Daring to Be » 2007 » June

After an insanely early morning, an uneventful flight to Vancouver and a run-in with a rude Airporter driver, I arrived at Alicia’s condo around 11 AM. We managed to fit in lunch on the outdoor patio at Milestone’s before my lack of sleep caught up with me and I passed out on her futon for three hours.

Alicia headed to work at 5 PM so Mr. Big was my entertainment for the night. First he took me to Coal Harbour where we wandered around while I marveled at the huge yachts, the mountains, and the ocean. Mr. Big took some tourist-y photos of me but unfortunately I didn’t pack the USB cord for my camera, I’ll upload pictures next week. For supper we dined on mussels, hummus, and pints of beer at The Mill Marine’s Bistro and Bar patio.

Next on the agenda was a trip to Stanley Park. More tourist-y photos and more of me marvelling, this time at the amazing view and various other attractions in the park.

After Stanley Park, Mr. Big took me to see the sights at Gastown. Since I’m on vacation and love food (which directly translates to me eating way more than humanely possibly and/or necessary) we stopped at Chill Winston where I had truffles and red wine while Mr. Big had crab cakes and beer.

To wrap up the evening we headed back to Coal Harbour, to LIFT for a glass of wine. By far my favorite restaurant so far, situated over the water, looking out over the harbour and mountains.

So a pint of beer, two glasses of wine, and a hot shower later… I’m ready for bed! Alicia has class at the Burnaby BCIT campus at 9 AM tomorrow, so I’m taking the SkyTrain with her over there and meeting up with Wes since he lives in that area.

Cons of my trip so far:

• Not having a window seat on my flight here.
• The evil Airporter driver.
• Being a boring vacationer by napping instead of enjoying the beautiful afternoon.

Pros of my trip so far:

• Flying in, with ocean visible out of one window and mountains out the other, I didn’t know which way to look!
• Lunch at Milestone’s, I think it set the precedent for food because I sure haven’t been disappointed so far.
• Everything about my evening with Mr. Big.
• Finally being in this city, after telling Alicia I’d come visit her for four years I am finally here!

The Education Students’ Society retreat weekend was fun, but I am glad it’s over. I’m exhausted, slightly burnt, and am more than a little happy that we don’t have another meeting until July 16th, since the over eight hour meeting yesterday about did me in.

I haven’t eaten supper yet but am so worn out that I’ve decided to indulge myself and order in a large vegetarian pizza. I’m going to lay in bed, watch TV, eat pizza, and ignore my laundry and packing for Vancouver. Only two more days until I leave!

I am terrible with names, and do I mean terrible. As in, I actually don’t really listen when I am introduced to people. For some reason, I just sort of zone out. It goes something like this: “Hi, my name is insert white noise here.”

Not exactly something to be proud of, especially as a future teacher who will have to memorize new students’ names every year.

The reason I bring this up is because tomorrow afternoon I am going bowling with the cooperating teacher and grade five class from last March’s two week student teach. Considering that I occasionally had trouble with the students’ names even at the end of my two weeks with them, I can just imagine how embarassed I’ll be tomorrow when I don’t remember which face goes with which name, for I haven’t seen them since March.

Not to mention we won’t be in the classroom. If we were in the classroom, with the seating plan I know, I’d probably be fine. Running around a bowling alley… that’s a whole other story!

I’m thinking I’ll be pulling a grandma tomorrow- my grandma has 18 grandchildren so she goes through at least 3 names before reaching the right one. Instead of Breanne, I am “Nicole-Amy-Megan-BREANNE!”

Maybe I’ll get my student teaching partner, Abby, to tutor me on the students’ names to hopefully keep me from making a complete fool of myself!

These boots are why I don’t mind the rain! I’m not wearing them today, though, for they put undue pressure on my nicely healing foot. Wore them yesterday though.

My addiction to ebay continues, with the purchase of said boots, my perfume, two of these clocks (one for Dad for Father’s Day, one for my brother’s birthday), sunglasses, and a sundress.

No more ebay shopping for me for awhile, I leave for Vancouver next week so need to save money to shop there!

The BF left not too long ago. He’s off to Dorintosh, a little town past Meadow Lake, to meet his cooperating teacher and find a place to live for the fall during his internship.

Considering my busy schedule is keeping me from seeing him the next two weekends, that makes July 6th the earliest date I can see him again. That’s why I’m very happy he decided to come see me last night. We went to Shrek the Third with the free movie passes we got because the movie reel messed up resulting in missing 5-10 minutes of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End a couple of weeks ago.

I’m glad my schedule is so jam packed the next few weeks that I won’t have time to miss him. Instead, I don’t doubt that I’ll have so much fun that I’ll be more sad when the exec retreat and trip to Vancouver are over rather than glad it means I can see him again!

Today was the staff appreciation barbecue at the university. Abby, Carmen, my sister and I all went and enjoyed our lunch relaxing in the sun.

The barbecue special was either a hot dog, drink and dessert for $1, or a hamburger, drink and dessert for $2. I bought both specials, since I’m young and want to enjoy my fast metabolism while I’ve got it!

Dessert was icecream or a cupcake, so I had one of each. Delicious!

Really… that’s the most exciting news so far this week. Life begins to get busy this weekend though, what with going out for Nicole’s birthday and Dad coming to the city. Then next Thursday is the social at the Delta Bessborough for the Alumni Reunion for which I am the College of Education student rep. I am responsible for giving Education alumni a tour of the college on Friday, and then that afternoon I am off to Emma Lake for the Education Students’ Society executive retreat. Back on Sunday, then a barbecue on Monday for everyone who volunteered for the College of Education 80th anniversary celebrations. Finally, on Wednesday I take off for a week in Vancouver.

What with so much on my plate, June will be over in a blink of an eye, and my summer is half over.

The BF took me to some reservoir near his hometown to fish today. Things were going good, it was beautiful outside with a slight breeze. Nice and relaxing time, albeit no bites.

The day went downhill quickly though, starting with my line getting all tangled up inside the reel.

Then I tripped. Not a big deal, I got up, brushed myself off, all the while chuckling at my klutziness. Chuckling stopped when I noticed my foot was gushing blood. Alot of it. Wiped it off, saw how big the gash was, and said to The BF “I think I’m going to need stitches!”

Turns out there was a big piece of metal sticking up from the ground where I tripped, and it slashed open the top of my foot 3 cm.

Next, in the rush to get our fishing gear in his car to get me to the hospital, The BF broke the top of his fishing rod!

Three unfortunate incidents in less than five minutes: my rod, my foot, his rod.

Strangest thing is that my foot never hurt. It stung the tiniest bit, but considering how huge the gash is I thought I would be in tears. All the way back into town I put pressure on it with my hand and my hand cramped up and hurt more than my foot did!

A trip to the hospital and four stitches later, I’m jus’ peachy. Here’s to hoping the next time I go fishing things turn out better!

Well, not yet. I am just thrilled I bought a fishing rod yesterday, and my Saskatchewan Resident Angling Licence today.

I haven’t went fishing in over ten years. I think the last time was when I was around 12. In fact, I think my last time fishing was the same weekend there was an accident involving a fish hook and my head. Long story. No wonder I haven’t went fishing since.

Maybe I can convince The BF to take me fishing this weekend. Hmm… that’s an idea.

Most of the time I don’t feel that old. Not that I am old, mind you. I just mean, as much as it shouldn’t since I will be 24 in less than 2 months, I still am a bit surprised when people I know and are around my age get engaged/married/have children. My reaction is sort of “Really!? Wait a minute… I guess we ARE old enough.”

The reason I write this is because my “sister from another mister” (Chelene, my sister’s best friend) got engaged last week and asked me tonight to be a bridesmaid. My answer was yes of course.

That makes three weddings I was/will be a part of. Bridesmaid last summer for my brother’s wedding, maid of honour for Megan’s wedding this summer, and bridesmaid for Chel’s wedding next May.

“Old” has such a negative connotation to it. So let me make it clear, by saying I feel old I do NOT mean it as a bad thing. I am quite enjoying growing up, and life seems to be getting better and better every year. I’m sure my brother, Megan, and Chelene would agree.

On the weekend I found a VHS copy of Adventures in Babysitting at a garage sale for $1. Since my sister and I had just had a conversation about how much we loved that movie growing up, I had to have it.

We watched it last night, and had a good laugh over the fact that the main character, Chris Parker, a seventeen year old female, is babysitting a fifteen year old boy, his friend, and his little sister. Why so funny you ask? Well, both my sister and I are dating boys who are two years younger than us. So, according to this movie, had we know our boyfriends at age seventeen we could have potentially been their babysitters.

My sister’s and my respective relationships would come as good news to fifteen year old Brad Anderson in the film, for in the movie he has a huge crush on Chris and tries to convince her to date him. Wait until you’re 22, Brad, for then you might have better luck!