Crossfit Training

Another year gone..where did the time go? This year has been good. Work, family and friends have all been well. I am excited to see what the new year brings, but what I am especially excited about is the fitness path Al and I have decided to follow. Its no secret that we are not the most active, or healthy people around. I used to go to the gym a lot, twice a day, and then bike ride for an hour. Some where along the way I just got busy and lost interest. Al has never really been very active, but really wants to be. The problem is motivation, it just seems difficult to get up the gumption to get moving after a day of work. Well Al found a place that might just be the thing for us. Crossfit Training. Its not really a gym, not in the conventional sense. Yes you pay monthly, and yes you go and work out, but there are no cardio machines, nor do you do the work out on your own. Its more like a class with personal trainers. They are the motivators, if you don't show up for class they notice! Unlike at a regular gym these people seem to genuinely care about your overall fitness and health! They don't just take your money and not care if you come back. That is the best part of Crossfit Training, they care and want to see you succeed. I have only gone for a week so far, but I love it and can't wait to go back. I am proving to be in better shape already. I am lifting weights heavier than I thought I could lift, and can't wait to see how far I can go. I am excited to see how this will change us for the better. I will keep you updated.

Christmas is not far away. I am looking forward to the holiday season. It will be nice to have a break from work, and hang out with friends over the season. My shopping is almost done. I love buying presents for Al, although is difficult to buy for, the challenge is fun.

I hope everyone has a great and safe holiday season, and a happy new year!

Movie Theater Etiquette

There are many do's and don'ts invovled in an evening out at the movie theater. For example DO put your garbage in the garbage can on your way out, or be respectful of your neighbour, this includes a major DON'T which is NO TALKING!! Well apparently this rule does not apply to everyone in the audience. Tonight Al and I went to see the new movie 2012, it was alright. I am sure I would have enjoyed it much more had I not been so fricking irritated by the people sitting right behind us who chatted through the WHOLE movie!! At the start of the movie Al noticed they had not quieted down after the previews, so very politely he asked them to please stop talking. Now I do not believe this to be too demanding, and normally most people do not mind abiding to such a request, however tonight was much different. After Al asked a family, two kids (old enough to know better) a mom and a dad, to be quiet, they contiuned to talk. I don't mind the odd whisper here and there, but this was not the case. There was no whispering. They were talking like they were two feet apart from each other. It was fricking irritating, I was ready to snap. By the end of the movie I had had enough and I turned around and yelled shut up, shut up, shut up! I couldn't take it any longer. I was so irritated by their rude behavior. Not only was I enraged by their talking, but I was also angered by the parents lack of discpline to tell their teenage children to stop talking. When it wasn't the kids talking it was the parents thus setting terrible example in movie watching etiquette! The only regret I have is not doing it sooner, because as soon as I did that there was not one peep out of them with only ten or so mins of the movie left. There are not many things that can ruin an entire night of movie watching, but talking through an entire movie is probably the best way to do that!!

While Al was polite in asking them to be quiet at first, I believe that one should not have to be polite in asking someone to stop talking in a movie theater. Common sense should tell most people that once a movie starts all conversation should end. Politeness is unneccesary due to the fact that 9/10 people know that talking while watching a movie is RUDE!! So just as a friendly reminder when at the movie theater keep the talking minimal, and if its a must, please whisper, or I will snap.

An Update

Its been a few weeks since my last blog, and I am sure you are all on the edge of your seats wondering how I am doing trotting down my new path. Well so far so good. I love working at my friends dog grooming shop. I love coming home in a positive, upbeat mood. My stories consist of nothing but positivity and good energy. I wish I could say the same for my other job, but whatever that is only temporarily. I love working with dogs all day. Sure there is the odd day where nothing goes right, but I would rather it be an odd day then everyday. So anyway its going well and I still love it! As for my other job...well thats a different story. I wouldn't say I LOVE it! I like the money and the customers and the people I work with, but management could use an adjustment, but for now I just have to put a smile on and work it out.

I finally have freedom!! For the last THREE months my in-laws have been at my house. Yes you read that right three months!! They finally left yesterday morning. Sure I was a little sad to see them leave, but the emotion that I was mostly feeling was excitment. Don't get me wrong I love my inlaws. They are great people, but having company at your house for three months straight is a long fricking time. I am now free to watch whatever I want, eat whatever I want, and do whatever I want. Not that they had a say in what we did, but I was always felt bad for going out with friends leaving them here. I wish them safe travels.

If you can't say anything nice....

Isn't that the saying, if you can't say anything nice then you shouldn't say anything at all? I wish more people would consider this before they open their big mouths! So my last blog, a new path, told you all about where I am taking my education and what I would like to do with my life. I am super excited about it, but it seems that some people like to rain on my parade. For example a lady at work, my boss, heard what I was doing and she said, (insert disgusted voice here), "you went to school for five years and you want to be a dog groomer? Yep thats what she said. Outloud to my face!! I was very unpleased with her tone and attitude! My husband and family have told me that I cannot let these people get me down. Everyone is going to have an opinion, but sometimes thats easier said then done. Some customers at work told me that I would get nowhere with my BA degree! These are just two of many people who have POURED ALL OVER my parade, whether it was my new path or the fact that I have an education.

Anyway I am excited about what this new position is going to bring. For all of you who don't believe in what I am doing, well too bad for you! For all those that support me, you ROCK!!

A New Path

So lately I have been feeling frustrated because I wasn't finding a full time job. I had a couple of interviews, but nothing came of them. Not only was I not finding a job, but I wasn't even finding anything that I wanted to do. I was looking for jobs that could potentially pay me a decent salary. So since Aug I have been wandering around here wondering what to do. Then I started volunteering at a dog grooming salon in town. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE animals, and this is right up my alley. I wash and dry them, its super fantastic. So for the past two weeks that has been taking up a majority of my days. The girl who owns the place is a good friend of mine, and the other girls that work there are super! Last night I saw the owner at a mutual friends party. This is when things in the job department start to look up. The owner offers me an appretinceship at her shop!! So I continue to volunteer, which means I can continue to work at the pub and still earn a living, in hopes that I will be trained as a washer/dryer and maybe a groomer by xmas in the hopes to be hired on full time. The owner wants to expand her business to include many other aspects besides grooming, so by next spring I will hopefully will be employed full time! I am so super excited about this. Forever I have wanted to work with animals! My BA degree does not really allow for someone to go in the field of vet, or zookeeper, or anything like that because of the lack of sciences, but this way I can work with animals, and still use my education. If I need to go back to school for some more courses, well my BA degree is that stepping stone! I am so super excited about this opportunity. Not only am I in love with the fact I get to work with animals all day, I am also so stoked about how this shop runs. Besides being passionate about animals, I am also passionate about the environment! This shop has won a Green Award. This means that everying that is used in that shop is environmentally friendly! I am stoked about that! The owner is also about investing in her employees!! She believes in team work, and doing anything she can to help you grow in her buisness.

So of course the downside to this is that I won't get rich doing this job. However how many people can say they LOVE going to work? Sometimes money is not everything! Yes I will have to volunteer for a bit to get where I want, but you know what thats ok with me! I will love what I am doing, I will get to do what I have wanted to do forever, and I strongly believe in what the company stands for. Its a great place to work, the ladies are fun, and we have a great time. I get to work with my friends, that is awsome! The other thing is that the knowledge I gain from this I can take with me anywhere. If for some reason I were to move, I would have something I can take with me and use! I will keep you posted on the journey!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend! I hope it was full of yummy turkey, dressing and mashed potatoes swimming in delicious gravy! I am super excited to have just that tomorrow afternoon!

I am thankful for my wonderful family and friends, and more importantly my wonderful, all kinds of awsome husband! He is great!He is supportive and understanding, and I love him to pieces.

I hope you have something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I hope you all had a great turkey weekend!

Attitude adjustment

All right its time to stop feeling sorry for myself and start telling myself that I am going to find a job. You know that theory of law of attraction, attract what you want instead of what you don't want, well I am going to try that! So rather than telling you how frustrated I am about not finding a job, I am going to tell you that I AM going to find a career that I like. I am grateful for the job I have, and the support of my family and husband! I am grateful for the roof over my head and the food I have to eat. I will find a career and things are going to look up! Ha, take that universe and law of attraction!

Frustrated!

Frustrated, mad, and upset pretty much sums up how I feel, and have been feeling, for the past two months. I know I have only been done school for two months, but I was hoping that I would have found a career by now. I do enjoy working at the pub, however the 10 hours I get are not a good enough contribution to the household! I need a career with good pay, hours, and benefits. I am hoping I find something much sooner than later. All I do is sit at home and watch endless hours of T.V, and hunt for jobs on the internet. The feeling of unproductivity and laziness is getting old! I need to find something to occupy myself with in the meantime. That is my rant for the day, sorry it sounds depressing or negative, but that is the feeling of the day! I am trying to be positive.

Deja Vous

Well here I am again in AB, you might be thinking you read this already, and that is partially correct, because it was roughly this time last year I wrote about my trip to Calgary, well here I am again. I am having a good time. Hanging out with family, seeing as many people as I can, and its been great. Last year there was a lot more running around, this year its a little more mellow. Visiting family has been pretty low key, just sitting around chatting about old times and eating, nothing wrong with that! The wedding I was in was successful, and it was a great time! Nothing else is new to report. I go on home on Sunday, and while I am sad to leave my family, I am super excited to see my husband! I know its only been ten days, and there are people out there who haven't seen their husbands/wives for much longer, but ten days is long for me!! I can't wait to snuggle with him.

Thoughts of the day

Although summer is undoubtedly the best season of the year, fall ranks second. I love the colors, but my favorite part is how its just cool enough to wear a sweater. I love hoodies and vests, any excuse to wear them is a good one. Its not too hot, but not too cold in the fall, that is the best.

The siding is going up nicely on our house. There have been a few stressful and tense moments, but for the most part everyone, and everything, is cooperating nicely. Soon our thirty year old house will look brand new.

I am going to Calgary tomorrow night. My plane leaves from St. John, and while I am a little sad to leave Al, and my in-laws, I am super excited to see my family and friends. Who knows when I will get to see them again after this year.

I am hoping to take a trip this xmas down South. Al's parents are going down south for the winter, and hopefully it will work out that we can meet them for Christmas.

The job market is looking gloom. I have not heard back from the job interview I had last week, but I will keep looking, even on my vacation!

I went to the FREX, which is an exhibition in town, and I had a lot of fun. I watched barrel racing, and even went on a ride, which scared the crap out of me. It was great. It made me miss the stampede desperately, so I guess the FREX will have to fill that void.

I am super excited for this weekend. My friend is getting married, and I am a bridesmaid. Should be a blast. I get to see most of my friends at the same time and party it up!

All Geared Up

Ok so I went shopping and I bought some professional outfits to wear to my temp job this week. Do you remember when you were a kid and you rumaged through your closet to pick out the perfect outfit for your first day of school, and you then you laid it out for the day of first impressions? Well that is what I am doing this evening, going through every outfit I can think of that does not involve jeans and t-shirts, and laying out what I am going to wear tomorrow morning. I am excited, but nervous. I also am pleased to announce that I have a job interview on Tuesday (my birthday) morning. Yay!! Although I do not know much about the company, or much about the job, what I do know is the location is great. Its across from Al's work so car pooling would be a breeze. Cross your fingers for me.

That is the exciting news, the sad news is a very good friend is moving away to go to school. I am super excited for her because she is finally doing something she loves to do, but at the same time not only is she a great boss, she is a great friend, and I will miss her a lot! I wish her luck on her journey!!

Let the dough roll!

YAY!! I got a temp job as a receptionist. I know its not much, or great, after getting a degree, but it beats working 8 hours a week as a waitress at mininum wage! I am not sure how long this gig will last for, but Mon-Fri 12/hr can't complain about that. Hopefully it will last a while so I can reap the benefits of having a steady income, but anything will help at this point. Hopefully this temp job is the beginning to a busy me, and jobs just keep rolling in one after another until I find something permanent. The downside now I have to spend money so I don't look like a slob. For five years I have been wearing jeans, t-shirts, and if I did need to dress up it wasn't often, but I don't have enough dress clothes to necessitate a full time job, so to the changing room I go.

The Hunt Is On!

Well now that I am a graduate, after five long gruelling years, I guess its time to grow-up and get a real job, whatever that means! I have been job searching for a couple of months now, and I am being optimistic and hope something comes my way, but its frustrating to not have full time work. I know that I might not have something immediately after school, but I hope that this doesn't last too much longer. My job can only provide me with maybe three shifts a week. They are not long shifts, and so I don't make a lot of money. I was debating on getting a second part time job to fill in the off days, but then what happens when I get an actual full time job and have to quit. What if thats a month in, but then it could be six months later, who knows. For now I will just stick to what I am doing, and cross my fingers, and you cross yours, that something will come up soon!

Family

While I am super stoked my sister-in-law, father-in-law, and mother-in-law are all here, I am desperately missing my family this evening. Well I miss them all the time, but tonight is especially hard. Maybe its because my SIL is going home in a day, or I have my period and I am extra emotional, who knows, but I really do miss my family. For a second I thought hmmm why couldn't I move to B.C. where my SIL lives, and then that way I will be closer to my family and Al's. Nothing wrong with that, wanting family around, but I know deep down our home is here. I love it where I am now, its suitable for us, but just for that millisecond I was wanting to be closer to family. In reality they aren't that far away, and with technology the way it is, its super easy to keep in touch. I talk to my parents every week, and really from week to week nothing changes. I love my life here,but miss my family dearly!

FINISHED!

I finished my last paper today, at exactly 5 pm, I became a graduate, theoretically. I wanted to mark this occassion. I have not handed in yet, I am waiting for my editor, but for the most part its finished! Now I can go out into the real world and be a grown up. Yay for me!! Yay for working and having money...yay, yay, yay!!!

An Update

What's new you ask?

Well where to begin...I have one more day of classes left EVER! I have ONE paper left to write EVER! I also have ONE exam left to write EVER! Can you tell I am excited that my academic career is quickly coming to an end. Happy, but a little sad, what will I do next, that is the million dollar question, a question I don't have an answer for. I am looking for jobs everyday and applying, we will see what happens.

I have a terrible cold. Not great for getting the last of academic stuff out of the way, but I think that the cold is on the out. I am hopped up on many different cold & flu stuff, along with nasty tasting cough syrup so it should be ready to leave any day now. This damn cold is also getting in the way of my visiting time with the many people that are at my house. My husbands family is here and it would be nice to hang out with them without having to cough, or blow my nose six zillion times!

Work is good, when I am there. Which hasn't been often because of school. Yesterday was my first day back in a week and a half, and today I had to call in sick on my second day back. Most people see this as not a bad thing, but I was looking forward to working as I like my job, however I do not think many people want me serving them beer with a little snot and cough in it, so I decided best to stay home.

That is all that is really going in my life, not too exciting huh? Well trust me when something does happen you will be the first to know. Back to my exciting night of lying on the couch and watching Lord of the Rings!! Have a good weekend everyone! Mine will be filled with paper writing and studying...yippee!! (insert scarasm here)

Whew!

Well the presentation is done. It wasn't so terrible. I didn't pass out or vomit so I guess thats a good thing! I had candy for everyone which I am sure made it much more bearable to listen to me drone on about someone who is really not that interesting! Now I can concetrate on more important things, like two papers that have to be done. One of them before July 31 so I can enjoy the long weekend with friends camping on the beach! Pray for me that I don't let procrastination run my life for the next week, I must get that paper done. These are the last two papers of my academic career...crazy! I never thought I would get here..but I am here and its super fanatastic!!

EEK!

I have a presentation to do tomorrow in class. I am scared!!! I don't like talking in front of people. I have no problem talking in a social setting, or informally, but the minute you make me stand up in front of everyone while they all stare at me....its not a pretty sight. Hives, nervousness, vomiting..its all part of the act! Wish me luck!

Blake, Woodsworth, Keats, Oh my!

I am currently enrolled in an English class entitled the Romantic Period. At first I thought this sounded a little interesting, to my surprise it is dreadfully boring! This class runs Monday-Thursday for two hours every morning. I am not sure what is more challenging, the reading for the class or having to stay awake to talk about it. While some of the poetry is interesting and makes a lot of sense, there is only so much you can say about one poem, yet my prof finds a million ways to discuss the same poem. It's boring. If I ever have to hear about William Blake and his philosphical and revolutionary ways I may poke something through my eye, seriously! Thankfully we have finished Blake and are now onto Woodsworth who I am sure will be just as riveting!! I cannot wait for tomorrow's class!!

Good Luck

I wish the Newtons good luck on their journey back out west. They were here for a month and a bit, and while they enjoyed their time here, it took coming across Canada to realize that their future was in the west. At least for now. School has become the final decision. I am excited for them, they have been looking for a destination for quite some time and they have found it. Though I am a little sad to see them go as we had some good times, even though it was short, it was nice to have them around. I am excited for their next journey and will be supporting them in anyway I can from the East Coast. Only two days ago the Graham house was completely full, we have gone from six people to two. However that won't last long as my in-laws and A's aunt and uncle are arriving in August for six weeks, so we better enjoy the quiet for the next month because its going to go fast! I am excited to see A's family and we are no strangers to having house guests.

I start school in two days. That was a quick summer holiday. For the rest of the summer, well most of it, my nose will be stuck in a book and my brain will be thinking about the next paper I will have to write. Though this does not sound like much of a summer vacation, once these two classes are over then thats it! I AM DONE!! Wooohoo!! The motivation will be difficult to muster up, but I have to do it as its the last two classes of my five year academic career.

King of Pop dies at age 50

WOW!! This is crazy news. Yesterday, June 25, 2009, it was reported that Michael Jackson, the king of pop, died due to cardiac arrest at the young age of 50. I am still in shock over this news. Michael Jackson dead!! What is even more sad is that on the same day Farrah Fawcett lost her battle to cancer, and while Jackson's death creates a whirlwind of emotions around the world, Fawcett's memory will remain left in the background. Although Jackson was an icon to the music industry, there were some lifestyle choices that allowed Jackson to fall from the hot spot. I wonder now if his death will erase the images of Jackson was at the end of his career and replace them with what Jackson started out as?! Either way it has been a sad week for celebrities as we say good bye to a T.V. icon, Ed MacMahon, Farrah Fawcett and the King of Pop, M.J.

Thank You A Thousand Times

How do you show someone gratitude after a great act of kindness has been shown? This is what I am struggling with at the moment. My husband and I recieved a wonderful gift from a family member. This is not just any gift, this is a gift that goes above and beyond. Its so huge that merely expressing thanks seems so insignificant! This is no ordinary gift, its not something like a lamp, or a new dish set, its a a new 42' inch flatscreen T.V!! This is amazing!! I am speechless! Anyway I have said thank you a zillion times and it doesn't seem like enough, but I guess it will have to be as I am sure the giver knows how much we appreciate the act of kindness!! The looks of excitement on our face I am sure lets them know that the gift is well recieved. Again thank you, thank you, thank you, a zillion times over thank you!!

Beautiful Summer Day

Its a beautiful 28 degrees today. Too nice to not go out and enjoy it, so in celebration of such a wonderful day I am going to go and sit by the poolside, thanks Em, and enjoy the sun and the water and perhaps a few beverages (wink). I will finsih off the day with a great bbq. I love the summertime!

Cover letters are for the birds

Writing cover letters suck! Its damn hard to talk yourself up w/o sounding like you are full of your self! I am not a fan of cover letter writing, or job hunting for that matter. Oh well...better get back to it

An update in the world of L.L.

Hey Everyone
I have blogged in a while, and really you aren't missing much in the life of moi! Not much is really going on. The co-habitation of the Newtons and the Grahams is going well. Everyone is alive and well. My mom and sister are coming on Friday, I am really looking forward to seeing them. It has been almost a year since we saw each other, and this time they will be visiting our home. The first of my family members to see where I live, it should be a lot of fun! Work is going well. I love working at the pub, my boss is amazing. (P.S., this is not a form of sucking up, as she doesn't know I have this blog), as I was saying she is one of the best bosses I have ever had. She is so helpful, understanding and fair. Plus she makes a good friend. So working at the pub has been a positive experience. I was worried when I first started as I have never worked as a waitress/bartender before, and now its great. Of course when school is over I am going to look for a full time career, but I probably will stay part time. The people and customers are great. My last two classes of my degree are creeping up. My last weeks of freedom are quickly coming to a close. I only have a few busy weeks left. Don't get me wrong I am excited to finish my degree, but I also do not want to wish my summer away. I am excited to start working full time so I can make some full time money.

The Five Of Us

Well things at the Graham/Newton household seem to be going well thus far. Its only been about a week, but so far nothing catastrophic has taken place. Maddi, the dog, seems to be adjusting just fine to her new surroundings. Going by what the Newtons have told me they seem to like Freddy beach.

Nothing else new and exciting is going on. I am still liking working at the pub. Its a fun place to work, great people and the tips aren't bad. Of course I will have to cut down a bit when I start school again in July, but till then I am trying to work as much as possible. I can't believe that I only have a month left of summer vacation that doesn't involve school. It seems to be going by so fast. On the upside once those classes are over that means I am done my academic career, for now anyway. While it is a happy occassion, its also a little sad. All the friends I acquired at UNB have just recently graduated which means I will be graduating by myself. That is a little sad because I won't get to enjoy the celebration with anyone I know. Oh well school will be over and thats what matters. These two summer classes are going to kill me. It will be so hard to be motivated, but I just have to keep trucking along. Two months is not really that bad in comparison to the five years I have spent in school. I think A will be just as relieved as me, he can finally stop carrying the burden of breadwinner.

Its Finally Here

The day that I have been patiently waiting for is finally here. One of my very best friends and her husband is arriving at my house to live for six months. We have been talking about this day for about six months. About six months ago my two friends had decided they no longer wished to live out West. They needed a new adventure, but they weren't sure where the road would take them. They finally made the decision to come to NB. They have been travelling across Canada since the first weekend of May, sightseeing and visiting family and friends along the way . Today their journey ends at my house. I am super excited to see them since I haven't since their wedding in August of last year. I truly believe that they will love it here. I think you would be crazy not too. Its so beautiful here, peaceful, calm, more relaxed than the hustle and bustle of the million people zooming around Calgary in a hurry to get nowhere!

I my first sunburn of the season yesterday. It was 32 degrees here in Freddy, ouch that is HAWT, but it was so nice and relaxing to sit in the sun on such a nice day! I loved it. I could live in heat like that all year around, minus the sunburn of course! Today is supposed to be much the same, sunny and hot! Not bad for the end of May. Another reason to love it here, while we have nice warm weather, AB is getting cold, +7 weather. Another reason why not too stick around, the unpredictable weather. At least here there are four distinct seasons.

The flowers in my garden are blooming very nicely. The best part about those flowers is they come up every spring and I don't have to do anything. Whoever lived here before planted some very nice perennials, so in the spring I just sit back and enjoy their beauty. Our grass is growing like crazy. The first mowing of the year will be this weekend. Included in that will be the killing of those nasty dandelions. Man those suckers come up fast. Yesterday I saw none, today half my yard is full of them.

Happy Wednesday

Its Wednesday today. The middle of the week, a great day because its half way to the weekend. I am going to Ontario this long weekend. A and I are going to visit his aunt, uncle and 93 year old grandma. I am looking forward to it. They live in a cottage on the lake, it will be great to get away and just veg out. The drive won't be as pleasant, but its just a minor detail in the larger adventure. I am especially excited about today because it is in one week that our friends will finally be here. They are coming from AB to stay with us for six months. I am super excited to have them here! This means that I have a ton of cleaning to do! I should get started very soon. My parolle from prison is going quickly. Its already the middle of May, only a month and a half left before I have to go back, but then I will be a free woman! Woohoo!! I hope everyone has a great long weekend. I will be cleaning all day today and tomorrow and then driving to Ont. Be safe and have fun!

East and West

My friends are currently driving across Canada to see what life would be like in the East. A great adventure that is both exciting and scary. I did it and while I was so homesick for the first couple of months it was the best decision I ever made. I absolutely love it here. I have a nice big house that is situated in the middle of the trees. I love it, I love the East. However before I moved to the East I did not know much about it which I think is the mistake of most Western Canadians. This ignorance comes to life when I and my friends made the decision to move here. I got some ridiculous statements about the East, but the reasons why my friends shouldn't move here is unbeliveable. One argument that was used as a reason not to move across country was the fact that we have no KFC's. This friend actually made this sound like a dealbreaker. It was like KFC was just as important as electricity. Not having either would be detrimental. What kind of argument is that?! It gets better, another argument even more ignorant than the first was that we all live in tents and live on welfare. I know that we are not the richest province in Canada, but on welfare, really?! Living in tents?! That seems kind of contradictory doesn't it? The Maritimes are known for their snowy weather, yet somehow we have tents that can stand up to 50 feet of snow and -25 degree weather. It is amazing how us Maritimers can live in those conditions and still live to tell the tale! Apparently we are so off base here in the East that we don't have banks either! Imagine that! Well what do we need banks for if we just live off welfare. Just get our cheque each month and put it in safe keeping, under the mattress! So if you are ever thinking of moving, it better not be to the East because there is not much here for you. No banks, KFC and we live in tents. Its a tough world, but someone's gotta do it! The East is taking one for the team!

YAY!

Well I am done school. My last exam was on Friday April 24. I think I did well..so far my marks have proved that statement true. I have gotten three marks back and I am happy about them! Now that I am a free women, for at least two months, I must find something to do with my time. I am sure work will fill up most of that time. I am going to do some volunteer work as well which is exciting! I love volunteering, I don't do it enough, perhaps that will change once school is finally over, done for good! Right now I am sitting at home doing nothing. I am watching cheesy teen movies from the 90s. Full time work hours have not kicked in yet so I am trying to find the ways to fill my day. If you have any other suggestions on how I can fill my days off please let me know!

Random thoughts

I have been feeling nauseated the last couple of days. There is no way to explain this, if you are thinking pregnancy you are wrong, there is no way that is possible. I just don't feel well. Maybe I am getting the last of everyone's flu/cold that is going around.

I had a doctors appointment in February to get a physical. I got a call from the doctor yesterday saying that I need appointment to go over my results. I am not sure if thats a good or bad thing. If it was urgent I am sure they would have called me a month ago, but at the same time it can't be nothing or why else would they call me. I guess I will find out next Thursday. I hope its nothing serious!

I am at school feeling sick and bored! I really just want school to be over. I still have an assignment to finish, two take home exams and two exams to write. The motivation is quickly fading, I hope I can last another week!

I am nervous about school being officially over. After August 15th I will no longer be a student which means be a grown up and having a real job. I am not sure what that job will be and I am scared to think that I won't have a grown up job ever. I have never had one, and I hope I will be able to find one once school is over.

Home Sweet Home

My sleeping schedule can return to normal at last. A is home from his long, long drive. Our "new"car works like a gem...well as good as a 91 honda can work. I have also moved up in the class ranks. You now are looking at the owner of a car which has power locks, windows, AC, and cupholders. If you say hi to me on the street and I do not say hi back, check the status of your car, it might be because you do not have the luxury of these items. Of course I kid, but its nice to have these items, but most importantly a car that works...YAY!

Alone

Well its 1230 am and I should be sleeping as I have to get up in the morning, but there are two things preventing me from going to bed. One I am not that tired, but two, more importantly, is that I have to sleep by myself. This will prevent me from sleeping for the next four days. A is out of town and well its hard to sleep without him when I have gotten used to sleeping with him. Some people might see it as a blessing because they can sprawl out and don't have to worry about sharing the bed, but I don't sprawl anyway and I like sharing the bed. Its going to be a long four nights. I know I sound so pathetic because I am whining about my husband being gone for a measley four days and some people suffer through their spouses being gone for weeks at a time, but those people are braver than I. While I am an independent person who can live by myself I just don't like to. When A is gone for a few days I miss him. Call me pathetic if you want to but thats the way it goes. Really four days is nothing, I spent two weeks away and that was hard enough. Anyway I am sure the four days will go by super fast and he will be home before I know it. Until then I will just have to find a way to fall asleep without him so when he gets home I am not unrested and cranky

Gum Free

Now that the snow is for the most part melted away, at least on sidewalks and path ways, it is much more noticable how littered they are, especially of gum. Gum is all over the place and it looks gross. If we banned gum that wouldn't be a problem. I know you are thinking ban gum??, thats not right, but Singapore is one of the cleaniest places in the world and guess what they don't have gum!! Gum is banned from Singapore, and although I haven't done a ton of research on Singapore, I am pretty sure that not having gum has runied any lives. Just a thought

Hello Baby Face

Today was a sad day for the Graham household...well more like a sad day for me. For the last six months or so A has been sporting a beard. He grows one for the winter, and shaves it for the spring/summer/fall. Today was the day of shaving. I love the beard, of course I love him w/o the beard, but the beard is my favorite stage which is ironic b/c its during the winter which is not my favorite season. Anyway when I realized what he was doing this morning I cried a little. I know it sounds silly, but its true. Of course I am over it now and I have bigger things to worry about than my husbands facial hair, or lack of, but for a few mins it was sad. I will get used to the younger, baby face A until next winter. He looks good w/o the beard, but he looks really really good with it!

To good too be true!

I currently have a love-hate relationship with mother nature. She has screwed me over on an important day! Well its not the most important day, but for me it was going to be a fantastic day! But noooooooooooo I had to live in an area where mother nature's business is all around my fricking fracking house. Yep thats right no satellite tv for me because I like to live among trees. It has not been the happiest afternoon ever, but I will get over it. I guess basic cable is the alternative. I knew when I saw the Satellite TV advertised at a home show for such an amazing price that it was too good to be true!

The day has come...

Today is TV day! Finally after a year of no cable, or even random local channels A and I are getting satellite TV. While having no tv has not compeletly runied our lives, it will be nice to be back in the loop on things. Like the news for example, we listen to it in the car on our way into work/school, but we don't get the full whats going on around the world news. When people say "oh wow did you see that on tv", we can finally say why yes I did and here is what I think. Or, "hey did you see that on the news"..of course I did, who didn't?! I will be able to watch Grey's Anatomy with the rest of the world on Thursday nights. I know this sounds silly to most, but after not having tv for a year this is pretty exciting!! If I am absent for a while you know where to find me! I am sure the novelty will wear off eventually, but for now TV land here I come!

They don't call it Crappy Tire for nothing

A and I went to Crappy Tire for a water filter. We arrived at the plumbing section and asked where they might be located. With great enthuasim (insert sarcasm here) the employee in the plumbing department pointed behind him "right there" he said. After a few mins of browsing the many options of water filters A thought he should ask which one was better, and the differences between the three we were looking at. I suggested that we don't ask the boy who looked twelve and rudly pointed out where the water filters just moments earlier. So we found a lady who looked friendly to give us a hand. She did not know the answer, but gladly paged customer servcie to aisle 19. A few moments later a man (older than the one before) who seemed to know what he might talking about arrived. The lady who had paged him was in the aisle over, and A and I were still in the water filter section. The man paged walks down the aisle stares at us and yells to the lady who paged him what she wanted. She informed him that we were the customers who had a question. Instead of asking us directly what we needed, the rude man yells back at the woman and asks what was needed. We were standing right there...he could have just turned around and said "may I help you?" But nope he yells to the girl "what do they want?" Yep thats what he said, what do they want?!!!! So the lady responds by saying they have a question about a water filter. Again rather than turning to us, who are one foot in front of him, yells over the aisle and says well I am busy. He then turns to us, very rudly I might add, and says I am busy. He proceeds to tell another twelve year old looking kid that we are in need of assistance, but tells the young kid that if he can't help us, no worries he will be back when he can to answer our questions. Again we are standing right there and rather than telling us this he informs the rest of the store. A and I were in such disbelief that we got the filter and left. Due to the fact that A and I felt like burdens on the customer service employees lives, we left. Still in disblief of the poorest customer service I have ever experienced here, we get another wave of it on our way out. The lady at the cash was the snottiest and rudest person ever.

They don't call it crappy tire for nothing!!

Heartbroken

Today A and I went to McDonalds for a quick lunch before hitting the home show, which by the way was so much fun, anyway at McDonalds as A and I were ordering we saw that the staff were getting ready to sing happy birthday to a cute little birthday girl. As A sat down with the food he had informed me that while waiting for our food he overheard the staff say that no one was coming to this little girls birthday party. There was a mishap with the timing, and no one but a few family members showed up. How devestating is that?! When A told me that I looked behind me and that little girl was sitting there with her dad looking so excited only to soon realize that no one was coming. While I did not break down in a complete sob fest I did have tearas in my eyes. I felt so bad for her. Bday parties are so supposed to be so fun that when you are older you can say I remember this one time when I turned five and my parents took me to McDonalds. Instead she will be saying I remember when no one showed up. I was heartbroken. I hope she had a better day!

Yucky smell

I am all for smelling nice but lady you don't have to bathe in the freaking stuff...holy crap! It wasn't even that nice of a perfume. Maybe next time you go to a crowded theater you might want to tone it down a bit....yeesh! Puke puke

Please Help

I have many different types of songs on my computer and MP3 player. For the most part I like these songs, but lately I find myself hitting the next button way too much. I am in desperate need of new music! Its not surprising seeing as how I listen to the music I have on a daily basis. I would have to get sick of it sooner or later....it just happened to come sooner than I expected. So if you have any suggestions please send them my way! I am open to almost anything....please my ears are begging you!

Blue sky and melting snow..doesn't getting any better

Today its supposed to be 10 degrees, and on saturday 11 degrees. You know what that means?! Spring has arrived. All the snow is melting away, the sky is blue. It can only get better. To those who are not enjoying spring weather I hope you make through the last of winter, I will send you some good warm thoughts to get you through. Spring will come your way!

I am not only excited about the weather, but April through September promises to provide many exciting events. Great friends moving here, in-laws coming to visit, people getting married, and most importantly I WILL BE DONE SCHOOL!! 2009 is turning out to be a fantastic year!!

Spring

I saw grass today...it was brown mind you, but nonetheless I saw grass! Do you know what that means?! That spring is quickly approaching...YAY! All the snow will be melting and all the trees and flowers blooming. Not only is spring exciting, but so are the multiple events that are happening at the Graham residence. NO, no one is having a baby, but many vistors are expected to arrive!!! Good weather and good company all spring and summer long, can't go wrong with that!! There will be many East and West friends around to enjoy the good times of the Maritimes!

Friday

Today is Friday....the end to my spring break. It went by fast. Why is it when we are waiting so anxiously for something to happen the time seems to creep by, but when you are dreading something to happen magically the time has swept by you, like a blur. That was spring break a blur. I had hoped to be more productive, alas I was not. I am still working on a paper that is due for Monday. Its only 3-5 pages long, and shouldn't take that long, I just do not want to write it so it seems to be taking much longer than necessary. If I just wrote it and got it over with then I would be free...for a little while anyway, but nope I am dragging out the process. I am not sure why, but thats the way it goes with school work. Leave everything to the very last minute possible!

Its snowing..yuck. I wish spring would hurry the hell up and get here already. Not that I am overly sick of snow, well in a way I guess I am, but I am more tired of looking at it than anything. I am not bothered by winter, but now I am bored with this season and its time to move on. My favorite time of year is this Sunday, Daylight Saving Time. Yeah I know we miss out on an extra hour of sleep, but who cares the days get longer, and it doesn't get dark at like 4 pm. That has to count for something!! I am hoping that its only a few short weeks until the sun starts shining, and the snow will take a rest, at least for six months or so!

I am nursing a sore back. Its on going problem, one that I wish would just go away. It hinders a lot of my life, like being able to waitress or do some physical activity. I am trying to figure out how to strengthen it so it is a distant problem rather than one that keeps me on the couch for days!

My friend's dad is having surgery today, I am sending out good vibes to her and her family! Good luck, I am sure everything will be ok.

My New Job

I got a new job recently, as a waitress. For as long as I was able to work I avoided waitressing. I thought this can't be my line of work. Its too demanding, always have to be happy, getting people this or that when you just want to tell them to get it themselves. Well it turns out that its not so bad. Granted I have only worked 4 shifts, but so far so good. I wish I had found this job earlier in life, as a teenager. The tips would have been nice to have in the all I want to do is go out party and spend money phase. Working at a regular job waiting for the bi-weekly paycheques just did not seem to cut it. Well I have found it now, and so far I don't mind it. The customers are super nice, telling them I am new seems to sympathize more with their tipping ability, and the staff are really cool as well. Any questions I have they are right there to answer them. I am hoping this job will take me to the end of my academic career, which is thankfully only four months away, and into my "grown up job". I can't wait to start that, working Monday-Friday, 9-5 like the rest of my friends. It will be nice to be able to do weekend things w/o having to work, but alas this is the situation for now, an means to end, and so far its not going too badly! I actually look forward to going to work rather than dreading it like in the past job. As I am sure you will recall that boss I had from hell, the job I up and quit because apparently my two week notice was not sufficient enough! Yeah that job, well this one is not like that. Thank God, its hard to find good employers sometimes!

All being part of a woman

So my husband and I finally found a doctor..thanks to SM, a friend from school who told me that a new doctor had arrived and was taking new patients. She is a great doctor. Very friendly and interested in her patients rather than being in such a hurry to get you out of there. Anyway super glad to have a such a good doctor. A doctor who is also willing to take on a pregnancy, when the time should come along. This brings me to my next point. How is that something so simple as I am going to the doctor for a regular checkup be construed into a friend assuming that now my husband and I, who have not even thought about trying for kids at this particular juncture, are now "officially trying". This seems to be the dominant theme in my life. Anytime I even remotely indicate how tired I am, or how I don't feel well, or how I am going to the doctor for a regular, part of being a woman checkup, I get bombarded with accusations like "you must be pregnant, or clearly you are trying to have a baby if you are going to the doctor". How does that work? How is it possible to read so much into such a simple statement! I just don't understand out of the many answers that can go along with "I am tired, not feeling well, or going to the doctor" and the one that everyone turns to is that I am pregnant, or trying to get pregnant. If I was trying to get pregnant, or was don't you think that I would be a little more clear, and probably tell those important people personally rather than in a status on Facebook that might indicate any such thing. Come on, something so life altering and you honestly think I would put it there for the world to read first!! Lets get serious people.
I am not pregnant, nor am I trying to get pregnant. Trust me when the time comes you will be one of the first to know!!

On a another note, I went to the gym today! I have been anti gym for quite a while. I just didn't think it was my thing, I hate excercising. However, I found out today that I actually enjoyed myself. While I may not be religous about my gym planning, I am going to try and go as often as I can to be healthy and fit. This is exciting news, because for the longest time I avoided the gym like the plague, and now I am sort of drawn to it. Please don't read too much into this, I am not becoming healthy all of a sudden due to a change in family planning, or for a unborn baby. Its really just for me!! End of story!

Hump Day

Today is Hump Day, better known as Wednesday. Just a few thoughts going on today:

I got a new job at the local pub. Its very convient, as it is a 5 min drive from my house. I have never been a server before, so I am a bit nervous, but so far I have worked two shifts and it seems to be going well. For the seven hours I have worked in total I have managed to make $64 dollars in tips. I would say thats not bad for a first timer. It's actually a fun job, I mean there is a lot of things to remember, and do, and it can become stressful, but the customers, for the most part, and staff are very nice, understanding and patient. The exact formula you need when starting a new job, it helps out a lot.

I have to study today for a midterm tomorrow, I am not really interested in studying at all. Especially for this particular midterm. The guideline for the exam was rather vague, my prof says: study your notes and the readings. Well thanks captain obvious...its a good thing she was around to tell me that or I wouldn't know what to study! Sheesh! So my motivation level on studying for this is rather low....but it must get done, so I will make the best of it.

I want to be healthy, and lose weight. The problem is working out sucks. But I must do it, not that I am overly obese or anything, but it would be nice to be thiner, and healthier. I must make myself get on that damn excercise machine that sits in my living room. If it kills me, i must do it. I am not going to like it, but like studying it must get done.

I am super excited for the end of the semester for many reasons! April cannot come fast enough!!

We got 48 cm of snow between Sunday night and Monday...that is a crazy amount of snow!! Thanks to all those who worked so hard in getting it cleared off the streets, you have an endless job through these long, snowy months. We appreciate your help!

My friends dad is in the hospital. I hope he is doing better, and I am sending out get well thoughts.

It would be nice if someone you loved went out of town and told you about their trip. My parents, who I talk to on a regular basis are not known for not returning phone calls. So when they called me on Friday night and I called them back Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, only to get no phone call back makes a girl wonder...worry is more like it. I talked to a close family friend who told me they probably went out of town. It would be nice to know that they went out of town in order to avoid constant worrying! A little consideration is all I ask, I am not their keeper, nor do they need permission, but honestly it would be nice to know that you will be away for a week.

I probably should go study and read. I hope you all have a fantastic day in whatever it is you are doing on Hump Day! Enjoy

O'Canada

I understand and respect others wishes to believe in whatever religion they see fit for them. I myself am not religious so maybe I am not understanding something, but as it stands I have a bone to pick.

There is a teacher where I live who was asked by a couple of parents to not sing O'Canada in school before class, it was against their religion. I am unsure of all the facts on this case, if they are immigrants or Canadian, but unless singing is against your religion then I don't see an issue. O'Canada is our national anthem, it celebrates our national pride, which took a long time to build up, and celebrates our unity. The word God is mentioned in the song, but is it really necessary to make such a large deal about this even if you do not have the same faith as what the song is intending. The song is not that long, and perhaps those two or three children could just stand with the class but not participate in the song. I find it very infuriating that people would ask Canadians, whether be other Canadians or not, to not sing something that symbolizes who we are as a nation. If it is in fact immigrants, and I am not being prejudice or racist here, they are the ones that moved to Canada to be Canadian citizens so when you come here you get the whole package deal, song and everything. We are symbol of freedom and unity, people move here for a reason and should want to be part of this great country, and its song.

I am not trying to offend anyone by this blog, but I am Canadian and I don't think we should have to give up anything because someone doesn't like a word in a song, or like the tune of it or whatever. What do you think would happen if one of us went to another country and asked them stop singing their national anthem? Probably would never happen!

Who does that?

Last weekend I invited a friend over for dinner. She was anxious to see my (sort of) new house, so I thought a nice evening with dinner and some board games would be a good time. The evening started out fine. My husband made a delicious dinner, and we all seemed to be having a good time. This good time severely diminished between my husband and I as my friend proceeded to get plastered at our house. The wine drinking began early in the evening, but it was no big deal because my husband and "Mary", we will call her, shared a bottle of wine, so two glasses at most for both of them. The night from hell got worse as Mary thought it would be a grand idea to open another bottle of wine! After my husband politely refused to share another bottle, Mary contiuned on her drunken adventure. Who does this? When the hostess or anyone else refuses the idea of drinking, I think its safe to say that the guest should also stop at that point, but nope, Mary had to indulge, this is just one of many mistakes Mary stumbled upon throughout the night. The biggest and most important one is who gets drunk the first time being invited over to someones house whom you don't know all that well?!

The night proceeded to get worse and worse. She got more drunk, louder, and much more abnoxious while adding every profanity into the mix! I was sitting across the table from her staring at her, embarrassed for her, thinking WHO DOES THIS?! My husband who could not handle it any longer left me and went upstairs. Alone with her, all I could do was sit and listen to her loud and abnoxious rants about dating, and how I should proceed to run my life as a mother (which by the way is not a status I own at the moment), how many kids I should have, all down to what kind of career I should get at the end of school! Again I ask you Who does this?? I know who does this no one I know. Yes I know Mary, but let me assure you she is not a close good friend, and there is a large chance she will never be asked back to the old homestead again!

Now if this was someone whom I was really good friends with, knew for a long time, I would have not cared, but this evening was not to be engaged in a drunken stupor. There was no mention of a few beverages being consumed before hand so I think its safe to assume that Mary lacks in the etiquette department, and I think encounters with Mary should be in small doses, perhaps over lunch in the middle of the day.

One thing I forgot to add, the weirdest thing of Mary's drunken rambles, is she asked if she should come and kiss me!! NOW WHO DOES THAT?! I am telling you, if you are going to invite someone over for dinner establish the drinking rules ahead of time. Perhaps make sure they are mentally in check with reality, and make sure you have an escape plan. I did not do any of these things, and it lead to a disappointing wasted Friday night!

Thank You

I applaud those professors who understand and realize the finiancial burden of students by not making us spend a sickly amount of money on books that may or may not get read. To all those understanding profs, as a student, we applaud and appreciate your efforts in trying to save us money that could be spent on better things, like food, shelter, and transportation rather than some book that we probably will end up throwing out, or selling back for a 1/3 of what we paid for it.

Thank You!