I'm a slacker.

Once again I've neglected to post anything.. in like, 3 months. What can I say, I've been busy. The last thing I want to do in my spare time is stare at a computer.

So new things going on:
1) Apartment is great. I finally got my couch last friday - yes, 14 weeks later. CRAP. But, so worth it.

2) Got a cat. Or - rather, more like a kitten/tiger/dog. His name is Stuart, I got him at the end of September. I'm not sure he knows he's a cat. He greets me at the door, requests a hug by standing on hind legs with front arms spread, and sleeps on his back. It's weird, but he's lovely.

3) Work is going great. Super busy, multiple staff changes around making me step up to the plate hardcore, but I'm rocking out. I've made only two trips in the last 2 months - Up to Cold Lake Alberta. .which was a lovely 4 hour drive North of Edmonton, complete with cowboys on the side of the road, and Bison farms. Crazy, and then out to Nova Scotia. No trips planned for future, but I've been invited to Nunavut in January. Yikes.

4) Got glasses. Well, reading glasses. Yes, I know it's weird. But if your job is to write all day on a computer screen, and if all your conversations happen via email - you may need glasses too suckah!

5) Got the H1N1 vaccine last night. Mega pain today. I'm asthmatic, I get sick in the winter - and my godmother says there's a lot of unpublicized deaths of women in their twenties with no underlying health issues (she's a nurse). SO, I did that last night, and wasn't able to sleep a wink because of the throbbing, radiating pain throughout my shoulder/arm/neck.

That's it.. for now.. will write more later.

Laura

Sick from excitement

I think I've made myself sick. Quite figuratively so. ( I hate when people say 'literally', although I catch myself doing that often... 'literally' never makes sense unless you are referring to a written piece! - ie, Shakespeare was incredibly creative- quite literally so!)

Anyhow - Today is the day. I get my keys to my apartment in approximately 1 hour. However, thus far, I've convinced myself I have the flu because I feel exactly so. And No - not H1N1, I don't have any respiratory problems. Just downing the pepto like its my job.

It's almost like when I bought my first car. I paid whatever, can't even remember now, and drove off the lot giggling thinking.. "what are they thinking, letting me drive away with this kickass car"? It was very strange that I had actually purchased such a huge thing. Not that my car is big by any means, but just the fact that I had .. a car. That was huge.

My very own apartment - is even more huge. To me anyways. But when I think about it, I could pay off my car with the rent for one year............. barf. And the nausea hits again.

I had a good laugh though at Shoppers at lunch. I had to go buy anti-nausea things like gravol, pepto, gingerale and rice cakes. And, since I am going straight over to my house after work to clean, I bought all these cleaning products like lysol wipes, disinfectant spray, and rubber gloves at the same time. It totally looked like I have H1N1.. Oh no.

Will post a first house picture shortly.

OH the furnishings!

Fabulous.

I 'invested' / I bought my first couch that is not from Ikea!! Although I do enjoy Ikea, just not on saturdays unless I'm sporting sneakers and elbow pads. And, I decided long before I even signed my lease, that when I have my own place, I will decorate it with non-turfing materials. And by that I mean, not just going out and purchasing the cheapest thing just because they are cheap. But buying only what I need, and ensuring it is sustainable, and will be loved for years.

And so I purchased a slightly traditional tuxedo sofa, from EQ3. See photo. Ha. Note the photo is not the colour I chose. It's the "Solo" (disregarding the notion that I'm single and my couch is solo, har har), and its deep seats with a high back. Just lovely.

I was having issues with choosing colours, especially to "COORDINATE" (my new 'decorating' word) with my gorgeous gold chairs. My great friend Megan, (who has admitted she in fact does not read my blog - she's a lawyer, almost, I'll forgive her) came into town this weekend and helped me "COORDINATE" a colour scheme, and material selection. Initially, I was scoping out the lowest priced microsuede, to get the best value. However, Megan reminded me that I like things to look neat. Not always fabulously clean, but just neat. And thus the microsuede will always look messy to me. I upped the anti and got a fabric, in "Slate", which is a really dark grey with black and perhaps a blue woven in. I love love love it. It's masculine, it's sharp, and it's going to arrive in two friggen months. That's what I get I guess.

EQ3 was the best shopping experience ever. The general manager, a girl just slightly older than me who had a similar taste, sat down with me and talked about what I wanted in a living room; what I wanted it to feel like. I've never had that type of experience before. I hate to say it, but it was probably like being treated like an actual adult.. maybe. Almost. Anyhow, I got to choose the colour (out of at least 40 shades), and the type/colour of legs. And when it's ordered it's basically custom made for me, in Canada no less. Winnipeg!

I'm used to Ikea. You go in, you write it all down, and someone puts an order in an computer and you pay for it. However, with Ikea you do get it within a few days at least. Not 7 weeks at the least. Sigh. Good things come to those who wait.

It's T-exactly seven days until I get the keys to my new place. And T-nine days until I have a vacation. Which comes at the exactly perfect time as I've banked approximately 30 hours in overtime since last Wednesday. Its driving me a little batty. I am taking wednesday off though. yay!

One week.........

Blogging..

Well, I'm going to attempt to take it up a notch. There may be some weird additions to my blog like tickers and other applications, so bare with me while I work out details.

The first pieces of furniture

Well, today was fun.

It's not every day when your mother encourages you to spend your hard earned cash on two pretty chairs for an apartment you can hardly remember.

I had thought I decided on buying a matching sofa, chair, and ottoman by Cindy Crawford Home. You can only imagine the jokes of 'hanging out with Cindy'. However! Once more I made a visit to Pier 1, and found some pieces that will be a wonderful 'check' on my quest to complete my 'grown up' apartment. And yes, I do realize that this quest will continue for years and years. I love that fact.

The chairs will match whatever sofa I choose. I purchased two of the Gold Damask Dining Chair, coplete with a beautiful gold paisley back. Gorgeous. I plan on finding a tiny side table to place in between them with a cute little lamp. I'm sitting in one now, in my parents living room. It matches their stuff perfectly... which makes my mother jealous. ha. I believe I am well on my way for having a grown up apartment if my mother is jealous of my furniture.

Anyhow - Back to how I dont remember the apartment. It's hard to visualize where to put furniture in a place I was in only once, for maybe 15 minutes. Long enough to judge the cleanliness, and stability, and generally deciding if the place was me-worthy. It apparently was, although I can no longer remember the colour of the living room! I know the kitchen is white. And I know the bathroom has ample storage. And I believe the bedrooms are painted a beigey/teracotta. But other than that, I have no idea what it looks like.

Time will tell. I will hold off on buying any other furniture until I actually move in.

Off to sit-around...

N.

New House Means New Decor

Well it's been a while since I last posted. Work has upped the anti, so to speak.

However! An update is definitely required as I have big news (well, it's big to me) and then also fun for blogging about.

I have for quite some time, wanted to try living alone. So after months and months of searching for my very own special place, I finally found it. I signed a lease today for a 2 bedroom apartment, on the second floor of an old heritage home downtown. I am thrilled!

Needless to say I'm also thrilled to decorate! I sold my couch, in hopes of being able to buy 'adult' matchy furniture. I admit, I'm not the best at decorating.. I like things. I can pick out pretty things, however, putting it all together doesn't come that easy for me. I have a sister who is fabulous at decorating, on a budget, and a good friend who is an aspiring (and proved) decorator.

After signing my lease today, and sipping my peach italian soda, I went off to some home stores. Just for fun. I ended up buying this pretty (useful, and cheap) kitchen ulility ceramic canister, complete with all little utilities like wooden spoons, spatulas, and various other measuring thingies and tools. I also bought, for my fabulous espresso machine, 2 adorable black espresso cups and saucers. Just big enough for a teaspoon of foam.

Then - off to Pier 1. My dream store. Seriously, if I could, I'd buy it all. I can't at this point, so I bought my 'starting point' for decorating.

See picture.

Large. Square. Frilly purple tafetta pillow. I love it! It's by far the most girly thing I could buy in terms of decor (or that I would buy). We'll see where go from here.

I am however, quite freaked out about how much stuff I actually require. It makes me think I should throw a 'I married myself' party, or can I actually have a housewarming party and have a registry? at Pier 1? (or in reality, loblaws?). I need cookware, plates, a toaster, and a microwave! Not to mention cleaning products, oh my! amongst a living room set, and decor! I feel sick. No more shoe shopping for me.

Ack.

I may write again.. or I may sell my computer in order to cook food.

Wait and see.

N

I love my job!

Holy hang on to your hats, especially in a giant Cormorant in Newfoundland.

I have recently (hours ago) had the absolute pleasure of coming up to a small town in Newfoundland for an announcement. I arrived yesterday afternoon, and oddly enough I have a friend in this quaint town who joined me for supper. Not dinner. Dinner is lunch in Newfoundland.

Where else can you get a giant prime rib dinner/supper complete with two yorkshire puddings, broccoli, garlic mashed potatoes, and turnip, for 22$?! It was so delicious I think I'll order it again tonight when I watch tv in my room. We indulged, and had two glasses of wine, plus dessert, and tea, for 40$ total. UNREAL and absolutely to die for.

I'm staying at a hotel that has a slight pirate theme to it.. which is odd in itself. But it's the second best place in the area and treasury board approved, so I'm here. And it's fantastic.

In other news, the event went quite well despite chilly weather which prevented us from having a really cool backdrop.

Yesterday during set-up, I met with the Search and Rescue crew in the town I was in. I received a little tour and was quite content when I was able to go inside a cormorant helicopter. And then, they invited me for a flight, along with our VIP guest. Sure enough, myself and this VIP were strapped into harnesses and all the gear, and eventually sat however-many feet above beautiful Newfoundland, flying with the door open and practically hanging out. What a rush! but OH my the dizziness!

I get ill on a childrens swing set. Get me hovering above the ground doing swoops over salmon runs, and I'm still feelin' it 3 hours later.

P.s that's a weird feeling - hovering. On a plane you know you're going one way.. forward. On take off and descent you have a slight angled motion. This is a strange strange feeling of moving everywhere!

I shall post a picture when I arrive back on mainland.

Eyes to the skies folks!