ideas

It's action time and I'm in ideas mode. And that scares me. I have to buckle down and get some things done. I haven't even begun marketing for the new side of my career. It's just that I have so many ideas and they all take a lot of time to work through. I think I need to get some stuff on paper. Allow myself a time line. Set goals and work slowly but surely to achieve them. I'm pretty sure that's the only way anything will get done. I'm a paper girl. A list girl. Methodology.

The clinic has been crazy busy. It's awesome and I'm glad but it doesn't leave much time or energy to get new things accomplished. However, on the upside, I won't be working Saturdays anymore by the end of July. Weekends off! Wooo! Can't wait. Maybe that will allow me some more time to get to work. Time off to work? Ugh... It's for things I want though, so I guess it's not typical work-like conditions. 

I'm giving my notice at TPG on Saturday. I'm just going to bite the bullet and do it. I can live without it. I really don't like it there anymore. Not that at any one time I actually liked it much anyway. The staff can be unfriendly and now that I will have Saturdays off at the clinic I don't want to be working Saturday nights - that would just take the wind right out of my sails!

I just found out that in order to work in PEI I will have to take my association's entrance exam (which I narrowly escaped last year) or work and be a member for 3 years (2 more years) before I can become a member of the PEI association. I'm not surprised but I am annoyed. This exam is exactly the same as the exams we do to graduate. How can it equal 3 years of experience. I call bullshit.

Anyway, big, full workday today. Gotta get going. 

Have a good weekend! xo

What a beautiful Canada Day (to spend indoors?!)

I slept in until after 10am today and woke to what looked to be a rainy day. I tuned into CBC radio and listened to a show on Grant Lawrence Live (R3) called 'What is Your Personal Canadian Anthem?' Listeners called in throughout the month and voted for, by singing on the radio, their personal Canadian anthem and then they the requested song was played. It was hosted by Grant Lawrence (who I'm a big fan of) and Amanda Putz and it was funny and it made me feel better about not getting outside. As the day progressed it became more and more sunshiny so I became more and more guilty of wasting a day. At about noon I decided that I couldn't spend the whole day indoors. By 3pm (after CBC's Q aired from Trafalgar Square's Canada Day celebrations, haha) I got my act together and headed out the door. I soon found myself at the local used book store perusing the selection. I didn't find anything I thought I was looking for but I did pick up a couple books.

In the shop window I spotted The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards and picked it up. It's been recommended a few times but one person who had read it (Alana?) was unsure of how they felt about it once read. I thought I'd give it a chance anyway. I've read some of Kim Edwards' short stories and enjoyed them. 

When I got to the counter I told the owner the last few novels that I read and a couple of my favorite authors and told him that I was looking for an epic novel and could he recommend something for me that he enjoyed. He recommended first Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak which I have but have not yet read. He then recommended Gone with the Wind  by Margaret Mitchell which neither he nor I had. Then he recommended East of Eden by John Steinbeck which he had and I did not have. So I bought it. He said it would be the epic summer read that I was looking for.

Consequently, I finished A Moveable Feast today so I've decided to start East of Eden tonight. It's been recklessly loved by its previous keeper so I'm going to give it a light wash and take it to bed. 

As it turns out I spent the only moments out of my house on this Canada Day buying books by American authors. I declare, however, that my CBC fueled morning and early afternoon balance the equation and leave me feeling somewhat patriotic. At least as patriotic as I've felt on any given day here on Canadian soil.

Update: I just saw the upper reaching portion of the fireworks out my bedroom skylight through a perfectly placed break in the maple trees (of all trees on all days!). Now I feel like I've done something Canadian! I love fireworks...

José González

I heart José González

Jill Barber

The Should I's.

I'm going through a case of the should I's at the moment. Should I stay or should I go? I kind of feel like going out and having a glass of wine, but I also kind of feel like staying home and lazily waiting out this day. On one hand it looks like rain (and it's calling for thunder showers), on the other hand it's only 6:40pm. I've started a new book but I'm bored. I just got paid but I just went shopping. Yes, no, yes no...

I just finished The Pillars of the Earth. I completely loved it. I wasn't sure what to read next so I went to my bookshelf where there are quite a number of unread pages. I picked up Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast. The two books are complete opposites. Into the first few pages of Feast I was unsure the transition from a thousand pages of an historical epic tale from England to a poetic two-hundred page semi-fiction portrait of Ernest Hemingway in Paris in the 20's but I'm fifty pages in and it's working out just fine. I've never read any Hemingway before now and it's really unlike anything I've read before. His style is his own alone. I'll let you know how it goes.

It hasn't started raining yet, but seriously, it's going to drop any second now. Or so I have been thinking all day. Maybe I should just get ready and go out, then it can finally stop holding back and just let loose all over my dry clothes. Ooooh, just as I typed that a cool breeze flew in the window as if to warn that my prediction was right! Count on it. Maybe I'll get ready and by the time that I'm ready I'll no longer feel like going. 

Hmm...

9:00pm Update: I am at home. I read 3 chapters, did the dishes, wrote a letter of notice to my landlord, filled out an application for a new apartment, made a phone call, returned an email and am now going to watch a movie. I'm glad I stayed in. Also, I didn't go outside so it hasn't rained. Likely story...

The Sunday Report

So this week Mom came home from her trip, I had a night out with a movie and then a dance party at the BE, worked at the restaurant last night and thought I had to work tonight but luckily got called off! Not a very exciting week but I got a lot of things done that I needed to do so it was a successful one. 

I watched Who Killed the Electric Car tonight and man, we should all be driving them RIGHT NOW. You should all watch the movie and see why, so frustrating. Makes me want to be a part of, or start, some sort of organization in this part of the country to petition car companies, government and society at large to do something about their disappearance and promote their success. 

I also watched a National Geographic documentary about the Denali wilderness in Alaska (somewhere where the Bush government wants to drill for more oil, coincidentally). I cried, of course. I understand the circle of life and that animals kill and eat each other but I still can't watch it. A grizzly bear killed a baby moose that got scared and tried to run away. The mom couldn't take the bear on so watched for a moment and then had to save herself. Ugh. So sad. I know the bear has to eat, too bad though that they can't all be vegetarians. Damn nature!

I've started a hunt for a new apartment. I'm giving my notice this month and looking for something (1 or 2BR) for September 1st. If any one has any hints or knows anyone moving out of a super snazzy place - let me know!

Have a good week everyone!

I'm going through a really weird dream period. All the dreams that I've had for the last week or so have been really vivid and strange. Vividly strange. In three of them I was pregnant and/or had a baby/babies. I have not been sperminated, so don't worry. I just wonder why I've been dreaming about it so much. I don't think it's a biological clock sort of thing because I'm not thinking about babies that much when I'm awake. Maybe it's the influence of the new phase of my career involving pregnancy and infants. Yes, that's probably it. In one of the dreams, my babies (2 of them) were small enough that they were wrapped up in a blanket and I was showing them to people while holding them both in the palm of my hands. So weird...

Mom flies in from her Ultimate European Vacation today. I can't wait to see her and hear all about her adventures. My Mom is a retired teacher who I'm certain has always wanted to go to Europe but had her family and her work and never got around to it. So it's really nice that she got to finally go and to spend a month there at that. I imagine that she'll want to go out tonight so I'm sure we'll have some fun. :)

I'm in the midst of a very slow two-week period at work. Bitter sweet. On one hand it's nice to have some time to myself, but on the other hand my paycheque is going to dwindle. Also, idle time makes me lazy. You'd think I'd have more time to be active but even when you have just one hour taken up with work all your time seems to be before work time and after work time rather than just a day with an hour out of it. Anyway, I'm attributing the slowed pace to the fact that school is winding down and the weather is getting so much better. I think things will return to normal soon. Plus, I'm starting work on marketing for the new chapter any day now. 

I've got to get this place ship-shape for Mom's arrival and I have to get ready for work so I'm out!

xo

Sunday - The beginning or the ending?

Yellow!

The weekend is over already?! Man, it seems like it just started. Nothing of import happened really. I had a quiet day at the clinic yesterday and work was slow last night. Saw Laura before she left for Thailand at the BE after work. Had brunch and did some shopping with Marie this afternoon and spent the evening at home working on some things but mostly just watching a couple movies - chick flicks naturally. What better way to spend a Sunday evening than being reminded of what it's like to be in love. And then reminding yourself that you are not. Retch... Now I remember why I like documentaries so much. Real world, people... R-E-A-L W-O-R-L-D.

Anyyyyywho...

I wish I was going to Thailand, or France, or Spain, or Italy, or South Africa, or Japan, or Nunavut even. I need a vacation. A long one. Not because I work so hard (which happens only occasionally) but mostly because I need to be in a new environment and snap out of this mofo-ing daze I'm in. 

I came to the realization recently, as well, that I suck at drinking. Lately if I have a few drinks I usually end up doing something stupid, well, in hind sight that has been happening for a while now. Maybe a couple of years. And I'm being reminded of entire conversations I've had that apparently travel the subway that is my brain and head right out of town. I'm forgetting tons of stuff. Alcohol is so unimportant and it usually only causes me grief so why do I drink at all? If I could spend less free time intoxicating my body and mind then I could accomplish a lot more. My free time should be spent doing things that benefit my life, not things that deplore it and the way I see myself living it happily. Wow, I sound like an alcoholic. OK, let's get this straight - I don't have a lot of free time so the free time I spend with a drink in my hand isn't lengthy either. I might go out once a week (not every week) and have a couple drinks and then on Saturday nights after work I usually have a couple of glasses of wine. Also, I don't drink alone. I love wine but I have wine at home probably 3 times a year. Problem is that I always regret having had any if I have even one more than I wanted before I had my first. Catch my drift? Some people suck at sports, some people suck at dating (the jury is still out on that one for me), some people suck at math and I suck at drinking. Most of the time. Sometimes. But those sometimes are important because alcohol is a depressant and if it makes you feel shitty about yourself the next day, even if you know that it's because of a chemical reaction, it still makes you feel shitty about yourself (or you could say your actions, your intent, your emotions or inability to convey them properly - soberly). I'm sure it all has something to do with where I am in my life and where I want to be. They're not far from each other but I think I just need my sober, happy brain to myself for a little while until I get some things taken care of. Then I can celebrate with a glass of wine and a day-after Advil. 

And before I forget in a post-wine haze... I LOVE THIS BOOK. You MUST read it!

Well, that's that. Cheers!

Unbirthday

It's all over now, for another year. And, surprisingly, I'm glad for that. I need some rest! I had a fantastic week and weekend and managed to not get drunk once. So, no hangovers, which is also pretty awesome. 

Now I've got to buckle down. I have SO MUCH to do. Work things, budgeting things, house things, personal things, and more things I'm sure I haven't even yet thought of. June is it. June's the month I'm going to set things in order for an easy, breezy summer. 

I had brunch today with Andrew and Stef before they headed home to PEI. Afterward I had a 3 hour nap, guess I was tired. Now I'm listening to a CBC concert series - Buck 65 with Symphony Nova Scotia at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! 

Hahaha, it's nice to have a medium where you can wish yourself a happy birthday!

29 Forever!

It's my birthday week! And I'm going to be celebrating as much as I can! I'm not sure of all the details yet but I know a few things...

Monday: Joel Plaskett at The Carleton with Laura!

Man he looks young in this picture.

Tuesday: Work at TPG. WAHwaaaaaah.

Wednesday: Unknown. 

Thursday: MY BIRTHDAY! I have to work in the day time but I HAVE to do something in the evening. I can't do nothing on MY BIRTHDAY!! Hahaha... we'll see...

Friday: Unsure.

Saturday: Andrew and Stef are coming from PEI to spend the weekend. It's possible that they're coming Friday night but I really have no idea yet! I work in the morning but I took the afternoon and night off so that we might be able to get out of the city. Peggy's Cove? Harmony is also going to be in Halifax this weekend which means there will be at least 4 of us out for a birthday dinner and drinks! Also that night is Jeff's going away party (unfortunately at Boomers) and another pals birthday party at The Seahorse. So lots to do... 

So that's what I know so far. 

I did some Spring cleaning today. Feels good to have this place cleaned out a bit. MAN there was a lot of cat hair. I wish now, in hind sight, that I had found hairless cats to love. Yes, they're harder to love, but I can really see now why some people appreciate them for who they are. :)

I've got a full-looking week at work this week and tomorrow is no exception. 5 or 6 clients and then straight to the Joel show. Pair that with a 7am wake-up call on Tuesday morning for the clinic and a full night of work at the bar to follow and blah... I think I know what Wednesday after work will hold for me... SLEEP!

Anyway... Happy Amy's Birthday Week to all of you!! ;)

Boob Bruises & Party Pooping

It's the weekend now and I still hurt from the week gone by. Me and a buddy fell on our asses off of a bar stool Wednesday night. It's OK, go ahead and have a little chuckle. It is funny. BUT - I friggin' strained my left pec muscle and all the way around to my back and I banged up my knee. So stupid. Anyway, it's painful to laugh, cough, sneeze, blow my nose or just something as simple as raising my arm. So you can imagine that my job can be difficult with this problem but I can't even really complain to anyone but you guys that read this since I don't want my coworkers or my clients to know that I'm that girl. Ugh.

Aaaaaannnnnnyway.... that's that.

I'm going to bed any minute now, yes, it's not 10pm yet. It's weak, but necessary. I work from 9am to 3pm at the clinic and then 6pm to who knows when, probably 1am, at the bar. Friday nights/Saturdays are rough around these parts. I love the book I'm reading so I will get a couple chapters read before I sleep. Maybe... pretty pooped!

Have a good weekend guys.

xo

UPDATE: I got 'em!!!

OK. So I don't want to jinx myself, I have a feeling they won't sell out super-quick, but tomorrow I will be the proud owner of José González tickets! He plays at St. Matthew's United Church on June 26. I am more exited about this than any concert I've been to in ages or plan to go to in the near future. I freakin' love his music. Love. LOve. LOVe. LOVE it.

Went out last night and met up with Jeff and Nadine. Had a couple drinks at the B.E. then headed to The Seahorse where the band that opened for The Queens of the Stone Age at the Metro Centre last night played a set. Their name is Mugison and they're from Iceland and they are awesome. I wish they had been there for a full show. Hopefully they'll be back.

This guy's name is Lenny, he's from Halifax and he's pretty awesome too.

Today will be my first day back at the clinic since Wednesday. I've been bamboozled by a flu since Thursday morning. It was one of those where you're completely drained of energy, strength and ambition. Even my joints ached. Plus there's the runny/stuffy nose, and then on Saturday it turned into a chest cold too. The first day of a chest cold is always torture because your throat feels like sandpaper. Ugh. Anyway, today was the first day I woke up and actually felt better. I still have a cold, no doubt, but I have more energy than I have all week. I'm actually glad to be getting out of the house and back to work. 

Enough about that!

It's birthday mayhem season once again. There are so many birthdays in April, May and June for people that I know. Wanna see how many I can remember?

1. Frank: April 14

2. Alana: April 15

3. Andrew: April 30

4. Dave: May 16

5. Alissa: May 20

6. Jonny: May 27

7. Me: May 29

8. Meigan: May 30

9. Eli: May 31

10. MD: June 12

11. Christi: June 13

12. Wendy: June 30

That's all I can remember, but that's a lot. If I forgot you, I sincerely apologize! (Man I hope I haven't left people out!)

Anyway, I don't have much to say since for the last 4 days all I've done is lay on the couch or in bed and drink juice and watch a bit of TV. I'm off to get ready for work (re: DayQuil).