All Good Things Must Come to an End

Dio Mio - what a semester. These last couple weeks have been jam packed with friends, food and memories for the books. 5 sleeps until I head back to the homeland, and I couldn't be more conflicted.

When I think about coming home for the holidays, I get very excited. I think about all of the food I can eat, the crisp smell of Canada, and spending some serious time with my friends and my family - and getting a very necessary hug from my babe. But, the thought of me staying in Canada past the holidays is a sad feeling. I am not ready to leave my life here in Spain behind. Can't I just come home and love everyone and love everything - but then come back? I mean, I miss home so much because it has been so long. But when I think about leaving everything behind here, it is heart breaking. I now can understand my Mom's sadness about leaving France - it becomes a part of you, a part of who you are. I have made friendships here that I can't even begin to describe in words. I have met so many beautiful and amazing friends from all over the world. I have made true friendships with individuals who have changed my life. I am not the same girl who eagerly and nervously left in August. I have experienced more, I have laughed more, loved more, and learned more. I have challenged myself, I have tested myself and I have undoubtedly grown. I have gotten more out of this experience on an emotional level than I ever thought possible. 

So, it brings me to this question. How am I supposed to be okay with leaving some of my best friends? Friends that I see every single day, friends that love me and accept me for my craziness. Friends who come from different backgrounds, languages, countries, continents and time zones. Being a Canadian is so difficult in this situation because I live so much further than anyone else (besides my 'Murica's). I can't hop on a cheap flight to Belgium to visit Charlotte, or jump on a ferry to visit my English loves. And the incompetence not to do so is something that I seriously struggle with. Yes, of course, I know that this isn't the end of our friendships and I know that we will see each other again. But the question of when, and knowing that it can't be in a few weeks, or a few months, it's going to have to be years is something that makes me ache. These are people I spend every single day with - people who have just become a part of my routine and life.

We will have memories from this trip forever. We will share memories (some foggy, at that) of our drunken nights, of our delicious dinners, of our travelling and everything in between and out between. We have laughs and jokes that no one is able to share with us, and we will always share that and cherish that. 

Last night I was blessed with a Surprise Leaving Party and I was so unbelievably overwhelmed. For anyone that knows me - knows that I am a very emotional girl. When I'm sad, I cry - when I'm angry, I cry - when I'm happy, I cry. There have been a few moments in my life, however, where my overwhelming emotions somewhat paralyze me, and even thought my body is coursing with emotion - I can't show it. No tears. And that is how I was last night. I was so overwhelmed and touched that these individuals who have only known me for a few short months - took the time to throw me a huge bash and show their faces to party with me and say goodbye. I couldn't cry. I wanted to, but I couldn't. It was especially hard because unlike all of my friends here - I am not coming back after Christmas. I am done. So although everyone is leaving for Christmas, they are coming back. And there were many individuals there last night that I know I will not see again. It just won't happen when we are worlds apart. But it was just so touching to see everyone, to say goodbye to everyone and to get to have a big BANG before I left. There were balloons and streamers and things that popped. And they all hollered when I came in and I thought I had peed my pants (I was wearing a white dress) - but I also though that we were under some serious gang violence...

                                                   All the girls Canadian Baconing me ;) 

And all I could do was scream, and jump up and down, and my face hurt so much from smiling. And I was flailing and being so loud and giggling. And there were sooooooo many people there! For me!! I will always remember the effort that my besties went to, to do that. Of course it was the rowdiest party of the semester - broken chairs, broken pictures, broken toilet, broken glasses. But it was a success. I got a free bottle of Champagne at the club and I was having such a great time. I spilled drinks all over the bar rail..twice.... I punched my best friend (hopefully not hard...) because she wasn't listening to my story, I screamed at some creepo, I went to bed at 9am and I did some serious Canadian Bacon action.

These memories are something I will have forever. There are a few individuals here that have changed my life forever. It breaks my heart that I have to say goodbye to some of the greatest people I have ever met. 

But, they always say that you should leave the party while still having fun. And I am having so much fun - I can't imagine leaving. 

xoxoxox
-CB

Madrid

Okay okay, delayed again, but YOLO. Or YOHOSA (You only have one semester abroad) and YOIMO (You're only in Madrid once... or Malaga...)

So, we took a flight from Barcelona to Madrid and we were so absolutely exhausted none of us spoke to each other and we slunked down to catch some serious z's. We took the bus into the centre and took the metro to our hostel. However, on the way we had a rare run in with a Paparazzi - I'm surprised you haven't seen our photos plastered all over the Tabloids... or maybe you have! We were being crazy ratchets on the bus and 3 guys sat near us - watching us, whispering our names, making fun of us, and overall being creeps. They got off the stop before us and as the bus is pulling away, Lucy says "Is this really happening right now?!" and we all look out the window. And sure enough - they are taking photos of us THROUGH the bus window - so, like the classy ladies we are, we mooned them.... kidding... we just posed with our thumbs up haha. But for real??

And here comes the scene from Taken 3 - ERASMUS ABROAD Edition. We arrive at our hostel - book up, pay and the man begins to describe to us that the hostel is full - and so he has called his friend to come get us and take us to another hostel - another building a few blocks away - and that is where we are staying.... What? So we impatiently wait, and a man from the Sopranos comes in with his long black coat, slicked black hair, harsh voice and black leather gloves. He proceeds to tell us to follow him, and well... we did. We were following this ax murderer or drug lord through creepy alleys and avenues of Madrid - until we got to this building, but it was a maze. The elevator only worked until the second floor - and every hallway took us through a new room - which led to a new hallway, and a new room, and a new floor, and OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO BE DRUGGED AND KILLED AND NO ONE IS GOING TO FIND ME BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN MY FAMILY IS GOOD AT MAZES. 

But instead - it is this gorgeous hotel room with a private bathroom and everything! CHACHING. We moved down to a bigger room the next day that had 5 beds so we each could have our own bed - and holy hell was this place ever nice! So, we immediately got ready and messaged our friend Sara who was in Madrid as well and we got dressed and drank and went to Capital. This club was RIDICULOUS. I know I saw that always but I have NEVER been to a club like this before. There were a billion floors - a billion people - and a whole floor dedicated to Bombay Saphire... couldnt stay up there too long due to my negative Gin experience a few weeks prior. But we danced and laughed and did ridiculous things. Lily and I decided to tag team it and dance two songs on every floor. SUCCESS. Oh god it was so much fun!

The next day we walked around Madrid taking lots of photos, buying animal hats, we went to this beautiful Cathedral  Charlotte and I went into the Palace of Madrid. We went back to the hostel - ate 5 bags of chips, had a nap and got ready for a fancy Thai dinner and a night out. 

Keep in mind it is a Sunday, and unlike Phils, it wasn't really bumpin. We end up in this empty bar that played terrible music, until around 1am where it started to play all of our Spanish favourites. We met some ridiculous Dutch guys, some LIAR that the girls nicknamed "General Swag". More like "General Knob". He was humping the wall, and going on and on about how he was a US Marine. Nice try buddy. He did however buy us a drink! Kind, Texan.....

General Knob humping the wall..

We turned heads, not due to our great looks, but instead because we were playing Bernard's Watch. This was a television show in Britain  where this child Bernard, had a stop watch - and he could stop time whenever he wanted and everyone around him would freeze, and he would go around and eat their food, drink their drinks - things like that! Lily bought a BEAUTIFUL stopwatch necklace at the market that day and so we played it. Whenever she would flip it open we all had to freeze - regardless of our position - and we had to stand there frozen while she danced around us, drank our drinks, did ridiculous things and we took turns. Holy Hannah was it ever hilarious. 

Playing Bernard's watch! 

The next day we set off to be in love and tour around and we paid 4 euros to take a boat out onto the lake! Oh my god it was like I was back on Manitoulin Island. We took turns rowing, and it was a beautiful day. We were in this gorgeous park. We did have some difficulties - we hit a boat, and got splashed. But it was still a success. 

We headed back to the centre - spent a nice time in Starbucks and killed some time before our train home.

The train home was phenomenal  It was way more practical and comfier than a plane. We had tables so we played MASH and Consequences and ate snack and just did crazy girl things. Although... I did pass out HARD on the table.

It was such an AMAZING weekend. One for the books :) 

Barca wooooooooo

Oh my goodness me! I know that this post is SO delayed it isn't even funny! But I'm pretty sure only one person reads my blog anyways, because YOLO I have no friends and my family doesn't like me. MEH.

Okay! So instead of writing a super long blog post on my weekend excursion with my besties to Barcelona AND Madrid - I'm going to split them up! Let's start with a city that needs no introduction....

BARCA

It all began on the airplane when we got hammered off of a glass of wine. It must be the altitude - but flying is FUN when you're tipsy! Why don't people do it more often!? Well... maybe they do - but I was a youngen when I started flying so I didn't get the "grown up" memo. But I totally know how I am going to spend my LONG flight home - enjoying some serious FREE wine and hopefully staring in my own drunken plane scene like in Bridesmaids. Just kidding - but seriously. All the booze. I want it. Besides - it may actually help me sleep. Although - I feel very badly for the individuals seated beside me - they'll be subjected to some serious giddy giggling - to myself. Oh the JOY of the holidays. 

Ah! But anyways - we get absolutely tipsy on the flight, unintentionally, but still! Imagine 5 giddy girls in camino to Barcelona! We were a sight for sore eyes, that is for sure. We arrived at our hostel which was pretty cool, bunk beds - a private room to ourselves, and we only had to share the bathroom. First thing is first, Charlee and I ran to get a kebab - it was necessary but beyond disgusting. Ew. Barca kebabs. And it was about 1 am so none of the chino shops were open - which means that there wasn't any alcohol! Although there were many randos on the street selling beer, we responsibly decided not to bite.

So we got dressed up and decided we would wander around anyways. We set out, and run into this random Columbian guy in the hostel who said he worked for this awesome bar and he can take us there and we can get cheap drinks! Making friends with promoters is always a great time. So - we go ahead with him, but he takes us to this terrible bar - drinks were shit and expensive - he lied to us about the prices - I don't even think he worked there - and he would not leave us alone. He just sat down with us, so we carried on a conversation without him - creepy. And when it came time, we not so politely told him to peace out. Dud night. We just went back home so that we could be ready for our day of excursions the next day!

The next day was wonderful! We woke up and got ourselves a DELICIOUS baguette for breakfast (I'm going to miss those soo much). And headed out to take one the beautiful city. We paid to take the double decker tourist bus and it was a fabulous decision. We truly got to see so much of Barcelona because it took us everywhere.

We saw so much of Gaudi's work - and let me tell you - it is true art. Beautifully eery, and creepy, and it is unlike anything I have ever seen before. He was a true master of his work. Sagrada Familia was absolutely gorgeous. In fact - they are continuing the building and it is expected to finally be finished anywhere from 2025 - 2050. Holy cow, is it ever gorgeous. 

We went to Camp Nou - a "football" (soccer) stadium. It is the largest stadium in Europe and seats close to 100,000 people. We saw the "Universitat de Barcelona". We went to Parc Guell which was absolutely gorgeous! It is filled with mosaic, and you can see the city for ages when you're standing there. All of the artistic detail with this mosaic was absolutely beautiful. We walked La Rambla. We took a bus down to the port - although it was freezing cold and dark so we couldn't see too much. And we went to Starbucks to warm up and enjoy some serious coffee! Boy have I missed my Vanilla Lattes. Vanilla everything, get in my mouth!

We went to a Spanish restaurant for dinner - weird food as usual. And headed back to the hostel to get ready and drink for our night out!

We went to Razzmatazz, this HUGE club with a billion floors and secret rooms! It was so freaking good! We met some friends at the hostel and played drinking games with them before we went to the club, and a South African guy joined us on our night out. Now, some of our American friends were in Barcelona as well, and we planned to meet up but we couldn't reach each other etc. But somehow - we bumped into them at this HUGE club in the bathroom. How bizarre!? We danced and danced and I bought condoms out of the bathroom dispenser and started handing them out to strangers - advising them to "please practice safe sex". Awesome. 

Razz my tazz!

The next day we were off to Madrid. But we spent the afternoon walking the streets, eating KFC (oh god it had been so long) and walking through the amazing Spanish market. Literally everything you could ever desire. The meat kiosks full of EVERY meat, the seafood  - all of the seafood ever, candy, spices, jams, fruits and veggies, everything! So neat!

And alas, we're off to Madrid! 

xoxoxoxox

-CB

Barcaa woo, Madrid yuhh

La vida esta muy loca;

Mañana I am going here..

Barcaaaa woooo

and sabado I am going here...

Madre Mia Madrid

Jealousy is okay everyone. It is a real feeling and every feeling is validated by a reason. And that reason is that I just kick sincere ass and y'all are jealous of my good looks and kick-ass ability. Thank you MOM and DAD. 

I'm heading to explore the wonderful country that is mine - or that I reside in - with 3 Brits and my Belgium Princess. And I cannot wait! We are taking a plane to Barcelona tomorrow night, a plane to Madrid from Barcelona on Saturday, and the train home to Malaga on Monday evening. I am quite looking forward to the train because we've got a table - so we're going to bring snacks and cards and play M.A.S.H. and talk about boys and play Girl Talk and wear the red sticker zits and OH GOOD FUN.

Okay... maybe not so much... but this weekend will be one great big SLUMBER PARTY. 

I am beyond excited and I cannot imagine spending this weekend with anyone else. This is my last hurrah, my last big journey, or journey, period. I'm home in 3 and a half weeks. 3 and a half... how is this even possible? And although I am bursting with sheer excitement to come home and see everyone and get lots of presents at Christmas, I am heartbroken that I am not returning after Christmas! So this weekend means a bundle more to me than simply a drunken Spanish adventure, it symbolizes some serious memories with girls who have changed my life significantly. 

BUT. On another note, I am so giddily excited for home, for CHRISTMAS. It's the most wonderful time of the year, TRUTH. Beyond the stress of gift giving and finances, and making the effort to be everywhere you need to be, weather permitting - Christmas truly is wonderful. And I have never appreciated snow as much as I do this year. It is so strange to be listening to Xmas music while walking beside palm trees. Dont get me wrong - it's cold here. Y'know +14 with a windchill today, burrrr. When you're used to weather in the 20's - it is quite the change! I have a feeling I'm in for a real shock when I get home and I cant see over the snow banks.....awks.

OH! But rumour has it they are turning on the Christmas lights this weekend - which means we will get to see Barcelona and Madrid in all of it's Christmas glory!

MERRY HO HO TO ME. 

xoxoxox

- CB

Costa del lluvia...

So. I have a bone to pick. When I chose to spend my semester abroad in the South of Spain, Costa del sol, Malaga - I was under the impression that it was... I don't know... the coast of sun. FAULTY INFORMATION. In fact, we have all renamed it Costa del lluvia - the coast of rain. 

It is said that Malaga suffers from a sheer 60 days of rain. 60. Out of 365 - that's it! Only 4 days per month on average. BS. Malaga has literally rained and rained and rained and rained. The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plains? NEGATIVE. The rain is Spain follows my CB around and POURS.

I bought an umbrella here... I haven't owned an umbrella in years... (sorry Patti - yours is still at Christina's.. IOU)

okay. I can't completely complain - the temperature is still beautiful. Tonight I went out in a tank top, shorts and some tights, and I was a bit chilly walking home at like 1130pm - but it wasnt anything unbearable. Nothing a light cardigan couldnt fix! So in that respect - I am dreading coming home to the snow and cold, blizzard that the Great White North is. And When it is nice out, it is absolutely gorgeous! 20 degrees and sunny is PERFECT weather for late November.

However. While the girls and I were in Ronda on Saturday, we came home to a not so pleasant surprise. Malaga flooded. Malaga flooded badly.. here are some lovely photos from Saturday..
Keep in mind, all of this rain in Malaga is the equivalent to getting an inch of snow in Africa, they aren't used to it - and they don't know how to handle it!

Kayaking down a street I walk down daily! 

Oh! And a tornado at the airport.

And I'm hoping this link works.. MUST WATCH.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4600438300317

But I can't complain too much - because when it is nice out - it is absolutely perfect! 

xoxoxox

- CB

Ronda Ronda Ronda

Ahh! I feel like I always have so much to say, but it gets lost in text, and my fingers move too quickly for my body - out of sheer excitement - and I just can't handle all of the typos! But If you could see me right now I am bursting with JOY. Hardy HAR HAR. Happy Happy JOY JOY. Well... that seems mildly aggressive.. even for me. Like our usual, late and lazy Spanish fashion - on Friday, we decided to go to Ronda for a day trip on Saturday! We booked our bus tickets last minute, as per the usual, and of course began just another spontaneous adventure!This is seriously the most beautiful natural place I have ever witnessed in my life. And these eyes have witnessed a lot, I have to look at myself every day in the mirror, and if that isn't beauty - then what is? But seriously. Ronda kicks my ocean-blue-eyes and sun-kissed-freckles ASS.

Okay! So! Let me just BURST with history and descriptions of this beautiful creation of God. Ronda is about 100 km west of Malaga - it's a little town that is divided in half by this huge valley. The Old town, and the new town. The only way these two areas are connected is by this gorgeous gorgeous bridge. Look HERE..

There are old churches, old bridges, buildings from its Islamic times, Arabic Baths, cayons, valleys, rivers, and so much green. 

Ronda is full of ridiculous history and dates back to the Neolithic Age.. like what!? It was affected by Islamic domination, suffering from the Napoleonic invasion and the Spanish war. In fact, Hemingway's novel For whom the bell tolls describes the execution of Nationalist sympathizers early in the Spanish Civil War. The Republicans murder the Nationalists by throwing them from cliffs in an Andalusian village, and Hemingway allegedly based the account on killings that took place in Ronda at the cliffs of El Tajo.

How is this real life? For a girl that strives on history and comes from such a young,  -and sometimes a quite boring country (the war of 1812 can only be so interesting) - this stuff is GOLD. I adored it. I loved climbing and exploring through the streets and despite my fear of heights I enjoyed tempting my fate and leaning over the edges of the steep cliffs!

And of course, I was with some of my favourite people. I mean, really. Everyone deserves friends like mine!

That's all for now! I hope that you are all surviving the cold! Stay tuned for some photos of Malaga's flood while we were busy culturing ourselves in Ronda!

xoxoxo

-CB

To Paris with Love

Okay, okay. I know that this post is WAY overdue. But I just had so much fun in Paris I haven't been able to even think about writing it down because I like to pretend Im still there. You know, like speaking french to myself in the shower and ordering a hypothetical croissant, or hanging my clothes on the line as I sing french songs. It happens. It's my life. 

Now, excuse me while I adjust my music settings to an appropriate soundtrack for this blog. Gotta feel like I was right back in Paris. R & B it is, gotta love me some R. Kelly. 

It all began when we found a Starbucks in the Malaga airport. Absolute Success. A real cup of coffee. A fabulous change than the little cafe con leche I get. The plane ride was only about 2 hours and we arrived giddily in Paris around 10pm on Wednesday night. There was this really friendly guy, about our age waiting for a taxi. So naturally we started talking to him, you know, a young tourist is harmless. We found out we were heading in about the same direction and decided to split a cab with him. And then we were TAKEN. 

Nah, but seriously..

We walked out to our taxi where we met the love of our lives.. Mehdi. Mehdi used to live in Montreal for 12 year, is every race known to man, and offered us great advice on where to party. He informed us, that in fact, our hotel, was in, the, ghetto. Truth. Bag ladies, cart men.. the whole shabam. MEH. We were in PARIS. As we unload out bags from the taxi some creeper on the street screams to us about how he wants to sleep with us.. oh the ambiance. The city of love.

Fabi and I decide to set off and try to find some alcohol - her birthday was in 30 minutes! We walk into this place and the ambiance was just divine. Candles, sultry music, drapes and the scent of something high class. We begin to attempt to speak to the man who works there, and we though "Oh hey, he's taking us to look at the menu". Instead, he pulls back this curtain and leads us down this dark hallway with doors on either side. 
"OH MY DAYS. WE'RE IN A BROTHEL". Panic. Nerves and Anxiety over take my body. I didn't sign any contract, so I can't be held here out of my own true will. Until the man finally gets out the word "sauna". Thank the lord. We're just in some sauna, bar, pool table place, totally common folk.. So naturally, we have a couple drinks and head back to the hotel for our jammed packed day in Paris!

We start Thursday off correctly by stuffing our faces with pizza, croissants, baguettes and salad. Each of us with our own portion. We meet a great cab driver who provides us with latin music, Fabiola expressed that is is her birthday and he hands her a pack of random CDs and a package of gum! How kind!

We meet up with Fabi's cousin who lives in Paris, and we wandered all around! Taking the metro everywhere. We went to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Champs Elysees, Museo d'Orsey, Notre Dame toutes les choses comme ca! We walked and walked and walked. And for the next day we did typical Parisian things.

Then, Friday, we get ready to go out hard in Paris! I asked the ladies at reception to open up our phone line so we could call a cab and call Fabi's cousin because we were meeting her the next day. But, of course, our phone wasn't working and the reception desk was closed. So, we prop open our door, and decide that we will wait to listen to see if we can hear anyone coming in or out, and we'll ask to use their phone. Keep in mind here, I am the only one who speak a lick of French. Fabi speaks Creole, but it is not the same. Then suddenly, we here the hustle and bustle of people, and Fabi pushes me into the hallway. Keep in mind, I'd just woken up from a nap, I was wearing pajamas, and I had makeup smeared down my face. So, I run. And I dont mean jog, or gracefully walk quickly, I mean, I ran. I was running a 100 meter race and there was a HUGE poutine waiting for me at the end. I just holler in a singsong voice "Bonjour" - because everything sounds better when it is a song. The look of sheer confusion on these poor Parisian students faces. I politely, yet frantically ask them if they speak English. And explain that I need to use their mobile if it is possible to make one phone call to Fabi's cousin. They werent sold on it, but then they took a second look at me and realized they were helping the less fortunate ( *refresher - makeup on face, pajamas..)
So Fabi dials her cousin, and after the phone call, says 'I need to make one more phone call". She pulls out Mehdi's business card and calls him.
"Bonjour Mehdi, C'est Fabiola and Katie"
'Oh Fabiola! Happy Birthday to youuu, Happ-'
"Shut up Mehdi, I dont have time for this."
They begin to exchange banter like a married couple about what club we should go to etc etc. Mehdi tells us he is send us a cab at midnight, out front of the hotel. 

That is in one hour! I HAVE MAKE UP ON MY FACE! IVE GOTTA GET READY.

So we get all nice and beautiful, and await our personal driver, later referred to as "Katie's Teddy". I was the only one able to communicate with him because I was the only one who was able to speak french. Fabiola thought she could communicate, and began screaming things in Creole, she'd look at me, and I'd have to translate. Teddy looked over at me and said "Elles sont folles". THEY'RE CRAZY. Yes, Teddy, you are more than just a cuddly bear, your'e observant as well. He takes us to the fantastic Latino club where we danced the night away. There were floors and floors of bars and different rooms. It was unbelievable. We got free drinks all night. We went to this VIP area where we got a free glass of champagne from these guys... and then I stole the bottle... 

Me and Teddy.

We danced and danced. But wait. It gets better. The very last song they played was from Dirty Dancing - "I've had the time of my Life". The lights went up, and people started to leave. But of course, as all of you know, give me a musical number and I will steal the show. The dance floor became my stage and I started to dance all of the musical theatre steps I know. All eyes on me. The world as my oyster. Fabiola comes rushing in, and it becomes a duet, like it is meant to be. And at last, comes the infamous jump. I'm ready, I've been waiting for a career break through like this my whole life. So, maybe it wasn't quite as magical as the movie, but it is a close second. Definitely up to par to my sister and her friend when they did a contemporary dance to "Meatloaf - I'd do anything for love" in her living room..

We headed to this other club which offered sub par music, lots of flamboyant men and then we called it a night. We persuade the cab driver to get us some necessary drunk food and crawl into our beds while we giggle about our night. Sleepovers rock.

Saturday was spent nursing some gatorade and walking the streets of Paris in the shopping district. What a great day. 

Our flight left Sunday morning and because our phone was broken we decided we should leave the hotel early and try to flag down a taxi. We walked for a good 35 minutes and realized that the further we walked, the deeper into the ghetto we were getting...
I went into a cafe to use their phone, but they didn't "have" one. We saw a Police car approaching., So. I did what any rational cop's daughter would do. I flailed the heck out of my life and flagged to Police down, you know, because the police are my friends. Besties. I explained our predicament and they kindly offered to call us a cab. They flagged it down on the street - stopping traffic for us poor North American girls - okay, so there was only one other car on the street and a lot of pigeons.. but still.

We successfully arrived at the airport. Hit some terrible turbulence on the way home. But made it safe and sound.

If that isn't a successful weekend trip, I dont know what is.
-CB xoxox