Trip to the Big City :)

Saturday morning, I got up around 730 and ran around the house trying to do all the last minute things before I left for my trip to Vancouver. Around 10am Ashleigh arrived, we put her stuff in the car, and off we went. I was slightly nervous about driving into Vancouver, but I figured, I had map quested the directions so I should be fine. The first stop was going to be at the Olive Garden in Langley. Well we got off the highway no problem, but within a couple minutes we were lost. Its amazing how if you miss one turn, you mess up everything! Anyway I was able to fix the mistake quickly and we got to the Olive Garden, where we met up with the girls friend Leah, and we had lunch. I had never been to an Olive Garden, and food was amazing. So after lunch we got back in the car, where I again got lost (oops) but once I figured out where we were going we were back on the freeway. We experienced a bit of the rush hour traffic but it wasn't too bad. Finding the hotel turned out to be not so bad. So we pulled into the Blue Horizon on Robson just after 5, checked in and took our bags to our room. We had a really nice room, with a view of Robson street so that was cool. So we decided that we should go for a walk. Bad idea. We didn't think to grab the umbrella out of the trunk of my car, so within a few min we were pretty wet. We tried to stay undercover as much as possible though. So we gave up on Shopping, went to Moxies for dinner and called it a night.

Day 2
On Sunday we slept in, took our time getting ready and walked down to the skytrain station, where we caught the train to Metrotown. However along the way we bought some umbrellas because there was no way we were going to spend a second day looking like drowned rats! I was able to meet up with Tammy and Tom, and then later on our cousin Kelsey met up with us as well. It was good to see everyone. And I got to go to Old Navy so it was a win win situation!! When we finished up at metrotown we got back on the sky train, and went back to the hotel to rest, and drop off our stuff. Then that night we went to Red Robins for dinner (another highlight for me) and had a fairly early night.

Day 3

Once again we slept in. We woke up to see the sun shining and I couldn't have been any happier. We decided to walk down to Pacific Centre, and wander around that mall for a bit, but there wasn't as much in it as I remembered. So then we just walked back up Robson and hit a few more stores that we wanted to. Then we came back to the hotel room to rest up and freshen up for the big night!! We met Kelsey for dinner at Milestones, and then she walked with us to GM Place... where I got to see the Pussycat Dolls and Christina Aguilera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Pussycat Dolls were pretty much exactly what I expected. They were originally show girls, so I sort of felt like I was at a strip club with a couple of girls singing haha... Then there was a short intermission and then the real show began.
The concert was unbelievable. Christina is amazing. Plus it was such a cool experience to see a concert at GM Place, I have never seen so many people in my life.. She performed for about an hour and a half, and I was seriously in my glory the whole night. After the show, we just went back to the hotel room and began to pack and talked about how much fun we had!


Day 4
Well this was sort of a sad day. I was so excited for this little road trip so when it came to an end I was disappointed. It all came so fast. But we got up fairly early and checked out by 930. Then we drove to IKEA and shopped for two hours (once again I was in my glory). I seriously love that place. I picked up a few things, and mentally added at least a hundred things to my wish list!!! Then we drove to Chilliwack and stopped at the Best Western for lunch, where we met up with my mom and my Aunt Kim. So that was really nice. Then we followed mom back to Grandma's and had a short visit with her before we were back on the road. The trip home took a lot longer than it should have though because there had been a rock slide near hope, so there was a detour. And then lucky for me I hit some snow at the tollbooth and fog... always so much fun. So we finally got home around 630!! It was a long day but it was worth it.
This trip was one so much fun... I am so glad I got to see Christina live.. and I am am hoping to go to another concert at GM place soon :)

Countrify My Soul!

Well last night I attended the Emerson Drive concert, and I had so much fun. Since August when a country radio station started up here again in Kamloops, I have sort of crossed over, and I have begun to really enjoy country music. I was always a fan, but not as much as I am now. So when I first heard that Emerson Drive was coming to town, I was excited, but didn't think anyone would go with me.. Well in the middle of February when I heard there were still tickets (perhaps not always a good sign) I figured what the heck. So Julia and I bought tickets for Paula's birthday. So last night the three of us went for dinner at Kelly O's (such good food) and then made our way to the Interior Savings Building. The first act was a girl named Jessie Ferrall who is sort of just breaking out into the scene. I thought she was pretty good, but she only sang 5 songs. Out next was Shane Yellowbird... Appearantly I don't listen to the country station enough because I was sort of unsure who he was too.. But it turns out he has only been around this last year, and only really has one single out (which once I heard I recognized.).. Finally around 9pm it was the moment we were all waiting for... Emerson Drive on stage. The energy the lead singer Brad Mates had was absolutly amazing. He kept going for an hour and a half. They have a fiddle player who was also amazing, and the keyboard player is from kamloops which is an added bonus. The first few songs they sang, I recognzied (since I do have their new album Countrfied Soul) but I didn't really know the words so I sort of just sat back and enjoyed. Then they sang a couple of their older songs, including I think one of my favorite songs "If you were my girl". They ended the show with their newest hit "Countrfied Soul" which was done really well, and it was amazing to see it live... however as all bands do, I knew they were coming back for an encore, since I know they do a cover of that song "Devil down in Georgia" (or whatever it is called) which showed off once again the amazing talents of the fiddle player. And then last song of the encore was another great song by them "Still got Yesterday".
One thing I found interesting about this concert was that instead of a mosh pit at the front of the stage where everyone pushes and shoves, and the back half of the floor (where there were no seats) there were many of the country fans, two stepping and just having a great time which was nice to see.. And I think one of the highlights for us 3 girls audience wise, was watching the little girl in front of us. She had to have been only about 8 years old, but she was singing along to every song, clapping her hands, and just really enjoying the show. So it was a show for all ages :) Emerson Drive is coming back for Merritt Mountain Music fest, and I am now kind of kicking myself, I wish I had gotten tickets.. Oh well in the meantime I can continue to enjoy the album, and the memories of a great evening!!

Children and their imaginations

Tuesday night I was invited to go to the movies with my sister and a friend of hers. Her friend wanted to go see Bridge to Terabitha. To be honest, I had seen the previews, but never really paid attention to the movie. I thought it is geared for children, and never gave it much more. As a teacher I suppose I should know that it is based on a book haha... Sheri had read it when she was younger, and so she said that we would all enjoy the movie. So I had looked up the movie online, to get an idea what it was about and away I went. I really enjoyed the movie. It brought me back to remembering how great it was to be a child. And to just see how the minds of children work. The stories is about two children, who turn to each other for friendship and a reason to escape the real world. Together they create this magical world that they call Terabithia. I got so caught up in the story, that one can almost believe that this kingdom they have created really does exist. While watching the movie, the teacher in me started thinking about how I could take this novel, and bring it into the classroom, and started mentally coming up with possible lessons! My sister said for her it brought her back to her childhood as well. Her and Sheri used to create magical places, and just use their imaginations and play. In some ways I wonder if children still do that today. I mean I know that they all have imaginations, but sometimes i wonder if in today's society more children are watching tv, playing video games etc. Instead of having the freedom to just play and keep their minds open, and let their imaginations run wild.

Oscar Movies...

So my mom and I decided that we would like to take in as many Oscar nomniated movies, before the actual show.. Every year we actually say this, saying we want to see the movies that are being nominated. So far I am off to a rocky start. I saw Little Miss Sunshine just after Christmas and it is nominated for a few awards. It is actually a really cute movie. I didn't know much about it when we started it, but had me laughing and crying.... Most recently my mom and I had an evening out and went and saw Dream Girls. I have heard so much hype about the movie, that I had to check it out. The biggest buzz of course is about American Idol contestent Jennifer Hudson. I have to say she was not one of my fav's during season 3. However, she got rid of any doubt in my mind... this girl can sing. In the movie when she sings, "and I am telling you"... she actually gave me goosebumps. She was absolutly phenomal... I know she won the Golden Globe best supporting actress, and I truly believe that she deserves to take the Oscar home in that category as well. I am not a huge Beyonce fan, but I really liked her in this movie as well.. Also Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx... both did superb jobs.. I liked the movie so much I went out the next day and bought the soundtrack. I would like to go see the movie again, but I am not too sure that I can convince either of my sisters to go. But I highly recommend this movie.

few decent people left in this world...

So last night I hung out with my friend Amanda. She came and picked me up, we did a few errands, then we went to Starbucks to pick up coffee before heading off to her boyfriends indoor soccer game. It was a good night, and his team won which is always a bonus! After that she took me home, I came home went to bed, end of story. So this morning I get up, and I don't get a call for teaching (big shocker there) so I figure I will drive my little sister to work. But I also remembered I had the money I owed her friend. So I reach into my purse... and the wallet is not there. So then I am like that is weird. So I start digging through the purse (and it isn't that big..) and I dont' have it. So i call my friend and leave her a msg asking if my wallet was in her car... but she didn't answer... So I was kept thinking to myself I hope it is in her car... Anyway so around 1030 this morning the phone rings and it is the soccer dome saying that someone turned in my wallet! I guess it somehow fell out of my purse in the parking lot.. The good news is that it was turned in and everything (including the $70 that Julia's friend gave me for concert tickets) was in there.. The bad news is that it was driven over so the wallet is kind of ruined. which sucks since it is brand new and I just got it for Christmas... But I guess I should just be thankful that there was an honest person out last night or this morning, that found my wallet and turned it in without taking anything!!!

Catch and Release

On Saturday night, my sister and I attempted to go to the movies to see Catch and Release. However, it was so busy there, and the other person who was meeting us was late, so we didn't get to see the movie. So we went for appies instead. Last night we tried to go again, and this time we were successful. For those of you who don't knwo the story line it is about a girl named Grey (played by Jennifer Garner) who's fiance dies on his batchelor party weekend. So it is her story discovering herself and who he really was. The movie had its moments where you were on the verge of tears, but thanks to Kevin Smith, he had you laughing moments later. I really like Jennifer Garner as an actress so I enjoyed this movie. But I think for me Kevin Smith made the movie. I find him very funny, and I usually enjoy the films that he is a part of. I am not sure that this movie is necessarily one to rush to the theatres to see, but it is def. worth the rent!

Playstation games...

So last week Julia decided to buy PlayStation 2. I know, I know we are behind in the times, they just released the third one. But before that we had game cube, and then regular nintento! Anyway the reason she wanted to buy a ps2 is because she wanted to play this game called Singstar. So she bought the game station at Costco which came with an ATV racing game and Basketball, and my mom bought her the singstar game. So that day we came home, and she was like you have to just try and sing. And I was like I can't sing.. But I figured it would be fun. Which it is. We spent a couple of hours just singing along, challenging each other for points. Cuz you see you don't have to actually be good at singing to win. All you have to do is be able to follow the tune to a degree, whether it is in tune or not doesn't seem to matter! Then the other day my other sister came home with the American Idol game. So it is another singing game, but this time you get to pick your character and you get to sing in front of the judges! Let me tell you the game is addicting... And last but not least, two days ago Julia came home with Dance Dance Revolution!! I have learned that not only can I not sing, I have no coordination whatsoever. But it is tons of fun. Plus I figure it can help with the coordination, and the active moment, is the closest I am going to get to working out! I am too lazy to go jump on the treadmill, but to make a fool of myself on a dance pad is right up my alley :) Like this afternoon Paula and I danced for an hour. And I actually started to get good! yay for me. So while I may not be getting any teaching calls, I am learning how to dance and how to sing :) haha... maybe I should drop the teaching thing and just audition for Canadian Idol........ YAH right!!