Old School

Just cause it’s fun to look back…..and also to look at the tangled-afro-mess that was my hair as a child. (click the pics to make them larger)

As Promised…

….The Bokma Weekend Extraordinaire!!!

Yo.  How was your weekend? Mine? Pretty good thanks.  But enough about me, let’s get onto the task at hand: recapping the events of almost a month ago. 

So the first weekend in April, Ben’s parents came down for a little visit.  It works well that 5 of their seven kids live in the same vicinity.  We had a great time and for 5 days managed to pack in TONS of activities, eating, visiting, eating some more, taking walks, probably more eating and then some games. 

Now, when I mentioned a few posts ago (before Ben hijacked things and wrote a few *interesting* thoughts of his own) that I was going to post about this weekend, I’ll be honest, I thought I had more photographic evidence of their time here.  But after uploading the pics to the camera, turns out I was wrong.  So, I feel the need to add a disclaimer :

The notes and photos in this post in no way indicate the extreme excellence that this weekend held. If after looking at the following pictures you are inclined to think that our time was purely spent in a war museum looking at lame artifacts, and having a lame time, the author of this post holds no responsibility.  The author does however, blame her husband, who only took the camera to one of the outings and for most of the time, chose to take pictures of things, rather than of people.  The author also doesn’t want to hear the argument that she too, has arms and hands, and very well could have taken the camera along.  She stands by her conviction that she is petite (ok, not so much, but smaller than her husband) and does not want to be bogged down with a heavy camera bag, or with the responsibility to take pictures that show what a fun time we had. 

Ok, so back to the weekend.  To quickly recap, we went to Sarah’s art show (which I am still STUNNED by….people, seriously, it was amazing) Dundurn Castle, out for meals, played games, saw the Kite Runner (which I’m still processing), had an incredible meal of steaks courtesy of Bokma Farms, went for walks and just generally enjoyed each others company.

It’s visits like these that make me wish Nova Scotia was a few provinces closer.  Many nights of that weekend Ben and I would lay in bed processing the day (as we often do) and we just felt really blessed by these people that are our family. 

So, here’s some photographic evidence to prove they actually did come:

 

Here’s Dad and Jo looking around in Dundurn Castle

Me and Rachie-poo

See, I told you our visit to the war museum wasn’t lame.  So what if I’m wearing a hat that probably 700 other children have worn, 40 of whom probably had head lice.  I had no choice, Mom egged me on and told me all the cool kids were doing it.

Dad? I think you missed your true calling in life.

Rachel’s new boyfriend. 

 

Ok, you caught us, he’s made of plastic, doesn’t have eyes, and is in a casing. But isn’t he dashing? 

 

Sun Bathing

One thing that I really enjoy about spring is the fact that sunshine can make your day.  You know what I am talking about right?  Your driving somewhere and boom the sun pops out from the behind the wall of winter clouds and your like, “hey long, lost friend I miss you and have forgotten how much I like hanging out with you”.  You need not worry about my infatuation with the sun because its not nearly as dramatic as it may sound here.

So this brings me to my story, I left my house today happy to go to work, well maybe not soo happy to go to work but to enjoy the sunny drive there.  My drive was going well until I spotted her. Yes it was a her and guess what she was doing?  She was getting ready for her day in the car.  When you think of someone getting ready in their car you may imagine them putting some lipstick, eye shadow, or mascara for a girl or for a guy maybe tying his tie or eating some breakfast but you probably wouldn’t think about someone licking their finger numerous times and cleaning their face, would you?  That’s what I thought!  I am all about having a clean face and I will admit if I am not near a sink and need to get something clean I will use a little bit of my very own patented cleaning agent, e.g. my saliva, but not in such a private place as my car sitting at the red light of an intersection.

Now the first time I saw her do it I thought nothing of it. You know how you will give someone the benefit of a doubt that they didn’t really mean to do something and you just look the other way for a minute. Well, I did that but after that minute was up she was still licking her finger and bathing herself.  To make this all the more interesting, on top of the car was a driving instructor advertisement. Either she was half cat or had her plumbing break this morning.

This lady took sun bathing to a whole new level.

Ben  

What…you thought I was gonna let her do all of the talking!…Bark

Hey Everyone,

Ben here.

I have been planning my debut and I believe that I have just the topic to blog about. Bark. Yes you read it right bark will be the subject of my post today.  So I was on a walk today on a trail in the beautiful Dundas Valley Area when I noticed that several trees had the bark missing.  Being the qualified nature guide I am, I knew that a deer had taken the bark from these trees.  This was all fine in my mind because at the time I didn’t care to munch on bark but had I, I might have been pissed. Anyways, I began thinking about eating bark and how it might be fine eating it but coming out it must be a ripping good time.  I quickly started to relate a deer eating bark as humans eating heaps of corn chips and then dealing with the repercussions. The moral of the story is A) don’t let your mind wander like I did because you may gross yourself out and B) Don’t eat bark leave it to Beaver and the Deer.  So now that i have taken you all to a place that you didn’t want to go I will bow out with you dwelling on the above thoughts. 

Weekend Update

So it’s official.  I can’t play bocce ball to save my life. 

Let me backtrack here for a moment.  As I’ve mentioned before, Ben and I both have great families, and although his happens to live far far away, we’ve gotten a chance to hang with both his parents and mine in the past month.  I only mention that because although this post will be entirely about the contents of this past weekend- I have been meaning to blog about the excellent time with had when his parents were visiting  - I just haven’t uploaded the pictures yet. (side note:  I almost wrote “folks” in there when referring to Ben’s parents, but I stopped myself.  I feel like that makes me instantly be 45 years old)  So there you go – you can now wait with bated breath for the Bokma Weekend Extraordinaire update yet to come. 

OK, so back to this weekend.  My mom’s birthday was last Sunday (April 13th) and I was gone and we weren’t able to celebrate with her.  So this past Sunday Dustin, Ben and I thought we’d truck it on down to Whitby to surprise her.  We actually left early enough to show up at their church Sunday morning.  The look on her face when we walked into the theatre was great, as was my dad’s face when he came to join us after doing worship.  That instantly made rolling my carcass out of bed an hour and a half earlier than my normal Sunday morning wake up time worth it.

After church Ben Dustin and I took care of lunch.  Since the weather was most excellent (some might even say scrumptrellescent), we decided a BBQ was in order.  So, let’s fast forward this to the grocery store where Ben, D and I split up to gather the necessary items. I’ve gotta tell ya, it was hard to contain those two. Like kids in a candy store.  At one point, I think there were 4 steaks in our cart, and 2 more in D’s hands - and we were having burgers.  Once I calmed them down, put a few things back on the shelves, we made our purchases and headed home to make pretty much the best meal ever.

 

It’s at this point that I have to ask?  Guys – is it REALLY necessary to consume both a hamburger AND a steak that’s larger than my head?  really?  I’m fairly certain that is a receipe for an instant artery clog but whatever – I’m no doctor. 

After lunch, we thought “what a better way to enjoy this weather than to play a little bocce ball?”  And play we did. Ok, well I tried to play. For those unfamiliar with the game of bocce ball – the point is basically to throw your balls as close as possible to the little white ball.  I’ve created a little diagram to show you the extent of my skills.  There were a few times that I totally dominated and took home a few points, but for the most part? Notsomuch.

 

And for some real shots of the day:

This is clearly an intense moment.  Probably because I did something amazing.

Assessing the HILL that Ben threw the white ball up.  (ps – does anyone know what that little white ball is really called?  I’m pretty sure I’m butchering the entire sport of bocce ball by calling it that)

Also – can we pause for a second and take a look at my extremely PASTY WHITE LEGS?  I thought I was half Ethiopian, so much for that helping out my skin tone.

 

This is where Dustin was overcome by the spirit mid-way through our game and just had to express himself through an interpretive dance.  (ok, maybe he was just taking a shot.)

 Ben usually took the “bowler’s stance” approach.  I’d like to mock him for it, except for he usually won. 

 

All in all, the day was great and Ben and I drove home that night feeling really blessed.  To quote the words of Jim Halpert in the (Office) episode when Pam lays her head on his shoulder in season 1:

 ”Not a bad day”.

Stuff

I doubt I’ll do this very often on this blog, but this one was too good to pass up.

I found this website entitled “Stuff Christians Like” and it’s hilarious.  You should check it out.  It’s basically this guy daily listing something that Christians seem to like. (It’s his spin off of the ever popular website “Stuff White People Like” – which also is a good read)  It’s meant to be funny, satirical, a little bit honest, an insider’s perspective on Christian culture, and did I mention funny yet?  I’ll warn you, if you are a Christian, some of these may be things you yourself have enjoyed, and maybe still DO enjoy, offering the danger of offending you slightly – but I’m sure we can all just deal with that and move on.

 

So, to summarize:                                      

Is it funny? Yes  

Do I agree with all of them? No

Am I guilty of at least 75% of them? Heck yes (which is why I think it made me laugh)

Jet Lagged?

Ok People,

So it’s 2:00 am, and clearly, I’m still up. This is ridiculous.

I think I’m jet lagged. I feel like a wuss saying that, because really I was only gone for a week (to BC), and it was only a three hour time difference, and I’ve been home since Thursday night – but here I am wide awake. My body is out of whack, yo.

It could also be that 2 hour nap I had right before bed tonight.

So – I actually have nothing to say, but writing a blog post seemed more interesting than lying awake in bed, trying to be really still so I don’t wake Ben up with my “constant fidgeting”. And as I do a terrible job of lying really still, I tap Ben ever-so-lightly on the shoulder just in case he also happens to be awake, and then when he doesn’t move…I tap him a little harder as if to say “Hey Ben, why don’t you wake up and pay attention to me – I’m fairly bored over here”. No dice. Nothing. He just lays there.

So while I’m up, I might as well give a shout out to my Korea readers who are probably also wide awake right now (Hey Nick, Mel and Melissa!*edited to add Nate and Maria!*…I’m pretty sure that’s all of you  ..my apologies to any other Koreans out there who read my blog…)

Well, it’s now 2:09. I’m gonna go give this laying down thing another try…. Perhaps this time I’ll have to “involuntarily” kick around.

“Oh hey Ben – you’re up too? What’s that? A kick in the shins woke you up?….no I have no idea how that could have happened, I’ve been laying here really still…”

Hallmark, Eat your Heart Out.

I think we’re all aware that the card industry can be slightly ridiculous with the cards they produce. Cards that are just waiting to be scooped up by the ever-so-eager consumer dying to drop the $5.95 they have burning in their pocket. 

Somewhere along the line, the card companies convinced us that it was a GREAT! idea to buy cards that celebrate getting one’s braces off, Tuesday, or a “just because” card.  Really? “Just Because?” 

Dear So-and-So,

Here’s a card that cost me the equivalent of a meal at Tim Horton’s,   Just Because.                        

“Just Because what” you ask?  Well, I haven’t quite figured that part out yet, but it seemed like a GREAT! idea at the time, so here’s your card.

Sincerely,                                                                                                                                          Karmyn

Anway, as I was beginning to say, in all my years of giving and receiving cards, I have  yet to come across one quite as unique as this one.  As Rebecca and I were shopping in Chinatown yesterday, we came across a card that I don’t think would quite take off in our mainstream market.  It did, however, make me laugh out loud.  Like really, a good hearty chuckle.  So much so, that I thought I should take a quick picture.  I apologize for the extreme blurry-ness of it.  I was performing a covert operation as I wasn’t really allowed to take pictures in the store, so I had to do it behind the card stand really quickly and without a flash.

In case you can’t read that it says: “Just a word about your successful diet…”

(On the inside it says Congratulations.)

I can’t really see this one taking off – it’s not so much up there with “Happy Birthday”.  You never know though, sometimes, you just need a card to help you find the words. 

BC

Well, despite what glitches I may have had in Calgary, I did in fact reach my final destination: BC.  I’m here on my last work trip with Redeemer, re-visiting high schools and applicants.  Although the pictures below don’t make it look like I’m working, rest assured, I am.  Sort of.

Ok I’m kidding. I AM here on work, but happened to be here over a weekend, and have been able to catch up with Nikki (friend from Redeemer), Rebecca (Ben’s sister), Simon (friend and former Redeemer co-worker), and my grandparents. (Umm, they’re my grandparents).  Although the prospect of sitting alone in my hotel all weekend was tempting, I opted for good times with the aforementioned people.

I drove up to visit Nikki on Friday and we had a great time. 

Although short, we managed to cram in good food, even funnier jokes, and to top it all off, a  fundraiser lunch at her high school: 50’s diner drive in style

This is my “hot dog” that they served me.  I think it might be in there somewhere….

This is how Nikki’s Cheesburger came….notice the obvious lack of cheese…or any condiments for that matter.

Saturday afternoon I drove back to Vancouver and had a blast with Rebecca. We also enjoyed good food, GREAT visits, and to top it all off, a relaxing night back at my hotel, including some hot tubbing, SNL and a YouTube marathon.

Sunday brought church with Rebecca, gelato, ultimate frisbee, and then dinner with Simon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To top it all off, I enjoyed coffee and dessert with my grandparents before starting the workweek. 

Trips like this? They make leaving this job a little bit harder to do.

An Open Letter to Calgary

Dear Calgary:

Now, I know we’re not super tight or anything like that, but I feel as though in the past we’ve had a fairly friendly understanding.  I come visit you from time to time, and you keep things looking nice and show me a good time.  Sometimes, during NHL playoffs, I’ll even cheer for the Flames, just to keep up my end  of the bargain.

So with that in mind, I just have to ask. Really?  Was it really necessary, Calgary, to have a freak snow storm on Thursday?   Umm, in case you didn’t get the memo, it’s APRIL. 

Now I’m all about giving the benefit of the doubt, but I really can’t see any good reason why you chose the day I had to travel to be the day you welcomed the worst snow storm in ages.  (don’t even question where I got my stats).  Did I mention yet that IT’S APRIL?

Don’t even try to convince me that you had to do it because everyone else was. I know for a fact that Lethbridge was nice and sunny.  Do you want to know how I know that? Because that’s where my plane had to land for 2 hours while we waited for your airport runways to clear up.  But don’t worry…WestJet was gracious enough to give us a glass of water and some pretzels – you know, just to tide us over.

I know that now you’re going to say that you had the snow all cleared up around noon, but don’t even think that’s going to console me.  By that point, I’d been bumped from my connection flight and I was stuck in your airport until 10 pm.  Now I know Calgary that you pride yourself on a nice airport, but after 10 hours, I can only look at the waterfall, bookstores and moccasin stand so many times.

I don’t really know where to go from here.  I don’t want things to be awkward every time I come visit you now, so I guess I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself.  I’ll be there next Thursday (April 17th) around 5 pm.  Look for me, I’ll be the one in the white sweatshirt.

Yours,

Karmyn