It's done! BIG changes! Yay!

On Tuesday morning I accepted a job as a reporter in Swift Current for CKSW/CJSN! My last day at CJCI/CIRX in PG is February 16th, and I start in Swift on February 20th! (Ironically, a year to the day after my first day in PG...weird...!) I'm so psyched to be moving to Swift and to be living with Brad again and to be, well...out of PG! Ha!

Here's the rundown on Swift, it's in Southwestern Saskatchewan on the #1 Highway (aka the TransCanada) about 2.5 hours west-ish from Regina. Brad is currently in Rosetown which is an hour and a half north of Swift, but he'll be moving there within the month too, so that's a non-issue. The population is around 16-thousand but it's not THAT small...there's a massive WalMart, two malls (small, but malls nonetheless). It's small enough that I'll be comfortable and happy and not too worried about waking up with no tires on my car, but big enough that I'm not going to go crazy.

Now I guess I should start another countdown, but this one is going to be more of a "countdown to the day when I HAVE to have everything done and out of my apartment....eeeeeek!", so I may try not to think about the countdown...afterall, only I've only got 12 work days left.....EEEEEK!

So, to anyone in Swift, I'll see you soon; and to anyone in PG keep in touch; and to all those who live elsewhere...well...I'll see you when I see you!

the rundown...

I was sitting at home on Saturday afternoon, having just baked a carrot cake and deciding what to do with the rest of my day when my phone rang. Call display said it was Brad's cell phone, so I answered it, but it was his friend Vince on the other end. He said "oh, so now you're answering your phone?" and I said "uh...yeah...was I not?" and he told me he had called a few minutes ago and I didn't answer, then he said that he was going to hang up and go inside and Brad would call me in about 5 minutes. I said ok and hung up and waited, having absolutely no idea what was going on, but having a dreadful feeling like something was really wrong.

Brad called me about 5 minutes later and sounded really really strange. I asked him how he was and he said not so good. I couldn't control my voice when I asked what was wrong, and I'm pretty sure it was unnaturally high pitched and frightened sounding. I was totally certain that his brother had been in a car accident and died or something like that. He didn't say anything but I could hear him crying. Then there was a pause and his mum came on the phone and told me they were in the emergency room at the hospital and the doctors thought he had had a heart attack. She said they didn't know anything else at the time, but that she would call me as soon as she knew something.

We hung up and I sat there in my living room for about 30 seconds totally stunned and then I frantically tried to think of someone I could call. I called Mare and freaked out on the phone, sobbing and shaking and being utterly panicked. Then, when she helped me get my senses back I booked a plane ticket to Regina. Vince called me back to say that they were taking Brad to the hospital in Regina for more tests, and he told me that he and Shayla would pick me up at the airport the next night when my plane got in. I called Bill and told him what had happened and that I wouldn't be at work. He told me to take as much time as I needed. Then he and Jessica came by with a chai latte and a magazine for me to read on the plane and their dog LP to make me feel better and they offered to take me to the airport the next day.
My flights left PG at 10:25 Sunday morning and I had a 3 hour layover in Van, then another 2 hours in Calgary, and by the time it was all said and done, I got to Regina at 10:20 Sunday night...10 hours of travelling. It was horrible, I was pretty sure I was having an anxiety attack the whole trip. Vince and Shay picked me up and I had a neat little breakdown in the airport and sobbed and shook for about 30 seconds while Vince told me that everything was alright and that Brad was ok and he was being taken care of. He told me that I had special privaleges at the hospital and that they were going to take me there. I met his brother, Nick, at the hospital and he took me to Brad's room. I can tell you one thing, it was the worst thing I've ever felt to look up at the sign in the hallway and see "Cardiac Care Unit" and know that my 24 year old boyfriend was in there.
Nick picked up the phone at the doors and the nurses said we could come in. He took me to Brad's room and it broke my heart to see him lying in that hospital bed hooked up to heart monitors. I hugged him and told him that if he wanted me to come visit so badly he could have just asked. He was in that unit until Thursday, and I spent every day with him, only leaving the room to get some food or pee. They moved him to another room on thursday where he had roomates and wasn't hooked up to monitors anymore. Thursday and Friday his mum and I slept in a little later and did a little bit of shopping. I didn't really feel like it and would have prefered to be at the hospital with Brad, but he was doing much better and besides, it was probably good for me to get out (and I did buy some cute shoes).
The cardiologist said that there was no blockage in his heart, so it wasn't a typical heart attack. The type that he had only happens about 4 times a year in Canada, and is most often in young men. Brad was snowmobiling with Vince on Saturday and the snowmobile got stuck so they hauled it out of the snow, then the truck got stuck and they had to get it out of the snow. He over-exerted himself to the point that so much adrenaline was pumping that it cut off the oxygen to his heart, and part of his heart died. He didn't even notice until later when they were at supper and his shoulder was really sore. He thought he had pulled a muscle...which I guess he sort of did...the most important muscle, anyway.
We were in Regina until Friday and then went back to Swift Current where we stayed until Sunday when Nick and Kim and I drove him to Rosetown and they took me to Saskatoon to catch my flight back here. Brad's doing fine now; on a lot of blood thinners and blood pressure meds. The good thing is that he has quit smoking for over a week now, and he's going to change his lifestyle and be more active and less stressed, and eat better.

(oh, and I take back what I said about the happiest day of my life being the day I met the trailer park boys...it doesn't hold a candle to the days I spend with my babe)

Back in PG

Ok, so first of all I need to say thank you to everyone who has been so wonderful and helpful this past week, it's meant the world to me and made everything much easier. For the time being, this is just a quick blip to say that Brad is doing well, and I'm now back in Prince George. He was released from the hospital on Friday and is now in Rosetown. I will give a more detailed recap of the week at a later date, but for the time being, I've got to unpack, settle down and get ready for bed. So again, thank you so much, I truly appreciate everything you've done for me.

worst day of my life

I'm flying to Regina tomorrow. The doctors think Brad had a heartattack and I need to be with him. I think he's alright, they're taking him there for tests tonight. I don't know how long I'll be gone for, but, well...there it is anyway.

HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE

Today was in fact, the happiest day of my life. Period. The Trailer Park Boys came to the station and did an interview with G-Lo and Colin. I shook each of their hands and Mike Smith looked at Heather and my shirts and laughed and smiled giving us an appreciative nod.
I wanted to sit in the studio (as G-Lo had promised me) but Brad kicked everyone out...well, he kicked out me and Docc, but Docc made a fuss and told Brad it was bunk so Brad let him back in. I was pretty ticked off, but then I guess it just shows that next time I just have to make a fuss.
But I stood in the hallway with everyone else and watched through the glass, listening to the feed through the newsbooth and newsroom.
After the interview, they came into the library for a series of pictures (as you can see I was just a little excited!) Then we coerced them into autographing some things I got the DVD of season 4 signed for my bro, and my "I love Bubbles" shirt.

soon?

I would really like this week to be over. It hasn't been a bad week by any stretch, but it's been a week of waiting and I'm starting to feel anxious about the waiting. Unfortunately, because I'm superstitious, I won't tell you what I'm waiting for, for fear that mentioning it will jinx things and I'll be horribly let down, but I'm waiting, nonetheless, and it's beyond the "excited build-up" wait and into the "knotted stomach, feeling ill" kind. I just want it to be the weekend!

Quite literally the coolest thing I own!

Jessica and Bill took me to Costco tonight to finally make my big Christmas money purchase.....a Kitchenaid Mixer! Yahoo! It is, quite literally, the most incredible thing I own. It's so prety, and so awsome...and I can just imagine all the wonderful things I will bake with it! When I say it is the coolest thing I own...I mean it. AND (as if this day couldn't be better), tonight, G-Lo and Christina came by and gave me their old tv! It's a 19 inch...which actually has an extra 6 inches on my other tv. I know, who still has a 13 inch tv these days? So, new tv, and new MIXER!! YAY!

Heather is my Hero!

I guess I should explain: Heather and Brad had a contest on the morning show "what would you do for snoop dogg tickets?" and a guy called in saying he would let Heather kick him in the junk for two tickets to the concert. So they went to the gas station where he worked and gave it to him! He must have been pretty broke (cash-wise) before the kick ...and pretty broke (other-wise) after the kick!

Snoop Dogg

I went to the Snoop Dogg concert tonight with Heather, Tynan, Marcus, and Cameron (heather's friends). It was....well...it was....I don't even know what to say about it. We ended up standing in the foyer of CN centre for about an hour...then we went a watched the end of one of the opening performers and then we waited. And waited, and waited for an hour and 10 minutes before the lights went out again and a couple of DJ's started spinning. They went on for around 20 minutes, and we all sort of got the impression they were just there to stall for time. FINALLY, an hour and a half after the openers were finished Snoop Dogg came out and started doing his thing. I don't really know what to say about him...I mean, I'm sure it was really good and all, but I'm not a big fan of rap...the sound seemed kind of poor, but that could be because it was just so loud. And I reek like pot...which is really not a big deal, I'll just febreeze my clothes before throwing them in the laundry hamper...but...well...I guess I can now say that I've seen Snoop Dogg in concert....for whatever that's worth. Ha!

I think the most entertaining bit about the whole thing was the little kids who were there. I saw a kid who couldn't have been older than 8. It was ridiculous. I left really early (around 10:30) and there were lines of parents parked outside waiting to pick up their kids. THAT was a bit of an eye opener for me; I would never have let my 12 year old go to Snoop Dogg! Terrible language, terrible image, not to mention all the pot! I mean, it's one thing to talk to your kids about pot, but it's quite another to send them into an atmosphere where it's impossible to breath without getting high. And then there was the ho-train of ladies dancing on stage behind Snoop. I guess I'm old fashioned, but I know my parents would have absolutely forbidden me from going...then again, I was too busy playing with my Barbies when I was as young as some of the kids there! Madness!

Tea = good!

I've been reading a lot that green tea is really good for weight loss. While I'm not looking specifically for a 'weight loss method', afterall, going to the gym seems to work fine for me (when I actually GO to the gym, that is), but I found it interesting anyway. Seems silly that there can be commercial after commercial on the program guide selling diet pill after diet pill when there's something natural and otherwise good for you that can have a similar effect. Granted, I'm no doctor (I know, it's a shocking revelation), but if there's something natural out there that will help in weight loss then why go for the pills? I guess it comes down to people wanting immediate results. I was reading a little article about the weightloss benefits of green tea and one girl had written in saying she had a lot of weight to lose before summer and wondered how much green tea she should drink per day to lose the pounds...she also wondered if she would have to stop eating and only drink green tea...and if she should exercise too. I really hope someone told her to 1. go see a doctor about a healthy way to shed the weight, 2. eating is necessary, if you don't it's called an eating disorder, and 3. exercise is generally a good idea, whether you're trying to lose weight or not.

Besides that, green tea aparently has a whole slew of other fabulous benefits too. I know this is probably not news to anyone else out there, but it was to me. I've grown really immune to the health minute features on the news that tell you "this is good for you" "this is bad" "this is good" "this is better". But it's interesting anyway. I think it's maybe time to start drinking more tea. I figure I probably drink too much coffee as it is anyway, time to cut back and start on the teas of the world. And start eating more soup. I don't eat enough soup. That was random. Sorry.

Tragically Hip Rocked my Socks!

To put it mildly, the Tragically Hip ROCKED CN Centre last night. It was a fabulous show, as always! I've seen the boys twice and walked away feeling like I was thoroughly entertained for...um...well...at least a couple hours. I don't actually remember how long they played for. My guess is just shy of two hours. Which is impressive if nothing else then for the shere ammount of energy Gord Downie exudes! Heather leaned over and said that the way he moves is exactly like when Mike Meyers plays the hyperactive kid on SNL. And that's it exactly! (Which made me wonder if Mike had see the Hip in concert?). We had decent tickets to start with, in section A, which was directly across from the stage at the other end of the arena, but then, thanks to Heather and Brad, she got 6 tickets from a guy who worked the venue for section V, which is almost exactly side stage. Not a head-on view of the stage, but waaaaaaay closer. It was awsome! The only complaint I heard afterwards was "they didn't play ___...I wish they'd played that one!" Which really, when you think about it, when a band has over a hundred songs, it's hard to get all of them in, and the tour is, afterall, to promote their new album, so there had to be a bunch of new songs in there. Gary's wife, Christina said afterwards that they need to do an "old songs" concert. Which is totally true...just the old ones, the favorites...they ones that EVERYONE loves. But I felt like they did play a good portion of those ones. Afterall, I heard my favorites: Bobcaygeon, Ahead by a Century, New Orleans is Sinking, and Little Bones. All in all, no complaints here! LOVED IT! Whoop Whoop!

My Quest Continues

It seems that my quest for a hippopotamus has reached the national level. I checked my email this morning to find a message from someone I had never met before. Upon reading it I found it was from a friend of a friend who reads my blog. Alas, I still don't have a hippo, but this friend of a friend sent me a couple of photos he had taken while at the zoo. So thank you Kirk, while it is patently NOT an actual hippo in person so to speak, the photos did make me smile.

Tag!

I've been tagged by slskenyon, so here we go:

Five things the readers don't know:

I'm terrified of bridges

Yup, it's true. I can't go over a bridge and look over the edge, scares the living *$&% out of me. I don't know why, I haven't had any traumatic experiences on them, and when I was little, to the best of my memory, I had no problem with them. All I can figure is that somehow the fear developed when going over the Hagwilget bridge in Hazelton. It's the highest suspension bridge in north america and is only wide enough for one lane of traffic. The bottom is made of a metal mesh of sorts and does not appear sturdy at all when driving over it. I've walked to the middle before and it looks a little more stable on foot, but it took a lot of personal determination to face that fear. Still scared though.

I hate apples

Weird, I know. But it's true. Hate the taste, hate the smell, hate watching people eat them. I can't explain that one either.

Picky Eater

Ok, so that might not come as a surprise to those who know me, but seriously, the pickiness now is nothing compared to what my parents put up with when I was little. I can detail quite nicely my eating habits for roughly the first five years of my life. There was the Cheerios phase, which every kid goes through, but I literally did not eat anything but cheerios. Then came the raisin toast and tea phase (which, after a doctor's examination, he told my mother I was perfectly healthy and maybe we all should just eat raisin toast and tea). After that was the waffle phase in which all I ate was eggo waffles. my parents would cut them into pie pieces so I could 'pretend' to eat pizza when they were because, for some odd reason, I wouldn't touch pizza. After that came the maccaroni and chicken nuggets phase in which I would also eat plain yogurt. I know. I didn't even take cheese on my maccaroni. And by that time I was probably about 5 years old.

I once had a rat-tail

Yup, remember those, the short haircut with a long tail of hair down the back that were made popular (at least for my generation) by the New Kids on the Block? I did that for a while. It wasn't very long and didn't last very long either, but I figured it was cool....come on, I was 7!

I secretly watch Days of Our Lives

Go ahead, say what you will, but I resisted for a very long time. I was not "raised" on soaps, infact, they were openly discouraged in my house. It was in grade 9. My friends and I would all go to my friend's place for lunch. They were obsessed with Days and made me watch it. Well, they didn't tie me to a chair and force me, but it was difficult not to watch it when they flat out refused to talk to me unless there was a commercial. So I started watching and asking questions and before I knew what had happened, I started talking about it and wondering when everyone would figure out that Kristen was just pretending to be Susan. Now I watch it when I come home at lunch time. But I'm not addicted. I could stop anytime I want to.

Now then, the following people have been tagged (and can participate if they feel like it, but there's no obligation), just fill out your own "5 things the reader doesn't know"

Mare
Heather

Meghan

Caroline

G-Lo

This thing I made...

Ladies! Listen up! I've found a recipe for the ULTIMATE dessert! And so I'm going to share it with you. It's easy, trust me. And it's a cheesecake brownie. seriously. I know.



You need:
Brownie:
1/2 cup of margarine (nearly melted)
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Cheesecake:
1 pkg creamcheese (go with light creamcheese just to ease your conscience) (leave it out for a bit to soften it)
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Ok, start with the brownie: mix the margarine and sugar and cocoa until they're totally combined, then add the eggs, vanilla and salt. Mix it all together really well until. Then mix the flour and baking powder in a seperate bowl and add that mixture to your chocolate goo. Pour it all into a greased pan big enough that it only fills up about half (or less) of the pan.

Next take the creamcheese and sugar and beat them together until they're totally smooth. Add the egg and vanilla and again, beat the crap out of them.

Then pour the cheesecake on top of the brownie and throw the whole thing in the oven at 350 for roughly 40 minutes. Check it after 20 and every 5 minutes after that. You basically want the creamcheese to start to brown just a little bit and be have a firm layer on top in the middle, as in, if you lightly put your finger on the middle you shouldn't get any creamcheese on your finger. Then let the whole thing cool for a while and throw it in the fridge for a couple of hours. Seriously. !!!! It's increadible. Enjoy!
I made it last night and guess what I'm having for breakfast? hahaha! I would invite you over to have some, but, well, most people who read this live far far away, and let's face it, by the time the locals get here, there isn't going to be any left! ha!

Mission Underwear: Success!

Mission Accomplished! Whoop Whoop! I managed to spend the entire day in my underwear...minus about 2 minutes in which I put on pants to go deliver my rent cheque...but that doesn't really count. During my underwear-clad day, I watched "Before Sunrise", "Before Sunset" and "Pride and Prejudice", as well as a few episodes of "Friends" and "the Class". Yes, a highly successful day. In adding to the success of the day, I also did a very large quantity of scrapbooking. I completed 9 pages today! The downside to that is that I'm finding myself getting close to the end of my photos (a scapbooker's nightmare! running out of events to scrapbook! EEK!) But It's been a very productive day in it's sheer level of being utterly lazy!

(and Mare, in case you can't see in the picture, the title of that particular page is "P.S. We're Geeks")

New Years Day

While for the most part, I'm not a huge fan of living on my own, but there are days when the perks are quite nice. Today, for example, my apartment is very very clean (thanks to a cleaning spree yesterday), and I fully intend to spend the entire day in my underwear. Not that Brad would have a problem with that, but sometimes it's nice to just be lazy by yourself.

Merry New Years!!!

I'm pleasantly drunk right now...whoop whoop! Thanks to Mare's generous donation of a bottle of (wonderful) wine from the Okanagan! I spent the night watching movies with Brad on the phone (Accepted and Superman Returns), indulging in baked brie, wine and christmas mini-eggs. just after midnight, I called my parents and said happy new year while banging a pot on my balcony (as tradition demands!). Then I said merry new year to Mare and Jer and then Mum called me back to wish me a happy new year and now it's just about bed time...did I mention I'm pleasantly drunk? HAPPY 2007!!!