June?

It's June. When did that happen?

This year is flying by. Maybe it's because I'm constantly busy. Between working and making time for my friends/family I hardly have time for sleeping! It's hard and leaves me exhausted but I think it's worth it. I laughed recently when somebody told me about this person who doesn't have time for anyone because they only have one day off a week. I have had 2 days off in the last 32 days. I still try and see my friends. I still make time for my family. Yes I'm tired, but I am happy.

My friend M is coming this weekend from Alberta and I'm super excited! I'm working 2-10's all weekend but we'll work in lunch and socializing around that. Her niece (this one) is turning 1 next week. It seems like it was just the other day we were all waiting around for her to make her appearance and now she's one! It's crazy.

I can't believe all the people popping out babies these days. I feel like I missed the memo about producing offspring! My friend S and I were joking the other night that we're going to be sending her first born (who is 5) off to college while I'm shopping for maternity clothes. At the rate I'm moving it's not too far fetched! My mom has begun talking about adopting grandchildren since every one of her 4 children is single. She's so funny. I just am not ready to get on that boat yet! I can't even find a guy I like enough to even bother calling let alone have a baby with! I've got time and other priorities at the moment. Like sleep. And getting through this summer.

Sanity is not necessary for survival, right?

17

Today is my 17th straight day of working. Between my jobs I haven't had a day off since the last time I posted about it. But somehow the stars aligned and I have the next two days off! Tomorrow I booked off because I need to go to Kelowna, but Tuesday was handed to me by somebody who loves me!

I have an orientation for my program tomorrow where I will meet the profs and hopefully some of the other students starting in the fall. Instead of driving down by myself I invited some people from work to go down with me for the day. We'll do some shopping, I'll leave them to do my thing, and then we'll probably eat and head home.

Time is flying now that I'm so busy. Only 3 and a half months until I move!

No rest for the wicked

I am exhausted. It's not that I'm working an insane amount of hours (together my jobs equal about 45 hrs/week) but learning a new job, and stressing about my schedules leaves me feeling pretty tired at the end of the day. It also doesn't help that I'm sick. Again. In May, boss#2 is going to have us on a set schedule but until then I've have to continue to try and balance them both, swapping and getting rid of shifts because neither schedule comes out until it's too late to get time off the other one. Stressful!! Hopefully this is the last week of the unknown and my life can return to a state of normalcy. Or at least have the craziness on a schedule.

4 months until I move. Just throwing that out there. I've been picking some things up here and there that I'll need when I'm out on my own, like you know, a can opener. I figure if I start now I won't have a mad dash in August, nor will I have an enormous bill I can't afford to pay once I quit my jobs!

The Great Outdoors

Today I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and one of the many trails behind my house and went for a little hike. I took my camera with me and snapped some pictures. BC really is a beautiful place to live.

I also had an interview today for a new job. Cross your fingers! I'll probably still keep my old one but it will be nice to have the extra income.

and time goes by...

I seriously need to put more effort into this blog! I guess I just feel like I have nothing interesting to talk about, so why bother? I find this when I go out with my friends, or run into people I know and they ask me how I'm doing and what's new in my life. I go to work, I come home, I go out for drinks/dinner some nights. But basically it's a big fat nothing. I'm not in school right now. I'm working at the same job I have been at for over a year. I'm not seeing anyone. I'm not going anywhere on vacation ... etc, etc. Life is kind of at a stand still.

Today I went out for lunch with a friend, washed my car, and soon I'm going out for an early dinner with some of the girls from work. It's M's last day and she's not old enough to go to a pub afterwards, so early dinner it is! I might have to go to the pub after by myself! Work on tuesdays is horrible. I hate it. I woke up today feeling miserable that I had to go at all. I know it's time for a new job but part of me wants to stick it out for at least another month because it's easy to get time off and I want to go on a little road trip with my friend S at the end of February. I can find a new job after that.

Hopefully.

Fall in a nutshell

Holy smokes I'm horrible at updating:

School is going okay. I didn't do as well on my midterm as I would have liked so I am trying to make up for it with my assignments and quizzes.

Today I applied for the TA program and signed up for my first aid course. Tomorrow's a holiday so on Thursday I think I will be calling about getting my TB test done as well as my criminal record check. Busy busy busy.

I've started going to the gym. A week in and I already feel better. Except today where I did something to my lower back. I didn't notice anything was wrong until later after my muscles had cooled down. I hurt my back there last year, so I probably just pulled it the wrong way. It's just a little stiff so hopefully with some stretching it will be all good!

Extended-family life is stressful. Not really something I can discuss here, but let me just say I can't wait for it to be over!!!

The sw.ine flu has finally hit here at the McVicar household. It looks like Adam has it. He's home for a week from school (fall reading break?) and picked it up his first day back. I'm staying away from him. I don't even have a cold! *knock on wood* My cousins in Vancouver have it pretty bad. One had to go to the hospital because she couldn't breathe, but she seems to be doing better. Thank goodness.

That's about all I have time for. Off to work I go. No rest for the weary!

Back to school, back to work

School has once again begun. So far it's off to a good start (except for the part where my crazy lab partner from chemistry walked through the doors of my classroom). I have someone to sit with (that isn't crazy), and I really like my prof. I've decided I can really get on board with this one class a semester thing. It might take me 80 years to get through school though so I might have to go back to a full course load at some point! ;)

On Wednesday I got a phone call from a lady who worked at my old job at Ford. She needs somebody to work the front desk for 3-5 weeks while the regular girl is getting surgery done. So starting the last week of September I will be working Tuesday to Saturday there. Some days are going to be very long because I still have my other job but it will only be 2 nights a week that conflict. I still have most nights off during the week for any studying I need to do. And like I said, it's only a couple weeks.

Bullet notes

Been awhile since I did a real update on here.

• My summer has been pretty uneventful so far. It seems like my days consist of work, movie watching, knitting, and pool time (when the sun is out). I have plans next weekend that consist of a day in Kelowna and a trip to the spa. I'm excited for the break in routine. My days have gotten pretty predictable. I'd like a bit more spontaneity in my life.

• Yesterday my mom and I moved the furniture around in my room. I've had it laid out the same way pretty much since we moved here 13 years ago. It's a nice change without too much effort involved. I still have some boxes to go through before that room is totally in order, but it is getting there! I thought it would take me a couple of days, yet here I am 2-3 months later, still hacking away at it! I'm not sure if it's the vast amount of work involved, or the turtle pace I'm working it. Combination?

• My glasses are fixed. I was able to pick up my new frames the other day. It's nice to not have to worry about them breaking every time I take them off. My darling mother has also offered to pay for contacts for me, so I have an appointment next week to get my eyes measured.

That about sums it up. Tune in next week.

No more chemistry!

Yesterday was my last day of chemistry! I am really glad it's over. I'll have to wait for my marks to come in to know for sure, but I think I pulled off an A in that class!

After class a couple of friends and I drove to Vernon to go to the water slides. It was my first time there and I had a lot of fun! The weather was great and I'm really glad we went. We'll probably go a couple more times this summer for sure.

It's now the weekend which of course means work, work, and more work. Hopefully it goes by fast! Oh how I miss the days when I wasn't wishing away my weekends!

Glad that's over!

I am officially done the class of death! The exam kicked my ass. I did really well during the practice exams but those weren't the questions put onto the real exam! Real exam was much harder! Oh well. It's over. Yay!

I still have one more exam which I will do on Friday morning. Friday night is celebration night! I'm going out with a bunch of people I haven't seen in awhile to celebrate the end of the semester (or the end of a degree in some cases!). I even took the night off work. I think I've worked every single Friday since I got hired in November! Should be fun!

Next week I have off from school, and then I start summer chemistry classes. Ugh. I hated chem in high school, and I can't see this being much better! At least it's only for 2 months.

School, work, school, more work...

Yesterday I went through the entire day at work thinking it was Thursday instead of Friday. I was corrected twice, but still at the end of the night I still had to explain to my manager why I accepted a bunch of coupons that we don't accept Friday and Saturdays. Oops.

I'm beginning to think that one week between this semester and the summer semester isn't enough time to recharge my brain. Therefore, I'd like to introduce you to my new friends: caffeine and sugar. My one course this summer has the same amount of class hours as my four courses this semester. Sounds like fun doesn't it?

I feel like all I do is work, and go to school.

Oh wait, that is all I do.

Sick Days

I am sick.

Just before work on Wednesday, my muscles started aching but otherwise I was fine. By the end of work I was ready to crawl into my bed and never move again. I dragged myself to class on Thursday, mainly because I had to hand in an assignment. I have barely left my bed/the couch since. I haven't felt this awful in years. I had to call into work all weekend. By the way one of my managers SUCK. I called to tell her I wasn't coming in and she asked me if I had gotten anybody to fill my shift. Uh, no. Does this happen at other people's work? Having to find your own replacement when you phone in sick? I understand that maybe if I was the president or something, I should find somebody to cover me, but honestly. It's a minimum wage job. She's lucky I phoned in at all! Finally, she said she would fill it but she sounded really annoyed. The next time I'm sick, I'm just going to go in and hopefully puke on her. Maybe then she won't try and make me feel guilty about staying home.

Midterms start next week. I'm freaking out. I haven't even begun studying, and I'm so behind in my readings. And being sick isn't helping the matter. I hope I start feeling better soon.

Year In Review

I saved this questionnaire to fill out and totally forgot where I got it from. But here it is!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Is it sad that I cannot think of one single thing? Obviously on my list of New Years Resolutions for 2009!!

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make any last year, but a friend made one for me. It was to stay away from The Ex and not go back! It wasn’t really that hard considering I had no interest in him, and had just met J, but she made it anyways! I made one in the last question but maybe I’ll make a list.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My old dance teacher did, and a girl from that dance class is due to pop any day now. But nobody close to me, no. An old friend of mine is pregnant, but I don’t get to see her that often (lives in a different province).

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, nobody did.

5. What places did you visit?
I went to Vancouver in February for a Reading Break trip, and twice in August (once for a wedding). I went to Edmonton twice. I went once in May for a Wedding, and again in September for my birthday. I was supposed to go to Mexico, but I guess it doesn’t count if I didn’t actually get to go!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Money. A lasting relationship. A tropical vacation

7. What day from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
My friend’s weddings for obvious reasons, a couple of days with J, and the day in November when Barack Obama was elected President.

8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
Saving enough money to pay a semester of school.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to save enough money and pay off my credit card.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I slammed my finger in the door, badly bruising it. It is still growing out 5 months later. Happily, that is it except for the occasional cold.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new camera!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My friends, family on the most part.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Some of my friends and family members had their moments, my government’s behaviour, and my own on occasion.

14. Where did most of your money go?
What money? School, gas, dinners out, camera

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My friend’s weddings, Mexico (while the trip was on), seeing Reba and Kelly in concert

16. What songs will always remind you of 2008?
Womanizer – Britney Spears (big comeback!)
If I Were A Boy – Beyoncé (my relationship with J)
Mercy - Duffy

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Sadder
b) thinner or fatter? About the same, I think?
c) richer or poorer? Richer. Which is quite sad if you were to have a look at my bank account!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Camping, spent more time with friends, and just left the house more often.

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2008?
The morning was spent with my family and having a turkey lunch, and the afternoon/evening was spent at work.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes. However, we all know how that turned out.

22. What are your three favourite photos of 2008?
It’s hard to pick 3 favourites, so I’ll pick some from memorable events.

Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire, Melissa Peterman (aka Barbra Jean!)


Wedding in Edmonton

Wedding in Vancouver


23. What was your favourite TV program?
Jon and Kate plus 8! Those kids are so adorable. I actually didn’t watch a lot of TV this year.

24. What did you do for your birthday in 2008?
I went to Edmonton with my parents, and saw Reba and Kelly Clarkson in concert with my mom.

25. What was the best book you read?
I just realized that I read a lot of books this year. There was a lot of downtime at one of my jobs! I really liked Pillars of the Earth and the sequel World Without End by Ken Follett.
I got the Twilight series for Christmas, and those books are supposed to be good but I haven’t started them yet.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I rediscovered how awesome Pink is with her new album Funhouse. I also learned this year that I don’t dislike all metal music.

27. What did you want and get?
A new camera. A new job. A boyfriend.

28. What did you want and not get?
To keep that relationship (do you se a theme developing!), my own vehicle

29. What were your favourite three films this year?
The Dark Knight, Sex and the City, Marley and Me

30. Did you make some new friends this year?
I made some new work friends, but not everyday friends that I hang out with IRL.

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A better paying job or winning the lottery

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Wear things that fit. I wore a lot of jeans, sweatshirts and jackets.

33. What kept you sane?
Caffeine and sugar.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US Presidential Election. Although having our government shut down was unusual.

35. Who did you miss?
My Grannie. All my friends who moved away.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
There is a bunch of people at my new job. They’re really great.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I have learned that you cannot control anything other then your own actions and reactions. Learning to accept that fact is for another year!

So this is Christmas?

This year's Christmas started off the same as any other Christmas. My younger brother and I woke up around 8, persuaded our mom to go wake our older brothers (it's taking your life into your hands when you try to wake them up before noon) and then opened stockings. After stockings came a quick breakfast before tree presents. We spent the rest of the morning watching P.lanet Earth, before having Christmas lunch. Usually we have our big meal for supper, but this year I was going to be working. My mom decided she liked having it at lunch and we might do it every year. I just have to say I loooove me some turkey and mashed potatoes!

Work was about how I expected. Something happened that was beyond our control, and of course people had a lot to say about it. One man told me that I ruined his family's Christmas. People can be real assholes. Not once do they think that we're away from our families, working on Christmas. Or maybe they just don't care. It's sad when you see the worst side of people on a day that is supposed to be full of joy and caring. Not everybody was horrible. One man even thanked me and helped to restore my faith in humanity. But overall, people were pretty nasty.

Merry Christmas indeed.

Holiday Spirit?

I've decided to decorate my blog and get into the holiday spirit, even though I haven't had much to be cheery about lately.

My family is no longer going to Mexico after Christmas, due to family reasons. An uncle of mine has been diagnosed with cancer, and my Aunt Crazy has gone off and outdone herself. I'm pretty bummed, but I totally understand why we're not going. I just hope my uncle is okay. As for my aunt, well ... that's a long story.

I haven't heard from J in over two weeks. He left for work without a word to me, and I haven't heard from him since. He was supposed to come home 2 days ago. I haven't tried calling him. I guess I should try doing that today. I don't really know what I'm going to say to him. I'm not even really sure what happened to make him go AWOL. I am so mad/hurt, yet indifferent at the same time. I'm tired of his excuses and empty promises.

Work on the other hand has been good. I've been told by most of the managers that I am awesome, and they're really happy with me. Yay! The Christmas party is in a couple of weeks, and I'm looking forward to it. The people are all really great (well most of them), so it should be fun hanging out with them outside of work.


ETA: J and I just broke up. He referred to it as more of a break, but I can't see us working things out in the near future. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I knew it was coming, but I'm still kind of surprised. I know I'm going to miss him, no matter how mad he used to make me. We had a lot of fun.

Work Rant

I've work at at few jobs, and I have realized that no matter where I am working, some things don't change.

I love it when somebody is paying for something, and they realize they don't have enough money. They always look at me and say, "well I have this much," and expect for me to just go "Okay!" and give them whatever it is they want. Sorry folks. Life does not work like that. No money, no product. I am not Santa. I do not give away gifts for free!

People will always have a problem with something. When I started at this job I was wondering what on earth people would find to complain about. Trust me, they find lots. My favourite is when they start freaking out about something I can not control. And most of the time it's their own fault. I should put a sign up that says "Lack of planning on your part, does not constitute an emergency on my part!" And for the record, the bitchier you are to me, the less I am likely to help you. You did not create this earth. I owe you nothing!

End of rant. I've gotta get ready for work!

Ever just have one of those days...

So much for my stellar lunch plans. Our restaurant is closed on Sundays! I wanted to cry. We ended up going somewhere else but it just wasn't what I wanted. We ran into my parents on the way out of the restaurant. They were on their way to dance lessons. My parents are so cute learning how to dance after 30 some odd years of marriage. I guess the people they knock over don't think it's as great, but I love it!

Work today was awful. It was one of those days where at the end of your shift you just want to slam your head into something. Uuuuuuugh. However, my boss did stop by to tell me I was doing a good job, and that she really likes me! Yay for me being awesome!

J might or might not be going back to work tomorrow. His other option is Friday. I hope he waits until Friday because then I get to hang out with him more! With me being a morning person and him a definite night person, I'm surprised we even see each other at all when he's home. But just wait until ski season starts! pffft I'll be lucky if I see him before spring!

If she doesn't scare you...

At work tonight I saw the real life version of Cru.ella de Vil. She had a long angular face, big crazy hair, and the most enormous fur jacket I have ever seen. And I'm pretty sure she was intoxicated. It's an interesting thing, working with the public. You just never know who/what you're going to encounter!

My feet hurt. There once was a time where I could stand on them for a whole day without a second thought. However, those days are gone! I'm sure they will return, but for now I am sitting with my feet up and seriously considering hunting down the foot bath and lathering on generous amounts of peppermint lotion. Yes, it's the middle of the night. No, I don't care.

Tomorrow I have lunch plans with J (that is some serious devotion on his part, getting up for me before 3!) at our new favourite restaurant. It's an all you can eat Mongolian grill and it's quite delicious. And filling. The last time we went I felt I didn't need to eat again for a week. MMM! I'm excited just thinking about it. :)

Work and Pumpkins

Today was my first day of work. It was fine, except I am no longer used to standing for hours at a time! My last job consisted of 10 hours of sitting. Boy do my legs/feet huuuuurt. I don't work again until Wednesday so hopefully that is enough time for them to recover. The people there seem pretty nice, and there's always something to do (unlike my last job, where I was doing yoga to entertain myself). I always hate the first couple of weeks at a new job. I hate being the new kid and not knowing what I'm doing. At least I have some experience so it's not a total fish out of water situation!

Before work, my friend M and I went to pick pumpkins at our local pumpkin patch! We got lost on the way over. The only sign was right beside the turnoff and by the time you saw the large arrow, it was too late to turn! That and we thought it meant turn up ahead, not turn RIGHT NOW down this little driveway. In the end we found it and that's all that matters. However, neither of us were prepared to lift and carry large pumpkins across a field. We ended up carrying/rolling them into a pile around the edge of the field and bringing the car around.

M mentioned there is a pumpkin patch about an hour out of town which includes a hay ride and wheelbarrows, so it has already been decided that we are going there next year. I didn't know we had one pumpkin patch around here, let alone one with a hayride! Simple pleasures, folks. Simple pleasures.

Two things we need:

There are two things that I would have liked to have this past weekend at work.

1) For ATM machines to give out 5 dollar bills.

I got to the point where if one more person gave me a 20 dollar bill I would have had to refuse them. I had one dollar of change in my till. Seriously. I wanted to hug the next dozen or so people who gave me 5's or change. I like those people. And to people who use large bills for a 2 dollar drink: I don't like you very much. It's nothing personal, it's just that you can't even begin to understand how hard it is for me to get change when I run out.

2) A standard debit/credit machine.

Why is it that there are 50 thousand different types of machines? It confuses people. Why can't there just be one machine with a brightly lit screen, large print, and clearly marked buttons?

I'm just sayin'!