Calgary Stampede!!

YEEEEHHHAAAWWW!!!! 

We got to go to the Calgary Stampede on July 8th. I was SO excited. I took P & B (neither of them had ever been!!) 

So they had to attend a BBQ for their job so I drove myself up (which was great as I rocked out to Nickelback the ENTIRE drive up!)  Then we met up in Okotoks and drove into the city. Neither of the boys had ever been on the C-train before. I think they were nervous but didn't want to tell me they didn't trust me to get them there safe. haha! 

BUT!!! We made it safe!! Got to the Stampede grounds and met up with a friend of mine and we went around playing all the games that we thought we could win. At one booth I paid the guy $5 to guess my age. He had to be within 2 years... and he guessed that I was 22!! HAHA So I got a green wormy guy!! YAY ME! 

Our winnings!! We cleaned up!

We went to the Coca Cola stage for the free concerts! First up was State of Shock and they were AWESOME. I kind of forgot about them for a couple years and I'm not really sure why. But they did really good - even tho it was raining. 

State of Shock - it was raining and SO cold but really fun!

The next band up was My Darkest Days and they were REALLY great. The sun even came out for a bit during their set which was kind of nice. Still was freaking cold (I was in a short skirt)  

My Darkest Days - after we got sound back!

Had a lot of fun! (I always do in Calgary, its one of my favourite places in the world) And I think the boys even had some fun too! 

<3 him 

Thunder Storms

One of the things I really love about summer are the thunder and lightening. I'm not sure if its because it cools everything off or because I have so many memories of "hiding" from the storm with my mom under blanket forts when I was a little girl. But they are truly one of the best things about summer! Tonight it was so much lightening that I just HAD to video it. Sorry for the crappy quality - the only video cameras I own are my blackberry or my webcam on my laptop! LOL ! But I think you can see it pretty good. 

Maybe I should call and make sure that my mom has a blanket fort built up. ;-) 

CANADA DAY!!

What a wonderful Canada Day this year!! Started off with a run to Tim Hortons (how else can you start a celebration of our country?) Then me, P & B went to Henderson Lake for the celebration down there. I was actually pleasantly surprised of all the things they had available this year! Facepainting and shaved ice, pitas and cotton candy, live bands and bubble guns (P wanted one but we never did end up going to that booth) 

I just embrace my awkwardness... no point in fighting it
RED shirt for Canada Day! Soon to have red shoulders

he's so yummy.... *sigh*

really into the bagpipes   - mentioned he wanted to start a mosh pit

so happy he's home!!! 

We were there for a while and then I needed a break from the sun (as wonderfully nice as it was out, I still don't do all that well in the hot sunshine, usually need a bit of a shade break) So we all went for dinner at Boston Pizza and then went to the movie Tron in 3D - btw, pulls off the red cape SO much better than Superman! 

The fireworks at Henderson were AWESOME!! I really enjoyed them this year!! GREAT JOB LETHBRIDGE

Pretty Little Liars - Sara Shepard

SUMMER READING  - Ok, during the summer I usually read a lot of really fun books that are easy to get into and thru while I am lounging around in the sun ... or if I'm sunburnt and need a distraction. My first one of this summer (even tho technically it wasn't summer till today and I finished it on Sunday) 

Pretty Little Liars - Sara Shepard 

http://www.prettylittleliars.com/

The story really pulled me in! Ok, I will admit that I had a little bit of trouble keeping all the girls straight in the beginning - even now if someone asked who Emily or Spencer was I would have to sit and think for a second. But I am definitely going to read the next book in the series. I have to find out what the "Jenna Thing" is. Yes, I spoiled that for you, you DON'T get to know in the first book. 

I actually started reading this book because my cousin mentioned that the tv show was really good. So I googled it - cause apparently I google every single thing that I hear about, and saw that it was based off a book series. You know me, I have to read the books first. (That's how I got so addicted to Gossip Girl)

So if you are looking for a good little read that you can pick up poolside I would suggest this for sure. But if your'e like me and don't like not knowing something, there are 8 books in the series. I will read them all I am sure, if I can get them from the library this summer lol 

Love ya  - D 

This is my life

I ended up chatting with a friend that I have lost touch with for a while a couple days ago (actually in the past couple weeks I have touched base with about 8 random people out of my past) And there seems to be a current theme to what everyone says to me. 

You have changed

 I have always been tall

            I have always been extremely blonde

                      I have always had giant blue eyes 

So what's different? 

Everything

"This is my life

Its not what it was before

All these feelings I've shared

And these are my dreams

That I've never lived before

Somebody shake me cause I

I must be sleeping"

Now that we're here

Its so Far away

All the struggle we thought was in vain

All the mistakes

One life contained

They finally start to go away

Now that we're here 

its so far away

And I feel like I can face the day

I can forgive and I'm not ashamed

of the person that I am today

These are my words

That I've never said before

I think I'm doing ok

And this is the smile

That I've never shown before 

Somebody shake me cause I 

I must be sleeping"

So Far Away - Staind

Sometimes I don't sleep ....

Blue October is a rock band from Houston, Texas. The band was formed in 1995 and currently consists of Justin Furstenfeld (lead vocals, guitar), Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums, percussion),Ryan Delahoussaye (violin/viola, mandolin, piano, backing vocals), Matt Noveskey (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Julian Mandrake (lead guitar).


Justin Furstenfeld has battled with bipolar disorder through most of his life. He has his condition under control, saying in an interview that "I'm not a danger to myself [anymore]."


I saw Blue October in concert several years ago and was mesmerized by the experience. I have been to very many concerts, but something about how the music was presented was so powerful. I actually cried during parts of the concert. It hit a of of personal tones with me also. 


If you have ever heard of them - it was most likely their songs "Hate Me" or "Into the Ocean" both of which got quite a bit of radio play. 


I love all of their songs. A lot of my friends think that they are too depressing or "whiney" ... sometimes dealing with a mental illness, you need to let out that depression or whiney-ness. It can't stay bottled up inside of you forever. And how brave to let it out and remind other people battling the same thing that they are not alone, someone else has thought the exact same things as you, has stood at the same place you are standing and felt the same feelings. To me its reassuring... 


When I can't sleep, whether its insomnia or nightmares or just feeling down, I find that these 3 songs tend to be the ones I flip on to kind of help me zone out and try and figure out what is going on with me.

18th Floor Balcony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiOM0R3Dh8U&feature=related

Black Orchid

Come in Closer 

Now, they do have quite a few really upbeat songs - Drop is actually one of the songs I listen to when I'm fully awake and bouncing around. But tonight these are the songs I turn to trying to get my brain to slow down a bit so I can get some sleep. 


Enjoy - or don't. Just sharing something that means a lot to me. (P hates Blue October and I still love him)

"Fallen" Lauren Kate

Another book post... lol, can you tell I need to keep my mind busy lately? 

Ok, so I started reading this book a few days ago and at first I was almost ready to just give up - it was kind of creepy. I found myself laying in bed all alone at 2 am trying desperately to read it - cause the moment I set it down I kept thinking about it.

I felt there was a places that it was missing some detail, but this is also the first book in a series so I am sure there is more to come that will fill in those questions that I had. 

VERRRRY surprising to me. I honestly thought that I had it all figured out and knew exactly what was going on but I was SO wrong. And actually, I really enjoyed what was really going on more than what I had thought. 

A fun read, make sure that you have a night light if you're reading in bed. Spoooky at times.