Seven random thoughts to make me feel better

Hmmmm.

So I am officially working only on one project until the new year. I pretty much hate the client, they are ridiculously high maintenance and fussy and irrational. I also can't say the type of work I will be doing (environmental audits) are my favourite thing in the world either. Not to mention that I will be out of town for 50% of the time until December. But I was really trying to force myself to look on the bright side. I was going to get paid a pile of money in mileage (possibly enough to pay off my car) and per diem's. Today, I found out that instead I have to submit my food receipts (so no extra to take home if I eat light) and I will be driving rentals. So I get absolutely no compensation for doing work away from my home that I don't like for the worst client ever. Suckiness. Although it is much harder (and I am grasping at straws) I still forced myself to try to think of some good things about the next few months. I will admit it was hard but what I have come up with is that I will be the last one in line to do weekend work since I'm already away so much and that I know my September-Christmas schedule, for the most part, which is rare with this job. If you can think of anything else good, let me know because I need more than that. Boo car rental.

Here's some random things about my day to make me feel better:

I learned a super fun solitaire-ish game with my new dominoe set.

I love my garage. Like a lot.

I also love my washing machine (I'm okay with the dryer too - I don't use it as much).

I finally tried to check if my Dell is one of the ones with the recalled batteries but I couldn't figure it out. I might need to phone them. But so far it hasn't blown up - and that's good.

I got a haircut by a student at a hair college for $15. I now have a "side bang". It's hot**

I officially booked my trip to Mexico in December. How cool is that? Props to a friend getting married at a time of year that I can totally get time off work and for staying at a reasonable all inclusive resort.

I think I am going to a birthday party tonight at a place called Foxy's for a co-worker.

**Actually, it's so subtle you can hardly tell. But it's amazing how stylish I feel just knowing that I can truthfully say that I have a side bang.

feathers flying

Blech. There was a pidgeon on the road today (a big huge one). Usually those things fly away as you approach but by the time I got close enough to realise this one wasn't going to move, there were feathers everywhere.

I'd say more about that dumb bird, but it is in poor taste to speak badly of the dead.

The return of Todd

Ok I am so psyched! I just got back from Calgary where I went this weekend for my friends Jess and Bruno's wedding shower. It was my first co-ed shower (that is true in all respects) and was quite fun. On Saturday afternoon I went garage saling with a couple of friends. We arrived at this one house and there was a sign saying "Everything is free!" Apparently after a certain time the guy had decided he just wanted to get rid of the rest of his stuff instead of taking it back into the house. There was one little man who was piling up all the things he wanted on a table and when he finished he turned to the guy and said, "Are you sure I can take all this?" The guy laughed and said, "Absolutely - take the table too if you want!" Anyway, I picked up some resistence bands, a board game called the Farming Game and a set of Dominoes. And the reason I am psyched is because I just confirmed that the ENTIRE SET IS PRESENT!!! I've only played dominoes a couple times with some Cranbrook people but I think it might have been one of my favourite game playing nights ever.

When I used to do field work (oh how I miss it - best jobs ever) I was usually up later in the evenings than my collegues and I would play cards. I got seriously sick of sollitaire so I would play two hands of another game, and try to play them as honestly as I could. I would deem one hand to be mine and then other to be my made- up-card-playing-friend Todd. I would keep score and try to beat him, even though he didn't exist. One night I forgot to throw away the piece of paper I was keeping score on and Kristie was so confused. Because obviously it would be a little bit hard for me to just make a friend one evening in the middle of the bush and invite him over to play cards. I got made fun of for the rest of the year by my lab mates but I never forgot Todd.

Anyway, I have a hankering to play some dominoes. I think Todd and I are going to attempt a quick game right now. If any of my local friends are reading this and want to come and be real life dominoe partners, I would be thrilled. Todd's great for an imaginary partner, but it's not the same as flesh and blood.

movie review - benchwarmers

first of all i would like to say that benchwarmers was completely retarded. but second i'd like to say that watching it in the park with a bunch of kids around me laughing at all the puking and other physical comedy made it quite enjoyable. i'm glad i went. funk is gone.

now tomorrow morning bright and early i shall voyage back to medicine hat. goodnight.

Funkiness

I hate being in a funk. Especially when there is absolutely no reason to be. Yet in a funk I am. I had a nice day. I woke up and went to church then went to my friend Ian's for a barbeque. I came away with one win and one loss in air hockey. Then I got down to some lawn mowing, went to work to figure out some things for tomorrow in Medicine Hat (tricky confusing project). Then I came home, ate some supper and watched Danger Bay, finished my laundry and packed for tomorrow. Now all I have to do are the dishes and then I can go to bed. it was a great day. So why am I feeling sad? Boo.

Well I shall now attempt to counteract my funk by going to the park to watch a movie with my sister. It is movie night in the park - I hope they are playing a good one.

journey to north b, victoria, part way to spokane, back to a tire shop in moses lake, back to spokane, on to pinelow park, and home

What a month so far. I left my house on the 29th of July and got my lovely sister to drive me to North Battleford. The next morning we (a family from my church and another girl catching a ride like me) were off for Victoria. It was such a nice laid back trip - we drove about 8 or 9 hours everyday and then hung out in Vancouver for most of Monday before heading over to the island. I even found the first thrift store ever that I liked. It was called Colette's and all the clothes were clean and organized by style and colour. Usually I find thrift stores overwhelming and want to get out of them as soon as possible, but this one was great.

Anyways, in Victoria I got to see a bunch of my friends and I made some new friends. I stayed with an older lady named Mary and we had such great chats. We even talked about boys a couple of times so we definately bonded. Victoria was great. The best part was that I got to go camping with some friends at this beach called Sombrio. We hiked down to and then along the beach to find the perfect spot. It was so relaxing. I fell asleep outside under the stars listening to the waves. I'd love to go back sometime. Other highlights included travelling to this little island (Thetis I think) and helping an older man put siding on his house. Following that we drove across the island to a little inlet where there were tons of bright purple starfish. It was fantastic. Probably the most exciting evening in Victoria was when we attended the Symphony down at the water. If you want the story (complete with a map) one of the poeople with me wrote a good description of the evening.

After the week in Victoria a group of us travelled to Pinelow camp near Spokane Washington. On the way I had my first blow-out. A tire on the car that I was driving (and I was going fast on the interstate - is it interstate or innerstate? - highway) practically exploded. It was quite exciting. A good samaritan stopped and helped us change it in about 7 minutes. I know we could have done it, but I suspect it would have taken a lot longer. After a couple hour delay (we drove back to Moses Lake to get a new tire) we were again on our way. Pinelow was fantastic. It is such a nice camp and the lake was the perfect temperature and the sandy beach was perfect for laying on. The best part of the whole week was the day we created a slip'n'slide that went right into the water. By supper time, the entire camp was watching people try to show off. Nothing like a big grey tarp to bring people together.

Anyway, there are lots of other stories that could be told, but I need to hit the road. This is possibly my only weekend that I could be at home in all of August and I will kick myself if I waste it on the computer.

Later!

back from the states

Back from holidays. We were on the road by 5am this morning and returned home around 10pm. Worth it though. I wouldn't have wanted to miss the last night in Washington.

Too tired to organize my thoughts much. So maybe I'll write about the trip later. I will have to tell you about my first blown tire and the slip 'n slide that unified the church camp and my first attempts at putting siding on a house.