Full time blues

So I went on vacation recently and it was great. I haven't gone away - besides Vermilion or Sexsmith - for a couple of years and I was excited to have a break. My sister and I went to the west coast and it was awesome. I love Vancouver island - if I were to live anywhere else it would be there.
I got back on Tuesday and Wednesday morning I was back at work. I worked three days and then took Monday off. I miss working part-time so much. I really do enjoy my job and I don't regret taking full-time but I don't know why we need to work full-time. Many people do like it and it is almost seen as shameful if you don't work full-time. When I used to work part-time I would get a lot of raised eyebrows and I remember my uncle asking me once why I did that and asked if I was having a hard time finding work. No uncle I just prefer it. I was part time for a year and a half and I loved it - I eventually got over worrying about what other people thought of me and I embraced my life, my freedom, my ability to do things of my choosing. It was great and I think that if I am in the place in my life again where I have the opportunity to work less I will definatly take it.
So I respect all of you who are able to manage full-time jobs and families and everything that life might throw at you. I don't know how you do it but my hat is off to you.

Things I Love

Okay focusing on the good. Here are things that I love.

10. Fridays
9. Chocolate
8. Sunshine
7. When my clients make good choices
6. The Office
5. Living in community
4. The cute faces my niece makes and everything else about her
3. My peeps
2. My family
1. J.C.

Spring is here early

It is beautiful outside. The sun is shining and I am back wearing my spring jacket. How I wish that winter could be over already. I try not to complain too much about winter because I find the summer heat unbearable and I save up my whining for then. But this weather I love - this I can handle. I know I am blogging about the weather and that is boring but I just had to mention how awesome it is.
Come to an open house this Saturday at our new digs! Open house 2-6pm, dance party 8pm. I sure hope I can get my place organized before then.

Long time no see

Okay so it has been two months since my last post - I told you I wasn't very good at this right? I feel like I am getting my life back. For a few months I was feeling out of control. I was stressed, probably unnecessarily so, but I tell you buying a house is stressful. Moving is stressful. So now I am in my new home and really enjoying it. We have had our share of problems since move in day but I am trying not to let if phase me. I really didn't like my life for those few months ever since the day I hit that deer and I don't want to let myself become consumed like that.

So please forgive me friends if I have ignored you as of late. I have missed you all along with my sanity. Sorry God once again for not seeking you in the times when I know I need you most. I have been returning to the things I like lately - friends, God, books, sewing, watching tv with my sister - it is great because it is like when their is this food you really like, you know the dish you get at a restaurant that you loved, then you go back and order it again one day and it is even better than you remember. This sense of relief feels pretty great too. My condo still is on the market and each day seems grimmer in that department but honestly not even that is killing my buzz right now. I am full, I am satisfied, I missed my life.

Coming around

Okay, so once again it has been awhile since I have posted. Life remains busy and somewhat crazy. But slowly things seem to be looking up. I got my car back, finally. It is almost as good as new. For the big news my friends and I got the house we wanted. It was a loooong, frustrating and time consuming process but hopefully worth it. We get possession Nov 28 which is less than a month away - CRAZY! So now all I need is to sell my condo and then I feel I can finally relax. My life has been in upheaval for a couple of months and I am really looking forward to normalcy so....want to buy a condo?!?
I got to go to an airband party this past Friday and it was awesome. I am always a little embarrassed after an airband party. I LOVE to dance and airband. Something takes over and I can't explain it. It is freedom but after I always feel a little sheepish - like the picture which is now my profile pic on facebook - is that really me? Am I really almost 29?

Waiting...

Today I am learning a lesson is patience. My stomach is in a bundle of knots and all I can do is sit back and wait. Today is the last day that my condo is pending, I am waiting to here if the buyer's financing has gone through and if my place is sold.
Also, I am waiting for my building manager to call. On Sunday my toilet overflowed not once, not twice but 4 times. The laundry was backing up into my toilet and my sister and I spent our day scooping water off of our bathroom floor, the plumber didn't come until Monday afternoon. So now my toilet works but I have a ruined carpet, ruined bathroom floor and 2 feet of water damage in my bathroom and bedroom. So I am waiting - waiting to see how much this will cost me, waiting to see when and if it can be done by the condo.
Life lately has been pretty hectic for me. Every day seems to be a new challenge and still don't have my car back after 5 weeks. Okay God if you are testing me is it done yet? When can I breathe again? I really need a vacation - a vacation from life. Things really aren't that bad - God is good and I have peace with most things I just not sure how much of this uncertainty and stress I can take.

Progress

It is all really happening. The community that we have been planning and praying about for so long has taken a big step forward. We found a house - we put in an offer - it was accepted! Wow. If all goes as planned we get possession in January.
All this is very exciting and I can't wait but life lately has been insane. I can't wait for things to slow down. I am overwhelmed pretty much all the time these days. Decisions, tasks, and responsibilities have been bogging me down.
Tomorrow I say good bye to my cat. It is only temporary and I will still get to see him often - thanks to my awesome friend James. This has been stressing me out the most. Now my cat has a bit of a reputation and most people probably figure I could do with a break away from him even my own mother said to me "maybe your friend will really like him and you can be free." WHAT! Did you just say that? Yes, he can be a tyrant. Yes he claws my furniture but I love him - I will miss him.
So if you want to buy a 2 bedroom condo let me know - I want it to sell FAST - not sure if that is realistic. Buying, selling, moving...get me off this crazy train.

Shine off the new car.

So I think God is trying to keep me humble and making sure that I don't take pride in my possessions. On my car's 3 week birthday, yesterday, I hit a deer. So the dent under my door is the least of my problems especially since I can't even open my driver side door anymore.
Yesterday I was pretty depressed. After getting home didn't leave my house just watched TV and felt sorry for myself. But today I am trying to have a new perspective.
I realize that it could have been a lot worse. At least it didn't come through my windshield and I could still drive my car after it happened and my two passengers and myself are still alive.
It's only a car - I have to remember that. More important things exist in my life. I got to see my niece this weekend and she is amazing. That made the trip worth it. I am thankful today.

Visit to Shell from Hell

Well today I had my absolute worst ever visit to a gas station. All of it was my fault - no offense to Shell but it sucked.
It started off by me having to turn a sharp corner to get to one of the pumps and when I did that the bottom of my brand new car got caught on the concrete meridian. I heard a terrible grinding sound and when I got out to check there was a large dent/gash on the bottom of the side of my car extending the entire length of my driver side door. Then I went to pump my gas, I was a little frazzled at this point and forgot to put in my visa like I normal do because I love paying at the pump. So I got my gas and as I always did with my old car would squeeze it past the time when the nozzle would stop itself and off course gas comes spilling out at my feet. Note to self new car not like old car. So I got back into my beaten up car, cursing up a storm, and started to drive away. All of a sudden, as I am sitting waiting to turn, there is the attendant from the gas station "You didn't pay." I was soooo embarrassed. I had grabbed my receipt which I always do at the end of my pay at the pump transaction but of course it was the receipt from the car before me. Thankfully, the man that worked there was very nice and understood that I wasn't trying to steal his lovely overpriced fuel but I still felt pretty crummy.
I was so glad to have my good friend Angie with me because if I hadn't I probably would have lost it. So now I guess I have to take my two week old car to the body shop. But other than those 7 stinking minutes my day was pretty good.

New Car

Well I bought a new car today. I have been thinking about it, reading about it a lot lately and finally decided to go for it. I told myself "I will not buy a brand new car." But I did end up buying brand new after all. YIKES, I really didn't want to but in the end I knew it was the right decision.
My good friend Angie already owns a Yaris and loves it so I am excited that our Yari can be good friends too! I also did a little name dropping while I was at the dealership and apparently they will be contacting her regarding a little bonus she will be receiving - exciting.
So I bought a Toyota, sorry Grandpa I hope I can still be a part of the family (he owns a Ford dealership).

Cooling my jets

Well I look a little like a tomato today. Even though I applied sunblock it wasn't enough to protect me against 7 hours in the sun. We went to Heritage Days yesterday and it was a lot of fun. I love Edmonton in the summer - I love how multi-cultural God made this world. This is my sister Hailey's first summer in the city so we are trying to go to everything that we can. It has been fun re-experiencing Edmonton summers with her. This weekend we also went to the zoo and we got to see the red pandas which have got to be the cutest animals on the planet.
FYI: I am realizing that I need to cool my jets a little. I often get really excited about new crushes and talk about them way too much so sorry but I am not going to be blogging about it anymore.

Some more music I like. www.myspace.com/royalwood

Continuance...

It took me a while to become confident in who I am and believing that I am girl with a lot to offer so I am just happy to be where I am at. We all just need time to feel comfortable in our own skin. I still have my off days but I can honestly say that most days I like who God has made me to be - who He is making me to be. I hope that for each of you.

This is for you Miranda. Music I am currently listening to www.myspace.com/beruit
and also www.myspace.com/shearwater

Well I survived my 10 year high school reunion. It was pretty low key, got to see some old friends and got to sit at the singles table which had some nice people. I was glad I went.
Today I am back at work dragging my ass a bit but not minding that I am here. I discovered a blister last night on the inside of my lip. It is crazy - I don't know how I got it. I don't remember burning my mouth or anything. If you are lucky I might post a picture of it later.
No news on the crush front. Probably seeing him tomorrow. I will do my best to flirt - not sure how one does that but I hear hair flipping is beneficial. Wish me luck.

Dating game

I would say that I am mature in most things. I have a mortgage that I pay on time, I have bills that come in my name, I am attending my 10 year high school reunion this weekend,I am "the boss" at my work and I have even started dying my hair to cover up my grey (the truth is out). But there is one area I am lacking in and that would be the whole dating game. How does it work? I have no clue. Is it even a game - I sure hope not I never have been very good at games.
So hypothetically let's say that I have a crush on a boy. Okay now in that situation what happens next? Let's say I am already friends with this person and we get along well. I mean how does an inexperienced person like myself know when to make the next "move". I know the lingo and I understand what needs to happen but really this is not the kind of thing that my 4 years of university education prepared me for. I guess when it come to crushes we haven't moved much past grade school am I right? Step one talk to him step two invite him to be your friend on Facebook step three ??????
I guess it is never too late to get your dating education. Oh and did I mention before this is all hypothetical?

Growing Up

I know that I am an almost 29 year old independent woman but I can still surprise myself when I make grown-up decisions. For example, I recently decided that I want to purchase a new vehicle. This will be the first time that I will choose my own car and I will tell you their are A LOT of cars to choose from. I of course am most concerned about saving our planet and fuel efficiency so that has been my search criteria, unfortunately my budget does not allow for a hybrid car.
The other day I opened my first RRSP as the man asked me question after question regarding this new account I realized I know absolutely nothing about investing. So I am now officially saving for my retirement. Quite the step for an in the moment day to day kind of girl.
Lastly, was my previously mentioned decision to go full-time. I get called "the boss" now. It always makes me laugh nervously when I hear that and say "I prefer team leader."

New music that I am currently enjoying. Check out www.myspace.com/theacorn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGIE

Today is my good friend Angie's birthday. She is now the same age as me. We are getting a little older much to our chagrin but we still know how to have fun. We had a great party for her on Friday evening. Didn't she make herself an amazing cake?! Happy Birthday friend!

Purge

Got rid of some sh*t yesterday. It felt good to let go of stuff that wasn't necessary to my life. I would call myself a collector or hoarder I am just lazy. Oh so lazy. It takes me a while to address clutter and organize. I am okay with organizing my life and mind but my stuff, my home - not a chance.
I want to be better at being attached to things that aren't important. I know that I over consume and I care about the wrong stuff and our society perpetuates no encourages it. But that doesn't make it right. I am hoping that when I live in community some day (soon) that will help me live simply.

Moving on

So my friends and I have been talking about creating a co-op which seems like since the beginning of time. Up to this point it has been talk and a couple of meetings with a consultant. Now things are changing. We met last night and decided to head in a different direction. We are still going to purchase common property together but not form a co-op so we are springing into action. Get a preapproved mortgage, selling my place and looking for something new. Wow, my head is spinning. I sure hope my sister and I don't end up homeless in between selling and buying. I know that this is the right decision but I must admit I am nervous but I have peace so that is what matters.

Couldn't resist posting this picture of my niece. She is adorable and I get to see her again tomorrow. I think she looks a lot like her mom.

Reno Monday

I just finished getting the drywall dust out of my nose. I think I might have got some in my mouth too. Today I finally started working on my bathroom. The paint has been peeling off the ceiling since the day I moved in and that was a little over 4 years ago. Takes me a little while to get motivated. In fact it took me about 3 years to hang some photos in my living room. I am the type of person who is fine with the ways things are and is content to live with it. That attitude has both good and bad consequences. Good: I don't get stressed out about what I am going to do with a certain room and what looks good where Bad: I live with a peeling ceiling and blank walls for years. All of this work for one small little ceiling - peel paint, sand paint, putty holes in peeling ceiling, go to Rona on the busiest holiday of the year, sand down dried putty on ceiling, blow drywall out of nose, prime, paint. All of this and like Angie pointed out new owners come in and redo it all anyway. Now if only I could take a shower to get all of this dust off of me oh right I can't - I'm renoing my bathroom.