Hot Yoga a Go-Go

So, I recently decided that I wanted to maybe try another free skate test for figure skating, and I've been trying to attend regular skating sessions to see where I'm at and what I need to do to get back into shape. And well it hasn't been going great. My back injury is flaring up a little bit, I get bored easily of free skate and switch back to ice dance without really thinking about it, and while its still in my mind, I think the best thing I can do right now is just try to get back into shape.

I used to be active all the time. Skating lots, and going running and doing things like spin classes, but after my back going to hell, and my trip to England, and then death in the family, everything just got in the way. I know there is part of me that just keeps saying "That was all just an excuse you could have done other things to stay fit" but really? My heart wasn't in it and I needed the mental break of doing nothing if anything.

So lately, with skating in mind, I'm desperately trying to do anything and everything that can get me back into shape or at the very least keep me entertained. I'm trying to get back to the rock climbing gym (sans Asscountant it's actually a lot of fun) and I eventually want to get the guts together to go back to spin class. Today I tried Hot Yoga for the first time. Now I had done one yoga class previously through a rec centre and it was a bit of a wash. I didn't take it seriously and the class was for people who want "easy no fuss yoga".

I was having coffee with a friend a few weeks ago and he recommended I try hot yoga. I laughed at him and said forget it and we parted ways. He knows me, he got it. So flash forward to last week and my new "gotta get my ass in gear" kick, and I txt my friend and say, "I cave lets go"

So we made plans to go this morning, he recommended I come properly hydrated.

Well, I am back to report on my experiences. The hot yoga room was not as hot as expected, but don't get me wrong it was hot. Yoga, when not watered down for chicks who want to year Lulu Lemon pants to say they do yoga, is bloody hard! I for years have been told I'm a figure skater and we're just better at certain things, or we have highly movable joints etc, or all that other crap, BUT it didn't do much to prepare this particular out of shape figure skater for the fact that I was heaving and puffing through the class because apparently I have never learned to breath properly.

So yes, the class was hard, and I'm pretty sure I sweated every beverage I have ever consumed in my life out through my pores, and the drive home in soggy knickers was not something I ever care to repeat (ie take spare knickers to class to change into), it was definitely a challenge. And that was definitely what I needed. The visual may be a little harder to get over (lots of fat men trying to get in shape and you can smell them from the back of the room), but I've been feeling super laid back and energized all day. Getting stuff done around the house, gave me some motivation to do some school work, I don't even have the mindstate to argue with The Boy, after I picked a fight with him last night because it turns out everyone has been right about him being an ass (long story not getting into it...to yoga'ed out).

Now while my back injury is still flared from this mornings yoga session, I'm hoping more exercise and such will help calm it down, so it might be a couple weeks before I go back to yoga, but I think I'll be back again. And this time hopefully better hydrated.

Love. It really is all around.

In case you didn't already know, because of the millions of commericals, the facebook postings or multiple twitter tweet, or you know by looking at a calendar, its Valentine's Day. Or as one friend of mine put it "Singles Awareness Day".

Now, I'm single, so I know I'm supposed to be sad and lonely and depressed that no one is around to buy me roses, and that no one is showering me with love and affection, but here's the scoop. I'm not.

I have been planning for his Valentine's day for awhile now to be quite honest. I decided very early that even though I am super single, with no real prospects, that I wasn't going to let me get me down this February 14th. I decided that this would be the year I went all out because, just because I don't have a man and its been the year from absolute hell, that I wasn't going to go down with out a fight.

So, I got into it. Painted my finger nails pink with hearts, and my toes sparkly pink. I made sugar cookies and iced them with pink frosting and heart sprinkles (see above..they turned out super tasty might I add). I made goodie bag Valentine's Day treats with cards for all my friends, I even took the time to express post cookies to Fido before he left for Mexico. I wore pink today, and red shoes (really because I was looking for an excuse to finally wear them out) and wore pink make-up. The whole bit. Got together with T and a couple of her school friends and saw a sappy chick flick  movie, (The Vow....recommendation if you go to see the movie take tissue, and don't take your lover because I imagine it will make even prince charming look like a shmuck compared to Leo in the movie) and now I'm home after a long day of Valentine's enjoyment, and I'm spent. Feeling content and relaxed, the exact thing I think this day is supposed to encourage.

This whole experience made me realize a few things that I already knew, just had lost sight of. Love really is all around. I have great family and friends and don't need a man to fulfill my life. If I want roses? I can get them myself thank you very much. Would it be nice to have someone around to get them for me? Absolutely! Do I need it? Nope. I've got love on my side, because I love myself. So Cupid can suck it :P

I am the cookie queen...and I shall dance about skantily clad if I want to!

Have you ever sent a text and within a split second of sending it realize "Oh crap I don't think that's where I wanted it to go", but the damage is done and off it has gone so you just sit back and wait to see how that one plays out? Well, I had just that happen to me the other day. Since I got back from my impromptu trip to Vancouver to catch up with Fido, he has been ever so slightly more flirtatious than usual. Now granted, I knew he was trying to impress me with watching all the Canadian Figure Skating Championships and taking a keen interest in my figure skating chaos, as well as the fact he forked over his bed for me (and even washed the sheets might I add) and had a cold coke in the fridge for me when I showed up. But to be honest, he knew I dropped everything to come over when he asked so I just figured he was being nice. (Naive? Maybe but its Fido, we've never had a clear cut friendship. When we do hang out we've always been courteous to each other). Anyways so, I'm house sitting, and I'm in the sticks which should help more clearly explain the following text more clearly.

"The best thing about house sitting in the sticks? Walking around in my the house in my underwear and blasting music till all hours of the night. Dancing to Kelly Clarkson has never been less shameful. Juvenille? Yes. Enjoyable? Absolutely!!!"

I meant for that text to go to T. Thinking that she would know exactly what I meant, having not lived without her daughter or in her parents suite for the better part of 4 years, she too can appreciate the underwear late night music dancing. However, it didn't go to T, it went to Fido. Crap. Now it looks like I'm flirting back. And yes he had many an interesting text in response to that. That I squashed quite quickly (I'm a lady after all).

So yes, I'm feeling a bit of recoil from that mistake. Enter text whing-dinger number two:

"Waiting for the bus and some guy walks up wearing old ripped jeans, a black kappa sports hoodie, a backwards bluejays cap (with sticker still on it), rip off designer sunglasses, backpack and super pointy brown dress shoes...if this is what eligible men dress like today, I weep for my vagina...its going to be an awfully long dryspell".

Yup, sent that to Fido by accident because I am apparently the only person left on the planet that doesn't have a cellphone that tracks conversations, but where you have to send each text to individual people, and at the time I was on the bus and I wasn't texting carefully so now I have sent two very misleading and not so lady like texts to Fido over the last 3 days. Crap.

So I'm feeling like a bit of a tool about that, and thinking I'm sending some pretty mixed signals to Fido which probably isn't great but seeing as he is such a tool himself that he probably doesn't really care, nor will he take anything personally (fingers crossed).

So when I got told today that I am the Cookie Queen, I was definitely ok with taking the title. My sister has a friend who apparently is very baking inefficient. She apparently works with a lot of women who every week all take turns making fresh baked goods and bringing them into work to share. My sisters friend, who is super baking inadequate is too scared of what these women think to make anything herself. She is entirely too self concious, and while she has purchased all the ingredients and has some really great ideas on what to make, she still cannot bring herself to do it. So she asked my sister to take pity on her and bake her something she could pass off as her own. My sister simply replied that while yes she could bake, and she didn't mind doing it for her friend, that she was not the person she should be asking for a baking favour from. She basically said, that I am the Cookie Queen, and to really knock the snooty co-workers birkenstocks off, that basically she should worship at my altar to get me to bake them.

After feeling so inadequate at school and my personal life lately, I defiantly needed that compliment. And ya damn rights I'm going all out on these suckers! I have a reputation to uphold after all :)

The Naked Shirt.

You all know you have something like this hanging in your closet. I know you do. Its the article of clothing that for whatever reason, when you wear it, you can take on the world. Whether its your power blazer, your favourite red shoes, or your amazing little black dress, you put it on and suddenly you're transformed. You are out for the kill and you are out for a good time. And for me that article is my Naked Shirt.

My Naked Shirt is a beige (slightly more pinky than browny beige) tank top with the back made of lace. Its stretchy and a bit clingy but the kicker here is that it basically blends right into my skin, giving the illusion of nudity, and really you don't feel like you're wearing much either, so ya I call it my Naked Shirt.

Why and how did I come to buying such a shirt? A quiet non partier like me? WELL really the reason is kind of petty, I had to go to a party a few years back and I wasn't all that excited about the other guests that were going to be there. Highschool is an awkward time for everyone and people aren't always the nicest to each other so when I was faced with dealing with someone who hadn't always been the nicest to me, and apparently thought I hadn't been very nice to her and that was the problem, well...I decided that I was going to go to the party looking hot, and oozing confidence even if it killed me. So when out shopping I found a shirt that made me feel just that. And thus, I came into the posession of the Naked Shirt.

Needless to say that night was a total sucess. With the help of my sister BB and the Naked Shirt, I looked and felt amazing, and was able to insure the party hostess (who also happened to be the birthday girl) had an awesome time, and I made sure she had lots of male company all night (I just found out today that my friend Fido used the birthday girl to try and get me to go home with him....siiiigh....night try Fido...but at least he kept her well "hydrated" all night for free). Free drinks all night, and a following of male companions? Yes I was out for trouble that night, and pretty much any other time I've worn the Naked Shirt

Anyways. I digress. So with all this start of a new year and me trying to let go of all old Ghosts, I've been doing a big purge. Threw out papers I would never need, reorganized photo albums and pictures, cleaned out my CD collection of all those junker burnt mixed CDs that are so scratched they don't play, and started to purge my closet. Upon doing so I came across my beloved Naked Shirt, and with hesitation I decided to leave it in my closet. The lace on the back is starting to look a bit worse for wear and it really isn't something I would wear out anymore, but for whatever reason I simply cannot let it go!

In fact while trying to decide if I should just get rid of it, I ended up talking myself into a circle and deciding that it just needed to stay in my closet even if I never wore it again because it was The Naked Shirt! I couldn't possibly thow out something that makes me feel so powerful and ready to take on the world! I couldn't possibly be mature enough or old enough that I couldn't wear something like that anymore! I mean I may be getting old but I sure as shit don't have to act like it or dress like a granny yet.

Even worse was today while out shopping with T, we found a really wicked sale going on. And guess what I bought? The Naked Shirt 2.0. I feel troubles a brewing...and perhaps? Its time to take both shirts out for a spin......

A Year in review.

Ahhh another year is ending and we are looking forwards to 2012. If I do say so myself, I am quite pleased to be finished with 2011.

2011 started off well enough I guess. I started work with the Federal Government and was looking good for a term position, but that fell to pot so I was unemployed again (nothing shocking there). I spent almost 6 weeks treking around the UK on a solo vacation, which was the start of many firsts for me!

on either side of Tower Bridge

I had never been off the North American Continent, and I had never been so far away from home, nor had I ever done it alone. So that was a bit crazy. Walking around London by myself realizing that I was by myself, and could do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted? That was just freaking awesome. I wasn't accountable to anyone but myself. I could eat where I wanted, drink what I wanted, and shop as I pleased and see whatever sights I deemed interesting. So yes I spent an hour in Harrods picking out the perfect gift for my mom while eyeing up all the high end designer shoes. And no I didn't check out a single museum in London. Any regrets? Not a single one.

I spent almost weeks on bus tours meeting amazing people from all over the world and started to really understand what it means to never judge a book by its cover. First impressions aren't always right, but your gut feeling never misses. I also learned to stand up for myself because ultimately if you don't stand up for yourself and how you're feeling, no one else will.

Me in the Circus in Bath

UK was amazing for a couple other reasons. I learned that I can do things on my own. Until then I had always had people covering my back. No matter what happened to me I had an army of people behind me to catch me if I feel, and just before leaving for the UK and even more so after returning I realized that I had started to get a bit too dependent on that. Certain people in my life couldn't seem to come to terms with the fact that yes I was very capable of doing things myself, and that I didn't need people to treat me like an infant. A big realization came right as I walked through the security gate to leave for London. The Asscountant felt the need to come with me all the way to Vancovuer, take me to the airport and make sure I got on that plane. He watched my plane take off. Now I know you're all thinking "Ex Student you're nuts that's him showing he cared and he was just doing a nice thing", and to an extent you're right. But before all that I argued with him tooth and nail I could just go over myself and take the bus and take the ferry, but he said no that it was stupid. Now before I start getting all "he said she said" and showing how bitter I am, really my point here is that in 2011 I realized how bloody dependent I was on other people. And it was all the little things that added up to me realizing I couldn't live like that. Isn't part of any relationship blind faith that the other knows what they are doing sometimes?

I spent almost 6 weeks in the UK (England, Scotland and Ireland) and never once did I get lost (ok well that's a bit of lie...I got "turned around" in London but ended up going to Kings Cross and seeing where Harry Potter was filmed and jumped on the Tube and was back to my hotel in no time......so not really lost but was wondering...), or was mugged or got food poisoning. I never once overspent, and I never once got shot or hurt. I was 100% responsible for myself, and everything turned ok peachy. I found my tours, and managed the tubes, I saw a West End Show at night and made it home safely, I had ice cream in Hyde Park and saw Buckingham Palace. I got on the trains and got myself to Manchester, and got myself to and from Dublin by bus and ferry. All came up daisies :)

So I came back from England and didn't let people step all over me. And apparently that meant I had changed too much, and the Asscountant and I went our separate ways. He said I had changed too much, I said I just didn't want him to control my life for me. He had also made some pretty harsh comments about how I am choosing to live my life, and he also mentioned that I was a pain in his ass (in other words but the jist is still the same). I still stipulate to this day that if it had not been for me, he would never have made it to where he is, and would have dropped out of CASB after he failed a module.

Its taken me quite awhile, and while I still miss this person that was so intricately woven into my life, I'm realizing that I can make it without them, and that I certainly don't need people in my life doubting my decisions. Who want things from me but don't reciprocate.

After my UK trip I went back to working with the Federal Government to finish out the last of my contract. After that I basically lounged around for the summer, taking temp gigs and doing whatever I wanted. Which I'm sure did not thrill my parents. But it made for a great summer.  I did manage to see the Pixies in concert and took in Wicked in Vancouver (saw it in NY originally but the Vancouver one was decent). Also saw Dralion the travelling show with my parents which sounds geeky but was totally awesome.

Jasper National Park

I also spent a week with my other sister Krazy (again not her name just a cute nickname) and her son and my other nephew JYD (again...a nickname) going from Victoria to Valemont (hillbilly hell...) to Edmonton (shopping!!) to Jasper National Park. All in this time span Krazy destroyed almost 1000$ of eyewear. All mine, and I was blind. But there was something incredibly cool about seeing more of my own back yard. I got to see what makes this country so beautiful. I got to be a bit of a tourist and of course as I wasn't working it was nice to meander and do whatever. Also cool? Jasper has hotsprings and tons of goats running around! Also got to see moose!! Also learned that I cannot spend a week in a car with Krazy's son because hes an arse. But that's totally another story. Honestly contemplated pushing him off a cliff. We also drove through Banff National Park and I got to see the glacier and JYD I treked to the top, in like jeans and t shirts while people around us had actual gear on....oh well! We survived!

Anway. Still grieving the loss of the Asscountant and having to come to terms with the declining health of my Granddad, I decided to go back to school and take classes. I had the funds and the time and no jobs were coming available so why not? That's not true actually. I could have gone to work with SeaSpan ship builders because of my Federal Government training but it didn't seem like a good idea at the time. I could have also gone to start another school program off the Island but I decided against it. Which I do believe in the end was the right choice.

The edge of the glacier in Banff National Park

I took classes that I figured would eventually get me in a good place to apply to better grad programs and it suited me anyways because after a very long struggle with Pulmonary Fibrosis my Granddad passed away and as a result my life crumbled a bit. He had always been someone impartial in my life that I could talk to about anything. We had lenghty conversations about everything and anything and he always understood me. We had a really unique relationship compared to the rest of my cousins. They saw him as an authority figure, I saw him as the loveable Granddad that always had advice for me. He always believed in me doing whatever I wanted to do and not taking any shit for it. Those were pretty much his exact words "Always do what you think is best, don't take shit from anyone else about it". Also he told me that I had a good head on my shoulders and that with it I could never go wrong trusting my gut. I still feel his loss. Every day. But I realize that he wouldn't have wanted me to be too wrapped up in it that I couldn't live my life.


One of the reasons I decided not to move off the Island is that I knew the minute I did, he would pass away and I would be right back where I started, so now I can move without worrying about him. Wanting to be close by to be near him was really important to me and now that he's passed, I can literally move on too.

Il Pacas at the fair!

So with that all happening, (and with the Saanich Fair happening in there somewhere too) I took a semester of school and seemed to do fairly well. I became a shoulder to cry on and friend for advice for my old work supervisor as she returned to University after years of being with the federal government. I became a study buddy to so most amazing people with shitty time management skills (but oh well it all worked out in the end lol).

My friend T went back to school and seems to be kicking butt and taking names in her Office administration program, which means that together we are one step closer to world domination (I swear get enough coffee and sugar in us and we could do it). Her daughter Squirt (not her real name I assure you but my nickname for her) had a busy year as well, she turned three started preschool and the best part (in my humble opinion) got her first skating badge!!!!! So proud of her accomplishments!

Squirts First time skating!! Us having a pow wow.

Taking Squirt to skating lessons every Saturday I'm sure had fufilled any maternal instinct my ovaries might have ever felt, and it was actually a lot of fun! We did two sessions of parent and tot skating lessons (first session we had a terrible instructor, second instructor was incredibly cute and yes I have a ridiculous crush on him). It also kept us busy with life as both T and I had suffered significant family losses this year.

And with that school continued to pass by as did the fall and we were soon into winter and my skating club decided that this year will be its last with active skaters, with us taking next year to close down completely. I shattered by this decision have really stepped away from my skating club. I also recieved by level one promotion so I've been to and from skating competitions a lot this year which has been awesome.

Every time I go to a skating competition I learn something new about skating, the people involved and skating and even myself. I learn a new trick to my position, I learn whose butt to kiss and who to stay away from, and I learn that I myself never want to be like these people and if given the chance, I want to be able to help change Figure Skating in Canada. I want more people to have the opportunity to skate and I want everyone to remember that we as volunteers are here for the skaters and for the sport. Not to be power tripping dictators, which is sadly sometimes the case.

My dog Roo!!!

As I'm reviewing my year I'm trying to think of all the things I did and places I went. Trying to figure out where things like concerts and such fit in and when I went where. I know I went to a 3 Days grace concert and saw Finger 11 live with the Envy but where they all fit in is a bit vauge. I also stopped associating with one of my oldest friends because she couldn't get over her jealousy or something (?) with me going to England (seems that trip pissed off a lot of people lol) and sadly the fact that I don't really miss their crappy attitude was another rude awakening. Apparently according to T and my Mom I'm a lot nicer now that I don't hang around this person. I know I volunteered with skating and such like a crazy person. Always the person to jump in and help out when needed, but I certainly cut back on things like volunteering at the hospital and didn't take a gig with the SPCA like I've always wanted to. This year also brought me Roo!!! My communal family dog!! Technically BB's dog but he spends so much time with my dad at the farm hes mostly communal. And he's the absolute best thing. Best dog in the world hands down.

Vans Warped Tour 2011 The Gorge

Along the lines in here somewhere I managed to take a couple road trips with my sister BB to see a couple concerts. We took in The Vans Warped Tour in Gorge WA, which was fantastic, and in November we saw the Michael Jackson Immortal Tour which was ok. 

I know they say that how you spend your New Years Eve is how you will spend the rest of the year, and after the year I've had, if 2012 is a quiet year surrounded by awesome family (as much as they drive me literally insane) and amazing friends, then I will consider myself incredibly lucky.

Happy New Year All!! Whatever you do tonight I hope you have a fantastic (and safe) one!!!

How to really annoy people.

So because I'm unemployed and no longer volunteering, and basically have nothing to do all day except actaully do stuff that needs to be done (ie crap I've been procrastinating) I've been perhaps abusing my friends a wee bit. And because I've been lazy and sleeping in and staying up late my internal clock is a bit askew I've been ignoring the times of day I have been texting people with stupid thoughts that enter my head. In other words I'm bored and I'm taking it out of my friends....the poor suckers who put up with me for no apparent reason.

Turns out my friend Fido doesn't like being woken up at 1:30 in the morning with a text simply stating "....are you dead?"....to which he replied "It's 1:30 in the F***ing morning what the F*** do you want?"...

...serves the jerk right I woke him up because he failed to text me back when I texted him at like 3 this afternoon. Also serves him right because the jerk actually has drunk dialed me at ridiculous times more than once (although I'm almost certain he is going to make me pay for this one dearly because he doesn't play fair...JERK....he's a dog...hence the name). Its not like we ever talk at a normal hour anyways.

OH then it gets worse! So I figured he was going to be so pissed  off about it that I didn't really look at my phone again after I texted him a quick "Opps! Sorry! Night!" and went on to trying to entertain myself some other way...and it turns out he texted back a couple times saying that he hoped I "was dying for F***ing waking" him up, because now he was "awake" and I better tell him "what the F*** was so important because if [I] didn't he'd want to strangle [me]"..... Ohhhh grumpy Fido is NOT a nice Fido.

And because I never texted him back after his disgruntled text I now fear his anger will have only multiplied. Especially now that I have texted him back like an hour later, after he is sure to have rolled over and gone back to sleep...only to have had me annoy him again. Oh now its just getting enjoyable! Come on its just getting funny! I mean all the times he drunk dialed me and called me to tell me the dirty things he was up to, or about how he had come to town without calling me but how I would go out of my way to make sure he was alive because he doesn't really have many people in his life that care if he's breathing (See I told you this guy was no catch...its one of the many reasons I won't sleep with him regardless of his many attempts to make it happen.....long long story but nothings ever happened...I like being his friend and sex? WELL that would screw things right up....pun intended).

For the record this is exactly why I don't tend to be either unemployed or out of school for too long. I'm too good at being lazy (see previous posts) and annoying people. I fear my friends would probably shoot me if I didn't eventually find other things to do than bug them. This is also how I get myself into new volunteer gigs and such.....if I stay dormant too long...I get lazy and risk being shot by friends.....And apparently tonight I need to fear Fido strangling me in my sleep even though he lives a ferry ride away. And yet? I'm still chuckling.

I've been a bad blogger lately. I have been so busy getting wrapped up in Holiday Insanity that everytime I thought "Oh I should blog about by day!" I realized that I hadn't even turned my computer on that day and it wasn't in my vicinity before bed. Getting up going upstairs grabbing my computer and coming back to bed just to blog about how I spent my day running around a warehouse attempting to locate donated gifts to meet the deadline for the gift and hamper distribution just didn't seem an appealing option.

But that has been where I have been none the less. I spent the majority of last week volunteering for Santa's Anonymous, a charity that when families sign up we distribute gifts and food hampers to them to help them out through the holidays. In theory is sounds simple but the reality is a lot of planning and the need for a lot of volunteers. Unfortuately (not that these people aren't amazing....I mean no disrespect) the majority of people that volunteer are retired and well they have their own way of doing things, and so this year when they changed the whole system, and modernized it (ie computers) it made some of the older more seasoned volunteers a little upset. Made it a little stressful and a bit hard to manage but we got through it! We had a lot of new volunteers this year that were younger and didn't know the old system, so they didn't let it bother them, but for those that were so used to the "old way" the "new way" threw them.

So with the chaos of the volunteering, I somehow (not surprisingly) managed to leave all my own Christmas things to the wayside and so for the last couple days that I have no longer been volunteering, I've been rushing like a mad woman to get all my Christmas shopping and such out of the way. This year I've turned to "doing things with people" or "making gifts" rather than just going out and buying presents. Year after year I buy things for people and I swear it just sits and collects dust. I forefit. But making the presents takes time, and more specically it takes more time than I had anticipated so I am (not at all shockingly) behind. Damn.

Today I finally finished a sewing project for a friend of mines Mom. We were sitting around one night and trying to figure out what to do for everyone for Xmas, both of us short on cash and trying to be thrifty this year decided to try and make everything. We got onto this idea of sewing a bag, which in theory seemed simple, until I realized that neither of us had really sewn all that much in the past few years, nor had enough experience to really design anything or create patterns. Not that that stopped us. We figured it out, and I managed to get an exuberant amount of pin pricks while piecing everything together to FINALLY get it done today. Phew big sigh of relief. Especially when we wanted to have it done at the start of December. Oh well better late than never! I think it turned out pretty amazingly if I do say so myself. Wish I could have had time to press it properly (hint hint nudge nudge T).

During all of this I managed to get in all the shopping I needed to do for my parents Xmas party for their staff, pick up my new glasses and catch up with T and her daughter (who adored the barbie I bought her...suck on that Asscountant), and take my nephew to a Magic Show. Phew. Busy day! The staff party was fantastic and the magic show was good, and of course my new glasses didn't last 5 hours before I noticed they have a ding in them and they have to go back. WHY ME? Its a good thing the people at my optometrist's office like me so much because tomorrow they are going to be seeing me come in with dinged glasses less than 24 hours after taking them home. Awesome. At least this time I think I'm keeping the frames.

Anyway! So I'm trying to get on board with the Holidays. Tomorrow I'm going on in search of my last couple Xmas presents that I'm not making (I'm not wonder woman) and some stocking stuffers for my parents! I hope whoever you and regardless of what you believe, that you are having a much more productive December than I am!

Ahhh crazy hazy weekends

It's beginning to feel a lot like December in my world! I hesitate to say its starting to feel like Christmas, when I associate Christmas with good eatting, lazy afternoons and wearing new fuzzy jammies, when all I've been doing this weekend is running around going to parades, getting ready for an ice show and studying for upcoming finals, the things I usually associate with the end of the school semester and fall skating season.

Friday night I joined my mom and sister for a little late night shopping at Zellers and Walmart. I know the states have this crazy thing called Black Friday, but we don't really have it in Canada. I know every year more American corporations try to push it on us by having really big sales here, and I know a lot of Canadians cross the border to go join the chaos, but to me it seemed that we Victorian's didn't really jump on board. My mom and sister decided to go out after dinner and honestly I didn't find much that I wanted/needed, but I did break my rule of "nothing Christmas till no earlier than Dec 1" rule by buying a 2$ box of warhead candy canes. Which yes are sour and after one my mouth is a wreck, but for 2$ you can't lose and I'll hand them out at school and all my upcoming study sessions.

Shopping with my sister Boozy B (no she's not a drunk/lush/alcoholic, but we have had many a conversation over how best to make child friendly drinks...erm not so child friendly...) is always enjoyable. She has a pretty good sense of ha-ha and knows not to take things too seriously. She's pretty laid back so when we decided to ditch Zellers, she was all game for Walmart. Good times had by all but really no deals to be had that were any different than anything we would usually see Black friday or not....but something to do to keep me busy.

It's been good keeping busy though. Last night my friend T and I threw on lots of layers, packed up the car along with my niece (her daughter) and headed downtown to catch the Victoria Santa Clause Day parade and festival of lights. Now to any parents that have a less than 2 adults to 1 kid ratio you have my new found respect and adoration. T and I just had the one kid to look after and she was really good at sitting still (bribery will get you everywhere) yet I know I never would have wanted to go downtown to such a huge crowd all on my own! Especially with all those other crazy parents running around loose.

We got downtown with LOTS of time to spare because I wanted to make sure we got a great seat curb side so that we would have an unobstructed view of all floats and the big red suited fat man that comes along at the end. So we got there when there weren't a lot of people yet situated and we got a great seat right on the curb, we set out blanket up and our snacks and we waited it out. YET some woman and her kid who came late decided it would be really awesome to just stand about a foot out from the curb and block the view of everything coming our way. Awesome huh? What a great tool to teach your kid...show up late and stand at the FRONT so you become a dark cloud in everyone's line of vision. The interesting coincidence is that someone after we sat down, two groups of deaf people sat on either side of us! Now granted I know I only know a teeny tiny subject of ASL, but I do know enough about facial expression and non manual signs to know when someones annoyed, or is showing dislike, and well these people didn't seem to be terribly thrilled about the dark cloud either. SO doing something that I have always wished I could do and be more assertive about, I got up and asked dark cloud to move!!! Now granted she only moved back about half a step, but at least I got my point across, and eventually as the floats and and bands and stuff went by she had to move back to not get trampled so that made it better, but at least I did something!

Still super annoyed by the whole thing. Why get there late and budge in front of everyone??? I just don't comprehend how some people think stuff like that is a good idea!

Ugh anyways. Tonight I have tickets for my mom BB and I to all go to this thing called "night before late night shopping" at Hillside mall. All the stores will be open till 9:30 and you buy tickets to get into the mall past the normal Sunday hours. All the stores inside will have deals, and there will be door prizes and a fashion show and that kind of stuff going on so I think it will be a hoot. Also there is a draw for a trip for 4 to Disneyland and I could really use a vacation so we've decided that if anyone in our collective goes and wins the trip we all get to go, plus my sister Klepto K (she is a spend a holic and loves to buy useless shit for no reason...i love her but she does..).

anyways! That's my weekend in a nut shell, I'm trying to find the energy to get off my ass and go to the anatomy lab for an hour to study but I've got a serious case of the Lazy Sundays...sigh. Anyways!

Happy Weekend All!

All the wrong reasons

Last night I went to dinner, a movie, and then coffee with my friend whom for the purposes of this blog I shall call Clutch (I did not personally give her this nickname it comes from our previous place of work where she clutches all the answers...She's the best!). Clutch and I don't get to hang out all that often. When I met her we were working for the Provincial Government as casuals and we caught on like a house of fire. We ended up working side by side with each other on a computer-ish project and we've been great friends ever since, which also means we know how to have proper conversations...that last forever might I add. In a good way of course. We never lack for something to talk about! Hence why we had dinner, then a movie, THEN went for coffee because we were chatting so much.

So as we were having dinner and catching up we started to talk about the usual. Work (for both of us non-exsistent), family (her's is doing well, unfortunately had to tell her mine not so great), and life etc (she's been going through hell moving lately). We then got on to talking about future plans, and much like myself Clutch is feeling a wee bit confused about what to do next in life. How she feels (much like myself) that she needs a change, a big one, but that she's unsure of how to go about it or if it's the right decision, and to comfort her I passed along my newest and most exciting theory.

Making the right decisions gets you no further in life than making all the wrong decisions, so enough is enough, make all the wrong ones.

My reasoning? Let me tell you (much like I preached to Clutch last night). You know those people that fly by the seat of their pants? They go out drinking every weekend, show up to work hung over, spend all their pay cheques on things without thinking of the consequences, travel without plans, and literally do everything they shouldn't? Well they have more fun don't they? But the good people (such as myself and Clutch) who always do their homework, get a good nights sleep before work, never go out on weekends because we're too busy with extra curricular activities and volunteering, well guess what we're unemployed too. Just like the "wrong decision" people, we are absolutely no further ahead, except those people have more fun, meet more people, get more actual life experience.

So I think we should all start making more wrong decisions, because while they may not be the best choice, wisest idea or smartest notion, they probably won't set you back any further than making the best choice, wisest idea or smartest notion. We're all in the same boat right now, jobs are scarce, and money is tight. So why not have more fun while we can? Why not do the stupid stuff? Get more experience, go the things that we usually shy away from!

NOW this does not mean I am advocating doing something stupid. Don't be going out doing drugs, quitting work or drinking and driving or something as equally foolish. I'm saying that perhaps take another ponder at the things you usually say no to. Go for a drink after work with the gang. Stay out late on a work/school night. Buy the shirt that you would usually never buy because maybe its a bit pricey or its something you never imagined yourself wearing. Flirt with the cute barista, eat crazy food. Take chances, make mistakes, GET MESSY.

(bonus points if you know where that last quote is from. Turns out that she had it right all a long)

In University I learned about life, I learned science from watching TV.

Tonight I met up for coffee with one of my best friends, who I also tend to call my partner in crime. This is the friend that always seems to be with me when I get into a particularly interesting situation that upon later inspection makes me wonder how in the heck I managed to get there in the first place. Anyways, she also happens to be one of my oldest friends as I've known her since grade school, and we just so happen to be graduating during the same week of graduation ceremonies (so in other words we both finished our degrees in the winter semester).

Generally I see her a couple times a week and growing up I basically had my own bedroom at her house, but due to our ever changing and hectic schedules we hadn't actually caught up in almost three weeks. Needless to say much talking and gossiping took place. She had already gone through her convocation ceremony this week, where as mine is tomorrow, and well the whole 'grad' thing got us talking about life in general, and we came to the following conclusion: I learned more about life in general during University than I did about my major.

I was (and I guess I still am technically) a biology major and most of what I dealt with through my degree was things like microbes and bugs, the history of biology, and even vampire movies (oh yea it was a course and damn good one at that). I was able to cram in dates and formulas for a midterm or final, and of course forget it the next day. Anything lasting that I take away from me my University has nothing to do with copulating microbes (oh yea that was a two week lab during second year, and no its not nearly as dirty as you think).

University taught me about life; how to live it and what I wanted from it. Sure I took labs, but ask me right now how to make up a chemical and I wouldn't be able to tell you, ask me how to work well with a TA chosen partner who scares the begeesus out of me and I can answer that no problem (wear a flame retardant lab coat and never neglect your safety goggles). If you asked me how to operate a hearing aid, I would look at you with a blank expression (I took a lot of neurobiology classes where we talked about this a lot), but ask me how to deal with an asshole professor who gets to decide if you graduate or not with the mark from that class, and you bet I am well trained to study (with of course a side of cramming) hard, argue lots and write strongly opinionated letters expressing grading injustices.

I learned how to suck it up and get'r'done, but I also learned when to stand up and argue (you gotta fight for your right to party folks). I learned that while I am fascinated with how the human body works, I have no desire to stare into microscopes all day dealing with samples from humans, I want to be with the humans (shockingly enough after many opinions to the contrary I am a people person). I learned that one should never settle because where you are is 'the only place that would take you' or 'you can't get what you want'. I've learned that when someone says "no you can't" its really just code for "I dare you to try" and if you really want it it generally will lead to a "HA I proved you wrong" followed by a well deserved happy dance.

I discovered who my real friends were. It made me better able to distinguish between who my occasional drinking buddies were and those who would drop anything at a minutes notice to help you out. You learn a lot about people in general. I can remember taking anatomy classes where the friendliest people in the class would turn snide the minute you were taking too long with the skeleton they figured belonged to them exclusively and not the class as a whole. I took a biochemistry lab where my assigned partner, while a smart guy, was a total klutz and lit his eyebrows on fire. You learn that humans are flawed, and that you yourself are also flawed (and it's so not worth arguing it), and it does not make you a lesser person for admitting it, it frees you.

University (or whatever post secondary you might be taking or want to take) does open doors (whether it be trade school, university or community college) , but they are rarely the ones you think. Yes you can learn a lot and then hopefully go onto a job in the field you love, but should the scholastics fail you (and yes it happens, so all those people who hate on grads that are still clueless go play in traffic) it is vital to know that the life lessons you will take away from it are more than worth the degree. So I say go to univeristy, find who you are, and then figure out what you want to do, because the dream job is only the icing on the cake :)

By the end of the evening my friend and I were back to talking about our job searches, and mutual friends, and TV shows we watch and the movies we wanted to see. And while yes, both of us are wondering what the future holds for us we know that we can take it on because we? We surived University, and we know that us being friends, is not going to be a skeleton stealing bitch situation.