A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT

Apparently yesterday was a day to blog about war - yesterday being the first day of spring. As with most things in my life, I am late but here are my thoughts...

As a Canadian citizen, I am proud that we did not jump on the US bandwagon to invade Iraq even though we faced a barrage of international pressure. Osama was in Afghanistan and that is where the focus should have stayed. We will never know if the US had kept their forces in Afghanistan, would Osama have been in custody by now.

I have never supported the invasion of Iraq as I thought giving the UN inspectors a bit more time would not have hurt anyone, let put soldiers lives in extreme danger. I have often wondered that with a bit more prudences, how would the outcome have changed. Many soldiers and their families have paid the ultimate sacrifice to be in this unjust war and those who are still fighing deserve to come home. I am tired of the death counts and the debate. Bring the troops home!

Unfortunately, if we leave now Iraq and Afghanistan would be left in ruins and the Taliban and other horrific forms of government would come back in the vacuum left behind. All of the countries that have troops over there, whether in Iraq or Afghanistan, need to assist these countries and their citizens in setting up responsible government that provides a secure place for all to live and still respect their traditions and religion.

End the war! Help these countries live in peace! Bring our troops home!

Peaceful kisses to all,
DiDi

THUNK = EXPENSIVE!

Last week was an expensive week for DiDi - quite unintentionally I might add. No I did not go to Holts and purchase a pair absolutely gorgeous but ridiculously expensive Christian Louboutin shoes or a new Burberry or Kate Spade purse. What did I spend my hard earned bucks on you ask??? MY CAR!!!!!

I was working at our downtown office as I had a course that evening (and also needed to get my legs waxed and my esthetician's office is downtown) and at the end of the day, I go to the garage and drive my car out to the street. As I approach the stop sign, I hear a loud THUNK! I think to myself - What in the name of all that is holy did I just run over?

I get out of the car and see nothing so get back in and try to go forward. But my car won't let me go forward. I try to reverse but my car won't let me reverse. At this point - I realize that this is NOT GOOD and will undoubtably cost me a lot of money.

Thus begins the many calls and I realize how much I love my cell phone because of the vast number of calls I had to make after the THUNK made me sit in my car waiting for a tow truck.

Here is my call summary -
1. Wilson to give him the update and arrange for him to pick me up at the subway
2. CAA to get them to come and tow my car away
3. Our garage to let them know of the situation and that the car will be arriving and to fix her.
4. Henry's Camera where my class was being held and let them know that I won't be coming and that I need to reschedule.
5. ReRe to ask her to pick me up the next day on her way to work and also just to vent
6. Brian - just because I was close to his building and I was bored

Finally CAA arrives and they tow my car to the garage and I walk to the subway to go home. I get to the station and the escalator is broken and have to walk up 5 GODDAMNED FLIGHTS OF STAIRS! This would be nothing if I did not have 50lbs of crap that I am lugging around as it could not stay in the car. I get to the top of the stairs utterly exhausted and Wilson is across the street with Maggie getting gas in the car. He takes me home, pours me a large glass of wine and makes me dinner. God I love that man!

The next day I get the call from the garage that my brakes had come apart in the back and that is what is making my car not move. It also seems that it is about to happen with the front brakes as well. FUCKING HELL! Total cost of the THUNK = $735.00. I spent $735 and it wasn't on clothes, shoes, purses or accessories. WTF????

Sure, now I can drive my car and it has new brakes - blah, blah, blah. I would rather have spent the money on shoes - I am a girl after all!

Wish I bought expensive shoes kisses,
DiDi

I HEART NORDSTROMS!

On our recent trip to Denver, that my lovely husband gave me for Valentine's Day, I had some wonderful bonding time with my beloved friend Kacy. Where did we spend such time? Well dear internet, let me tell you. We spent it in Nordstroms! And may I say so that all may know - I LOVE NORDSTROMS AND NORDSTROMS LOVES ME!!!!

We stroll and look and look and stroll and then find ourselves in the happiest place on earth - the shoe department. So many pretty styles to choose from and lovely sales people who are a delight and bring you your size and any shoes that they think you might be interested in.

Of course I find many pairs that I love but am on the hunt for a pretty pair of red, patent leather slingbacks that are all the rage for spring. Bingo!!! There they are along with another delightful pair of pretty blue polka dotted shoes.

Aren't they just the prettiest shoes ever!

Pretty shoes!

Needless to say I can't wait for nice weather so I can wear them. I have outfits all prepared for their first outing.

Be gone with you damn winter so that these pretty shoes can be on my feet not in their box.

Wishing for spring kisses to all,

DiDi

VALENTINE'S DAY, THE WILSON WAY

My beloved husband continues to amaze me. He surprised me but good for Valentine's Day! He got me a trip to Denver, CO and it fit perfectly.

In years past, we used to go and visit my dear friend Kacy in Denver. It was on its way to becoming an annual tradition then Kacy and her husband split up and then Wilson and I split up as well.

Well it is a new year and Kacy is with a dee-lightful man named Ed who I adore and of course, Wilson and I are now married. Don't you just love happy endings! Anyhoo, Wilson knows how much I love Kacy and how I love to see her, visit with her and since she lives in Denver we don't get to hang out very much. So, he went and confirmed all the details with Kacy, arranged for tickets and then told me all about it. What a guy!

Well we went and it was amazing! Not the beginning part where our plane was delayed by 2 hours and the fact that Air Canada lost Wilson's luggage for more than 48hours BUT once we got there, it was outstanding. We went for Mexican, saw a movie, had a great dinner and that was just Saturday. Did I mention that it was 60+ degrees on Saturday? No, well it was and boy did it feel good. Sunday was even better as it was even warmer and we went shopping at Nordstroms and DiDi bought herself some VERY pretty shoes. I also bought Wilson some jeans and t-shirts at The Gap so everyone got something.

Kacy made a kick ass dinner of chicken enchiladas with a cream sauce and she and Ed through an amazing party. Lots of people came and enjoyed. We all drank waaaay to much but thankfully when the next morning dawned, Mr. Hangover was not hanging out with Wilson and I. He was, however, not being very nice to Kacy and Ed. In fact, Ed was not well at all. He kept repeating over and over again that he was never drinking again. And then he looked at my husband and realized that he was not hurting AT ALL from the shots of sambuca that they decided to have after all of us went to bed. His quote changed to "That fucker Wilson isn't even hungover at all!" Kacy was not doing well with her upset stomach and aching head but still managed to be cute and drive us to the airport. How she can be so hungover and still be so damn pretty is beyond me.

We get on the plane, arrive home and pick up our sweet Maggie. All in all, it was a fantastic Valentine's day weekend and I loved my present. However, I love my man more!

Valentine's Day kisses (albeit a little late) to all,

DiDi

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Normally I don't care too much for this, the most Hallmark of holidays but as this is my first married one - I am loving it! I will take any opportunity to tell Wilson how much I love him and today he will beg me to stop all the lurve!

However Internet, here is a very short list of why I love this man:
- he has a great shaped head and this is key because he has not a lot of hair
- he loves me lots
- he is the smartest guy I know
- he loves our dog so much and is very smoochy
- he walks said dog in the cold weather so that I can stay warm
- he is damn sexy
- he is an amazing friend
- he is calm in a crisis
- he makes me laugh
- just because he is him

I look forward to a lifetime of I love you's with you Wilson and with you every day is Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's day everyone and cinnamon heart kisses to all,

DiDi

SERIOUSLY...ENOUGH WITH THE DAMN COLD

It is so damn cold here and yes...I am bitching about it. I know that I live in a country that is cold for 6 months of the year. However, global warming was good to us until mid-January when it was almost balmy for us Canadians. Then it ended with a bloody vengenance and this is what it looks like here now.

We just got another dump of snow - 10 cms with another 10 cms coming today. ENOUGH I SAY!!! I need to feel some warmth and the sun on my face.

Seriously - this is what I look like when I walk the dog. You can't tell whether I am woman or a man. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!

I have to have a serious discussion with Wilson about moving somewhere warm - I can't take it anymore. And to top it off, Mellie is in very warm South Africa now. Bring back some warmth with you Mellie - The Sorority needs it badly.

Stay warm everyone and eskimo kisses to all,

DiDi

HOLY CRAP IT IS COLD!!!!!

I hope that anyone who reads this is not in the grip of the cold snap that we in Toronto are being tortured by right now and for the foreseeable future. It is so cold that when I go out to walk our beloved pooch that I have so many layers on that you cannot tell if I am a man or woman. That takes something people because there are some girly curves on this body. All of me is as hidden from the dratted wind as I can make it.

Our beloved Mellie leaves very soon for South Africa and it is not cold there. She takes with her a full selection of DiDi's summer wardrobe - shoes and all. Thank heavens we are close to the same size so that we can share pretty clothes and shoes. ReRe and I envy Mellie her glimpse of a tropical sun. My clothes are getting a better vacation than me. Bring some of that warmth home with you Miss Mellie - that is the best souvenier you could ever give us.

Stay warm and snuggled up to someone you love! It is the only way to get through this damn cold!

Cold snap kisses to all,

DiDi

COME HOME TO US DEAR HUSBAND

This year Wilson will be travelling a lot more in the first half of the year and even though Maggie and I are used to his travel, we still miss him so much when he is gone. Right now he is in Calgary enjoying some good Alberta beef and making business happen.

We both miss the little things when he is gone. I know that Maggie misses the cuddles on the couch and I miss the cuddles in our bed. He gets home from Calgary on Thursday afternoon and Maggie gets him all to herself for the afternoon and then I will break the land speed record getting home for welcome back hugs and kisses.

However he has outdone himself on this trip. Before he left, I did ALL the thank you notes for our wedding reception. That is right - ALL OF THEM while he slept on the couch (he wasn't feeling well). As I addressed the last note, I looked at his handsome face and told him in no uncertain terms that he owed me BIG TIME for completing that onerous chore. And boy did he come through. I was aiming for dinner out or a piece of shiny jewellery or just a hundred kisses but he did so much better than all of that.

He is taking me to Denver for the weekend to visit our friends Kacy and Ed. The same Kacy and Ed who came on our trip and stood up at our wedding with us. He knows how much I love to see Kacy and since they live so far away that we don't get to see them hardly at all. And he knows that we miss each other and love to spend time together and he made that happen. That is my wonderful man!

Hurry home handsome. Your wife and dog love and miss you very much and we need our Wilson home. Life at our house is just not the same without you.

Kisses,
DiDi

JUST AN OLD MARRIED COUPLE NOW...

Well it is all done. The wedding (December 9th), the reception (January 13) and the thank you notes (done totally by DiDi on January 19th). With the exception of my sore thumb from writing notes to our wonderful and crazy generous friends it was all wonderful.

Our reception was so much fun with most of our family and friends joining us at our house to celebrate our marriage with us. God bless the caterers with their staff, amazing food and rentals. There was really no mess for Wilson and I to clean up and a good time was had by all.

My sweet husband looked at all the food when it was delivered and said "It is not enough food!". To which I replied "People will start to arrive in 2 hours and I am not going to worry about this at all. If we run out, we will just order some pizza." Which is exactly what we ended up doing. We had food for 125 people and 112 guests through our house and they all just vacuumed up the food. There was not a morsel left and everyone raved about how good it was. Thank you Daniel & Daniel for making it so easy for us! Our last guest left at 10am the next morning and you know when you end up with a houseguest, that it was a good party.

The entire sorority was present and here is a photo of all its members. We are all so pretty and so drunk (well at least Mellie was...if her hangover the next day was any indication).

At one point I looked around our living room at our family gathered there and realized how many wonderful examples that Wilson and I have of strong and happy marriages.

My parents - 58 years

Wilson's parents - 40 years

My cousin Dianne and her husband Jim - 37 years

My brother Tom and his wife Lynn - 35 years

My brother John and his wife Terry - 22 years

My sister Fay and her husband Ron - 24 years

My cousin Paul and his wife Lynne - 18 years

My sister Debbie and her husband Carl - 38 years (but they couldn't make it)

I know that these marriages have weathered tough times, happy times and all the inbetween times. I take hope that with such wonderful examples that Wilson and I will hold tight to our love for each other and weather the years ahead with the same grace and longevity that our family has.

It has been a wonderful experience getting married this way and I wouldn't have done it any other way. We had all the fun parts (telling people, looking forward to the date and a great honeymoon) and very little of the stress parts (except for the damn paperwork). We got to celebrate with friends and family and I got to wear a pretty dress and shoes.

Being a Mrs. (although I never use the term and my last name has not changed) is pretty damn good so far.

Married kisses to all,

DiDi

PS - the honeymoon post is coming - I swear it is.

THE BEST VACATION EVER A.K.A. OUR HONEYMOON WITH FRIENDS

Well at long last, here is the post about our wonderful trip. This could be the longest post ever but I will try to keep it short. First, a shout out to Jemima, who gave me the info on how to have a Flickr link on the blog so that you can see all of our lovely pictures without me putting all of them into this entry.

Anyhoo, it all started on December 1st, very, very early in the morning. Our flight left Toronto at the ungodly hour of 6:30 am, which meant that the car was picking us up at 4:30 AM - yes that means very fucking early! For all of you that know me well - I don't do mornings well at all! Thank heavens for our dear friends Rudi and Wendy who took our beloved Maggie for the entire time we were gone and we got to drop her off at their house the night before we left. This made leaving at the ungodly hour we did much, much easier.

The car arrives and takes us to the airport and it seems that there are many, many people leaving at the same time. Customs was jammed but because I am weird about the airport and arrival times, we had loads of time to get through, have an airport investment breakfast (translation - food that costs the earth) and be at the gate and board with the rest of the plebes in economy. At this moment as we walked through first class back into economy, I wish to holy hell that we could have gotten First Class seating with its large seats and leg room but we were denied. Wilson, God bless his bald head, did give it a good old college try as we are both plane snobs and love first class A LOT.

However it was not to be and as we were flying on points, we had an aisle and middle seat. I took the middle seat as Wilson is much taller than me and needs the leg room. I promptly fell asleep on his shoulder (did I mention that we had to get up at 4:00 am) and pretty much fell asleep for the entire flight. We landed in Charlotte, got a Jamba juice (yummy) and got on our next flight. We landed in lovely St. Maarten, collected our bags, cleared customs and headed out into the sunshine. At this point, we have been in transit for 13 or so hours and are in desperate need of a shower or a swim or both.

We arrive at our hotel - the Royal Sonesta Beach and Casino resort, get our room and head to the pool. Never has a dip in a lovely Caribbean pool felt so good on tired travellers bodies.

After we had a refreshing swim that washed the icky plane feeling away, we went to a lovely French restaurant and had a lovely dinner (with lots of wine and cheese). Then we slept the sleep of tired travellers.

Day 2
Spent the day at the beach and what a glorious day it was. It was hot and sunny and otherwise fabulous. We had the better part of the day to kill before Kacy and Ed landed and we headed off to our cruise.

Lovely Maho Beach

When they say the airport is 5 minutes from our hotel, they are not kidding. I swear on my dog pretty head that this picture is not photoshopped AT ALL!

My James Bond pose as Wilson likes to call it (don't worry Halle, your job is so safe). Right after this, I was knocked ass over teakettle by a 4 foot wave and had sand in places only Wilson has been!

My lovely husband, before he was my husband.

Then we left this lovely beach to go to the airport that was only 5 minutes away (see above picture) and pick up Kacy and Ed and begin our wonderful vacation together (we got a head start, they had to spend the night in Dallas). Off we go to the marina together to get on our 50' catamaran and begin our cruise around Sint Maarten. Of course for some strange reason (as we took pictures of EVERYTHING else (as you can see by the Flickr link now on the blog), for some reason we did not take pictures of our cabin) but it was lovely. We meet our fellow cruisers - Roger and Lynne from upstate New York and Diane and Andre from Quebec. Our ship's captain is Scottie and our first mate is Zena who are delightful and we wanted to bring them home with us.

We meet, chat and begin what will become our nightly ritual -- cocktails, chatter, canapes, cocktails and then dinner. We drank loads and ate a great meal of mahi mahi and then went to bed. There are no pictures of this fun evening as I was too concerned about holding my wine glass.

Day 3
We depart from Simpson Bay Harbour in Marigot and head for Anguilla. It is a great sail and we arrive in Anguilla Harbour and head into shore to the only bar - Johnnos. We all decide that we would rather drink and go for a walk along the beach rather than go on an island taxi tour. We all make our way back to the boat and spend the evening in lovely Anguilla Harbour.

Anguilla hot spot - Johnno's

The gang doing what we do best - sitting and drinking!

Day 4

Day 4 of our trip dawns and it is a bit cloudy with a fair bit of wind. We are all game and decide that we are going to head to Sandy Island - a reef just off the coast of Anguilla. It is totally uninhabited but has a small shelter on it that you can use to have lunch or relax. Apparently some brave soul tried to open a restaurant or bar on it and it didn't really go all that well (not surprising since it is a deserted island) but it worked for us. It was a bit of a rough ride over to the island and a number of storms passed us by but for us it was a slice of heaven.

Sandy Island

The Shack on Sandy Island

Shipwreck on Sandy Island

At one point, Wilson and I are laying together in the hammock and Kacy comes over to get us saying there is a surprise for us. And what a surprise it was - we were given vine headresses, I was given a small 'bouquet' and we were 'married' by our ship captain and surrounded by our fellow travellers. It was so wonderful and touching that they would all do this for us. We popped champagne and celebrated our beach wedding in grand style.

Walking up the aisle at the Sandy Beach Cathedral

First kiss as husband and wife (sort of)

Back to the boat we go and we moored on the other side of Anguilla for the evening. There was a gorgeous villa on that we could stare at until the sun went down. I tried to talk Ed into buying it and then we would all come and visit him and Kacy - but he was more interested in his Carib than real estate.

Wilson, DiDi, Captain Scottie and First Mate Zena - after they 'married' us

Day 5

We sail to just off the beach of Grand Case - on the other side of St. Maarten. It is lovely and totally French and littered with amazing restaurants. However, i am getting ahead of myself as I almost drowned...

We drop anchor and all and sundry decide what they are going to do for the afternoon. Stay on the boat and relax, snorkel - whatever strikes your fancy. I am not a big snorkeler but I decide that there are fish to be seen and I haven't done this in a while so lets give it a whirl. I get my mask and fins, get my self into the boat and head out with the others to go for a snorkel. Once in the water, I remember why I hate snorkeling (yes I know - a wee bit too late). I hate breathing through my mouth, I hate salt water in my mouth, I hate salt water in my eyes (I wear contacts and it really hurts) and most of all I hate it when my mask leaks and I almost drown.

I tried to be a trooper but the burning eyes and leaking mask got the best of me. Kacy and I head back to the boat but by this point my eyes are burning out of my head due to the water in my mask and my lovely contacts being in my eyes. It hurts to have them open with the sunshining in them, it hurts to close them, they are watering up a storm. All in all it was very difficult to swim back to the boat. I manage to get a whistle off and get Scottie's attention and he comes and fetches me. Now let me tell you - there is absolutely NO graceful way to re-enter a dinghy from the water. Scottie has to help haul my almost drowned and blind ass back into the boat. At that moment, he was wishing I was the size of Nicole Richie - but I like food and will never, ever be considered a waif.

I get back to the boat and take my contacts out - yeah for blessed release. However, my eyes will not stop watering and I cannot sit outside as the sun hurts them. I have a beer to console myself. Wilson is appropriately concerned and keeps the beer coming. He is a very good man! Bad eyes will not keep my from drining or going ashore to have a great dinner with wonderful friends.

We go ashore and walk around Grand Case and are presented with so many wonderful restaurants to choose from. Amazing traditional French cuisine, Carribean barbecue, Italian - you name it, it's there. Some with a lovely beach view but all with very yummy sounding menus. We finally decide on a lovely French restaurant for dinner and the food is fantastic. We were VERY full when we got ourselves back to the boat and we relaxed with a after dinner drink under the moon with the ocean breezes keeping us cool.

Grand Case Pier

The four of us at dinner

Day 6

Scuba boy

Isn't he cute

Wilson, whose French improves so much when he drinks, understands it and reads it but doesn't speak it very well at all. His instructor's grasp of English is as good as Wilson's French. Somehow, the 2 of them figure it out and he gets him ready and off they go. He dove down to 40 feet, saw a stingray, lots of fish, went through a shipwreck and had a blast.

Man of Action

We go back to the boat and go ashore at Tintamarre - which is an uninhabited island known for its healing mud. We all follow Scottie away from the beach to the mud area and begin to dig up the good mud - apparently there are 3 kinds - and mix it with sea water. Once it is mixed, we all start slathering it on our bodies. We all cover ourselves from head to toe and make our way back to the beach. We have to let the mud dry on our skin for the best effect and when we get to the beach, Wilson decides to use up the last of the mud on both Kacy and I and dumps it on our heads. Yup, we were officially covered from head to toe in mud. Mud was everywhere on us - seriously everywhere.

We all sit in the sun waiting for the mud to dry and, of course drinking Carib - YUMMY! Once the mud was dry, we raced into the sea and rinsed ourselves clean. I will tell you that my skin felt so soft. It was a total blast and I have paid a lot of money for the spa mud bath experience and this was as good and free.

The muddy gang of Restless Spirit

Once we were all back on Restless Spirit, we sailed over by Orient Bay for the evening and had dinner. It was another amazing day and once in a lifetime experience.

Day 7

We wake up at Orient Bay and it looks so pretty with its yellow umbrellas and patio chairs. The sea was kind of rough but we didn't care because we sailed to St. Barth's. It was the best sail ever - we hit 12 foot waves and Wilson and I were riding the jump seats for a while. The jump seats are 2 little seats at the far front of the boat and your feet hang over the ocean. You feel like you are riding a roller coaster as the boat goes up and down over the waves. Sitting in the jump seats was the best fun - you feel like you are going up so high and then your feet come down and go into the water. It was a total blast!

A great sail to St. Barths

St. Barth's Harbour

Then I drove the boat for most of the way to St. Barth's and developed new muscles in my arms. It was much harder to steer than our boat but then we are never out in 12 foot waves on Lake Ontario.

We get to St. Barths and have a great afternoon - well at least I did as Wilson was a wee bit hungover. I bought myself a great bathing suit that I thought was priced in US dollars but when the credit card bill came in, it was actually in Euros -- EEEEK! It is now called the investment bathing suit.

Came back to the boat after a great afternoon and we pulled around the other side of the harbour and watched the sunset over St. Barths. It was absolutely gorgeous. What was even more beautiful was watching the moon rise once the sun went down. It was a full moon and so bright it was almost like you could read by it.

Day 8

Day 8 dawned gorgeous and sunny - God I do love the Caribbean for the AMAZING weather. We had a wonderful breakfast aboard and then weighed anchor for Simpson Bay harbour in St. Maarten. We had to be back for the afternoon bridge or the complications with customs would be ugly. It was a great sail back and we went right by the spot where we would get married the next day. The weather was so amazing - just enough wind to get going at a decent speed but not so windy that you couldn't move around the boat thinking that you were going to fly off.

Maho Beach

The Gang from Restless Spirit

Day 9 - also known as Wedding Day.

The day dawned bright and early and we all had to depart the boat by 9am. After a quick breakfast, we packed up and headed for our hotel and of course to get married. Needless to say, it was an amazing day and I have documented that day in a previous post so I won't bore you all with the details again.

Day 10

Well it seems that the party is over and it is time to call it a day. We are scheduled to be on a flight at 5pm returning home via Charlotte to Toronto. Home to our wonderful house, our gorgeous dog Maggie and to married life. But before we do that, we spend the day with our dear friends Kacy and Ed doing nothing but wandering, having a few cocktails and waiting for our flights.

We sat at a bar that literally is at the end of the runway at the St. Maarten airport and watched planes coming and going. You could see the people on the planes as they flew overhead. We went and stood in the jet wash of a 767 as it took off - why you might ask, because we could is the answer.

And then we made our way to the airport for our departure. Of course, we had purchased duty free booze and Wilson being the careful packer that he is, carefully packed our scotch and wine carefully...in our carry on baggage. To him it is not liquid but liquor and they are different. This of course, is no longer allowed and off he goes back to the check in area to check our bag of booze. Of course in our bag of booze is our plane clothes - long pants and a fleece for me as I freeze on planes and pants for Wilson. They had to stay in the bag to cushion the booze so we were going to get on the plane in our current state. Let me paint a picture - cute white and black golf shirt, very short skirt with St. Barths on the ass and my bright blue Croc flip flops. Wilson is at least in shorts and a golf shirt with his flip flops. We get on the flight and if you ever want the best service on a plane, carry a wedding bouquet with you. The flight attendants are all over you and are very kind and bring you drinks, etc.

However, this makes the flight sound uneventful which is was not. I look up at one point and notice a familiar face. It is our company's President & COO - and he was wearing RED PANTS! I say to Wilson, is that Nadir? Wilson is not sure and then, I am not sure why but I got up and introduced myself and lo and behold, it was Nadir. He was on vacation with his lovely wife and a local Toronto news anchor and his partner as well as a former company exec who is now the official leader of the opposition for Ontario. He also used to work at our company and Wilson knew him. As I am turning around from our brief chat, I realize as I am walking away that I am wearing the smallest skirt I own and it says St. Barth's on the ass. My mortification is now complete.

I spend the flight freezing and re-reading Memoirs of a Geisha and finally we land in Charlotte. We quickly repack the booze in our real luggage, put on our long pants etc and get ready to board the plane home.

Needless to say, it was not as warm in Toronto as it was in St. Maarten but we were home and married.

It was the best vacation for a number of reasons but mostly because I was with my beloved. We were relaxed and happy and that is all that you can ask for in a vacation.

Whew! There it is at long last - our vacation and honeymoon story.

Still on our honeymoon kisses to all,

DiDi

Day 6 dawns lovely and sunny and we sail from Grand Case to just off Tintamare. For those who were going to scuba (not me) we have a dive master and his boat coming to the boat to get all those who are interested. Wilson, who has always wanted to scuba, signs up for a learning dive and Kacy, Andre and Diane are all avid scuba people and get ready to go. I am not such and avid scuba person and go just to take photos.

GOING TO SINT MAARTEN AND WE'RE GONNA GET MARRIED!

Well we did it and it was amazing! On December 9th, after an amazing vacation, we got married. We checked back into our hotel in the morning and of course, our rooms were not ready. Kacy, Eddie, Wilson and I all decided to go and hang by the pool. Wilson had a nap, Kacy and I read a book and Eddie did Sudoku. At around 10:30 am, I looked up from my book and saw my future husband sleeping, Kacy was also taking a nap and Eddie was still doing his Sudoku and all of a sudden I realized that in 5 1/2 hours, I was going to be married. At 11:30 am we went and had some lunch - and got yelled at by a waitress. Sint Maarten is great for many, many things but wait service is NOT one of them. Kacy and I went and got a mani and pedi and just enjoyed the time together in a peaceful and quiet environment. If ever anyone needs a world class maid of honour, my beautiful friend Kacy is it!

I got back to our room and saw my handsome husband-to-be! Wilson got himself ready and was hanging out playing with the iPod while started to get myself ready. Kacy came to the room and quickly kicked Wilson out of the room. Kacy gave me the best bride-to-be experience a girl could ask for ever. We tried on jewellery, she advised on hair styles and was just the best friend a girl could ask for. At 3:45 p.m., we cracked a bottle of champagne and drank until we got the call from our wedding planner that the officiant was here (she was 20 minutes late). We came downstairs and got in a golf cart and went to the beach. A funny note - I stressed so much about my shoes for the wedding and we got married barefoot!

We pulled up to the beach, kick off our shoes and walk down to the beach. I cannot wait to get to Wilson and almost run Kacy down to get to him. He looked so handsome and all I wanted to do was hold his hand and say the words that would bind us together forever.






Our officiant started to speak and so much emotion began to well up inside of me. I was holding Wilson's hand and could barely breathe. I have never felt so much love for him ever in our relationship. Of course, I started to cry and I looked up at Wilson and his eyes were wet also. Hearing Wilson say the words that made him my husband, I could barely breathe and I never wanted to look away from his beautiful face.

After saying the words, we were married and I realized at that moment, we were bound together forever. Whatever happens to us in the future, we would always have this moment together. Wilson, being the sweet man that he is, went and made sure that there was champagne on ice for us to share once we were married. We signed the register and 'pop' went the champagne corks. We had our pictures taken on the beach just before and during sunset and I have never felt more beautiful or that Wilson looked more handsome!






We shared a wonderful dinner with Kacy and Ed and as I look back on the day, I can't imagine us doing it any other way. We were so relaxed that we were able to be in the moment when we got married. We were able to laugh and enjoy each moment of the experience and that was why we ran away to get married. Our friends - Andre and Diane - from our cruise came and joined us that day which made the day so special for us. We had congratulations and best wishes from so many strangers and it added so much to the whole event for us. We could have done without Jabba the Hut watching us get married in a blue Speedo, but that is just part of the deal when you get married on a beach.

Not everyone would choose this as their option to get married but I am so glad that we did! We got to be together, say our vows our way in the catherdral of sun and sand and be married without fanfare. It was for us, perfection.






There is more to come on the vacation - which is the best vacation we have ever had together!






Must go wake up Wilson and walk Maggie! Happy New Year internet!





2006 kisses to all!





DiDi

A YEAR IN REVIEW

This was shared with me by a dear friend and I thought since 2006 was a year of change for me, that I complete this quiz.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? Got married
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I usually don't make them, but since last year was a year of such change for me personally, that I decided my only resolution was to be true to myself.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Tiffany gave birth to Jonah and Krista gave birth to Pierce.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No - thank goodness
5. What places did you visit? Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal, St. Maarten, Anguilla, St. Barths, Tintamarre, Sandy Island, Grand Case
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? Financial security
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? December 9, 2006 - my wedding day
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Becoming stronger about who I am and what I want. Also, realizing that I really wanted to be with Wilson and moving back in with him and then getting married to him
9. What was your biggest failure? No failures, only events to learn from
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing major - am a total klutz so am always bruised
11. What was the best thing you bought? Steve's wedding ring; my wedding dress
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Pulling my head out of the sand and dealing with my tax mess.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? no one comes to mind
14. Where did most of your money go? The government
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting married
16. What song will always remind you of 2006? Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? A c) richer or poorer? Happier - Wilson and I are married and making a life together; b) weight is about the same unfortunately c) poorer - but working on that
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? reading
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? worry
20. How did you spend Christmas last year? with my family
21. Did you fall in love in 2006? No, was already in love but reaffirmed my love for Wilson
22. How many one-night stands? nope
23. What was your favorite TV program? The OC
24. What did you do for your birthday in 2006? Had a kick ass party. Wilson made turning 40 so much fun!
25. What was the best book you read? Kite Runner
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Scissor Sisters
27. What did you want and get? To marry Wilson
28. What did you want and not get? nothing that is important
29. What was your favorite film of this year? The Devil Wears Prada
30. Did you make some new friends this year? If so, who? yes - Roger & Lynne and Diane and Andre from our cruise, Krista from work
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? this year, nothing
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Casual and classic with some funk thrown in for good measure
33. What kept you sane? walking Maggie and red wine
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? George Clooney - good looks and brains all in one package
35. What political issue stirred you the most? The war in Iraq and the troops in Afghanistan
36. Who did you miss? Kacy
37. Who was the best new person you met? can't think of one person right now
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. be true to myself and also that I need to stop being afraid of past mistakes. There is rarely anything that you can't fix by facing up to your fear.

Kisses to all!
DiDi

DIDI WENT AND GOT HERSELF HITCHED

Well at long last it happened - we are officially hitched! December 9th at 4:30 p.m. with sand between our toes and surf around our ankles we said our vows in a remarkably personal ceremony (especially since we NEVER met the officiant before). I didn't think that it was possible to love Wilson more than I already do but somehow I do.

It was a great 10 days and there is so much to say and so many pictures to share. I am trying to add in a Flickr link so share wedding pictures and honeymoon shots. Needless to say, this will take a while since Christmas is looming and time is running out.

If I don't get a chance to update until after Christmas - the merriest of Christmases to you all and to all a good night!

Christmas Kisses!
DiDi

4 MORE SLEEPS - ST. MAARTEN BOUND

I can't believe it! 4 more sleeps and then Wilson and I are on our way to the lovely island of St. Maarten. 12 more sleeps and I am officially Wilson's wife. I CAN'T WAIT FOR BOTH!!!

Had a lovely weekend -- Wilson had his stag party on Saturday. Apparently a good time was had by all and Wilson drank FAR TOO MUCH! Woke up still drunk on Sunday and then Mr. Hangover came for a visit and stayed overstayed on his visit in the afternoon. Needless to say, I took very good care of him as he does the same when I am in the same condition.

The Sorority had pedis (well Mellie was a poo-head and only had a mani) on Sunday. Always good to spend time with my girls! I have pretty toes to go on vacation with and that is all that matters.

I cannot wait to have some sun on this pale Canadian body and - oh yeah - to marry this wonderful man of mine.

Kisses,
DiDi

Wisdom

Wilson and I have debted about what is more important to have - intelligence or common sense. This was sent to me by my friend Cari and I loved it.

1. Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.
2. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
3. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.
4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
5. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
6. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
7. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of cheques.
8. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.
9. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
10. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
11. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
12. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist is reversed.
13. Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.
14. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeksbefore you need it.
15. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you do the same thing again.
16. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
17. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
18. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
19. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never triedbefore.
20. And never, EVER take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the samenight.

Have a good week!
Kisses,
DiDi

I LOVE THE FALL (FASHIONS)...

Fall is one of my favourite times of year - the crispness in the air, the colour of the leaves, a good fire in the fireplace, football (Go Broncos!) and of course fall fashions.

Fall also means that Wilson and I travel for work a lot more but that is now coming to an end for both of us as the year winds down. While walking Maggie recently, I have been trying to remember to take my camera with me so that I can take some pictures of the beautiful leaves in our neighbourhood.

I know that winter is around the corner with all of its own kind of yuckyness (it is so a word) but this time of year has always been special to me.

Anyway, here are some fall foliage pictures that I took recently. I hope autumn brings you as much joy as it does me.

Kisses,

DiDi

Our Japanese maple tree

I know that is a smidge blurry but I loved the colours

It is surprisingly hard to photograph leaves cuz they keep on moving

MORE MARRIAGE ADVICE (can you tell what is on my mind...)

This article was written by Kristen Armstrong, who is Lance Armstrong's ex-wife, and while I do not feel as she does about a lot of things in her article, I agree with some of her advice. I do know that Wilson can identify me as a totally opinionated woman (sometimes too much for his way of thinking I am sure) who is not afraid to stand up to him and fight for what I believe in - which in many cases is totally opposite to what he believes.

I revere the institution of marriage as my parents have been married for almost 60 years, and my brothers and sisters have all been married for 20+years. It is scary to think that at 40, I am just beginning on this journey called marriage. I have seen what is a good marriage and only hope to attain this with Wilson as we begin our married life together.

I know, as we have hit our incredibly challenged potholes, that I fell into a role that he never asked me to play. If you were to ask him, he would tell you that at one point, I was not the woman with whom he fell in love. Thankfully we realized that we want to be with each other and began the process of repairing the damaged areas of our relationship. I identify with Kristin Armstrong in her journey to regain her authenticity as I had to do the same. I know that Wilson respects me and wants me to be feisty, strong willed woman who knows what she likes, doesn't like and is willing to go toe-to-toe with him if it is that important to me. I have learned that I have to ask him for help as he is not psychic and to lean on him when I need support. Most of all I have learned that in doing this, I do not appear weak, just human and that is who I am.

Anyway, here is the article - I am sure that everyone can tell that I am focused on our upcoming marriage. My goal is to have a healthy strong marriage; to be a good wife and share a long life with Wilson. I know that happily ever after does not exist but a happy life does if you work at it.

"What I wish I had known about marriage"
Kristin Armstrong, the ex-wife of cyclist Lance Armstrong, believes that too many women leave their true selves behind at the altar. Here's the wedding day advice she wishes someone had given her.

The greatest conspiracy in modern history is not Watergate or the shooting of JFK; it's something far more ingrained and insidious in the way it distorts the truth. The conspiracy is marriage. It's not that I don't respect the institution and the belief I've cherished since childhood of what such a union could be. One heartbreaking and publicly failed marriage later, I actually revere marriage more at age 34 than I did as a blushing bride of 26.
The problem is that when a young woman announces her engagement, everyone is quick to roll out the matrimonial red carpet by throwing showers and obsessing over wedding day plans. This helps a bride prepare for the reality of marriage about as much as nine months of baby showers and nursery decorating prepare a gestating woman for the awesome task of raising a child: not at all.

Perhaps we are all guilty of holding on too tightly to our own Cinderella stories, thinking that the glass slipper of the perfect marriage will conform to us uniquely. Engagement, like pregnancy, is a fleeting and hopeful time, and those who have gone before hesitate to disrupt this dream with a dose of reality. So we carry a young woman toward the threshold of her new identity as wife and mother and abruptly drop her off at the curb, peeling out on two wheels with a honk and a wave and a wish for good luck.

Here is the truth as I see it: Marriage has the potential to erode the very fiber of your identity. If you aren't careful, it can tempt you to become a "yes woman" for the sake of salvaging your romantic dream. It can lure you into a pattern of pleasing that will turn you into someone you'll hardly recognize and probably won't like. I am warning you because I only wish someone had warned me.

The incredible disappearing woman
Ten years ago I never would have expected my life to turn out quite the way it did. At 24 I had bought my first house and was working for a high-tech company in Austin, Texas. I had adopted a dog named Jake from the pound and drove a cute little green Miata that I paid for in full. I was career-minded and single-minded. I was also headstrong and naive; I treasured my self-sufficiency so much that I scoffed at women who gave up their jobs, stayed home to take care of children or relied on men for anything.

Then I fell in love. I met Lance Armstrong, the Texas cyclist who was battling testicular cancer, at a press conference I'd planned for his foundation's first cancer fund-raiser. Soon I was joyfully sporting an engagement ring with a hefty rock the size of my dilated pupil in a darkroom. I was so enamored with my new stature as part of a couple that I paid more attention to my left hand than to readying my heart for the journey ahead. I quit my job, rented out my house, gave my dog to an old boyfriend, sold my car and moved to France so Lance could reenter the world of professional cycling. We got married and promptly had three children—a son and then twin daughters—who were breast-fed, toted between countries and utterly adored by their devoted, full-time, stay-at-home mommy. (So much for my scoffing.)

My memories tell the real story. I remember being a bride of two weeks, writing thank-you notes and pondering the strange ache in my heart as I grieved for my old name and independent self. And postpartum me in 1999, weeping for apparently no reason in the middle of the night as I sat on a sofa-size maxi-pad and rocked my crying newborn, Luke, while feeling utterly and terrifyingly alone.

If you ask me today what I truly love, I can easily tell you I love God, my family, my friends, fireworks displays, a good red wine, staying up late with a mystery novel, a sweaty run, painting abstract art, indulging my organizational compulsions, laughing until no sound comes out and taking my time. If you had asked me when I was married what I loved, I would have automatically told you the things that I loved about my husband: the confident, easy way he traveled between countries adapting to cultures and languages, or the way he could fearlessly MSH (our acronym for "Make shit happen," something we both excel at), or the little-known fact that he is a good photographer. I forgot my own list (and I'm a list girl!). Making him happy became my happy.

So this once-devout Catholic stopped going to church because it was inconvenient. Between my husband's seven-day training schedule and the impossibility of my attending solo with twin infants and a rowdy toddler in a cathedral with a Latin mass and no nursery, I gave up. I quit reading late into the night because the light was bothersome to a tired athlete who needed sleep. I put all the energy and skills that made me a good manager and account executive into errands, planning and mothering. But the beauty of a wife is not found in those things. The beauty of a wife is in her being, not in her doing. During those years I perfected my doing and neglected my being. I remember the day that revelation first hit me: I made a joke to Lance about being opinionated, and he looked at me, sincerely confused: "You?"

Getting back the real me
If I were to do things over again, I wouldn't have thrown myself so irrevocably into my new life. I would have guarded the things that made me feel like me —the places, the friends —and above all I would have spoken up about my needs. Instead, I will leave you with a lesson about how a woman can hold on to the bright, hard flame of who she is.
If your husband asks what you think, tell him. If you have a preference, voice it. If you have a question, ask it. If you want to cry, bawl. If you need help, raise your hand and jump up and down. I spent five years juggling kids, travel, cooking, smoothing. I never once said that I couldn't do it on my own, or that I was just plain tired. I became a prisoner to my own inability to say uncle when life squeezed me too hard. The warden was pride, and I remained in maximum security.

The time may come when you realize that the only way to restore the meaning to your marriage is to get back the real you. It requires warrior-size courage to take a stand against the miscommunication, deception and emotional distance that breed in the shadows of inauthenticity. You will have to boldly step up to the line and speak from your heart. You will have to own your words (spoken and unspoken), your actions (done and undone) and the consequences of both. If I ever marry again, I will have cue cards prepared with "Yes, I do know what I want," "Make me laugh and I'll get over it" and "I need you, please help me."

I know that one day my daughters will face these same challenges. At age four they are already starting to form their own dreams of a handsome prince on a white horse. Without destroying the beautiful elements of their innocence, I long to prevent them from a disappointment like mine —so with each step between now and then, I vow to myself and to them to be real. I hope that as they watch me painstakingly reclaim my hard-earned authenticity, they will manage to guard their own. And when they do decide to wed, they will bring to their marriages the greatest gift of all: a unique and unshakable sense of self.

Kisses to all,
DiDi

HALLOWE'EN SORORITY STYLE...

ReRe inspires all with her love of Hallowe'en. Not only did she and iPod man win at their party this past weekend, due to her diligence our team at the office won Best team costume.

Here are some pictures of us looking very stupid. Please note how mushed our faces are and yes these pictures do equal a lot of pain! There are only 2 of the sorority members in it as Mellie and her damn ambition left us 2 years ago.

Yes, it is true, we are the Blue Man Group

DiDi is on the right, not that you can tell and ReRe is in the middle.

We are idiots, but prize winning idiots!

Happy Hallowe'en Everyone!

Kisses,

DiDi

Rules for Marriage

As I was reading a blog (Suburban Hippie authored by Gretchen) that I frequent regularly, I came upon this entry which struck home for me as I am getting married in 4 short weeks and our Mellie got married about 5 weeks ago. I know that there is no perfect prescription for marriage and even though I believe that we have a healthy relationship (now that is), marriage is still a daunting prospect. I know that you have to work to keep it healthy and a happy place but I take all advice from people who fight the good fight everyday to heart. Here is the advice that Gretchen passed onto her daughter before she got married.

Marriage Advice - courtesy of Suburban Hippie
The best thing I can tell you is that there is no room in a marriage for deception; or I should say that once deception creeps in, there is all sorts of room, because it shoots your marriage full of holes. Always be honest with each other. That means accepting each other, warts and all. So don’t be hypercritical, either.

Don’t let arguments escalate. When things get too heated, walk away for a while — or grab him and hug him, or say something that will crack him up. And no fair, when angry, storming out of the house and taking off for God knows where and refusing to answer your cellphone. Walk away from him, but don’t ever deliberately make him wonder and worry where you are.

Be faithful to him. Protect him. Support him. Men don’t think the way we do, and just when he’s being completely impossible and thick-skulled it will transpire that it’s just him acting like a man. Try to forgive him for all that. Boys are different.

If you want him to be a good husband, be a good wife. Remember that he adores you and the you adore him.

Thanks Gretchen - appreciate the good advice.

Kisses to all,
DiDi

SO MUCH TO UPDATE, SO LITTLE TIME!

So much has happened since my last post. Here is a quick recap...

- Mellie got married (see previous post for pictures of lovely event)
- Mellie went on honeymoon with Jewemy
- Mellie did not have major accident at Armani
- Mellie got sick when she got home
- DiDi got engaged to her beloved Wilson
- Wilson does not like the word engaged - would prefer to just be married
- DiDi and Wilson set the date - December 9th
- DiDi now on 'Bride Diet' - full on campaign to lose 15lbs prior to big day
- DiDi and Wilson are running away to St. Maartens to do the deed
- DiDi bought her wedding dress at JCrew.com - very pretty and yet fairly inexpensive
- ReRe getting thinner by the day - keeping DiDi company on the Bride Diet
- ReRe now the mother of a child in High School
- DiDi and Wilson having a reception at their house for friends and family on Jan 13th

I know that this is an incredibly boring entry but am drowning in work and other piles of crap! However, after next week things calm down and hopefully I can become my regular updating self again.

Kisses to all,

DiDi