Adventures!

I had an adventure today. After lunch, I left my house to go to Wal-mart. As I pulled away from the curb I remembered that the gas guage was looking a little low, so I decided I'd swing by a gas station and put in a 20 just to top it off. About a block away from home the car started puttering everytime I put my foot on the gas. Sure enough, it stopped a couple of blocks later. I then remembered a couple of years ago Brad telling me when he first got the car that the tank is actually empty before it hits the big E. I started chanting "please go, please go, please go" as I sat at the intersection trying to get the car started again. I did get it going again but realized it was about to stop for good and that I'd be really really hooped if that happened, so I pulled over.
I called Chris because I knew he was off work and hoped he'd be able to come and take me to a gas station to get a jerrycan and enough gas to get me to a gas station. He had just dropped his car off for an oil change and would be without wheels until close to 5. He was actually hoping someone could come and get him from the Mall. I called Alexis at work then and she said she'd come and get me. the plan was to take one of the station cruisers, but she showed up with Jeff in his car. I remembered both cruisers were gone today, she hadn't driven to work, and apparently Donovan's car was almost out of gas too! They took me to the Co-op (not before Alexis pointed and laughed at me upon Dono's request) where I borrowed a jerrycan, filled it up and then Jeff and Alexis took me back to my car where I used a jerrycan for the first time.
The best part of this whole situation? The truly ironic part? I was forced to pull over right in front of the CAA; would have been really convenient if I were a member!

Thoughts on Health Care

Last night Chris and I went to see Sicko. Southwest Festafilm was putting it on at the theatre for one night.

I've always known that Americans are required to pay for their health care and I've always been grateful as a Canadian to know it's covered, but there were several things pointed out in the film that really just reinforced my feelings.

The focus wasn't on those who don't have health insurance, but on American's who are supposedly covered by an HMO. I can't say that I was shocked to find out the insurance companies try their damnest to avoid paying out, but I was disturbed to find out the extent that it goes. I believe that Michael Moore documentaries can't be taken as straight fact, but I do believe his films are well researched and present a valid argument.

I think the part that stood out most to me was when he went to France and learned that not only is healthcare universal and free, but childcare as well. In fact, the government will apparently supply a caregiver who will come to the home of new parents and help with the baby, housework, laundry - whatever the parent needs help with - all free. Remarkable concept. Free post-secondary education was another point that stood out to me. It's an interesting concept and something I think could definitely work in Canada...it's the implementation process that seems insurmountable. But, I digress.

According to the World Health Organization, France has the best Health Care on the planet, followed by Italy and San Marino. Canada, however, sits at 30th. And the US at 37.

I definitely appreciate the availability of health care...but I think we can do better. For example, why do we have to pay for ambulance rides? Generally, an ambulance is not the sort of thing that's called for a non emergency. For the most part they're reserved for the most urgent of medical situations when medical equipment and personnel need to be on hand and a patient needs to be taken somewhere immediately with nothing getting in the way.

The thought of paying for an ambulance seems absurd, really. Let's look at this objectively with the assumption that only people in dire circumstances take a ride in an ambulance. Chances are, if you're in a situation where you need emergency transportation, it's because something really bad has happened and if that's the case, you're probably going to need recovery time. That likely means some time off work, which means a lower income (because from what I've heard getting compensation while on extended medical leave isn't as easy as it one might think). Personally, a $200+ ride is not in my budget, and would be even less affordable after taking time off work.

Last January, when Brad had his heart attack, the doctors in Swift decided he had to go to hospital in Regina. They put him into an ambulance and sent him away. A few months later the bill arrived, charging him for the ride there and the trip back. Sure, his health care covered the cost...but he had to pay the monstrous bill and be reimbursed. How is that reasonable? It scares me to think about people who don't have extended health care.

But, like I said, I am very glad to have medicare...even if there is room for improvement. We're still leaps and bounds ahead of many other countries.

That being said, France sounds pretty nice these days!

Getting Up to Speed

It's not that I haven't had anything to blog about lately, I think I've just been feeling a little drained.
Brad and I went to Medicine Hat for the Remembrance Day long weekend. It was partly to get away for a few days, and party to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. We put in two days of shopping that were actually quite relaxed and still very productive and generally enjoyed being away from the house and work and all that. Our first night was at the Imperial Motel which looks really shady from the outside, but is actually very reasonable inside. We ate at East Side Mario's (Yum!!) and just relaxed that night. The next day was breakfast at Perkins (I could kiss the person who came up with Gingerbread pancakes!) and checked into the Medicine Hat Lodge with our king sized bed (finally, I can starfish in bed without jabbing Brad in the ribs!) For supper that night we went to the M Grill, the restaurant in the Lodge. It was, I have to say, the best meal I've had in years. Fantastic food! I had stuffed fillet, which is remarkable in itself since I'm not a huge steak person. I do enjoy steak every now and again, but it's not number one on my favorite foods list (did I just out myself as an outsider to the province? I have the feeling I'm about to be ostracized). It was incredible though. The wine, the food, the dessert, and, of course, the company were divine. We went and played some slots, which I lost horribly at for the most part...the casino in the Hat doesn't seem to want to give me money, and then we called it a night.
After our drive home on Monday, I proceeded to do nothing. And that's what I did on Tuesday too. I booked Tuesday off to make it an extra long weekend and was really glad. The cold I had felt was coming on throughout the weekend (since the election finished actually) finally blew up and I felt totally beat. Tuesday night I was very sick (I'll spare you the details), and Wednesday morning I went into work for a grand total of 1.5 hours to record my news and go home to avoid the spread of disease. Thursday I left early as well and Friday I finally put in a full day. I do give the skeleton news staff credit though for keeping the boat afloat.
Now another weekend is almost done and I'm at a loss for what to say or do. It's been fairly relaxing and I'm feeling much better now.
I guess the other news is that I've got a trip booked to Smithers in the new year. Just me this time; it's a little too pricey for both of us to go back, so I'll be spending a night in PG catching up with Bill and Jessica and the other Prince Georgians, then a week in Smithers with my parents and Frank and Christi, and then one more night in PG for more catching up* and then back to Swift. I'm really looking forward to it actually. It'll be nice to see my family again and I'm really excited to see the PG group (a HUGE thank you to Bill and Jess and LP for putting me up both nights).
That's about where I stand...sorry it's not terribly pithy or witty this time...though I'm giving myself a lot of credit in thinking I'm normally either of those things! Maybe it's more appropriate to say "goofy and nonsensical"?

*catching up translates to sitting around drinking lots.

Awwwww!

Sunday is our official 3 year anniversary. Brad sent me flowers at work today in honour of the milestone. I'm pretty sure he specifically sends them at times when he knows I'll be at work just to make me the centre of attention when I get them. (Which I defiantely don't mind at all, hee hee!). The arrangement smells fantastic and is currently sitting on the entertainment stand in the living room making the whole house smell like carnations (my favorite flower).
We're taking off for the weekend to Medicine Hat for a weekend of relaxing. I can't wait!
Hooray for long weekends, and Hooray for my Sweetheart! And Hooray for 3 wonderful years!

Have a Laugh

THAT time of year...

You know the one I'm talking about. The one that is often blanketed in snow...decorated with lights and ornaments, and overseen by a large man in a red suit. That's right, the retail world is being overtaken by Christmas paraphrenalia. It's time, apparently.

Every year I hear the same thing: "It seems to come earlier every year!" I don't think that's necessarily the case though. I think last year it started to tip-toe in just before Remembrance Day and then storms in full-force as soon as the minute of silence has finished.

I would like to point out that as of November 9th, TWO blogs now have posts about something Christmas related (now make that three including this one here). Mare wrote about the Starbucks Mint Chocolate Latte (not that I can blame her...I'd be delighted too!), and Caroline wrote about her Christmas plans.

If Santa Claus is anything like me, he probably doesn't appreciate everyone reminding him that the days are flying by, and we're getting closer and closer to his most stressful night of the year.

But, I digress...it seems a little early to be thinking about Christmas. That being said, I am almost halfway done my shopping. Yay!

Stop and Breathe now...

I can now stop and take a breath and relax. The provincial election is over. While the 27 days leading up to it were stressful, Election day itself went off smoothly (if not a little hectic).
I'm so grateful for the hard work of the newsroom last night. Everyone was here on time (granted having pizza always helps to draw a radio crowd), everyone was confident in their roles, and everyone pulled off their jobs smoothly and (seemingly) effortlessly.
The polls closed at 8 and we began filing our reports to Moose Jaw. Golden West Radio broadcast a single election program covering all of the province which the other stations filed reports to. Alexis was at the Returning office in Swift filing voicers to the newsroom here for our reports, Penny filed reports from the Cypress Hills returning office, and Jon was on-location at the stockade in Swift where Brad Wall had his headquarters set up. Dono and I were at the station. He was answering the phones and editing voicers from A-Van, Penny and Jon (sometimes at once) and I was filing the reports and answering phones too.
Admittedly there were a few moments in the newsroom where it was a struggle to string two thoughts together, but that comes from multi-tasking and listening to four things at once (Radio feed, TV coverage, live feed from the Stockade, phone calls), but we pulled it off.
Wall was declared winner very early on (he finished with 5919 votes out of 8300). Lorne Calvert conceded just after 9, and Brad made his victory speech about 30 minutes later.
The whole thing went by so quickly!
Now, in the aftermath, I'm tired. Haha! Yesterday in preparation I had a three hour nap, then a large coffee at 5, followed by supper and a bunch of Pepsi. That, combined with the energy rush of being busy and working under the pressure of a deadline, was not a good recipe for sleep! I went home at 10:40 but was up until roughly midnight. And, sure enough, back to work bright and early this morning! I think it's understandable that I took the extra 15 minutes for sleep and drive to work rather than walk.
Now it's a matter of getting through the day! Maybe I'll be delirious later this morning? Especially if I keep drinking the coffee!!
(PS, if this doesn't make any sense, it has something to do with sleep deprivation)

This is Soooo Not Cool

I have a bone to pick.
Daylight savings time.
When I lived in BC, it was irritating every fall when the time change made me lose an hour of sleep, made even harsher when combined with the fact I was usually just getting back into the swing of going to school after a summer vacation (that wouldn't apply this year with the late arrival of the time change). Ever spring it would make me feel like I was getting an extra hour of sleep when, in fact, I would not because I'd just stay up later because I figured I could.
Now that I'm living in Saskatchewan, I think I hate it even more. Saskatchewan doesn't play along with DST. There are only two cities who do. I like that we don't change our clocks at all. It's nice to have the consistancy that comes with always knowing what time it is and knowing that if I get less sleep than normal it's my fault and not the clock's. My family and dearest friends still live in BC, and now they happen to be two hours behind me. So when I want to call Mare for our weekly phone date I'll have to call her at 8 my time (as per normal), but it will only be 6 for her. That's not a terribly convenient time to have a long phone call. Why not push it back an hour? Because I have to be in bed by 9:30 (7:30 Pacific) if I want to be able to function on Wednesday. Furthermore, Brad and I always watch House on Tuesdays (it's a thing we started while living long distance), and NOW it won't be on until 8....which is the time I call Mare. So, basically, I'm irate with DST for the simple fact that it inconveniences me. Hahaha. And obviously I am at the centre of the universe here and should be obliged.
That is all.

Don't tell me you weren't expecting this!

OBVIOUSLY I was a Pirate for Halloween this year. Duh.

Magic 97 Morning Show...now with 75% More Yarrr!
~Rri is one pretty witch!
~ The most fearsome newsroom ever!...or something... Dono as Spidey, Avan as a confused athlete, and me.
~ Ye'll walk the plank, ye scurvy sea-dog!

Riddle me this...

I'm not sure exactly where I stand on this topic, but it's so obvious and in-your-face these days, I figured I'd comment.

I'm talking about the mentality that surrounds halloween.

Women (particularly those who have just reached bar-age and extending up to mid 20s, with a recurrance if they're single and in their mid 30s) tend to believe that Halloween is simply an excuse to dress in completely trashy costumes. Occupations that are not sexy at all are suddenly made into itsy bitsy costumes that really make me wonder how the companies can charge so much for such little fabric. I'm not just talking about the standard Playboy Bunny, or the Pussycat costumes of the world...I'm refering to the things that aren't usually associated with attractive women. I mean the teensy shorts, tank top (white, obviously), and hard hat that make up a construction worker costume, the one-piece striped jumpsuit that's supposed to look like a referee. Or, even more shocking, the teeny tiny girlguide uniform that women are exploding out of, or the baby clothes that leave very little to the imagination. (I find those particularly disturbing as they are suddenly putting a sexual context onto something that should never be associated with sex under any circumstances).

I know everyone has noticed the trend, and very few men will outwardly protest, however, I have seen more than one raised eyebrow at a visible cheek (and I'm not talking face). The interesting thing that I've noticed, is that while most men seem to be in favor of the ridiculously teeny outfits, the majority of them will make disapproving comments afterwards, and seem to immediately think less of the girl.

On the other side of the fence is the female perspective. With each teeny costume and exploding top, comes one that's snaller, tighter, and more scandalous. The whole process of picking a halloween costume becomes a task of out-doing your friends and what you think the other ladies at the bar will be wearing. It's a matter of trying to be the most scantily clad and the most prostitute-like. Interesting how female competitveness manifests itself, isn't it?

Just some observations really.

Au Pied

It's the wrong season, but I've started walking to work. The weather is still nice and fairly mild, but I say the "wrong season" because it is getting colder with each morning, and soon there will be snow and a full-fledged Saskatchewan winter with biting wind which will make it miserable for walking. I'm making an assumption here, but I figure it's a safe bet. What I'll do then is not entirely certain yet. I might buck up and keep walking, or I might balk at the risk of frostbite and start driving again.

For the time being, however, I'm walking to and from work.

Yesterday I put on my music and walked to Ashley's place across town. It was a beautiful day; so warm I didn't need a jacket at all, and found myself too warm in my long sleeved shirt. The walk home was a little more brisk, but it was beautiful, nonetheless.

There is no denying the city is prepared for winter. The trees are totally bare, the leaves have been collected and removed, and everything has adopted that rich colouring of fall that eventually fades into the greys and whites of winter.

Every morning I get up and get dressed for my chilly walk and hope for one more week of nice weather.

It Starts.

For five minutes this afternoon it snowed.
Now one side of the street is grey and wet, and the other side has sun.
That is all.

Owie!!!

So, like a good responsible adult, I went and got my flu shot today. I've got it every year for the past several years and so far so good. Like they say in the handout, my arm hurts every time. I remember a dull ache; nothing terrible, mostly just like a muscle that's been overused. Today though, my arm caused me terrible discomfort. It ached from my shoulder down to my wrist and hurt so bad I didn't want to do anything but leave it stationary. A couple of hours later though, and the pain has decreased to a dull ache once again.
The sore arm bit sucks big time, but the benefits far outweigh the temporary discomfort in my eyes...and in my line of work. I simply can't afford to be off work for 2-7 days with a fever! Plus I can't afford to get it and give it to Brad (who is also immunized every year, but they aren't a 100% guarantee you won't get it). It just seems reasonable to roll up my sleeve and moan and whine for a while about my arm hurting. Maybe I can get some cheesecake out of this deal...hmmm....genius...

(side note: some people DO have bad side effects from the flu shot and I'm not a doctor, so I'm not advising anyone get it...check it out if you're interested.)

Fashion Sense: Optional

This morning I went to the official opening of the new Canadian Tire building in Swift. The store is fantastic, huge, well lit and inspires shopping (says the shopping addict!). The store opened their doors at 8 and the first two customers (who had been waiting outside and were obviously a couple) entered. Now, I try not to judge based on appearances, so I'll let you make your own decisions. The fellow was wearing...well...these pants. Ok, I'll try to explain them (though there's no way I can truly get the full impact of the pants across using only the English language).

Do you remember those pants that were really popular in the 80s? Elastic waist, tapered leg, usually made of some wild loud cotton fabric? (Zebra print, or bold patterns come to mind) I think they were called Zulu pants. Now, I want you to take that image. Got it? Now make the pants just a touch too small (not as baggy as was the fashion), change the color to cream with a small black lined pattern all over. Now...for the final touch...they were made of a shiny satiny fabric. You know the stuff they make pretty lady's blouses out of? That's the stuff.

I honestly can't even begin to imagine WHERE pants like that could be purchased! I think he was wearing some sort of equally incredible sweater, (that's what Jenna told me anyway) but I couldn't pull my eyes away from the shiny pants. But like I said; no judgement....just utter amazement, really.

Parallels?

To put it bluntly, I've had a stressful week. Which is fine, I can deal, but I was reflecting on the stressful start of my week when it suddenly dawned on me: last year it was around this time of the year when Bill and I were coping with a server crash and general chaos and utter misery at work. (Titanic 2).

So, I looked back on my blog entries and lo and behold, it was October 23rd that was the first day of horror in the PG newsroom. It was a monday. Granted we're off by one day with the start of stress (Oct 22nd this year), but it was a monday, and at the end of October and in fact, during the same week. Strange. I wonder if this is just some sort of stressful time of year for me? I'll have to see if something happens (out of my hands) that causes me to have a really bad day next year. If it does, I'm going to book off the whole week and stay in bed.

Probably just a coincidence, but it seems weird that the two most stressful days of my past year have been almost the same day.

(afterthought: things have improved)

Deer Season Apparently

I was in the kitchen (where I belong) doing dishes (like the good little girl I am) and getting supper ready (ok, I'm out of derogatory comments) when I looked up out the window over our sink. I quite literally gasped. Having not expected to see anything at all, I was startled to see this guy:

~

I followed him outside when he went to the neighbour's yard across the street and saw he had a friend.

~

The he wandered back to our place and I followed through the windows as he circled the yard.

~
Yeah, that's a look, hey?

~

His friend was in the back yard too~
Awwww! They're Friends! Hahaha

My Reliable Life

A while ago I was having trouble making a decision in my life. I went to a good friend of mine; someone who's opinion I value and respect.

She asked me a simple question: "Has your life ever let you down?"
I must have looked confused because she elaborated. "Think about it. When things are looking really bad or you're completely unsure of what to do in a situation, even if you make the wrong choice, has your life ever let you down?"

I thought about it long and hard and realized that, one way or another, whether it was through the help of those around me (which was more often than not) or just some unexpected turn of events, my life has never let me down. I've made bad choices and done stupid things, and I've been terribly unhappy at times, but things always turn out alright.

My advice? Put some faith in your life.

My Card For the Day

"The Hanged Man:
This card denotes the need to look at your current situation from a different perspective. The Hanged Man creates change by acting passively and accepting fate. By surrendering control and making yourself vulnerable, you will facilitate change in your life. In order to see the bigger picture, you will need to take a step back. "

Sometimes it's almost eerie when something unexplainable happens that seems to hit the nail on the head in any given situation. It's like when a horoscope actually applies, or a dream you had comes true. Or even, on a smaller scale, the feeling of deja vu. It happens to me so often I shouldn't be suprised, but it still strikes me every now and again as surreal. I guess though, it comes down to being in tune with the universe and being part of something a lot bigger than any one person. Anwyay, time to look at things passively from another angle.

Ponderisms on the Olfactory System

They say sense of smell is one of the most powerful of the five (six?) senses. Some of the most powerfully vivid memories can be triggered by a scent on the breeze. A certain cologne or hand lotion can bring back distinct images and emotions. Sometimes the feeling of remembering can be so strong that it overwhelms the other senses, and it come so quickly it's easy to be blindsided.

Several years ago, I was riding on a bus from Metrotown to my dorm when someone climbed onboard. The breeze from the door pushed the air towards the back of the bus, and with it, a cologne. I have no idea what cologne it was, but I knew it. I was suddenly thrown back to a moment, sitting in a car, driving in Glasgow with a friend. The next thing I knew the bus stopped at the next sign and a new breeze took the cologne away and I was brought back to reality. But for that moment, I was IN Scotland. A troupe of hyenas could have climbed onto the bus and done a reading from The Merchant of Venice and I wouldn't have noticed. I was consumed by the memory for the brief moment.

This morning I used a hand lotion from upstairs at work. As soon as I massaged it into my painfully dry hands the scent struck me like a ton of bricks. I was suddenly reminded of something...but I can't put my finger on the specifics. It has to do with the time period when I was living in the apartment with Vicky. Like trying to remember a name that's on the tip of your tongue, I can't quite grab the memory. It's floating there and comes closer whenever I breathe deeply, but I can't grasp it.

A good friend of mine at BCIT has no sense of smell. As one of our projects in copywriting, we had to come up with ads playing into each of the five senses. After class he went to our instructor and told her he has no sense of smell and has no idea how to write about it when he's never experienced it. Even though I try never to feel bad for anyone who has something different in their life (can you miss something you've never experienced?), I found my heart going out to him.

Last week Ashley and I got into a discussion about a movie she had seen called Perfume in which a young perfume apprentice who was born with the most sensitive sense of smell tries to capture the smell of a beautiful women (ultimately by killing them, but that's not the point). She told me, during a moment in the movie, he realized he himself had no scent, and because of that, he could never be loved. It seemed like an interesting theory. But that, in turn, implies that those with no sense of smell, or an impaired sense of smell cannot love. It also implies that as we get older and our senses dull, we have less capacity for love.

Anyway, those are my ponderisms for the day.

Who ever thought I'd WANT to cook?!

It's true! After...well...way too long, we can finally start cooking again! No more takeout! Yay!!! Our kitchen, while not totally done, is totally useable now! Everything has been painted and the old gross fridge has been removed, along with the old stove (aka the bane of my existance)! We've got a new fridge, Brad's Grandma's old stove (which works like a dream and she only got rid of it because it was too big!) and the floor has been vaccuumed nicely and we can walk on it without fear of stepping on something and getting lock-jaw! Here are the pictures!

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