The Randomness of Me

Since writers block is a common problem in my little brain, I was overjoyed to see that I had been tagged in a blog pots by the always hilarious @Babe_Chilla.  Otherwise known as Brandee, she can be found mothering her adorable daughter, drinking wine, or double fisting both of those activities at once.  If you're a new mom, you need to be reading Chill Mama Chill - where she captures the joys of parenting through sarcasm and the not so pretty truth.  

Being tagged in this post, meant that if I chose to, I could participate in some sort of a blogging chain letter, where you follow some rules and poke fun at yourself.  Then you tag some people, and get them to reveal horribly embarrassing stores about themselves.  It's a win win.

So with that being said, here we go...

The Rules

1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in the post you were tagged in
4. Create 11 new questions for your tagees to answer
5. Tag them on Twitter, Facebook or your blog

11 Random Facts about Candice (that's me):

1.  I like drinking out of thin rimmed glasses.  If the glass is too thick, I always feel like the drink is warm because my lips can't feel the coolness of the beverage..... (not that I've put any thought into this in the past or anything...)

2.  I like ketchup on almost everything, except eggs.  I mean, I could eat sock if it had ketchup on it, but put it near an egg and I have to leave the table.

3.  I hate the sound of popped balloons.  Maybe it's because I'm a crazy cat lady and I know that cats can choke on small pieces of rubber, but I ALWAYS pinch the base of the balloon, and snip it with scissors. 

4.  I take glasses of water to bed with me, and never drink out of them.  They sit there and collect like in the movie Signs.  I'm not even afraid of aliens, I just anticipate thirst that never comes.

5.  Tying in with the last fact, I use excessive amounts of ice in my drinks.  I think I get this from my dad, but I need half an ice tray to have one diet pepsi.  But it must be drank quickly, as to not water it down.

6.  I think about my cat more then I think about myself.

7.  I sometimes want to quit my job and bake cakes all day, but then I remember that I like having money.

8.  I hate movies that have a lot of the colour brown in them.  Westerns, old movies, you name it - if the movie is predominantly brown? I ain't watching.

9.  I don't think horse shaped animals are cute.  Even the babies.  Even ponies.  They are so....jagged and uncuddly.

10.  I'm obsessed with Manchu Wok. It's a good thing horribly scary that I work in 30+ malls across Canada, all with food courts, all with Manchu's.

11.  I enjoy putting my makeup on in the dark.  Bf has caught me doing my makeup in the dark everyday a few times.  I'm scary in the mornings, may as well don the mask before I even see myself.

To The Questions Asked By @Babe_Chilla (here are my answers):

1. When I say “rock out” what immediately comes to your mind? Kelly Clarkson.
2. Finish this sentence: “I am awesome because ________” I can dish it and take it.
3. How many licks does it take to get to the centre of a Tootsie Roll? I usually chip the outside away and just eat the middle
4. What was the last song you listened to? More then a Feelin' - Boston
5. What is your guilty pleasure? Q-tips
6. How many pairs of shoes do you really have? 8, but I only wear one
7. What movie do you know all the words to? Hook. Titanic. Tommy Boy. 
8. What were your kids names going to be when you fantasized about that in high school? Somerset (girl) and Gunther (boy)
9. Do you or do you not dance and sing like a fool around you house, should you ever be alone in it? Are you supposed to be alone? Ummm yes. yes I certainly do.
10. How many sexual partners have you had? HA TOTALLY KIDDING! I mean, how old were you when you had your first kiss?  Older then I would have liked to be, but 15 sounds about right.
11. Can you eat with chopsticks? And I mean, effectively. Before moving to BC? Not a chance in hell.  Now I am the sushi queen.

Now, if I tag YOU - then it's your turn to do copy the rules onto your blog, and play along.  If you don't want to? BOOOH-RINGGGG - but if you do, then YOU ARE THE GREATEST PERSON ALIVE. Or something.  Here are your questions:

1.  If you could escape a burning building with one cosmetic item, what would it be?

2.  How many glasses of wine until the next thing you remember is the morning?

3.  Have you ever visited another continent?

4.  Mosquitos or the Twitter whale - what do you hate more?

5.  Have you ever beat Super Mario Brothers 3?

6.  Favorite place to eat in the mall food court?

7.  How many pictures of yourself making the duck face do you have on your phone?

8.  Do you like the national anthem for the USA better then the Canadian one?

9.  When was the last dream you had (that you can remember)?

10.  Do you actually watch SNL anymore?

11.  Who is your favourite celebrity at the moment, and who do you wish they would hook up with?

CONSIDER YOURSELF TAGGED:

1.  @SSDated from Something She Dated

2.  @kixy_stabbs from Dirty Fucking Laundry

3.  @PirateMegan from Blog Voyeur turned Blogwhore

4.  @suitoflights from Riding the Ninety Nine

5.  @LolaSpeaking from The Adventure of Cinderita

6.   @iamanth from The Anth Zone

7.   @hurrrdurrr from "i heard that you wanted to start writing again so GET TO IT FUNNY MAN"

8.  @LindsayDianne from Urban Momtographer

9.  @amandacowley from Pretty Things and Potty Mouths

10.  @g_bugg from My Dating Misadventures

11.  @thisvalleylife from This Valley Life

Tag! You're it!

Why You Should Visit Seattle

Recently, the giant horseshoe wedged somewhere up my ass led me to win an amazing mini-vacation.  I have won some great things in my life, but I had no idea just how elaborate this prize would be until we got in the car and made our way to the wonderful city of Seattle, WA.

Thanks to Klout and their #2daysinSeattle perk, and thanks to my love of tweeting about delicious food - I was chosen to visit the city of Seattle, and was asked to tweet my way through the trip.  In exchange, I was given free accommodation, travel expenses to cover the gas, $500 prepaid visa card and many other little gift certificates and goodies.

The welcome letter that was left in my hotel ,room informed me that there were no expectations for me to promote or like what I saw. I did not even have to follow a set itinerary, or go anywhere specifically.  After seeing all the trouble that Tourism Seattle and Klout had gone through to let me experience the city, I thought I should make the most of my 48 hours and cram in as many activities as I could.

I knew it was going to be a great weekend, but I had no idea just how amazing the city of Seattle actually was.  It was like a bigger version of Vancouver, the city that I have come to love, and it was full of some of the friendliest people I've ever come across.  Bf and I ate and drank and sight-see'd our way through the city, cameras in hand, and I wanted to share some of my favourite moments.

If you've never been, I hope this blog makes you want to book a weekend for yourself - because as I have come to learn, this city has an abundance of activities to do that will keep you entertained for hours on end.

Hotel Andra is located in the downtown area of Seattle, and it's modern decor and amazing housekeeping skills made for an excellent place to stay during our visit.  It was within walking distance of all major tourist attractions, and the staff were very helpful and accommodating.  The bathrooms were spa like, and they had q-tips in the bathroom. Win win.  You can also connect with them on Twitter, @HotelAndra.

This guy was just one of the many colourful sea life we encountered during our trip to the Seattle Aquarium.  Home to a new baby otter, and an interactive exhibit that allows you to get hands on with some interesting sea creatures, made this a great first stop on our tour of the city.  The aquarium is located on Pier 59, on the waterfront behind Pike Place Market, but is also within walking distance of many  other attractions.

For our first dinner, we went with Lola's - the restaurant located in the lobby of Hotel Andra.  Lola's is a Greek-Mediterranean restaurant, and if you visit as a couple, I would have to recommend sharing a selection of appetizers.  The pitas with kalamata and fig spread, and their fresh oysters with mint cucumber were among my favourites.  The wine we chose complimented the meal perfectly, and the service was top notch.

A giant popsicle was just one of the MANY pieces of art you can find throughout the city.   We learned that millions of dollars of public art are found on almost every corner, and most has been donated to the city permanantly by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft. 

The Space Needle.
Make your way 605 feet up to the SkyCity restaurant and enjoy a 3 course brunch for $46 per person.  The food was incredible, the portions were insane, and the desserts (from the small amount we could eat) could be some of the best I've tried.  I would recommend the chowder, and also the pumpkin loaf.  But don't eat too much bread, because the place spins 360 degrees every 47 minutes for some breath-taking views of the city - and you don't want to lose your lunch!

By far, my favourite part of the weekend was the Experience Music Project.  This is a MUST VISIT for all music fans.  This interactive, and incredibly designed building is home to some of the most memorable music artifacts of all time.  The glove of MJ. The first record contract of Nirvana. A turn table that you can bust out your own DJ tracks too (even if they sound like nothing more then chicken scratch).  In addition to the music, the building itself was designed to resemble one of Jimmy Hendrix guitars, smashed on stage.

The EMP was also hosting an exhibit dedicated to the movie Avatar - and people had the chance to act out a scene as an Avatar, learn to speak the Navi language and see many artifacts from the actual film.  Have you ever worn the shoe of an Avatar? Well...I have. You
know what they say about big feet...they need big shoes.... ;)

By purchasing a CityPass booklet for $59, from any of the major tourist attractions in the city, gives you access to some of the best spots in the city for a tourist.  We ventured to the Pacific Science Centre, where we watched a 3D Imax movie, walked among tropical butterflies,  and stood with the world largest guitar.  

From the Science Centre, we hopped on the Seattle Monorail to take us back into the heart of downtown.  There are 2 stops on the monorail, which is the fastest monorail in the US and has been since it was first built.  For $2.25, you can get from the Space Needle to Westlake Shopping Centre in a matter of minutes.  For those who watch the Simpsons, it's a must ride.

Pike Place Market.  
Words cannot express how much fun this place is.  This is Rachel the Pig, who sits in the entrance to the market.  She is a staple for the locals, and even donned a sexy red dress just for our visit. Within the market, you will not find any major corporations, but just a lot of one-of-a-kind shops and eateries that I could have spent all day at.  From the Russian Bakery Piroshki Piroshki, to the very first Starbucks - arrive on an empty stomach and plan to fill it with freshly baked cinnamon donuts and many more goodies.  You can find Rachel the Pig and Pike Place on Twitter: @RachelthePig & @Pike_Place
Be sure to say hi to Rachel for me.

If you can stand the 1.5 hour wait to get into The Crab Pot - you will NOT be disappointed.
For $25.95 per person, you get a fancy (paper) bib, a hammer and a cutting board.  What comes next would shock any civilized person, but since I'm not one of those, it was one of the greatest dinners I've had in a while.  They literally dump buckets of seafood onto the table, hand you some butter and lemon - and the race is on.  I'm still not sure what the veggies were for, because by the time you get to them, you can barely move. Delish!

The infamous Seattle Gum Wall.  It smells and looks as gross as it sounds, but from tourists to locals to celebrities - this wall has the pre chewed leftovers of people from all over the world.  Get close. Take a sniff.  But for health reasons, I don't recommend going in for a chew.  However, if you like to dance and drink - The Alibi Room is located right across from the wall and is a great little bar for a night on the town.

Even the Alley Graffitti made me feel at home, and I totally forgot I was Canadian until someone pointed out that I excessively use the word "EH".  At one point, I even taught an American why we say it. "Eh is used when you want to confirm with someone that something you've observed is correct - example - that motorcycle was loud, eh?"
It made me happy to know that I could be picked out as the Canadian in the group.

I don't want to say much more then when in Seattle, you NEED to RIDE THE DUCK.  Make sure your tour guide and captain is named Lou, and take note of the many hats and quacky jokes he shares during your 1.5 hour tour of the city.  The vehicle turns into a boat and you get to take a ride around Union Lake and see a gorgeous view of the city skyline from the water.
Also, make sure you dress warm if going in the winter months - and keep an eye out for everyone on the streets because the waving never ends. CAAAA-CHING!

Our final stop was to visit Fran's.  This chocolatier located at the bottom of the Four Seasons hotel, makes some of the best dark hot chocolate I've ever had.  The truffles and individual pieces are so delicious and pretty to look at - that you'll have a hard time even opening the packaging.
But trust me. You want to open, eat, and then eat some more.

All in all, I am already planning my trip back to the city so I can cross a few more touristy things off my to do list.  48 hours is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of what the city has to offer, but I am anxious to get back and see what else there is to do.

Thank you again to Klout and their #2daysinSeattle promotion for the opportunity to visit the city, and I hope that I have inspired at least one other person to take a trip, even for the weekend.

I promise you won't be disappointed.

The Phone Call I Won't Forget

There's some phone calls in your life that you never forget.

There was the first time my high school crush called me, even if he wanted to ask for my friends number..
There was the phone calls that informed me of the passing of my Grampa, and then my Opa..
The call about my Opa was immediately (within 10 minutes) followed by the phone call that I was going to be on a tv show..

Then there was the call last week.

The call that came when I was driving home from work, in the middle of talking to my bff about her upcoming trip to BC at the end of the month.  The call from my Dad, asking me if I was driving, when I would be home, and that I needed to call him when I got there.

My heart dropped, and like a scene from a movie, I knew that whatever I was about to hear wasn't going to be something good.  I know I'm emotional, but I can cry and drive with the best of them.  If he couldn't tell me while I was in motion, it was almost as bad as if he had just told me.

It was the longest 10 minute drive ever.

I knew what he was going to say before he even said it.
"I have liposarcoma"
Which basically translates itself into "I have cancer."
Which then pretty much translates into my brain acknowledging the information, but not being quite sure how to react or how to process it.

I had very quickly, mentally prepared myself on that 10 minute drive for the worst, and in my mind, that was what I got.  Of course there were plus sides to the diagnosis, and I was assured that things would work out and that  my dad would be another cancer survivor on the ever growing list.  But all positive twists aside - my brain still hadn't grasped the whole concept of the idea.  Cancer? My dad? What the fuck?

Go home now. Book a flight. Cry. Stare at the wall. Cry. Feel Helpless. Question why you moved 5000kms from home.

This was my basic thought process over the next few hours, followed by many hours of not having anything to say.  I didn't want to go on Facebook, or Twitter, or even People magazine.com.  It was like I was in a waking coma.  I told the people I needed to tell, just because they are important to me or they know my family directly.  I knew my relatives were going to find out, and I didn't want any messages about it.  I basically wanted to shield myself from reading anything.

When I returned to Facebook, I noticed that some members of my relatives had made small comments and posted some photos - things that I hadn't seen before (and I'm like the eye of sauron on there...}  Now don't get me wrong, I know people handle this sort of situation in many different ways, but personally - I find it really strange when people almost react as if someone has already died.  There's really no other way for me to put it, and I have been struggling whether to blog about it or not.  With some reassurance, and a reminder that I can do and say what I like here, I have to be honest when I say that some peoples reactions weird me out to the fullest extent.  Posting pictures of themselves and my dad, or saying comments like "i love so and so" are all very endearing and I'm sure it's just a show of support - but for some reason I find it morbid and strange.  If they wanted an accurate portrayal of the reaction to this news, it would be:

I know people say to be strong, think positive - and I am.  I really am.  But I can't justify ever posting something along the lines of "hope you pull through this" or "thinking about you and being strong for you" - hell I can't even repost those mass status updates that say "repost if you know someone with cancer" - it makes everything so much more sad.

I'm already sad.

I don't need to see it online before we even know if we have to be sad at all.  Let's do the surgery, let's do the treatment - let's stand on our heads and juggle kittens for fuck sakes, whatever it takes.

Let's just get it done.

And when it's done, and we know what the future holds - THEN post your pictures and make your comments.  But I think until then, out of respect for the person and the people most important to that person - please keep it positive. In fact, please keep it in your thoughts, and if you pray, then do that too.  I don't personally believe in that sort of thing, but I believe that my dads sense of humour and his take on life are similar to my own.  Don't take it too serious, unless the moment calls for it to be so.

I won't fly home (yet) but I will be thinking about you, and mom. And I miss you. And I love you both.