Fine, I'll Do It

I'm not sure why this blogging thing has been such a chore lately, but I've been avoiding it. I do however, feel obligated to do something, so here I am. 

So it looks like there'll be an election in October (in Canada, that is), but who'd know it! It's either a really, really good idea for Stephen Harper to call an election before the Americans do their thing, or a really, really bad idea. On the one hand, no one will be paying attention and or be fully informend, or on the other hand, no one will be paying attention and or be fully informed. It good go either way for Steve-0. 

I'm trying to choose to be informed and concerned about the goings on in my own country, but things are definitely overshadowed by the States. I can do something about the things here, I can have a say - this is where my brain should be (and my patriotism). And it is, it's just hard to figure out what's going on. Maybe if one of our party leaders was pregnant they'd get more attention. 

So this weekend there is a gazillion mile yard sale through Musquodoboit (I bet you said that wrong), and up to Truro. Yes friends, I will be there. There is quite a junk racket going on the rural parts of Nova Scotia. Absolutely everything is for sale. I'm not quite sure how anyone is surviving, but apparently selling crap is quite lucrative (ludacris?). What would be ideal, is for there to be some way to melt all this junk down and use it's power for good. How much of it does one person need? Hopefully things are a little more promising this weekend, but I'll bring my camera just in case. So you should be my facebook friend :)

Who? Running for What?

I'm doing my very best to avoid any and all coverage of the US election, and I must say, I'm doing a fine job. Obama who? McCain what? Like the fries?

Well maybe not that good, I know who the running mates are, I know they're having those little convention thingys at the moment, but quite frankly, if I were to truly avoid the whole thing I'd have to remove my frontal lobe and watch Danger Bay reruns all day (I used to have a crush on Jonah... don't know why looking back, but I also had a crush on Roger from Tarzan, who incidentally enough, was on Danger Bay for an episode - the more you know).

Anyway, I'm well aware that whoever wins this horse race will have some affect on me. We're neighbours, co-dependent economies, they have bigger guns, blah blah blah. But that doesn't mean I have to care about whatever happens from now until November, because, given the emblem on my recently expired passport, I don't have a vote, a say, or any leeway, nothin', nadda. And that my friends, is the way I like it.

Uh-huh, uh-huh.

I will, however, be following the Canadian election campaign which will likely be happening in the fall. I haven't been able to vote for one reason or another (last time I wasn't Canadian enough cuz I had been in the states longer than 6 months, and had only recently returned) and I'm going to take advantage of the opportunity.

I'll probably vote Conservative. Since none of the other leaders appear particularly competent. I believe my current representative is Liberal... but Halifax has a strong NDP streak, so I'm not sure what's happening up in this hood.

I just visited the NDP site, and whoa on the trying to be hip factor. That picture of Jack Layton is ridiculous. Looks like he'll be breaking into song a la "From Justin to Kelly" (go ahead, click on that link, I guarantee you will not be disappointed). They have widgets and facebooks and podcasts and youtubes. Then again, none of the parties have a particularly impressive website. After visiting the Conservatives it's evident that they have a hate-on for Mr. Dion. I bet that's an awkward conversation at the urinal.

So as for America... not that interested. It's a little too over the top for me, and I can only handle hearing about the same things for so long. They'll each be villified by their respective "unbiased" news networks, and frankly I don't care whether or not Obama refilled the Brita filter after drinking the last glass.

I'll listen for the winner in a few months, and tick off another box on the list of things I know, but other than that, I'm going to continue changing the channel when coverage comes on.

Non-iversary

Today is my annual "Missed the Blogging Anniversary" post. I stopped Livejournaling and switched to semi-grown-up blogging three years ago yesterday.

Three years ago is a long time to have not accomplished very much. But you know what, I'm ok with that... I guess...

I realized yesterday that tomorrow is not next week, so I'm going camping in the valley for the weekend. It'll be fun and mostly just nice to be out of the city. I had the chance to work a dayshift today, but I didn't take it and am working the night shift tonight. I should have taken it, but I just wasn't feeling another 5am morning. I actually fell asleep before midnight last night, which never happens, and I almost feel non-zombilicious today. Always a nice change.

If I get all packed tonight it'll be a gosh darn miracle, but a do-able miracle. My tent and chair have already gone on vacation, so I just have to worry about clothes, buy an air mattress because mine leaks and doesn't have a pump (I almost wrote pimp... that's an entirely different air mattress for an entirely different demographic). Hopefully I can find a flashlight because my bus doesn't arrive in the valley until 9:30 pm. Although given that I'll be in a backyard I'm not too concerned...

I haven't blogged lately because I've been focused on the faux paus of blogging (work). Somebody has to choose to do it differently, and I don't know how that's going to happen... one day at a time, I guess...

New pet peeve - text messaging. I absolutely hate it when I'm talking to someone and they pull out their little gadgety thinga ma bob and start typing away, while still talking to you. Hate it. Have some basic human respect people!! Especially when I'm telling you how to do something important at work... that makes me not want to work with you ever.

And on that note, I have laundry to do.

Pardon Me

as I barf on your shoes.

I currently have the night shift sickies. They usually strike around 4 or 5 am, resulting from I don't know what. I haven't been afflicted with the sickies in a long time, I thought it was a rookie all-nighter thing, and since I most decidedly am not an all-nighter rookie I thought I was past this stage.

But given the green colour of my gills it seems that I am not.

It could be the coffee. I don't drink caffeinated beverages because they were messing with my system and I'd get home after working all night and not be able to sleep - now that's a frustrating feeling.

But tonight I had a large cafe mocha from Timmy's, and that's what I'm gonna blame.

The night shift sickies is basically just nausea, a rock in your stomach, sensitivity to light, an inability to make rational decisions and general tomfoolery of the nervous system. It looks different for different people, but it always involves nausea. Some people get really cold and shaky, I get too warm... Basically, it sucks.

Speaking of barfing on people's shoes - a few years ago I was visiting with my aunt and uncle in Tennessee on my way home from Alabama. It was Easter weekend, and my flight was scheduled to leave on Tuesday morning.

Sunday afternoon we went to their friends house so the little ones could hunt for eggs over and over and over again. I wasn't feeling so hot, but I chalked it up to the nap I had had, since napping makes me feel yucky.

Why I didn't associate my upset tummy with the stomach flu those same little ones had recovered from a day before I arrived, I'll never know.

So we're sitting in the living room about to enjoy some Papa John's Hawaiian pizza. Things are gurgly, but I'm tough, so I ignore it.

I took one bite and knew it was over. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to make it to any kind of socially acceptable barf receptacle, so floor it was. I did however, in my manic state, try to block the flow with the lady's throw pillow, which now seems like an odd choice given the absorbency of said pillow. Later she told me she didn't care because it was from her mother-in-law. Glad I could help.

The little kids start crying, the adults start gagging. But thankfully my uncle is a nurse, and he adeptly dealt with the mess my guts had created.

It wasn't a good scene.

I then threw up every twenty minutes for the next 24 hours, so I didn't have much time to feel guilty. I moved my flight two weeks forward too, because I was in no condition to fly. So thanks to my disgestive fireworks I was able to see Graceland and the Memphis Zoo... not a bad deal!

Note to self: talking about barfing is the worst thing you can do when feeling barfy...

The Trend Continues

I'm beat. Exhausted. Done in. Sleeeeeeeeepy.

But why? I worked today, but it wasn't particularly hard, challenging or difficult in any way. Still, I come home with the zombie glaze in my eyes.

I'm falling behind too. I have 10 or 12 books out from the library, which includes one by Margaret Atwood so Lord knows that'll take some energy to get through... and there's about 50 hours of unwatched TV sitting on my DVR, just waiting for me to revel in Deadliest Catches, So You Think You Can Dances and Third Watches (Man I love that show, and I'm coming to the end of the series, which makes me sad. Sure, Bosco isn't the nicest guy on the block, but I still loves 'im!).

I haven't gone to the gym lately... maybe that's it. I haven't been eating well lately either, which is most definitely it.

I'm going to try out the chiropracter on Friday, since I'm having neck issues. The kind of issues that prevent you from checking your blind spot so you just switch lanes hoping no one's there, and get beeped at cuz apparently the yuppie in the new grey Jetta was most definitely there and didn't want you and your '95 Camry sitting on her lap. But I digress.

I have this sore spot on my head... I didn't hit my head, so I was curious about it. Google curious, even. I googled "tender spot on head" and came up with a diagnosis relating to jaw issues. Which I totally have, and which are totally related to neck issues... I think it's all one vicious circle. So I kept rubbing the sore spot and now have nose and ear issues... and the ear issues have always been related to my short little neck, which has issues. See what I'm saying?

Dr. Google told me I have brain cancer, so I'm really hoping that's not it.

Maybe I should just sleep more often and google less. If only it were possible!

Titles Are Overrated

Is overrated one word or two? Je ne sais pas.

So last night I got together with some friends to do birthday celebrating... Everyone punked out but 3 of us went downtown and it was lovely. I'm actually glad it was a small crew - I definitely enjoyed myself. We pulled into the driveway at 5:20am, which seems late, but given that all of us do shift work it's not that scandalous. It'd be weird if we were home much before that.

We ended the night at Freeman's Little New York on... on... I don't know what street it's on, but it was the best burger I've ever had, cheap too. Definitely worth a re-visit during daylight hours.

So that leaves us with today and having to drive for 3 hours to get to the family reunion in the valley. Sans air conditioning - and today is a scorcher. It's probably around 29C, but it'll feel higher because the valley doesn't have the luxury of ocean AC like the city does.

We're going to Margaretsville though, which is on the shore of the Bay of Fundy - aka coldest frickin' water south of the Arctic. In all the years I've been going there, I've only put my feet in once that I can recall... I'm excited to take Sheamus beachcombing while we're there - we'll get to introduce him to our rock "castle" that we used to play on as kids... it'll probably be more us playing and him drooling, but whatev!

It's hot here today... Hank isn't handling it very well. For example:

This is what he's been doing for the last two hours - so hot he didn't even move his head when I put the food out a few minutes ago. He's usually in front of the fan, but I don't think he has the energy to move that far.

That's How I Roll

Owning this t-shirt would be perfection. I say this to kids all the time. I do it because it makes me sound "hip", though by saying I'm "hip", I'm automatically not. But if I had this shirt, I could just point, and they'd know. That would be hip.

It appears I'm on a bit of a book kick these days. These kicks of mine come by every now and again, but they don't usually stick around that long. I've been obsessed with various things throughout my life, and to the naked eye they may seem unrelated... and they really are, I guess I would be the common factor... I remember obsessing over "Stars on Ice" for a week or two. I really, really, really wanted to go see them when they came to Halifax. This was back when it was Kurt Browning, Brian somethingorother, the blonde one who does the shampoo commercial now.... is it shampoo? I dunno, I guess the obsession wasn't that strong.

Then there was the Beatles phase that hit around grade 8. I used to call in to the radio station to make a request, but I was embarrassed so I used to make up a name. With any obsession, like addiction, there is some element of shame. I don't think many people outside of my family knew just how consumed by something I would get.

Then there were the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. That was probably the worst event of hyper-focus I've ever experienced. The Olympic obsession has probably had more staying power than the others, I'll still be glued to the TV during the Beijing Olympics... I feel like I owe it to the CBC (this being their last kick at the can). During the '96 Olympics I painstakingly cut out every article the Chronicle Herald had to give, and taped them into scrapbooks. I still have those scrapbooks.

I was a little less insane during Nagano in 1998, but only a little less so. I just did the article thing for the first week, but I saved every photo I could find online onto a bunch of floppy discs. I guess I had no concept of these things being immediately accessible from anywhere for the rest of my life, thanks to teh internets.

I can't really explain what happens when these phases hit. It's like an absolute, unsalvable compulsion. I haaaaaaaaaaaad to watch the Beatles Anthology just. one. more. time. I haaaaaaaaaaaad to watch all the Olympic coverage, I had to know everything. Whatever it was (is) my mind is completely consumed with it for a period of time. Those periods of time seem to be a bit shorter these days, but it still happens.

So as I was saying.... books are nice. If you like free books you should visit Bookmooch.com. It's pretty simple. You put some books on there that you have and are willing to give away. Then when people ask for one, you mail it to them. You get points depending on what you give away, and you ask for books, and people mail them to you. The cost is whatever you pay for shipping, but the books (and signing up) are free.

I'm hoping to shed some of the unwanted books that I've been carting around from place to place and collect some of the classics I'm currently missing. Right now I'm anticipating the arrival of Michael Ondaatje's The English Patient. I'm jonesing for some new livres.

jones - (jōnz) n. Heroin.
An addiction or craving. intr.v. jonesed, jones·ing, jones·es To have an eager or intense desire: "was jonesing for caffeine" [Perhaps from the name Jones.]

Perhaps.

Pocket Full of Sunshine

I work in a windowless building that is by the nature of my work filled with teenage boys. This, plus the fact that I work a lot of nights, makes it difficult for me to adjust to it being summer... Other than of course, the glowing stench of body pits and rotting sneakers...

Boys stink... but if you tell them they stink, they just cover it up with gobs of Axe, which is probably worse.

At any rate, in an attempt to get in the spirit of things I went to a gas station and got a slushie. A large, delirously blue, deliriously awesome slushie. It's like they bottled summer and then froze it, just so you could slurp it up and bask in the sugary goodness. But not too fast though, for the buzz kill of the first summer slushie is the inevitable brain freeze. Often so intense it makes you wonder if you'll ever see colour again.

I used to work at a gas station where they had the obligatory slushie machine, just to the left of the beef jerky and marshmallows. I'm not sure who was responsible for cleaning it, but I'm pretty sure that since I was the one wearing the blue and red polo with the name tag, it was probably me who was supposed to do something about the mold growing around the tap. I never touched the thing and cringed whenever kids would slop the sticky goodness into a plastic cup...

As far as I know, know one's ever died in any slushie related incident, so I'm probably off the hook.

Unavailable to Take Your Call

On the commute home from work the past few shifts I find myself composing elaborate facebook status updates, and it's driving me nuts. My inner monologue is permanently stuck in third person and I'm losing my grip. So I'm giving in and here are my thoughts in 3/4 time.

Evelyn wants a full-time position.
Evelyn is growing increasingly comfortable with her lameness.
Evelyn has no idea what to do next, in day, in year, in life.
Evelyn wants to go far, far away.
Evelyn knows she's losing it - she thought skydiving might be a good idea. It's not.
Evelyn is really good at her job. Deal wid it.
Evelyn is fine with being single and childless. It's nice and it's different than what everyone else is doing these days.
Evelyn thought she had more to say, but she doesn't.

I Tried

I thought for a minute there I might get back into regular blogging, but alas, it was not to be...

Thanks to those who replied to my "begging for comments" post. It was an attempt to see who the "stangers" out there are, but hearing from friends is OK too.

Nothing really new on the homefront. Just the regular trifecta of work, eat, sleep. Some days I go to the gym, but I don't know the word for "four" things of awesomeness. I visited with Sheamus a few days ago. Make that the strange infant that ate the baby formerly known as Sheamus because dangity dang he's getting big!

I think I have a calming effect on the child because everytime I hold him he leaves a treat in the nappy. It's not for me though, I make sure daddy gets to enjoy that particular moment of scattelogical bonding.

I've applied for some full-time terms and positions and I'm really hoping I land one. I'm antsy for some regularity because there are things in the big wide world I'd like to do, but can't since my schedule changes so frequently. We shall see...

If you like the Barenaked Ladies (or even if you don't), I suggest you check out the video in the post below. They have just released a kids album (Snacktime) and it's delicious. At least this song is... I haven't heard anything else. Enjoy.

Nightshifts and Other Oddities

Since working on the male unit I haven't had as many night shifts, so this morning as I was crawling into bed at 8:00 am, I discovered that falling asleep to a blazing sun is more difficult than I remember... but having been awake for almost 24 hours I somehow managed to squeeze in some shut eye.

I also had a weird, crazy, complicated dream that was as layered as a green ogre. If I know you, you were probably in it. In a change from the norm I was not packing in this dream, which hopefully doesn't mean that I'm not going anywhere anymore (literally or figuratively), cuz that would suck (though this rut is rather comfy). Kids I work with were there, professors, roomates, co-workers, family... it was a veritable cornucopia of aquaintances, I'm lucky I got out alive!

Did I mention that I changed a diaper for the first time ever in my life this past week? Because I totally did! Mom and I had been helping my brother, his wife and Sheamus (6 weeks already!) move this past week. Bro got a job on a farm in Shubenacadie and the farmer has a little house they can rent for very cheap on the property. It's pretty small and "farmesque" but it's a good deal and they can be free of extraneous family members. Anyway, one afternoon bro was at work, mom went to town to pick up SIL's prescription for mastitis (man... mastitis is not a good time), and SIL was in the shower.

So there we were, Sheamus and his favourite auntie (me) chillin' on the couch. I'm glad everyone was gone because I didn't want the judgemental eyes of experienced diaper changers judging me. It went fine, he was clean and happy, and I felt accomplished. And, to top it off, I was able to rock him to sleep without relying on the trusty Scotch from the cupboard. Nope, as long as Sheamus can suck your thumb, he's happy... that may get old when he's 5, but whateva! He's cute now and that's what counts.

Twilight before the Bloom

I like this time of year. It's around this time that I know I've reached the end alive, and though my flaky skin remains to tell the tale of a battle against indoor heating, I know that my oatmeal moisturizer will once again reign triumphant.

Soon things will start blooming, right after that last dollop of winter not dissimilar to the last popcorn kernel that pops just when you think the bag is done. I heard my grandmother once say that yellow is the first color of the year to show itself, followed by purple... I can't remember what comes next, all I know is it's pretty and probably smells nice.

In other news, my job at work as changed a little. I've moved across the hall and am now working with teenage boys. Boys are gross, and they do gross things. They stink, and burp, and stink, and pick things and then wipe it on the couch. And my word the stench of the feet! The rotting shoes! The blackened socks! Don't they notice??? Blech.

Boys also require a lot more energy. Girls at this age really don't want much to do with you. You're there to facilitate their lives and make sure they're well supplied in Tinkerbells to colour and fake nails to adorn their nicotine stained fingers (smoking's down, didn't you hear, which I think means lying is up, but I digress). Boys on the other hand, want to play with you, and argue with you, and tease, and run around, and be told nice things, and talk to you when it's time for bed because they don't wanna go to sleep.

I'm usually pretty tired at the end of a shift now, a good tired mind you, but tired none the less. I think it might even be easier to build a relationship with the boys... I don't like saying it's easy, maybe it's just faster, I don't know. I've definitely done more "youth care" over here in the last week than on the female side. It's nice though, I'm glad to see that I don't suck at it. Cuz that would be bad and I would be fired.

Saturday is the baby shower my nephew. It'll be a small crowd at my apartment, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm a bit addicted to planning and tend to go a wee bit overboard with the list making, but as long as I'm enjoying it I don't really care. The problem is getting other people to acquiesce to what I need them to do.

Today I ordered, "Announcing Baby Boy" photo thingys from Walmart and was genuinely impressed with the process. I clicked some buttons and they were ready and printed at the store 3 minutes later. I wish everything were that easy! I have the next two days off, so I'm going to start gathering supplies. I've recently learned that I love shopping for baby stuff, everything is so cute! The struggle is to find clothing outside of the blue spectrum, so I bought something red today to attempt to counter balance. I'm planning on attempting a diaper cake, I'm sure there will be photo evidence in a few days.

Even Keel

Lately I've been feeling like I've reached a certain homeostasis, and things have been running fairly smoothly... That's not to say that exciting things haven't happened, i.e. new nephew (who is doing great, btw, though I haven't seen him since he left the hospital). But generally there hasn't been much to drag me down or pull me up in the past little while. I go to work, I sleep, I go to the gym, to the library, to Walmart...

I needs a change, but don't I always think that? I think it's mostly that I don't feel very focused at the moment. I'm not really working towards anything, just moving through each day without a defined destination. School? Trip? Move? Dog? I dunno...

My perceived blahness tends to be associated with how things are going at work. It's been quiet the past little while, with no really significant challenges.

Maybe I'll just get my hair did, that tends to lighten things up. Unfortunately sameness does not create a great deal of fodder for the blogdom. I can't seem to find my muse or memento mori these days. Maybe someday I'll get a position with a regular schedule and I'll get to do regular things with regular people, I know they're out there somewhere!

Sweetness

I picked up my laptop on Saturday and life hasn't been the same since... OK, well, it's been the same, just much more "connected".



I lurve it very much, and I'm very happy with my purchase. There's not much software on it, so it's not really that "fun" per se, though it's wireless and someone around here has an unsecure network, which is why I get to talk to you today.



I took this photo 30 seconds ago, and can share it with you now, just because I can!

Nothing of Significance

You know how sometimes you get songs stuck in your head? Somedays I have a word stuck in my head... it replays itself in various parts of my inner monologue but it rarely creeps out in real conversation. I'll also see it spelled out in various fonts. Is that weird?

The other day I had the pleasure of driving the old '95 Camry that I call home over the 250 000 mark. It was nifty and if anyone has an extra set of struts and shocks you can send them my way. We don't just try to avoid pot holes, we swerve as if the existence of time and space itself will be ripped in twain if we hit it the wrong way. Anyone needing some help in progressing labour can go for a ride in the back seat. If that doesn't do it, you weren't pregnant in the first place.

Is it possible to get mini migraines? I feel like maybe that's what I get... there's sensitivity to light and certain noises, and it usually starts with a whole lot of nausea. Unfortunately I was eating some smoked salmon at the time of the nausea, so I don't think I'll be having that any time soon.

I just finished reading "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini, and it was perfect. It's a lovely round ball of literary goodness. It takes place in Afghanistan over a period of several years, and I can't say enough good things about it. I won't tell you anything about it, but you definitely need to read it. There's a movie based on the novel and it's in the theatres here until Wednesday so I'm going to try and get out to see it.

Speaking of Afghanistan, I think we need to stay there... There's going to be a confidence vote in parliament over the extension of the combat mission there, and I think that unless the local authorities are fully capable in handling security, we should stay and help. We're not even giving them prisoners at this point because they're being tortured in Afghani prisons... I'm pretty sure that if it were possible to end the combat mission they would, and that the Canadian army using guns just because they can, and if that were no longer needed they would change tactics. At least I hope so. But if their hands are tied and there are less options it seems that things could destabilize quite quickly.

Then again, I've never been there so really, what do I know?

My nephew is coming soon! Just under a month left unless she goes way overdue, which is entirely possible. Despite his growth and the shrinking space he has to play in, Sheamus is still moving around quite a bit and it is very cool. And weird... like an alien trying to break out of her intestines. I think he was trying to moon us the other day, unless that was his head poking through.

I guess that's it for random thoughts of the day. I hear we're supposed to have a snowstorm tomorrow, so enjoy!

Canadian Psycho

Shift work is an employment practice designed to make use of the 24 hours of the clock, rather than a standard working day. The term shift work includes both long-term night shifts and work schedules in which employees change or rotate shifts.

Shift work shortens your life span. It increases your likelihood of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, depression, heart disease, family problems, on the job injuries, etc.

So why do it? Mostly cuz I have to. I don't work in the kind of environment that is able to just take care of itself when the normal world is sleeping. I have to do it, at least as long as I carry on as a Youth Care Worker, but I am quite aware of the adverse effects of this lifestyle. It makes you real messed up, man.

The worst shift turnover is when I work a night shift (say Thursday 11pm-7am) and then have to try and wake myself up Friday so I can get to bed at a reasonable hour because I work all day Saturday. It's not pretty. Last night I slept 2am-5:30am, worked all day today. Now I'll go home and stay up as late as I can because I'm working Sunday 7pm until Monday 7am... It's confusing...

Anyway, the point of this story is I'm tired. I didn't mind working only 7p shifts (night shifts, in youth care speak), because the switching back and forth really does me in. Then again I wouldn't wish four night shifts in a row on anyone.

I'm tough though... right?

I want to Dance!

Ever have that desire to write, but nothing (seemingly) to write about? Inspiration sans content, that is me.

Perhaps I should be more observant in my every day life, therefore aquiring little anecdotes to brighten your day. It's not so much that I'm not observant, as I have no life. No seriously. I have no life. I work, I sleep, I occasionally scrapbook. C'est tout.

Alright, maybe that's not all... I have dabled in the church thing again, which is great. I've been to Birch Cove Baptist a few times and it'll probably stick. My schedule has been uncooperative, making that one hour a week amazingly impossible to fit in. I may go Catholic, they have more options.

Sunday night was spent at the Lower Deck after work. A bar as old as the city it entertains. I'd never been there before, and was a little surprised at how small it is. But it's refreshingly "maritimey", quaint, and swashbucklingly festive. If Johnny Depp had stepped into the room in full pirate garb, he would not have been out of place. The band was Signal Hill, a fav among the locals. Who goes out on a Sunday night besides binging Dal students you ask? That would be those of us who are excited when Monday gets here because it means a day off.

I finally switched over to Statcounter to find out who's been visiting. I don't know why I didn't do it sooner, whatever I was using before only told me the last ten visits and nine of them were usually me. 16, 500 visits later I've upgraded. What I did know previously was that the keyword that most often brought visitors was "Jillian Jiggs". I think I mentionned it a year ago, but the people are still interested. A few visitors were looking for "North Preston's Finest", the name (according to the papers) of a gang of pimps... Hopefully they mean no harm... I'm super nice!

Speaking of sixteen thousand, five hundred visits... I'm rather proud of that number as I've earned it 2-5 visits per day. Maybe I should mention Jillian Jiggs and pimp gangs more often?

My latest internet guilty pleasure is visiting a number of Northern Blogs, written by people who make their living north of the tree line. I know I've said it before, but I really, really, really want to move there. I consider it often. I've been checking the job postings in Noonavoot, but there hasn't been much I'm qualified for. They send most of their kids to Alberta when they're in care, and I haven't determined if there's a group home there or what.

Today I read "The Bad Mother's Handbook" and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've ended up being a picky reader, I used to read anything that was handy, but now if I'm not grabbed by the author's style in the first page or so, the chances that I'll actually finish it are slim. I cannot stand cheesy or predictable writing, it makes me bonkers. And there are major demerits for typos. When I publish my Oprah Winfrey book of the month and Giller Prize nominee, there will not be a tpyo. I pormise.

Welcome to the Jungle

Here I am... beautiful Margaretsville. I have some days off (in a row! Can you imagine!), and since I didn't make it down at Christmas, I'm here for "old" Christmas. You know, the orthodox kind.

For those of you playing along at home, my little cousin Hailey has returned home. She's been home since Thursday and is doing great. She's two and a half weeks old and is already very alert and is almost able to lift her head. She's also very cute, and I got to hold her for the first time this evening. It's pretty neat to watch a newborn wake-up. There are pictures, but I'm in the valley and God has not yet blessed the region of the world with high speed internet, heck, there's not even a Wal-mart!

My grandparents house is a twilight zone. It usually takes me a few minutes to adjust to the heavy silence when I walk in the house. It even feels silent when people are talking... there's this ominous lack of buzzing... the buzzing of the outside world... It's difficult to explain, it starkly contrasts the buzz of my day to day life, the teenagers, the radios, the traffic. That doesn't happen here and in it's place there's a blanket of quiet that will either drive you mad or... well tonight it's only driving me mad so that's all that comes to mind.

Then there's that clock... the constant timekeeper that marks each passing second with a punctuated tick. I've never been here when it hasn't been ticking. It's both a reminder of the history of this small, handmade house, and the future of my ailing grandfather, who is now suffering (not suffering... existing through) the hallmarks of his age and life. The last stroke he had was Friday night at 4am. I'm praying there isn't one while I'm here... That would freak me out. He still remembers me well, and the glimmers of his absurd, crude and embarrassing humour still sneak through the fading eyes and toothless grin.

The toothless grin is his favorite prop.

I'm here till Tuesday. It won't feel like long enough, but I'll be itching to leave at the same time. Did I mention they cancelled the cable???

And so this is New Years

In the dying moments of 2007, I want to go over the highlights of this past year.

Uh... everything stayed the same?? This is probably the first year where nothing of particular significance happened. I had the same job all year, lived in the same city all year... I worked, I had a four day vacation, I.... Well that's about it! I don't mind though, really. I guess everyone needs a low key kind of year every now and again.

I'm not a big New Year's resolution person but this year I'm giving up two things. No more pop, and no more fast food. Don't laugh! I'm serious... it's happening.

I'm at work, it's 5 minutes to midnight and the girls are going out for a smoke. They'll probably miss the countdown, but that's alright. They have to go to bed afterwards anyway.

So Happy New Year kids! Who knows what'll happen in 2008... Maybe this time next year I'll be writing from the Arctic.

Bi-Polar

I'm sure that all the kids who went to bed last night watching a blizzard outside their windows will be disappointed to wake up to bare lawns and the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof.

Last night I drove to work with almost zero visibility and snowbanks in the middle of the highway... and this morning I'll drive home on clear with great visibility, thanks to the buckets of rain that fell after the snow. Yesterday it was -10c and today it's 7c. I guess that's what coastal living will do for you!

I'm a fan of the blizzard part myself, except for the cleaning of the car... I've enjoyed my recent foray into commuting since November. I've never had a "commute", and I kinda like it. You feel like a bigger part of the city because now when you hear Jim Nunn talk about traffic complaints you know what the deal is. I especially love that my commute is opposite to everyone elses since I'm going home when they're all driving to the city.

I don't know what I want for Christmas. This will either mean that everything I get is awesome, or slightly disappointing... Last night I realized that I would really love to get a keyboard, but I need some back-ups, and the time's a wasting!

I planned on going to the valley tomorrow for the day, but I may just wait until my ugly Christmas schedule is over and go after New Year's... I'm working both Christmas Day and New Year's Eve this year which stinks, plus Thursday - Sunday running up to Christmas (Monday off). I'm sure it'll be great fun...

Well that sure was a dry post. I'm sure a trip outside in this weather will remedy that!

*cough*