7 Months Today!

Road Trip

Three old girls on a road trip to Anitgonish. Shopping.



We made it to two (count 'em) two whole stores, with a lunch break in between.

Ya gotta love a Dollarama.


Planning a family? You need to track your ovulation.


Now to see if the rabbit died or not.


Nothing says I love you like a fancy sit down dinner with some Dollar Store escargo.

I feel so ... trailer trash.

Un fuckin' believable.

Are people really this retarded?

This asshole is selling Miracle Spring Water and Debt Cancellation Kit.

God wants you to be debt free!

How stupid do you have to be?

It's Official

Went to see two of my doctors today. My regular GP and the heart specialist.

Kinda pissed I even have to bother with the HS, since I could’nt even get in to see him til long after my heart issues we not issues.

I was (covertly at first) vaping in the GP’s waiting room. When no-one said anything, I got bolder and took a long hard haul on it. Finally one of the old girls gave me the stink-eye. Once I told her it was not a cigarette, she was all a hundred questions. I gave her my card so her husband could call me. She though that since he is a 50 year smoker it probably wouldn’t work for him. That was until I told her I had been a smoker for 35 years.

(Any Whoo)

I wish I had had my camera ready for when I took the first drag to show my doctors how it worked. When I let out that huge plume of smoke…it was priceless.

My GP (who knows me best) was really behind me on this. She thinks its great, and my blood pressure was 120/87. That is as close to perfect as I have ever been in my life. I got a round of applause from her. “Just looking at you, I can tell you feel better. Cuz you look better.”

The HP is totally taking credit for me quitting smoking, “So would you say it is because of our discussion that you quit?”

What? Does he get a kickback or something? I say (with sarcasm), “Oh ya, it was all you dude.” …wait three beats…“Oh, and this.” And I whip out the e-cig. LOL, men.

Both my doctors were impressed, although the HP is a nazi and questioned me on when I was going to stop vaping as well. Fuck off, one vise at a time please. Lets get the fat chick dealt with before you have me running track.

So I am getting up to leave the HP and he is routing around in his desk and comes up with a sticker and puts it on my file. “What is that?”

“Oh, it just identifies you as a non-smoker.”

"FUCK ....OFF!" He is startled.

“Wow…I haven’t been that since I was eleven. “

"Did you want one?" and he hands me a sticker for my e-cig case.



So, now I want to see you VIP’ing. Send me a pic.

I have seriously done it now.

I woke up this morning and started the shower,did my 'business' and jumped in. (I know, TMI, but it is relevant to the story)

I get out of the shower, dry off and flush the toilet. (see? makes sense) As the toilet is flushing I reach above it to get the deodorant off the shelf and promptly drop it. Into the flushing toilet.

HOLY SHIT! There was literally no time to try and grab it before it went down with the rest of the water. FUCK!

Okay, so now I have flushed it. But have I? Did it go down? I flush again...asked and answered. It must be stuck in the trap, the water is rising dangerously close to the top of the bowl. How the fuck can I stop the water now? I tear the top of the tank off and grab the float.

Water stopped...for now, but I clearly can't stand here all day. I am trying to figure out what to do next when I see the water slowly receding. Thank God for small blessings. I have to reach behind the tank and shut the water off.

I couldn't deal with it then and there because I had to take off and go visit my mother. (It is mothers' day after all)So I call my landlord from the road. He will go have a look

Good news bad news. Good news, he is going to replace the toilet, it was old and a water hog anyway. Bad news, it won't be til tomorrow.

To top it all off, I seem to have forgotten to get my Depo-Provera shot. And what reminded me, you might ask? Aunt Flo came to call.

So there it is. I just can't win. Happy Mother's Day to me. (BTW, it is 5:22pm now and I have not even heard from The Boy)

When do I start actually saving money?

55 Days and not counting.

I have been vaping now for 55 days and I have to say I am loving it.

I have not picked up a cigarette since, nor do I want to. There is no withdrawal because I am still getting the one thing that was addicting me to tobacco in the first place and that is nicotine.

I am loving my 510 and have since bought more batteries so I have it in 4 colors now.

I have even gone off the tobacco flavors and now vape pretty much only coffee and Dr. Pepper. I loved that one so much that I squeezed the life out of the bottle to get the last drop. More is on the way thank god.

Now I am thinking ahead. With all the talk about e-juice having issues at customs, I figured I would stalk up. You just know the tobacco lobby is going to be all over this shit once it catches on. After all, this could potentially cripple the industry if everyone who currently smokes switches to e-cigs. And since the tobacco tax is justified by claims that the proceeds go to cover the costs of illnesses attributed to tobacco smoke use, well....the government will be hard pressed to get the same amount of tax applied to e-cigs if and when they start to regulate them.

So, I have begun my stockpile with some DIY stuff. High concentrate nicotine, glycerin and flavorings, so I can make my own. Right now....I would say I have enough supplies either in my possession or on order to last me a couple years.

It's a sickness. I have got to stop ordering.

I don't know why I am worrying. After all, if a 10 year old can get crack at school, I should be able to get a supply of nicotine juice just as easily.

Here's hoping.

Chief of Staff UCLA Santa Monica, on electronic cigarettes.

Dr. David Baron

The Electronic Cigarette Association

Matthew Salmon, former Republican Congressional Representative from Arizona responds to the FDA's late release of it's studies on Electronic Cigarettes.

Nails it!

Kits arrived in spite of it all.

I get a call at 8:20am this morning, it's the post office. I am expecting two packages, sent two days apart.

They have a package, probably the first one that was sent, "You expecting something from Taiwan or Japan or somewhere?" These are the people entrusted with getting shit to you and he can't determine what country it came from.

"China?"

"Yeah, that's it. I just need your address, cuz all this says is New Glasgow, NS."


Okay, so they got the general vicinity and they figure, oh yeah, someone in Nova Scotia will know this chick.

"Why not just keep it there, and I will pick it up." No sense confusing them further.

I go to get the package and it is actually the second one, the one with the kits in it. I was worried about that one because it was the one that cost me so much. I heave a sigh of relief. I ask if there is another and they said no, check back tomorrow.

Weird that the one they sent two days before got here, but not the first one.

Anyway, I get home and no sooner am I through the door but there is a knock. Its the mailman, with the other package. This is the same man that has never attempted to bring a package to me before, he usually assumes I won't be there and only brings a hanger. I know this because I have actually caught him leaving a hanger that says 'an attempt was made to deliver the package but you were not home, pick it up at the post office.'

After he passed me one a few weeks ago, I went to the post office and asked her that if he hands me this hanger, how does that constitute him 'attempting' anything? Since then, I have seen him hauling packages up and down the street and now he doesn't speak when I say good morning.

But I get my packages on the first try now.

Its just rude!

I go into a slow burn every time I see someone in a store walking around talking on their cell phone.

If you find you are unsure of what you are picking up for someone and you huredly ring them to get clarification, that's one thing. But having a conversation about some daft thing your boyfriend did the night before while you browse the isles is just fucking rude!!!!

Carry on that conversation as you stand in front of me in line for the cashier, I can barely contain my contempt.

Then you give me the stink eye when you realize I can hear you, like I want to eavesdrop on your innane conversation with your friend.

The cashier is trying to ring through your purchases and you can't give her your attention for ten fucking seconds?

I just want to punch you in the throat!!!!

And I just might.

Another funny site.

This guy is very funny.

I am completely and utterly addicted to Karl Pilkington.

Turns out that before the HBO show Ricky Gervais and his two little sidekicks had a radio show. So there are thousands of hours of audio on YouTube. I spent the better part of my shift listening.



At one point I was laughing so loud that I had to hang up on some poor slob who called in just as I was snorting milk out of my nose.

Wasted life.

Just got finished watching The Tooth Fairy.

I have to say that the best part of it (and the only thing stopping me from calling this post - 2 hours I will never get back) was Stephen Merchant.

He was hilarious.

I am now officially old.

Bought some ice cream the other day and when I opened it it looked like this.


First thing that went through my head was "That's fine, I will just scoop off that protective coating."

Once that thought processed, I was doubled over in a fit of laughter.

Holy shit...I am officially an old lady.

My e-cig

So far, so good.

I have been rocking the e-cig for 19 days now. I have to tell you, I am lovin' it. Being a gadget junkie, I was predestined to try it and I am glad I did.

I guess you just have to try it for yourself, but it is just like smoking. It feels like smoking, it looks like smoking, you get that hit in the back of your throat like smoking only you get just the nicotine and not all the other crap chemicals that you get from tobacco smoking.

I find that I can breathe better and I am even cooking, cuz shit just tastes better. You heard me, I am cooking....food, meals, like meat and potatoes and (what are those green things again?) vegetables. I kid you not.

I have not had a 'real' cigarette since I picked up this one. After (I would say) about 6 days this thing has paid for itself. Considering the 'juice' you use for it costs about $11 a bottle and it looks like one bottle will last me the better part of a month. So I am going from $300 per month (easy) with tobacco, to $11 a month vaping.

Now I want to clear this up. This is not, I repeat, NOT for quitting smoking. You are still getting nicotine, which is the only reason you can't quit tobacco. The nicotine is what you are addicted to. Granted, you could keep lowering your dose of nicotine until you eventually do quit, but if you really wanted to quit you could do that with just about any smoking succession aid.

I know why all those other things did not work for me. It is simply because I do not 'want' to quit smoking. I like to smoke, I enjoy it. This way I can still smoke, I just won't die from it. I don't see the down side.

I will say that I am pumping a lot of money into this thing initially. Only because being a gadget junkie, I need to get every possible accessory for this thing. Like one in silver and a cute little case to carry it around in. This also has led me to the realization that the mAh (or milliampere-hour) of the battery is the thing to pay attention to when choosing an e-cig.

The Joye 510 (the e-cig I have now, pictured above) comes with a 180mAh Rechargeable battery (two in the kit). When you first get the kit you realize it is going to be a bit different than drawing on a cigarette. Long slow draws are the way to go to get a good hit and lots of vapor. Long draws heat up the atomizer more. The warmer the atomizer the better the vapor. It takes some getting used to.

It was very impressive until I purchased my first accessory, the USB pass through battery. I didn't want to have to worry about the battery dying while I was working, and with this I just plug it into the laptop.

Now, the pass through has a 360mAh Rechargeable battery inside. The first time I tried it it just about cut the throat out of me. You just can't draw on it the same way as you would the 180mAh. You learn this very quickly. As the battery gets weaker (once you realize it is too much and unplug the thing) it becomes more of a normal cigarette smoking draw.

With that in mind, my next order will include the mega battery, its about in the middle of the road and wireless. It is a 280mAh Rechargeable, a little longer than the standard. Once I have this I think I will have the perfect setup and I can rest the credit card for a while.

As far as the juices go? I started with a Marlboro blend and if you are familiar at all with American cigarettes it was very potent. I have since ordered and received some flu curred and Camel flavored juice. I prefer the Camel (It is much smoother) but the flu curred is very nice as well. I have also ordered some flavored juices. Watermelon, apple and mint. So I should have enough juice to last me at least 6 months.

Bottom line, it might not be completely healthy to vape (considering you still get the nicotine) but I don't have to be a doctor to know that it has got to be better for you than tobacco smoking.

I Heart Karl Pilkington!

If you haven't seen The Ricky Gervais Show, you must download it. It is hilarious and it is mainly because of Karl.



Everyone should have a Karl in their lives. If only for the Monkey News.

Funny.

Save your sanity, learn how to hide and ignore. Drag your ass into the 21st century and learn this skill.

Now there's a shocker.

{insert sarcasm}

Corey Haim dead at 38

If anyone watched The 2 Corey's, they saw this coming.

Just surprising it took so long.

I like strangling budgies.

I have been looking for this thing forever.



Funny as hell. The 80's were so much fun.

Have to add the God Sketch.

File it under, You Can't Make This Shit Up.

Was at the Dollar Store today and came across this.



First impression was, "Naw...it can't be." Then I picked it up and it felt like what I was thinking it was.

What do you think it is? Maybe the nutritional information will help.



I figured it just couldn't be what I thought it was so I asked the clerk.

I thought it was hilarious that the Dollar Store sold pregnancy tests, but unblessed hosts? Is this where Father Bernie buys these things? I guess someone has to make them, but the Dollar Store. Seems a little sacrilegious.

WTF, John?

I am fast forwarding through most of American Idol. I don't pay much attention to it after the most entertaining part of the whole thing, that being the auditions. However, I did stop for a minute to see what John Park had to say.

"What people may not know about me is that English is my second language. When I was 6 I moved to Korea."

Okay, I am not a mathematical genius nor do I pretend to know everything about educational systems in every country but aren't you in school by the time you are 6 years old? What? You didn't speak? That must have been fuckin' irritating for the teachers.

"...moved back to Chicago in 4th grade..." So three, maybe four years in Korea. Dude, I am surprised you can still speak some Korean.

If that is the most interesting thing you could come up with? That's pitiful.

I need to get a life.

This is what is exciting me at the moment.



My e-cig accessories making their way here from China.

I know, its sad.

█ ♥ █ HE SHOOTS...HE SCORES!!! █ ♥ █

Canada owns hockey! Sid the Kid brings it home in sudden death overtime. Very exciting.

Both men and women walk away with the gold medals in hockey.

Icidently, Canada has won 14 gold medals, the most by any country at any Winter Games.

Olympic Commercials

They had some pretty cute commercials for the Olympics.

█ ♥ █ HE SHOOTS...HE SCORES!!! █ ♥ █ Michael J. Fox



There is one Chevy commercial that was so cute. Unfortunately, they disabled the embed, so you will have to click here to see it.

It features two cars having a conversation and every time they are interupted by someone walking between them one of the cars yells, "Human!" hehehe...cute.

Um...but you lost...???

The US is all fired up over winning the most medals so far and it seems like the media is eating the same idiot cookies.

Okay...you won the most medals but you have not won the most gold medals and isn't that what it is all about?

I mean silver is cool...but you still lost the race.

"YEAH! We got 36 medals! WOO HOO!"

Okay, Retard. But in 27 of those events you actually ... lost.

I am not a sports person but I thought close only counts in horseshoes. When did they add that one to the olympics?

Here's your sign!

Picked up Bunnie at the doctor's today. Showed her my new e-cigarette and asked her if she wanted to try it.

"NO! I heard you can get nicotine poisoning from those things."

Then she promptly lit a cigarette.

Dude!

It's called a 'Killer' Whale.

SeaWorld killer whale attacks trainer: latest in string of deaths

And now you are surprised? I was always taught 'not' to poke the bear.

IT'S HERE!

My e-cig arrived today! The Joye 510.

I am already chomping at the bit to get accessories for this thing.

Right out of the chute, this thing was awesome. Not only does it look like a cigarette, but you get the hit in the back of your throat like a real cigarette and you can even blow smoke rings with this thing. You would swear you were really smoking.

When I took the first drag on this thing I was anticipating ... I don't know what I was anticipating but I took a really long drag....it's kind of deceptive because there is no heat in your mouth like you would get with a real cigarette that tells you to stop drawing on it.

Well, like I said, I took a long draw........and nearly choked to death. LOL After the choking fit I was a little light headed. Seriously. If I had taken that long of a draw on a real cigarette I would have choked too.

With that lesson learned early, I took a normal draw on it and it wass awesome. I don't see myself ever smoking a real cigarette again. It has been three hours now and I am not in any kind of withdrawal. I am getting the nicotine my body craves without all the other crap. Unlike those nicotine inhalers this gives me all the other crap that I like about cigarettes...the actual smoking part. (Does that make sense?)It tastes like tobacco, hits the back of your throat like tobacco and you can even blow smoke rings if you like. All without any actual smoke.

I think the reason that patches, gum and pills didn't work for me is because I don't actually want to quit smoking. What I want is to smoke and not die.

Hey....I am now formaldehyde and arsenic free! (among 3000 other chemicals)

This is starting to get on my last nerve.

I ordered the e-ciagarette and was given a tracking number.

Label/Receipt Number: #########
Class: First-Class Mail International
Service(s): International Letter
Status: Electronic Shipping Info Received

The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on February 12, 2010 to expect your package for mailing. This does not indicate receipt by the USPS or the actual mailing date. Delivery status information will be provided if / when available. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

The website and my invoice says 6-10 days. And here it is 10 days later and this is all I get. I emailed them so they could confirm that it actually left the building and then they tell me it could take 3 weeks. (not what I was told when I ordered it)

This shit is coming from Florida. In three weeks I could walk there and back.

Anyone need me to pick anything up for them on my way?

Join a fuckin' commune, Hippy.

I don't care if it is 'the most natural thing in the world'.

I don't wanna watch you haul your tit out in a restaurant and feed your kid. I have to pay for my meal...so should junior. It's a fuckin' restaurant, not a picnic park.

For the love of God....you can pump one bottle...it won't kill ya.

And isn't it always a kid old enough to work the fuckin' vending machine who walks up to 'Mom' so she can haul her tit out to give him a drink. You are not being natural...you are being cheap. Buy the kid a soda for fuck sake.

I know what you are going to say. Breast feeding has been around forever and is natural. Well we used to squat in the fields and give birth too.

Can we just retire the tie-dye t-shirts and drag ass into the 21st century please?

Gonna miss these videos.



Haven't really seen a good one since Bill left the building.







My personal favorite.

Give me a break!

I don't care how many documentaries you star in.



You are still just a nutt-bar!

(As I was watching this video I was thinking...what makes you think the Eiffel Tower wants to marry you?)

Snow Day!

No matter the weather, I always have a fan in the window. Probably not the best idea last night. Woke up to this.



Car is not going anywhere.



Hell, if you have snow...you have to make a snowman...its the law.

On its way.

My Joye 510 electronic cigarette should be here in 6-10 days.

The previous one I purchased was out of stock...took them a while to figure that one out and refund me but I am glad it worked out.

Since I ordered the Gamucci, I have heard nothing but crap about them. So I am a little relieved I won't be getting that one. The lady that I dealt with was very apologetic and even said she sent me a free disposable one for my trouble. I will let you know how that one was but like I said, I am happy that I am now getting the Joye 510.

All the YouTube reviews for this electronic cigarette has been positive and the sight that sells them, Health Cabin, is also highly recomended by the reviewers and users of these e-cigs.

They have excellent prices, I was able to get two of the Joye 510 for the price of just one of the Gamucci's. I can't wait.

WTF?

Recently, I started watching Nip/Tuck. Its a pretty good show but what the fuck is up with John Hensley? Is this truly what he looks like in real life?

He puts me in mind of Michael Jackson at the height of his plastic surgery frenzy.

There is just something....I don't know......'off' about how he looks.

I can't really find a picture that shows exactly what I mean, you just have to see him on the show....something is just off. Even his hair looks fake.

Intruder update.

I am awoken from a dead sleep the other night. I can hear chewing. I don't know if any of you have ever had a gerbil or small rodent that chewed cardboard but that was exactly what it sounded like and it was really loud.

Great! So I follow the sound that just keeps getting louder and louder into the kitchen. It's the middle of the night and all I can think about is what the hell will I do with it when I find it?

I think I have located the culprit. I am convinced by the shear volume that it is coming from this bag. (another reason not to recycle)



Now I am forced to formulate a plan at 3 in the morning, not my sharpest time I can tell you that. Did I mention I am holding a knife? No? Oh, well I am not sure what I had planned to do with the knife but I am holding it. Then I think, wait, I am NOT stabbing anything. Way too messy.

The bag is not moving but from the sounds of it, the 'thing' is in the bag and it is chomping on cardboard. LIGHTBULB!

I grab the bag by the top (making mental note that I do not feel any weight to it) and make a b-line for the door and fire it outside. Relief. Short lived when I realize the reason I did not feel any weight to the bag. I can still hear the chomping. Back into the kitchen I go, same spot (sans bag) and I can still hear the chomping. Relief again, it is not IN the house but it is IN the house. Looks and sounds like whatever it is, it is inside the wall. This being the outside wall off the deck I plan to investigate...in the morning.

Of course for the next few days it is bitter cold and windy so I do not even venture out to get the mail. In the mean time I tell the landlord the story of the chomping. So today he shows up with a mouse trap. He hands it to me.

"What the hell is this for?"

"For inside."

"Uh, Dude, if I thought the thing was inside, so would you be. And you wouldn't be leaving without the body of said thing in your hand."

I had actually been investigating and I believe I know what is going on. I explain it to the landlord but I can show y'all with pictures.

First, there is the trail.



So you can see where it is coming up the stairs and where it is going when it gets there. And since it is not 40 below with the windchill I can get a closer look at where it is going.



Seems like the flashing has come off the eave, and BINGO!



A big-ass hole with what appears to be hair. I think we have found its front door. The landlord throws a block of poison inside and a little treat for outside.



I think that should take care of whatever it is. I really hope I see a dead body but I am okay with never knowing if that is to be the case. Dead is dead.

The Boy is Legal!

The Boy turns 19 today.

Man, does that statement make a girl feel old. I just wish I could win the lottery so I could give him whatever he wants.

[Sigh] He will just have to be happy with a little gas money and an 'I Love You'.

And this...



Click here if you can't see the video.

Happy Birthday! Luv Ya!

UPDATE:

Taking The Boy to the Frog and Toad for a birthday dinner. And a beer. (I am soooo old)

Intruder!

I guess I had company.

Just my opinion.

I know this might sound cold and I am probably going straight to hell for suggesting it, but if you have 12 children, you need to take extra precautions with your well being. Take your vitamins, look both ways before you cross the street. Basic common sense shit.

Deadly Manitoba crash leaves 12 children orphans

And, Dude, stay the fuck home in a blizzard. Barring that, wear your seatbelts.

I am all over this!

I have tried Champix twice now and I know this will sound lame because this is the second time but it really does work.

It takes the addiction completely from you. You do not want a smoke after you shove the first pill down your gob.

What it doesn't take away is the habit. I am fine when I am not working, I don't even think of having a cigarette. However, when I am working, I find that I will look over and there is a cigarette burning away in the ashtray that I don't remember lighting.

Recently I ran across an ad for an electronic cigarette.



How cool is this? I don't have to quit smoking. (I love smoking) It's like fake smoking.

The starter kit costs $74 US and comes with 5 cartridges and Each cartridge is equivalent to 12-15 traditional cigarettes. Then each 5 pack of cartridges are $10US. If it works, it will more than pay for itself.

I am soooo getting this thing, screw quitting smoking...this is a gadget and I love a good gadget. I need something to puff on and even though these things have nicotine, at least I will cut out the 4000 other chemicals. Not to mention I won't have to go out in the Canadian cold to smoke it. Now I just have to show this to the sister and see if she will let me use her credit card.

Wish me luck.

What's in my wallet?

Certainly not 1700 bucks, I can tell you that.

For years I have been doing my own tax returns, first by paper then in recent years I have been using Ufile. I loved it, very easy to do, all the calculations are done for you and it is a very reasonable filing fee if not free for some people.

But then you hear the hype how a professional preparer will get you more of what you are entitled to. Blah, Blah, Blah.

When you take your tax info to a professional tax preparer. What exactly do you expect? I expected that the return would be, at the very least, correct.

Last year I decided, foolishly as it turns out, to go with that big tax preparation outfit. H & R Block.(tag line (ironically) is Get it Right) I have to say, what hooked me was the guarantee. When it comes to taxes, you are always worried that mistakes can be made and you really don't want the government on your case. And I confess, I did not read the fine print. I thought the guarantee meant that if they fucked it up, it was on them not me.

Wrong. So wrong.

Long story short, what my 'professional tax preparer' recorded as a three should have been an eight and the return was off five grand.

One year later, the government checks the return and catches the error and sends me a letter. Now I am on the hook for $1700.

So, I call up H&R and get Bob. Bob apologizes and offers to cover my interest and penalties but not the $1700 mistake.

"Ah...what about the hundred and eighty three bucks I paid you to prepare this in-cor-rect return?" I split the syllables so 'Bob' understands my displeasure.

"Hmmm...I can probably get you a refund for that as well."

"Ya think?"

Don't get me wrong, I realize that I got $1700 last year that I was not entitled to but that was only because I trusted H&R Block to 'get it right'. Given the choice I would not have 'borrowed' (which is essentially what I did) $1700 from the government. In the same vein, I dont' have a credit card because I don't like to spend money I don't have. Now I have to deal with a new year and I am already $1700 in the hole.

The moral of this story is read the fine print. The H&R Block guarantee isn't really any better than what you would get from your paper boy. He fails to bring the paper, you get your money back.

Hoping 2010 is better.

The movies in 2009 were a little disappointing

Looking forward to some movies in 2010

Up in the Air - Anything with Clooney. (Sigh)
Prince of Persia
Sorcerers Apprentice -
Spy Next Door - Jackie Chan makes me chuckle
Extrodinary measures - Anytihng with Harrison Ford....I am going to be screwed when all these old guys finally pack it in.
Ironman 2
Sherlock Holmes