We were talking about Miss South Carolina 2007 today and her response to the (seemingly simple) question why 1/5 of American children cannot locate the US on a map.
Please view video below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
And one of the participants in this conversation said "Man, I wish I was that stupid, I'd be hilarious".
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
MUST SEE TV
Heres Uncle Lloyd telling a Newfoundland joke (sorry Carol - please don't be insulted but you have to admit, he's got the accent down pat AND he's from Cape Breton, so he has soooome liberty to tell it. :-) and I missed the first part which says " This woman kept boarders and ... "
IS HE NOT THE CUTEST EVER ??? Makes me miss Grandpa so very much. Even though he'd be 104 if he was alive, I miss him anyway!
AND please note - that is NOT me laughing at the end. Same level of obnoxious, but not me.
Enjoy!
L.
Thanksgiving - Times Two
It was pretty sweet to get the call from Dee to come over for American Thanksgiving tonight. Pret-ty happy I did.
My butt and thighs are not.
I wore an oversized sweater and jeans that are just a little loose on the waist and battled rush hour traffic listening to Christmas Carols to get there. I wonder what I looked like bopping along in the Wave, weaving in and out of traffic, singing really off tune to Chris Tomlin's O Come All Ye Faithful ....
Anyway moving on....
Two of my favorites were there: As seen below. They just celebrated 67 years of marriage on Tuesday. And the latest count of people in their family (kids, kids kids, and kids grandkids) is 62!
Aren't they just the cutest ???
I love this woman so much. Love Love Love. I had to crop Uncle Lloyd out of it - his eyes were closed. Which led to Dee taking another picture ...
Which is this one and I'm half squatting, hence the fake-ish smile, as I'd just gotten back from le gymnaise - and it was a gooder ! I love how at 91, they are both quite comedic, and very quick with retorts and they "get" jokes and tell them. Uncle Lloyd loves a good laugh, as he is often the one providing them.
It was a meal to remember for sure! We all had seconds! Sweet potatoes with sour cream and brown sugar and big fat marshmallows baked on top with cinnamon sprinkles. Baked green bean salad soaked in mushroom soup and with fried onions on the top, brussel sprouts (for all the others) turkey, potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce, (Dad, you'd have eaten the entire bowl) ummm ... there was more, my foggy brain can't remember. Ray had to leave, as he always does, to go to a wedding rehearsal this time and not a funeral .... Their company tonight was a couple from Calgary who winter in Phoenix and SURPRISE - have a single son. Dee said - and I quote - " Leanne, Dave and Lynn have a son whose 33, so be aware". The expectant looks from 'the parents' prompt me to say - and I quote "He's too young for me anyway, so you don't have to worry". Leads to quiet murmurs of acknowledgement and nods of understanding.
Halfway through the meal Dave says "33? really? its too young? How old are YOU?" When I told him he said "Pfft! Thats not too young, its only a year". Smiling, I reassured him that 35 was my minimum age and I had to stick to it, I was done dating younger men, it hasn't fared well for me.
I like how parents out there love me .... and I can't manage to get the ACTUAL offspring to follow suit. Oh the irony that is my life ! :-)
Okay, so anyway, as I've digressed, let's get back on topic - which would be the other guest named Kate. She is a sweet Chinese gal who is an engineer in Houston, used to live here. Its pretty cooll that I meet someone new everytime I'm there.
I'm stuffed, x2 of everything will do that to you, and I need to go to bed. Its 11pm and I need my beauty sleep as I schelp around town tomorrow running errands and trying to figure my life out.
See ya later !
LeeLeeMac
My butt and thighs are not.
I wore an oversized sweater and jeans that are just a little loose on the waist and battled rush hour traffic listening to Christmas Carols to get there. I wonder what I looked like bopping along in the Wave, weaving in and out of traffic, singing really off tune to Chris Tomlin's O Come All Ye Faithful ....
Anyway moving on....
Two of my favorites were there: As seen below. They just celebrated 67 years of marriage on Tuesday. And the latest count of people in their family (kids, kids kids, and kids grandkids) is 62!
Aren't they just the cutest ???
I love this woman so much. Love Love Love. I had to crop Uncle Lloyd out of it - his eyes were closed. Which led to Dee taking another picture ...
Which is this one and I'm half squatting, hence the fake-ish smile, as I'd just gotten back from le gymnaise - and it was a gooder ! I love how at 91, they are both quite comedic, and very quick with retorts and they "get" jokes and tell them. Uncle Lloyd loves a good laugh, as he is often the one providing them.
It was a meal to remember for sure! We all had seconds! Sweet potatoes with sour cream and brown sugar and big fat marshmallows baked on top with cinnamon sprinkles. Baked green bean salad soaked in mushroom soup and with fried onions on the top, brussel sprouts (for all the others) turkey, potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce, (Dad, you'd have eaten the entire bowl) ummm ... there was more, my foggy brain can't remember. Ray had to leave, as he always does, to go to a wedding rehearsal this time and not a funeral .... Their company tonight was a couple from Calgary who winter in Phoenix and SURPRISE - have a single son. Dee said - and I quote - " Leanne, Dave and Lynn have a son whose 33, so be aware". The expectant looks from 'the parents' prompt me to say - and I quote "He's too young for me anyway, so you don't have to worry". Leads to quiet murmurs of acknowledgement and nods of understanding.
Halfway through the meal Dave says "33? really? its too young? How old are YOU?" When I told him he said "Pfft! Thats not too young, its only a year". Smiling, I reassured him that 35 was my minimum age and I had to stick to it, I was done dating younger men, it hasn't fared well for me.
I like how parents out there love me .... and I can't manage to get the ACTUAL offspring to follow suit. Oh the irony that is my life ! :-)
Okay, so anyway, as I've digressed, let's get back on topic - which would be the other guest named Kate. She is a sweet Chinese gal who is an engineer in Houston, used to live here. Its pretty cooll that I meet someone new everytime I'm there.
I'm stuffed, x2 of everything will do that to you, and I need to go to bed. Its 11pm and I need my beauty sleep as I schelp around town tomorrow running errands and trying to figure my life out.
See ya later !
LeeLeeMac
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Fun News
I was promoted to Head Volunteer at the Mustard Seed on Sunday Night.
(which means they took the bossiest volunteer and gave them a title) jk
I'll be responsible now for assigning volunteers to their tasks and giving tours so the new groups know what they are doing. Sundays are the days most groups, like churches or life groups, come to do shifts. Alot of churches come once a month or so, but the new ones have to be shown around and that will largely be my job and making sure everyone is settling in and noones bothering them.
I was pretty excited about that news, being bossy and working at the Seed. Two of my favorite things rolled into one!
Thats all. Just wanted you to know.
L.
(which means they took the bossiest volunteer and gave them a title) jk
I'll be responsible now for assigning volunteers to their tasks and giving tours so the new groups know what they are doing. Sundays are the days most groups, like churches or life groups, come to do shifts. Alot of churches come once a month or so, but the new ones have to be shown around and that will largely be my job and making sure everyone is settling in and noones bothering them.
I was pretty excited about that news, being bossy and working at the Seed. Two of my favorite things rolled into one!
Thats all. Just wanted you to know.
L.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Photoshoot with Little Miss
Right after Handley was born, Mark, Leah and I took turns looking after Marilu one weekend in Hali while Mom could get used to the newest addition ....
Featured below is the attempted photo shoot of said guest, cutest little bundle of energy to ever grace my apt for a weekend.
Fake Smile #1
Fake Smile #2
Not sure what the look she is going for here, but I giggle at it everytime I see it!
Little Kisses
This one is my favorite
Featured below is the attempted photo shoot of said guest, cutest little bundle of energy to ever grace my apt for a weekend.
Fake Smile #1
Fake Smile #2
Not sure what the look she is going for here, but I giggle at it everytime I see it!
Little Kisses
This one is my favorite
And thats all the oldies I'll post. I promise. At least for now.
xo
L.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Save the Drama for yo' Mama
Now that I can talk about it, I will tell you the story.
After almost a week of anger, confusion, embarassment, and my pride taking a cross check from behind, I can tell you about it.
So here it is:
Last Friday at 1:30 MST I went into a scheduled meeting with the GM of my company to be given my paycheque. My last paycheque. Yeah, I was being laid off due to a money crunch.
Okay. I can take that, seeing thats been my life for the past 12 months, but what I can't take it the fact that the new guy is staying. He gets to take my job (essentially), the job I trained him for two weeks for. The job I did all the repair work on, got numbers to where they should be, boosted morale where finally someone was giving the staff some incentives and praise. At last, the staff had someone they could trust and who answered their questions, and empowered them to do better. This new guy will reap all the rewards of my 14 hour days, weekends and blood sweat tears!
The GM was just as upset as I was. I wasn't sad. I was MAD. The fact that this company has absolutely no integrity makes me, literally, happy to leave. The fact that the owners made this decision without the GM's input, the fact that they don't have the balls to even be in that meeting, and the fact that they aren't willing to pay me my almost $2000 bonus owed to me, to be paid out on the Nov 30th pay makes me pretty relieved that I got out of there before they could take another portion of my soul and hard earned money!
HERES THE KICKER: I was given 4 tickets to a hockey game from Rogers corporate to "do what I want with" as they were given to me a friend, not an member of said former company once employing me. So I decided to treat my staff to a Blackhawks/Flames game and set a sales contest for them for TONIGHTS GAME!! Guess who's not going to the game???? Yeah - me. Not going to the game but the new guy is with three of the staff (who don't like him)
I'm not bitter. For real. Because I was snatched up by the other dealer in the city. My GM put in a call for me just as I was emailing (the guys who gave me the tickets) to see if there was anything at Corporate for me. So I had an interview at 4:00 the next day, that guy sent me to Edmonton to meet the owner, Alberta Reginonal Manager, Business to Business Manager and a Recruiter they'd hired to find someone for their Area Manager position. And was offered a job on Wednesday. Not the job I interviewed for, but the Manager of a single store. So after a day of deliberating, and putting my pride aside and trying not to be vindictive or angry, I said yes to the job, the job they created for me because they saw potential blah blah blah. The job I'd interviewed for was too senior for my experience and they want me to succeed ..... thus giving me this experience to move ahead when a new Area Manager job comes up within the next year.
So .... thats my story. I long for security and stability and find myself lacking the energy now to even think of my future as being something close to that. Its been a really hard week and am battling very negative thoughts and attitudes (to be honest). But I have a wonderful and patient support system. I guess drama is still in my cards for now - Quite frankly, I'm tired of meeting/working with new people, getting close to them and having them snatched away ..... I think I'd prefer boring over this. I thought when I left my twenties, I'd leave the dramatics behind, but it only gets worse as time goes on.
Heres hoping for a more settled future and postive outlook (cuz right now .... I'm struggling to see the good in all this ! )
So now that you're up to speed ... we can move on and never speak of this again .. :-)
Peacin' Out .........
LLM
After almost a week of anger, confusion, embarassment, and my pride taking a cross check from behind, I can tell you about it.
So here it is:
Last Friday at 1:30 MST I went into a scheduled meeting with the GM of my company to be given my paycheque. My last paycheque. Yeah, I was being laid off due to a money crunch.
Okay. I can take that, seeing thats been my life for the past 12 months, but what I can't take it the fact that the new guy is staying. He gets to take my job (essentially), the job I trained him for two weeks for. The job I did all the repair work on, got numbers to where they should be, boosted morale where finally someone was giving the staff some incentives and praise. At last, the staff had someone they could trust and who answered their questions, and empowered them to do better. This new guy will reap all the rewards of my 14 hour days, weekends and blood sweat tears!
The GM was just as upset as I was. I wasn't sad. I was MAD. The fact that this company has absolutely no integrity makes me, literally, happy to leave. The fact that the owners made this decision without the GM's input, the fact that they don't have the balls to even be in that meeting, and the fact that they aren't willing to pay me my almost $2000 bonus owed to me, to be paid out on the Nov 30th pay makes me pretty relieved that I got out of there before they could take another portion of my soul and hard earned money!
HERES THE KICKER: I was given 4 tickets to a hockey game from Rogers corporate to "do what I want with" as they were given to me a friend, not an member of said former company once employing me. So I decided to treat my staff to a Blackhawks/Flames game and set a sales contest for them for TONIGHTS GAME!! Guess who's not going to the game???? Yeah - me. Not going to the game but the new guy is with three of the staff (who don't like him)
I'm not bitter. For real. Because I was snatched up by the other dealer in the city. My GM put in a call for me just as I was emailing (the guys who gave me the tickets) to see if there was anything at Corporate for me. So I had an interview at 4:00 the next day, that guy sent me to Edmonton to meet the owner, Alberta Reginonal Manager, Business to Business Manager and a Recruiter they'd hired to find someone for their Area Manager position. And was offered a job on Wednesday. Not the job I interviewed for, but the Manager of a single store. So after a day of deliberating, and putting my pride aside and trying not to be vindictive or angry, I said yes to the job, the job they created for me because they saw potential blah blah blah. The job I'd interviewed for was too senior for my experience and they want me to succeed ..... thus giving me this experience to move ahead when a new Area Manager job comes up within the next year.
So .... thats my story. I long for security and stability and find myself lacking the energy now to even think of my future as being something close to that. Its been a really hard week and am battling very negative thoughts and attitudes (to be honest). But I have a wonderful and patient support system. I guess drama is still in my cards for now - Quite frankly, I'm tired of meeting/working with new people, getting close to them and having them snatched away ..... I think I'd prefer boring over this. I thought when I left my twenties, I'd leave the dramatics behind, but it only gets worse as time goes on.
Heres hoping for a more settled future and postive outlook (cuz right now .... I'm struggling to see the good in all this ! )
So now that you're up to speed ... we can move on and never speak of this again .. :-)
Peacin' Out .........
LLM
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
2005 Archives!
Found these gems tonight on my comp, trying to clean it up ...
This is the last, and certainly NOT the first time I've mowed this lawn. (2005) I was home for the weekend with no plans of manual labour and had to borrow Ashley's halter top from when she was 12, I think, which was decidedly too small while my shorts slightly too big. I immediately regretted my good heartedness and my cheerful and enthusiastic "Hey Dad, do you need me to mow the lawn?" as the harsh, very real and physical memories of that giant task came crashing in around me. But at least the dew had evaporated, as it was clearly past noon (Mo) so it wasn't dangerous.
Marilu's first glance at her baby brother. Look how little she is, so hard to believe she is 7 and goes to dance and tae kwon do and uses big words and thinks shes a teenager and ... the list goes on
Nanny's first visit
My first, (thank you Captain Obvious) look too. Photo taken by dreamy anesthesiologist who was a resident and had been an engineer before this and wanted a career change so at 28 he went to Med school and was really enjoying it ... and I found all this out at 5 am after a fast cab ride with no shower and minimal makeup .... he may have thought I was cute, I'll never know seeing I lost all street cred when I had to lay on the cold floor because the smell of the room was making me light headed, and I almost fainted. Poor Iris, I was supposed to be there as a support and I was curled up on the OR floor pale and pouring sweat, and with a resting heart beat of about 150! (probably an exaggeration on the heart beat number ....)
This is the last, and certainly NOT the first time I've mowed this lawn. (2005) I was home for the weekend with no plans of manual labour and had to borrow Ashley's halter top from when she was 12, I think, which was decidedly too small while my shorts slightly too big. I immediately regretted my good heartedness and my cheerful and enthusiastic "Hey Dad, do you need me to mow the lawn?" as the harsh, very real and physical memories of that giant task came crashing in around me. But at least the dew had evaporated, as it was clearly past noon (Mo) so it wasn't dangerous.
Marilu's first glance at her baby brother. Look how little she is, so hard to believe she is 7 and goes to dance and tae kwon do and uses big words and thinks shes a teenager and ... the list goes on
Nanny's first visit
My first, (thank you Captain Obvious) look too. Photo taken by dreamy anesthesiologist who was a resident and had been an engineer before this and wanted a career change so at 28 he went to Med school and was really enjoying it ... and I found all this out at 5 am after a fast cab ride with no shower and minimal makeup .... he may have thought I was cute, I'll never know seeing I lost all street cred when I had to lay on the cold floor because the smell of the room was making me light headed, and I almost fainted. Poor Iris, I was supposed to be there as a support and I was curled up on the OR floor pale and pouring sweat, and with a resting heart beat of about 150! (probably an exaggeration on the heart beat number ....)
Amazon Woman even manages to look giant beside the pregnant woman .... Moments before the entrance of a very special little boy, Handley, who would later declare that trucks move his brain and make us all melt with his smile and wit and hugs and ... the list goes on.
Okay. Thats enough nostalgia. I'm getting lonesome again.
Later Skaters,
LeeLeeM
On a Lighter Note
I'm stuck for positive blogging material, so I've decided to mix it up a bit with just silly stuff.
So below we have a guy who was out and about on the town the other night dressed as Buzz Lightyear. The gentlemen who decided to be our company for the evening were impressed by his tatics at getting women to talk to him.
Life's circumstances have led to a mini-road trip with Julie to Edmonton on Monday, and after a few stops at Starbucks, Grande Pike Places in hand, we got our pics taken by a Wish sign. She joined and her wish was for whipped cream, as evidenced by her pointing to where the said whipped cream will stay!
My wish is that everyday was a holiday ....
We are posing by our rental car, aka the sewing machine. It sounded like we were serging when we left a red light or attempted to ascend a hill. Any hill. And the entire two days cost me .... $30. Company paid for gas, and the car was $108, she can claim 40% of it (she's claiming the rental as she was there on business) .... pretty sweet deal. It was a great trip with lots of laughs and seat dancing and signing to songs I didn't know and getting truckers to honk their horns. ( I know, I can't believe I haven't grown up yet either) But with that car, really, what else is there to do? Sunglasses and hats cover a multitude of sins and immaturities.
Creepy sign in West Ed Mall. The eyes look real. Pardon the Hooters sign, but I couldn't ask it to move.
Ahhhhh ..... Dreamworld .... I browsed, she bought.
Imagine had a staff party a couple of weeks ago and thought since I talk about them so much, I'd post a pic of my Banff/Canmore crew. Well, 2 of the 5. And the poor guy I told the story about last time isn't in the pic, I didn't want to expose him ....
So below we have a guy who was out and about on the town the other night dressed as Buzz Lightyear. The gentlemen who decided to be our company for the evening were impressed by his tatics at getting women to talk to him.
Life's circumstances have led to a mini-road trip with Julie to Edmonton on Monday, and after a few stops at Starbucks, Grande Pike Places in hand, we got our pics taken by a Wish sign. She joined and her wish was for whipped cream, as evidenced by her pointing to where the said whipped cream will stay!
My wish is that everyday was a holiday ....
We are posing by our rental car, aka the sewing machine. It sounded like we were serging when we left a red light or attempted to ascend a hill. Any hill. And the entire two days cost me .... $30. Company paid for gas, and the car was $108, she can claim 40% of it (she's claiming the rental as she was there on business) .... pretty sweet deal. It was a great trip with lots of laughs and seat dancing and signing to songs I didn't know and getting truckers to honk their horns. ( I know, I can't believe I haven't grown up yet either) But with that car, really, what else is there to do? Sunglasses and hats cover a multitude of sins and immaturities.
Creepy sign in West Ed Mall. The eyes look real. Pardon the Hooters sign, but I couldn't ask it to move.
Ahhhhh ..... Dreamworld .... I browsed, she bought.
Imagine had a staff party a couple of weeks ago and thought since I talk about them so much, I'd post a pic of my Banff/Canmore crew. Well, 2 of the 5. And the poor guy I told the story about last time isn't in the pic, I didn't want to expose him ....
Thats it.
Cheers,
LMM
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Good, Bad, Ugly Yet Mildly Amusing
Where did I leave off .... ? My days run into each other so much that I almost have to do this everyday.
Apparently, last week was uneventful as I don't remember anything about it. Mainly the same stuff that happens most days. I had a trainer at my smelly-can't-get-out-of-the-contract-so-I'm-stuck gym put me on a program and he's kicking my butt! Like, can only go every three days kind of kicking my butt.
I think the excitment may have started on Friday night. Yes. Thats where it started.
I'm not sure all I can tell you other than it started out with dinner at The Vin Room with Julie .... Yes. Thats all I can tell you. Oh and I ran into church friends later. I met someone I'd heard about in great detail since May, it was so cool to finally put a face to a name. He'd heard about me as well, in fact, they'd JUST been talking about me and I materialized. He looked like'd seen a ghost when, after initial greetings to the ones I already know, I turned to him and said "Are you Matt Starchuk"? We were pretty excited to meet each other. He was really good friends with the main group of people I hang out with, but, long story, he doesn't really hang out a whole lot with them anymore.
AND I met someone from Halifax who knows the Hunters very well. Strange, fun, weird night. Its just odd to be in a club in this city, and see people you know. Familiar faces here are very rare, which makes your day-to-day interactions with, let's say, the Starbucks girl, that much more special (?) thats not the word I am looking for, but its a lot different than Halifax where all you see are people you know.
Saturday was quiet, one of Maria's friends from Edmonton was here and we discovered, through a very random topic, that we were both brought up in the Gospel Hall. She is related to the Hoys and the Copps (in Van). She's hilarious and we had some pretty interesting conversation, as we are both on the same page on alot of issues and have both transitioned to where we are in quite the same way. She has purple hair sometimes, she's got lots of tattoos, says it like it is, and has a huge heart. It was so nice to meet her.
Saturday night played out the same as it always does, other than there was a going away party at my house for Karen, who leaves on Saturday to move to Uganda for a year. (my guess is that she's going to get married there and stay) I met a really neat girl that was here; its cool to meet young, (well, my own age) hip, well adjusted women with the same interests, same marital standing .
Sunday - the same. But not really. I went to a church at SAIT University with Karen and the pastor asked the "Kids Corner" participants a question that has a very dirty connotation and, obviously, noone else around me caught on (that I know of) but I was busting up inside like a 10 year old who hears the word "boob". It was hard to maintain my composure to be very honest and was pretty glad that a certain handful, who will remain unnamed, wasn't there. We'd have to leave. I told Maria this morning and we both agreed that it was beneficial to both that she wasn't there with me.
Oh Deaaaaar. Sunday night happened. So I missed my Mustard Seed shift, and truly miss it, I did. There was a work function with the 'big wigs' from Corporate at a restaurant near the office to kick of the 4th Quarter. There were prizes and draws and Visa cards and free drinks. We each were given two drink tickets and I was given more to hand out to 'deserving' people. I forfeited mine for both personal and professional reasons and when I drove away at 9:15 to "why are you leaving so early, where are you going, come on! just have shots with us", I was quite content to be on my way home and not just starting my night - because listen to this:
Monday am, I'm training the new TM, who is driving me kind of crazy with his knowledge base and eagerness to unload every fact he's ever learned in his whole life on me in one trip to Banff ... ANYWAY ..... I guess I am used to doing this by myself for so long that when someone tells me how to do my job or where to park in the parking lot I park in twice a week, it makes me want to drop kick him) So we're sitting at my desk as I'm training him and I get a phone call from one of the staff from Banff. Heres how it goes: (are you ready?)
Banff: Hey Leanne, did you get my email?
Me: No, what's up?
B: Ummmmm .... well, I have a problem that I need an answer to by the end of this phone call. (they must be used to me saying "I'll get right back to you on that one") We lost (let's just call him .... )Jack last night. He took off on us and we couldn't find him so at 5 (am) we just got a cab back here. He's on the other line, he just called from a payphone at Chinook Center. He has 40 cents on him, so he can't get a bus back.
Me: Silence ....... seriously?
B: Yeah. Sorry. What should we do?
Me: Isn't the guy like ..... 27 years old??
B: Yeah
Me: Thats retarded. Well, I guess I have to go get him don't I? Tell him to be in the movie theatre entrance in 45 minutes.
B: Sorry Leanne, Thanks.
Me: No Problem
So I park in the firelane, leave my new coworker in the truck, walk in to find Jack looking like a street kid snuggling on the bench with an equally dirty girl. Thats when I lost all patience and empathy and said "Let's go Jack, who's your friend?" (He didn't know her name) But he asks her "which way are you going?", indicating that we would take her there..... I promptly stopped him with a "I'm not taking your friend home, let's go". So they say their goodbyes and he gets in the truck with toque pulled too far over his head, without a coat which became cab fare earlier in the day. After the obligatory "JAAAAAAACK YOU STINK!, you're going to make me smell like booze", we were on our way to the Greyhound station to get this punk home. Now, I get that you can drink too much and make silly mistakes and end up in a mall FAR from downtown with no coat, no money or no dignity (or can you) but his attitude was almost like I owed it to him to pick him up. He was so blase about it, that it prompted a 'you gotta listen to me because you're stuck in a truck for the next half hour with me and I'm literally your ticket home' talk. But I took him to the ticket counter, visa in hand, $26 later, took him to the cafe and got him a hearty lunch and went on my way. It actually made me really, really sad. It was pretty funny though, I was extra dressed up because I had a breakfast meeting with said 'big wigs' and actually looked a little glam, (which isn't usually the case) and here I am walking through the disgusting bus station, weaving through lineups crossing of gorgeous early twenties eating McDonalds in their way-too-short-for-November skirts and must have Uggs to the very typical consumers you'd expect using this mode of transportation. And I'm with this little waif who looked like he'd slept in a ditch. (which he very well may have). I felt like I was on an episode of Intervention, you know, when the big sister with the real job swoops in, must to the chagrin of the other family member who've fully given up on him, bails out the black sheep sibling.
The end of the story is: I did my store visit on Tuesday and the poor guy, he was so ashamed and kept apologizing and if I asked him to do something, he'd say "Yes, of course. I owe you my life". He's quite a nice kid and I'm just sad that thats his life, so I quickly told him to stop, that he was forgiven and not to worry about it. (I think the 30 minute lecture I gave him the day before was quite enough ... ) And he paid me back in full.
Thats been the week/end so far. And tomorrow's Thursday, which means the weekend is almost here, which means Brit's bday bash, which means ... I have no idea. But I'll be sure give details, more than necessary, right here !
Peace Yo'
I gotta go and help Maria decorate for Christmas .... YAAY!!!
LeeLee
Apparently, last week was uneventful as I don't remember anything about it. Mainly the same stuff that happens most days. I had a trainer at my smelly-can't-get-out-of-the-contract-so-I'm-stuck gym put me on a program and he's kicking my butt! Like, can only go every three days kind of kicking my butt.
I think the excitment may have started on Friday night. Yes. Thats where it started.
I'm not sure all I can tell you other than it started out with dinner at The Vin Room with Julie .... Yes. Thats all I can tell you. Oh and I ran into church friends later. I met someone I'd heard about in great detail since May, it was so cool to finally put a face to a name. He'd heard about me as well, in fact, they'd JUST been talking about me and I materialized. He looked like'd seen a ghost when, after initial greetings to the ones I already know, I turned to him and said "Are you Matt Starchuk"? We were pretty excited to meet each other. He was really good friends with the main group of people I hang out with, but, long story, he doesn't really hang out a whole lot with them anymore.
AND I met someone from Halifax who knows the Hunters very well. Strange, fun, weird night. Its just odd to be in a club in this city, and see people you know. Familiar faces here are very rare, which makes your day-to-day interactions with, let's say, the Starbucks girl, that much more special (?) thats not the word I am looking for, but its a lot different than Halifax where all you see are people you know.
Saturday was quiet, one of Maria's friends from Edmonton was here and we discovered, through a very random topic, that we were both brought up in the Gospel Hall. She is related to the Hoys and the Copps (in Van). She's hilarious and we had some pretty interesting conversation, as we are both on the same page on alot of issues and have both transitioned to where we are in quite the same way. She has purple hair sometimes, she's got lots of tattoos, says it like it is, and has a huge heart. It was so nice to meet her.
Saturday night played out the same as it always does, other than there was a going away party at my house for Karen, who leaves on Saturday to move to Uganda for a year. (my guess is that she's going to get married there and stay) I met a really neat girl that was here; its cool to meet young, (well, my own age) hip, well adjusted women with the same interests, same marital standing .
Sunday - the same. But not really. I went to a church at SAIT University with Karen and the pastor asked the "Kids Corner" participants a question that has a very dirty connotation and, obviously, noone else around me caught on (that I know of) but I was busting up inside like a 10 year old who hears the word "boob". It was hard to maintain my composure to be very honest and was pretty glad that a certain handful, who will remain unnamed, wasn't there. We'd have to leave. I told Maria this morning and we both agreed that it was beneficial to both that she wasn't there with me.
Oh Deaaaaar. Sunday night happened. So I missed my Mustard Seed shift, and truly miss it, I did. There was a work function with the 'big wigs' from Corporate at a restaurant near the office to kick of the 4th Quarter. There were prizes and draws and Visa cards and free drinks. We each were given two drink tickets and I was given more to hand out to 'deserving' people. I forfeited mine for both personal and professional reasons and when I drove away at 9:15 to "why are you leaving so early, where are you going, come on! just have shots with us", I was quite content to be on my way home and not just starting my night - because listen to this:
Monday am, I'm training the new TM, who is driving me kind of crazy with his knowledge base and eagerness to unload every fact he's ever learned in his whole life on me in one trip to Banff ... ANYWAY ..... I guess I am used to doing this by myself for so long that when someone tells me how to do my job or where to park in the parking lot I park in twice a week, it makes me want to drop kick him) So we're sitting at my desk as I'm training him and I get a phone call from one of the staff from Banff. Heres how it goes: (are you ready?)
Banff: Hey Leanne, did you get my email?
Me: No, what's up?
B: Ummmmm .... well, I have a problem that I need an answer to by the end of this phone call. (they must be used to me saying "I'll get right back to you on that one") We lost (let's just call him .... )Jack last night. He took off on us and we couldn't find him so at 5 (am) we just got a cab back here. He's on the other line, he just called from a payphone at Chinook Center. He has 40 cents on him, so he can't get a bus back.
Me: Silence ....... seriously?
B: Yeah. Sorry. What should we do?
Me: Isn't the guy like ..... 27 years old??
B: Yeah
Me: Thats retarded. Well, I guess I have to go get him don't I? Tell him to be in the movie theatre entrance in 45 minutes.
B: Sorry Leanne, Thanks.
Me: No Problem
So I park in the firelane, leave my new coworker in the truck, walk in to find Jack looking like a street kid snuggling on the bench with an equally dirty girl. Thats when I lost all patience and empathy and said "Let's go Jack, who's your friend?" (He didn't know her name) But he asks her "which way are you going?", indicating that we would take her there..... I promptly stopped him with a "I'm not taking your friend home, let's go". So they say their goodbyes and he gets in the truck with toque pulled too far over his head, without a coat which became cab fare earlier in the day. After the obligatory "JAAAAAAACK YOU STINK!, you're going to make me smell like booze", we were on our way to the Greyhound station to get this punk home. Now, I get that you can drink too much and make silly mistakes and end up in a mall FAR from downtown with no coat, no money or no dignity (or can you) but his attitude was almost like I owed it to him to pick him up. He was so blase about it, that it prompted a 'you gotta listen to me because you're stuck in a truck for the next half hour with me and I'm literally your ticket home' talk. But I took him to the ticket counter, visa in hand, $26 later, took him to the cafe and got him a hearty lunch and went on my way. It actually made me really, really sad. It was pretty funny though, I was extra dressed up because I had a breakfast meeting with said 'big wigs' and actually looked a little glam, (which isn't usually the case) and here I am walking through the disgusting bus station, weaving through lineups crossing of gorgeous early twenties eating McDonalds in their way-too-short-for-November skirts and must have Uggs to the very typical consumers you'd expect using this mode of transportation. And I'm with this little waif who looked like he'd slept in a ditch. (which he very well may have). I felt like I was on an episode of Intervention, you know, when the big sister with the real job swoops in, must to the chagrin of the other family member who've fully given up on him, bails out the black sheep sibling.
The end of the story is: I did my store visit on Tuesday and the poor guy, he was so ashamed and kept apologizing and if I asked him to do something, he'd say "Yes, of course. I owe you my life". He's quite a nice kid and I'm just sad that thats his life, so I quickly told him to stop, that he was forgiven and not to worry about it. (I think the 30 minute lecture I gave him the day before was quite enough ... ) And he paid me back in full.
Thats been the week/end so far. And tomorrow's Thursday, which means the weekend is almost here, which means Brit's bday bash, which means ... I have no idea. But I'll be sure give details, more than necessary, right here !
Peace Yo'
I gotta go and help Maria decorate for Christmas .... YAAY!!!
LeeLee
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Bree
you know, cuz i never talk about her ....
now the rest of you amazing women in my life, get your butts out here so i can post pics of us together.
you know who you are ....
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Julie
Different Kind of Pedestrian
Had to stop to let this guy cross the crosswalk in Banff this week. Almost sideswiped the truck next to me to get my camera ...
Street Light
You've heard me talk about Street Light. I finally got a picture of it a few weeks ago. The truck is parked nearby and driven to this location each Monday and Thursday where hot meals are served to street kids. Theres a big screen tv upstairs where they can play XBox, chill out, talk with volunteers.
(Maria is the director of this program)
Friday, November 6, 2009
What the ... ?
I'm listening to Casting Crowns Christmas Carols and checking online for Banff/Lake Louise/Sunshine Ski packages for 'the gang' to go on another weekend adventure .....
Both seasons are upon us, I guess I may as well embrace them.
It feels like just last week I was floating down the bow in a bikini!!
Both seasons are upon us, I guess I may as well embrace them.
It feels like just last week I was floating down the bow in a bikini!!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I've Come Undone
Storme and Skyler turn 8 tomorrow, I can hardly believe it! So I called them tonight to wish them Happy Birthday, and my little clone got on the line first and I heard her sweet little voice say "Why did you have to move so far away to Calgary?" I can hardly tell you how my heart broke. She continued to tell me how much she misses me and that her best birthday ever would be to see me, that she would smother me in thousands of kisses. She asks me if I'm crying and when I say yes, she coos "Its okay, Leanne, its okay". Then the Skyman gets on and asks me if I have any puppies out here ? He's referring to Ellie having puppies two years ago and told me how the one with the yellow band peed on him and the one with the blue band was his favorite and what a fun night he had when we took him and Storme to the Bay to see the 6 wk old bouncing black furballs. Among other things I tell him that I love and miss him and hope he has a super day tomorrow etc. Storme gets back on the phone and says "I just wanted to say goodbye and tell you that I love you and we can always talk on the phone, you know, we are always right here. And if you ever need help, we'll come out to see you".
The love I have for these children simply cannot be measured. My biggest fear is that they won't remember me, that others and other activities will come into their life and overshadow the "me" factor in their life. To hear their sweet little voices and hear Sky reminisce of the puppy visit so long ago, makes me happy. So we've vowed to skype and call more often and keep in touch better.
These tears are of relief, and happiness.
The love I have for these children simply cannot be measured. My biggest fear is that they won't remember me, that others and other activities will come into their life and overshadow the "me" factor in their life. To hear their sweet little voices and hear Sky reminisce of the puppy visit so long ago, makes me happy. So we've vowed to skype and call more often and keep in touch better.
These tears are of relief, and happiness.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
At Least This Time I Was Dressed
My roommate Karen has a friend, Maina, who happens to be male and who happens to have caught me, shockingly, in my infamous robe one night, a few months ago.
Of course, I still have my $7 robe (it has so many stories now, I don't want to get rid of it) and of course I was home for more than 10 minutes and it was on. In all its glory. And nubbiness. And uglyness. And 'doesn't quite align"-ness.
I was in the kitchen, Maina in the basement. But not for long. He came bounding up the stairs, completely unaware that anyone new has come in the house, entered the kitchen through the half open french door, and with his hand still on the doorknob, eyes a little wide, said " Whoa". (literally)
Oh hey, I say nonchalantly, I'm Leanne, (silence and further disbelief on his part) I live here. He, with much trepidation, reaches his hand out and says I'm Maina, Karen's friend. Oh nice I say. Its great to meet you.
Maria walks into the kitchen as I'm leaving and says, Again? Yup I say. Again.
I haven't seen him since. Until tonight when I come home, am in my bedroom and answer yes to Karen's question of whether or not I want freshly baked chocolate cake. I am standing in the kitchen, he hears K and I talking, comes up and before he rounds the corner I hear, "I want to see what Leanne looks like with clothes on". (literally) For the record, I was in full work garb.
Is that going to be my legacy??
Of course, I still have my $7 robe (it has so many stories now, I don't want to get rid of it) and of course I was home for more than 10 minutes and it was on. In all its glory. And nubbiness. And uglyness. And 'doesn't quite align"-ness.
I was in the kitchen, Maina in the basement. But not for long. He came bounding up the stairs, completely unaware that anyone new has come in the house, entered the kitchen through the half open french door, and with his hand still on the doorknob, eyes a little wide, said " Whoa". (literally)
Oh hey, I say nonchalantly, I'm Leanne, (silence and further disbelief on his part) I live here. He, with much trepidation, reaches his hand out and says I'm Maina, Karen's friend. Oh nice I say. Its great to meet you.
Maria walks into the kitchen as I'm leaving and says, Again? Yup I say. Again.
I haven't seen him since. Until tonight when I come home, am in my bedroom and answer yes to Karen's question of whether or not I want freshly baked chocolate cake. I am standing in the kitchen, he hears K and I talking, comes up and before he rounds the corner I hear, "I want to see what Leanne looks like with clothes on". (literally) For the record, I was in full work garb.
Is that going to be my legacy??
Lady Luck Was Smiling
Rogers Merchandising is a huge deal .... in Rogers world. Not in the real world. But we are paid based on perfect merchandising and its super stressful and nit-picky and surprisingly hard to maintain. So in order to soak our brains in all things Red, White and Christmas-y, we had hard core training today with big ticket items as prizes luring us from our cozy beds 2 hours early.
There were volunteers who eagerly stuck their hands up when a question was asked, knowing they had their pick of a magic bullet (great for 'busting up weed' someone quipped), a set of speakers, a digital camera, something else big and electronic, a digital picture frame, car kits (the reflective triangle with tools and a blanket inside) and an HP mini computer and printer. I sat and was quiet, mainly because merchandising is no longer my gig and I personally don't have time to know it. But the big prize was being drawn by reaching into a bag and grabbing a card with a name on it.
SHE CALLED MY NAME. I have such good luck with Rogers and winning stuff. Back in the AML days in Halifax, I was constantly winning stuff; golf clubs, $1400 Amex card, footballs, blender, etc.
I now have the coolest little gadget ever! It was super fun to win it and might start using the mini for work. It'll fit in my handbag! We'll see. I'm not a fan of change, so I'll probably stick with my clunky, Vista-wearing-Rocket-Stick-Not-Working comp that work gave me.
Going to bed, its been another 13 hour day and I don't need to be told again that I look like I haven't slept in 7 days!
LeeLeeMac
There were volunteers who eagerly stuck their hands up when a question was asked, knowing they had their pick of a magic bullet (great for 'busting up weed' someone quipped), a set of speakers, a digital camera, something else big and electronic, a digital picture frame, car kits (the reflective triangle with tools and a blanket inside) and an HP mini computer and printer. I sat and was quiet, mainly because merchandising is no longer my gig and I personally don't have time to know it. But the big prize was being drawn by reaching into a bag and grabbing a card with a name on it.
SHE CALLED MY NAME. I have such good luck with Rogers and winning stuff. Back in the AML days in Halifax, I was constantly winning stuff; golf clubs, $1400 Amex card, footballs, blender, etc.
I now have the coolest little gadget ever! It was super fun to win it and might start using the mini for work. It'll fit in my handbag! We'll see. I'm not a fan of change, so I'll probably stick with my clunky, Vista-wearing-Rocket-Stick-Not-Working comp that work gave me.
Going to bed, its been another 13 hour day and I don't need to be told again that I look like I haven't slept in 7 days!
LeeLeeMac
Monday, November 2, 2009
Think-Before-You-Speak Fail
I took the truck into Honda for its regular servicing. Heres how the conversation went when I went to the cashier desk to pick up my keys:
Me: Hello. I'm here to pick up keys for my Ridgeline.
Her: What name is it under?
Me: Imagine Wireless
Her: Is that with an "I"?
Me: Pardon me?
Her: (with back turned to me, looking in cabinet for file, head turned my way) Is that with and "I"?
Me: Yes. Thats with an I.
Me: Hello. I'm here to pick up keys for my Ridgeline.
Her: What name is it under?
Me: Imagine Wireless
Her: Is that with an "I"?
Me: Pardon me?
Her: (with back turned to me, looking in cabinet for file, head turned my way) Is that with and "I"?
Me: Yes. Thats with an I.
Self Esteem Fail
A guy at the Seed last night told me that I looked like I hadn't slept all week.
Yeah. He went there.
Yeah. He went there.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Maturity Fail
At church tonight after the service, anyone could bring candy and you had a station that the little High School Musical cheerleaders (??????? - these kids were 9!!), giraffes, Sidney Crosby's, Flames players, Princesses, pirates, soliders' etc could come by and get treats. So Shannon asked me to help her, but their station was up on the second level and there weren't many kiddos coming up, so we decided we'd bring the candy to them .....
So we brought handfuls over to the railing and dropped them into the crowd. It was hilarious - people looking around wondering where it was coming from.
Then we started taking aim .... lobbing Reece's Peices at Ray and Travis having a serious conversation ...... Tossing Fuzzy Peaches at Pastor Scott chatting with a couple .... Throwing (with a little more force) Coffee Crisp at Travis when we spotted him standing alone .... challenging kids holding open their bags to catch without running anyone over .... disrupting various groups of people.... avoiding the couple with the newborn baby.... not avoiding the unsuspecting ... It was quite entertaining. A little kid came along and asked if she could do it too, and I agreed as long as she was gentle and just dropped it. Well, she took suckers and THREW them into the crowd. So Shannon and I had to make sure she found someone else to bug. I was walking down the stairs when we were finished and one of the hockey players was coming up and said "hey you owe me". I asked him what for. He said "The candy you threw at me hit my eye". (I remember this guy, he was holding out his bag to catch it and he just didn't, his eye did) I told him he was a hockey player, he's gotta expect a black eye every now and then.
BESIDES
He was , like 17 !!! Too old to be dressed up at church getting candy. Shouldn't he be out getting drunk with his friends ???
Just Kidding.
So this day is over, now we can start drilling Christmas into everyone and this time next month we'll be tired of Christmas carols already and looking at Valentines Day cards .....
Off to bed folks ! Hope you all had a good day and your sugar crash wasn't too messy.
L.
So we brought handfuls over to the railing and dropped them into the crowd. It was hilarious - people looking around wondering where it was coming from.
Then we started taking aim .... lobbing Reece's Peices at Ray and Travis having a serious conversation ...... Tossing Fuzzy Peaches at Pastor Scott chatting with a couple .... Throwing (with a little more force) Coffee Crisp at Travis when we spotted him standing alone .... challenging kids holding open their bags to catch without running anyone over .... disrupting various groups of people.... avoiding the couple with the newborn baby.... not avoiding the unsuspecting ... It was quite entertaining. A little kid came along and asked if she could do it too, and I agreed as long as she was gentle and just dropped it. Well, she took suckers and THREW them into the crowd. So Shannon and I had to make sure she found someone else to bug. I was walking down the stairs when we were finished and one of the hockey players was coming up and said "hey you owe me". I asked him what for. He said "The candy you threw at me hit my eye". (I remember this guy, he was holding out his bag to catch it and he just didn't, his eye did) I told him he was a hockey player, he's gotta expect a black eye every now and then.
BESIDES
He was , like 17 !!! Too old to be dressed up at church getting candy. Shouldn't he be out getting drunk with his friends ???
Just Kidding.
So this day is over, now we can start drilling Christmas into everyone and this time next month we'll be tired of Christmas carols already and looking at Valentines Day cards .....
Off to bed folks ! Hope you all had a good day and your sugar crash wasn't too messy.
L.
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