pumpkin carving 2007

Well it has become a tradition over the last few years for me to find fun/somewhat difficult pictures to carve into my pumpkins. It is getting harder to one-up myself every year....i'm not really sure what i'm going to tackle next year...

I carved 2 pumpkins this year: The Mona Lisa and Calvin & Hobbes...i think both turned out pretty well.

Here are my 2 pumpkins side by side

A close up of the Mona Lisa

I spent today carving my Mona Lisa and hanging out with the Unrau's (my friend Pam's sister and family). Here are the results from an afternoon of hard work. Maya (age 8, with some help from papa Chad) carved the dog in the middle, and Kassie (age 12) did the horse.

A few nights ago, when i tackled my Calvin & Hobbes pattern, I spent the evening hanging out with my friends Kristi and Dominic. Kristi carved the cat all curled up for a nap and Dom carved some sort of Transformer-type thing

Another shot of Calvin & Hobbes

And just to remind you what i've had to top from the past 2 years: Last year i carved the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin

And the year before, it was Jesus, though this isn't the best shot, you can still get the image

So, I have a year to figure out how to top all this next year....!!!!

a little cap and a little gown

Well, it is now official...I walked across the stage this weekend, donning the cap and gown and everything...and i have graduated. From now on, please address all written correspondance to "Laura Kendel, MA" tee hee!!

Anyway....my parents came out from Winnipeg for the big event. Pammer and her parents also wanted to show their support and add to my cheering section, so the 6 of us headed for Seattle, did some shopping, went out for Thai food, stayed in a hotel, and had a great weekend!!!

There were a bunch of cameras snapping shots, but so far i've only uploaded pics from my camera, so here are a few shots of the big event...more to come later, once i get pics from the others.

Here I am, post-ceremony, in my loverly cap and gown, with my diploma and a beautiful bouquet from the famous Pike's Market
The table of diplomas

Shaking hands with the school president, who i think looked like a Joker in that outfit....

With my "adopted family", the Hieberts

And with my proud parents (who provided the financial backing, allowing me to get to this place....)

Pondering...what does the future hold... (or thinking about my beautiful new car...!!)
My flowers....so pretty!!

Thee Diploma

ZOOM ZOOM!!

So since I have a job now, it was finally time to do something i've been waiting a LONG time for...
I BOUGHT A NEW CAR!!!!!!! My poor old car - a 1993 Nissan Altima - was just suffering more and more each day...i truly maximized the phrase "driving it into the ground" - i don't think my car could have lasted one more day!! This was a happy and sad occasion, as i really did love my old car and it has been good and reliable (until last week!). It was the car i learned to drive on, way back in the day, so it's been around for a while!!

Here I am saying goodbye to my little Nissan

One last hug to say goodbye...

The newbie and the oldie....side by side!!!!!!! Nissan, say hello to Mazda!

Here she be....my new pretty car....Mazda 3 Sport....allow me to do my Vanna White pose!

A little kiss for my new car!!

On the drive home!!

The symbol of Zoom Zoom :)

Some pics today, in the daylight

My new little ride!!!! So much fun!!! Her bells and whistles make me smile...and the heated seats keep my bum warm on an early morning drive to work!!

I found myself staring out the window at work quite often today, just to look at my pretty car. Then i drove to Starbucks on my lunchbreak, even though it's super close by, just because i wanted to drive my new car...lol...ahhh...so fun!! Anyone want to come for a ride??????

no more boredom posts...

...because i got a job as an Addictions Counselor at Langley Community Services. Woo Hoo!!!!!! I start on Monday!

what's the deal?

ok, so nothing too exciting is going on these days...i'm looking for a job and not finding one thus far, so in the meantime, i'm going to write a blog about nothing important! HA! well i figured it has been a while since i posted my east coast pictures, so those who faithfully check my blog for updates deserve something to read.

So here's what i came up with to talk about:

what's the deal with CROCS??? Nearly everybody has a pair (or a pair of the cheaper rip-off variety) and they come in every color under the sun. And yet everybody also mocks them!! I mean, i love my crocs because they are just so comfy, but people make fun of me all the time because i wear them! i get that they're ugly, not very stylish, kinda clunky, etc etc, but they're COMFY!! why does that not win them points?

Don't get me wrong, i think people can go too far and push the ugly envelope by attaching some of those tacky "hole plugging" decorative objects. And i have realized personally the downfall of walking in the woods in crocs, because the tree needles just jump right into your feet and it hurts. Walking in dusty conditions also is not terribly enjoyable, you definitely need to wash your feet afterwards.

BUT besides these downfalls, i think my crocs are fabulous. so there. I can take your mocking. i will just run away from your hurtful words...run in my crocs.

sigh...i need a job...