PNE and Doc Walker Concert

Sunday, August 27th Meredith and I met up after church and headed into Vancouver for a day at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE). Finding parking was a nightmare (as it usually is) and we ended up parking in the middle of Hastings Race Course.

Our first order of business once we got into the fair grounds was finding food. We surveyed the various international delights and finally settled on poutine for me and yam fries for her...and we split a deep fried mars bar for dessert. Mmmm love fair food!

There were two main attractions that I specifically wanted to see. The nightly concert (which I'll talk about later) and a stage show called "Celtic Legends" described as "Not your average Irish Dance Show, Celtic Legends combines the vigorous steps of Irish Dance with the traditional sounds of Irish folk music for a truly breathtaking performance." I don't know if "breathtaking" necessarily applies since Mere and I both saw Riverdance live when it was in Vancouver but this show was the same concept, although with less dancing. It was only 30 minutes long but that was enough. The music and dancing were both beautiful but they show itself didn't hold your attention very well.
No matter, there was lots of other stuff to see. We went through the "Home Depot Showcase" where they were displaying all manner of home improvement innovations as well as a "Hand Crafted Artisan Studio Furniture Exhibit – by Eastside Culture Crawl". The picture is turned but hopefully you can see some of the unique pieces that were displayed. My favourite was the "Bad Table"

We toured the "Marketplace" were all the "As Seen on TV" people were hocking their wares. We viewed the "container art" and sand sculptures (more pictures on Facebook if you want to see them, and more details here.

We indulged in mini donuts...well, Mere did. I just took pictures :)

In the "Safeway Farm Country" we arrived just as a calf was being born. We missed seeing it actually drop because the crowd was too thick but we saw it just after. Later in the evening we went back to check on it and I took this picture the.
I noticed the reflection of the ferris wheel on Mere's sun glasses so I made her stop so I could take a picture. If that doesn't say "summer" I don't know what does :)

Around 7 we found some dinner ("Texas Taters" and smoked beef on a bun) and settled in for the Doc Walker concert. We sat up on the bleachers because Mere didn't want to stand for the whole concert. I only lasted for a handful of songs before I left and joined the crowd in front of the stage. The sound from the bleachers was fine but it's so much better to be closer to the band.

This is the third time I've seen Doc Walker in concert but the fourth time I've seen them. The fourth being at the Basics for Babies breakfast a few years ago. They only did three songs there though so it wasn't really a concert. I did have tickets to see them the following April but the concert was cancelled so I missed out.

Because it's been awhile, I was super excited to see them. They did all their singles including:
Forgive Me for Giving a Damn (by request)
Coming Home
Rocket Girl
That Train
Maria
She Hasn't Always Been This Way
Get Up
North Dakota Boy
Trying to Get Back to You
Driving with the Brakes On
Beautiful Life
Dave Wasyliw (left) also performed a song that he wrote called "Barbershop". It's not on any of their cd's but I've heard people talk about it on the message board for years so I was excited to finally hear it. I'm happy to report that I love it.

Dave, the lead singer Chris Thornstein and guitarist Murray Pulver are the main members of the band. In all the times I've seen them, they've always had a different bass guitarist and drummer.

Their current bassist is Brent Pearson and the drummer is Steve Broadhurst. Steve he did a fantastic medly of songs including Kiss's "I Was Made for Loving You" and "Staying Alive", the later complete with crazy falsetto. It's hard to describe a country band covering those songs but it totally worked and the crowd ate it up. So fun.

Murray covered some songs during the encore but I was heading back to meet with Mere at that point so I didn't pay attention to what he was singing.

After the concert we had some time to kill before the final show of the night so we got carmel apples and visited the baby calves.

The last show was "KABOOM! A Pyro Musical Spectacular"

A giant countdown celebration to the PNE’s 100th anniversary in 2010, KABOOM! gets the party started. With innovative projection and state-of-the-art lighting, get ready to embark on a high tech trip through one hundred years of PNE History. From the 1910 Grand Opening to the crazy days of Elvis Presley and The Beatles to the grooves of disco, this pyro musical spectacular will transport you through the sights, sounds and music of the past century.

This picture was a "Jail House Rock" number. Note the dancers on the poles...

So, that's another Fair in the books and another amazing concert...and another blog entry that took four days to write and ended up with sideways pictures :P

That explains it!

In March I was gathering up all my paper work for my accountant so she could prepare my annual tax return. As I was doing that I came across a Federal receipt that I didn’t recognize. It turned out that I should have been claiming capital gains/losses on some investment funds that I’ve had since 2002. I had completely overlooked those papers but luckily I save everything so I had all the information I needed to file “T1 Adjustment Request for 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 tax years”. The forms were complicated so I had my accountant prepare them along with my tax return.

Here is what ensued:
April 27 – mail T1 Adjustment Requests
June 12 – received a letter from the CRA “You don’t qualify under ‘Voluntary Disclosure’” (which is how I filed just in case they got unhappy about the fact that I’m seven years let telling them about this)
June 22 – Another letter from CRA “We got your information. We’ll let you know when we look at it.” (uh, thanks)
August 17 – Phone call, I need more info (easy peasy, a bit of BS and a fax and we’re good)
August 25 – Third letter “I’ve reviewed it, I’ll let you know the outcome in a separate mailing. Oh, but don’t worry about 2005. There’s no change there...but keep everything in case we decide to audit you.”
August 31 – Received FOUR separate envelopes. Bottom line? You owe us $26.53

Yep, that’s your tax dollars at work folks! No wonder they don't get anything done. If I had to send a letter everytime I moved a file on my desk I'd take forever too! At least the damage wasn't too bad.

Friday Fill-in #139

Friday Fillins Blog

1. He was a lawyer? Really? Why isn't he a lawyer anymore? What kind of law?

2. Wearing socks is what I look forward to most this time of year. I heart wearing socks

3. My best friend is going to New York with me!!!

4. It feels pretty surreal to be honest with you.

5. Appearances can be deciving sure but sometimes they're not. Sometimes what people look like really is who they are, what they stand for and how they act.

6. The last person I gave a hug to was my brother Seth when I said good-bye :(

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a surprise engagement party, tomorrow my plans include the annual square dance picnic...which I've NEVER made it out to and Sunday, I want to see Doc Walker at the PNE!

I'm going to New York!

It doesn't feel real.

My best friend Meredith and I have been planning a trip to New York City for our "25th Anniversary" for years. I moved to the neighbourhood in October of 1984 (although when we actually met is up for debate) so 2009 is our "25th Anniversary". I love the idea of New York at Christmas time so we were planning our trip for sometime in December. Last night we booked it.

Leaving Seattle on Boxing Day (December 26th) on a red eye flight and arriving in New York at 6 in the morning. We'll be there for five full days and coming home on New Years Day. That means we get to do New Years Eve in New York. Wow!

I’m the hero of the office.

And I’m a fraud. Actually, you already know I’m a fraud. I named this blog “Coffee, Country Music and the Corporate world” but only because the “C” of coffee fit the alliteration I was looking for. “Starbucks” is really a better term. I don’t drink “coffee” at Starbucks, or at Tim Hortons for that matter. I love going there though and I drink all the frou-frou drinks. At home I drink ::gasp:: instant, sometimes French press if I’m feeling fancy…which isn’t usually, and at work, I drink whatever’s available.

At work I’m responsible for sourcing the coffee so I generally buy whatever is readily available, within budget and satisfactory. Not great, but satisfactory. Well the coffee snobs rebelled. They managed to get our boss to agree to a fancy smancy “grind and brew” coffee machine. I’m a hero because I picked it up from the store. They set it up yesterday and it was like someone had a new puppy. Everyone was oohing and ahhing and watching the first beans be ground. Whatever.

I’m drinking my first cup from the new machine right now and its fine. Better than the crap coffee I normally buy but not something I’m willing to chip in to subsidize.

So, hero, fraud. You be the judge. Me? I’ll stick with basic coffee…and laugh at the snobs :D

Thursday Thunks

1. Have you ever played Bullshit?
Yep, we called it the more benign "cheat" and it usally followed a rousing game of "Asshole"...which we called "Peon". Definite favourites in our house.

2. A dog licks you on your face. Are you disgusted or thinking it was sweet?
Disgusted. I can't stand licky or yappy dogs. Actually, I'd take a drooling baby over a dog any day.

3. Tell us about a fun/special memory you have of a grandparent.
I was in "my" bedroom at their house one evening. The door was open and I saw them pause in the hallway and kiss. My grandparents were NOT at ALL physically demonstrative and I think that's the only time I ever saw them kiss. It was a very private moment that I got to witness and I remember sleeping so soundly because I could feel the love and I felt so secure that night.

4. Have you ever pet a rat?
Possibly. Not something I'd go out of my way to do.

5. If I walked into your kitchen, where are the cups?
In the cupboard between the sink and the fridge.

6. Since you already let me in your home, I found the cup and had water, now where's the bathroom from the kitchen?
Go back towards the front door, turn left and right and it's at the end of the hallway. It's the room with the toilet in it :D

7. Have you ever pet a turtle or tortoise?
Yes, although "pet" is an odd word.

Saturday in Words and Vancouver Aquarium on Sunday

Robert arrived by plane Friday evening and did the "guy thing" after the rehersal that evening. Saturday morning Seth had to report at 9am for pictures before the wedding so Mom, Dad, Aaron and his friend Nathan, Robert, Brittany and I went out for breakfast. After that Robert and Brittany were meeting up with Seth for the wedding so I headed out to Hicks Lake for a birthday party for Chris & Leah's daughter, Brooklyn's birthday party. I didn't take any pictures there but it was a nice relaxing day by the lake. We sat around and visited, watched Brooklyn open her presents and went for a canoe ride. In the evening I came back to Mom & Dad's and canned peaches!

Sunday morning Seth and Brittany drove Seth's friend Conrad to the ferry and then we met up with them at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park. Between Brittany and myself we took well over 300 pictures during the day. I've uploaded about half to Facebook. These ones are some of my favourite.

The Aquarium was BUSY! It's a good thing we go there as early as we did because we got in without having to wait. The rest of the day the line stretched way out the door and down the side of the building. Crazy considering it costs $28 to get in. Yes it's a fantastic facility and they do good work but I still think that's an atrocious amount. Heck, I thought it was bad back when it was $14. $28 is highway robbery. Anyways, after I bit the bullet and paid the entrance fee we started planning out where we wanted to go. Robert needed to be at the airport by 6 to get on standby for his flight home so we were on a bit of shortened time line. We decided to start with the new "4D" experience, hence the glasses on Mom and Brittany, right.

Next we caught the dolphin show. My camera has a bad time lag so it was hard to capture these fast critters, but I got a few good shots.

After the dolphin show we left the Aquarium and got our picnic lunch from the car. Seth had requested Mom's "bandito wings" so she made a batch of those along with potato salad. After lunch we headed back to the Aquarium and worked our way sysytematically through the displays.

We saw the beluga tank with the new baby beluga, although we only saw them from above because the line to go below was over 20 minutes long. Inside we saw everything from sharks and alligators to starfish and sea anenomes and even "found Nemo"!

We felt kind of rushed all day but we managed to see everything and that's what counted. This is my favourite picture of Robert. A few of the tanks had these bubbles that you could view the fish from. It gave a totally different view.

When we finished at the Aquarium we drove around Stanley Park and stopped at Prospect Point for a few minutes to admire the view. Then we headed home. Of course after all that hurrying we ended up with more time than we thought so we managed to fit in one last family dinner before Mom and Dad took Robert to the airport.

Later in the evening Mom, Dad, Seth, Brittany and I went mini golfing. It was a great way to end the day.

Monday Seth and Brittany were at the PNE all day so I didn't see them at all. Tuesday I saw them at Mom & Dad's in the evening for a bit and today we're going out for lunch before they hit the road again.

It has been wonderful having them here. Hopefully next time it won't be so long before we see them again!

Summer Night Market

Friday evening Seth was at the rehersal so Mom, Brittany and I went shopping! Our ultimate destination was the Summer Night Market in Richmond but it didn't open until 7pm so we popped in to Daiso on the way. Daiso is basically a Japanese dollar store (well, two dollar store) but it's fun to visit.

We got to the market around 7:30 and started with the food booths because we were all starving. You can get plenty of weird and wonderful food there. It's like a fair, but with Asian flair! I started with a "wheel cake" which is a doughy pastry filled with Nutella. There was a lot of Nutella available there. Yummy!

Next up was huge spring rolls, and skewers of chicken and potato wrapped in bacon with a mango drink to wash it all down. Oh, and deep fried sweet potato balls. They were really, really gooey and I ended up throwing half the stick away.

We skipped all the seafood although there was plenty of it available. Squid, prawns, "curry fish balls" etc. No thank you!

The booths are filled with all sorts of things. Lots of cell phone accessories, Brittany got a charger for her iPhone, movies, decorations, blankets, shoes, purses (I FINALLY found a white purse that I love. I've been looking for months) and more. Part of the market is the thrill of the hunt. The other part is just enjoying a beautiful summer evening in an incredibly diverse city.

I uploaded a bunch more photos to Facebook if you're interested.

This is different

I was going through some draft posts yesterday and I found this one. I wrote it on February 7th of this year but never published it for some reason:

I was just talking to my brother Seth. He and Robert are out shopping for Valentines gifts and the question of "how much should an engagement ring cost" came up so they called for my opinon. Of course they prefaced it by saying they're NOT buying rings, just wondering.

Anyways, Seth also told me that whoever he marries, be it his current girlfriend if it develops like that or someone else, needs to have a lot of MY qualities! My willingness to try new things and be spontaneous. Wow. I know they say a girl often looks for someone like her dad but I've never heard a guy admit that he likes the qualities in his sister that much...

It's timely because, as you know, Seth is here right now with his girl friend Brittany. We had dinner in White Rock last night with my parents and then walked along the water front. The path doesn't allow for five people to walk abreast so Brittany and I strolled ahead. We had a blast. Laughing, making comments about people and their clothes and discussing everything from cheap sunglasses to country music.

I started this blog after Seth broke up with his first long time girlfriend (aka the bride at the wedding on Saturday) so I haven't talked about her here. I'm trying to remember if she and I ever "clicked" like Brittany and I have. Maybe it's been to long but I don't think it was ever this way. She was always "Seth's girlfriend" whereas Brittany seems to be much more of her own person and relates to us that way.

The rehersal is tonight followed by a "guys night out" so I'm taking Brittany and we're going shopping :D I'll let you know how it goes.

We're Together Again

Seth’s here. He arrived with his girlfriend Brittany yesterday. They’ll be in town for about a week but will be busy with wedding stuff this weekend. Seth’s best friend is marrying Seth’s ex-girlfriend…and Seth’s the best man. A little too close for my tastes but it’s not my life.

Last night Dad set up the brand new patio set that he bought on the back deck. He just finished sanding the whole deck and painting it too so it’s really nice and fresh out there. We had a lovely dinner of bar-b-que steak, baked potatoes and corn on the cob with “pie a la mode” for dessert.

Today Seth, Brittany and possibly Aaron are shopping at Metrotown and I think we’re planning on getting together this evening. If Robert can get off work he may be flying out for the weekend (in on Friday night, out on Sunday night) but we haven’t heard yet. If he can it will be nice to have the whole family together again!

I'll take that as a compliment

There were three bananas on the top of the fridge at work all last week. Finally on Friday one of my coworkers presented them to me (gotta love the bonuses at a non-profit LOL) I took them home and made them into banana bread. I brought it in Tuesday morning and left it on the counter in the kitchen. By 3:30 there was only one piece left. I'll take that as a compliment!

Rational Hesitation

From my Starbucks cup on Wednesday:

The Way I See It #76

The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating – in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.

Rational hesitation. That’s the story of my life. As I get closer to my goal of moving to Ontario, my commitment deepens and I have to admit, my hesitation is going away as well. More and more people are learning of my plan and, once they hear my reasons, they support me whole heartedly.

My newest consideration/decision, what ever you want to call it, is the idea of going to school when I move to Ontario. The timing certainly makes sense and I am looking for a change. School would be a big change and a good challenge. I’m still not 100% sold on what I’d take but that’s part of the fun of it. Exploring different options.

So now my rational hesitation about school. There are so many pros and cons.

Pros:

• Is school ever wasted?
• I’d learn so much!
• It would be fun
• It’s slightly more flexible than having a full time job although I’d be poor
• I can justify working at Starbucks (something which I’m inexplicably obsessed with doing)

Cons:

• Financially student loans are the only way to swing is. Is that crazy?
• Are there actually jobs in the history field? (which is what I’m leaning towards studying. Aside from teaching. I don’t want to teach.)
• It’s school. It’s been ten years since I was in school.
• I know nothing about being a student. It’s a whole new world to learn about.

I can’t even think about apply for the 2010/2011 year until September so I can’t commit to anything. Until then the rational hesitation rules.

Walmart Funny

I ordered a batch of pictures from Walmart yesterday (148 prints). I sent the order electronically at 3:30 and at 4:30 I walked into the store to see if they had it ready. The clerk took one look at me and said "you're here already! I just filed your pictures." It was funny. It's a combination of me being in there fairly often and her having watched my photos being printed so she recognized me!

New Nickname

At my last job my boss dubbed me "Geneva the tennis player" because it was my job to stay as neutral on all subjects as humanly possible, and to constantly be lobbing "balls" back into other's courts.

At this job, I am turning into Elastigirl (from the Incredibles). I'm used to being big time over qualified for any job that I've done and only having to deal with my own procrastination tendencies. At this job I am underqualified for parts and leaned upon for a lot. It's stressing me out big time but one of my wonderful co-workers pointed out that stretching actually is a GOOD thing. That I will (and am) learn a ton and that it will make me a much more valuable employee in any future endeavour.

I agree, but it doesn't really make each day easier. So, today, I'm just leaning on Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. and trying to be positive.

Top Ten George Strait Songs

Editor's note: Blake Shelton was just one of the country music stars who honoured their musical hero during George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert, a TV special that aired Wednesday (May 27) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Blake's List

Taking my cue from Blake, here are my top ten George Strait songs and the reason why:

Love Without End, Amen During my last few years of high school I discovered that country music was good music to have on while I was doing homework. There were a few songs that jumped out at me. Love Without End, especially the line “When I became a father in the spring of '81” because I was born in the summer of ’81.

I Hate Everything Was the single during the summer of 2004 when I attended my first major concert. George Strait with special guest, Dierks Bentley, at the Commodore in Vancouver. That show changed my life in that I have been to countless concerts since and am a massive Dierks fan, all because George took him on tour.

You Look So Good In Love Dedicated to someone nameless who God has shown me, wasn’t right for me. Even if I thought we would have been good together. He really does “Look So Good In Love” and I wish them all the best.

You Can’t Make a Heart Love Somebody Dedicated to another nameless individual. This song just sums up my feelings exactly. Aside from leaving it up to God, one can’t “do” anything. And no, he's never proposed (or anything close to that) but the line "you can lead a heart to love, but you can't make it fall" is just so appropriate.

Heartland The shortest, best rockin’ George song evah.

Blue Clear Sky The fact that Dierks sang this song last night on the tribute certainly doesn’t hurt, but I’ve loved “Blue Clear Sky” for longer than that. I’ve “Given up on that little lie they call love” many times and I’m just waiting for something to come out of the Blue Clear Sky

Ocean Front Property I admit, this song bugged me for a LONG time. I just didn’t GET it When I finally stopped to listen and understood the sarcasm and subtlety, I fell in love. Not to mention that it’s one of the best sounding George Strait songs out there.

Amarillo By Morning By far the most overlooked GS songs, in that it didn’t go to number one. (I think it peaked at #4 or so). This is one of the best rodeo songs ever. It captures the heart ache and addiction that a true rodeo cowboy feels paired with incredible music. (By the way, this ties with “I Can Still Make Cheyenne”)

I Just Want to Dance With You We do dance to this one at Square Dance…not often enough in my opinion. My favourite part is the whistling. It just seems so carefree. I love it!

Texas Cooking Literally, my Texas trip in a song. So fun!

Bonus: Murder on Music Row Dedicated to my mom. She’s a huge fan of the steel guitar and often complains that they don’t use it enough anymore. Plus this song just has it’s finger on the pulse of modern country music.

Revisiting Things To Do Before I Die

Things To Do Before I Die


On February 13, 2006 I posted my list of "Things To Do Before I Die". I was telling a friend about it yesterday and realized that it's been a really long time since I reviewed it. The bolded items are things I have accomplished to date.

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 (well, not officially. I've been there for a drink but I haven't eaten anything. I intend to this summer...as soon as I figure out where the new one that is less than an hour from my house, actually is)
4. Live in another country...or at least another province
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 breakfast in bed yet)

16. Play blackjack at a casino
17. Make homemade ice cream
18. Try ten new foods
19. Go sailing
20. Ride in a limo

21. Be debt free (my car is paid off. I'm halfway there!)
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

26. Attend my ten year high school reunion (that's this summer)
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 (I'm not sure what the measurement for that is. I can cook. I just don't do it a lot)
42. Cook a turkey
43. Play with a hand bell choir
44. Complete 25 different crossword puzzles
45. Take a Self Defense Class

46. Fire a gun
47. Host a fondue
48. Take real swimming lessons (learn proper backstoke, 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 (not yet but I did post on Craigslist!)

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 (planned for this winter!)
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
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, five officially down, 91 to go.



The funny thing is I've changed since I wrote this. I truly have no desire to own a cat right now. Or take a self defense class. Maybe in a few years though...

12 of 12 May

First of all I have to make an appology. April's 12 of 12 landed on Easter Sunday. I took lots of pictures that day (probably more than 12) but they were all of people and I didn' feel comfortable posting them. I should have at least made an entry but time got away on me. So, here it is May already and I'm getting back on track.

May 12th was a busy day. It was election day in BC and, much to some people's chagrin, I exercise my right to NOT vote. As I posted on Facebook after I got balled out "The issue is I'm in a Liberal stronghold and I'm fine with that (provincally...ditto for Conservatives Federally). I'm not saying you SHOULDN'T vote. This is the first time I haven't since turning 18 (19?) but this time around (fourth election in 8 months, I'm burnt out and not bothering. I realize voter apathy is a huge issue in this country but until I hear something that makes me want to have my say, I'm content to let the current tide sweep through." So there.


I *could* have made it to the polls but I was in this lovely little building all day and I afterwards I just didn't feel like it. Yes, I could have done advanced voting but I didn't. So deal with it.

Aren't the flowers pretty? They are in bloom all over the city right now. I love them!

I was at Clayburn School for a workshop on "Resilient Communities". Most of it went over my head but I did learn some. I was there as support and to keep the coffee hot. That's the presenter.

After the workshop there was a book launch and the author gave me the leftover wine as a thank you.

Here's my self portrait for the day. I was ready for bed and trying to sew a snap onto my skirt since the hook got messed up.

My weakness isn't wine or chocolate. It's chips. Mmmmm.

And ridiculous romances...that mostly just end up depressing me. They're totally formulamatic and simple but I love reading them.

Seth bought me a Scrabble calendar so I keep it in the bathroom and try and work out the puzzles while brushing my teeth. I leave my watch in the bathroom at night and taking it off reminds me to...

take my cholestrol medication. 20mgs of Crestor every day. Yes I realize that if I cut out the wine and chips I could impact the amount of Crestor I need. So far I haven't developed the proper will power yet.

So there you go. A slice of my life. My new GM starts tomorrow so life will continue to be as busy as it has been for the past four months. Wish me luck!

12 of 12 March

Posting this month's twelve of twelve is two weeks over due but I promise the pictures were all taken on March 12th. So let's see, what happened that day? To start with I actually ate breakfast! I go through spurts of eating at home, eating at work, not eating at all. This week I was on a "eat at home" spurt.
The sun was shining and the view of Mount Baker from the end of my street was gorgeous. The picture is a bit washed out but you can still see my favourite mountain :)
Thursday again means the Country Club Newsletter and one of Steve's wonderful "words of the day". No one knows what it means but it's worth 200 bonus points!

Mere met me at Mill Lake at lunch and we went for a walk...and yes I took pictures of the ducks and the water instead of us. Sorry LOL

This bush just outside my sliding door doesn't look like much now but wait for a month or two when it explodes with blossoms. Lovely!

Mail! Belated Christmas card exchange along with Dierks bracelets!

I was packing for a retreat (I forgot to take a picture of the bags!) and Mere came over to keep me company. She brought leftover margarita mix from her birthday and some crackers and cheese. Yummy!

I made a mad dash to the dollar store after she left for goodie bag items. Of course they didn't have want I wanted so I improvised with chocolate from Save-on Foods.

In Save-on I also found a new cook book. I started going through it when I got home and I was flagging the recipes I want to try but I gave up because they all look good! I've used one of the salad ones already.

And, the self portrait. Me, after I took a shower and washed my hair :)








Now, who's counting and realizes that there are only 11 pictures? In my multiple edits I accidently deleted one. I don't remember what it was and I'm not going to try and find it. You'll have to just make do with 11 pictures on the 27th but hey, it's done!!! See you next month :)

Happy (very belated) St. Patrick's Day!

There once was a young man from Kew
Who found a dead mouse in his stew.
Said the waiter, “Don't shout
Or wave it about,
Or …

Do you know the rest of the limerick? Apparently I do! I took the afternoon of Friday the 13th off so I could pack up and head out to a retreat. On my way out of town I was scanning radio stations and I picked up on one out of Vancouver. They were running a St. Patrick’s Day, complete the limerick contest. I called in and got through and, long story short, won! My prize? Two tickets to see The Irish Rover’s at a local casino. (Guess Friday the 13th's not so unlucky after all!)

I talked my dad into picking up the tickets (way down in Vancouver) and he and I went to the show together on St. Patrick's Day. It was a lot of fun. Their set wasn’t all that long but we enjoyed every minute of it.

Dad is very familiar with their music having grown up listening to them and watching them on TV. I recognized more than I thought I would. Anything I wasn’t able to sing along to I was able to sit back and just listen to. Their music is infectious and happy. It was a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

So, what’s the rest of the limerick? Any guesses?

Thursday Thunks...on a Friday

Lifted from Tosin.

1. You are walking down the road and you look down. There is a bug. Do you step on it?
Yes, depending on my shoes and how squishy the bug is. I don’t bother with ants. Beetles? You bet.

2. What is one fantasy that you want to come true more than any other?
Being debt free. And it really shouldn’t be a fantasy but it sure feels like one some days!

3. Someone knocks on your door. Do you look out the window to see who it is before you open it? Do you open it regardless of who it is?
I live in an apartment so I rarely have anyone randomly knock. If they did, yes, I’d look through the peephole first.

4. Have you ever eaten Play Doh?
Sure. Mom used to make it from scratch. It was salty :)

5. What was your favorite Saturday morning cartoon as a child and why?
I didn’t watch Saturday morning cartoons. My brothers used to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles though

6. Are you a "people watcher"?
Absolutely! Cheapest best entertainment EVAH!

7. I have a bowl of fruit. There are apples, oranges & pears. You help yourself to one - which one do you choose?
Depends on what kind of apples. I prefer golden delicious. If that’s not an option I may go for the pear. Oranges are too messy…unless they’re mandarin.

8. What is your biggest pet peeve in the blogging world?
Right now, just not having time to read the blogs I love!!!

9. What is one religion that you could just never see yourself joining?
I’ve always maintained that I could never convert to Judaism because I like pork too much. Same with Hinduism. Me. Love. Beef :D

10. What word do you use far too often?
Really?

11. How long do you spend in the shower?
Depends. Basic morning scrub down? Less than one song, or the news, depends on what’s on.

12. If you were to write a personal ad about yourself, what would it say?
SWF seeking fun, adventurous, driven individual who like to have fun…or something like that…

13. Your favorite flavor of soup is....?
Harvest Gouda Vegetable

14. You are sitting on a bench in the park and a bug walks in front of your feet.... do you squash him?
Again, depends on the type. Ants? Nah. Cool squish bugs? Sure!

Well that was a surprise!

I got an eviction notice yesterday. Total case of mistake identity but it gave me a small heart attack. Apparently someone had told the landlord that they were moving out so he processed the paperwork using my name.

I'm not going anywhere. My rent's up to date (always has been) and it allowed me to have a nice little chat with my landlord. He likes me because I'm an "invisible tenant". There, but not a trouble maker (evidenced by the fact that he got me confused with someone else).

So, everythings good. Scared the cr@p out of me though!

Six weeks in…

And today, for the first time, I answered the phone and said the wrong company name. I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner! Luckily the caller was understanding :)

So I emailed an ex-coworker and she said that as of last week’s board meeting 1.5 more positions have been cut at my last company…this is after them not replacing me. Sounds like I got out at the right time! As much as I’m still struggling with my current job I am beyond thankful that I chose to take it!!!

Building an Altar to the Garbage Gods

One of the side tasks I was assigned when I started this job has become some what of a pet project for me. We have a shiny new office (they just moved in, in October) but there is very, very little storage here. There is one room that doubles as the server room and the landlord is allowing us to use some unsecured common space for storage. My goal is to clear out the common space. (also known as the “cold room” because it isn’t insulated at all) I’ve spent countless hours on this project and while the server room is looking spiffy, there’s still lots to clean out in the cold room.

I worked with our computer tech yesterday to determine what boxes and equipment could be ditched. Anyone need the software for Windows ’98? LOL We culled about half of what is stored and I just kept adding it to a pile in the corner of the cold room that is destined for recycling or the dump. I’m calling that space my “Altar to the Garbage Gods”. That stuff doesn’t need to be kept in our tight-for-storage-space-office so I’m offering it up! It feels wonderful :)

12 of 12 February

I haven't been blogging at all but I did manage to get enough pictures for the February 12 of 12 so let's see if I can update a bit of what I've been up to. February 12, 2009 is exactly one year before the start of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. The hype is starting to build!!!

This 12 of 12 is on a Thursday which means it's "Country Club Newsletter Day". Enter the bonus code and get an extra 200 points.
The 13th is one month into my new job. This is my desk...before the mess starts!
And this is my desk at the end of the day. Craziness!

I'm settling in, slowly. The learning curve isn't as steep as the first few weeks but I am still getting used to all the tasks and being challenged daily to stay on top of everything that needs to be done.

It was a *beautiful* day and I couldn't resist taking a short drive to get this picture of Mount Baker. Majestic in it's snow capped glory presiding over the valley like a king on his throne :)
Excitement! Remember how I mentioned that I'm getting started in researching my geneology? Well my family got a call from the History Channel, a show called "Ancestors in the Attic" specifically and they want to do an episode on my great-uncle's, Melville and Cecil! I gave them the information that I know verbally and faxed a bit more. I certainly hope something comes of it. That would be so neat!
At home the dishes await. Thankfully these ones are clean and just waiting to be put away.
I borrowed some movies from my brother Aaron...now to find time to watch them!

Leah and I went out for all-you-can-eat-Sushi and then to Starbucks. It's been a really long time since we've been able to hang out, just the two of us so it was really nice.


Super exciting text from Meredith!!!
And my self portrait. I've been doing some devotions at the kitchen table in the mornings and just before bed.

So, that's my day. See you again next month!