Blackstock Banter

Moving On

2009-11-07T16:22:00.002-08:00

I have decided to switch blog servers. I have been thinking about it for a little while now, but finally made the move today. You can continue to follow my banterings here.

Quarantine

2009-11-07T09:57:00.003-08:00

I woke up Monday morning with a nasty sore throat. I decided the best course of action was to stay home, get better and not pass it on. And it's a damn good thing I did. Later that morning I started feeling feverish and every muscle and joint in my body ached. A cough, sore throat, fever, body aches - all symptoms of H1N1.

I felt ever worse Tuesday, but by the evening I was starting to feel a lot better; and starting to get antsy from being stuck at home. Not knowing what I had I thought staying home Wednesday would be smart. And in order to go back to work I needed an all-clear from my doctor. I went to see him Thursday, positive I would be able to return to work Friday, and break my house arrest. No dice.

My doctor cannot confirm if I had H1N1 because I didn't have severe enough symptoms to be tested. But I had all the classic swine flu symptoms: I'm the right age, right sex, and it is the prevalent strain of flu floating around right now. So I needed to be treated like I had H1N1. Which meant another day at home, going totally batty since I have not ventured out, seen anyone, exercised, or been to work for an entire week. And for an ENFJ/Gemini that's hell on earth.

Endings and Beginnings

2009-11-01T15:38:00.002-08:00

Yesterday was my final workout at Marpole Curves. It was bittersweet and surreal. As I worked out and chatted with people it didn't seem like that was it. All the Halloween decorations and usual decor were still on the walls. I noticed a few boxes had been packed, but to look at the place, you wouldn't know it was shutting down. The only thing gone was the water cooler. Not sure if the owners returned it to the water company or had moved it over to Kerrisdale.

Tomorrow will be strange. I've already packed my gym bag and will have to remember to take it to work with me. I will have to remember to detour to the Kerrisdale club on my way home from work. Strange days lie ahead; of course what seems strange now will eventually become the norm, and my days at Marpole Curves will be a distant memory, lost in the cobwebs of my brain.

Fortunately, a lot of the trainers from Marpole Curves, including the manager, will be working at Kerrisdale. The trainer who used to work Monday nights at Marpole will now be working Monday nights at Kerrisdale. That means there will be a familiar face tomorrow to show me the ropes of the new club. And that is very comforting.

Time to say goodbye. Time to say hello.

The Bad and the Ugly

2009-10-22T18:35:00.003-07:00

Lately my life has been filled with bad news. And worse news.

I wrote last month that DPhiE was not invited back to UBC. While disappointing, things appear to be status quo. Following that news, I learned earlier this month that Marpole Curves is closing down and is rejoining the Kerrisdale location.

Now this is not an end-of-the-world, earth-shattering thing, but it is disappointing. I have been working out at the Marpole location for nearly five years. It has really become a part of my life. I enjoy the other members and have gotten to know some of them really well. For the most part, I enjoy the walks to and from and the gym, especially my Saturday morning forays to Marpole. But things happen in life and you just have to go with the flow.

And while this is sad news, I am trying to look at the opportunities and advantages of working out at Kerrisdale. I literally have to pass it on my way home from work, which means I start my workout earlier and will have more time at home in the evenings. It’s a new environment; as much as I love Marpole, the change will be welcome. Kerrisdale has more machines and the Curves Smart program which I have wanted to try out. I will have the opportunity to meet new people, but there will be some familiar faces from Marpole: both staff and members.

But DPhiE not returning to UBC and the closing of Marpole Curves is nothing compared to what Colin and I are dealing with right now. And what we are dealing is going to stay underwraps - at least in the blog.

Nobody's sick or dying. Relationships aren't ending. I have no problem sharing with you what we are dealing with right now. But the blog just isn't the best place. At least for now. All I can say is it's stressful, scary, and a royal pain in the ass.

I need something good to happen, because lately it’s been bad news all around. If that good news is what we are currently dealing with is total bullshit, I’ll take that. Gladly.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

2009-09-25T20:01:00.003-07:00

No, it's not Christmas. And, as Staples would have you believe, it's not back-to-school either. It's the start of the hockey season!

Despite a loss to Anaheim last night (in OT mind you) the Canucks are on fire this pre-season. And I was fortunate enough to see some live pre-season action, as boring as it was.

Last Saturday, around 7:00 p.m. Colin and I were at the future shop in Lansdowne, looking for a new t.v. series to pick up. I received a call on my cell from my brother's girlfriend - we have connections to Canucks tickets once again. She had some extra tickets (free!).

It was too perfect. Other than late-night sushi, we had no real plans, and I had been gunning to try out the Canada Line. What luck that there should be a stop at Lansdowne, and since we were planning to return to Richmond for sushi, it made sense to hop on there.

We arrived at GM place halfway though the second period. But we didn't miss too much, since all the action happened in the last seven minutes of the game. It was fun, just chatting away, hanging out in the rafters (very back row!). I was half watching the game, and half imaging what it's going to be like in GM Place for Olympic Gold medal hockey! And we won't be in the rafters either. We don't have our exact seats yet, but they're lower bowl, between the bluelines...

But I don't have to wait until February for more hockey at GM Place. I got the other money hockey ticket too... Canucks versus Leafs!

Even if the Canucks bite the big one, this personally will be an awesome hockey season for me.

Oh yeah, I just handed in the work hockey pool picks today...

Shut In, Shut Out

2009-09-25T19:17:00.004-07:00

I've been meaning to write this entry for a week or so. But the fact that I haven't written a single entry for the entire month of September mirrors how my September has been: a roller coaster of business and emotion.

I say this every month, but really, where has September gone? Maybe it's the extended summer weather that's making it hard to believe that the calendars turn over to October next week!

But let me tell you about my September - it's been an interesting one.

From the outset of the month, it was destined to be busy (both work and personal) and emotionally trying.

A good friend of mine got married over the Labour Day weekend. It was a time of great excitement and stress. Last week, we had two major events at work. It is only September, but I have already skipped many lunch hours and have stayed late, including working until 11:00 p.m. last Thursday and 7:30 p.m. last Friday.

The week before the wedding and the weeks before that I had been pouring my time, energy, and heart into preparing a presentation (along with other sisters) to re-charter Delta Phi Epsilon at UBC.

They chose another sorority...

My initial reaction was utter disappointment. But this whole time I have not felt sad or shed a tear. I have mostly felt anger. Anger that the young women making the decision didn't understand the countless hours over the past five years our alumnae have put into our return. Our unwavering support to the UBC Greek system in both a volunteer and financial capacity meant absolutely nothing at the end of the day.

Had this decision been made months ago, however, I would have cried. Like a baby. Which was my reaction when the chapter closed down five years ago. I cried at the news. Cried every time I thought about that hole left at UBC. So why didn't I cry this time?

During my month off this summer, I had a lot of time to spend with... me. Something I'm not usually interested in. I thought a lot about myself, my life, my relationships with others, how I react to and deal with things.

I suppose my "epiphany" came while vacationing in Osoyoos. During that time I read the latest book club pick: Eat, Pray, Love. Now you know I don't believe in God or religion, but there was something to the whole theme of the journey of self discovery. And so I started to change things about myself and the way I look at life. I was sick and tired of being so critical about everything and everyone. So I changed that. And it has made a difference. It's been difficult being so positive, especially when times seem not so positive. But it has certainly helped me get through the last couple of weeks.

Anger aside, I thought back to when the chapter closed and where I was in my life. I was newly engaged and recently graduated from BCIT. I was not married. Our alumnae chapter was in it's infancy. I had not been through my dark period (aka my Planet Bingo employment). I had not yet joined curves. I had not yet started Polynesian dancing...

The chapter closing was a very hard pill to swallow, but it also lead to new opportunities and adventures. Things I may not have had the time or need to do if I was still a chapter advisor.

The chapter not returning means things are status quo, but it also leaves an opening for other opportunities. Other opportunities for me, my sisters, and our alumnae chapter.

With the news of the chapter not returning and the craziness of work, and an annoying cold that won't go away, I became a hermit. Over the last two weeks I have avoided friends, not felt much like socializing. Living the life the opposite of me.

I felt so tired when I got up last Saturday, but went to Curves nonetheless. About halfway through my workout the burdens of September went away. I felt light, happy, excited, energized. I have never experienced a 'turnaround' like that before. Dare we say, it was almost spiritual...

The Underlying Theme

2009-08-27T10:47:00.002-07:00

Whether you've been following my blogging for the past few months, or the past few years, you will have probably noticed something - I am one busy bee. But that's how I roll.

When work gets busy, that isn't really by choice. I did, however, choose the career I'm in, knowing it would keep me on my toes. My life outside of work and all that I do, that is 100% my choice! But it often seems that everything happens at once. Like August! I don't where the month has gone and I don't know how I ended up with so much on my plate. Between weddings, sorority life, and dancing August has gone whizzing by and this past week and next week have been and will be beyond insanity.

But, like I said, I choose it. I choose to dance, to volunteer, to be a bridesmaid, to be a friend, to be a wife. My busy, crazy schedule has always been part of who I am. It's one of the ingredients that makes me, me.

As I get older I find that I have slightly less energy and therefore find it slightly more difficult to juggle everything, but I am not about to give up one of the many things I love about myself to age. I've been told time and time again that as you get older it is very important to keep physically and mentally active.

I guess that's why nap time was invented!

Ask for a Millimetre, Take a Mile

2009-08-13T12:21:00.002-07:00

I am back and forth about this entry, since it is about work. I usually try to refrain from blogging about work (especially anything negative), but this week has tried my patience.

I am following a new mantra in life: to be less critical/judgemental and to be more positive. I have tried and tried to look at the positive side of what has been expected of me at work this week, but it is very hard when you feel like you are being taken advantage of (even on a very, very small scale).

What I am going to complain about here may seem petty and small. And in the grand scheme of things, it really probably is. But it's the principle.

My director was approached in the spring and was asked if I could cover one or two days at most in front reception in August. Not the whole day, just an hour. I'm not supposed to being covering reception at all; but, for whatever reason, all the people who do normally cover reception all had been granted vacation at the same time. My director said that this one time would be fine. But I'm sure they'll ask again.

The reason I am not happy with this is twofold. They see this 'favour' as only 3 hours of my time. But it is three hours of my week where I cannot get my own work done. I can't access the programs I need, and the things I can bring down with me to work on, well I don't get very far because I am constantly interrupted.

I was told it would be two days maximum. But someone was granted an extra vacation day during the week that everyone else was away. And no one asked me or my director if I could do a third day. They just assumed and scheduled me in.

The other issue came up yesterday, during a week when I am already giving up my own work time to cover others. Again, I question the vacation scheduling. There is a big project that needs to be done this week. The person in charge of this was allowed to take their vacation at this time. Initially, I was simply asked to put an order through for printing. Of course, it wasn't that simple and it began to snowball. What should have taken 10 minutes of my time has taken hours and hours out of my last two days.

I don't want to seem selfish. I don't mind helping others. But I have work and deadlines too. Something that was never once taken into consideration this week.

Thunder Bolt and Lightning

2009-07-26T14:44:00.004-07:00

Last night was probably the craziest weather Vancouver has ever seen! And you see some crazy weather living in this city. But I certainly don't recall ever seeing anything like this here before.

The weather forecast had been calling for thundershowers over the North Shore mountains, but that usually means this: maybe a storm that lasts all of thirty minutes, if that, with a few lightning strikes lighting up the sky, and a few claps of thunder.

For anyone who isn't from Vancouver and has experienced a Vancouver thunder storm, well it's down right piddly. But not this one! Fours hours! Fours hours of thunder, lightning, hot, humid, wet weather. Black sky. Orange sky. Lightning forking down and hitting buildings. Lightning streaking across the sky like a crack on a windshield getting bigger and bigger. And I was outside for the whole thing!

I got drenched. The electricity from the storm actually had a few strands of my hair standing on end. It was crazy. It was fun. None of us Vancouverites had never seen anything like it here before.

And I wasn't at the fireworks. I was at a block party in Tsawassen, mere feet from the boat launch at Centennial Beach. So I stood at the boat launch watching lightning rip across Boundary Bay.

After we left the party in Tsawassen, we headed into Richmond to visit Colin's parents, and continue watching the storm. And pestilence was upon us!

We were driving fairly slowly down Gilbert, watching the storm, when Colin noticed something hopping across the street. It was a frog. We stopped and I noticed that there were frogs (and frog parts) scattered all over the road. I guess the storm and humidity drove them out of the ditches. It was biblical!

The amazing show continued as we sat on the patio at Colin's parents'. You could hear people oohing and aahing all along the dyke.

It was so hot, and muggy, and wet I felt like I was in Hawaii out on the lanai.

My only regret. I didn't have my camera.

From the Banter Backpages

2009-07-15T20:13:00.002-07:00

I'm not really in the mind frame to write today. Unless you want to hear about my bridesmaid dress fitting and grocery shopping at the Superstore. Didn't think so.

Every now and then I go through past blog entries. I find it interesting to go back in time and see what I was up to and what was going on around me. Here's a treat - I wrote this entry exactly 4 years ago today. Check out this entry, July 15, 2005.

Facing the Fear

2009-07-14T18:54:00.002-07:00

I have a few fears in life: death, spiders, clowns, and vacation!!!???

Now, most people who have to take off a month just because they have to, would be pretty darn happy with that. But I was actually scared. Yes. You read that correctly. I was scared of a month off. Scared because I had no plans. Scared because Colin would be spending most of July working on the Island. In front of me loomed thirty days of nothingness.

I had two choices: spend a month bored and depressed; or fill my calendar. If I have nothing to do, I get bored. And curing my boredom isn't as simple as reading a book, watching TV, or anything else. If I get bored, my mind shuts down. And when that happens I become frustrated and depressed. So you may be able to appreciate what I go through and why a month off with nothing planned can be a scary thing for me. I need to keep myself busy and entertained.

So far so good...

I am about ten days in and haven't really stopped. I left work July 3 and headed straight to Sakinaw Lake for the weekend. And because everyone keeps asking: it's just north of Pender Harbour. The ferry coming back from Langdale was so Mickey Mouse I literally had an hour to come in the door and get ready for book club. Since there was no electricity and only an outhouse (with a view) to do your business, I didn't shower all weekend. It was super hot, and while a swim in the lake cooled me off, it didn't clean me very well.

I can't remember what I did last Monday. I know I went to Curves. I think I spent the day at home, but had enough errands to do to keep me busy. I spent all day Tuesday at Metrotown - a truly exhausting day, and I didn't buy anything. But I had fun catching up with a friend I don't get to spend much time with. That evening I had to pack for my mini road-trip to Forks, Washington. This topic probably deserves it's own blog entry, which I may write at some point. I had a fun getaway with Lisa and Sascha. And I got to see a part of Washington I have never seen before: the Olympic Peninsula. A truly beautiful place - it definitely rivals BC - of course, it is the same landscape.

We returned Thursday evening. Friday was another day of exercise, chores, and fun. And yesterday I did nothing. It was okay during the day, but by the time evening rolled around I was heading into that funk - boredsville. Unfortunately Colin is away this week, so he wasn't around last night to help me out. I somehow survived it, knowing I would be busy the rest of the week.

I started my day at the gym and then ran a bunch of errands I had been putting off for months. I spent the afternoon with Thalia and Oliver. Tomorrow is another busy day - I have a bridesmaid dress fitting in the morning, and then I need to go grocery shopping. I'm running out of food, and I need to buy things for our weekend away. Thursday I am having breakfast with Thalia and Lisa (and Oliver and Sascha), and then I need to pack. Colin and I are heading to Osoyoos on Friday.

Okay. I'm going to stop now. My writing is deteriorating.

Oh yeah. We have booked our flight to New Zealand - and that definitely deserves its own blog entry!

Happy Birthday

2009-07-01T09:05:00.002-07:00

142 years ago a group of men got together in a room on PEI, chatted a bit, and a new country was born. Okay, it was a bit more involved than that, but you get the drift. But because of that day, I can sit here now, musing on my computer, in a beautiful land, home to varied and interesting people, with the ability to think and do as I please (within moral & ethical realms of course).

It is very easy to take things for granted and forget how lucky we are to either have been born in or have come to Canada at some point in our lives. It's a country that upholds the values of peace, order, and good government (that last one may be slightly debatable right now...), and the enjoyments of hockey, beer, and doughnuts. Big mountains. Big skies. Big arctic deserts. Life on the land. Life on the sea. English. French. And everything in between. Intelligence. Compassion. Politeness. A drole sense of humour. Take it or leave it, I am happy to call this country my home.

And it's always nice to have a day off...

Counting the Weeks

2009-06-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

Things may have settled down at work, but now my social life is out of control, and that isn’t necessarily a good thing. It has been almost two weeks since I have had a night at home. With my birthday and year-end events at the school, it has been one thing after the other.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a social butterfly. I could think of nothing worse than staying in and being anti-social, but lately I’ve had those events you have to go to. Work functions and such, where, if you don’t show up, it doesn’t look good. All I wanted to do last night was go home and chill out, but no such luck. I had yet another work related event I had to show my face at. I was hoping to stay no later than 8:00 p.m., but didn’t manage to escape until after 8:30. I don’t necessarily dislike these events, it’s just that June is such a busy time of year, and sometimes you just need a break, but you have to pick and choose your time to say no. And now isn’t the time.

But in mere weeks there will be no more school, no more work functions, no more work (for a month). Then I will be faced with a new dilemma: boredom.

The Catch-Up

2009-06-03T11:25:00.003-07:00

It has been a ridiculously long time since I have written an entry that has anything to do with me; which, in itself, outlines how very busy I have been. Work got hellish in mid-April and didn’t let up until just last week. A number of circumstances led me into one the most stressful periods I have ever been through. None of these circumstances were mine, but I had to deal with them, nonetheless. I knew come June it would be over, and I kept telling myself that all I had to do was get to the end of May and I could breathe. And that was true. I somehow survived it all. The only casualties, apart from my sanity: an extremely disorderly home, which is now in much better shape.

Work is still busy. There are all the post golf event things to go through and deal with, but it is stress free and no deadlines looming. Actually, that’s not entirely true. I have the vacation deadline. I have five weeks to get the 2008/09 year tidied up and start prepping for 2009/10. As of 4:00 pm on July 3 I am officially on vacation, and won’t be returning to work until Tuesday, August 4.

The last 6 weeks haven’t been all work though. I have seen some good movies, including Star Trek. I have tried to keep up with Curves and dancing, as best as my schedule has allowed me. I have thrown a baby shower, and am now getting ready to plan a second baby shower, and a wedding shower, and a staggette.

Between my birthday this past Monday and other events this week, I will be busy every evening this week. The sorority also recently re-structured our volunteer system so I have a brand new position (but still of the alumnae persuasion) and with that comes new responsibilities and deadlines – the first of which is right around the corner. But it is fun. And I am really excited about what I am working on.

Of course, in the midst of all this, the Canucks were ejected out of the playoffs (the one entry I did write during this time). But I have found great success, yet again, in my [playoff] hockey pool. I have already won, and the final is still going on. It doesn’t matter who wins the cup from that stand point, but I placed my bets (& hopes) on Pittsburgh.

Here’s to the survival of crazy times.

In the Words of Porky Pig...

2009-05-12T10:14:00.002-07:00

...yabidy yabidy yab, that's all folk! The Canucks are done. Gone in round two. How long are we going to sing this song? How many more years do we have to sit and watch, getting our hopes up, to see the Canucks blow it in Round 2? In their last 38 years of existence they have only made it past the second round twice: 1982 and 1994: they found themselves in the cup final on both those occasions.

The worst part is, we actually had a contending team this year. This was it. And they blew it, like every other Canuck team in the history of the franchise (except 1982 and 1994). This city has not seen a Stanley Cup since 1915, yet places like Tampa Bay have raised hockey's holy grail where the people ask isn't a Lecavlier a type of car?

At what point does the bandwagon breakdown beyond repair?

Of course, come October, this will all be a distant memory, and we will be clawing our way into GM Place and sports bars across the city for another year of just maybe to end in well, maybe not... maybe next year...

I Love Irony

2009-04-24T18:25:00.003-07:00

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A heavy foot on the gas pedal has cost B.C.'s Solicitor General his driver's license. John van Dongen has stepped away from his responsibilities for ICBC and the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles, after being advised his license has been suspended due to a large number of speeding tickets... Read the rest here.

Picky, Picky, Picky

2009-04-17T12:10:00.003-07:00

The regular hockey season is behind us and so is my work's regular season hockey pool. I unfortunately was unable to defend my title. I was first at the mid-season point, but ended up in third overall; meaning I walked away with $50 instead of $200. But I shouldn't be too disappointed - my co-workers are definitely impressed with my top 3 finish two years in a row.

At the mid-way point we were allowed to change up our players. So I switched Avery for Burrows - good move; and Eric Staal for Getzlaf - good move at the time, but didn't pan out so well overall. Also, a late season injury to Kaberle didn't help much either.

But now we are into the post-season, and a whole new pool has begun and I have never been in a playoff pool before. On Tuesday night Colin and I went out for late-night all you can eat sushi and a little post-season strategizing.

First, you have to pick one winner from each playoff group. Some we were a no-brainer: Boston over Montreal. Some were really, really tough decisions: Carolina over New Jersey. And some where based on a very strong feeling: Anaheim over San Jose. The rest of my picks are: Detroit, Vancouver, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Washington.

After choosing your winners, you assign a number to each bracket based on your confidence in their winning. You can only use each number once. So I assigned a really high number to Boston, a really low number to Carolina, and I won't bore you with the rest.

Wish me luck.

And Go Canucks Go!

House Hunting Headaches

2009-04-09T12:14:00.003-07:00

Colin and I went to see some open houses last weekend. Now before you get all excited, we aren't quite ready to buy yet. Probably later this year, or early next year, but we want to see what's out there.

I can tell you that by the end of the day I was feeling discouraged and stressed. The first couple of homes we went into I felt awkward, but that feeling disappeared as the day progressed and we attended more open houses. The other thing that put me off were the Real Estate agents. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a low tolerance level for sales people. If you want to tell the me the roof is new, or the hot water heater is new, that's fine, but don't tell me the bathroom or kitchen was just redone. I'm not blind. And I didn't see anything that really stood out, that said this is 'our' home.

Once I spent some time thinking about what we saw, however, I started to feel a bit better. We now know it is not worth seeing homes below a certain square footage, or that we don't need something newly renovated, but we are also not prepared to put money into fixing up a dump either. So those were some good lessons learned. Hopefully next time won't be so overwhelming.

There's Always a Story

2009-04-03T12:27:00.002-07:00

I came home from work yesterday hoping to find the kitchen faucet fixed. When I first glanced into the kitchen it looked like nothing had been done at all. No dishes had been moved; the blue bucket was sitting where I left it; and the tap hadn't been changed.

I assumed someone had been in the apartment though, because Welly was curled up on the chair and didn't get up to greet me. He can be a lazy bugger at the best of times, but he usually says hello when I come home.

I then went into the bathroom to find a roll of paper towels that didn't belong to us, and everything removed from the sink. Are you kidding me!? Did those hose heads get it wrong!? And even if they did think it was the bathroom sink, wouldn't they have realised there was nothing wrong with it?

So I called Colin and told him they 'fixed' the wrong damn faucet. But I decided to go into the kitchen for a closer inspection. I then noticed the small, white bucket that had been catching the drips, was now inside the big, blue bucket. And the dishcloth wrapped around the faucet had been removed. They didn't change the faucet, but they did fix it... and I still have a pile of dishes to do.

Later that evening, I blacked out...

I came home from dance class, and bent down to take off my shoes and put down my bags. Next thing I know, I was standing up, all dizzy, and fell forward and hit my head on a cabinet in the front hall. I don't remember standing up.

Colin thinks I probably stood up to fast, and that's why I felt dizzy and lost my balance. And the memory loss? Hitting your head can cause temporary amnesia. The cure: lie down on the couch, watch one crazy ass hockey game, and get the husband to wait on you hand and foot.

I still felt a little out of sorts this morning. And then my worst case scenario personality kicked in, and I started thinking about Natasha Richardson; but then I started to think about all the hockey players who have walloped their heads, and felt a bit better. As long as I don't end up like Eric Lindros...

Leaky Faucets

2009-04-02T12:02:00.002-07:00

Our kitchen sink is leaking. Again. We just had the tap replaced about a month ago. At least I think it was about a month ago. I seem to be having a problem with time perception lately.

It got to the point where I could no longer do dishes. The towel and bucket under the sink weren't cutting it anymore. It's Colin's job to deal with our landlord and fix-it things. He told her the kitchen tap was leaking, but failed to tell her how urgent a matter it was. She didn't realize this till I was talking with her yesterday - so hopefully some one is in today to fix the leaky tap.

I couldn't handle all the dirty dishes anymore though, so I started doing them again last night. I was down to my last plate, last glass, and last straw. Doing them was worth the risk of flooding the kitchen, which didn't happen, thank God.

It's a great apartment, but after nearly six years, is starting to wear thin. The slide in the real estate market has come at a good time...

Not Leafs Nation

2009-03-19T09:50:00.003-07:00

Tuesday night was another one of those moments where Toronto believes it is the centre of the universe. I turned on the TV just before 7:00 p.m. and found the Leafs-Lightning game still in progress, but only a couple of minutes to go. Judging by the score, and the time left on the board, I assumed it would go into overtime; but, I also assumed TSN would switch the feed in the West as soon as the Canucks games got underway. Oh how wrong was I!

I was subjected to not only watching Leafs-Lightning overtime, but then it went to a shootout! The Leafs and the Lightening are two of the worst teams in the East. The Leafs are also the worst Canadian team in the league. Why the hell would I, or any red-blooded Canadian outside of TO want to watch hockey teams with no chance of making the playoffs, versus a gritty showdown in the West, of two of the hottest NHL teams. Dallas was last in the West mere weeks ago, but now they have slid into 8th - that be post-season territory. And the Canucks: a win on Tuesday would tie them for 4th in the West with Chicago, put them only 3 points back of Calgary to nab 1st place in the NW Division, and would break a franchise record for most consecutive wins on home ice...

But the people at TSN kept it on the Toronto game until the shootout was over. I missed almost 7 minutes of the opening period, which included a power play goal by Daniel Sedin - that's like a Sasquatch siting folks, and I missed it. And a good chunk of other Vancouverites missed it too.

During the Leafs-Lightning overtime, TSN kept flashing tune into TSN2 to see the Canucks game. Well, that's all fine and dandy if you have digital or satellite TV. But I don't, and I'm sure many others wanting to watch the Canucks game don't either.

I know TSN isn't regional like the CBC or Sportsnet, but you'd think with all today's tecnology someone could have changed the feed west of the Rockies.

Maybe it was just a bitter Leafs fan working at TSN. Bitter because Mats Sundin is now a Canuck, and lighting it up. And bitter because the last time Vancouver and Toronto met, Vancouver won, in a shootout, courtesy of #13.

This is not Leafs Nation...

...but we are all Canucks.

How NOT to Get Ahead in Sales

2009-03-17T11:34:00.003-07:00

Yesterday was my first official day of Spring Break. Although with this weather, it feels more like Winter Break. I decided to use my first day of vacation to run a few errands I have put off for the past couple of weeks. I needed to go to Richmond Centre to pick up some more shampoo, conditioner, and facial soap.

My first stop was the Clinique counter in the Bay to purchase my facial soap, then I ventured into the mall to buy my hair supplies. I decided to try a different store, as I was considering looking at a few different brands - I was open to making a change.

The store I went to had a sale on Redken products. Perfect, since that is the brand of shampoo and conditioner I use.

I started by looking at some of the OPI nail polish, and was immediately pounced on by the sales lady. I told I was just browsing the nail polish, but that didn't stop her from giving her spiel. She went on to tell me about the Redken deal, and I told that's what I am here for, but they didn't have the line I was looking for: Redken's smooth down for dealing with frizzy hair.

At that point, instead of leaving me alone, or offering to show my some other anti-frizz hair products, she started rambling on about all these other things I could buy... so I left the store.

She was so desperate to make a sale, she didn't even pay attention to the product I had come into the store to buy. Had she let me be, or showed me a different line of anti-frizz hair products, I would have bought something. But she didn't know when to quit. This isn't the first time I have walked away from a store because of an over-bearing sales person.

Let this be a lesson to all you desperate salespeople out there, if I say I'm browsing, leave me be. If I mention I am looking for a particular product, don't try and sell me something else.

Quis Custodiet...

2009-03-07T15:11:00.005-08:00

I started a new blog back in mid-January,Blackstock Bookworm, to update and comment on the books I am currently reading, and to share my reading list; but I have done nothing with it, other than write an introductory post. I have been reading so much lately, that I perhaps have had less time to write; and the writing I have done lately isn't in blog form. So take a gander over to the Bookworm. I think you will find my first post very interesting...

A Healthy Addiction...

2009-02-27T14:28:00.003-08:00

This week was a strange week. It went seemingly slow, but very fast. Slow because I was ready for Friday on Monday; and fast, because I can't believe Friday afternoon is already here.
..................

I have been on a bit of an exercising frenzy lately. I've been keeping up with Curves three times a week, and dance class once a week; but I, perhaps, went overboard last weekend. I started Saturday with my usual stroll to Marpole, and morning workout. Then Colin and I went for a walk Saturday afternoon. We then went for a swim that evening, and I must have been hopped up on something. I just tore through the pool, completing 30 laps in less than 30 minutes. I thought my arms were going to fall off; and I couldn't have felt better.

I suppose exercising is like many other addictions. I love the way I feel afterwards, and the more you do it, the more you crave that feeling. My favourite post-exercise feeling is after swimming. You're soaking wet and cool from the pool, but you can feel the heat on your body, and the sweat pouring of your forehead - that is such an awesome feeling. At least for me it is.

My weekend exercise marathon was capped off Sunday morning with an hour of hot yoga.

And then it was back to Curves on Monday, a walk on Tuesday, Curves on Wednesday, dance class last night...

I'm taking a break tonight, and heading out for dessert with some of the Croftie crew.... perhaps it's a good thing I have been doing all this exercise.

TGIF

2009-02-20T18:30:00.002-08:00

And boy do I ever mean that. I can't remember the last time I had such an insane Friday, and I hope the next one is a long ways down the road.

This whole week has been busy, and today was the icing on the cake, with the cherry on top. For starters it was a short week. Somewhere over my long weekend work just began appearing out of thin air. By the time Tuesday morning rolled around, I was way behind. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

We are getting used to a new system in our office. Our EA went from working five days a week to two, and she is now job sharing with another employee - which has somehow created more work for me. I hope that's just temporary, while we all get used to the change. In that shuffle I finally, officially begun work on Young Alumnae Relations, but that, like some many other things, is on the back burner again.

I have the best blond story to share with you - a personal blond story. Part of the craziness today involved me heading to the Grand & Toy downtown to pick up some clear labels and invitations. A simple task.... I parked in a parking garage only a few blocks from the store. I didn't mind the walk since it was a gorgeous day.

I don't what made me do it, but something compelled me to look for my wallet, even though I didn't need it at that time. As I was digging around in my purse a horrible feeling fell over me - I didn't have my wallet. It was at home, in my gym bag. I checked my change drawer and didn't have enough too pay the parking guy to get out of the parking garage. Luckily Colin was working just a few blocks away. He came over, gave me some change so I could pay the parking garage guy; and his debit card so I could pick up the items for work.

All I could do all day today was keep telling myself it's Friday. And never more than today has the acronym TGIF held so true.

Back on Track

2009-02-04T16:15:00.002-08:00

Finally. I think I have beaten this sickness. I went back to work on Monday, but even then I still wasn't a 100 %. Yesterday was the first day I actually felt back to full health, and didn't look like death. I'm glad too. I was getting tired of hearing how pale I was looking.

This evening will be my first time back at Curves in almost two weeks. Getting back to exercising is the final piece in getting over my sickness. At least I think it is. I also plan on preparing a half decent meal tonight too. Although I still haven't decided if it will be fajitas or fish. And if it's fish, will it be salmon or sole? I have forty minutes to figure that one out.

I'm glad I'm looking a little less like death each day, as I have a big event this weekend and I want to look good (and feel good too).

On the Mend

2009-02-01T09:29:00.002-08:00

I finally seem to be over my bug. I started feeling a lot better Friday. Yesterday I got outdoors and went for an hour-long walk along the Dyke and through a nature park next to the Dyke. I felt fine during the walk, but felt a bit tired and really hungry afterwards. I found a quick rest and bite to eat really perked me up again.

Last night we went out to dinner for a friend's surprise birthday. Just before we left, we were offered free tickets to the Canucks game. If the Canucks had even been mediocre it would have been a very, very difficult decision on whether or not to bail out on the dinner; but they downright suck right now.

Don't get me wrong, if we didn't have set plans last night we would have taken them in a heartbeat - but to bail on a friend's birthday for sub-par hockey - well, you just don't do that.

I was planning to go to dance class today, since I have missed the last two Thursdays in a row. But I am scared to over do it, as I often do as I am just recovering from a cold or sickness. A low-impact walk is one thing, 90 minutes of hard, aerobic activity is something entirely different. I've decided I will ease back into things: a walk yesterday, and Curves tomorrow. Hopefully. It will all depend how I feel after a full day back at work. I could feel fine and re-energized, or I could be dead.

I use the latter term loosely.

A New Frustration

2009-01-29T12:08:00.004-08:00

I made it into work yesterday, but didn't last long. I was 'quarantined' during my weekly staff meeting, meaning I had to sit at the far end of the table. After just a couple of hours I felt worse than ever, and made the decision to go home.

I got up this morning to try again, but felt sicker than yesterday. I am really getting frustrated. I want to be back at work. I am sick and tired of being confined to the house. I want to eat properly, and not feel sick every time I eat. I want to get outdoors and get fresh air. I want to get back to Curves and dancing. But what can I do, but ride it out, and hope I recover soon.

Bugged

2009-01-27T12:04:00.002-08:00

I am eternally grateful last week is far behind me. It wasn't a good week, it wasn't a bad week, it was a frustrating week. Just little things at work and home compacting to the point where I longed for Friday afternoon, and didn't think I was going to out of the week alive. On top of that I had one of the worst sleeps I can remember, which probably didn't help with dealing with frustration.

The weekend was good, but almost too busy. And now I am home sick. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. yesterday morning with a tummy ache and feeling nauseous. So I stayed home yesterday. I felt a bit better when I woke up this morning, but after getting ready for work I started feeling sick again, and regretted eating breakfast. So I made the decision to stay home again today.

Of all the days this week to be home sick, yesterday and today couldn't be worse. I had a couple of projects that needed to be wrapped up today, so I am very grateful to my co-workers who are tying up some loose ends for me while I'm home trying to get better. On the other hand, I know they're grateful I'm home and not spreading my stomach bug around work.

Crapuary

2009-01-15T08:54:00.001-08:00

I don’t like January: it’s cold, wet, grey, dull. It’s really any adjective you can find to describe blah. This is always the time of year when I just look and feel like crap. The last reserves of vitamin D have dried up; the summer tan is a faint memory; and SADS has set in.

At the end of every summer I tell myself I am not returning to the tanning beds the next year; but I always do. Why? It’s hard to imagine feeling crappy and looking pasty white when you are sun-kissed and feeling good as the summer months draw to a close. Then I look in the mirror at this time of year, realise I need some sun, and then further realise that sun and warmth are still months away.

But, I really want to avoid the fake n’ bake this year – perhaps this is another one of those New Year’s resolutions I don’t make – and take advantage of any sunny day thrown my way from here on in. Of course that is a real luxury at this time of year. The forecast for this weekend, however, looks promising. It’s supposed to be sunny and about 9 or 10 degrees (Celsius), which is beautiful weather for January; so I’ve decided any sunny weekend to get outdoors. It could be going for a walk or hike by myself, with Colin, or with friends. This weekend it could even be warm enough for a game of tennis; anything that gets me outdoors into the sun, and soaking up that precious vitamin D.

One More Day

2009-01-05T18:36:00.003-08:00

All this snow finally paid off. Thanks to last night's surprise snowfall (we were told to expect rain), the school remained closed today. That meant one more day of vacation. I was woken up at 6:15 a.m. to be told this, but I'm not really complaining. I eventually fell back asleep and rolled out of bed at 9:30 - late for me.

I'm pretty sure it will be back to work tomorrow, as it does look like the rains are coming, and the temperature is going up.

Hello 2009 - Addendum

2009-01-04T10:18:00.004-08:00

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but this year I have two:

1) Write a least 45 blog entries in 2009. 2008's total was 44.
2) Finish my puzzle I have been working on since September.

Hello 2009

2009-01-04T09:53:00.002-08:00

Here we go - the first blog entry of the new year.

We woke up New 's Year day in Victoria and headed to Shawnigan Lake. We were late leaving because we were told there was a tonne of snow up there, so we had to make a decision. We decided to go. The Malahat wasn't too bad, and even the main roads around Shawnigan were fairly clear.

We had a few stops to make in Victoria before heading up to Shawnigan. Not really knowing Victoria all that well, we put my TomTom (gps) to good use. It was great except for some bizarre reason it wouldn't locate Duke Point. It kept telling us to turn around and head back to Swartz Bay to get home.

Apart from our Island getaway, 2009 has been pretty quiet thus far. I decided to go to Curves Friday morning, and fell twice trying to get there. The funny thing was, I was walking behind an elderly man hoping that he didn't take a spill...

My first fall wasn't too bad. The second one did a bit more damage, which I didn't start feeling the effects of until yesterday. I bruised my ulnar, and pulled a ligament in my shoulder. That was the final straw for me with this weather. It's bad enough I haven't be able to drive - well, you can drive, but parking is more than impossible. And Friday showed me you can't even walk. And yesterday Mother Nature added salt to the wound - it snowed again! I think this was the fifth time in two weeks. I don't know, I'm starting to lose count.

Yesterday we had a few people over. We watched the world juniors: Canada vs. Russia. An amazing game of hockey. I think junior hockey is actually better than NHL hockey. But I don't go to all that many Giants games. I really should though. The tickets are affordable, and there's nothing like watching hockey in the Coliseum. After the hockey game we broke out the board games.

I can't believe I go back to work tomorrow. I feel like I've been on vacation for a long time, but it has flown by so fast. I think a lot of it has to do with being trapped. I haven't been able to just get up and go and do things, thanks to this lovely weather.

I am desperate for Spring, and we're only two weeks into Winter.

Goodbye 2008

2008-12-31T09:20:00.003-08:00

It's strange to think that the year I was apprehensive about is just about done and gone. This time last year I was trying to stop the days till turning 30, and here I am now closer to my 31st birthday.

2008 was a pretty decent year. It was definitely the year of discovery and travel. I ended visiting Las Vegas with girlfriends; attended sorority convention in Washington D.C.; and traveled north with Colin to see the rest of BC, the Yukon, and parts of Alaska... and I turned 30.

For some bizarre reason I am really looking forward to 2009 - not to jinx anything. Two of my closest friends are having babies this coming year. Colin and I plan to take our long-awaited trip to New Zealand. And I get to be a bridesmaid again in September. Not a bad year, and it hasn't yet begun.

I will be ending 2008 on Vancouver Island. We will be ringing in 2009 in Esquimalt with Adam, and will be heading up to Shawnigan Lake tomorrow to spend New Year's day with my sister-in-law and her family.

See you next year!

Success

2008-12-28T08:25:00.002-08:00

Colin and I cooked our first turkey dinner on Christmas Eve and it was a great success. The turkey, the stuffing, everything turned out just right. Well, almost everything was near perfect, except the roast and mashed potatoes, but they weren't bad at all. And apparently we prepare a mean Brussel sprout!

It felt very rewarding, but it was far too much for our small kitchen, sans dishwasher. Fitting eleven people in our apartment is usually no problem, but for a formal sit down dinner, it was bit much. We do have an excuse, though, for not hosting next year - we plan to be in New Zealand.

After this year, Christmas on the beach seems ideal. It will be strange not being around family at Christmastime; something I actually enjoy. But this is one of those trips we've always wanted to take, and December/January is the best time for us, and for New Zealand weather.

We did well this Christmas. Not that we don't usually clean up in the presents department. My father and mother-in-law gave us a few small gifts, and some money to spend on ourselves. We decided to use some to by a surround system and any leftover we'll,k split and buy ourselves whatever we want. I'm going shopping. But that should be a surprise to no one.

The next day, we received a bluray disc player from my parents. It goes perfectly with the surround system. And we christened the lot with the Dark Knight. Most excellent. Colin took full advantage yesterday and watched two of three Lord of the Rings movies. I couldn't handle the third one yesterday, so guess what we will be watching today...

After a week of too much [rich] food and little exercise, we were both feeling a bit zingy so we hit the ice last night. We missed the season last year, so our feet were sore for the first 10-15 minutes. I even had to go re-lace my skates. We skated for 45 minutes and felt refreshed after that much needed exercise.

This week is panning out to be a busy one. I am going shopping tomorrow. Die is back in town, so a few of us Crofties are getting together for tea on Tuesday. Colin and I are heading to Victoria to spend New Year's eve with Adam. And then my vacation starts to wind down.

Two weeks seems to be going by too quickly this year, but my last week of work before the holidays seems a lifetime ago.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

2008-12-22T17:15:00.002-08:00

For the first time in a decade Vancouverites could well be waking up to a White Christmas. Not the usual I'm Dreaming of a Wet Christmas.

What makes this weather all the more interesting was that the temperatures this fall were pretty average, and it was fairly dry. But in the past couple of weeks, the city, and the entire country have fallen into a deep freeze. Which is fine for the rest of Canada, but not for us. We aren't used to -15 degree weather, or whatever the heck the windchill has been. When you are born in or move to Vancouver you sign on the dotted line for sea breezy summers and mild winters. I don't recall signing on for sub zero temperatures and this white stuff. That's what the mountain views are for!

Needless to say it's made the first couple days of my Christmas vacation interesting. We did most of our shopping for Christmas dinner on Saturday because the forecast said it would snow again on Sunday.

The Superstore is trying at the best of times. But dealing with it the Saturday before Christmas, oh my god! After that torture we went into Richmond to pick up a couple of presents for Tiki and Welly, and a few other items. Later that night we bundled up and walked to our local sports bar to watch the hockey game. I had five layers on, but nothing is a match for the biting Pacific breeze. It eats through you, straight to the bone. We left the pub to find it had started snowing again, and was a cold like no cold in Vancouver before.

We had planned on walking to the video store to rent a film, but it was too damn cold. We considered driving, but we would be there and back by the time the car heated up. So we trudged home from the bar and watched one of our own movies.

Yesterday we battled the roads and the crazy Vancouver drivers who shouldn't be on the road on a dry, sunny day, and finished our Christmas dinner shopping. Last night we began to set up the apartment for our Christmas Eve dinner.

Now all we have to do is head into Steveston tomorrow and pick up our turkey. Oh, and then prepare a turkey dinner for eleven... for the first time ever...

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

2008-12-14T11:02:00.005-08:00

Yesterday was a fairly busy day. I had a hair appointment at 11:00 a.m. and had a couple hours afterwards to relax at home before heading to our two Christmas parties. We left the first party around 7:30 p.m. to head to party number two.

It was ridiculously cold when we left - cold enough to snow, which it was starting to do. We left the second party just after 11:00 p.m. because we noticed the snow getting worse and worse.

Driving in Richmond is like running the gauntlet at the best of times. Add snowy, icy conditions, and localized blackouts to that mix, and it becomes a complete gong show. A normally ten minute drive took an hour.

We managed to make it to the Arthur Laing bridge and would have been home in thirty minutes, but there had been an accident on the bridge deck, and northbound traffic was blocked. So we turned around at the BCIT campus, made our way back over the Dinsmour and along Alderbridge to get to the Oak Street Bridge. Of course, so was everyone else. It was a slow crawl to get onto Highway 99, but traffic was moving. There were a couple of scary moments, however. We saw one guy go for a slide and nearly hit the car next to him. And there were numerous cars pulled over, stuck, and even one in a ditch.

Once we made it onto Hwy 99 it wasn't so bad. The sanding truck had just been along, so we had good grip making our way back into Vancouver. We didn't take the Marine West exit though, because we knew trying to get up Osler would be interesting to say the least. Instead we continued up Oak and turned off on 67th and came down Osler.

We made it home, an hour later, in one, slightly frazzled, piece.

A 'Golden' Day

2008-12-11T12:40:00.003-08:00

Yesterday started off good, and I knew the day would end on a good note, with the Robin Williams show. But as the day went on, it just got better and better.

An already good day was made better with a phone call from Colin (see blog entry for December 10th).

Then, towards the end of the work day, I decided to check my gmail account. There was something from VANOC regarding Olympic tickets. I went straight to my account to see if I got anything we signed up for... but I couldn't remember my password, so I had to wait to receive a new one. It only took a few minutes, but still... And there it was: two tickets to the men's gold hockey game. I could not believe it. I called Colin. He could not believe it. And I believe half the people on the 3:15 p.m. ferry from Nanaimo to Tsawassen yesterday know about our luck.

Too bad we didn't buy a lottery ticket for last night's draw... the wins could come in handy paying my January Visa bill...

Oh yeah, Robin Williams was damn funny. I was in hysterics for almost two straight hours. My temples hurt at the end. And I don't think it helped my cold much. But who cares. It was the perfect way to end the perfect day.

A Change in Plans…

2008-12-10T12:42:00.001-08:00

Welcome to my crazy week. Thinking back on this year, this is probably my most hectic, jam-packed week, except maybe the week of DPhi E Convention. It all starts tonight with the Robin Williams show and doesn’t end till Sunday evening.

None of my events have changed, per se, but some circumstances around them have. And, as Martha Stewart would say, “that’s a good thing.”

Colin has been working on the Island this week, and in order for him to make tonight’s show I was going to drive out to Horseshoe Bay after work to pick him up. Even worse, I was going to get up at the ungodly hour of 4:30 a.m. tomorrow morning to drive him back to Horseshoe Bay. But, as luck would have it, the job is complete, and he is coming home today; which means no cavorting out to West Van during rush hour after work, and a normal start for me tomorrow. And, I no longer have to worry about whether or not Colin would be able to make the sorority party on Friday.

Prorogue this Harper

2008-12-05T11:17:00.002-08:00

I started writing a blog entry the other day (which seems be turing into an essay) on what is currently happening in Ottawa. I'd thought I would have few days to write it, and take some time to research a couple of things, because nothing was supposed to happen until Monday. What I was trying to say has now become obsolete (somewhat), because, quite suddenly yesterday, the decision came down that Parliament would take a little hiatus, or in proper Canadian political terms, Parliament is now prorogued.

What does this mean? It means that Parliament is not on break, but it hasn’t dissolved either, giving Harper, (and I guess the opposition coalition) some time to figure some things out. Personally, I think this is the cowards way out. Harper would have won back some of my respect if he just swallowed his pride, realized he is a Prime Minister with minority power, and put forward a stimulus package. Perhaps it would do Harper some good to review Canadian Political Science 101 and re-read the chapter on minority governments…Instead we now all have to sit around and wait until the new year… with nobody in charge.

What's Dark, Wet, and Unsuccessful?

2008-12-02T10:35:00.004-08:00

Last night's foray into Marpole.

I figured since I was going to walk down to Curves I may as well pop into the bank to deposit some cheques, and pop into Safeway to pick up some crazy glue.

It was dark, pissing with rain, and the bottom third of my Lemons* were soaked. But I was fairly dry and content with my umbrella and iPod.

Task #1: go to RBC and deposit cheques - Outcome: Thwarted. The damn bank was out of envelopes. It was me and a bunch of other soggy people standing in a vestibule at a complete loss due to a lack of envelopes.

Task #2: go to Safeway and buy a particular brand of crazy glue and tomotoes. Outcome: I got tomotoes, but not the right brand of crazy glue. The Christmas Tree stand is only half fixed and the living room is covered with Christmas tree branches (it's a fake tree).

Task #3: go to Curves - Outcome: Had a really good workout. Thank god for that - that saved the outing.

_________________________________
*Colin's term for my Lululemon pants

December Madness

2008-11-27T08:42:00.003-08:00

Well folks, 2008 is fast coming to a close. In just over a month we will all be settling into 2009. But before we get there we all have to get through December. I always find December nuts, and just a little too jammed-packed, but this year? I don't think I've seen anything quite like it.

Colin will be away again for the first two weeks of December (but back for the weekends), working on the Island. It's ironic (in a good way) that during this massive economic slide Colin has had more work than ever before, and it sounds like he will be busy till the end of the year.

I will have to use this weekend, and the first two weeks of December to finish my little project and get the house in tip-top shape because... starting December 10th we have 6 functions in 5 days: we are going to see Robin Williams, I then have an admin staff party, my sorority party, two more parties on the Saturday, and one on the Sunday. In that time I am also getting my hair done and in order for Colin to see Robin Williams I have to drive out to Horseshoe Bay after work on Wednesday and drop him back out there around 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning! Which means a 4:00 a.m. start for me, followed by 5 parties in 4 days.

The third week is pretty quiet so far. I have my staff party, and then my vacation starts. But Colin thought it would be a good idea to host Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve - so there goes my first week of vacation - cooking a sit down Turkey dinner for 12 people, for the first time ever! I will have lots of help, but still...

I'm declaring 2009 the year of rest... yeah, fat chance of that happening!

Darker and Darker

2008-11-21T12:11:00.002-08:00

Is it just me, or does this autumn seem particularly dark this year? Considering it's November the weather hasn't been all that bad. Just a few days of rain, but mostly sun or overcast, and fairly average temperatures. Maybe my body thinks it's Spring and is expecting the days to get longer, not shorter.

Maybe I get in such a funk at this time of year with the weather, that I never pay much attention to the shortening days. But since the weather has been okay, I'm noticing the darkness that much more.

Now I am just sitting and waiting for the crazy windstorm headed our way today. Apparently the gusts are supposed to hit 90 km/hour. I am just noticing now the trees are starting to sway a little...

On an entirely different note, I can't believe it's already Friday, and that the day is half done. This week has been a little strange since last weekend was so stressful, and Colin has been away all week, working on the Island. And he may not be back for Saturday night. Hopefully he will be, but I have Lisa and Andrew to keep me company tomorrow evening. I think Lisa needs to win the super duper friend of the week award. I plan to go shopping tonight - see if I can get some more Christmas shopping done, and maybe do some for myself - I am bucking the economic trend...

My de-cluttering and re-org is nearing the end and I will be damn glad when it's done. Then the next steps are putting things away and clearing out the closets and putting more things into storage. My goal is to have this done by the end of November, since December is always busy, and the calendar is starting to fill up!

Can't Wait for Monday

2008-11-16T19:12:00.004-08:00

I think Hell just froze over - I am actually looking forward to the work week this week. I never in a billion years thought I'd say that, as much as I love my job. But this weekend was just crazy.

I will preface it by saying it wasn't all bad. I had a couple of awesome social engagements. But when I wasn't out of the house, things were just stressful.

My de-cluttering and reorganizing project has taken on a life of its own. And while I am trying to achieve an organized lifestyle, everything has been thrown into more chaos than I started with. And I don't do chaos, so it's starting to get to me.

With both our parents moving we have been obtaining more and more stuff we don't have room for, but things we want for when we have a decent sized home. So Colin has spent his weekend moving things to the storage locker, and it's just been stressful. For the both of us.

Colin will be away most of this week working, so hopefully I will distract myself by finishing my reorganization and start to organize a few more things for the storage locker. And then I can get on with my life...

Vote n' Bowl

2008-11-15T12:49:00.003-08:00

What can I say, today hasn't exactly turned into the most relaxing Saturday. In less than four hours we need to be out the door to cast our vote in the Civic election and then participate in a bowl-a-thon for Cystic Fibrosis - which I'm organizing. In the mean time, Colin has to set up our storage locker, help my dad with some shelves, and then start moving things to the locker - none of which are even ready.

We'll probably take the mattress and mattress pad over today, and a couple of other things. But the mattress and pad haven't been wrapped, so I don't know what we're going to do about that.

It can be hard sometimes when you're the type of person who likes things done, ready, and organized, and you're with someone who is the opposite. And vice versa.

Jumping the Gun?

2008-11-10T19:19:00.002-08:00

So I got some me shopping and some Christmas shopping done today. But the Christmas shopping wasn't quite as successful as I hoped. I may have started too early, as none of the Christmas stores have opened and Purdy's doesn't have their Christmas chocolate yet. Apparently that all happens this weekend.

But some Christmas shopping done is better than no Christmas shopping done. The only real downside today was that Lansdowne and Richmond Centre were a heck of a lot busier than I was expecting. I guess a lot of people took today off to get a long, long weekend. Either that, or they were playing hooky...

Coming Along

2008-11-09T09:19:00.002-08:00

Do you want an update on my house de-cluttering and reorganizing activities? Probably not, but I am going to tell you anyways. I have completed the two worst rooms in the home: the den and the bedroom.

The den was a nightmare - basically five years of stuff to go through and tidy up. The bedroom wasn't as bad as I cleaned it not long ago. What took the time was going through all my clothes. I emptied all my drawers and took everything out of the closet. I know have this much room for new clothes. Colin wasn't too up on that theory. And I even got rid of a few pairs of shoes, which means more shoes too. Colin didn't like that theory either. But, I plan to go shopping tomorrow anyways - shopping for me, and shopping for Christmas. Yes Christmas shopping! I started doing my Christmas shopping in November a couple of years ago and I really enjoy it. I don't feel rushed and the malls (and people) aren't insane. I generally have everything bought and wrapped by early December. But this year I have to remember not to put bows on anything until the last minute. The cats love to chew them and rip them of the presents. A few people got mangled bows last year - but that's just Tiki and Welly's gift to you.

The Lowest of Human Lows…

2008-11-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

There are lots of them out there, but my example is the person who stole my umbrella. Seriously, you have to be a pretty bad person to snatch a Vancouverite’s umbrella during the rainy season, especially with this week’s forecast. And the worst part is, it was taken from work…

You Know That Joke...

2008-10-29T17:49:00.002-07:00

...the one where the restaurant patron tells the waiter, "there's a fly in my soup!" Well, I had a similar situation yesterday. But it wasn't in a bowl of soup,the fly was in my glass of water, and I nearly took a big gulp out of it when I noticed the fly. Just in time for Halloween.

Oh, and he wasn't doing the backstroke...

The October Blahs?

2008-10-28T11:41:00.003-07:00

The last few days I've been feeling, well, blah. I don't know if it's the time of year - the weather's been nice, but I haven't been outside much; I don't know if I'm having a hard time coping with not being busy. When I get bored I tend to hit a bit of a funk.

I'm not saying I have nothing do, but I feel like I've hit a bit of a wall. I think I was just too busy this weekend, and didn't have a huge amount of fun - which I really need right now.

Actually, what I really need is a vacation. I have two weeks until mid-term break, and a four-day weekend and 7 weeks until Christmas vacation.

I think the important thing is to keep myself busy and fight the urge to sit around and do nothing. When I'm busy I feel energized. When I do nothing, it draws me into a deeper funk, and just exacerbates the problem.

Round 2

2008-10-23T10:43:00.006-07:00

No sooner than wrapping up the Federal election, people living in Metro Vancouver are heading back to the polls on November 15 for civic elections. And yesterday there were some areas of BC that headed to the polls to vote in Provincial by-elections. And this whole time many Canadians have had their eyes and ears glued to the US election. Myself included.

So a week ago I had to decide who I wanted to be Prime Minister. In three weeks time I have to decide who I want to be mayor of Vancouver. Actually I've made that decision: Peter Ladner. If Sam Sullivan was still NPA party leader I would have a difficult decision ahead of me. Many NPA supporters are not fond of Sullivan... doesn't that sound familiar.

Gregor Robinson has a lot of good points too, but voting for Vision Vancouver is much like me voting for the NDP... The area I really have to focus on is who is running for the Parks Board, School Board etc.

And when I'm done with that election, that isn't the end of it. British Columbians will be going back to the polls in May for provincial elections. Then I think it's time for a rest. But with another ($300,000,000) minority government in charge federally, I could be back to the polls sooner than I know or care to know... and this coming from someone who loves politics and election time...

Back to Square One

2008-10-17T12:08:00.006-07:00

Nobody really wanted an election. The lowest voter turnout in Canadian history made that apparent. For the most part people were happy with the status quo of the last minority government. Everyone except the PM and his Conservative party. He called an election because the polls showed he could win a majority, and stop the back and forth bickering associated with a minority government.

The Conservatives were re-elected. With a minority government. All that time and tax dollars to maintain the status quo. But the Conservatives did gain some seats; a slight victory. And the Liberals lost some key seats, the biggest shock being the riding of Richmond.

And there could be another shocking Liberal loss. South Vancouver, my riding, is doing a re-count. On election night Dosanjh won by 700 or so votes. Elections Canada re-counts on races separated by less than 1,000 votes. The re-count showed Dosanjh won by 30! So they have to re-count again. What was once a Liberal stronghold could still end up on the Conservative side... but it still wouldn't give Harper his majority. And we would still be right back where we started five weeks ago.

An Election Story

2008-10-14T17:41:00.002-07:00

The deed is done. I have voted.

My plan after work was to go vote and go to Curves (or vice versa), but since this was my first day back at work in a week, I felt exhausted by the end of the day, so I exercised my right to vote, but not my body. Actually that's not entirely true, since I walked to the polling station.

As I was walking to my polling station I was thinking about the first time I went voting; not the first time I voted, (1996). It was back in 1982 and I was four, so obviously I couldn't cast a vote, but my parents could, and took me along with them to the polling station (on the Musqueam reserve).

For weeks my parents had been telling that on this day we were going voting. Except I didn't know what voting meant, but I knew what boating meant, so I thought we were going boating. I was very excited since I enjoyed the water, and had been on a boat before. And I knew our polling station was on the banks of the Fraser River, so even more reason for me to believe we going boating.

Well, you can imagine my disappointment. Needless to say I was totally unimpressed with this whole voting business, and cried the whole way home because I didn't get to go boating!

On the Mend

2008-10-13T10:04:00.003-07:00

I am still recovering from my cold, but I do feel better than I did a few days ago. I went to work on Friday, but only for a couple of hours, and was home by 10:00 am. It was all my body could muster - just a couple of hours to check phone and email messages and do a few administrative things.

Saturday was the first day I felt like eating, and therefore actually had some energy. We had some errands to run, which in the end were tiring, but it felt good to get out of the house, and get some fresh air and movement.

I returned some library books, and picked up my newest book club selection: The Stupidest Angel by Terry Moore. It's hilarious. I recommend it, especially if you are in need of a good laugh. Next we went to the vets for the cats' annual check-up, and to make sure Wellington's "pipes" are still problem free. It's always an adventure taking the cats to to the vets. Welly was pretty freaked the whole time, while Tiki was fairly calm. That is until we tried to leave. Colin went to pay, leaving me in charge of putting Tiki back in the carrying case. Well that was interesting. Tiki did not want to go back in the carrying case. She made this known by talking her claws and grabbing both sides of my head, and scratching me. Since she has never done anything like this before, I was caught off guard, and resounding "Fuck, Tiki" was heard throughout the vets. At this point Colin came in to see what was up. He had better luck putting her back in her carrying case.

After that fun adventure we took the cats home and went grocery shopping. We had a big shop to do - the cupboards and fridge were bare - so we went to the Superstore. God I hate that place, especially on a Saturday before something like Thanksgiving. The parking lot was packed to the gills - always a bad sign. But it wasn't to torturous inside. If it weren't for the amazing deals we'd avoid it all together, but the money you save makes the torture somewhat worth it. After that we went to Kins to purchase our produce. We only buy our produce here now, unless we have a couple of items we need to pick up quickly. You can buy a tonne of stuff for very little; it tastes better, and a lot of the inventory is locally grown.

We stayed in Saturday evening and enjoyed a home cooked meal and another good showing by the Canucks. After the game we walked to the video store and rented Promotion. It was a good laugh, but not the best comedy ever.

Yesterday I went to my dance class, and began working on new dances. This was the first exercise I've had in a week, and since being sick. I felt okay during class, but felt very tired by the time I got home. I had a quiet afternoon and evening. Around 9:00 pm last night I had the urge to return to my de-cluttering and reorganizing. A made a good dent, but there is still a ways to go in the den. But once that room is done, the worst is over.

Happy Turkey Day!

Sick

2008-10-09T10:10:00.003-07:00

A few weeks ago I started waking up in the mornings with a small tickle in my throat, but once I was up and ready to start my day it disappeared. On Tuesday I woke up with a more intense tickle, that turned into a very painful sore throat.

Other than a killer sore throat I felt okay. But as the day wore on, I realized I was getting really sick. My nose started running, but I still didn't feel too bad; at least not bad enough to go home. During my lunch break my body started aching, and by the time I got home from work, I had full-blown fever. So I spent yesterday at home. I feel a little better today, but thought it best to stay home again, as I sit here with my mound of tissues, my ears constantly plugging and unplugging, my nose running like a tap, and the inability to breathe properly.

I'm just glad I didn't get sick last week, with the show coming up. And with my first big event of the school year just two weeks away I will hopefully be over this by next week.

Unless I am deathly ill tomorrow, I will be going to work. It's the Friday before the long weekend and I have some things I need to do before that time off. And hopefully I will no longer be contagious, so I won't get everyone in the office sick. But when you work in a school, it is always just a matter of time before someone gets sick. Especially at this time of year.

Moving Onwards

2008-10-07T11:08:00.003-07:00

Now that the show is over, it's time to move on to other projects. Some are already underway and some are waiting in the wings.

The biggest project I am currently undertaking is a complete de-cluttering and re-organization of our home. I used to be a tidy, organized person, but something happened, and now are our home is complete chaos. I decided I needed some 'professional' help with this task, so it was off to chapters.ca to find book recommendations on home organization, and then off to the VPL website to request said books. In total I got six books - only one of them was what I was looking for, but it is definitely the perfect book for helping with home organization. It's simple, straightforward and has lots of great tips.

The best thing about it, is keeping me on track. When I start tidying up I will start with one area, but then my mind (and body) wanders to another area. And then I get bored, tired, and just give up. Now I am sticking to one room, and one area in the room. For example, my desk: I start with one drawer and do nothing else until I have finished with that drawer. It sounds tedious, but it works so well, and is quite quick. I've only just begun, and have started with the worst room, the den. It's amazing how much crap I've been storing away, and how things that have been missing forever are suddenly found. And if you just do 15 minutes a day, well that's all you do.

I 'm hoping to use the long weekend to make a dent in this project. Considering the enormity of it however, it will be more of a scratch. I also plan to work on my Halloween costume this weekend. I have a few ideas, but I need to hit Value Village and Bazaar & Novelty to see what I can put together. It seems the older I get, the more serious I become with this quest.

South Pacific Stress

2008-10-03T08:16:00.002-07:00

When one thinks of Hawaii, the last thing you tend to be is stressed. But for me, right now, the thought of Hawaii, Tahiti, and all Polynesian islands in between had me awake at 5 am this morning - stressing.

Aloha Polynesia is this Sunday, but it's not the actual show itself I'm worried about. We had a great practice last night. I feel confident in my dancing, and as an entire group, everything meshed together. It's all the little, and big things I need for the show that are all of a sudden stressing me.

I thought I would be bringing my dress home to hem last night. It's not ready so I have to drive back out to Burnaby tonight and pick it up and find time to hem it somewhere between tonight and tomorrow night. Then I found out I had to make two of my leis. I was working on my plumeria lei last night in between dances, and sometime between today and tomorrow in addition to hemming a dress, I have to put to together my yaka leaves. I know I'm still missing a third lei so I'm anticipating having to find time to deal with that too.

I can't complain too much because my teacher is amazing and makes all our costumes, and puts on an entire show. I just wish I had a little more than 24 hours to get all this done.

At least it's Friday! And next weekend is a long weekend!

... and then Everything Changed

2008-09-30T08:11:00.003-07:00

I thought I had it all figured out. I had made my tough decision of which party I was going to vote for on October 14th; and then the economy south of the border went tits up, and I had to re-think a lot of things.

I was never going to vote for the NDP or the Bloq. I'm especially not going to the vote for the NDP now after hearing about all the spending they plan on doing.

It was down to the Greens and the Conservatives. And I said I would never vote for this new Conservative party. Things have being going along fine, but there's something about Harper, something I just can't put my finger on. But then I stopped paying to the politicians, and started paying attention to the party platforms, and I liked what the Conservatives were saying, especially when it came to the criminal/justice system, and most importantly, the Young Offenders Act.

This is something I have been passionate about for years (since I was 16) and have been waiting for the government to tighten the reins on young offenders. So with that, and some other parts of the Conservative platform, my mind was made up. On October 14 I was to check the Conservative box... And then everything changed. The economy fell apart in the US; it's falling apart in Europe; and like a house of cards or a line of dominoes, Canada will feel the pain too. It might not be as bad; it could be worse; whatever it is, we know it's coming and Canada's economic high is going to come down, and whatever party finds itself in power in two weeks time, needs to be ready for that.

The reason I was not going to vote Liberal this time round is that I find nothing inspiring about Dion, and apparently the same thing goes for many other Liberal supporters. And my repelling of the Liberal party takes place at the grassroots level too - my MP is none other than the one-time NDP Premier of BC Ujial Dosanjh. And we all know what I think about the BC NDP... But yesterday Stephen Dion said something that made me listen to him for the first time since he was elected leader of the Liberal party. He asked people to remember the strong economic stance taken by the Chretien government. Sure, there were a couple of scandals along the way, but bottom line, the Liberals brought us to great economic prosperity in the 90's and the turn of the century, turning an deficit it years of huge surpluses, and focusing on paying down the debt. If any party in this country has proved to us their economic ideas are solid it is the Liberals....

Yesterday I heard someone say that Canada's economic fundamentals are sound. I thought what the hell is John McCain doing discussing the Canadian economy, and then I took a closer look - it was Harper...

Oh My God! Like Gag Me with a.... Fluoride Tray?

2008-09-26T09:56:00.003-07:00

Throughout my 30 years on this planet I have yet to meet anyone who didn't mind a trip to the dentist. It's one of those things that you hate as a child, but assume it will improve when you grow up. Nope.

There's nothing like having you teeth and gums poked and prodded, and being told that your brushing and flossing skills are less than mediocre. But the thing I hate most about the dentist? The fluoride. Sure it's only a few minutes, twice a year, but it's still one of the most horrible things. I hate the taste (even though it has somewhat improved over the years), and I just feel like gagging.

I thought I had an out. A couple of years ago I was told I have fluorosis. A condition of having too much fluoride in your system, making your teeth pretty much indestructible, but at the cost of having plaque like build-up on your teeth, that doesn't come off.

I got this condition because I was fed a small drop of fluoride every morning as a child (a very popular thing to do in the 70's and 80's); along with my Flintstone vitamin. And, until recently, Vancouver put fluoride into the water system, and I drink Vancouver tap water by the gallon. So, one would think that I would no longer need fluoride. Nope. I still have to endure those icky trays, and long, gagging minutes twice a year.

Darkness Falls

2008-09-24T08:12:00.002-07:00

The hardest thing I find about this time of year is the growing, lingering darkness. I've noticed it getting dark earlier in the evening for quite some time now. I guess that's what happens when you spend the longest days of summer way up North and are used to dusk at 2 am, not 9:30 pm.

But it has only been over the past week or so that I have noticed the mornings getting darker, and darker, and darker. It was very pronounced this morning, most likely due to the fact that it's overcast, but it was definitely night time when my alarm went off at 6:30 am. There is a huge difference in getting up at 6:30 am when it's daylight, and getting up at 6:30 am in the pitch black. It takes a while for my body to adjust and realize that 6:30 am is 6:30 am, no matter how dark or light it is outside.

The thing I noticed about this morning, however, was that it stayed dark. It was dark when I got out of the shower; it was dark while I was preparing my lunch and eating my breakfast. I only noticed the first light while getting dressed and ready to get out the door. By the time I left shortly after 7:30 am, it was finally light out, but soon enough I will be leaving for work as dawn is rising.

I suppose that it is one of the many advantages of working in a school. At least during the darkest days and hours of the year I'm on vacation. And when I return to work in January, the days are beginning to show signs of getting lighter and longer. But it is a long way from September to January...

Blink and It's Over

2008-09-22T08:12:00.004-07:00

That's how I would best describe this past weekend. I was constantly on the go, from the second I got home Friday afternoon. But you know what they say about having fun...

Friday night we headed downtown to see Alice Cooper. Prior to the concert we visited my brother is his new, Yaletown digs. We grabbed some yummy pizza for dinner from a place on Granville Street (the name currently eludes me), and went back to Andrew's to play Rock Band.

Colin forgot to turn his alarm off, so I was rudely awoken at 7 am on Saturday morning. And then again, ten minutes later, because Colin only hit snooze... So I fell back asleep and didn't get up until 10:45 am, which is a) very late for me, and b) very bad as I had million things to accomplish that morning.

We had to get Colin's car window fixed as it was no longer working properly (you can tell I'm not a car person...). Long story short, the window got stuck in the down position, and the first rainfall of September happened to be a torrential downpour. So we quickly popped down the street to the local mechanics and dropped off the car.

After that we headed to Canadian Tire because I was in desperate need of a new pair of windshield wipers. After that we went to Denny's for brunch, popped by the library to pick up my books on home organization and the went to the Petcetera in Richmond to pick up more kitty litter.

We usually by bulk bags of the Petcetera brand of kitty litter and fill up our reusable bucket at home. Petcetera now has a huge bin of litter (the brand we use) that you can just scoop into your reusable bucket. Environmentally friendly. That's good. But when you do the math, it's cheaper to buy the bulk bag... Maybe they need to rethink that one.

We also picked up one of those fancy water fountain drinking apparatuses for the cats because they would much prefer to drink out of any running tap in the house and ignore their water bowl. Solution: one of these gizmos:

It seems to be working so far.

When I got home I had to get ready at lightning speed, including having a shower. It was almost 2 PM and I had plans to meet Thalia at her place in North Van at three. I managed to get out the door just after 2:30 and made it to the North Shore just after 3 PM. Not bad considering it was pouring with rain, and Rupert was just one, big obstacle.

Thalia drove us out to Coquitlam Centre so we could go to H&M. Yes, we choose to head to Coquitlam versus dealing with downtown. Afterwards we returned to North Van, went out for a sushi dinner, and rented a movie - I can't remember the title, but it's the about Mr. Bean heading to the South of France. It was okay. The TV show is much better.

On Sunday I went to my dance class - extra practice before the big show next month - and had a hell of a workout. After class I returned home, did a few things around the house, and then went over to Mum and Dad's for dinner.

Alice Cooper

2008-09-22T08:00:00.003-07:00

This past Friday Colin and I saw Alice Cooper at the Centre for the Performing Arts. I may seem like an unlikely Alice Cooper fan, but if you know me, and have seen my itunes list, or our CD collection, this shouldn't be much of a surprise. To say my taste in music is eclectic is an understatement.

What I thought was my first exposure to Alice Cooper was Wayne's World. But according to my mum, he used to make guest appearances on Seasame Street. But my first memories of interest in his music was thanks to Wayne's World. The movie also introduced me to Queen (with some help from Lisa), and my talent for headbanging...

Colin and I thought we were going to stick out like sore thumbs, dressed in our conservative ways. Turns out though there was every type of person possible at this concert. People my parents' ages dressed like their age. People dressed like Alice Cooper. People dressed like us. People still in their business suits.

We were very close to the stage, which was good and bad. Good because we were so close and had a good view. Bad because we saw every wrinkle and sag on Alice's face, and we were right next to the speakers, and seem to be in denial that we are both in our 30's. We didn't have earplugs. When I went to bed Friday night I could hear my eardrums banging - that can't be good, can it? Here we are Monday morning and my ears are still slightly plugged.

Stink bomb

2008-09-18T10:37:00.003-07:00

I think Colin had one hell of a workout at his martial arts class last night. He came home and threw his gi in the hamper, which happens to be in our bedroom. I was lying in bed reading. After a few minutes I started to sniff, something smelt like it had died in our room. I realized what is was... Colin's gi. I got up and asked him to remove the gi from our bedroom. Instead of removing just the gi he took the entire hamper and locked it in the bathroom overnight (with the window open, thank god). When I got up this morning, the smell seemed to have dissipated. The question is, can we survive a stinky gi until I can do laundry Saturday morning?

Fall-ing

2008-09-18T08:12:00.002-07:00

It looks like the dog days of summer are just about behind us now. I think Vancouverites were appreciative of the late burst of summer, considering how mediocre this actual summer was. But the leaves are now turning, literally. I've been feeling the onset of autumn in the air for the past week or two, and that onset was confirmed this morning when I saw my first leaf fall.

I always have a hard time making that transition from summer to autumn. I love long, warm sunny days. But once I'm into autumn, and and as long as it doesn't pour with rain the whole time, I don't mind it so much. I do suffer from SADS, but that doesn't usually kick in till January, but this time round, I think it may be a whole lot earlier. Why? I have never have been as pale as I am right now, at this time of year. I can usually hold my summer tan till October or November, but this year it's already fading away, and it's still September.

Here's hoping this autumn/winter is a dry one... of course, this is Vancouver so that odds of that happening are, well, none.

Election Overload

2008-09-09T12:51:00.005-07:00

I will be the first to admit it - I am a political nerd. I can't get enough of the goings-on of our elected officials, especially at the Federal level.

The last year and half has been somewhat quiet in the realm of Canadian politics, but the US has certainly made up for that with what seems like the longest election ever. And there's still two months to go before it actually happens.

But Canadians get to take a break (sort of) from the hoopla down south and pay attention to our own interesting characters who make up the face of Canadian politics. This will be our third election in four years. In some ways, I'm hoping for a majority government so we can move on and get some things accomplished. But, according to the poles, the Conservatives are in the lead, and while I don't mind them thus far, I would be somewhat concerned if Harper had 'absolute' power. He's made mention to things here and there that just don't jive with the Canadian mindset; but at least he's leaving the abortion issue untouched this time round. At least that's what he said.

This will be my sixth federal election... I have only legally been allowed to vote for twelve years - so, on average, I have been going to the polls every other year. And like I said I love the political goings on, but at this rate it's almost too much, especially since there is a municipal election in November and a Provincial election next May...

As for who I plan on voting for, well, I have mere weeks to figure that out. This time I truly am a person without a party...

Ahhh Lint Remover...

2008-08-27T15:40:00.004-07:00

...good, ole lint remover. A roll of sticky paper perfect for removing cat hair from clothing, furniture and just about anything else. But can there be anything else wonderful about the stuff? According to Wellington (the cat), yes!

It makes a wonderful cat toy. I'm not sure what's in the stuff, but it's something that Wellington loves, (and that Tiki could care less about).

Whenever I a discard a used piece, I will find it later outside of the garbage can. So I take it away from Welly, hide it deeper in the garbage, yet it somehow makes it way back out again.

Yes Wellington has a thing for lint remover... and cutips. Used, waxy, yellow cutips, which I find discarded all over our apartment.

I love animals, don't you?

...to Whitehorse

2008-08-19T10:11:00.005-07:00

This year's annual vacation was a bit different from past years. Instead of hopping on a plane and heading South (or East), we hopped in the car and headed due North. Destination: [the rest of] BC, the Yukon, and Alaska.

Instead of boring you with all the details (of which I am fast forgetting), I will cover where we went, what we saw, and some other highlights. But just be warned, once I start writing, I may go into details anyway...

Our first day goal was to make it from Vancouver to Barkerville. Which we did. Sort of. We drove up through the Fraser Canyon, planning to take Hwy 99 on the way down (mother nature had other plans though). We made it all the way to Barkerville, and stopped in Wells (just west of Barkerville) to find somewhere to stay. Turns out for the first time ever there were no vacancies due to four reunions taking place that weekend. It was late, I was tired, hungry, and getting really grumpy. We had dinner in Wells, and made the drive back to Quesnel.

The next morning we got up, drove back to Barkerville, did the tour, drove back to Quesnel and finally started heading north towards Prince George, and on to our next destination Ft. Nelson. We managed to make it as far as Chetwynd, and spent the night in the Chainsaw Carving Capital of BC (or was it the world?) and dined at one of the many Chinese-Western diners.

Our third day was probably the shortest traveling day of the whole trip. We cut up through Hudson's Hope and popped onto the Alaska Hwy, just north of Ft. St. John. I was promised lots of Moose on this leg of the trip, at least that what the signs kept telling me... but I didn't see one. We arrived in Ft. Nelson after only a few hours on the road, and spent the afternoon, evening, and stayed over night with an old friend of mine I hadn't seen in ten years. It was a fun visit!

The next day we decided to drive all the way from Ft. Nelson to Whitehorse. A 12-hour driving day, with a nice break at the hot springs in Liard Provincial Park - nature's hot tub! It was awesome, and difficult to get back in the car!

We pulled into Whitehorse around 11PM... and it was still light out. Welcome to the land of the Midnight Sun. I have to say, I was not overly impressed with Whitehorse. I expected it to be more like, well, Dawson City. I don't think our first hour in Whitehorse set a good tone either: We went to Boston Pizza for dinner. Not our first choice, but given the time of night, and what was available, it was our best choice. We walked into the restaurant around 11:15 PM. We both know this for a fact, because that's what time it was when we got out of the car. We were told they stopped seating people at 11:30. We decided not to make a stink about it and left. Strike one for Whitehorse. We settled on a gourmet meal at Timmy Ho's. I ordered a egg salad on brown bread. They only had chicken salad left. Strike two. And they only had white bread. Strike three. The donut options were very limited, but I managed to get a chocolate one. Which Colin accidentally ate. He offered me his donut, but it was maple, and I hate maple... I just wanted to cry at this point. And get the hell out of Whitehorse. But we stayed for a couple of days. We walked around the city, and along the Yukon River; we visited the Beringia Interpretive Centre; and visited Muktuk Adventures, a kennel just west of Whitehorse with a 120 dogs who run the Yukon Quest. This visit somewhat redeemed Whitehorse. We had the opportunity to visit with the dogs and pups, and learned all about mushing.

We left Whitehorse and made our way to Dawson, the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush. Now this was a fun town. Dawson is home to literary greats Pierre Burton and Robert Service. And Jack London spent a lot of time there too. We visited a couple of museums, took a walking tour, visited Dredge #4, and panned for gold. We also spent the evening at Diamond Tooth Gerties - the thing to do in Dawson. But we never got the guts up to 'drink the toe.'

We left Dawson after a few days, and continued West. We drove the Top of the World Highway (aptly named) into Alaska and visited Chicken (named for all the ptarmigans in the area) and Tok. We only spent half a day or so there, so we headed back into Canada via Beaver Creek and spent the night in Haines Juction. The following day we began heading South, and found ourselves in Skagway, Alaska. This was our first time camping on the trip, and it was cold and poured with rain. And our site was merelt feet away fromt the train tracks.... But despite the weather, and being woken up by trains at 5 am, Skagway was a neat place, and the perfect bookend for our trip to Dawson. This is were the trek to Dawson began: in Skagway (Whitepass) and Dyea (Chilcoot Trail) - now a ghost town enveloped by a forest.

After Skagway we headed back towards Whitehorse (yee haw!) and begin to work our way back to BC. This time we headed down the Stewart-Cassier Hwy with Stewart/Hyder as our next destination. We dined in Dease Lake and spent the night in Bell II. We arrived in Stewart the next day, and got a good glimpse of Bear Glacier. When then crossed the only unmanned border aournd into Hyder, Alaska - a ghost town for all intensive purposes, even though there are a few live souls kicking around.

We visited the state park to see the Grizzly Bears. We paid $5 each to get in. Stayed for 45 minutes. Saw nothing, decided to head back to the car. Saw a grizz walking down the street...

We then began climbing our way up to Salmon Glacier, crossing back into Canada. Salmon Glacier is the largest glacier in the world accessible by road, and the fifth largest glacier in the world. It was something else.

We returned to the State Park (since we could still use our passes), and this time got to see a grizz enjoying a tasty salmon dinner and frolicking in the water. A couple of my favourite past times...

After our day in Stewart/Hyder we made our way to Prince Rupert - the warmest and driest part of our trip - oh the irony. We passed through Terrace, birth place of Colin and spent the night in Rupert. The next day we drove around, visited a museum, and decided to start heading east towards Prince George. We stopped in Terrace for lunch. It was strange for both of us, sitting eating our lunch and thinking this is where Colin is from. He was around one when his family moved to Richmond, and had only been back to Terrace a couple of times when we was very young.

We called a good friend of ours who returns home to Vanderhoof every summer for a visit, and it turned out he just arrived back home. We met up with Adam and his dad in Burns Lake and spent August 1st (our ten year anniversary) fishing... on a boat on Babine Lake. We spent our first date on a boat, but instead of fishing, we were watching fireworks. But a perfectly fitting way to spend the anniversary of our first decade together. And I caught my first fish ever - a nice, juicy lake trout.

We spent the evening at Adam's family farm, and enjoyed a crazy game of Gin. The next day we toured the farm and made our way home. But we had to return through the Canyon instead of passing through Lilooet and down the Sea-to-Sky because of a massive rock slide the essentially shut down the highway between Vancouver and White Rock.

The Highway 99 re-opened half an hour after we returned home...

Trudeau's Law

2008-08-15T11:38:00.006-07:00

My return from DC was a bit of a gong show. The flight from DC to Montreal was somewhat interesting. I'm convinced my pilot was drunk. The plane was bouncing up and down, and shaking from side to side, and there wasn't much cloud cover. And twice, it felt like the pilot literally slammed on the breaks. It was like he was thinking, 'oh shit, I supposed to start my descent better slow this plane down.' The second time, I think he just about overshot Trudeau Airport!

Just to give you some background, I have never re-entered Canada through any airport other than YVR. So for the first time in my life I had to clear customs, pick up my luggage, drop it off, clear security again, and finally get on the plane.

When I entered the customs hall the first thing that went through my mind was Oh Shit! I have never see line-ups like it before, but I had no choice and I ventured down the stairs (it's the same layout as YVR). I saw there was a special line for connecting flights, that pretty much took me to the front of the line-up. Next problem: there were only a couple of people in front of me, but I don't think they were Canadian, and the custom officers kept asking tonnes of questions. So I started to panic again. I had about 90 minutes to make my flight. Finally it's my turn, the customs officer scans my passport, and boom, his computer crashes. He's frantically trying to reboot, and I can't go anywhere until it's working again. So he asked me the usual questions, and we got to chatting. He felt really bad and embarrassed about the whole thing. Finally, it started working and I could continue on.

Of course my bag was already on the carousel, so I grabbed it, handed in my customs card, dropped my bag off - the easiest part of the process, and headed to my gate, with ample time. Get to security... you can guess where this is going. Massive line-up, chaos, etc. But the line is moving, so I keep calm. Of course they stick me in the worst possible line-up. There was a woman with two small children who was trying to smuggle something through. So security pulled her aside, but it takes a few minutes before they send a new guard to our line-up.

The woman in front of me starts telling me how she's missed a few flights due to Montreal security... perhaps it wasn't the airport's fault though... the guards repeatedly told us to take all liquids out of our bag and make sure they're in the little baggie, etc. This woman WAITS until she is about to put her bag through, and then begins to pull out all her liquids and shove them in a bag. I had few choice words for her, but thought it best to keep my mouth closed.

Of course, my gate was at the very end of the hall. I couldn't even see it when I first passed through security. Let's just say I got my exercise. Finally I made it some time to spare - my flight was delayed!

And that's Trudeau's, err, I mean, Murphy's Law.

From the Whitehouse...

2008-08-13T12:23:00.006-07:00

Most of my July was not spent in the office. In fact, I only worked six days the entire month. I don't think I've had time of like that since university.

Early July was spent in the US Capital. I was venturing over to Arlington, VA for the DPhiE Convention, so it just made sense to take the opportunity to visit DC while in the neighbourhood.

DC is quite a city, except for the people ... they make New Yorkers look like the politest people on earth. Despite its denizens however, it was a spectacular place to visit.

We stayed in an area called DuPont circle. This was a hip little neighbourhood which reminded us of the West End. It was home to some great restaurants, and the best frozen yoghurt you will ever have! We were eating dinner at this great pizza joint, and noticed all these people walking past with (what we though was) ice cream. We figured it had to be near the restaurant, and decided it would be a good idea for dessert.

Turns out it was right next door, and it wasn't ice cream, it was frozen yoghurt - literally!

You had three choices: plain, green tea, and pomegranate. And you had your choice of three toppings, with a variety to choose from. The yoghurt was delicious, and had a nice, tangy flavour - hence the name Tangy Sweet. It was such a popular place, the line-up was right out the door. It was also like that when we returned the next evening. Gotta have our Tangy Sweet.

Ok, there is more, much more to DC than rude people and damn good frozen yoghurt. Our first day in town we took an indoor tour around the city that included stops at: Capitol Hill, Ford Theatre, the White House visitors centre, and the Smithsonian (Aeronautical & Space Museum and the Native American Museum). Afterwards we ditched the tour and ventured over to the Library of Congress.

We ventured out of DC our second day, taking a boat cruise down the Potomac to Mount Vernon, George Washington's plantation. It was quite a spectacular place. We even saw were George and Martha are entombed, and George's wooden teeth.

After the jaunt to Mt. Vernon we returned to DC for some more touring. We walked the length between Captiol Hill and the Lincoln Memorial - 8 KM in 100 degree heat! We visited the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam war memorials, and the Lincoln memorial. By the end of the day we were very hungry, and more sweaty and dirty than any of us had been in our lives, which made things interesting come dinner time. We found a brew pub to have dinner at, but we swear they were going to refuse us service. They did let us in, but stuck us at the back of the restaurant - there was plenty of space up front... I have never taken such a satisfying shower in my life as I did that night.

For our final morning in DC we visited the Whitehouse. Normally foreign visitors have to sign up six months in advance through their embassies, but our sorority arranged the tour. It was a bit of a gong show... but all worked out in the end. I have to say, the secret service guys are some of the friendliest people around.

The White House was very opulent. It reminded me of a European palace. After our tour we returned to our hotel, checked out, and made our way to Virginia. We checked into the Convention hotel and looked into heading to the outlet mall. But it was too far away, and too expensive to get to, so we settled for the local mall: The Pentagon Mall. It was one of the most amazing shopping days of my life. I kept finding deal after deal, and everything fit. I went a little nuts in Banana Republic.

During Convention we had a free morning to do as we pleased, so we headed over to Arlington Cemetery. I can't even explain how immense it is. We saw the resting places of JFK and RFK, and watched the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

And that concluded our trip to DC, and DPhiE convention.

Where to Begin?

2008-08-13T12:05:00.002-07:00

I wrote an entry just over a month ago, while I was in DC. It described my day out visiting the US capital, which is fast becoming a faint memory. As I went to post the blog, the time on the hotel computer ran out. So do I cram in two vacations, and six weeks worth of blogging into one post? I don't know. I'll see how it goes...

It's funny, since my return to Vancouver, it seems like everyone has disappeared. I'm assuming everyone is out of town, as is common at this time of year. It makes socializing hard, even though I really should take it easy this weekend, as I have not had a lazy weekend since, I don't know? Spring Break probably (and I'm not exaggerating)!

I had a couple of days after returning from our trip up North, to clean the apartment and do four, yes four loads of laundry. I didn't have a chance to vacuum upon returning from DC, so that was a must. Quite frankly, I was surprised the cats weren't hairless, since our bed spread had grown a thick layer of fur on it while we were away.

I've been spring cleaning the apartment, since Spring. I was hoping to really tackle the mess last weekend, but the social gods had other plans. Friday after work I raced home, caught some of the Olympic Opening Ceremony, and then it was off to what I swear was the longest game in CFL history, maybe football history! At least the Lions won.

Saturday I spent the whole day with my new nephew, Tobin, who is now 5 weeks old. We left our place at 11:30 am and didn't get home till 6:30 pm, at which point we turned around and headed out to Lisa and Andrew's for a evening of Olympics, games, and always good conversation.

Sunday I spent most of the day finishing my book for book club. I thought it was this coming weekend, not last weekend. I really enjoyed Guards! Guards! and hope to read more from the Terry Prachett's Discworld Series. I also spent Sunday running errands.

I finally started tackling the apartment this week. It is already looking a lot better. There are still a lot of items to sort through, but it's coming together now. Then I will be able to concentrate on my dancing and sorority volunteer work...

No rest for the wicked...

#200

2008-07-03T12:07:00.002-07:00

I couldn't think of a catchy title for my post. Then I saw that this will be post 200. I think that may be a little low for 3.5 years of blogging, but I have noticed as of late, I seem to be more and more sporadic about it.

I am officially on vacation as of 4 PM tomorrow; however I think my mind is already on left. After a four day weekend, filled with glorious summer weather, and a pending vacation, I'm finding it a bit hard to concentrate.

I spent part of my long weekend in Whistler, enjoying the mid-30 degree temperature, and being able to spend time by the lake sunbathing and reading. Two of my favourite things. I finally have some decent colour, and no longer look like I have been living underground. It's a bit cloudy today, but at least it's warm.

I didn't get much done on Monday as I was suffering from heat exhaustion. I've been able to handle hot, hot temperatures my whole life, so I will blame it on:
a) going from Winter to the dead of summer in days
b) adjusting to life at 30, i.e. the bizarre aches and pains that seem come with it

So, I lost a day of tidying up and packing for Convention. Tuesday I wanted to celebrate Canada Day by attending Salmon Fest, but by the time I arrived in Steveston there was absolutely no parking anywhere. I drove around for 30 minutes in the heat, wasting gas I just paid $1.50 a litre for, so I headed home, and did what I do best: sunbathing and reading.

Later in the afternoon Colin and I went to MEC in search of hiking boots for our trip. Colin pointed out that he was shoe shopping with me - perhaps Hell had frozen over. I can't say that shopping for hiking boots is quite the same as shopping for cute, strappy heels. But shoe shopping, is shoe shopping.

Last night Colin and I went to see Corteo (my birthday present). Neither of us have ever been to Cirque de Soleil before, so we weren't sure what to expect - it was amazing. I can't fathom what some people can do with their bodies. It was something else, and a lot of fun.

Afterwards we popped into Women's on our way home and met our new nephew. No Name Blackstock - at least that's what I'm calling him until he has a name. Despite the fact he has yet to be named, he is very sweet. I think Colin was in a daze over the fact that his baby brother has a baby.

It's been an exciting week, so you can perhaps understand why I have left for vacation, even though I'm still here.

And it's already Thursday...

No Rest for the Wicked

2008-06-20T12:40:00.003-07:00

I must have done something that is completely pure evil because my work life and social life are still insanely busy. The school is quiet with the students gone, and the teachers soon going, but things are still very busy in my office. Right now I am playing catch-up with work dating back to November. I have a pile of filing to do (among other things) that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy! The stack is at least 2 feet high! I'm not exaggerating! I also have a lot a pressure to get things done because I am only working 6 days next month, and I prefer to get the ball rolling on some things and not leave everything to August. In fact, I'm not even back at work until August 5th, and I still have 1.5 vacation days left which I need to take by August 31. Is there such a thing as too much vacation???!!!

My social calendar has been jam packed thanks to myself and my closest friends all turning 30. At the same time! May and early June were a bit nuts. My craziest weekend was two weeks ago: I drove up to Whistler with Thalia and Lisa Duff - an old Crofton friend whom we had not seen in twenty years! So I was up at 6:30 am - normal for a week day, but not for a Saturday - met Thalia at her place in North Van at 8:30 and headed to Whistler. By the time I got back down and back to my place it was 6 pm, and Colin and I were heading to a BBQ in PoCo that had started at 5:30 - needless to say, we were fashionably late. And somehow, we didn't make it back home till 4am! I was exhausted. And the next day I had to get up for a baby shower! Last weekend was wonderfully quiet, but that's it, until sometime in August:

This weekend I am going shopping with Mum, and out for Sunday brunch with some friends. Next weekend Colin and I will be in Whistler. The next two weekends after that I will be in Washington DC for DPhiE Convention, then the next two weekends after that I will be on vacation, and will be somewhere in BC, the Yukon, or Alaska.

I'm wondering at which point I will drop dead!

At least I'm enjoying myself :)

Oh, and being 30 - so far, so good.

Time to Re-fuel

2008-05-30T09:39:00.003-07:00

I didn't realize how prophetic my last entry would be. Ever since writing that entry I have been busy with work, and have been as sick as a dog, so I haven't been able to accomplish much with my personal life. Because I was so busy with work, I really couldn't take any time off to get over my cold, so it has dragged on for weeks. It's been so bad that I haven't been to Curves or my dance classes for three weeks now - and I'm starting to feel the effects. This is the longest I've gone without exercise in three years, and it's starting to take its toll. Needless to say I'm actually looking forward to going to Curves tomorrow. Yes, I did just write that I'm looking forward to going to the gym!

This week has been the most insane - a lot of late nights leading up to the golf tournament, including a 16-hour day on Wednesday! But it's over now. That's it. No more events to plan this [school] year. I am very chuffed with myself - the tournament went well, and I've been receiving a lot of thanks and congratulations from co-workers and parents. I can't take all the credit - I had a lot of help. But it is certainly nice to hear a thank you and a nod of appreciation for a job well done.

So what do I do now? Turn 30. Yup. That's it folks. I have 48 hours left in my twenties. I don't know why I'm dreading turning 30 - I think I have turning a new decade phobia. I went through the same thing when I was about to turn 20... and that was the most amazing summer. And the last ten years have been pretty awesome for the most part.

I don't think it's so much of having one foot slightly closer to the grave. You can go at anytime, like yesterday's untimely death of Canucks Defenseman Luc Bourdon at 21 years of age :(. But, I think it's an aging thing. I am now starting to look older, although I've been told I look only mid-20's. I keep telling myself that I'm not the only one having to go through this. In fact I have a lot of close friends my age (many of us just weeks apart), and we all get to go through this together. A nice, little support group for heading into your 30's.

I suppose the hardest thing I have with turning 30, is that it sounds older, and I don't feel (or look) older. Maybe "they're" right. Maybe 30 is the new 20.

Fast & Slow

2008-04-29T15:49:00.002-07:00

What a difference a day makes: yesterday I arrived at work, buried myself in a pile of work - mostly golf related, and before I knew it, it was the end of the day. Today? That's a different story. I have work to do. And I have other work to do, on top of the work I have to do, but I haven't been able to concentrate. The office has been very quiet today - I find background noise helps me concentrate. Really there is no reason, but today is dragging its heels.

At least tomorrow is Wednesday. But I wish it was Friday. I have a feeling this week is going to be a long, boring one. But, I know I will be wishing otherwise in a couple of weeks time, with the golf tournament just around the corner, and no doubt, lots of last minute running around. But compared to the gala, it's a cakewalk.

Laziness? Burnt Out? Or Just Getting Older?

2008-04-09T16:07:00.002-07:00

Lately I haven't been doing a lot. I've been skipping Curves and dance classes. My apartment is a bona fide pigsty. I haven't been preparing meals. I've been avoiding my volunteer work, which basically includes our local alumnae chapter newsletter, and the overall organization alumnae association manual. I haven't been sleeping well, because I haven't been exercising as much, because I've been too tired after work, because I haven't been sleeping well...

So, I am beginning to wonder: I have just been to damn busy? Did the gala burn me out more than I care to admit or know? Have I suddenly become lazy? Or is it just that I'm getting older and don't quite have the energy to juggle a billion things anymore?

I don't know what the answer is - I did get a lot done over Spring Break, but now I seem to be back in a funk. Of course, I haven't had many weekends at home, which is a big time for getting stuff done. I was in Mission last weekend for a women's retreat, and am leaving tomorrow for Las Vegas, and won't be back till Sunday evening. And then... there's nothing on my calendar. And maybe that's a good thing. Sure, there's the odd party here and there. But that's it. I am not going away again until July, and by that time work will be at a standstill.

All I know is I have to get my butt back to dance class and curves next week. Tackle the messiness that is my apartment. And start making meals again. And then my world will be at peace and balance.

I'm Still Here

2008-03-27T12:28:00.003-07:00

I'm sure I am writing for an audience of zero. But maybe there are people out there who check back here every now and then, on the off chance I have actually updated this thing.

I blame it on Facebook. There is definitely a direct correlation between my discovery of FB and the lack of blogging. I blame it on Thalia (in good humour). She's the one that sent me that fateful email last March inviting me to this entity known as Facebook.

Who needs to come here anymore? I'm sure the majority of people who read this thing are Facebook 'friends.' And visiting my FB profile will give them more insight into my life than I'm sure this blog ever could. Heck, I can even blog on FB - but I don't, and probably won't.

My other reason reason for lack of blogging. The inane business that was my life between December and February. I'm still not quite sure how I made it to March 8, but I did, relatively in tact too.

I have come to realize there is bad busy, and good busy: Bad busy is when there aren't enough hours in the day; it's when you are working so hard and in such a frenzy to get everything done you seem to loose sight of where you are going. By the time you get to your personal life you are so exhausted you can't even do anything with that. But, there's also good busy - my favourite kind of busy. This is when there's lots to do that time flies; you can take your time with each task, and if you don't finish it today, well, there's always tomorrow. And by the time you get home, you actually feel energized from your accomplishments, and not beaten down.

I am slowly returning to that latter state. Spring Break was enjoyable, and couldn't have come at a better time, but I'm still not quite over the craziness of the last four months. But I just think of all the things I can do, because of the career and job that I have, and that the last few months, no matter how trying at times, were completely worth it. I get to spend a long, long weekend in Las Vegas with girlfriends (in fact, two weeks from this exact moment I will be airborn). I received a grant for my convention in DC, and will be able to take extra time off beforehand to see the sights. Then there's the rest of my holiday time to take this summer. And so much more.

Now, I just wish this lousy weather would pick up. It is Spring. At least that's what the calendar says...

A New Year (... and a return to blogging)

2008-01-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

I can't really tell you why I neglected my blog for so long - I haven't become a recluse or anything like that. Quite the opposite in fact. I don't no where November and December went. It's hard to believe Christmas 2007 is over and done with. Actually, it's hard to believe that 2007 - period - is over and done with.

So here we are - 2008. This is one of those years that always seemed oddly futuristic to me, mostly because I turn 30 this year. I'm not scared or upset about it, I just can't believe I'm already at this point in my life. I don't feel like 30, and apparently don't look it either (I was mistaken for 20 recently). But what exactly is a 30-year old supposed to feel like and look like? I believe it's all up to the individual and their state of mind. I have friends who are already mentally pushing 45, while others are still in high school. Me? I put myself somewhere in my mid-20's. Still have lots of energy, always up for a good social outing, but beginning to realize that I may not be invincible.

Besides turning 30, 2008 is looking like it will be a fun and interesting year: Two friends are having babies (one is adopting); I will be an aunt for the 4th time (but the first blood relative, on Colin's side); I am heading off on a retreat the first weekend of April with a couple of very good friends; and the second weekend of April I will be partying in Vegas with my sorority sisters! After a wedding-free year, I am back on that bandwagon, with one in May. I am crossing my fingers that I can get a convention grant and attend DPhiE convention in Washington DC. For summer vacation this year, we've talked about going to the UK (a long overdue trip for the both of us), or maybe over to Tofino to learn how to surf (my next foray into Polynesian culture). And that's just the stuff I know about... hopefully 2008 will be great.

Is it Really November?

2007-11-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

I thought it was about the third week of September! But time does fly when you're extremely busy.

I have officially survived what I deemed at the end of the summer to be my two hell months. September was crazy due to all the rehearsals and costume fittings for my show; and October was nuts due to an annual event I was coordinating. And wouldn't you know it, I got sick the day before the event. But I had to be at work, so I sufferred through last Wednesday and Thursday, the latter being the event day, and the hardest one to get through. I was at work til 10 PM (started at 8 AM). By the end of the night I couldn't talk, couldn't breathe, couldn't hear, and, well, couldn't think. Needless to say, no one was surprised when I called in sick Friday morning. I haven't been sick like that like since my decision to leave PB over a year ago.

Taking Friday off was smart. It gave me the chance to relax, rest, and recover, and by Saturday (even though I still sounded sick) I was feeling 100% better.

I spent Saturday afternoon running around with Colin searching for his Halloween costume. Like Christmas shopping it was left till the 11th hour. He decided to go as the Swedish Chef. Let me tell you, it is nearly impossible to find a white apron, and even more impossible to find a chef's hat. After picking up a couple of things for me at Value Village (my Halloween costumes past have seemed to have disappeared into a black hole), we headed to Lansdowne Mall and had no luck finding anything in either Home Outfitters, Zellers, or Home Sense. As we were leaving the last store, I caught a Ming Wo out of the corner of my eye. Jackpot! We found a white apron, and a chef's hat. The chef's hat had a chili pepper design on it, but I had a tonne of white material at home.

We got home, made a mad dash to get ready, and headed out to our Halloween party on the North Shore. The party began at our friends' apartment, and then we all headed over to the Seymour Pub. I have never partied in North Van before - it was a tonne of fun.

The pub was holding a costume contest, and guess who won? Colin. His prize? A Naslund jersey - perfect for the Swedish Chef.

On Wednesday we went to my brother-in-law's for a potluck dinner and to watch a Halloween movie. I had been told that the crowd at the party couldn't really stomach a true horror movie, and judging by many of the scared reactions to Monster House, I don't think a true horror flick would have gone down well.

Halloween isn't over yet for me. I have one more party this Saturday: a Halloween/housewarming party. Before that Colin and I are attending DPhiE's Bowl-for-Breath, a bowl-a-thon to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. It should be a fun evening.

The next two weeks are short ones: Next Friday is midterm break, and the following Monday Remembrance Day. I plan to attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies at WPGA this year. Hope no one thinks I'm on a covert mission ;).

Slowing Down?

2007-10-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

Now that my big performance is over life is a little less hectic (but not by much). I spent most of my September weekends preparing for the show (which was last Sunday), but last weekend was my most insane yet.

I had no plans Friday evening. I intended to stay in, other than quickly popping into the Bay at Richmond Centre. But Thalia called me in the late afternoon inviting me over to the North Shore. I couldn’t resist, so I joined the long weekend traffic heading that way, and crawled over there (actually, it wasn’t that bad). Around Rupert & 1st Thalia called me to ask if we could go downtown to pick up Buddy (kind of long story, not going to get into it). So I pickup to Thalia’s and head downtown, get Buddy, and then head over to Park Royal Bay so I can pick up a couple of things. Afterwards Thalia took me out to dinner as a thanks for driving her downtown. It was a pretty crazy (but fun) night, all in all.

Saturday morning I had my final rehearsal before the big show. So I spent a good portion of my Saturday morning and afternoon out in Burnaby rehearsing. Then I pretty much spent my whole Sunday in Surrey at the show. It was a tonne of fun, and I’m looking forward to next year’s, but I am also glad it’s over. After the show Colin and I went to my parents’ for Thanksgiving dinner. It was a good night for a big meal – Polynesian dancing really works up an appetite.

I was very thankful it was the Thanksgiving long weekend, as I really needed a break on Monday: some time to sleep in and play catch up with my personal life.

This weekend is already shaping up to be a little crazy, but nothing like the past couple of weekends. Tonight Lisa and I are carrying on an annual tradition and heading to Value Village to find our Halloween costumes (I’ll come back to that in a moment). Tomorrow morning Thalia and I are heading to Richmond Centre for part two of our Clinique gift, and tomorrow evening is Thanksgiving dinner at the in-laws. Honestly, it’s better having the two dinners a week apart, versus 24-hours apart – I feel like less of a gluton that way.

Back to Halloween: The only person who actually knows what I am going as for Halloween is Colin. So here are some hints:
¨ It’s a superhero
¨ It’s a DC comics superhero
¨ I’m going as the female version of this superhero (who apparently made her first appearance in 1998 - I thought it was long before that)
¨ The quintessential part of my costume is a ring, which I have ordered from E-bay. Without that ring, there really is no point to the costume, or character

I don’t know why I’m being so cryptic about my costume this year…

TGIF

2007-09-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

Original title, I know. But I really am glad it's Friday. Not that this has been a bad week, or slow week; just the opposite in fact. But I'm ready for a mini break, and some time to relax. I'm looking forward to lounging around the house this evening, watching my Friday night staple, What Not to Wear. I also may attempt some housework, but I'll see how I feel when I get home.

Tomorrow should be a fun day - a socializing day - which always puts me in a good mood. During the day I'm meeting the CHS girls for coffee and chit chat (ok gossip), and in the evening Colin and I are off to a friend's 30th birthday party. I have been itching to go to a house party for a while, so that will be a nice treat.

Sunday will be busy. I have a three hour dance rehearsal - the show is next weekend!! Ack!! And then I have book club that evening. I haven't quite finished the book yet, but I should be able to finish by Sunday evening. I am at the point where I am so close to the end, I don't want the ending ruined just because I didn't finish the book.

It's quite interesting how important the book we are reading became this week: Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan. It's about a group of friends who go on a trip to Burma (Myanmar), and as a background, explores the lives of the Burmese under present day military rule. With everything that has happened there this week, it should make for a very interesting discussion, and go beyond the characters, and plot of the novel.

What A Difference (Almost) a Year Makes

2007-09-21T16:07:00.001-07:00

This time last year I was flailing. Every day I was becoming more despondent with my job at PB. It was roughly this time last year that I made my decision to leave that place. And what a difference between my old and current place of employment: last week I got a raise, and this week I got a parking spot. Things are good.

Over the funk

2007-09-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not too sure what was up with me last week - the best way I can describe it was that I was in a funk, but that seems to be over now.

Last night I went shopping with Thalia - a little retail therapy always works. I spent way too much $$$ at the Clinique counter, but I was looking to pick up some new products, and the bonus was excellent.

I also dragged Thalia around the mall looking for a black cami or tank top with halter straps - no such luck. But I found one on the Sears website, thank god, as I need it for my performance next month. It's part of my Tahitian costume.

Time to pratice my poi balls...

Hard Time Concentrating

2007-09-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know what's up today, but I'm having a very hard time concentrating. All week I've been busy at work, and it has gone by quickly; but today, everything seems to be at a stand still. All week I've been working hard, but today I feel like hardly working. I can't seem to focus on any one project, and am having a hard time figuring out what to do with myself today. How long until Christmas break?

But it's Thursday, and tomorrow is a jam packed day for me, so Friday afternoon should come quickly - I hope.

Where'd the Time Go?

2007-09-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

I am actually shocked that my last entry was nearly 3 weeks ago! I thought I just updated this thing. To be honest though, I haven't be online that much lately.

Well it's back to school (for the students, not me). I do miss the quiet, lazy days of the office during the summer time. Shorter hours, casual ware, etc. But things were starting to slow down, so I'm glad it's back to school, and back to somewhat busy and crazy.

Last week I had my first dance class in two months. We spent the whole time rehearsing the Tahitian portion of the show. It went well, for me personally, and everyone. But I have been spending my time practicing the Tahitian dances, and have neglected anything and everything Maori. My poi ball skills have sadly declined over the summer, so it's time to get back to practicing that as well.

For a couple of weeks now I have been trying to hit my 300th workout at Curves, but I've been so busy lately that I've only made it in once or twice a week for the past few weeks. That's not to say I haven't been getting any exercise though. Between my dancing, swimming, and limited time at Curves, I'm feeling great.

After swimming last night, Colin and I were both starving. We usually have sushi after swimming, but decided last night to do something different. We had Thai food instead, and it was supper yummy. I'm salivating now, just thinking about how tasty it was... We'll definitely have to do that more often. And there are coupons for the Thai House in the Entertainment Book - even better!

Well, all this writing about food is making me hungry. Time to grab my mid-morning snack.

Where to Begin?

2007-08-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I won’t begin with ‘boy, it sure has been a long time since my last entry,’ or ‘I can’t believe it’s been so long…’ Those statements are just a given, aren’t they? So I will just jump right in.

I was pretty busy the last couple of weeks of July. Busy running around and getting things together for our vacation; busy socially – trying to see everybody who arrived in town right before we left it; and busy with work.

Our vacation was amazing. I enjoyed experiencing Las Vegas for the first time, and will definitely return, perhaps with a group of friends next time. Among the highlights were seeing Jerry Seinfeld; walking the Strip and taking in the Vegas atmosphere; renting a car and driving to Hoover Dam; and hooking up with Devon and Steve, and bar-hopping with them till 5 AM. We were on a 9 AM flight the next morning to Orange County. Needless to say, as soon as we got to our hotel in Anaheim (a few hours prior to check-in), we stored our bags, and crashed by the pool. There is nothing like having a snooze in the California sun.

On our first full day in Anaheim we ventured over to Disneyland (one of my favourite places in the world). We got a lot of ground covered our first day in the Magic Kingdom: it was Sunday, so a good majority of people were at church, which meant little or no line-ups. By the end of our first day we had more or less ‘completed’ Disneyland and began working our way through California Adventure.

This was my first time in the new Disney park. I really enjoyed it, especially the rides – they were different from Disneyland. California Screamin’ is the most amazing coaster I have ever been on; the Maliboomer is the Hellivator on crack; and the ferris wheel was the scariest ride of all.

We saw a 3-D Muppets show where you actually sit in the Muppet theatre with what’s-their-faces jeering from the balcony. It was pretty cool. We also went to an animation studio where, after taking a photo and answering a few questions, the computer told you which Disney character you were most like: I must have been having bad day – I was Ursula, the creepy sea queen, and most diabolical of the Disney villains. Colin’s laughing didn’t help the situation any either…

On our second day in Disneyland, one of my co-workers from WPGA lined-up right behind us. We couldn’t believe the odds. Talking to someone whom you haven’t seen in a while helps the time pass while waiting in those line-ups.

Tuesday was far busier than Sunday, but we still got everything in. We decided to check out the re-vamped Subs, now the Finding Nemo Ride. So not worth the two-hour line up. Yes, I wasted two, precious hours of my life and time in Disneyland to find Nemo…

For our final meal in Disneyland we dined at the Blue Bayou, the restaurant that’s inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. I have always wanted to eat there. It was expensive, but well worth it. It was a truly different dining experience.

Since I’ve been back from vacation life has been quiet, and the weather crap. I still have my precious California tan, but it is slowly fading thanks to a particularly crappy August.

Things are very quiet right now, almost boring. But I think it’s just the calm before the storm in both my personal and working life. The one thing I have been doing of late is meeting up with friends, especially ones I haven’t seen in a long time. Come September things are going to get hectic, so I am trying to appreciate the quiet in my life right now, which is something that is often hard for me to do.

TGI(my)F

2007-07-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, in my world it's Friday. No, I'm not in denial that it's only Thursday - I get Fridays off in July. Every weekend a three-day weekend. And this week has been exceptionally short since I took Monday off. Due to the overtime I put in working on the golf tournament, I ended up with an extra vacation day, which needed to be used by August 31, (vacation time re-sets September 1). And since I'm away the first two weeks of August, this week made the most sense. Boy, I love my job: lots of time off and I actually enjoy being at work too.

I've spent the last week or so, finalizing last minute trip details. Just to give you some background: last June Colin and I attended a timeshare presentation, with the guaranteed promise of a free trip to Vegas. So what's a few hours of our life for that. Nothing! Initially we were just going to take the few day trip, but since I have vacation time that needs to be used , we have extended our stay in Vegas, and are also hopping over to Southern California.

Anyways, about a month again the company booking our Vegas trip offered us an upgrade - that didn't appeal to us. Since we were already extending our trip, it made no sense to shell out the extra cash. We'll just stay in a cheap motel off the strip and move onto the strip for our final day/night, but then...

Last week we were offered a buy out: our taxes back, plus an extra $300USD. So we checked hotel rates and flights down - long story short, we took the buy out. It's probably costing the company more to send us to Vegas, since we didn't take the upgrade. They're most likely saving money by buying us out.

We are now leaving Vancouver at a reasonable hour - not 10 PM; and get to stay on the strip the entire time - the Tropicana.

So we'll be in Vegas for four days, planning to gamble (well, duh...); rent a car and check out Hoover Dam, and maybe a bit more of Arizona; catch Jerry Seinfeld at Cesar's Palace; and definitely enjoy the bright lights and nightlife.

Then we're hopping over to Orange County - visiting Disneyland, and possibly Knotts and/or Universal too...

In short, I can't wait.

Tomorrow I am going down to Tulalip, Washington with one (possibly two) of my co-workers, to check out the sweet shopping situation at the outlet mall there.

Happy Friday... Err, I mean Thursday...

Movies

2007-06-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

Since I've seen an unfounded number of movies since the beginning of the summer movie season, I thought I'd post a list of what I've seen, and what I want to see.

So, within a span of 6 weeks I have seen:

Spiderman 3
Shrek 3
Pirates 3
Ocean's 13
Surf's Up
Knocked Up
Evan Almighty
Blades of Glory

I really should think about pitching a tent at Richmond Centre 6...

And what's coming up...
This week: Ratatouille and Sicko. Next week: Transformers. The week after that: Harry Potter. The end of July: The Simpsons.

And nothing to do with movies, but something I'm looking forward to seeing: it just so happens that Jerry Seinfeld is performing in Vegas the same time Colin and I are down there, so we bought tickets to go see him perform. I can't wait.

School's Out

2007-06-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well it is for the students at least. But things are slowing down at work. Even though I have lots of summer projects there is a notable change in pace, Summer has definitely arrived.

Starting July I will only be working 4-day weeks until mid-August, thanks to long-weekends, a no-Friday July and vacation.

Right now our vacation consists of 3 days in Vegas at the beginning of August - it'll be nice and scorching hot - just the way I like it. I have been working on the details of a California trip, but now the Yukon and Okanagan have been thrown into the mix. I figure since we're in Nevada we may as well pop over to Cali for a week. That would be ideal for me. But Colin doesn't seem to be sold on time in Disneyland...

So that's my life right now - trying figure out our vacation. My dance classes are wrapping up at the end of the month (next week) until September. And then we only have a month before the October show - yikes. I will definitely have to practice over the summer.

Here's hoping the summer weather gets going. It's the end of June and I've only been able to sit outside 4 or 5 times. It's driving me nuts.

The Calm AFTER the Storm

2007-06-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

Well my crazy week was techincally over Wednesday night - I worked about a 16-hour day, and made it home just before 11PM. Of course, I can never just go right to sleep, so I watched TV til about 1 AM.

Gotta love Murphy's Law: I told Colin that I wouldn't be able to go to the Police concert on Wednesday if he got tickets - well he got tickets. He didn't know that I knew the concert didn't start till 9PM, and that I would be at UBC till at least 10... So I missed out on that moment in pop culture... In the end I'm glad Colin was able to go because he had been on about it for months.

Today is my birthday. The last stop on the 20-something line. It's strange to think I will be 30 next year (even though that's what generally comes after 29). I remember when 30 seemed so old, and now, not so much. Anyways, it's only as old as you feel. And I don't feel old, at all.

And Yet Again...

2007-05-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

I think you know how this blog entry starts... I can't believe it's be so long since I've last written; I can't believe how busy I've been, blah, blah, blah... But it's all true - especially the busy part. Busy at work, busy in life...

The last two weekends were spent in Whistler, making up for lost time, I suppose. The last time I made it up there was March '06. Last weekend Colin and I spent the May 2-4 at his parents' place. We decided to bring the cats up - and they loved it. Well, Wellington didn't enjoy the ride up, but he certainly enjoyed the rest of the weekend. They seemed pretty bummed to back in Vancouver, so I think we will have to take them back up again some time soon.

We just arrived back from our second Whistler trip a couple of hours ago... This time we went with Andrew and Lisa and stayed at their place. Some of their friends, whom we didn't know, also came up for the weekend. It was fun times, playing lots of board games, mini pool, and, of course, drinking.

With the CHS Golf Tournament coming up on Wednesday, I think this will be my craziest week yet. As much as I am enjoying working on this event, I'm glad it's almost over, and am looking forward to moving on to new projects, including my summer task list, which I think will take me till December.

Colin and I are off to Las Vegas August 1st. Not sure what other vacation plans lay ahead, but for now it's Sin City. I'm hoping to add the land of Sun and Surf to our visit, but I'm not doing the best job of convincing Colin...

It looks like I will be doing a Tahitian dance in the October show; I have also signed up to do a couple of Maori dances - good for the stomach, thigh, and back muscles!

I turn 29 this week. Yikes! The Vancouver Giants won the Memorial Cup! Yeah! I ate to much junk this weekend and now feel like crap... Yuck!

Faster than the Speed of Light

2007-05-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

I think last week was the fastest yet. By the time Friday evening rolled around I swore it was only Wednesday afternoon. I have never been in a position/job that has been so busy, but I love it. And, if today is any indicator, the long weekend will be here before I know it.

And that is good and bad. Good, because as much as I love my job, I need a 3-day weekend, a chance to breath and slow down for 5 minutes. On the other hand, I have no clue what I'm doing - next weekend's set though - the somewhat annual May trip to Whistler.

This past weekend was a lot of fun. Friday night I felt like I was back in university: Colin and I headed out to a party, but not until 10 PM. We met up with Colin's fraternity brothers, and saw some faces we hadn't seen in years. We felt like we were back in the Sig house, hanging out in a crowded stairwell, drinks in hand... it was great.

On Saturday we saw Blades of Glory. It was actually really funny. The best Will Ferrell comedy since Old School.

Salmon & Prawns vs. Book Club

2007-05-06T16:29:00.000-07:00

Before heading over to the North Shore this evening for Book Club, I decided to drop in and visit a bit more with my rellies from England.

My parents are hosting a family dinner this evening, but I decided to pass since I loved this month's book choice (The Birth House by Ami McKay), and was looking forward to discussing it.

Of course, the second I walked in the house I eyed the salmon, prawns, Grandpa's homemade eclairs, and the giant, succulent California strawberries... Dilemma!

In the end, I have decided to stay. So now I am just waiting for the green light to dive into the big, juicy prawns...

I Haven't Fallen Off the Face of the Earth...

2007-05-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been a long time since I wrote my last blog entry. But that is my life lately - busy, busy, busy. For the last three weeks I have woken up Monday morning, and then, before I know it, it's already Friday afternoon. Apart from quickly checking emails and Facebook, I haven't spent much time on the computer at all. In fact, I think this is the first time in a couple of weeks that I've actually spent any time on it.

Last week was interesting - in the same day I found out that I owe the government money (first time ever), but Colin got a whopping refund, so it isn't that bad; and I got summoned for jury duty.

I was at a job for two years that I despised, and would have given anything to miss a day of work. Now that I'm at a job I absolutely love, I get summoned. The worst thing about this summons is the timing - it is the day before a major event in which I am one of the main planners. And anyone who has ever planned an event knows the day before the event is just as crazy and important as the actual event day. I don't have too many options though: I talked to the Sheriff and he told me to write a mushy, heartfelt letter as to why missing work on those days would affect me. Now I have to wait and see and hope my letter moves them enough that I get out of jury duty.

Tuesday was a much better day: I went to my first (and sadly last) Canucks game this season. I had a blast, even though we gave up a 2-0 lead. So frustrating. We were sitting beside a couple from Medicine Hat, who were extremely good friends of the Lindens. After talking with them though, we both got the feeling that they actually were the Lindens...

I didn't watch the game on Thursday: I figured if they won our Saturday night would be planned; and if they didn't win I wanted Tuesday night to be my last memory of the season. Plus I had my dance class that night, and I only have 8 weeks left till we break for summer, and have a show the first weekend of October, so I need all the practice I can get. I'm glad I went. Everyone was in a giggly mood, and we worked on our Tahitian dance, so I got an extremely good workout.

On Friday evening I went out for coffee with Lisa, Andrew, Darcy, Tina, Jen Wong, and Warren. And last night Colin did our usual movie and sushi night. We saw Spiderman 3. It was pretty good, but maybe too many villains for one movie. I thought Thomas Haden Church was awesome as the Sandman. But I've always been a fan of his, back to his days on Wings.

This morning I went out for brunch with family visiting from England. And tonight I'm off to Book Club.

Where in the World...

2007-04-18T20:01:00.000-07:00

Check out the places I've visited - idea stolen from Lisa's blog...

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide

create your own personalized map of Canada
or check out ourVancouver travel guide

create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide

Four for Four

2007-04-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of round one I said the Canucks would win in 6. I then went on to offer my predictions for each game: and so far I've been right each time. And no, I'm not typing this after the fact, I do have witnesses to my predictions.

So, I had a feeling the Nucks would win the first, loose the second, and take both games 3 and 4 in the Big D. But this is where I hope I'm wrong: Canucks are going to loose tomorrow evening, and wrap up the series on Saturday night, back in Dallas.

Obviously I hope I'm wrong because, like every other Canucks fan, I want Vancouver to win tomorrow, taking the series on home ice. Of course the Canucks never do anything the easy way, do they.

A Good Mix of Business and Laziness

2007-04-15T22:22:00.000-07:00

Well, this weekend was a lot less hectic, and very enjoyable. I was exhausted after work on Friday and was quite content to stay in with Colin and watch the game at home.

I tried my best to sleep in Saturday morning, but Wellington would have none of that. I did some housework and read a lot of my book: The Birth House by Ami McKay. I absolutely love this novel, and I highly recommend it. It reminds me of Fall On Your Knees by Anne Marie MacDonald, another wonderful read.

Saturday evening Colin and I went over to Lisa and Andrew's for Die's good-bye party. Sad thing was we were the last to leave, and were home by 11:30 PM!. I think everyone had a long, exhausting week, and Friday night and Saturday day weren't enough to recover.

Today Colin and I went to the Superstore. I don't think I've ever seen it so busy. It was somewhat stressful trying to get around. Navigating my cart was a real challenge.

Afterwards we went to Ken's (Chris and Lica's son) second birthday party. It's hard going to a two year old's birthday when you are virtually the only guests with no offspring. We stuck around for a bit, and caught up with Dave Stroud and Dustin, the only other kidless guests.

Andrew and Jen came over for dinner and to watch the hockey game. That game was a great finish to the weekend.

A Busy, Busy Weekend...

2007-04-09T13:09:00.000-07:00

And it isn't quite over yet. But I am wondering how much can really happen over the next 10 hours, or so.

As of Thursday, at 4:30 PM, my weekend looked like this: Spend Friday hanging out with Chantal; Saturday night with Colin; Easter dinner at my Parents'; Monday night hanging out with Colin...

This is what my weekend turned into: Thalia called me after work on Thursday, so we went out for dinner and rented a movie.

I had a relatively lazy Friday morning, and then spent the afternoon with Chantal. My Friday night was quiet.

Saturday day I ended up on the set of Schism, my brother's movie he's shooting for his final project for his film program at BCIT. It was quite a fun and interesting experience. Saturday night Colin and I hung out, had some dinner, and watched Sideways, for the third time. I love that movie.

Gavin called us Saturday night, inviting us over for Easter Brunch. So Sunday morning we headed over to Jess and Gavin's. enjoyed a tasty Easter breakfast, an Easter egg, then grabbed the basketball and the dog, and walked down to Kits Beach. Unfortunately there no hoops up, so we just sat around, chatted, and enjoyed the Spring view. After that Colin and I rushed home, caught the end of the Canucks game - it was strange watching a game that really had no bearing on anything -, fixed ourselves up, and headed over to my parents for Easter dinner.

This morning I rolled out of bed at 8am to be back on set. I am acting as a stand in today... And that's what I'm doing currently...

My Visual DNA

2007-04-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

When Life is Putting Me Down... I need to get the hell out of Downtown...

2007-04-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

Here I am again with not that much to say. Work has been very busy, very insane; but the good kind of busy and insane that you get a rush from. Other than that, life has generally been quiet.
On Tuesday I went out to dinner with my ex-manager. One of the [very] few good things about PB. Last night Thalia and I went to Kerrisdale for a sushi dinner and then rented Stranger Than Fiction. An enjoyable flick; I recommend it.

Today truly was a good Friday: I had a lazy morning. I woke up several times between 6:30 and 9:30. By 9:30 I realized I wasn't going back to sleep so I lay in bed reading - I finished Shopaholic Ties the Knot. Now I have only three books on the go: Children of Men; The Birth House; and Enemy Women.

I headed downtown around 1PM for lunch, and a mani/pedi with Chantal. We enjoyed one of the first gorgeous days of the year by walking around Yaletown and along the waterfront. I felt a little out of sorts among all the trendy, beautiful people, and was happy to return to the other side of False Creek... whatever that means...

When I got home I was feeling somewhat agitated. And when I feel agitated, I clean. I decided to do the laundry, including washing the duvet and pillow shams; put away clean laundry; do the dishes; and clean the bathroom, including scrubbing the tile grout with bleach and a toothbrush... man I was in a pissy mood...

Hmm...

2007-03-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Well, after a week off for Spring Break it was back to work Monday. To be honest, I have been feeling disoriented this week: I had just got back into work mode, and then came a week holiday. Now, I am not complaining about my week off, but I was just getting into the swing of things, and now I feel like I'm back to square one, and on top of that, I've been super tired this week, so I'm glad tomorrow is Friday.

I finally met my newborn niece - well she's actually nine weeks old now, but is very adorable. And I hadn't seen my nephew since Christmas - I can't believe how much he's changed. He can carry on with a conversation, and was talking a mile a minute last night.

I have found a new addiction: facebook. I keep thinking that it's starting to get old, then I unearth someone (or someone finds me) whom I haven't seen/talked to in ages. And I quite accidentally stumbled across a group for my Polynesian dance group... which is where I am heading now.

Aloha.
Why life is good: Canucks clinched a playoff spot; it hasn't rained in a couple of days; tomorrow is Friday.