Upon Several Viewings of Burn Notice

Throughout the school year, I have very little time to watch TV. As I explained to my parents, "A DVR is an investment in my education." Now that I am on holidays and actually have time to watch TV, all I want to do is re-watch Burn Notice.
Watching the entire series within a matter of weeks, I started to notice inconsistencies with the sets:

• From the exterior shots, Madeline Westen's house is clearly a large two story house. At one point, Madeline considers selling the house and shows a real estate agent the entrance to the stairs to a the second floor. By the next season, the door to the second floor suddenly is a closet. Madeline Westin's house is now a kitchen, living room and back porch with only exterior doors. Where does she sleep? Where does she go to the bathroom? Could explain why house guests always stay in the garage.


• Michael Westen's loft apartment has no interior doors so I'd assume he also has no bathroom.


• Mr Pyne (Ray Wise) and Jean Pierre Duman (James Black) live in the same house

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy with Will Ferrell & John C. Reilly

David Bowie (Will Ferrell) visits Bing Crosby (John C. Reilly) during the holidays to sing a duet of two Christmas classics, Peace on Earth & The Little Drummer Boy.

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy with Will Ferrell & John C. Reilly from Will Ferrell

The original:

Bing Crosby & David Bowie - The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth - watch more funny videos

Happy Birthday Maryanne!

My baby sister turns 30 today and that makes me feel OLD.

Awesome Transformation Scene

Awesome Transformation Scene - watch more funny videos

Waste of a good hair day

I've been a little beat up by life lately. Even though I was feeling sort of shaky on Wednesday I did go to school in the afternoon. On Thursday, I felt so good that not only was I at school all day but I even went bowling in the evening with some friends.* I woke up early Friday morning with the flu and I've been sick ever since. Even through all my vomiting yesterday, I had my only good hair day in weeks.




*It was 10 pin bowling. Since my right arm still hurt from the IV on Tuesday I was bowling with my left arm. Each game I steadily got better and for one game I bowled an 88. Since my previous best score bowling 10 pin was 23, I might have to start bowling with my left arm all the time. That game where I bowled 88, I happen to tie a male friend. It was quite embarrassing for him to get the same score as a girl who had been in the hospital two days before and was bowling with her non-dominant arm.

Then there was the time I spent the day in the ER

As I last blogged about how my eyes were itchy, red and sore last Monday. Later in the morning my condition deteriorated to the point where my face, hands and legs were swollen. When my tongue got tingly and numb that is when we headed to the ER. Please don't be confused as is the time I spent the morning in the ER, not the day. Since my breathing wasn't obstructed in anyway and my throat was fine the ER doctor told me to take anti-histamines and prescribed a histamine blocker (I'm not sure the difference between the two) then sent me on my way. I went and saw my allergist and it was suggested that I wash my eyes every couple hours to clean away whatever I am reacting to.

Throughout the week my condition improved. I woke up from a nap Friday afternoon and my eyes were puffy and red again. The situation grew worse each day. This morning I woke up around 4:30 AM and was pleased to see that my eyes were much less puffy and red than the night before. I went back to bed for couple hours and when I woke up my face was swollen again. I took an antihistamine and an anti-inflammatory and put an ice pack on my eyes and laid down for awhile. As I was pondering whether I should go to school or not my throat started to swell up suddenly. I had problems swallowing but not breathing. Concerned that it would progress to problems breathing, I ask my mom to take me to the hospital.

Last Monday I only had 2 nurses tending to me when I came in, this time I had 3. I'm not sure if that is a reflection on my situation or the availability of staff at the time. I saw the doctor right away and they got me started on a hydrocortisone IV drip and gave me 20 mg of Prednisone. Since I had allergy testing coming up next week, the doctor last Monday shied away from giving me anything that could interfere with the testing. Today the doctor had no choice since my throat was swollen but this just means my allergy testing will have to be postponed. I had to stay at the hospital for several more hours after the IV was complete so they could monitor me.

Things that I am thankful for:

• when my very nice nurse unhooked me from the IV, gave me a robe so I could go to the bathroom. Fact: IVs really make you want to pee.


• when I was finally allowed to put my pants back on even though I was still waiting for the doctor to discharge me.


• my breathing was never hindered during the course of my reaction


• my mommy drove me to the hospital then stayed with me all day


• My right hand and arm are sore from the IV but fortunately I learned how to write with my left hand many years ago.


• my mommy bought me a delicious sandwich from Italian Star Deli

Things that don't help red, puffy, itchy eyes

How about crying for hours? That certainly doesn't help. Big surprise, lack of sleep seems to be a determent as well.

I woke at 3:30 AM with my eyes were so itchy and sore that I couldn't sleep anymore. I tried working on homework but the itchiness just got worse then the lack of sleep and frustration caught up to me and I haven't been able to stop crying since. On the plus side (?!?!) the constant crying seems to help the part of the skin nearest from eyes from being itchy.

People keep on tell me that it "isn't that bad". I know that I look at it more critically than others but it is bad. It is itchy and painful and it looks it. Last night I went to the casino show lounge to watch the CFL Western Final. I caught a friend of a friend staring at me more than once -- I felt like such a freak.

It is most likely contact dermatitis but since the skin around the eyes is so sensitive it really could be anything that comes in contact with my hair, face or hands. My papa jokes that I might be allergic to him.

Red, Puffy, Itchy Eyes

I don't know what is causing it but for more than 2 weeks the skin around my eyes has been swollen, red and itchy. I thought it might be a reaction to my makeup so I stopped wearing any and it only got worse. It started under my right eye, spread to under my left eye and now has appeared on both my eye lids. The itchiness is driving me crazy and I look terrible. It is to the point where I am embarrassed to go outside. Why does this garbage happen to me? I'm so frustrated with something always being wrong with me. I would like one day where I'm not plagued from some ailment. Is that too much to ask?

I wasn't expecting this but I'm a little emotional

I have admit that I got a little teary eyed when I read this headline:

Pat Burns, Stanley Cup winner, dies at 58, Friday, November 19, 2010, 6:29 PM, By NHL .com

You may be thinking "Who is Pat Burns and why would this upset Janice?" To make a long story short, he was the first Montreal Canadiens head coach that I remember. I was 10 years old when he started coaching them and he took them to the Stanley Cup finals. This coincided with a time that I was becoming much more aware of who the players were and understanding the game. I cried when they lost the finals.* He was a good man that always will have a special place in my heart.



* Interestingly, ever Habs fan that I've met that is around the same age as me has also admitted to crying as well. It is a tough time when your heroes fail.

Oh Yes, I Still Got It!: Eleven Years Later

Please forgive, I started this post 2 weeks ago and finally got around to finishing it.


You'd think I'd know better by now to catch the bus downtown on the block with the bus station and the police station.

After working late at the university, I missed my bus transfer downtown. My bag was heavy, a bit chilly and would be more than a half hour until the next bus came so I decided to sit in the bus shelter. A couple minutes before my bus was supposed to arrive, two very rough looking drunk natives came and joined me in the shelter. One with a broken and bruised lip came and sat beside me[will refer to him as Drunk Dude]. I apologized that my bag was in the way and I moved it so moved it to my lap.

Drunk Dude' Friend: Haha, maybe that's your hope purse.
Drunk dude: [Rolls eyes]
Drunk dude: What's your name?
Me: Janice
Drunk dude: My name is Darling, nice to meet you. [Shakes hand]
Drunk Drunk Dude' Friend: How old are you?
Me: 32
Drunk Drunk Dude' Friend: Aww, you're just a youngin'. I'm 40 and never thought I'd live this long [then nonsensical rambling about rough life]
Drunk dude: [Puts hand on my arm] You are a very pretty lady
Me: Umm, thank you
Drunk dude: Can I have your number?
Me: No thank you
Drunk dude: Why?
Me: I don't know you and I don't give out my number to strangers.
Drunk dude: But how can I not be a stranger if you don't give me a chance to get to know you? Give me you number.
Me: No thank you, I'm too busy with school for dating.
Drunk Drunk Dude' Friend: Hey, want buy a 40[oz] of Crown Royal for $20? [Proceeds to pull a large bottle out of his pants]
Me: no thank you, I'm just a poor student.
Drunk dude: C'mon
Drunk Drunk Dude' Friend: Leave her allow, she's poor like us.

Drunk dude's friend pulls another bottle out of his pants, he opens it and drinks from it. The two start fighting over the fact that Drunk dude's friend started drinking from a bottle they were suppose to sell. They were ready to start fighting in the bus shelter and they were blocking the entrance. They finally settle that they can drink one and sell one.


Drunk dude: I should push you under a bus because you won't give me your number
Me: You don't want to do that
Drunk dude: I'm just jokin'
Me: What bus are you waiting for? [At this point I was ready to catch the next bus that came along just to get away from them as long it wasn't the one they were getting on]
Drunk dude's friend starts telling a long rambling story about where they are headed but never reveals which bus they are waiting for. Fortunately my bus arrives and I can get away.

May-B and I had been texting plans to get together. Immediately when I got on the bus, I texted her to tell what happened. She didn't know how I could turn down "Pants Crown Royal" for $20.*

Read about the time May-B and I were hit on by drunk construction workers at a pool hall 11 years ago.

*For serious, how could he keep 2 40oz bottles of Crown Royal in his pants? How could someone walk like that? How are his pants not falling down?

"Whip My Hair" with Neil Young & Bruce Springsteen

A duet for the ages...

Best Batman Costume Ever

Source: Mason & Remy Blog, 93.7 The Bull

Peter Puck - How To Play The Game (episode 1)

Songs for Staying Inside

I made an ITunes playlist inspired by a blustery day. Some songs are pretty obvious choices while others you need to hear them to realize they are perfect for a quiet night staying in. I'm open for suggests for additions or subtractions to the list.

Snow (Hey Oh) - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Brian Wilson - Barenaked Ladies
Long Winter - Cuff The Duke
Parasite - Nick Drake
Karma Coma - Massive Attack & Tricky
Shades Of Gray - The Monkees
Who Needs Forever (Thievery Corporation Mix)- Astrud Gilberto
Space Oddity - David Bowie
One Million Miles Away - J Ralph
Song to Sing When I'm Lonely - John Frusciante
Norwegian Wood - The Beatles
Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson
Starseed - Our Lady Peace
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice
Hurdy Gurdy Man - Donovan
Shh - Frou Frou
In My Room - The Beach Boys
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Caide Sin Don Te Sin - Altan
Stormy Weather - Billy Holiday
Zombie - The Cranberries
Last Kiss Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
Midnight Cowboy - Henry Mancini
Ordinary World - Duran Duran
Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles) - Arcade Fire
Wonderwall - Oasis
Possession - Sarah McLachlan
Two Step (acoustic) - Dave Matthews
Rocket Man - Elton John
Tell Me Something Good - Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
Agoraphobia - Incubus
Tales of Brave Ulysses - Cream
Tangerine - Led Zeppelin
At Last - Etta James
Snowsuit Sound - Sloan
Of the Girl - Pearl Jam
My Friends - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
After The Goldrush - Prelude

Photoshop skills

This evening I was looking thorough some old teaching files when I came across the first image I edited in Photoshop 6:

Edited in Photoshop Friday, December 13, 2002 2:49 PM


Original Photo

It may not look like much of a change but the edited image probably took me over 5 hours to get right. I wish I had written down the steps I used to change the look of the water because I could never replicate it again. I used at least 2 filters and 3 or 4 lighting effects in a very specific order. I was so proud because it was the first time I created something of my very own.

Wow, it has almost been 8 years since I learned how to use Photoshop 6 using a copy of Photoshop 5 Classroom in a Book . Adobe had a special promotion that fall where schools and educators could get a copy of any Adobe program for $30 US. I got copies of Photoshop, Illustrator, Page Maker, Acrobat Pro and Live Motion.

I finished learning Photoshop well enough to teach it to my grade 10, 11 and 12 technology classes in the new semester in February 2003. It might seem strange to teach all the grades the same thing but it bought me sometime while I learned Illustrator. I justified what I was doing with a plan
Grade 10 - Photoshop
Grade 11 - Pagemaker
Grade 12 - Illustrator
and I needed to phase in the learning so the classes could get "in step".

The first year teaching Photoshop was dreadful. It is a very difficult program especially when you get into color correction, removing or replacing elements and creating your own brushes. Later in the semester some of the grade 11s were asked by a recruiter from a design college what programs they knew how to use. The recruiter was impressed by what they could already do in Photoshop and finally my students understood they knew how to use an industry standard program that people pay thousands of dollars to learn. Suddenly my job became much easier.

Magnetic Grapes

This evening Dad and I troubleshot my demonstration on the repulsion of grapes when exposed to a diamagnet (magnet with a north and South pole). The instructor for my science education class has never been able to get it work before but we did :)

TBS Promo: Conan Washes His Desk!

The Zach Galifianakis Swimsuit Calendar: vanityfair.com

The Zach Galifianakis Swimsuit Calendar: vanityfair.com

Kids Re-Enact Project Runway

Someone is on Ky's mindgrapes

Photos by Ky
Awesomeness by Janny