Need a Break!

We're busily getting ourselves ready for a quick weekend trip to Banff for my friend's wedding! Having a dog is a really good 'trial' for having children. They are by no means as dependent as kids and they don't have half as much crap as babies do but let me tell you, I found myself hunting down his favourite toys scattered throughout the house and making sure I included some peanut butter biscuits in his care package to go to his grandparents! Whew! That took a lot of energy...can't imagine trying to do that with a baby!

Well, it seems winter has hit yet again! It's not only me but you can see it any person's face, everyone's sick and tired of winter! It's sucking the energy out of the city! I'm done with it. As far as I'm concerned it's spring and I'm gonna try hard to find that spring energy that's been itching to come out for about a month now! Wish me luck!

Need Practice

So I accidentally closed out of the Internet and lost everything that I had just typed before that unfortunate error (about three paragraphs)! Talk about needing to practice positive self talk. Sigh...

Highlights of the blog that will never come to be...there was talk about starting off my week by getting bitched out by the parking attendant, which led to me discovering that positive self talk should probably also include positive thoughts about others cuz one without the other seems retarded.

Now I'm just in a cranky mood cuz nothing's working right now. Sigh...
I'm thinking I should make an appointment to get my eyes checked as I've been getting a lot of headaches. Could it just be staring at a computer all day? Stress related? Eyes just getting old? Or is it something more serious? Could it be pressure in my head building to alarmingly high levels and I should thank God for every minute that my head doesn't explode? Probably. See what I mean about needing to practice? How is this at all positive? Oh I need a nap.

K...tomorrow I'll shoot for positive self talk and I'm gonna have a better Tuesday than a Monday.

When Did I Get Old???

This weekend Bruce and I took our nephews to the Telus Science Centre to see 'Art of the Brick', the Lego exhibit. It cost me $50 for admission!!! No wonder families are smaller these days; who can afford one?! That's the first sign I noticed that I was older - I never used to care how much things cost. We were getting ready to leave and Evan asked if we could grab a drink and I said sure but we'd get it from 7-Eleven cuz it'd be cheaper! My second sign or is that just being fiscally aware? Dunno.

This morning I went to church as usual. Mom and Dad are looking after the boys while their parents are on vacation so I sat with them. I found myself shooting 'mom' looks their way when they were starting to slouch and yawn. I noticed that my patience is very short around them. Maybe it's just because I don't see them everyday so I'm not used to them or maybe it's another sign I'm getting older. Damn, when did this happen?!

Update on my second last post. I tried my hand at sketching like I said I would. I'm a little rusty but if I keep at it I'm sure I'll start to remember how to do it. But with being old comes cynicism. I see everything wrong with every pencil stroke...I doubt everything I do on paper. It never used to be that way. I used to look at my stuff and think that I was a genius! Well, not quite but I never second guessed anything. It just seems like there's always somebody out there who's better at everything I try. Maybe this week's goal should be practicing positive self talk! Is that a lame goal for the week? Ok, how about this...I'll practice positive self talk and I'll aim to pack up another three boxes of stuff for when we get our house painted. That's a deal. But first I need a nap!

The Strangest Thing

This morning something weird happened, well nothing really happened but something struck me as weird. I was driving behind this great big old truck, don't really know what it was but it had a sticker on the back and it read, "If you can't see my mirrors, then I can't see you." I was thankful for that sticker as I couldn't see his side mirrors so I backed off a bit until I could. Why did I appreciate that so much? It goes waaaay back to when Bruce was side swiped during rush hour on a very busy street by a cube van. Obviously the other guy failed to do a shoulder check but because of that he totalled Bruce's car! Luckily Bruce wasn't hurt! It could have been really bad. So because of that I applaud the company who thought to put a sticker on the back of that truck.

I'm going to try not to use my blog to bitch about work, well at least to lessen the amount of times I bitch about work. Hell, maybe doing so will force me to just be more creative in my writing to disguise the fact that I'm bitching about work! Ha! See I can always find something positive in any situation. Kudos to me! I don't think that complaining about how people treat me there is going to help my ultimate goal of being a happier person, nor is complaining about how some people don't have to work to get perks or how people turn a blind eye for some who make grave errors but not for others. It's all just gonna get in the way of happiness. But did you notice - I still bitched but creatively! See?! I'm growing as a writer even when it's bitching about crap! Ha! I win...I'm still getting something out of a crappy work environment! Ok, I'm done bitching about it! Thanks for letting me vent.

I would like to always leave you on a positive note, so here goes...tomorrow is FRIDAY!!! It was a short week, but long enough. It's going to be in the double digits on the positive side of the thermometer this weekend and I think we're gonna go to 'Art of the Brick' - the Lego exhibit at the Telus Science Centre. I think this weekend has some kick ass potential! Have a good one!

Long Weekend Ends

So it's been a long weekend but...it's coming to an end. And how are we gonna end it??? With 10-20cm of snow! That's right, I started thinking about sandals too soon. It's all my fault. Sorry. But maybe this will brighten your day...



I made cupcakes for Easter dessert and I think they look pretty darn yummy! I'm probably my second biggest fan - my mom's my biggest fan but apparently that's in her job description! Anyway who can think of snow when there's something so springy to look at!!! Enjoy! Sorry, there weren't any leftovers - at least that I'm willing to share...

I'm playing with the idea of setting a weekly goal. Ok, that's a lie. I totally just made that up right now but now that I read it in print - I'm a freakin' genius! What a great idea! Great. Now what? I have to set a goal...and I think if you're reading this, you should jump on the bandwagon and set one for yourself too! You wanna share? Alright. For me - I'm going to blow the dust off my sketch book and see if I still know how to draw. That's right. I used to draw all the time! Don't know why I stopped but this week I'm gonna try my hand at it one more time and see where it takes me! Gotta go sharpen my pencils...

Further or Farther?

So what exactly is the difference between 'further' and 'farther'? Being a native-born English speaker you think I would know the answer to this question. Yeah, wrong again! I had to consult WikiAnswers for this one. And I'm glad I did cuz now I know the difference and I'm going to share it with all of you that care:

Further is used in conjuction with the word "more", meaning exactly that...more. Farther is a function of distance.

Examples:

I want to further my career. (That's just an example, it's not me saying that!)

How much farther do I need to run to get to the finish line?

The farther I travel down this road the further behind schedule I get.

So there's your lesson for today! Any more questions, just ask, I'd be more than happy to help!

Great Line

It's none of your business what other people think of you! Or something like that...I read it somewhere today and I can only remember that somebody named Stephen something or other wrote it. Exactly, why care what people think of me...it's none of my business. There's something very liberating in that statement, don't really know what it is but it's kind of reassuring somehow.

I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately as I pretty much have since the beginning of the year - that whole trying to be a better person and all! Sometimes I get so bogged down and frustrated, I forget what my goal this year is - to be happier. A very good friend of mine told me that I need to let things go, decide on being happy, don't let others bring me down. She's right. I have to keep vigil in my quest. Just because I get frustrated at work doesn't mean that work is bad, it's paying for my vacations, it's providing me with benefits, vacation, sick time, family time...friends. When it gets rough at work I need to switch my focus, focus on the good parts of the job, focus on those who keep me grounded and sane (as much as possible that is)!

I can't tell you this enough...this blog really helps me unwind at the end of the day. I'm so happy that I decided to try this out. Ha! Did you read that?! I'm happy!

Life Goes On...

So I didn't win a darn thing with my Mike & Lenny blog post. There was money and other cool prizes. There were only 9 or 10 entries but they randomly chose one and apparently the one they chose wasn't even a script as requested in the contest rules! Stupid contests. However, that non-profitable post was my 50th post since I started this project - not bad, eh?!

50 posts is kind of like a milestone in the blogging world...ha ha ha...listen to me - I have absolutely no idea what a milestone is in the blogging world but in my world it's a pretty significant number! So let me take this opportunity in my 51st post to reflect on what this activity has taught me. I have a lot to say. Sometimes you can tell what's gone on in my day, sometimes my entries are a little cryptic but that's what makes this all so interesting! Blogging helps me unwind from the day; it helps me reflect on what battles have been warring in my head, work through them by getting everything out and thinking about how whatever's happened in the day or whoever's happened in the day affects me and my well being or lack thereof! It's a healthy way of working through the stress.

Blogging has helped me open up to people in a way that I'm most comfortable - behind a shield. I know most of you won't agree with me on this next statement but it's so very true! I'm shy. Yup, shy! I would never tell a lot of what I've shared on this blog with you in person but somehow me writing it in one room by myself and you reading it without me seeing you read it lends a certain level of anonymity. Mind you...I'm not sharing everything - that wouldn't be at all interesting! I can't reveal all the mystery that surrounds me; that would just be crazy!

So on this 51st post, I thank all of you for sharing a curiously wierd interest in my life and adventures. Don't worry, this is not the end...life goes on!

Mike & Lenny

This is a blog entry to help out Grant MacEwan with the third episode of Mike & Lenny's adventures in business!

It's late at night, a lamp is dimly lit in the corner, the coffee table is strewn with coffee mugs and a Tim Horton's box of half-eaten doughnuts and Mike is in his pyjamas.

Mike: Lenny, I gotta get some sleep dude! I've got a final in the morning. (His eyes getting
heavy, he succumbs to the baby head he's been fighting and his head hits the coffee table).

Lenny: Dude! You've been pushing so hard to learn all that you can learn, (singing the next
words to the army commercial slogan) be all that you can be, find your future in the (awkwardly pausing cuz it doesn't fit the army tune) Grant MacEwan College. That's enough for tonight grasshopper, there's a sleepy dust delivery from the sandman waiting for you in the other room.

Lenny helps Mike up from the couch. Mike leans on Lenny as he walks him out of the living room. In the next scene we see Lenny lying on the couch reading Mike's business text book that's propped up on his beer belly and munching on one of the left over cream filled doughnuts.

Lenny's Inner Voice: (While he's reading, we see a daydream of him on a game show) Alex, I'd like Marketing for $500 please.

Mike (as Alex Tribec) Product, Place, Price, and Promotion.

Lenny: What are the four P's of Marketing?

Mike (as Alex Tribec): That is correct!

Lenny: 70's sitcoms for $1,000.

Mike (as Alex Tribec): Nanoo, nanoo.

Lenny: Mork and Mindy!

Mike (as Alex Tribec): I'm sorry, the answer needs to be formed as a question. That will cost you $1,000.

Lenny: Doh! (thinking to himself) I wish the category would have been organizational behaviour, I'da kicked butt on that one!

Lenny fades into a solid slumber on the couch. Sun slowly creeps in across the living room and we see Mike coming out of his room all showered and dressed with his laptop. He's looking for his textbook and spots it on the coffee table. As he reaches over for it, he sees Lenny, rather hears Lenny snoring so being the good friend that he is, he covers him with the Mexican throw and heads off for his final.

Later in the afternoon, we see Lenny sitting at the desk with his very own laptop and Mike enters the room through the front door.

Lenny: Mike! How'd it go, man?

Mike: Dude! I totally rocked that exam! We're talking A+, no, no, if there was such a thing we'd
be talking A plus plus!!! Man, I couldn't of done it without you, thanks man! Hey, watcha
doing? Is that a MacBook?!

Lenny: You bet it is, state of the art! Just got it this morning.

Mike: Uh, Lenny...what do you need a laptop for?

Lenny: I had this revelation dude! The big guy talked to me last night.

Mike: You talked to...God???

Lenny: Are you crazy? No! Alex Tribec! (Mike looks slightly confused).
He told me that I was wasting my time welding, waiting for something better to come
along. He reminded me about how much fun I've been having the past four months
helping you study. So I bought me self a super duper computer!

Mike: So what are you doing now?

Lenny: Registering for management studies. You were right, today's that day!

Mike: (excited) Really?!!

Lenny: I couldn't have done it without you man...and Grant MacEwan of course!

They do a goofy best friend handshake thing and bump bellies and the scene fades out.

~The End~

Life is too Short!

There comes a time in life when you have to let go of all the pointless drama and the people who create it and surround yourself with people who make you laugh so hard that you forget the bad and focus solely on the good. After all, life is too short to be anything but happy!