Something for the holidays

I love the holidays and being with friends and family! There's something particulary magical about watching kids at Christmas. From the 5 year old who is so excited about everything he gets to the 6 month old who can't get enough of that shiny paper she's allowed to rip.

My mom kept calling our Christmas boring so I kept telling my mom that we are NOT boring... just cause we're old (all 20-somethings), doesn't make us boring. However, Christmas is so much more exciting with kids. I'll never admit this anywhere else, but if I'm being honest, I can't wait to experience Christmas with kids of my own.

Anyway, the holidays are over now. Which in a way is sad because I now must face the task of losing the 15lbs I've gained over the past few weeks. Me and the treadmill are going to start dating and mmmmmmm 3 times a day is how much I love egg whites and broccoli!

Torture starts in the morning.

What I miss most

Okay so I was just on facebook and my friend Emily, has posted a list of her favorite shows of 2008 which got me thinking about my favorite shows of 2008. I am without a doubt a live music junkie and one of the best things about living in Vancouver is the endless talent and entertainment available. It hasn't quite set in yet but I'm really going to miss that.

So here are my picks... Top 10 performances of 2008

10)SHAWN HLOOKOFF
9)STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
8)MATISYAHU
7)IRON MAIDEN
6)EXCLUSIVE BRYAN ADAMS PERFORMANCE
5)JANET JACKSON
4)FOO FIGHTERS
3)MICHAEL BUBLE
2)SATURDAY AT PEMBERTON (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Hip, My Morning Jacket, Sam Roberts)
1) WHISTLER MUSIC FEST: THE ROOTS AND THE INCREDIBLE ELVIS COSTELLO (the rest of it was pretty swell too)

There were another 5 or so shows that could have made this list but for various reasons did not. I saw about 25-30 shows over the past year and it was a fabulous year for music.

I'm not going to have that same opportunity in 2009 but I figure I'll maximize my time by hitting festivals: Whistler, Pemberton and maybe Bumbershoot... that's if my festival buddy is up for it. Can't wait!!!!

Toe pick

I'm a clumsy old lady. At least that's what I felt like on the ice tonight. It was a last minute decision we made as a team to perform at the Annual Christmas Skate. I wasn't ready. I didn't make a complete fool of myself but it was pretty close.

About 4 weeks back, I ran into a girl I used to skate with 12 years ago. She mentioned to me that the synchro team was looking for more members and if I was interested I should come out.

It sounded like a great idea, so I dug out my trusty skates and laced up. Little did I know that synchro has become just a wee bit more complicated than it once was, with tricky formations and intricate footwork. The team had already been skating together for a number of weeks when I started, so I had a program to learn and some serious catching up to do. Add that to the fact that my skates haven't seen the outside of box in 5 years and you begin to understand my challenge.

Oh and it's also worth mentioning that the girls on my team range in age from 12 to 22, I'm 29.

Even though, I'm a clumsy old lady, I'm a clumsy old lady who LOVES to skate. Why else would I put myself through such ego deflating torture?

Next up is a big competition in Kelowna in mid-January. I'm determined to work my ass off to drop the clumsy from my current title. Unfortunately there's nothing I can do about being old.

Brrrrrr

It's effing cold! Nope, it's fucking cold... there's no sugar coating that. There were times over the weekend where the temperatures hit below -35 celcius with the wind chill. Not cool mother nature, not cool. Actually too cool, waaay too cool.

My friend, Tara, from Vancouver will probably never come back here because her insides froze solid in mere seconds each time she stepped outside. Our activities were limited to indoors and it's Dawson Creek so there are not many to begin with.

We did manage to get up to a few shenanigans - especially on friday, where the night was to say the least - memorable. The highlight, a rousing game of scrabble we played before retiring just after midnight. Yes that really happened, but no that wasn't really the highlight. I know how to have a good time - really I do!

Yippeeeeeeeeeeee

Tara is coming, Tara is coming!!! Tomorrow I drive to Grande Prarie to pick Tara up from the airport! She's coming all the way from Vancouver to visit me in Dawson Creek in the middle of winter! Now that's a friend!!!

In preparation for her arrival, I've been busy racking my brain for things to do while she's here.

We are going to go out on friday night... I'll show her all the local dives and we'll have some fun. Saturday is the Jann Arden concert and Sunday we have Breakfast with Santa. Somewhere in there, I'll probably take her to the farm - cause city people like to look at horses, right? If the weather's right, we can go sledding or something.

No matter what, I'm excited for this weekend.

LET THE SHENANNIGAN'S BEGIN!!!

Open the door for me

This morning I woke in hell, only it had frozen over. I got up, got dressed, brushed a foot of snow off my car, went to skating practice, brushed another foot of snow off my car, went home, got ready for work and yet again cleared the car of snow. I get to work and someone has parked in my spot. ARRRGGGGHHH! So I find a spot, and trudge ALL THE WAY across the parking lot through 3 feet of snow (in stylish but completely inappropiate footwear) to grab my morning coffee at the gas bar AND, I have to open my own door - twice WHA???? YOU'VE GOT TO BE FRIGGIN KIDDING ME!!!!

Snow on my car, someone in my spot, my feet: cold and wet, that I could handle, but the door... The door is supposed to be opened for me as I come and leave... They started it, I did not ask for the special treatment, so how dare they take it away. Apparently its VERY important.

who knew



My car actually looked like this on 3 occasions this morning!

Today I'm a ramblin man...

Last night I wanted to go out, drink and people watch, something I used to do 2-3 times a week in Vancouver. Just for the record - alcohol wasn't always involved. Anyway, I couldn't find any company and by the time 10pm rolled around the urge to try it on my own went away.

What I'd really like to find in Dawson Creek are some people like me. They'd be guys or gals around my age who are single, career driven, like to socialize and enjoy a good time. The question is, do those kind of people exist here?

Come to think of it, I probably have an option or two with the "younger crowd" but how young is too young? The kid who comes to mind is maybe 21 tops and is so unbelievably sweet. I'll bet he has no idea I'm as old as I am. HA! To be honest, I really really like him. Not in the same way I'd like him if he was about 4-5 years older (if you know what i mean) but he's a pretty awesome kid. When I was 20 boys weren't like that.

Oh wait, wait...

They may have been if only I'd given them a chance. Man, thinking back I was a super bitch... I stood guys up, avoided phone calls and was just downright mean.

Anyway, back to the point, I'm sure I had one, oh right... where's my crowd? I guess I'm still looking for it, but maybe I need to broaden my search? Perhaps I'll try taking friendship where I can get it, without an age, career or marital prejudice. After all I'm not in Kansas anymore.



Friends :)

Gonna drink till the money's gone...

The guy who lives in the apartment below is a PARTY DUDE. At least 3 nights a week he's has people over and the music is thumpin. It's annoying. It's annoying because, I want to be him.

Last night, as I fell asleep to the musical vibrations coming from below, I decided that tonight, I will party. I'm not quite sure where or with who yet... but even if I have to fly solo, I'm going to get my drink on. Realize that unless I find a friend or one of my brothers show some pity on me, the night will grow old super fast. The thing is, I haven't really felt the need to go out since I left Vancouver over 2 months ago. It's time.

Buy me a present...

I did it!!! My first ever Christmas tree is up and I've started to look for some gifts to put underneath. Christmas is absolutely my favorite time of year!

Now, I'm not going to lie to you, I love Christmas because of the presents!!! I love buying them, wrapping them and of course getting them! I'm especially fond of getting presents from unexpected places. These make me feel like I did 25 years ago when I woke up Christmas morning amazed that Santa had actually arrived.

The only thing better than experiencing that feeling is passing it on to someone else. That's why my absolute favorite part of Christmas are the gifts I give to people who are not on my list. I don't plan these gifts, most of the time they just pop into my head as I'm shopping. I give them because I can, because I want to, because it makes me happy... merry even!

I challenge you to try it this year. You don't have to spend a lot of money or put a lot of thought into it. Don't overthink it. It works like this:

You're out shopping and a tape dispenser that looks like a red high heel catches your eye. You think to yourself... hey Sally in accounting loves shoes, she would love that. So you buy it for her cause tis the season. Or (true story) you're surfing the internet and an ad for World of Warcraft figurines pops up on your screen and at first you think how lame... who would want that? Then you remember the nerdy boy who reads the news is always talking about newbs and pooning. So you buy it cause tis the season.

Easy! Merry Christmas!!!



PS... Here is my favorite Christmas Carol - it's an orginal:

"Buy me a present, put it under the tree, Christmas is for giving, so spend lots of money on me!"
-erin skye

Quote of the Week

Here's your Christmas Bonus and your clothing allowance for 2008... Nothing says Merry Christmas like clean clothes.

- Carolyn

Hahahaha hahaha aah ahahahhahahahaha!!!!!

Waaay

Yesterday I attended my first ever antique auction. I bid on a hand-painted wardrobe, unfortunately there was someone else that wanted it more - waaay more.

Tomorrow I finish decorating my Christmas tree that been half done for the last 3 days. It's my first tree and my ribbon judgement was off - waaay off.

Now it's past my bedtime - waaay past.

Coalition - eff off!

I am angry. I'm not Stephen Harper's biggest fan, but why go through the process of an election if you're just going to do whatever the hell you want anyway. Where's the democracy?

My biggest beef is that no one can be sure where ANY of the so called coalition parties stand anymore. Concessions are being made all over the place - for what? For power.

Guess what MPs it's NOT OKAY for you to disregard the platform you were elected on.

NOTICE TO ALL POLITICIANS: If and when you are deserving of a majority power, Canada will elect you to that priviledge. Until then, maybe you should stop plotting your facist takeover and start working on a leader and party worthy of a majority.

Dear Universe

I think the universe is trying to tell me, I'm old. Well universe, you can CUT IT OUT!

The other day I offered to babysit for a friend of mine for an hour while her babysitter went to the dentist. As it turns out, during my college years, I used to babysit the babysitter. She was 1 year old. I swear I graduated from college just a couple years ago, so how can it be that she is now 12 years old? That's a dirty trick universe, a very dirty trick.

And while I'm at it, I like male attention, I really do. But the next time you send a gentlemen caller, can you please make sure he is at least shaving? There is a decade difference, an entire decade, and that is pretty malicious - even for you. The boys are incredibly sweet, and I'm flattered. I truly am. Now, knock if off.

I'm old, I get it, so, you can stop pointing it out repeatedly.

Thank-you

BFF

So during a moment of extreme boredom, I started watching Paris Hilton is my new BFF... and it's my new favorite show. Seriously. Okay, you can stop laughing now. It's completely fake and totally ridiculous and that's what I love about it. I love sitting in my PJs on the couch and yelling at the moron's on tv who behave as if Paris Hilton's actually going to become their new BFF. I hope Vanessa wins because I think Paris deserves a crazy stalker chick as her new BFF. Vanessa, stop the crazy-eyed swooning - its Paris Hilton. Really, how good of friend could she be, if she needs a reality show to find people who want to be her friend?!? Actually, the show makes me feel really good about myself, cause even though I have no friends, I would never lower myself to that level.


Speaking of BFF's Tara's coming!!! Tara and I met on a reality tv show... HA! I'm super excited, that she is coming all the way from Vancouver to visit me in Dawson Creek. Yes, Tara is coming to Dawson Creek!!! YIPEE!!!

Ahhh!

I should be sleeping right now, but thanks to my very itchy legs, I'm not. Nope instead I'm applying lotion every 5 minutes with an intolerable Miley Cyrus song running through my head, over and over and over and over and over and over. It's been 2 days.

This is probably a torture tactic used in secret military operations...

Thoughts

I'm feeling pretty anxious right now. I guess things aren't going the way I expected them to. My life is not the same, and although I knew it wouldn't be, the reality is more difficult than I expected.

I moved here to be closer to my family. I don't regret that for a minute. Over the last 10 years I've had some pretty awesome experiences and met some incredible people. I've worked hard, played harder and lived well. I've learnt so much about myself and how to enjoy life. It would've been easy to indulge myself and continue living that way for another 10 years. But I think there's more to life than self-indulgence and that's why I'm here. (I dunno, maybe it's selfish/greedy of me to want more)

It's an adjustment, but it's so much more than just learning to live without sushi and an underground music scene. It's learning accept this new version of myself, and that's going to take some time.

Gotta love mom

I'm just getting over a stomach flu, I, like most of the sane popluation, hate being sick. But being sick is waay better at Mom's then it is anywhere else. My whining falls not on deaf ears, she always has the right type of medicine, and I get tonnes of great advice. I also get a good amount of unsympathetic beaking... it is home afterall. It almost makes being sick tolerable.

I know, right?

What doesn't affect you should not concern you. It's none of your business so don't worry about it. How many times have I said that lately?

Today marks the start of my rapid ass growth...

...and I intend to enjoy every minute of it in ignorant frothy bliss.

I love sundays especially lazy sundays. But this sunday is my favorite one of the entire year. What a wonderful surprise as today had all the makings of a super crappy one. I spent about 4 hours sorting invoices at work and to be honest I'd rather stick glass in my eye. However, this sunday my life got about a zillion times better. That's right!! IT'S EGG NOG LATTE SEASON AT STARBUCKS!!!

Whoever thought of combining frothy egg nog with a shot or two of espresso and a sprinkle of nutmeg is a freakin genius who I credit a great deal of material happiness to. Time is limitied - I have only about a month and a half to enjoy the ultimate of seasonal delights...

Egg Nog Latte, you are AWESOME & worth the enormous amount of sweat that will be required to reverse the damage you'll do to my ass.

Lions play in western final on saturday

Grrrrrr! Playoff football should always be accompanied by friends and beer. Friends at this point are a BIG stretch. The beer I could do, it would be rather pathetic but I could do it.

Worth it

I grew up in Dawson Creek, I graduated from high school and couldn't wait to get out. I swore I'd never be back. A decade comes and goes, priorities change, and I'm back.

It's my brother's birthday and Mom has made dinner. My parents, 3 brothers and I are enjoying a familar round of funny insults, witty comebacks and random banter. Davin's (the youngest brother) recently allowed his large mouth to contribute to the loss of his two front teeth, which provides enough material to last all night. It's a non-stop comedy show. In a moment I remember the exact reason why I gave up my busy, active, friend filled, life in the city... there is no place I'd rather be.

Did I miss something?

How sad is a world where simple personable interaction can be mistaken for romantic intent.

Long story made short.... Somehow, someway, without me knowing, I managed to "hit" on this guy at work. Hmmm, that's a little awkward. I mean if I'm interested in someone, I should know right??

Perspective

I went for coffee with a friend the other day who has also made a move from the big city to Dawson Creek. He said something that made a lot of sense...

"If I'm going to be here, I'm going to be here, involved and busy because if I spend my time here wishing I was someplace else then what's the point?"

Time to get involved.

The Big Move

I walked outside today and could see my breath in the -10 celcius cold, and for the 400th time since I moved here a month ago, I asked myself ... "What the hell have I done?"

I used to live in Vancouver, I used to spend saturday nights out on the town, I used to have hobbies, hell, I used to have friends. Now, I live in Dawson Creek, population, somewhere between 12,000-15,000. Now, I have no friends and on a saturday night chances are, I'll be at home with my best friend Molly. Molly is a cat. More times than not, I wonder how I ended up here and then I realise this is what I choose, what I wanted. A return to my roots, to the place I grew up, to my family. SUPER.

The last month has been, well... interesting, but I if I can survive the cold hard life of the city, then I can adjust to life in this small town - right?