Tuesday Night Shake Down

Hi girls.

I'm on an insane sugar high that may have altered the rest of my life. It all started when the whole office sat down together to make gingerbread houses and has spiraled out of control through a giant box of Purdys chocolates and into a bag of wine gums that is stashed in my pants drawer.

Honestly my mouth feels like its full of wire brushes

Plus for some reason I agreed to play online Scrabble with Mike and he happens to be stupidly good at it (the Scrabble dictionary is total bogus by the way- fub is not a word that should acquire more points than the word pub, which is a real word)

Had a great weekend with little to no sugar intake so at least I can remember that fondly. Went to Gowlan Tod and climbed around on some rocks and trees, went to Tyson's for burgers with bacon cooked into them. Laid in bed the majority of Saturday which was much appreciated and needed

I have a day and a half of work left before the holidays and I'll be damned if I don't use part of the half playing Klondike on my Ipod. Or, I mean, sending important emails.


Both my elbows feel arthritic, I'm going to lie down.

Made Marzipan!

And I ended up turning them into these little chocolates. Really simple and they turned out delivious- though I think I need a darker chocolate to counter the amount of sticky sweetness between the marzipan and apricot. Definitely something I'll be adding to my candy recipes for the holidays- (alongside salted honey caramels and chocolate truffles). Soon I'll be da domestic queen.

and now have a good early morning/late night dancing song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwRuixWgNh8

Read a recipe on how to make marzipan, gonna make it this week.

The weeks are still stressful. Though, today was sunday and I didn't do much. I cleaned for the majority of it. I ate a little, and then finished watching a movie I've been meaning to finish. I also went down to the beach and saw a dead baby seal. no head. Poor guy didn't even grow up to thrive, and eat all the fish it could handle.
Last night, I dreamt of something that I have yet to ever dream of. For me, I don't think it was exactly the specific subject matter, but the theme itself of never actually (or at least thinking i havent) ever feeling the particle feeling that i felt! It was new, I woke up happy for the moment being.

That being said, I bought a small book of poetry the other day- filled with relatively normal situations, but laid out simply and that you could easily swallow. Like a piece of orange covered in sugar. Da author is Wendy Cope.

This is it though.

Megumi Goto

I have a big midterm in a few hours and I'm not really absorbing anything. It's frustrating when you read and read and nothing enters your brain. There is a barn party tomorrow night that I'd like to be able to go to, but it won't be possible. I'm going to re-gift my second copy of The Inconvenient Indian to Jon for his birthday; here's to passing on good books.

Hope that you are feeling less stressed, Sarah. And that it is as sunny a couple hours north as it is down here today.

Everyone is sick right now, and not in the "Damn kid, that's sick" kind of way.

October Catch-Up

Still raining.

I was supposed to start a new volunteer position at Open Space this afternoon but the girl who was meant to train me stayed home with a bad cold. So I have been watching Gilmore Girls at home for the last couple hours, listening to the rain hit the roof.
They are making me the Proposals Assistant, which is a fancy title for a job that is basically sorting and scanning pages into pdfs. With the potential of attending board meetings in the future though, which is the real draw. That place still makes me a bit uncomfortable though. Miles, the Installation guy, is really nice and welcoming but I still have no idea where I stand with the director. She's a bit of a cat, you know? Not afraid to swat.

And Sarah Chezick, I was afraid you were mad at me for not getting in touch Thanksgiving weekend. Seriously though I will show you my schedule:

Friday- Arrive in Nanaimo, hung out with Mike, tried to go to Newcastle but the ferry wasn't running, went to the Morrel nature reserve instead, got lost, found Westwood lake, ran around in the forest. Went to a Thanksgiving potluck/ birthday party for a thirty something year old guy. Listened awkwardly as Mike apologized to the guy for asking his girlfriend out several months ago (he felt really bad about it which I thought was stupid- girl's main appeal was that she likes Star Wars, who doesn't) Dropped my beer on the floor, ate delicious soup made my a French Canadian.

Saturday- Drove to Black Creek, hung out with Kory's whole family, went kayaking, posed for pictures, drove back down to Parksville for dinner with my parents, watched a stupid movie with Tom Cruise.

Sunday- woke up, drove to Victoria, watched my brother try to walk after running 42 km, waited for him to have a shower, drove home, made brussel sprouts, drove to Qualicum, ate dinner with about 47 teenagers and two black labs (everyone liked my brussel sprouts) drove back home, laid around moaning about how full I was, went to bed early

Monday- my parents insisted that I go through some boxes in the garage that had some things from childhood etc, some old pots that my mom made. Drank a coffee, drove to Nanaimo to drop my brother off at the ferry, drove back to Mike's house and back to Victoria to dinner at Marketa's. Ate too much and drank too much wine. Went to bed

So you see, I guess I could have hung out with you Saturday night instead of watching stupid Tom Cruise movie, but I was falling asleep and sounds like you've been busy too...

Would have liked to have seen Mr Standing though. I guess I've been having a good month. Today just feels like it should have been productive but the best thing that happened was the hot chocolate I made at breakfast. Last night I saw Matt and Jocelyn, they look the same. Something about couples though stops time a little. Maybe it's because I haven't seen them in a while.

update from chezykins

Hey guys, haven't really connected in a really long time. I've been stressed as stressed can be (i did not know you could get your period twice in a month), and I've been resulting to sleep to deal with things. Tonight has been good night, I got a bounty of marimba work done (i've become their unofficial summer planner and I've got this impressive spreadsheet of festivals and contacts being created as I speak) and I'm trying to convince da rest of the girls of this website that host presskits vs me making one... It's prefab, and relatively simple in the design, but I like that it means that the presskit won't stay static and broken links can be fixed super fast).

That also being said, I got a new computer! It has a touchscreen netbook thingy... I'm impressed with it. It has this really neat app that lets me paint... I'll show you some examples maybe.  What else... the garden I help maddy with, with held our first workshop last week, and we had almost 20 people attend- isn't that a great turn out? Ems, Mr. Standing was there, and I thought that was very funny. He hasn't changed and of course him and Maddy talked like it hasnt been years. Me on the other hand, I was what you would expect from seeing a teacher 6 years after the fact- distant, but friendly. I'm sure I'll only get better with communicative skills with age ;)

What else... I still think we should get together eventually and talk about doing our "project". Brain storm you know? I see things all over the place right now, colour templates, ways I think it should be laid out and the general theme of the project. I don't know if this is a smart way of thinking, but it definitely has been bittersweet, on one hand- I get excited about the potential prospects of the project. The other hand, it's like I'm just setting up roadblocks for us. "oh man, we have so much to do".

That's it though.

Not only are we bitter but we're brittle

10 points if you can spot the dead guy in this photograph.

I told a girl at the bus stop that her haircut looked nice, but it turns out she just always has it up in a ponytail. Live and learn. My Constitutional History prof continues to be a hilarious lecturer, it stands to reason that all teachers should be forced to learn the importance of humor in a special course once they are awarded their first teaching session.

Did I say anything about my work-study research yet? It turns out that the archives are unexpectedly fun. There are security guards who are mostly kindly old men and people who are really, really enthusiastic about family lineages. The entrance doors are elaborately carved and imposing. My previous visits have always been when life is at it's most stressful, so it was a pleasant surprise to be there in a more relaxed(ish) state of mind.

Frances is going to make lasagna tonight, yes yes yes.

Don't be afraid to stop talking about yourself

Sittin' in the theater coffee shop, eating Cheezies and listening to a job interview for the Martlet. There are millions and millions of questions being asked, and everyone is dressed impeccably. There is a lot of catty language flying around right now, and apparently they get a ton of poetry submissions. So there you go.
I'm supposed to be meeting The Boy and his bro at a shopping center near the ferry, and I have no idea where the turnoff from the highway is. I go over and over it in my head, but for the life of me I can't visualize it. Driving would not be nearly half as bad if navigating was not also required.
Looking forward to some turkey and seeing the puppy and maybe a hot tub and/or a fire in the grate. Kory's folks have the most comfortable house, I swear. It's like a mini-vacation every time we go there.
There is a summer dog guiding position open in Iceland right now. It's located on a glacier. Room and board and a small stipend. And you get to live in Iceland.

 

Burning cities melt hearts

I am having constant sad dreams about being up north in late September. They are mostly fragmented flashbacks of being somewhere out on the tundra or wading through boreal forest, with leaves that are just beginning to turn and the smell of cool earth in the air. It happens at unexpected moments; when I'm sitting in class, when I'm walking around the BCIT campus, when I'm cooking dinner or doing homework. It's a little silly, because up there I would be freezing and down here I am not. Additionally, there is a plan in place to head in that direction in the near-ish future (read, 8 months maybe?). But the mind will do what it wants, I suppose. Plus, freezing is not all that bad.

On a different note...recall how all of my possessions seem to be mislaid at all times? Well, after this weekend's Vancouver visit I forgot the one thing I really couldn't afford to forget; mainly, my car keys. Poor Kory had to fly to the mail over his lunch break and express post them to his sheepish girlfriend. Other news includes meeting up with an old friend, eating Thai food out of a hollowed-out pineapple, being given free beverages by hungover students, and developing a burgeoning addiction to 5-pin bowling.

The entire family clan is gathered in Fort St. James right now for a fall hunting/fishing trip. They are all suffering from head colds and plan on skulking into the woods this afternoon. Watch out, grouse. 

The last of the Septembers

Emmmmaaaaa. I don't want to jump right back into school, man, and I really can't afford it at the moment. I'm going to lurk through the classifieds for a bit and see what is out there. Athabasca has an online Cultural Heritage Management diploma, so there's always that option.

I am not too upset about having to spend 4 months living broke in Vancouver, but the all-or-nothing context of that discussion has put me on edge. I'm claustrophobic and upset all the time; it feels as if there's a storm brewing at some point on the horizon. But life goes on, and who knows how things will turn out. Not me.

I hear the opening band last night was a pleasant surprise. Frances went from drinking a melancholy beer on our kitchen floor to being all smiles this morning. When am I going to be re-introduced to the new love interest? He sounds like a dote. Anyone who is into pine beetle larvae is a friend of mine.

Jessie is doing this race, it's official. The 430-mile division:   http://www.arcticultra.de/en/

Here's some Helen Hardin to nicely round off this discussion.

Disguised As The Sea

Aw damn Laura that really sucks. I mean good for you for catching a kitten heart but you must be able to find a compromise here. I guess I'm more glad that you'll be in vancouver than if you were going somewhere farther but I know it's really not your city. Dang.

On the boy drama blog thing. I guess I'm sort of in a relationship again. Who saw that coming so soon. I'm sort of avoiding telling people because of how recently the last one ended but I can't see this one dissolving too suddenly. He says he can't sleep when I am next to him.
Besides the goopy romance he is more or less exactly what I need right now.

And I have been having weekly drinks with some girls that I went to school with. Which is really helpful as it's got me thinking about the future and about grad school, things might be moving forward more quickly with that in the next month.

Laura if I you want my opinion you should be applying to school in or around Vancouver. You are going to need to be specialized in something eventually. Even if it's just a French class on the side.
There.

You may now Instagram the bride

I don't want to make this the 'relationship angst' blog, but a Big Talk went on in this house last night. And the results, shall we say, are not in my favor. Rather than spending the next four months busting a gut hauling water to a pack of screaming dogs, I will be sweating over resumes geared towards finding a job in Vancouver. The conversation went kind of like this:
Me: Well, I have wanted to go work for a racer since I finished high school. This is the perfect time to do it.
BF: I don't want you to leave, I don't think I could finish this program without you.
Me: But I hate Vancouver. And I have no money. And there are very, very limited jobs available for me there.
BF: Well, if you are leaving, then I'm going to quit school and come with you.
ME: That's incredibly stupid.
BF: Well, it's how I feel.
Me: ...
How did this happen? I am honestly quite shocked. It's as if Someone Up There watched the sweat and struggle of an undergrad and thought, 'Hahaaaa, Laura THINKS that at the end of these years she will be free to do as she pleases, but I'm going to attach her to a man with an attractive beard and the heart of a kitten and see how this goes."
I don't really know who is in the right here, but I feel exhausted. And very, very sad.

Also, yesterday I made a baked breakfast pancake with a mound of eggs. It came out all fluffy and golden, but fell almost immediately, Yorkshire-pudding style. So bad times all around.

A bushel and a peck

Holy moly, is it ever hot here. I am lounging around in my underwear and drinking lemonade, so it feels as though the sunshine is losing this round.

Forgot how much I feel awkward in dorm rooms. This building is filled with guys all doing impressive degrees, but they seem so young in other ways ex. there is a cooking temperature chart taped to the fridge. We appear to trust these men with engineering our buildings and roadways, but not with stir-frying chicken. This morning there were four scuzzy-eyed people huddled around the living room table, picking at reheated pasta and watching Australian boarder agents confiscate mangoes on the television.

5 days until the referendum on Scottish independence. Och aye.

The gap-toothed rapper is back

Welp. Forgot that everyone was going camping for the Labour Day long weekend, and now things are all topsy-turvey. Not only do I not have the keys for my new place, I also do not have an address or any way of contacting Fran. Nor do I know if it's even ok for me to move in, given that the bathroom is being frantically renovated. Shoulda probably planned this one out with a little more foresight.

The last few days have been a blur of eating in tired-looking restaurants and driving over endless miles of highway. We picked the most bear-infested stretch of road to camp out overnight, near a heli-skiing resort on the Stuart Cassiar. Oddly, though, we never had a problem with any nocturnal visitors of the ursine variety. Instead, mice decided to invade, creeping up to the tent fly, worrying away at the zippers, and sitting nonchalantly in our shoes. After breaking camp, we spotted two more bears within a kilometer, so I guess mice weren't the worst problem to have.

Oh yeah. I also spent a day in The Fort, so MAN OH MAN DO I EVER HAVE HONEY. There is a glistening cardboard box in the back of my car, and of course, Joanne threw in a jar for her favorite redhead. So if I end up having to crash at your place for a few days, Ritch, I can pay you in sweet sugar. If that's cool.

Not to keep harping on the relationship stuff, but is it too early to tell you that I thought Myles was kind of lame? All of his Facebook posts were either ironic pop-culture rants or about Star Wars. If it is too early, then oh my god look at this hilarious little cartoon about horrible dogs!

 

Chapped chaps

Thanks for the sympathy. I guess maybe pms doesn't help the situation but it's not like I didn't know it had to end sometime. We talked yesterday and he says he just can't see it going on forever. But I never could so maybe that's where we're at odds. I was happy to enjoy it while it lasted and he was looking at our future.
Do people actually go into relationships assuming that they are going to last forever though? Like 8 months is a long time to be with someone as is. Maybe I'm not old enough or something.

Anyhow everyone is trying to ply me with liquor. Basically I just wanna drink eight beers and doze in the sun on a beach the whole day after. Good thing camping exists.

Men are Dogs

Shiiiit, that sucks. Ritch. All of it, from the blister to the boy. I will ply you with wine in a few short days and we can talk about everything but relationships, if you want. And if you continue to feel super shitty, a doctor's appointment might be a good thing to spring for...

Heading down to the island in the next few days and not looking forward to the drive. Should be in Dease Lake tomorrow, followed by the Fort and then further points unknown. An enthusiastic Newfie will be taking our place, which is good to know. Got my car fixed in Whitehorse in preparation for the drive and provided everyone at the Honda dealership with conformation that I am a clueless mechanical moron. Ate at a baller Mexican restaurant, got assaulted by wind in the Walmart parking lot. Will be sad to leave this area, where there are rivers and lakes and people that wave at you with two fingers when they drive by on the road.
 

Radio Silence

So I guess I've written on this thing about twice in the past eight months. Just realized I haven't even really checked it since last post.
It's nice to hear your adventures Laura. You sound happy.

I got dumped today, which was a bit unexpected. I've had this really nauseous head ache for about a week and it has been making it hard for me to concentrate or interact properly with other humans (met a very nice bull dog named Stella on Wednesday. We got along). Anyway I guess Myles thought I was mad at him or ignoring him out of spite and came over to end it this morning. I was sort of angry to begin with because despite the fact that I had been telling him all week that I was feeling ill it didn't really seem to register with him.
I'm just writing this down because I know I'm going to be asked why we broke up and I'm still not really sure myself. I thought we were working on communicating but I guess not.

Anyway. Going to a party tonight. Probably not a good idea since I haven't eaten much today but I'm hoping I'll be able to talk about other things to strangers.

Also spent about an hour organizing the poster wall at Open Space which earned me a blistered thumb and too much time to be alone and think

Maybe it's time to think about grad school

Because science

If by some weird quirk of fate you are ever offered undercooked black bear meat and told not to worry about it, trichinosis only affects grizzly bears,
DON'T EAT IT.
I am serious, people. A woman just came in today and told me that she has been eating rare bear steaks for a year because she believed this snippet of advice from a community elder (she doesn't live here.) Which is startling and worrying. Yes, traditional knowledge has a lot to offer, but don't accept a pronouncement lock, stock and barrel when acting on it can put your life at risk. People are people, and people make mistakes. If you don't believe me, read this guy's story:
http://www.adn.com/article/20121025/dinner-black-bear-leads-rare-trichinosis-infection-nikiski-man

All the good stuff at the very very end

Opened the door to a dark corridor today to find my manager, maniacal grin on his face and vacuum attachment brandished menacingly. But we all know that I deal with sudden surprises in a manner that is cool, calm and collected.

The word on the street is that I got a small scholarship for writing an essay that was utterly off topic and some research work for a nice professor. So things are looking up, but also very busy. There are all these things I feel that I should be accomplishing, but they will not happen without hard work and the time and motivation is not there, man. For example, apparently Jon is a killer filmmaker. And web designer. And carpenter. And photographer and researcher and historian and cook. All of these things I have learned through pure coincidence, so who knows what other talents are yet to be discovered. I have four years to develop some type of competency in life. This is one of his completed projects: http://avenuehistory.org/.

A group from Washington came through the museum yesterday. One of them, a wildlife biologist, was quite put out that he wasn't able to find a book of Mammals of BC and and/or buy the wolverine skull we have on display. Actually, I was kind of taken aback by the book thing as well. Anyway, turns out that both of the guys had worked for the Smithsonian for years. After working in a tiny museum, I'm not sure how well I would function working in a larger institution, where there are rules and people have assigned roles. One of the charms of this place is that you can move from exhibit design right into squirrel trapping and no one bats an eyelash.

I miss you girls. It is my hope that the mental vibes I have been sending the two of you will pay off some day and I'll awake to a flood of posts and adventure updates. 

Why is it raining so much, all the time? 

For her, life was a test to be passed

Ambition = low at the moment. My hands are doing a frantic dance of their own accord, thanks to Our Good Friend Coffee. Woke up this morning to low clouds and mountains, with eyes glued shut due to oversleeping and a bathroom that smelled like ravioli. There is a small merlin hawk that has taken to perching on my deck and glaring severely through the window. On the drive in to work this morning, I passed two young men standing mournfully by the side of the road, almost dwarfed by the oodles and oodles of baggage between them. I was going the wrong way to offer any assistance, but I have to admit that it intrigued me. There are an alarming number of bumblebee-yellow bikers laboring their way along the highway recently, tires wobbling as RVers from Texas swoosh by. Went to the dump yesterday to find out how I could safely dispose of a half-used box of taxidermy "skull bleach" and a box of asbestos. Was told that Cole at the shop would know what to do with it. New task is to find Cole and the shop.

So cool

So I'm just gonna keep running with this

because I don't have any appealing reading material at the moment, it's my lunch hour, it feels good to write again.

My brother was in a car accident on a logging road a few days ago. He was driving behind a loaded truck in a dust cloud, and it pulled off to the side to let him pass. Thoughtful, but unfortunately he couldn't see it at all and it suddenly loomed up at him out of the haze. He swerved to the left and tore the passenger side off of the work truck. I called my parents, thinking they'd be in a panic, but they were oddly calm about the whole thing. Now that I know he's ok, I have free license to feel slightly smug. Because the person in the family who is always getting targeted for not being a fast/competent enough driver by her little bro sure didn't get into an accident when she was 16.

There is another Emma in town at the moment. Museum Manager Jon's girlfriend flew up a few days ago to join in the Yukon excitement. We were at a beach party and everyone was worried because she was wearing a light summer dress. The comments about their upcoming camping trip all included references to jeans and warm clothing. She took it in stride, though. They are a gentle and kind couple whom I like very much. Jon shows his affection for her by placing freezing cold water bottles against her neck at surprising moments. The 50/50 Arts Collective is showcasing her photography at the moment right now, in case either of you are interested.

A woman came back this morning and bought four jars of homemade jam. When she inquired as to what highbush cranberry tasted like, I told her that they smelled like rotten socks. Her eyes went wide as saucers and it was time for some hasty reassurance. The salesman gene apparently does not run rampant through my bloodstream.

Much of the free time here in Teslin is spent climbing a hill/mountain to get cell service and drinking a beer at the top. There is also a system of back cat roads that are simply referred to as "Ned's trails." He was an older fellow with a bulldozer who was convinced that there was gold in them thar hills. Apparently he washed out enough placer to keep himself dirt poor but happy, and his ambling tracks have reverted to a fairly wild state. I often steal a little husky named Mougli, who delights in roaring around at top speed.

Kory is attending a "sports car party" right now. I don't even... 

Holy shitballs, look at where I am living right now.

Pretty sweet, huh?

The mountain/lake cabin that has become my current home comes with a patch of strawberries in the front yard, a dock which is floating on goodwill alone, and a resident black bear. After a young couple from Ontario evicted me from the townhouse that was to be the summer lodgings, I was pretty angry. But, y'know...somehow, I've gotten over it.

To weigh in on the relationship terminology argument. Partner is a good word, really. It implies that you are in a mutually respectful engagement with another person. You are merrily skipping down your life path with an amiable hanger-on who is not repelled enough by your personality quirks to strike off on a solo adventure. And that is my two cents. Although a very polite couple from California did inquire as to what my girlfriend did for a living the other day. So there are drawbacks too, apparently.     

Now Even Less

Haven't written here in a very very long time- still check though to see if you girls have been updating.

What's new since March?

It's like when you run into someone and they ask you what you've been doing for the last 5 years. Well... There doesn't ever seem to be anything worth putting in there.

- still dating Myles. Still struggling with what to call him since "boyfriend" sounds like I'm in grade 8 and "partner" sounds like we don't actually know each other that well. Suggestions on this debate now include "associate" and "lover" but those are also at opposite ends of the spectrum. I guess mostly I don't mention him to strangers anyway. Today at work I caught myself calling him "somebody," as in "somebody just texted me that a cougar was shot today in Langford"

-My arms are peeling from a camping trip that was 2 weeks ago on Salt Spring at Ruckles Park. It is this Provincial Park which is also a working family farm with turkeys and sheep. Highlights: Frances driving the narrow winding island roads at top speed, tequila star gazing, the gosling family that swam past our tent every morning (making a joke about Ryan Gosling to a man who clearly didn't know who that was) Lowlights: sharing a sleeping bag, getting squirted in the face by a sea cucumber, Avril Levigne getting stuck in everyone's head.
Next camping trip scheduled for this Friday. Am bringing sunscreen.

- Went to the dentist for the first time in six years. My dentist was tanned and athletic looking, probably about 4 years older than me, max. I have to go back and spend all my savings on his next tropical vacation soon.

- Saw Destroyer the other night with Kat, who is being pursued by Myles' open relationshipped best friend. Anyway the show was acoustic and solo which just meant that we heard each lyric perfectly. Very nice
The opener was Blackout Beach, another solo artist who grew up in Langford and whose mom was at the show trying to give away these red and black Italian alligator shoes that she had bought but her son didn't want. Size nine.

Anyway somehow its bed time but I'm still a bit wired from my 5 o'clock blood sugar salvaging coffee, purchased at a Starbucks patronized by this kissy faced couple who sat in the corner and sucked face for a bit. When they got up I noticed the girl had the biggest bruise I have ever seen on her face. I hope it wasn't his.

Happy Birthday Tyson

Screwed with the background. I hope you guys don't hate me. It's been a month since any real girl has posted in this blog and I'm thinking I should be the one to step up and take control. I work tomorrow at noon, and I just recently came into a new netbook cord- thus I'm taking advantage and writing a post.

How's life? Here on my end it's a mix. It's always a mix. But I'm pretty sure I'm feeling more good than bad. A couple weeks ago I started teach adult/senior marimba classes up at the bradley center, and it's been a super bucket of pure joy to be working with Forrest. Also, compared to last year- I'm feeling that our classes are a lot more on the game. We've been blowing through songs and teaching a new one almost every other class.

I kindof wish we had more kumbana marimba time, but I'm sure that's just me missing playing marimba with my friends and soon enough I'll be starting it all up again.

Other than that, I bought a bunch of new clothes. Been working not as much as I hoped and enjoying excellent sushi.

Hope that's suffice for a little catch up. Maybe I'll more later.

I'm not that good at breathing in

Went for a short hike on the property of a pioneer. The park is closed for the winter and covered in about 3 inches of snow. I had forgotten that it is winter still. Myles' friend was there, long hair and beard the same colour as mine. When we were in the car driving to the park he was talking about his friend's graduation recital from the music department and said, "what day is it, the 16th?" And Myles had to gently tell him that no, it is March 2nd.
In the park the only sounds were the gurgling of the creeks running in every direction and the dripping of condensation from trees. We passed a couple wearing fleece jackets and tuques and kilts. They weren't wearing long socks or anything, just striding through the snow and fallen trees in their hiking boots and ankle socks.
Spent the day yesterday roaming downtown looking for a birthday present for my brother. It was snowing on and off and I ended up buying a bunch of little things for people I've been meaning to give gifts to for ages. So my paycheque is nearly washed up again.
And I'm dreading work a little bit tomorrow.
And I'm going to Calgary on Friday, gotta remember to figure out how to get to the airport from Langford. It's my grandmother's 80th that weekend and she will probably not be pleased with the crowds of us piling into her house. I am foreseeing cocktails and card games. I get to meet a whole bunch of babies. And a cousin.

Just assume I never have milk in the house, alright?

Just a short one today. I discovered that my coworker is from Greenland. Moments later, I walked outside, only to see the skies falling and giving me snow. I'm thinking that's a coincidence.

need more green veggies.

At this current moment in time, my eyes are watering. I think I'm coming down with a little cold and I'm just trying to keep at it, and be this happy/healthy being. Wish me luck.

I started that new retail job a little bit ago. I think I had my third shift this week, and already they want me to leave me alone on Monday. I have buckets of insecurities following me now, considering I haven't even used the cash register yet. But the women who work at this job are completely nice and adorable. Louise is an asian woman who is all hugs, and Veronica is this scottish gal, who just easily impresses me with her accent.

I brought myself 100 grams of chorizo today. It was delicious.

Also emma, I sent nicolle a picture of you and myles. Also I sent her a picture of tyson and deimena . Updating on couples. Hope you don't hate me (ha, like you would).

Also I heard a hilarious way of saying someones going poo - "She's dropping the kids off at the pool".

My Brain's A Cliff And My Heart's The Bitter Buffalo

Well I participated in some more delinquent activities this weekend.
Loot obtained includes: two golf clubs, one pint class, one pencil, handful of pine needles in my pocket.
Kits is out of bounds for at least a year now.

Definitely avoiding doing laundry right now in order to be frustrated by the uselessness of the internet.
And well.

Turns out Daniel's (not a spelling mistake; unfortunate new nickname) friend Melany sits next to Carm in sign-language school everyday. Talk about smallest world in the world.

My cousin Dev, who is half Indian (yes East-Indian, not racist's Indian),  is getting married in April. In California. I wondering how much tradition will be brought into the half-Indian wedding. A very large part of me wants to road-trip down there for the festivities. Even if I've never actually met him. I can't see myself getting turned away though. And now I know a guy with a car...

Rock Paper Scissors Sadness

I have had quite the morning, oh yes.

It was raining.

The recycling was not collected because it was heaped willy-nilly into our blue boxes rather than being nicely ordered into separate compartments. We now have the orange sticker of shame on the side of our box.

Got to school and missed two morning classes preparing for an intense presentation. Subsequently received an e-mail from my professor complimenting me on my powerpoint but stating that, sadly, I had my topics mixed up. I'm supposed to present on a different paper next week.

Wrote a fan letter to a rapper yesterday and then had a dream that he was working at a gas station and kept a tickle truck of different clothing in a warehouse at the back. I think this means that my iPod requires some more music, but it could also mean that we are fated to become friends.

Have either of you ever made Yorkshire pudding? How do you keep it from falling the second you remove it from the oven? I warmed up the pan and erything.

Didn't know until yesterday that Siam is another name for Thailand. I would bluster that it's a failure of our modern education system, but mostly it's just a failure of me.

Red Dust

In love with a beardy alt-folk singer with an androgynous voice.

I think most girls are.

Had tea with a kid from across the sea. He crammed three girls into a phone booth and took our picture. The guy who sold me my bike pedals for a coffee (double soy americano, he says) was also present but he was way on the other side of the cafe. Maybe I'm determined to make friends with someone who could give me all kinds of bike tips, but looks like I made friends with a tiny tiny illustrator instead.

I am writing this post instead of calling my parents.
I am writing this post instead of making my lunch for tomorrow.
Plus Myles keeps sending me gifs from across town.
That's how you know its real.

Didn't Take That Long, To Move From A to B

vacuum was heavy enough to make my arm sore from carrying it across town.
Please see sign below

I can play by the rules, y'know.

Details on the date would be appreciated.
I am less intrigued about the vacuum.

I don't even have no money

Got a vacuum today, that's news.
Got a vacuum and a date.