Laundry Day

Sooooooo...it happens to us all...we all have to do it...the dreaded "L" word...no, not that one..I mean...(cue scary Law&Order music) LAUNDRY!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I have been doing lots and lots of laundry lately.
Have you ever noticed how you can do load after load of laundry...whites, darks, delicates...and somehow there is always that ONE thing that you don't have!?! Well, this happened to me on Sunday...and what was the item in question you might ask?? That's right...the over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder, upper decker flopper stopper, boobie baskets...well, you get the idea...a BRA! What?! 56 clean white socks, 67 towels, 4 jean skirts...but NOT A SINGLE CLEAN BRA IN THE HOUSE?!

Well...that is just impossible! So I searched high and low...and the only clean bras I could find were my 2nd least favourite wintergreen sportsbra from Costco, my bikini top...or my super formal white satin corset. Sigh...to wear...to a golf course..one would assume the sports bra would've been the popular choice, but nooooo.

I felt compelled to dress up for work, so naturally the corset was my choice.
Which made me laugh because the boning kept poking me when I sat down...it humored me so much that I thought it may just make for a funny blog entry. My sister had sent me the postsecret card in an email a while back, and my situation reminded me of it..except of course, next time I may opt for my bikini top! I knew all of you faithful blog followers were just waiting for me to get so so so so skandalous....so...here it is...your smut for the week!

Pamela Badams, B.A.

Aerial view of UVIC's campus

Well....it would appear that after many many years of attending the University of Victoria-----I am FINALLY graduating. It is so surreal. I never thought this day would come!! There were definitely times where I thought I should just quit or find a new program or University...but I'm happy I stuck with it!
This year more than any other year, was the hardest on me...academically, emotionally, physically, you name it! When everyone else was tapering and fnishing off their last little courses and papers, I was flailing...quite epically. I loaded up my timetable in the fall, preparing for spring convocation in June. I had one final co-op to complete from January-April and one other course...who knew it would be the hardest semester of my life?!

My sweet Tiina, at our Tara's wedding, July 2009 :)

Following the high of landing a sweet co-op with the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport in December, came a super low with the death of a good friend in January. I had no idea how my dear Tiina's death would affect me, as I compare our friendship to those of her nearest and dearest, I feel like we had barely begun our journey as friends.

Add that with the stress of an upcoming surgery and some difficulties with my final course and I became a little...well..unglued!

I decided to drop a course and pick up an extra one in summer session...which would still see me graduating in 2010.

So, upon successful completion of my summer class "The Psychology of Well-being: Flourishing in the Modern World" and paying $24.00 in library fines :( it appears that I will be permitted to convocate in November of this year!

My parents have booked their flights, and I have a super cute dress hanging in my closet...tags still on! I couldn't have accomplished this without the love and support of my nearest and deareset, not to mention my super supportive and patient husband, Mr. Mitch...who has only really known the student 'me'.

I DID IT!

Now, if only my big Sis would come.............that would be the bestest as we turn 26 (me) and 29 (Jules), on the 15th and 16th of November. I think we should party party party....sister style!

Could be dangerous....

Watch out world...coming soon to a Recreation facility, Government office or cruise ship near you....Pamela Badams, B.A., Rhed!

What to do with RHED?

Baguette, bosu-boxing, blackholes and Byatt!

About a week and a half ago I  had the opportunity to spend some time with my girl, L.B. Now, Madame L.B. and I have been friends for a couple years now...but this past year and a half, maybe 2 years we have become supah good amies. With our franglais (thus the "Baguette" in the title) and frequent cawfee tawks and email rants... It has been as she says "good times good times."
L.B. is going through some life changes, and I couldn't be prouder of her...she is so brave, starting her own business, living her life...she is inspiring and artistic, kind and hilarious. She is a constant delight and I never know what will come out of her mouth next, but I know it will make me laugh.
Now, L.B. can work it out with the best of 'em, and I kind of invited myself along to her "Bosu Boxersize" class at the Y. Now, bear in mind that I have recently had shoulder repair surgery, so the average person probably shouldn't try this...but I am SUPER SPAM....so I...DID! And, actually, according to all sources, I did just fine..and I was even in the front row!

Not me..but I look this h-core...

The instructor seemed confused and slightly offended by my enthusiasm though :(
Perhaps she has never known injury and the boredom and anxiety that comes from having parts that don't work so good or do other things good too ;)
In any case, I had a super sweaty great time and very much enjoyed the bosu boxersizing...especially because my girl L.B. was there and two other girls who I knew happened to be in attendance as well!
Because we were so super duper sweaty L.B. and I decided to part ways to go shower and change, later I picked her up to go to a late dinner at one of my fave places, The Mint!
L.B. and I had wicked scrumptious noms and a couple of Mojitos! The DJ was spinning some old skool Skee-lo, "I wish", so I serenaded L.B. with mid-nineties rap as only a small white girl from Canada can.

Nommy cheesecaaaaaaaaaaaake :)

We finished the eve with some fab cheesecake, which we shared by candlelight...most romantic.
The next day, I helped L.B. do some moving of her things from one apartment to the next. She was surprised to learn that my little bitty 1991 Nissan Sentra could fit so many treasures inside! It's like a vehicle blackhole!

So, after several hours of moving we got a bit silly...so...enjoy...some photos she snapped on my little Iphone!

Sure, L.B. I can carry your carpet, I'm strong!

Maybe not...I'm sleepy and hungry!

Carpet noms??

L.B...can i nom on this??

Pam can haz privacy??

Oooh, what a view!!

Workplace Kindness

Since my blog is supposed to be about random kindness....and to date I haven't really posted a single thing that has had to do with that...so, I thought I should :)
Today, on my way into work I was carrying my purse (aka prada suitcase), my lunch bag, my phone/ipod and my coffee mug. I could kind of sense that there was someone behind me and even though I had my music on I could tell that as we approached the side entrance he was trying to say something to me. So I turned around and popped an ear bud out and asked him to "say again?" He replied, "Allow me to get the door." To which I responded "Why thank you." He waved his pass, which had been hanging from a lanyard around his neck, and as I waited for the familiar beep, the gentleman opened the first door into our building.
I smiled at him and entered, he quipped, "looks like you had your hands full", to which I countered "No more than any other day...let me hold this one." (as there are two sets of entry doors.) He passed through and I followed behind, feeling like it was going to be a great day! How nice, a man who holds doors...under the age of 65!

As I watched him walk away ahead of me I began to envy him...he waltzed into the building with nothing more than his lanyard around his neck and some levi's on his legs...oh, and a shirt...belt, shoes...but you get the picture. While I on the other hand had not one but two bags, plus my coffee cup....why is it that some people, men, in particular, can just meander around town with hardly any gear?
I had loads of stuff shoved into my two bags...a catastrophic environmental event could occur and I could be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours with the amount of items and food in my bags! So, it begs the question...how do men do it? Not carry so much stuff? Where do they keep their lunches? Wallets? Phones? Keys? Emergency almonds? Spare flip flops...etc. If it's possible to make it through a day with so little stuff...why do I need so much??

If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it... so he did!

BFFFE's!

This past weekend, my BFFFE (That's best friend for freakin' ever...for those of you who live under rocks) got married in gorgeous North Cowichan (aka Duncan). I had the honour, nay, the privilege of being the MATRON of Honour....(Matrons are married maids...fyi.) This duty required me to assist the bride with whatever she needed leading up to and including the day of the wedding.


Naturally, I was quite thrilled to assist with the planning and shopping and decorating and shower and stagette throwing! This is, after all, my BFFFE we're talking about...and we all know, I love a good party :)  The day before we all gathered at the grooms (Ryan) parents' house for the rehearsal and dinner. We got started a little late as we were waiting for some folks to make their way from Victoria. We didn't mind though, as the day was warm and sunny and the mojitos were cool and minty!

After we became finished the rehearsal and subsequent dinner, the girls (Christy, Andrea, myself and bfffe Keira) made our way back to our wonderful Bed and Breakfast, Holmesdale House www.holmesdalehouse.ca and had some good old fashioned girl fun! Wine, hot tub, licorice, girl talk and we even watched part of a Rogers and Hammerstein. It was a restless night, but we awoke with the sun, excited that this day had finally arrived :)

The preparations began in earnest after we had nibbled on some fruit and yogurt and had a few sips of our mimosas! Hair and make-up were about 15 minutes away at Freestyle Salon www.freestylesalon.ca in Mill Bay, except for the Bride who had her own personal Courtney Edge doing her 'do! (Shout out Court!) We then returned to the Bed&Brekky to get our dresses on and have some more mimosas and brunch and photos!

The funny and talented Kirk Klein http://k-tography.com was the wedding photographer, along with his assistant Silva. At this point, we seemed to be on time....but there were a few small snafoos which caused us to run a tad behind the timetable for the day.

Never a dull moment under the arbor!

When we all arrived (by limo!) at Mamma and Papa Drake's we organized ourselves and did a few final touch-ups. We lined up outside near a gorgeous arbor and awaited our cues. Luke and Helena Stones (who played guitar and violin at Mr. B's and my wedding in 2005) strummed and bowed some beautiful melodies and we were on our way!

MOH

I didn't make it very far before I felt the tears well up in my eyes...I looked at Ryan (the groom) and he was so happy...and I think he knew that after me, came his Bride, and he was so stoked.

Keira and her Daddy, Harve!

We all stood (well, the guests did, we were already standing :) ) as my beautiful BFFFE floated down the aisle on her father's arm. Ryan's face was so fun to watch...he was so happy...I just tried not to cry.

The ceremony was beautiful and partially shaded, which was great because I was wearing what a co-worker (Deaners) dubbed the "Pink and Black Attack" or PBA...and sun+black=scorch.

WooHoo!

Vows were stated, rings exhanged, registry signed, communion taken, and then all that there was left was the moment we'd all been waiting for...the kiss! And it did not disappoint! By far, the loveliest smooch I have ever seen!

The rest of the afternoon was a blur of photos, family, friends and fun!

Epic Speech!

The reception was wonderful, but I was quite nervous as I was prepared to give what could be the longest wedding speech on record.

 The couple cut the cake, a gorgeous three tiered square, off-set number by Jacki Bickford and soon it was my turn to give the toast. I was very anxious and feel like I kind of rambled on for an epic 14 minutes! The video is so long that I can't seem to upload it anywhere, but I haven't given up yet! 

I gotta feelin'!

Yellow, Pink and Orange

(as the photographer dubbed us!)

The evening was topped off with a wicked music and lights dance party under the tent. The playlist was made by Ryan, with some input here and there from close friends and us bridal party guys!

After the couples first dance "Better Together" by Jack Johnson (I know, so cute right??)The playlist started with the Black Eyed Peas "I gotta feelin'", nice choice..."Single Ladies" by Beyonce was also a popular jam! The rest of the evening was a blur of fun and dancing and good times had by all. I also had the opportunity to dance with a very handsome young man named James to the song "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC.

One of the boys grabbed their iphone and put this little gem on as well!

Congratulations Keira and Ryan--Wedding Success! High Five!

Love you BFFFE!