I see the world in a swirl of hues.

I'm back, with bigger ears and bloody pillow cases.

Okay, let me explain. On Saturday, I got my ears scallpeled. Since I was 17, I have been stretching my ear lobes. It's a body modification that is actually pretty "popular" these days. It originated in African and South American tribes and in Asia, thousands of years ago. Anyway, it took me about four or five years to stretch my ears to one inch. And I left that at one inch in size for two years, but when I decided to stretch them again it was nearly impossible. So, I decided to get them scallpeled bigger. Sure, call me crazy, but it wasn't actually all that bad. The healing, on the other hand, is very annoying and a bit painful.

It's hard to sleep, because I'm not used to sleeping on my back, and if I turn on my side my ears hurt, or bleed on my pillow case. Yep, gross. Last night I managed to figure out a position where my arm was under my head and on my pillow so my ear didn't touch anything - it worked out quite well.

Before the scallpeling, my ears looked like this:



Oh, Dominican, how I miss you.

Now, my ears look like this (1/4 inch bigger, and in the process of healing):





Sorry to gross anyone out. Haha.

Onto another topic, I was recently sent in the direction of this blog and I am in love. Her cupcakes are amazing, unique and, well, pure heaven. And this is before I've even attempted to make them yet. This week/weekend, I'm definitely attempting the Chocolate Chip cookie dough cupcakes and maybe the Chocolate Peanut Butter cupcakes, though Paul hates peanut butter. More for me? I'll post about how they turn out, because clearly I'm not as amazing as that lady. But, we'll see.

I have to go to work early today, so I think I'll go make lunch and walk the pups, then head off to work. Boo. I wish it were the weekend already. What? It's only Tuesday? Crap.

It's been a long time coming...

I know I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks. But, honestly, my creative writing mind has been working towards finishing the current fiction novel that I'm writing. It began as a NANO WRIMO project, that definitely didn't get finished in a month. Now it's 24 chapters long and I'm assuming it has about five left until it's done. Whew. I've only ever completed one other novel - which now needs an entire overhaul and enough editing for a year's worth of time... if I ever wanted to publish it. Which I do. But we'll start with the only I'm currently writing. Which is yet to have a title. Bah.

Well, today is my pug Ruby's 2nd birthday! We got her in July 2008 - she was only about 8 weeks old and about five pounds. Now she's a big girl (23 pounds) and beautiful! She's an amazing dog. My husband told her last night that he hopes she lives to be 50 or more, because he doesn't ever want to live without her. :) So, in honour of our pug, here's a few baby pictures:








Yes, I know, it was Olivia's 1st birthday earlier this week (Monday) and she didn't get a birthday post. Bad, Mom.

I think I should head back to my novel writing now - I can't think of anything to write here, but my head of full of what I should write for that. Plus, I have to finish the laundry and make lunch, then unload the dishwasher, print my resume, take it to a few places... and then head off to work. I better get moving.

Happy Friday!

I was so crazy about you, I didn't mind.

The sound of my snoring Pug fills my ears and the Boston is laying across my lap, also sleeping. We (they) just played out in the backyard for an hour, so they are exhausted. And I'll take this time to get some computer-time in, before I go back to my regularly scheduled programming... ie. Tuesday Chores - which includes laundry, unloading the dishwasher, vaccuuming upstairs and possibly (probably) baking some sugar cookies.

Yesterday I was pretty lazy, but I did take the dogs for a long walk and then made a big, delicious dinner for when Paul got home (homemade mac and cheese, baked potatoes and salad). Other than that, I watched TV and played Sims 3 (which I got for my birthday from my sister in law. I'm truly addicted now, just as I used to be with the first Sims as well as Sims 2. I'm such a dork - I love to make Paul and I, our friends and other random people then let them play out their lives, and just see what happens. I love building houses in the game, and stores and parks. Maybe I was an architect in another life? Seriously, though, I can't put the game on until after I'm done what I need to do for the day, because it consumes hours upon hours. It's pretty rediculous. Also, I've learned that playing it after I get home from work at midnight is a bad idea - suddenly it's 4am and I'm still wide awake. Yikes.

I don't mind having Monday and Tuesdays off - but I wish I had days off that I could spend with Paul. Sure, we have Saturdays, but those are always jam-packed with errands and plans that we don't get time for just us. Like this Saturday, we are going to our friends' house with the pups for a puppy birthday party. Both Ruby and Olivia's birthdays are next week, and one of friends' dogs birthday is next week as well. I know what you're thinking, a birthday party for dogs? But really it's just an excuse to put silly hats on them and give them treats, and let them play together.

Anyway, for my photo update, I have pictures of my very first strawberry/blueberry cheesecake, which I made this past weekend. We went out for dinner with Paul's parents, his sister and her boyfriend, then came back to our house for dessert (the cheesecake). Everyone loved it! Mmm, it was delicious.




I also made two little cupcake-size ones, because there was extra batter. I just put an Oreo for the bottom and we gave them to our friends' when they came over that evening to hang out.

Also, here's Ruby with one of her early birthday presents (which is already destroyed and in the garbage - it was good while it lasted). She loved it, took it with her on two walks and didn't let Olivia near it. Then she shredded the material, ripped out the stuffing and pulled out the squeaker. Oh, Ruby.





So not to leave her out, here's some silly pictures of Olivia. She loves to make dorky faces for the camera. Seriously. And these are all from the same day. She's such a goofball.

The streets are in distress - the sun suffocates me.

It's day two of my two days off in a row, which never happens. Yesterday was beautiful outside. I walked the dogs for an hour, then came back and vaccuumed downstairs, did laundry and put out the garbage. I also made a delicious dinner of homemade french fries and battered fish (for Paul), and made fresh fruit smoothies. I felt like I accomplished stuff yesterday.

Today, on the other hand... not so much. I loaded the dishwasher and turned it on. Mmm, yeah, that's about it. And it's almost 3pm. It's pouring rain outside and was thunder-ing, so the pups don't want to go outside. I'll blame them (and the rain) for my laziness today. I do plan on vaccuuming upstairs later, as well as another load of laundry, I think. Maybe then I'll feel like I did something today.

The weekend that just past was awesome. I stayed late at work on Friday (boo), but had Saturday off (yay!). Paul and I got some groceries, and headed to Old Navy to pick me up some new clothes with the gift card I got from his parents for my birthday!

I picked up this sun dress:


And a new pair of my go-to jeans, the Diva skinny leg:


And this simple tank:


(all photos borrowed from the Old Navy website, by the way)

On Saturday evening, we had our friends Cookie and Ashley over for dinner for mine and Cookie's birthdays. I made dinner (penne with alfredo sauce and fake chicken, caeser salad and garlic bread) and Ashley made us a birthday cake. No picture of the food, but the cake was amazing!







And here's a shot of Cookie and I, before we blew out the candles:



Then, after dinner, we went out to the backyard for a few minutes to check out this beautiful rainbow. I didn't get a great shot of it, but it looked awesome in real life.






I just glanced out my office window and saw the the sky is clearing up. I guess that means I should get dressed (yes, still in PJs, please don't judge me) and get started with my day - starting with a walk with the dogs. Maybe we'll see another rainbow.