tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56247421228898722572024-02-08T07:16:16.367-05:00Lost and Found - Reflections of a DaydreamerSweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-31404679979861819722013-07-07T00:01:00.000-04:002013-07-07T21:15:23.657-04:00Gilmore Girls Mondays: Week 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span><a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/search/label/Gilmore%20Girls%20Mondays">Gilmore Girls Mondays</a> is a semi-regular feature hosted by me, <a href="http://onceuponaprologue.net/">Molli</a> and <a href="http://thoughtsatoneinthemorning.blogspot.ca/">Jessica</a> as we do a rewatch-along of Gilmore Girls that we started on June 1st. Each of us has a different approach, but for my posts I'll be talking about the episodes I watched each week, sharing my thoughts plus
favourite quotes, scenes, etc. If you want to join in, you can tweet
with us using the hashtag #GilmoreGirls, and if you want to join in the
discussions, feel free to grab the graphic (please link back to our blogs) and create posts of your own,
or just comment with your thoughts.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;">Warning: if you haven't watched the show before, there will be spoilers.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Episode 12: Double Date</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Episode 13: Concert
Interruptus</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Episode 14: That Damn
Donna Reed</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Episode 15: Christopher
Returns</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Episode 16: Star-Crossed
Lovers and Other Strangers</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Episode 17: The Breakup,
Part II</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love that we’re getting to see more of Luke, and also learning a bit about his past. I also love that Lorelai is jealous when Rachel returns, and it occurs to her for the first time - after all these years - that maybe,<i> just maybe</i>, Luke might be something other than the guy who feeds her and keeps her in coffee.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I also like that we’re seeing more to Paris than just the villain. She’s still evil and horrible, but she’s also hilarious in a completely unintentional way, which I love. She’s becoming more human, more three-dimensional, and I’m starting to remember that I do eventually end up really liking her (it’s been kind of hard remembering that in these early episodes). When Lorelai and Sookie took Rory, Paris, Madeline, and Louis to the Bangles concert and all that crap went down, watching Paris just being totally chill was possibly my favourite part. When she said, all blissfully, “You know what? I think this is the best night I've ever had” I seriously cracked up. Classic.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And then there’s Christopher. Ahh, Christopher. My mother <i>despises </i>Christopher. She’s been semi-watching with me (she pretends to read but I see her watching the TV half the time, and she’ll chime in or laugh once in awhile), and when Christopher arrived, she groaned. I can kind of understand her feelings toward him, but there’s a part of me that’s always had a soft spot for Christopher. He doesn’t mean to be a screw-up. He and Lorelai have decades of history - he wasn’t just some one-night stand or even a fling. They’ve known each other since they were SIX. That's a lot of history, a lot of baggage, a lot of things shared - including a child.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And finally, there’s Dean. And Dean and Rory’s three-month anniversary. And Dean and Rory’s break up. And Rory’s “I’m ready to wallow now” which makes me cry every time. *sigh* And I just <i>love </i>how Emily has to point out to Lorelai: “Tonight your daughter is celebrating her three-month anniversary. When was the last relationship you had that lasted that long?” Argh. You can tell Lorelai had already thought of that - she didn’t need her mother pointing it out/rubbing it in. But Emily wouldn't be Emily if she didn't do just that, right? Lorelai's going through a lot - watching people in love (which, when you're not and want to be is the most frustrating thing ever), splitting from Max, realizing she might have feelings for Luke just as his ex comes back to town, Christopher showing up and all the drama that comes with that…I really felt for her these last few episodes. She’s all over the place, but she still manages to stay strong, and be a good friend and a kick-ass mother.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also? I seriously love Luke. That's nothing new, but really...*sighs and swoons* </span></span><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lane: “How do I look?”<br />Rory: “You look too good for him.”<br />Lane: “Just what I was going for.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Lorelai to Rory: “I have to know where you are at all times, especially when you have my shoes on.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lorelai: “You know, it doesn't always work to just lock a kid up and throw away the key.”<br />Mrs. Kim: “I didn’t throw away the key, it's in the kitchen.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Lorelai: “In this parade of stupid and dumb I'm the one twirling the flaming baton.”<br /><br /><br />Rory: “She likes washing dishes, too. She’s multi-faceted abnormal.”<br /><br /><br />Lorelai: “Um, can I make one more suggestion?”<br />Luke: “No.”<br />Lorelai: “Curtains?”<br />Luke: “No.”<br />Lorelai: “Manly curtains.”<br />Luke: “Oxymoron.”<br />Lorelai: “What did you call me?”<br /><br /><br />Dean: “You are very odd, you know that?”<br />Rory: “Thank you.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><b>What
did you think of these six episodes? Are there any that particularly stand out to you? How did you feel about Rory and Dean's breakup? Do you think Dean acted fairly or overreacted? What do you think of Lorelai finally realizing she might have feelings for Luke but then sleeping with not only Christopher but also Max?</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Marie-Lost-and-Found.png" /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<br />SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-40854331719255568252013-07-01T00:01:00.000-04:002013-07-01T00:01:01.370-04:00An update<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Another
Monday without a Gilmore Girls Monday post. Oops! When Molli and I first decided to
do the rewatch, I was so excited I didn’t think I’d be able to wait for June.
Then June arrived and I got so busy I hardly had time to watch any. I haven’t
watched a single episode of Gilmore Girls in about two weeks because I’ve been
so bogged down with work and other stuff. I’m hoping to catch up this week and be back to
regular GG watching - and blogging - next week.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I’ve
realized recently that I’ve taken on too much. Between trying to write my next
book, keep up with two blogs, designing a cover for a friend, doing beta
reading/editing for that same friend, and just regular life stuff, I’m going
crazy. I’ve hardly had any time to myself, and it’s really starting to take a
toll on my mental health. Add to that the fact that I’m getting extremely
restless and want to just get the hell away from my life for awhile…yeah. Going crazy.
Everyone I know either seems to be in love or traveling or in love AND
traveling and I’m stuck here, as always, doing the same thing every single day,
looking at the same four walls. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Jeeze,
I sound so bitter. And I kind of am, which I hate. I don't want to be that person. I don’t begrudge anyone
their happiness - especially the few people I love like crazy and I’m HAPPY for
them and they deserve the happiness they've found, but...I wish I were happy too. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">And
now after this thoroughly negative and depressing post, I promise there will be
better things to come in July. And actual posts instead of silence like June.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Marie-Lost-and-Found.png" /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
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SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-83210740817268419122013-06-19T10:15:00.002-04:002013-06-19T10:15:45.986-04:00Wordless Wednesday #10: Purple<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/search/label/Wordless%20Wednesday"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Wordless-Wednesday-Marie-Landry_zps81d8472d.png" /></span></span></a></div>
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SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-46756800127010492562013-06-17T10:44:00.000-04:002013-06-17T10:44:27.104-04:00Gilmore Girls Mondays: Week 3<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Starting this month, along with my two online besties <a href="https://twitter.com/courageousgrace">Molli</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Jess_Sankiewicz">Jessica</a>,
I'm doing a Gilmore Girls rewatch-along. Every Monday I'll be talking
about the episodes I watched each week, sharing my thoughts plus
favourite quotes, scenes, etc. If you want to join in, you can tweet
with us using the hashtag #GilmoreGirls, and if you want to join in the
discussions, feel free to grab my graphic and create posts of your own,
or just comment with your thoughts.</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<pre><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></pre>
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<pre><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Episode 9: Rory’s Dance</span></span></pre>
<pre><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Episode 10: Forgiveness and Stuff</span></span></pre>
<pre><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Episode 11: Paris is Burning</span></span></pre>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some really interesting
stuff this week. First, in <b>Rory’s Dance</b>, Rory has her first dance at
Chilton and she doesn’t want to go. She’s decided that she hates dances and
they’re stupid and lame, even though she’s never actually been to one. Lorelai asked her
if she really hated them or if it was just that she's afraid - she doesn't
want Rory to miss out on experiences because she's afraid or too shy. This
really spoke to me, because I was like that as a teenager, and unfortunately,
I’m still like that with a lot of things. However, I did go to all the school
dances, so that’s one thing!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When Emily came to see
Rory off to the dance, that whole scene was just too funny. Between Rory coming
out snarfing down a burrito with a napkin shoved into her dress, Emily taking
pictures, and then making Dean come in so she could meet him, even though he
and Rory had agreed he would honk and she’d go out…the whole thing was
hilarious, embarrassing, and awkward in the best way possible. A lot of people
have probably been through stuff like that, or if you haven’t, it’s done in a
way that you can totally relate, which is what’s so great about this show.<span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then when Rory left and
Emily decided to stay because Lorelai had hurt her back, we got to see a
different side of Emily. A side that’s actually caring and - *gasp* - <i>motherly</i>.
It was touching and funny at the same time. But, of course, nothing good can
last where Emily and Lorelai are concerned, so when Rory and Dean accidentally
fall asleep at Miss Patty’s and spend the whole night out, Emily <i>freaks out</i>.
Lorelai has faith in Rory that nothing happened, but all Emily can see is the
mistakes Lorelai made at Rory’s age, and she’s afraid she’ll end up pregnant.
The difference is, Emily suffocated and controlled Lorelai, but Lorelai <i>trusts</i>
Rory, and that trust has been a big factor in how Rory is turning out vs. how Lorelai did. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then in <b>Forgiveness and
Stuff</b>, we see Rory and Lorelai struggling after their fight. We’ve seen
them argue and get mad at each other before, but not to this extent. It actually hurts to see them so angry at each other because they're supposed to be best pals, and you just want to see them make up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last week I mentioned I
was annoyed by Dean’s attitude toward Lorelai, but this week, when Rory was
gone to Christmas dinner at the grandparents' (from which Lorelai was uninvited), Dean came to see Rory and ended up talking to Lorelai. I liked that little scene - the writers of
this show were so amazing at taking something serious and making you really get
the significance of it while still making you laugh. I think Lorelai is seeing that Dean could be really good for Rory.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When Richard has a heart
episode at dinner and has to be taken to the hospital, Luke takes Lorelai and
stays with her. This is another bit I love - those little glimpses of the
softer side of Luke that we've been getting so far were just a tease compared to the scenes at the hospital.
He shows that he genuinely cares about the Gilmore girls, and that he pays attention, and <i>has been</i> paying attention all these years.
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Emily is so cold and such
a control freak, but she genuinely loves Richard, and that was nice to see.
Some interesting character growth happening here for everyone!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In <b>Paris is Burning</b>,
Paris’s parents are going through a nasty divorce, which makes Paris the talk
of the school, which makes her even nastier than usual. So at parents' day when she sees Lorelai and Max making out in the classroom, she makes sure everyone in the school knows about it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lorelai and Max seem to be
getting pretty serious, but when Rory inadvertently gets involved and suggests
to Lorelai that they invite Max to go skating with them, Lorelai freaks out.
Sookie (who asks Jackson out in this episode, which made me really happy!)
points out that they’ve hit the two-month mark, which is about the time Lorelai
starts to freak out in a relationship. I love their relationship, and I’m
always glad to get these little glimpses of Lorelai through Sookie's eyes. Sookie is just so damn cute - I wish I had someone like her in my life. Rory and Lorelai too, of course...and Luke!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was sad when Max and Lorelai decided to take a break. As I said last week, even though I'm a Luke girl all the way, I liked Max. And having watched the entire show and knowing what happens, I don't mind this little Max-shaped detour...the anticipation of waiting for Luke and Lorelai to get together was totally worth it. ;-)<span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I can't imagine
anyone seeing you as a disappointment.” ~ Luke in “Forgiveness and Stuff” <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“You have to look
at what a gift says to the other person, not to you. Remember two years ago I
got my mom that perfume? To me that said, ‘Mom you work hard. You deserve
something fancy’. Now to my mother, it said, ‘Mom, here's some smelly sex
juice...the kind I use to lure boys with’.” ~ Lane in “Forgiveness and Stuff”<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What did you think of these three episodes? Which was your favourite? What were some of your favourite parts? Do you like Max? If you're watching along, what episode are you up to?</b><br />
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</span></span>SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-15916131310844410322013-06-14T00:01:00.000-04:002013-06-14T00:01:00.918-04:00Maddison<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This post is a little over a week overdue, but better late than never right?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you've been following along, you'll know that my brother and sister-in-law were expecting their third child, and that it was a long-awaited girl. Well, last Thursday, June 6th, at 4:43 am, Maddison Grace was born, weighing 9 pounds 12 1/4 ounces.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We got to see her when she was just 9 hours old. Apparently the umbilical chord was wrapped around her neck four times when she was born, so she had some trouble breathing at first, and her blood sugar was low (which is apparently common in ginormous babies). She was in an oxygen-regulated bassinet in the nursery until shortly after my mum and I got there for a visit. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was love at first sight the moment I saw her crazy-ass hair and her fat little arms and cheeks. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The pediatrician came to check her out and then we were allowed to take her back to Amanda's room. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amanda fed her and then I got to hold her while Amanda went to shower. It felt like such a special time because her eyes were open part of the time and she was staring at me. Auntie loved her bonding time!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My brother left to go get something to eat and awhile later Amanda's parents came with the boys. They were so excited to see their new baby sister. Logan held her with help from Amanda and then Noah sat and held her for awhile. It was so sweet. Noah said really quietly to her, "Hi Maddison Grace I****, I'm your big brother." My heart melted!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, that's it. I finally have a niece! I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot more about Maddy in the weeks and months to come. ;-) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-883820928740178462013-06-10T17:20:00.000-04:002013-06-10T17:20:52.046-04:00Gilmore Girls Mondays: Week 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Starting this month, along with my two online besties <a href="https://twitter.com/courageousgrace">Molli</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Jess_Sankiewicz">Jessica</a>,
I'm doing a Gilmore Girls rewatch-along. Every Monday I'll be talking
about the episodes I watched each week, sharing my thoughts plus
favourite quotes, scenes, etc. If you want to join in, you can tweet
with us using the hashtag #GilmoreGirls, and if you want to join in the
discussions, feel free to grab my graphic and create posts of your own,
or just comment with your thoughts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This post is <i>really </i>long, and I apologize in advance.
I broke down each episode into a basic recap and my thoughts, but I’m not sure
if I’ll stick with this format for later weeks since it’s time consuming for me
to write <i>and</i> for you to read. From now on I might just do a general overview of
my thoughts on the week’s episodes…we’ll see!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Episode 1: “Pilot”</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The basics: We meet most
of the characters who we’ll come to think of as the main characters: Lorelai,
Rory, Luke, Sookie, Lane, Michel, Dean, Emily, Richard, Miss Patty. Rory just
got accepted into Chilton, a fancy private school, and will be leaving Stars Hollow
High, along with her best friend Lane. With Rory being super smart and not
challenged enough at a regular high school, getting into Chilton is a big
deal…but it’s expensive. Really expensive. Lorelai can’t afford it and can’t get
financial help, so she does the last thing she wants to do, but the thing she
pretty much <i>has</i> to do: she asks her parents for help. She only sees Emily and Richard on
holidays, but Emily insists that if she’s going to be involved financially in
their lives, she wants to be actively involved. Thus begins the tradition of
Friday night dinners at the Gilmore house. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My thoughts: </b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rory is so freaking cute.
She’s awkward and rambly, and reminds me <i>so</i> much of myself at that age (and
still).<span> </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love the almost
painfully awkward interactions between Rory and Dean. That shy little look she
gets is so adorable, and he’s so cute and looks so young! Slightly off topic,
but it’s so weird because for years I thought of him as Dean from Gilmore Girls
and then when I started watching Supernatural, he was Sam and his brother was
Dean and it took me <i>forever </i>to get used to it. Now I’m going to start calling
him Dean again and my poor brain will be fried. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Luke. Ahh, Luke. I forgot
how surly and disapproving he was at first! He’s like this grouchy old man in a
hot guy’s body. Even at sixteen I had a major crush on Luke. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Episode 2: </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> “</b></span></span>The Lorelais’ First
Day at Chilton</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>”</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The basics: Lorelai wakes
up late on Rory’s first day of Chilton and ends up taking her to school dressed
like a cross between Daisy Duke and a rodeo hand. Emily is, of course, there to
see this moment of shame and assert her authority because she’s paying for
Rory’s school and there's no way she'll let Lorelai forget it. The headmaster basically tells Rory that she may be smart where
she came from but that Chilton is very different, has incredibly high standards, and is super competitive, and she very well may fail.
We’re introduced to Paris, the mean girl, and her minions Madeline and Louise,
as well as Tristan, who starts calling Rory ‘Mary’ (as in the Virgin Mary
because she looks like a goody goody). Back in Stars Hollow, we meet more
characters who will become regulars: Jackson, Babbette, Morey, and oddly enough
‘Mick’ who is really Kirk, which I will talk about more in a minute. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My thoughts:</b> </span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Paris is the mean girl
but not your typical mean girl. She doesn’t make Rory’s life hell because she
wears the wrong clothes or has an outdated hairstyle - she’s mean because she’s
smart and driven and is threatened by someone new who could potentially be
competition. It’s different from what we normally see on TV and I like it…even
though I despised Paris in those early days. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love Stars Hollow. I
always fantasized about living in Stars Hollow - somewhere small where everyone
knows each other and cares about each other. I love the faerie lights and
Luke’s diner and Lorelai and Rory’s house and just <i>everything</i>. *wistful sigh*</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Episode 3: “Kill Me
Now”</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The basics: Rory has to
pick a sport for school and Emily suggests she choose golf because Richard can
teach her. Both Lorelai and Richard don’t seem too keen about the idea - for
different reasons - but Richard takes Rory to the club and they have some good grandfather-granddaughter bonding moments.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My thoughts:</b> </span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I liked watching Rory and
Richard bonding. She gets to see his world and he gets to see how smart she is
and that he can talk to her like an adult. Because he hasn’t spent much time
with her over the years, I imagine he sees her as a child, and because she’s
Lorelai’s child, he would likely assume they’d have nothing in common. I like
that they started to forge a relationship separate from Lorelai and Emily -
something that’s just <i>theirs</i>. I also found it interesting that Lorelai
assumed Rory would be miserable because <i>she</i> would have been miserable.
She has trouble picturing Rory enjoying the life that she hated so much and
fought so hard against at that age. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Episode 4: “The
Deer-Hunters”</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The basics: Rory spends
forever cramming for a huge test, is late for school the morning of the test
because she and Lorelai slept in, she gets hit by a deer on the drive to
school. When she finally arrives at school - late - she has a meltdown in class when the teacher tells her she can’t take
the test. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My thoughts: </b></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Max! Even though I’m a
Luke girl all the way, I still liked Max. It’s obvious Lorelai intrigues him
because she’s not like all the other stuffy Chilton moms, and he clearly likes
Rory and wants to see her succeed. Both these things made me like him
instantly. Plus he’s got great hair. And I love his voice. If I'd had a teacher like that at Rory's age, I would have been a goner. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I like how Rory
eventually realizes that it’s ok not to be perfect. She can work hard and get
good grades but she doesn’t have to be the best at everything or know
everything or do ALL THE THINGS and drive herself crazy. Chilton is hard, but
she’s determined to do it so she can live her dream of going to a good school, and I admire that about her. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Episode 5: “Cinnamon’s
Wake”</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The basics: Another
encounter between Rory and Dean; Babbette and Morey’s cat Cinnamon dies and
they have a wake for her, where the whole town shows up; Max thinks he and
Lorelai should date.</span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That interaction between
Rory and Dean made me laugh so hard. She’s so uncomfortable around him, it’s
just the cutest thing. She wanted to see him so badly but then when she did,
she didn’t know how to act and it’s so awkward and painful. I can <i>so</i>
relate to this. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lorelai is afraid to date
Max because he’s Rory’s teacher and she’s afraid that would be too weird for
Rory. I love how protective she is of Rory; for being so eccentric and cool
and modern, she’s a fantastic mother. I liked the interaction between Babbette
and Lorelai when Babbette told her someday she’d have to live a life without
Rory and she deserved to have a life of her own. Lorelai is afraid no man would
ever like her because she’s neurotic - again, something else I can relate to. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Episode 6: “Rory’s Birthday Parties”</b><br />The basics: It’s Rory’s seventeenth birthday! Lorelai Leigh Gilmore was born on October 8th at 4:03am. Rory’s birthday falls on a Friday and even though Lorelai tries to get them out of Friday night dinner, it doesn’t work. Emily throws a big party and invites everyone she knows, along with all of Rory’s schoolmates, which is humiliating for Rory, who ends up yelling at Emily in front of the guests. The next night Lorelai has Rory’s traditional birthday bash at home and the whole town comes…and so do Emily and Richard. <br /><br /><b>My thoughts:</b></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I loved the scene where Lorelai gets in bed with Rory at the time she was born and asks her what she thinks of her life so far. That part always makes me teary eyed. It’s funny but sweet and touching.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We finally get to see a softer side of Luke when he makes a cake and has balloons at the diner for Rory’s birthday - AWW!</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I thought it was interesting that we got to see the room Lorelai grew up in and that it’s basically the same as it was when she left - really fancy with beautiful dolls and a huge dollhouse (I WANT THAT DOLLHOUSE), gorgeous bed, posters on the wall. It’s like a time capsule but the only personal touches were the posters - you can tell the rest would have been Emily’s doing because it’s not Lorelai’s style. What must it have been like to grow up in a room that was yours but not <i>yours</i>? It says a lot about Lorelai and the types of things she has in her own house, I think. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speaking of Emily, god what an unyielding bitch! It seemed like she loosened up a tiny bit by listening to Lorelai and getting Rory a present <i>she</i> would actually like instead of what Emily <i>thinks </i>she’d like, but then she invites all of Rory’s schoolmates to her party assuming she was friends with them, plus a bunch of her and Richard’s friends and business acquaintances. <i>Hello</i>, it’s a birthday party for a <i>seventeen</i> year old! Then when she realizes she can’t control Rory (just like she couldn’t control Lorelai), she gives her the cold shoulder. She makes me so angry!</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I did, however, think she made the right decision to go to Rory’s birthday party when Rory invited her, and I felt the tiniest bit bad for her when we learn she and Richard have never been to the house and they meet all these eccentric townspeople who have known and loved Rory her entire life. Rory’s basically still a stranger to her and these people who are strangers to Emily know her granddaughter better than she probably ever will. It’s her own fault, but it is kind of bittersweet. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Episode 7: “Kiss and Tell”</b><br />The basics: Dean kisses Rory in the middle of the grocery store and word spreads fast…problem is, Rory hasn’t told Lorelai about what’s going on between her and Dean. Then when Rory and Lorelai see Dean in the market, Lorelai invites him to their movie night. <br /><br /><b>My thoughts:</b></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We finally meet Taylor Doose, owner of Doose’s Market, who will be a big part of the show (and who, by the way, I find ridiculous and hilarious)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">HA! Dean kissed Rory right there in the middle of the grocery store and she said ‘thank you’. If she were any cuter, I think I’d die. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More Luke! Oh Luke. *sigh*</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When Rory says that when it comes to boys and dating, she’s a total spaz, I yelled “YES, ME TOO”…at 16 and even now, sadly lol</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Was it just me or did Dean’s attitude toward Lorelai drive anyone else nuts? He’s new in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, wanting to date this girl, who happens to have a young, hot mom - you’d think he’d try to impress her, but he’s all flippant and semi-rude. I don’t know if I noticed that before but it rubbed me the wrong way this time around. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Holy awkward, Batman! Having your mom invite the boy you like to your house to watch movies and eat junk? I'm torn between whether it's unbelievably humiliating or an awesome thing to do. I was so incredibly uncomfortable around boys at that age, I think if I'd had a young, cool mom I wouldn't have minded if she'd invited a guy over...at least it would save me from doing it! Actually...when I<i> was</i> that age, I liked a boy and my brother and his then-girlfriend were the ones who invited him to come out with us for coffee one night because they knew I wouldn't do it...and if it hadn't been for that, I likely wouldn't have ever dated him, and considering he was my first love...well...</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Episode 8: “Love & War & Snow”</b><br />The basics: A town meeting, the first snow, Rory’s stuck in Hartford overnight with her grandparents, Max ends up in town and he and Lorelai finally get to go on a date.<br /><br /><b>My thoughts:</b></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First town hall meeting! I love the town hall meetings. I think it’s hilarious that Rory and Lorelai go with snacks, like it’s a show, and don’t really contribute anything, they just watch and laugh while other people get pissed off and yell at each other.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I like that we’re getting to see all these very real sides of Rory. She seems like this perfect kid, but the thing is, she’s not - and she <i>is</i> a kid. She makes mistakes, she gets wrapped up in her own life, and she wasn’t there when Lane needed her, because she’s so obsessed with Dean. I think we’ve all been through something like that - either as the friend that should have been there, or as the friend who gets ditched for a guy. When Lane said to Rory “You seem to have this really great life going and I don't fit in there” - I’ve SO been there. One of my best friends from high school ditched me for a guy in college and her life seemed so perfect and shiny, and I was jealous and hurt because I didn’t fit into her life anymore.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh god when Lane runs her hand through the guy's hair I just about died. Even though I've seen that episode half a dozen times, I still yell at the TV </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“</span></span>DON'T DO IT!</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">”</span></span> It's so embarrassing and hilarious and <i>believable </i>to have that moment of insanity where your hormones are acting on your behalf. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When Rory spent the night with her grandparents, it was nice to see a bit of a fun side to them and know they’re not always so uptight, especially Emily. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b>Inconsistencies so far:</b></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The guy we eventually know as Kirk shows up in “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton” and “Kill Me Now”. At first he’s “Mick” the DSL guy, then he shows up working in the grocery store and Miss Patty refers to him as ‘this guy’. Then when he’s finally Kirk, they act like they hardly know him but later on we find out he’s lived there his whole life.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Emily and Richard were talking about Lorelai I (Richard’s mother) in the past tense, as if she were dead, but she’s not.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>General thoughts on the episodes I’ve watched so far:</b><br />I love that Lorelai is a self-made woman. I don’t know if I ever really appreciated that before. She came from a privileged background but left that life, and didn’t fall back on it like so many rich kids do. She made a name for herself, rose through the ranks of the inn to become the executive manager and she did it all based on her hard work, not who her parents were or how much money they had. I have a newfound respect for her this time around. Also something different this time around: I’m finding myself relating to Lorelai as much as I do to Rory. When I originally watched the show I was the same age as Rory and now I’m closer to Lorelai’s age (*groan*). My life is very different from hers, but I get her in a way that I didn’t as a teenager. The disappointments of life, and it not turning out like you thought it would, but going with it anyway because what choice do you have? I think that's what's so great about the show - no matter how old you are, there's something and some<i>one</i> to relate to. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also, I have a girl crush on Lorelai.<br /><br /> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />“She can finally go to Harvard like she’s always wanted and get the education I never got, and do all the things I never got to do, and I can resent her for it and we can finally have a normal mother-daughter relationship.” ~ Lorelai<br /><br />“People are particularly stupid today. I can't talk to any more of them.” ~ Michel<br /><br />“Does he have a motorcycle? ’Cause if you’re gonna throw your life away he better have a motorcycle.” ~ Lorelai<br /><br />Luke to Rory: “You do <i>not</i> want to grow up to be like your mom.” Rory: “Sorry, too late.”<br /><br />“That’s the last time I buy anything just because it’s furry.” ~ Lorelai<br /><br />“Gnome kicking says a lot about a man’s character.” ~ Babbette<br /><br />“You could use your mother’s old golf clubs. They’re upstairs collecting dust along with the rest of her potential.” ~ Emily<br /><br />“Is there a You’re Crazy team? ’Cause I think they’d make you captain.” ~ Lorelai<br /><br />“To me you are the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoon.” ~ Michel<br /><br />“We can’t all just call everyone ‘sweetie’ and get away with it.” ~ Michel<br /><br />“Rory is my life. She's my pal. My everything.” ~ Lorelai<br /><br />Luke to Lorelai and Sookie: “How do you guys get any work done?”<br /><br />Dean: “Do you have a second?” Rory: “No. I have gum.”<br /><br />“The world changes when it snows. It gets quiet. Everything softens.” ~ Lorelai<br /><br />Lorelai to Max: “I think it’s very important that you know my faults as well as my many attributes.”</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What do you think of these eight episodes? Do you like Dean? Do you prefer Luke or Max? What do you think of Emily? Paris? Could you handle a school like Chilton? Do you fantasize about living in a town like Stars Hollow or would you go nuts in a place that small? Did you ever have a friend like Lane? Who's your favourite character so far? I want to hear your thoughts, whatever they are!</span></span></span></b></div>
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</span></span>SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-90650707647647882122013-06-05T00:01:00.000-04:002013-06-05T00:01:01.289-04:00That Time I Was in the Delivery Room<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That Time I… was started by Alex from <a href="http://letlifebelikemusic.blogspot.ca/">Let Life Be Like Music</a>
and Emily from <a href="http://epattenxoxo.blogspot.ca/">Inhabit Your Moments</a>, and is being used with their permission.
Be sure to visit their blogs on Wednesdays to read their That Time I…</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the birth of my first niece coming this week (possibly
today, depending on whether the doctor decides today’s the day to induce), I’ve
been feeling nostalgic about the birth of my youngest nephew, <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/search/label/Logan">Logan</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our family was a wreck when Amanda got pregnant with
Logan. We were so broken, I didn’t think anything could ever save us, but Logan
did. I was so excited to be having another nephew. Noah was seven by then, so
it had been a long time since we’d had a baby in the family. I was thrilled
when Amanda asked me to be in the delivery room for the birth. I
missed Noah’s birth entirely (ironically enough, my family was pretty broken
around the time of <i>his</i> birth too, and <i>he</i> saved us then…seems to be a bizarre theme
in my family), so I was excited to get the chance to be there for Logan. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amanda, her sister, and I spent the entire day together on
February 4th, 2010 waiting to get a call from the hospital that Amanda could go
in to be induced. They didn’t give us any time frame, so we tried to stay busy so we wouldn't go crazy.
We headed out early in the morning to do some shopping, then went back to Jamie and Amanda’s for lunch and to hang out. Late that evening, we had pretty much given up hope that it would be that
day, and Jamie and Amanda were about to take me home when we got the call.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Long story short…Amanda was induced, had an epidural, and
when she was finally in active labour, it was literally about 20 minutes of
pushing before Logan came out. I couldn’t believe it. She’d had complications
with Noah - he hadn’t wanted to come out and they had to use the vacuum thingy
to basically suck him out, so I expected hours and hours of labour. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The second he came out, the three of us were so surprised
and excited we all let out this little cry and Logan whipped his head in our
direction. He was so busy trying to figure out what was going on that he didn’t
even cry. Right then I knew he was going to be something special, and boy, was
I right! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The nurses took him to clean him up and I started taking pictures of
him. My absolute favourite is this one:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’d been taking pictures for just a few minutes when he did
this. I laughed, thinking he looked like he’d had enough of me taking pictures,
and I remember thinking, again, that that was going to say a lot about his
personality, and again, I was right. He’s got the biggest personality of any
kid I’ve ever met. He’s funny and smart and crazy and so, so lovable. <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/05/my-best-buddy.html">He's my best buddy</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In short, seeing a baby come into this world is the most
beautiful, disgusting, incredible, exciting, life-changing experience. I credit
it for the really intense connection Logan and I have, and I wouldn’t trade
that for the world.</span></span></div>
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</span></span>SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-39666536821407812082013-06-03T00:01:00.000-04:002013-06-03T00:01:00.471-04:00Gilmore Girls Mondays: Week 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Starting this month, along with my two online besties <a href="https://twitter.com/courageousgrace">Molli</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Jess_Sankiewicz">Jessica</a>, I'm doing a Gilmore Girls rewatch-along. Every Monday I'll be talking about the episodes I watched each week, sharing my thoughts plus favourite quotes, scenes, etc. If you want to join in, you can tweet with us using the hashtag #GilmoreGirls, and if you want to join in the discussions, feel free to grab my graphic and create posts of your own, or just comment with your thoughts.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Note: I'm not actually going to share my thoughts on the episodes I watched this week. Even though I got a few episodes in, I want to give my partners in crime some time to catch up and watch the first few episodes, plus if anyone else sees this and decides to join in, you'll have a week to get started!</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was a couple months shy of turning 17 when Gilmore Girls
started airing in 2000. It became an instant favourite - I loved Lorelai and Rory and
their crazy, fun, slightly dysfunctional, but oh-so-special relationship. I loved Star’s Hollow and its eccentric
inhabitants. I related to Rory in that I was shy and bookish
and didn’t have many friends.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was one of those shows that really spoke to me and had
special significance along with a treasured place in my heart. I grew up
alongside Rory, and I shared in her triumphs and failures the way you would a
real life friend. I related to her and to the show in so many ways, and I consider it one of the defining shows of my youth. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another great thing about the show: it brought my mum and me
closer. She didn’t watch with me from the beginning, but when the TV in my
bedroom died and we had to start sharing the main TV in the living room, I
convinced her to watch it with me. She had mixed feelings at first - she liked
it but found it exhausting because of all the chatter and banter and references
she didn’t get. After awhile, she got used to it and started to love the show
as much as I did. It became our thing, and to this day we still have Gilmore
Girls related inside jokes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The last time I rewatched the show, I watched from seasons 1-5, but I didn't own 6 and 7 yet. I didn't mind because they were my least favourite seasons - I didn't like the direction the show took, and I was really unhappy with the ending. I finally picked up seasons 6 and 7 on sale last year and I'd been wanting to do a rewatch for awhile but kept watching other shows instead. After I reviewed Lauren's Graham debut novel, <a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/2013/04/review-someday-someday-maybe-by-lauren.html"><i>Someday, Someday, Maybe</i></a>, Molli suggested we should rewatch the show together, and it seemed like the perfect excuse to <i>finally</i> watch it again. Then Jess decided to join us, and I spent what felt like forever excitedly counting down the days until June 1st so I could be reunited with the Gilmores! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you remember how you felt when you first started watching Gilmore Girls? How old were you? How many times have you watched the series?</span></span></span></div>
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SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-3313826546245585592013-05-29T00:01:00.000-04:002013-05-29T00:01:00.076-04:00That Time I Went Up the CN Tower<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That Time I… was started by Alex from <a href="http://letlifebelikemusic.blogspot.ca/">Let Life Be Like Music</a>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That time I....went up the CN Tower in Toronto</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I only live two hours away from Toronto. I’ve been seeing
the CN Tower my whole life, and I’ve always been fascinated by it. Even though
I’ve been to Toronto countless times (my dad spent two years in and out of a
cancer hospital in Toronto when I was little, plus it was a popular place for
school trips, and I’ve seen plays, Stars on Ice, and concerts there), I never
had a chance to actually go up the CN Tower. A friend and I went inside once
and wandered around, but we didn’t have time to go up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I got tickets to see U2 in July 2011, I was determined
that would be when I’d finally go up the CN Tower. Amanda (my sister-in-law) and I went to
Toronto the day before the concert and played tourists. We went to the beach,
drove around, wandered around, and I finally, <i>finally</i>, got my wish to go
up in the CN Tower. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I bought the tickets as part of Amanda’s birthday gift (her
birthday was a few days before and I’d given her a ‘coupon’ saying I’d buy her
ticket…yes, I’m a nerd), and we went inside and wandered around for a bit while
we worked up the courage to actually go up. I’m not really afraid of heights (it depends on the
place and situation), but she is, so we took our time. After awhile we went
through security (you have to step through this thing that blows air all over
you - it scared the crap out of me, but I guess it’s to detect bomb residue or
something?) and headed toward the elevator. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We zoomed to the top in the crazy-fast elevator and headed for the windows to look out. It was incredible to see the whole city from that high up. It was really hot that day, so it was pretty smoggy, but we still had a good view. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then we went to the glass floor. I had absolutely no intention of going on it (remember how I said I wasn't afraid of heights except in certain situations? Yeah, standing on a glass floor 1,000+ feet above the ground would be one of them), but then I realized the experience wouldn't be complete without doing it. It took me forever to work up the courage, but I held Amanda's hand and finally managed to step onto the glass. She had even less intention of getting on than I did, but I finally convinced her to do it. It was both terrifying and thrilling, and I felt good about myself for doing something so far outside my comfort zone. I even added a similar scene into my <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17258025-waiting-for-the-storm">third novel</a> where the main character and her boyfriend visit the CN Tower and step onto the glass together. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Top left: holding Amanda's hand while I stepped onto the glass and she
took a picture; right: somehow I worked up the courage to sit down;
bottom: my feet (notice my broken left sandal) and the view - insane!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I would love to go up in the CN Tower again someday. I think it'd be really fun to do with someone who's either never been to Toronto before, or never been up the tower. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Have you been in the CN Tower? Are you afraid of heights? What's something you've done that was outside your comfort zone?</span></span></div>
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SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-75805346164240342052013-05-27T00:01:00.000-04:002013-05-27T00:01:00.930-04:00DIY Maternity Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A couple months before Logan was born, I bought a new camera. I've always loved taking pictures and I decided I should have a good camera to take pictures of the new baby. I wanted to test it out first and I thought it would be fun to do a maternity shoot with Amanda. She couldn't afford to have professional pictures done, so I figured it would serve us both - I could play with my new camera, build a portfolio of sorts, and she'd get pictures out of it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The pictures turned out really well (even though I ended up hating that camera), and we had a lot of fun. The only thing that sucked was that it was January and we had to do pictures inside. We got my brother to move a bunch of furniture and we used a plain wall as a backdrop. I got Amanda to pose in different ways and we used props like flowers, baby shoes, and stuffed animals. Here are a few examples from that shoot:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can see all the photos from this particular shoot <a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/irishstar83/library/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Amandas%20Maternity%20Pics/Amandas%202010%20Maternity%20Pics?sort=9&page=1">in this album</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've learned a lot in the last 3+ years about lighting, angles, framing, etc. I've also got a much better camera (a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0075SUIOS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0075SUIOS&linkCode=as2&tag=mylitcorofthe-20">Canon PowerShot A810</a> for anyone interested - nowhere near the professional type of camera I'd love to have someday, but for a point and shoot, plus a price you can't beat, I'm very pleased with it).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you can't afford professional photography but want maternity pictures, it<i> is </i>possible. If you know someone who can work a camera and who's willing to take pictures of you, there are all kinds of ways you can do DIY maternity photos. <a href="http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=maternity">Pinterest</a> is a goldmine for ideas on poses and props. You can do themes, wear costumes,use props, or do things very simple and clean depending on your style and what's available to you.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">My tips for DIY maternity photography:</span></span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aim for natural lighting. If it's possible to do it outside, that would be your best bet unless you have professional equipment. If you have to do it inside, try to work near a source of natural light so you don't have to use your flash. If you do have to use a flash, be aware of shadows and other lighting elements. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tell the mommy-to-be to relax and be as natural as possible. The focus should be on her natural beauty and the glow she's rocking from carrying a tiny person inside her! Work with that - she doesn't always have to be looking at the camera. Some of my favourite shots are when the mommy is looking at her belly or even looking away from the camera in contemplation. Give her some prompts to get a small, natural smile out of her - tell her to picture seeing her baby for the first time, holding it for the first time, seeing those tiny little fingers and toes. Or tell her to think of the immense power she has - she's created life, and that's an incredible thing. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Outside shoots are not only fun, they're beautiful. Find an area that doesn't have a ton of people around, whether it's a forest, a field, an orchard, a beach, whatever (just make sure it's not private property!). </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Poses: there are endless possibilities here. You can have Mommy sitting, standing, lying down - just make sure she's comfortable, and make sure the belly is visible. You can do head-to-toe shots, shots from the waist up, or just focus on the belly. If you're somewhere scenic, try doing a few shots from far away so you get some of the scenery in the background. You can also have Mommy stay in one spot and have whoever's taking the pictures move around - squat, lie down, stand above her. Play with angles and light.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When working with kids...good luck! Seriously. But really, unless you have kids who will actually sit and pose, candid shots are likely your best bet. Get them talking and playing and then just snap away. You might get one good shot for every five, but hopefully there will be a few gems in there. When you're working with kids, I say don't be above bribery - promise them something in exchange for posing for a few minutes. Unless they enjoy posing and are working with you, keep their shots to a minimum or they'll get restless. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As for editing, I recommend keeping it to a minimum - again, you want to let Mommy's inner beauty shine through and not get lost in the effects, filters, etc. I discovered <a href="http://www.jessicadrewphotoblog.com/basic-photoshop-cs6-edit">this editing trick</a> a few months ago and since then I've been using it on most of my photos. It's simple, it's clean, and it basically just makes the colours pop without being too much. Black and white or sepia are often nice for maternity shots too. Obviously it's your preference and what you think looks best, but these days I tend to like simple editing, or even no editing at all. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Don't have editing software? Don't worry! There's absolutely nothing wrong with natural shots.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wanted to do several other shots with Amanda this time around but it just didn't work out that way. These were impromptu - we were on family outings and decided we liked the scenery so we just went with it. These were taken two different days in two separate areas. Both shoots were done in the evening with softer light, and we ended up heading into sunset both times, which was really pretty. The silhouetted shots were just pure luck and ended up being among my favourites. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let me reiterate: I am <i>not</i> a professional photographer. I have a simple, inexpensive <i>point and shoot</i> camera. You do <i>not</i> have to be a professional, spend a fortune, or have a studio to get really lovely maternity shots. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Amandas%20Maternity%20Pics/Amanda-Maternity-Pic7_zpsc35595c5.jpg" /> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Amandas%20Maternity%20Pics/Amanda-Maternity-Pic12_zps566615cd.jpg" /></span></span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Amandas%20Maternity%20Pics/Amanda-Noah-Logan-Maternity-Pics_zpsdc70832c.jpg" /></span></span> </span></span></div>
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<img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Amandas%20Maternity%20Pics/Family-Maternity-Pics_zpsf5dcf9c6.jpg" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Amandas%20Maternity%20Pics/Amanda-Mum-Maternity-Pics_zps707d090b.jpg" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Amandas%20Maternity%20Pics/Amanda-Jamie-Silhouette-Maternity-Pics3_zpse48646d5.jpg" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To see all the pictures from these two shoots, you can <a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/irishstar83/library/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Amandas%20Maternity%20Pics?sort=3&page=1">view the album here</a></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever had a professional photo shoot done? If you have kids, did you have maternity pics done? Have you ever done a DIY photo shoot? Have any questions for me?</span></span></div>
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SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-89566437322988113472013-05-23T10:08:00.000-04:002013-05-23T10:08:26.524-04:00Finding my place online<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I started Lost and Found a year
ago this month. I’d been <a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/">book blogging</a> for about a year, and I wanted a place where I
could talk about things other than books and writing. I wanted to share bits of
my life, my photography, my thoughts. I thought that maybe because I was
already known in the blogging world, my friends and followers might be
interested in my personal blog. I know that I love when my book blog friends
share bits of their lives - it’s nice to know the person behind the computer,
and learn about their other interests. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The thing is, I was wrong.
Not only do most of my bookish friends not read this blog (except for Jessica and Patricia - I love you guys!), hardly<i> anyone</i> reads
it. I’ve participated in blog hops to try to make friends, I visit other blogs
and comment, I follow blogs that look interesting. But still this blog is a
lonely little place. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I’ve just recently
realized that it’s ok. I don’t have a very exciting life - it’s pretty
monotonous and there’s not often much to talk about. If I were someone else, I
probably wouldn’t want to read this blog either, so I can’t really blame people
lol. But I enjoy sharing little bits of my life, as unexciting as they are, and
all I can do is hope someday I’ll have more to talk about, more to share, more
to draw people in and hold their interest. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm sure it sounds like I'm feeling sorry for myself, and I'm honestly not. I just hate that feeling of not belonging. I’ve felt it most
of my life, and when I started book blogging, I finally felt like I found a
community I belonged to. I fit in. I was able to be myself and share that
geeky, fangirly side of myself that I’d kept hidden. Now that I’ve branched
out, I’m not really sure where I fit in. There are so many ‘types’ of blogs,
and I know which I <i>don’t</i> fit into better than which I <i>do </i>fit into. The
most common types of blogs I’ve come across, which Lost and found is <i>not</i>:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m not a mommy blogger
(although I do have two nephews that I talk about a lot and share pictures
of…it’s not the same though)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m not a wifey blogger </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not a travel or ex-pat blogger (although I wish I were a travel blogger!) </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m not a fashion blogger</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m not a product review
blogger </span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m not a
Christian/Mormon/Jewish/<i>insert religious affiliation here</i> blogger</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m not a pet blogger</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m not a hobby blogger</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m not a DIY blogger</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So what am I? What is Lost
and Found? I was going to add that I’m not a photography blogger, but the
majority of what I share on here seems to be <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/search/label/photography">photography</a>. I’m not a
professional (I wish!), I just enjoy taking pictures and
sharing them. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maybe it’s ok not to fit
into a certain mold. I’ve always done my own thing, so why should blogging be
any different? If I want to show my inner nerd and talk about <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/04/my-impressions-of-doctor-who-series-one.html">Doctor Who</a> and
Supernatural and other TV shows, why not? If I want to share <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2012/05/logan-thinks-his-name-is.html">funny littleanecdotes</a> about my nephews, why not? If I want to talk about the future, or the
past, or the little mundane things that make up my present, why not? And if
nobody reads it? Well…*shrugs* That’s ok too, I guess. But this is my little
space and I like the idea of getting to do and say whatever I want.<span> </span></span></span></div>
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</span></span>SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-62133918071613788582013-05-22T00:01:00.000-04:002013-05-22T00:01:00.678-04:00Wordless Wednesday #9 - Spring Blossoms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-78640859950154053592013-05-16T00:01:00.000-04:002013-05-16T00:01:00.659-04:00My best buddy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I used to hear mothers - particularly stay-at-home moms -
say that their really<span style="font-size: small;"> young </span>kids were their best friends. I always thought <span style="font-size: small;">it </span>was kind of
sad - like, <span style="font-size: small;">'D</span>on’t you have friends your own age?’ Or ‘<span style="font-size: small;">Y</span>ou need to get out
more if your <span style="font-size: small;">baby/toddler </span>is your best friend’. I never said anything of course, but I always thought it was an
exaggeration or just a symptom of motherhood. A baby who can't talk o<span style="font-size: small;">r a toddler who talks nonsense couldn't possible be your best friend.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/search/label/Logan">Logan</a> came along. I’ve always been close with <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/search/label/Noah">Noah</a> and
I feel like we have a really special bond, but it’s different with Logan. I
think maybe it has something to do with being in the delivery room when he was
born, seeing him draw his first breath, getting to hold him when he was just
minutes old. I’ve also been fortunate enough to spend a lot more time with
Logan than I ever did with Noah. While Amanda was taking courses and working,
my mum and I watched Logan. I take partial credit for raising him, and I’m
pretty damned pleased with the way he’s turning out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The thing is…I’ve become one of those moms, except I’m not a
mother yet, I’m an aunt. But Logan is my best buddy. When we had him here every
day, it was one of the best times of my life. Getting to shape and mold him,
see his personality develop, teach him things, and see so much of myself in
him…it was amazing. Life changing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’ve always seen a lot of myself in Noah, but again, it’s
different with Logan. I feel like I <i>get</i> Logan. He’s so ridiculously smart,
and so funny and unique. He blows my mind every minute I’m with him with the
things he says and does. I’ve never met a kid like him, and I’ve been working
with kids most of my life (first as a baby-sitter, then as a kindergarten
teacher, then preschool teacher, and finally a nanny). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’ve always said he’s like an adult trapped in a child’s
body. Sometimes the way he looks at me makes my heart stop - he has the brightest,
most intelligent eyes, and he looks at me like he can see into my soul. He’s
always been that way. When he was a newborn, I’d be holding him and he’d
stare at me like he could read my mind. He still does it. It's both unsettling and incredible.
He’s very intense, but he’s also carefree and uninhibited. He’ll go from concentrating on
something 100% to dancing around the house, singing, and laughing like a
maniac. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I talk to him like he’s an adult. I’ve never baby-talked to
him and I don’t dumb things down. <i>And he understands</i>. It’s unreal. What <span style="font-size: small;">real<span style="font-size: small;">ly gets</span></span>
me is that he loves the same things I do - like, the weird little things that
nobody ever understood. I’ve always been a closet geek (that’s actually
something I’m going to talk about more later), and I’ve hidden that side of
myself except with a select few people (except online, but again, I’ll talk
about that another day). But Logan…I can tell he’s inherited my geek genes and
I love it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So when I let him choose whatever movie he wants and not
just the Disney movies I’ve set aside for him and Noah, he picks things like
Harry Potter and Phantom of the Opera. Did I mention he’s three years old?
Seriously. And he WATCHES them. He’s absorbed in them like his life depends on <span style="font-size: small;">it</span>. And he’s not just zoning out, he keeps a running commentary and asks
questions. Now you see why I say my mind is blown every second I’m with him.
This tiny little person is a kindred spirit and I get him and he gets me.
Yesterday I had him all day and he watched two Harry Potter movies and an
episode and a half of Doctor Who. I kid you not. And this is all in between
‘normal’ kid things like kicking a ball around, playing with trucks, having a
nap, helping me make dinner (ok, that might not be a normal kid thing, but he’s
obsessed with helping). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And he gives the best spontaneous hugs that melt my heart.
We’ll be playing and all of sudden he just throws himself at me and wraps his
arms around me and holds on tight. It makes me want to cry because it’s such
pure love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For all these reasons and a million tiny and huge other things, I’m
not embarrassed to admit that a three-year-old is my best buddy. I hope it’s
always this way and that eventually we can geek out together over things and
that he’ll always get me and I’ll always get him. Everyone needs that in their
lives. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Marie-Lost-and-Found.png" /></a></span></span></div>
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</span></span>SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-3047874168780592782013-05-15T10:50:00.002-04:002013-05-15T10:50:52.437-04:00Wordless Wednesday #8: Back Alley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-63202078264595377772013-05-12T16:49:00.001-04:002013-05-12T16:49:13.627-04:00A Mother's Day Tribute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today I wanted to pay tribute to the two women who made me who I am today: my mum and my Grama. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm going to be honest: growing up, I was a total Daddy's girl. I was his little buddy and I spent a lot more time with him than I did with my mum. When I was eight and my dad got sick, things started to change. He was away a lot in the hospital, and I had to become strong and brave and good for my mum. I tried not to make things more difficult for <span style="font-size: small;">her because I knew h<span style="font-size: small;">ow stressful it<span style="font-size: small;"> was for her working f<span style="font-size: small;">ull-time, dealing with my dad's business, and taking care of me and my brother.</span></span></span></span> When I was ten, my dad died, and then it was just me and my mum (my brother was 20 at the time and he sort of came and went). Sl<span style="font-size: small;">ow<span style="font-size: small;">ly, my mum and I grew closer<span style="font-size: small;">. At first it was out of necessi<span style="font-size: small;">ty - we had to stick together during those dark days, but then I realized she was more than just a mother. She was a friend. By the time I hit my mid<span style="font-size: small;">-</span>teens, she was my best friend. We did things to<span style="font-size: small;">gether, went places together, and I wasn't embarrassed to be seen with her the way a lot of my friends were with their mothers.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/MothersDay2013-Tribute4_zps0a1c05b9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/MothersDay2013-Tribute4_zps0a1c05b9.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My mum has gone above and beyond for my brother and me. She is the epitome of the selfless mother.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">M</span>y mum is th<span style="font-size: small;">e strongest person I know. She's also the kindest, most thoughtful person I know. She's been there for me no matter what and <span style="font-size: small;">has always supported me, encouraged me, and shown unconditional love. She's funny and smart and beautiful, and I don't know what I'd do withou<span style="font-size: small;">t her. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Grama was <span style="font-size: small;">another of my best friends. She and I were kindred spirits. She was always interested in what I was doing, and I loved hearing about her life<span style="font-size: small;">. I asked her a million questions and she <span style="font-size: small;">never got tired of answering them. She was always involved in something<span style="font-size: small;"> - she learned how to use a computer when she was 88, and learned how to paint <span style="font-size: small;">when she was in her 90s. She did knitting and tatting, loved c<span style="font-size: small;">rossword puzzles and sud<span style="font-size: small;">o</span>k<span style="font-size: small;">u</span>, and loved to read. She also participated in all the activities at her nurs<span style="font-size: small;">ing home. </span>She was <span style="font-size: small;">a lifelong learner and loved to figure out how things worked<span style="font-size: small;">. She was fascinated with my cell phone and computer, and was always asking questions (guess I come by that curiosity naturally!). When I was 17 and emailed her from France, she couldn't get over the fact that I could send her a message from halfway a<span style="font-size: small;">cross th<span style="font-size: small;">e world.</span></span></span></span> She was my biggest fan<span style="font-size: small;">, and like my mum, always showed support and encouragement. When she di<span style="font-size: small;">ed, a little part of me died with her, and I don't think anything will ever fill the hole she left in my heart. Not a day goes by that I don't miss her, but I know she lived a long, happy life, and I know she'd be proud of what I'm doing with my own life. </span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Both my mum and Grama are the type of people that everyone loves instantly. They have this inner light that shines through and people are attracted to that. <span style="font-size: small;">They both make friends everywhere they go, and make people feel good about themselves. I hope someday to be that ty<span style="font-size: small;">pe of person. I hope people will see me as good and kind with an inner beauty that radiates like the sun, and I'll tell them I got that from my mum and my Grama. I hope to be as good a mother to my own children as my Grama was to my mum and as my mum is to me. If I can manage that, my kids will be pretty damn lucky.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The two women who made me the person I am today</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Marie-Lost-and-Found.png" /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
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SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-3337851247703915282013-05-11T00:01:00.000-04:002013-05-11T00:01:00.152-04:00Saturday Smiles #5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This weather + this scenery = lots of smiles:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last Sunday, we had our first barbecue of the year. We went down to one of the parks by the bay and set up there. The kids played, we ate, and then we took more of Amanda's maternity pics (I shared a <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/05/saturday-smiles-4.html">sneak peek</a> last week and will be dedicating a post to more of the pictures soon).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Series 3 of Doctor Who is waiting for me at the library! Woohoo! I get to pick it up later today and I'll be starting it tonight.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I discovered a new favourite song. I like boy bands and I'm not
embarrassed to admit it (although admittedly I'd never heard of Eleven Past One until this week). This seems like it'll be one of those summer
soundtrack songs, you know? Plus it kind of reminds me of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFS5N_yAGTo">Chasing the Sun</a>" by The Wanted, which I love.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/irds1L7f7dw" width="420"></iframe></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I redid the header of my blog and I'm really happy with it. I'd been wanting to redo it for awhile but I wasn't sure what to do, then inspiration struck this week. I realized afterward that I should have waited a few weeks until my niece is born because then I'll have to redo it to add in a picture of her. Duh! Oh well. What do you think?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speaking of my niece, my sister-in-law found out this week that she's going to be induced at 39 weeks, which is just 3 more weeks! My niece will be joining us a week sooner than expected, which is exciting. What's <i>not</i> so exciting is that my sister-in-law keeps changing her mind about the name (she picked out the name over three years ago when she was pregnant with Logan, then changed her mind twice this week, including the middle name which was supposed to be Marie and now I think she's changed her mind...she's also changed her mind about me being in the delivery room because her sister is causing drama, so it's been a bit stressful/upsetting/disappointing/hurtful in that respect, but I'm kind of used to that unfortunately). Anyway, Saturday Smiles is supposed to be happy stuff!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.xpressobooktours.com/2013/05/tour-sign-up-waiting-for-storm-by-marie.html">sign-ups for my blog tou</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.xpressobooktours.com/2013/05/tour-sign-up-waiting-for-storm-by-marie.html">r</a> went out! I'm really <span style="font-size: small;">e<span style="font-size: small;">xcited and I hope a lot of people will want to participate. Sa<span style="font-size: small;">les have been really slow for WAITING FOR THE <span style="font-size: small;">STORM, so I'm hoping this will help. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What made<i> you</i> smile this week? What was the highlight of your week?</span></span></span></span></div>
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SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-58572473097663967272013-05-08T00:01:00.000-04:002013-05-08T00:01:00.538-04:00Wordless Wednesday #7: Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-27838064786757728952013-05-04T11:08:00.000-04:002013-05-04T11:08:05.954-04:00Saturday Smiles #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the first time in over three months that I can genuinely say I had a good week. A really good week. After 13 weeks with a back injury and other various health issues, I finally got out and had some fun this week. I'm able to move around better and I was hardly in pain all week, which feels like an absolute miracle to me. It's surreal...I've been walking around waiting for the pain to come, while at the same time praying it never returns. I've been so used to hurting whenever I do the least little thing that it's strange...but wonderful!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Tuesday, a couple of my mum's friends (who I've known my whole life, so they're my friends too) asked us to go out for lunch. We went to Lonestar, which is pretty much like a Texas grill. I'd been to the one an hour away when I was in college, and when they suggested we go there Tuesday I was kind of meh about it, but it ended up being great. I had a chicken quesadilla (my first time ever) and fries and it was SO GOOD and the price was great. Afterwards, we stopped to do a little bit of shopping, which was also fun since I haven't been able to do much shopping other than for groceries. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Wednesday I had to go have some <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/05/heart-flutters.html">tests done on my heart</a>, which wasn't exactly fun, but then afterward Amanda (my sister-in-law) took us back to her place and we got to visit with my brother (Jamie) and play with Logan (my <span style="font-size: small;">three-year-old nephew)</span>. Logan got his very first bike and he's so excited about it. He can't figure out how to peddle so he just propels himself along yelling "I'm doing it! I'm doing it!" It's SO cute.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Look at this little face! Couldn't you just eat him up?</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">He has a tiny wheelbarrow to be like Daddy...Jamie is doing a bunch of landscaping and gardening at their house, and Logan has to do everything Jamie does. The puppy is Moe - he's the cutest damn thing, but they're not keeping him...their dogs had puppies and Moe's the last one to be sold. I want him!</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More smiles: spring has finally arrived! The weather this week has been gorgeous, and everything is starting to bloom. The grass is really green and flowers are popping up everywhere. That's definitely helped with my outlook on life. Also, we've been able to have the windows and balcony doors open all day and night, which is wonderful. I've been cooped up in the apartment for three months and it's <i>so</i> nice to finally get fresh air in here...and to be able to go OUT in the fresh air!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After we played with Logan and chatted with Jamie, we went to Amanda's latest doctor's appointment. She was 35 weeks pre<span style="font-size: small;">gnant</span> on Thursday so she'll be going every week from now on. I got to go in with her and see the baby on a sonogram. The doctor predicts she's about six pounds already and Amanda just wants her to come out<span style="font-size: small;"> because she's afraid she'l<span style="font-size: small;">l end up being a 9 or 10 <span style="font-size: small;">pounder, haha.</span></span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last night, Amanda messaged me just before six and asked if we'd eaten yet and if we wanted to go out for ice cream. We don't normally eat until seven but that didn't stop me...that's one of the great things about being an adult: you can decide if you want dessert before dinner! Plus it's been a LONG time since I did anything sponta<span style="font-size: small;">neous. </span>She and the boys picked up Mum and me and we went to Reid's Dairy (a locally owned dairy with the best ice cream ever). We sat inside to eat and then went out to the playground and farm. The animals aren't out yet but we saw some fish (which Logan pronounces 'bitch'...I just about died...'Mimi, I wanna go see the bitch...where the bitch Mimi?') and some Canadian geese. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since the playground there is a death trap (it's like 8 feet high), we finally left and went for a drive. We ended up down by the bay and went to take some of Amanda's maternity pictures. We were taking pictures and 4 ducks came over and were swimming really close.<span style="font-size: small;"> W</span>e've all been to that park a million times and the ducks rarely come that close. Then a swan came over and was swimming a couple <span style="font-size: small;">f<span style="font-size: small;">eet</span></span> away and they <i>never</i> come close. It was so amazing! The swans usually stay way out in the bay, so it felt like all these birds were coming over just for us. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is just a sneak peek of Amanda's maternity pics...I'll post more later!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And finally almost three hours later when the sun started to set, we figured we should head home. All in all, it was an amazing week with lots to smile about, and I hope it's the beginning of a wonderful spring and summer! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-41459334872700658172013-05-03T14:52:00.000-04:002013-05-03T14:52:19.873-04:00Heart flutters<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What girl doesn't want heart flutters, right? Well...only when there's a cute boy around and those heart flutters can actually be explained. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">About three weeks ago, I started having flutters in my chest. I looked up it up online and I didn't have any other symptoms - I wasn't short of breath or lightheaded or dizzy. It actually seemed fairly common and could be anything from stress to the valves of t<span style="font-size: small;">he heart </span>basically firing at different times or creating a sort of echo heartbeat. So I hoped it would go away on its own. Ever since I hurt my back three months ago, it's been one thing after another with my body so I thought 'ok, this is just one more bizarre thing to deal with.' A few days later when it hadn't gone away or gotten any better, I called my doctor to see if he could fit me in. Long story short, he ordered tests for me at the cardiology clinic.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My tests were this past Wednesday. I had an echocardiagram (a sonogram of <span style="font-size: small;">the</span> heart...it was actually quite interesting to see my heart on the screen), an electrocardiogram (I had to lie NAKED from the waist up on a table and get hooked up with a bunch of wires but the actual test took less than two minutes), and get hooked up for a 48-hour Holter monitor (it constantly monitors the heart's rhythms). None of it was as bad as I expected. The echocardiogram took about 40 minutes, but I'd been warned about that when I called to make the appointment. Overall I was at the clinic for almost two hours, but everyone was really nice, so it wasn't so bad.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I thought I'd have issues with the Holter monitor, but it was pretty easy. It was attached in seven different places to my chest and torso and the actual monitor hung around my neck. I was worried I'd have trouble sleeping (or that I'd strangle myself in the night with all the chords), but I slept really well both nights. I took the monitor off this morning and I swear some skin came off with the tape. Even after scrubbing it and then having a shower, I'm still covered in tape marks and sticky bits<span style="font-size: small;">!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, if you ever have to have these tests done, don't worry. They're painless. An added bonus was that when I tweeted the picture of myself hooked up<span style="font-size: small;"> to</span> the mo<span style="font-size: small;">nitor, I got abo<span style="font-size: small;">ut half a dozen people telling me they'd had one, plus <span style="font-size: small;">the tests I'd had, so it made me feel better that it seems like a fairly common thing. I'm just paranoid, especially after all I've been through health-wise in the last three months. I know a lot of people go through mu<span style="font-size: small;">ch, much worse, so I'm not complaining, I just really hope it's n<span style="font-size: small;">othing serious. I go see my family doctor <span style="font-size: small;">again on May 24th and I have to have</span></span> </span></span></span>blood work done before then too. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a clean bill of health...my back has <span style="font-size: small;">been much better this week, so it would be amazing if in the next few weeks I was 100% better all around and could get ready for a great summer! </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span>SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-30728070430779727712013-05-01T00:03:00.000-04:002013-05-01T00:03:00.396-04:00Summer 2013 To-Do List<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you've <span style="font-size: small;">visited Lost <span style="font-size: small;">& Found over<span style="font-size: small;"> the last three months, you likely know that I've been <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/03/poor-neglected-blog.html">suffering from a back inj</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/03/poor-neglected-blog.html">ury</a>. It's prevented me from doing a lot of things (like going out, having a life<span style="font-size: small;">...y<span style="font-size: small;">'</span>know, minor things *pffft*) so I'm dete<span style="font-size: small;">rmined to make up for it by having a really great summer. <span style="font-size: small;">In the past, I've let things stop me from going out and having fun...the fact <span style="font-size: small;">that all my <span style="font-size: small;">friends are too busy for me (god, that sounds so high school, but it's true), the fact I have to take the bus ever<span style="font-size: small;">ywhere, the fact I don't hav<span style="font-size: small;">e a lot of <span style="font-size: small;">money. Well, no more. As soon as my back is better (please god let that be soon!) <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/04/closer.html">I'</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/04/closer.html">m not going to let anything stop me from having fun</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/04/closer.html">, getting out, and LIVING.</a> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So I've made <span style="font-size: small;">this list...I'll be keeping track of things as I do them, b<span style="font-size: small;">logging about them<span style="font-size: small;">, <span style="font-size: small;">posting pictures (<span style="font-size: small;">pr<span style="font-size: small;">oof!), and gladly acce<span style="font-size: small;">pting any kind words and <span style="font-size: small;">encouragement you guys are willing to g<span style="font-size: small;">ive.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">The List</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Go swimming at least 5 times</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Go to the beach</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Visit the rose garden at least 3 times</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Visit <a href="http://www.city.belleville.on.ca/cityhall/departments/recreationcultureandcommunityservices/pages/rccs-glanmorenationalhistoricsite.aspx">Glanmore House</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Go for as many walks as possible</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Walk around the grounds of Sir James Whitney School at
least 3 times</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Read the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Go on at least 2 road trips</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Sit out on the balcony as much as possible</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Watch the sun set as many times as possible</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Watch all 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls with <a href="http://onceuponaprologue.net/">Molli</a><span style="font-size: small;">,</span> <a href="http://thoughtsatoneinthemorning.blogspot.ca/">Jess</a>, and whoever else wants to join us (we're starting in June, and doing an informal watch-along - I'll be blogging about my thoughts ever<span style="font-size: small;">y week - if you'd like to watch along with us and discuss it on our/your blogs o<span style="font-size: small;">r Twitter, we'd love to have you join!</span>)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Have at least 2 barbeques </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Lose <i>at least</i> 10 pounds</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Make as many things as possible with tomatoes from Jamie’s
garden</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Go to the movies at least 3 times</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Go out on my own at least 4 times (this one may seem a bit
odd, but I have <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/search?q=social+anxiety">social anxiety issues</a> and it’s very rare that I go out on my
own. I’m determined to conquer that this summer)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Try at least 2 new restaurants in town</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'll likely be adding to this list as I think of more things I want to do. What are some of your plans for the summer?</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Marie-Lost-and-Found.png" /></a>
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</span></span>SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-79921296359432472732013-04-29T12:43:00.001-04:002013-04-29T12:43:22.217-04:00Closer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I saw the above image on Facebook yesterday and it really struck a chord with me. It's from Team Beachbody, so I know it has to do with fitness/health, but for me it made me think of the problems I've had with my back for the last three months. <i>Three months</i>, you guys. If you've been reading the blog, you'll know that I have a bulging disc in my back and it's taking forever to heal. I've run the gamut of symptoms from extreme pain in my back to pain and burn<span style="font-size: small;">i</span>ng in my legs, muscle spasms, pins and needles in my legs and feet, you name it. When I <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/03/poor-neglected-blog.html">went to see the doctor</a> seven weeks ago, he told me it should heal 100% I'd just have to be patient. I've been patient, and now I'm just ready for life to return to normal.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But I can <span style="font-size: small;">feel myself getting closer every day. I don<span style="font-size: small;">'t limp anymore and I've regained feeling <span style="font-size: small;">in my <span style="font-size: small;">right toes, alth<span style="font-size: small;">ough my left toes remain stubbornly semi-numb. I have a bit of pain in my upper thigh<span style="font-size: small;">s when I wal<span style="font-size: small;">k sometimes, but it's not bad. Shopping is an ordeal - that's usually when I end up in <span style="font-size: small;">the most pain. My sciatic nerve seems to be fine now - I was having sharp pain <span style="font-size: small;">d</span>own the outside of my right le<span style="font-size: small;">g for several weeks whenever I walked or moved i<span style="font-size: small;">t a certain way and it doesn't do that anymore. I still haven't been able to take the bus anywhere, which really sucks. I'm afraid of jarring my back, and I'm also afraid of the pain in my legs and m<span style="font-size: small;">aking it worse. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm just ready to get out there and LIVE again. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">But <span style="font-size: small;">I have learned quite a bit over the last almost<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">13 weeks. I've learned who my real friends are. I told my two be<span style="font-size: small;">st childhood friends<span style="font-size: small;"> - both of wh<span style="font-size: small;">om live in town<span style="font-size: small;"> -</span> that I had hurt myself and that I couldn't really go out. Neither of them has bothered to ask how I am or offered to <span style="font-size: small;">help me <span style="font-size: small;">in any way<span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Another pe<span style="font-size: small;">rson has gone to doctor's appo<span style="font-size: small;">i<span style="font-size: small;">ntments with me, seen me when I freeze up and can't walk because I'm in so much pain, and knows that I can't go out, but hasn't asked for prog<span style="font-size: small;">ress updates or offered to do anything for me. It's <span style="font-size: small;">seriously frustrating a<span style="font-size: small;">nd it makes me angry too<span style="font-size: small;"> because I feel like there's no one I can really count on. My online friends, however, have been amazing. They've sympathized, asked how I'm doing, sen<span style="font-size: small;">t</span> well-wishes and prayers. <span style="font-size: small;">It's a bittersweet feeling - I'm so grateful to have them, but it also makes me sad that <span style="font-size: small;">people who I've never <span style="font-size: small;">even met care more about me than people I've known most of my life. If it weren't for them and for my mum, who has been an absolute godsend during this time, I'd have lost my mind ages ago.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">This injury</span> has also taught me not to take my health<span style="font-size: small;"> and mobility for granted. I've been a bit of a hermit the last few years - always working, rarely going out<span style="font-size: small;">, very much a homebody, <span style="font-size: small;">p</span>lus I hate taking the bus and that's pretty much my only mode of transportation<span style="font-size: small;"> -</span> <span style="font-size: small;">and I had gotten into the <span style="font-size: small;">habit of sticking close to home. I didn't make much of an effor<span style="font-size: small;">t to go out other than to the library, to visit my Gr<span style="font-size: small;">ama (my hermit status became worse after she died), and to grocery shop. There was nothing fun, new, or exciting to do<span style="font-size: small;">, so I just stayed home. Now I'd give just a<span style="font-size: small;">bout anything to be able to take the bus and go AN<span style="font-size: small;">YWHERE. As soon as I'm better and able to ride the bus again, I'll be going out more often. I'll make my own fun, find m<span style="font-size: small;">y own adventures, and never ever forget the hell I've been th<span style="font-size: small;">rough with this inj<span style="font-size: small;">ury and how it's <span style="font-size: small;">taken</span> away my freedom<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had also gotten lazy about my health in general. I need to lose a lot of weight and I've <span style="font-size: small;">worked on it on and <span style="font-size: small;">off for years, but I would get lazy a<span style="font-size: small;">bout ex<span style="font-size: small;">ercising or tired of eating healthy. I had gotten into a bit of a walking rout<span style="font-size: small;">ine </span></span></span></span>in the weeks <span style="font-size: small;">before I hurt myself but that ob<span style="font-size: small;">viously ended the day <span style="font-size: small;">the disc bulged and <span style="font-size: small;">ch<span style="font-size: small;">anged everything about the way I live. I haven't been able</span></span></span></span></span></span> to ex<span style="font-size: small;">er<span style="font-size: small;">cise, but I have gotten in the habit or getting up and moving around often. I don't sit for long periods of time anymore, and as soon as I'm able to I'll get outside and start walking. I need to lose weight and build up strength in my legs and back so this hopefully never happens again. Any time I feel like being lazy I<span style="font-size: small;">'ll remember the pain, the loneliness, the monotony, and I'll get my ass in gear.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">For now I have to fo<span style="font-size: small;">cus on the progress I've made and hold onto the hope that I'll soon be 100<span style="font-size: small;">%</span> better.</span> <b>*I may not be there ye<span style="font-size: small;">t</span> but I'm close</b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>r than ye</b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>sterday.*</b> This is going to be <span style="font-size: small;">my new mantra until I'm better, and then it'll be my <span style="font-size: small;">mantra for weight l<span style="font-size: small;">oss. It's not always easy to stay positive, but I'<span style="font-size: small;">m getting it my best shot!</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Marie-Lost-and-Found.png" /></a>
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<br />SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-67924979010084629442013-04-24T16:44:00.000-04:002013-04-24T16:45:27.108-04:00Wordless Wednesday #6 - Mum's Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Wordless-Wednesday-Marie-Landry_zps81d8472d.png" /></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I've
seen different versions of Wordless Wednesday around the blogosphere
for years and since I'm always saying I'll post more of my photography
on this blog but then never do, I thought doing my own version of
Wordless Wednesday would be good incentive. </span></span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Marie-Lost-and-Found.png" /></a>
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SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-79100891404212195402013-04-22T11:47:00.000-04:002013-04-22T11:47:53.729-04:00My impressions of Doctor Who, Series One<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For ages, I saw
people talking about Doctor Who on Twitter and Facebook. I had no idea what it
was about, and honestly had no interest. Then, when I realized that the show
was one of <a href="http://www.onceuponaprologue.net/">my closest friend</a>’s favourites, I knew it was time to take an
interest.</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Luckily, my library
had a copy of the first season. I was warned by several people on Twitter that
it might take a bit of getting used to – that it was weird and campy and the effects were
cheesy and a few other things – but that if I gave it a chance, I would love
it...</span></span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Gdi50ZJnE9Y" width="420"></iframe> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">They were right.
The first couple episodes piqued my interest while also making me think ‘what
the hell have I gotten myself into?’ Luckily I’m a fan of the wacky and weird,
so I had no trouble giving it a chance, and promising that I’d at least watch
the first season all the way through.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By the third
episode, I knew there wouldn’t be a problem keeping that promise. I was hooked.
Molli had warned me the show would cause a lot of feels, and I kept wondering
how and when…and then I started to feel it by "Aliens of London", and I really started to become emotionally invested in the show. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When it came to
“Father’s Day”, I got kicked hard in the feels. I bawled like a baby. My dad
died when I was ten, and even though it was under completely different
circumstances, I’d give anything to have the chance to go back in time and see
him again and say goodbye. I’m sure I would have gotten emotional regardless,
but it hit me really hard, and that was the episode that bumped me from <i>liking
</i>Doctor Who to <i>loving </i>Doctor Who.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I thought Rose was
great. I did another post about this, but it was so weird seeing <a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/2013/04/flashback-friday-billie-piper.html">Billie Piper</a> as Rose - I didn't even know she was an actress! I loved the interactions between Rose and The Doctor, and watching them figure each other out. It was obvious she got under his skin and really made him <i>think</i>, and I got giggly several times as their relationship progressed.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> And then there was Jack. Oh, Jack. What an awesome addition. I also
grew to really like Mickey and Jackie, especially in the last episode when they
helped Rose. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I got so attached
to The Doctor that I was dreading coming to the end. Most of the people I’ve
talked to have said Ten is their favourite, and I’m sure I’ll love him too, but
I got really attached to Nine. He was crazy and intense and manic, and the way
he looked at Rose made my heart stop more than once. I bawled when he sent Rose
away in the Tardis, and then cried even harder during his speech to her before
he regenerated into Ten.*sigh*</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, yeah, I’m a
convert. Can I officially call myself a Whovian after only one season?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Marie-Lost-and-Found.png" /></a></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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</span></span>SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742122889872257.post-11091111989227756042013-04-05T00:01:00.000-04:002013-04-05T00:01:02.118-04:00Flashback Friday: Billie Piper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lostandfoundreflections.blogspot.ca/search/label/Flashback%20Fridays"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/FlashbackFridaysLostandFoundMarieLandry.png" /></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I just recently started watching series one of Doctor Who,
and I was shocked when I discovered Rose was played by Billie Piper. I didn’t
even know she was an actress…most people probably know her as Rose, but to me
she was Billie, a singer I loved in the late 90s/early 2000s.</span></span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Billie-Piper-Doctor-Who_zpsce896b8e.jpg" /></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From what I can tell, she was fairly popular here in Canada
and in the UK, but not so much in the US. I have her debut album, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000IWUG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00000IWUG&linkCode=as2&tag=mylitcorofthe-20">Honey to the Bee</a>, and still actually get some of her <span style="font-size: small;">songs stuck in my head, even all these years later. I remembe<span style="font-size: small;">r when her single Because We Want To was played ALL THE TIME on the radio and Much <span style="font-size: small;">Music.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/D_XI_290cfw" width="560"></iframe></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have a few favourite songs from the <span style="font-size: small;">album, but I particularly love this one - it's just so much fun. The<span style="font-size: small;">re's no official video, but <span style="font-size: small;">you can hear the song here:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2a5xDGQHV14" width="420"></iframe></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do you remember Billie's music? Are you a Doctor Who fan?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Marie-Lost-and-Found.png" /></a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Wordless-Wednesday-Marie-Landry_zps81d8472d.png" /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I've
seen different versions of Wordless Wednesday around the blogosphere
for years and since I'm always saying I'll post more of my photography
on this blog but then never do, I thought doing my own version of
Wordless Wednesday would be good incentive. </span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Blog%20Buttons/Lost%20and%20Found/Friends-Inspired-Peephole-Frame_zpsea2dd952.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Friends has been one of my favourite TV shows for as long as I can remember. This was inspired by the peephole frame in Monica's apartment. I've lived in the same apartment for almost seventeen years and this has been here for most of them!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/irishstar83/Marie-Lost-and-Found.png" /></a>
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<br />SweetMarie83http://www.blogger.com/profile/12518239232924662332noreply@blogger.com0