Long time, no talk !
Life is kicking my butt these days and no time to think, eat, drink, call anyone, think (did I mention that??) HOWEVER ,,,, on Friday morning, after a long week of little sleep, poor eating habits, and a night spent on a couch in Edmonton with a dog walking and whining all night click clacking on a hardwood floor, to wake at 5:30 to drive 3 hours back to the city to get to work in time to get in my work truck and drive to Banff and Canmore to do my store audits, deliver inventory ..... I had a mini meltdown in front of my GM and told him the job was too big for me, and I felt like I was failing and that the tasks they required of me daily was physically impossible and the pressure was too much.
POOR friggn' guy! Didn't know what to do with an emotional, big fat tears coming down her face, frazzled employee. He reassured me that I would be getting my bonuses (as natch, money is a stressor for me) and that I wasn't failing, and he didn't want it to come to this again, that I needed to tell him when I was feeling overwhelmed and that we were a team etc etc etc.
How humbling. I present as this confident, in control, assertive professional and I totally lose it when my boss asks me a simple question as "did you get caught up on your rest last night"? I answered "no". He asked "why". I break down.
So the orders from him at 4:23 on Friday when I was stuck in traffic on 9th Ave, sweltering in my little (awesome, little) car and rocking out to Shine were "do not work this weekend, recharge your batteries, you are not allowed to go into the stores this weekend."
THOSE are orders I can live by!
I'm going to my roommates wedding today. I'm wearing the same dress as I wore to Ashley's. I hope noone notices. tee hee
Ummmm .... so I went to see ACDC this week in Ed. Bree was supposed to go, but she got stuck in Maui (poor thing) so I went with her friend Brittney and Trudy. OMEGOSH it was epic. I only knew like every third song, but what a show. They sure do know how to entertain. It rained and poured and thundered and lightened. We were soaked to the bone. Soaked. I haven't seen rain like that since Halifax. It was crazy. The ticket purchase was a spur of the moment way back in April - and I was feeling kinda bad in the week leading up to it, as it isn't exactly the most spiritually fulfilling place to be, but we got into it. We bought $12 ACDC tee's from WalMart and I deconstructed them. They turned out so well. Mom and Mo would be proud. I cut them up, added piping, ribbon, and lace. Very very cool. And it was raining so hard and Trudy (quiet, married, kid) said "I'm going to the bathroom". "Surrrree you are" we said. We didn't see her again until we left! So Brit and I looked at each other and said "We're here, we're soaked, our cell phones probably runied, our hair certainly is - let's do it! " So we rocked out 80's style. It was pretty freakin' amazing actually. I love live music. I love the energy of the crowd, everyone is there for the same reason (welllll ,,,, Brit and I weren't indulging in the natural herbalage that most around us were .. but you know what I mean !)
So thats all for now. I'll post pics from the wedding later. OH! I went Samba dancing last night. for $7 you get an hour lesson and you can stay till midnight and dance the night away. I was pooped and we left at 10 or so. It was quite interesting.
I am having so much fun here ! I've done more in the past 5 months than I've done in the past 5 years in Halifax !!
Gotta run. Make up needs to be put on- hair to be done and a sacred ceremony promising forever to attend .
Later!!!
L.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Go Stamps Go!
The Stampeders played the Winnipeg BlueBombers Saturday night.
I suggest to Wes that we get a group together.
He quickly and easily accomplishes the task. Which consists of the usual suspects.
Wes decides that we should dress up. You know, body paint, wigs, homemade t-shirts.
I was probably called into work - perks of my new position - have to drop what I'm doing and go rescue some poor kid who's left their keys home and I get to go and lock up the store. Or something equally inconvenient. Sweet, sweet perks. I got 'em !
We all meet at Wes' at 5;30 - to get 'ready'
SO: Here I am, painting Wes, taking over from him from places he couldn't reach, and Kat took over from me when I got tired. It was very labour intensive. And theres Mike is on the floor making our tshirts.
Wes convinces his bro to wear the white afro wig and paint his face
The finished product. Lets just say we were quite the scene in 16th Ave traffic. Think Quinpool at rushhour - on steriods. We even had people videoing us with their iPhones. I was in the back under the cover of tinted windows. But the boys weren't. We travelled in two trucks, so it was fun to see people swivelling when they saw both vehicles with freakshows driving them.
Here we are! Mike was so busy making our clothes, that he didn't have time to get painted. He's super quiet though, so I bet he was pretty happy .... So funny that HE was the anomaly, not us!
Kat and Josh
We wanted to get on the Jumbotron, but we couldn't even see it - our seats were so crap! Thats what we get for cheaping out! But we had random people asking to take our picture. And those boas! We found black and red feathers everywhere around the stadium! Wes looked like Satan - and small children were genuinely frightened.
My tee. Thats the Winnipeg Blue Bombers logo on the back ... get it? eats horse poop? Stampeder poop?
I suggest to Wes that we get a group together.
He quickly and easily accomplishes the task. Which consists of the usual suspects.
Wes decides that we should dress up. You know, body paint, wigs, homemade t-shirts.
I was probably called into work - perks of my new position - have to drop what I'm doing and go rescue some poor kid who's left their keys home and I get to go and lock up the store. Or something equally inconvenient. Sweet, sweet perks. I got 'em !
We all meet at Wes' at 5;30 - to get 'ready'
SO: Here I am, painting Wes, taking over from him from places he couldn't reach, and Kat took over from me when I got tired. It was very labour intensive. And theres Mike is on the floor making our tshirts.
Wes convinces his bro to wear the white afro wig and paint his face
The finished product. Lets just say we were quite the scene in 16th Ave traffic. Think Quinpool at rushhour - on steriods. We even had people videoing us with their iPhones. I was in the back under the cover of tinted windows. But the boys weren't. We travelled in two trucks, so it was fun to see people swivelling when they saw both vehicles with freakshows driving them.
Here we are! Mike was so busy making our clothes, that he didn't have time to get painted. He's super quiet though, so I bet he was pretty happy .... So funny that HE was the anomaly, not us!
Kat and Josh
We wanted to get on the Jumbotron, but we couldn't even see it - our seats were so crap! Thats what we get for cheaping out! But we had random people asking to take our picture. And those boas! We found black and red feathers everywhere around the stadium! Wes looked like Satan - and small children were genuinely frightened.
My tee. Thats the Winnipeg Blue Bombers logo on the back ... get it? eats horse poop? Stampeder poop?
Oh YEAH! There was a game. I almost forgot. We won. But I don't remember one play. Or the score.
Another great night with great people. Next time - we're getting better seats and I already know what I'm going to wear! I'll let someone else have a turn with the Wendy's wig ....
Peace !
Leanne
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
BOAT !! BOAT !!
Lifejackets are the law ..... but they greatly impede the tanning process. They're hot. Uncomfortable. So the only time we put them on was when we heard the Police or Fire motor boat. We'd yell BOAT BOAT and scramble to get our jackets on. Avoiding attention wasn't helped by the fact that we were singing at the top of our lungs and randomly pushing each other off the edges, awaiting the perfect opportunity of our friends complacency. If you heard "is it deep here?" you were on high alert - we're a conscientious group, you know. We only violently shove others off in deep water ......
Here we are floating without jackets, and we heard the motors coming. See Bree on the far right? It seems I'm hearing something too, Wes is unaware, or maybe he's still apologizing for back flipping me into the river while I was innocently enjoying the calming river and the hot sun within the safe and dry confines of the raft. I think he bruised my arm. Noone can be sure as there were many instances where bodies made physical contact. Between hauling each other into the raft, standing up to get a drink and falling flat on someone, then they crash into someone else. We were a bit of a gong show sometimes.
Here's Jeremy throwing us our life jackets, Bree laughing, Javier nervously looking towards the sound. We'd been warned already that the fine was $500. Just as much as hitting a pedestrian in a playground zone. ???? random comparision officer, but thanks for your leniency.?? Theres only one police boat, so we knew if they caught us again, we were in pretty major trubs. Ever try putting a life jacket on while in the water?
Me and Nat.
Wes taking some alone time.
Bree bails the boat while we float off the side ...
Still lounging. Kat seems to be having trouble with her jacket
Here we are floating without jackets, and we heard the motors coming. See Bree on the far right? It seems I'm hearing something too, Wes is unaware, or maybe he's still apologizing for back flipping me into the river while I was innocently enjoying the calming river and the hot sun within the safe and dry confines of the raft. I think he bruised my arm. Noone can be sure as there were many instances where bodies made physical contact. Between hauling each other into the raft, standing up to get a drink and falling flat on someone, then they crash into someone else. We were a bit of a gong show sometimes.
Here's Jeremy throwing us our life jackets, Bree laughing, Javier nervously looking towards the sound. We'd been warned already that the fine was $500. Just as much as hitting a pedestrian in a playground zone. ???? random comparision officer, but thanks for your leniency.?? Theres only one police boat, so we knew if they caught us again, we were in pretty major trubs. Ever try putting a life jacket on while in the water?
Me and Nat.
Wes taking some alone time.
Bree bails the boat while we float off the side ...
Still lounging. Kat seems to be having trouble with her jacket
Left to Right: Javier, me, Jeremy, Nat,
Back: Kat
Monday, August 3, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Floating Down the Bow - Just Another Day in Paradise
Yet another adventure involving water. Makes me miss the East. But not really. Because the only thing I miss about NS is a handful of people. 'Cuz I'm suuuuuure not missing the summer they are having .... yikes.
So heres the Bow River. Its part of the Elbow. (not to be confused ... ) Its just a tiny little 'leg' of it. Saturday we all met at 10:30, supposedly. It was more like noon before we got on the river. The boys were late. Surprise.
We rented a raft from U of C Outdoor Centre. There was 7 of us. The entire day cost us $17 each. How cool is that?? Remember Nat? My customer at Rogers who I went to the football game with? Well, she came along with us too - fit in like she'd been part of the group forever. Because thats just what they're like. She pushed me off the side of the raft - I went headfirst into the River. The freezing. cold. river. There was lots of that though - horseplay I believe the term to be. We had a great time. It was 32 outside! So we had a cooler full of food and bevvies.
My turn to pump the raft up. The boys were late. Did I mention that? So we had to do all the work. But we took turns eating and pumping.
oh! but after we're trying to get the middle of the raft blown up, having major trubs because it was like a balloon and you had to be ninja-ish and quickly get the value on after the hose was removed - the boys show up and say "thats easy, its a one way valve ...blah blah blah ..." and in one swift movement - fixed the problem.
Off we go.
So heres the Bow River. Its part of the Elbow. (not to be confused ... ) Its just a tiny little 'leg' of it. Saturday we all met at 10:30, supposedly. It was more like noon before we got on the river. The boys were late. Surprise.
We rented a raft from U of C Outdoor Centre. There was 7 of us. The entire day cost us $17 each. How cool is that?? Remember Nat? My customer at Rogers who I went to the football game with? Well, she came along with us too - fit in like she'd been part of the group forever. Because thats just what they're like. She pushed me off the side of the raft - I went headfirst into the River. The freezing. cold. river. There was lots of that though - horseplay I believe the term to be. We had a great time. It was 32 outside! So we had a cooler full of food and bevvies.
My turn to pump the raft up. The boys were late. Did I mention that? So we had to do all the work. But we took turns eating and pumping.
oh! but after we're trying to get the middle of the raft blown up, having major trubs because it was like a balloon and you had to be ninja-ish and quickly get the value on after the hose was removed - the boys show up and say "thats easy, its a one way valve ...blah blah blah ..." and in one swift movement - fixed the problem.
Curses! foiled again! (see my itty bitty pony tail? isn't it so cute!!!?)
Off we go.
I didn't take this picture intentionally, but isn't it so cool?? I don't even know how it happened, but thought my sisters would think its cool. Seeing they are are photogs ....
Nat floating. She has great pictures. She has a waterproof and took so many good shots.
Deflating the raft ....
Me n' Bree
Nat floating. She has great pictures. She has a waterproof and took so many good shots.
Deflating the raft ....
Me n' Bree
Wes, Jer, Bree and I went to church at First, then the non-churchies met us at my house for a bbq and slide show of last weeks pictures. Everyone left around 1 or so.
Kicking Horse River - Conquered!
Finally heres some shots from the disc we bought after our white water rafting trip. The company is called Hydra River Guides (http://www.raftbanff.com/).
Group Shot -
Front: Guide Brian (awesome guy from Colorado)
Middle L-R: Raegan, Mike, Kat, Wes
Back L-R: Me, Brian, Bree, Shawn
Then we had to act silly. Don't you love how our guide is pretending he's dead? He was so much fun! He loved us because we were strong, took it seriously and were interactive with him. He told us were were animals. The guide you get is so important. We saw other boats and they weren't having nearly as fun as us. Plus, I didn't die. So thats a bonus. I love how Brian is acting really sullen. He's a very funny guy. Sometimes reminds me of Mark (bro Mark).
Guide Brian told us where the camera was and, you know, told to smile and wave.
On the left side of the raft is Wes, Raegan, Bree and Brian. Right side is Shawn, Kat, Mike, Me. Wimpy little me. I wanted to be in the safest part of the boat.
He's probably yelling "FORWARD! STOP! He said that alot.
He gave us a detailed tour of the entire route. Like what kind of rock this was (also thought of Mark ;-) and where the mountain goats ususally are, and ... where the man had died three weeks prior. Pretty weird to see the spot.
It was such a scorching hot day too. It was perfect. We smelled like hockey bags leaving. Because our gear was rented, it was not always dried before storage or between uses. Pretty gross.
Group Shot -
Front: Guide Brian (awesome guy from Colorado)
Middle L-R: Raegan, Mike, Kat, Wes
Back L-R: Me, Brian, Bree, Shawn
Then we had to act silly. Don't you love how our guide is pretending he's dead? He was so much fun! He loved us because we were strong, took it seriously and were interactive with him. He told us were were animals. The guide you get is so important. We saw other boats and they weren't having nearly as fun as us. Plus, I didn't die. So thats a bonus. I love how Brian is acting really sullen. He's a very funny guy. Sometimes reminds me of Mark (bro Mark).
Guide Brian told us where the camera was and, you know, told to smile and wave.
On the left side of the raft is Wes, Raegan, Bree and Brian. Right side is Shawn, Kat, Mike, Me. Wimpy little me. I wanted to be in the safest part of the boat.
He's probably yelling "FORWARD! STOP! He said that alot.
He gave us a detailed tour of the entire route. Like what kind of rock this was (also thought of Mark ;-) and where the mountain goats ususally are, and ... where the man had died three weeks prior. Pretty weird to see the spot.
It was such a scorching hot day too. It was perfect. We smelled like hockey bags leaving. Because our gear was rented, it was not always dried before storage or between uses. Pretty gross.
SUCH a fun day. Poor Raegan kept slipping into the boat. At least it wasn't OUT of the boat, I guess.
See how calm the guide is and how everyone else is 'yelling'? Well, they were faking. Just for the camera.
See how calm the guide is and how everyone else is 'yelling'? Well, they were faking. Just for the camera.
What an amazing day. Amazing people. Everything was perfect. I am very lucky. Plus, I didn't die.
Thats it.
xo
L.
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