Hemlock 2010

For our eighth annual trip to Hemlock Melissa and I swore we were going to go snowshoeing. We've been wanting to try it for awhile but the weather has either been nasty or we just haven't been motivated. This year I took the full day off work on Friday, drove up with Melissa, her DH Jevon, his sister Rachel and her boyfriend Scott. We arrived at the cabin by 10am. And found out that it had just been vacated the day before by the men's snow cross team who were practicing up there!!!

We unloaded the van, settled in, had lunch and then went snowshoeing because we knew if we left it to Saturday we'd never go. It was a gorgeous sunny day. There is no fresh snow at Hemlock right now so I feel like we could have done our trek in just regular boots but it was fun to try the snowshoes...even if we were sore the next day!

Our weekend fell on Melissa`s 29th birthday so on top of the regular playing board games and watching movies, we celebrated that. She had masks and tiaras for the girls and masks, bow ties and stick on facial hair for the guys on Saturday night, oh and feather boas for everyone :) We wore them while eating ice cream cake and playing Cranium.

Erin also brought up a pinata which was hanging up but soon fell so she bravely held it so we could smack it :)

It was another wonderful relaxing weekend. Possibly my last which is kind of sad. I will miss these guys!!!

Why History?

When I tell people I’m moving to Ontario to go to school the next question is always “what will you be taking”. I’m enrolling in the History program. Why History? Well, my first indication that this might be a good study areas was that, whenever my old boss would encourage me to look into schooling, I’d get online and look at the Business courses and inevitably “just check” to see what the History department was offering. I realized after doing this a few times that that’s probably what I’m actually interested in :P

Also, last year, last May specifically, I met with a career counsellor at my local university. We talked about my current job (which was fairly new at the time) what I liked about what I did and what I didn’t. We talked about what I do in my spare time (scrapbooking, visiting museums and historic sites…and scrapbooking about them, travelling, etc.) And we talked about how I could apply what I do in my spare time, to my career choice. He gave me some great resources for career research…which I confess I never really followed up on.

So fast forward through a lot of soul searching, through a lot of talking to people, and through another summer of doing the things I like doing and when the 2010/11 university application process opened, I put my name in and “declared” History as my subject area.

Inevitably, the follow up question to “what will you be taking” is “what do you want to do with that?” Everyone assumes I’ll be teaching. Maybe there’s a reason for that. The thing is I don’t want to teach. Definitely not high school anyways and probably not university. I like the idea of “teaching” in a non-traditional setting. Like being part of educational programs at a National Historic Site or museum that focuses on my area of interest. I like to tell people that I want to be a tour guide. Now I realize you don’t need a degree for that but by going to school I feel like I can explore those types of job opportunities better.

One of my (many) reasons for moving to Ontario is because there is so much more history there than there is on the West Coast. BC just celebrated 150 years. Woohoo. Seriously, it’s not that long. Quebec celebrated 400. That’s more like it. I’m not too excited about ancient history, or even European history but I’m looking for something a bit older than the fur trade.

I look at people who are “tour guides” or who do educational programs in historic sites and think “I could do that, I want to do that”. I’d like nothing more than to be in period costume all day. Maybe not for forever, but to start at least. I’m also not eliminating the possibility of getting back into administration, but hopefully for an organization where I can be passionate about what they do and the message they have to deliver.

So when people ask “what do you want to do” there’s a list of possibilities. I also realized a little while ago that I may not even know the title of the job I want to do! I don’t want to just do what I know is available. I want to explore options, and find the perfect job for ME, whatever it may be. I’ll let you know when I figure it out :)

12 of 12 February

As you can see, once the Olympics started, I kind of stopped blogging. I just didn't have time. I'm going to try and catch up now but I want to try and do it in order so I can capture the whole experience. The first day of the games also fell on February's 12 of 12 so that's where we begin.

This is the view at the end of my street. A beautiful morning!
Last year I took a picture of the paper marking the one year count down to the games, and now they're here!

Meredith and I went for lunch at Earls. Our server was a classmate of hers and he brought us free hot wings. I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture because they looked so pretty with the green celery but I was too interested in eating them. Instead I snagged this shot of the outside of the restaurant on the way home.
My mail. Thank you for giving blood four times this year. I have been a "donor for life" for at least seven years now. Probably more if I was to actually find all my pins.

For the opening ceremony Meredith and I went over to her sister-in-law's sister's house to watch it on tv. Claudia's daughter still had her face paint on from the celebrations at school.

We had a bunch of snack foods including some very out of season (sour!) strawberries.

"Oh Canada, we stand on guard for THEEEEEEE!!!"

Sam was constantly moving and having lots of fun :)

So I didn't take very many pictures of the ceremony but I have to include what I did take to meet my 12 quota. Overall I was very happy with the ceremony. I was proud of my country, proud to be Canadian and proud to welcome the world. I thought Wayne Gretzky (and the others) was a great choice to light the caludron. There's small things I could pick on about the ceremony, but I won't remember them too much in a year. My personal favourite parts were the whales and the trees, because that's what "BC" is to me. I also LOVED the slam poet and was designing a scrapbook page in my head while he was talking :D

Welcome World! Let the games begin!!!

Oh yeah, and the requiste last minute shot of me :D

A Subtle Change

I don’t know if it’s the Valentines Day hoopla that made me realize this or what but lately I’ve been noticing a subtle change in the way people address my “situation in life” (to borrow a phrase from Jane Austen). I’m 28 years old and I’m finding that people are changing their wording from “when you get married and have children” or “if” to “if you want to” or “do you want to”? Like I’m choosing to not have a relationship or family. In a day and age where it’s quite acceptable for women to remain unmarried and childless, it is viewed as a choice.

I’m not offended by it. The same as I’m really not offended by the endless “are you married yet? Anyone special in your life?” Questions. Mostly I realize that people just care and want me to be happy. I do find it amusing that they seem to think that I am choosing to not be married though.

Yes I choose to not date just anyone and I definitely don’t sleep around but I wouldn’t say I’m choosing to be single any more than I’d “choose” to be IN a relationship. I mean it’s not like you can just go to the store and buy a husband or child. I’d like nothing more than to change my “situation” but I don’t feel that it’s up to me to decide when that happens. And until it does happen, I’ll continue to live my life the best way I know how, and I’ll watch to see how people react.

The Russians are Comi....HERE!

Last Wednesday I stopped by one of our local rinks to watch the Russian Figure Skaters practicing. It's a popular place so I only was able to stay for 20 minutes. I watched Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov. It definitely made it more interesting while watching the Pairs - Free Skating tonight! They finished seventh over all, but it was still fun to see them!

Other People's Normal

Funny the things that stick with you from childhood. Impressions of people. I remember in Grade 9 I was working on a French project with a girl I had known since primary school. We made plans to meet up after school to develop our project. I showed up at her place not long after school got out and, this may seem weird, I was caught totally off guard because she had changed into sweats and a t-shirt. "Comfy clothes" compared to what she had worn to school that day. For me, someone who was fashion challenged, and got dressed in the morning and stayed in the same clothes all day, that was a totally foriegn concept.

Now, after working in an office for ten years, I totally understand her. Most days, the first thing I do when I get home is strip out of my "work clothes". Sometimes into sweats and a t-shirt, sometimes just into more casual clothes. I rarely keep on what I was wearing that day though.

Even on the weekend it's not rare for me to change two or three times a day. Different events call for different clothes. I frequently stop at home just long enough to change my clothes or, if I'm prepared, I'll take a change of clothes with me. I'm far from being a fashion plate but I know what I like to wear, when. I often think of that girl when I'm changing after work. How shocked I was that she had changed, and now, how I wouldn't have it any other way!

Restless

Tonight I can't wait to move to Ontario. Church was cancelled in favour the AGM and I forgot about it till late this afternoon. I had "one of those days" at work and even though I got to see something interesting after work (I'll blog about that separately) I'm just feeling lost. I got home around 7 after stopping off at Mom and Dad's briefly and I still needed to eat. Despite the fact that I just spent $100 on groceries none of the food in my house inspired me. I called Mere but her phones off (I think she's at school). I feel like I want to do something spontaneous but it's raining and cold out. Not exactly conducive weather...and what would I do anyways? Know that saying "Familiarity breeds contempt?" That's exactly where I am right now. I'm sick of this town. Sick of knowing each and every restaurant and how long they're open. Sick of wanting to go for a drive but knowing exactly what every freaking street in this town looks like (well, not EVERY but you get the point). I couldn't get lost if I wanted to.

There are people I could call but everyone has their own problems and frankly I don't feel like talking to anyone. I can't go shopping (even though I was at Walmart earlier) because I'll just spend money I don't have to spend. I have stuff to do online (and despite the fact that I logged on to write this post) I really don't want to do it.

I just need something NEW. New places. New faces. Not the same old same old.

Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer. I don't really care though. Maybe it will be something different in this blog because I'm sure my readers get bored too :P

Olympic Torch Run Part 2

Well, part two for me at least. Even though I had witnessed the arrival of the torch on Sunday, I wanted to see it again. So Monday morning at 5am I drove to the next town over where the torch was starting it's trek for the day. It was dry and surprisingly warm and LOTS of people turned out.

The celebrations were spread out along First Avenue. I walked past the main stage as Carly Rae Jepsen was starting her set.
I was hoping to meet up with friends who were volunteering but I didn't end up finding them. Instead I hung out with some collegues of mine.




When the torch bearer finally came by, he was literally running so this is all I got for a photo. Oh well, at least I got to see it again :)

Wavelengths

So I'm sitting here at work filing and thinking "I should call Mom...but why. I don't have anything to say to her. Oh well." Thirty seconds later the phone rings.

"Heidi? It's Mom..."

Thankfully she had something to say, and I got to talk to my Mom. I love being on the same wavelength as her!

Olympic Torch Run

The Olympic torch arrived in my hometown this evening and I (and 20,000 others) were on hand to greet it. I actually saw it going down our main street while I was trying to drive to the festival site. I met up with my friend Mike and we walked up to the site together and Meredith met us there. I had tons of other friends around too. Some of which I saw, some I didn't (like my parents) although we did talk on the phone. There was stage entertainment up until the torch entered the stadium and then we watched in go around most of the track and up to the stage. There were lots of torch bearers around with their extinguished torches and they were all really awesome about letting us pose for pictures with them.

Once on stage the "cauldron" was lit and a bunch of politicians, including our Provincial Premier, Gordon Campbell gave speeches. Oh, and of course we sang O Canada.

Then there were dances by a local dance troupe, including dancing inukshuks. The were kind of cute...

To end the evening these two (he's from Nunavut, she's from New Brunswick...or maybe vice versa) they took the flame, and put it inside the little lantern she was carrying where it will stay over night. Then it's off to the rest of the lower mainland.

January 2010 12of12

Better late than never?

January 12, 2010 The "12 of 12" people always suggest putting your camera right by your bed so you start taking pictures first thing in the morning. This day, when my alarm when off, I grabbed my camera and took a picture of what I look like when I'm sleeping. Even though I was technically awake, it was only just.

The night before I had washed my hair. I brushed it out in the morning and before re-braiding it, I took a picture.
This day marked on year of being back at my old job, in my new position. How did I celebrate? By spending well over an hour in the non-ventilated server room on the phone with Telus and my video conference technician trying to fix some technical issues. I'm publishing this post on February 6th and it was this Thursday (the 4th) that these issues were finally, fully resolved. Uggh.
Because I was trapped in the server room, I took the time to organize it. The bucket shown here was FULL of cords. I took them out one by one, wrapped them up and divided them into drawers in this unit. Not the way I wanted to spend my morning but at least I achieved something useful.

After dealing with technicians all morning, I treated myself to Burger King for lunch. There is a location a few blocks from work that used to be a Burger King, then they became some other burger joint and recently they've had a "Burger King Coming Soon" sign up. It FINNALLY opened and this was my first visit. It was probably the worst BK food I've ever had (half the fries weren't done) but the staff was awesome. Very funny and engaging. I'll go back just to have them serve me.

While I ate I listened to Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice on cd. It's our book club selection for the month. More on that in a bit.
After work I went and gave blood. Giving is always a crapshoot for me. I fail regularly for a variety of reasons. This time I was successful! And I got cookies...that's the best part of giving blood :D
So, back to book club. I mentioned in my last post that I had read a book about a club who read books and then did an activity based on the story. Well my friends Leah and Anj decided to form a book club that they have dubbed "Script to Screen" (S2S) the premise is that we will read a book and then watch the movie. Yes it limits us to books that have been turned into movies but there's TONS of those with more being made every year.

January 12th was our first meeting, an "orientation" of sorts. Everyone brought snacks to share. There were brownies with "movie tickets" that had quotes on them.
And tons of other yummy food.
Leah and Anj had a whole agenda worked out covering everything they thought would be important when you have a group of women getting together.

This was basically the same group that got together to watch Twilight and then go to see New Moon in November.
Leah hadn't seen the BBC version of Pride & Prejudice so that's what we selected for our first book. I'll put that in a separate post.

Leah and Anj went all out with decorating and staying in theme. Showing it all would go over 12 pictures but suffice to say, it was awesome. The last picture is one of the stacks of books they had as a centre piece on the table to get us in the mood :)

So that's my day. Better late than never and killing two birds with one stone because I got to talk about S2S in the same post!

Around the World in 80 Days

Last year I discovered a series of books by Laura Jensen Walker, called the Getaway Girls, well, I say series but I have only read two books. The third was just released this month. The premise of the books is that the girls read a book and then go on an adventure based on the story. The books are full of quotes and book recommendations and considering how much I love reading, they`re perfect for me.

One of the book suggestions was Around the World in 80 Days. I picked the book on cd up from the library a few days later and absolutley fell in love with the story. It`s smart and funny, very fast paced and even a love story. I`ve been raving about the book ever since.

A few weeks ago I heard that a local theatre group was doing the stage show. Mom and I made plans to go, and tonight was the night. It was fantastic. It is billed as a ``comedy adventure adapted by Mark Brown``. There are only five actors and each of them play many, many parts. They were all extremely talented and even though you knew it was the same actors, a few props, slight costume changes and an accent or two thrown in made you forget that it was a familiar face.

The stage show was just as enjoyable as the book had been. I recommend it just as highly as before I saw the show, actually, more so now :)

One Little Word

Lots of places suggest selecting one word as your word for the year. I am most familiar with the concept through Ali Edwards. This newsletter explains the concept.

“A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow.

Last fall in issue two of this newsletter I wrote about the power of words and gave my top ten tips for getting those words down when you are scrapbooking. Today I want to introduce you to the idea that a single word can be a catalyst for enriching your life as well as your scrapbook layouts”

I haven’t blogged about it before but for the last two years my word was “PEACE”. I gravitated towards songs that had that word in the lyrics and whenever I saw it somewhere or read a verse that contained it, a tangible peace would settle over me.

My song for 2009 was Jeremy Camp’s “Slow Down Time”. I included the lyrics at the end of this post: http://agent713.blogspot.com/2009/01/2008-year-that-was.html. The line that says “My only peace is waiting before You” really stuck with me all year.

My word for 2010 year is DREAM. I just realized as I am writing this entry that it coincides nicely with 2010 being the Olympic year. Lots of people have dreams of Olympic gold. My dreams are different and I feel like this year I am giving myself the permission to truly DREAM about the possibilities.

Many of my dreams are scheduled to come true this year. I mean how long have I been wanting to move to Ontario? This is the year that will happen. Even though I only quantified and verbalized the idea of going back to school recently, I am realizing that is a dream and it is a means to seeing another dream fulfilled, that is working in a field that I am truly passionate about. Maybe some year “passion” will be my word. For now, I am focusing on DREAMing about the possibilities in life.

I’ve only heard the song a few times but this is the front runner for song of the year for 2010 for me: Jessie Farrel’s “Burn So Bright”

If you’re waiting for the perfect time
To try something you’ve never tried
Time will pass you by and you won’t do it
Save nothing for a rainy day, you’ll blink and it will be too late
Why not start right now and just get to it?
Shut up the voice inside your head that says “stay in the shadows”

Burn so bright that the dream you have inside lights up the night
Burn so bright that the angels have to cover up their eyes
Dare to be bold, dare to be great
Leave a little love all over the place
It’s your life, burn so bright

Why talk why you can sing out loud?
Why hide when you can draw a crowd?
You deserve a future with no limits
Take baby steps until you’re done
Don’t miss out on all the fun
Put a memory in every minute
With every excuse you come up with
You’ll miss a door that opens

Burn so bright that the dream you have inside lights up the night
Burn so bright that the angels have to cover up their eyes
Dare to be bold, dare to be great
Leave a little love all over the place
It’s your life, burn so bright

Turn up that voice inside your head that says “you’re heard for a reason”

Burn so bright that the dream you have inside lights up the night
Burn so bright that the angels have to cover up their eyes
Dare to be bold, dare to be great
Leave a little love all over the place
It’s your life, burn so bright

I do feel that I’ve been “living in the shadows” and I’m excited to start “burning so bright”.

I also love the line “Put a memory in every minute”. Dierks has a song called “Every Mile a Memory” which I’ve always loved and (CREEPY!!! It just came on the radio!!!) but the idea of putting a memory in EVERY moment, is even more powerful. It implies that every small part of life should be memorable and I love that.

So there, this a freakishly long entry but now I’ve got it out there.

Now I can keep DREAMing.

1,000 Posts

I’ve been dancing around this particular post for a couple of months now. In December I posted that I was celebrating my 4th Anniversary of this blog.

Well, minus some posts that remain as drafts (some of which will see the light of day and others that won’t for various reasons) I can officially say that I have made 1,000 posts!!! (I say I’ve been dancing around this post because I keep going through the drafts and deleting some or posting them if they’re still relevant).

1000 blog entries in four years. I did almost 400 in the first year, and it’s tapered off since then, but I’m still blogging.

According to my labels the most popular categories are: general updates (168), stuff (97), work (72), gratitude (59) and country music (51). Scrapbooking (38) and Dierks (36) are the next highest. Interesting.

Here’s to another 1000. It will be interesting to see what my biggest categories are in the NEXT four years :)

Word of the Day #39: loquacious

lo⋅qua⋅cious
loh-kwey-shuh s
–adjective
1. talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest.
2. characterized by excessive talk; wordy: easily the most loquacious play of the season.

New Year's Resolutions

I made some resolutions last year and I always intended to blog about them but I never did. They include the ever famous "lose weight, get out of debt, eat better" etc. I tried to be a bit specific but the first two are the only ones I really stuck to. Well, in my fashion. The first was "no soda pop", I accomplished by modifying to mean "no buying pop for drinking at home". I was allowed to drink it when I was out but not at home. That alone cut down on the amount that I drank a LOT. I'm sticking with that one this year.

I was closer with the second one. (No alcohol) I never drank a lot but I knew that I was getting fairly blase towards alcohol and I didn't like that. I used to be a "non-drinker" and I decided it was time to go back to that. It worked. I can count on one hand the amount of times I had alcohol last year and then it was usually just wine with dinner. I'll stick with that this year too.

I'm adding two more this year as well.

1. Quit speeding. Even five kms over the limit is too much. If it's 50 in town, go 50, not 60. On the highway the posted speed is 100 kms. Go 100. Not 110. It is HARD. I am used to going too fast so the world goes by at a certain rate. It's hard to learn that it should go slower. I'm finding that by conciously keeping my speed down, I am paying more attention to the road and I'm being a more cautious driver. It's good.

2. Brush my teeth every night. For some reason I've never been in this habit. In the morning is easy, your mouth tastes nasty. At night I *always* forget. I'm trying to build a new habit. It doesn't take long and I know it's good for me. I'm tracking how often I remember and, while I'm not perfect yet, I'm definitely building the habit, and that's what matters.

So there, my two, achievable, new years resolutions! On top of the much harder ones...

Things To Do Before I Die

On February 13, 2006 I posted my list of "Things To Do Before I Die". I reviewed it in May 2009 but I’ve since accomplished more of the items so it’s time to review it again.

The bolded items have been accomplished.

96 (and counting) Things To Do Before I Die

1. Fly first class
2. Live on my own in my own place
3. Eat at Sonic
4. Live in another country...or at least another province (scheduled for August!)
5. Host dinner party for at least 8

6. Visit an art gallery
7. Go to Texas
8. Ride in a hot air balloon
9. Fly in a small aircraft
10. Visit a planetarium

11. Take a winery tour
12. Do high tea somewhere
13. Attend Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
14. See a drive in movie
15. Get room service and have breakfast in bed at a nice hotel (I've done room service, but not for breakfast)

16. Play blackjack at a casino (I’ve played slots but not blackjack yet)
17. Make homemade ice cream
18. Try ten new foods (I have to sit down and count. Ten foods since February 2006? I’m sure I’ve accomplished that)
19. Go sailing
20. Ride in a limo

21. Be debt free
22. Go horse back riding on the wide open plains
23. Sleep under the stars (without a tent)
24. Fly in a 747
25. Collect all 50 US state quarters (only 10 to go!)

26. Attend my ten year high school reunion
27. Visit Australia
28. Visit Great Britain
29. Get a cat
30. Take a cruise

31. Work an election
32. Watch all moves on AFI top 100 list
33. Be in Ottawa for Canada Day
34. Draft a will
35. Spend one weekend totally unplugged. No TV, No Computer, No Phone

36. Visit the Maritimes
37. Tour the US Eastern seaboard
38. Pour water from the Atlantic ocean into the Pacific
39. Fast for 24 hours
40. Be in audience of a game show or talk show and/or try out for a game show or reality show

41. Learn to cook
42. Cook a turkey
43. Play with a hand bell choir
44. Complete 25 different crossword puzzles
45. Take a Self Defence Class

46. Fire a gun
47. Host a fondue
48. Take real swimming lessons (learn proper back stoke, kick turn)
49. Leave to drive a stick shift
50. Try yoga

51. Take a cake decorating class
52. Visit Nashville
53. Go parachuting
54. Take a refresher First Aid course
55. Sell something on Ebay

56. Try snowboarding
57. Try Golf
58. Watch the Yankees/Mariners play ball
59. Drink tequila in Tijuana
60. Go to Disney Land/World

61. Get a bikini wax
62. Buy a new condo (or house) (or town house)
63. Go white water rafting
64. Climb Mt. Cheam
65. Have a baby (or two, or three)

66. Read through the entire bible
67. Stay at a bed and breakfast
68. Go to Las Vegas
69. Go to Paris in the spring time
70. Learn enough about classical music to be able to identify popular pieces by ear

71. Shop at the Mall of America
72. Visit all five great lakes
73. Stay overnight in NYC
74. Go to Boston in the fall
75. Stay overnight at a Casino

76. Visit the San Diego Zoo
77. Visit Sea World
78. Take a full two weeks off at a time
79. Go on a blind date
80. See a live horse race and place a bet

81. Visit the Grand Canyon
82. Take a trip by train (aka travel somewhere on Amtrak)
83. Do the Vancouver Sun Run
84. Go to midnight mass
85. Attend Sunrise Easter Service

86. Go skinny dipping
87. Visit all 10 Provincial Legislature Buildings. (3 down 7 to go)
88. Buy cowboy boots
89. Go to the Olympics (17 days to go!)
90. Fly in a helicopter

91. Go to a NASCAR race
92. Get married
93. Participate in a team sport for a season
94. Sing a solo at church
95. Really try to loose weight/get in better shape

96. Learn another language

So, counting the ten new foods thing, I’ve accomplished eleven. 85 to go.

Ancestors in the Attic: Journey to Ortona

So almost a year after I received the initial enquiry, the episode of Ancestors in the Attic featuring my great uncle, Melville Madden, aired on History Channel in Canada on January 21, 2010. The whole family was waiting in anxious anticipation to see how it would turn out and exactly what the researchers turned up and we were all very happy with the results. You can view the 23 minute show at http://www.history.ca/video/default.aspx Select "Journey to Ortona" (Episode 44) Let me know what you think! (and be sure to watch for my name in the credits :D)

A Full Life

I live a full life.

That’s a term I came up with after I got tired of people asking how I was doing and answering “busy”. Busy is such a cop out and it doesn’t explain anything.

I attend church and bible study twice a week each. I square dance on Monday nights. I’m a member of our local Genealogical Society, a book club, a table top gaming group, I scrapbook, read voraciously and have a large circle of friends that I try to meet up with on a regular basis. Not to mention the fact that I work full time, volunteer (less than I’d like to) and try to go to the gym when I can squeeze it in.

One of the local CMC’s, who is a friend more than a CMC, invited me to her workshop on Saturday. I was considering going but then I realized that I’d be much happier if I just stayed home, slept in, and scrapbooked in my pj’s. I was joking with a coworker and saying that I was going to tell everyone that I was scrapping with the CMC even though I wasn’t, just so I wouldn’t be invited out somewhere. He laughed and said “you’re just a ‘Yes Man’!”

Now my dad has said that before. He’s said that I have trouble saying no but I wrote it off as him being anti-social and not having the same priorities as me. I LIKE being busy. I enjoy seeing people and I do say no…sometimes. On the flip side, I also like and need alone time. I’ve always been like that. I have three younger brothers and I’d often just go to my bedroom, close the door, and play alone as a child. Now I get that quiet time because I live alone and when I’m at home, there’s very rarely anyone with me.

January has been a crazy busy month with very few days or evenings set aside for just me. I have a packed calendar and I keep joking that the tag line for my life should be “a tendency to over-commit”. Kevin’s comment worried me though. Does being busy mean I CAN’T say no? Or that I should practice saying no more?

I posted on ScrapShare and got some fantastic advice.

scrappygal: The difference is stress and if you are doing what you WANT to be doing rather than what you feel you SHOULD be doing.

If your life is full of fun things you enjoy doing and you go to bed satisfied with your day, you are fine.

If, however, you are doing things for everyone else while you are stressed out about your own stuff that is not getting done and you realize you haven't read a book or scrapbooked in a month because you've babysat for 5 friends, helped two move and taken on an extra project at work that no one else would do, you have a problem.

busyizzy: I think your life sounds wonderfully enjoyable! I also think it's okay to say, "I'd love to come scrap (or whatever), but I have other plans," even when those other plans are sleeping in and hanging around home in your jammies all day! Those kinds of activities can be planned just as clearly as a movie night with a friend, and are just as legitimate to keep in your calendar. Enjoy yourself, and I'm sure you'll find ways of saying no that work for you.

NancyD: It isn't the number, it's the effect.

I know people for whom having more than 2 outside work and family obligations is just WAAAAY too much. Stress inducing. Horrific.

Then there are people like you. Only TWO? Bored bored bored...pace pace pace..... THAT would be stressful.

It sounds like you know that this Saturday would be better NOT going to the crop. So.... no thank you SuzyCMC. That says to me that you can read your own needs and say no when your own needs say "time for a day off".

But the rest of the time, your own needs say "hot diggity, tonight's book club and tomorrow is game night and I can't wait for square dancing!"

Not for some.... but for you? It's working.

When you start dragging your sorry butt to those events because you're obligated and really you'd just rather stay home in your pj's, then it's time to re-evaluate and start cutting.

Jill in FL: There is nothing wrong with your full schedule as long as it makes you happy. It's when you start to resent the items on your schedule (or the people who keep asking!) that it may be time to step back and answer no instead of yes. Do as much or as little as you're comfortable with, and if it's scrapping in your jammies at home this weekend, then that's what I'd do!!

kermit: You know when you regret that you said yes and you dread following through with the commitment.

I’m copying them all here because I have a feeling I’ll want to refer back to them. I admit by Friday night I was staring to regret the commitment I had scheduled but I made it through and it made having all day Saturday and Sunday with nothing but church and bible study that much more sublime. Tonight I’m skipping dance because the rest of the week is pretty busy and I know if I don’t start out feeling grounded, I certainly won’t end that way.

So, whether I DO have a tendency to over commit, or if I just live a full life, it’s my life and since I do know where to draw the line, I’m going to keep it up :)

Shit

This is what I saw today when I opened my mail box. The title of this post is what I thought (please excuse the language) I know I should be excited, and I am, but I'm also scared spitless.

For some reason I've been saying "IF I'm accepted to school"...well...it looks like they want me. I've applied to three schools, this was my second choice although for a lot of reasons it could be my first. How on earth do I decide though? I have until May (technically) to accept the offer. I think I'll wait for a little while at least. Mostly I just need to get used to the idea. One one hand it's super exciting. On the other, completely overwhelming. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! LOL

Good Costco Story

I get my prescriptions filled at Costco (it’s pretty much the only thing I buy there and it’s under my mom’s membership to boot). They have a system where you can call in to an auto answering service, enter your RX number and request a refill. They then contact the doctor and, as long as it’s approved, you can pick your prescription up in a few days.

My dear mother picked up my last prescription (a three month supply) before Christmas and with the travelling I’ve been doing I got off track so I didn’t start actually taking the new pills until about a week ago. It took me a few days but I finally clued in that the pills are smaller than they used to be. I usually take 20 mg and these were only 10.

I called the doctor to ask if I he had changed my dosage, or if it was wrong. I got a call from Costco an hour or so later confirming that the prescription had been for 20 mg and if I had the 10’s, that was wrong. They offered, since it’s their mistake, to drive over to my work (which is CLEAR across town), pick up the old prescription (which I’ve started taking already) and drop off the new one.

They called before they came to confirm my location and the Costco lady just left. She showed me her ID to confirm that she wasn’t someone off the street, she gave me the new prescription (a full three month supply), and took my old one back. Now that’s service!!!

Happy New Year!

I have some draft blog posts that I haven’t had a chance to finish. Lots has happened in the first three weeks of the year but if I try and wait to recap it all, I’ll never get back to blogging. So, instead I’m just going to jump in as of today. If I get back to the other posts, great. If not. That’s okay too.

For today, a funny.

I get tons of emails each day so I have to dedicate time to dealing with and organizing them. I tend to keep most of them for reference. I have 27 main folders in my inbox and each has a multitude of sub folders.

I also get a lot of spam. Most of it is caught and redirected to my junk mail folder but once in awhile I have to move one manually. Today I wanted to move a Viagra ad to junk but the default folder that it would have gone to was “office supplies” LOL

Anyways, I’m back and I hope to post more regularly. I have a 12 of 12 post to put up too. I hope your new year is going swimmingly :)

Christmas 2009

I got home from Leavenworth on Tuesday and worked Wednesday and a half day Thursday. Robert was in town so we had dinner at Mom and Dad's on Wednesday and then visited and played Scrabble. Thursday after work I went shopping. I had bought Seth's present a few weeks ago and ended I up getting most of Mom's in Leavenworth. That still meant that I had to pick up Aaron's, Robert's and Dad's. I knew what I was getting each of them so it was just a matter of going to the right store and fighting the crowds. I had fun.

Christmas Eve is also Dad's birthday. I arrived at their house around 5pm and dinner was basically ready then. Mom prepared a lamb roast as a special treat for Dad. It was fantasic. We had warm blueberry gingerbread cake for dessert. Afterwards we played RISK. Mom won...which was kind of funny because she hadn't actually wanted to play in the first place.
This picture of me was taken just before going to bed. We didn't stay up super late because everyone was pretty tired.

Christmas morning we were all up before 9...really quite early for my family.

We like to take our time with gift opening and this year was no exception. Seth wasn't able to join us but he mailed his gifts and they arrived on Christmas Eve.

He sent me the "Unofficial Guide to Twilight", a mini book on Robert Pattinson and two bars of Body Shop soap. The guide is perfect. I just finished Eclipse (for the second time) and didn't want to take Breaking Dawn on the plane with me because it is still only available in hard cover. The guide is a nice compromise.

Robert also got me a guide...to Ontario. It's a really nice Michelin one and I can't wait to start visiting all the places listed in there. Mom, Aaron and Robert went together and gave me cash so I can finally invest in the Storybook Creator by Creative Memories. I am VERY excited about that! Aaron also gave me a Starbucks card. Mom and dad got me a Starbucks coffee sampler for use in my French press and Dad picked out a fleece scarf and fuzzy mittens for New York. Which is awesome, because I only have leather gloves which are NOT warm. So nothing huge or totally unexpected but all very thoughtful wonderful gifts and that's all I ever ask for at Christmas.

Christmas dinner was all our traditional favourites. Turkey, dressing (not pictured) mashed potatoes, carrots, turnips, cranberry jelly, creamed corn, bean salad, yams and gravy.

After dinner I made my family watch "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" with me. We haven't seen it in years and we laughed like crazy. I can't wait to see the places featured in the movie in real life!!!

We also played a few more games and ate lots of snacks and Christmas baking (including Mom's yummy rum balls). It was a relaxed Christmas, just the way I like it.

Merry Christmas to all my readers, where ever you are :)