Bryanna and the City

I moved to London

2009-08-03T14:34:00.002-07:00

and I've moved my writing over here: Vodka and Chaka Khan

Come in. Sit down. Have a drink.

Cheers!

xx Bry

Riddle

2009-06-05T10:53:00.003-07:00

Q: What's better than getting your last pay cheque?

A: Getting your last pay cheque plus an unexpected vacation pay-out. Sweeeet!

Time to partay! Or at least buy that overpriced wrap sweater/shirt from Oqoqo, thus completing my airplane/arriving in London outfit!

But...it's "free"!

2009-06-04T12:22:00.003-07:00

When I arrive in London I'll be staying with my sister and her fiancé, but this little arrangement won't last forever and I'll have to find my own place. Just a second ago, I went onto Gumtree.com, just to check out some places and get an idea of monthly rental prices, and this is the first one I clicked on:

Rent free bed share for open-minded friendly, warm female. Tall white hot blooded caring man 36 is offering to share his very comfortable double bed in flat near Docklands everyday.

Wow! The Rent is FREE! And I'm an "open-minded" female! And "warm"! And...wait...what?! It's a "bedshare"?

Huh?

Ohhhh...

Okay, next!

*full ad here

Theme Song for June 2009

2009-06-04T10:13:00.002-07:00

Warning: This post contains penises & boobies!

2009-05-29T13:43:00.002-07:00

Last weekend I celebrated the gorgeous weather by spending Saturday and Sunday at the beach. Saturday was spent at Wreck. I always have a hard time focusing on my reading material when I’m there. Perhaps this has something to do with the penises? Or the boobies?! Nonetheless, I couldn’t make it through one page of Madam Bovary the entire 4 hours I was there.

Sunday I went to Jericho. And wouldn’t you know it, the people I was meeting chose a beach log right next to a volleyball net where one of my exes was smoking the weed (as per usual when we were together, even though he always whined about being broke, brokety, broke, broke) and hitting some balls (volleyballs, that is). I always imagined running into him after he unceremoniously went MIA with my favorite pair of earrings three years ago. I practiced what I would say. Imagined how I would look. In my fantasies, I always looked amazing, naturally. But I never bumped into him again. Until then…

When I spotted his pasty, scrawny body, just a few meters away from where I was sitting, I was like, “oh, hey, there’s J*el..hmm..okay, so, who wants get my back with lotion?”.

And that was that.

I just wish it didn’t take 3 years to feel so ambivalent.

Just call me Bridget Jones

2009-05-27T23:37:00.000-07:00

I know this makes me sound like a huge spazz, but I’m planning on packing my scale. And, before you get all “Bryanna, that’s f*cked!” on me, let me try to explain.

Growing up I was never what you would classify as “skinny”, I did go through a chubby phase, but, in general, my body type was what you might call average. Not skinny, not fat, just average. This isn’t to say that I never desired to be thinner, I’m a girl, of course I did (and do), but my weight was not a big issue growing up. I played sports, my mom cooked healthy dinners and my dad packed me a healthy lunch. I even avoided the dreaded “Freshman 15” when I made the transition from high school to university.

However, I wasn’t so lucky when I made the transition from university to the work force. I gained 20 lbs. Very quickly. I was in denial for the first few months, but when I finally weighed myself, I couldn’t deny it any longer.

I was fat.

To make a long, hard, desperate story short, it took me 1 year, 1 very stressful job, and 2 very unhealthy months of disordered eating to finally lose the weight (25 lbs total). Since then, I have gained 5 lbs, but for over a year, I’ve maintained myself at a “healthy for me” weight. I attribute this to the fact that I keep track of my weight, not daily, but at least once a week. If I’m up one week, I tailor my diet the next week, perhaps cutting out those candies I pilfer from the candy bowl at work. Nothing drastic. It’s simple and it works for me.

One of my fears about moving to London is how the change in lifestyle will affect my body. I will be drinking more and probably moving less. I don’t want to be fat again. It’s a horrible feeling. Both physically and emotionally.

So there you have it. My scale is coming with me. Of course, I could just buy a scale there, but I prefer my weight in pounds not stones.

London Calling

2009-05-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

When I first started thinking about the idea of moving to London, I was extremely unhappy. My return from my travels in Asia back in February of 2008 was quickly followed by 2 months of depression. I wouldn’t say it was severe, but it was one of the lowest times in my life. I could hardly get through a morning, day, or night without crying. I was very good at hiding it. Bathroom breaks at work turned into crying breaks and, at night, I mastered the silent sob. I felt completely lost, disconnected, and, to put it plainly, sad.

After my relationship with Sean ended last summer, I decided that running away to London was a fantastic way to move on. Of course, I didn’t have the funds to immediately do so. I figured it would take me a few months to get enough money together to ship out, but my increased cost of living now that I was on my own and my new addiction to SHOES! & SKIRTS! & TOPS! left very little at the end of the month for my “Running Away to London Savings Account”. I kept pushing it back and pushing back, until one evening a few months ago. I was walking along 4th avenue in Kitsilano when I looked up and saw the most beautiful full moon that I had ever seen. The contrast of the turquoise sky gave it a yellowish tone and I literally gasped with delight upon seeing it. It was in that moment that I realized that I needed to make a plan. I rushed home and crunched the numbers. I decided that two more months would be enough. And the next day I filled out a passport renewal form.

***

Three weeks ago I realized that I was happy.

The depression from last spring had long since subsided, and for the first time, in a long time, I was fully aware of my happiness. I felt it in the sun. I felt it in the anonymous faces passing me along the street. I felt it in the cool breeze whipping my hair against my face. I felt it in my heart. I realized that I was no longer running away to London in search of happiness or in an attempt to escape my sadness.

I am happy.

And, now, I’m excited too!

I'm moving!

2009-05-24T11:59:00.003-07:00

To London, England!

I fly out June 24th. Return date: unknown. My work visa expires June 2011, but I will be back for a quick visit next summer for my sister's wedding in Vancouver. She got engaged last week and we're all very happy & excited for her.

If your first reaction is to inform me that the cost of living is extremely high, please don't. I am fully aware and it's an annoying & unnecessary buzz kill. Especially from people who have neither lived in the UK nor visted.

I've been an obsessive list maker for the past couple of months. So far, luckily, preparations for the big move have gone smoothly. I even have an offshore UK bank account set up with money in it.

The only snag has been trying to transfer my cell phone contract and avoid the $400 cancellation fee. I figure it's just another cost of moving, but it's still extremely annoying dishing out that kind of cash when I could be using it for much more important things....like a weekend in Paris.

More details later!

P.S. I may also start a new blog.

Is this a headache? Or is my hair done up too tightly?

2009-04-29T09:37:00.004-07:00

I'm a mild hypochondriac. So when I found out yesterday that someone I was hanging out with last night hung out with someone in Mexico who was recently diagnosed with Swine Flu, I started to get a little scared. And when I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like a might puke, I got a little more scared. And after sneezing 5 times this morning, I self diagnosed myself with Swine Flu. Yes, people, I have the Swine Flu.

Well, actually, no. No, I guess I technically don't have Swine Flu, but if this person who I was hanging out with last night, who hung out with someone in Mexico who was recently diagnosed with Swine Flu, gets Swine Flu...I could be next!

This would be horrible timing since I have a week's holiday coming up and would rather be going to cafes drinking overpriced coffee and people watching and reading at the beach instead of shitting and puking and being bed ridden and having a flu that is usually associated with, well, pigs.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Full-time Awesome

2009-04-24T10:28:00.002-07:00

Thanks for the positive feedback guys! I just want to clarify that I wasn't actually offended about my Mom's statement. If your Mom can't say that sort of thing, who can?

Also, I peak every time I leave my apartment building. I am, let's not forget, amazingly awesome.

So, just to tease a little, I have started operation "Full-time Awesome". I had been waiting for one very important piece of the operation to arrive for weeks now, and when it finally did, yesterday at 1:00 in the afternoon, I got the ball rolling in a big, BIG way. I am trying very hard to repress my excitement, but it finally feels like it will be a reality..and soon! I can't wait! I'm still able to sleep at night and the oh-my-god-I-have-so-much-to-do-and-have-no-time-to-eat stage where I lose 5 lbs hasn't started yet. But I'm prepared this time.

TGIF!

Er, love ya too, Mom.

2009-04-22T12:23:00.004-07:00

This past Easter my Mom, my rock, my inspiration looked at me and said, “Bryanna you have to figure out what you’re going to do with your life. You don’t’ want to be one of those people that peaked in high school.”

Um, ouch?!

She has a point. I do worry about this. I worry that I have no direction. I worry that I’ll wake up one morning and wonder where the years went. I worry that I’m searching for happiness instead of just being happy in the moment. I worry about what other people think when I say, “I’m a receptionist”, even though it’s not permanent. You see? I can’t even say it without adding a disclaimer. I worry about money, even when I have it. However, I don’t think it’s a completely fair statement, this “peaking in high school” she talks about. You see, I kicked ass in high school. No, I took the ass of high school and kicked it so hard that it still needs an inflatable donut to sit down and, even then, it winces and curses my name. I played sports. I volunteered. I was involved in clubs and councils and groups. I got straight A’s and was Co- Valedictorian. I also had a part-time job and partied and hung out with boys and partook in a little underage drinking and perhaps some other “controlled” substances. Oh, and did I mention the Governor General’s medal? Yeah, so I’m kind of at a disadvantage here. I mean, if I’m not the valedictorian at my job or in my relationships does that mean that I’m not successful? Does that mean that my life now is less valuable, less important, less…meaningful? Does that really mean that my life is headed on a steady decline? At the age of 26?

And what about the people that sucked in high school? Those who just softly caressed the ass of high school? Can it really be that by just “not sucking” post high school they’re doing any better than me in life?

And what do we classify as success anyways? Is success directly proportional to the amount of student loan debt one incurs over the years? The more zeros, the more one is, supposedly, educated? Or is it the zeros in one’s bank account or one’s pay check that matter? Or perhaps it’s not even a numbers game, it’s one of letters? How many letters do you have after your name? Only 2? Hmm…guess you peaked in high school sweetie.

The tricky thing is that success is subjective. Everyone has his or her own idea about what success really is and consequently they judge others by this personal yard stick. For some people it’s money, for others it’s a family, and for some it’s about experience. For most, I hope, it has something to do with happiness, but, I wouldn’t want to subject my own biases onto you and assume this.

I may not be where I hope to be in 5 years, but who really is? We change. We grow. We constantly move forward. And that’s what I’m doing.

I just can’t really write about it…yet.

TOOT...toot, toot!

2009-04-21T12:15:00.004-07:00

Hey, so this is my blog and I'll toot my own horn if I want to!

While I was eating my amazingly tasty homemade spinach, turkey, feta, & cottage cheese quesadilla that I finished, oh 2 minutes ago, I had one of those, "I'm freakin' awesome (!!!)" moments. Actually, maybe the word was amazing? Anyways, it was one of those a-words.

I'm amazingly awesome.

Speaking of amazingly awesome a-things, it's Alayne's birthday today. Happy Birthday, Sister from the same Mister! xx

K, thanks for checking in!

Toot-toot!
Beep-beep!

Same guy, same street corner, same question...a whole new kind of creepy

2009-04-14T08:41:00.002-07:00

So, I saw the "coffee guy" again this morning. From the directions the unsuspecting woman was giving him, it was obvious that he had asked her the exact same question.

Is this guy a creep or a genius?

I'm leaning towards creep. A very persistent creep.

2009-04-09T08:54:00.002-07:00

In the past week I've seen two people walking around Vancouver with surgical face masks on. It makes me wonder, either they know something we don't know, or people in Vancouver are getting very paranoid/germaphobic.

Hm...

Also, organic almonds are much more expensive (almost 3x more) than ordinary ones. I bought some in the bulk foods section at Safeway the other day and for a second I felt an impulse to write down the non-organic bin #. I did not and ended up paying over ten dollars for a weeks worth of snacking almonds. They don't taste any better than the non-organic ones, FYI.

Since writing about getting a new hair style for 2009, I have not gotten my hair cut or highlighted. It is at the long and unruly stage again. I also have a year's worth of roots. That's like, 6 inches. I am only mildly concerned about this, as I have other more important things to spend my money on these days...like organic almonds.

I am heading to Kamloops for the Easter long weekend tonight on the Greyhound. I wonder how long people will continue to warn me about sitting at the front of the bus to avoid being decapitated?

It took me a few minutes to think of the term decapitated. I thought it started with the letter "c". My thought process went like this: "capacitated"... no..."capitated"... no..."capapitated"... no..."what the f*ck is this word?" I figured it out eventually.

Moving along...

I think my dental hygienist thinks that I'm bulimic. Apparently, my teeth show signs of frequent puking. I haven't thrown up since last summer when I drank three gin martinis. I puked up green olives. I haven't had a gin martini since.

Speaking of puke, the cute little neighborhood cat is back. She puked up green grass on my carpet the other day and ever since I've been hesitant about letting her back in. I mean, if I wanted to clean up cat puke, I'd have a cat of my own. Right? Right. She is super cute though, minus the puking incident.

"Discretionary" holidays are annoying. Either give us the day off, or make us come in. I don't want to feel like a slacker if I take it off and I also don't want to feel like a martyr if I come in. Hmm...yes, annoying.

I need to get out of my cell phone contract. Out of the many, many things that I need to do in the next 8 weeks, this is the one that is giving me the most anxiety. I'll let you know how Bell vs. Bryanna goes.

Writing short random things about nothing is much easier than writing something with any substance.

2009-04-06T11:02:00.006-07:00

On my two block walk to work this morning I was approached by a young-ish man. He wanted to know where he could go for coffee in the area that wasn't a McBlenzbucks. I pointed him towards Wicked two blocks North and some places further up Granville. And then he was like, "hey, would you like to go for coffee with me sometime? I mean, you probably have a boyfriend..."

I smiled. Thanked him. Declined. And went on my way.

---

The weather has been blissfully wonderful these past few days. It's amazing how the sun can invigorate the body. I've missed it and hope that it decides to stick around for a while.

Things are good here. Really good. Great even!

Hopefully I'll be able to write about the good and the great soon. Give me 6 weeks or so.

Just Run

2009-03-23T12:57:00.003-07:00

I went for a run yesterday afternoon. I was tired, hungover and dehydrated. A run seemed like a logical cure for all of these things. I blame this sudden burst of energy on the mild weather and the fact that the sun was making an appearance for the first time in what seemed like weeks. However, once I started, I didn't want to stop. I ran to Science World and continued along the sea wall, dodging children on bikes and dogs on leashes. I passed under three bridges: Cambie, Granville, Burrard. I told myself that I would stop once I made it to Burrard Street, but once I was there I wanted to keep going. So that's what I did. All the way the Stanley Park. When my feet started to ache I decided to turn back. I spent a few minutes on the Burrard Street Bridge watching the sail boats in the bay and the white caps of the North Shore mountains. Taking it all in. Committing it all to memory. And then I made my way home.

My body is reprimanding me this morning for the impromptu 15km run, but it was definitely worth it.

Happy Spring!

1 Year Ago

2009-03-08T18:30:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my 1 year anniversary at my current job.

The only other job that I've been at longer is my first ever job at the law office. I was there for just under 3 years.

I've had many, many, many jobs. Which have ranged from 1 day to 8 month contracts. There's something that I find refreshing about starting a new job, and, to be honest, I'm shocked that I've stayed here this long.

I'm baking cookies tonight to celebrate with my co-workers tomorrow.

It's only fitting as the office "Bake-off Champion" for 2008.

I've been wanting to get my hair did...

2009-03-06T13:24:00.014-08:00

I've spent hours on hairmixer.com trying to pick out a "new do" for 2009...

What do you think?

Stranger Danger

2009-03-06T10:52:00.002-08:00

When I was young, my parents gave my sisters and I a code word that was to be used if ever someone we didn’t know, or in some cases did know, wanted us to go somewhere with him/her alone.

We were told to keep this word a secret. The only non-family member that I told was my best friend T. And she told me hers too. I remember both.

It was never used. And even though I’m almost 26, I’m not going to tell you it.

Because, from now on, any boy who wants to pick me up will have to give me the code word first.

Which they can get from my Mom.

Keeping my sense of humour...just barely

2009-03-05T12:44:00.002-08:00

"[I will] stop forming romantic attachments to any of the following: alcoholics, workoholics, sexaholics, commitment-phobics, peeping toms, megalomaniacs, emotional fuckwits, or perverts."

I've decided to be single.

Completely single.

No more dates. No more phone calls. No more texting. No more emails. No more Facebook instant messaging. Nothing.

Why?

See that quote up there taken from Bridget Jones's Diary? Well, in the past three months I've dated them all. I can't confirm the peeping tom, but it wouldn't shock me if all or at least one of them fit the bill.

They're all freaks, Internet.

And I have bigger fish to fry.

The Crying Couch

2009-01-20T17:00:00.002-08:00

I affectionately refer to my hand-me-down reclining couch as the “crying couch”. It’s seen many tears, tissues, and “woe is me” moments. Since moving out on my own I’ve become more in touch with my emotions, or rather I now have the privacy that I’ve craved to express them freely. I dance like I’ve never danced before, laugh out loud when I think of something funny, and cry without the worry of having to explain my tears. Because, to be honest, sometimes they have no explanation, they just arrive. And when they do, I sit on the crying couch -roll of toilet paper in hand- and let them fall. Without holding back, without explanation, without an audience.

The past few months have been an interesting adventure. There have been ups and there have been deep, dark, down moments. I keep a journal next to the crying couch and when my eyes have nothing left to shed, I pick it up and write. Or sometimes I just doodle. It helps.

Being single these past 6 months has been both fantastic and frightening. Exciting and ridiculously frustrating. The same can be said for entering the dating scene all over again.

Again.

Ugh.

But in case this post seems heavy on the melancholy, don’t fret. There is much more laughter, dancing, excitement, and anticipation of the future than crying couch episodes.

Trust me.

I’ll tell you about my "dancing kitchen" next time.

So it's like this.

2008-09-30T12:07:00.002-07:00

I don't feel like I can write freely on this blog anymore. Not that I ever really could, it's just become so hard to think of things to write when I'm trying to spare feelings and keep certain relationships intact. In case you didn't know, it's not all happy revelations, sunshine, and puppies over here. Plus, there are things I really shouldn't write about yet because it conflicts with certain commitments and may cause a lot of problems for me if this particular news got out. So I've basically censored myself into silence. It's easier that way, if a little boring for you. This is such a laughably cryptic post, but I thought I should just tell you this in case the 3 of you who still come here are expecting to find something new. I'm not hanging up the towel completely, but you'll just be hearing crickets at BATC for a while. My apologies.

1 Eye Open

2008-08-01T10:56:00.002-07:00

So...I'm taking the Greyhound to Kamloops tonight. Due to this, I'm going to make sure to sit near the front of the bus and there will be no sleeping. Yup, no sleeping AT ALL.

Happy 1 Month baby!

2008-07-31T13:15:00.001-07:00

It's been 1 month since moving into my new apartment. During this time I have learned some new, and somewhat shocking, things about myself.

1. I am a clean/neat person. I make my bed every morning. Do the dishes every night. Vacuum at least once a week. Hang my clothing up at the end of the day. And keep my laundry under control. This is the most shocking.

2. When having only myself to feed, I can eat the same thing everyday as long as it's relatively quick and easy to make and, of course, tasty. For months, it's been yogurt and a latte for breakfast, and then almonds, baby carrots, an apple and banana and maybe some cheese throughout the day, with some sort of egg/tortilla/avocado/cheese concoction for dinner. I do mix it up a little, but this is my staple diet and I love it.

3. I am designer-y. I am kicking myself for not having the foresight to take before pictures of the suite when my sister, Alayne, had possession. I love her, but her bones? They do not contain designer. With a little help from Ikea, I have transformed the little bat cave from an uninspired, but cute, caterpillar into a functional and chic-ish butterfly.

4. I can tolerate 3 little spiders in my bathroom around my window sill. But anything over 5 and they get the vacuum. Over 5 and they are just as creepy as 1 big spider. I don't like spiders. [I vacuumed up 10 spiders on Tuesday night, and I know it's crazy, but there's a little part of me that feels like I am to blame for the rain we've been having this week.]

5. I like to spend time doing my hair. This is not a new revelation, but without having someone around to "judge" my hair habits, they have blossomed...out of control.

6. Wine...it don't last long 'round here.

7. Chocolate...see above.

8. I am alone a lot, but I am rarely lonely.

9. I am a snooze-hitting addict.

10. Even though I do not have internet or a computer, I still can't manage to get into bed before 11:00pm.

When life gets a little too literal

2008-07-23T12:42:00.002-07:00

Every job has its own level of shi*t to deal with, it's inevitable. Some days it's just a little bit of sh*t, other days it's a big load of sh*t, and, if your title has "assistant" somewhere attached to it, it's usually other people's sh*t that you have to deal with. However, on Monday morning, thanks to our friendly homeless neighbors, I had to take care of some literal sh*t on our company's back entrance. My life, it is oh so glamorous.

Lunch is such an odd word.

2008-07-18T15:27:00.001-07:00

Today I went home for lunch. I changed into warmer clothing. Put on my slippers. Finished my leftovers from "Tang's Noodle House". Watched an episode of Sex and the City. And drank a glass of wine. I'm not gonna lie...working so close to home is the sh*t people.

More about my hair

2008-07-17T11:06:00.001-07:00

I had my hair cut last night. When my stylist, whom I had never met before, asked me which way I parted my hair, I told her I prefered to part it to the left. She concurred with my answer because, get this, it "balanced out my crooked nose". I probably should have been more offended, but all I could think was this b*tch knows her sh*t, and I was headed for a damn good hair cut. And it was. FYI: my crooked nose is now balanced.

Welcome to the Bat Cave

2008-07-17T10:28:00.002-07:00

Okay, okay, okay...I'm sure you're just dying to know how things are going in my little bachelorette bat cave. Right? Right.

In a word? Fabulous.

I don't think I can adequately stress how fantastic it is to have my dresser and closet in the same place*. Well, technically my dresser is in my closet, since my closet is the "walk-in" type (if you knew how tiny my bathroom is, you wouldn't hate me so much). It is so much easier to put together outfits when my clothing and accessories are all in one place. In fact, I've never received so many compliments on my outfits, nor has my head ever been this big.

So far, I've done everything on my "looking forward to" list, except for the peanut butter for dinner one. I did, however, drink half a bottle of chardonnay and eat half a carton of strawberries for dinner on Monday night. I suggest getting half-smashed by yourself as a fantastic way to start off the work week. It is easy justifying drinking alone, when you live alone.

And as for those extra 7 minutes in the morning? They've gone to my hair. Surprise!

*Previous to my life in the bat cave, I had my dresser in the dining room and my hanging clothes in the front hall closet.

Wiieeeeee Fit

2008-07-15T09:55:00.002-07:00

Sean bought the Wii Fit last Friday and I am loving it. I especially love being called a "Yoga Master" and a "Calorie Incinerator". Awesomeness.

Jaded

2008-07-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

I went to Splashdown Park this weekend. And although it was great to get outside and enjoy the sun and water with some friends, I felt as though it was missing something. It took me a while to figure it out, but it turns out the something that it was missing was the ever thrilling I-could-possibly-die-right-now element. Hmm...I should probably tone my life down a bit.

Thanks Katy

2008-06-30T15:14:00.004-07:00

I kissed a girl once too &, contrary to Katy Perry, I did not like it.

Why I'm not so pissed that I'm working on a Monday that everyone else seems to have off

2008-06-30T12:43:00.002-07:00

Guess how long it took me to walk to work...

Nope, not 15 minutes.

10 minutes? HA!

5?!!!

Nuh uh.

It took a total of 3. That's 3 MINUTES to walk to work in the morning from my new apartment location. It used to take me 10 minutes. I'm trying to figure out what I should do with the extra 7 minutes in the morning. Hit the snooze button one more time? Spend a little extra time on my hair? Go to Starbucks? Oh, the possibilities are endless!

I still need to do A LOT of unpacking/cleaning/organising/decorating, but it's coming together nicely. It's still going to take me a while to get "adjusted" to my new living situation (i.e. being ALONE), but the skivvy dancing is back baby! Awwww yaaaaah!

And you're all invited!

2008-06-27T11:04:00.002-07:00

Starting this weekend I will begin a new chapter in my life. For the first time in all my 25 years I will be living completely alone. No roommates. No sisters. No parents. It will be just me and all my 400 square feet of absolute bachelorette glory.

Things I am looking forward to:
1. Walking around with just a top on and having no one complain that it's "not a good look" on me.
2. Dancing like no one is watching...oh, wait! No one is watching! HA!
3. Eating peanut butter for dinner because why the heck not?! It's tasty and has lots of protein.
4. Not having things like chips or cheesies in my cupboard because I have no self control and will inhale a whole bag if it's there.
5. Sleeping in.
6. Doing my dishes...& only my dishes.
7. Having only myself to blame when things get a little messy and/or dirty.
8. Decorating.
9. "Alone time"
10. Seeing my name next to buzzer #10.

Refresh

2008-04-15T14:50:00.003-07:00

Since I started my new job 5 weeks ago, I've taken my full lunch hour a total of four times. And, even then, I spent part of that hour picking up candies for the candy dish, or buying milk and cream to restock the company fridge. It's not that I'm particularly that busy, it's just that, as a Receptionista*, my responsibilities vary and sometimes I'll put lunch off until 1:30 and then someone will need something couriered or deposited or photocopied or filed (right now!) and then it's 3:00 and I don't have enough time to do my end of day duties if I do take that 1 hour lunch. So, instead, I quickly** eat my lunch at my desk and promise myself that tomorrow, tomorrow I WILL take my one hour lunch.

Today was different. It was a particularly lovely day, so at 1:30 I donned my faux Versace sunglasses from Ao Nang and strolled down to False Creek. It was refreshing to get away from my windowless desk and feel the sun on my face for the first time in weeks. I have now resolved to venture outside for lunch every day that it does not rain. I also found a prime novel reading/people watching bench. Now I just need to get my hands on a really good novel. Any suggestions?

I also refreshed my blogroll. I deleted most of the inactive blogs and added some really great ones, so check it out. I don't blog much anymore, but there are some fantastic bloggers on my updated list that blog quite regularly. Yay!

I've been trying to get back into blogging. I guess I just need to try harder.

*sounds so much more exotic and exciting than Receptionist.
**the phone will, without fail, ring right after I take a big bite out of something. I've become very talented at talking with my mouth full without sounding like I'm talking with my mouthful. Except for that one time when I had a mouth full of caramel toffee...yeah, that time was a little embarassing.

Zit:1 Bryanna:0

2008-04-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

It's hard to have a good day when you have a rather large, painful pimple festering under your skin, threatening to take over your chin. Like, it hurts just sitting here. Just SITTING here, people. Yes, my chin aches and I'm even considering popping an Advil. For a ZIT. And I haven't even aggravated it (yet). I'm trying to be a good girl and not poke, squeeze or touch it, but sweet jebus it is hard not to do any/all of these things. I bought some expensive zip zapping cream yesterday, but I think I'm losing the battle. I will now hide under a rock until further notice or until I have repossessed my chin...bleh!

Missing

2008-03-06T20:53:00.003-08:00

My tan is fading and the French manicure Na gave me has peeled off, the 20 or so mosquito bites that traveled with me back to Canada have disappeared, and my red pedicure with white flowers has been removed and replaced with OPI Black Cherry Chutney nailpolish. But if I close my eyes I can still feel the hot sand burning my feet as I run to the ocean water. I can still hear the Thai women asking me if I would like a "massaaaage", I can still smell the stench of garbage simmering in the hot southern Thai sun, and the bitter sour taste of a young green mango still lingers on my tongue. I try not to think about it too much because it makes me quite sad. There is so much about traveling and Asia that I miss. I miss the people, I miss the food, I miss the beach and the sun. I miss feeling foreign, whatever that means. I miss being stared at and I miss being asked if I need a tuk-tuk. I miss the hot sun and the way it dried my hair in minutes and warmed my skin after a quick dip in the ocean or a cold shower. I miss Thai massages. I miss having to carry around toilet paper and using squatter toilets. I miss taking night trains and waking up in a new city. I miss the Bangkok train station, especially the 15 Baht fried chicken and 12 Baht garlic and pepper shrimp sweet buns. God, the fried chicken was so good. I miss Fanta! I miss the bananas! Sweet Jesus, Thai bananas are amazing. They are always fresh and light and sweet. I miss the fruit shakes and Roti and the banana pancakes at Adam Bungalow. I miss bartering even though I was really, really bad at it. I miss Stella and Nine at the Green Tulip Guesthouse who helped me so much when I first arrived in Chiang Mai and always let me know how much I should be paying the taxi drivers, but I could never get them down to the local price. I miss everyone at Pong Massage, especially Na and Kia. I miss the children in Cambodia and our tuk-tuk driver with such a genuine smile. I miss the cats and dogs and monkeys and even the 5 legged cockroach who lived in my bathroom. I miss being woken up at 7:30 in the morning by a rooster. I miss smiling to random people...and getting smiles back. I miss being footloose and fancy free. Basically, I miss everything.

Sawasdee Ka! (hello)

2008-02-17T21:17:00.002-08:00

So I'm back. Back from six weeks traveling around Thailand and Cambodia. I had such an amazing time that I'm already planning my next trip. Which will be to India, and Laos, and Vietnam. Probably Cambodia again and Malaysia and then the Philippines. I fell in love with Asia, so South America will have to wait. Trying to explain my trip with Sean would be like a woman trying to explain the pain of child birth (one who has actually experienced child birth, of course). You really can't fully appreciate or understand it until you've experienced it yourself. And you should. Asia, that is. Well, if you're a woman and into the whole making and raising a child thing then you should try that too...

So, I think that instead of writing a long boring post, you should check out the 300+ photos that I posted on my Flickr page.

I've been naughty...

2007-12-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

So, I walked into The Bay cosmetic department, just to, you know, look around...10 minutes later I was the proud owner of this, this, this, this, oh, and this too. Oops!

So...two months later (ramblings)

2007-11-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

I bet you missed me...no really, you missed me right? Because I totally missed you. To say the past couple of months have been interesting would be an understatement. The past couple of months have been crazy, exciting, lonely, wonderful, and quite life changing. Yes, I said life changing...in many different ways. If I knew then, you know, back when I decided that working two part-time jobs, one of them being a Line Cook in a busy, large restaurant, would be "fun" and "new", what I know now, would I do it again? Yeah, I think I would. I've met some great people these past two months, some not so great, but on the most part, I've enjoyed getting to know each and every person that I've met at my two "part-time" jobs. I use part-time loosely because I ended up working 55 hour work weeks with no days off. My longest stretch without a break was 38 days. This, along with the change from a desk job and having literally no time to eat, translated into a 20lb weight loss. 10 of which was needed, 10 of which freaked my mom out when my parents came to visit last weekend. I ended up quitting the restaurant job earlier than I had initially planned. It was too much. We were already short staffed when I arrived, three people quit within 3 weeks of me starting, and personal issues within the kitchen staff made for a very toxic work environment in a setting that is already stressful in itself. If I wasn't laughing and having a great time, I was trying to resist the urge to curl up on the line floor and sob uncontrollably or throw things at the patrons...either would have been good. So, yeah, it was a little too much for a fragile person like me. I gave my two weeks notice to the pet food store yesterday, which is both sad and exciting. I love working there - most of the time. I don't get paid much, but I do get to snorgle the cute dogs that come in and give them treats. If I can't have a dog, this is the next best thing. This also means that my trip to South East Asia with Sean is coming up fast...really fast. Since I'm moving out of my apartment this month, like right now - I'm just taking a break, I'm pretty much already packed..yes, in case you haven't noticed already, I'm a tad obsessive compulsive. I bought three (3!) new bikinis, which means I'll have five in total to bring. I love them. Oh yeah, Speaking of moving, I think I've killed about 15 spiders today. I sucked them all up with the vacuum cleaner...I felt a little sad for them, but I guess they had it coming. The little buggers haven't paid rent for months. Can you tell I haven't eaten much today? I will get some sushi once I've posted this. Hmmm....hmmm...what else? Oh yeah, I have a lump in my left breast, the same breast that I had a lump removed from over 4 years ago, anyways, the doctors think it's nothing serious, but I have to get ultrasounds done of it every 6 months. Yeah, gotta love having a random person rub gel on your breast and then repeatedly dig into your sore lump with the wand. Seriously woman! It freaking hurt. Plus, when she squeezed out the gel it sputtered on my face and hair...ha ha...it was a little awkward. Alrighty then, I think you're all caught up. When I get some time, which, quite honestly, could be never, I'll go into more details about some of the stuff I've mentioned, but until then...peace!

CDN $1 = US $1

2007-09-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

Even though I've been working for an investment management company for the past 9 months (hey! I'd be giving birth right now if I were pregnant on my start date…ha ha ha ha ha), I still don't know much about investments, the stock market or the Canadian economy. Don't get me wrong, I know way more now than I did when I started, but I started with zero knowledge. What I do know is that the rise in the Canadian dollar makes it so much nicer to exchange my Canadian money for my trip. I know for sure that I need US dollars for Vietnam and Cambodia. What I'm unsure about is if I should do it now or hold out a little while longer and see if the Canadian dollar surpasses the US dollar. I probably shouldn't be greedy, but from what I've heard, it's more likely that the Canadian dollar will continue to rise before it starts to fall. Plus, it would be nice, for once, to make money on an exchange. What do you think?

In other news, I'm working three jobs next week (my full time job during the day, plus my two new part-time jobs in the evening). This works out to be a 69 hour work week. It's only for one week since my last day at my full-time job is next Friday. I just hope I survive.

I've also started packing and cleaning up my apartment. Some may say packing 2 months before one moves is a little excessive, I say it's just good planning. But seriously, I'm a *little* obsessed with moving. It wouldn't be so bad if I was actually moving to somewhere, but I'll be homeless for two months so I need to carefully pack up my belongings which will be spread out between 4 different residences (parents/ 2 sisters/ boyfriend). I have to figure out what I can store at my parent's place in Kamloops (i.e. belongings/clothing that I won't need for 5 months) and what can stay in Vancouver. And the faster I do this, the faster my life will have some order again…or so my OCD brain thinks. I get so much pleasure from a perfectly packed box.*

Okay, dokie.
I think that is all.

Have a wonderful weekend!

* ha ha ha ha ha…when I first wrote this, I swear to G*d that I wasn't, in any way, implying anything dirty. I liked the alliteration and I really do love packing a box so that almost all of its volume is utilized...perhaps it's from my days of playing Tetras...hmm....

Busy Bry

2007-09-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

Since my August 28th post when I described all the things I need to do in the next year, I have:

1. Applied to 7 jobs and went to 4 job interviews.

2. Accepted two part-time job offers.

3. Ordered all of my high school, college, and university transcripts.

4. Decided that I will be moving out of my apartment at the end of November.

5. Had mini nervous breakdown over the thought of moving...yet again.

6. Lost 5 lbs.

7. Got a much needed pedicure.

8. Bought an expensive plane ticket.

9. Looked over my finances 100+ times to make sure that I will, indeed, be able to survive the next 5 months without going into major credit card debt.

10. Bought a pair of khaki pants for one of my part-time jobs. Have I ever told you how much I HATE khaki pants? Or rather, how bad I look in them? Yeah, so I bought the first pair I tried on, not because they looked good, but because I really could only stand trying on one pair before I had a hissy fit in the change room.

So, yeah, been a little busy 'round here lately and it will only be crazier in the next couple of weeks. Yay!

Oh, hey there!

2007-08-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

So have you noticed that my comments are moderated now?

Ha ha, funny story.

I left a comment on a blog a couple of months ago and I guess the blogger didn't like my objection to her making fun of a three year old child's looks because she (oops! he or she…heh heh) came over to my fluffy, pink, and teal blog and started flinging around some hilarious pejorative words for the female genitalia…like *lean in, I need to whisper it in your ear…it's a very naughty word* . . . c. u. n. t!

At first I was a little shocked and confused that a supposedly grown woman would be so ignorant to think that calling another woman a cunt was a viable insult. No, really? I thought that word was exclusively used by porn stars and 14 year old boys? Sean and I used it as a pet name for each other after I told him about it, but it doesn't go over well in public when you call your boyfriend a sweet cunt. Anyways, I wasn't sure how to respond, so instead I deleted the comment. After a few weeks went by, I stopped seeing her on my Sitemeter. I did, however, write a few passive aggressive posts that she would understand, but decided against posting them. Since she doesn't seem to drop by anymore, I would like to share my favourite one with you now. In one of her comments she said that I had a stick up my ass. So, without further ado, I present to you, the news from June 6, 2007:

Stick Literally Removed from B.C. Woman's Ass

A B.C. woman is recovering in hospital this week after having an 8 inch wooden chopstick surgically removed from her colon. The 24 year old Vancouver resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, says she started to feel mild discomfort in her lower abdominal region about a week ago. "I thought I just had a lot of gas, but I knew something was seriously wrong when I woke up on Sunday morning and could barely get out of bed [...] the pain was excruciating." An emergency X-Ray revealed a foreign stick-like object lodged in her lower colon, which was later discovered to be a chopstick.

Dr. Schtikupmuas, the surgeon who performed the extraction surgery, says that he's seen many similar cases. "Nothing shocks me anymore", reports Schtikupmuas, "I've removed keys, light bulbs, toy cars, and even a McDonald's edition Barbie from numerous patients' rectums."

As to how the chopstick found its way into her colon, the woman believes that she must have ingested the object while inhaling a sushi meal. "I was absolutely famished after running the SUN RUN in April and I ate a lot of sushi. I must not have noticed the chopstick go down with all that raw fish and rice."

Schtikupmuas says that his patient is recovering well and should be back to eating sushi in no time. As for the woman, she says she's done with chopsticks altogether, "next time I'll be using my hands."

Have a great long weekend!

The Road From Here

2007-08-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

If you think that I have stopped blogging, you would be wrong. Oh no, I have not stopped blogging in the slightest, I have instead developed a bad habit of starting blog posts and not finishing them, writing blog posts and not publishing them and publishing blog posts and then deleting them. So, what may seem like a lull in my commitment to Bryanna and the City - and you - is actually not a lull at all but a resistance/apprehension to following through with what I have written. Right now I have at a least 6 posts - some finished, some not/some good, some not - sitting in blog pergatory known as "Save as D(r)aft" just waiting to make their debut. However, being that they are outdated, I would rather write something new. Who knows? Maybe I won't even publish this post. Hmmm...

I cancelled my cell-phone last week. Yeah, I am without a mobile phone, as in I do not have a telephone device attached to me all day, costing me money, restricing me to when I can and cannot use it, slipping to the bottom of my bag where I cannot retrieve it, dying when I need to use it, and cutting out in my apartment. Yeah, au revoir pink phone! What I do have is this:

This phone came with my apartment. It's old. And see that book on the left? That is an address/phone book. Crazy, I know! Yeah, you write people's phone numbers in there. The day I cancelled my cell-phone, I bought that bad-boy and transferred all of my phone numbers into it. I have even memorized a few numbers in the past week. Pretty neat, eh?! I'm stoked!

So, have I told you how crazy my life is going to get soon? Yeah, in the next year I'm going to find a new job for October - December, apply to BCIT's OHS diploma program, travel around South East Asia for 1-2 months, find a new job when I get back and perhaps a new apartment, apply for student loans and, if all goes according to plan, start my next round of edumacation in September '08, where my life will consist of nothing but school for the next two years. Yay! So, I'm a little scared...or a lot scared, whichever, but totally excited about moving forward with my life. I do have alternative plans for if plan A does not work out, but, right now, I'm focused on the A.

Tonight, however, I am not going to think about this because my beach volleyball team won a night at the Molson brewery for having the most fun points. Instead, I will drown my worries in beer and pizza. Mmmm...pizza :)

The clouds are beginning to clear

2007-08-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

Holy...the summer has flown by. I seem to say this every year, but seriously where did it go? I'm not ready for September yet, dammit! I hate taking breaks from blogging because I always feel like I need to explain my absence before I can resume my usual random stories. So, like always, I guess I've just been busy. Busy with work and everyday life. I've been working 10-11 hour days (waking up at the ungodly hour of 5:00 am) in order to finish some work projects that all have impossible-oh-my-god-you-must-have-this-done-like-right-now-if-not-sooner-okay? deadlines. Which means that I'm taking this Friday off to go to Nainamo for my second long weekend in a row...life isn't that bad I guess (here's where we'll be spending the weekend). Oh, yeah, I've also stopped eating gluten (i.e. pasta, breads, sauces, etc...) in an attempt to get a handle on my digestive issues. It seems to have helped, but whether this is due to the lack of gluten or the increased amount of fruit and veggies I've added to my diet to compensate for the huge gaping hole it has suffered is still to be determined. I don't think I've ever eaten so much fruit and veg at any other time in my life. So far today, I've had a nectarine, a grapefruit, and spaghetti squash with tomato and veggie sauce (as well as the egg-white omelet I had for breakfast). Before I leave work I will also have eaten a kiwi, a spinach salad with cucumber, tomato and watermelon and 2 crisp local cucumbers. Oh yeah, my grocery bills have almost doubled, but I've been forced to completely change the way I think about food, which, so far, is a good thing.

Hmm...other news...other news...

One of my best friends is pregnant! I was her Maid of Honor last August and I'm so excited for her and her husband. They are going to be great parents and the baby's DNA is primed for ultimate cuteness. I can't wait! I have so many babies to play with now.

I am nursing my first sunburn of the season. It's lopsided. I failed to realise that watching the Pride Parade with the sun beating down on my left side would leave me in a lobster like condition. On ONE side. I think the only thing worse about getting a sunburn is getting an uneven sunburn. Meh.

Sean and I are trying to figure out where we should go in November for a 2-4 week trip. So far, we have narrowed it down to three different regions Central America, South America, or South East Asia. Obviously, we could only do one of these in that time frame. Any suggestions?

I think that is all.

P.S. Good-luck CC xoxo!

Stuff & Things

2007-06-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

I bought a new bikini yesterday. I need one for this weekend since we'll be staying on a lake and even if it's raining and miserable I will, at some point, make my way into that water. The last time I bought a bikini was two summers ago before I went to Greece. It served me well, but was unfortunately ruined when I slathered my body with an orange clay mixture at the hot springs in Santorini. The clay stained my bikini and I haven't really felt like wearing it in public since. It's perfectly fine structurally, it just always looks dirty. So on my lunch hour yesterday, I ran over to Sportchek and bought myself a new one. A risky move, I know, but it worked out well in the end. I didn't have time to scrutinize my body in the full length mirror because I only had 45 minutes to find one. The one I finally chose, was the one I thought looked silly when I first saw it. It turned out to be quite cute when I tried it on though. It's black and white (like my old one) with red frilly accents...it reminds me of Betty Boop. The top and bottom were sold separately, which means I could fit the top to my chest size and the bottom to my ass size. Which, when you have a bootay like mine (thanks for pointing this out Mike, you're a sweetheart and not creepy all...), is necessary when you want to achieve a perfect fit (i.e. not have half your ass hanging out or a droopy top, depending on which part of the body you choose to fit). I also started packing last night, which is harder to do than usual when you're not sure what the weather will be like or how many times you will slip in horse shit. Ahh...fiddle dee dee. Happy first day of summer!

Saving my cowboy and riding a horse instead...yee-haw!

2007-06-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

In just five short days Sean and I, along with some other friends, will be packing our cowboy hats, chaps, and spurs and heading over here for two nights and three days. We get our own horse, cabin, and all meals provided for the entire weekend. I'm so excited! My butt, however, is not.

Dear Me

2007-06-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

Hi body, Bryanna here.

Is there something we need to talk about? Have I done something to offend you? Is this "silent treatment" going to continue much longer because I really don't have time to worry about your needs and your wants on a regular (heh) basis. No, really! Most people don't have to deal with the crap (heh) that you make me go through. It started out as just an occasional annoyance, but now it's happening on a weekly, if not daily, basis.

I've sought medical treatment, like everyone has told me to do, but the doctors? The people who are supposed to heal you? They keep telling me the exact same thing. Which is, essentially, what I've been doing for the past couple of months.

Water.
Exercise.
Fiber.

Now, I may not always have my 8 glasses of water a day, but I do try. I keep the little green water bottle near my desk full and sip and re-fill it all day. I play ultimate, beach volleyball, and soccer every week. I go to the gym and I try to ride my bike to as many of these activities as possible. I choke down a mixture of Metamucil* and orange juice every day, which is not only disgusting, but also slightly humiliating. I do all of these things and, still, you do not oblige me. Well, actually, to be fair, you do behave well up to a certain point. Maybe 5 days. Then you suddenly decide that what I am doing is just not good enough and you seemingly shut down...until you awaken again and that's a whole other scary story.

When this happens I get anxious. I worry about you a lot and then I worry more knowing that this anxiety will only make things worse for both you and me. I get angry and short tempered and, worst of all, I become very uncomfortable in my own skin.

So, I'm hoping that you'll cut me some slack and start treating me with the same respect that I give you. It's only fair.

Your hopeful friend,

Bry

* As a child I remember watching Metamucil commercials and thinking that it looked quite yummy. I would slap my 5 year old self now...if only I could.

Looking forward to the weekend and looking up

2007-06-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

When I look up from my computer *monitors, I see a blue sky speckled with fluffy, white cumulus clouds and the Sun, The Vancouver Sun, that is. On a typical day in Vancouver the large, dark grey sign mocks me from its conspicuous location - the top of Granville Square tower - the rain temporarily obscures my view of the North shore mountains, and I can't help but marvel at the irony of it all.

Just now, a seagull flew past my window. Well, not really flew, more like glided...seemingly effortlessly. Yesterday, I witnessed one take a huge crap. I couldn't help but wonder if an unlucky soul was the recipient of the white, slippery substance below. I did however, resist the urge to get up from my seat and check.

When I strain my neck a little more to the left, I can see the IMAX theatre and Canada Place. Like most days, there is a cruise ship docked in the terminal. It will be heading to Alaska soon. Probably tonight, they usually don't stay docked for long. The idea of going on a cruise ship vacation has never appealed to me. I do possess the typical "piscinean" affinity towards the ocean, but I think I would prefer a more intimate and rugged boat on water experience. This probably goes back to my sailing days.

The 111 foot schooner I spent 30 cumulative days of my life sleeping, eating, and laughing until I peed my pants on was devoid of a buffet, spa, pool, shower, and even...flushable toilets. However, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life - too amazing to articulate with words. To me, going on a cruise would be selling out to my old sailor self...and besides, I would probably just gain 10 pounds anyways (I don't do well with buffets).

So, what do you see when you look up?

* I get two flat screen monitors because I'm just that important, but of course you knew that already "because I got it like that".

Now officially edumacated!

2007-05-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

Pictures coming soon!

UPDATE: Pictures in Flickr ->

Wonderful.

2007-05-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

Being only slightly stiff two days after running my second 10k...and running it 4 minutes and 28 seconds faster than the first one.

Having my pay cheque and my tax return directly deposited into my bank account on the same day.

Paying off my massive MasterCard bill.

Going shopping and finding two cute summer work skirts and three great tops.

Wearing my red peek-a-boo heals from Winners and getting 2 compliments from complete strangers.

Starting my new job tomorrow (hopefully never having to type Client Services Beneficiary Review ever egain).

Listening to the first cd that Sean gave me (Snow Patrol: Final Straw) and remembering our first month together.

The sunny weather.

My first Sun Run

2007-04-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday I ran my first 10K, which was also my first Sun Run experience. For those of you not-in-the-know, the Vancouver Sun Run is a huge annual 10K event. This year there were over 54,000 participants, which made it Canada's largest individual participation event ever.

Going into this event I had a few goals:

1. I wanted to break 60 minutes.
2. I wanted to beat Kevin, a co-worker.
3. I wanted to beat my sister who was also running her first Sun Run this year.

Coming in at 64.51 minutes, I only met one of those goals...the last one, but I ran every one of those 64 minutes and 51 seconds, which, to me, was enough to make me pretty proud of myself. (never mind the fact that I could hardly walk yesterday and I'm still quite sore today).

During the race I went from being naively optimistic (kilometres 1-2), to thinking I would never make it out alive (kilometres 3-6), to thinking that I might actually be able to do this (Kilometres 7-8), to getting emotional when I knew I would actually do it (kilometres 8-9), to thinking I was actually going to die 30 metres from the finish line.

After the event, Sean and I attempted to catch a bus home and then decided walk instead when it proved quite futile. This was okay until we decided to get some sushi for lunch. The first place we went to was closed and the second place (six loooong blocks away) had at least a 30 minute wait. As a child I rarely, if ever, had temper tantrums, but with my whole body aching, my blood sugar dipping to dangerously low levels, and the reality setting in that I would not be getting any freaking tuna and salmon sashimi in the next half hour, I was very close , at the age of 24, to letting my beaten body crumple to the floor in protest. Luckily, that never happened, and a short bus ride to Cambie St. later, I soon had a belly full of raw fish. Mmm...

So, that's how my first Sun Run went. I might be doing another 10K in May...that is, if my body recovers before then.

Are you afraid of the dark?

2007-04-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Two nights ago I had my third claustrophobic "episode" or what may be better termed as a mid-night terror attack. The first time I woke up in the middle of the night feeling short of breath and paralyzed with fear, was in this tent at Gambier Lake:

I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I was being suffocated by darkness. My first instinct was to rip open the tent, but I was afraid that if I moved I would actually start to panic. So instead I lay perfectly still on my back, focused on my breathing and waited for my heartbeat to return to normal. It finally did, but then the rodent came...however, that's an entirely different story.

The second time was in a hotel room in Whistler. Again, my first instinct was to run out of the hotel itself, but instead I concentrated on my breathing and slowly the feeling subsided...luckily, with no rat involved.

A couple of nights ago it happened again - the shortness of breath, the feeling of dread, the frantic need to be in an open space - even writing about it makes me a little nervous. I'm hoping that this isn't the beginning of a phobia of the dark and enclosed spaces...but just to be sure, I think I'll pick up a night light on the way home from work today.

365 days laters

2007-04-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

One year ago today, Sean and I met for the very first time. It was a quick date. We met downtown for coffee and when my bus arrived he gave me a hug. No biggie. Just a coffee date.

It's so funny/strange to think back to that time when we were just two strangers, drinking coffee, making small talk on Granville Street - oblivious to the future and how our lives would become so entwined; that just a couple months later, we would be in love.

Happy One Year!

She works hard for the money...

2007-03-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Since I started this blog back in the summer of 2004, I've had 6 different jobs. SIX, people! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6! And I must admit that I've been pretty damn good at not blogging about work, even if I do, occasionally, blog at work. This is not because I've never wanted to blog about work/co-workers, it's merely due to the fact that I could never live down the embarrassment - and subsequent shaming from my mother - if I were ever to be 'dooced'.

With certain jobs I've had, there were times that I mentally vowed to call-out bitchy/cliquey/infuriating co-workers, via this blog, once my contract had ended, but I guess I never got around to it. Or, rather, I realised that matching hate with hate was not the answer...or something equally profound like that.

Yeah, some people got on my nerves. Yeah, some people systematically isolated me from human contact for four months. And, yeah, some jobs forced me into credit card debt (for the first time in my life) and near nervous breakdown. But in the end, they turned out to be just another EXPERIENCE(!) that I could twist into something FABULOUS (!) that taught me many WONDERFUL(!), TRANSFERABLE(!) SKILLS(!) that my next employer WANTS(!) and NEEDS(!).

For example, in my last job I bedazzled a poster (not once, but twice. YAY!). Now, on the surface, you could say that all I did was super glue 135 tiny crystals to a 3ft by 6ft piece of paper, losing some of my eye-sight in the process, but when translated into resume speak it sounds something more like this: Using my creative skills and attention to detail, I adapted existing conference materials to make it easier for prospective clients to understand the company's services. See? It's so easy.

In two months I could be moving on to job #7. I'm hoping this isn't so, but in the event that I have to hit the pavement, yet again, I'm now thinking of ways to creatively translate my current position of cutting and pasting all day into something fabulous.

So far, I've come up with nothing.

I can never say "no" to free

2007-03-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

The company I work for likes to spoil its employees, which, on the whole, is pretty sweet. Catered lunches during busy periods, company sponsored parties and social events, as well as a constant supply of snacks/coffee/tea/pop/juice makes going into work at 9:00 in the morning a whole lot easier. However, in recent weeks, I have developed an unhealthy dependence on diet sodas, diet Pepsi, to be exact. It started as a just-a-once-in-a-while treat, but has quickly escalated into a two cans-a-day, full-on addiction. I had been denying it for a week or so until someone "Wikipedia-ed" aspartame this past Saturday....it only took the word formaldehyde to scare me straight. So now, I'm cutting down to one-can-a-day, replacing the other can with at least two large glasses of water and, by next week, I hope to have it cut out completely. Wish me luck...I may get cranky.

*BONUS: If you want to see a really cute video of Sean's niece, Natalie, go HERE. I'm the dorky person holding her and I swear that's her letting out a toot at the end of the video.

So, like, um...

2007-03-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

It's my Birthday. And I'm 24. And you'd better wish me a good one or you'll make me cry.

The End.

Confession: I am a bad citizen.

2007-03-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

This always happens to me.
I get on the bus after work.
Snag myself a comfy seat.
Pull out my current reading.
Read two lines.
The bus stops for passengers at the next stop.
And then.
Of course.
Without fail.
Granny McCanihaveyourseatpleasedear? makes her way on the bus.
And I - being all goddamn-not-again-this-happens-every-single-time - get up and offer her my seat before she even has to ask.
With a smile.
Of course.

Because my momma raised me that way.

And.
Some day.
I will be old, too.

But...
It doesn't stop me from thinking bad thoughts.

I know.
I'm terrible.

Maybe it's the diet Pepsi I just drank, but

2007-03-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

sometimes I honestly believe that I might be bi-polar (edit: I mean manic depressive...can't even get my mental illnesses straight these days). I mean, just two days ago I was feeling so horribly "meh", that the task of eating or enjoying something/anything about life seemed impossibly pointless. But, now - right this second - I have a ridiculous urge to get up from my desk and shake some serious bootay. And I'm not even listening to music. In reality, I would *never do that, but the inclination is there all the same. Maybe it's the change in weather. Maybe it's because my 24th birthday is fast approaching. Maybe it's because I saw a really cute green skirt in a consignment store window last night and the first chance I have to go back, I will, and I will buy it (just you try and stop me!). Maybe it's the aspartame I just injested. Or, maybe, just maybe, I actually am crazy ... all I know is that today is a lot better than yesterday.

* that's a very loosely used never

MISSING: Bryanna

2007-02-28T13:45:00.000-08:00

Last seen: Christmas 2006, wearing blue Fa La La La La pj's

Inside sources say that she recently joined an online cult going by the name of "Facebook" and hasn't been seen since. If anyone has seen her or knows about her whereabouts email bryandthecity@gmail.com.

Thank you for your help.

Fa la la la la la la la la la

2006-12-26T12:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

I hope you all enjoyed the holidays. Here are a few pics from the festivities:

Sean and I celebrated an early Christmas together - since we wouldn't be able to spend Christmas day together. He spoiled me with a yummy homemade dinner and many great gifts.

Here we are (the Grace girls) in our annual Christmas Eve PJ's.

counting down the days

2006-12-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

Next Friday, December 22, 2006, will be my last day at my current Co-op placement. The last day I can call myself a student. The last day of Art Undergraduate career.
I'm counting down the days.

Although leaving behind my "full time student" status is somewhat scary - having to pay my own medical and dental extended health insurance and "non-student" prices - I'm, now, totally, 100% ready to jump into the "real world". Actually, I'm mostly looking forward to getting paid "real world" wages.

**I could go on about how broke I am right now, but I've decided to try to not think about it, let alone blog about it**

Lately, I've been experiencing a sick satisfaction (more than usual) of making a big fat X over the previous days calendar box when I get into work. I especially love Mondays because I get to cross out not one, but THREE days! Yeah...it's the little things people.

I guess what I'm really craving is change.

My new job which starts on January 2 is in one of the nicest office buildings I have ever had the pleasure of stepping in and the view! The view is spectacular...not that I'll have one where I'll be sitting, but I'll be able to check it out when I go for coffee/bathroom breaks throughout the day...which will be aplenty for sure.

Although I have loved working on campus for the past 8 months mainly because my boyfriend is only a 2 minute walk away (I will miss being able to take the bus together at the end of the day) and there are so many buses that can get me both to and from UBC, I'm looking forward to heading the opposite direction on the bus every morning and going to work on a bus that is full of people going to work, not school.

Because my hours won't be as flexible as they are here and I won't have time to run before work, I've been thinking about running to work and getting ready at the office (The building has showering facilities and lockers). I am determined to try it just once and if it's not a huge pain in the ass to run there, have a shower, and look presentable then hopefully I'll be able to motivate myself to do it again..and again. Three times a week (ideally). The run itself isn't bad. It's pretty much a straight line down Burrard Street, but it is pretty far (I'm thinking around 10K, but could be more or less). Anyways, that's my plan..I'll let you know how it goes.

Anyways, this is getting kind of random.

It's our office Christmas party tonight. We are being treated to a four course meal at DIVA at the MET. I'm looking forward to some good food. I watched "The Office" Christmas party special last night...hilarious!

Good luck to everyone going Christmas shopping this weekend before the big day. I have to pick up a few more things myself. I'm hoping it's as painless as possible. I know I'm avoiding downtown for sure.

TGIF everyone! Enjoy the weekend!

Baby it's cold outside

2006-12-14T15:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, after slurping up a bowl of french onion soup* a la Smitten Kitchen, Sean and I put on some Christmas tunes. Ten minutes later we had downloaded about 6 different renditions of "Baby it's Cold Outside" and proceeded to bolt out each version - me singing the female part, him the male part (I guess that's obvious).

Now we are determined to memorise the lyrics and add a little acting.

Yes, we are the dorkiest couple . . . ever.

And, no, this will not appear on YouTube.

*2 hours later Sean was hungry again (as he predicted) so we took a walk to McD's where he ordered and ate a double Big Mac MEAL. I am constantly in awe of his endless black hole of a stomach.

Snow Day!

2006-11-27T10:03:00.000-08:00

UBC campus is experiencing a major power outage due to the snow storm over the weekend, which means....

No work for me!

No.

Work.

For.

Me!!!!!!!!!

I'm off to find a hill to slide down.

iPod Nano: 2, Bryanna: 0

2006-11-24T10:36:00.000-08:00

If you were driving down Alma Street this morning at approximately 6:35 AM you may have seen me. I was the girl who tripped on the sidewalk* and fell on her face**, subsequently banging my right knee and scraping off the top layers of skin from my right forearm and hand. However, the iPod Nano being carried in my right hand escaped the incident with nary a scrape or scratch due to my instinctual maneuver to cradle the Nano into my chest letting the top of my right hand take the brunt of the fall. If waking up at 6:15 AM to go running in the morning does not kill me, my sister's iPod Nano surely will. But don't worry, I have my eye on the little bugger. It will not defeat me!

In happier news, I'm wearing a pair of jeans that I have not worn since last school year. I cleaned out my pants drawer just last month because all of my old jeans were constantly taunting me to "try me...just try me...come on! maybe this time you'll be able to button me up...uh oh, sorry, fatso, not this time...muah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaa.........." er, yeah, so this morning because I had no other pants ready to wear (I had just washed them all and they were still air drying), I took out my box of evil jeans and the first pair I tried on fit. Well, they were still a bit tight, but I was able to easily button them up and I can actually walk properly in them now. Woot!

Anyways, TGIF! I know I can't wait for the weekend...it's been a loooong week here at Bryanna and the City.

* This is the same sidewalk that my sister almost tripped on last week. We're going to switch it up next time because that sidewalk clearly has a grudge or something, which is weird because I used to walk up and down it everyday for three years.

** I didn't actually hit my face. It just sounded more dramatic when I was thinking of ways to describe the situation.

I Do Crazy Well

2006-11-22T16:56:00.000-08:00

If you were driving around Kitsilano this morning (approx. 7:15AM) you may have seen me. I was the crazy lady running around in the pouring rain wearing only flannel Mickey Mouse PJ bottoms and a green wind breaker (sans bra...did I mention it was RAINING? A lot. If you're thinking this is hot. Stop it. Right now. It totally wasn't. Trust me.) So why was I doing this? Because I was retracing my steps after my sister and I went for our morning run because I couldn't find her iPod Nano that was supposed to be in my vest pocket when we returned.

Now, this wouldn't be so bad, if it weren't for the fact that I have no money to spare right now. Like, I'm talking NONE. Christmas shopping is going to be very easy this year, but not very fun.

So the whole time I'm running around my neighborhood looking like a creepy green chicken with its head cut off I was thinking to myself that if I didn't find it I would have to buy her a new one. I was even planning out what I would say to my parents to get them to help pay for it.

And...

I touched wet garbage.

I had placed the Nano in a small plastic Ziploc bag to ensure that it didn't get wet. I hadn't realized how dirty Vancouver actually was until I had to inspect every bit of discarded plastic 3 blocks west of my apartment.

So, after 10 minutes of this, I decided that either someone had picked it up already (Merry Christmas to them!) or it was actually somewhere at my place.

It was. At my place that is. Sitting all smugly on my bedside table. Dry in its little Ziploc bag.

Not to be all Schmoopy,

2006-11-20T12:22:00.000-08:00

But I just have to say that I am the luckiest girl to have such a wonderful boyfriend.

Thanks for taking care of me (and my drunkard ass...he he) this weekend...even though you were sick too.

Love,

Bry

Rubber Balls

2006-11-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

In two months I won't be able to call myself a student anymore. I won't qualify for my father's Blue Cross Extended Medical & Dental. I won't be able to save $10.00 on a Greyhound round trip to Kamloops. I won't be able to verbally (and, more importantly, mentally) fall back on my usual response to the annoying question of "what are you going to do after you graduate?" with "I don't know. I'm still just a student" because as of January 1, 2006, I won't be one.

This, to me, is both frightening and exciting.

The frightening part of this is that I really don't know what direction I want to take from here. I always thought that I would know by now. That I would just have to.

When I graduated from highschool and entered my first year of university, I was comforted by the fact that I had at least four more years to figure it out. That, surely, my courses, my life experiences within this time would point me in the right direction. And, I guess, in some ways they have. I do have an idea of what I enjoy and an even a better idea of what I do not enjoy, but I'm hesitant to investigate this further. To pin it down to something in particular. To commit. To make a decision. But more importantly, to make the wrong decision.

I know what I'm feeling right now is not unique. It's the curse of my generation. A generation which knows too many options, but is too scared to pick one lest it be the wrong one.

A generation that seeks excitement and thrills instead of RRSP's and other long-term investments.

A generation that views settling down as growing up, perhaps even giving up.

A generation paralysed by the notion that once you commit, that's it.

Finit.

So instead of committing, we bounce around for a while. Perhaps working an okay job here and there. Something that pays the bills, our student loans and, if we're lucky, funds a trip to Europe/Asia/Australia/South America/Africa (take your pick). The type of job we can leave without much regret because it was just "okay". It wasn't what we really wanted to do with the rest of our lives. It wasn't our "passion". We're still trying to figure that one out.

Last week Sean and I went to BCIT's (British Columbia Institute of Technology) Big Info Night. It's the type of college that offers career oriented programs. You work your ass off for 1-2 years and at the end of it you're given a certificate/diploma; a magical piece of paper that is supposed to gaurantee you a good job: a "career".

A few of their programs did catch my eye -
Occupational Health and Safety Diploma of Technology Program
Technical Writing Part-time Associate Certificate Program
Human Resource Management Full-time Diploma of Technology Program

So, now I must make some tough decisions:
1. Do I even want to go to BCIT?
2. If I do, what program do I want to take AND
3. Will I move to Burnaby (do I <3 Vancouver too much to ever leave it)?

However, what I do know is that before I even consider going back to school I need to save some money and do some traveling.

So, I guess it's back to bouncing around for a while. Perhaps working an okay job here and there. Something that pays the bills, my credit card balance and, if I'm lucky, funds a trip to Europe/Asia/Australia/South America/Africa (Actually, I'll take all 5 please!).

Halloween 2006

2006-10-30T13:25:00.000-08:00

The pictures say it all and I'm too lazy to write a full account of the Halloween festivities this weekend. It was a lot of fun and Sean and his other band members did a fantastic job. Everyone loved their performance. Plus, I got to go home with the lead singer, alright...

More photos on my flickr page.

Of Injuries and Costumes

2006-10-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

For work yesterday I painted the inside of a very large cardboard box with black spray paint. When I offered to do this, my supervisor and team member on my pumpkin carving contest team (ie the most competitive competition I've been a part of...ever) asked if I was sure that I wanted to do it, I replied with a peppy "sure" while thinking to myself, "really, how hard could a little spray painting be"?

I had someone from the lab show me where the face masks were and then I set out to the storage room (where I spent the beginning of my placement cleaning, organizing, and occasionally busting a move) with a can of black spray paint, a stack of old newspapers, and my face mask in hand.

Once I surrounded the parameter of the box with newspaper to protect the dirty concrete floor (I am a responsible spraying in any situation), I shook the can and began to spray. All was going well. I was achieving an even coat. That is, until my right index finger began to ache and became covered with black paint. I switched to my thumb and then alternated between the two until the job was done...about 30 minutes after I started.

I decided that it would be a good idea to make sure that I hadn't gotten any paint on my clothing. When I checked myself out in the bathroom mirror, however, my clothing was fine but my entire face was covered with a thin black coating. When I removed the mask it was obvious that it hadn't achieved its purpose of shielding my nasal passages from the noxious fumes. It took about 5 blows until I wasn't snorting up black sn*t....sounds fun, no? And then I spent another ten minutes scrubbing the black stuff off my face.

The really weird part, though, was when I tried to tie my hair back, my index finger refused to work. I wasn't aware that you could get a spray painting injury but this morning the muscle connected to this digit is incredibly sore...all the way up to middle of my forearm. I'm thinking about calling WCB...ha ha just kidding (or am I? muah hahahahaaaa).

I would like to tell you about the plans for our pumpkin creation (my brainchild BTW), but it is so top-secret and competitive that I will wait until the competition is over on Friday to reveal it, lest my competition find this lil ol' website. Perhaps I'll even post some pictures.

In other news...

This year I'm going as a 70's flower child for Halloween...I thought it was time to retire the tutu (although I'm wearing it for our last dodgeball game tomorrow). Sean's going as a 70's Porn Star...his costume is great. Plus, his band is playing it's first ever live gig at the party we're going to on Saturday night. Can't wait to hear them!

So, what are YOU going to be for Halloween?

Been there, done that...

2006-10-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

When I met Sean I had just gotten over a horrible "relationship" which left me feeling ugly, worthless, and absolutely infuriated with men. I cried every single day, often more than once. And not the pretty a couple tears here, a couple tears there kind of cry, but the full-on ugly cry. The kind of crying that leaves your face swollen and red, your eyes puffy and red and your sinuses full of you-know-what. But I got over it. I haven't cried like that for months. I've cried. But not like that.

This morning while I was getting ready for work, I overheard a guest psychologist talking about relationships on my regular morning radio station (The Beat 94.5). Cooper Lawrance, the author of the book "Been There, Done That, Kept the Jewelry", was talking about how the 800+ women she interviewed for her book all stated that they knew when they had met "the one" or "Mr. Right" because of all the "Mr. Wrongs" they had dated in the past and that, more often than not, Mr Right turned out to be nothing like the other duds that they had usually gravitated towards.

While I listened, I could not help but agree with everything she was saying and the conclusions outlined in her book.

Now, it has always been said that "whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger", and that "you learn something from every failed relationship", but rarely do people take these simple lines any further. What I mean is that people usually keep making the same mistakes; that instead of going in the opposite or even a slightly different direction of the "thing that almost killed them" they usually fall back into the same old habits. *A woman will keep dating the same type of men, be it "the eternal bachelor", or the "MIA one month down the line guy", or the "let's not put a lable on this guy" and will never seem to actually learn after every crash and burned relationship. But when they finally do; when they finally learn, when they finally look for something different than what they think they want, that's when they usually find "Mr. Right".

When I first met Sean there wasn't fireworks. I liked him for sure. He was attractive. He was sweet. He was adventurous and creative when picking our dates. He was a gentleman and respectful. He was interesting and interested. **He was pretty much the opposite of every other guy I have ever gotten myself caught up with.

We took things slowly. Heck, we didn't even share our first kiss until our 5th date.

It's funny though, I knew from the moment I met him that he was good. That he would be good to me. That, with him, I could actually have something good. And that I was finally ready. To accept the good. To take it in and give it back.

I haven't felt ugly, worthless, or infuriated with men in seven months. Actually, quite far from it.

*I'm using a woman as an example because 1. I am a woman and 2. It's easier to focus on one sex, but I'm sure this can be applied to men as well.
**Not to say I haven't dated nice guys, most were nice-ish, just not "Mr. Right".

I am woman

2006-10-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

"You're not a young lady anymore. You're a woman." my Grandmother declared as I kissed her on the cheek.

Forty-five minutes prior, my Grandmother was rushing about trying to get her husband, my Grandfather, in place at the back of the church. Recently relegated to a wheel chair due to a broken hip, it was uncertain whether he would make it to his oldest grandaughter's wedding. But he did. He even managed to get a shirt, tie, and jacket on; you could barely even tell that he was wearing black sweatpants.

My Grandmother wasn't the first person to call me a "woman", though, and she wasn't the last. The first was my father's youngest brother, my uncle and Godfather, "Uncle Tom". It's been a little over two years since I've seen him, my Aunt Wendy and the boys.

I wasn't aware that within those 730 days I had changed.

Well, I most definitely have gained some weight.

...

*sigh*

Anyways.

So when my grandmother commented on my apparent metamorphosis I just smiled and nodded (a standard "Bryanna-go-to-response-when-I-can't-think-of-anything-else-to-say"). A response which was required five minutes later when my father's eldest brother, Uncle Bill, said the same thing. Actually, he said that I looked "old...but not in a bad way".

My oldest sister's response later in the privacy of our car was, "what am I? Chop liver?!" (a standard Nicole response when she doesn't get enough attention). he he...

At 23 years of age, I guess I am a woman. But half the time I feel like I'm 10 years old and the other half of the time I wish I still was.

Anyways, besides the confusing "woman" comments, it was great to see my father's side of the family; most of whom I haven't seen for years. Visiting with my 15 year old cousin, now blind and a quadriplegic due to a brain tumour (but mostly the failed attempts to remove and shrink it), was quite nice.

oh yeah.

*I caught the bouquet.

*Well, actually, Nicole caught it and then shoved it in my face like a hot potatoe. It hurt. And then I had to dance with the garter catching engaged guy. It was very awkward.

Well, well, well...

2006-10-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

I lasted 20 minutes.

Driving on Highway 5 that is.

I'm sure that's what everyone is wondering. After 20 minutes of mandatory silence, white knuckles, and no blinking, we both decided that it would be better for both of us that Sean drive the rest of the way. Which worked out perfectly for me (I loved having my daily naps). By the end of the 10 day road trip, I'm pretty sure Sean was looking forward to resuming his place as a passenger on Vancouver public transit.

If you want to get the details about our Oregon/California road trip, Sean has three posts (with pictures) dedicated to it over here.

Now, on to baby news*.

Everyone seems to be having them or incubating them. About a month ago DD (formerly of D Mania) had a beautiful baby girl. Her name is Halle and she is the sweetest little bundle of baby cuteness that I have ever seen. And just a few weeks later, a friend of Sean's welcomed an adorable baby boy, Cooper, to his family. Oh, and Sean's sister is due to have her first baby in February. I can't wait to watch these little ones grow up...plus, I can get my baby fix for free without all that post-labor bodily fluid exretion stuff that DD's been warning me about.

In other news, I joined a dodgeball league. I never had a chance to play this crazy, awesome, and super-fun game in elementary or high school, which I am so sad about because it is a ton of fun. Tonight will be my second game of the season...I can't wait. Anyways, wish us luck...we got plastered my first game something like 11-2.

*Did you think that I was going to announce that I'm pregnant? Hee hee hee...got ya!

Teaching an old dog new tricks...wait, did i just compare myself to a dog?

2006-08-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

"I don't understand this disengage and engage. Can you please use my terms?" I whined, frustrated with my inability to master this seemingly simple task.

"Okay. What are your terms?" responded Sean.

"When I need to push the clutch down, say down and when I need to let it go, say release."

"What happened to 'up'? "

"I changed my mind."

This Saturday Sean and are going on a road trip to Napa Valley. We're planning on taking the coastal route, spending a couple nights in Oregon and the rest of the week sipping back copious amounts of wine and noshing on crackers and cheese. We may fit in a day trip to San Francisco, but, by that time, we'll probably be sick of driving. We're also trying to keep the details of the trip flexible.

One detail that isn't flexible, unfortunately, is my having to learn how to drive standard before Saturday. I've had my driver's license for almost six years now, and I've never felt the need to learn standard. I've wanted to learn. It's just been one of those things that I've never made time for (one out of many). However, with the almost 40 hours of driving in one week that we'll be doing, the time to learn has come.

I'll admit, I started off poorly. I froze under the pressure after stalling. I made Sean get out and take the driver's seat when another car pulled up behind us. However, with a little patience from Sean and deep breathing on my part, after 20 minutes I was doing figure-eights in an empty gravel lot. I was even able to start the car on a hill and shift into second.

Next Thursday I'm taking my skills to real roads to master the 3rd, 4th and 5th gears. My advice: stay off the roads!

P.S. Any Napa tips / recommendations?

Extreme Love

2006-07-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, the day after getting sick (too many times to count), and feeling nauseated all day, Sean I decided to spend the day at Playland. And it was the most fun I have had in a very, VERY, long time. We were like giddy 10 year olds experiencing our first time at Disneyland; running from one ride to the next, wanting to experience everything. And we did. Everything. Including the two rides that cost $20 more to go on: The Revelation and Drop Zone.

The Drop Zone was crazy. I have a video of us doing it together, which I will hopefully post on YouTube, so you can all see. But the Revelation (the ride in the picture at the beginning of this post)? The Revelation made me feel like I was going to die. I was certain that our little cabin was going to fly off and we would have enough time, while being catapulted at 100kmh, to realize that we were, indeed, going to die in 5 seconds...and then we would. Die, that is. However, there's something about feeling like you're going to die, which makes you feel 100% alive. If you think I'm exaggerating, here's a description from the Playland website:

The Revelation is one of the fastest and most exhilarating extreme rides in the world! Designed like a giant airplane propeller, the Revelation holds two to four riders comfortably in the cockpit seats at each end of its 160-foot arm. Riders take off quickly spinning up to 100 kph and experience the same intense "G" forces as fighter pilots! The combination of the rotation, tremendous height, high speed and the rush of wind will definitely reveal the intensity of the ride. Not for the faint of heart, the Revelation is for the ultimate thrillseeker!

Oh, yes, we are the ultimate thrillseekers...who knew?

That day, Sean told me how happy he was that I was up for doing anything. He had wanted to go on the Revelation for a while, but had yet to find someone that would do it with him. I'm not sure if I'd ever do it again (perhaps after I forget the terror I felt while we sat for 15 minutes suspended 160 ft in the air while the other two people were fitted into their "death seats"), but I'm so happy that I could be that person...the one who's just as crazy as he is.

Early weekend update

2006-07-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

For the past month, Sean and I have been doing a little no alcohol, caffeine, or McDonalds cleanse. Last night, in a flurry of Starbucks, rum and cokes, tequila and Big Extra meals, the cleanse officially ended. I actually had a really great time...until my body decided that it preferred to be alcohol free...Sean held my hair back for most of the night. Anyways, here are some pics. Sean decided to shave his full beard off this weekend, but in honor of Maciej's birthday, he decided to do this. Just for one night. I think he looks like a combination between Borat and a 70's porn star...that's hot.

Alright, giggidy giggidy...

My studly boyfriend

Jocelyn, Marsha, and Andrew

Sean and Maciej

Emma and I

Bryanna: 1 Donut: 0

2006-07-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

Internal diolgue while waiting in line to get my medium hot chocolate at Tim Horton's this afternoon:

oooh...lookie at the donuts...mmm...I'm gonna get the chocolate glazed one...yup, it looks so good...hmm...am I actually hungry?....stomach, am I? Hmm...no...I don't think I am...I have a "no fat" strawberry yogurt and an orange waiting for me at my desk...yes, so tasty, right...okay, no donut, no donut...I'm strong...f-you, you dirty donut!

30 seconds go by....

Okay, screw it, I'm getting the donut...what? Huh? I thought I just said I wasn't getting the donut? Hmph, but it looks soooo goooood. Fine. Okay, no donut, NO DONUT...

In the end, I didn't get the donut.
I have to stop going to Tim Horton's.
I'm turning into Homer Simpson.

Bryanna and the Wilderness

2006-07-05T00:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I took a sick day. I rarely take sick days. Mainly because I'm always a 'contract employee' and I don't actually get 'sick days', which means that I either don't get paid for those 7 hours or I have to make up the time (yeah, I know; I whine, I whine). Anyways, yesterday I took a sick day. Why? Out of pure heat/sun/body/mind exhaustion. I stumbled out of bed at the usual time (6:35 AM), took my morning pee, looked in the mirror, realized I still felt nauseated and weak, and decided that today, would be a sick day. So, I called into work, left a groggy message and went back to bed...I slept until noon...I haven't slept until noon, for, like, well, ever. It felt pretty good...actually, it felt damn good.

I guess you're probably wondering, 'why so exhausted, Bry?'

Well, the truth is...

My boyfriend tried to kill me over the long weekend.

Well, no, not literally, but it was his idea to go camping. And it was his idea to go camping on an island, which required 2 bus rides, 2 ferry rides, and a 3.5 hour hike (up a mountain) to access the lake-side camping site (with no bathroom).

Okay, so it really wasn't THAT bad. In fact, in retrospect, it actually was a very fun adventure. And let's face it, I haven’t had an actual 'adventure' in a really long time. It also made me realize how much I love Sean and how happy I am that I found someone so caring, patient, and loving in return.

Yes, I know, sappy...blech. But it's true.

On the ferry ride back to Vancouver, I joked with him that if we were a couple on the reality TV show The Amazing Race, I would be the whiny girl that everyone hated...and he didn't disagree.

I was whiny.

Very whiny.

At one point, when Sean convinced me to take a 'short cut' through the dry, dense, full of spider webs, and dangerous obstacles forest (including the bleached-out skeleton of a large mammal), I almost cried...twice. But Sean stayed strong and level headed, even after I repeatedly pointed out that we were lost and that we weren't going to make the last ferry. But we eventually did make it out of the forest to catch the last ferry and by 9:30 p.m. on Sunday evening we were back at his apartment…however, very sun burnt and suffering from heat stroke.

So, that's why I took a sick day, but it was worth it.

Thanks for all the memories, S!

For pics, see my flickr page --->

So not a loser, no mo'!

2006-06-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

So, my experience applying for the Fall Co-op placement was very different than my Summer placement experience...

SUMMER:
# of Job Applications Completed: 31
# of Job Interviews: 5
# of Job Offers: 2

FALL:
# of Job Applications Completed: 1
# of Job Interviews: 1
# of Job Offers: 1

So, yay! No more applications!! No more darned RED DOTS!!! Plus, my new job is only like 4 blocks from this job, so I can continue with my "Arts Coopers Who Work On Campus Lunch Club" (that's ACWWOCLC) or CLC for short.

That's all for now.

Pictures from Commercial Drive Festival

2006-06-18T21:59:00.000-07:00

So, my blog is slowly turning into a photo blog because I-NO-LIKE-USING-MY-WORDS-NO-MORE, mkay? Here are some pics of my Sunday with Sean and his fam...my Dad was out of town (HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!).

So, I'm not too sure what the point of the Commercial Drive Festival is, but it's cool...check it out!

Watermelon carving time!

Apparently, he doesn't like having his picture taken...um, oops...?

"Ride at Your Own Risk"

Samba dancers! (Their bras were made out of soccer balls!!!)

Super-sized tricycle!

Um, yeah...creepy?!

Pictures from Commercial Drive Festival (cont.)

2006-06-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

mmmm...street chicken...

A fat man wearing a pink tutu is always funny. Period.

Street Dance Party!

The "final product". "I could totally carve a watermelon...if I tried."

Yes, we are trying to be the shmoopiest couple...ever!

Lady Bug!

This:

2006-06-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

is why I'm getting a hamster...maybe this weekend.
More later.

Some pics from the wedding weekend (as promised)

2006-05-30T20:44:00.000-07:00

I'm alive...just barely.

2006-05-28T20:56:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long absence...you see, I've been busy. No, really, it's actually true this time. I've been working at my new job (yay me!) for the past two weeks, was in DD's wedding party yesterday (I can't believe she's married...she's the first!) and, in general, just having way too much fun with Sean to even think about posting.

There's so much I want to write about...like my new BF (and how totally super-cool and awesome he is), my new job and my crazy Saturday in a bubble gum pink dress, but I'm not very motivated at this point...however, I may have some new pictures for you soon.

Sorry this is such a lame post, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm alive, just really busy (and kinda tired)...but very happy!

I may not have a job yet...

2006-05-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

but I just found out that I'm 100% finished my course requirements for my Sociology degree(and I actually have WAY MORE upper level courses than I needed) AND I may even graduate with a First Class Sociology degree...pending three grades that I haven't received yet.

So my sister and I are finally moved in. I actually feel normal today...packing, cleaning and not sleeping are a bad combination for me, but the place looks fantastic and I will be posting some pictures once our internet is hooked up tomorrow. My room is way too big for just a double bed and a dresser...I have big plans for it, but they require some money, so I guess I'll just have to settle for sparceness now.

Sean and I are celebrating our 1 month anniversary today...we're dorks and we're proud of it. I won't gush about him on here...yet, but I'm really, really happy.

DD along with her cute little baby bump came by yesterday and we had a chance to talk about her wedding and I tried on my bridesmaid dress and it fits...and, go figure, it's pink :)

Sorry for the weird post. I don't have a bus pass anymore and I'm trying to complete this before I have to use another ticket. Speaking of busses, I totally did something way out my passive aggressive character today. While on the way to UBC this guy was freaking out at the bus driver because he didn't stop (he didn't ring the buzzer though). So the crazy guy tells the bus driver to "f*ck off" and is all in his face, so the driver stops the bus and tells the guy to get off. After about 30 seconds of profanities flying...I...yes me...said very loudly, in an I'm-gonna-beat-yo-ass tone, "Sir, please get off the bus. I need to get to school". He responded with a "f*ck school" and actually got off. So, maybe not so passive aggressive after all? It definitely got my heart racing...but it didn't look like any of the other 10 women on the bus were going to say anything.

Anyways.

That's all for now folks.
Hope everyone is well.

Happy Almost Easter.

2006-04-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

So I'm still procrastinating and I just realised that it is, indeed, Easter tomorrow. So, what will I be doing?

Does it involve church? Um, the answer to that is sadly "no" (sorry mom). Yes, I am going to Hell and I'm packing my bikini.

Perhaps some turkey or ham? Yeah, I don't have an oven, so that's out.

Peeps? Come on, at least peeps! I live in Canada and Moo didn't send any from American Peep Relief this year (most likely because I never asked). Therefore, I must go without any relief of the peep variety this Easter.

Chocolate Easter eggs? Nope. I gave all my money (in cash) to my future landlord yesterday for my damage deposit.

(Holy Crap I Need A Job)

*pause for mini panic attack*

-----------------------------

*sigh*

Well, don't cry for me people of Blogland, my sister is here so I'm sure we'll think of something...or I'll just study for my Traditional Grammar final exam instead. Happy Easter, indeed.

I should be studying

2006-04-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

I've started as least three posts since March 31, but abandoned them when my frustration, due to the slowness of my computer and the annoyingness (which, of course, is not a real word)) of Blogger, reached hair-pulling proportions. However, writing my entries in Word and then cutting and pasting them into Blogger appears, at the moment, to be a quick and easy solution. Although, this probably doesn't mean that I'll be Blogging more frequently because I'm lazy and laziness is really hard to overcome. I tried...and then I decided to take a nap instead.

Woah.

I digress.

(Oh and FYI I'm totally not lazy...if someone from UBC AAA is reading this. I'm very motivated, enthusiastic, and 100% full of energy and I really, really, REALLY want to work for you. I think I would be an excellent addition to UBC AAA).*

Alrighty, now that that's out of the way, I'll move on to all the updates.

My sister SMS or "Alayne" as many of you know her (she sometimes comments on other people's Blogs on my Blogroll) took the bus to Van so we could look for a new place to live.** And...

We. Totally. Found. The. Coolest. Most. Pimpin-est. Apartment. Evah!

It's located in the heart of Kitsilano, ground floor apartment, hardwood floors throughout, 950 sq. ft., huge windows, tons of storage and my room (I pay a little more for it) is HUGE with a beautiful vaulted ceiling. I am so excited about it that even though we walked like 25km yesterday, I spent 2 hours envisioning how I wanted to decorate it before my brain stopped spinning enough so that I could fall asleep.*** It actually looks like a real grown-up's apartment and finally my mom can come and visit without cringing...which I am hoping might translate into some decorating (read: financial) help from momma. Anyways, we move in on April 30th, provided our reference checks go well. I'll definitely post some pics.

Oh and speaking of pictures, my camera is back in my greasy, itchy palms. It's just like brand new and I can't wait to take it for its first post-fixing spin.****

So.

I guess you're wondering about my date.

Well, since then, there's been a second one *raised eyebrow*. During which he revealed that he had found my Blog. *****

Pan the camera to me, blushing and trying to remember what I wrote about him:

"I have a date this Sunday with a guy I talked to on the phone last night. I'll let you know how it goes. The conversation flowed on the phone and he has that great balance of intellect/worldliness/dorkiness that I like....he's also cute. But no expectations here...none whatsoever ;)"

Once I remembered, I mumbled something about how I think dorky guys are cool.

Luckily, he is cool and thought it was funny. He kept waiting for an update to see how the first date "really went", but I assured him that my non-update was a good sign. Had it been horrible I would definitely had updated by now.

Anyways, I'm trying to take things slowly because I tend to run screaming in the opposite direction without looking back when a "relationship" develops too quickly. And so far, I think he feels the same way. Right, Sean? Everybody say hi to Sean. See, Sean, you're famous now! Oh and this "slowly" thing means not spilling everything on here about him or our date(s). All you need to know is that they went well, oh and that he gave me this pink rose after I told him my favourite colour was pink:

Me likey.

So, three exams to go until I'm free from course papers, exams and presentations for at least a year. I'm actually a little sad about this. School is a breeze compared to real life, but real life doesn't seem so bad when you're about to move into a pimpin' apartment. Yay!!! The thing I'm looking forward to the most is having my name next to the #102 buzzer. Wow...I've never had a buzzer before or my own private mail box. Wow. I am a dork.

* I had a job interview last Wednesday (for a job a totally, 100% want and think I would excel at). When they asked me if I had any experience with web design/maintenance…I let it slip that I did, mostly on a "personal", not work level. So, "Hello. Welcome to Bryanna and the City. Relax and take a look around." I'm assuming that at least one of them tried to Google me; hence, the removal of the half naked pics. I kidd. Seriously.

** not sure why I put her name in quotations, as if her name "allegedly" is "Alayne" because it actually is Alayne (pronounced: a (soft a) lane).

***if anyone has any unwanted furniture hit me up on e-mail (only if you live in Vancouver or Kamloops).

****just in case you're wondering, I didn't have to pay 1 measly penny to get it fixed. Sometimes extended warranties do come in handy.

*****I mention the fact that I have a Blog on my dating profile. Which is okay, until they find out my real name. I'm thinking it's time to remove the "my Blog" from my interests.

First things first.

2006-03-31T14:57:00.000-08:00

you are so cool that you made a web
Anonymous 03.17.06 - 3:37 pm #

I just noticed this comment from an old post about the death of Melba, and I have to admit that it has me very confused. Now that I'm taking a traditional grammar course, I tried to decontruct it in an attempt to figure out exactly what it means.

Subject: You (as in me)
Verb: Are (Linking verb).
Completion: Cool (why thank you!)

But the next phrase, "that you made a web", is the part that has me stumped. Is "web" as in website? Or are they referring to my recent spidey behavior (which I thought had remained a secret). Anyways, if anyone or Anonymous his/herself could shed some light on this, I'd totally appreciate it.

I just have to say, wow, I can't believe I'm done the course requirement for my degree in one month. Holy crap this year has gone by so fast...I'm very sad about this. I like school....and this year I've grown to love it (funny what a few A+'s on a transcript can do to one's ego).

So, from now until May 1st, I have to finish two papers, write 4 exams, apply for more co-op jobs (and actually get one), find a new place to live, pack up my life (again) and move. I'm actually very excited about this...I actually LOVE change (the good kind)...even though some may argue that I don't. But I do. Seriously. LOVE. IT. (especially change in the love *cough* scene...which I will talk about next). The only sad part is having to part with my two super-cool roommies....one of which has already taken measurements of my room for when she lives here next year.

So, love life? Well, not a lot of "love", but I'm having some fun. A week ago I ended a two week relationship that seemed to be on the fast track to marriage. FYI...after two dates, there should be no talk of "we". I found myself trying to find the "eject" button and my sister made me realise that it needed to end when I uttered the "I need a break" line to her after our 2nd date. Great guy, bad timing...or something like that.

I have a date this Sunday with a guy I talked to on the phone last night. I'll let you know how it goes. The conversation flowed on the phone and he has that great balance of intellect/worldliness/dorkiness that I like....he's also cute. But no expectations here...none whatsoever ;)

I also got to chat with Tawcan from Confessions of a Monkey (I would hyperlink, but I'm way too lazy and my comp is way too slow it would probably crash if I opened up another browser) on Wednesday after his second Storm the Wall race. It's always a fun time when an engineering student and an arts student get together. He's the second blogger that I've met since I started, the first one being Nick. I would love to meet all the bloggers on my blogroll.

Finally, I'm becoming a refugee advocate activist...the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigrant and Refugee Board are completely bogus and discriminatory. Canada should be ashamed of these policies and this systemic racism. I'm writing a paper on this topic and the data I've found is absolutely SHOCKING. Make yourself aware. And also,

PROSTITUTION MUST BE DECRIMINALISED.

Something for you to think about.

Da Nile is that way -->

2006-03-20T18:48:00.000-08:00

For the past week or so I've been in denial...about a few things. One of which is that I'm sick. I haven't been sick since Santorini, which feels like ages ago...and now, I'm in a computer lab with a sinus headache, swollen neck glands and a rather irritable disposition. Being sick sucks...especially when I have so much stuff to do...which isn't SO much, but it seems like a mountain from where I'm standing.

So, you're probably wondering what I've been up to...well, I must admit, there actually has been a lot of excitement in the land of Bryanna and the City...first of all, in case you didn't notice on my profile and YES YOU DID FORGET, I turned 23 last Sunday (as in March 12th for all you belaters out there). It was a low profile affair. I had a paper to write for the following week and my parents were in Van so they took me out to a very nice restaurant where I stuffed myself with french style pizza, ravioli and cake. Mmmm...french food.

Anyways, I've also taken up fishing again, as in I made a dating profile on Plenty of Fish a little over a week ago. I wish I could give you all the details about what's happened since then, but alas...I must keep my mouth shut for now.

There will be more details to come.

I promise.

Careful. I ate a bowl of cranky this morning.

2006-03-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

and I'm too cranky to even write about it.

So there!

Random Musings or I'm smart and I fart.

2006-02-27T17:36:00.000-08:00

My sister (the one who is not running around Aus right now) and I were kidnapped by a hot cougar on Friday night. Her name was Rhonda and she was tons of fun, plus she got us on the Roxy guest list (i.e. no waiting or shivering in the line) and hooked us up with Carl (the sound man for the band playing that night) who fed us free drinks all night (well, three...but that's usually enough for me). Oh, and she even made sure that we got home (alone) at the end of the night okay. Rhonda was def. one cool cat, I mean cougar, with a body that I want now, let alone when I'm forty. I had a great time with my sis and Rhonda...which could be attributed to the fact that I was a tad tipsy, or the fact that I had not been out on a Friday night since last summer...but I'd like to think that it was just the good company...sans the creepy dance floor guy who kissed me on the cheek (much to my dismay) and the sweater set Mexican exchange student who somehow snagged my email (for MSN...is this what the kids are asking for these days?). Anyways...it was a fun night.

So, I'm trying to apply for jobs to complete my Arts Co-op requirements and, well, it's not going very well. I'm being...somewhat, er, "choosy". So far, I've dropped off 1....ONE application and I'm not sure I even want that job. I guess I'm just realising what a catch I am (both in the dating game and the job market game) and I don't want to let "just anyone" hire me...or date me. And when I say "catch" I don't mean to sound egotistical, I just mean to say that I'm extremely artistic, talented, intelligent, creative, funny, inventive and pretty darn cute. Oh shut up...I just got rejected by a skateboarding burn-out. I'm trying to think positively here people, plus it's so true....shut up, shut up, shut up...oh and by the way, this does not bode well for any guy trying to pick me up..when a few randoms were persistant on getting my phone number (seriously guys, if a girl hesitates and declines...back off!!!), I responded by saying...well, I could give it to you, but the chances of me actually answering your call are very....VERY slim. So what's the point? Two actually took this callenge and so far...I'M WINNING.

I just got back a paper from my Museum Anthropology class...a paper that made me cringe and break a small sweat (oops, I mean "glow") when I handed it in...because I was sure, no, I was POSITIVE, that it was complete and utter crap...CRAP I tell you. Turns out I received the highest mark in the class...92%!!! Anyways, I told this story just to illustrate that I don't really think I'm that smart (but some people obviously do)...he he he...I'll shut up now.

WARNING!!!TMI!!!KEEP READING AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!TMI!!!WARNING!!!

Oh, and just so I don't sound like a completely smug bastard I'll let you in on a little secret...right now I'm suffering from a HORRIBLE flare up of my IBS (just ask my poor roommates and sister)...which means crampage, extreme bloatage (my stomach gargles, growls and barks at me when I press on it), gasage, constipationage, fartage during classage and the occasional (if I'm lucky) rabbit-turd like bowel movement...oh, it is fun times in my stomach right now...and no amount of prunes, tea, coffee, or grapefruit can help me at this point...

Er, anyways...

How are Y'ALL doing?

Somewhere...you know, over the rainbow...and behind the pot of gold.

2006-02-22T21:31:00.000-08:00

Being single isn't so bad when this man (all the way in Switzerland) thinks I'm the "bee's knees"...and he's coming to visit in 5 months! We spent two nights tearing up the dance floor in Mykonos and snogging *just a little* (mom)...I can't wait to show him around "the Couv" as Beth's sister calls it. Anyways...just dreaming of jet planes...

Ding-dong the rat is dead!

2006-02-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

That's right.
You heard me.
The. Rat. Is. Dead.
I saw it myself.
His shiny, black coat.
His big ears.
And his freakishly long tail.
The congealed blood from the trap violently crushing part of it's skull and neck.
I couldn't help but observe how cute and somewhat beautiful it was (sans the blood and gore).
So.
I guess that's it.*
No more running through my walls at 4:30 in the morning.
No more pooping in the couch.
No more eating our scraps.
No.
More.
Rat.
R.I.P Melba...you were one smart, tricky, tricky rat.

* I'm choosing (at the moment) to believe that there was just one. . .

And the Rat ran away with the Skunk.

2006-02-20T21:51:00.000-08:00

The Skunk?
The Skunk.
The Rat ran away with the Skunk.

So, apparently a "Rat Man" came by while I was back home over my reading break. My roommates informed me that he looked around and decided that the rat had left...and his theory was that the rat ran away with the skunk who used to live in the shed behind the house.

I.
Kidd.
You.
Not.

Okay, so I'm not a "Rat Man" and I suspect that this dude whose only credentials is a "science degree" is not a "Rat Man" either. For a few VERY obvious reasons:

1. Our rodent situation is plural not singular.
2. The fact that he ignored the ever growing hole in the wall...and the fresh dry wall debris.
3. The rat obviously said see you later biatch to the skunk once he figured out how to get inside the heated house.
4. Skunks and rats running away together??????? Huh? What?
5. My roommate heard the rat in the walls after he left.

So, the rodent saga continues...

Apparently...

2006-02-14T14:32:00.000-08:00

I WANT IT HARD.

Happy V-DAY Lovers!!! (revised version)

2006-02-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

For the special people in my life...and if you're not in these pictures, I most likely don't have a picture of you...so shut it (I love you too!)...Happy Valentine's Day!!!

P.S. My camera spontaneously combusted a couple of days ago or I dropped it (like a foot, seriously, lame!)...whichever, anyways, it's broken (ack! gasp! the horror!!!!) and so is my heart...because I love taking pictures (of myself mostly). Anyways, I'm going to see if my extended "warranty" covers it...hopefully...'cause I def have no $$ to replace it at this point.

P.P.S. I bet people won't be able to guess which picture(s) is/are of me and my sisters....or maybe this just gave it away?

Life is like a rat infested apartment...

2006-02-10T11:59:00.000-08:00

you think you've sorted out all the shit....and then you flip over your couch cushions and find a huge pile of it.

I'm so wise...

But this story is so true. Last Friday we spent hours cleaning up the basement suite and then revelled in the cleanliness of it all...but then, on Wednesday night, we flipped over the couch cushions to find.....literally like a hundred turds. It was the most digusting thing I have ever seen. I have pictures...for possible legal purposes, but I'm afraid I won't be sharing them with you....I'm too ashamed...

I live with dirty rats...and have been sitting on a pile of shit for a month.

Simple Equation....with pictures!

2006-02-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

1 Deleted Phone Number

+ 1 New Ring to Replace the Sacrificed Earrings....

+ 2 Hours in my Red Tutu Dancing to Aretha Franklin , Carly Simon, Janis Joplin, Carole King and Judy Collins....

= Me 99.9% Over You!!!

P.S. there may have been some eating ice cream and brownies (with chocolate sauce) with my roommates while watching "Girls Just Want to Have Fun!" in this equation as well.

Getting past the hurt...and pass me a paper bag.

2006-02-01T14:43:00.000-08:00

Whether it's intentional or not, when someone hurts me emotionally, I have a very hard time understanding it from his or her point of view and understanding why he or she decided to hurt my feelings or....getting over it. My sister recently told me not to let "him" know that he's hurt me. Not to give him that satisfacation...but I don't think I'm capable of doing this. However, it's not just hurt I've been feeling about this, but also confusion, anger, worry, guilt, triumph, regret...and the list goes on.

Thirty minutes ago I received a long awaited phone call. I phone call that I hoped would offer me some "closure". The phone call that would let me know that he's alright so that I can stop worrying and obsessing about him. Well, I didn't get that. Instead, I got the same old bull-shit that he's been giving me for the past two months. With a shaking voice I expressed my anger, something that I wanted so hard not to do and after it was over, I hyperventilated on the toilet. If you've never done that (I mean hyperventilate), it's quite a freaky experience...which, for me, included a gasping for air/crying combination, along with wildy shaking legs and body, numb, tingly lips and fingers and 5 minutes of feeling completely out of control...followed by 10 minutes of muffled sobbing in my pillow (so as not to scare my landlords).

I'm not writing this for sympathy...seriously, I just need to get it out because I don't want to have to deal with this anymore. Plus, I know this reaction is not isolated to a stupid two month relationship. I'm stressed and anxious about other things in my life, which this just makes worse. So, seriously it's enough. I've had enough. Seriously. ENOUGH.

That's, 2 steps forward, 1 step back?

2006-01-30T11:38:00.000-08:00

Announcement!!!!!!!!!

I.
Am.
Single.

I could get into all the dirty details, but even I'm asking myself "what were you thinking?" so I don't need to hear it from anyone else. I get it.

A man who speaks and looks like an ass-hole.
Is.
An.
Ass.
Hole.

Plain and simple, yo. I get it. However, I'm not happy that I took two steps back, so to make up for this lapse in sanity I'll have to take 4 steps forward next time...or something like that.

Sorry for the somewhat crazy post.

Someone woke me up at 8:00 am this morning. It was a blocked call. And they hung up as soon as I answered. The point is, I don't open my eyes until 9:00 am these days and I'm a little frazzled.

Okay, so that's all. Oh, and on a good note, I haven't cried in about a week...I think it's the sans ass-hole thing :)

P.S. If YOU ever read this: I WANT MY EARRINGS BACK.

"I don't have any panties on"

2006-01-29T20:01:00.000-08:00

I was having some trouble deciding what to entitle this blog entry...I contemplated a few other titles such as "Rescue 9-11", "What the Skunk is That Smell?", "Just a Regular Saturday Night in the Ol' Basement Suite" and "Actually, it was the police department I needed"...However, in the end,"I don't have any panties on" won out because, well, panties is fun to type and say.

So, at approximately 11:00 p.m. last night, while washing my face and getting ready for bed, my nostrils detected a rather familiar smell...affectionately known as eau de Skunk. However, upon exiting the bathroom, my eyes and nostrils were assaulted with the most disgusting, eye stinging odor that I have EVER encountered. Okay, imagine a house, imagine a pissed off skunk and then imagine what it would smell like if that pissed off skunk was, indeed, INSIDE the house....well, there was no skunk inside the house, but gawddamn, it sure smelled like it.

My roomates, Danice and Beth, and I spent a few moments discussing and laughing about the potency of this skunk scent inside the house, even with all the windows shut. I however, had a feeling that this smell could possibly be something even more horrible than a skunk and perhaps not even a skunk at all, but gas...as in, propane gas. After retreating to our seperate rooms, I investigated this possibility with google and google seemed to agree:

Propane has a strong, unpleasant smell like rotten eggs, a skunk's spray, or a dead animal. Propane manufacturers add the smell deliberately to help alert customers to propane leaks, which can create a safety hazard.

Not wanting to perish in a firey ball of flames during the night, I quickly ran to Danice's room and revealed my suspicion. We decided to investigate the situation and, to make a long part of the story short, we both agreed that the source of the smell was coming from a vent on the side of the house and the source was actually from INSIDE THE HOUSE!

We ran back into the house to alert Beth, who had no pants on (we let her put some on), ran across the street and phoned the fire department. While waiting for the truck to arrive, we laughed about what we were wearing, however, I was the only one in my pajamas and, indeed, had no panties on (my mom would not approve, but I think the rule was "always wear a clean pair of panties in case of an emergency"..does no panties count?). Five minutes later, the truck arrived and not even parking, the fireman rolled down his window and said with a grin, "it's a skunk". After a few minutes of discussion about the smell and its strange potency inside the house, the five men and their truck left us...very embarassed, but even more upset that there was nothing we could do to solve the skunk smell problem.

Back in the house, in an attempt to seek out fresher air, we went upstairs and chatted for about 10 minutes and then decided to go back downstairs and call it a night. Not 2 minutes later we heard the creak of footsteps on the floor above us. We all thought that we were alone in the house. Our landlords were coming home the next night and their daughter rarely stayed over night...plus, the lights were off just minutes before and we didn't hear anyone come in. I was laughing so hard that I think I pulled a muscle...thinking about having to call 9-11 for the second time that night..this time requesting the police department (yes, I think there's an intruder in my house).

After getting our shoes on for the second time that night, we ran from the house in order to get a safer view of the unknown person upstairs. It turned out to be our landlord's daughter and when we went back inside, the first thing she said to us was, "I saw a skunk".

*Edited out funny fact from the night #1: Before leaving the house the first time, Beth turned down the heat register. I almost had a heart attack and screamed "don't touch it!"

**Edited out funny fact from the night #2: Danice, in response to the idea that it could be an intruder upstairs, declared "that would be r*t*rd*d". To which I responded through a fit of laughter, "well, I'm not going to get killed because you think it's r*t*rd*d!"

***Edited out funny fact from the night #3: When the firefighter told us to contact pest control about the skunk and that animals sometimes live inside old houses, I responded "I know, we have rats".

****Edited out funny fact from the night#4: While we were outside waiting for the truck to arrive, Danice and I complained of sore stomachs and headaches...drama queens.