Gray Matters

Well, I hemmed and hawed for a long time. A LONG time. I liked the gray hair, honestly.

Yesterday afternoon I woke up from a nap, and stumbled to the bathroom.

Turned on the light.
The sight in the mirror appalled me.
I looked tired, haggard and old.

I could pull off the gray when the hair was shorter, but now that it is growing out, it looked...um......too light or something. All colour was being pulled from my face.

Today I had my first haircut since the shaving. The back and the sides needed some trimming. On my way home, I purchased some non-permanent hair colour at the drug store.

After arriving home, I tried the dye. Strangely, I only used about an eighth of the tube, which was odd for me. Back in the day, I was almost out of dye before the whole head was covered. It should wash out in 28 shampoos which makes me feel better about things. Constant dying of the hairage (yes that is a word) makes it damaged and blech (that is a word too). It's kind of neat because the hair is lighter where the gray was, so it actually looks like there are highlights.....wicked!



















This way, even if I don't like it long term, I am not committed.

If you were to ask me 3 months ago what my least favourite activity was, it was dying my hair. It was so time consuming, and I resented every second of it. My hair was so curly/frizzy and it was hard to get the dye through it evenly. With short hair now, it takes seconds. We'll see if I keep it up. The jury is STILL out on that one.

I had to make the picture lighter to show the detail.

I'm sorry that I have been boring you with my head issues lately. It has been the source of so much indecision for me, which is not a quality I have ever possessed. Usually I make my mind up and that's all there is to it.

Rally Roo

I'm kind of excited.

First my sister asked me the other day where she could find a drafting table. A nonchalant question, but it excited me nonetheless. Laurelle has an artistic gift. She was into art and fashion as a high school student. I always tried my hand at art class, but I'm pretty sure the teachers just passed me through the system with B's because they felt sorry for the jock that was trying to be artistic too...I can admit now that I was truly terrible.

I think she got her talent from my mother. My mom used to talk on the phone and doodle. Her doodles always looked like hour-glass models dressed in modern fashions. My father, on the other hand, always had smiley faces with a single curl on each head, and a pipe hanging out of the mouth. I got my artistic non-talent from him.

She continued to George Brown for graphic design and graduated with a 3 year diploma. She never utilized this diploma, but come on. Who really does?

Her focus changed throughout the years and now she is realizing she really misses it.

Secondly, I got this random email the other day...from blogger. It said an author had just posted an entry. That author was my sister. How exciting is that?!?!?!

I hope she doesn't mind me posting this, but here is the link to her thoughts.

72 Tings About Merdypops, Mahn

I'm completely ripping off Muireann's idea for her post a while back. I found her entry very entertaining, and thought it's a good way to have my fellow readers learn something interesting about me.

So Muireann (pronouced Mirren), thanks for the idea.

I have made a list of 72 items because that was the year that I was born. Don't tell anyone :)

1. My television is 14 yrs old and my stereo is 15 years old. I feel no need to replace them.
2. When I see someone litter, it’s a relationship/friendship deal breaker.
3. My sense of smell is magnified about 100 times that of a normal person.
4. I have a toilet phobia.
5. I can juggle and make my tongue look like a bum.
6. When I was in my twenties I thought I would make a good go-go dancer.
7. The first time I got drunk was when I was in university, at 19yrs old.
8. My favourite drinks are Diet Coke, beer, gin and 7-Up, Long Island iced tea and whisky sours
9. I want to settle in Vancouver one day.
10. I’ve never been in love, nor do I believe that it exists past 10 years (addition - I don't think I could be in love for more than 10 yrs, not that anyone else isn't currently in love after 10 years).
11. I’m not mentally equipped to have children of my own.
12. I find men sexy when they have freckles everywhere and dark hair (think Jason Bateman).
13. I think Babs has the most beautiful voice in the world, and I think Freddie Mercury and Nancy Wilson have the most unique voices in the history of music.
14. I carry all of my stress in my shoulders and neck. I suffer from headaches often.
15. I need an immense amount of time alone.
16. I am an above average driver, although I don’t own a car anymore.
17. I love to go to the CNE each year at night, when you can hear the roar and lights of the midway
18. I think funnel cakes are the best food invention in the world (especially the ones from Wonderland where they add soft ice-cream).
19. I managed the Calgary Rowing Club for 2 years, but disliked rowing.
20. I have a pay-as-you-go cell phone because I resent technology/people calling me when I am not home.
21. I’ve never punched anyone, but have always wanted to.
22. I think nice teeth are so important, yet every guy I have dated has had crooked teeth.
23. I don’t eat pork or beef. They give me the runs.
24. I don’t understand why people make such a big deal about bread, cheese and pasta.
25. I am aware that I need to drink more water yet I don’t ever drink enough water.
26. To remember my dad, I wear his ring on his birthday, Father’s Day, and at Christmas.
27. I have a tendency to buy anything with a hood.
28. My TV guilty pleasures are: “The Young and the Restless” , and “To Serve and Protect."
29. I’d be happy with only a laptop, a couch, a bed and music. I’m a simple creature.
30. I think it’s unacceptable when people wear sandals and have hideous foot hygiene.
31. I love English and South African accents but I strongly dislike Australian accents.
32. I kind of like my short, gray hair (on my head people, on my head).
33. I detest cooking, yet the group home kids thought I was one of the best cooks on staff.
34. I have bitten my nails since I was a kid but you will rarely witness me biting them. Furthermore, I judge those that bite their nails as I find it to be a disgusting habit.
35. Same goes for being fat. Although I am fat, I judge people when they are as fat or fatter than me, but don’t carry themselves well.
36. My father was Jerry, my mom is Joan and my sister is Laurelle. Yes, they were once Jerry and Joanie Maloney.
37. I secretly want a scooter.
38. I’ve always wanted to get my motorcycle license.
39. I know breakfast is the most important meal of the day and yet I NEVER eat breakfast. See 35.
40. I own a ton of shoes and jackets. All casual and sporty.
41. I’ve worked as a cashier, a meter maid, a hotel chambermaid, a bank teller, a golf course fairway cutter, a computer specialist, and a mentor for pregnant/parenting teens.
42. Probably my biggest pet peeve is when someone can't make a fucking decision.
43. I can’t STAND when people drag their feet when they walk.
44. I’ve never taken a drag of a cigarette, and I don’t like coffee.
45. I agree with Muireann’s # 14,21,29,32,40,and 45.
46. I think Molly Parker can do no wrong.
47. I think the best decade so far has been the 80s.
48. I tend to be the person that people tell their innermost secrets to.
49. Hair that is not attached to a human body makes me gag. Hair in drains, hair balls on rugs, you name it. My hair is not exempt from this rule. All gross.
50. I sleep with a fan or noise machine, as I find it unnerving when there is silence.
51. I was bullied in grade 3, until my sister stuck up for me/threatened to beat up the kids doing it.
52. I don’t like to celebrate my birthday.
53. I get off on good conversation with people that are not afraid to share personal stories.
54. I am quite guarded and private, but I expect to know everything about you.
55. I will never understand why people insist on blowing their noses in restaurants.
56. I swear too much, yet when I hear other girls swear more than me I think it is unfeminine and abrasive.
57. I’ve got a perfect credit rating, but I am terrible with my money.
58. I am left handed for hockey and golf, but right handed in baseball…although I can switch hit if necessary.
59. I love the sound of library books wrapped in plastic.
60. I cried when I got the news that my sister was diagnosed with cancer.
61. I put ketchup on nearly everything.
62. When I found out about Princess Diana,I was eating wings at Route 66 with my baseball team. Likely with ketchup.
63. I find it creepy when guys over 30 have bare chests. Hairy chests are good, backs are not.
64. I love to ride the streetcar. It’s by far the most unique/cultured mode of transportation in Toronto.
65. I have a retarded-looking baby finger after breaking it in grade 11 at a basketball game.
66. I can’t stand romantic comedies or Hollywood happy endings in movies. They make me very angry.
67. I dislike all traditional events such as showers, weddings and birthday parties.
68. I’m a night owl and am usually up until after 1 am on weekdays.
69. I like to make 69 jokes. Sixty-nine!
70. I really, really like independent movies.
71. I don't get the whole idea of the snooze button. Set the alarm, and just get up.
72. I played with a Ouija board once in high school in the student council room. I was a mess for over 2 weeks. I will never screw with one again.

There's No Hope for Merdypops

So in an effort to fix the headache problem, I went to see my massage therapist, Julie.

First off, she is a GOD.

75% through, she said to me...

"There's no putting this nicely. You're a mess."

She asked if I had changed my pillow. Nope. Was I sleeping differently? Nope. She said that maybe I am unknowingly holding the stress there from my sister being ill...it's quite possible..who the hell knows.

It alllll comes down to where I hold my stress and it's all in my neck and shoulders. She said she felt like she wasn't even scratching the surface, although it felt to me as though she was tearing every single muscle off my back like she was peeling an orange. It's that "GOOD" pain though. You know it's coming from something productive, sorta like when you get off your bicycle after a long ride and your legs feel like they are going to D-I-E.

Looks like I have to make monthly appointments with her. The good news is that my work slows down in 2 weeks when all of the rug rats are out of school for the summer.

Maybe then I can relax.

Adele

Props go out to Nicola, who suggested I go with her to see Adele, the 20 year old British phenomenon.

Adele was very good. She is barely 20 and yet she has the voice of an accomplished musician. It was a short show, but she only has one album released thus far.

It was weird to watch her sing because you'd think that she was our age. I sat there wondering what it must be like to discover at such a young age that you have THAT much talent. She's on tour at 20. So surreal. Good for her.

I had downloaded her album and had listened to it several times before we went. I didn't expect her to sound better in person. That's how you know an artist is amazing.

Nicola, if you are reading this, keep me in mind for future gigs. I love watching live music; I just don't do it as much as I would like.

Here she is singing "My Same" about her old best friend. The second video is of her singing at a local library. You go Adele!

Shoot Me in the Head

I had a very brutal experience last night.

I have been fighting a bad headache since Tuesday night. I woke up off and on throughout the night. Headaches usually happen when:

a. I am crazy-stressed
b. the weather turns from hot to cold or cold to hot
c. I am severely dehydrated

Well, Wednesday was bad, but then it seemed to dissipate by the time I got home from work (coincidence?)

Thursday it was off and on.

I went to baseball on Thursday night and found out that I would be catching. I warmed up, felt good and we started the game. I caught the first inning with no problems. When I got to the bench I thought...hmmm, I don''t feel so well. I started catching in the second inning and then...

BAM

I instantaneously got the worst headache I have ever experienced in my lifetime of headaches. I'm not kidding when I say that I was worried that it may be something much worse, like a brain tumour.

Insert ["It's noooot a tumah.."]

Every time I stood up, and crouched down, I thought I was going to D-I-E. It felt like a knife was stabbing into my right eye every 3 seconds. BAM BAM BAM. The pain was unbelievable. My right eye started to stream tears down my face. The pressure in my head was indescribable. When I took my equipment off in the dugout, my clothes were drenched in sweat.

I finished that inning, asked my friend Karen to take over catching for me, managed to go up to bat one more time and played third base for the next inning. We were only playing with 8 girls, so there wasn't the option of me leaving before one of the late players arrived to replace me. When I wasn't playing I was keeled over on the bench with the heel of my hand in my eye socket...I just wanted it to end. Let me add that I have a very high pain tolerance. VERY HIGH. This was pretty high up on my list of most painful experiences.

Finally our last player showed up and replaced me. I left the park, took the bus home, and slept for 2 hours.

I found out later that we won. YAY!

After doing some research online, I found that I experienced the classic symptoms of a cluster headache.

This is really wonderful. Migraines are brutal enough. Now cluster headaches? WTF. Migraines are a cakewalk compared to these puppies.

I really hope none of you reading this have ever or will ever experience this. You'll be asking someone to put you out of your misery.

The good news is that the pain doesn't last long. Thank the good Lord above.

So much to see, so little time....

It's been an interesting, busy few weeks.

Firstly, as you know, I have started baseball. This is fun!

Secondly, it was my birthday last week and I went to see Dirty Dancing. Some find that as funny as me liking 'The Young and the Restless'. I understand that it's out of character a little bit, but come on. No one puts Baby in a corner. My friend Andrea bought me tickets....7th row, centre. It was an amazing performance, except for the 4 YEAR OLD that sat beside me. I mean, come on. Who brings a 4 YEAR OLD to a show about sex, dirty dancing and abortion? The kid wasn't bad, but she was FOUR. Four year olds can't sit through a 15 minute teletoon show for %$#'s sakes, let alone a 3 hour performance. Furthermore, who pays 200 HUNDRED dollars to have their kid whine and complain that she wants to go home for the last 20 minutes in the first half ( I wasn't counting..)? Someone who has money to burn - that's who.

I haven't seen a ton of broadway shows, but I have seen Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Tommy, Mamma Mia, and Footloose (at Stage West, but it still counts, non?) Of all of these shows, Dirty Dancing was in a league of its own, entertainment-wise. After the performance, we went for dinner and then people watched. While people watching, Andrea called 9-1-1 when we witnessed some jackass urinating off a roof and onto the people walking below. He then decided to spit on people's heads. To make a long story short, we think that he may have been deported in the end, as the cop mentioned this to Andrea. She thought he was serious and I thought he may be joking...but he had a straight face. Either way, don't let the door hit you on the way out of the country. Behave like a human. Ass. American maybe? Probably.

I also took in the 'Doors Open' festival last weekend. For all of you that have never heard of this, it's a festival where hundreds of buildings are open to the public that usually are not. Nicole and I checked out a culinary school, a beautiful cathedral, the St. Lawrence Market and Hall, the Design Exchange (formerly the Toronto Stock Exchange), the Canada Permanent building, Canada Life building and the Bay Lower subway station. This subway station hasn't been in service for over 40 years, and is the set for many films. If you are from Toronto or have any further interest in this, you can read about it here.

This past weekend I went to the St. Lawrence Market, Kensington Market, and for a few dinners with friends.

There are so many pockets of Toronto that I have yet to discover....so I am making it a project to explore each festival/community this summer.

Other places/events I would like to attend/explore:

Taste of the Danforth
CNE (well, duh, that's a given)
Pride Week
Toronto Buskerfest
Nuit Blanche
Lakeshore Mardi Gras
Centre Island exploring
St. Michael's Cathedral (my parents were married there)
Mackenzie House (house of William Lyon Mackenzie..the first Toronto mayor)

So if anyone is up for these, please let me know. Otherwise, I have no problem with seeking adventure on my own. The best part of the last few weeks? The weather. It has been between 18-23°C. Not too cold, not too hot. No humidity. Sweet heaven. Love it.

It's like living in Calgary again.

Without the cowboy hats.