pretticherri

Still employed - kinda...

2009-11-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

So I'm still kind of working. I've been trying to find a new job but there really isn't much out there. I've been to a couple employment agencies and they always say "You're great but...we don't really have anything for you at the moment." Bah Humbug - oh well.

I've also been on two working interviews with a company who now may not be looking to hire some one full-time. Apparently I'm just too good - the position would be taking over the full-time position of someone who has left the company so you would think that it would, therefore, be a full time position. Unfortunately, I did so well that the amount of work that I would alloted would not take me nearly as long as it would have taken this other person. This would be fine with me since my current/old job wants to keep me on 2 days a weeks anyways so if I can eek out another 3 days from this other person then I will be employed 5 days a week. The problem there is that this other company is worried that if my current/old place were to get busier they would want me back full time - which they would - and she is worried that I would leave her then - which I would. I say that because if you can't offer me full time work but some one else can then why would I stay with you? Anyways, I'm supposed to hear from her by the end of this week - it's Thursday...still nothing - Bah humbug.

I do not like my life filled with unknowns. I have several options but I can't put any of them into play because I don't really know what's going to happen and without knowing what's going to happen then I can't plan for the future and seriously I just plain DON'T like it.

This week I have worked 3 days and I have Friday off as well. So I spent my Tuesday of by spending time with a good friend of mine who apparently thought it would lots of fun to psycho-analyze me for literally 7 hours. Everything I said or did during this time was examined and required explanation. I suppose it's only fair since most of the time we normally spend together we spend it discussing her life and current issues. I guess Tuesday was my turn but I was really in a weird mood (well not weird for me) and I didn't find it entertaining at all.

However, some interesting points came up - such as there is an unpardonable sin as according to me. This sin is lying and this is why. I trust everyone about everything. I know this sounds naive but it's simply that I do not want to be suspcious of everyone of everything and therefore I am suspcious of no one of anything. If you tell me you will meet me somewhere I believe you will. If you tell me you are busy I believe that you are. If you tell me you forgot something, lost something, told someone something, did something I will believe you because I DON'T lie. I CAN lie but I choose not to. I can lie VERY well, I used to lie a lot but now I figure what on earth is the point of that? My friend tells me it's sacrilegious to have my OWN unpardonable sin but I'm not sure I care. I figure that since I deal honestly with everyone about everything they should do me the courtesy of relating to me in the same way. I don't mean that if I look fat in something you should go out of your way to tell me that. My friend used this scenario as an example - she borrows my ring that I wear everyday to wear to a party, she promises not to lose it but she does - is that a lie? No that's not a lie but if she then denies losing it - that is a lie. If you lost the ring then just admit that you did. It's just a ring - a ring I really like but still just a ring and I would rather know that it is gone. She also asked what would I want her to do if she were to see my hypothetical boyfriend out with some girl. There are honestly a lot of scenarios that could play into this ie. is it a friend or is he actually cheating on me? I don't think I would care if he was out with 'Brenda' so long as he told me he was going to have coffee with 'Brenda' and didn't lie and say he was seeing 'Brad'. I advised her that she should make her presence known to him and tell him that I prize honesty above all else and he has a deadline in which to come clean to me himself or else she would do it for him. Ie. he needs to tell me by Friday what's really going on or she will - this way he has his opportunity and if he chooses not to take it then he has made his choice. Seriously what should it matter if he's having coffee with a girl? I have friends that are boys and so he can have friends that are girls - it only matters if he's being dishonest about it - because then you have to ask "Why is he lying?"

The truth according to Sarah is that lying is the real root of all evil. But hey - what do I know?

Hmmm...facing unemployment...

2009-10-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

So I was laid of Friday. I was a bit surprised since as recent as the week before I was told I didn't have to worry about my job beacuse it was safe. But apparently that safety had an expiry date and that was Friday afternoon.

They have atleast given me three weeks notice and I have already started applying for jobs. I haven't freaked out yet but talk to me when the three weeks are up if I haven't found anything
else by then.

I spent a glorious Saturday walking around Stanley Park - unfortunately I wore the wrong shoes and now me right knee hurts and my left ankle hurts. I have also developed a sore throat and a runny nose and I didn't sleep at all last night. I also have a test on Thursday night worth 20% of my grade.

Lots of things for me to deal with right now - hopefully I'll be able to.

Things I've learned about me...

2009-09-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

Do you and your reactions to people and situations ever take you by surprise? I used to be shocked by my behaviour every so often (not usually in a good way) but now I feel I know understand myself better and therefore deal with things better.

For example I truly like being alone - it refreshes me - I don't want to be alone ALL the time but I have realized that people drain me and so I NEED time alone. If I don't get time alone then I get too drained and when I get too drained I get cranky!
The amount that people drain me depends on the person. Some people I can be around alot and be fine and others I can only handle a couple hours before reverting to cranky Sarah (yes I am using cranky instead of a much stronger and perhaps inappropriate word). So what do I do to keep myself refreshed? I make sure that I spend enough time alone and don't let myself get bullied into too many draining activities.

I also have learned that I like a plan. If something is in THE PLAN then it will work - if you try and shove something else into or adjust THE PLAN then you run the risk of cranky Sarah. Please do not attempt to plan my life for me - I have it handled. If you want me to be involved in something then present the option to me and I will analyze my current plan to see if it is 1) feasible and 2) worth adjusting THE PLAN. It really has to fulfill both requirements for me to participate. Don't push it - just accept it and move on - I have.

I have also noticed that if I try to do too much then I become Perma-Cranky Sarah and really no one wants that. This is why I plan - everything - I need to know ahead of time that everyhting I want to do will fit nicely into the alloted amounts of time available. I also hate to feel rushed - this ties into the fitting nicely thing. If I figure something will take half an hour then I would want an hour available just in case something happens and it takes longer I don't need to feel stressed about it. For example - I have just started taking a night hcourse in Surrey which (according to Mapquest) should take me 50 minutes to get there - knowing myself and my penchant for getting stressed I gave myself 70 minutes to get there. It took me 60 minutes to arrive at campus and then another 5 minutes waiting in the pay parking line (because someone didn't know how to use the machine) but I was able to get to class with 5 minutes to spare - and I didn't get all stressed because I had given myself extra time.

Meh - maybe I'm crazy but this works for me.

One down lots more to go...

2009-08-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

So I wrote my final for Organizational Behaviour on Saturday morning - by Saturday afternoon I had my final grade for the course already. I have to admit that my teacher is super organized - anyway - ended up with an A in the course so that makes me happy I put in all that effort since it paid off.
Next course will be Accounting 2 - I'm going to drive out to Surrey today to sell back my OB text and buy my Accounting one. My plan is - hopefully - to read my accounting text before my class even starts. My first class is September 10th and I figure if I read a chapter a day I will be in good shape for the coming semester. That's the plan now let's see if I can stick to it.......

Must purchase GPS...

2009-07-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

So I have never had a good sense of direction. All my family and most of my friends will attest to this - there are numerous stories of how ridiculously lost I can get in a short period of time and now we can add a new one.
On Tuesday I got lost in Abbotsford for 1.5 hours! Honestly I think it's a special gift to be able to get THAT lost! I decided that I wanted to find Superstore as there were a number Superstore specific items I wanted to purchase. I did my due diligence and looked up online where it was and actually found it rather flukily and easily. The trouble started when I tried leaving Superstore. I was SO sure of myself that I figured I would go home a different way than I had arrived. This was NOT a good idea and I ended up on the #11 - TWICE! I was honestly SO lost I just kept driving and driving - turning around and driving some more - then turning around again - trying desperately to find some street name that I recongized. I would eventually find one and then drive on it for AGES and realize it was NOT taking me where I wanted to go so I would turn around and try again. The sad part is I started out only a couple blocks from my apartment - I made one wrong turn (right instead of left) and that began my little adventure. Atleast my car has air conditioning!

If you're going to talk then talk otherwise be quiet...

2009-07-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

During my trip to GP I realized I'm a pretty lousy travel companion. I was flying with my dear mother who likes to chat which is fine - if you're going to keep up a conversation - but if you're going to say one thing then stop then wait a minute and say one more thing and then wait a minute and say one more thing then wait a minute and say one thing...(I think you get the idea) it gets annoying.
I love the quiet - silence doesn't scare me it relaxes me - I'm used to travelling alone and as with everything I have my little routine and this one includes me reading in the relative silence of the plane from the moment I get on to the moment we land. I'm not one of those people who strikes up a conversation with the random person sitting next to me - I'm the person who sits there and pretends you all don't exist. It's anti-social - I know.
After 30 minutes of the talk-not talk-talk I finally told my dear mother that I had the read the same three sentences over and over and either we have a conversation or she had to stop talking to me and watch her TV with the earphones I lent her. I'm sure I hurt her feelings - I'm evil.
I tried to make up for it by being pleasant and not tearing a strip off my greedy brother during the trip but I ended up actually getting in trouble for that. Apparantly it would have been appreciated if I HAD stood up to him and told him to stop being such an @$$ - I can't ever get it right. I did try to appease people on this trip, despite the combined 6 hours of sleep I got the two nights I was there - I even bought mom breakfast on our way home and she even let me read my book on the plane :)

There and Back Again...

2009-07-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

So I spent the weekend in GP - it was hot - but not as bad as what I came home too.
My brother-in-law's birthday was Wednesday so as a surprise mom and I flew up Friday night and back on Sunday. My sister had planned a surprise party for him on Saturday night which worked out well as he was very surprised. Stemma, Mom and I met Anna and Yuya for breakfast at his favorite restaurant. Yuya was told that Stemma wanted to take him out for breakfast to celebrate his birthday and then there would be a family barbeque that evening after he had gone golfing with a friend of his. When he got to the restaurant he ran into another friend at the door but was distracted from that conversation when he noticed me sitting at a table across the room. He didn't trust his eyes. As he shook hands with and spoke to this friend he kept peering over the guys shoulder looking at me. When he and Anna finally made it to the table and hugs were giving out all around he said that he had seen me right away and kept saying to himself "That girl looks like Sarah but what would she be doing here?". We had a wonderful breakfast and Yuya went off to play his round of golf sure in his thinking that our trip up was his surprise. It wasn't. When he got home from golf there was a houseful of people waiting to wish him a very happy 30th Birthday. That party didn't end until 2am Sunday - well that's when I went to bed - had to be up at 5:30am to catch the flight home.
What a whirlwind trip - but worth it!

I'm going home...

2009-07-16T08:02:00.001-07:00

So I've been living in my mom's house since she and my little sister departed a week an half ago for Mexico to build houses for the poor. I have enjoyed my solitude - a little too much probably. I find the more anti-social I am the more anti-social I get. I have also not had a good night sleep since they left. I have been getting only 2 to 4 hours of sleep each night and for that reason I am an absolute wreck. Tuesday I came to work at 6:30am - worked for 2 hours and then gave up and went home and slept until 2:30.
It's been productive week and a bit though. I wrote my second midterm for my OrgBeh class - I didn't fail! I went to an absolutely wonderful wedding - I spent quality time with a friend visiting from Ghana - I spent even more quality time with a friend visiting from Edmonton and we had an impromptu sleep over (on a work night no less!) - I enjoyed a wonderful time sitting around a fire hearing my favorite true story re-told by fabulous friends - I spent gobs of time catching up with a friend who has been exploring the other side of the world for months and months and is back doing that already - I played frisbee with some very encouraging people who didn't seem to mind that at my age I needed lessons on how to throw said frisbee - I had a 4.5 hour conversation over coffee at Starbs with a friend I hadn't spent any quality time with in 4.5 months.
Wow - I guess I haven't been as anti-social as I thought...

Seriously so funny...

2009-06-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

Flaily...

2009-06-12T11:07:00.001-07:00

Do you ever get flaily?
I have friends who get flaily - they just can't sit still and need to swing their arms around - it's funny to watch - but now it's happening to me...

I am just SO restless! I was on a plane recently and was got frustrated that it took so long to land - my little sister thought I was a nut. I think it has something to do with the gym - up until I moved a couple weeks ago I was going to the gym ery often. I cancelled that membership since I knew I wasn't going to be driving 30-45 minutes to go to the gym but I thought I would join one quickly in my knew location but I haven't...I looked at my funds and thought maybe I should hold off for a couple weeks and save some cash - but now I just want to flail!

I have all this excess energy - I sit all day at work and sit while I drive and sit at home...I know I should go for a run or something but I don't run well - haha!

Being poor and flaily = lame

Moving...

2009-06-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

So I moved into my new place on Sunday - it went better than I could ever have hoped for. Thank the good Lord for great friends and family who made the whole endeavor and fairly quick and painless one.

I've never really moved before - unless you count England and I don't because I could only bring 2 bags - so I didn't really know what to expect.

So now I am just enjoying my new digs and the peace and quiet that goes along with having your roommate chilling in Hawaii!

Just chill out...

2009-05-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

So yesterday one of my many bosses had a fight with one of the big bosses (as in one of the owners of the company). They were shouting at each other and the one who isn't a big boss even slammed doors.
Please tell me if you think that this is honestly appropriate behaviour for a work place. Would you have a shouthing match with your boss and would you storm around slamming doors at work? I wouldn't and I couldn't believe it when he came into my office asking if I heard what had happened and bragged about how he took the big boss down a peg. Are you freaking kidding me? Who do you think you are? Yes this big boss is hard to take sometimes but I don't think that behaviour is anywhere near appropriate and what did he expect me to say? "Good job"?
Seriously buddy just chill out!
Thankfully the big boss in question is gone for the rest of the week and the other guy seems to have mellowed a bit but he still thinks he's pretty cool having his freak out yesterday.

Oh dear...

2009-05-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

So much has happened this week...

My Grandfather (my mom's dad) is in the hospital and it doesn't look good. Mom is flying to Edmonton this afternoon, Bec and I are flying out tomorrow morning, and Anna and Yuya are driving down tomorrow as well. I can't get a hold of Stemma but I've left messages for them letting them know what's up. We all will return to our homes Sunday - very wuick trip.

I finished all my homework for this week yesterday - yeah it's ALL done - it was only one chapter though so I'm worried about next week which is two chapters.

What was interesting about my homework was that I had to take a whole bunch of personality tests and I found out a lot about myself - such as I am a Type A1 personality - not just Type A but A1!!!! I am also an INTJ which means that I am Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking and Judging personality. I read the desciption and it seems spot on. I also have a self-esteem score of 44, a low-Mach score, High Internal Locus of Control and a Low Self Monitor score. The self monitor score makes me laugh because it relates to how you are able to adjust your behaviour to be able to make other people approve - apparently I can't/don't do that. If you know me you know that's true - I can't help but speak up in most situations and even if I don't say a word my facial expressions speak for me - haha! It's actually not really a good thing - it means I probably won't go far in the corporate world - oh well.

My mom has been caring for a bunch of kids for the last ten days while their parents are away and I've been by a few times to help out and got thrown up on for my trouble. Yes, actual vomit down my leg - it was wonderful - and now I'm sick - I have zero appetite. This will probably help me lose weight - don'tcha think?

Because I am going away this weekend I have had to cancel a lot of my commitments which I feel REALLY bad about. I hate looking like a flake! But there isn't amything I can do about this situation. I have to just give it all up to God and let him deal with it.

Busy Busy Busy...

2009-05-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

So I've had a couple busy days this week.

I spent Saturday and mother's day letting my mom chill on the couch while I went though my boxes of ~~crap~~ stuff. I actually got that all completed with dear sister Becca's help. However, Mom and Bec reminded me that I also have Rubbermade containers of ~~crap~~ stuff to sort. This is all in preparation for moving in with Megan in June - YAY!

Monday I went over to my soon to be new apartment and met the landlord and also in the spirit of being proactive I brought over 4 boxes of stuff. I figure that I am sort of SOL when it comes to moving in sor several reasons:

1) Both Megan and Maia will be away when I move in (they will be in Hawaii when I should be moving in - color me jealous)and they are the go to people for organizing people and helping out

2) June 1 is actually a Monday so hopefully the current roomate will be out or atleast not mind if I move in on May 31st???? Is that even allowed? I just can't imagine anyone helping me on a Monday - and help I will need!

3) I have a double bed and no way to move it in - I am hoping that someone has a truck and is willing to help me out for like an hour - anyone????

So my current plan is to move things in slowly before actually moving in because I think I'm going to be doing it all by myself and I dont't want to die from exhaustion.

On Saturday I also went to my orientation for the online course I am taking this summer. I am SO ~~screwed~~ in trouble - I for some ridiculous reason thought that taking an online course would make it easier to...I don't know live my life? Be more or less able to come and go as I please but I am sadly mistaken. It turns out I have homework to hand in every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Honestly! I realized yesterday why there is such a heavy work load - it's because I have to teach myself everything in the course. Color me dumbfounded! Why didn't I think of this. Driving to Surrey once a week now does not seem like such a bad idea after I have spent 10 hours doing homework this week - yeah 10 hours. And compared to the other people in my 'learning group' I think I did a pretty shoddy job. However, I am now done all the homework for the week (you can hand things in early) but I think I may try and work ahead so there isn't so much pressure. Of course, now that I am thinking about it I don't see much time to do that in the coming days. *Sigh* Oh brother...

I did enjoy a wonderful night home alone yesterday - I do truly love to be alone. Mom called last night to see how things were and I told her that I was scared being alone in the house and she "Really?" all excited but then I burst her bubble and laughed saying "No are you kidding me? I LOVE it!" Living for a year by myself in London was HEAVEN! However, I'm sure living with Megan will be fabulous and I am very excited!

Weddings...

2009-05-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

So...Becca is home and we have her living in the living room - she and I are supposed to be sharing the master bedroom but in classic procrastination style we haven't done anything about that yet - and since I am moving out in June she may just stay in the living until then - what am I saying she almost definitely WILL stay in the living room until then. Man I am the WORST sister EVER!

On a more productive note I trying to assist in the wedding planning process. Since Becca has NO idea how to plan a wedding and honestly neither do I have spent many an hour scouring the internet for clues. Many an hour that I should have spent working but I get all my work done so who's going to complain? Anyways, I came across www.frugalbride.com and they have wonderful lists for you use while planning your wedding unfortunately they aren't in Adobe so you can't type into them so I have spent many more hours typing them into Excel. Yeah that is how much I love my sister. She even seemed to appreciate them which is a bonus. Hopefully thanks to the lists she has better idea now of what she needs to accomplish to pull off a wedding.

Oh and bonus - I am actually a bridesmaid in this wedding as opposed to being the Bride's Beeatch - which is what I was for Anna'a wedding.

Now the moment you have all been waiting for...

2009-04-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Well not really but I do have an exciting announcement.

Someone is getting married! YAY!

It's not me - haha!

My youngest sister (at the ripe old age of 21) got engaged yesterday.

I'm very happy for her and I'm very excited that she is coming home on Friday so I can congratulate her in person.

Edmonton...

2009-04-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

I am home safe and sound from my little jaunt to Edmonton.

I had a wonderful time relaxing and spending time with Anne & Alison. It started off a little rocky with Anne being 30 minutes late picking me up. Poor thing was VERY upset that she was late. It wasn't her fault though - she left in plenty of time to get to the airport nice and early but ended up getting a speeding ticket which then took the cop 25 minutes to write up. It was a speed trap and 2 others cars were pulled over after she was and they both left before her. I didn't really mind - it was a bit disconcerting because she doesn't have a cell phone but...I just sat down and read my book in the airport and figured she would show up eventually - and she did :)
Alison, however, was a bit more upset since she was waiting for us but I was able to contact her and let her know we were running late and why on my cellphone.

Saturday we met Alison at the Farmer's Market where I bought this fabulous vinaigrette - which I conveniently forgot I couldn't take home because it was larger than 100ml and I only had a carryon with me. Then we went for a nice little lunch where a proceeded to dump hot coffee down my lovely cream shirt - that was so NOT emabarassing. After lunch we walked up and down Whyte Ave popping in and out of all the cute shops down there. I would recommend it to anyone who goes to Edmonton. Then Alison went home and Anne and I rented some movies.

Sunday Anne and I ended up going to Starbucks 3 times - heard the exact sermon that we needed to hear - went back to Whyte Ave - I had my first Booster Juice ever - went to West Ed - stopped by Alison's place (which is fabulous by the way) - and then off to the Airport (nice and early).
When I got home I promptly washed my coffee stained laundry and went to bed.

All in all I really enjoyed myself and am very happy that I went and feel very relaxed.
Oh and I found out today that I passed business stats so that's a plus :)

Off and Away - sorta...

2009-04-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

So I leave this afternoon for my super short trip to Edmonton to visit Anne & Alison - I'm excited - sorta...

Do you ever find that when it comes to going on a trip that when it actually comes to leaving you would rather stay home? Well that's how I feel - I feel like I would rather stay in bed this weekend than:

Friday:
- Leave work @ 1pm
- Arrive @ Abbotsford Airport by 2pm
- Board plane in Abbotsford @ 3:05pm
- Arrive @ Calgary Airport @ 5:44pm
- Have layover in Calgary
- Board plane in Calgary @ 7:15pm
- Arrive in Edmonton @ 8:32pm

Sunday:
- Arrive @ Edmonton Airport @ 8:00pm
- Board plane @ 9:00pm
- Arrive @ Abbotsford Airport @ 10:02pm

Obviously I will enjoy my time with my friends but right now - sitting at my desk at work - I feel like I would rather just go to bed...

I am such a whiner - it is time for me to "Suck it up Princess!"

I love Anne and Alison and I know I will have a fabulous time with them and so what if I'm tired! Like my mom said yesterday - the things she regrets in life are the things she didn't do not the things she did.

Time for the next step...

2009-04-22T14:12:00.001-07:00

So yesterday I had my final exam for Business Stats (yuck!) I think I did okay - I'm sure I did really well on the multiple choice which I bombed on the last test so that's an improvement.

My new class starts on May 9th - Organizational Behaviour - don't ask me what it is because I don't know - all I know is that I have to take it for my diploma and it's offered online-ish - I have to go to the Surrey campus 4 times this summer - once for orientation and 3 times for tests. With me hopefully moving to Abbotsford in June I really didn't want to be driving out to Surrey every week if I could help it.

I am running away this weekend to Edmonton - I will come home Sunday night - I'm too cheap to skip work and lose money - well too poor anyway - haha!

My baby sister - Becca - comes home for the summer May 1st - I am supposed to move out June 1st. So until then Bec and I will get to share a room again - we had to last summer and that worked out fine - the only problem was Becca didn't like me reading before bed so I would hang out in the living room doing that - no issue really. Isn't it great when siblings can get along?

I'm loving the weather - I love sun and I love rain - I really only HATE snow - I always say that I live on the coast so that I will have to deal with as little snow as possible - this winters snow really annoyed me and of course people should always take note when I am annoyed - haha!

So...yeah...that's what's up!

Grandma Cherry

2009-03-26T08:52:00.001-07:00

So my Grandmother passed away on Tuesday March 24, 2009. It was very unexpected - she had alzheimers but other than that she was in good health or so we thought.
She fell asleep in her chair watching TV and just never woke up - if you had to choose a way to go wouldn't that be it? We're very relieved that she was able to go peacefully because when my Grandfather died in August 2007 it was more of an ordeal for him - he kept waking up alive when he really just wanted to die.
They were both Christians so those of us left behind can rest assured that we will see them again in heaven.
It's still sad to think that we'll never have a chat or a walk to feed the ducks or make a puzzle together again. But as my brother said so well - "We lost her a long time ago"
Alzheimers robs us of the people that we love so much and leaves nothing but a shell behind. It makes a mockery of that person's life and accomplishments when they look into the face of their children and say "Who are you?"

Goodbye Grandma - you were one of the best women I know and you will be greatly missed.

How bad is this...

2009-03-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

So how is it that I have decided to bribe MYSELF into studying for my Bus. Stats. test tomorrow?
I know I should study for it but as of yet I haven't even opened my textbook - well I've opened it to photocopy the equations like we're allowed to but other than that - not a thing.
I wonder if I can think of a good bribe to give myself if I study then I will study.
It's not even as though I feel too confident about this test - I studied like a crazy person for a week for the last one and only got a B.
I know all I really want to do is go home today after work and lie down on the couch and watch TV - but I HAVE to study - right?

Rice...

2009-03-05T12:10:00.000-08:00

So I'm not the smartest person in the world...

On Tuesday my sister and her boyfriend and my mom were all making dinner - I don't know why they thought they needed such a team effort but regardless they did. My sister's boyfriend burnt the rice so I thought I would be helpful and chuck the rice down the disposal and start soaking the rice pot - it was burnt pretty black.

Apparently you ARE NOT supposed to put rice down a sink because it expands and clogs the pipes. How can I have lived so long and NEVER been told this. Needless to say the sink got all clogged and the pipes started leaking and I had to go to school that night so I left my very annoyed younger sister and her boyfriend to try and deal with the mess. She then against my advice put draino down the sink - I figured that since the pipes were already leaking that the draino would just pour out anyways...and it did - they then used my towel to clean up all the mess - my blue and white striped towel is now pink and white - how fun. They spent hours trying to fix it but they couldn't.

So Wednesday I came to work and went onto Ask.com and asked the question "How do you unplug a sink clogged with rice?" I got several good answers but the one I went for was the sink snake - so after work I went to Home Depot and picked myself up a 1/4" auger. I got home at 4:15 and by 4:30 I had removed the trap and snaked the drains and unclogged the clogs.

The lessons in this story are...
1) Do not put rice down a sink
2) You can "Ask" anything and get a good answer
3) If I make a problem I will fix the problem

Oops....

2009-03-03T09:03:00.000-08:00

So you know how I said I was giving up caffeine which included chocolate for lent...well I made a few mistakes on Saturday...I was at a wedding and I had a little brownie and a nanaimo bar - I didn't even think of it until I was having lunch later that - oh wait I had chocolate...and then that evening someone brought over timbits and I immediately scooped a chocolate one because they are my favorite and ate it - then realized that "Dang - that was chocolate!" and at the same get togther someone had made a wonderful chocolate cake and I thought well what the heck I might as well have a piece - who actually eats chocolate for the caffeine anyway right? It shouldn't count...*sigh*...I'm such a bad person

LENT....

2009-02-26T13:24:00.000-08:00

So I decided to give up caffeine for lent - Yeah caffeine not just coffee or tea or pop or chocolate - caffeine - so essentially I have given up all those things.
I am SO tired and have this chronic headache but I have made a committment and will follow through.
I have no desire to be addicted to caffeine anyways so this is as good a time as any to kick the habit.

Today blew!

2008-03-26T12:01:00.000-07:00

Work blew today and if the windows in my bulding actually opened I probably would have taken a leap.
Tomorrow doesn't promise to be any better that shining star is that Maia is coming to visit for the weekend and I cannot wait for her to come. I need to talk to a CANADIAN for hours! I hope that that will help me feel less cranky and desperate.

So...what's new?

2008-03-08T14:39:00.000-08:00

December:
Ok so obviously I got back from my trip.
I spent Christmas with my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandma.
I spent a lot of time on MSN with the fam in Canada...miss them! It was our first Christmas when we weren't all together - I'm such a bad sister.

Janaury:
Since then Anne and Maia came for a visit. It was such a gong show! I hadn't laughed so much since I left home. I guess you never realize what you're missing until it's right in your face. Anne went home and Maia is still in England but I haven't seen her since she went off to school - but we have high hopes of seeing eachother soon.

February:
I spent my birthday in Brighton with friends - fun times!
I had decided that I didn't want to look for a job until after that so I didn't.
I was getting poorer by the second. I finally started looking for a job by contacting my agency but the didn't come up with anything and I was getting desperate so...I put my resume back on Monster and within a day I got a job. Thank you God! All my savings were gone and I was desperate.
My sister Anna got engaged on February 3 (the day after my b'day). None of us are in the wedding party but I do have a very special role. Anna says I am 'The Ring Leader'. Now when she first told me I thought it was some new thing in the ceremony that I hadn't heard of. But it actually her way of saying that I need to make sure that someone doesn't piss her off on the day and make sure everything goes smoothly.

March:
I am working for a company called Westfields. It started in Australia and now is in New Zealand, the UK and the US. They build shopping centres.I work with a 'team' and we all do payables for different parts of the company. I work on the Payables for the Derby and White City construction sites. I've never worked with a team before (other than the Hut) and it is so much fun! We all get along really well which is good because you see these people everyday and if they were nasty it would suck. I think I'm spoilt now - I can't go back to working on my own or just one other person.

Future:
I have no idea - I can't even decided if I when I want to go home. I can't decided where I want to go home to. Mom sold the house so at this point I kind of have no where to stay in BC. However, all the sibs are in GP so they all say I can stay with one of them ie. Stephen and Emma, Anna and her roomies, or Yuya and his roomies. Living with all guys might be fun - hahaha!
The future - God only knows what that holds....

Europe Trip 2007...

2007-12-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

So the trip has begun but I haven't slept in days. SO tired. No time left at the Internet cafe so more soon.

My trip starts tomorrow...

2007-12-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

So tomorrow I plan to be on a bus to catch a bus by 5:30am - sucky!
However, the not sucky part is that I will be embarking on a 12 day whirlwind coach tour of Europe.
I finished at my job at the ACU on Friday and have since then been desperately trying to get myself organized. I have packed my backpack atleast 6 times now. I can't take everything I want but oh well too bad so sad - but that's life. I am now packed for the last time I think - I hope.
I stopped by work today and I got presents - yay! I got a travel journal and I passport cover. Very sweet.
I had to meet my tour people at 6:00 pm tonight but in usual Sarah Cherry style I was WAY early so I have already started the travel journal. I sat in a cafe and had a stale bagel and a yummy latte and wrote. It was boring and funny at the same time. I had over an hour to kill - SO funny! I am hoping to time things a bit better tomorrow no need to show up 4am!

The new new girl...

2007-11-27T13:52:00.000-08:00

So the original new girl go fired - in a really sneaky way too but that wasn't my fault. My boss told me she didn't think the new girl was working out and I had to wholeheartedly agree. So last Tuesday when she went home for the day my boss called the agency that had sent and told THEM to tell her not to come back. I feel bad for new girl but she would have so over her head when Robyn and I leave that it's better this way.
So now we have a new new girl and she is working out way better. She is very thorough and that will work to her advantage when the boss gives her the third degree about something.
So not this Friday but next Friday will be my last day of work till I have no idea when. I will be unemployed and loving it - I hope.

My friends are geniuses...

2007-11-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

So two of my friends have decided to brave the journey to London from North America and visit me. One is leaving from Vancouver and one is actually travelling to Buffalo from Ontario to catch a cheaper flight to London. They conferred with eachother on their flight plans and managed to get flights that arrive with only 40 minutes between however (here's the genius part) one is arriving at Gatwick and one is arriving at Heathrow. WHOOPS!

The new girl...

2007-11-16T13:57:00.000-08:00

So my boss has finally found someone to replace me - sort of. She came in yesterday for a working interview and my boss asked her come in for a two week trial so she was in today too. I got nothing done today - I hate training people. Robyn was in today (poor girl was feeling very sick yesterday so she wasn't in) so I asked her if I was just as bad when she trained me but she said that I caught onto everything really fast. I think that I probably did too because whenever I train for anything I always get told that I catch on fast. Anyways this new girl sure does not catch on fast. She's older than me and I have to tell her exactly how to do every single thing. Even though most of the work is repetitive she still kept asking the same questions over and over again. She seems to have no initiative - I hope that Monday will be better but I don't know. Training someone just sucks the life out of me - I am SO TIRED! Thank goodness it's the weekend.

In better news I think Robyn will be working with me over the 2 weeks that the boss is away and she is awesome! The bosses last day is this coming Thursday and she won't be back till the 5th of December and the 7th is my last day - after that I will be a lady of leisure until the end of January. I am so excited not to work - yahoo!

Ok now that's creepy...

2007-11-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

I've never been a big scaredy cat - I watch horror movies and the like all the time. But maybe I'm mellowing in my old age because I'm watching The Ghost Whisperer and it is creeping me out! I'd heard about the show a while ago but never really bothered to watch because I figured that Jennifer Love Hewitt = LAME. But I can't believe how creeped out I am by this show - I hate the fact that I live alone now - at least I can tell myself that all the weird stuff I keep hearing is the neighbors - right?

Look what happens when I leave home...

2007-11-12T05:26:00.001-08:00

So my brother and sister-in-law moved to NORTHERN ALBERTA this past weekend. This means that as of today Anna, Becca, Stephen and Emma all live in NORTHERN ALBERTA! Mom put our house on the market on Saturday with the intention of moving to NORTHERN ALBERTA if/when it sells. Who in their right mind wants to live in NORTHERN ALBERTA!
I have no one to blame but myself.
Anna started the trend of the NORTHERN ALBERTAN move but it's still all my fault. You see Anna wanted to go to Bible College but they all seemed too expensive so me being the ever helpful older sister went online and helped her find the cheapest Bible College in Canada - it was in NORTHERN ALBERTA. She decided to go for a year which turned into 4 and she now lives there permanently even though her schooling is done - thanks to her wonderful boyfriend (who we all love).
Becca was the next to make the move - she decided that she wanted to go to Bible College too and figured that the Bible College in NORTHERN ALBERTA would be a good idea. She also went up for a year and is now making it 2- God literally only knows how many.
Now Stephen and Emma have migrated North thanks to the lure of better work and cheaper housing. But seriously it's NORTHERN ALBERTA - it snows in JUNE!
Since all her kids are in NORTHERN ALBERTA and she has a sister and brother in Edmonton Mom has decided to move up there to be closer to her family. She's selling the family home and moving Northward.
I, however, moved to England short term in June of this year and can't believe that when I move back to Canada it will have to be to NORTHERN ALBERTA since, as my mom puts it ''All your stuff will be there.'' Which, don't get me wrong, I totally appreciate that she is willing to transport all my stuff with her but never in a million years did I imagine that we'd all end up living in NORTHERN ALBERTA. I'm getting cold just thinking about it. (Funny story: When Anna moved to NORTHERN ALBERTA my Mom started this thing where Anna was her favorite daughter since she was the furthest away - so whenever Anna would call we'd tell her it's her favorite daughter etc. Well guess who's the Favorite now?! Sad to say that was seriously one of reasons I came to England - haha I win!)
It's ironic to me that I will probably end up living there (atleast for a shortwhile) considering I have never had anything good to say about NORTHERN ALBERTA. I've been there twice - both times in the summer and had to wade through melting snow drifts and huge mud patches. You look around and everything is filthy and you can actually see your dog run away for three days.
*sigh* oh well - God's hand is in this so it's for the best.

The weekend came and went and is almost here again...

2007-11-08T01:41:00.000-08:00

My Aunt and Uncle came up from Lymington Friday night to spend the weekend at their flat with me. They do this once every month - usually the first weekend of the month at that. We sorted out what is going on for Christmas - ie. I get back from my trip on the 22 of December and will go down to Lymington to spend Christmas with them and Grandma as well my Uncle Graham and Aunt Elaine and my cousin Simon and his wife Gemma will be coming over. Gemma will be cooking the Christmas meal for all of us (Note to self: offer my meager cooking services to Gemma).
Saturday I went and did a huge grocery shop and bought only healthy food - yeah me. I made homemade Honey Mustard Dressing that turned out absolutely horrid even though I followed the recipe exactly. I also made a couple of loaves of bread from my Weight Watchers cookbook - one white and one Wholewheat and Honey - they turned out pretty well. I also called my mom and wished her a super happy birthday. She flew up with Emma to GP to spend her birthday with Anna (Becca went down to PG to spend the weekend with her BF's family). Mom got some nifty gifts but I think her favorites are the bright red gloves and new Reginald Hill book I sent to her from here. I mean really wants a Nintendo DS with games and new clothes from Reitmans? Haha! Let me just say that my mom is the most spoiled mom in the world!
Sunday I skipped church because I was late anyway and instead wandered around Leicester square and found the perfect little restaurant to each before going to see a play (Maia!). I was going to see a play but the Half Priced Ticket Booth was closed for some reason. Then I thought I'd go see a movie but all the movies had already started or were going to start in a couple hours. So I just took pics and went back to the flat and made WW Raspberry muffins - must use less raspberry's next time!
My boss skipped work Monday (of course) then called in sick on Tuesday (shocking) she came in yesterday but I was so messed up with my days I went through the whole day thinking it was Tuesday. I didn't realize my mistake until I talked to Anna last night and she corrected me - missed recycling day AGAIN!
So today is Thursday and I have awful cramps and I ran out of medicine! Someone hand me a rusty spoon so I can carve out my uterus - please.
Tomorrow is Friday and then it is Saturday - thank you God for weekends!

Drama...

2007-10-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

I finally got to sleep and in it was beautiful. When I did finally get up I it was 11:15am and I had to get to the post office by 12:30 - no prob.
I left at 11:45am got to the post office at 12:00pm - still looks good right?
I get to cashier and I needed to pay £1.36 for postage - pretty small amount no problem - right? Wrong.
I looked in my wallet and only came up with £1.23 - I left my purse at the flat and only brought my wallet so...I felt stupid but I needed to use my card - still no problem right? Wrong.
I couldn't find my card in my wallet - I needed to go back to the flat - I appologized and said that I would be right back - it's now 12:05pm I speed walked all the way up the hill back to the flat - tore apart my purse looking for my card - no card - more change though so now had enough for the postage but where the heck was my card? I looked in the shopping bag from yesterday - nope - checked my coat pockets - nope - in a last ditch effort I checked my wallet again and it was there but in the wrong spot - Man am I STUPID!
It's now 12:20pm I rush back down the hill and get to the post office by 12:25pm pay for the postage and mail it off.

I can't believe all that drama just for mail!

Bits and pieces

2007-10-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

*For as long as I can remember my hands have been cold with the exception of when I am sick. When I am sick my hands are warm. Since I am currently sick my hands are warm however I have noticed that they are cooling down - hopefully this means that I can expect to feel better soon.
*My boss came back from her holiday and I told her that I won't be staying on after December. She took the news a lot better than I thought she would. I think that is partly because right before I told her she got an email from a previous employee exspressing interest and resuming her role in the finance department.
*I'm totally bummed out that I will be missing my mom's birthday. I can't remember ever not being with her on her birthday. I have sent her present to her already so she should get it soon - look at me being all organized and everything.
*I have totally lost my appetite. I've been trying to force myself to eat but most of the food available turns my stomach at just the thought of eating it. I hope I feel better soon.

Cold cont...

2007-10-23T01:46:00.000-07:00

I am not the only one to afflicted by this vicious virus. Apparently two other girls called in sick yesterday and today my co-worker has also called in sick. My boss just rang me to tell me that she won't be in today either for fear that she may succumb to the nasty sniffles. That means 2 things: 1. I will have the office to myself today 2. I haven't told my boss thanks but no thanks yet.
I am sitting at my desk slightly faint and perhaps feverish but present none the less and hoping that the £84.50 that I will earn is worth it.
Money - it makes the world go round.

No show...

2007-10-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

I called in sick to work today - I spent most of the day in bed but I still don't feel any better. I'm going to have to go in tomorrow I can't afford to miss too much work.
Colds suck!

Poor me...

2007-10-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm sick :( I woke last night with a sore throat and a stuffy nose. Now being so far away from home means that all the medicine I usually take for a cold is not available. So yes poor me - boo hoo.
I've been chugging orange juice all day in the vain hope that that would help so we shall see how I feel tomorrow but I don't think that I will be any better.

Interesting...

2007-10-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

So the boss was in on Monday and Tuesday but she has taken the rest of this week and the beginning of next week off.
But that doesn't stop her from making my life difficult.
She offered me a permanent job here. Now I came back to this job with the clear understanding (I thought) that it would be a strictly temporary thing. It has come to my attention recently that I have never been without a job and I think I need a chance to try new things.

My jobs to date have been:
1. Stable hand (I'm not kidding)
2. Quiznos sandwich maker
3. Pizza Hut - CSR, Server, Shift Manager, Assistant RGM
4. Traveland RV - Receptionist
5. Numbers Accounting - Bookkeeper

Now my job here is ok but I don't want it - and I get this feeling that my boss is really manipulative and I kind stand that.
I see how she's trying to manipulate the other girl into staying and it makes me wonder just how much time she's probably spent manipulating me as well.
She tells me that I need to stay because if I want to travel the countries won't let me in if I don't have a permanent job which may be true but I'm not that concerned about it - plus if I take the job it's a pay cut - who takes a pay cut? When I pointed that out to her she told me that I was wrong but I figured it out - I'm making £13/hr now and if I took the job I would be making £12.08/hr - pay cut!
I'm tired of settling and I want to see what else is out there - this job holds no new things for me to learn it is time to move on - once she gets back from her holiday I'm going to tell her that she needs to find someone else because I'm not interested.
I've been fretting over this for a few days now and that's my conclusion.

The boss has returned...

2007-10-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

So my boss didn't come in Thursday either but she did come in today.
She looked like she was ready to pass out - and she almost did at one point.
She really should not have come in today but she felt that she had to.
I hope she doesn't come in Monday because she needs to get better - I defintely don't want to catch whatever it is that she has.

Unbelievable...

2007-10-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

She didn't show up today either!
She called at 10:30 this morning and said that she was still feeling ill and won't be in.
Now maybe she really is feeling sick - I don't know but I just find this whole situation funny now - I feel like I should start a betting pool on when she may actually come back to work.
Granted she works hard and deserves a bit of a break but I'm seriously running out of work to do - it may be hard to believe but I occasionally do work at work and now that work is just about all done. I don't know what I'll do if she doesn't come in tomorrow. Actually I don't know what I'll do tomorrow even if she does come in.
Uh oh - have I just worked myself out of a job?

So my boss has stopped coming to work...

2007-10-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

As of today my boss has had a FIVE day weekend!
She is supposed to have Fridays off and therefore only have a 4 day work week but I've noticed that since I came back to work here in September that she has started taking both Monday and Fridays off.
She generally calls on Monday to say that she won't be coming in because she thinks that she will have to work Friday - fair enough she's only supposed to work 4 days - but when Friday rolls around she calls and says that she isn't coming in because she has some things to do. Fine whatever - but today she called to say that she wasn't feeling well and won't becoming in.
Now today is Tuesday and she pulled her usual Friday and Monday stunts so she has had FIVE days off in a row - for crying out loud!
Thankfully the girl that I took over for has come back from her NINE WEEK holiday and is helping to keep me sane since when the boss is absent she works in the office with me - but I will laugh so hard if my boss skips work tomorrow too because seriously what kind of example is she setting for the other employees?
I have a feeling that she is avoiding me and the other girl because we don't want to keep working here. I came back with the understanding that I would only work here for 2 months and this girl back from holidays came back saying that she would only stay on for 1 month. So essentially this absentee boss of mine needs to find someone else to work in this office fulltime by the end of October.
She's already been trying to talk the other girl into staying and I have a feeling that I maybe next. Since I've booked my trip for December I may relent and tell her that I'll stay on till then but after that I don't think so.
I am so bored today I could just cry! The weather is absolutely miserable and I am totally not looking forward to my hour long commute home. I need a challenge and I don't want it to be here.
I feel very cranky - I want a 5 day paid weekend!

I'm SO Excited...

2007-10-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

I planned a trip today.
A girl that I work with told me about this tour company and I signed up for the 'Winter European Discovery' tour so...
On December 11 I leave from London and travel to Amsterdam
From there I go to the Rhine Valley, Munich, Innsbruck, Venice, Rome, Florence, Lucerne, Paris and then back to London on December 22.
I'm so psyched - I'm finally going to do something other than work and visit family - it's not cheap but it'll be worth it!

Note to self...

2007-10-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

*When putting pasta in a pot of boiling water do not put fingers into pot with pasta.
*When using a metal fork to cook ground beef do not leave the fork leaning on the frying pan and then pick it back up.

NIN has arrived...

2007-09-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

My NIN arrived yesterday and apparently the card should come in the mail within the next 8 weeks - so I guess the 9 month timeline I was given was a bit off. I've now informed my agency and so hopefully 50% of my paycheque will stop being taking off as taxes.

It's 9:45am and today already sucks!

2007-09-24T01:46:00.000-07:00

So I woke up today at 6am feeling really nauseous - so when my alarm went off at 7:10am I didn't bound out of bed. When I look at the clock again it's 8am - I usually leave the flat at 8am having had breakfast, made my lunch, gotten dressed and done my hair and make-up - obviously that wasn't going to happen today. So, I for went breakfast and lunch and was able to leave the flat at 8:05am - not bad eh? It's pouring with rain outside - no problem I figure since I have been carrying an umbrella in my bag since I was caught in a storm without one a month ago. Unfortunately, this umbrella of mine is broken. I didn't realise this until it closed over my head when I was half way down the street. No time to run back for another so I just had to make do with holding it up. I get to the stop down the street get denied entry to one bus but get on to the second. Then get off at Camberwell and wait for my other bus. It arrives I get on, go up stairs and start to read my book. All is well until I hear shouting down stairs. From what I gather the bus driver had been instructing the passengers to move down and I heard some man shouting back "There's NO ROOM! Stop letting so many people on you IDIOT!" Then some more words were exchanged which I didn't quite hear. I was worried the bus driver might get fed up and kick everyone off the bus - they are so touchy. But he didn't and I arrived at my destination 15 minutes later than usual. Now what I usually do is get off the bus at the top of the street that the Hospital is on and then walk the rest of the way - about a 15-25 minute walk - stopping on the way at a coffee shop and picking up a 'Skinny Latte'. Today I did that but also picked up a chocolate croissant and a banana. I knew I couldn't wait till 1pm (my lunch time) to eat. I will never do that again, especially after being naseous. I did, however, end up arriving 5 minutes late for work but whatcha gonna do?
My boss just called to say that she won't be in today which is actually a good thing for me. It means my stress level today at work will be 0 and as I look outside it has stopped raining. Maybe today isn't such a write off after all.

The water...

2007-09-22T02:26:00.000-07:00

Ok - I have kept quiet about this issue for long enough. I absolutely refuse to drink tap water here in England. Once you see what it does to kettles, dishwashers and washing machines you will see why. There is something wrong with it - I swear. No they try and tell you that it's perfectly fine to drink this stuff - it's not like it's diseased or anything but they amount of limescale and build-up that amounts - geez - I can't imagine that it is good for your body!
So like all (most(some)) English people I have responded by buying cases of water. Now I have no transportation other than my own two legs so I am looking forward to a very trim body because of all the walking up the hill and stairs with cases of water - my own little work out routine - haha!
Now with that said I am going out to buy another case.

So I applied for my NIN...finally

2007-09-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went a VERY sketchy part of London and had an interview to get a National Insurance Number. Even though I'm working right now haven't had a real NIN and therefore been taxed under the "Emergency" tax bracket which means that just under half of my wages have been deducted. Once I get my NIN I should get a refund and taxed properly. When I first got here I wanted to get a NIN right away but there are several things you need first.

1. Employment
2. A letter from your employer detailing your employment.
3. Official mail with you current address ie. Bank Statement or Utility Bill
4. Paystubs from your employer
5. Passport

When I arrived in June I had only one of the above requirements. Then I got a job and a letter but then my Grandfather took a turn for the worse and I quit my job. Then my grandfather passed away and I got my job back.
I've been working for a total of 8 days since coming back so I called the Job Centre Thursday and set up an appointment. The earliest they could get me in was October 22/07 that was a long time to wait but I was prepared to. I happened to call back later that day and they had had a cancellation and said I could come in Friday (Yesterday) at 3pm. So I took a whole bunch of time off work and went in and had the interview and I should be getting my NIN in the mail in 4-6 weeks.
It took me forever to find the place and so I am so glad I was my usual over anxious self and gave myself plenty of time to find it. I did end up arriving half an hour and they didn't end up seeing me until half an hour after my appointment was supposed to be. But that's their perogative if I had been late they wouldn't have seen me at all.
The part of town I was in totally freaked me out. It was SO run down and people were just standing on the sidewalks looking at me walk by. I ended up walking down all these alleys and I swear I must have had "Stupid Tourist" stamped on my forhead because I kept getting turned around and having to look at the map I printed off. (Thank God for maps!). The streets weren't properly marked and I kind of lucked out finding the place. But I found it and I didn't get stabbed score one for me.
I hope everything goes through ok because I definitely do not want to have to go back there I was luck once but...anyways it should go through fine but you never know with these things it's all red tape.

So now I have job...again

2007-09-07T04:46:00.000-07:00

So I got rehired at the place I was working before as an accounts assistant before I quit because my grandfather got really ill. I did not want this job back because when I had it the first time I hated it - it was way too stressfull and my boss treated me like an idiot. The second time around is going much better. Since I don't really care about this job and the worse they can do is find someone else to come in and temp I am much more relaxed and cheerful - it's money and it has a time limit. I told the temp agency that I would go back to the ACU under the condition that it would be for a maximum of 2 months and that I was totally NOT interested in a permanent position.

I only want temp work for several reasons:
1. If you are temping then you get paid every Friday - When you are permanent you get paid once a month!!!!
2. I don't want to do accounting work while I am here but it's money so I can't really say no but atleast I can be happy that it won't be for too long.
3. Working as a temp means that I can have as much time off as I want - all I need to do is give a weeks notice and I am free! Hint hint - anyone want to come for a visit?
4. I get to meet lots of people and hopefully make lots of friends and work in lots of different environments.
5. I'm hoping that eventually I will end up at a gallery or a newspaper or a TV Station or something cool like that.
6. My hours are regular and I have weekends off so I can do fun things with my new friends.

So for whatever reason I am not totally despising this job anymore and I feel happy - the only real bummer is my laptop killed itself and I think I'll have to get a new one - but hey I'm working now so I can afford it - yeah for good money!

Grieving...

2007-08-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

So while I was enjoying a movie with my friends my Grandpa Cherry passed away. My uncle Ashley called and left a message on my cell and one on the machine at the flat - lucky me I got the news twice. I also got to tell my sister-in-law and my sisters the sad news. Thankfully my sister-in-law told my brother and my mother. It takes a lot out of you telling people that someone they love very much is gone and they will never speak to them again. I'm still in shock myself - it was expected but it's still very much so shocking. Death is so final it's the only thing that truly lasts forever - at least as forever as the human mind can handle. Thankfully my grandfather was a Christian and I am too so I can rest assured in the comfort that I will see him again - just not on this earth. It's just so sad for me to know that he will never meet my husband, he will never see his great-grandchildren - there are so many things that he will never do but he was content with his life and he was ready to go. That's all that you can ever hope for a person - that they be truly content with their life and be ready for it to end. At the ripe old age of 24 I can't imagine being ready to go on to my heavenly father but that's because I haven't done any of the wonderful things that my grandfather did yet. I can only hope that once I have then I too can pass over with peace in my heart.

Back in London

2007-08-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

So yesterday my aunts decided that I deserved a break and have shipped me back to the flat.It's nice to have some time to my self again and I will enjoy it while it lasts - I should only be here for a few days.

Thursday

2007-08-09T02:34:00.000-07:00

So today I am going to try and care for my grandparents while my aunt takes a break she has been staying with my grandfather 24 hours a day since we arrived in Lymington on Monday. Wish me luck! I have started using the internet in the Lymington library but it won't let me use facebook so if you want to get a hold of me please send me an email as opposed to a facebook message thanks!

So now I quit my job...

2007-08-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

I had my job for less than 2 weeks and I have already quit it - why you may ask - because life is too short!
I got a call Sunday saying that my Grandfather had taken a very serious turn for the worse and I guess we all knew this was coming but everyone likes to tell themselves lies every so often.
I called my boss that day and told her thanks but no thanks (she wanted me to come on permanently.) She of course didn't want to let me go. I don't know what it is but none of my bosses ever want me to leave - I guess I am just too wonderful - haha.
I came here to help out with my grandparents and that is what I am going to do. It's funny how helpful you can be when you try. With my grandfather being so ill I've just been mainly keeping my grandmother occupied so my aunt who is a nurse can care for my grandfather. My grandmother has advanced alzheimers and tends to wonder away and really needs someone to keep an eye on her.
I also decided that while I am in England even after my grandfather has passed on I don't want to be stcuk doing some stupid nine to five job - that was what I was doing in Canada I sure as heck didn't come all the way to England to fall straight back into that rut.
I want to do something that I love to do - something that I am passionate about. Hopefully I'll be able to find something like that but even if I can't atleast I now know that if I become desperate for cash I can easily find a temp job in accounting.
So yay for that.
My grandparent's pastor was by today and we had communion with him - it was something that my grandfather really wanted to do so I am glad that that was able to happen. My uncle Graham my grandparents eldest child was able to come over from the IOW with his wife and join in in that so that was good too. My cousin Steve came over yesterday to spend some time with my Grandfather and my cousin Simon and his wife are coming over Friday to see him too.

So now I have job...

2007-08-03T08:36:00.001-07:00

My Mom and Sisters left last on July 23/07 (last Monday) and then next I got a whole load of calls from this one agency and the next thing I know they're asking me to go for an interview in an hour. I did it but I was 15 minutes late, however being the responsible adult that I am I called them and told them that I would be late. Long story short I got the job and cancelled my temp interview for the next day (Wednesday). I was trained for the rest of the week and now on my own. eeek! The girl who was training me is off travelling and I don't think my boss likes me much :( I think that she thinks I am an idiot but that's her problem I can only do the best that I can and with so little time spent with my predcessor this is all she can expect (this is what I tell myself). What sucks is that feeling inadequate for my job makes me hate my job! Today my boss took the day off - she only works 4 days a week - yay! I'm hopping that if I stick it out for a bit longer I'll get the hang of it and not hate it so much but I get a feeling that this is not why I came to England. Sure it's nice to have money coming in but I don't think God has me here just so that I can work at some office job - I was doing that quite happily in Canada.
On the plus side I went to Hillsong last Sunday and met tons of people and I plan to go have coffee tomorrow morning with one of the girls I met. So yay for me I can still make friends - haha! (I only say that because most of my friends I've known for a ridiculously long time)
We shall see what happens next in this saga of mine.

I've done it!

2007-07-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

So, finally after years of thinking about it I have finally done it. I have moved to England. I got here June 21/07 and I did all the rounds. I visited all my cousins (except one) and all my aunts and uncles. So that means that I have been to IOW, Bath, Portsmouth, Gosport, and Lymington. I have also been to half a million other places just to visit.
I have seen 3 movies since arriving (Oceans 13, Lucky You and Pirates of the Carribean 3) I went and saw 'Stomp' and I've been to Hillsong London. Ok, I gotta tell you that Hillsong likes to pretend that it is just a church service but that is not a church service it is a freaking Christian Concert. They hold it in the Dominion Theatre in West Central London. The Theatre seat 2500 people, they have 3 services and the place was packed. That's going to be my home church while I'm here. Well that's the plan anyway. I was invited to go out for lunch after the service with some YA's but I was with my Mom and Sisters and we were going to see Stomp that afternoon so I had to postpone till next Sunday so we shall see what happens.
I've been to a recruitment interview and I have a temp interview set up for Wednesday. My next step is obviously getting a job. I have the full use of my Aunt and Uncle's flat while I am in London as they are in Lymington taking care of my grandparents.
It's all falling into place - so far.
Wish me luck ;)

I'm outta here!

2007-06-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

So Friday was my last day at work and I was able to sell my car the same day too! In one week today I will be leaving for England. Friday I have a going away BBQ and Saturday I have a going away party. I went shopping yesterday and today for bits and pieces and I will need to go shopping at least one more time for more stuff - so much to do and so little time!

England bound...

2007-05-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

I've booked my ticket - it's a one way and I leave June 20, 2007. Stephen and Emma are coming with me. They return home July 8, 2007. I can't believe I am actually doing this. I even quit my job today - eeek...It's really happening.

Grandpa Cherry Is dying

2007-04-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

I found out yesterday that my Grandfather in Enlgand (My Dad's Dad) is dying of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He has between 2 months and 2 years left to live. His doctor is amazed that he is doing as well as he is considering how far along the disease is. Thankfully my Grandfather is a Christian so we can rest assured that he is going home to meet his eternal father as well as his son who died so many years before him. Unfortunately not all my grandfather's children are Christians so they don't see things the way the rest of us do. My Grandfather is reportedly in good spirits. He and his doctor have decided to forgo treatment and simply work towards making his last days as comfortable as possible.

I am moving to England June 20, 2007

Grandpa Cherry

2007-04-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

I found out via email Saturday night that my Grandfather in England may have leukemia. He's been taking care of my Grandma who has Alzheimers. It's kind of scary - but once again we don't know anything for certain yet. He went for a blood test last Wednesday and his White blood cells were low (?) so they gave him 3 units of blood and sent him home. He needs to come back to the hospital this Wednesday (Tomorrow) for a Bone Marrow test to see what the deal is. Please pray for him and my family in England as everyone is stretching themselves pretty thin to ensure that my Grandparents are never alone.

Thanks.

Good News/Bad News

2007-04-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

So for about a month now I've been dealing wih a bit of a stressful situation. But now we have answers and I feel that I can explain what was going on.
My Mom went to the Doctor and was told she needed to go for testing for Cancer, Diabetes, and High Blood Pressure. My Mom never goes to the Doctor unless she is sick so the Doctor had never run any routine wellness tests on her. The results have finally come in and she doesn't have cancer but she does have Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. She is going in to see the Doctor on Tuesday to discuss what she needs to do now.

I received my UK Passport yesterday and I've gotten the go ahead from my aunt to fly over whenever I want. So now all I need to do is get there - haha - yeah that's ALL need to do.

I have finals coming up, a trip to Alberta, and we've moved offices at work and everything is a total mess.

To top everything off I've been fighting a cold since Monday thank goodness it's a long weekend - woohoo!

So you see Good News/Bad News.

On a lighter note...

2007-03-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I got another gold star! And I might get another one next week I was pretty close! Woohoo!

2007-03-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

I did get my car back yesterday - they said there was nothing wrong with it! what a load of **** - I instructed them to change the battery connections (I know that was the problem) and they said "Oh, yes we did notice that they were marginal" (what the heck does marginal mean?) So hopefully no more car drama!

2007-03-20T11:39:00.000-07:00

My car broke down yesterday. I can't believe it. I went to pick up Emma for school. I park get Emma and then my car wouldn't start again. Thankfully Stephen had gotten home just as I arrived so Emma was able to drive us to school with their car and Stephen was able to try and fix my car - he didn't suceed and now it is in the shop - hopefully I'll get it back today.

2007-03-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

Still no results yet...still no idea if I should be really freaking out or not...just trying to be normal in the interim...I think I'm pulling it off. Thanks for all the prayers!

Crash and Burn...

2007-03-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

That's how I feel right now - like at any moment I will lose control and simply crash and burn. Kind of like being on a rollercoaster and life is so great as you climb up high above the crowds below, then suddenly you've crested the hill and the bottom falls out of your life and all you can do is hold on for dear life.

I am very good at pretending everything is okay. It's a talent that I nurtured when I was growing up - I could be dying inside but no one would ever know. They could suspect that something is wrong but there was no way that anyone could find out for certain because I am also a very good liar. Another talent that I picked up and perfected in my younger years. It's not something that I am very proud of and has only come to the forefront again very recently.

Last week in Sunday school we were supposed to teach about how lying is bad and as teachers we were supposed to share an example of how we got caught in a lie. I have never been caught lying - I've lied a lot but not once has it ever turned out poorly for me. You can't share that with kids - you can't tell them that if you're really good at it lying can get you almost anything you want and you'll never get in trouble again.

Several years ago I promised myself that I wouldn't lie anymore - it was too easy to simply lie about everything and manipulate situations to my liking. It wasn't living it was like directing a orchestra and people were my instruments.

Something happened last week that really threw me for a loop but there is not point in causing needless distress in everyone around. Hopefully in the next couple weeks I will find out for certain if there is anything to fret about until then I go forward pretending everything is okay. Please don't ask me how things are because I don't want to have to break my promise.

What a cool weekend!

2007-03-04T20:31:00.000-08:00

I had a super weekend.
Saturday I went to dinner with Maia, Erin and Joanie. Then we went to visit Meg's at work and met up with Natty and Corrie who were also visiting Megan! Then we went to Corrie and Natty's to watch "The Illusionist" (Which was pretty good)
Sunday was great too - A super sermon by Eryn and then Sushi in the Fort and it was the first Family Night of the year and it was so funny trying to get all hyped up for the kids.

I am SO Tired!

2007-02-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

I House-sat this weekend - it was fun but man I am exhausted. The first night (Friday) the traffic outside was incredibly loud and I barely slept. Then Staruday night the cat (Chassie) was in the bedroom and refused to chill out so at 6:00am I finally kicked her out and got some sleep. Then last night I tried to kick Chassie out right away but she just freaked out at the bedroom door till I let her in. So another sleepless night until I kicked her out at 4:30am - unfortunately I had to get up at 5:30 so not much sleep at all - ugh!
Sunday was fun though - so many of the Sunday school teachers were away so Maia and Ben came in to cover for Thomas and Adam and Susanna had to cover for Sylvia so that left me to fend for myself with my Grade 1-3 Girls. I told Sus to take Sylvia's class because our class is nuts and she's been doing it much longer and proably needed a break - haha. I had over a dozen girls in that class! I did all the activities that Karen had set up and we played hangman and I fed them Fuzzy Peach rewards. It was awesome! I think they all had fun and learned a little something - but man I tell you little girls are sneaky!

Midterm #1

2007-02-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

Ok I passed Midterm #1 now just fingers crossed for Midterm #2.

As per request...

2007-02-19T07:20:00.000-08:00

So Maia has requested an update - and what Maia wants Maia gets - haha. I actually can't believe that a whole week went without me posting something new but whatever...
So last week I had 2 midterms and I am seriously freaked out and I just hope that I didnt fail them - I don;t think that I have ever done so poorly on exams before but what is done is done.
I tried applying for my UK Passport last week and they sent my application back to me the very next day. Apparantely My father's and my birth certificates are not sufficient. Somewhere between Anna and Stephen's births they changed the format of Birth certificates so that they are more detailed. My father's and my birth certificates have only our names, city and province of birth, date of birth and gender - the new ones have also both the parent's full names. So I have applied to get replacement birth certificates for us both. It's no big deal since when the High Commission in Ottawa sent back my application they included the info on how to get new birth certificates. It's just another obstacle for me to overcome.
On Saturday a friend I hadn't seen in over a year called me up at 8:30pm and we went out for coffee for "half an hour" - haha - we ended up staying at Starbucks till they kicked us out. It was SO good to see her - she is one of those people that you can just see God's love shining through like she's a beacon of light. Our relationship is kind of weird but them so is my relationship with many people. It's just funny because we were really close for like a year and a half (when we were both going through and really tough time) and then we kind of drifted apart but God has kept us in eachother's prayers and when we got together again it was like no time had passed - I love friendships like that! She's doing awesome - I'm doing awesome - it was really reat just to catch up and see where God is leading the both of us.
On Sunday I went out for lunch with Maia, Meg, Liz, Anna, Bonnie and one of the roomates! It was splendid Good conversations and good food (despite the ridiculously long wait and I was Freaking Starving!) I love getting to hang out with my friends especally in smaller groups because you can actually talk about things - haha.
So last night I was in bed and Becca called - her birthday is this Thursday and she has decided that from me she wants a bunch of baking - So what did I do? I got out of bed and started baking - haha. If the package is to get to her by Thursday we gotta send it out by Tuesday and there was no wat that I would get it all done by then. Mom even helped last night - but she bakes way different than I do and I don't think that I will have her help me again. It caused me way too much anxiety - haha. She doesn't use measuring cups properly - she re-uses brownie batter bowls for icing and cookie dough - it was just too much (I know I'm totally nutso). So anyway we got most of it done last night and I think I only have to make one or two more things and then it done so Yay for that!
Tonight I have class and then dinner with Emma and Stephen - and I gotta stop eating what I'm baking or else I'm going to pay for it Tuesday :)

The return of my car...

2007-02-07T07:41:00.000-08:00

So I have finally gotten my car back - and this is how it happened.

I was totally fed up on Monday so I called and left a message for my adjuster first thing to find out if she could get the repair to start moving. She didn't call me back so at 10:30 I called her again and she essentially said "Too bad, so sad". She told me that "It isn't unheard of for a repair to take over a month to be completed." Oh come on! Who can afford to rent a car or be without a car for over a month!

I had spoken with Kirmac twice last week and they both times jerked me around (It'll be ready by the middle of this week to the end of this week - middle of next week to the end of next week) - I wasn't playing anymore. I called Kirmac right after I got off the phone and asked when my car would be ready. I got the usual reply - "Well, Bryan is working on your car and he isn't here right now how about you call back?" So I did and I was told that they were now hoping to get it done "today" (monday) but I should call back that afternoon. So I did and they said it was just out of paint and should be done by 5 - I have class Monday's at 4 so I said I would pick it up first thing on Tuesday and that's what I did.

So Yay my car is back in one and in my possession but I don't appreciate how long it took to get done - Last Monday they told they had all the parts but other cars had been towed in and took priority - MY CAR WAS A TOW IN TOO! Where the heck is my PRIORITY! So I have learned that to get anything done you have to be the "Squeaky Wheel" and if you call someone repeatedly then you will get what you want. Being nice and understanding will only get you dropped to the bottom of the list.

It's my Birthday!

2007-02-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

So today I am officially 24 years old - boo.

A month or so ago I started telling myself that I was already 24 years old just so I would have a smooth transition into actually turning 24. Such as when I would speak disparagingly about myself - "I am 24 years old and I don't have a degree" - "I am 24 years old and I don't have a boyfriend" - the boyfriend thing is only particularly upsetting because I have a 20 year old brother who is MARRIED and I don't even have a boyfriend!

I think 24 is the year that birthdays are going to start going downhill for me - my one saving grace is that I am moving to England I have filled out my UK Passport application, gotten my picture taken and on Sunday I'm going to get PK to sign it all and I am going to mail it off on Monday - I AM doing this, I AM leaving the country and running far, far away. I have to, otherwise I will be stuck living the rest of my life not living the life that God has chosen for me. I feel like Abraham when God told him to leave his family and go into the unknown and Abraham instead took his family with him - that was NOT what God asked him to do. I feel that God is calling me to England and I have to answer that call. Maybe there I will find something that will awaken my sleeping spirit. Until then I wait and pray (as patiently as possible).

Oooh...Look what I did...

2007-01-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

My Car...

2007-01-27T14:19:00.000-08:00

During the last snow fall I rear ended someone and I have FINALLY gotten a straight answer from ICBC/Kirmac - my car WILL be fixed and I should be getting it back sometime late next week. It's been a bit weird the last couple weeks having to share a car with my mom. I feel like I'm 16 again having to ask if I can use her car etc. It hasn't been too bad but I still can't wait to get my car back - the one touchy thing is that my insurance runs out on January 30 and I'm not sure that I am going to get my car back in time to re-insure it. I'm sure that it will all work out fine.

Ugh..MySpace

2007-01-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

I got an email from Eryn today and it the link to the RAIN MySpace page he created. I was curious so I clicked on it to check it out.
I have now found out that SO MANY of the people I know have myspace pages!
So now I too have set up a myspace page - I am such a follower!
I have even put a layout on it - that was a lot harder than I thought it would be.
I really like the fact that you can have slide shows and background music on myspace which if you can do it with blogger then I don't know how - haha - I don't know how to do it with myspace yet either but atleast I know it is possible.

My myspace page is www.myspace.com/pretticherri

Accounting I - Quiz #1

2007-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my first quiz in Accounting and I think it well pretty well. The quiz was to make the Financial Statements (Income Statement, Statement of Owner's Equity and Balance Sheet) for the first month of a business using the information provided. We were given 30 minutes for the quiz which for any other class is probably plenty but it takes a lot of time to put all the information together. I had a tough time right at the end when my Balance sheet didn't balance - but I figured it out (I think). Emma and I both finished with 2 minutes to spare. The majority of the class was still writing furiously when we left. I'm kind of concerned now that 3 hours for our 50% final may not be enough time if it took 30 minutes to produce one set of Financial Statements. Oh well I guess we will have to wait and see.

Business Math - YUCK!

2007-01-18T12:20:00.000-08:00

So yesterday was my first Business Math class. The real first one was supposed to be last Wednesday but we got snowed out. So since we missed a class my teacher decides to skip all the review that he had planned to do in class last week and just move on to new stuff. AHHHH! I haven't taken math in 6 six years! The last math class I took was in Grade 11. I can't remember how do anything! Chapters 1 - 4 in the textbook are all review so yesterday we started on Chapter 5. So I have resolved to buckle down and do the review all by myself. So I figured out that I have a total of 9 Chapters that I need to go through by Monday for both my classes. I always pair the wrong classes together. I either end up taking 1 easy class or 2 hard classes. I think I am going to need to disappear for awhile and hopefully be able to come out and play sometime before I move. :(

I have also noticed that I complain ALOT! I am sorry for that and will try to be more positive in the future :)

Sick Day

2007-01-17T10:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I took a sick/snow day. Since getting in my little accident I'm kind of freaked about driving in snow. Plus the only vehicle I can drive is my mom's car and she would KILL me if I crashed it.
I'm back at work today and I came in to find out that my boss had just moved my appointment with a client until today instead of rescheduling it till next week. I was late to class on Monday even though I left work at 2:00 so I definitely need to be done with this client by 2:00 today or I will be late again. But this client won't be available till atleast noon today. *sigh* Nothing is ever easy.
I hate being sick because when you are taking cold medicine everything is weird...hopefully the buzz will wear off before I need to drive anywhere.
Wow I am totally scatterbrained today I had better just try and get some work done.

So now I'm sick...

2007-01-15T07:42:00.000-08:00

So not only did I rear end someone but now I am sick and I have succeeded in making my poor mother sick. Oh yes it was my master plan to making my long suffering mother horribly ill because that is exactly what I want to live with a big crybaby who won't take her medicine. In case you didn't guess my mother seems to think that I made her sick on purpose - which I did not do. She is terrible when she is sick! All she does is sniffle and complain and cough and whine. She won't take her medicine because she hates to do what she is told - grrr...what is she 3? I'm taking my medicine and I'm fine-ish *sigh* why won't she just take her medicine! Why do I even have to make her take her medicine - I can't wait to go to England - then I won't have to deal with 51 year old children - however goodness know what will happen if I'm not here to make sure she does what supposed to.
*sigh**cough* *sniffle* I'm sick too you know I want someone to take care of me :(
Oh woe is me I suppose. Whatever, colds can't last forver.

I HATE SNOW!

2007-01-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I was driving home from work and I slid into the back of a municipal work truck! The truck is fine - my car is not. I have to get it fixed - it is drivable but that it is not advisable since the right light is now non-existent.
Gosh darn freaking snow I hate you!
At least all the people are fine but that's it I'm moving to Hawaii!
UGH!

White Ninja

2007-01-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

Thank you Megan for introducing me to The White Ninja!

2007-01-04T08:09:00.001-08:00

Savior - Skillet

2007-01-04T08:09:00.000-08:00

Skillet | Rebirthing

I bought Skillet's New CD a little while ago and this is one of the songs on it - super cool!

Kingdom of Heaven

2006-12-30T16:52:00.000-08:00

So I just finished watching Kingdom of Heaven and I must admit it was pretty good. Mama Maria got it for me for Christmas and I just finally got the chance to see it the whole way through. I would recommend it only to people who don't mind lots of gory blood spurting scenes.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T14:57:00.000-08:00

Next Year...

2006-12-21T06:50:00.000-08:00

So Emma and Steve came over for family dinner last night and it turns out that Em and I are going to be in the same class come January. We're both taking "Accounting I" on Monday nights (I am also taking Business Math on Wednesday Nights - woot). I think it will be a lot of fun being in the same class as Emma. We had such a blast working together a few months back when she was helping me out at work.
On a side note she mentioned that she was a bit frustrated because everyone calls her "Emma Cherry" now - not just plain "Emma" - I just smiled and nodded because everyone calls me "Sarah Cherry" rarely is it ever "Sarah". I think it has a lot to do with the last name. It's just a FUN last name - like "Snowball" (I've noticed that a lot of people do the same to Rachel). I dare say that this is something my dear sister-in-law will just need to get used to. Personally, I don't mind it kind of makes me smile when I hear "Sarah Cherry!" shouted across the church or living room or where ever we are - because at least you know who I am. HAHA!

My Christmas/New Years Schedule

2006-12-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

December 16, 2006 - Becca comes home for Christmas Break
December 18 - 22, 2006 - work
December 23, 2006 - Clean house because Anna's a clean FREAK!
December 24, 2006 - Anna comes home for Christmas Break - Open Presents!
December 25, 2006 - Go to Naylors for Christmas Dinner
December 26, 2006 - Boxing Day feast at home
December 27 - 28, 2006 - Relax
December 29, 2006 - Anna goes back to PRBI
December 30, 2006 - Relax
December 31, 2006 - Naylors Annual New Years Party
January 1, 2007 - Sleep
January 2, 2007 - Go back to work :(

Oh so productive...

2006-12-14T13:48:00.000-08:00

So after weeks of procrastination and lack of doing much of anything I was incredibly productive yesterday.

1. I wrote my final exam and am now offically done school - for this semester
2. I went to work and worked late - past 2:30pm (so it wasn't so late but it was late for me)
3. I finished ALL my Christmas shopping - in only 3 hours of contastnt shopping/driving
4. I baked Gingerbread men
5. I made my boss a Christmas Basket

That may not seem like super productivity to you but to me that is very good.

By the by - The guy sitting next to me in my exam cursed through the whole thing. I have never realized just how sensitive I am to that. The occasional expletive I have no problem with. I have been known to swear every so often myself. But this guy every couple minutes would, in a loud whisper, call out the f-bomb and or the s-bomb. He was so aggravated and I don't get why. I know it was a final exam but it was only on the last half of the course and we were allowed to have cheat sheets (looseleaf paper, handwritten, both side) and my prof. told us what sections we needed to study. The test was in HTML and Access and she gave us all the HTML codes - Seriously this guy had NO reason to be freaking out so bad. Some people really need to learn to control themselves.

*sigh* whatever...it's over now.

Uh oh...

2006-12-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

So my boss comes back Saturday - Just in time for the Sunday Staff Christmas Party - from a two week vacation in Cabo - and I have successfully toasted both her desk and my own.
It's too cold to work at my desk so I have been using hers but that doesn't mean that I cleaned up the mess off my desk before moving - she is forever telling me that my desk is a mess so I don't think that she will take to k indly to the fact that her desk is covered in stuff now too.
Hey I have an idea maybe I should stop fooling around on the internet and actually do some work!

HAha

Snow, Snow Go AWAY!!!

2006-11-30T20:29:00.000-08:00

I am SO sick of the SNOW!! - I live in BC because I LOVE the rain - the snow I hate - I'm so glad that it is almost over.

Here are some pics that I took to show just how much snow we've had in the last few days.

Hey who wants to have a BBQ?

What your Step!

Would you like to take a seat?

Anyone want to go for a drive?

I wonder what's hiding under all that snow!

In a Land Far Far Away...

2006-11-29T18:51:00.000-08:00

Many unforgettable characters appeared for a single evening in celebration of Lady Maia's 23 Birthday!

The Magnificent Lady Maia the one who brought us all together.

Malificent and Empress Fariane

Malificent and Alice

Little Red Riding Hood

Gandolf the Grey Wizard

A Samurai

A Tree Guardian all the Way from Middle Earth

The Tooth Fairy

Wendy and Jason the Argonaut

Beauty and the Beast

Paul Bunyan and Cinderella

The Expedia Gnome!

Got a little angry....

Hip-hip-hooray for Crazy fun parties!

So - Who are you going to be...

2006-11-20T06:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Maia asked me 'Who' I was going to be for her fairytale birthday party and at that point I had no real anwer - but now I do.

I am going to be...drumroll please...Fariane - Empress of Flanaria - insert stunned silence here

Okay so none of you know who that is which is fine because I made her up - haha

A few years ago I wrote a short sci-fi/fantasy novel and Fariane was my heroine.

Now I'm really excited about your party Maia - I was kind of dreading it before - you know trying to dress up all pretty and stuff can be hard for some people but now if I look weird it's because I'm the ruler of an inter-galactic Empire from far far away - haha!

I Have Been Remiss...

2006-11-18T11:24:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in awhile...though it has not been as long as since Tyson last posted-Haha. I feel like a lot has happened since the last time I posted anything such as...
I went to see a VERY funny movie with some great friends (Stranger than fiction is hilarious)
I spent some time in the prayer room...and God slapped me around a bit (He likes to do that to me)
I applied for a Program at a different College (I don't know if I got in yet)
I found out that I got the 3rd highest score on my midterm in my Advanced Business Computers class (imagine how I could have done if I hadn't been the first person to leave-Haha)
Maia turned 23 years old (Now she's as old as me-haha)
I lost power at work and had to go home early - I bought the ingredients for a new brownie only to find out that my house didn't have power either (Dumb-dumb)
I got kinda freaked out because I swear there was someone walking around the house during the power outage when there really shouldn't have been - I wasn't the only one who heard it - needless to say I didn't sleep that night
Power didn't come on again till 6:15am the next day (I totally shouldn't complain some people still don't have power)
We still don't have Internet because of the power outage
I got asked to help with Sunday school (and I said I would because I can't say no to Susanna)
My boss asked me to work on Saturday - today (and I said yes because what else am I going to do today-haha)
I made the new brownies and the icing turned into more of a custard and so they're not so much a brownie as a dessert
I made a disgusting batch of bad brownies (I burned that recipe-yuck yuck yuck)
I've been out for various lunches and dinners and had some interesting conversations about what is wrong with the world and kids today
My boss quit her 'new job' and will be back working with me full-time after Christmas

I think that's it...yup - that's pretty lame

24/7 Prayer Day 5

2006-11-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

YAY!!! My car is fixed - the part came in without a problem yesterday - however...the guy told me it would be $120 so I brought $120 with me - it actually cost $121.20 - They didn't take debit and I have taken all my credit cards out of my purse so I won't 'over spend' - luckily he accepted the $120 and told me not to worry about the $1.20 - It so silly - if I was driving my car I would have had money because I always keep change for the parking meters at UCFV but I was driving mom's car I didn't have any change - I felt SO Lame. "Sorry but I don't have $1.20" insert lame girl giggle...Actually I didn't say that I told him I'd be right back I had to find the $1.20 - I was going to pull cash out of the machine on campus (it would have cost me $2.00 to get the cash in fees but you gotta do what you gotta do). Anyways, he told me not to worry about it and I got the part.

I then picked up mom from church - then we picked up Stephen and he replaced the ignition in less than an hour.

I now have two keys for my car. "Two keys?" you ask "Yes, two keys." One key for the door and one key for the ignition. Thankfully they look different and so I won't be messing up my door locks or ignition.

After my car got fixed we (Mom, Steve, Emma and myself) went to Montana's for Mom's Birthday Dinner. You may remember that Mom's Birthday was last week - yes apparantely Mom's birthday gets to last for weeks on end. What was cool is that Anna and Rebecca (who are at PRBI) sent Mom a cheque to cover the cost of the restaurant Birthday Dinner as their gift to her. Wednesdays are unlimited ribs and Steve ate something like 4 plates full. (Shocking I know - Steve eat a lot no...never).

Hopefully, I will actually get to the Prayer Room today...

24/7 Prayer Day 4 (AKA Broken Car Day 3)

2006-11-08T14:08:00.000-08:00

So I got a call from UCFV and the part is in and hopefully it will be the right one. It is going to cost twice as much as the part was originally supposed to but it is still cheaper than going out and buying it myself.

Hopefully - Stephen will have time to replace the ignition today - but if not then hopefully he will have time in the near future.

We're supposed to go for mom's birthday dinner tonight so today may not be the best day to fix my car but we shall see.

It's funny that since the first day of 24/7 I haven't been able to get back to the actually room but God has been speaking very clearly to me.

24/7 Prayer Day 3 (AKA Broken Car Day 2)

2006-11-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

My brother called me this morning and asked for the phone numbers he needed to call my mechanic and UCFV. (I was worried about phone calls and my dearest brother who did not know about my concern decided to take care of it myself). - I was worried about the calls simply because I am a girl and my car is a car and no matter how liberated a girl I am I am still a girl and I'm not sure exactly how to answer every question that mechanically inclined men will ask about my car problem.

Stephen arranged for the part to be sent to UCFV and I would pick it up from there after work. Unfortunately, the part that was sent was the ignition switch - which mentioned in the previous post is NOT broken. It was funny because the guy showed me the part that was sent and I was able to say with authority that that was NOT what I needed. So we got the right part ordered - hopefully.

24/7 Prayer Day 2 (AKA Broken Car Day 1)

2006-11-08T13:47:00.000-08:00

As I got into my car to go to the church for a stint in the 24/7 Prayer Room my car decided to break. My lovely brother came over and deduced that the ignition is broken but the ignition switch is fine.

As I cried my tears of distress my mother told me that I should save my tears for my sick children and husband who is 3 hours late coming home. Seeing as these things aare fictional and my car trouble is real I - understandable I believe - did not appreciate this advice. Though I did stop crying - I don't usually cry it was just SO frustrating that it should break again - now - just when I think I am getting ahead.

My brother suggested that I call my mechanic to price out the cost of the repair and call UCFV to see if I could get the part cheap from them. For some reason internally I REALLY did not want to make these phone calls in the morning.

I did call my boss that night and tell her that I would be very late for work but would eventually arrive.

As I was lying in bed that night God gave me His own advice - Grow up! Here I was upset that my car needed to be fixed it's nothing to be worried about - we already have a solution to the problem - just deal with it!

24/7 Prayer at FLEFC - Day 1

2006-11-05T21:28:00.000-08:00

So yesterday a bunch of us 'young adults' set up the 24/7 prayer room at FLEFC - the prayer room will be open from November 5 - 11/06. I have included some photos of what the prayer room currently looks like because it will likely be tranformed by God and His 'Watchmen' over the next week and it will be pretty cool to see how much it has been changed.

Happy Birthday Mom!

2006-11-03T10:56:00.000-08:00

It's my Mom's Birthday Today - Hip-hip-hooray Mama Maria! She's turning 31* this year - I wish I had a picture of her to post with this but she has this nasty habit of burning all photos that happen to feature her smiling face. Haha

The plan for her birthday was to make her breakfast in bed but I made the mistake of giving her a choice between breakfast and sleep - she chose sleep. (Who didn't see that coming?)

I was also going to make her a birthday cake yesterday but she elected to have me make a cheesecake instead - which I did (what the birthday girl wants the birthday girl gets).

I am taking her to Petticoat Junction today to get her hair done - she didn't over rule that - yet.

I was going to take her to The Keg for dinner tonight but she would prefer to go on another day - Tuesday November 14, 2006 (only 11 days after her birthday).

All this and she doesn't think she is demanding...haha!

Hopefully she will enjoy her Birthday LOTS!

* This number is fictitious

_ _ _ _ and Cheese Party 2006!!

2006-10-29T20:41:00.000-08:00

The atmosphere was perfect...

The food - cheese - was delicious...

Our hostesses were radiant...

An impromtu drumming session...

Great fun with friends...

Does anyone recognize the guy in this picture? I can't quite remember his name...