A bit here, a bit there...

Let's see now... what can I talk about? A lot has happened in the last week and I've been neglectful and haven't written much down!

1: Tues I went to the cottage, dragging Matt along with me. We had a great time, BBQ'ing and going canoeing out to the island where we swam and jumped off the rocks. It was a great time, the perfect way to spend a nice hot day in the middle of the week.

2: I'm sad. I haven't had cereal in DAYS and last night I went to the effort of picking up some. This morning I was so happy that I'd FINALLY get to eat breakfast only to find that my milk had started to sour, so I had to throw the whole thing in the garbage because I didn't want a stomach ache from sour milk. Eew.

3: I can't WAIT for this weekend!! Trishelle and Sartaj and possibly wDave are coming up to visit me!! Besides Ange no one has come visit me here in Ottawa yet. So thats pretty exciting. It's Canada day this weekend, so the city is just going to be nuts. I've never been here for C-Day and don't really have any idea of what to expect. I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to house everyone, but thats something we'll figure out at a later time... I've got my air mattress and my bed... it's a little bed but we'll make due.

4: I can't wait for NEXT weekend!! Next weekend is the BBB 2.0 (Barn Burning Bash 2) at my parent's place. My brother and I have been working on this for a few months, hoping to out-do last year's party. Last year about 350 people came and it was awesome. This year I hope we hit 400 and it goes as smoothly as before.

5: I think I have made a decision about Lifetouch, and thats that I'm not going to do it. If it's my only option I will, but it's been kinda stupid, all the details surrounding the whole thing, so I don't think I'm going to put myself through that stress.

6: I may have found another job to replace Lifetouch!!! I was looking online and came across job postings for Flight Centre!! They are hiring travel sales people and the only real qualifications needed are the ability to sell, good customer service and experience traveling! I can do all those things!! So I sent in my application last night, I hope that I get at least an interview because that would be the sweetest job ever! It might put a bit of a damper on my travel plans for next spring, making it harder to go to Europe, but if I can take at least 2 weeks off to go to Ireland in July, that'll be okay. I applied to locations around home as well as Ottawa, so that leaves the possibility of staying up here in Ottawa.


I better finish this up quickly because Ill be late for work if I don't. There'll be more to report soon, I just have to get my lazy butt in gear and do it!

Midawg

I've had this idea lately that I think I should get a pet lizard, because lizards are cool and why not? (thats a good reason, right?)

So I've been watching things online, like Facebook and stuff and sometimes I see bearded dragons with aquariums and stuff for around $350. Today though, today was AWESOME!

I saw a listing for "free bearded dragon" so I immediately clicked on the link. Seems some girl from KW is giving away her bearded dragon and its aquarium and heat lamp and all that fun stuff. FREE!!

So I messaged her, told her I wouldn't be able to take him til I was home, but I was definitely interested. We'll have to see how that goes....

However, I've already named him (or any possible lizard I get some day). His name is going to be Midawg. Or maybe Mikat. Hahaha so I'll introduce people to him (or her) and say "Thats Midawg/Mikat" and they'll be like "what? Thats a lizard." And I say, "Yeah, I know..."

I blame Matt for this idea. He knows some guy in rural Africa (hahahaha like there is anything but) who posts pictures on Facebook of random reptiles and stuff with names like "Dog".

Talkie talkie talkie

Last night was fun times... after escaping work at 6, I went to Matt's to cook dinner, since I owed him from a while back. I had a great grand and wonderful plan to make Garlic Roasted Asparagus with Shrimp on Linguine. I'd packed all my stuff up before work and put it in my cooler bag that I had left from when I brought leftovers home from home a few weeks back.

I cooked dinner, and amongst other mishaps spilled olive oil on my leg while talking to my parents on the phone, which required me to some how wash my foot off while on the phone, in the shower standing on one leg and reaching into the spray and trying not to get too wet. Yeah, it didn't work so well. Hahah.

We didn't really do anything all night, just sat and watched TV and talked about work, life, breakups, people we both know, people we don't both know... pretty much everything.

I love a good conversationalist. You know, someone that neither of you is doing more talking than the other, and even if what you have to say doesn't necessarily have to add to the conversation you let them (or they let you) finish their thought.

I have friends where when we hang out they do all the talking. I have friends where when we hang out I do all the talking. And I have friends where we hang out there isn't any talking required. All are good and have their place.

Technological Guarantee?

I'm sad today. My little point and shoot camera has decided to only record static sound when doing videos. Which isn't really a HUGE deal except that I really like to take video clips of my little nephew amoungst other things.

I'm going to have to send it out to be fixed, but that means I'm going to be without my camera for a month or so. Normally that wouldn't be a huge deal, but there is so many things coming up that I want to to be able to take pictures and videos...

So do I send it out now and hope that I get it back before I miss too much and just borrow a camera when I need one (one of the perks of working at a camera store) or do I just suck it up and refrain from sending it out until I'm not going to need it for a month or so (which is, like never)?

The computer I'm on is annoying me, I'll have to write more later.... I've typed a whole sentence before it shows up and it's driving me crazy....

Fun times had by all...

It was a really good weekend...

Friday night I baby sat for my little nephew who is just adorable and was perfectly well behaved. After Meg and Chris came home I left their place and went and hung out with Matt in his dark apartment. There was a bunch of drama with the power company and so they shut off his power and he had only candlelight to see by. It was kinda fun, just sitting in the dark chillin...

Sat was stupid work, but it was busy and busy means I make money. After I was done working I went home, went to the LCBO and then got myself ready to go to the party at Meghan/Ren/Crystal's house. Met up with Matt at his place and we walked over to RCM's place. It's been a long time since I've been to a house party, it was a lot of fun. We played street Twister, drew stuff on the road with sidewalk chalk, and when they brought out cupcakes for Meghan (her birthday is today, so the housewarming party was also a birthday party) someone thought it would be funny to smash them into my face. I ended up with icing all over my face, which was pretty funny. I'm not quite sure how many people licked my face after that, but...

Matt and I left the party around 2, and I crashed at his place. Got back to my house around 11:45 yesterday morning and had nothing to do so I spent the day sun tanning at the park near my place and then after at my aunt and uncle's house beside their pool. I went over to Meg's house and had dinner with the family.

After I left there I spent the rest of my night doing my nails at Matt's house and watching the usual Sunday line up of randomized cartoons like Family Guy and the Simpsons.

It took me forever to fall asleep last night and I was full convinced I was still going to be awake when my alarm went off to get up at 7... thankfully at some point I actually did fall asleep.

Not sure what this week will bring. I've got tomorrow off and then working all the rest of the week..

For more party pictures ::: CLICK HERE!

Gonna blame it on PMS

I can't say for sure, but I'm going to blame my moods as of late on PMS. It's easier on everyone if thats what I do.

It's not even 8am and already I'm irritated. Maybe thats from an email I got. I'm going to assume so.

I started a list last night, 100 things to do before I die. I got to number 21 before I gave up the list and just started reading all the shit I'd written in my diary over the last year and a half.

That made me pretty bitchy too. Though it always does. And made me question why I do all the stuff that I do when I do it. And I think I realized that I'm usually a pretty good judge of character and I usually don't put someone in my life that I don't think can handle who I am... so the key players in my life drama are usually ones that can stand up to my actions. Some are surprising though, and you might not think they would.

I have no reason to hate my life, but for today, I think thats the stance I'm going to take. Can't say why, but today I feel the need to escape again. Turn around and not look back. I know it's no good to continue running away from things that scare me or annoy me or whatever. But we all know how much Alanna loves confrontation. Probably worse with myself than with other people.

Yeah, I'm probably not even making sense anymore. Brilliant. Work's gonna suck today. I can feel it.

I think I need a hug.

Britannia Beach Bike Adventure

There's a beach in Ottawa that I love... I don't know what it is exactly about it that I love, but Britannia beach has always made me happy. It might be one of my happy places here in Ottawa. If ever someone proposes to me, perhaps on the rocks that jut out into the bay would be an ideal place.

I went for a bike ride tonight, the first "real" bike ride on my new Mud Dawg. I wanted to go west along the Ottawa river, and once I got on the path the landmarks just started to fly by. I went past Remic Rapids, and then saw the Woodroffe Ave street sign and figured at that point I might as well go all the way to Britannia beach.

When I got to the beach it was full of people doing all kinds of summery things. There was a massive beach volleyball tourney going on and highschool kids holding hands and making out on the benches. I probably could have done without the lovey dovey couples, they were making me feel kinda sad.

I went up to the rocks, parked my bike and sat and looked out over the Ottawa river. I found a nice flat rock and sprawled out like a lizard to absorb the heat of the sun on the rock and what was left of the sun as it was setting over the river.

I didn't have my small camera with me, so the only thing I had to take a few pictures with was my cell phone... but they kinda have an interesting painting type feel, so they aren't too bad. I'm hoping to get back out there on Sunday maybe, work on my tan... or burn as the case has seemed to be thus far.

This time though, I'm packing my book and a towel to lay on...

Snakes, Spiders and Crocodiles....

I went to the reptile zoo today, it was so much fun!!! I think reptiles are so cool....

I'm tired and therefore am not going to go into tonnes of details, but this girl got to hold a bearded dragon, a crocodile, a big python, a small black rat snake and a tarantula.

I've never held a tarantula, and I'm not the biggest fan of spiders, but I did it bravely and it was actually pretty cool... I'm not as worried about them attacking me cuz I can see 'em... it's the small deadly ones I have a problem with.

Pictures to check out here...

Thanks goes to Matt for taking pictures of me with all the cool things...

MYOB!

Isn't that what people used to say in grade school?? MYOB!!! MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!

Last night I got called all kinds of things by a friend, who probably thinks is helping out an interesting "Alanna" situation but really probably has no right whatsoever.

Anyway, long story short, I was told I had to talk to someone, make it clear where things stood between the two of us. I hate having to bring things up with people, have never been good at it, and its one of those things that I REALLY should work on. But, because I hadn't done it on command I was rewarded with some pretty ferocious backlash complete with being called a bitch and being told that I like to use people because it's fun.

I took the coward's way out, writing an email, and sent it off. (Thankfully my cousin was online at 2:30am to help me... she read my first draft and told me that "wow, you really do just write things without censoring your thoughts...")

Woke up this morning to a reply which was more or less along the lines of "I'd figured out where we stood and I'm cool with all that".

So to my bitchy friend, MYOB next time.

Well, now, that was stupid

I was just on my hotmail, which I don't use anymore, and something made me click on a folder of emails from a certain someone.

I read a few of the emails and though they were super sweet and totally adorable, that probably wasn't the best idea because now thats all I can think about.


I read something somewhere that the way you sleep is an indication of how you look at life. If you sleep facing outwards it means you approach life head on and don't look back.

If you sleep facing inwards, you are a nostalgic person, thinking about things in the past ...

(there were others, but I can't remember them)...

I almost ALWAYS fall asleep facing inwards on my bed. And I know I'm a sucker and think about stuff that's over WAY too much.

Back from the Cottage

I went up to my aunt and uncle's cottage last night after work because I needed to get out of the city and just relax. I even spent the night without my computer! (Truth be known though, I did take it with me, it just never left the car!)

I arrived just as dinner was being made (mmm bbq'd steak!) and then we relaxed and put on quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. It was called Two of a Kind and starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, post Grease. It was terrible. I fell asleep.

This morning I woke up around 8:30 and then put on my bathing suit and proceeded to spend as much of my day in the sun. Took random pictures around the cottage, some with the intention of doing some stuff to them in photoshop at a later date, some just because it's so nice out there.

Uncle Pat and I got the pontoon boat ready to be put into the water and then Aunt Brenda had the neighbours over for sandwiches with us for lunch. I took the paddle boat out and read a book on the lake while listening to music (doesn't get much more relaxed that that, really) and when it came time for the pontoon boat to go in the water gave uncle Pat a hand at that.

I managed to get a bit of a sunburn, though I did put sunscreen on all the important things (face, tattoos)... just my shoulders though, so it'll fade in a day or so.

Was supposed to go to Little Ray's Reptile place today but didn't make it back in time so I think me and Matt are going to go on Tues.

Pictures from the Cottage :: CLICK CLICK CLICK!

Mud Dawg 2.0

I bought a new bike today...

It's almost identical to my old one... which is something that makes me very happy..

I didn't want to spend more than $150 on a bike (and this time invest in a bike lock too...) but I didn't want some POS bike either. SC and I went to check out this used bike place on Somerset but saw nothing that I wanted to spend money on... so we went to Zellers where I knew they had a bike sale on.

I had a few criteria:

1. Under $150
2. would prefer to NOT have grip shifts because the last ones chewed up my hands
3. something with decent suspension

There was one bike that was only like, $90 and would have been great if I was only going to be riding in Ottawa or on smooth paths with no bumps or anything difficult. With the lock I bought it would have only been $200... It didn't have the grip shifters which was what amused me in the first place.

But then I saw it. And started to laugh out loud. "Mud Dawg" dual suspension bike, almost identical to the one that the crack heads stole from me... but without the grip shifters (I don't know what the other kind are called...) and white instead of blue. I sat on it, rode it around the store, was almost instantly decided. I hummed and hawed over it, did I really want to spend $150 when I could spend only $90, but then came to the conclusion that I loved my old bike so much, and this one had the benefit of the better shifters (and it's a bit lighter I think, but I have no real comparison) that I decided to go with it.

So it's me and my Mud Dawg (seriously, the stupidest name for a bike EVER) together again.

Let the good times roll...

(see what I did there? :P )

Another Lyrical Blog

I remembered today that the other day in the car I declared this song my unofficial theme song for this summer.... Or maybe even the last year.

Nobody on the road
Nobody on the beach
I feel it in the air
The summer's out of reach
Empty lake, empty streets
The sun goes down alone
I'm drivin' by your house
Though I know you're not at home
I can see you
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
I never will forget those nights
I wonder if it was a dream
Remember how you made me crazy?
Remember how I made you scream?
I don't understand what happened to our love
But baby when i get you back
Im gonna show you what Im made of
I can see you
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
I see you walkin' real slow and you're smilin' at everyone
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
Out on the road today
I saw a BLACK FLAG sticker on a Cadillac
A little voice inside my head said, "Don't look back, You can never look back."
I thought I knew what love was
What did I know?
Those days are gone forever
I should just let them go but
I can see you
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got that top pulled down and that radio on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
I can see you
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got that hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, baby
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

(*Note: as for the person who this is about, you know who you are. I know you say "Move on." And I try. It's just hard to when I know how much less complicated my life was once. And it's hard to move on when things just get more complicated the more I try to continue on with my life)

Emo Blog

I started composing this blog in my head the other night while driving back to Ottawa and listening to music in my car.... entirely made of lines from songs(well, more specifically 2 albums: Fall out Boy and City and Colour)... lets see if I can do it.

Why don't you show me the little bit of spine,
You've been saving for his mattress.
I only want sympathy in the form of you,
Crawling into bed with me

I'm just a notch in your bedpost,
But you're just a line in a song.

I'm sleeping my way out of this one,
With anyone who will lie down.
I'll be stuck fixated on one star,
When the world is crashing down.

I keep telling myself,
I'm not the desperate type.

Trying to forget everything that isn't you.
I'm not going home alone,
Cuz I don't do so well on my own

Please put the doctor on the phone, because I'm not making any sense.

You only hold me up like this
'Cause you don't know who I really am
Sometimes I just want to know what it's like to be you

There goes my life
Passing by with every departing flight
And it's been so hard, so much time, so far apart
As she walks the night, how many hearts will die tonight?
Will things have changed?
I guess I'll find out in seventeen days

But I will see you again,
I will see you again
A long time from now

Why does it always seem that everytime I turn around,
Somebody falls in love with me?
This has never been my sole intention

These words might be, too little too late,
And I'm afraid that I have already lost you.
Now three months equals eternity and this will be so hard

I've seen a palace in London, I've seen a castle in Wales
but I'd rather wake up beside you and breathe that ol' familiar smell
I never thought you could leave me, I figured I was the one
but I understand your sadness so I guess I should just hold my tongue

I know that we're takin' chances, you told me life was a risk
but I just have one last question...
will it be my heart or will it be his?

I'm comin' home
And I will long to hold you in my arms

Pictures from Home

Before I forget, here are some pictures from the weekend....

Clicky Clicky!

Completion of My At Home Adventures.

I fully meant to finish my update on all the things that happened when I was home but I've been tired... so here goes....

Got up and headed off to the beach with Bailey and Trishelle on Sat morning, got to Port Elgin around 12:20 and got SO burnt. It was nice though, it's been a long time since I laid on the sand and roasted. I got home around 4:30 and relaxed and mulled over what I was going to wear on my "date"...

Ended up borrowing a shirt dress from Bailey and throwing it over some jeans, much to my mother's chagrin. She was like "You can't go out like that!! " And I had to explain a few times over and over that it's the style now-a-days.... the woman is frustrating sometimes.

I expected a phone call around 7... at the latest... but it was definitely after 8 when I finally heard from the boy... we agreed to meet up in Listowel and go out for dinner and then to the buck and doe... dinner was good, we stayed at Crabby Joe's watching the hockey game until it was over (Sens won, 5-3) and then went to the buck and doe. I knew no one... go figure haha. After that we went to meet Ange at Mo's. Stayed there til close and then a bunch of drama ensued with the boy's sister... so we ended up wandering around town trying to find her and stuff.

As we were leaving someone's apartment (I have no idea who's it was) we stopped to talk to some people outside... some girl started telling me that the boy I was with was a pig, and I shouldn't date him and all this ridiculousness.. talk about a buzz killer!! It was weird too, cuz the whole night people were calling me his gf, so I don't know what's going on there, but I'm not ANYONE's gf. (In all truthfulness it's probably best that I refrain from dating anyone right now... )

Anyway, so we ended up going back to his house to watch a movie and cuddle on the couch, leaving around 3:15 or so... Got to his house around 3:30 and left there around 5:45... another arriving home at 6am situation...

Got a few more hours of sleep before heading out the door at 9:30 to meet Sartaj for coffee and something to eat, and then went to my cousin's to get my hair cut, and then met Ange for sushi, and then went to Henry's to visit whoever was there and then home to pack my car and take a nap because 3 hours just wasn't working for me. My mom made me dinner and then eventually I got on the road back around 5:30.

Made it back to Ottawa around 11:20 (not too bad of time considering I hit traffic and had to stop and pee like you wouldn't believe.

My weekend was awesome... but just way too much crammed into 3 days. Got through work today and looking forward to doing nothing tomorrow to recharge... lets hope it works.

Lobster Girl

I went to the beach today.

And like EVERY time I go to the beach, I put sunscreen on my tattoos... and no where else.

I didn't FEEL like I was getting burnt.

But I did. Quite burnt.

Pictures to follow...

Home, Home on the farm...

I'm home from Ottawa for the weekend.

I made it home in awesome time, I think I averaged about 140km/h most of the way. I left Ottawa at about 8:25 and made it home around 1am. Though I didn't actually make to my house until 6am...

I'd been having text message conversations the whole way home and was invited out with some people I know up in Listowel. I figured I'd be too tired to join them, but by the time I was near my house I figured I'd be good for another hour.

Another "hour" turned into leaving the bar at close, going back to someone's house and not going to "sleep" until 4:40am... I slept for maybe an hour and then got in my car and drove home. Crawled into bed around 6:20 and got a whole 2.5 hours sleep.

My day was so busy, I don't even remember all that I did. My mom woke me up and made me coffee and then I had a bath in my tub that I miss so much! Mom and I met up with Trishelle for lunch at Swiss Chalet, and then Trishelle and I went and got our eyebrows fixed up at the Indian place in Waterloo. Went to see Bailey at work and then stopped in at my old store to visit with work friends there. Everyone was busy, so we went to my grandma's house to load up Trishelle's bed and my futon to take to her house/my house. I made it home around 6pm and then had a nap.

After my nap, which wasn't nearly long enough, I mowed the lawn ( an activity I actually DO enjoy) and then ate some dinner. Threw on some clothes and headed out the door to meet up with Trishelle and my friend from work, Deb, and go to the Waterloo Park. Sat on the bench at the park and fed the geese and ducks the popcorn Deb had in her purse.

Came home, fought with the futon to get it put together (stupid thing is wobbly after being taken apart and put back together numerous times over the last 10 years) and finally I am almost ready to sleep... I've been back "home" for 24 hours and already did more in one day that I do in a week sometimes!

Going to the beach tomorrow, and then have a "date" with a boy I met before moving up to Ottawa and then meeting up with Ange at the bar...Sunday I'm getting my hair cut and going out for lunch before getting back in the car to drive back up to Ottawa. I'm half tempted to call in sick on Monday and take it and Tues off, but I think it'll be good to have a day off in Ottawa....

Pictures and stuff to follow when I am back to fast internet... I'd forgotten how much dialup can suck!!!