What a maroon…

 

I am feeling a bit hurty today.  I had a wonderful weekend, but I look an absolute mess today.  I really hope the couple of painkillers I popped at lunch take hold soon, as I have to work tonight too.  Yikes!

So, what did I do to myself, you ask? Well, on saturday, John and I hiked 3.5 hours up Mt. Work.  We did the moderately strenuous hike, the one that takes you on a loop.  It was pretty decent, and my knees were really feeling it at the end.  I woke up on Sunday morning a bit stiff, but ready for a day of diving.

We got to the shop early, as we wanted to toothpaste our new masks (gets rid of the film) and we wanted to see about gear – whether any of our stuff had been serviced so we could use it instead of rental.  We were up at 7 anyway, so arriving at just after 9am was pretty easy. I felt great! A bit stiff, but ready for a great day of diving.  It was a bit drizzley, but not too cold, and the water was super calm.

Only 1 guy showed up for the drop in dive.  Fine by me, as I haven’t led a dive in awhile.  John was tagging along too, so that he could take lots of pictures.  We loaded ourselves in full gear (in cold weather this is a 30lb weight belt on top of all the heavy equipment) and walked out along the breakwater.  The breakwater is 800m long, and we walked to dive site #4, which is about 2/3 of the way down.  A bit of a trek. 

You drop down to the halfway set of stairs, close to the water pretty quickly, out of the way of walkers, and where it isn’t too slippery.  The step just below is all slimy, so we stayed above, at John’s recommendation.  About half way to #4, I made a comment that it was a good thing we didn’t go one step down, because at that point the waves were crashing over the step below us.  Now, the steps are made of these massive concrete blocks, some of which have big gaps between them.  Just after I commented on the slippery blocks below, I misstepped, and fell into the gap.  You can almost see it, 2 steps below this one.  Jesus. What an idiot.  John said he was surprised I wasn’t hurt worse, as my legs were straight up and down, and my body slammed into the cement.  I have BEAUTIFUL bruises to show for it.  “luckily” I braced with my arm so didn’t smash our new light or my new mask.  But I am a mess.

THEN, to add injury to injury, on our second dive, because my knee was starting to seize up (yes, I completed dive # 1, and my customer had  a GREAT dive thank you very much!) I had difficulty getting my fin on, and fell backwards into the water.  With 1 fin on, one flailing about in the waves and NO GLOVES.  in 8 degree water.

This sucked for the cold, AND because I attempted to flail out and catch on to something for help, and managed to scrape my hand across barnacles – giving myself about 20 nice deep cuts on my hands.  Bugger.

Anyway, I am not dead. I continued the dive, and didn’t even cry.  But today I am feeling a bit sorry for myself, and wanted to share.

I have 2 jobs. I always have at least 2 jobs though. It is my thing. OR I have 1 job that makes me work like 60 hours a week. I need to work 2 jobs, or extra hours, because I like to spend money.

There, I said it.

Anyway, I have been working a lot lately, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I am making some extra money, John is more appreciative of me when I am actually around, and I get out and do something when I am not at SMUS that makes me money instead of causes me to spend it.

Hmmm… there was a point to this post somewhere… unfortunately the phone just rang and I can’t remember what it was.

Oh well, that is what edit is for later!
Happy Monday

She ain’t what she used to be

Gah. I am tired today. Yeah, yeah, my last post was all about energy and I am now posting that I am tired. Yes, i am a boring individual. Anyway, the point being that I went out Saturday night and drank too much and today, MONDAY, I am still exhausted. Gah.

I have been at work for over 3 hours, and have done next to nothing. Filed a few things. Sent some mail. Bitched about the teachers who pissed me off on Friday for not doing their jobs, and thus blocking me from doing mine. Grr.

So, on Saturday night, Matt came over for a few glasses of wine, and then we met up with Betsy, his girlfriend for a scrumptious dinner at Rebar. Mmmmm…. Monk’s curry. Yummy! We then all went back to our place for MORE wine, as this is the poor man way to party. We then met up with Elissa, Kevin and Jerry as well as a friend of Jerry’s (Graeme) and a friend of Matt’s (Dave). Unfortunately, I was starting to get a massive headache, and so I stupidly took a headache pill when we were at home. And continued to drink. I also mixed alcohol, flitting from wine to beer to a shot or two… wtf? Do I really think I am still 19 and can handle this?

Anyway, matt, John, Betsy, Dave and I ended up at the Bent Mast where luckily I ate a bit, as I then got fairly obnoxiously drunk and John informs me I was being fairly inappropriate in my conversations. Damn.

We went diving on Sunday, and although I am glad I didn’t sit around and feel sorry for my hungover self, it does mean I am super duper tired today. And this accounts for the lame, pathetic reference to the old grey mare – which is how I feel today.

My apologies.

HOLY ENERGY BATMAN!!!

Ok, so this afternoon is going to be my first workout of the week. 1 hour, total body class. Yes, I will hurt tomorrow. A lot. But, I have been sick, and I did some walking, but I am not blogging that.

What I wanted to blog was my new discovery – my new found EXTREME energy. I feel like I am on SPEED lately! I went to Planet Organics (a store that obviously is devoted to health and nutrition and all things organic) and chatted with a dude (yes a VERY fit, VERY hot dude – Tracey and I are going there when she gets to Victoria! And he is Tall! and Yummy!)

Ok, I digress.

We talked about my lack of energy, my bad skin and weight gain (Yeah, I felt REALLY ATTRACTIVE talking to the hot man about my problems and general lack of fitness) and how I felt I wasn’t getting enough protein/omega 3-6-9 or any of that fun stuff due to my vegetarian with vegan tendancy diet. And how everyone recommends fish oil – which of course, I won’t use because of the previous v with v tendencies. SO, he recommended flax oil and hemp seeds. I bought a bucket of Hemp Hearts (http://www.healing-source.com/about_HempHearts_b.htm) and a bottle of flax oil. I haven’t really used the flax, but I started putting a few tablespoons of hemp hearts on my cereal in the morning and HOLY ENERGY BATMAN! I feel AWESOME! And that is with a cold! Can’t wait to see how I feel when I am healthy! Yesterday I burned through the day, and wasn’t even really hungry at 2:00 when I took lunch break, and then went out after a 12 hour day of work, and STILL was up at midnight.

Anyway, this is my great health find of the week, and although I wrote you gals a book, I wanted to share!

Been awhile…

Ok, So I haven’t posted anything since New Years. I have the great excuse of being super busy. Today I have time because i am sick. Boo. I am at the library too, which has made all ideas of the post I was going to write fall out of my cloudy, sick filled brain, and instead I am just annoyed by people.

NO ONE IS PAID TO PICK UP YOUR TISSUES AND COFFEE MUGS AT THE LIBRARY. SO don’t leave your snot rags in a heap next to the keyboard, or you Tim Horton’s cup on its side spilling everywhere.

Why are people such pigs? When did this sense of entitlement appear, where we as a group decided we were better than everyone/everything else and we could just do what we wanted? No care for what that meant for the next to come?

No, I am not really thinking about the person with the next reso on the computers. I am thinking bigger picture. John and I watched “Planet Earth:Futures” on Friday, and it has been really in my head for most of the weekend. 1/4 of all mammal species on earth have become extinct in the past 50 years. 1/3 of all amphibians. 1/3 of all birds. We are a plague on this earth. Seriously, humans are a plague. We take and take based on our decisions of what is important. Why have elephants been slaughtered for ivory? Because we think it is pretty. Isn’t it prettier on a LIVE ELEPHANT? Wow, diamonds are pretty! But, to an untrained eye, next to cut glass, doesn’t it look the same? Or near enough that we don’t have to damage the earth and kill people for something with an arbitrary beauty factor?

Grr. I am sick and grumpy. Not a good combination. I have a whole bunch of other things I would like to type, but I need to go lie down.

meetings for the new year

urgh. I am trying to be positive and upbeat… today is testing my patience. Not good for my first day back in the New Year with NEW POSITIVE ME! I had to go into Admissions to tell them I can’t work EVERY Saturday, as I am full time at SMUS AND I have a second job, and the admin assistant was a bit rude. She basically told me she didn’t care, deal with it. I mean, fair enough – she is heading for surgery in a week, and they did hire me for this. BUT, that was when I was part time and only working 4 days. I am no longer doing that. (was I ever?)

So, I went and talked to the money people. Hint: When working at a private school, where they have to watch their own budgets very carefully, drop the magic “32 hours of overtime”. Things tend to become more clear cut.

Anyway, I am feeling a bit bummed, as this was not how I hoped this would go down. They told me there was a second person who could work occassionally, but now that I am asking to use that supposed second person – no one has any recollection of that conversation. Again: Urgh.

Oh well, I sent off an email to the head of admissions and met with financial, so hopefully this will sort itself out and I can still get everything taken care of!

2010

I hope….

Will bring me a more positive attitude. Of course, I don’t mean bring me, this is something that I need to work at. I need to look more at the wonderful things in my life that I chance upon every single day.

I am very lucky in my life. I am healthy. My partner is healthy. I can scuba dive and explore the depths of the oceans. I can hike to high peaks and see amazing views. I can look out of my window and see the winking green light of the buoy past the breakwater, and the mountains beyond. I can spend too much money and realize a paycheque is on its way in 2 weeks. I can pay my bills. I can eat locally grown, organic food – and I realize now that this is a luxury many cannot afford. I can have principles and ideals, and I can stick to them – or break them – no one decides for me.

I come home at least once a week to a clean home and a meal cooked by someone else. Someone I love. I say once a week – but it is usually more than that. I have a wonderful, loving partner. One who isn’t just my love, but my best friend. He pissses me off sometimes, but I am no angel. Luckily, he puts up with my crap, just as I am. We have come a long way together in 3 years, and sometimes I dwell too much on the difficulty, instead of seeing that this is our way through to the future. Our way of dealing with everything – one little bit at a time.

I have some great friends too. Most live far away from me, and there are many people who have enriched my life and I still consider friends that I may never see again. This is a positive in my life; not a negative. “Some friends come into our lives for a reason, others for a season” or something like that… I feel lonely sometimes, but that is my own fault. I often don’t follow through with plans to meet people for coffee, or invite a friend to do something. I don’t need a lot of people, but the only one who pushes people away from me, is me.

I have a good job. Not what I want to do forever, but it pays the bills, and challenges me from time to time. Not all the time, which is probably also a good thing! I have a second job, that keeps me busy, and gives us the extra money to afford things like John taking a month long trip to Ontario; a much needed visit with his family. It gives us the money to afford nice bottles of wine, and locally crafted beers. Or Thai dinners on Friday nights.

These are small luxuries to us, but many can’t afford it. We can.

I can afford to take a week and visit my brother, his wife, their kids and my grandpa over the holidays. I can afford to smile when he teases me – even if it sometimes hurts, and offer him respect in his home while i eat their food and drink their wine (or vodka) as the case may be. I can look at him and realize the friendship we had as young adults may be faded, but he will always be my big brother and I will always love him and look up to him. He has a wonderful family. They are lucky, but I do not begrudge them their happiness, instead I wish for more glimpses into their lives and more visits like the last. There is something so peaceful about colouring with a small child

I am thankful for my parents. We have had difficulty seeing eye to eye, as many parents and children do, but I love them and I am happy they are happy. I am glad they are seeing the world and enjoying themselves with there many friends. I am glad my mom had the courage to change her life so drastically. Through her changes I have gained step brothers and sisters and nephews. And even better, ones that live close enough to feed me once and awhile. haha

So, there I have it. Many reasons to be happy.

NO MORE COMPLAINING!!!!

Happy New Year

Goodbye 2009. I am not sure how to feel about you. It has been a crazy year:

- Got Divemaster certified
- ran a hotel in Honduras for the first part of the year, and spent months living an awesome life filled with diving, hanging out with friends and relaxing on a cay in the caribbean
- came back to Victoria, to what felt like one misunderstanding with people I cared about after another – fought with parents and friends and struggled to find a job I liked
- found work, but wasn’t happy – long hours, bad conditions
- “broke up” with my best friend of 20 years
- started meeting some new people
- got a new job – an adult one with RSPs, medical, dental, etc
- started reconnecting with my family – good visits with my mom and dad; a fantastic Christmas with Grandpa, Kim, Martin, Tegan and Zoe – with no fighting with my brother

Now, at the end of the year I feel more secure – I won’t say financially, as this is always a tight time of year, but I am secure in knowing that any discomfort will be alleviated by the next pay period! However, I have a great relationship, wonderful friends and a decent job, plus a wonderful family. I am looking forward to 2010, and all that it will bring. Hoping to lose a few pounds (just like every year!), pay off some more debt, and who knows… maybe move to Japan. But, whatever it brings, I plan on being more positive and take things less personally this year, and hopefully everything will turn out well.

Merry Christmas Everyone

I am at work.

BOOOO!!! Oh well, it is only until 1:00 and then I am outta here! I can’t wait, as I am going to drive to Sidney, grab a coffee with Matt, catch the 3:00 ferry, have Christmas dinner with Kat and Aaron, have a drink downtown with Kat and maybe Aaron and Jenni too, and then on the bus at midnight for the overnight to Kelowna. Where I will spend Christmas with my 2 favourite little girls, and my brother and sister in law and Grandpa.

It is going to rock!

I have a bag full of presents, and some wine, and my stretchy pants. What more could a girl ask for!

Although, I do wish John was here

Dry Suit!

This weekend was great. John, Jerry and I went diving at Henderson on Saturday, John and I tried drysuits for the first time. We read the chapter, did some research, and decided to forgo a class, and just give it a try.

We did fairly well, and I was really warm and dry (unfortunately John had a bit of a leak) so quite enjoyed the dive. Near the end however, I had issues with too much air down by my feet and them trying to escape to the surface. I had a few moments of freaking out, where instead of tucking my legs in and letting the air escape out my arm valve, I attempted to hang onto a rock to steady myself. Of course, this didn’t work and I freaked out. I was screaming at John (yeah, that works WONDERS in a reg) but he was out of air, and there wasn’t much he could do. He tried hanging on to me and calming me down to get me to think rationally, but unfortunately I was too freaked, and ended up shooting to the surface. WAY faster than my smallest bubbles. I flipped end over end, and was trying to remember to breathe out, but after about 5 seconds I was at the surface. PHEW, we were only at about 4-5 metres. Yikes!

Anyway, it was overall a good experience, one I would like to work on. Now I just need to come up with $1100 to buy a drysuit….

While down there, we saw the wreck and had a good chuckle over the skeleton someone had tied to it, and saw a bunch of cool nudibranchs. Below are a few pics stolen from the web… as we have no camera housing yet. Need $600 for that and a flash… argh…