a quick recording of it. He played it during his set, and it almost made me cry too because I know exactly what/who it is about. He played the recording for me in the car, and then gave me the CD. “Here, you can have the very first recording of this song”. I can’t say anything more about it because there are other people involved and it is a surprise and they might read this so shhhhhh.

There was a bag of rice cakes in the back of the car, left behind by Rob during their road trip together. Peter gave them to me. I called Rob the next day to tell him how well I handled facing all that food the night before, so he could praise me and tell me how proud he is of me. When I told Rob that Peter gave me his bag of rice cakes, he laughed and said “it’s like passing the torch”. Hehe

I purposely wanted the beginning of this week to be a quiet one, because I figured I’d be suffering from major sugar withdrawals and not want to get out of bed. I’m not sure if I’m suffering sugar withdrawals, but I have been spending a lot of time in bed! Because outside is SNOW and COLD and bed is the best place on earth.

On Tuesday my brother came over and we took our weekly trek over to the mall for my bottled water and we also went to air up my scooter tires. I believe there was also vacuuming involved and garbage taking-outing. His weekly help is of huge benefit to me, I don’t know what I’ll do when he starts working full-time again! This time dinner in the food court was my old staple, Edo Japan, Hawaiian Chicken, no rice, extra veggies, no extra sauce. There are only about 3 places I can get food from in the food court now, and that is one of them. No more A&W onion rings waaaah!!!

Yesterday I worked at the Pub. When I arrived, I went in the front door instead of my usual back door, because of all the snow. I’m glad I did, because my old buddy Pete spotted me as he was driving by, and decided to stop in. What a surprise that was!! I’ve mentioned Pete before…

Yes, that Pete. My old room mate I’ve known about 14 years, who is also a musician and plays in a couple local bands. Anyway, when he walked in, I immediately dropped all plans of going upstairs to work right away and settled in with a coffee. Pete got a pot of tea and we sat there and yakked and caught up on life for over an hour. I told Kevin I would take work home with me, because this opportunity to see Pete took precedence over doing the work there.

Anyway, I did eventually get upstairs and worked for awhile, but they need a new computer mouse badly so out of frustration I shut down and bagged up work to take home. There is nothing more aggravating than trying to get the curser to go where you want it to and it won’t listen. After swearing and “AGGGHHHH!!!!!”-ing for an hour I decided it’s best I go down for lunch and save myself the stress.

There is only one thing I can eat on their menu now (besides garden salad… blah) and that is the pork stir fry on rice. I ordered it, but will ask for chicken from now on instead. I’ve totally lost my taste for pork. I still love crispy bacon, but every other variety of pork I’ve tried to eat in the past year has kind of grossed me out. Maybe it’s because AH told me why Muslims don’t eat pork and that’s always in the back of my mind? I dunno. But it won’t keep me from bacon. Extra crisp.

Tonight, I get to go see the other Peter in my life, Peter Katz, at a private house concert. That’s going to be so great… I love house concerts and the fact Peter made sure I could come to this one means so much to me. Oh, by the way, Peter updated his tour blog for this Western tour and there is a picture of us with Rob in there. (There are LOTS of great pictures of him and Rob in there). I actually put the pictures in the entry I wrote the weekend they were here, (cropped to my liking hehe) but for those regular readers who don’t scroll to previous entries again, here is my favourite picture:

Me and Peter Katz

I haven’t looked that good in a picture for awhile, so I’m milking it everywhere.

So yeah, this is a busy couple days. My folks are taking us all to the Chiropractor soon, then they’ll drop me off at the house concert. Then tomorrow night I have a company Christmas dinner with one of my clients and all the staff/spouses. I think the new girl is single too… so this year I may not be the only one wihout a date!

I better go make myself some steel cut oats to tide me over because we won’t have time to eat before dropping me at Peter’s show. And for the record? Steel cut oats (well, maybe any oats except instant, but “steel cut” sounds special) are FILLING.

No matter how big they get, they still insist they fit in this thing together.

Hee! Don’t you wish you could be that content.

You would not see a music video like this in North America. Not enough Paris Hilton-like women in here! I think this is one of the sexiest, hottest (and fun) videos I’ve ever seen!

Stolen from Big Fat Deal and contains material that may not be suitable for all ages or viewing audiences. Specifically those with judgements about a woman’s size.

Enjoy.

Mmmm I smell like vanilla candy. I love Rock Star soap. (Oh, geez… I went over to Lush to get that link and then I end up staying over there forever, finding more things I want!)

I have been having strange dreams lately. One of them involved Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, AND Johnny Depp all being over to watch a hockey game. We were in the house I grew up in, and I remember Angelina asking me to make her a toasted bacon and tomato sandwich (”just half of one”) and to serve it on a plate with little pastries. I had chips and salsa out for everyone (there were lots of people) and the salsa dish I gave Brangelina was too deep (like a jam jar, you can’t get a chip into that) so I was digging through the cupboards looking for a better one while trying not to overfry the bacon, and find the “perfect” pastries from the stash in the fridge. Angelina was laughing at me because I was falling over myself trying to be the perfect hostess and she commented to Brad that I would make a great personal assistant to them. I remember thinking “not on your life!” Then people started breaking into the house that were out to kidnap Angelina for some reason (it had to do with her good work over in all those third world countries though, obviously they don’t appreciate it) so the focus turned to hiding Brangelina and everyone was running all over what was now this huge mansion of a house, looking for places to hide. Oh, and Johnny Depp? He just appeared to do a little dance before the hockey game started, then took his seat. Seriously. A stupid little dance in the middle of the living room.

Hm.

I’m not doing any of my usual Christmas baking this year. I just don’t want to be around it, and there is NO WAY I can bake without “testing” some. Sorry, fans of My Infamous Shortbread™ Cookies. There won’t be any this year… I don’t think rice flour and vegan butter-like product would cut it.

You know what I hate? When you’re having a discussion with someone about a certain topic, and that person wasn’t listening or getting what you were saying, and starts stressing a different view that’s not exactly related to the point you were making in the first place, and a little argument begins, and you say “I’m not arguing about this.” And they say, “I’m not arguing!” and keep going. You say, “can we just drop this, please?” and they say, yeah, fine, and then keep going. You sigh a deep sigh, and say “I said I don’t want to argue about it.” “I’m not arguing, blah blah blah I’m right, blah blah blah.” “Can we JUST DROP IT NOW, please, I’m not doing this.” “Yeah, it’s not worth arguing about. But, blah blah blah I’m right blah blah blah.” SHUT. IT. I don’t need you to send me a fucking link.

Ahhhh, day three of my new food plan. I’ll know it’s become a lifestyle habit when I stop counting how many days I’ve been doing it, and talking about it in here. So far, so good. My nose has stopped running and the sniffles are gone as of today, but I’m still feeling stiff and sore. It’s all a part of sugar withdrawal, it’s a bloody drug. I’ve got another delivery from the organic whole foods place this week, because, apparently, fresh vegetables don’t last two weeks. I’m even getting some Indian food this time… spinach & mustard greens and chickpeas with potato & onion. They’re in cans, so, you know, that’s my kind of meal preparation. And a jar of their mayonnaise, because what I’ve got in my fridge contains sugar. Just skimming this list is enough to keep me off the stuff and get excited about my sugar-free future health. I’ve got to be carefel though, ’cause sugar is everywhere.

So yesterday was my first day without wheat, dairy or sugar, and all I can say is it’s going to be a rough few days. Not because it’s so hard (yet?) or anything, but because I woke up with a stuffed nose from hell, leg spasms from hell, I’m stiff and tired and just want to stay in bed until the sugar withdrawals are OVER. My body is in shock and it’s going to take a few days for it to get used to the fact it ain’t getting any more crap, and to get the junk that’s still in there out of me (via my nose, apparently).

Warning: a feminine health issue talk follows. Men may want to skip this part.

I spent most of yesterday in the waiting room of a walk-in medical clinic. I woke up with a yeast infection on Thursday, so I went and bought Monistat, hoping it would help. All it did was turn it into a bladder infection/UTI by Friday. I called my chiropractor to see if he thought I should see a regular doctor and get on antibiotics, or if he had something that would get rid of it. I was seeing him Saturday, anyway. He suggested because of my “special” circumstances I get on antibiotics because they fight it faster, but he’ll also give me stuff to help and prevent future ones. (UTI’s are a common MS symptom of which I’ve luckily only had a couple before). I had to wait around all day Friday for my grocery delivery, so I couldn’t go to a clinic and my own doctor was away. My groceries didn’t arrive until 4:00 and since I was going to a friend’s for dinner, I didn’t have time to get to a clinic.

So on Saturday we went to my chiropractor first, and when I told him about the Monistat he gave me shit. “See, you just had a yeast infection, which you can totally get rid of naturally. You just needed to increase your Exspore (a supplement I have). But because you went to something chemical, you turned it into something that now has to be treated chemically!” Oops.

So after a bit of shopping at the small bakery/health food store nearby and going for lunch, we eventually ended up at the walk-in clinic. My mom sat and waited with me for two hours. I was smart though and told them when I got there that “I have a bladder infection and he’s going to ask me to pee in a cup, and since I need to pee now, can I just get the cup?” So that speeded things up because by the time I saw the doctor my results were in. All he did was write me a prescription because there was no doubt “you have a nasty infection”.

So hopefully all will be cleared up in a few days. I have to remember to take my probiotics when I’m on antibiotics too. Can’t upset the balance!

End feminine health issue talk

Anyway, I’m glad yesterday is over, it was a very long day and I was in bed by 10:00. Woooo hoooo Saturday night!!

Friday evening was much better. I went to my friend Carolyn’s for dinner, the one I have known since 6th grade and had lunch with last month. I haven’t seen her husband in years either, and he looked exactly the same! He hasn’t aged a day. He credits being married to Carolyn They’re so cute together. A really great family… they have two boys that are 8 and 11 and so freakin’ gorgeous. And funny. And polite. They’ve done good! My mom and Bob dropped me off because they were coming into Calgary for a party anyway, so it worked out well. I don’t think they have seen Carolyn in about 20 years, so it was great for them.

After nibbling on crackers and cheese (Carolyn knew it was my last chance to eat that kind of stuff, and had a huge variety of cheese laying out! Yum) we went to the computer to look over the photos from her high school reunion party so she could tell me who everyone was. Once she said the names, I was all “right! Of course!”, yet when I looked at them alone I could barely figure out who anyone was. Everyone really looks great!

Carolyn made a hearty and delicious tortellini soup for supper (with baguette and salad). I brought the wine, and it was a really good choice. Thanks to Bob, because he went into the liquor store for me and when they didn’t have what I wanted, he made an executive decision. And I will definitely be buying Pelee Island Cabernet again. Dinner was followed by coffee, Creme Brulee and lots of good conversation. I really hope we can all get together and do that again sometime… hopefully I’ll be in better health when we do! I needed help getting in their house and stuck to the main level because I’m not up for stairs right now. Frank even had to help me get up from a chair a couple times and stuff like that. I’m just in the worst shape of my life and it sucks.

Carolyn was a sweetie and drove me home. She helped me inside and I gave her a copy of Rob Szabo’s CD because it’s a must have, and judging by the music playing in their house that night they have good taste. Remind me I owe Rob $15 because I took it from my “promo” stash. Or just keep it between you and me

Pepper is laughing at you. You know what you did.

“Yes, I do know how pretty I am. Thanks for noticing.”

I would be if my credit cards would let me. Hopefully they can hold out a week or so for my $20!

Wooo I’m tired. So yesterday went down like this… I finished tidying up and took out the garbage and had just sat down to relax when AH called, wanting to come by. Good timing, because my apartment was neat, orderly and uncluttered, bed made and everything. A surprise visitor popping in would think I always live that way. HAHA Anyway, AH came over with 512 extra mb of ram for my computer! I only had two 128’s in there, and AH has been saying for awhile he is going to “buy me more memory for my computer” but it’s not like I took him seriously. So this, ladies and gentlemen, was a very nice surprise. It’s actually made a difference in the speed, but I still need a whole lotta upgrading to be truly happy with this thing. It doesn’t take long for the latest-and-greatest to become outdated, and I’ve had mine for quite a few years now.

After AH left, I called Rob to see if him and Peter were in or almost in Calgary yet. They were “about an hour away, and we would love it if you would join us for dinner”. Ohhhh, twist my arm. So I finished getting ready and called a cab to take me to the restaurant/bar they were playing at, and they arrived shortly after me. It was very noisy and lively in there so I didn’t hear my cell phone ring when Kim called to say she wasn’t going to be able to make it because she’s sick from this bug she’s been trying to fight. So, you know, it was just me and a couple cute musicians. Have I ever mentioned before how often I find myself in these situations?? Hee!

Dinner was good. Rob, my inspiration, mentor and number one supporter of my soon-to-be-incorporated new eating plan, had salmon, rice and veggies. Peter said Rob is the healthiest person he has ever met… every morning with the pineapple and fresh lemon juice, remembers to take all his vitamins and supplements at each meal, stretches every morning, and doesn’t put anything harmful into his nbody. No caffeine, wheat, dairy, sugar in any form except pure maple syrup or honey, sugar substitutes, soy products, MSG, any kind of chemical… I’m not going QUITE that far at this point. But Rob follows the perfect MS Diet even better than Ashton Embry would expect of us, but could only hope we would do, and he doesn’t even have MS. Or any health disorder whatsoever. I can’t imagine why.

So the three of us had a good conversation about food and health and eating and the bottom line is, they both want me to call them any time I need support or feel like I’m about to cave in and eat chocolate! I’m officially starting the no wheat/dairy/sugar thing on Saturday. That gives me the week to empty out my cupboards and eat some/toss some/give some to my brother and on Friday I’m receiving a grocery delivery from Spud, all organic and stuff. I Found some bread I can eat that isn’t that gross brown rice bread (been there/done that, would rather just go without a sandwich!) and a few other things I’m going to try out and pray I like. Friday night I’ve got dinner at a friend’s, so I’m not about to tell her “as of today I can’t eat…” so I’m starting Saturday. The BIG day. Wish me luck!

This decision came about because I feel like crap. I did not bounce back after my summer in hospitals and my gallbladder surgery. My mobility is seriously compromised like never before, I’ve only gone out with just my cane a couple times, I mostly need my walker. My balance is horrid, I’m slow and weak, I’m numb and tingly all over the place, and emotionally I’m a wreck about it all, too. I guess you could say I’ve hit rock bottom and had enough. Someone like Rob coming into my life really helps, because he’s the first “real” person I know that eats this way, and he also lives on the road and eats out a lot and has a lifestyle that doesn’t make it particularly easy to follow. Yet he manages just fine. I have a standing offer with him to PLEASE MOVE IN FOR THREE MONTHS to help me get into the swing of things, but he just keeps laughing at me when I say that. Hmph.

Anyway, yeah. So that’s the plan, and I really need to do it. What you put into your body has everything to do with what you get out of it. I believe that, and I’ve certainly been getting out of my body what I’ve been putting into it over the years… total crap.

Okay, so enough about that. The show was awesome, Rob played first and his set was too short for me as always. As soon as he got off the stage my friend Michelle arrived, having just been out for a dinner with friends that ran later than she thought it would. She has seen Rob before though, so at least she got to see Peter! Who was fabulous. And dedicated his song “Posters” to me again (LOVE IT!) after announcing that I was the most wonderful woman in the room (because I got them the gig). (And because I was).

Rob, me and Peter

Me and Peter. I love this picture, I look so young!!

They were all done by 11:15 but it was about 1:30 a.m. before we left, with tear down and them gabbing with new and old fans alike. Peter was taking the car and staying at his friend’s place, so Rob and I took a cab back here. After yakking for a bit (mostly about food… “what do you order when you go for Chinese food?” “I don’t really eat Chinese food, because of the MSG”. “But what about after a gig, at 2:00 a.m., when everyone is like, ‘let’s go grab some Chinese food!’” “I manipulte the situation so that I get my own way”. Ahahaha) and playing with the kitties, it was off to bed at about 3:00 a.m. Alarms were set for 7:45 a.m. because the guys had a long drive up to Grande Prairie today. Ewwwww

I woke up a few minutes before my alarm went off anyway, so I got up and saw that Rob was up already too. He took a shower and I heard my mountain o’ body wash bottles fall into the tub. “I think I fell asleep twice while in the shower”. By 9:00 a.m. Peter was on his way to pick Rob up and it was buh-bye rock stars. *Hugs*. I love those guys (Peter is actually here again in a couple weeks, on his way back East!) and Rob is my personal hero. “What would Rob do?” will be my new motto when looking at a menu, grocery shopping, or making any sort of food-related decision. And then I’ll call him just to make sure. (Poor guy may regret offering up his support!)

After they left I went back to bed for two hours before going to the mall and buying my soy latte with sugar-free vanilla… No wheat, dairy or sugar in that, so I’m going to allow it until I feel guilty about drinking chemical sugar substitutes.