Realize
Take time to realize,
That your warmth is
Crashing down on in.
Take time to realize,
That I am on your side
Didn't I, Didn't I tell you.
But I can't spell it out for you,
No it's never gonna be that simple
No I cant spell it out for you
If you just realize what I just realized,
Then we'd be perfect for each other and will never find another
Just realize what I just realized
We'd never have to wonder if we missed out on each other now.
Take time to realize
I'm on your side didn't I, didn't I tell you.
Take time to realize
This all can pass you by didn't I tell you.
But I can't spell it out for you,
no it's never gonna be that simple
no I can't spell it out for you.
If you just realized what I just realized
then we'd be perfect for each other then we'd never find another
Just realize what I just realized
we'd never have to wonder if we missed out on each other now.
It's not always the same
no it's never the same if you don't feel it too.
If you meet me half way
If you would meet me half way.
It could be the same for you.
If you just realize what I just realized
then we'd be perfect for each other then we'd never find another
Just realize what I just realized
we'd never have to wonder
Just realize what I just realized
If you just realize what I just realized
missed out on each other now
missed out on each other now
Realize, realize
realize, realize...........
- lyrics by Colbie Caillat
DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP for the mind of a 17 year old.
BROKEN LOVE - (sounds intense)
You tell me you don't love me,
But how could this be true?
I don't think you understand
How much pain you've put me through.
You say that you're just changing,
Your feelings aren't as strong.
But how can you fall out of love with someone,
Who's never done you wrong?
Someone who still loves you,
So deep within their heart;
This heart that you have broken
And torn it right apart.
I know you'll never love me,
I cannot change the way you feel.
I can only remember the times
When I knew your love was real.
I must find the strength inside me,
Hidden so deep within.
To find out where you stop,
And where I must begin.
Now this was written after rather lengthy relationship - longest one to date in fact - But when I read this to myself, the first thought that comes to mind is "Wow, this must have been written by someone with poor writing ability who just got out of a hefty marriage." So it's quite funny to read it now and know that in the eyes of a 17 year old girl, this breakup was like the end of my world (as I knew it.)
To me it is a reminder of how much I have grown and accomplished over the years. The feelings exposed in this poem feel like lightyears away, but still so close to home. I often find my mind wandering back to this place of blissfulness and becoming caught up in that moment all over again - but then I am quickly drawn back to reality (or at least woken up by my alarm clock.)
Which reminds me. I have been having such absurd dreams lately. A lot of them I have all these materialistic things - Fancy house on the ocean, fancy car, jewelry that I don't wear. I am often throwing huge parties - for people whose faces I cannot really make out - only to find myself withdrawn and ignored, and not making any attempt whatsoever to socialize with ANYONE at my OWN party. A couple of times I eventually end up being attacked by a bear or alligator on my beach or roof ( I know...this is where it gets weird, I'll spare you the details) But even though there are hundreds of people around, no one comes to my aid. Could this be a sign that I am my own worst enemy? That I am the only one standing in my way of achieving what I want? When I wake up I always feel like I am subconciously reminding myself that it doesn't matter how much "stuff" I accumulate, I will never be happy until I am happy with ME. Ugh, I totally hate it when my dreams are right. Why can't it be all cupcakes and rainbows and clouds and flying and bliss instead of this hidden underlying meaning of life shit. I'm so over it.
And what's the deal with ALWAYS being chased by a bear (sometimes alligator) I'm tired of waking up to a heart beating a million miles a minute and having to remind myself that bears and animals cannot unlock doors and chase you into your house. So annoying.
In a funk...d
(Wow, I just realized I dropped the F Bomb... oopsies. I swore I would never do that.)
But when I look at said person(s) photos, I think to myself, my goodness it certainly looks like they are having a fantastic time wherever they are doing whatever it is they may be doing. And then I start crying, balling actually. But why? I mean, I have a great time doing the things I do where I end up doing them, but through my own eyes, it does not appear the same. If you were to take a picture of me doing something I may consider a good time, It would usually involve my dog, a GPS that doesn't function quite as it should, possibly a friend, and 99.9% of the time, I would not be in it. So maybe that is the problem? Is it that I don't get the opportunity to show everyone what an absolute blast I am having because I am behind the lens, or is it the fact that I spend a lot of my time off doing adult things that are considered a neccesity and not so much a fantastic out of this world experience? Or maybe it is the fact that quite a few of the pictures I have seen that I feel envious of are taken during a "night out on the town" a pracitce that is extremely rare to someone like myself who usually only goes to the bar once a year, on my birthday, which often results in myself going to bed an anticlimatic half hour before midnight.
Or maybe it is something deeper?
Most of the time I feel as though I am getting quite a bit out of life, ya know, lots of bang for my buck so to speak...but I am also often overwhelemed at how quickly time passes, and how many opportunities go unoticed as I rush through the routine of my so called life. There are so many endless possibilites I want to explore, but my body only allows me to be awake for a certain amount of time at a time before I start hallucinating. (which for some people, is a whole other level of fun, but I prefer to be at least somewhat in control of what I am seeing and doing at any given moment.)
I fear as though one day I am going to wake up, 80 years old and go WHAT THE HELL WAS ALL THAT ABOUT?
Fat. Naked. Dangerous
Another good one, is the story of St.Valentine himself. Nothing says love like murdering a priest who performed secret marrige ceremonies for soldiers. (They had to be secret because marrige was seen as a "distraction" for soldiers at war and took their mind off fighting.....GOD FORBID THAT TO EVER HAPPEN.)

I say all of this like I could care less if prince charming (or even just a below average joe ) got me a dozen roses or chocolate covered strawberries; but I am sure if this rare occasion were to actually happen to me, I may just have to graciously accept. Nothing says I love you like dead vegitation and fat-saturated sugar products.
I guess we will never know.
Just remember, one day in February isn't special, but YOU are. HA. right :P

post script
it's obvious that I haven't written in my blog in decades. ok..maybe not since my birthday but whos counting, obviously i'm not because i'm no good at it.
I have been reading over some of the "dusty favorites" for inspiration and i really must say that I am extremely brilliant at making something out of nothing. It is amazing how absolutely nothing about my life is even remotely interesting, but I still manage to come up with some type of word vomit to take up a tiny portion of the giant intergalacitic space of web. K...that doesn't make sense but I had to try to make myself at least seem cool. I'm not fooling anyone though obviously, not even myself and usually thats pretty damn easy to do.
I have no idea where this post is going and it has taken me much longer to write then it should have as my chihuahua lulu demands to sit in between me and the laptop on my lap which doesn't make for a very comforatble situation but I love her to much to put her anywhere else. Shes got me sucked right into her little puppy scheme and its totally working.
i love everyone.
love lisa the average boring human being
bahumbug
See post titled "best before" for clarification (or even more ridiculous ramblings) on expiration date......s
See post titled "Crapulent" for a more detailed definition of this particular..............feeling?
zzZzZzzZZzzzZZ......awkward.
Am I that old?
My mom and I took a trip down to Seattle in celebration of my birthday. It was originally planned that my best friend would be joining me for a week, but she hurt herself pretty badly and couldn't make it out. Rather than wallow in my own self pity (don't get me wrong, I was upset but mostly for her having to experience pain) I decided to do most of the things we had planned anyways.
Seattle was a blast. We made every moment count, although a lot of the action happened right at the Canadian/American border. We witnessed some rather disrespectful and impatient behavior by those with Washington state plates. There is something at the border called the "nexus lane" for special people who don't have to wait and can bypass the lineups. God knows how you get into that elite group. But some people abuse the system. Like the group of girls who "pretended" they had no idea they were in this EXTREMELY well marked lane until OOPS they were at the gates. I guess because they were cute someone let them in line, but one other vehicle was not so fortunate. The massive truck behind him who obviously knows that NEXUS means no waiting, was so frustrated at the couple trying to merge into the regular lane that he drove up on the curb and the lawn to get past!!!! We were lucky that the car of girls made it through because we definitely got to hear some interesting stories as they tried to talk to each other over their music. Ladies, we now all know what bra sizes you are, what you think of each others boobs and who would give anything for a boob job. Quite entertaining, thank you.
We stayed at a pretty swanky hotel just outside of Seattle and definitely got a good deal compared to what we would have payed for something in the downtown core. We were also fortunate enough to utilize the free shuttle service it offered.
Something we learnt very quickly, but unfortunately a bit to late, was that no one in Seattle really knows where they are going, and all of the people you come in contact with in the service industry DO NOT speak English. So a good idea would be to NOT ask for directions, or really any questions for that matter. Although some of the people we did ask questions to were so cute when they answered yes to a non yes or no question. It really was surprising though to experience such a huge language barrier just crossing the border. Do all the white people think they are to high and mighty to have a respectable position as a bus driver or guest service agent? The streets definitely have something to be desired, and often reek of urine. The city of Victoria would be in uproar and riots would break out constantly if we ever let our city get to that state. But it all builds character, I mean its not called "Sin City" for no reason.
Also to the fellow in the convenience store across the street from our hotel, just because we are from Canada doesn't mean we are stupid. We know how to count change so save yourself the trouble and refrain from attempting to short change us ever again. Even if it is only 6 cents.
When times were rough (like getting lost for 12 blocks on skid row in the pouring rain...literally..) and moments of "I'm not doing this anymore" arose (like when a very sketchy person whose sex still remains in question was following me) my mom was there to pull me through (as was the glass of stoli I insisted was non alcoholic that I managed to chug down in about 10 seconds flat.)
We went to the Experience Music Project and let me tell you "experience" is an understatement. We sang in a vocal booth who converted our voices to a very sultry males voice simultaneously (boy was that weird/cool). We also created our very own rock band with the original title of Lisabelle and...mum. Lisabelle being the lead singer and mum being the amazing drummer to back me up. It is kind of one of those you had to be there moments but it was AWESOME.
With my amazing itinerary and travel planning skills we also managed to squeeze in the space needle, downtown shopping, an underground tour, and some more shopping at the mall across from our hotel. I couldn't have spent my birthday with a better person or had a better time. THANKS MOM!!! Here are some more pictures from our trip compliments a la mum of the underground tour (seriously, right under the sidewalks you can hear people walking overhead.), of the best cupcakes we have ever had (accompanied by the cutest girl who has no idea where BC or Canada is), a cute park in the middle of downtown, and myself at the space needle.




Oh say can you......see?
After hearing my moms friend Yvette's renditions, which were amazing it was my turn. "It's almost over" Forcing a smile as I approached the judges table completely disheveled and glossy eyed. After a quick introduction (aka nervous giggling at jokes I didn't really understand) I began to sing, only to....stop..... a few words later. I drew a blank.
That's right ladies and gentlemen. Lisa the human jukebox whose memory bank is forever doomed to be uselessly filled with song lyrics, FORGOT THE WORDS TO THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!!! I mean even though it was the American Anthem, it was still just as humiliating. I must say, those judges have no idea what they had just witnessed. The first time not only in my somewhat non existent singing career, but in my ENTIRE LIFE I had ever forgotten the lyrics to anything. The girl who remembers every word of the swiffer sweeper commercial from like 1995, and baby got back by sir mix alot, couldn't come up with a line from a song she'd supposedly been singing her whole life. oh my word.
Not only did I forget the next line, but I waited a good solid 20 seconds to come up with "...what is the next line???" I mean, WHO ASKS THE JUDGES WHAT THE NEXT LINE IS TO THE SONG YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SINGING? To make matters even worse, I don't think they had really been listening, because after an extremely awkward silence, she replied with the wrong lyrics. I was so thrown off. My "almost over" moment had turned into more of a never ending century.
I did my best to finish it off and PEACED OUT. Lol. Needless to say, I'm certain I won't be getting a call back any time soon, but hey at least I did it, or I wouldn't have this to write about right? And I mean it is one for the books, maybe even the Guinness Book of World Records, because this is definitely worthy.
Answer
So here it is, on a silver platter and everything.
Answer: Ask one robot what the other would say if it was asked which door was safe. Then go through the other door.
Don't even try to tell me this doesn't work, or come up with some clever suggestion like "why doesn't he just go back to where he came from originally?" Because I have overanalyzed this little puzzle to the maximum and believe you me, I have RULED OUT every other possibility. THIS DOES WORK. Do not second guess me.
THE DOUBLE JEOPARDY DOORS
There are two robots guarding the doors. They will let you choose one door but upon doing so you must go through it.
You can, however, ask one robot one question. The problem is one robot always tells the truth ,the other always lies and you don't know which is which.
What is the question you ask?
uhoh
thats basically all i have to say about that. i think ill go throw up now
Goodbye Andy



SCHOOL 1977 vs. SCHOOL 2007
1977 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his own shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock-down, the RCMP are called, Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in to assist traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1977 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police are called, SWAT team arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. They are charged with assault and both are expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1977 - Jeffrey is sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra provincial funding because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Bill breaks a window in his neighbour's car and his dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1977 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. State pschycologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some Aspirin to school.
1977 - Mark shares Aspirin with the school principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1977 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes on to College.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that making English a requirement for graduation is racist. Canadian Civil Liberties Association files class action lawsuit against provincial school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover Canada Day firecrackers, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1977 - Ants die.
2007 - Canadian Firearms Center and the RCMP are called and Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. CSIS investigates parents, siblings are removed from the home, computers are confiscated, and Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls during recess and scrapes his knee. His teacher, Mary, finds him crying and gives him a hug to comfort him.
1977 - Johnny soon feels better and goes back to playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in federal prison. Johnny undergoes five years of intensive therapy.
- content compliments of anonymous sender
DRIVERS BEWARE!

What an incredible idea. The easiest color on the eye, globally known to signify “GO” plastered on the vehicle of your friendly neighbourhood pedophile. The color of nature, symbolizing growth, harmony and freshness. The color known to have incredible healing power, often used in hospitals and waiting rooms formally know as “green rooms” because of its ability to put people at ease.
I can just see the reaction now. “Awww, look honey, a pedophile.” I mean common. If you really wanted to get someone’s attention for something of this nature, wouldn’t you want to use, oh I don’t know…RED??? Don’t you want to say something like “STOP I AM A SEX OFFENDER DO NOT PASS GO DO NOT COLLECT 200?” Wouldn’t you prefer to catch someone’s attention and “Alert” them, rather then everyone just sort of passively noticing and all of a sudden feeling strangely overcome with relaxation and serenity? I think this is kind of an oxymoron in a sense.
Not to mention the fact that now Canada will be forced to rethink their actually fairly good idea of encouraging people to go green.
I have an idea. Make the sex offenders just paint their entire cars pink. And write “sex offender” across the hood. That should do it, and won’t cause any confusion. Or better yet, just make them take the bus where they will be surrounded with a bunch of little children as they no longer wish to risk driving altogether. Less people on the road, and more cases of offences by sexual predators.
(please notice the minor hint of sarcasm, as I risk being seriously misunderstood if last statement was thought to be of true intention.)
Lulu - New addition to the family!

I am hoping that once she is better habituated at home and used to meeting new people I will be able to take her to work for company on the graveyard shift!! If you are ever in the area please stop by and say hello to Lulu!!

For more picture of Lulu please visit:
Lulu -> http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=47101&l=c3d93&id=729915124
Or sign up for facebook and add me to see more favorite photos!
Random Acts of Lunatic-ness Pt. II
Dear mindless, bored, over observant lunatic
If I am going 40 kms/hr and that is the posted speed limit, do not motion for me to “slow down” with your hands and shake your head as I pass. I kind of like going the speed limit, (I mean if that is ok with you of course.) I think I am entitled to go the suggested speed if I so desire after a 9 hour graveyard shift at an addiction recovery center. You’re lucky I am not cruzin out of there as fast as I can, so you are welcome for that. Just because my car can go from 0 - 60 in one millisecond (ok maybe I am exaggerating) it doesn’t mean I need to use it, I only do so when in the appropriate situation. See “Long Weekend Lunatics” for clarification on when this type of driving is acceptable.
Just wanted to say thank you for doing such a fabulous job of controlling ALL the traffic that drives down your DEAD END road at 9 in the morning. I can imagine the chaoticness and excessive amount of cars passing your street containing a virtually endless forest, a farm, three houses, and a treatment center. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. (But they are however, completely disregarded.) Oh and by the way, your house is right next to a stop sign, we are virtually stopped when you tell us to slow down, are you confused? Keep up the good work.
Dear dangerous, disrespectful, uncaring, under observant lunatic
Thanks for driving 80 kms/hr around a corner in your AMAZING monster truck IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I apologize because it seems as though I forgot to read the part of the road rules that states you don’t HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES. Its no problem at all that you drove me off the road, I had to learn the lesson somehow right? I mean, they are just yellow lines on a road right? No point in staying on your side for the sake of saving half a millisecond of time and someone’s life. I mean if absolutely necessary you could always just drive right over the top of the oncoming traffic and come out unscathed, no biggie. Thanks for giving me a new appreciation for my own life as it FLASHED BEFORE MY EYES this morning.
Dear universe,
I GET IT! I have to be more aware of my surroundings. Thanks for the MULTIPLE reminders. I notice, I see it, so you can stop with the signs now. Turn everyone back into normal drivers, point WELL taken.
Random Acts of Lunatic-ness
Dear lunatic trying to play games me with on my drive HOME from Coombs, nice try.
If you are going 70 kms/hr on a 100 km/hr highway someone is going to pass you. You don’t need to take it personally and try to teach them a lesson or piss them off by passing them and slamming your breaks on and once again maintain a speed of 70 kms. They don’t appreciate having to pass you going 120 only to have you pass them ONCE AGAIN at speed of 140. That is not safe. You didn’t teach me anything except for the fact you are a complete idiot. Why can’t you just let me drive in peace. Don’t cry to much that I smoked you out at every intersection we were stopped at, its not your fault you don’t know how to drive….actually, yes it is. If you ever do that to me again I will throw eggs at your shiny gutless SUV. You will be sorry.
Love Lisa
Letter to a Long Weekend Lunatic #2
If you are getting to that age where Alzheimer’s may be a problem, please refrain from driving. It is not only embarrassing and dangerous for you, but also frustrating and time consuming for the rest of us when you try to fuel your Hyundai accent up with marked fuel 6 times in a row on the opposite side of the pump as we have to keep getting out of our cars to rip the nozzle out of your hands and re-explain to you what you just did 2 seconds before. If you get back in your car and sit there a few minutes and try again, it doesn’t make a difference. It only pisses us off more.
P.S. I don’t know if you remember, but you drove off without getting any gas at all and you left your gas tank and cap open. Have a fabulous day. I sort of hope you didn’t run out of gas because I can see that imposing a whole new challenge.
Take care, Lisa
Letter to multiple Long Weekend Lunatics
Why didn’t you tell me one is not supposed to signal on long weekends? I drove around all day in Qulaicum/Parksville and Coombs and not a single person signalled while turning or changing lanes. The only person who DID signal didn’t end up turning at all, and I in turn I ended up cutting them off. After honking at me and fingering me profusely he finally turned his blinker off a good 7 kms later. Nice one buddy. I think next time a friendly reminder would suffice that signals are not required on long weekends, because a girl can get confused with all the changes.
Sincerely, Lisa
Letter to the person missing 8 loafs of bread
You left your bread of random brands and assortments scattered throughout the malahat drive. They might still be there if the birds didn’t get them all.
Yours truley, Lisa
The Zen of Sarcasm
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
Its always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbour’s newspaper, that's the time to do it.
Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
Never miss a good chance to shut up.
Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
- compliments of miss Alisa
Breathe Tattoo

Public UriNATION pt. II - Wishfun thinking...or not thinking at all?

I have previously expressed my….concern… for such an object to be permanently installed in our downtown core, but let me kindly re-address this issue.
A quick overview, courtesy of the Victoria Times Colonist. Please, sue me now for copyright since your writing skills are so immaculate I couldn’t have come up with a better way to describe it myself.
Because the vast majority of the culprits are men between the ages of 20 and 30 who don’t like to stray far off their path, the pop-ups provide only urinals. (First of all, I am appalled. So you are going to start discriminating now? Are women just more patient then men and able to wait for a washroom before they go tinkle? Just because we are decent and well trained enough to think twice before pissing on the street means we should be punished? And what difference does it make what age the men who are stinking up the streets are anyways. Does it differentiate in volume?)
All in all, I believe these creations to be a complete joke. But I will admit they will provide some entertainment at the very least. I mean what is cooler then a trendy pop up urinal ready to rise upon my command?
Time and money definitely well spent FOR SURE.
Serenity Prayer
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.
public uriNATION

As I was walking downtown with my mom a while back, checking out the heart of Victoria and Chinatown we came across this....eccentric...apartment building. It was so interesting I had to take a picture. At first I thought it was rather comical the sign reading "Please stop peeing here people live here." But then I later realized such a note was rather ironic, and I believe the irony is what makes this image so beautiful. People merely trying to protect what is rightfully theirs with another form of not as smelly vandalization, graffitti. Is writing on the wall of your home with permanent marker really the solution to this situation? To be honest, if I were to ever see this wall while intoxicated, which most of my friends would vouch for rarely ever happens these days, I would most definatley see this message not as a warning, but as an outrageously vibrant neon green light for public urination. And if I was as intoxicated as most of these people are who are even considering peeing on another humans not-so-welcome mat I probably wouldn't even be able to read the message, let alone see it in the first place.
It Is unfourtunate that Victoria has taken the Sex Appeal approach with their new tourism recruiting ad campagin of advertising the city of Victoria as "the perfect orgasm." (this is totally another story we will have to address some other time.) Maybe if we advertised things like this ideal apartment location (not to mention whos rental suites are upwards of 700/ month) along with the amount of people we have living on the street in any given summer it would open doors to a whole new realm of tourism. aka, the forigners have vanished. I admit that the city of Victoria has become intolerably out of hand (although you would never be able to guess with the beautifully kept hanging flower baskets), I believe there are more practical ways of solving problems like human excretion in unappropriate places as in this particular example, on the door step of someones no longer humble abode. The City of Victoria HAS purposed earlier in the year a solution to public urination, consisting of space age porta-potties popping up from the ground in the middle of Centennial Square. Do we really want to spend thousands and thousands of tax payers dollars on such a total waste of time? Am I the only person who forsees the total demise of such an invention? Silver metal tubes arising from the ground to inebriated human beings is just something else to vandalize, and in this case. to piss on, not in. But maybe since they have taken our bowling alley away, it will be something for us to enjoy. I can't wait for my night out of "raise the mysterious tubular time machine."
I think a far more practical and appropriate solution is to of course not only raise the amount of police people in the downtown core, which is something most Victorian's would tell you is a long drawn out debate, but also to rid Victoria of useless COPS who rather then doing their job of enforcing the law, spend their time harassing and abusing the homeless, handing out warnings to innocent people with their fog lamps on, or pulling over 16 year old boys without a license just to tell them how they used to "smoke blunts and drink at their age". No wonder our city smells like piss.
Just remember next time you are walking downtown and you smell a rather irritating odour, think twice when the "gardner" tending to the flowers tells you its just "potent soil". You could very well be stumbling across something of a more........human nature.
Intermittent Life Update
I have moved back in with my parents, but I know this time around it is different. After living in Victoria for a year and paying over 500 dollars a month in rent and bills, coming home was a blessing. Who would have known that a fridge can be stocked all month long, not just proceeding the bi-weekly pay cheque.
I have a new job and no longer have to drive over an hour to get to work every day of the week, which is also a major bonus. What is even better, is my position is in the field I have been wanting to enter for a while. I am support staff at the addictions recovery center here and is a mere 8 minute drive to work. It pays really well and I work 4 shifts @ 9 hours each a week which leaves me to have 3 days off but still get full time hours. The only downside to all of this is that I work the graveyard shift (23:45-08:45). I have started to adjust and am starting to learn I can still function rather well (apart from my motor skills) with hardly any sleep. This lack of sleep is also another big factor as to why I hadn't written in so long. I sound kind of lame when I try to talk after I have been up for 27 some odd hours.
I just bought a new laptop and bike. They are both gorgeous and work well which is always a bonus. hahahaha. function over form but its nice if they are cute to right?

Laptop ---> Customized Dell Inspirion 6400 pretty much maxed out at all the newest technology , I don't wanna sound like a total nerd and get into all the specs, but its pretty damn swanky. Some of my friends who are die hard mac fans will probably try to ban me from their life which is fine, but understand I saved myself over two thousand dollars (of money which i do not have to begin with) and if i were to pick up a mac for the same price that I payed for such a high performance laptop, I would get the Fisher Price version aka the MacBook. So, not worth it.

Bike ---> 2007 GT Agressor. Have only ridden it a bit so far, but its a smooooooooth ride. And it is also you guessed it. Pretty damn swanky.
Dedicated to the cause
Now we all know that I am definately into in standing up for what you believe in, so I was insistant to not fill up my car with fuel on this day. I made a last minute decision to drive to Victoria to run some errands and pick up my pops on the way home from work....when the gas light came on. Well somewhere in the whole facebook community they failed to mention that if you do in fact still need to DRIVE, to think about fueling up in advance. I ignorantly disregarded the litle orange warning glaring at me from the dashboard and contiuned on up the malahat ( a mountain pass i must venture through in order to get home.) I managed to make it to the top of the mountain and the beautiful summit lookout when......cough cough cough..lisa runs out of gas. What was I to do? there was NO WAY IN HELL you would catch me getting gas today! But, problem solved. I got my mom to go to the gas station to fill up a jerry can of gas and bring it to me. HA! I didn't touch a single drop. Now hows that for beating the system.
I'd just like to say how proud and not embarassed I am to run out of gas on this particular day. Don't pump gas day in the world of Lisa Marie Nixon was a complete success. Thank you to all those involved to help me get home safe and sound. ( I managed to get a free dinner out of it to! maybe I should run out of gas more often.)
AMAAAAZING ANAGRAMS
STONE AGE becomes STAGE ONE
ELECTION RESULTS becomes LIES! LET'S RECOUNT!
AUSTRALIA becomes A TRIAL USA
MCDONALDS RESTAURANTS becomes UNCLE SAM'S STANDARD ROT
SEVEN-ELEVEN INCORPORATED becomes OPEN IT AND NEVER EVER CLOSE
THE ROADRUNNER AND WILE E. COYOTE becomes TRY A CARTOON DUEL WHERE NONE DIE
THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA becomes I SPOT ONE GIANT FLAW HERE
GASTROENTEROLOGIST becomes I LET GO TORRENTS O GAS
THE THREE STOOGES LARRY, CURLY, AND MOE becomes ACTORS? LORD, THEY'RE AN UGLY THREESOME!
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE becomes I'M A JERK, BUT LISTEN
WASHINGTON becomes HOGS WANT IN
and last but not least....
TRUTH IS becomes IT HURTS
enjoy!
brought to you by the lovely people at the bathroom readers institute.
the epic quiz i.e. i have been to busy to write anything worthwhile and meaningful so this is what you get post
2. Diamonds or pearls? pearls. unless they are uncompromised non blood diamonds. then i might reconsider.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? In the Land of Women. Kinda crappy, but filmed in Victoria
4. What is your favorite TV show? I don't watch TV unless I am reminded. But if id have to choose it would be The hills followed by the news. Although the news has been significantly boring lately, but I guess that is a good thing?
5. What did you have for breakfast ? carrots and raisin bran. No, not at the same time.
6. What is your middle name? Marie
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Thai or Greek
8. What foods do you dislike? EGGS.
9. Favorite Chips? Poker chips.
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Heated question. but if we are going minute by minute, then I'd have to say Modest Mouse - We were dead before the ship even sank
11. What kind of car do you drive? 97 Dodge Neon R/T
12. What is your favorite sandwich? rosemary ham with Dijon mustard and banana peppers
13. What characteristic do you despise? in myself = lack of self confidence, in others = liars
14. What are your favorite clothes? pink headscarf that is definitely on its last life. (it counts as clothing. i make the rules)
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation? Somalia. Because if I could travel there, it would mean that their civil war was no longer.
16. Favorite brand of clothing? Anything that fits and is on sale. I don't have a consistent brand except for shoes. that would have to be DC shoes.
17. Where would you like to retire?on my own personal yacht.
18. Favorite time of day? when im not tired
19. Where were you born? Nelson, BC
20. What is your favorite sport to watch? Soccer
21. Who is your hero in life? to many to mention
22. Apples or Oranges? apples
23. Pepsi or Coke? pepsi not because of the taste because the two are far to similar, but as a company pepsi cuz it has less lawsuits.
24. Beavers or Ducks? they both scare me.
25. Are you a morning person or a night owl? i tend to enjoy mid afternoon but as I am working graveyards I better start becoming more of a night owl.
26. Pedicure or manicure? pedicure
27. Any exciting news you'd like to share with everyone? Got a new job at an addictions recovery center as support staff.
28. What did you want to be when you were little? are you ready for this? an Anaesthesiologist not a word of a lie. remember, lieing is one of the character traits i despise?
29. What is your best childhood memory? skipping. which also includes many of my worst.
30. Piercing? 8 all together
31. If there was one thing that you could change right now what would it be? my confidence in myself and i would also make myself into a genious.
32. Your biggest regret right now? not keeping in touch with people
33. Favorite restaurant? you know what is funny..i cant even remember the name of it. oh west arm grill. either that or anywhere that serves my dads bbq cooking. oh wait thats only at my house.
34. Favorite flower? orchids and lillies
35. Favorite ice cream? chocolate cerry garcia or cotton candy
36. Favorite fast food restaurant? a & w
37. From whom did you get your last e-mail? Alisa Luksic. one of my heros included in my previously mentioned heros list.
38. What was the last movie that you rented? People rent movies? why?
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? M.A.C.
40. Bedtime? when my dog is ready to go to bed.
41. Last person you went to dinner with? All my favorite IMAX people.
42. What are you listening to right now? hum of my computer..its putting me to sleep.
43. Favorite colour? pink
How many tattoos do you have? but I have two ideas for ones I want.
45. Chicken or egg? chicken cuz I like chicken and hate eggs.
46. left or right? writing: right. hockey: left
47. Obama or Hillary? what the hell?
8. Front or rear-wheel drive? front
49. Muscle or brains? brains
50. Blonde or brunette? brunette
51. Bottle or draught? bottle
52. Domestic or imported? domestic
53. Salad: before or after? before
52. apéro or digestif? umm what?
53. Mansbridge or Robertson? am i supposed to know these answers...
54. Anderson Cooper or Larry King? im getting tired of this.
55. belt or suspenders? suspenders are HOOOOOOOT.
56. XBox or Playstation? whatever one of those ones has the karaoke game. that is the shit.
57. Books or movies? they both have a special place in my heart.
58. neat or on the rocks? neat? if this is a drinking question i hope i answered it right to sound cool.
59. sandals or sneakers? flip flops
60. nature or nurture? nurture
61. matte or glossy? glossy.
62. standard or automatic? standard.
63. regular or hi-test? im guna choose hi-test cuz it sounds extreme?
64. backroad or highway? roads that say "honk to warn oncoming traffic" and "road narrows, yield to oncoming traffic"
.65. fast or slow? over the speed limit enough to be fast, but slow enough to be a waste of time to a cop.
66. mer ou montagne? my stomach hurts.
67. Paris or London? both are full of people i dont think id get a long with.
68. fountain or ballpoint? keyboard
69. MacLaren or Williams? blank answer.
70. arugula or pesto? pesto
71. thin or thick crust? thiiiick
72. aisle or window? window so I can look busy and engaged if I am seated next to someone awkward. Ususally thats not a problem cuz there is hardly ever anyone more awkward then me.
73. fame or fortune? fame leading to fortune. fortune leading to fame usually implies it was not earned.
74. pocket aces or suited connectors? eyes slowing drooping....
75. fight or flight? flight
76. beginning or end? if you mean regarding this quiz definatley the beginning. I hope this is over soon.
77. beer or wine? neither
8. live or memorex? Live.
79. One inanimate thing you'd rescue from your burning residence - computer
80. One thing you'd refuse to sell, no matter what the price - my brother...well how much you asking? j/k
81. One thing you wish you'd never had - this cough, car troubles and extra weight on my body
82. One thing you've always wanted - less fat on my body
83. A fiver on the floor in front of the counter: pocket or tip jar? tip jar if its my tip jar. oh wait, instead why don't i just give it to the last customer that visited my counter instead? to some ungrateful bastard who in the end will not be its rightful owner after all? hmm...nono..that never happened to me did it.... add that to the list of things i wish i had never DONE.
84. Name one thing you could do for someone without regard to cost or consequence -Bring back a loved one.
85. If you could start all over right now, would you? if by that you mean this survey? thats a definate HELL NO.
WHEELS KEEP ON TURNIN

Now there are two groups of people who this sign may confuse. Those groups consist of dumb blondes (ok no offence to the hair color) or complete Geniuses who take everything rather literally. (being the catagory I fall under....is that even how you spell genius?) Some of you may be wondering, like myself at the time, how it was humanly possible to be driving your car WITHOUT its tires touching the pavement. Such a thing would imply that this road does in fact not allow any traffic at all. But if one were to ponder on it just a little longer, they may come to the conclusion that this sign actually translates into "if you park on the side of the road and you are not pulled all the way over, we will tow you, so get the hell out of the way."
Rather then following the directions of these oh so clear instructions, we decided to be ignorant. I give you specimen # 2.

That's right park rangers. I in fact have TWO tires touching the pavement. Now don't get your panties tied up in a knot. We only parked to take this picture and we left PLENTY of space for the zero amounts of traffic that passed for the duration of this shot. One request though. Please make your signs more clear. You are confusing the geniuses and the blondes, and I don't know what one would be more dangerous in this situation.