heidi m. lindskog

Reevaluating

2011-01-10T15:29:00.005-07:00

For as long as I have lived on my own, I have had a framed postcard placed in a prominent place in my home.
The postcard is a photograph of a newspaper stand and the stand is filled with newspapers. I cannot read most of the titles, as the stand is from somewhere in Europe. The reason I first purchased the card was to help me remember my goals.
I said, “One day I will be published in every one of those newspapers.”
It’s hard for me to remember that girl, as I have not been in the industry for almost a year now.
I think it’s still something I want. But I am so far away from it. And I am not sure I know how to get back.
I was unpacking some of my stuff this evening; most of it has been in boxes since I made the move home from Lloyd, and the card and the frame were among the things to come out.
I just don’t know where it should go.

harder than it seems

2010-08-27T21:01:00.002-06:00

(Warning: A co-worker introduced me to Jack's Mannequin today. It's the front man from Something Corporate. I am mostly loving it and since it's more than a little emo I am feeling a little sad and that is the place that this blog is coming from. Don't say I didn't warn you.)

Life is hard. This has been something that I have been learning.
Moving home has proved to be harder than I thought.
Sometimes I feel like moving home was giving up. Two steps forward one step back.
And sometimes it seems like things are finally start to fall into place.
The casual summer job has turned into a full time position and I really enjoy all the people I work with. But I guess I just wonder what I am doing with my photography and with my education. I didn't plan on four years of post secondary for a job in retail. And sometimes I wonder if it's possible to survive without discounted shoes.
I just wish that I had all the answers.
The other thing that I guess I forgot is that everyone else moved on while I was away. I didn't forget this, I put the wrong numbers into my calculations when I was making my decision.
Like most, I get lonely sometimes. I need more friends. Would you like to be my friend?
Right now I really need someone to see Eat, Pray, Love with me. I have never been to a movie by myself and I am not quite sure it is something I am ready to do. I always like to make commentary during movies and it would be hard to do that by myself. Or I am not sure the people around me would appreciate it.
I guess I am also afraid of being judged. I don't know why other opinions seem to matter so much.
And I also don't know if I could eat an entire bag of popcorn by myself. Or maybe the bigger issue is that I would be able to eat an entire bag of popcorn by myself.
Suddenly, but not surprisingly I am craving popcorn.
But once again I am faced with the issue of being judged for being in the movie theatre by myself.

living in lethbridge

2010-03-30T20:19:00.002-06:00

I feel as though I may have left you hanging (although I am not entirely sure who actually reads this thing,) but none the less I feel the need to share.
Last week I was quite excited to learn that for the time being I am not dying! Isn't that fantastic!
I had my appointment with the doctor and he didn't find anything that would lead him to believe that I am not okay.
He did tell me that there is one more test we can do, but then I have to guarantee that I will pass out sometime within a two week period. This maybe hard to do considering the sporadic nature of the rest of my fainting spells. But still probably worth the time.
I think that I will probably plan do to the test after my trip to Virginia.
Anyways, that is my physical health. Now to my mental health.
I have been in Lethbridge with my family for just under a week now and surprisingly I haven't really flipped out on anyone yet. Now please don't take this wrong, I love my family. It's just after living on my own I really have come to love my space and time. And sometimes that gets sacrificed in this kind of living situation.
The reason I believe I still have my sanity is because I really haven't been spending a lot of time at home. As long as my outings continue I should be able to make my goal, which is living here until July and then finding my own place.
And a job. I will need to find a job too. But that is in the books for June.
I am really hoping for a grown up job. Something where I can wear heals and where I have a desk. I really like having a desk and I like having my own phone and business cards.
But we will see.

last day

2010-03-21T19:15:00.002-06:00

Today I worked my last day at the Lloydminster Meridian Booster.
And let me just say it feels really good to be done.
I am not exactly sure where life will take me, but I am totally okay with that.
First to Lethbridge. And then the plan is to go to Virginia. And then after that I suppose I will have to get a job. Bummer eh?
And in the meantime I am excited to go home and walk my dog, among other things.
But before we get to that point I need to clean like crazy.
Today I cleaned the over and I am planning on washing the walls after I am finished blogging. And then tomorrow someone is coming to clean my carpets so I am going to focus on the rest of the kitchen and the bathroom ... since I won't be able to work on the carpeted rooms!
Anyways, time to work ... but not at the Booster!

little bit of bad news

2010-03-11T08:23:00.003-07:00

As some of you may remember I went for a heart test a couple of weeks ago.
The nurse at the doctors office told me that they would let me know if I needed a follow up appointment ... in other words they would call me if something was wrong.
Being the hypochondriac that I am, I went ahead and book an appointment. You don't just do a brain scan and a heart test without hearing anything from the doctor.
My appointment is in two weeks.
Anyways yesterday, I had a little downtime from work so I was just relaxing and having a nap. My phone rang ... I ignored it. When I woke up I checked my messages and there was one from the doctors office telling me they wanted me to come in.
I called back and they realized that I had already booked an appointment so I was good to go.
But I am afraid this is bad news. So what I am asking is that if you pray to please say one for me.
He (the doctor) told me he wouldn't need to see me unless something was wrong. Now there is the possibility that maybe it's only minor. Like maybe I just have a heart murmur or something like that. Something they just want me to know for the future. But it also could be something bad.
Anyways, I am scared and I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

goodbye to winter, among other things

2010-03-09T13:48:00.003-07:00

So it appears that March is going to be the month of blogging ... or at least I am off to a good start.
First of all I want to say one thing loud and clear. I love spring. There is nothing better in the world than mild temperatures, singing birds, and flowers. Especially after winter! God did very well when he organized the seasons. I also love summer and I am very much looking forward to that, but let's not get ahead of ourselves!
So what I really came here to talk about is my Grandma. She has been sick for quite some time and as a result she has had a pacemaker put it. The doctors now believe that the pacemaker is the only thing that is keeping her alive. They have asked our family to make a rather difficult decision. To turn the pacemaker off or to leave it on.
More so the responsibility of this decision falls to my dad and uncle, but I still feel involved to some capacity.
At this point I am not really sure what is going to happen, but I believe we are planning a trip to say goodbye.
It's hard to think about. Although my Grandma has been living with Alzheimer's for quite some time now, she is still a very important part of my life despite the fact that she may not know who I am all the time.
We all knew and thought that this would happen sooner than it did, but when it comes down to it, it's just hard to say goodbye.

tour de alberta & saskatchewan

2010-03-08T08:25:00.005-07:00

First things first ... it appears I go through cell phones faster than a heavy smoker goes through cigarettes. I just got my Samsung Vice in July of this past year and already the battery appears to be on the fritz. I have to charge it every night and if I actually use the phone during the day I have to charge it multiple times! It's a little ridiculous!
Anyways that is not really what I came here to talk about.
Last week I went soul searching. Well actually I took a drive. From Lloydminster to Lethbridge. From Lethbridge to Moose Jaw. From Moose Jaw to Saskatoon. And from Saskatoon back to Lloydminster. I basically made a big circle across the prairie provinces.
I went home in the first place to take home some boxes ... after two plus years in Lloydminster I have collected more than my fair share of things. So I figured a bonus trip would only help. Then I also got to see a friend of mine sing, the actual performance was on Friday, but I couldn't stay that long so I just went to the dress rehearsal! I also got to hang out with my family and my puppy ... and when I say puppy I mean 11 year old dog.
Then I jetted off to MJ for a job interview and visits with some of my friends from college. It was fantastic to see so many people who were so influential in my life. It's also a little sad that most of them just fell out of my life after college because we weren't in the same place anymore.
As for the job interview, that was the soul searching portion of our journey. When I got into photojournalism I was convinced that it was something that I was going to do for the rest of my life. I quickly learned, it's not. Don't get me wrong I still love photography and I would always like it to be something I do. But maybe just not in the newspaper sense of the word. So I went for a job interview at a coffee shop. Correction, manager of the coffee shop. It's something totally different. But as one of my friends put it, it's a cultural ministry and I think that would be something that I could like and thrive in.
I haven't heard anything yet. I don't know if I will get it, but if I don't I may just find myself driving to the east coast.
Then off to Saskatoon where I caught up with a friend over lunch. And then back to Lloyd where I quickly headed back to work.
Only 13 more days until I am done at the Booster and only a few more than that and I will be done with this city. I have to stay a couple of extra days to pack, clean, and go to a couple of appointments.
I am excited for whatever this next part of my life holds, life is an adventure and I plan to live it as such.

hospitals and heart monitors

2010-02-17T22:52:00.003-07:00

I cannot sleep. I know it's not that late. But for someone who likes to get at least eight hours a night it's kind of a big deal.
Thoughts of hospitals and heart monitors are consuming my brain.
I have two fears for tomorrow. Or rather the outcome of tomorrow.
The first they don't find anything and that I keep randomly fainting.
The second that they find something. I think that's the scariest of my two fears.
I am trying to look on the bright side, but considering my luck and medical history, it's hard to do.
On a totally random unrelated note I got flowers sent to me at work today. It was so much fun! I have never had flowers sent to me at the office before, unless you count the McDonalds drive through booth as an office!
It would have been interesting to know what my heart did when I saw the flowers on my desk. But I guess we will never know! Unless I get flowers again tomorrow!

taking a line from valentines day

2010-02-16T00:13:00.002-07:00

So this past weekend I went to see the movie Valentine's Day. It was cute. Really nothing special, kind of like every other romantic comedy you have ever seen. Still enjoyable though!
There is a scene that I am going to use to illustrate part of my life. Probably won't illustrate it very well, but whatever!
(Don't worry, if you haven't seen it, it's not going to spoil the movie)
So there is a little boy who is having a conversation with his grandfather about love. He asked his grandpa if he has ever caught it, funny cause it makes love seem like a cough or cold. The grandpa says yes. And the little boy asks him if it makes his heart beat all funny. And the grandpa says yes, it goes bumpety bumpety bump.
Well that is the way that my heart has been beating this week. And no I am not in love. I am so nervous.
On Thursday I am scheduled for my heart test. I have to wear a monitor for 24 hours in an attempt to figure out why I keep getting light headed and fainting.
I haven't actually passed out since November, so that is good. But the bad part is that I still keep coming really close.
I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time.
But at the same time as I would like to know what's going on, I don't because I am afraid that it will be really bad.

grandma like tendencies

2010-01-25T23:29:00.002-07:00

For most of my adult life (18 to present) I have gone to bed at a decent time. Some might even go as far to say that I have crossed the line of decent into strangely early. But that is my routine and that is what works for me.
That is until about 3 days ago. For the life of me I cannot sleep. At present it is 11:32, not late, but not early for someone who regularly likes to be asleep by 10:15.
I have cut out afternoon naps, I am waking up early, and I cannot do anything about it.
I guess I may have taken sleep for granted. Usually within minutes of hitting the pillow I am out like a rock and I do not wake up until morning. And that's just how it's always been ... or at least that is how it's been for as long as I can remember.
And now I am tired, but I know that once I put my head on my pillow, something in my brain will just click and I will lay there for at least a couple of hours.
Given I have some things on my mind. But I don't think it's those things that are keeping me awake. I dwell enough during the day that I have no need to think at night.

all over the map

2010-01-17T22:41:00.003-07:00

I kind of feel like a mess!
And I have two wrist braces to prove it. As if being strapped into one for the night wasn't bad enough, my "almost" carpal tunnel has started acting up in both wrists. So now when I go to sleep I put on two wrist braces, one mouth guard (because they say I grind my teeth) and sometimes a hot bag!
I think the hot bag has a lot to do with the stress in my life. My stomach always acts out when I am under stress.
So that's my life.
Hopefully the next two days off will help with the stress or at least some of the mess.
And now when I speak of mess I am talking about my apartment. Pretty much total chaos right now. I got home from Christmas a little over two weeks ago now, but I have yet to finish unpacking my suitcase or my knitting bag. And there are boxes all over from my boxing day purchases, which I need to keep in case I have a malfunction and I need to take in in for warranty work.
So tomorrow and Tuesday I hope to clean and put somethings into their places.
I also hope that I get to have a phone conversation. I am hoping to hear somethings, good things, about a job that I have applied for.
That part also makes it hard to put things away, when all I really want to do is pack them into boxes and head for southern Alberta. Oh home, it's only been two and half weeks that I have been back in Lloyd after Christmas and I just want to go back.
The one thing that does make it easier to be here though is that the weather has been warm! I hate it when it is just so cold. I also hate that I know it's not spring yet, so this nice weather is probably just teasing me. But I like it. I haven't plugged my car in for the past couple of days.
On yet another random note, I am trying to bring back Skype into my life. My Christmas phone bill, the one where I tried to call everyone I know and catch up, it killed me!
So if you Skype or you want to my username is heidilindskog! I would love to talk to you! And for free, that just makes it so much better!

gluten free adventures

2010-01-05T10:13:00.003-07:00

So a little while back I purchased this book which basically told me that I need to become cut caffeine, alcohol, gluten, red meat, dairy and excess sugar from my diet in order to make myself feel better.
If you think anything like me, you instantly thought "that's impossible, way too many things to cut out"
Which is why I decided to try and cut one thing at time.
Coffee was the first thing to go, because I knew that it would be one of the harder adjustments for me. I live on coffee! Or at least I did. I no longer require it to function properly!
Alcohol was easy because I really didn't drink much anyways.
And now I am starting on gluten!
Did you know that there is gluten in everything? And I mean everything. So needless to say, so far I am failing at this one.
The one meal of the day that I have down though is breakfast!
I have found there are a lot of options for gluten free cereals, both hot and cold.
So the other day I bought a new gluten free hot cereal. It is a creamy brown rice farina and it is lovely. But terribly sticky to clean up.
I followed the directions on the package, which failed to mention that if you don't have a bowl the size of earth, the farina is going to bubble up right over the top and make a mess of your microwave. Which it did.
Luckily for me, I learned this on my day off so I had time to clean it up right away.
That has been my biggest "gluten free adventure" so far, but I am sure there will be many more stories where that one came from.

wise words from my landlord

2009-12-13T18:25:00.002-07:00

My landlord told me today that winter really brings out the worst in everything.
I totally agree with that statement.
That being said my heat and my breaker have been acting up since the temperature went down to minus 52.
(Thats including the wind chill.)
It's not super fun to have the heat stop working when it's that cold outside. This past week my indoor temperature got down to plus 15. Which may not sound cold, but it is rather chilly.
Today I got a space heater which is helping, but with the breaker situation I can only plug it into one outlet or else the breaker will go out.
What I learned about my old apartment building and my old breaker is that most of my outlets, lights, and fridge are already on the same breaker. So the space heater is just enough to tip the scale.
So needless to say, I don't really enjoy winter. Or the cold weather.
I do on the other hand enjoy the Christmas specials.

kick it out

2009-12-06T12:34:00.003-07:00

Every time I think about blogging, it's always on the sad days.
I kind of hate that because it makes me appear super emo. Which I probably am.
But I do have good days too.
Today is not one of the good days.
It was one of those days where you literally kick things because you are so angry, upset, and sad, all at the same time.
It felt really good to kick something. I think I would like to kick things more often.

my first byline

2009-11-11T20:04:00.004-07:00

So since I shared my terrible week, I thought I should share my first byline. For the printed word of course!
I consider this to be a major success!
Since being made to write, this was the first thing I have had to write. It wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be and I am still keeping an open mind about things.

the week from hell

2009-10-31T17:47:00.002-06:00

Calling this past week the week from hell maybe a rather strong statement. But it was a super bad week.

It all started with the movie couples retreat! Now don't take that wrong it was a pretty good movie! I laughed quite a bit, but after I got to my car and started thinking about it I started sobbing. Hysterically crying!

The movie starts with a couple that is thinking of getting a divorce as a result of years and years trying to make a baby. And this reminded me of myself. With the recent surgery and the all the pain that I have been in, I just couldn't help but think that I may find myself in that same situation in a few years.

Then on Wednesday I went into work like I would on any normal Wednesday...but on this Wednesday we (the editorial department) had a meeting with our publisher. And we never go into meetings with the publisher. At this meeting he told us that our paper will no longer have a photographer. At present I believe I am lucky to still have my job, but I was told that I have to start writting. We have yet to hammer out the details of how this is going to work. But from that moment on I spent the rest of the day, yet again hysterically crying.

My biggest concern with this is that I was already having issues with my job. I was already thinking about leaving. And now they are going to make me do something that I don't want to do.

Then I spent my entire Thursday morning in the cold. That doesn't make anyone happy.

And then Thursday afternoon I had a doctors appointment at which I am sure I could have picked H1N1 from one of the snotty kids in the waiting room. The one kid even had a face mask on, but it was too big for his face so it kept slipping down!

Anyways the appointment was to get some test results. Recently, I have started fainting. And I am not a fainter. This is totally new for me. So we did tests to try and figure out what is causing it. Good news is there is absolutely nothing wrong with me. Or at least nothing wrong with the tests they did. Bad news is I am still fainting. So I have an appointment scheduled with a specialist, an internist, to see if they can figure something else out. So that one is at the end of November.

That was my week.

summer has not been the season for blogging

2009-09-27T09:20:00.008-06:00

And if you think about it, it really hasn't seemed much like a season at all.
It has been so cold.
But now with the official start of fall I hope to get back to blogging.
So this summer although fairly uneventful I seemed to pack a lot into it. By passing working and all those other boring things, the highlights were having my sister and her husband back in Alberta for the summer, a trip to see some friends in Vancouver, and a family vacation to Idaho and Montana. Although I have decided that I don't think I can do another ten and half hour road trip with my family again. Next year I fly!
I also had my sister and a few other friends out to Lloydminster to visit me!
So basically that was summer. And now fall.
Starting at the beginning of the month I started teaching a photography class through the local art gallery and museum. What was supposed to be one night a week turned into two after the class filled up after a day and half. I have two more classes (one on Tuesday and one on Thursday) and then I am done. Although I have enjoyed it I am excited to have my life back!

(This is the poster for my class)

As for the rest of my fall I having another minor surgery in October, Thanksgiving weekend actually! Don't worry though I will still be able to eat turkey!
And other than that not to many plans. Just keep knitting!

magic bags are not for summer

2009-07-23T21:39:00.002-06:00

I am going to blame the lack of my blogging on the weather. Really who wants to sit inside at a computer when they can be outside. And who really wants to sit inside reading someone else's blog when they themselves could be outside. So really my lack of blogging has all been for you.
But now that I am half sunburnt I need to stay inside for a little while. I say half because I got the "car burn" so my left arm is crispy and my right is still white! Oh good! That was exactly what I was hoping for!
I am mostly here to voice a few frustrations.
At present I am hating my body. It causes me so much pain on a regular basis...but not quite enough pain to warrant a surgery yet. So every ten weeks I suffer because the medication just don't last long enough. Usually I can pull off the magic bag to make me feel better. But like I said it's been warm, so the heat isn't tolerated really well.
And it's just frustrating.
I know there are many worse things that could be wrong with me.
Anyways I am done whining. At least for now

oh what a beautiful day

2009-06-15T16:32:00.002-06:00

I had such a lovely day today, which was an unsuspected and welcome surprise!
So it started off way to early for a weekend, I couldn't get back to sleep after 7. But I made the most of it and decided to get things done. So I did all of my morning things and then headed out for errands. First stop the mechanic buy some new tires and make an appointment to get them put on. So that will be done on Wednesday. I just didn't want to worry about my tires while I was driving to Provost and area for the wedding I am shooting Saturday.
Then booster to show off my lovely knitted blanket (see previous post) and to drop off a few pictures from last night's folk fest. The blanket was a huge success and I may have even convinced some people to join our (Amy and I) knitting circle.
Then to the gas station for obvious reasons. And I got a car wash too!
Then I went to Zellers where I didn't get what I came for but I found many other things instead.
Next I went to the local outdoor swimming pool and bought a swim pass! Then I swam laps and realized that I am really out of shape. Much to young to be this out of shape! Either way I am excited about it.
Next came a quick shower to get rid of all the chlorine and lunch, which tasted so good!
Then I did the dishes and had a beautiful nap.
All in all, a pretty good day! And it's not even over yet!

handmade by heidi

2009-06-14T09:20:00.004-06:00

Just wanted to put up a few pictures of my first knitting project! The sad part is that words or pictures cannot tell you how soft it is! I love it!

an elaborate affair

2009-06-11T21:31:00.009-06:00

Today I cheated on Rusty. In case you don't know, Rusty is my dog or my parents dog (as he lives with them).
And at first I felt bad about it and then it felt really good.
I recently filled out the paperwork to volunteer at the SPCA. I figured that since I have some extra time on my hands I really should be doing something for someone else and since it's nearly impossible to find an apartment in town that will let me have pets I thought this would be a good way to get a little puppy love.
So today I went for the first time to walk dogs. And I loved it! I am so glad I decided to do it.
But back to the cheating part. The first dog I walked, his name was Oscar and in appearance he was quite similar to Rusty. So I couldn't help but think I was cheating. That also made him my favourite! All I can say is I really hope my mom walked Rusty today.
Anyways then I walked a pregnant dog, but I cant remember her name. (A couple of hours later I remembered her name so I thought I would put it in. Her name was Malibu and I believe she was a Blue Heeler cross) So technically with all the baby puppies in her belly I was walking a whole bunch of dogs!
Then I walked Brooklyn and oh boy was that a treat! Trying to get her on to the leash was a challenge in and of itself. But I loved every minute of it. She was just so excited that she bowled me over at least three times just trying to lick my face! And I think I will have callused hands from pulling back on the leash.
Then I walked Echo, a very mellow dog. So it was a nice break.
And then Jenga, who is gigantic. Let me just say since I grew up with a small dog this was quite a change. When he wanted to stop and smell something, we were going to stop and give it a really good smell. There was no changing his mind until he decided he was finished.
All that being said, I loved it. And I can't wait to go back.

From L to R: Oscar, Brooklyn, & Jenga

(Photos taken from the SPCA website.)

balsamic-rosemary vinaigrette

2009-06-04T17:50:00.002-06:00

I would like to share with you one of my favorite sauces and dressings right now. Balsamic-rosemary vinaigrette!
It's just so good, I want you to all know about it!

So you will need:
1/3 C Balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 Garlic Clove
1 Tbsp Fresh Rosemary Leaves (or 1/4 Tsp Dried)
2 Tbsp Water
1/2 Tsp Coarse Salt (I used Sea Salt)
1/4 Tsp Ground Pepper
1/2 C Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

In a blender, combine balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, garlic clove, fresh rosemary leaves (or dried), water, coarse salt, and ground pepper. Blend until smooth. With machine running, add olive oil in a thin stream; blend until creamy.
(To store, refrigerate, up to 2 weeks)

So I got this recipe off of Martha Stewart and she told me to put it on pork chops, which it is wonderful on!

4 Bone-In Pork Rib Chops (10 ounces each)
Coarse Salt and Ground Pepper
1/2 C Balsamic-Rosemary Vinaigrette

Place pork in a shallow dish, and season with salt and pepper. Pour vinaigrette over pork, and turn to coat. Cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
Heat broiler, with rack set 4 inches from heat. Remove pork from marinade (letting excess drip off); place on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil, without turning, until opaque throughout, 8 to 10 minutes (if chops are browning too quickly, turn them). Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

But if that doesn't float your boat, I am sure it would wonderful on other meats, as well as salads. It's makes a great dressing!
Hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

two dozen

2009-05-27T12:38:00.001-06:00

I am two dozen years old, but I think it sounds better (and younger) when I just say I am 24.

ten days

2009-05-17T19:47:00.003-06:00

Till I turn twenty four! I love my birthday!
If you would like to get me something I would like a starbucks gift card! (Dan that does not apply to you!)
But if you don't want to get me anything that's fine too!

if you come visit me

2009-05-03T10:56:00.002-06:00

(I posted this on facebook but I wanted to extend the invite to my friends who aren't on facebook as well...cough cough Shaina)

If you come to visit me I will plan us a wonderful day or two (or however many you want to come for)
One of the things that we will have to go is go for dry ribs in special sauce at Spiros! These are the best dry ribs I have ever had in my life! Even better than Tony Romas! We could even go there too just to compare!
We will also have to go to the border markers at some point in time. Because everyone needs to have their picture taken with the border markers. Even I need to have my picture taken with them, it's been over a year that I have lived here and I still have not done it. So you will have to take my picture too!
We will also have to go to this cute little country store that I have recently discovered and buy some homemade fudge!
I would say I would take you to the Booster and give you a tour, but since the presses are now shut down it wouldn't be nearly as exciting. So I will probably just show you my messy desk!
And there are lots of other fun and exciting things we could do! Go for a walk in Bud Miller, go to the petting zoo (that has lions and bears, no tigers though), go for a drive to see all the other large objects in the area (there is a giant ox and cart, a baseball, an egg and many more), or we could even just relax and hang out!
So despite the fact that Lloydminster is mostly boring, I promise if you come out we will have a fantastic time! Also despite the fact that you will have to sleep on my couch!

thankful

2009-05-01T19:14:00.003-06:00

This is probably going to sound a little strange. But I think I am thankful for the recession.
It turned out to be a wonderful chain of events. The recession hit and newspapers everywhere start to die.
Now the bad part is that as a result of this so many other people lost their jobs. But the good in that is that it prevented me from leaving this place.
I have a job that most days I love, but there is a part of me that wants to move on to bigger things. But I wasn't about to leave when I knew I couldn't get a job anywhere else. So I stayed here. And I think it's working out. It's been a year and three months and finally it feels like the connections that I have been working for are falling into place.
It's a beautiful thing and it makes me feel really good about myself and what I am doing! It just makes me happy.
On another totally unrelated note, today I made a potato salad. Potato salad reminds me of summer and I feel like I should eat it with a big burger! Oh that would be so good!
I am also thankful for the fact that summer is on the way and then I can have potato salad and burgers everyday!

last weeks events

2009-04-27T18:48:00.000-06:00

I have been waiting to post this blog for about a week now, because I told Dan I would wait and he told the police that he would wait.
So first of all I would like to say that these photos are courtesy of Dan and Newcap
So last week Dan and I were having dinner at Taco Del Mar, which I love minus the cilantro. But it's when we decided it was time to go that everything went horribly wrong. As we were leaving we ended up sandwiching a police drug bust. So in order of vehicles is was Dan, police, drug lords, and then me. So as you can see in the photos, the police rifles were also pointed and my little green car.

The whole ordeal scared the crap out of me and I had no idea what I was supposed to do! When the police were yelling "put up your hands" I wondered if I was supposed to do that too!
All this said, I made it out of their safely!
So that was last week. This weekend (or my weekend) I am in Lethbridge. Today I was at the dentist and the chiropractor. And tomorrow I have to go back to the dentist to have them fix my tooth that chipped off and then to the doctor. I also managed to find some time to go shopping today. I was in need of some jeans, so I bought those. I also need to buy some shirts, but I had a harder time with that one. But tomorrow is another day, but my face will be numb for part of it. So I probably wont feel like doing quite as much.
So after my excursions today I came home and made a lemon meringue pie. Which I will probably have a slice of in about fifteen minutes. I love lemon meringue! It's easily my favourite kind of pie!

cup of sugar

2009-04-06T19:06:00.004-06:00

So tonight I tried to be a good neighbor but I failed (or chickened out, you choose)
Anyways I had a craving for something sweet and having nothing in the house to fill the craving I decided to bake. Nothing fancy, just some rainbow chip cupcakes from the box. But being only one person a whole box of cupcakes is a lot!
So I thought I would share.
I iced my cupcakes, arranged them on a plate, and stepped out into the hallway to take some over to the people who live across from me.
(I would also like to add that prior to doing this I looked out my back window to make sure their were vehicles parked, and their were.)
Anyways I am standing outside the door. I knock and wait. I hear the TV and maybe someone talking on the phone. But no footsteps.
I feel bad at this point in time for potentially interrupting the possible phone conversation and awkward because I have been standing in the hallway for a little while now.
So I went back to my apartment because I felt too silly now to knock again.
This seems very strange to me, that I feel silly for trying to be nice.
Admittedly me and my neighbors don't actually have a relationship. We have passing "hello's" and sometimes when they burn things in the oven they open their door real wide to try and air it out as quickly as possible. So then I see snippets of their life. Mostly I notice that they are neater than I am, but really that doesn't take much. They also let me borrow a swiss army knife at one point in time. So I guess I tried to repay the favour. But I failed. Or maybe I will try again. Or maybe I will just take some cupcakes into work tomorrow.

shameless self promotion

2009-03-31T17:04:00.004-06:00

I have been working on some promo pieces for a women and business trade show that I am going to be in next week. The following showcase my many different styles of photography: grad, wedding, couples, and family. I printed them on 4x6 photo paper and have price lists on the back. I am really happy with how they turned out.

nerves and taxes

2009-03-29T21:37:00.003-06:00

I have really been loving my blog recently, so I apologize if I am making it hard to keep up.
Apparently, I have a lot of thing I want to share.
Right now I am nervous, really nervous. This thing that is making me nervous is consuming my every thought, both sleeping and awake.
I don't want to say the wrong thing (which I am notoriously known for doing) I don't want to do the wrong thing (which may be hard since I don't think they taught us this part in school) And I really don't want to mess this one up (because it could be huge)
Also on another note that makes me less nervous is that I am getting my taxes done tomorrow. I find it funny that this is less nerve racking for me because some people absolutely hate tax time. At present I am not one of them.
So if you think of any extra deductions that I can claim, please let me know!

new business card

2009-03-27T15:38:00.007-06:00

These are my new business cards!
I kept my old logo (because I love it) and just added a photo. I am also working on a few other self promotion pieces in a similar style. I will probably post those as well when I get them finished.
Enjoy! And feedback is welcome, but only to a certain extent because I already had two hundred and fifty cards printed!

compassion

2009-03-26T08:51:00.004-06:00

If you have ever thought about sponsoring a child, please consider this child.
My editor and his wife recently became child advocates for compassion canada. This means that Compassion Canada sends them child profiles and it is their responsibilty to find the children sponsors. The first mailing had 5 kids, and he has given out 4.
He has one more she is 4 and is from Columbia. He only has a week to find her a sponsor or else she will get put at the bottom of the pile. And he really wants to find her someone.
I just thought I would put it out there, in case any of you in blogland have ever considered it. Or even if you haven't considered it, it's something to think about.
If this is something you are interested in please let me know (so I can pass on the information) and this little girl doesn't have to wait to make it to the top again
Just in case you wanted to know, I already have two kids (both sponsored of course) and they are both from Columbia. Since this little girl is from Columbia to, maybe someday we could go and meet our kids together!

demoted...but not really

2009-03-25T18:02:00.003-06:00

If you pick up a copy of the Lloydminster Meridian Booster and turn to A4 this is what you will see in the left-hand column.

It seems pretty normal for a newspaper. But less than a week ago we had our own subheads. Above my name was the word "photographer" and now we are all just apart of the "newsroom"
It seemed like a monumental change to me. So I thought you know about it too. But don't worry my job is still the same, at least for the time being.
On another newsroom note...we have decided to get fish. Probably goldfish, because they are the easiest to take care of. No special food or filters required. We are planning on getting five, one for each of us in the editorial department. I will name mine "fishe" Allison is planning to call hers "lucky" Dana is planning for "pesce" (it is Italian for fish) Carl, to the best of my knowledge, has yet to think of a name for his fish and Graham is planning to call his "slippery joe" or "slimy joe" or something like that.
And those will be our fish. I am excited. We have yet to get them, but we will soon! Hopefully!

my own daily dose

2009-03-23T08:52:00.007-06:00

If you look to your right you will see a list of links that I like to follow. The one that I would like to draw your attention to is "daily dose of imagery"
This is a photographer who posts a new photo from his life in Toronto and his travels everyday. And I love his stuff.
I would eventually like to do the same thing, but for the time being I cannot guarantee a photo everyday. But I will put one up when I have one I like and when I have the time to put it up. At present I have both.

(Taken outside of the Vic Juba theatre)

retail therapy - the sequel

2009-03-18T19:29:00.003-06:00

So after I few bad days I needed to do a little bit of shopping. Purchased off Amazon, so I am still waiting for them to arrive. But I got two fish with one stone. I am excited for things I bought and I love getting mail! Wonderful!

fiesta

2009-03-14T16:40:00.003-06:00

What I really want to do is go to El Paso and eat the most wonderful Mexican food!
But since I think that's out I am thinking about having a Mexican Fiesta.
My first problem with this is that if I were to have this fiesta, I would like to invite a lot of people. And I do not have a lot of space. I also do not have a lot of space for the cooking. Or a deep fryer. So it maybe be awhile before my fiesta.
In the meantime I will just have to eat enchiladas at Taco Del Mar.
On the note of El Paso, someone pointed out to me the other day that I seem to like border towns. I have lived in two now.
Anyways, recently I have been feeling that I should "get involved" with something. Most of my life is taken up by work and with my erratic schedule I find it hard to commit. But I want to do something.
One of the girls that I met at the museum has asked me to be the judge of photography portion of her 4-H club. That will be in April and I quite excited about it. It means that first of all she thinks I am good enough to judge and it is community involvement. And it's only one day! So even I can handle that level of commitment!
The museum has also suggested to me that I should teach a photography course through them. The problem with this one is that it wouldn't be until September. And that is a commitment. Considering I don't know if my paper will make it through the recession. Or if the recession ends if I will even still be here, I would want to be off to bigger and better things!
I do want to teach though, I think I could be good at it. But the last thing I want is more competition running around town! So we will have to wait and see for that one.
I also really want to learn a new skill. Like cake decorating or something like that.
So if you have any suggestions for "getting involved" I would love to hear about them. So maybe something you do or something like that.
I would also like to say that minus the "I Kissed a Girl" song I really like the Katy Perry cd. A very good listening experience!

builder/director

2009-03-10T17:10:00.004-06:00

A friend of mine sent me this Personality Test.
(It makes you enter a username and password but to the best of my knowledge they have not sent any junk to me yet, so don't be afraid of this part)
You know who you are!
So I gave it a try. I am not sure how accurate it was for me, I personally believe I am more of director than a builder, so my secondary traits seem more real than the primary. Read it and let me know what you think! Or feel free to to try it yourself and see if it works for you!

Personality Type
You are an executive. You are consistent, reliable, thorough and persevering. You can also be socially charming. So you are good at managing others at home and work, in your social circles, and in community projects.
You are efficient too. You have high standards and take your duties seriously, focusing carefully and persistently on your assignments with sensible, concrete, tough-minded thinking and exactitude.
You respect schedules, rules, routines and customs. Appropriate behavior is generally important to you. Yet you have a streak of the independent and innovative thinker. As a result, you have a good balance between conventionality and originality.
You are also a good leader. You are direct, analytical, and skeptical, as well as emotionally contained and clear headed. You acquire the perks of rank more easily than most. And you handle your possessions gracefully. You also enjoy time alone, focusing deeply on your personal interests.

Primary Traits
Traditional, Social, Loyal, Dependable, Patient, Community Oriented, Orderly

Secondary Traits
Decisive, Focused, Analytical, Logical, Competitive, Self Disciplined, Independent

In Love and Relationships
You need a partner who knows his/her own mind and earnestly wants to help you establish a stable family life, cultivate a network of friends and build career and financial stability. You are good natured and willing to do thankless jobs for friends and family. And you gravitate to people who are honest and respectful of traditions. You particularly admire people who are socially conscious, and who participate in community-based organizations--for both charitable and social reasons. Foremost, you need a partner who is devoted to family, sensible with money, responsible with possessions, compassionate, and wants to have detailed and informed conversations.

Relating to Others
You like people and are generally comfortable with them. Family is important to you and you are very protective of those you love. Yet you are skeptical of people who are impulsive and impatient with those who don't "get to the point" in conversations. You like concrete and focused conversations on everything from trivia to the important topics of the day.

Things to be Aware of:
Your need to be realistic and cautious can keep you from trying new things. You can be overly critical of others. You can become so focused on your work or interests that you can inadvertently exclude those who love you.

eleanor

2009-03-09T22:12:00.007-06:00

I found out today that my Grandma is threatening to die again.
I will explain as this is a rather confusing statement.
Years ago when my Grandma was still in generally good health, she had a pacemaker put it. Shortly after that her memory started go, alzheimer's. So while the pacemaker gave us time, it might not have been the best thing to do.
For the past five years, maybe more, I get a call - at least one per year, if not more. Telling me that Grandma isn't doing very well. And I tell them to keep me posted, to let me know if I need to come home for a funeral.
And so far, so good. But I got another call today.
There was one moment, I don't remember how old I was. Just that my whole family was there and Grandma asked us to sing a song for her. She picked amazing grace. So me and my family sang. It seemed like that would have been a perfect moment to die. It was beautiful.
So in that capacity it feels like I have already said my goodbyes.
All this is piggy backing on the (thankfully) mild stroke that my other Grandma had last Tuesday.
I realize March has barely started, but so far it hasn't been a very good month.
Hopefully it can only get better from here. Maybe it will be like the farmers say. In like a lion, out like a lamb. I don't know if that part applies to people too.

Grandma Eleanor and her Baby (Summer 2006):

three tears for me

2009-03-02T23:57:00.002-07:00

I cried for myself tonight.

And for the people that I will be hurt because of me.
It was just one of those days and all of life's events conspire to remind you of all the things that have hurt you the most.

Ironically I spent most of my day with my tv.
And therefore, like with the original hurt, I brought it upon myself.

Then minutes later it's as though nothing happened. My cheeks had dried, the pain in my throat had gone.
And all that was left was the dull and constant ache.

You will never know how much you hurt me. Now and forever.

number two

2009-02-24T18:11:00.004-07:00

So as I was driving on the highway a semi kicked up a huge rock and so I have to have my windshield replaced. Again. I just had it done in May!
Even though I am upset about the windshield, I consider myself lucky because it didn't actually go through the windshield. But from the inside I could feel the ripples in the glass.

View from the outside:

View from the inside:

a little help please

2009-02-21T11:42:00.001-07:00

(This is my most recent column from the Meridian Booster. Enjoy!)

It’s time to face the facts ladies.
Chivalry, as we knew it, is dead.
Before I divulge my latest conclusions, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge a few random acts of chivalry. First and foremost my man regularly opens doors for me. Then there was a former colleague who dealt with more than his fair share of flat tires, and more recently a few more of the men I work with had to push me out of the snow bank I had parked in. And finally, a few of my friend’s men have graciously offered a seat in the cab of their trucks when me and my car were not feeling up to par.
So to these men, thank you.
But to the rest of you … you leave a lot to be desired.
I certainly don’t expect a man to ride up on his white stallion in shiny silver armor. I would quickly take a mud covered vehicle and dirty coveralls.
I just need a little help.
In my most recent sticky situation, two over-exaggerated syllables would normally have done the trick – ‘Dahhh-deeee.’ Phonetically speaking of course. But the fact that this daddy’s girl moved so far away from home unfortunately makes that impossible. And I had already called in all the favours I could from “Daddy’s” in this area code.
So I sat on a car mat in the snow on the side of the road and tried to do it myself.
Doesn’t that sound like your stereotypical damsel in distress?
Now given the temperature and the snowy conditions, there is not as much incentive to pull over and offer assistance as I had traded in my summer apparel for a winter ready snowsuit.
But I don’t believe I am asking for much. Just a little bit of help with the things that are too big for me to handle. And isn’t that what most men want anyways? The admission that I, like most women, do need help sometimes.
Although the women’s liberation movement and my pink and purple tool set both prevent me from telling you this, if you would just help me move my couch, or add more transmission fluid to my engine, or help me change a light bulb or two that I can’t reach, I will gladly stroke your ego. And make you dinner.
But if you just drive on past or pretend like you didn’t see me, I will save the dinner and dessert, (potentially German chocolate streusel, Toblerone cheesecake, or baked apple betty) for someone else.

one year ago

2009-02-13T21:15:00.002-07:00

A friend asked what I was doing one year ago. And since she technically asked on the 10th of February, I am going to tell you what I was doing on that day.
Because in all honesty on the 13th of February last year, I was probably just being sad and single.
So on the 8th I had been in Lloyd for just over a week, but I going home to shoot a friend's wedding. I drove in the worst winter conditions ever. There was so much loose snow and so it was blowing all over the road. There were points when I couldn't see more than a foot in front of my car. And somehow I made it home safely. My mom still doesn't like it when I talk about coming home that time and as a result she discourages me from coming home in the winter. I think I feel that way too though.
On the 9th was Sheldon and Rosie's wedding. Which like most weddings just about killed me. But I made some beautiful photos.
The 10th doesn't specifically stick out in my memory. But I assume since it was a Sunday that I went to church, played some games with my family, and edited photos.
I waited until the 12th to drive back to Lloyd and by then the roads were clear and much less blowy! My mom was happy about that.

second time around

2009-02-11T19:21:00.007-07:00

Recently, I celebrated my one year anniversary at my job. Initially I celebrated, with very delicious cupcakes, but thinking about it now, I am not as excited.
I understand the repetition is apart of any job. If I were a teacher, unless I changed grades every year, I would teach the same subject matter. But the children would always (hopefully) be different. If I were a flight attendant, I would spend all day looking at clouds. But my destination would always hold something new for me. If I were a performer, I would have the same show every night, but it would be in a new city with a new crowd.
With my job, every day is different. But now that year two is rolling around I have done all my days before. Every charity does the same event, every year. Every school has the same celebrations. The last time a church or government added a new holiday was way before my time.
I feel like have done it all before.
The part that frustrates me most about this, is that is what I used to tell people that I loved about my job!
" I love that everyday is different, that everyday I get to meet new people, and that every I have a new story to tell "
And now it just feels the same as it did last year.
Sure their are still the random fires and car accidents. But what would you think of me if I told you I was looking forward to that.
I don't regret my decision to go into news. I just wonder if I am ready for a new city. But you can't move every time a "repeat" comes along. Can you?
It probably doesn't help that my social life leaves much to be desired. Their is nothing to do in this town, or so it feels. Or maybe it feels that way because everything that I would do for myself, I am already obligated to do for work.
I don't mind that they pay for the things that I do, but that I feel only makes up for the minimal salary that I am paid.
Anyways, right now I am making bread. In my bread maker of course! It should be finished soon. I would like to try and make jam, probably in the spring or summer when the fruit is in season. I would also do this in my bread maker. I have recipes!

sick

2009-02-08T11:24:00.002-07:00

This has generally been a pretty good cold and flu season for me.
But even still I am sick again. The last time I felt this terrible was in October. I think I can deal with a cold every four or five months.
The thing that I hate the most about being sick is the desire to sleep, but then every time you lay down. You can't sleep anyways because something always goes wrong. You have to cough, you have to blow your nose, you have to pee again because of the liters of tea and ginger-ale that you have consumed.
Not too much you can do about it.
Aside from the sick, not a whole lot is going on.
This coming weekend is Valentines day and I intend to continue the "heart-shaped pizza" tradition at Boston Pizza. Their have only been a few years that I have missed it. And ironically it was due to illness. But since I believe that I am getting better not worse, I will most likely be there. And I will have to wish Shaina a "Happy Birthday" on Valentines as well.
This will also be my first Valentines in a relationship. But I don't really think anything will change.
And then in a couple of weekends I will get to go home. This is probably going to sound really bad..but it always excites me when I go home, because I know I am going to get to do my laundry for free!
I also am excited to see my family! And Amy and Gerrit will be there too! So that will be nice! It will be short. But really, what can you do! Nothing, just make the best of what you have!

forgotten...but only for awhile

2009-02-02T10:38:00.004-07:00

My dear friend Shaina recently took it upon herself to remind me of how crazy I was/still am with this story
I had completely forgotten about it. And probably with good reason. Sigh.

convenience

2009-01-17T20:07:00.003-07:00

(Warning: This blog may have been inspired by the lyrics of Dashboard Confessional...well not really but it is filled with emo-isms)
It was finally starting to feel like I had things figured out. But upon closer inspection, it looks like I live my life out of convenience.
I don't do the things I do because I want to do them. I do the things I do because that's the easy way to do them.
Maybe this isn't entirely true. But it feels like it. And that makes me unhappy. Really unhappy.
I want to live my life, not live under the curse of the golden arches.
I say that because McDonalds (to some capacity) defines my life. Fast food was where the desire for convenience originated. At least for me.
I feel like my findings require action. I need to live my life on purpose.
That sounds hard.
(I would like to mention that I am easily distracted, so I quit blogging to look at puppies)

martha stewart should not have her own show

2009-01-12T13:38:00.002-07:00

I will acknowledge that I have been writing about T.V. a lot. And by a lot I really mean this post and the last one. But this is really a reflection of me and I guess I have been watching a lot of T.V.
But I didn't think I have been watching a lot of T.V.
Anyways, back to the subject at hand. Martha Stewart should not have her own show. I will acknowledge that some of the things she does or some of the people she has on her show are interesting and unique. But she is a terrible host.
She spends all of her time looking down during the craft/recipe/ect. and I just don't enjoy that. I like the connection with the audience that show like Ellen provide.
Or at least that is my opinion.
Now to the question section of this blog, ironically Martha is also answering viewers questions at the same time.
I still watch CSI, but not all the time. It's on before Grey's Anatomy on my channel and so that is when my gaggle of Grey's watching people come over. So I usually end up watching it on mute because we need to talk.
As for the weddings I am shooting. I have one in February and one in June booked so far. So if you know anyone who is getting married, tell them about me! And if it is in BC you can assist me!

today is thursday

2009-01-08T20:34:00.002-07:00

Apparently I decided to take a little bit of a holiday hiatus. But I am back and hopefully their will be more blogs in the new year than ever before.
Today is Thursday. And Thursday is one of my favourite days of the week.
You might ask why, and I will tell you it's because Grey's Anatomy is on. Now you may tell me this is lame. But that's ok.
But now, Thursdays will not only be good, but bad as well. They have moved Private Practice (which is the Grey's spin-off) to Thursday as well! At the exact same time.
I know this makes me a little lame. But I don't really care.
I live in Lloydminster where there is not a whole lot to do. So T.V. is allowed to be a major part of my life.
So what else is new.
Mi mamá had her surgery and everything checked out just fine. But with the way things have been going mi familia will once again gather in the hospital in six years.
I have a couple of weddings book for the new year. Which I find very exciting. I like weddings. Or rather the money they make me.
I don't really think I have anything else to say for now...

for democracy

2008-12-02T19:07:00.002-07:00

Usually I just write about...me. I tend to be a little self-involved.
But I find myself feeling very passionate when it comes to issues of the Canadian government.
Given, I probably don't understand all sides of the story. I try to keep up. But I am photographer, not a writer or a politician.
But what does it mean for a county when they no longer acknowledge democracy.
Yes, we are in a recession, as we were when the conservative government was voted in. And maybe something does need to be done. But not to the detriment of our rights and freedoms.
I didn't vote...I will admit that. But this has been the first election since I have been of age that I have missed.
I was sick in bed with a terrible cold. And I live in Alberta. In this riding we already knew before the election even started. I think the other candidates in the area came out with a combined total of maybe five percent of the vote.
I, in no way, shape, or form believe that a coalition is the way to go. Yes the parties joining has similarities. But if they were really all the same why three different parties.
The people who voted for them, probably hate Harper, and maybe with Just cause. But they voted for a certain party. Not all three.
Trying to see both of the coin, I can't justify this move at all.

up or down

2008-12-01T22:11:00.003-07:00

When a good man dies there are tears. But who is to be the judge of good.
I imagine that he is up there, at least for the time being, until they come to a decision.
At the moment it doesn't hurt anymore.
It is possible that he may know more pain in death than he ever did in life.
I didn't cry. I probably wont.
I remember when I was young he told me that hiccups are a result of digestion. Or something like that. Eating to fast, drinking too much. And then he taught us a trick where you could tie someone up using a broom. I remember thinking it would be a great trick to use on a burglar.
But it wouldn't have worked. There was no way, and still isn't a way that I could convince a burglar to sit cross legged on the floor.
I remember that trailer so well. Where I slept, where I played, where I got in the way. The maple walnut ice cream and watermelon.
There is only one more to go from the trailer. I will cry when that happens. As I did with the one before this.
But not this time. But not for the lack of love. Or of memories.
But because good has not been decided yet.

" i "

2008-11-30T22:56:00.007-07:00

- I can't sleep
- I have been in bed for an hour
- I am tired
- My insides are still sore despite their being "nothing wrong with me"
- I am excited to go to Calgary
- I love Calgary
- I am excited to go home for Christmas
- I am dreading settlers
- I can't wait to play the rest of the games
- Me gustaría habla otro idioma
- I hate that I am no good with money
- I didn't blog very much in November
- I don't know how to learn to be good with money
- Part of me would like to live in B.C.
- I hope my mom is okay
- I miss singing and performing
- I love my camera, but I still want a new one
- I have terrible luck
- I want to win the lottery
- I will try to do better in December
- I can't wait to be done paying my student loans
- I probably shouldn't have a credit card
- I have never bought a lottery ticket
- Ma famille me manque et Dan
- I want to have a pet in this city
- I want to go to sleep
- I love boxing day, maybe even more that Christmas, but less than Christmas eve

little bit of everything

2008-11-19T11:56:00.003-07:00

Recently, I haven't had much to blog about. Instead of putting my words into a blog, I have been putting them onto paper. Or newspaper rather.
I have started writing what we at the Booster call a "column"
I believe that my contribution is helpful, as others do not have to write quite as many. But at the same time, not so good for blogging.
I only need to get my opinion about a specific subject out once, or maybe twice. But the rules clearly state that it must be a different medium. So one written, one spoken. Make sense?
All that to say, I am sorry that I have been away for so long.
I really do like my blog. It offers much more than facebook. And I like that even though when I log on, I know what I intend to do, write, but it never really comes out like I expected.
(For instance: I really didn't think I would be writing about writing in my blog)
Anyways, christmas seems to be the upcoming subject at hand. I think I have mostly figured out what I am going to buy people. The idea of being done all my shopping before the malls go crazy is wonderful.
And then there are the standard things that I have to wait for boxing day to buy anyways. Like the Christmas card that you will get from me, I purchased last boxing day or potentially even the one before that. No wonder I have no storage space, it's from all the Christmas cards I have been saving. And on that note, if you want a card make sure I have your address.

too much candy

2008-10-31T18:41:00.001-06:00

Happy Halloween!

life

2008-10-28T22:01:00.002-06:00

Apparently recently I have been reflecting on the past and life a little more than I normally do; I also think that I have been blogging a lot.
I was just sitting on my computer looking through photos of old friends and thinking about where they are now. Like who is married and who is famous. Who has moved away and who has moved on from this life. And while I was thinking all of these things, I started to think about if this is where I thought I would be.
(Yes, I have noticed that all of my recent blogs have a similar theme)
Now, north I didn't foresee. I think I thought I would be going south. Right after high school, all I wanted was to be famous for my music and I was sure that would take me to California. Then after college, all I wanted was Texas.
At the present moment I have a Texas quarter (you know how Canada puts out nifty looking quarters for monumental things, like the olympics and such, well the USA did the same thing with all the states)
That quarter was a gift from my editor. And a little bit of an inspiration to go back someday.
Anyways, did you end up where you thought you would be? Not even physical location, are you doing what you thought you would do with your life?
I recognize that I am young and still have time.
But the things that scares me is settling. But is it considered settling if you are happy?

one tree hill

2008-10-20T15:26:00.001-06:00

I just finished watching an episode of “One Tree Hill”
Erica and I used to watch that show all the time when we lived in Calgary. But since moving away from the city, I haven’t had the channel it was on, so I just kind of lost touch.
The last episode I watched they were all just about the graduate from high school and go out and live their lives and everyone was so excited. And then in this time, they skipped four years and it showed everyone where they were. Living their dreams or otherwise. And you would think that if you got to live your dreams you would at least be happy about it. But they weren’t. All they wanted was to go back.
I have said many times that you could not pay me enough money to go back to highschool. It’s just not something that I would ever do.
But I don’t think that they wanted to go back to highschool. They just wanted to be home again.
I can relate to that.
Originally when I moved to Llyodminster, I thought it would be a brief stint. But at the end of October I will have been here for 9 months. I think that is a long enough time to count when I list off the places that I have lived.
But even through the 9 months, it’s still not really home.
I moved over the weekend, so maybe that will help. Hating on your landlords is not really conducive to happiness.
But I think there will always be things about home that I will miss.
So despite the lame quality of “One Tree Hill” I think I will continue to catch up with my seasons online.
It’s just that kind of show that I can relate to. And I like it.

the only x

2008-10-10T09:29:00.003-06:00

Remember when you were a kid and you tried to go through the alphabet saying an animal or thing for every letter. I am pretty sure that when I got to the letter x, the only thing I could think of was "x-ray"
Which is what I did this morning before work.
My wrist has been hurting a lot recently. Way back when I worked at safeway I hurt my wrist, ended up on workers comp, and then quit to pursue dreams of becoming a nanny.
Anyways that old injury always comes back to haunt me (Ironic, considering my last blog had haunting listed as one of the things that I don't like about October) This week started in the form of huge swelling and intense pain.
So I went to the doctor and he sent me for the x-ray.
I should get my results sometime next week. That is if there is anything they can do about it.
On a totally unrelated note, I am totally and completely addicted to McDonalds Monopoly.
I don't buy lottery tickets, or at least up to this point I haven't. So I would say this is my form of gambling.
Maybe, like x-ray it's one of those old childhood things. When I played monopoly as a kid, I always wanted to get park place and boardwalk. But only this time around if you get park place and boardwalk, you not only get the glory, but a million dollars.
Now I know that a million dollars is not considered to be a huge amount of money anymore.
But I would be able to pay back the "bank of dad" and now the "bank of karl"
I would probably also trade in george for something a little newer. And maybe take a trip. Or something like that.
So anyways, if you are not playing McDonalds Monopoly and want to give me your game pieces I would gladly take them.

my bored makes me blog

2008-10-07T21:29:00.003-06:00

So I would say that overall, today was a pretty bad day.
It started off nice. It was my day off, so I took the liberty of laying in bed until 9:30. Then it all went bad when I woke up. I had planned for a nice relaxing shower, but instead got a whole heck of a lot of shampoo in my eye. And let me tell you, just because it's salon shampoo doesn't mean it burns any less. That fact alone may make it burn more.
So after about an hour of so of crying just trying to get rid of all the bubbles, it was finally gone.
Then I had a run in with the landlords, which isn't really a surprise. Then had some lunch and watched Ellen, which was pretty good.
I then ventured out to buy some fabric. I have had a pattern for a purse in my possession for the longest time, so I went to go get the stuff I needed. I came back and started to pin things and cut them out, only to discover that the sewing machine that had just been in to the repair man and deemed workable by him wasn't working. So now all the pieces I cut out are in a bag and hopefully I don't lose them before the next time I want to sew.
Then it came time for supper, and I have no idea how this happened but I burned the crap out of my hand. Mainly my middle finger on my right hand. And in the process of doing that I dropped my supper on the floor.
I ate it anyways, just in case you were wondering. But that was my day.
Now I am in bed waiting to go to bed. I just feel like 9:30 is too early to sleep, especially considering that I only woke up twelve hours ago.

fall or summer

2008-10-04T12:16:00.004-06:00

There is just a certain something about fall that makes me want to carve a pumpkin, walk through the leaves, and eat poultry.
This fall season, I still feel like doing these things, but everything just feels a little different.
The temperature this year is unusually high. Right now it is like 20 degrees outside! It feels more like August than October, despite the fact that halloween candy is already on sale.
Believe me, I am not complaining, I just find it a little strange.
Anyways, I am lunch right now. I am trying to decide what I want to eat. At present I am watching a show on tv which appears to be about strange vehicles. They were just showing a rather large motorcycle. The tires alone were over one meter wide, just to give you a better idea.
Anyways, I am going to the kitchen so I can commit to something to eat!

waiting

2008-10-01T23:14:00.001-06:00

I am fine until I am left alone with my thoughts. And when I think about it I am scared.

defensive driving

2008-10-01T15:33:00.002-06:00

On my way out of the gas station parking lot yesterday...I was nearly killed.
Some jerkface with his starbucks whips out of his parking stall when I was practically behind him. I was already too far forward to reverse. With the speed he was driving, and the time it would have taken to switch into reverse I would have been nailed in my drivers side door.
So I just kept going.
It's hard to describe without physically being in the vehicle, but I literally missed the other vehicle by just inches.
Needless to say, my heart was racing. And I still had 7 hours to drive that day.
The rest of my drive turned out to be ok. I picked up Dan from the airport and then drove back to Lloydminster. And on a slightly related side note, can I just say I love driving through Calgary! I will always love that city!
Anyways, today has been a very slow day. I have been sitting in my chair for most of the day...and that is never positive.
So mostly I am just bored, although I did want to share my near death experience.

a little bit political

2008-09-26T18:04:00.002-06:00

Aside from the federal election that took place when I was in highschool, I would not generally consider myself to be a very educated voter. I always vote, but I am not necessarily educated!
But this year, a little extra knowledge comes with the job. I have so far been to listen to two of the local candidates; the candidate from the green party and the candidate from the liberals.
After I listened to the gentleman from the green party, I felt a little bandwagon. There were many things that he said that stuck with me.
And then the fellow from the liberals spoke. I just felt angry with him. Instead of promoting the liberals policies and plans, he instead seemed to purposefully bash the conservatives.
I appreciated the green party because I actually felt like I was being enlightened about their policies.
But I learned that I could never be a liberal.
I have yet to see the conservatives and NDP. And we will see how my education affects my vote.

the recipe: for my loyal reader

2008-09-23T19:55:00.003-06:00

1 Slightly Beaten Egg White
1/2 Cup Ground Pecans
1/2 Cup Flake Coconut
1/2 Cup Milk Chocolate, Chopped
1/4 Cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
6 Sheets Filo Dough, Thawed
1/4 Cup Butter, Melted

For the Strudel Braid in a bowl combine the Egg, Pecans, Coconut, Chocolate, Sugar, Milk, and Vanilla, set filling aside. Unfold the Filo Dough, remove one sheet. Place the sheet on a large greased baking sheet. Brush with some of the melted butter. Layer another sheet on the first, brush top with the butter. Repeat with the remaining sheets and butter. Evenly trim the edges.
On both of the long sides, use scissors to make 5-inch cuts from the edge from the toward the centre, spacing the cuts 1-inch apart. Spoon the filling down the uncut centre of the filo stack. Starting at one end, fold and slightly twist the filo strips at an angle over the filling. Tuck ends under. Brush the top with the remaining butter. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden in a 375 F oven.

1/4 Cup Ground Pecans
1/4 Cup Flake Coconut
1/3 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Water
2 Tablespoons Honey

For the topping toast the coconut and pecans. Spread on a baking sheet and bake in a 350 F oven for 5-10 minutes or until light golden brown.
Combine the sugar, water, and honey and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, for 3 minutes. Transfer braid to a wire rack over a tray. Gradually spoon the sugar mixture over the braid, allowing it to soak in. Sprinkle with toasted coconut and pecans. Cool and serves.

Serves 10 to 12

milk chocolate german streusel braid

2008-09-22T18:51:00.004-06:00

Today I tried a new recipe for a milk chocolate german streusel braid. So a little bit of pastry, coconut, pecans, and chocolate. And let me tell you, it is delicious! If you want the recipe, let me know!

secrets

2008-09-15T22:07:00.000-06:00

First things first, why does everybody keep changing the layouts. First facebook, now blogger. I feel no need to change a good thing.
That aside, I put a secret in the mail today.
It was a really strange and scary experience. It was scary to think that the mailman or someone else in the post industry would see it before it got to Frank.
In addition to the fear, I think there was some liberation in mailing my secret to Maryland.
Other than mailing secret away. My day and my life has been some what less than thrilling.
I also bought some cards and things and put those in the mail today. And yesterday I started making my operation christmas child shoe boxes.
I made cookies yesterday evening (and they were delicious) and today I made some split pea soup (which was also really good)
I also started to clean up my house today, and in my case the house usually gets messier before it gets any cleaner. It's a good thing that I have two days off. Otherwise I would live in a perpetual state of messy. This way I only live a half messy life.
So in two weeks I will be going back to Lethbridge for the "weekend" I hope to get a tattoo if I have time. And my mom is supposed to be getting her test results back, we are really hoping for the best.
And next Tuesday I am taking a little drive to Edmonton. Ikea here I come! The purpose of my trip is actually to take Dan to the airport, but still, I may as well get some shopping in while I am there.
So that's about it for me for now!

another one

2008-09-01T08:35:00.000-06:00

After a little encouragement from some co-workers and against my better judgement. I picked up another tv series.
This one is called Dexter.
Dexter is a blood splatter specialist who works for the Miami Police, he spends some of his off time hunting, confirming the facts of the subjects crimes, then the killing and disposal of someone who kills or hurts the innocent.
I am so far really enjoying the series, but the reason that I said against my better judgement was because it scares me. Even more than CSI scares me.
When I lived in Calgary, Erica and I would watch CSI together. And sometimes while we were watching Dan would call and Erica would go and talk to Dan for a little while. I would still watch while she was talking so that I could catch her up when she came back. But if it got too scary I would watch it on mute and just read the subtitles.
I have done that on Dexter. Sometimes it feels like the silence is scarier than the music they write.

fast

2008-08-15T12:44:00.002-06:00

It seems as though this summer has just flown by. It's now only two weeks until the kids have to go back to school. Or two weeks until sporting events start back up. Or two weeks until my life gets crazy once again.
It also seems strange that I haven't officially taken a vacation this summer. I did take time off for my sisters wedding. But I don't think I would classify that as time off. Amy had me working harder than the booster does!
As of today I have been with the Booster for six and a half months. Which also seems crazy! It's almost like this business just sucks your life away with you noticing. Or maybe it's not just this business, maybe all of them do it.
So in one of my final acts of summer I am going to go to the chuck wagon races tonight. Mostly cause I have to shoot them, partially cause I enjoy shooting them, and a little bit because I really have nothing better to do.
I bought myself a copy of "A Thousand Splendid Suns" a little while ago, but I haven't gotten to it yet. That is mostly because I am reading a book about the a mennonite family whose last name is Nickel and the Dad in the family is named Ray.
(That part is for you Erica, but it's true that is what my book is about...but they are nothing like your family, that is where the similarity stops)
I think that book is probably one of the only slow things that I have done this summer. Everything else has just been way to fast.

zucchini

2008-08-02T16:53:00.003-06:00

Today while wandering the community gardens I met the sweetest lady.
I was there because I wanted to take her picture and at first she was a little hesitant, but she agreed.
And then she didn't want to give me her name for the paper either, but she did that too!
Then she also gave me a massive zucchini, three different kinds of lettuce, swiss chard, potatoes, and a whole ton of peas.
So this pretty much made my day! Then she also told me that she was happy that I had wandered over because she liked being able to share! So cute!
Also tonight I am meeting up with Elysia, a friend of mine from highschool. She is in Lloydminster for the weekend. Although this is not the place that most people would pick for a long weekend, I appreciate the company! We are going to get dinner in a little while. It will be nice to catch up on the last five year!

the fringe

2008-07-31T20:16:00.002-06:00

So for my weekend (Monday and Tuesday) I am heading off to Saskatoon to hangout with a friend of mine.
She was in fashion design with my sister, so she is going to bring beautiful clothes that she designed and models and I am going to bring my camera and we are going to play photoshoot!
It also just happens to be the fringe festival this weekend, so we are going to take that in as well!
And maybe some starbucks and maybe some mexican food!
We may also get to do some hanging out in hammock!
I am really excited to just get out of Lloyd for a couple of days!
And I am also really excited to go to Saskatoon, I have never been there before! The bridge city and I hear it's really pretty!

even a little weirder

2008-07-22T14:35:00.002-06:00

Going back to the making facebook profiles for your children...which I still think is strange.
Today I am pretty sure I stumbled upon a facebook page for a dog.
Now I like animals, but I know that they cannot read what you post on their wall.
People these days, I tell you!

all the caffeine you need

2008-07-20T15:33:00.007-06:00

Taking Allison's lead, I am thrilled that in less than a week starbucks will be open!
Not that I really have the money to be as excited about it as I would like, it will still be nice to be able to go and drink coffee and just sit.
And not that I really need anymore travel cups, but it's just nice to buy a new one every once in awhile.
I think I must feel the same way about travel cups as I do about purses. It needs to match what you a wearing and it needs to match the weather outside.

it's because i don't have children

2008-07-18T18:40:00.003-06:00

I don't understand why you would put a picture of your child as your facebook profile picture.
Even less than this, I don't understand making your child their own facebook page.
I could see putting a picture of you and your child up, but like I said maybe it's just cause I don't have children.
This was just my random thought for the day.
I seem to be having a lot of random thoughts recently which has motivated a lot of blogging.
Anyways, so I have someone coming to look at my place later tonight. I think this is going to be a very strange experience considering I have never lived with anyone that I didn't know prior.
Oh well, let's hope for the best and if not at least I will have another creative blog to write!

heidi - the animal rescuer

2008-07-17T22:15:00.003-06:00

So I have recently started watching the tv show heroes, on dvd of course so I have been watching at a rapid rate.
Anyways watching all these super-hero's rush around and save people always makes me wish that I had some sort of super human ability.
Like flying would be cool, or maybe just teleporting.
That aside. I do appear to have some sort of strange ability. Animal rescuing.
Probably about a month ago, myself and our short-lived reported took a drive out the reserve to do a story. While there, we found not one, but two abandoned dogs. We brought them back with the intent of dropping them off at the SPCA, but when we got there it was closed for an hour for a staff meeting or something like that.
So we took the dogs back to the paper where we found both of them homes.
(Aside - I was given an update on one of the dogs today, he is happy and healthy, and his new family loves him)
So that is story number one. Story number two happened today.
I was hanging out at the park and sitting in one of the flower beds was this little black bunny.
Now my mom had always told me that if I could pour salt on a rabbit's tail I would be able to catch it. No salt was involved, but I did catch it. I just wanted to hang out with it for a little while.
One of girls from the park told me that the owners were actually trying to get rid of the rabbits, they had started with two the previous year and come spring this year they had 10. She told me that if they didn't find homes for them, they would have to kill them.
So I called my landlord to see if I could have a bunny, they said no, which I kind of understand, but don't like.
So then I carried the little guy inside to see if anyone else wanted him, and sure enough he also has a home.
So my superhuman ability must be animal rescuing.
I am going back out to the reserve tomorrow, so I guess we will see what I come back with. But I may have a puppy for you when I get home.

hug your landlord day

2008-07-15T10:31:00.002-06:00

So I think today may have been hug your landlord day, because I sure did.
This morning I woke up to a loud banging on my door and a fire alarm going off.
Someone in the basement hadn't been paying attention and they had burnt some sausages to a crisp and the whole bottom floor was totally smoked up.
This to some capacity reminds me of the time when I was in Calgary and the man upstairs had been trying to multitask and he flooded my bathroom while he had been filling his tub and cooking his breakfast.
Anyways, I shoot out of bed with little understanding of what is going on and run outside to find most of the other tenants hanging out on the lawn. My landlady was just freaking out, so I said "do you need a hug" and she did, so I hugged her.
So I am hoping that the rest of my day is less eventful.
I also learned something new about myself today, in the event of a real fire, I would just panic and run. I didn't grab anything to take out with me. So this just reinforces the fact that I need to go and get renters insurance.

can you make a chicken noise?

2008-07-08T17:37:00.002-06:00

So I am just watching some re-runs of Arrested Development on CBC and can I just say it's so funny when they do the chicken impersonations.

something new

2008-07-08T10:42:00.002-06:00

For the purpose of Erica, as well as any other loyal readers here is something new.
Something new is hard to do when it feels like nothing has changed in my life since I moved to Lloyd.
Right now I am looking for a new roommate, so if that goes well that will be new.
And my dad bought me a stand for tv. So when I get that that will be new as well. And when they bring that to me they will bring my freezer too. So that will be new and cute. It's cute in that it's not a huge freezer.
But other than that, not a whole heck of a lot is going on. At least nothing I can tell you right now.
So anyways this week, Jeremy a classmate of mine from SAIT is coming to stay with me. He actually worked this job before me, so he is coming to visit old friends and just hang out in Lloyd. It will just be for a couple of days. But it should be fun.
And then I am also trying to find a good time for Gerrit and Amy to come and visit me. I keep telling Gerrit that the golf up here is supposed to be really good.
And while we are on the subject of visiting, if you feel like making a trip to Lloydminster, I will gladly take you in!
Another plan for my summer is a trip to Saskatoon. I have never been there before, so it should be exciting.
I am going to meet Lisa B, who I met through Amy, and we are going to do some fashion photography, she is a designer and I am a photographer, and we are going to go to the Fringe Festival - I believe that's what it's called, and we are going to go to the beach and starbucks!
I am really excited for that trip, it's not that I don't enjoy going home or something like that, it will just be nice to go somewhere for a semi-vacation.
I was going to take a quick trip to Calgary for the stampede. But decided against it. It would have been so busy. And such a long day for short time.
Anyways, I think that is all the new for now.

cause I feel like I should

2008-06-27T07:23:00.000-06:00

I like to blog, I really do.
But I just get so distracted by life and all the things that go on.
Work keeps me busy. For example, yesterday I put in a ten and a half hour day. And I think I am going to be somewhere around that length. And then if it hails I might be at it for a little longer.
And it just started to rain so of course I just want to sit and watch it. I have to go back out into the rain in a little less than an hour.
And literally a moment after I typed those words the power in my apartment went off. There was some very large booming thunder and then all of a sudden everything was dark.
It’s been off for about four hours now. So talk about a distraction.
Anyways it popped back on for about thirty seconds only to get my hopes up and immediately go off again.
And it’s not even raining outside anymore, so I don’t understand the holdup.
My mom told me I could call the power people in town to ask if they could give me any clues as to when I could put my candles away. But I don’t know who they are.
That’s probably cause I believe my landlord pays that bill, so I never see the name.
Anyways, so what was I really talking about when I got distracted by the sudden storm and the power out?
So life eh?
For the Canada day holiday I am going to go to Lethbridge. Monday and Tuesdays are my regular days off, but then because my regular day off falls on a holiday I am taking Wednesday off too.
So I will leave for Lethbridge on Sunday evening and stay for a little longer this time. That will be nice. More time to visit, and more time to do laundry!
We also think Rusty is sick, now most of my loyal readers know who Rusty is, but since linking this to my facebook I may have picked up a few more, so Rusty is the family dog.
We got him when I was in grade 8 and he rode home in my lap. And since I was home schooled for that first year he was my dog.
So he is a pretty old dog, but my mom said he turned into an old man overnight. He was always like a puppy and then the next day he woke up and he couldn’t jump up onto the bed.
He went to the vet and they gave him a pain shot and said to bring him back if it seemed like it was bothering him again in twenty-four hours.
I don’t know what happened in the twenty-four hours, but I suppose I will find out when I get home.
Anyways, I am done writing but my power is still not on, so this will be posted when my power comes back.
Ps My power finally came back on around 2:30 am, I heard atco on the lawn for the better part of the evening.

all that being said, knock on wood

2008-06-22T20:20:00.000-06:00

Some believe that breaking a mirror or crossing the path of a black cat can lead to years, seven to be specific of bad luck.
Although I do not remember either of these things occurring; it appears that at some point in time I must have smashed a mirror to tiny little fragments.
In the past month I have had not one, but two flat tires, and a very close almost. Three or four tries with my windshield and its still not right, something called an EGR go wrong, and a problem with really high acceleration and I am not talking about speeding.
And on top of all of these things I now have a broken alternator and a dead battery.
And those are just the things that have gone wrong with my car. We haven’t even started on the rest of my life.
How it’s possible for all of these things to happen to just one person, I don’t know.

it's only saturday

2008-06-14T22:35:00.002-06:00

So of my wild and crazy weekend. You know the whole bookin' it around Alberta bit.
I am only half way though.
I am back in Lloyd after the wedding in Sundre, which was beautiful, and I am pretty happy with my pictures too.
And when I got back last night at 12:20, I didn't think I would make it through today. Which I guess was partly accurate. I did have a nap part of the way through the day, and I had a fever too. But I always get feverish when I am tired.
So now the game plan is Lethbridge.
I think I am planning for a noon departure. But that really depends on if I get my packing done.
It's funny, cause I was all packed for Sundre, but then I had to unpack to live in Lloyd again, and now I have to go again, and I am not ready.
It's also strange that I have to now bring things home with me like a straightener and hair products, cause now Amy's wont be at the house for me to use.
It's kinda funny when the little things change.

retail therapy

2008-06-02T10:16:00.003-06:00

I would be lying to say that I wasn't a little bit sad to see my little sister get married.
Not because she got married before me, but because now she will be gone.
So in an unconscious attempt to make myself feel better, I have been shopping.
So it started off at Winners, where I picked up a fabulous tankini and a cute little note book for photography stuff.
Then to Smart Set, where there sales are fantastic, so I bought a pair of pants, a hoodie, and three shirts. All for the low price of $60. That's real good!
Then I went to Bluenotes, to buy my standard "nina jeans" and I also made off with a plaid pair of capris, and a pair of...leggings? I know, I don't know if I will wear them, but I own them. They were only $2, so why not.
Then to La Senza, where I didn't actually spend any money, just a gift card. But they had their lotions on 5 for $15. So I got those, and two lippies.
(I think I just made that word up)
Then I went to Sportcheck, where I bought a regular racing suit. This was my attempt at getting healthy. If I have the suit, I will have to swim in it.
And I also went to the Body Shop where when one made a purchase of over $25 you could get these cute little make up bags for only $5. So I have those too!
But it doesn't end there.
I also bought myself some new bedding, which is really nice, and was on sale!
So yeah, those were my purchases. And now...I have to stop!
On another note, which may lead to more shopping. My mom had to go in for more testing. We will get the results on Monday. I am really hoping it's nothing. But it could be something. So keep this in your prayers.
So I am going to shoot Heidi O's wedding on Friday. Leaving for Sundre on Thursday night, then the wedding is on Friday, then after the wedding I am driving back to Lloyd, to work on Saturday, then Sunday after work I am driving home to be with the family for Fathers Day and the test results.
So it will be a busy, expensive (man I hate gas prices), but good weekend. I hope.
Anyways, I am just taking a break from trying to clean my house. So back to the mop bucket I go.

this is a blog...not a note

2008-05-24T17:33:00.002-06:00

Even though my boycott of facebook has ended, I am still going to blog here. Because I feel deeper if I am blogging, not writing notes.
And I get to make this one look pretty, that part is huge for me.
But I will write at least one note on facebook telling people that I have chosen to blog elsewhere and give the link.
Really it would be much to practical to use the same thing for everything. And I am not practical, so I like to use a bunch of things.
At least for now anyways.
So on to real life.
Today was frustrating for me, I had called ahead and made perfect plans for my day so that things would flow nicely into each other. The first one was not very busy so I ended up staying longer and still not getting a great shot. Then I booted it back to Lloyd, cause I was about 45 minutes out, only to have my next assignment start late.
It was at this point in time that I realized I had a headache/migraine.
So next assignment, show up, frantically searching for a way to get in. Then I see some people, go over to them and they tell me it's actually over, they had plans changed on them too.
So that is not the end of the world. I can shoot that tomorrow. But I really wanted to do it today so that I could leave for Lethbridge at a decent time tomorrow.
With any luck I will still be able to get out by 3, which will probably be more like 4. That sucks. Cause that means I wont be in town till 10. And then they will want to talk to me when I get home and I will just want to sleep. And so they will make me stay up and then Amy will get me up early in the morning to do all the wedding stuff!
Not that I don't love my family or these things, I just know I will be tired from driving. It always wears me out.
But Birthday in a few days and wedding at the end of the week!

to many dishes

2008-05-16T11:37:00.003-06:00

Ever since facebook, I have kinda abandoned by blog.
But I just had a thought that I don't want to put on facebook.
I think I have been doing to many dishes.
Last night I had a dream that I was making pizza for supper and then after I was done making it all up I was going to wash the dishes.
So I washed the pans and cups and silverware. And then I took the pizza, the whole cooked pizza and washed it, before I ate it.
I am pretty sure I am doing too many dishes!

23

2008-05-04T14:30:00.002-06:00

It's only 23 days till I turn 23

i love my sister

2008-05-02T09:43:00.004-06:00

So of all of my days, I choose today to start working on my sisters toast to the bride.
Now normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I am having an over emotional day.
So now as I write these words I find I am holding back tears. And that wasn't even what I started crying about in the first place.
But I know that when I have to read this speech I will be a complete wreck. Oh well that's what water proof mascara is for.
This being said, I love my sister and I couldn't be happier for her.

This is Amy and her fiance Gerrit

staying for now

2008-05-01T15:43:00.004-06:00

So my editor has gone home for the day, which means that I am home free.
Today was the last day that he would be able to fire me for no good reason, and since he is gone and I will not see him until tomorrow, I am home free.
So that means that I have now been in Lloydminster for three months. I wouldn't call this place home yet. But that is mostly because I don't think I have found my final resting place here.
The job is still going well, still enjoying it, and I feel like I am accomplishing something.
And by that I mean that I like my photography. I am trying new things, and people seem to like it. So I will keep trying new things whenever I can.
Also, tonight is Grey's Anatomy. I am am once again excited for that. But sad at the same time cause there are only a few more episodes until the end of the season.
And I am going to have chicken of sorts for supper. I haven't yet decided what I am going to do to it.
But at least I have the basics figured out.

in the plane

2008-04-26T17:57:00.005-06:00

This is me in the plane today. I just thought I would show off my headphones!
P.S. we never actually flew upside down. I just had to keep my camera strap around my neck, so that was the only way I could take the picure.

in a little while

2008-04-25T20:46:00.003-06:00

So, it's been a little while. So I figured I should blog.
Life hasn't been that exciting this week. It's actually kinda been a bad week for me. I cried while on the phone with my Editor, and while in the office one day. You know how it just feels like all the things go wrong in your life at the same time. It was just one of those things. Anyways, on to most positive things.
With any hope I will going up in a small plane to take photos tomorrow. So that will be a new experience and I am excited about it. I will keep you posted on how that goes.
And then on Sunday I going to Lethbridge for Amy's shower. I am also excited for this. Mostly cause I want to go home and also Amy told me that if she gets any doubles that for some reason she cant return, I can have them!
I will also be getting a new windshield at home. And I think I am going to wash my car. It's getting really dirty. Actually it's not getting really dirty, it's been really dirty for a really long time!
I just realized as I am writing this, I am talking more about what I am going to do, then what I have done. But still.
Another thing I am going to do on my weekend is see Heather (and Darren) in Edmonton. I am so excited about this. It will only be a brief visit, but still good!
Also another really exciting thing for me...

It's come out on May 30th, so Erica we might have to skip Amy's wedding! Just kidding! But hopefully we will be able to make it work while you are home!

vote for me

2008-04-20T21:03:00.002-06:00

you drive me crazy

2008-04-19T22:08:00.001-06:00

That is the song that I have been singing for the past little while.
And not because I am fond of Britney Spears, that is just the way I am feeling.

my flowers

2008-04-09T18:00:00.002-06:00

I have been feeling far from home recently. So in an attempt to make myself feel better I bought myself flowers and a vase.
The funny story about the vase is that I bought it from the Dollar Store. And while there, they tried to charge me $2001.00 for something.
Needless to say nothing at the dollar store is worth that much.
Anyways here are my flowers.

photos from the ballet

2008-04-07T10:41:00.004-06:00

toaster recall

2008-04-07T10:06:00.003-06:00

For a couple of days I have been really excited about getting a new toaster in the mail.
My parents received a letter from Sears saying that we had purchased a toaster that was now being recalled. So I was supposed to contact Hamilton Beach and they would send me a new toaster.
To my disappointment, my toaster is being recalled, but not the model that I have. Mine is safe.
It would have been so much fun to get a toaster in the mail.
But the reason that I put that link in there for you, is that while on their website, I learned that they currently have two contests going on. One for a grill and one for a mixer.
So despite the fact that I am not going to get a toaster in the mail. There is a slim chance that they might send me a grill or a mixer in the mail.
So if you are interested in either of these things, you should also enter.
Immediately following my visit to Hamilton Beach, I went to check out KitchenAid. But they don't have any contests. So sad, I would love a free KitchenAid mixer.
I have kinda been in a contesty mood recently. Started in part by Allison.
I just really want to win something.
But I guess we really all want something for free. Too bad life doesn't work that way.
Another thing that I want for free. Laundry. I hate paying money for it. I just have the desire to buy new clothes every time laundry day comes around.
Unfortunately that would totally be more expensive. And since I haven't won a $5000 shopping spree (yet) I wont be doing that.

friday evening

2008-04-04T15:33:00.004-06:00

The way things are looking right now, I am heading for an uneventful Friday night. Complete with a little bit of "Raining Confusion" I have been enjoying them recently. And probably a little bit of "August Rush"
My Thursday night on the other hand was rather thrilling. The ballet was in town last night. And I went with my camera to grab some pictures for the newspaper. I think I ended up taking around 120 pictures, and the paper will only publish 3 or 4. So mostly I stayed that long to enjoy myself.
I will show off some photos from that, but I have to wait until the paper publishes them first.
I wish there were more Thursday nights.

on this the last day of march

2008-03-31T11:21:00.002-06:00

For the first time, in a long time, I was able to wear my hair curly.
You see I don't like to do this in the winter, cause I don't blow dry it when I do it this way. And in the winter it's way too cold for that.
So today I did. It's still a bit chilly out there. But do able.
Anyways, I like it. It's so easy.
Today also marks two months at the paper. So one more month and then they have to have a really good reason to fire me! My two months have been good so far.
In my head, and a little out loud I have committed to being at the paper for at least a year. The reason for this is that most places are looking for people with one to two years experience. So that will be my next stage in life. One to two years experience.
Also on this note, I find it funny that I still have not written my introductory column. Like I have said many times before, it will not get done unless someone gives me a very specific deadline. Which no one has done. So until then, I will just keep thinking about it.
I have asked if I could write an advice column. This was greeted with sarcasm.
Oh well, one day I will be a great advise columnist and photographer.
When I just said that I pictured myself as Carrie Bradshaw. Mostly because I have the curly hair today. Not because I am fantastic with men or sex advise.
Also on that note, I am excited for the sex and city movie. I only wish that I could watch it with Erica.
Erica if we are in the same place when it comes out, we should go together. Not only that, but we should get those nacho things they serve at the concession. That would only be right.
On a less exciting note, I bought myself some new shampoo today. I had to pick a different kind because the kind I normally buy was much more expensive than it is in Lethbridge. So I will pick up the old kind next time I am home. But until then the new one is supposed to smell like raspberries and almonds.
And it comes in a pink bottle. So I think that will be nice for a little while.
I am also trying some new face products made by Arbonne. I am not sure this product is specifically for me mostly cause I think it's to try and prevent aging, but I would be willing to try some of their other stuff.
Umm...so yeah. On a random note, I had a picture published in the Reddeer Advocate. So that was cool, I work for one paper, but I get published in two.

stuttering

2008-03-27T20:11:00.002-06:00

I don't know if you have seen it yet, but I love the new dentene ice commercial.
This is it.

The song is by a band called "Bens Brother"
And I love it!

the trip home for easter

2008-03-26T15:37:00.002-06:00

So I ended up going home for Easter monday. And although it was a quick trip, I liked being home.
It was the trip back that really got me. I got stuck behind a car accident, and then road construction, and then a large thing taking up 3/4 of the road, and then I got hit by a large rock that is going to make me replace my windshield, and then I got stuck behind a house.
Which makes me really believe that people should build their houses where they want to live, not build it and then move it.
So yeah. The rock chip really sucks.
But other than that, I really enjoyed my weekend.
When I started to blog I thought I had more important things to say. But I cant remember anything else.
Minus the fact that my dvds came. Whoop! Movie night tonight!

supposably

2008-03-21T16:50:00.004-06:00

I found out that there is another word I have been both saying and spelling wrong.
It's occurs around 4 and 5 minutes in. Said by both Chandler and Joey.
Watch for it.

foggy...like my head

2008-03-20T18:40:00.003-06:00

Well, the fog has settled in for the evening. And I must say that it is rather thick.
So this being said I do not think I am going to get to go home for any of the holiday.
I think the weather is just supposed to get worse. But that is my prediction, not the news. But then yesterday the news predicted beautiful weather. And halfway through the day there was this freak snow storm. Really wet, big flakes.
And I think I am getting sick. I have all this congestion. And a headache. So this is not cool.
Or a good time to travel.
Can I just take a moment to say I appreciate anyone who takes the time to follow my complicated circle sentences.
So I am working this holiday weekend. I don't think it will be that busy though. Which is both a good thing and a bad thing.
Good in that I will still be able to make time for church, bad in that I will have nothing to do.
Oh, but on a positive note I ordered "Enchanted" and "August Rush" yesterday. Neither of which I have seen yet. But both of which I am convinced that I will love.

So I think that they will be here sometime next week. And then I am going to have a movie watching party. But it will have to be a quiet party, cause I live in a quiet building. And considering these are "girl movies" it probably wont be much of a party. More like a girl/junk food night.
Anyways, if you read my blog...you are invited. I will let you know the date when I get my movies.
Oh and if you want to come over you have to help me figure out how to set up my dvd player. Cause I haven't done that yet.
Umm, I think that's all for tonight...unless you can give me a specific date that Grey's Anatomy is going to have new episodes on tv.

fairytale

2008-03-19T12:05:00.004-06:00

So last night I went to see Cinderella, as performed by the Alberta Opera.

And although the production was a little childish. I still enjoyed myself. But that is mostly because I am probably a little childish myself.

blonde moment

2008-03-17T19:17:00.003-06:00

Ok, just a few days ago I figured out that I am not the brightest crayon in the box, despite my desperate attempts.
I have been spelling Lloydminster wrong for the entire first month and half that I lived here. And no one even told me.
The really bad thing is that I have an uncle Floyd and I have probably been spelling his name wrong my entire life.
It's funny, but at the same time really stupid.
So that's my story.

postcard

2008-03-16T23:12:00.006-06:00

Every sunday I read Post Secret
And every sunday I think to myself I want to tell the world I secret.
But part of me is afraid that my secrets will not be good enough to post on their website.
Well that's enough emo for one post.