When I left to go to University, our dog was nearing her end - she was in the teens, and sadly was put down in the fall during my final year. A few months later (although, with the amount I managed to get home - it seemed like only days), My parents brought home Kodee - a fluff ball mop of loving and cuddles; also know as a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. When my sister moved out to attend college in Peterborough, my parents decided to bring home ANOTHER Cavalier, and named this one Becky. Becky is the complete opposite of her sister - she’s more crazy than anything else. Don’t even ask me how many things in my room she’s chewed.

Before she got Becky, my mom always joked that since she had two kids who moved out, she needed two dogs to replace us. Turns out, it wasn’t actually a joke.

Don't let their cute looks and pink sweaters fool you - they may just be a students worst nightmare.

My sister and I are both living at home this summer, and things have changed quite a bit since adding two dogs to the family.

For instance, my mom made the pups’ a delicious breakfast with squash, kibble, and fresh fruit the other day. My sister  and I were left fend for ourselves, and ended up with burnt toast.

The dogs get fed promptly at the same time, every night - and they ALWAYS eat before us (”They’re hungry!” my mom says). They’re usually fed by 6:30, but my sister and I are lucky if dinner is on the table before 8:30!

Just yesterday, I had a shower then made my way to the kitchen to make a sandwich. My mom was washing the floor. “Don’t walk on my clean floor!” she said. “But Mom,” I protested, “I just got out of the shower and my feet are CLEAN”. She made me stand on a rug and hop across the kitchen to the living room (where there’s carpet) when leaving. This is the same woman who laughs and goes, “oh how cute!” when Kodee and Becky chase a squirrel through the garden and then run into - and through - the house with muddy feet.

And heaven forbid I leave something on the kitchen table when I leave the room (a glass, or a pad of paper); but it’s “adorable” how Becky yanks 15 different toys out of her bin and strews them around. In fact, her favourite spot to leave them is near my bathroom door, so I trip in the middle of the night.

When we run out of squash (which the pups get with every meal), it’s the end of the world and my mom or dad must RUN, not walk, to the nearest store to replenish the supply. I’ve been waiting two and a half weeks for my mom to remember we’re out of mayo.

When I was really little, I drew my mom an amazing picture, full of colours. The problem was, I coloured it in crayon… on the kitchen wall. Subsequently, I got my toys taken away and was sent to my room for the day. Becky (who is 15 months old I might add) still isn’t house trained. In fact, on one occasion we watched her play outside for a good 15 minutes, ask to come in, and promptly go on the rug in the den. When Becky has an ‘accident’ (and I use that term loosely, because I think it’s safe to say she just doesn’t like going outside!), she gets scolded and locked up for about 5-10 minutes before she whimpers and is let out again because, oh, she looks so sad.

And to make matters worse, she calls me “Kaitlyn” and Kaitlyn “Lauren” more times than I can count in a week when she gets flustered, but I’ve yet to see her confuse Kodee and Becky!

Last week when my mom yelled “Girls! Come here!” and my sister and I went to see what she wanted, her response was rather surprising: “Not YOU!” she laughed, “The dogs!”

Ouch.

So here’s my advice to all you college-bound students: be careful! Your parents might just replace you with a pet or two… and before long, they’re be shouting “girls!” and mean the dogs.

But, I do have to admit - it’s hard to stay irritated at Kodee when she puts her paws on your shoulders and gives you a puppy hug. And Becky is just so gosh darn cute when she lies outside my bedroom with her nose under the gate (see the beginning of the post on her chewing to understand why there’s a gate there!) begging to come in and lie on the bed (or see my boyfriend, who I think SHE thinks is a dog!)

So although I will admit to referring to my mother’s new ‘children’ as the spawn of satan on more than one occasion…

You win again, dogs!

…they’re just so hard not to love.

EEP!

Well, not quite today - but on Monday I sure did. I went to a press conference at the Lloyd Richards’ Hangar at the Timmins Victor M. Power Airport (quite the mouthful, eh?) for Young Eagles Day, which is coming up this weekend. I was expecting a quick shoot - bing, bang, boom, vis, interview, done. But, when I arrived, one of the local newspaper reporters had arranged to fly with one of the pilots - and asked if I wanted to go along. Um, YES PLEASE!

Now, I’ll be honest here - I just could not turn down an opportunity like that. But I’m a nervous flyer. I’ve flown a whole total of 6 times in my life - two when I was so young, I can barely remember (both times to Flordia). Another two times to NYC - and yes, I was nervous then. Especially on my most recent NYC trip with friends, when the airline decided to put me miles away from the boy AND my 2 buddies we travelled with (not so fun). Actually, make that 7 times - I just remembered I took a sightseeing helicopter ride over Niagara Falls once, and yes, if I recall correctly, it made me feel pretty sick too. Especially when the pilot turned the damn thing sideways to “give us a better look” at the Falls.

Yup, THIS was what I flew in.

And lastly… two times from Timmins to Toronto, on a little Air Canada Jazz plane - and I thought THAT small a plane was nerve wracking. Let me tell you, it was NOTHING compared to the little guy I was in a few days ago.

But the nerves, the shaky hands, the hours it took me to get my “ground legs” back, and the waves of nausea were so. totally. worth it.

Sitting in the front seat was actually really fun, and I felt fine. Sitting in the back however… lets just say I should have remembered how sick I’d feel as a kid in the back seat of my parent’s SUV before getting into the back of the plane. Let’s just say the plane was 300 times worse. I can liken it to the dizzy, sick feeling I get after spinning around in a desk chair for a good 3 minutes.

It actually was so bad towards the end I couldn’t look out the window for more than a few brief seconds - and let me tell you, there was NO way I could have held my camera steady to film a shot. Sadly, that meant missing out on some potentially amazing shots of the Xstrata Met Site (which is WAY bigger than I ever could have imagined), the open pit Dome Mine, and some other mines in the area. My dad (who used to fly with my grandfather when he was a kid) says it has something to do with not being able to see the horizon - I guess the horizon keeps you feeling more “grounded”, which would help explain why I felt fine when I was in the front of the plane (plus, I had controls and, you know, FLYING THE PLANE! to concentrate on). Good thing I’m not an astronaut  -there’s NO horizon out there to save me! (which possibly explains why 50% of astronauts in NASA’s space program get sick in space).

Now, onto the most important part of my flight - flying the plane! So, our amazing pilot Yvon asked me if I wanted to give it a whirl. And I mean, how could I say no? So, I grabbed the wheel… and he promptly let go. Gulp.

Allow me to show you, rather than tell you, what happens next.

Yup. I might have scared the beejebus out of the newspaper reporter who kindly offered to film my flying attempt (and I may or may not have squeaked “OH MY GOD I CAN’T DO THIS!” at the pilot… but he just said “Hey, I’ll level out the plane for you and then keep trying”. Yvon was really patient, helpful, and trusting  - which was awesome. When I finally got the hang of it, I was so excited - and it felt amazing to be FLYING 3,000 feet in the air, all by myself. Very cool moment. I did give the controls back to Yvon after only a few minutes though, since we were approaching a dark cloud and some rain.

I now totally want to get my pilot’s license one day (and then I’ll fly myself to Bermuda! Or somewhere balmy and warm ;)

AKA my first attempt at (cup)cake decorating - rabbits digging holes in a garden! They’re from the Hello, Cupcake! book. I won’t lie, that book is pretty much the reason I was inspired to run out and buy a bunch of icing tips, gel food dye, and baking supplies to try my hand at cake decorating.

Just call me Martha Stewart!

For the garden cupcakes, I dyed vanilla icing green for the grass (using Wilton’s gel colouring), and used a #18 Star tip to create the grassy-icing effect. I then decorated with mini eggs and spring (flower!) sprinkles. For the bunnies, I iced the cupcakes using the remaining vanilla icing and then dipped them into a bowl of Oreo baking crumbs until covered. I made the feet by hand using melting chocolate. You put the chocolates in a ziploc bag (easier clean up than the bottles!) and zap it for 30 seconds. Knead, cut a TINY tip off one corner, and voila! Instant drawing pen. The tail is simply a white Malteser (did you know those existed? I had no idea until I found them at Bulk Barn!)

I made these little guys for Easter dinner at my Grandmothers… they were a hit! I can’t wait to decorate more cupcakes - the only problem is, well, since I live alone I have no one to feed the cupcakes too once I bake them. Any takers? ;)

Me & our family dog Kodee

Back in December 2008, a fire destroyed the Humane Society of Durham Region killing more than 150 animals. 13 animals were saved by firefighters.

Sadly, the Humane Society has yet to be rebuilt - and the community’s support is needed to get a new (temporary! hopefully) home for the hundreds of cats, dogs, rabbits, and other creatures the Humane Society serves. During March Break, the Pickering Town Centre is holding “Raise the Woof!” to help fundraise for the Humane Society, and to raise awareness about what the Humane Society has to offer and the services it provides. If you’re in Durham Region - please swing by the Pickering Mall to check out the event and donate! If you’re not in the area, then you can do what I’m going to be doing and make a donation online. :)

No, not me - and besides; I’m not blonde anymore.

I’m talking about a very close friend of mine, someone I’ve known since I was a kid. This girl’s pretty amazing - she’s loved by women all over the world, is well travelled and well educated, drop dead gorgeous, owns more than a few mansions, and her shoe collection and wardrobe is to die for. She’s had an ever changing, and very exciting, career history. She’s been a fashion editor, a surgeon. An airline attendant, and an astronaut. She spent a few years in the Marine Corps, and a few with the US Air Force. She’s even been a formula one driver, a presidential candidate, American Idol winner, and an Olympic Athelete.

And now, she finally will get a chance to be a star (again) AND show off her geeky side.

Mattel announced this week Barbie’s 125th and 126th Careers: News Anchor and Computer Engineer.

Computer Engineer Barbie & News Anchor Barbie

I find this highly entertaining, since, well, I’m a Video Journalist, and my sister is studying to do computer programming! It’s like Mattel just knew.

But, can we please just focus on News Anchor Barbie for a second - and the following:

1. Her perfect hair (as The Boy said- “You sound jealous!” and yes, I am… I want her bangs! Hairstylist, take note!)
2. Her VIDEO CAMERA!!
3. Microphone
4. Clipboard (B News!)
5. Her black shoes with PINK BOWS (must have - do they make them in a human-size 8?)
6. Her… pink suit? (okay, maybe that was a little much).

From the accessories and description, I think she’s more a Video Journalist than a News Anchor (lets be honest, and no offense to her, but when was the last time Christine Bentley touched a camera?) Either way, MUST. HAVE! I mean, she’s retailing for $12.99 American (and I’m assuming that will make it about $16.99 Canadian, despite the fact our dollar is almost even right now - damn you lame retail conversions!) …how can you go wrong??

Sadly, News Anchor Barbie won’t be released until October (although you can pre-order her… which I’ll be doing: can we say “belated birthday present to myself” anyone? ;) but you can get Computer Engineer Barbie this Spring!