Sheryl Eldridge

Kolby Turns ONE! Should've posted 2.5 months ago :(

2010-08-08T21:56:00.010-04:00

I know, I know, I haven't updated for a while now. With my new job and Kolby, I have certainly been stretched thin these days. My job is amazing! I can't believe how much I have learned in such a short period of time - and I have only touched the tip of the iceberg. Within the first week I was doing animation for Rebecca BonBon, some storyboarding, some game comp designs,character designs, and I just finished designing an environment for AllGirlArcade! Everyone LOVES what I have done so far, and now I am pumped to do more of what I didn't even know I could do! I can't wait to post it on my design blog, but unfortunately I have to wait for it to launch. I am just finishing up a furniture pack now! I have to tell you, this job keeps you on your toes and brings your creativity to life!!! I LOVE it!

Go to my design blog to see what I have been up to. I am going to try to keep it going.

In the meantime check out my gorgeous baby when he turned one! First we'll start with the cake I designed.

The kids enjoyed some outdoor play in the pools! Boy was it hot that day!

Now we'll watch Kolby eat the cake I designed.

Time to unwrap prezzies!

You know the tradition kid! You have to wear this outfit every birthday! Hahaha!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-22T15:05:00.006-05:00

Tis the season to be busy...and that is an understatement! I just finished a major project I have been working on for a member in Jim's family. I've been working on it for months and now it is being processed and shipped from the States. I was hoping it would arrive by Christmas (which on their website, said it would), but when talking to their staff they say no later than New Years! WHAT??? Grr! I am hoping they are covering their asses by giving me the worst case scenario (so much for their overnight guarantee for the Christmas holidays). Lesson learned: Gotta read the fine print. Today I received an email saying it looks great and is almost finished, so I am crossing my fingers and toes. Oh well. Lets hope it is worth the wait.

I was also working on the annual family calendars for my Mum. We had a bit of a problem with the templates this year and matching up our computers so it would print properly. *Sigh* Mum said she was able to make due. Can't wait to see the final product.

I still have a lot of Christmas shopping to do. Like every year, I always say I am going to start shopping early, but it never turns out that way. The great thing though, is at least I know what I am getting, so it should make life a little easier. Now that the little ones are in our lives, it sounds like Santa may be making another trip to the Eldridge household, and a first time trip to the Loeffen residents. *wink*

Jim has been busy this year too. Work has occupied his time and he did 50 hours last week. Thank goodness this week is a short week with Christmas around the corner. We went to the Coca Cola Christmas Party (Annual Kids Party)and we were excited to bring Kolby. If he were a bit older he could've held some snakes, turtles, and all kinds of strange creatures. Sorry no pics of the creatures. But he still had fun meeting new babies, and getting a gift from Santa.

Coca Cola Party: Kolby & Santa

Coca Cola Christmas Party: Kolby's gift from Santa.(Click to Enlarge)

Coca Cola Christmas Party: Jim, John, and Ryan with their Babies

Coca Cola Christmas Party: Jim and Kolby

Kolby is doing amazing! Happy and healthy as usual. He just learnt to say "bah bah bah bah" (gibberish) We are working on "mama," but he only says that when he is crying. We are also teaching him, "Dada, papa, and up". Kolby seems to know what "up" means. When we say "Up up?" he reaches his arms into the air to be picked up. It is so cute. We just did our photo shoot with him and Santa (who stopped by our house 2 weeks ago). He enjoyed Santa very much (lots of laughter) which allowed me to get some great shots.

Hope Everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

Cutest Baby Ever!

2009-10-02T00:27:00.009-04:00

I know I am bias...but isn't he the cutest baby ever??? Gerber Baby, eat your heart out! Hehehehehe! I have nothing else to do other than post ridiculously cute pics of my baby boy! For those of you who haven't been in touch. Kolby is doing very well and laughs all the time. He is a very happy baby with lots of giggles ready to burst out at everyone he sees...particularly new faces. He loves his bouncy chair and has been bouncing since he was 3 months old. He is four months old now and weighs 18.5 pounds and is 26 inches long. My doctor said he will be very very tall! No surprise there since I am 5'8" and the shortest in my family. Heh! It is a lot of fun to see and play with him at this stage in his life. He is very entertaining and is constantly making me laugh...even at those 3AM wake up calls during a growth spurt...his smile makes it all worth it though. My only regret is not having him earlier in life!

No, seriously....isn't he the cutest baby ever???

GO SENS GO! Next Ottawa Senator's Hopeful

"Mom, why do you put me in these silly outfits? Oh yeah, I forgot...I'm the cutest baby ever!"

Robert Munsch

2009-09-10T00:48:00.002-04:00

Remember the author that use to write our favorite childhood books? You remember, Mortimer, Mud Puddle, Paper Bag Princess. Well, my brother Mark happens to know Robert Munsch's daughter and was able to get Kolby an autographed book of the Paper Bag Princess. How cool is that??? He also gave my nephew Ethan and niece Hannah one too!

Thanks Mark!

Mark and Hannah (photo taken Sept.05/09)

Happy Birthday September Babies!

2009-09-09T23:52:00.005-04:00

I can't believe how many people are born in September! This past long weekend my family and I celebrated Jim, Ethan, and Carl's birthday. It made me think of Erin and Dianne who are born in the same month. So if you happen to pass by my blog ladies, I'd like to send out a big Happy 31st birthday! YAY! I hope to see you soon Dianne because I have a few photos from your wedding to share with you. I'm assuming X-mas will be our next encounter I hope! I'd send them North but I figure I should hold them hostage, that way you have to visit hehehe!

Here are more photo's from the weekend party:

Cutest Giggle EVER!

2009-08-28T23:00:00.008-04:00

Kolby thinks Nana Brown is the funniest lady on earth!
KOLBY: 12 weeks old exactly (August 15th)

Look Ma! I can hold a rattle!

2009-08-23T20:32:00.000-04:00

Photo Contest...I need your help!

2009-08-06T21:52:00.005-04:00

So I am entering a photo contest to win a years supply of diapers. Those of you who have babies know how expensive diapers are. I am conflicted with which one of the many photos I want to enter. I can only choose ONE. If you could please choose the one you like the most, that would help with my decision. If you don't like any, please let me know so that I can shoot more. I'm going to shoot more pics anyway regardless because I am not overly thrilled and I want to snap more of the flower shots. Thanks in advanced! CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Tragedy Strikes Again

2009-07-04T22:34:00.000-04:00

What a horrible year it has been for us with so many deaths in the family. I really hate posting these things, but it is a part of our life that has effected our families and has brought on a great deal of sorrow. This morning our dear brother in law from North Bay lost his mom in a tragic motorcycle accident and sent his father to the hospital with some very serious injuries. They were traveling through Manitoba on one of their many retirement adventures when the accident occurred. I have met Jamie's mom a few times, and my fondest memory of her was when we had a wonderful turkey dinner at her house with her family; it was the day that Jamie proposed to Tina. It is such a wonderful memory that we hold in hearts and will remember forever. Our hearts go out to Jamie and his entire family for their loss. We hope his father has a speedy and successful recovery.
Jim and I found out about his mom while visiting Brockville today. The strangest thing I find about this day is that a few of my aunts and uncles from Quebec and Niagara met up with my family this weekend for a motorcycle rally in Brockville. My dad and my brother have this crazy idea that they want to purchase a motorbike. Hopefully my family has learnt from the tragic news and take this as a sign to stay away from these vehicles. I have always hated motorbikes and always will.

Kolby James Brown

2009-06-04T11:34:00.012-04:00

I'd like to welcome into the world Mr. Kolby James Brown, born by C-Section on May 23rd, 2009 at 6:11 AM, weighing at 9.02 Lbs and 21 inches in length. It has been a very long and tiring week for me being in the hospital for 5 days and 4 nights, but the Queensway Hospital staff took very good care of me. I went in for a routine ultrasound only to find out that the fluid was dangerously low, and the doctors wouldn't let me go home and told me it was time to deliver! Talk about being caught off guard! So, I was induced and laboured for 10 hours. I had an epidural after 4 hours of labour, and boy, I highly recommend it! After 10 hours the nurses decided to call it quits taking me for surgery. It was scary and very overwhelming. Nothing could've prepared me for what I went through. It is very hard to be paralyzed from the chest down. I had so much drugs in me I could barely use my hands. I will save the details for anyone who wants to know in person, but won't announce it on my blog for those who'd like to be spared. I am still at the recovery stage and have had my Mum come in to help while Jim is at work. Currently Jim's family is now taking over. I am going to take my 6 week recovery time to get back to normal; so far so good! I can actually walk and pick up the baby, whereas I couldn't do this easily before. I can't wait to be alone after all of the poking and prodding I have endured and as soon as I feel up to it, Kolby, Jim and I will make our rounds to see everyone. For now you will have to admire his picture. Do not die from his cuteness!

PHOTOS TAKEN BY ME!!! :O)

BROTHER CARL, NEPHEW ETHAN, AND KOLBY

Olive

2009-06-03T11:07:00.003-04:00

This morning we lost our Great Aunt Olive suddenly to cancer. She was a very strong woman, whom we always joked would live forever. She had a nutty personality, smuggling booze in Ginger Ale containers when she came to visit; the alcohol is very cheap in California compared to here, so it was a nice treat. Olive was known for enjoying a late night "drinky" before bed and staying up late with my Mum and grandparents as they worked on puzzles. She was an artist like me and shared a birthday with my brother Luke. She visited us from California every year. When I was in my early teens she sent me a package with paints, brushes, and canvases. If it weren't for Olive I wouldn't have discovered my painting abilities. For that I am grateful. She will be missed and not forgotten.

Surprise Baby Shower...How could this happen?

2009-04-27T16:02:00.015-04:00

So this weekend my friend Martina threw me a surprise baby shower. Boy was I surprised!!! I think it was the most people I have seen in my living room at one time. There were 20 people there (you are only seeing half in the pic).

It seems every time I have a special event, I always forget to take pictures. I wish I could blame that one on my preggo brain, but this is something I do often. Anyway, enjoy the pics of the gifts we received, and the Brown family helping Jim and I out with the nursery. It is much appreciated!!!
Sister and mother in law sorting through a mountain of baby clothes (TOP)
Peter and Marjory building shelves and hanging new curtains for Baby (BOTTOM)CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTOS

Thanks to Melanie and Carl, we will not have to purchase any clothing for our baby for about a year because of Ethan's hand-me downs. YAY! I am also grateful for all of the Products, toiletries, books and new clothing that we received from friends and family...they are too cute!!!
Here are all of the clothes and some products that were given to us...bigger items such as play pen & carpet from the Eldridge Family are missing from photo. Now I can find the clothes and products for the baby.

Since I don't have pics of my surprise baby shower, here are pictures of the baby shower that my sister in law threw for me in North Bay the weekend before. It was a good time, and Jim and I are very grateful toward them for letting people into their home, and feeding everyone such yummy food!

Yes, it's what you think! They ARE sniffing dirty diapers!!! Name that flavor! Mmmmmmm.....

Today Is a Sad Day

2009-04-17T13:27:00.003-04:00

This morning Jim and I found out that his uncle passed away. It happened so unexpectedly and has left the family with a lot of questions and sadness. This weekend was suppose to be my baby shower in North Bay, and I have asked Jim to cancel it but his aunt feels that it would be best to carry on with the festivities; it is what his uncle would have wanted. I'm not overly comfortable with celebrating a new life, when one that meant so much to the family has ended. This is a time where a family needs to mourn...I don't know what else to say. We are at a loss for words, and in total shock. We are going to miss Doddy Sasseville; a man who was full of laughter and jokes.

Flippy

2009-03-30T17:45:00.006-04:00

Here is my little "Flippy" as we call him for now. We did a 3D Ultra Sound of the little guy and I have to tell you that it is pretty amazing!

So much has happened since my last post. We had a leak in our bathroom and have been working on it since November. It was unfortunate that we had to break into the tiles to fix it, causing a domino of problems and costing us thousands. Long story short, we pretty much had to gut the whole bathroom except for the vanity which I wish I had changed now, but it is still good. By "we" I mostly mean my brother Luke, who has been so good to us by coming to help us out! He has taken many of his days off to make a special trip to Ottawa and putting his skills to work.

We also hired a professional to come in and tile the bathroom floors and shower. Why did it take 4 months you ask? Well, a professional can do it in 2 weeks, but we are not professionals and decided to do most of it ourselves. My brother can only come down once a week or once every two weeks! It turned out beautiful in the end!

Jim and I aren't exactly the handiest of people, so we are very grateful for Luke's help and my parents for their consultations! I was 7 months pregnant when I painted the bathroom...yes, I painted it all by myself! I will never allow Jim to paint it so don't feel bad for me or get mad at Jim. I am a perfectionist! We just have a few more touch up left to do and it is done. Whoops! How did that picture get in there!!! Me choosing paint & counter top colours. You can see that I am focused on those paint chips! Hehehehe! (6 months preg.)

While the bathroom was under renos, our furnace decided to crap out. We went 5 days without heat in the beginning of March which put a delay in our bathroom. We were so lucky that the weather warmed up a bit for us that week. It was just below 0 and I think the coldest it was, was -5 degrees. We still froze a bit and we purchased an electric heater that we had to move from room to room depending on where we were huddled. More money out the window, but it was something that we knew would happen eventually...just bad timing. Thanks to my friend Ainsleey and her husband Terry, he was able to get a former co-worker to give us a really good deal on the furnace...and yes it was a very good deal compared to what Jim's co-worker's friend had quoted us. The furnace was still expensive, and money we were trying to save.

Our car during this time had also been acting up! "What now?" we thought. We took it to our mechanic and he told us not to put anymore money into the hunk of metal and suggested we get a new vehicle. Before the car decided to go, we were in search for a van anyway knowing the car was not safe for little Flippy. But we just threw our money into a new furnace and bathroom!!! With much debating and thinking things over, we really had no choice but to continue our search. Well, we can't afford new, so we decided 2004 was the most affordable...but even that is stretching it a lot! We were really impressed with the Toyota Sienna, but there are not many people getting rid of these kinds of vans, and when we did find one we liked it would be sold the next day! So frustrating! So finally we found a Honda Odyssey. It is almost identical to the Sienna and rated on Consumer Guide as a little better. We were intrigued by the fancy 2004 Red one we found. She's pretty, but after we purchased it we noticed the darn AC wasn't working, nor the heat in the middle row seats...or the light on the clock...or the volume controls on the steering wheel...or the occasional washboard jerks while turning corners. Well, you would think we would check this stuff before we purchased it right? Well, we did! We even had our mechanic look it over and he was very impressed with how nice everything looked. I don't understand it! Everything worked fine, but once we really started playing with it, things stopped working. GRRR! We took the van back to the dealer and they happily said they would make sure everything is working for us. Well, hopefully something will turn out right for once! Everything is beautiful on this van, but the more bells and whistles it has the more problems it will have. I was worried about the fancy options, it just confirmed my hatred towards bells and whistles. I love windows that you have to roll up without power etc. I hate the automatic sliding doors...why has society become so lazy? I still love this van despite everything that has gone wrong. The main thing is that it is being fixed for free!

So, another thorn in my side, is the fact that I am laid off for a month! Friday was my last day. I am currently on a forced vacation. That darn recession is affecting the animation industry and we have to wait for funding from the bank. Stupid CanWest. By the time I come back from this month off I will only have 2 weeks left until I pop! I just found out today that I have to take my maternity one month earlier, otherwise I will not get full maternity benefits and will only be eligible for 15 weeks of unemployment instead! Crazy eh? So I either find a temporary job for now to fill the gap, or I go on the full 50 weeks maternity, losing out on a full month of spending time with my son, and forcing us to look for childcare before we wanted to. Only problem is I have to find a job within the next 2 weeks if I don't want to burn that month of maternity! Oh what to do, what to do!

So I had a doctors appointment on Friday (my last day before the layoff). Just a routine checkup. Well, things did not go so well. The stress from everything...mostly the unemployed situation and other work related issues, had upset me so much that my blood pressure sky rocketed at my appointment. My doctor asked me if I ran to the appointment. I told her a co-worker brought me in by car and I walked slowly up the stairs. I told her I had a stomach ache, which didn't feel like heart burn or the regular stretching in my abdomen. She asked if it was under my ribs and on the top of my belly. I said yes. She then took my blood pressure a second time and looked a bit concerned. She pushed on my belly, and listened to the baby's heart beat. Then she checked my reflexes on my legs. Only one leg moved. She then proceeded to tell me I had to go to the hospital immediately. She didn't really give me any reason. I was shocked! I tried to argue with the doctor that I was fine, and how I had to get back to work to meet my deadlines as it was my last day, and she gave me the look of death. She said no, I think you should go now. It really freaked me out, and caused more stress on me as I thought there was something really wrong with the baby!!! So I had to call Jim, who had to tell his boss he had to leave due to an emergency. He came to pick me up and off we went to the hospital. We didn't wait long at all, and the doctor made me pee in a cup and then she stole blood from me. They then hooked my belly up to some machine that recorded the baby's movements and recorded his heartbeats. I was hooked up to this thing for 2 hours. They would not let be go home until my blood pressure was normal. Then they told me I had to have an ultrasound Monday to make sure things were ok. So far, everything is fine I think. The doctor didn't really say. I guess I won't really know until my next appointment April 8th.

IT'S A BOY!!!

2009-01-02T17:55:00.008-05:00

We are proud to announce that our precious baby, otherwise known as "Flippy" is a boy! We asked the lady not to tell us if it was a boy or a girl and to write it into a card, which Jim and I opened together and video taped. Now the tricky part is trying to come up with a boy's name. This is something that I haven't concentrated on as I was sure it would be a girl, and also because I wasn't as sick as my mother was when she was pregnant with my brothers, and she said she wasn't too bad with me. Has to be a girl right? Wrong! *sigh*. I guess that proves that every single pregnancy on every woman truly is different. You can show early or late, carry high, medium, wide or low...it doesn't matter! I find boys names harder to come up with. We do have one name in mind, but nobody will find out until after the baby is born, that way nobody can complain or voice their opinion on how "Bad" or "not Bad" the name is because it will be set in stone on the birth certificate. The reason being, I had already told someone a name I was thinking of for a girl and the comment I got was "Why would you choose that name? It sounds like a stripper." Nice eh? Rude! If that person reads this blog, you know who you are! Other then that, we welcome any name suggestions you may have, but don't be offended if we don't choose yours! :O)
So as you can see, it has been a while since my last blog update. Well, I have been tired and nauseated. But now that I am starting my fifth month, I feel much better. Today I thought I was starting my 22nd week...but the ultra sound nurse once again has changed the date. I have been set back 2 weeks to 20 weeks and 2 days. Will they ever get it right??? At first they bumped me up a week, now I am 2 weeks behind? They go by the size of the baby to determine the age...I don't think that works very well. Heh!

Here is an the ultra sound video below. Soooo cool!

14 Week Ultra Sound

2008-11-04T18:16:00.002-05:00

Thought I was 13 weeks, but the nurse bumped me up to 14 weeks! Here is our baby's first picture! Soooo Cute!

10 weeks Along and Counting

2008-10-20T12:45:00.003-04:00

My baby should be about the size of a plum, and bouncing around like crazy because the nervous system is building and baby has no control over it. Taste buds and tooth buds are forming. Nails are also forming on fingers and toes (which are no longer webbed) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin. Pretty cool eh?

So I am super tired. I should be experiencing mood swings; crying for no reason, anger, insecurities, daydreaming, yadda yadda yadda. So far I haven't experienced any of that except for daydreaming and terrible skin. Whoever said that you look "glowing" when you are pregnant, is full of crap. "Glowing" my butt!!! Anyway, I do find it hard to consentrate that is for sure. Probably due to the constant washroom breaks at all hours of the night that keep me awake; another reason why I am completely exhausted. *YAWN* I haven't been sleeping well and I am having the most bizzare dreams I have ever had. Being chased by vampires and running over kittens that were trying to kill me.

Finally bought some maternity clothes. It's about that time where I am kinda too small for maternity outfits yet not small enough for my regular clothing. I couldn't take it anymore, as my comfort level for sitting in these clothes were driving me crazy. So I went out and bought a few new shirts and 1 pair of pants (2 pairs of pants I inherited from Jim's sister Tina, who is 6 months pregnant.) It's great, our kids will only be four months apart in age. Perfect timing. Anyway, the clothing is very expensive but I guess they can get away with it since it is Maternity clothes. I bought a shirt for $40 on sale. Crazy! So, I only spoiled myself with 2 shirts from that store, and went to Suzy Shier and Tatoo (in North Bay) and bought these beautiful shirts that are not maternity, but practically are because it is the "in" style these days. They look like baby doll shirts I guess the best way to describe them, but fancier, And they were only $20-$25. Perfect for work I say! I am much happier now...maybe you will see me smiling more often than grimmasing!

Baby on Board

2008-10-01T13:10:00.003-04:00

There is officially a bun in the oven. Jim and I have decided to extend our family; we've been told that our pets aren't really our children. So we are going to have a real baby! Very exciting...and draining. I am very tired all of the time; it's a lot of work creating a human being! I have my first doctors appointment this coming Tuesday. I don't think we will accomplish much at this appointment, but the doctor insists on seeing me and swiping my health card just to tell me something she could tell me over the phone. Ridiculous!
I haven't told anyone at work yet, but if they read this blog they will know. Some people say I should wait 3 months before telling anyone, but I really don't believe in that because if there are problems with the baby, it would be nice to have some support. Eventually I will tell everyone when the time is right. It's just easier to tell family I guess.

Fine Arts from my Past

2008-08-24T22:05:00.015-04:00

So a nice lady named Sheryl Brown messaged me to tell me that she has the same name as me. She too was born in B.C. and she is also an artist. I was blown away by our similarities, and now I am truly inspired to start painting again. I never even dared to think about showing any of my fine artwork to anyone, but it is a part of my life that I am proud of and miss a lot. These are ones I keep hidden in the closet because I am my worst critic. They aren't as good as my later years, but they are my very first paintings, therefore they are very special to me. There is a lot of work that I am missing over the years. One day I will have to dig them out of storage and share with you all! They have been packed away since we moved to Ottawa 9 years ago *GULP*. Has it really been that long??? Here are some of the ones I scanned into my computer a long time ago...Sheryl Brown has inspired me to share them with you all, and after going through them I realize that I miss painting soooooo much!

This was the first painting I ever did when I was about 15 years old. Oil on Masonite Board. I did this as a class project in grade 9. I didn't even know I could paint...heh! Not bad for a first timer! Thanks to my Great Aunt Olive, I was able to discover my other painting abilities. She sent me a package full of art supplies and encouraged me to continue painting to see what else I could do.

This was based on a picture I ripped out of one of my mothers magazines. It was the second painting that I ever did, but the first I ever did in Acrylic on Canvas. I remember sitting on my porch one summer holiday. My grandparents from England watched as I challenged myself to see if I could paint animals. I believe it was 1992, but I cannot find this painting anywhere. It must be packed up in storage somewhere.

Yup, another painting based out of a calender from the Royal Bank. Some of you may recognize this lion. I changed the log he is on to rocks. The picture is actually much bigger than this, but I didn't like the Background. This was the 3rd painting I ever attempted and also before I discovered the fan brush. I sure wish I had the knowledge that a fan brush existed when I did this guy. It is perfect for fur and trees. Ah well!

Here is a 1995 painting I did from a picture my parents took when we lived in British Columbia. We use to live in the Rockies and this was the beautiful scenery around us. I would love to go there again one day. I was 5 when we moved so I only remember a small part of my life there. My dad covered in coal from the mines, and my Mum baking fresh bread and cookies. The snow which ate our boots, and the Grizzly Bears wanting us to feed them bacon and eggs. Acrylic on Masonite Board.

This painting is dated 1996...so I would have been 18 years old. Good'ol National Geographic sure came in handy when you are trying to look for something beautiful to paint. Of course I did not paint it exactly as the picture, but pretty darn close. I think this was the final painting that convinced the judges to let me into OCAD in Toronto. Such a hard school to get into, and the interview process was quit stressful. Oil on Masonite Board.

My First still life. It is not a painting, but it is a piece that I am proud of. It is Conte on Paper. This was a first year assignment at OCAD in Toronto.

Here is an abstract Painting I did as an assignment at OCAD. I don't usually do abstract, but it was something that I did enjoy.

This was another assignment painting where we had to make an exact duplicate of a painting done by a famous artist. I chose Edouard Manet. Me, being a risk taking redhead, decided to take a huge risk by straying away from the assignment by throwing in a cartoon character. I was relieved when my teacher burst into tears of laughter when we revealed our paintings to the class. She loved it so much that she had it hung in the school hallway. This does not usually happen to a first year student, so I was very honored! This was also my way of sneaking in something that I have always loved doing; cartoons.

Well, I wish I could find some landscape paintings that I have done. Will post those soon if I find them. Must go to bed now. It is way past my bedtime.

Some Pro Pictures

2008-07-15T19:30:00.001-04:00

Introducing the new Sheryl Brown

2008-07-06T19:49:00.000-04:00

It official! I am no longer Sheryl Eldridge. I am the new and improved Sheryl Brown! I know, it doesn't sound as good as Sheryl Eldridge, but I guess it'll have to do. Although I am forever going to be know as Sheryl Brown, I will keep my artistic name as Sheryl Eldridge because I do not want to have the confusion for my credits in my shows and also any other works I have done for people in the past. It's kinda like having a stage name I suppose, only I will have an artistic name...err ah I guess.

On June 28Th 2008, I married my best friend. Good bye Sheryl Eldridge, and hello Sheryl Brown. I must say I had an amazing wedding! The best wedding ever; I was told by many guests. Even I thought it was the best wedding I have ever been to and I'm not just saying that because it was my wedding! It was soooo much fun! It started out raining, which royally sucked and I thought, "Well, figures!" I kinda expected it to rain because this seems to be the story of my life. Of course my bridesmaids kept reminding me that rain is good luck on a wedding day, thanks girls, but that's what they say to brides to make them feel better.

EWE! RAIN!

Dad and Me

Hehehe! It's official now, he just signed his life away! Moowhoohaha!

BELOW(Left to Right): Dianne (known since Kindergarten), Melanie (very Pregnant Sister in Law), Dad, Me, Jen ( Maid of Honour), and Tina (known since Kindergarten). I am wearing a very sparkly dress and veil; Crystal would have been so proud! The pictures do not do it justice really.

It was suppose to be 90% chance of rain all day with thunder storms, But then all of a sudden after the church ceremony it started to clear up! All that praying sure paid off, let me tell ya!

I Love my veil

What is that woman doing to my dress?

It turned out to be the perfect weather for pictures because it was overcast. After viewing some of the pictures that my brother took, the pics look good. The reds in the girl's dresses pop. It was very wet and mucky, but it added to our adventure!

There She goes agian muck'n with my dress. She can't keep her hands off me!

Now this is the life!

My Bros. Luke, Carl, and Mark

Luke looks so pretty with those flowers!

Now there's a classy picture for ya!

I didn't get a chance to do what I wanted to do on the beach for pictures, but I did get my pic taken in front of a waterfall. How kool is that? I hope the pics turn out. I know they will since we had the best photographer in North Bay, Tanya Purdon (who seems to really know her stuff.) I can't wait until the professional Pics are ready!

At the reception, many guests had cocktails around 4:30 as they waited for our grand entrance. Many guests commented on how beautiful the decorations looked. The hall was decorated by Northern Occasions, who did an amazing job.

Elaine, Fred, Uncle Reg, Aunt Sally, and Dad chillaxing in the lobby.

Punch tasted terrible! I really should have complained, but we got a free complimentry bathroom attendant who gave out deoderant, perfume, hand cream, dental floss....and...um...condoms? At a wedding? I'm not that close with my family! YIKES!

So finally at 5:00 we arrived from our pictures and got ready for our grand entrance. Everyone loved it! It was very grand and awesome! It was an entrance that nobody will forget. The guys lined up on a set of stairs on one side of the room while the girls lined up on another set of stairs on the other side of the room. Each couple in the wedding party had their own song they came out to. Each couple walked down the stairs beeboping to their music, meeting in the center of the stage and dancing together. Dianne and Ted came out first to "Temperature" and did their dance together center stage. Next Tina and Scott did the same, coming out to their song, "I'm Bringing Sexy Back" Next Carl and Melanie came out to "Hey Baby" Gwen Stefani; Carl rubbing Melanie's pregnant belly (so cute!) and finally Luke and Jen coming out to "Crazy in Love" at which point they did their little routine center stage. It was awesome! Then finally Jim and I were announced and came out to "Pump It" Black Eyed Peas. Keep in mind that all of the bridesmaids and groomsmen have not left the dance floor. Each coupled off to the four corners of the dance floor and at this point the stage lights are going wild. As we enter they are clapping to the beat of the music as Jim and I dance center stage. Next the bridal party started dancing a circle around us chanting "pump it!" to the beat of the song. It was soooo awesome. Once everything settled down. My brother Mark( our MC ) announced that we would be doing our first dance to "I'll Be" Edwin McCain. Of course Jim and I have secretly been taking dance lessons. Jim and I did a Viennese waltz for our wedding song...

...then all of a sudden half way through our beautiful song the CD scratched and started to play backwards. Jim, myself and several guests looked horrified. I even heard many guest in the audience shouting "oh my god! What happened? What a shame!" then there was a dead awkward silence. Suddenly a new song kicks in "Now that we've found love." by Heavy D. At which point Jim and I started dancing a fast routine to...everyone was laughing and clapping. It was fun tricking them all. Hehehe! I had the time of my life!
So now it is supper time. We all had spring mixed salad with raspberry dressing, then the main course being chicken Parmesan with pasta in a cream sauce and Green Beans Stuffed into a tomato (presentation looked amazing, and the food was amazing too.) For dessert it was a yummy waffle cone with fresh fruit and raspberry and chocolate moose. I don't know what it is called, but apparently it was served to the Queen of England which means it is cooler than cool! During the meal my brother had a surprise game up his sleeve. He called for Jim and I to the center of the dance floor. He then gave us each 2 paddles with Jim and My name on it. With Jim and I back to back, the spot light on us, he began asking questions like: Who, out of the 2 of us is the most romantic? Or who was the first to fart in front of the other? Jim and I had to raise our paddles so that the audience could see how compatible we are. It was a lot of fun and laughs.

...and yes Jim was the first to let one go infront of me, and still continues to do so. But I belch the loudest!

Also during supper we played a kissing game using a giant 3 foot die (thanks for all the sewing Mum.) The object of the game was to roll this massive thing, and the number you land on corresponds to what you have to do. Ie: Jim and I kiss, The rollers tell a story, Rollers must sing, rollers must play Mad Gab, rollers must ask Jim a question about sheryl or vise versa. Very Fun and entertaining.

Another game our MC had for our guests was a picture of Jim and I in a compromising position. Each table had to agree on a caption that went with the picture. Mark then read the captions out load to everyone, and we voted on the best. The winner won a nice box of Laura Secord chocolates. Everything ran seamlessly, and I must say that if anyone else tried to do this, they would probably not be as good as my brother Mark. Hats off to him for doing an amazing job. Many guest have asked if he is available to do their wedding. I couldn't have picked a better person to do the job! He also created a really nice 2 hour slide show of Jim and I growing up with pictures of our families. It was amazing! It looped all night for our guests to enjoy.

So once dinner had ended the party began. The lights dimmed lower and the black lighting came on. All of the white linen and white decorations were glowing, and of course myself. I lit up like a light bulb, and it truly felt like there was a spot light on me all night. The music was pumping and the laser show began. It looked amazing! Again, I had the time of my life!

Father Daughter Dance

.....heh! Forgot that I was wearing my comfy shoes! You try hiking a mountain in heels to get to a waterfall!

The Bouquet Toss

Ethan and Me (my nephew...he is sooo cute!)

He is a sweetie pie!

Reg, Sally and Ethan

Best Man and Maid of Honour

Carl and Jim

Apparently some of our guests also had a bit too much fun too. Scott, one of Jim's groomsmen, broke his leg doing a cartwheel after being challenged by a little girl. Scott will be in a cast from his groin to his ankles for 6 weeks! I'm glad that he had fun and danced the rest of the evening away without knowing the damaged that he had caused his body. I guess alcohol really does numb the pain! Sorry for laughing at your unfortunate accident Scott! One day in the future you will see our side and giggle too!

Later in the evening: Luke proud of his work; shrink wrapping our car. Thanks Bro.

Jim, discovering Luke's handy work the next morning!

Wrapping Part Deux...Thanks Carl! (Next day after gift opening)

Thanks for everyone who helped make our wedding "the best wedding" my guests have ever been to. It was really nice to hear how much fun everyone had. Jim and I said that we wanted it to be as entertaining as possible....and it was! It was exactly what we had hoped it to be and it suited our outgoing personalities!

More Wedding Goodies

2008-04-23T22:40:00.006-04:00

So the trip to the States turned out to be very successful. Can you believe that their Walmart has a wedding section??? They sell wedding invitations for $14, and you can get the exact same ones here for $45. Man, we are getting screwed over here. I paid about $30 for my unity candles; set of three. Here, they are $50 for one candle, and it isn't even as nice! Unreal I tell ya! We purchased the rest of my favor boxes that I needed. Once again they were almost out of stock, so I ended up purchasing a damaged set of favor boxes where one was ripped. Oh well, I guess something has to go wrong. Along with that I purchased some other surprise accessories that we needed. I also purchased my wedding shoes, tiara, and jewelry and tried my dress on again...it has finally come in and is almost ready for me to take home. I have to make another appointment with my seamstress to add some final details. YAY! I'm still no where near done. I thought I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, but as Crystal said in the comment on my previous post...it seems to never end. Help me!

Speaking of never ending, I have stayed up until 1:00 in the morning every night this week working on Cyber Chase. I hate myself for it...but it has to get done. I guess that is what happens to a person when a valuable designer quits. Damn you Max! Just Kidding...I know you are having fun at ur new job. Tonight is the first time I kinda relaxed, a bit, even though I know I am going to pay for it tomorrow. This Friday is a shipping day and I still have a lot of stuff to do. Talk about dedication...and by that I really mean Retardation. I trained some peeps tonight and may have to do more tomorrow. Yawn, soooo tired....need sleepy. I'm off to bed. It is 11:16pm right now. Which means when I wake up at 5:30am, I am actually sleeping in...YAY!

Here are some cute pics of my dog I found for you all. Don't die from her cuteness!

All Work, No play

2008-04-19T20:49:00.000-04:00

Not only am I busy designing on Cyber Chase, I have also spent many evenings after work training people to do my job. This seems to be going very slowly as my job is not exactly the easiest thing to teach. I am truly afraid of what I may come back to after my wedding, which is why I have decided to take 1 week off rather than 2. So how do I find time to plan my wedding? Hmmm..perhaps this is why I am behind on my invitations. Not to mention I am having to plan a stag and doe too....which I am still contemplating. I put an add on used Ottawa for anyone who wants to donate free unused stuff to give away as prizes. So far we are in contact with a lady who is going to give us a few things. Thank goodness for nice people!

On a disturbing note, my doctor confirmed that I am suffering from Vertigo. It has been happening more regularly lately. It can come in not so serious to very serious forms. I have to get my eyes and ears checked as a starting point to narrow it down. The doctor thinks it may not be serious kind, but I still have to get checked out. The problems that I experience is a spinning room sensation. This last for several hours, and sometimes makes me toss my cookies. I also get the sensation that I am moving when I am actually just sitting which occurs at least once a week. For the time being I have been told to take Gravol. At first we thought I had carbon monoxide poisoning because our carbon monoxide detector went off coincidentally around the same time as my spinning sensations. We called 911 and of course they sent an ambulance for me and the fire department, who tracked mud through our entire house. I didn't want them to send an ambulance but the dispatcher insisted because of my symptoms, even though I have been having this problem for several years now. Anyway, turned out the detector was faulty, as we suspected, and you are suppose to replace them every 7 years. They tested for carbon monoxide and the rooms were clear. On a good note we now have a new C.M detector and have not had a problem since. On a bad note the fire department suggested we get a new furnace. Yeah, I'll get on that after the wedding.

Today I am going Invitation and wedding shoe shopping with a few girlfriends. We are looking for dancing shoes, which apparently you can stand and dance for hours in, and still be comfortable. Who ever heard of a high heels that are comfortable anyway?

How Beautiful Is This???

2008-03-13T06:59:00.004-04:00

One Saturday morning on the way to a bridal store to pick out the bridesmaid dresses for my wedding we were fortunate enough to witness this beautiful winter wonderland. Thankfully we had our camera on us which was intended to snap pics of the girls in their dresses. Pics turned out pretty nice considering I was in a moving car. As we were driving I was so jealous to see some photographers taking pictures; I wish I could have joined them.

Who Dumped This in My Backyard?

2008-03-12T06:24:00.010-04:00

So I have heard, but is not confirmed, we may have broken the record for the most snow ever, since 1971 for Ottawa. I can believe it. We suffered through 51 cm of this stuff. On Friday we got home and shoveled in the blizzard because we knew when we woke up early for our marriage course we would be shoveling the next morning. Then on Saturday when we got home from our marriage course we had to shovel again in the evening. Oh yeah, did I mention that we got the car stuck at the end of our driveway and I had to help Jim push it out. We spent most of our evening shoveling in the blizzard only to find out the next day that it didn't even look like we did a thing. Melanie's car that we are babysitting is completely buried. We became prisoners to our home on Sunday because we couldn't even drive down the street. People were abandoning their cars at the end of our road. Due to the large amounts of snow, I have heard reports of roofs collapsing and basements flooding. I have to admit though, I actually like the snow that we received because I haven't seen anything like it since I was a little kid. Actually not true, I've seen it in North Bay; but that is expected. Jim and I will probably go out and play in it this weekend.

The Next Morning (Above,Below)

4 Months Left!

2008-03-04T11:40:00.008-05:00

mmm k. This is what I have been up to for the past few weeks. I went to the flower shop to claim my $1000 prize that I won at the bridal show in January. Sucks to be me since I can't really use fresh flowers due to the fact that they open at 9:00 am on Saturday and my wedding is 4 hours out of town and starts at 1:00 pm. This is no good at all. So my other option is silk flowers which are hidiously ugly...but the store owners claim theirs are the best "even better than Micheals". Ummm, no they're not; I checked. But they want $200 for one tattered looking bouquet ( so you can see how fast this $1000 is going to get eaten up. I may get some silk flowers done up for the church and pew bows instead and go with my original florist. On the brighter side of things we have our videographer booked...he is sooo awesome! And our photographer is awesome too. We also nailed down our menu and did some taste testing. Everything we had was amazing. It was so hard to choose. We tasted 4 cakes and finalized that as well. Finally something has gone right for a change. Even the center pieces for the tables are beautiful. I'm really excited! Now I can relax and focus on the details....there is still much to do though. Jim and I have to go for our marriage preparation course this weekend. I don't know about you, but telling a stranger details about my relationship with Jim is certainly not my idea of fun. I may have to bite my tongue for those 2 agonizing days! Oh well, a friend informed me that it may not be so bad...we'll have to wait and see won't we.

Here are some pics of the food that you will NOT be eating....hehehehe!

MORE YUMMY GOODNESS :OP

Turning 30 This Week :O(

2008-01-22T19:55:00.000-05:00

Yeah I know, I'm turning 30 on the 24th. I just wanted to say goodbye to my 20's, it's been fun. Hoohum. Now I can look upward toward my wedding in June, and popping out a few babies. Maybe I can get it over and done with and have 2 at once. Just kidding! On the upside it gives me an excuse to throw a party this weekend. YAY! So far there are 18 people coming. 9 of which who are staying over night. It's going to be a rock'n weekend. I also bought some prezzies for my guests. That's right, I GIVE out presents on MY birthday! I'm so sweet.

NEW DESIGN BLOG

2008-01-10T20:25:00.000-05:00

Yes it is true! I have finally put together a design blog where I will be posting some of my doodles. YAY! I have been given the go ahead by Portfolio Entertainment to post some Carl Squared stuff. I cannot post anything that has not aired yet so you will have to wait for season 4 to air this summer before I can do that. But at least you will all see that I really do work at an animation studio, and I really do work 20 hours a day ;o). Now you can all make comments about my work...what you like or dislike. So tell all your friends and click on the link on the right side panel that says SHERYL'S DESIGN BLOG. It's that simple. Let me know that you visited because I'd love any constructive criticism that you may have. It will of course take some time to fill up, but if you check now there are some doodles posted. I don't think I can post any Cyber Chase stuff yet as I don't think that has hit the air. Bummer!

Merry X-mas and Happy New Year!!!

2008-01-03T13:51:00.000-05:00

Wow, It has been soooo long that I almost forgot my password! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Mine was amazing! I was spoiled rotten. For X-mas Jim and I got an HD Canon video camera...soooo awesome. We got some nice red and black dishes from Tina and Jamie with some pretty drinking glasses. They look so much better than my mismatched dishes that were given to me when I moved out for college. I got a murder mystery game which I can't wait to play, an airbrush and compressor for crafty art and makeup YAY! A voodoo doll that I can only use once on any enemy that I hate...so you better be nice to me hehehehe! I don't hate anyone anyways, but I'm not afraid to use it! I also received some cool penguin socks that say "let’s cuddle" (love'em). Gift certificate for clothes, and my favorite Lindor chocolates YUM! My favorite part about Christmas that I enjoyed the most was when Jim dressed up as Santa as a surprise for my nephew Ethan and gave prezzies out to everyone. He made my entire family and friends sit on his lap....it was hilarious! I wish I could share the home video with you guys but I don't think blogger allows video...and if it does could someone tell me how to do it. Above is a pic of Jim as Santa.

I am still working on weekends. *SIGH* Soon I will be posting another blog site that contains my artwork that I have done over the years. That will be nice. I'd like to get into painting again and sell some pieces.

Tina is going to pop soon; with a Boy this time. YAY! I told her if she has him on my birthday she has to name him Sheryl. That didn't go over too well. I don't see why not; there was a dude on Survivor named Sheryl. Anyway, I am sad that she will not be able to celebrate with me on my 30th, but maybe she'll get a drunken phone call hehehehe! I haven't decided whether I am going to have a party or not...we'll see. I'm leaning toward yes. Can someone please decide for me? Anyway, I am going to be an aunty again. I hope it's a girl this time...sorry Carl, but girls rule, and you will just have to accept that eventually we will rule the world.

Me Belly Hurts

2007-08-08T08:20:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of blogging. I've been sick with a sore stomache which lasted 4 days of excruciating pain...went to emergency to undergo some tests; thought it was appendicitis, but results came back negative. I'M NOT PREGNANT! Thought I'd caps on that since that seems to be what everyone thinks. They poked me with needles and made me pee in a cup. Then they zapped me with radiation. It's not an ulcer, which was another suspicion, but I ruled that out quickly after taking every drug you could possibly take for an ulcer only to find that the pain would not go away. So far they don't know what it is. I have to go for an ultrasound for a more concrete test. The doctor sent me home with some drugs, which I will never ever take again because they made me soooo sick. I bet I could get a pretty penny if I sold them on the street since they make you hallucinate. Other than that I am taking it easy. I had to take a couple days off work which sucks cuz now I am trying to catch up. Oh yeah, and Carl Squared has started again, so I am back to doing 2 shows at once. Fun Fun Fun! On a good note though, Jim and I officially have a family doctor. Believe me when I say that this is a huge deal because Doctors are really hard to get. Jim and I haven't been able to get one for over 7 years!!! YAY! :O)

Ainsleey's Wedding

2007-07-25T06:14:00.000-04:00

Just posting these pics of Ainsleey's wedding which I have spent the hour trying to send to her through e-mail; but for whatever reason it is not working because Jim has had the computer apart trying to get our wireless working. It is still not working very well and the computer is chugging more than ever....so Mark, if you are reading this and have a moment, give us a call. *SIGH*
As I was saying, these pics were taken this past May. I was really disappointed that a lot of the pictures turned out grainy. I think the lighting played a big role, and the fact that I seriously need a new camera. But Photoshop and I are best friends now and I de-fogged them. Hopefully I can salvage the others. The picture below is a bit dark, but when you look at it in full view it's not too bad...it looked much worse.

Wii, I had so much fun

2007-07-22T06:53:00.000-04:00

I went to a party yesterday afternoon and night and played the wii for about 8 hours. I have to say that it is a lot of fun when you play with a group of people; especially if you drink a whole bottle of hypnotic to yourself and some rum coolers. I loved the boxing game the most. I kicked Jim's butt every time which I found shocking because he is awesome at video games. I think I want to buy a wii for myself; it is great exercise and a whole lot of laughs. I could totally see my family enjoying it, believe it or not, even my parents (who have never touched a video game in their lives). EVEN YOU CRYSTAL! I know that you hate video games, but I think you would love this. For anyone who has never played it before, you should rent it for your next party. I think I may have another games party again in a few weeks, they are sooo much fun. Sorry that I missed your BBQ Ainsleey, there were a lot of parties to go to. I wish I could have gone to them all.

Today I just want to relax in the sun and go swimming. It would be nice if the weather went past 25 degrees for once.

Wedding Stuff

2007-07-19T14:27:00.000-04:00

So the date has been finalized. I sent the deposit for the venue on Monday...it should be there now. It's crazy how much stuff is involved for a wedding. I think the biggest headache for me was finding a place that is affordable and able to provide everything that suits our needs. It's funny when you mention that you want to have a wedding, and then suddenly the price for food goes up an extra $10 per plate. Anyway, I am in the process of sending the "Save the Date" cards to everyone. I am making them myself since it is slightly cheaper.

On another note I have been busy with one of my favorite hobbies; Photography. I enjoy taking pictures and throwing them together; particularly wedding pics. If I could take pictures of my own wedding I would. But then I wouldn't be in any of them, and Jim would be lonely. I've been busy every night and I actually stayed up past my 10:00 bedtime. I was having so much fun with it. I wish I could make a career out of it, but unfortunately I need to do more research. Oh yeah, and buy a better camera than 4 mega pixels. Oh well, here are some samples of what I have been up to lately.

There were actually a group of people in the background of the picture below, which I magically erased. It was such a beautiful shot that was almost wasted because of the scattered people talking amongst themselves. Now it is almost perfect.

The Lion Cut

2007-07-05T06:28:00.000-04:00

Hahahahaha! I love giving my kitty the lion cut every summer. You can actually see how fat she is underneath all of that hair. Sorry Sierra, it is for your own good. Now Mr. Wiggles is going to laugh at you. Not to worry though, he will be laughing on the other side of his face when he sees that you are cooler than him on those hot summer days. Nice boots by the way.

Mel, This Bug is For You!!!

2007-07-04T09:22:00.000-04:00

I was out on my deck this morning and I found this cute little creature that caught my eye. It made me think of Melanie because of the colours (Melanie LOVES pink). I have never seen anything like it, and I thought it was kinda cute for a crawly thing. Thought I'd share it with everyone...and if you know what it is, I'd love to hear from you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAX

2007-06-18T12:43:00.001-04:00

Well, I know Max probably doesn't read my blog, but I just wanted to say happy 30th birthday to him anyway. I just want to remind people that know him to wish him a happy B-day! His girlfriend Gabriela surprised him at work today with a cake and decorations...we couldn't make it as pretty as we wanted to, but for the limited amount of time we had to prepare, it was good enough. BIG thank you to Ren for doing some of the decor while I distracted Max. Sorry that I had to suck you into that! Unfortunately, Gabriela was late due to some unforeseen circumstances. The cake she attempted to make for him fell apart and the one that she purchased from Baskin Robins was not the flavor she had asked for. Poor girl tried sooo hard to make everything perfect. I feel bad for her. Although, I think Max was very surprised and happy to eat what she brought! And he was very happy to see her which made his day!

So, I guess you all have been wondering what I've been up to. I've been doing a LOT of gardening. We finally got some trees and bushes dug up. They were obstructing my view out the big bay window. Now I have planted lilies everywhere ( my favorite ). We also trimmed our neighbours blue spruce. That was a hudge job, not to mention sneaky since we didn't ask the owner. Thank goodness they liked it, but they didn't really have a choice. Jim was out there for 3 hours cutting branches high enough so that it wasn't scatching our car. I've also been spending tons of time planning my wedding..I think we found a place but I don't want to say too much yet because we have to call the guy in 2 weeks. If this is the place we are going to get it is going to be a wedding like no other! It's all about fun for me. I don't want it to be the same old routine everyone does. Jim and I have been together for a long time now, so making it as fun as possible is our goal! I'm actually getting excited about it! SCARY!

Sheryl's Gone Blonde

2007-05-01T12:38:00.000-04:00

Hey, what can I say...I wanted a new look, and I heard that Blondes have more fun. So I decide to dye my hair. Now Judith and I are twins. I can't believe the attention that I have been getting since the transformation. I think I'll keep it like this forever. So golden, so beautiful, so ditzy!

HAHAHA! Just kidding! I would never want to look like that!!! A guy at work decided to photoshop it blonde...I know, kinda creepy eh? Blonde does not suit me. But brown looks nice. My co-worker and I want to dye our hair brown, but she keeps chickening out. Although, now that everyone has seen her photoshopped pic brunette, she's starting to become a little bit braver. Ahahahaha! The silly things we do when we should be working.

SEASON FOUR OF CARL SQUARED

2007-04-30T10:34:00.000-04:00

Well paint my face red, we just got word on Friday that there will be season four of Carl Squared! I thought for sure we would not get it since they waited so long to tell us. Apparently they have changed staff at Teletoon, which some say is the reason why they were so late to give us the news. In any case, I am excited but a little dissappointed at the same time, since I have had fun designing on Cyber Chase. I am very proud to announce that our team has made Carl a great success and has been nominated for The Alliance for Children and Television (ACT) Award. Below is the age Category and who we are up against. Carl Squared was also praised on having the best website for kids to visit, where they can read Carl's blog and actually write to him. YAY CARL!!!!

Animation 9-14
RUBY GLOOM
6TEEN
CARL SQUARED
SKYLAND
TOTALLY SPIES
CLASS OF THE TITANS
BEING IAN
WEIRD YEARS

Wedding Plans are Rolling

2007-04-26T12:30:00.000-04:00

So I was recently harassed by Melanie and Jen to start planning my wedding. They tied me down and started throwing wedding books, and cake at me. I almost got a paper cut on my eyeball. Ok, maybe it didn't happen like that exactly...but pretty darn close! After kicking and screaming, I decided to go through the darn magazine and pick out a dress...yes, I already know what I want for a dress, the question is where am I gonna find that exact dress that I fell in love with without paying a gagillion dollars??? I haven't set an exact date yet, but it will probably be June 2008. I know, you're all thinking "it's about frick'n time!" But common. the novelty of getting married has wore off long ago....it's been 9 years for crying out loud. The only thing I do ask is for Mel and Jen to continue harassing me...but most of all I want them to harass Jim...cuz he's lazy!

On another note. I'm pretty much done all my designs for Carl Squared. There hasn't been any news yet for another season...hope they don't wait too long otherwise people may be looking for new jobs. So now I'll be designing on Cyber Chase which is an eduaction show on PBS. So far it's fun because the designs are much different from Carl. I can't wait!

Sad news, our Pip rowing team did not register in time, apparently the spots filled up fast this year. But we are on the waiting list. It's really disappointing because we were totally psyched to row again. Oh well, we'll be prepared next year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRYSTAL AND LUKE!!!

2007-04-18T15:21:00.000-04:00

So many birthdays this month. Whew!

SO....Crystal, I hope you have a great day today! I know you well enough that you are probably going to have a few drinks here and there with family and friends...so have one for me would ya? And I'll have one for you this weekend. Actually, I'll have more than one...hehe because it is my Bros B-day on Friday. So Happy B-day to you both! Wish you were still here in the Capital.

On another note...I've decided that I am going to row this year. I've jumped on the rowing bandwagon. The big competition is June 24th, so we better start practiceing. Yeah! I'm excited...but a little nervous since I haven't rowed in my life! I better start pumping some iron to make my pipes as big as Crystals and Judiths.

My First Black Eye

2007-04-10T19:42:00.000-04:00

Yeah yeah, I’ve been trying to cover up my greenish/blue black eye since Monday morning. I wish I had a Kool story to tell. Like, I got into a bar fight and beat up some chick....but no, I slipped in the tub and did an eye plant into the porcelain soap dish that is glued to my wall. Dammit, I knew it would turn blue the second it hit. Jim's like, "Great, now everyone is gonna think I beat you..." then he laughed and asked me if I wanted a second one to match. :OS It's not that bad...well, that's what Jim tells me. Thanks Hun.

They Don't Make'em Like They Use To

2007-04-10T19:40:00.000-04:00

We purchased a Convection Smooth Top Kitchen Aid stove in December to be delivered in February. I decided that I did not want the Kitchen Aid soon after we purchased it and ran back to Sears telling them to cancel the order. Reason being: Several reviews online had some horror stories about this particular stove. For example: The stove turns on by itself and catches fire…you know, no big deal. The salesman at sears thought I was crazy because “It is the Cadillac of Stoves”. I questioned him about the integrity of the stove. He said they had never had any complaints or returns…yada yada yada. But he did admit that they experienced some computer issues in previous models, but because we were getting a 2007, they have addressed and fixed these problems. He said to me “just try the stove you’ll love it. If you don’t like it you have 90 days to return it.” I told him that I had not felt comfortable purchasing this stove in the first place because I really wanted the GE Profile which is rated very well in the Consumer Guide Reports (Kitchen Aid didn’t even make the list). The GE Profile also has some outstanding online reviews. Not to mention, I was offering to purchase a much more expensive stove right then and there. It took Jim and the Salesman a lot to convince me to stick with the Kitchen Aid…so I finally gave in. Feeling a little queasy I told Jim to go to other stores and get their opinions. So he did, and all of them said it was the best stove we could purchase. A salesman who didn’t even sell Kitchen Aid brand at his store said it was the best. After all this I decided to try it for the 90 days. Not even 30 days later we had problems with three of the top burners. One looked like something melted on the inside of the stove under the glass. On another day, another burner made a big popping noise and Jim saw a bright light, we soon noticed that parts of the element were burnt out. And the final straw, a third element would not heat up on high…it couldn’t even boil water. There were only a few good things about the stove. It could bake beautiful dishes that tasted amazing. And the automatic probe was indeed an awesome feature. We also loved the fact that the stove turned off by itself when the food was cooked. It was totally high tech with a lot of bells and whistles. We went back to Sears, to exchange it for the GE Profile…YEAH! The stove I wanted in the first place. I feel so good about this one; I actually walked out of the store feeling quite excited! Oh, and guess what? Jim and I managed to wheel and deal with him and knocked several hundred dollars off of their asking price. Hehehe, we are so sneaky. I must admit that Sears has an excellent return policy. Wish us luck when we get our new stove next Tuesday!

Moral of this story is to trust your gut and don’t let those pushy salesmen get you off your plan.

Thank you everyone that voted!

2007-03-20T12:08:00.000-04:00

Julie from Portfolio wrote us today:
"Just wanted to let you know that the Teen SuperStar contest was a huge success for Teletoon. They said the voter response was "phenomenal" - although I don't have actual numbers yet. I do know that the audience voted Carl the winner - 50% voted Carl, 37% voted Skye, and only 13% voted Jamie!
In all, the launch was fun and a big success. We got some press and there will be some follow up articles coming out soon.
Thanks for your help and dedication to these episodes and the promos - they really put the series in the limelight...and that's always a good thing when waiting for a renewal!! "

YAY! Please note she said renewal.....I don't want to jinx it, but this is a REALLY awesome sign that we may get season 4. I am sooooo excited! We also found out that 32000 viewers voted which is three times the amount they have ever had in Teletoon history!!! Thanks again to everyone that voted. Thanks Jim for telling all your hockey buddies to get their children to vote. It makes me proud to hear that it is their favorite show! Now everyone do Crystal a favor and go to her blog (link on right) and vote for her t-shirt. It helps feed her child, and it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :OP

Ahhhhhh, today is a good day! :O)

Vote For Carl Squared....PRETTY PLEASE!!!

2007-03-16T18:26:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone, if you get a chance please vote for our Carl Squared "Teen Superstar" episode before March 18Th at the Teletoon website, or vote by phone....We have been told that season 4 depends on how many kids vote. It's the episode with Fefe Dobson. Part 2 airs this Sunday at 5:00 pm. Tell all the kids you know. Crystal, dial that phone for Avie. There are some kooool prizes to be won...and the fleece jackets are really nice, I know cuz I own one :OP
For the adults out there that want to vote, I would suggest voting with your cell phones because they don't ask for your age etc...I don't think 30 year olds are aloud to vote...but you all want me to stay employed don't you? On your cellphone, text: “Teen C” for Carl, “Teen S” for Skye or “Teen J” for Jamie to 24680. If you want to see their performance you can visit the Teletoon website. Don't forget to watch Part 2 this weekend!!!

On another note, I am getting a cold....but I am fighting it with vitimin C pills. It hasn't failed me yet. Every time I feel a cold coming on I take the Sunkist vitimin C pills...and man does it ever work good. Jim likes it too. Some people at work have had a bad case of the flu...and I think it is after me too, but I won't let it get me. Every time I feel the tingly head cold sensation I take the recommended dose and it doesn't get worse like it usually would. For the past 2 years I haven't had anything major...just sniffles! (believe me thats unusual.) I'm tell'n ya, it works soooo good! Oh yeah, garlic pills too....I know, stinky, but it works! I could be an awesome sales person for Sunkist...but I'm sure any brand will do the same thing. I was suppose to go out tonight and party...but I have decided to stay in and rest so that I can drink tomorrow! Jen is mad at me now...but don't worry Jenny, I'll see you all tomorrow! It's been a while since I've had fun...and I am do for weekend of games and laughter! Happy St. Patty's Day everyone!

Me So Busy

2007-03-02T16:40:00.000-05:00

Yeah, yeah, so I haven't written anything for a while, and I am feeling the heat from Crystal to keep up my blog...but man, I am soooooo busy! I think I am going to die. I didn't even get to watch survivor yet on Thursday, but I did tape it. Working on 2 shows at once is tough, meaning I get to take more work home this weekend. Not to mention, I am still painting our master bedroom after work...which we are almost done. We had to put it on hold for a bit because the dust was too heavy and sinking into my lungs...but that's ok, I don't need to breath. We are having company this weekend, and we were trying to get the room done before they come, but it's not. I don't want to rush it. It will be done for the following weekend when Jim's family comes down. I will post pictures of my blood red room when it's complete.
Oh..and Meeka, I can't believe that you went to the T dot in this weather...hope you're having fun! I was thinking of you as I had to do some revisions on Delete. :O( Sorry, they made me do it. They want him in flip flops and a wife beater. I also added some star fish to his swim trunks. Anyway, I'll try not to mess up your file too much. They handed it out an hour before leaving work, and it is due Monday....nice! I wish I can just relax tonight...but we have guests to entertain....weeee!
By the way Crystal, your baby's website is soooooo cute, I haven't had a chance to watch all of the videos yet, but I promise I will this weekend. *sigh* something nice to look forward to. :O)

Woohoo! I LOVE SKIING!

2007-02-19T06:49:00.000-05:00

On Friday Jim and I went skiing with my work, and we had soooo much fun. We haven't been skiing for years and the thought of it scared me because the last time I went was in grade 11 with Ainsleey, Tina, Dianne, and I think Erin was there too. So, it's been about 13 years. I was a little rusty in the beginning...but I was forced to get the hang of it pretty quick when we found ourselves skiing down what we thought was the #3 hill (bunny hill). But it was a #5 hill (NOT THE BUNNY HILL). Yikes! Well, I am proud to say that I did not fall at all. Jim, on the other hand, fell about 7 times, two of which were not his fault (so he says). His ski's came off while skiing. Boy, am I disappointed that I didn't get that pair! :OS It's so funny that Jim and I had to stop frequently at first, because of a horrible burning sensation in our legs while skiing (that was the feeling of our lazy muscles working). The next day, I was not as sore as I thought I would be, having a desk job and all. I can honestly say, though, I haven't had that much fun in a long time, and it was my first time skiing with Jim. It was also my first time night skiing, which made it quite exciting as well.

On another note. I'd like to say CONGRATULATIONS to my brother Luke for finally proposing to Jen. It's about stink'n time! Although, he is a little like me...there is not a date set yet. I would also like to apologize to Jen for the dead flowers that Luke bought you for Valentines Day. It's the thought that counts. Nobody told him that you couldn't leave fresh, expensive flowers in the freezing cold car. hehehe! I hope the chocolates were good though! :O)

The Brown Family Curse Continues...

2007-02-09T18:09:00.000-05:00

So on Feb. 6Th we had a new fridge and stove delivered. We had purchased them way back in December (Jim's parent's paid for some of the fridge for x-mas...but the door...that belongs to me, hehe!). Thank you Ma and Pa Brown!
Jim and I absolutely love our fridge...except for the fact that we have run into yet again another obstacle...If you know Jim and I, you know that something always goes wrong with everything we do (I think it's a "Brown family" curse. Tina Loeffen, you know what I'm talking about! The issue that Jim and I are experiencing is we cannot order ANY fridge BIG or SMALL that is under 30" deep. Our house cannot accommodate a new fridge *PERIOD* Actually, that's a lie...we could order a $5000 fridge from Switzerland...Or we can remodel our kitchen for one small payment of $20,000 and get a wider, 28" deep fridge.
Despite this small hiccup, Jim and I are remaining optimistic and have decided to keep the fridge, and possibly cut a hole the size of the fridge into the wall so that it can slide about 2 inches out of the isle...and if that fails, when we sell the house, we will put the old fridge (28") back into place and hopefully nobody will notice this issue. So in the meantime, I think I am going to write a nasty letter to ALL of the fridge companies and let them know how much I hate them. Not only that, Jim found other people at his work who have had the same problem. If anyone else has this problem, please stand with us and write a letter too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEEKA!!!

2007-02-06T14:06:00.000-05:00

Meeka is 32 years old today so I would like to say a BIG happy birthday to her. We went out to lunch today for sushi...only I had chick'n. So next year Meeka, please take the day off. Nobody should have to work on their birthday. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!

Dreaded Reno's

2007-02-04T11:08:00.000-05:00

So we went to the good'ol hockey game last night. It was fun. Since it was Toronto vs Ottawa, the fans were crazy! One of the highlights of the night was watching two police officers come into our section and remove a 50 year old drunk from the stands. This was after three other ushers tried to remove him. Hehe, early night for him!

...On another note, I'm debating whether or not I should resume renovating my master bedroom today. We had soooo many problems with it. About 3 weeks ago the ugly wall paper was impossible to remove. Then I had to fill in all of the holes in the drywall that Jim and I made during the removal...YES IT WAS THAT BAD. Later we had to get my brother Luke to come in and play with the electrical only to find more problems (DC electric rather than AC). Even though I couldn't install dimmer switches on the nightstand lights (which hang from the ceiling,) Luke was able to put in a 3rd new light that will be on a dimmer switch in the center of the room. I'm actually really happy it worked out that way because it looks so awesome...Thanks Lukey! Lately Jim and I have spent the last two weeks in the guest room bombarded by master bedroom furniture that is piled over our heads. I really hate it, so if I sound a little cranky that's why. Did I mention that I am painting the room a dark red...you know what that means??? Four coats of paint! Thank god we used a tinted primer. We have done 3 so far on two walls and it still looks a little transparent. I want to start the other two walls today but we have to sand the dreaded corner again for the tenth time (that's another dreaded story). Ahh, I love being a home owner and discovering all kinds of surprises that previous owners "half-assed" and left for us. yay... :O(

A little break...Kinda

2007-02-02T18:08:00.000-05:00

I finally finished off these two characters for show 45 of Carl Squared. They have been haunting me for a while...so I am extremely happy to finish off this Friday with nothing to worry about for Monday. Yay, a worry-free weekend! I can now go to the hockey game and enjoy myself tomorrow with Jim. We are going on a date. First dinner, some booze, and then the game. I can't wait!
I will be designing on a new show called Cyber Chase in 2 weeks...hmmm should be interesting. I guess I should enjoy my weekends now while I can. We might be working double shifts until....oooh....April. There were also talks of splitting the days in half...in other words Carl in the morning, than Cyber Chase in the afternoon's. Yeah, like that will be productive. Ideally that would be fine, if Carl Squared wasn't such a design heavy show. We need the full day for Carl, so I can't see this happening for very long. I'm trying to keep an open mind though, even though I fear of a burnout for our design team...I prey that Meeka and Brandon will still be available for design help, cuz I think we are gonna need it! CRYSTAL, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE!!! Want us to ship you some work, hehe? Miss ya!

Blog Makeover

2007-01-30T14:21:00.000-05:00

So I finally decided that making a blog into a portfolio isn't such a good idea since you are limited to the amount of options you can do. I have decided to jump on the bandwagon and talk about myself, my life, and like everyone else, post drawings here and there. Maybe even some silly pictures of my friends, family, and me. I guess you can say I am a little envious of how my friends have set up their blogs, and I have come to the realization that my blog is...or WAS...extremely boring. It's a great way to keep in contact with everyone as well as show off my doodles. I am in the process of teaching myself Dreamweaver so that I can at least make a website that looks more professional for my Portfolio rather than this amateur way. Yup, time to pull up my socks, get that hampster wheel turning, and shell out a few bucks for a domain name. Thanks to you all who have inspired me to have fun with blogger...so here is my first pic of a grumpy old geezer. I drew him in August 2005. I love drawing old people because it is fun and you can get a lot of expression in their wrinkly faces. :O)