Owner: Temporary? Insanity URL:http://kymburleev.blogspot.com Join Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:41:44 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: I'm a dabbler. A little of this, a little of that. Not extraordinary in any way except for the fact that I'm humble enough to realize it, honest enough to admit it, and egomaniacal enough to hope that despite it you'll all adore me. Go on. You know you wa Site statistics:Click here
A Decade of Dave - Part Three 2007-09-09 15:20:00 Part One and TwoI threw away the letters. The photos. The especially sweet emails I’d printed out. I kept the books though. No amount of heartbreak could make me give up the books. It turns out though, that I gave up hope a wee bit too soon…To be Continued…...and also, as it happened, a wee bit too late.I remember the moment so clearly. I was sitting in front of my roommate's IKEA desk unit, tip-tapping away on her iMac. It was February, and the windows in our ground level basement suite were frosted over with the delicate fern like patterns that so often would absorb my attention. I was bundled up in the afghan my mum had made me, and checking my email.As the page loaded on the screen, I saw his name, highlighted in bold print. David Cobb. It had been so long. I'd sent so many emails with varying themes in attempts to catch his attention and now, unsolicited, over a year later, he was finally responding.The shock settled into my chest, tightening it in a way that ma Read more:Three
I'm an Idiot - Embarrassing Moment #3 2007-09-08 01:06:00 And no, I'm not just saying that so I can enjoy a proliferation of comments detailing out the numerous ways in which I'm not one. Seriously, folks, I've had my embarrassing moments, but this one is a doozy.Neil has a conference down in Las Vegas to attend, where he gets to schmooze around whilst learning funky eye stuff (I do know the technical terms, I'm just kind enough not to hurt your brain with them). He invited me along (wheeee), and I've had a great deal of fun playing around with different travel websites and exploring our options. Two weeks ago I booked everything. Two weeks after that (i.e. yesterday) I suffered a major panic attack.My passport expires at the end of September. Our trip? First week of October. Time it takes to get a new one through the mail? Oh...about a month or so. Unless you take your paperwork into the passport office in person. Then it's about half that. Closest passport office? Five hours South. In Vancouver. Where my parents live. W Read more:Embarrassing
, Moment
I'm Off! 2007-10-02 22:32:00 Into the wild blue yonder and all that. I'm quite happy that my visit to the doctor on Monday went so well. I've been assured that, no, my eardrum will not rupture in mid-air.However, he quite candidly told me that it would probably hurt like heck. Since I don't want to start my second honeymoon off with a lot of whingeing and whining, I've decided in advance to bear the pain as stoically as possible. With, of course, an intensely pained expression the whole while so I receive the appropriate level of sympathy.I'll be carrying a small notebook in my purse and taking feverish notes so I can delight you with my quirky observations once I return. Yes, there has been mention made of bringing Neil's laptop with us. However, shopping, swimming, and buffets have also been mentioned, so I wouldn't count on hearing from me this next week.That said, please please please, pretty please don't leave me? I know I carry myself off with a certain amount of aplomb sometimes (ha!), but really, I
A Good Mother 2007-10-02 00:23:00 Feeds her children Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches even though she remembers the mess from the last time.Doesn’t wipe away the slobber from her children’s loving kisses until they’re looking the other way.Apologizes after she yells. Yes, even good mothers yell.Reads the favourite bedtime story again, and again, and again.Did I mention “again”?Scrubs the crayon off her wall with a wry smile and the hope that this is a sign of her child’s burgeoning creativity.Takes the comment that her bald, chubby cheeked, drooling baby looks exactly like her, with a good grace.Lovingly comforts a child who injured themself by doing exactly what she told them not to.Misses her child's younger self, enjoys her child's current self, and looks forward with eager anticipation to meeting her child's future self. Except on the bad days when it's best not to ask about such things.Makes attempts to regain her sanity as often as she is able.Does not run away screaming. Too often.Finds joy in
Coming Soon to an Airport Near You! 2007-09-30 23:24:00 Yep. Once again I'm winging off into the wild blue yonder. I haven't talked about it much as 1) it hasn't sunk in and 2) I don't want you to think I'm bragging.And then it sunk in. And then I remembered that bragging is one of my favouritest things to do. So if you're the embittered and vengeful type, please stop reading now. I'm not mentally stable enough for hate mail yet. Oooo...look! I said "yet"! Apparently people, there's hope for me.So a few months ago Neil mentions that there's an Optometry conference going on in Las Vegas in October. He mentioned this while I was writing a blog post, so the amount of attention I was able to spare him was minimal.Neil: So, do you think we should go?Me: (clickety-clackity-pause-clickety-clackety) Heck no. (clickety-clackity-click)Neil: (a little put out by this rebuff) I thought you'd like the idea.Me: (more clicking and a wee bit more clacking) Like the idea of traveling with two toddlers and either squeezing into a one room hotel roo Read more:Coming Soon
Honeys! I'm home! 2007-09-29 22:33:00 I'm back from my trip and am feeling just the weest bit overwhelmed by how far behind I am. And yet, I've this crazy urge to spend time with my husband rather than play on the computer all night.Yeah, I'm worried about me too.Just a quick note to send love to you all, and especially thanks for the fabulous comments that have been buoying me up lately. I think I'll be taking Elastic's advice and work blogging into my book somehow. The idea's been bobbing around in my head for awhile now, along with another that I think I can tie it in with. She was just the kick in the cranium I needed to get into gear. Thanks babe!Till tomorrow!
Orchard Boy - Part Two 2007-09-29 07:35:00 For previous Soap Opera Sunday posts, click here.Now back in his single days, Neil was a pretty smooth operator. Before I was quite sure what was happening, I'd been ushered into the orchard. Yet, even though I was caught up in a severe case of social awkwardness, I managed to spare some attention for sight.The play of light through the canopy of the fruit trees surrounding us was almost mesmerizing. Here a shadow, there a rapidly shifting patch of sun. All with that muted green glow of backlit leaves. Fall was settling in slowly there, a gradual encroachment rather than the rapid rush I was used to back home. For the most part we were enveloped in cool greenness, but our feet, carefully placed to avoid the slimy squish of fallen fruit, kicked up showers of yellow and brown.It’s lucky for Neil I was a little smitten with him by that time, or he would have had a harm time catching my attention.I managed to ask questions about the orchard and what sort of work he’d done there in the Read more:Orchard
, Part Two
Slipped My Mind 2007-10-13 16:13:00 But we're out of town this weekend. And since it slipped my mind until a few hours before we had to leave, it's been a panicked, stressful trip. That on top of being miserable sick and ~coughcoughperiodcoughcough~ and being dumped by someone I counted among my closest friends and I'm about as close to absolutely miserable as I get.I will attempt to gather together the broken shards of my sense of humour so that I can delight you with a laugh worthy version of events upon my return tomorrow night.In the meantime, please be forgiving of the unanswered emails, comments, and all your blog posts I've yet to enjoy.Much love,Kim
Beating the Block 2007-10-12 12:12:00 I've found an interesting new way to combat writer's block. Simply pretend you don't have anything to write and play with pictures and icons instead. It's remarkably freeing. Unproductive, but freeing.
Bad Sentence Contest Entry 2007-10-11 22:00:00 The inestimable Dapoppins is sponsoring a Bad SentenceContest
. Since I figured I'm more than qualified to participate, I threw together a sentence of, I hope, monumentally horrible proportions. And no, it's not that one I just wrote, it's this;She stared at the clock, tick-tock went the clock, she spat at the clock,tick-tock went the clock, she laughed at the clock, tick-tock went the clock,she screamed at the clock, tick-tock went the clock, she made snide derisiveremarks at the clock in an attempt to humiliate and debase it, grinning adisturbing grin all the while and drooling out of the left side of her mouth;tick-tock went the clock, "Stupid clock" she said. Read more:Entry
I Got Nuthin' 2007-10-11 16:32:00 I'm feeling a little green. Ah ha ha.Seriously folks. I'm sick. I am, of course, referring to my level of physical health, not my perversion level. Though often that worries me as well.So I've got nuthin'. Just a half dozen post ideas banging around in my skull and no way to get them out.Maybe that explains the headache.I'm going to go lie down for a few days awhile.
She Ruined My Day! 2007-10-10 11:04:00 I was all set to have a rotten day today. Last night my mind was churning with cranky thoughts. The friend I'd had a spat with. How I'd eaten too much fudge before bed. The way the lights on the oil heater in our bedroom flicker flashed in sporadic bursts of green and orange.I'd even half written a post in my head, full of whinging, whining, and self-pity. I drifted off to sleep, feeling a great deal more pathetic than usual. I had a restless sleep, and awoke groggy and grumpy, fully prepared to put my grouchy plans into action.And then it happened. As I snuggled with my cold ridden, stuffy nosed girls, and mumbled sleepy Love Yous to them, Becca turned to me and said in her sweetly sing-song voice, "Love you!"I was shocked, and turned to Neil for confirmation that I'd heard right. He nodded, bleary eyed, with a faint grin. You see, this was a first. A bit surprising considering Becca is twenty months old, and has a fairly extensive vocabularly for her age. But in the past, wheneve
Hexagons Rock 2007-10-09 13:53:00 From the label of a bottle of water:"Ed Hardy Structured Water is designed using a proprietary state of the art quantum physics technology. Our structured living water is treated with reverse osmosis for maximum purity as well as infra-red stimulation and electromagnetism to create the best positively charged hexagonally shaped "structrued water" ever. The absorption rate of hexagonally structured water molecules is as much as four times more efficient than water that is not structured, which enables you to drink less water while achieving hydration faster and more efficiently. This water is natural alkalized calcium living water."I feel healthier already.And since I'm obviously not feeling especially creative today, visit someone who is. He's the son of the inestimable Julie Q., and he's at least as brilliant as she is. At least.
More Pictures 2007-10-08 22:30:00 The following pictures don't fit the storyline of my last post, and yet they've captivated my imagination enough that I feel to share them with you.These were taken in the conservatory at The Bellagio. Read more:Pictures
Sin City 2007-10-08 15:02:00 My first night in Vegas was a little tearful. And I don’t meant in that choked up with happiness/excitement sort of way. The hotel room? Not what I expected.Now, in order for you to hear my pathetic tale without thinking I’m a complete lunatic (though opinions on this matter may vary), you have to know some of the back story. I’ll keep it short though, beacuse I happen to think it borders on cruel to introduce a story, leave it hanging, and veer off and tell another story instead. (The fact that I’m doing so anyway may give you greater insight into my character than I might like)So. Right quick. Wedding night, May 10th, 2001. A luxurious hotel room at The Westin in Vancouver. Our favourite thing about the room? The luxurious two person bathtub. Several years, months, and days later, a travel website that offers fabulous deals on hotel rooms. The catch? That you don’t find out the hotel name until after you book. Can you see where this is going? Yep. We were going to be stayin Read more:Sin City
Orchard Boy - The Saga Continues 2007-10-06 01:14:00 For previous Soap Opera Sunday posts, click here.It’s kind of funny the way memory works. There’s so little rhyme or reason to it. I’ve often wished I could reach into my head and rewire things. Really, it could be so much better organized in there. I have these incredibly vivid memories, startling in the richness of their detail, that have absolutely no relevance to my life whatsoever. Zilch.I’m not certain what happened after Neil’s interest in kissing me was rewarded with an answer of “Not yet.” I don’t remember the look on his face. Though that may be because I was to embarrassed to look at it. I don’t remember what his immediate response was.Somehow, we ended up sitting next together under an apple tree. There was no rustle of leaves, because they were freshly fallen, still suffused with a life slowly ebbing away from them. It was dusk, and the sun no longer pierced through the boughs above us. Dark seemed to be falling so very quickly. I’d lost an hour or two Read more:Orchard
NaNoWriMo 2007-10-18 11:28:00 So I've been meaning to write a book since I was, oh I don't know, seven or so. Always with the excuses though. First it was not understanding basic sentence structure, then puberty, then self-doubt, then marriage and the myriad of distractions that come with.In the meantime? People were stealing my ideas. Yup. Pretty shocking, eh? My brilliant idea of writing a Choose Your Own Adventure style book for an adult audience? Something fabulously thought provoking and inspiring? Stolen. Multiple times even. Although some authors' interpretation of "adult" differed from mine. Ahem.So I signed up for NaNoWriMo
. No people, I'm not making this up. That's what it's called.Not only am I going to write my first book, I'm going to do so in a month. However, I'm also going to join the NaNoBloMo movement. Which consists of blogging every single day for a month. I figure I can pull this off because there's nothing to say the daily blog posts have a minimum word requirement. I figure two word
A Definition 2007-10-17 22:27:00 Relief: The feeling you feel when you realize the reason your jeans are suddenly too tight is because you dried them on the high heat setting. Phew! The chocolate cake had nothing to do with it! Read more:Definition
Weightloss Wednesday 2007-10-17 00:31:00 So I was supposed to be on my way to bed but I was overwhelmed by the sudden urge to do something about my weight. Given that I've already drunk a litre of water in the past hour, and that there's no way I'm going to start excercising for the first time in months at 10:30pm, blogging was really my only option. Right?I've been wanting to grab a little of the Weightloss Wednesday
action for awhile now. Mostly because I love alliteration that much. Also because I want to figure out how to make those Mr. Linky things work (I feel so "cool" now). And yes, motivation to lose a few more pounds would be a nice bonus.So here's the scoop. If you take a peek at my sidebar you'll see my weight loss stats. Yep. Battle of the bulge alright. In January 2006 I was 230 pounds. I'm now 184 pounds. I want to be 160 pounds. Although, once upon a time, I was 135 pounds. That involved me being seriously sick in a myriad of ways though, so I'm not aiming for that. I'm looking for 160 or size 8, whi
In the Spotlight 2007-10-16 16:31:00 Read this. You'll be glad you did.Unless you're wearing heavy eye makeup, then maybe, not so much. In the Still of the Night Read more:Spotlight
Thank You! 2007-10-16 10:49:00 ~Update~ All is well. All is well. We had a really, really good talk. Apologies made on both sides. Forgiveness given. I'm exhausted, but happy.Thank
you all so much for the outpouring of love and support over "Recent Happenings." I've put the post back into draft mode (keeping all your lovely comments), in hopes of being mature enough to patch things up with my friend. Neil went and visited her last night. I had thought it strange when he offered to pop into town and do the grocery shopping, but I put it down to him wanting to escape his miserable wife (and I couldn't blame him!). He talked it out with her, then came home and talked it out with me. Neil the mediator.She's willing to talk now. Neil has a way of cutting through the extraneous stuff to the core of things, and I guess he succeeded.I'm scared to talk to her, because I'm worried my hurt feelings will overwhelm my better judgement. Juvenile behaviour has predominated thus far, and I'd really like to shake
Orchard Boy 2007-10-14 21:15:00 For previous Soap Opera Sunday posts, click here.When we stepped outside, I saw him immediately, standing on the edge of the fray, very, very obviously waiting for me. It was a heady sensation. We danced. Together. In a group. Together again. I don’t know what music was playing, or how many dances we danced before he took me aside.“I have something to show you...,” he whispered.I'll admit to being a bit hesitant at this point. Once the excitement of doing something I'd never done or even dreamed of doing had died down, I was left feeling a little ashamed. As prudish as it sounds, I felt like a hussy!What I neglected to realize of course is that hussies don't blush, and I'd spent so much of that night doing so that my cheeks literally ached.He took me by the hand and lead me away from the crowded thrum-thrum-thrumming of the dance. The music faded as we walked, and the quietude of the late summer evening descended upon us like a gift. He lead me to a small hill overlooking Read more:Orchard
Guess what? 2007-10-22 18:44:00 And that's all I have to say for the moment. Because yes, it's been that sort of day. Not a sad day. Not a happy day. Not a scream at the ceiling in frustration while resisting the insidious urge to punch one's fist through the wall day(What? Don't you have those kind of days?). It's just been a dull, lifeless, my butt hurts from sitting in front of the computer but not doing anything worthwhile kind of days.That lesson on happiness? Apparently it's going to take awhile to sink in. Read more:Guess
Orchard Boy 2007-10-21 21:15:00 For previous Soap Opera Sunday posts, click here.Soon though, I wasn't thinking about the stars. And not just because he'd swept me up in his arms again. I was completely overwhelmed by my attempt to panic and kiss at the same time. I had forgotten his name. Fortunately when we joined the crowd later on (about an hour later?), a gal who obviously knew him well bounded up, shouting "Neil! What's up?", pointedly taking notice of our melded hands. I was a bit flustered trying to take in her arched eyebrows while simultaneously attempting to form a new neural pathway (labelled Neil) through sheer force of will.He introduced me to his friend Julie, who pointedly asked if I was his girlfriend. Now, I may have been the shy, socially challenged type, but her tone of voice and body language simply radiated annoyance. An outsider? Nabbing the hottest bachelor in the area? She was not impressed. His response placated her somewhat though."Not sure yet," he replied casually, with a smile and a Read more:Orchard
Chicken 2007-10-21 10:57:00 That's what I am alright. I couldn't face the idea of singing solo this morning, so I'm postponing the event. Possibly till Christmas. Frankly, if I'm going to humiliate myself I'm going to do so having given it my all. And as I'm still recovering from the sinus infection/inner ear fluid combo? Yup. Not quite up to it. I'm going to go crawl back into my shell now. If you don't hear from me again it probably means the Chorister has had her revenge upon my flaky self.On the plus side? I have an idea for my novel. It involves two ten year old girls, a public toilet, and a key made out of cheese (makes it easier to swallow if the mission is compromised). You see, I figure if it can't be good, at least it can be absurd.Cheers! Read more:Chicken
I Like Being Happy 2007-10-19 23:33:00 Who knew?I was scrubbing down the dining room table after dinner tonight, and suddenly realized I was singing while I did so. I may even, just possibly, have been shaking my hips a bit. My cheeks felt a little odd too, kind of tight and strained.Good grief, I was smiling as well.I've decided this bears further investigation. I shall make a full report after the weekend. A weekend which includes 1) A playdate 2) a party and 3) me singing a solo at church.Yup. The suspense is killing me too. Read more:Happy
Trying My Best 2007-10-19 12:24:00 So I'm an idiot. If you're one of my more ardent fans, you'd best not read this post. I don't want to be responsible for toppling myself off the proverbial pedestal, but some things just cry out to be confessed.My form of idiocy is of the unapplied knowledge variety (please don't point out the other forms currently applicable - seriously can't handle that). Specifically the fact that I know how to be happy and am inactively choosing not to be. For the skeptics among you, here are just a few examples.1) I love music. I like to blare it while I do the housework, dancing and grooving around the house. Sometimes though? I'll go days and days without a single note being played. The stereo quickly gathers dust, and I'm left feeling vaguely discontented, unsure as to why. And then I remember, and I groove it up again (I'm chair dancing even as I type), and then I forget to turn on the stereo again.2) Playing the piano and singing makes me almost unbearably happy. I haven't played th
Harry Who? 2007-10-27 17:38:00 Last night, I closed the cover of this book (The Hound of Rowan), let out a satisfied sigh, and squirmed with delight. Neil was tip-tapping away on his laptop, and let out a sigh of his own. He knew what my sigh meant. It meant I was about to talk his ear off. Fortunately for him I knew what his sigh meant, so I merely grinned and wandered away, keeping the deliciousness of my recent experience to myself.Well, mostly to myself. My wandering lead me downstairs to the computer and, being the nosy sort I am, I promptly looked up the author who'd so thoroughly captivated my imagination.Henry H. Neff. I read through a blurb or two, and then caught sight of a date which, in all honesty, sent a ripple of dismay through me. 2007. The book had been published in 2007. Now, I didn't faint or anything but I did get awfully upset. Normally I start a series after it's been completed.Patience and me? We get along much the same way a lemur and a killer whale would.Not only am I not the patient type Read more:Harry
This I Choose 2007-10-26 12:19:00 It begins. The tightening of the chest. The sudden rapidity of a heartbeat that before had gone unnoticed. Becca is clutching at my legs, burying her face between them, sweetly smearing snot on the dark denim. Emma is running in large looping circles around the living room, screaming at a happy high pitch. The dishwasher thrums away, there is the rustle of a slowly building windstorm outside, and some unidentified toy plays a merry tune as a counterpoint to Emma’s yells.Yet there is nothing in the background. All is foreground, a welter of sounds bearing down on me. Audio overload. I want to weep but I’m afraid one more sound will break me.Emma skids to a halt at my feet, clutching at my legs, squirming in next to Becca, inadvertently pinching. I wince and choke back a scolding. She is snuggling her head into my lap. She looks up at me, her darkly brown eyes glittering with energetic affection.“I love you Mommy!,” she shouts.I wince, wanting to clutch at my head. My pounding he
The Hair Factor 2007-10-25 11:37:00 Over the course of the last few years my hair has undergone a miraculous change. It used to have this amazing knack for being greasy and frizzy at the same time. I'd often eye it in the mirror, malevolent glare in place, certain it was defying all sorts of natural laws just to torment me.Just last night I prepared to fix my hair with a similar glare, only to discover that it was looking, well, almost nice. And I realized that it has been for quite some time now.Since I've been feeling down about my weight being up this week, my thoughts naturally turned to the Fat Girls Have Gorgeous Hair theorem. There does seem to be a correlation between my weight climbing and the lustrousness of my hair increasing.So I wonder if there really is a connection, and if so, what is it? Does hair need a certain caloric intake in order to be shiny and lustrous? Does it have to do with body fat percentage? Fat's shiny, right? Or is it a cosmic thing? A balancing of the scales? Okay, Kim, you're going t
Recommend Site To A Friend
