Monday, February 26, 2007

So long Marc & Kylie!

This evening, my favourite brother and sister-in-law are flying away. Far far away. Tonight they'll be in London, England, then they'll be in Amsterdam for a week, then off to Nairobi, Kenya for 6 months to a year. Marc will be practicing medicine and Kylie will find other useful things to do.

On Saturday, Lowell and I met them in Calgary for the day and we had FUN FUN FUN! Unfortunately Dan & Carlynne weren't able to join us, but here are a couple of pictures Lowell and I snapped of the Kenya-bound couple:





So long Marc & Kylie. We'll be thinking about you and praying for you a lot in the coming months. Love you kpishi!

Love,
Julie & Lowell and Carlynne & Dan

Sunday, February 18, 2007

How it all began...

Here follows the story of how Lowell and I's relationship began. I’m going to start from square ONE. Enjoy.

When I was in my first year at the University of Lethbridge, Lowell was in his second year (we're talkin fall of 2001 folks). I met him through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), but we were mostly just friendly acquaintances. Until the summer of 2002. That was when Danny and Kendra got married in Carstairs, Alberta (where Lowell is from). I went to the wedding with my family, but Lowell was there on his own. When we met him at the door (all alone), we asked him if he wanted to join us and he readily agreed. So, Lowell and I sat beside each other and learned a bit more about each other before/after the ceremony. After the wedding, Lowell was getting a projector from Troy (or something), and while he was busy doing that, my family and I left. He felt bad that we never got to say good-bye, so he emailed me that night to say good-bye. I emailed him back, then we shot emails back and forth for a few weeks. When he came back to Lethbridge in the fall for University, we progressed to phone calls. He made a habit of phoning me to make sure I would come out to IVCF events (just doing his co-prez duties no doubt). We started talking more on the phone. Still just friends. Then we started hanging out more. Still friends. Then we started meeting for lunch every Thursday. Again, STILL JUST FRIENDS. That is a little odd now that I think back, but we honestly were just meeting as friends!

On one of these Thursdays, there was a lady selling all sorts of educational kids toys/books in the atrium at the U. We became rather fascinated with a particular book called The Amazing Magic Fact Machine. This book has a circle of questions on one side, and a circle of answers on the other side. On the question side, there’s a little slot that you put a hand in. You turn this hand to the question that you want to ask, then you pick up the hand, and place it on the little mirror thing in the middle of the circle on the answer side. The hand then turns (on it’s own!) to the right answer. Every time! It is amazing. Anyhoo, the lady selling these things encouraged us to enter our names into a draw to win money towards her products. Lowell crumpled his entry up, claiming that the different texture would increase the chance of his name being drawn (especially since her five year old son was the one who was drawing the winner).

La book!


This is the hand that goes in the center of the circles.

Okay, now let’s fast forward to Valentines Day 2003. We were planning on going out for supper then going to a play at the University with friends of ours. At this point, we were still friends. Lowell requested that I dress up as he always liked to dress up when going to plays at the U. So, dress up I did, and I showed up at his door at about 6pm. After letting me in, Lowell said, “Our reservations aren’t ready yet, so why don’t we hang out here for a bit.” I agreed, so Lowell led me to his room. He said, ever so casually, “Oh by the way, I won that draw and I bought the Magic Book!” I was a little taken aback that he hadn’t shared this with me earlier. I thought that was definitely a bonding-type experience that we had.

Lowell suggested that we look through it, so we sat on the edge of his bed and learned some fascinating scientific facts. He said that his favourite page was the last one and I should check it out. So check it out I did, and this is what I saw:





The left side says, “Julie, will you out with me?” (Yes, he forgot the word “go”, and that is now a running joke). There were instructions on the top of the page. They said to make sure he wasn’t looking, pick my choice, then give the hand to Lowell to put in the circle on the other side. The options on the question side were “gotta think”, “yes”, and “no”. I turned the hand to the “yes” option, then gave the hand over to Lowell to do the honours. The “answers” on this side were pictures of Lowell that corresponded with each response from the first circle. There was a picture of Lowell with his thumb up, one with his thumb down, and one with one thumb up and one thumb down. Obviously, since I picked “yes”, the hand on the “answer” page went directly to the picture of Lowell with his thumb up. We were both happy. The end. KIDDING. It’s not over yet.

It was then time to catch our dinner reservation, so we went to the front door- but Lowell continued on downstairs. I thought he was just going to grab something from down there, so I waited, but then he summoned me down. I was shocked to see the basement all candle-lit with a couple hundred tea lights and a table set for 2 with Celine Dion playing in the background (I have a weakness for Celine songs). On the table, there were rose pedals on the plates, and a bowl of apples on the side (I looooove apples). We sat down and Bruce (his landlord) brought us pizza. We enjoyed this, and then Lowell had a gift for me. It was none other than Princess Diaries (the movie). Also something I really love. Lowell still jokes that I was more excited about the movie than dating him, but that was just because I was totally nervous before, and receiving my favourite light/fluffy/girly movie relaxed me.

Zabu and Lindsey met us at the house, and we all went to a play at the U. It was a very odd play (even though I couldn’t tell you what it was about for the life of me), but of course I loved the company :)

Once we got back to Lowell’s place, we watched the Princess Diaries, and that concluded our evening. It was WONDERFUL but dang it all, we don’t have any pictures to document it. Maybe we’ll reenact it one day!

Later I found out that Lowell went to my parents to ask their blessing on pursuing a relationship with me. What a man. My parents were thrilled as they knew Lowell before I even did. My Mom is a volunteer staff member with IVCF and Lowell was co-prez, so that's how they got to know each other.

This Valentines Day we celebrated 4 years together. I made him a turtle cheesecake, and Zab (his same roommate from Lethbridge- now his roommate in Edmonton) went a little camera happy. Thanx Zabu :)











My Coat Twin

Yes, I have a real twin and we are not identical. We are fraternal. Two eggs. Dizygotic.

However, I do have an identical coat twin. She comes in the form of my roomie Tara.


Tara and I: Coat twins

Now I just have to find my hand twin, and I'll be happy as a clam!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

It's true! It's true! It's really true!

So, you may or may not remember a post I did back in November that featured Ethan Moreau (an Edmonton Oiler) and I. I claimed I had met him, but this was my only proof:


Well ladies and gents, after a lovely Valentines evening with Lowell, I came home to find these pictures on my email. Finally. Yes yes, in this picture Ethan Moreau is aware (not to mention pleased:), that I am getting a picture taken with him. Clearly Bill and Ann-Marie wanted to have the same close, first-name-basis relationship with Ethan that I did as they tried to crowd in on my pictures, but Ethan would have none of it. Kidding kidding. More like I would have none of it. I take my celebrity relationships very seriously you know.


And here's one last picture of Ethan. Just cuz.

I just noticed that the blonde head in the background belongs to none other than MOI. Wow, that's THREE pictures with Ethan and I. Amazing.

I kinda like this guy

My all time favourite picture of Loweller-poo.

Four years ago today, Lowell asked me out (in a very creative/extravagant manner of course). Four months (and one day) ago, Lowell asked me to marry him (in a very creative/extravagant manner of course).

What can I say. I love this guy.



Happy Valentines Day Lowell!

Saturday, February 10, 2007

The Surprise

At the beginning of the week, Carlynne informed us roomies that she had a “surprise guest” for us on Saturday, and we were to meet her in the River Valley at 12:30pm. The suspense was mounting all week as we tried to figure out who this mystery guest could be. As it turns out, the guest was Samuel. Samuel the dog. Carlynne borrowed him from a local doctor so we could take him for a roommate walk!

Samuel.

Samuel, Carlynne, Tara, Carrie, and I (Avery couldn't make it at the last minute)

Tara, Carlynne, and Carrie comforting Samuel after a large dog off leash got a little too playful with Sam.


The walk was pleasant and fun, but uneventful....until the end. As we were walking down a hill, Samuel was pulling me and I slid down behind him while hanging onto his leash for dear life. Things got a little out of control, I slipped, he dragged me for several feet on my back, then I rolled onto the side of the path. This was very amusing and brought much laughter from us all. But Sam wasn't done entertaining us yet! He pounced on me (playfully of course) and had a death grip on me. My eyes closed, I struggled for freedom. I was laughing so hard, I could barely get free. When I finally stood up to dust the snow off, the girls were laughing uncontrollably. I asked what was sooooo funny, and Tara ever so eloquently informed me. Sam, well, at the risk of sounding vulgar.... was humping my face.

Ew.

Gross as it may be, we continued to laugh and Carlynne insisted that we take pictures at that spot as to remember this momentous occasion. So, well, I reenacted it (without the intent of getting my face humped again).

The reenactment:

Me diving into the snow.

Samuel wasting no time coming after me.

And, there's no denying what dear Sam is doing in this picture as I struggle to get up once again. But all I can say is... at least it wasn't my face!

And....the fun is over!


The bottom line is: it was great spending some time with a dog again because I loooooooove dogs, and really miss Tessie!

IT'S SHAREEN'S BIRTHDAY!!!

It's official. Shareen, at 26, is now closer to 30 than to 20. Wow. What a milestone.

Here's a small collection of photos of Shareen for your viewing pleasure. She is definitely one of the single most beautiful people I've ever seen (and I'm not biased!). See for yourself:


Her wedding: June 10/06


Goofy and still gorgeous.


Cute!


Shareen and her husband Craig

HAVE A HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
We LOOOOOOVE you!

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Let er RIP Sweet Volvo


Ever read an obituary about a car? Well, this car obviously wasn't just any car. A few months ago, my brother had an obituary for the lean mean green(y blue) machine. Check it out here.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Congratulatories!

Carlynne was on call last night and delivered her first baby all by herself.
Congratulations Carlynne. You can deliver my babies when I have them.

Monday, February 05, 2007

My New Favourite TV Show

(After Friends and Gilmore Girls of course)

THE OFFICE (the American version).


It is so very very funny. So far Lowell and I have watched up to the middle of season 2. It's priceless. Really. A lot of the humour is in the facial expressions (especially Steve Carell). Oh it's so so very very funny. I recommend it. You just have to watch it for yourself to believe it. If you haven't already.....try it. I dare you.

Coming next: my new favourite song...

Sunday, February 04, 2007

M.I.A.

You know that feeling where you find something (a clothing item) that you LOVE and it fits perfectly? Now do you know the feeling where you lose something that you loved and fit perfectly? Somewhere between my house and the University lies my favouritist braziere. As I was on the way home from the fitness centre, I gently paced it at the top of my bag (as everyone knows that you can't squish a *cough* padded *cough* braziere because that would make it all lumpy). When I was running home, my bag felt awkward, so I took it off, and it had OPENED! How the heck? At any rate, I sifted through it to make sure I had all my precious belongings. Too bad for me, I had forgotten about the gently placed braziere that I love and fit perfectly. After coming home, eating supper, and showering, it was time to get the braziere out. To my chagrin, it wasn't there. I had a minor little freak out, slapped on some clothes, and ran out the door to retrace my steps. To no avail. Either my poor braziere is freezing somewhere in the frigid cold, or some girl is really happy right now. Because they now own the best braziere in the whole wide world.

*sigh*

I would include a picture, but (a) I don't have one as it is lost, and (b) that would be slightly inappropriate.