Pam's epic toast!

Don't mind me and my creepy eyes ;)

As some of you may or may not know--if you are in the latter group...where the heck have you been?? I digress...I had the honour and privelige of being my BFFFE (Keira-leigh)'s MOH this past July 24th.

As part of my duties (many of which I assumed without having been asked...lol)

I wanted to give a toast to the bride...perhaps a little untraditional, but what can I say..."My name's Pam, I do what I want!"

This speech was very important to me...and I read all of the etiquette books and looked on all the wedding forums and blogs. I knew what I had to do.
 I also knew my speech was about 8 minutes longer than all of my sources advised! LOL. Oopsies! I practiced and practiced and I had gotten it down to just under 10 minutes--however, when it was my turn to give my toast I got oddly nervous and I knew I would need more time to regain my composure in places.

I had asked my hubby to makes sure he captured this momentus address on video so that I could share it with people I know and love who weren't able to be there to witness it live.

After a few months of waffling about posting this video, and also attempting to handle the technical stuff alone, the best man Zack has assisted me in posting this video on youtube and then linking it on my blog.

I'll give you the same warning I gave the guests...it's a long one...if you need a bathroom break or to stretch your legs, now is the time. So, anyhoo, I hope you all enjoy watching this as much as I enjoyed writing and delivering this speech/toast...let's face it, a toast is meant to be short enough that your arm won't get tired holding up your glass. No, this is more of a keynote speech. Being brief is not my strong suit, but washing briefs....there's another story altogether.

ENJOY!

Pam's epic bfffe toast/speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftQVVg7jW2I

 

I was also very moved by the number of people who came up to me afterwards and complimented me on my toast. I also learned where Ryan's "total eclipse" embraces came from as I received a similar one from Papa aka Jim Drake, Ryan's dad! Cute cute cute!

Convocation+Family+Birthdays=November

In just 53 more sleeps my Mom, Dad, and Nana will be arriving from the east coast to have a visit with me, Pam, of nicelikepam....and two sleeps later, my Bean, my sister will be joining us from Brisbane, Australia.

Me and my bean a year and a half ago in Melbourne!

We have not been together as a 4-some in almost 2 years. I am hoping we will get up to lots of fun stuff in the time that they are all here. My Nana is arriving from Halifax, via Ottawa, and I have not seen her since my sister's wedding in 2007.
November will be a busy month for sure, but I can't wait to see my FAM :)
Also, after many long years as a student, I will receive my degree on either the 10th or 12th of November!
Then, on the 15th, Julia (aka Bean) will turn 29, and then the very next day I will be 26!
Party Time!!!!!!!!!
Stay tuned for party details, but I hope all of my friends will come out for a smashing good time :)

Fall is Falling!

You'll never guess who?!

Although I know it is only the first day of September...and people are loathe to think the summer has come and gone. I'm always happy when the cooler temperature rolls around....and here is a list of reasons why (and some random photos)

A man with my umbrella!!!

I like sweaters

I like boots

I like my birthday

I like making soup

I like eating soup

I like Thanksgiving

I like wearing hats

I like pumpkin pie

I like fall colours (outside)

I like reading break getaways (oh wait...nm)

My birthday dinner AND reading break combined 2 years ago, in Tofino!

I like wearing tweed

I like Remembrance Day

I like crunchy leaves under my feet

I like turning on my gas fireplaces

I like funky umbrellas

I like fall drinks at Starbucks

And lastly, I like....EGGNOG!!!

Nom Nom Nom!

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??