What's up, homs?

Hey, all (and by all I mean Kat, who is obviously the only one checking the blog!).

Just thought I'd give a little update on Remi and I and BC in general. First of all, the weather f'in sucks! It had better get nice soon because I'm contemplating a giant move back to Ontario right now! Rain rain rain, sun, cold cold cold. STUPID BC! This is apparently "rare"/"weird"/"abnormal", or so we keep hearing from long-time residents, but I'm still annoyed! This is not nice for camping and all we want to do right now is get the hell outta Dodge (read: Vancouver)! Leaving the city for a weekend is so relaxing, but if the weather is crappy, it's much less enjoyable. For instance, we camped in the rain last weekend and it was nice, because I like camping, but very wet. Check out our blog for pics/comments (http://remiandsarah.blogspot.com/).

Anyway other than that, I'm still at the hospital (of course). I'd be foolish to leave with the money I'm making ;) I'm almost done my training and I'm picking everything up really quickly. A lot of people are very surprised at my progress and quick learnedness. I guess they have a lot of people still who have completed their training and still need to have their hands held every step of the way, so I'm a treat, or so they say. It's always nice to be liked ;) And I'm loving it! I spent the last two days in the hood making IV's all by myself! It was so quiet! No one bothered me, I got to listen to the radio and got to pick the station! AWESOME.

These aren't the best pics, but this is my garb and kinda what I do in there. VERY cool.

Anyway, other than work, all is good. Remi and I leave for Cape Scott next Thursday morning after I register for my classes for next year. We get to do the whole year at once at UBC. I'm hoping to take one elective next year on Aboriginal health issues. I am not only intersted, but think it will be of great value when Remi and I move back to Vancouver Island and I'm working as a pharmacist. There is a much greater concentration of Native Americans on the Island than there is in the Lower Mainland for sure, especially in the small communities where we want to live. In terms of Cape Scott, I'm a little scared! We've yet to nail down a menu and I worry that we might be carrying too much. Last weekend for a two day trip our bags were STUFFED and quite heavy. I'm hoping we can really shrink down in the food area. Any tips for big camping trips besides freeze dried dinners and trailmix, Kat?

I guess that's about it. I hope all is well with everyone and a little posting would be nice! ;)

Sarah

I've finally joined civilization and yet I'm still alone.

So, here I am in Maine, and even though I work with twenty-some other people and the apartment I'm living in is also where they stay when they are on the mainland, I find myself alone. I made tacos tonight for my dinner, and as I sipped on my juice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, I was reminded of the time we smoked up and made tacos, and Dave filched a morsel of meat and blamed it on Amanda, thus inspiring the quote "You tried to frame me with meat!" How great that was! I wish I was living in that 7-person house again. It's interesting, how when I'm living with a bunch of people, I often can't wait to have the place to myself, but when everyone is gone, I get lonely. But, missing a house full of best friends is different from missing a house full of average roommates.

Now, the other half of that is I feel as though I have finally caught up with the rest of the western world, as I finally own my own cell phone - gasp! That's right folks, it's new, it works, and I have my own number, with voicemail and everything. I'll be sending out an email with more details (such as that number) later. Now, don't get too excited, this is not to be my main form of communication, since it's prepaid and I still don't like the idea that anyone can get in touch with me whenever. Plus, the service to Canada is way more than just calling on a regular line, so it's only for emergency/urgent use, d'accord? Nonetheless, I'm now feeling very up-to-date, what with my new phone and iPod. Now I can walk down the street looking tres cool!

Let's see... other than that news, I don't have a lot to update you all on. The job is good, not great. I'm still getting used to having a higher status than last year and the responsibilities that come with it. It's challenging and rewarding and it's doing something I love, but at the same time, I still feel like I'm missing out on something. And it's not just the job. It's being here. I love all the people, they are all great. The landscape is, of course, beautiful; you have all seen it in my pictures. The food and culture are delicious and interesting. But despite all that, I still have this feeling of discontent. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but I have my suspicions about what might be causing it. I'll let you know when I figure it out.

So, that about sums me up right now. Just getting along, living life, and finding little bits of happiness here and there, much of it being food (sushi, lobster, blueberries, peppermint patties...). I also am now a Netflixer and have been catching up on movies. I watched Little Children last night and loved it. I totally recommend it to all of you. It's very thought-provoking and humorous at times. Very reminiscent of American Beauty. Anyway, I'm thinking of bed now, so I'm off. Much love.

New with me...

Hey, guys!

So, no one is posting again!! Well here I am for a little update.

Summer vacation is here!! I finished exams on the 25th of April and most of my marks are back (clearly, I'm a genius, luckily), so I'm done first year pharmacy!! VERY exciting. I've started my new job at the hospital pharmacy that is within walking distance of my house. It's good so far. I'm learning A LOT. Apparently there are injectibles for most drugs out there! Who knew?? And also a million things I've never heard of. Needless to say, it's a learning experience and I'm enjoying it. This week and last I've been restocking meds in the various wards of the hospital. It's a good way to learn where the meds are in the pharmacy as well as the layout of the hospital, both useful things to know ;) Next week I'm in the dispensary. Apparently entering doctor's orders into the computer is the hardest thing to learn. Hopefully my community experience will come in handy.

In other news, Remi and I are starting another adventurous "explore BC" summer. We're going camping this weekend (probably up near Squamish/Whistler). It's not going to be a "hike-in" camp, but we hope to do some hiking. The weekend is supposed to be quite nice. The weather has really improved lately. I think we must finally be heading into the classic BC summers - practically no rain, warm and generally beautiful.

We do have one super-adventurous camping trip planned for the end of June/beginning of July. We're taking six days to hike to Cape Scott, located at the northernmost tip of Vancouver Island. It's about 35 km from the trailhead to Cape Scott, so it should be quite excrutiating, but so worth it! We're really going to have to be careful packing our gear, since everything we need, we'll have to carry with us into the bush. Luckily we have a new-ish tent from Xmas '05 that Remi's brother got us which folds down very small and is quite light, as well as new sleeping bags Remi bought for Xmas this year. That will cut down a lot on the blankets and stuff we had to carry in last summer when we went hiking. Anyway, this is certainly our biggest hike EVER and as such requires a lot of planning and a lot of training. I've joined the gym in our neighbourhood to help get me in shape and Remi and I will be doing hiking with day packs from now until then as often as possible to prepare ourselves.

Anyway, other than that, nothing much is really new. Things are going pretty well right now! *knock on wood* Oh, besides the fact that our new car got scraped by some dumbass driving down our street (probably in an SUV)!! It's not bad and most of it should buff out, but FRICK! Another classic example of Vancouver drivers. I can't wait to get out of this dump!!

I hope everyone is well doing their respective grown-up things. How's the new job, Amanda? Sue, what are you up to? Dave? Kat? Anyone?? I miss you guys!

Sarah :) (as usual, I'm going to leave you with a couple pics)

NEW CAR!!

So while I'm still terrified of being in a vehicle on the road, I am still excited that we were able to pick up our new car today!! It's a 2002 bright red Pontiac Sunfire with just over 50,000 km on it. It was a frickin' steal!! Here's a pic.

Now I'm back to the books... 2 down, 3 to go!!

Bye bye for now :)

Sarah

Hurraaayyy!!!

The blog is back within my grasp! I don't know what happened, if a certain someone invited me or what, but I'm just glad to be back! Unfortunately, I don't have much time to write a lot at this very moment, but I can guarantee that I'll be posting more later. Not that I really have all that much of interest to say, but you know.

Anyway, join me, my friends, join me!

So this is what it feels like...

...to work 12 hour days.

and to not have the energy to type capital letters

or answer the phone when it rings three times

or turn on the lights

or move my hand to change the channel to the other hockey game

but hey, i'm earning monay and getting a killer reference and getting good experience and making contacts.

i'm assembling tax returns at deloitte and touche with one other guy. i have a rather monotonous job, but having this reference rocks and i'm earning a lot of overtime pay and deloitte buys you dinner if you work late.

okay, i'm going to bed because i need more than five hours of sleep. i'm going to start jogging first thing in the morning because i need exercise.

i'm coaching little league baseball in two weeks.

i miss the leafs and the jays are an injured team, but sports still rocks.

download: parachutes and inside job by pearl jam.

more to come.

Depressing Posts...

It does occur tome from time to time that things were pretty damned good for 4 years or so in Guelph, and itwould be pretty sweet to go back to that, but then I remember that most people have moved on so it's in vain. But things will inevitably get better.
To conclude our insurance fiasco story, everything turned out how we wanted. Actually, it turned out better than we wanted. I'll wait for Sarah to have a cheque in hand so as to not jinx it, but we're happy with the settlement we've received. We still think ICBC (i.e. money grabbing demonesque bureaucrat assholes) can go to their own special circle of hell, but at least we don't get utterly screwed.
Right now I'm trying to convince Sarah to look into pharmacy scholarships. They'd send us to a backwater shithole, but frankly, I think we're both just about ready for that. We're having this growing impression that everyone in this city is trying to kill us with their horrendous driving "skills", and that it's only a matter of time before we get flattened by some douche doing his/her makeup while eating a doughnut and reading the paper whilst running a red light on the wrong side of the road (only a modest exagerration). In other words, the quiet life on island-time is extraordinarily attractive.
Well, that's enough for now,
Maybe I should also post on my own blog, but I have to watch my vocab there... so maybe not...

Remi

Procrastinating

Hey, all. So I should be studying for my pharmacy practice lab final that's this week, but I'm bored, so I thought I'd post. Things are getting hairy with our insurance company on the car, so I need to vent, anyway.

Remi found a new piece of evidence in our favour the other day... Well here, let me re-cap. Car crashed, we found out that I hadn't changed my "territory" when I moved to Vancouver on my insurance, so I wasn't paying what I was supposed to be paying (it costs more to be in Vancouver), apparently that makes me in "breach of contract", so they don't have to pay for my accident until I pay a nominal fee (which started out at $7500 and then got dropped as a "favour" to $1500). OK, so I'm fighting tooth and nail so that I don't have to pay said penalty and I can just pay what I owe. ICBC (the insurance company) departments do not communicate with each other out here, so even though I changed my address with one department, it apparently wasn't the "right" department and now we're screwed. Makes no sense, right? So that's what they're saying... I say if they made it easier and prompted people with reminders, people would very rarely breach their contracts and as such, things like this wouldn't happen.

Anyway, to Remi's evidence... All it is is a little piece of paper that we have stuck to the backs of our driver's licenses with our change of address on them stating: "ICBC address amendment card". Not Motor Vehicle Department, or Driver's License amendment card, ICBC amendment card. So... Sounds like I changed my address with ICBC. I'll throw this at my insurance adjuster Monday and see how he tries to get around it.

Keeping you posted,

Sarah

Inspired

So Dave's fantastic post inspired me to write a little something myself. A lot has been going on around here lately. I'm getting very close to a lot of people in the pharmacy program out here. I can actually say that a lot of people are "friends" now and not just people I go to school with and that's nice. I'll never be able to replace you guys and the chemistry that we had at the 6-9-5, but I think over the four years here I'll get something just as good, but in a different way with a lot of the people in my program. I'm so glad that I skipped out on my interview in '05 to go to France because the year ahead of us just doesn't seem anywhere near as cool ;)

So what's new at school? Mostly it's Skits Night. I've written a bit about it on our facebook page, but it was really a fantastic event, so I'll write again about it here. It was a fabulous bonding experience with the other cast members and people involved. What happens is that each year of pharmacy and the faculty write skits that are performed on a Friday night in March every year. The skits usually consist of making fun of faculty members and jabbing at the pharmacy program in general. It's actually a great way to get to know the profs too because most of them come out for the event. I got to play one of the lead roles in the skit and I can't wait to participate again next year. I was stressed about it and feeling a little unsure about my acting abilities, but the absolute fun-ness of it won out ;) Remi couldn't make it this year, but I've posted some pictures of it on our blog (http://remiandsarah.blogspot.com/) if you guys are interested.

Anyway, the thing that's really big in our lives right now is the car accident that happened a week ago today... It was bad :( I was making a left on a four-lane road and the middle lane had stopped to let me through, so I safely (or so I thought) inched forward and then proceeded and out of nowhere some asshole in an SUV blasted into the back end of the passenger's side (near the gas tank), pushing us into the curb and then flipping the car up onto its side before it settled on the roof. It was extremely scary. And of course I'm handling it the way I usually handle things - by bottling it up. I have a tendancy to joke and make light of things, suppressing them a bit until finally one thing sets me off and I cry for like an hour or so just to get it out. I wish I could handle stressful situations differently, but that's just how I am. What set me off in this case was the news that the car is unfixable, a total write-off :( I was so upset when they told me that, that any positive thoughts about us not dying were quickly erased by the total unfairness that my car was destroyed and that asshole drove away from the accident with no more than a caved in hood.

Anyway, we're still waiting to hear how much we get for the car in the settlement, but neither Remi nor I are optimistic. It's an insurance company, we're going to get screwed. We're also still waiting to hear about fault. Yes, I was making a left, but the man was speeding and it was pouring so he had no control and all of this factors into their decision on fault. Our adjustor seemed very optimistic when Remi and I talked to him that I would be found at most at 25% fault (which is how they do it out here - 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%). We'll just have to wait and see what the witnesses say. It only takes one person telling the insurance company that I just drove wrecklessly around the turn for us to get screwed...

BUT, I'm staying positive, as I always do. Maggie wasn't in the car with us and both Remi and I were wearing our seatbelts, which locked as they were supposed to and left us both suspended upside down after the car finally settled. Neither of us our hurt, besides a bit of back pain in my case which is subsiding. And even though the car is a write-off, we'll get a new-used car and be back to more or less normal. We're handling it together. And we live in a good location with a grocery store and Costco within walking distance, so no worries :)

Anyway, that's what's new with me right now. I am finding the toils of pharmacy school so much more meaningless after surviving my car-flipping and can't wait for summer to start so that I can rest and re-charge for next year. I still have so many assignments left though!! RIDICULOUS! I start my job at the hospital pharmacy on April 30th, so I'm eagerly awaiting that as well. Only three more shifts at the boring Shoppers Drug Mart before I'm done there! Remi's job is going well. He should be getting benefits soon and maybe a bit of a raise (he's coming up on 6 months), so that's nice too. Things are good besides the car.

How is everyone else doing? I'm glad some of us are still using the blog to keep in touch :)

Bye bye for now!

10 degrees

This weather is AMAZING.

I want to play baseball in this weather.

I want to run around in circles waving my Leafs flag.

I want to sit outside and drink a milkshake.

I want to walk.

I want to watch baseball.

I want to blast music outside.

12:54am...

I'm feeling so bungled up right now...from everything, from my evening...I was out with a few friends playing a new game I have become obsessed with, I listened to music, I read some of my book, which is reaching its climax and getting very suspenseful and disturbing, and I just had a quick chat with Jessica and it's always so hard to say goodbye. On top of that, Wish You Were Here came on iTunes and that just set me over the edge. I'm brimming with so much right now and this is my release. I've tried writing in a journal that I got for me and Jess to share and write in and swap so we can read about each other's days and lives and thoughts. It's relieving, but I haven't developed a rhythm for writing yet so it's not fully therapeutic. I find if I don't write things down, though, I get to the point I'm at right now and I just have to release it all. Fortunately, I have this blog, which I clearly don't treat very well.

So as you can probably tell, given my jumbled writing, the therapist I was seeing for a month did not help at all. She referred me to a behavioural therapy clinic, but they don't accept OHIP so I must first find a job to give me money that I can exchange for goods and services. I would like to purchase many goods at this point on top of paying off a balance that is steadily working its way up into the commas: Roger Waters tickets for the July 14th show at Skydome (1/2 the show will be solo work and songs from The Wall, the other 1/2 will be Dark Side of the Moon from start to finish); books...I can't stop reading suspense/mysteries...Lisa Gardner, James Patterson, both great writers with a knack for creating suspense and deception. Easy reading and fun to boot! I'd like to buy a cottage; I'd like to buy baseball cards; I really want to own the special edition of Magnolia. Okay, off track a bit...So the clinic, sounds great, need funds and then I'll start going. I just need to get over my insane nervousness that I develop in low- and high-stress environments. I need to learn to control my fears and act like I know I can act. I haven't felt relaxed for about two years. It's weird, I know. The classes will help and I'll start them ASAP.

As for the job front, I've been sending out resumes diligently, and though not much has arisen, I'm not concerned. I had an interview for a job at the Hudson's Bay Company offices across from the Eaton Centre for a job inputting data and information into Excel files and creating power point presentations for the president of the department. The job was easy enough and relatively monotonous, but they gave it to someone internally or someone who had more experience with those programs. It was a fun experience, though I really don't think I would have wanted the job for two reasons: one, I would have gone nuts in that tiny cubicle; two, the girl I'd be replacing (named Jessica) is a Habs fan. I just couldn't work in a space occupied by a Habs fan for so many years. Just not right. Bad vibes all over the place. I have been working on a small project for Jess' sister, Rebecca, trying to get a website to appear as the first Google search when a certain title is searched. I'm doing that whilst applying for other jobs and doing my course.

My course...

Lots of fun. We just finished a three week UN conference discussion within our online groups. I represented Saudi Arabia and got all of the countries, except for the US, to agree on my terms for certain policies. Negotiating is easy when it won't actually change the world. I'd be very interested to sit in an actual UN debate to see how countries make proposals and negotiate to meet their terms while helping other countries fulfill their own agenda. ...stupid Saudi Arabia.

One thing I've learned about myself lately is that I cannot accept what I have if I'm not gaining anything from it or learning anything or enjoying anything. I do not like my bedroom right now. The space is too big for me so I am switching rooms with my mom! I do not like the concept of working in a cubicle, so I am going to put 99.9% of my efforts into working/interning/scrubbing toilets in the music or film production industry. I don't care what I do there to start, I just want to be there. I want to grow my beard and I want to wear normal clothes. That is what I want and that is what I'll get. It's fantastic to know what I want. Who knows if I'll get it, but just having the vision is very helpful. I have started taking time to myself each day, for one hour, doing absolutely nothing and not feeling guilty for it. Sometimes I'll just sit and hear music or I'll play a baseball game on Playstation (I never had video games growing up and now I have one...and my idol as a kid, and even today, is now a Blue Jay and he's kicking ass in my game:D). Next on my list is the way I eat and the lack of exercise I get. I have waaaaaaay too much energy to be sitting around all day. And I've discovered that it doesn't cost a lot of money to eat healthily. My kitchen's good for cooking and now I have to put it to good use. Goat cheese with jam on toasted gluten-free bread is amazing.

Quite the rant, eh? Transitions in life can really change a person. I've not really changed, but I'm starting to make realizations and actually doing things about them. I haven't paid much attention to what my body and mind craves until now and it feels so good to just do something instead of just thinking of doing something. It's hard to make these changes, but I'm loving myself for doing them. I would never ever imagine not having any of you in my life, but lately I had to make the horrible decision to tell a friend I couldn't be around her anymore. She just sucked the life out of me and I could not take it any more. That was very difficult and took a lot out of me, but I knew I had to do it to move forward. Changes like that in this transition are really taking a lot out of me, but in the end it's going to make me so much better.

On a totally unrelated matter, the next month is the greatest time of year for me: the end of the hockey season and the start of the playoffs, and the start of baseball - ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I am so excited for the playoffs and, as usual, so pumped to watch baseball. Sarah, I'm tellin' ya, this will be a great year. I have not said that we will make the playoffs, but given the Yankees' and Red Sox's lineups and pitching staffs, we have a very good shot at making life very difficult for them. I think we have as good a chance as anyone to make the playoffs, but I have already picked four teams not named Blue Jays to make the playoffs. Regardless, Frank Thomas, the person I've named every internet id after (bighurt135, anything 35, anything frank) is a Blue Jay and I will give him a standing ovation in my Thomas jersey every time he comes to bat. I will be even more like a little kid at a ballgame. I will give shit to anyone who puts him down at a game :) I am so pumped and giddy that I occasionally break out into a random smile while walking down the street. The Leafs are another matter. If they make the playoffs, I'll be satisfied. As of right now, they are one point out of the last playoff spot. It'll be tough for us to make it. Go Leafs Go.

As for Jessica, the only thing that would make our relationship perfect is if she lived in my bedroom. She makes it back to Toronto whenever she can, and I'm making the trip to Windsor at the end of the month for her formal, but it's hard to not feel such a void when we're apart. Anyhow, apart from that, she is everything I have waited for in another human being of the opposite sex and we've really only just begun things. I could go on and on and on, but I'll hold off for now. I really wouldn't know where to start. What I can say is that she brings out the absolute best in me. The last time I felt fully myself was living with all of you at the 695. Until I met Jess, I was just not the same. That's a long time to not feel like yourself.

So this game I eluded to at the start of this post is called Settlers of Catan. It's a nerdy game involving earning resources (wool, ore, wood, and brick) in order to purchase settlements, cities, or development cards. The object is to achieve ten points. Points are achieved by having settlements (one point), cities (two points), and development cards worth one point (there are other uses for these cards). Settlements/cities are joined by your own roads, which are purchased by trading in one wood card and one brick card. The longest road will garner you two more victory points. And there are more stipulations...just search the game and have a look if you're interested. It's played on a board comprised of 36 hexagonal cards, which are comprised of four of each resource randomly lied down at the start of the game. Oh there are so many things to explain. Just Google it if you want a concept of what I'm talking about. It's addictive.

Okay, it's now 1:33 and I feel I've released a lot of tension. I feel I can sleep. Thank you for your eyes or ears if you read this out loud to yourself...

I'm going to win March Madness.

A gust of wind

So... you come here often?

Yeah, me too.

So, obviously begging, pleading, goading, and making threats only works to get about one post out of everyone. We had a nice little flurry of posts there around the end of Jan/early Feb, but since then, nada. And I'm guilty of this, too. Now, what I'm curious about is are we still checking it? Do we go to this page just to see if there has been any activity and when we don't see any (or maybe we do), we just move on to Facebook or email or whatever else we look at online. I know that's what I do. So, when you read this, don't forget to leave a comment and tell us what your blog behaviour is. In fact, go ahead and do it right now. Don't worry, this post will still be here when you're done, so comment now.

I'm serious, go comment now!

Okay, so, now that I've done the usual rant about our absence from here, on to my update. As you all should know by now, I will be returning to Maine this summer. I start sometime around mid-May and will stay thru October. I'm looking forward to going back, though not as excited as last year. This time I already know what to expect as far as place and job are concerned, but I'm anxious to know who's going to return from last years crew of interns. I also will be living with the two new education interns, and I'm hoping that I'll like them and that at least one of them will be neat and tidy, so I'm not the only one cleaning up all the time.

I've also started working part-time at the state park with the reservations system for the state. I answer the phone and help people make or change their reservations for the state park inns across the state. Not a highly demanding job, but that's fine by me. I get to read in the slow times, so it's fairly easy money, if you can get past the jerks and geezers that call in. I haven't done any substitute teaching, as I mentioned I might in my previous post. This other job has me working most days, so I don't really have time to sub, which really doesn't bother me.

I am also making money as a human guinea pig. I'm taking part in a comparison study of two acne medications (Tazorac and Retin-A-Micro, for those of you who care) to determine the efficacy of one compared to the other. Both drugs have been on the market for a number of years, so it's not as if I'm risking my nose falling off or anything for a brand new drug. Nor am I wasting my time with a placebo, b/c there isn't one. So, I've been put on Taz and it's only been a week, but I'm already seeing results. My skin is peeling like a minor sunburn, but the texture is already smoother and it may just be my imagination, but the color seems less uneven. So, besides the obvious benefits of using the free medication (plus cleanser and moisturizer), I'll have seen a dermatologist and made about $100 from this little adventure. Not a bad deal.

I finally have a new computer now, too, so I'm hoping that I'll be more inclined to be online now. I got it through the Dell Outlet, so it's a refurbished unit, but it's only a few months old and even though it was listed as a scratch and dent, I can't find anything wrong with it. Plus, since it was a scratch and dent, I was able to afford getting a better processor and more memory and features, therefore I ended up with a pretty sweet computer for the price of a moderate one. I'm quite pleased, if you can't tell.

So, I'm pretty satisfied with my life right now. Unfortunately, my brother is going through some major problems financially, so things are kinda tense in regards to the family, but as long as the troubles stay with the money, we are fortunate.

That about covers me for now. Make sure you keep tabs on your March Madness status. The selections for the tournament are tomorrow, so after tomorrow evening, you can complete your bracket. Good luck with your picks and if you need help, you can check this site: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology

And if you haven't posted a comment yet, DO IT!!!

Crisis!

Okay, nothing truly serious is going on, but it's been eating me up the past couple weeks and I need input, and pronto, I have to make a decision in the next couple days. So, my naive hopes of actually getting the job at the NC aquarium were dashed last week when I received the standard rejection letter from them. But, on the heels of that, I have been offered the job of assistant manager at the Project Puffin Visitor Center. This would mean going to Maine for about the same amount of time, just working at the Center, talking to people and also setting up interpretive programs and such for them. All in all, it's not a bad offer. It doesn't pay much (non-profit!), and it doesn't come with the excitement of last year, nor does it mean I've actually moved out of my parent's house. I have reservations about it, feeling that it's just doesn't seem like the right decision. But, at the same time, nothing else is happening and I might as well be making money while I still work on finding the next job. And this different position won't hurt my resume, since I'll be creating some educational programs from scratch at a sort of pilot project for Audubon, as well as being able to say that I have experience with supervising others. But, then again it's at the same place as my last job, which makes me feel like it's the safe choice and I wouldn't be taking the risk I need to. And, obviously my other option is to hold out and wait for another opportunity to present itself.

I've been going back and forth over this, so, much like Sarah, I just need some thoughts on it to help give me a push in one direction or another. In the meantime, I'm going to sign up to do some substitute teaching, as scary as that sounds. I want to update more, but right now this is the only thing I can think of. PLEASE TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS!!! SOON!!!

ME!

After responding rather passionately to Dave's oil debate post, I thought I should probably write something on here about what's up with me. I actually have news!! Today I had a job interview with the hospital in New Westminster for a pharmacy tech job for the summer and subsequent summers after that. The two interviewers left me with the impression that if I want it, it's mine. I am waiting, however, because I have an interview in two weeks with the hospital in Burnaby, which is about 7 blocks from my house and would be preferred, but we'll see. I've heard they may not be offering full-time and that's really what I'm looking for.

So that's my news! I'm breaking into new pharmacy terrain and I'm excited! The downside is, I will have to be available to work casually for the hospital, which mean I'm probably going to have to quit one of my Shoppers jobs :( This is a major dilemma for me because I become quite loyal to my employers (you may remember when I had to quit the part-time Save On Foods pharmacy for the full-time Shoppers in Nanaimo and I was quite conflicted about it). So we'll see. On the one hand, Shoppers at UBC is incredibly convenient for me since it's on campus and I can go right after class AND my boss there has just given me a HUGE raise. However, Shoppers at VGH opens a new door into clinical pharmacy where I might be able to do IV bag prep AND am going to be able to get involved with clinics (such as the upcoming Cholesterol clinic that I will be helping present). So I'm not sure which I would choose if it came down to it. But who knows, I might not have to choose at all - that's what I'm hoping for ;) The path of least resistence!

Anyway, that's all for now. I should be working on my methadone case for our pharmacy case-based learning. VERY interesting! Mother is 15 weeks pregnant, on methadone maintenance, wants to stop cold turkey because she thinks it will be better for the fetus, what should she do?? I'm learning a tonne about methadone therapy which is tres cool.

Anyhoo, back at it!

Global Warming/Climate Change

Wow it's cold. Wow it's hot. Wow this planet is really starting to get effed up!

So my online course deals with climate change (versus global warming, considering it's not warm in the winter) and it poses a lot of questions, mainly economic mixed with environmental issues. I figured I'd throw out a question considering that Alberta has just discovered a rich deposit of oil sands that could bring MEGA MOOLA to the province and could also reduce the amount of oil imported by the US from Saudi Arabia. Bush says he wants to connect more pipes leading from Canada to the US. He wants to cut off x amount of oil imports from Saudi Arabia and supplement that with Alberta oil.

However, Alberta refineries are using coal to fuel their production, whereas Saudi Arabia is using fossil fuels and only some coal for their production. Coal emits a lot more carbon into the atmosphere and that is cause problems, to say the least.

So, the question is, should Canada, namely Alberta, sacrifice major economic gains and political agendas so the environment isn't further harmed, or is there a breaking point where the almighty buck is just too good to give up?

Ta dah!

Okay, so I really don't deserve that kind of an entrance considering everything, but some sort of entrance is necessary since I basically havent existed in cyerspace (I don't think I've ever used that word . . ) for awhile.

Since I've been out of the loop, I'll quickly recap: I'm working in lovely Cornwall, which you guys would get a serious kick out of, for Parks Canada, a federal government agency that I HIGHLY recommend working for Kat - that goes for Remi too. I'm doing a 6 month internship as a heritage planner and the program co-ordinator for the Rideau Heritage Network which pays peanuts, but I'm learning lots and that's the point. I'm finished here on March 16 but it's 95% definite that I'll get a short contract to take me through until mid August, paid jointly by Parks and the Ontario Ministry of Culture, and at a much better rate of pay. So the job's been keeping me really busy, often on the road to Kingston, Ottawa or elsewhere so that means some very early mornings. I was playing badminton in the fall but now I'm taking a night course in basic conversational french on monday and thursday nights, which is when badminton was. I'm also getting french lessons two days a week at work so that helps but it's still not as intensive as I need to become bilingual. Slowly but surely. My goal is to be trilingual by the time I'm 30.

Alright, so now that the admin's out of the way . . .

2007 started off with a bit of a bang and has been trucking along okay since. I went to a keg party at my friend Alice's bf, Kent's house. I usually only get to see them in the summer, so it was nice to catch up with them, his family and friends. And I met a boy there! I had met him very briefly in the summer at the HOPE beach volleyball tournie when Kent's sister ran into him and introduced us. His name is Tim. You can see some pics of him/us on facebook. We got together a couple weeks ago when I was home. Drank at his friends house and people jammed before we went to the Jimmy Swift band concert. Not very good in case you were wondering . Not really my style. Tim likes them a lot but was very disappointed too. A good time none the less. Got to meet one of his sisters. A very fun girl and we got along really well. My impression is that the whole family is quite a lot of fun. And very musically talented. Anyways, we're just friends at this stage, talking a bit on msn and some emails at work. He works for the feds in Hull as a IT related guy for Service Canada.
Since the canal is FINALLY open (though not in its entirety!) and it's the start of Winterlude this weekend, I'm going to head home (also so I can get a good nights sleep, etc). Tim and I have a date on the canal followed by chicken fajitas at Mexicali Rosa's (my fav!) and he has suggested some drinks and dancing at a club in Ottawa afterwards. So it should be a good night and give me a good indication on how I feel about him. So far so good. I wil make sure to post an update. And some pics on facebook of the day's events!

So I finally finished up my two grad applications and got them mailed off. That was taking up a lot of mine time but I'm pleased with how they turned out. Hopefully by September I will be in England! Or Ottawa! My heart is set in England though I want to take everything and everyone close to me with me. A difficult transition ahead. Now its time to start scholarship applications. Other than that I hang out a lot with one of my roommates, Meredith, lounging in her bed watching Grey's Anatomy, sometimes AD if I'm lucky (she's starting to get hooked!), baking cakes (cake for breakfast last Friday and Saturday!) or just eating in general. She's the most mature 19 year old I've met and most certainly the mother of the house.

So that's about it for now. I seem to be very busy all the time and yet can't think of much to comment on. I think cuz it's been so long, time's just crazy compressed. I think a daily post is in order.

I'll start today: We had a retirement luncheon at work today and I seriously pigged out. Chocolate layered cake, an apple cinnamon cake and a cheesecake tart just for dessert. Needless to say I was still full by dinner so went ahead to the gym and got back around 8:30pm. Played with the puppy, Toby, who just got snipped! and had a nice little shower. Now I'm off to bed. Tomorrow is french in the morning, french class at night, followed by our regular night out at the bar. I'm off at 6:45am Sat for home and back Sunday night. I shall post an update on my weekend then.

Talk to you all soon!
Sue

Out from under my shell...

Man that was a cozy shell. It had a TV, a DVD player, iTunes, a car, the TTC, some books, and internet access. Alas, the shell was too small for all of that so I traded it in for a cookie.

So the last month or so has been pretty slow. I started a geography course that deals with climate change, specifically Global Warming. I was given Saudi Arabia to represent on all of the issues and we'll do be doing UN discussions in the next few weeks. The course entails discussion and three papers and NO exam. I didn't realize just how messed up this world is becoming and at what rate. So guys, turn off your lights, unplug things that aren't annoying to plug back in, walk, carpool, turn off the water while brushing your teeth, and don't cut down any trees. The discussion questions are pretty much all opinionated with the opportunity to throw in a few facts. That makes the course a little less interesting, but I think I'll get some good insight into the environment once it's over. Did I mention there's no final exam? 'Cause there's no final exam.

On the family/house side, we still don't have a tiled shower and instead have clear film covering the walls. Our skylights in the living room have started to leak. My room currently smells of incense. I really love incense now. It creates an atmosphere in my room so I can go into my own space to read and listen to music. I'm not a hippy yet, but I'm enjoying the slight change. I know it's stereotypical to listen to Floyd, Grateful Dead, et al while lighting incense, but this is the first time I've tried it and it's a cool sensation.

I went to see A Clockwork Orange on the big screen a few weeks ago. The largest screen I've watched it on was 34 inches. There is a marked difference between that and the big screen. I have never been so in awe of this movie as I was during that 2.2 hour span. I was slightly 'intoxicated' for the first half of the film, which made my senses a little more...aware of things. Regardless, I am aching to see it again and also to watch 2001 on the big screen.

Things with Jessica are as good and intense as they have ever been, especially because it's all long distance. I've seen her for two hours over the past 27 days. I don't care how much we keep in contact, that is a tough 27-2 hours to get through. I'm going to see her in Appointment With Death on the 17th with my sister and her hubbie, and then she'll be home for five days at the end of the month. We maximize our time together, but we always seem to be rushing things when do see each other, even over the two week winter break. We couldn't even organize New Years together, even though we were fine with that. I want to show her so many movies, but there's no time. We want to listen to so much music, but there's no time. ja;feija Basically, we're as amazing as we possibly can be, but it's trying at times. She's moving back in April and will live with her sister about fifteen minutes from my house. We're both counting down the days.

Right, enough of that. On to...............the weather.

I want more snow.

That is all.

I've gone to a few Leafs games over the past month. We've won two of them. I was in the back row of the upper bowl, but I made myself heard to everyone. Oh! I also walked to the corner store the other day to get a bag of chips, and I bought a bag of chips. They were good chips.

I saw a prostitute on the subway with someone two nights ago. I never typecast people, but she was with a guy who really would not normally be with someone like her...she was also asking him where he lived and what he did. I felt badly for the guy because he seemed pretty embarrassed to be with her. I've never really been exposed to that in all my years living in Toronto. I spent the entire day watching hockey and having some beers and good food and hanging out with friends, and those two did what they were doing...it was just a stark contrast to our lives and it made me both sad and glad to be me. One of those moments where things are put in perspective.

Speaking of perspective, I've started to take to writing things down. Writing anything I'm thinking down on paper. I did that a lot while working at the swim school and I'd put my thought directly into an envelope and mail them to Jessica. Otherwise, I wouldn't feel much of a release if they just stayed in a book under my bed. Also...I've started to see a psychiatrist to deal with things I deal with and she suggested I write things down, both positive and negative. I'm hoping things go well with her because the first guy I went to see immediately prescribed me tranquilizers and other pills that would have effectively ruined my personality and mojo. I canceled my next appointment with him the next day :)

I read Dan Brown's 'Digital Fortress' this month and was completely engulfed the entire time I read it. I also listened to The Wall every time I read so now I associate both with each other. Don't expect the most stellar writing, but expect to be jerked around a bit and to get involved with the characters. I've started reading 'Lifeguard' by James Patterson whose formula is to write very short, descriptive chapters, which makes it a real page-turner. It all takes place in one day and is already toying with my mind.

That's the most concise update of my life. I'm starting to get a little antsy and would like to have my own place soon, but I don't have the funds right now. There are no problems at home whatsoever, but I'd really like to have my own place and be 100% independent. That was just an aside.

Hmmm...if any of you are looking for ways to procrastinate, here are a few links for streamed TV shows:

http://www.tv-links.co.uk/
http://www.alluc.org/alluc/
http://www.peekvid.com
http://quicksilverscreen.com/
http://alloftv.net/

Well, I know I've said this before, but you can add me back onto the list of contributers. I've realized the value of getting things out there instead of keeping my thoughts in my head for only me to enjoy. I'll read everyone else's updates and respond later.

Oh, everyone should download all of The Shins' albums as well as the new Incubus album.

Here's a pic of me and Jess :)



Dave

SEX SHOW!!

So last night Remi and I visited the Taboo Sex Show at the convention centre here in lovely Vancouver. It was a blast! We would certainly go again and both recommend it for a grand old time if it happens to come into your neighbourhood. Interesting items of note: glow stick penises - just like your regular glow stick that all the little hootchies take to the bar, but shaped like a phallus; "Mr. Thick Dick" cream - a magical cream that is supposed to enhance the size of your man shaft; Remi has asked me to add "boobies" here; pole dancers; and chubby weirdo fetishists. CRAZY! Amanda, you would have gotten a major kick out of it ;)

Check out the website:
http://www.taboosexshow.com/

And then there were two

So I guess it's just you and me, 4man (prove me wrong guys!)... But that's ok. I think we can keep it up.

Like Kat, I have nothing incredibly new to write about. I'm back at school for semester II of pharmacy!! Very exciting. We're actually getting into some real pharmacological-type stuff this semester - physicochemical properties (whatever those are) and pharamcology. I also saw "Analytical Chemistry" as a lecture series in one of my classes *shoot me*. But at least it's finally getting relevant. We're also starting patient counseling in my pharmacy practice lab, so that's tres cool as well.

Anyhoo, good for you with the gym, Kat! Are you going and using the machines or doing classes? I used to love going to the gym in Nanaimo. I went to aerobics classes three times a week and I felt like a million bucks! Right now I'm severely out of shape and am DYING to get back into some physical activity. I actually start a pilates class next week (can I get a holla' Sue?). I'm super stoked. It's not aerobic, but it looks intense and will be great for flexibility (which is exactly what I need). Remi has actually just recently started Kung Fu at a community centre a few kilometres from here. He's really enjoying it, but is quite sore ;) Yay for working out!

That's about it. How is everyone else doing? Any New Year's resolutions??

sarah :)

Keeping up with my resolution

I'm just here to update, and maintain my guilt-free status with my resolution to post more on the blog. Unfortunately, I don't have anything exciting to talk about, but so what? I'm going to post anyway.

I think I'm becoming addicted to going to the gym. I know I've said in the past that I wasn't interested in joining a gym because I don't think I should have to pay to workout, when I could just go outside and hike, walk, etc. But this is different. First of all, my parents joined, so I started going to be part of the gang and also to help motivate them. Secondly, what else am I going to do with my time, I'm unemployed? Thirdly, I'm sick of not being active and having to buy jeans in a bigger size. And fourth, and most importantly, I haven't had to pay... yet. I started going after my parents signed up and they got me a free week. So, I cashed in my free week and have been going ever since (almost a month now), but they have yet to officially sign me up and ask for money. What's weird, though, is they check off my name when I sign the day's check-in sheet, as if I'm a genuine paying customer. But, as far as I know, I'm using it for free, and they either don't know or don't care. Fine by me! So, I've been going three times a week and I'm thinking of going a fourth. And I've been thinking that when I finally do move to another area, I'm afraid I'll have to join a gym and actually have to pay. All this comes as a bit of shock to me. But, in the meantime, I'll keep going.

I have also been watching way more football than I ever have in my life and I've decided I quite like it, both college and NFL. This also has come as a bit of a shock to me, because, though I have always thought that watching a football game on a cool Sunday afternoon was comforting, I never really imagined that I would get very into them. But now I relish the weekend for the games that are on, especially when the Bengals play (who are now, sadly, done with their season). Interesting.

Well, that's about all I can think of writing. For the record, I have yet to hear from the NC Aquarium job, but my hopes remain high, as just today was the closing date for apps, so I have at least a week or two to remain optimistic. I am planning on heading to NC to see the rest of the family the last week of January, so if you don't hear from me then, that'd be the reason. Hope all is well with everyone, even though you aren't reading this (except Sarah). Much love.

Encouraged by Kat's wonderful (if not a little late) post, I thought I would post about our holidays. I am actually lucky enough to have three whole weeks off for Xmas. I wrote my last exam (O-Chem, which I passed with a quarter decent mark... I guess) on the 16th and we don't go back until the 8th. Woohoo! Unfortunately (or fortunately for my bank account) I am working full-time at Shoppers because some guy took off for three weeks to California (lucky bastard!). I have been able to leave work early (such as today when it was actually sunny for the first time in 6 weeks or so) once in a while, so that's nice.

In terms of Christmas, we spent the morning here, opening gifts and skyping with my parents to open presents. Then we hopped on a ferry to head to Nanaimo for Christmas dinner with Nicole's family. It was excellent! Maggie got to play with the rotty Koda (he's bigger than her now, so she gets owned! - unfortunately we didn't get any pictures because we're stupid!) and we got to hang out with Scott and Nicole. Dinner was excellent. We did some Boxing Day shopping and then, before heading back here, Nicole asked me to be one of her bride's maids!! I'm sooooooooooo excited!! My first wedding party experience!!

New Years was spent with some new friends from here. I know Laura from pharmacy and her husband, Chris, and Remi are two peas in a pod (God help Laura and I). That was a night of too many martinis and wobbly walking. Good times!! How was everyone else's New Years?? What's new and exciting??

I leave you with some random pics from our Christmas.

POST PEOPLE!!

Sarah