So Lame!

I was just 3 hours away from completing my Blogathon task of a new post every half an hour.

So close.

And then I woke up this morning with no recollection of how I got to bed or when my last post had been.

sigh

I undertook Blogathon as a writing challenge - pushing out that many posts was not difficult, and I am sure the final couple would have been dribble, but whatevs.

No, I shouldn't have been drinking all of those beers during the day, but it was sooo hot.

So, I put my best foot forward and didn't succeed.

I suck. I know.

Heaven on Earth

The heavenly cloud that is my bed

I may have the greatest bed in the world. It is like a cloud, fluffy and big and just so great. It sorta sucks you in and doesn’t let go.

Amazing.

You never want to leave it. I never do. Sometimes I actually don’t leave it.

The first time I realized HOW much I love my bed was when I got back from NYC. After two months of sleeping on a freaking twin-sized dorm bed for two months, I dove into my bed and went to heaven. I can’t imagine how I survived without it.

Eve loves my bed. She used to sleep over in university just because of my bed.

I wish I was in my bed right now.

No seriously. I am fucking tired.

Hermit

Sometimes, I don't leave my house for a while.

I am talking a weekend at most, but still, it is amazing.

Sitting around, being on the computer, ignoring phone calls and texts you just don't care to see ... well, I wouldn't give it up for anything.

I come off as being social, but I am definitely not.

In reality, I am a loner nerd that would rather be alone than talk to people.

After all, people are stupid. Well, the majority of them are.

Sorry, happy thoughts.

There are times when I talk to no one other than my mom and interact with no one beyond my place of work and the bus.

To sit, for a little while, with no noise, well, I think I covered that in an earlier post.

I dunno, there is something about going all .. off the grid for a weekend - even though it's not really off the grid.

Whatever.

Shiny

At one point, I was very focused.

There was nothing that could distract me from the task at hand - other than TV

Now, thanks to the interwebs, I have adult onset ADD. And it is kinda awesome.

I sit at a computer everyday and I get to find things, random things that have no relevance to the task at hand.

It is awesome.

I mean, I sit there, working, and wham-o, I get a thought, I Google it and my thought has turned into 20 minutes of useless information.

I can't lie, sometimes I hate it - not being able to focus. It hurts my professional life, that's for sure.

But the thing is, I know just so much random shit, it's silly.

So is this post.

Is anyone out there? I would rather be sleeping right now.

Also, I'm a wee bit tipsy.

Yay.

Um, hello case in point.

Not fully baked

Let me just say, I am not a big dessert fan.

In reality, I don't really care for it. I am more a savoury girl than a sweet one.

But holy fuck is Ben & Jerry's Half Baked good!

With an amazing combination of brownie and cookie dough chunks. Chocolate mixes with vanilla and everything seems right in the ice cream world.

Seriously, how could anything be better?

I highly doubt it. And I am not baked at all.

Come and knock on my door

I love having visitors. It makes Vancouver worthwhile to know that it is close enough for people to visit.

Next up, Harp and BD. VERY excited. I have already been arranging their trip. I am lame. I know.

So far, almost everyone has come out for a visit.

Smelly, the dude I thought would never show, has come a few times now. Thank goodness for OH&S conferences in Vancouver!

See, these people that visit, they can make any place home. Transform my sad little apartment into a place I want to be, rather than a place I have to be.

I get to play tourist with them and see what Vancouver has to offer - beyond the water taxi.

This is probably a bit weird, but one of the big reasons I took my apartment was because it is so close to the beach. I thought ... this would be lovely for visitors.

And it is. No doubt about it.

So, who's up next? September is looking might lonely.

Vacations

I didn't really get the whole vacation thing until recently.

Before then, I would take vacations whenever. Couple days here, couple days there. Whatevs.

But now, with a slight two weeks vacation days a year, I save and anticipate vacation days like a fat kid waits for cookies.

They are a necessary part of working - escaping and such.

I wish I had more ... hint hint ... but will survive until I get the three week bump.

fuck am I excited for that!

China opened my eyes to the excitement vacations can cause. Vegas made is very clear, that China was not the exception, but the rule. Even one day off can get a girl soooo excited.

Seriously.

I can't wait for my October trip. I have yet to book my flight, but already, I am eagerly anticipating two weeks away from my cube.

What month are we in?

Sun & Sand

I was never really a big fan of beaches.

That was until this summer.

Thanks to Josh, I made it to a Beach Club on a random Sunday and thought, "What the fuck am I doing living in Vancouver if I am not enjoying the fucking beaches!?"

So, since then, I have become a beach addict.

Almost every day after work, I am there. If it is sunny on a Saturday, I am there. I have a really great base tan now and am totally ready for what the rest of summer may bring.

Seriously, people who live in Vancouver - if you don't go to the beach on the regular, move to Regina!

The beach is easily the best part of this city. I don't go in the water, because that is kinda gross, but I do lay there, smoke and enjoy the heat.

Sometimes, I also drink in public.

That makes everything better.

Seriously.

From mountains to the ocean

Ok, have you been on the Sea to Sky Highway?

If you haven't get your ass down to Vancouver and I will take you.

It is easily my favorite drive ever.

The first time I was on it, P3 and I were heading to Whistler. I mentioned to him that I would have liked Vancouver a lot more the first time had he brought me down that highway.

Imagine going from mountain tops to sea level! There are mountains on one side, and then ocean on the other.

WHAT!?

No, for reals. It is so freaking great. Easily my favorite drive of all time. Better than the one from Edmo to Calgary or the drive from anywhere to anywhere.

I say that with 100% confidence.

Just sooo Indian

I am pretty white-washed. I mean, I have been called the whitest brown girl ever.

It's true, I am not particularly cultural. In my defense, neither are my parents. It's not like I was all ... I reject my culture, blah blah blah.

Rather, I just followed suit.

They didn't run around the house wearing saris or constantly cooking Indian food. Mom's best meals are the always the ones she asks her white friends for.

But, the one thing my mom does, soooo well, is Indian breads. Namely chapatis.

They are also called rotis for some people - I don't know why they have different names, but they do. Harp, can you explain?

They used to be regular occurences in my life. Mom would make them and I would devour them.

Now, they are few and far between.

I can make them too - they are one of the few items I can cook that actually comes out tasting the same as when she does them - but for me, they still taste better when she makes them.

Plain, with cheese, with a saucy goodness, I swear, chapatis could solve the world's problems.

Well, at least mine.

Settling now

I have mentioned Settlers of Catan on here several times.

Greatest game ever.

Jarod and Steve first introduced me to it. Then I put it in front of Craig and P3.

Then the summer of 2007 was set.

I would come home from work and these two nerds would be sitting there with Catan set-up ready to go.

Talk about awesome-sauce.

I get really competitive, although some people think I am all talk and no action.

See the thing about Catan, is that my trash talk and smart mouth are actually natural by-products of the game.

What is the point of the game, you wonder? There are rules that can explain that to you, but for me, the point of the game is to stop everyone else from winning until you have a shot at winning.

Fucking brilliant.

The game changes with every new set-up and it is so good.

I only wish I knew anyone in Vancouver that would be happy coming over on a Friday night, spending some time withe some friends and playing Catan until the wee hours.

That would be so perfect.

And I would probably marry them.

Drive where?

I know this is going to get all the ecos irritated, but I love driving.

I could drive for hours, with no real destination. There is something about it that is both calming and enjoyable.

After a break-up with a boyfriend, I drove from Edmonton to Calgary with no real point of it.

It helps me soothe my head, and helps me move past the problem I was facing to a place that I am just singing and smoking in my car.

I have always had really fuel-efficient cars, so at least I'm not driving an Escalade everywhere.

The thing about driving is that it is you against the road.

I know its fucked up, but I quite like driving in inclement weather. There is something about getting through a storm that makes you feel so ... solid as a driver.

Yes, I am a dirty polluting driving loving hick.

Sue me.

Edmonton

This might be lengthy, I am just going to warn you.

I get it, I live in Vancouver. I don't hate it anymore, so whatever.

But, regardless of where I live, Edmonton will always be my home.

For me, there is nothing like landing in Edmonton. I just feel like I am home.

Regardless of where I stay or who I see or if I even get to see anyone, Edmonton is and always will be, home.

The thing about this city that I love is the small town vibe of it.

Sure Edmonton has its drawbacks - the urban sprawl and reliance on cars comes to mind - but all-in-all, I think it is the best city in the freaking province.

I will never understand why Calgary gets all the love. Just because they are almost close to the mountains?

Proximity to beauty does not inherently make you beautiful - FYI.

I don't think I could explain what I love about the city, and granted, so much of it is tied to the people that are still here (see nickname post, most of those nicknames have Edmonton addresses)

One of the things is that Edmonton has the friendliest people ever. I will never understand why it is so hard for Vancouverites to smile at other human beings.

I loved Edmo even when I was in NYC. And we all know how much I loved NYC - if that couldn't get me to stop missing my Northern Alberta outpost, nothing will.

Short shorts

I used to be incredibly embarassed by my legs. People would make fun of my 'chicken legs' and I would wear pants to not show them.

There were some skirts or capris, but they were few and far between.

But now, thanks to climbing, I am actually proud of my legs.

Seriously.

They aren't the best legs, but I think they are pretty fucking good. They go on for days and finally have a little definition between the calf and the knee - it's awesome!

So, to commemorate my new found self-esteem, I am living this summer in short shorts. Sometimes, I wear them with high heels, but only if I'm feeling especially saucy.

Like in Vegas.

Names that nick

I have a thing for nicknames. I really like the idea of them, regardless of what the person thinks about them.

For example:

Smelly Paul
Ro Ro
Cookie Monster
Chunk
P3

P3 hated his more than anything I think. He would comment on how mean I was for making up these nicknames and never consulting the person about them.

He would ask: "Did Paul ask to be called Smelly?"

No, but it stuck, so now he has to accept it. I mean, my mom even calls him Smelly.

None of the nicknames I use have a mean connotation to them - they all come from love, I promise.

Yes, even Chunk.

I don't come up with names for everyone - I mean, that would just be excessive, but if I can think of something easier to call you, I will.

I think it all boils down to laziness.

Little Boats

The best thing about Vancouver is my summer walks home, sitting on the beach at English Bay and taking the water taxi over to Kits.

So fucking awesome.

Imagine it. I would walk to the beach, about 20 minutes from work, sitting on the beach, smoking and catching a little boat ride home.

amazing

I once saw a sea otter as I was waiting for the water taxi - how cute are those? I try to pressure people to take the water taxi, because it is just so much better than the bus or a taxi, or even a full walk.

So great.

Vancouver, that is one thing that you have that Edmonton never will. Water taxis.

Although a little water taxi ride across the North Saskatchewan would be lovely - and so much better than walking across the High Level.

Sleep

I have sleep issues, which makes sleep, for me, one of the most valuable things in the world.

I get a busy head, don't sleep for a couple of days, and its fucked up.

So, when I do get sleep, I treasure it.

I hate that I have sleep issues. I hate that I am able to function on very little sleep. I hate that people can't really tell when I am on zero sleep, other than me telling them.

I wish that 8 hours of sleep was the standard for me, but it isn't.

When I get a weekend to sleep in, nothing pisses me off more than being woken-up. NOTHING.

My mother continues to think that calls on a Saturday before 9AM are acceptable. Eve the same.

At no time, I repeat no time, are calls before 9AM on a weekend acceptable.

They are actually quite rude.

Unless I'm already awake, then I have probably already called you.

My *swoon* men

Ok, I am 28 years old and I get all teenager-girl when I see, hear or think of any of the boys on my list.

They are just so fucking cute!

Everything about them - I see JT and I get all giggly, I see George and I melt, Chuck gets me all ... hot and bothered, and no man will be as funny as Dave.

I love those boys, they give me hope that through all the losers I meet, one of them may have enough similar qualities to the boys on that list.

Talk about a lost cause.

They are all just so cute. And perfect in my head. If only these things would actually happen.

I don't think they will. sigh.

Well, maybe one day I will meet a boy with the soul of Justin, the smile of George, the humour of Dave, the swagger of Chuck and the all-American nature of Ben.

If you know anyone, you know where to find me.

Music is my boyfriend

Well, it's kinda true. I don't claim to know music as well as some people, but I do love music.

I especially love live music. There are few ways to spend money better. You often get a great set, incredible energy and well, a bit of awesomeness.

Thankfully, I have found people in Vancouver that like music as much as I do. It's easy to drag them out and bop along with me.

I worry that I won't stay hip with my music, that when I am 35 I am going to still be listening to the same music I am today.

I want to grow. I don't want to be like my parents thinking, what the fuck are you listening to? I want to be in the know of great music.

Like Lis' parents. She takes her parents to Coldplay, and Beck and interesting music.

My parents on the other hand listen to talk radio and have no idea who Beck or Coldplay are.

Please let me stay cool. PLEASE

Half Way Through

It's 6PM (ish) now.

Half way through.

Um, this is fucking hard. To come up with words that aren't repetitive or boring or anything.

And is anyone even reading these shitty posts?

oye