Back in September 2007 I was a new Vancouver resident and didn't really know my way around the city. In fact, I had only been there a handful of days when I attempted to take the bus from South Surrey/White Rock back to Vancouver. I had been visiting my aunt and uncle for the night. Anyway, I ended up having a horrible experience trying to get on the bus in South Surrey but I managed to make my way back to Vancouver. I then managed to miss my bus stop so I walked 9 blocks back to where I needed to be. 9 proper city blocks. Ugh. So there I was at the corner of 49th and Granville. My phone was dead so I didn't know what time it was nor did I know when a bus would appear. There is a girl at the bus stop as well so I attempt to ask her if she knew whether the bus I was looking for had come yet or when I might expect it or I dunno, what time is it??? She actually just stood there staring straight ahead. I kid you not. She did not want to even acknowledge my presence. If she couldn't understand english, there was no mistaking that I was talking to her so she could have given me shoulder shrugging or bewildered eyes or whatever but nope, nothing. She didn't want to acknowledge me. I ended up waving my hand in front of her face going "hello, are you there??" and FINALLY she looked at me. She just said "no it hasn't come yet". It was pretty awful considering I had only been there a few days in this big, massive city that I really didn't know.
I took from that day, that I was always going to be friendly and nice to everyone and be as helpful as I could be, even if I didn't know much at all. I would go out of my way to help people who needed it, regardless of who they are or whether I would ever see them again. That girl was just plain rude and sadly, she's the one that will suffer long term because her parents obviously didn't teach her very well. It willl translate over into the workplace and be her downfall. Karma, it gets you.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
2011
We're 6 days into 2011 and I've been spending a lot of time thinking about things I would like to accomplish this year. I need to stress though that these are NOT New Year's resolutions. Anyway, here we go:
1. Continue working with my Naturopath. I've been seeing a naturopath for a few weeks, so it's still pretty new but I'd like to continue with that. Over the last three weeks I have noticed an improvement with my stomach. We didn't really change much at all but I think that's key to being able to continue with it. Small changes over a longer time frame. Already he's given me confidence that what is going on with my stomach is NOT okay and that I deserve to have it seen by a specialist who can and will rule out some serious conditions.
2. Travel a bit. Nothing far and wide. The boy can't leave Canada since he doesn't have a passport since he isn't a Canadian citizen, but a mere landed immigrant for the last 30 years. Anyway, so my travel goals will be to visit a friend in Edmonton, a friend in Summerland (hello Wine tours!), and head back to my home of two years, Vancouver. It would also be nice to knock off a destination I haven't ever visited so let's say Montreal. However, should the boy get his passport soon then hopefully we can visit a few american destinations as well. We've talked about Minnesota and Texas (was Texas? or some neighbouring state?). I'd also like to head to California for a wine tour. He's been (pre-passport rules for land border crossings) before but why not go again, right?
3. Find a job that ISNT a contract job. I'd like to work in the same job for more than a pre-determined time frame. This is mostly because I'd like to buy a condo or house next winter and I won't feel comfortable doing that if I don't have a longer term job. I'm hoping I find this job before April, here's hoping!!
3B. Hopefully this job will cross me over into the corporate world because dude, pay in the charity world sucks. I love having a dogooder job, but at some point I'd like to work on the other side (in a do-gooder type role, of course).
4. Continue to be madly in love with my boy.
5. Buy a house (or condo). This is something that is really important to me. I know it probably won't happen before December however, it needs to be on the list now because it is a goal that I am working towards. I don't want anything fancy, preferably something that I can make my own but that isn't a money pit. The boy lives out of town. I drive out there a few days a week. Because of his work, he won't ever move to the city but it's also really not feasible for me to commute every day and I don't want to live with my parents forever so house it is.
6. Continue and hopefully get really really close to paying off my school loans. That would be lovely. And that's the plan. I'll hopefully have the vast majority of it out of the way by year's end. Finally. YAY!!
As you can see, these are all lofty goals. Okay, maybe 4 isn't that lofty. But as such, I don't have room to list off things like "work out more" or "insert other thing here". Not that I won't be doing these things but I think this will be my major list. Maybe in a month or two I'll come up with a more fun list :)
1. Continue working with my Naturopath. I've been seeing a naturopath for a few weeks, so it's still pretty new but I'd like to continue with that. Over the last three weeks I have noticed an improvement with my stomach. We didn't really change much at all but I think that's key to being able to continue with it. Small changes over a longer time frame. Already he's given me confidence that what is going on with my stomach is NOT okay and that I deserve to have it seen by a specialist who can and will rule out some serious conditions.
2. Travel a bit. Nothing far and wide. The boy can't leave Canada since he doesn't have a passport since he isn't a Canadian citizen, but a mere landed immigrant for the last 30 years. Anyway, so my travel goals will be to visit a friend in Edmonton, a friend in Summerland (hello Wine tours!), and head back to my home of two years, Vancouver. It would also be nice to knock off a destination I haven't ever visited so let's say Montreal. However, should the boy get his passport soon then hopefully we can visit a few american destinations as well. We've talked about Minnesota and Texas (was Texas? or some neighbouring state?). I'd also like to head to California for a wine tour. He's been (pre-passport rules for land border crossings) before but why not go again, right?
3. Find a job that ISNT a contract job. I'd like to work in the same job for more than a pre-determined time frame. This is mostly because I'd like to buy a condo or house next winter and I won't feel comfortable doing that if I don't have a longer term job. I'm hoping I find this job before April, here's hoping!!
3B. Hopefully this job will cross me over into the corporate world because dude, pay in the charity world sucks. I love having a dogooder job, but at some point I'd like to work on the other side (in a do-gooder type role, of course).
4. Continue to be madly in love with my boy.
5. Buy a house (or condo). This is something that is really important to me. I know it probably won't happen before December however, it needs to be on the list now because it is a goal that I am working towards. I don't want anything fancy, preferably something that I can make my own but that isn't a money pit. The boy lives out of town. I drive out there a few days a week. Because of his work, he won't ever move to the city but it's also really not feasible for me to commute every day and I don't want to live with my parents forever so house it is.
6. Continue and hopefully get really really close to paying off my school loans. That would be lovely. And that's the plan. I'll hopefully have the vast majority of it out of the way by year's end. Finally. YAY!!
As you can see, these are all lofty goals. Okay, maybe 4 isn't that lofty. But as such, I don't have room to list off things like "work out more" or "insert other thing here". Not that I won't be doing these things but I think this will be my major list. Maybe in a month or two I'll come up with a more fun list :)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Oh, holidays
I'm currently on a sort of vol-and-told holiday right now. Our office shuts down between Christmas and the new year but we HAVE to use our lieu time or holiday time to fill in the gaps between the various stats. I've been spending my time doing not much of anything other than hanging out with my mom, my nephew, my dog, and my boy (in no particular order).
I've managed to fit in a couple workouts which I hope to continue. I'm not a big person, in fact most consider me quite slim however, I have a very petite structure to go with that so a little extra fat on my thighs looks like a lot more on me than on others. So, I am working on toning up my thighs. Nothing crazy, it's all in the name of good health to be honest. I'm quite happy with my appearance, I just want to firm up a little bit. No biggie :)
Anyway, a job search will be starting up full force in the new year so that should be fun (or not). I'm hoping that many good things will happen this year just like for the last couple years and I know that in order for these good things to happen, I need to work to make them happen so that is my goal. However, I won't be itemizing them at this point. Maybe sometime in the next few days, maybe not. I'm not much for New Year's Resolutions so it wouldn't really be a New Year's Resolution more like a game plan for the year.
I've managed to fit in a couple workouts which I hope to continue. I'm not a big person, in fact most consider me quite slim however, I have a very petite structure to go with that so a little extra fat on my thighs looks like a lot more on me than on others. So, I am working on toning up my thighs. Nothing crazy, it's all in the name of good health to be honest. I'm quite happy with my appearance, I just want to firm up a little bit. No biggie :)
Anyway, a job search will be starting up full force in the new year so that should be fun (or not). I'm hoping that many good things will happen this year just like for the last couple years and I know that in order for these good things to happen, I need to work to make them happen so that is my goal. However, I won't be itemizing them at this point. Maybe sometime in the next few days, maybe not. I'm not much for New Year's Resolutions so it wouldn't really be a New Year's Resolution more like a game plan for the year.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays, whichever)
Merry Christmas!!!
I had a great couple festive days. Usually, I feel a lot more festive leading up to the *big day* but this year not so much. I've decided that because I don't really have coworkers that this is why I have such malaise. I mean, it makes sense right? Normally, part of the whole lead up to Christmas is talking to your colleagues about all the shopping you're doing, the tales of conquering a person's gift or failing miserably etc etc. I do have A coworker, but we're in separate offices so chit chatting is often at a minimum. She's also not in all the time because her position takes her out of the office a lot more than mine. So yes, basically, a lot less Christmas chit chat was going on at work for me and I think that affected my overall festive spirit.
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas but I seriously could not get it through my head that Christmas was coming. I had done all my shopping so it's not like I was ill-prepared in that fashion, I just didn't feel very festive. Anyway, it has come and gone now and it all worked out and by the time the day was upon us I was just as festive as anyone else.
I had a great couple festive days. Usually, I feel a lot more festive leading up to the *big day* but this year not so much. I've decided that because I don't really have coworkers that this is why I have such malaise. I mean, it makes sense right? Normally, part of the whole lead up to Christmas is talking to your colleagues about all the shopping you're doing, the tales of conquering a person's gift or failing miserably etc etc. I do have A coworker, but we're in separate offices so chit chatting is often at a minimum. She's also not in all the time because her position takes her out of the office a lot more than mine. So yes, basically, a lot less Christmas chit chat was going on at work for me and I think that affected my overall festive spirit.
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas but I seriously could not get it through my head that Christmas was coming. I had done all my shopping so it's not like I was ill-prepared in that fashion, I just didn't feel very festive. Anyway, it has come and gone now and it all worked out and by the time the day was upon us I was just as festive as anyone else.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Wow. What a great day.
Worked my butt off all day...but in a good way.
Had a great dinner with colleagues.
Travelled over to a mall to take care of the boy's Christmas gift.
Met a lovely person from BC on my way back to the hotel.
This is why I love that I am independent and comfortable in a great many different situations. I'm good at spending time alone. I'm great at travelling by myself. And then I'm perfectly comfortable to start a conversation with someone.
And I'm glad that I have a boy who loves these things about me.
Win Win Win all around
(I only mention the boy because I've been in relationships where the guy actually hasn't been that comfortable with that side of me, often due to him being insecure)
Worked my butt off all day...but in a good way.
Had a great dinner with colleagues.
Travelled over to a mall to take care of the boy's Christmas gift.
Met a lovely person from BC on my way back to the hotel.
This is why I love that I am independent and comfortable in a great many different situations. I'm good at spending time alone. I'm great at travelling by myself. And then I'm perfectly comfortable to start a conversation with someone.
And I'm glad that I have a boy who loves these things about me.
Win Win Win all around
(I only mention the boy because I've been in relationships where the guy actually hasn't been that comfortable with that side of me, often due to him being insecure)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
On Sunday, we fell back an hour. Each year when we spring forward, I remind myself that in the fall I'll gain an hour of sleep. Now that time has come for this year and I have mixed feelings.
You see, Sunday went quite well. I had stayed up far too late Friday night and any sleep I get past 830am appears to be useless so even though I slept until 1030, I probably should have just gotten up at 830. Anyway. Saturday night I was exhausted as was the boy. We went to bed early (10/1030), because we're cool like that. Sunday morning he actually kind of slept in considering he's been setting his alarm for 4am recently (it used to be 5am). It was by accident (alarm not set properly) but it worked out well because he had been sick and it helped to clear up a lot of that. And then I proceeded to sleep until about 9am. Yes, 9am after the time change. Now, keep in mind that I wake up for about an hour to two hours when he gets up. And I also take about an hour to fall asleep (unlike he who sleeps like a rock and falls asleep in a flash). But still, that's a lot of sleep. And then I read for an hour. YAY!
Sunday night I went to bed around 10/1030 again. Sweet. I figured I'd be able to get up a bit earlier than my usual last minute o'clock. And I was even kind of right about that. Didn't LEAVE any earlier but I did get to take longer to get ready for work so that's a plus.
Monday night comes along. I've had a somewhat stressful afternoon/evening. Nothing all that huge but just a bunch of small things that added up and basically left me feeling like I could cry at any minute. Hey, I'm sensitive, whatever.
Again we went to bed early. 10? I thought awesome, I'm totally going to get up at 6. This is going to be great! 3am rolls around and I wake up. And basically I watched the minutes tick by until 7 when I actually got up. That's not to say I didn't get ANY more sleep but boy, it was sparse. At 330 I wanted to cry I was so upset about feeling restless and how it was RUINING MY PLAN!!! (Type A much???)
I'm tired, yo.
At about 4am I was cursing the time change. Blaming it for all my misery.
I think it was actually a combination of the time change, my stress level, and the fact that the boy was sleeping poorly. He usually doesn't move at all and I'm basically the princess from the princess and the pea. He was moving around and that definitely was having an impact on me. Oi.
Anyway, now it's nearly 1230 and I'm, uh, overtired I think. I had a conference call that lasted until 11 and I haven't quite wound down from that yet. SIGH.
I thought I had espaced this time change unscathed. Alas, I was wrong.
You see, Sunday went quite well. I had stayed up far too late Friday night and any sleep I get past 830am appears to be useless so even though I slept until 1030, I probably should have just gotten up at 830. Anyway. Saturday night I was exhausted as was the boy. We went to bed early (10/1030), because we're cool like that. Sunday morning he actually kind of slept in considering he's been setting his alarm for 4am recently (it used to be 5am). It was by accident (alarm not set properly) but it worked out well because he had been sick and it helped to clear up a lot of that. And then I proceeded to sleep until about 9am. Yes, 9am after the time change. Now, keep in mind that I wake up for about an hour to two hours when he gets up. And I also take about an hour to fall asleep (unlike he who sleeps like a rock and falls asleep in a flash). But still, that's a lot of sleep. And then I read for an hour. YAY!
Sunday night I went to bed around 10/1030 again. Sweet. I figured I'd be able to get up a bit earlier than my usual last minute o'clock. And I was even kind of right about that. Didn't LEAVE any earlier but I did get to take longer to get ready for work so that's a plus.
Monday night comes along. I've had a somewhat stressful afternoon/evening. Nothing all that huge but just a bunch of small things that added up and basically left me feeling like I could cry at any minute. Hey, I'm sensitive, whatever.
Again we went to bed early. 10? I thought awesome, I'm totally going to get up at 6. This is going to be great! 3am rolls around and I wake up. And basically I watched the minutes tick by until 7 when I actually got up. That's not to say I didn't get ANY more sleep but boy, it was sparse. At 330 I wanted to cry I was so upset about feeling restless and how it was RUINING MY PLAN!!! (Type A much???)
I'm tired, yo.
At about 4am I was cursing the time change. Blaming it for all my misery.
I think it was actually a combination of the time change, my stress level, and the fact that the boy was sleeping poorly. He usually doesn't move at all and I'm basically the princess from the princess and the pea. He was moving around and that definitely was having an impact on me. Oi.
Anyway, now it's nearly 1230 and I'm, uh, overtired I think. I had a conference call that lasted until 11 and I haven't quite wound down from that yet. SIGH.
I thought I had espaced this time change unscathed. Alas, I was wrong.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
I just wrote a post and of course, blogger messed up and it's gone. That's it. I'm not re-writing it but the jist of it was that I am going to start taking notes when blog posts come to mind while I'm driving to work. Taking notes on pen and paper, no cell phone...that's against the law :)
Be back tomorrow
Be back tomorrow
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