Raver revival...

If I never have to peel tape off a laminated banner again, I'll be a very happy woman... I'm sitting in the Grafix office, taking a little break from the aforementioned evil tape peeling, enjoying a strawberry twist smoothy and listening to someone spinning records outside. Earlier they were mixing some Eddie Grant - Electric Avenue (bringing back fond childhood memories of lipsync-ing and grooving with my bros) and now I'm enjoying a thumping version of Tom Jones' "Kiss"... I just want your extra time... womp womp womp... and your AHhhh KISS! ;)

in the name of cleanliness...

I have just boiled 11 pots (of various sizes) of water over a period of 35 minutes so that I may have a bath - a shallow, not so hot bath... They better come and fix our boiler tomorrow!

There is no hot water in our house... none, not one drop. This is very frustrating to the girl who wants to shower and shave her legs because it's nice outside and she wants to wear a skirt...

being sick has its benefits...

while dealing with a constantly dripping nose, headaches, and general "stuffiness" is never very fun, having time to spend at home has been pretty nice. I called in sick today (well last night so they'd have time to call some one in) because, one, I feel pretty crappy, two, I didn't want to expose even more poeple to this empdemic snot war, and three, I took it as a good chance to spend some quality time at home (more importantly, in my roon organizing and cleaning). I was inspired by my roomate Tara while watching her meticulously hang her clean laundry and decided that my method to tossing clothes onto my shelves was no longer going to cut it. As I have no closet in my converted dining room, I went on a mission to find a portable clothes rack. I went with Tara last night to Walmart (cringe) to pick one up, but to my tired disbelief they had none left! We tried Canadian Tire and Zellers, but both were closed as it was after 8pm on a saturday (I realized it was late, but I was in one of those moods where I just wanted to start cleaning...). Alas, it was not to be that night. Instead we watched a painfully cheesy movie - "The Prince and Me", I hang my head in shame that I chose such a flop of a film, but I was in a mood for a cheesy romance. Unfortunately this was too much cheese, not enough cute romance or laughter. One of the good parts was a tractor race... oh well, it passed the time.
So this morning, I left the house determined to find a clothes rack. First stop, London Drugs. And yes I found one. Rubbermaid brand, 29.99. I gave in and grabbed it, along with a couple smallish plastic baskets for organizational purposes. Once home, I proceeded to assemble said rack. But something wasn't right. I had all of the peices, but they wouldn't fit together properly... I couldn't believe it! Was the universe against me becoming organized? Frustrated, I shoved everything back into the box, and coxed my roomate Crystal to accompany me back to London Drugs to exchange the damn thing. (this has only taken about an hour - it's around 11am) Well, they let me open another box to see if the peices were different, but alas, they were the same stupid incompatible peices. I got a refund, and we headed up to Zellers, which was thankfully open. The store has been doing some extensive renovations for the past few weeks so it was still quite chaotic inside. I was about to give up finding any when I paused in front of an aisle and looked down. There, sitting on top of a pile of random boxes was exactly what I wanted! There was no price tag, so we checked it at one of those electronic price checker thingys (not sure what they're called...) and low and behold, it was 10 bucks cheaper! Happy day for me. Plus, it was "heavy duty chrome", not cheap thin metal like the rubbermaid one (althought this one is height adjustable, and I hope that it doesnt' start sliding down if I put too much weight on it...)
We made it home (with a soy mocha to boot - no milk for this stuffed up girl) and I hesitantly opened the box and began to set it up. And praises, it went together beautifully! I moved my shelving unit out of the way, and rolled it (or plunked it) into place. What a fit!
I spent pretty much the rest of the day hanging clothes (although I need to get some more hangers tomorrow to finish the job), and reorganizing/cleaning my room. I must say that I'm pretty happy with it. I've gotten most of the junk off of my meager floor space so I feel like I have a little more space to move around (well at least I can walk around my bed now) and I finished putting up all the little things like pictures and candles etc. All in all it feels pretty cozy. Right now, I'm sitting here typing on my freshly made bed with candles burning, and listening to Hayden's Elk Lake Serenade cd. Ignoring the fact that I didn't get much homework done, I think I had a pretty good day. Not to mention that the sun was shining away, and I got to talk to my loverly cousin Emily on the phone, and my friend Oona too.

ugh....

being sick sucks... I thought I was going to squeak by without catching this bug that seems to be landing everyone on their ass (including my roomates, so I shouldn't be too surprised), but alas it smacked me down too. There's nothing like a constant headache to make one's day. And it really suck too because we're having such great weather right now, and I can't enjoy it. pooh!

Happy 18th Birthday Cayley!!!

The O.C., C.S.I, ER, ABC, FBI...

Yes, the Thursday night line-up begins... thank goodness i don't have school on fridays... but then again maybe that's a bad thing, as I'll have nothing to stop me from getting sucked in every thursday night... But at least it's only one night a week. I give myself that. (and maybe 1/2 hour on tuesdays for Scrubs, but that's it!) Everyone's got to have some veg time right?

two poems, a toothbrush, a pair of shoes, and asparagus...

Well, today has gone exceedingly better than last night. I managed to find another poem, and it went over well in class. I'd better get my ass in action as I'm going to be handing in a poem a week! So my workshop went well, there's a good vib in the class and everyone seems pretty calm and nice. I'm looking forward to it. (although I'm sure there will be furture blogs ranting about mental blocks and bad poetry so be warned)
Then, I met with my great and groovey friend Ben for lunch at the IQ Bistro and had a delicious pesto tofu ceasar wrap, yum. After some good conversation, we parted ways and I headed downtown on a mission to find some shoes. You know when you have an idea, a picture in your mind of what you want, but then actually finding that thing generally proves impossible unless you make it your self? well that's what's been happening to me with shoes. I really wanted something slightly funky that I could wear with pants and skirts, preferably black, not too shiny... cool looking you know? Well after perusing most of the nice shoe stores Downtown (the expensive eurpoean ones...) I was feeling pretty frustrated. As a last ditch effort, I headed into the Bay Centre... And there, in Sterling of all places, I as last found a pair of shoes that I could live with. No, they were not what I had pictured, heck they're not even black, and I porbably can't wear them with all of my skirts, but they're funky, comfortable, and I think I even like them. They're little suede chocolate brown Sketchers with some (slight cringe) pink lines around the edges. I figure I can always borrow Tara's shoes if i need a different pair... :)
And then, (yes the story continues) I went to Rietman's to return my skirt (mentioned in an earlier blog), only to discover that all the skirts had the same defect, and that nothing else I tried on was going to cut it. So I got a refund and decided to walk home.
Then, I made dinner for my roomates: linguine with steamed asparagus and peppers, roasted almonds and cheese sauce, and salad with cucumber, carrots and pepper from our garden, and some foccocia bread to complete the meal. It was enjoyed by all (including Tara's friend Charles who joined us), and now only the dishes await cleaning.
But, Scrubs is on, and as I've allowed myself to become addicted to at least 2 shows, I must go... ;)

AARRRGGGGG!!!!

...I think i'm going slightly mad. For the past two hours I have been trying to write a poem, trying to inspire myself enough to get a few decent words down, but dear lord it isn't working. I just need a little poem, that's all i'm asking, not an epic or a sonnet, just a little poem that says something slightly meaningful - heck even meaningless as long as it sounds good at this point. But all I keep getting is as good as poop on a stick, yes you heard me, poop on a stick! AAARRRRGGGGG!!!!

an unfinished poem, laundry in the wash, and a sorority of giggling girls in my livingroom...

This has been my weekend: Friday, I went home from work early with a bad headache... Saturday I delivered Cinecenta movie schedules with Emanual, painted banners for Volunteer Victoria, and then went to work at the Gardens where I cleaned ice cream machines for 4 hours... But then I came home and me an crystal watched a cheesy movie together while munching on freshly baked chocolate zucchini cake (yes, we still have zucchini!) Sunday, I slept in, talked with my loverly mother, and then me and my sweet roomies went downtown for some shopping... it was tiring to say the least, but I did find a cute fall skirt and Crystal bought a nice sweater. (although, the skirt i tried on had the slip showing a bit, so I switched for another of the same size, but when I tried it on at home, there was weird bumps in the back that looked terrible, so now i have to got back to exchange it... sigh) Then we got a few groceries and settled into homework mode... I finished "Heart of Darkness" - my goodness, could he mention the title one more time? ugh, and I still have no idea what they're talking about in class... And I talked to my momma about one of the two poems I have due on tuesday (the other not being written yet...) Then, Crystal had a few friends over for dinner, and I'm sorry to say because they're all really nice girls, but they squealed! I'm not kidding, it was unnerving. But they're gone, and now I'm pooped out and ready for bed, but Tara has to use my computer and I still have to start on yet another novel...
(oh yeah, and Statistics Canada called again as part of this labour thing we somehow got shuffled into, and we all had to answer questions about our work and stuff, real fun).

sigh

... it's a beautiful sunny september day, i just had a deliscous homemade pancake breakfast with my good friends Mika and Crystal, and i don't want to go to work (either job!). I think i'd prefer to go for a stroll up to Summit Park, sniff the fall air, be inspired to write a poem, and then go buy a new pair of shoes. :) But alas, I must first bus it up to school to paint banners and possibly post a few posters (BORING!) before bussing it back to my house to get ready to drive out to the Gardens where i get to work 4-10:30pm. sigh again. such is the life of a working student...

Awe, Ah, Autumn

Can you feel it? that briskness in the air? that crisp swish of wind? how lovely it is! Fall is here, and I think I'm ready. :) I love being able to wear scarves and hats and mittens and sweaters, and meeting friends for coffee or tea in some cosy cafe. Me and my roomate were walking to the bus stop and at the same time we both noticed the air - you know when it has that particular chillness that hints of leaves falling and swirling, and big yellow moons - and grinned. We had also just bought some beautiful dangling earrings to wear for a fun change, and so were inclined to grinning in the first place. :) There's nothing like walking along with a great friend on a windy cool day.

workshop...

well, i had my first poetry workshop today... I was a little nervous heading into it as I haven't really written any poetry all summer (a bad work habit I know, but it's too late now), and my friend (and security blanket) Ben isn't going to be in it. But, it went well for the most part and I think it's going to be a good group of people.
Our teacher, instead of making us answer the usual questions of "what did you read this summer" and "what do you want to get out of this class", asked us instead to say what we thought we were "bringing to the class" and what we wanted to "leave behing". Yikes! I was thinking, as my heart started to slap a little harder against my ribs, that I have no idea what i'm bringing to the class - fear of public speaking? of not writing well enough for the class? these are not very positive things... I think I blubbered something about my love of nature and coming from a small town like Nelson... And what i wanted to leave behind? my stifiling fear of failure... I think I said, not talking enough in class, and fear of attacking any subject... sigh. And then, to top off my feeling of inaptitude, we had to do a writing exercise, which was all fine and dandy until we were asked to share them, and of course I passed, and then had to listen to everyone else being brave enough to read theirs aloud. argh, sometimes i want to smack myself.
But, I'm going to let it go. we have to hand in 2 poems next week, and I'm going to be ready and willing to participate whatever my hesitations. so there.

On a pleasant note, Canada won the World Cup in Hockey! (yes, I am a band wagon hockey fan, i'll admit it) And, one of my favourite shows, Scrubs, is on for another season. yay!
and so goodnight.

so l lied

okay, I know I said that I'd expand on my trip to vancouver, but you know what, I don't really feel like it. All i have to say is that I had an awesome time seeing my friends again and I definately want to make trips over to the mainland more frequent than they have been in the past three years. And, I'd highly recommend anyone planning on visiting vancouver (or living there and haven't been yet) to check out "The Nam". It's an amazing vegetarian resturant in downtown vancouver (sorry i don't know the street - my knowlegde of the city is rather miniscule), and it's open 24hours and has the most delicious food! Yum yum yum. :)

three great friends, two umbrellas, and one stellar concert...

Well, it's my second night in vancouver, and already i've slept on an air mattress, ate a scrupmtious cinnamon bun, watched Sarah Maglachlin(sp? you'd think I'd know how to spell it by now)perform an amazing concert - i'd forgotten how superb her voice is - and now i'm about to watch a girly movie with my good friend lindsay. And tomorrow, I get to go to ikea!!!! the excitment never ends. but as i'm on a friend's computer, i will go on at length another time. cheers

it begins.... again

Well, first day of the last year of university. We had a freak rain storm, i saw some old friends, met some new people, bought some books, spent some money, ate a wrap, drank some coffee, and took the bus. pretty exciting hey? well after 3 years (well 4 if you count college)the nervous anticipation has worn off a little, and it's more a matter of settling in once again.
so here I am, a settling in...

back off, get your own totem poles!

I just spent 7 hours making sure 2 totem poles didn't get touched...
It was all fine and dandy in the beginning, when there were actually people around - I answered questions with my limited amount of knowledge, joked about trying to run off with one of them, I even shooed a few intruding tourists back behind the chain - but after around 8pm it was pretty much dark and you could barely see the totem poles, and after 10pm the gardens was empty of visitors and the only thing I was going to scare away was a few bats. But, then again, I did get paid to sit on my ass for the majority of the time, and I even managed to smuggle my novel up there in the guise of the "totem pole guide" (although I don't think they really would have cared if they noticed I had it, I mean it was that or sitting and staring into space...) along with a cup of hot chocolate with a squirt of peppermint and a flashlight (well I didn't smuggle the last two). Another cool thing was I got to use one of the radios from Visitor Services (I also had a little 2-way radio for checking in with my loverly supervisor in the coffee shop, but I had trouble working it for some reason - most likely my mechanical inaptitude...)
Thank goodness it was only one shift!
and School starts tomorrow, a whole new adventure!

The joys of a sleepless night and a 10 hour work day...

sigh... i do believe that it is one of the most frustrating things to be unable to sleep when you need to. Take, for example, last night. I knew that I had to wake up at 6am to get ready for work at 7am. so of course when I lay myself down to sleep, the sleep doth not cometh. I finally fell asleep around 12:30am only to awake again to the sound of my roomate returning from her Sunday night venture at Steamers. I usually sleep right through this (or am returning home myself), but for some reason I woke up to the sound of the front door opening, their whispers and the refrigerator door being swung open and shut more than once. And so began the night watch. it was 3am, then 3:59am, then 4:30, the 5:50 and my alarm is playing some bad country song (I really must find a better station), and I have to get up. sigh... and so begine my day. me and Tara make it out the door and she's ringing the buzzer to her brother's apartment (we all work together at Uvic - today we were blowing up hellium balloons and painting banners) by 6:40am.
Due to lack of sleep and lack of coffee, my brain started sending weird signals and before you know it, me and Tara were dashing through the SUB halls, chucking a roll of duck tape at each other (or kicking it) and giggling like a pair of 10 year olds (although I'm inclined to think that even 10 year olds would be more dignified). Luckily, it was freaking early so no one was there. (and I'll admit that we had fun). But then it was 10 am and I had to drive out to the Garden's for my 11-6pm shift. With the help of a bit of coffee (lots of chocolate syrup), and my dear friend Oona, the time went by rather fast. And now I'm sitting here wondering why I'm still awake... all I have to say, is thank goodness it was a stat so the pay makes it worth it.

a spot of poetry...

I have a deep and abiding love for the poetry of Mary Oliver, she inspires me and takes my breath away. So i thought I'd share one of her poems today. (I just bought one of her books on sale at Munro's this afternoon and fell in love again.) this is one of my favourites:

You are young. So you know everything. You leap

into the boat and begin rowing. But, listen to me.

Without fanfare, without embarrassment, without

any doubt, I talk directly to your soul. Listen to me.

Lift the oars from the water, let your arms rest, and

your heart, and heart's little intelligence, and listen to

me. There is life without love. It is not worth a bent

penny, or a scuffed shoe. It is not worht the body of a

dead dog nine days unburied. When you hear, a mile

away and still out of sight, the churn of the water

as it begins to swirl and roil, fretting around the

sharp rocks--when you hear that unmistakable

pounding--when you feel the mist on your mouth

and sense ahead the embattlement, the long falls

plunging and steaming--then row, row for you life

toward it.

the veggies of our labour...

Ah, the joys of having your own garden: lettuce for salad at the snap of a leaf, carrots just a tug away, cucumbers and zucchinis plump for the picking. It's been so great to be able to grow our own food. I'm always amazed at the miracale that is life - watching something grow from a little tiny seed to a sprawling tomato plant or towering pea vine. We've made many a delicious salad, pesto, stir fry, pasta dish, dessert from the bounty of our small garden. Last night me and my friend Oona made a chocolate zucchini cake to bring for our last fireworks night shift today at the Gardens (that's the Butchart Gardens if you're wondering), and it was delectable (if I do say so my self. plus we did get a lot of compliments, but it could be also that it was free food ;) ). Crystal also made one for our potluck/house warming party tonight so I got to savour it twice! I can't believe I didn't like zucchini for so long. (well, not that the cake actually tastes anything like zucchini, but I enjoy eating it in other things now too) :) I have to say that while I had fun tonight working, I'm glad that the firework season is over for another year. It was pretty intense at times, and having to do the same job every week for the whole summer can get a little tedious - especially when there's not always something to do and you kind of end up floating all over the place.
But I was talking about our garden (and when I say our, I mean me and my roomates again).
and all I have to add is: YUM.

p.s. if anyone wants the receipe for that chocolate zucchini cake, just let me know and i'll send it to you, it's really really yummy.

p.p.s apparently I'm trying to see how many times I can write zucchini...

cinematic satisfaction...

Anyone interested in checking out a unique, sweet, funny, quirky little film, should definately make plans to see "Garden State". I just went tonight with my roomies and a couple other friends and we all enjoyed it immensly. (i'm pretty sure I can speak for them since we were all gushing about it as soon as we stepped out of the theater - and guys out there, you'd like it too! I swear!) It has a great soundtrack, and Zach Braff (he plays the lead guy in "Scrubs") wrote, directed, and starred in it, which makes it even better (in my opinion).