organic cotton

So, I am feeling a little bit better this morning. I think the fact that we are finally getting some sunshine is helping loads. I am so tired of dreary days. I mean, it is cloudy today, but at least it isn't dark. I got so sick and tired of it being dark all the time. So yay for good weather!

For the first time, about a week ago, I was able to open the sunroof on my car. A true sign of warmer weather. And higher spirits. But allergies, good lord! 'Tis the season. My hayfever has been going nuts for about 10 days. It is pretty annoying. Having to stop and sneeze when driving because you can't stop sneezing is pretty annoying.

But I love having fulltime work. I have to watch my expenses, but not as tightly as before. And I can try and save some money too. I am thinking about purchasing property in two years, and so I need to be responsible AND take care of my student loan debt.

I went to MEC the other day and bought some great new polo shirts. They have released a line of organic cotton clothing. I know, we've all seen it before, but it is pretty cool that MEC has priced it so that they are accessible. Organic cotton Polo shirts for $19? Tshirts for $12? That is pretty darn good for ANY shirt, never mind organic. Not mention, I really enjoy the colours. :-)

I have been trying to be a little more aware of my 'cunsumptiveness' with regard to the environment. That being said, I drive to work everyday in a single-occupant vehicle. I could take the bus, but I am LAZY. I would have to get up much earlier to catch the bus, and my laziness/desire to sleep overrides my environmental sensibilities. But I do what I can.

Speaking of the environment, in the last week I have watched An Inconvenient Truth and Who killed the Electric Car? Both are excellent films, and I would reccommend them both to everyone. An Inconvenient Truth is by far the most depressing of the two, but who every claimed that climate change was supposed to be uplifting?

And those are my thoughts for the day.

life just keeps rollin'

I had a really bad day at work today. I mean, like, crawl under a bush and die kind of day. But all ended okay, and I headed off to the Brentwood Bay Lodge for a drink with Dave, which was great. Both of our work days were less than stellar, so it was nice to have a couple of pints to relax. Then I spent 30 minutes arguing with VISA about my card... and got treated like garbage by the rep. Long story.

I was feeling a little pissed at this point. Bailed on my parents, and headed back to Eric's house (he's away in Van for the next 3 months). I thought that I would take it easy, do some tidying, laundry, and assemble the bookshelf he bought at Walmart.

Trust Walmart to sell a book case where the screws strip the allen key. What the fuck is that? So now there is a half-assembled (not even) bookcase sitting on the living room floor, and I am angry!!!!

And drinking beer. Beer solves all problems... which is mildly concerning. I miss Eric...

I want him to come home.

But life, keeps on rollin'

gah

and gah to the world too.

Geez, social engagements at the parent's house are so stressful.

Always.

last minute change of plans

Off to Poco tonight to hear the Creddence Clearwater Revival band with Eric and his dad... I love being spontaneous! This weekend is looking up!

and yes, I know this band is really me.

kinda

So, I feel kinda like I've checked out a bit. I have a lot of good in my life right now, and a lot of promising perspectives. But I don't know why I feel so detached from all of it. I really don't like where I live. The house smells, and we ran out of heating oil, so the house is always cold, and smells really dank. I never see my roommates, no body ever cleans, and I am tired of living with people. I haven't prepared a meal in months. No joke. The fanciest thing I have produced in my kitchen is tea. But I also don't feel much like doing anything about either, since we are all moving out at the end of April.

I have to find a place for May 1. Which seems like a really daunting prospect. I don't even really want to get together with friends. Everything feels like an effort. Since I got back from my trip I have been so exhausted all the time. It is starting to worry me, that I am so tired all the time. I'm told that it can actually take your body a couple of weeks to get over the westward time difference, but I dunno.

Blah. I just feel a little bit blah.

But like I said, I have a lot of good. I really like my new job, and am finding it pretty rewarding. Definitely a steep learning curve, but enjoying it nonetheless. Eric and I are getting along famously, and just celebrated 2 months together this past week (no small feat for me, conidering I have never been in a relationship).

Anyways, I'm just ranting. Things will look up. Maybe some sunshine would help. Cause good lord, I am SICK and tired of it being grey here all the time. It really blows balls.

I think I'll go to Nanaimo this weekend and chill at the sister's place. I dunno.

i'm out...

blah

Samara left today... moving back to Nelson.

Dave is sad now.

whew...

Well, after bring up for 24 consecutive hours, I am home. I think next time I would plan the flights a little differently. We left Berlin at 1pm (4am PST), then had a layover in London for 3 hours before getting on the flight to Vancouver that left an hour late at 5:45pm GMT (8am PST), then were on the plane until 6:45pm PST when it landed in Vancouver. We had a semi-long wait at passport control, and kind of got grilled a bit (Eric more than me) and then a really long wait for our bags. So we missed the PCL coach from the airport, and we had to take a taxi to the ferry ($$$). Then we caught the 9pm ferry. Simon and Kira met us at the ferry terminal, and we drove Eric home and then I got home, at 12am PST, which is 9am Berlin time, precisely 24 hours after I woke up.

I think I would have a longer connection maybe. Either at least a day in London, or perhaps a connection in Toronto. I know it sounds crazy, who actually asks for connections? I do. I spent far too long on an airplane yesterday.

But I had a great time over there. I saw a lot of sights that we don't have over here, ate some different foods (some of which disagreed with me, but all of which tasted good). I even saw an English-language version of "The Queen" in Berlin. All of our hosts (Hannah in London, Miriam and Tara in Berlin) were very gracious, and full of good sightseeing ideas, as well as some more obscure, not-quite-on-the-map sights, like the East Side Gallery in Berlin.

Anyways, I have more then 700 pictures to look through, so I will have some to post shortly!

and I'm back.

enough

The trip has ended...

Almost. We are just about finished here in Berlin. And I have to say that I am ready to go home. I am craving my own things. My bed, my pillow, my food... I am kind of tired of having to 'figure out' everything, you know? I got a little bit lost on the transit systems today (Berlin has three different kinds of trains operated by 2 different bodies, but one schedule) and I had a little freak out when I couldn't find a map of the system in the largest station on the network.

But that aside, I have had a good time. We went out to Sansoucci today, which is the Versailles of Germany. It was beautiful, it is this huge park with 5 palaces in it. The park itself was beautiful, but it was kind of cold and windy too. Eric and I went to Potsdamer Platz on the way back for dinner, and ate an Australian bar. I had a burger, but I could have gotten kangaroo meat if I wanted to! Eww!! I couldn't imagine eating a little kangaroo!

It is Sunday night here, we are planning to watch the Oscars tonight (live, which is 2am-6am Berlin time), and then Eric and I have Monday in Berlin before flying out Tuesday afternoon. 1pm flight from Tegel Airport, we will layover in London for 4 hours, and then back in Vancouver at 6ish on Tuesday night. 9pm ferry home, a gracious ride from the ferry courtesy of Simon and Kira, and then off to my own bed.

I'm out for now!

Ich bin in Berlin!

Hi all,

I am in Berlin now, and have been since Monday night. But internet access here isn't as cheap or frequent as North America, so here I am at Tara's place, finally catching up on email and dropping a note to the bloggers.

I had a good time in London. I really enjoyed spending time with Hannah and Eric while we were there. I will admit though, that I had a little breakdown on Monday. Hannah had gone back to Exeter for class the previous night, and Eric and I were spending our last day together in London. We went out to Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum, but it was too long of a queue, and the admission was £25.00, which is too much.

I wasn't feeling well, kind of nauseous. I went to a chemist and got a drug that I had never heard of, and then got nervous about taking it. So I decided to get some food. I saw a Subway (I know, we can get Subway at home, but it really appealed) and I got lunch. Eric left me there and walked up the street to see where the Sherlock Holmes museum was. I decided that I wanted to talk to Liz, so I called her, and got the answering machine. I left the weirdest message ever, and then hung up. I don't know what did it, but all of a sudden I just had the uncontrollable urge to cry. I kept it back for a little bit, then the floodgates opened. So I had a quiet little cry sitting on Baker Sreet in London, and Eric came back and found me weeping into my sandwich. Well, I had realized that I was a little tired and overwhelmed by the city, and a little bit homesick. But after my little cry, I felt a lot better. My nausea was gone, and I have been enjoying myself since. Even the language barrier in Berlin isn't really bothering me that much.

But I must go. We are going to watch a movie and drink Radlers. It is this gross-sounding drink that it half-beer, half-orange Fanta, but it is freaking delicious! Everybody here drinks them.

We are seeing the sights, and I have tonnes of pictures to show when I get back. I will try and post again before I head back.

Tschuß aus Deutschland!

from the UK

Hi everyone,

I arrived in Exeter late last night. Travel was a little bit of an ordeal, but here I am. I STILL don't feel like I have arrived though... Exeter looks a lot like Victoria. I mean a lot. For one thing, there are seagulls. Another thing: it is pouring rain, grey, and overcast. Third thing: everyone is carrying an umbrella. Fourth: the university architecture is almost identical. I could be writing this on a grey, rainy day in the Craigdarroch residences at UVic.

But, I am sure that will change later today. Hannah has her Chaucer class until noon, and then we are off into Exeter itself to see the cathedral, and the rest of the sights before catching a train into London tonight. I think when I get to London I will really feel like I have gone somewhere.

Travel: Flight leaves at 8.30pm. Must take 1pm ferry to ensure we are at Vancouver International soon enough. Get there early, at 3.15pm. 5 hours before our flight. Wait one hour before the check in desk even open. Check in. Discover the plane was late leaving London, so our flight is delayed until 9.35pm. Clear airport security. YVR has embarked on a massive reno project, meaning there are 3 cafes, 1 duty free, and a pro shop open. Can't even buy a book. Waste many hours sitting in terminal, getting increasingly cranky (sorry Eric!). Plane arrives, excitement builds. Then all of a sudden "British Airways is paging the following passenger: Would David Ross please report to gate D52 for a message." Heart leaps into throat. Go to D52, turns out that they were concerned they had lost my bag: both of our bags were checked under Eric's name. No problem. Finally board aircraft. Oops, they have to run tests. Sit on the tarmac for ten minutes. Finally take off, at 10.40pm, more than 2 hours late.

Flight over OK. Dinner and drinks served after takeoff. Chose a movie, fell asleep. Got woken up at 5am PST for breakfast, which was nasty. Delays at Heathrow. Holding pattern for 15 minutes. Land. No free gates. Wait ten minutes. Finally get off the aircraft. I feel like garbage, and my cough is coming back at this point. Get through Passport Control pretty quickly (20 minutes) then off to the Arrivals level. Bags claimed no problem. Take Eric to the Heathrow Express station to get him settled on his way to London. I go the National Express desk to pick up my ticket for the Bus to Exeter. I pick it up at the Terminal 4 desk, as instructed on my online confirmation. The lady says "The bus leaves from the Central Bus Station at Terminal 1. Go take the Heathrow Express (no charge) but you will probably miss your bus." Run back to Heathrow Express. Run down the esclator. Run into Eric on the platform. We get on the train. Train gets to Terminal 1 at 5.15, bus leaves at 5.25pm. RUN down the worlds longest corridor. Follow sign to Terminal 1. Take a long escalator ride. Get off escalator. Go around corner, another escalator. Ride it. Another corner, another escalator. RUN up it with my bag. Go around corner: long hallway. Start running. Completely don't see the travelator, so ran next to it. 5.20pm. Arrive in hub where 4 corridors meet, no more signs for the Central Bus Station. Finally spot an elevator with a paper sign on the door "Temporary Lift to Central Bus Station." Take it. Get to bus station. 5.23pm. Run to info desk, go to platform... Bus is 30 minutes late.

Got on the bus, and slept, slept, slept. 3.5 hours later, arrived in Exeter. Hannah met me, we walked back to her flat at the school, and was finally able to relax. Took the best shower of my life, and went to bed.

I suppose it could have been much worse. It actually isn't that bad. I just wanted to document that part of my trip before I forgot.

I can't wait to get to London tonight!

and I'm out for now!

Europe, here I come!

I'm off to Europe tomorrow! I'll see you guys later!!!

here i go...

I am enjoying my last two days off before I leave for my trip. Today is Saturday, and I leave on Wednesday! I am getting very excited. But my goodness, I have had a lot of work to do in the meantime.

Every time I do something to get ready for the trip, I am reminded of just how close it actually is. Today, I went to the bank and bought some pounds sterling so that I have a little cash when I land in London. I asked for £50, and it cost me $116 Canadian! But I am trying not to think about the expense of the UK, I'll worry about the VISA bill when I get back.

But yes, preparations abound. I need to make arrangements to get to the ferry terminal on Wednesday, go to my parents to get the suitcase I am using, I need to do laundry, get my carry-on bag prepped with the bare essentials (apparently British Airways has been losing a lot of luggage lately...) I have so much to get done!

But it will all happen. Speaking of which, I need to go. I'll try and post another update before I leave!

and I'm out...

more info

Okay, for those of you who were not in the know on things, the aforementioned position that I got hired for today was:

Administrative Assistant to the Director of PR at Butchart Gardens.

Yes, it is a full time position. Yes, I have had to drop out of school. Well, not completely. I have dropped three of the four courses that I was taking. The schedule at this job is such that I can continue with my English 401 Web Design course.

I am not quitting school. I want to make that clear. What I am doing is restructuring my education. Right now, I am a third-year English student with two years left, and $25,000 in debt. And so, I have decided to get a job and PAY my way through the rest of my degree with real money, not student loans. Yes, it will take a little longer, but this was an opportunity that I could not refuse. So I took it.

And that is all. Tomorrow, I have an appointment with a financial advisor to determine the best bet for my pension benefits, and then I am off for a fantastic haircut. To that end, I am posting a 'before' picture tonight. I will post an 'after' picture tomorrow... And yes I know I look like a creeper...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!!!!

I got the job!! WOOT WOOT!!!

Not really able to communicate how happy I am right now... not at all...

Just imagine me jumping up and down in excitement at the bus loop at UVic when I found out... perhaps that image will help you!

weeping...

AHH!!! So MacBooks are supposed to be indestructible, right? Right? I even double checked on Apple's website, and found this direct quote:

"And since MacBook is sure to become your constant companion, a durable polycarbonate shell keeps it ready for the rough and tumble of everyday life."

So since my MacBook IS my constant companion (it goes to school with me every day), how in god's name did THIS happen?

And Apple wants my computer for THREE WEEKS to repair it?

Did I drop it, you ask? Throw it across the room? Oh no, I was simply typing merrily along, when I lifted my wrist and this little plastic edge started to peel away. So now my beautiful MacBook has a piece of scotch tape holding it together...

Boo...

academia

To loosely quote Eric, I feel like I am losing my passion for school. I don't know what it is, but with each passing week, my courses become duller and duller. This semester, I am taking four courses: Conversational German, Early Victorian Lit, Copy Editing, and Web Design. I am only enjoying one of those courses. The others just feel like work.

I am disliking German a LOT!! It seems like no matter what I do, I am incapable of succeeding in that course. There is homework due every single day. I hate it! And with Copy Editing, I just don't care, I really have no desire to go an sit in that classroom and listen to a lecture on the construction of adverbial phrases. Several times I have been in WebReg for one reason or another, and it has struck me that with two mouse clicks, that course could be out of my life forever. Really. It would be that simple. Web Design is okay, except that we are moving at a snail's pace. Early Victorian Lit, on the other hand, is amazing! Dr. Surridge is so passionate about her subject. Her lectures are engaging and varied, and really promote discussion and questions from the class. I would definitely take courses from her again.

One of the reasons that I feel so discombobulated lately is that I have an incredible employment opportunity that has come my way, which I applied for. I got shortlisted and interviewed (today, actually), and think that I have a decent shot. I should find out by Friday whether I got the job or not. Monday at the latest. I just kind of want to know, you know? I have so many projects coming up in the next 10 days, but do I need to apply myself to them or not? If I get the job, the answer is no, as I will be dropping those courses. But I need to apply myself in case I don't get the job.

Why is life so complicated some times? lol

But ah well. Life is not so bad! School aside, I feel a little more 'balanced' of late. Maybe Eric has something to do with that? I dunno! And yes, Eric, I know you are reading this too. But I really enjoy spending my time with Eric, and thinking about him, and waiting to talk to him at night, and becoming a clingy, overly-obsessed boyfriend. I just hope I don't scare him off!

On that note, I am going to bed. I have finished reading Wuthering Heights, and now I need to start reading Cranford. Yay!

sitting in the computer lab...

life goes on...

so much homework to do...

and i don't want to do any of it.

laid off

I got laid off at the Gardens again...

Little does Payroll know, I start there tomorrow in a different department! AH-hahahahahahahah!!!!!

Take THAT, unnecessary paperwork!

I can really be an ass sometimes!

Eric

Here it is, as promised. A picture of Eric. I hope this works out!

a BIG update!

Well, this update isn't big in quantity, but it is big in substance.

As some of you know, I have had myself out there on a few online dating sites, inspired by the success of Claire. Well, after a few coffee dates and some odd moments, I think that I have finally met someone. I don't mean to be cliched, but we really clicked when we met the other day, and have been spending a lot of time together. We are very similar in nature, and both enjoy each other's company. I am very happy, but also very cautious. You know us virgos, there always has to be a barrier of some sort!

Anyways, his name is Eric, he's 29, and a boom operator (he holds the big fuzzy microphone over actors on tv sets). I'll post a pic later on when I get a chance.

That being said, I am off to school (and lunch with Eric!!)