vancityrockgirl

things i'm excited about; tonight's dinner

vancityrockgirl — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:07:00 GMT

goooooood morning!
i'm remarkably chipper seeing as how my day went yesterday...
well, it went pretty awesome, but i ended up putting in over 12 hours at work and didn't get home until almost 10pm.
and the sheer time in the office isn't super rad, but the results sure were.

yesterday, an old friend of mine from back in the day... okay, from church. i know, right?
anyways, she saw on facebook that i'm a travel agent now and she emailed me and got me to book all of her coworkers on a vegas trip for work.
totally amazing. basically, yesterday's deal put me at 40% of my month target for march.
my boss was absolutely thrilled.
as of last night, i'm the top seller in my store by 3x everyone else.

super rad stuff, obviously... but it's time consuming.
booking 22 people to vegas; air and hotel is a whole day task.
or rather, a 12 hour task.
so i had to stay late to finish... and in reality, i'm still not done.
gotta make itineraries and do my back end accounting etc.

but the point being, yesterday i kicked ass at my job.

also, and perhaps bigger... i am working towards the global ball.
if i transfer a certain amount in my first 6 months, i get to go.
and this was a huge push to put me on track to go.
i want to go to there.
seriously, hard.
i will be beyond disappointed if i don't make it... so i'm working my balls off to get it.
last month's sales were decent, but they don't count 'cause it was my "month 0"
this is month 1... and the counting began march 1st.

anyways... yesterday threw me off a bit...
by the time i got home, it was bed time... i didn't eat dinner and certainly didn't make it out for a run.
so i hope today i'm off at a decent time because wednesday & thursday i will have late nights for work too.

you know what's funny? at my last place of regular employment, when that clock hit 5pm, i was a ghost.
there's nothing that could have made me stay even a second overtime.
this job... i do it because it personally benefits me... but also because i love it.

so, this morning, despite my long work day yesterday, i woke up chipper and ready for action.
so i decided to get dinner into the slow cooker.
ms moonbeam bouvier has been raving about this southwestern pork soup that her/our friend tamz makes.
it sounds very drool-worthy.
i like everything that goes into this.
so i have it working away in the slow cooker, right now!
prep time was about 25 minutes, and i even browned the pork off...
i used pork shoulder that came in a little pack, pre-diced from safeway. 2 reasons - one, it was on sale and only $3.50 for 1.5lbs and second, it was precut and all i had to do was dump it into the pan. score.
the recipe calls for a tenderloin, which would be leaner... but for a slowcooker and shredded application, i do like the shoulder.
either way, browning was essential to me because it had a bit of visible fat, and i'm too lazy at 6am to trim it, so i just cooked it off a bit.

the recipe is here on moonbeam's blog - http://metalandmuffins.blogspot.com/2010/03/post-olympiads.html
and i can't wait for dinner tonight.

also, moonbeam... this recipe makes a shitload. so if you wanna come for dinner, please do.
hockey starts at 6pm.

the goodness in my slowcooker makes me happy for several reasons...
one - it's going to be frigging delicious.
two - nothing beats a nice hearty soup/stew on a cold day. and today is COLD.
three - when you work a long day, it's pretty awesome to come home to dinner already made for you.
four - when you come home from work and there's hockey on, it's pretty sweet to not have to miss any of the game because you need foods.
five - slowcooker meals are CHEAP. this one cost me under $10 for sure. and it's going to make many portions for later freezering.
six - everything in the slowcooker is always cooked perfectly. as long as you're using the right slowcooker friendly ingredients - no milk products, etc... it always comes out perfect. especially the meat.

speaking of cheap(er) eats... we have a new household resolution to cut back the food budget.
while i do have a regular paycheque now, we're still playing debt catch-up, so the purse strings are tight.
one thing that we've been doing, that accomplishes two feats is eliminating lunch meat.
the husband is a big time sandwich lover. almost as serious about it as jeremy is.
we eat a lot of sandwiches and as such, often have lots of sandwich meat/cold cuts around.
also, we're usually food snobs. so it's no bologna up in here... it's premium roasted meats.
and it's getting expensive.
also, we have minor, but persistent concerns with the additives and preservatives and salts in lunch meats.

so on sunday we bought two fryer chickens on sale for $12 for the pair and i roasted them off just with salt & pepper and a little rub of olive oil.
they hung out in the oven while we watched the imaginarium of doctor parnassus... and when the movie was done, they were reasonably cooler and we disassembled them and shredded the meat.
we now have two large ziplock bags of shredded chicken for lunches.
perfect for sandwiches and salads... and for lazy cookings.
like fast quesadillas... or chicken stew.
and for $12 we figure we've got chicken for many many meals...
in fact, one bag is going in the freezer for later use. i'm thinking perhaps a chicken pot pie or two...

anyways... getting the meals in order around here is an ongoing task that needs to be figured out with me not working from home anymore.
it's a slow transition into something that works for us... but we're on it.
the balance of budget + time + healthy eating = a lot of time & effort, but once we've got it figured out, we'll be golden.

one down, eleven to go...

vancityrockgirl — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:15:00 GMT

i have only a few minutes here, but i needed to make sure that this weekend had mention in a blog.

alice in wonderland on imax 3d.
un-fucking-real.
it was, in my humble opinion perhaps one of tim burton's greatest masterpieces.
stunning. especially in the imax 3d format.
we'll be going to see it again.
no words will do it justice... just go see it.

black rebel motorcycle club...
wow. again.
this band is always good... well, they're always GREAT to be honest.
and they're a band that i forget about sometimes when i think of incredible live shows.
but they delivered again on saturday.
also, it was one of the smokiest shows i've ever seen.
stoners love BRMC. no jokes.

general weekend goodness...
went for 2 nice hikes. on saturday the sun was shining and it was beautiful out...
yesterday it was rainy and misty and also beautiful.

the friendship and company... also aces.
there were patio beers, parking lot sessions, downtown vodkas and rock and roll drinks.
late night munchie popcorn and extensive morning breakfasts
also, grilled cheese sandwiches.

and to tangent off for a second... man, i love grilled cheese sandwiches.
and i like them white trash style.
white bread, plastic cheese.
no real cheddar (too greasy) and no grainy bread for this!
nom nom nom.

anyways, let's bring it back to the 12 week challenge...
here's my report from week 1.
lost 1.8lbs...
went "running" (who am i kidding? it's a slow jog at best, lol) 2x
went for 2 hikes.

pretty solid effort... but i suppose i can do better.
this week my goal is 1.5lbs and at least 3 runs.
and if i can do 2 hikes again, that would be rad.

this week's challenges: 2 nights out with my work where meals are provided.
it'll be tough to keep the diet in check, so i'll have to be sure to apply extra effort.
also, work drinking.
and weekend drinking. but that's an every week challenge.

this weekend: heading to whistler on sunday with the family.
looking forward to a serious hike up there if possible. i guess it'll depend on the snow.

okay, gotta run to work.

coming soon...

vancityrockgirl — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:59:00 GMT

wowsa. thanks for all the love and support.
friendship rules.

i've been thinking lately about my life and noticing the pattern that i tend to take on new things and do drastic overhauls in feb/march.
maybe it's my version of spring cleaning my life... i don't know.
maybe i save my resolutions for the fiscal year, not the calendar year, lol.

in any event, it works for me.
last year's improvements and expansions were challenging and difficult... but worth the struggles.
it really is true that nothing worth having comes easily.
this year my changes will be more visible to the outside world.

i think and hope that i'm doing this in the right order...
my theory was that physical changes wouldn't stick long term unless my insides were happy.
my insides get happier every day... and now the outside follows suit.

anyways, i picked my 4 goals for submission for the 12 week challenge.
so here they are:
1. lose 20lbs minimum.
2. complete the couch to 5k (ie. be able to run 5k)
3. improve my eating habits and drink 2L of water per day
4. significant improvement in my body shape (measurements) and strength

so there it is...
i have other more broad goals... but for the purpose of this challenge through work, i need to have goals that relate to the fitness/weight loss journey.
they also have to be more or less measurable so that i can prove improvement.

okay, now moving on...
i have bought a lot of tickets in the last few days.
and have a lot of tickets to things coming up.

this weekend - going to see the 3D IMAX midnight screening of Alice in Wonderland. i am so ridiculously excited for this... i don't even care that the reviews so far are ho-hum. i know i will love it. plus i am getting high as all fucking hell and seeing it in fucking imax 3d. how could that not be awesome?

saturday- black rebel motorcycle club at the commodore. one of my favourite bands, and an epically amazing band live. this will only be my 3rd time seeing them... they don't come through town often. in fact, this will be their 3rd time in vancouver ever. i'm also stoked 'cause the bff is coming in for the show, and my pal christy is coming too. so it'll be a good little crew.

upcoming - bought my tickets to rob zombie & alice cooper. floor tickets. obviously. how could i miss a tour called "The Gruesome Twosome"?!? the show will be ridiculous... the set will be out of this world... it's going to be like a live horror movie. i'm pretty stoked. i hate horror movies, but i adore rob zombie. plus i find him sexually attractive. is that weird?

nah... i think it's a fair statement. he's a good looking dude.
okay... next!

dan mangan at the vogue. the bff is in charge of this one. me, my husband, moonbeam, the bff and her cuz. fun times with adorable quirky awkward singer songwriters. loves. especially 'cause he kinda looks like seth rogan. who i also love.
hmmm... maybe i have a thing for guys with scruffy beards?

MUSE. mother fucking MUSE! that's right. a band that i fucking LOVE LOVE LOVE... and we've got GA floor tix. i've only seen muse once before and it was at the commodore ballroom... it was absolutely incredible. i instantly rated that show in my top 10 ever and comparable to the radiohead show i saw in 1998. that's some serious praise, but they fucking earned it.
that night was pretty crazy... i had gotten wasted at 4pm at the beer festival thing at the plaza of nations... then ran off to richards on richards to see scissor sisters play. after dancing my ass off for an hour or two, i literally ran up to the commodore and arrived just as muse was hitting the stage. my friend handed me a doobie and we blazed while i was sonically assaulted. seriously... when they played Apocalypse Please, i was so fucking high on music (and drugs) that i sat down in the middle of the commodore floor. my friend was like, you can't sit on the dance floor... they'll kick you out. and i was like, well, i can't stand. - i'm too high on music.
there's only a few bands that i've seen that can get you high on music... Muse, Radiohead... The Doors (saw them with Ian Astbury singing)
anyways... i am crazy excited for this show. i am getting really high and letting the music take over. good thing the next day is a stat holiday so i can sleep in.

METAL! the husband and i are going to the rickshaw for some metal on the 19th in honor of ms moonbeam's bday. the band she is super hyped to see on the bill is Lazarus A.D. should be a wicked fun evening of getting wasted on metal and watching dudes headbang. i'm pretty stoked. note to self - do not forget earplugs. the rickshaw is fucking loud.

ummm... the only other thing i have tickets to right now is the thunder from down under at the casino.

go ahead... laugh. god knows i do.
and that's the WHOLE POINT! it's basically the most hilarious night ever. i've seen them before and am pretty stoked to do it again.
you just laugh yourself silly, drink some drinks and watch the man candy dance around.
it's a solid fucking night.

lastly, i would be remiss as a friend if i didn't mention that my pal CWP is playing a show next friday night at The Cellar with his band You Big Idiot.
if you wanna enjoy some wicked punk rock... come on down. doors are at 7pm, tickets are $10 at the door.
do it. and we can drink drinks together.

okay... gotta get ready for work.
later friends!

consider me challenged.

vancityrockgirl — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:05:00 GMT

yesterday was the start of the 12 week challenge at my work.
so i joined.

it's been a little tough figuring out 4 goals... so i'd love some help.
i have a weight number goal.
i'd like to lose 20lbs
definitely doable.

but i need 3 more goals.
and no, quitting smoking will not be one of them.

i did something a little crazy yesterday...
a little crazy and something that i swore i'd never do.
but there's a backstory...

the husband... well, i don't want to call him lazy... but let's just say when he gets home, he doesn't want to go outside.
he absolutely loathes outdoor activity.
which is a bit of a problem, because i love it.
LOVE IT.
i love going for walks and hikes and just being outside in nature. ridding my bike in circles around the neighbourhood...
whatever. as long as i'm outside, i'm happy.
i love sitting on patios... lounging on lawns.
the outdoors is my happy place.

his excuse has some validity...
i work inside all day... so for me, going outside is a treat.
he works outside all day long... in the cold, the rain, the snow... and then the heat of summer...
when he's done work for the day, he's seen enough of the outdoors.

we've had many arguments about this... and years ago i pretty much gave up trying to get him to go outside with me... and now i just go with my mom or brother or friends or by myself.
he did go for a hike with me on valentine's day. that was my present. what a guy.

anyways, this has given me a certain level of frustration, because i wish we did active things together.
in fact, truthfully, i'm envious of couples i know that do activity together.
i wish that active living was a part of our lifestyle.
i have tried pleading and he won't give in. i've tried explaining that *i* need to do more physical activity, and if he would do it with me, it would mean a lot to have his support.
no dice.

the only thing he's ever been interested in doing is running.

i fucking hate running.
i don't want to run unless my life is in danger and there's something chasing me.
the things i love about being outside are my surroundings and the fresh air and picturesque moments.
if i'm running, i can't enjoy any of that.
i have never had a desire to run.

but apparently my husband will run... outside... with me.
no walking... no hiking... but running is okay.
i know, i can't wrap my head around it either.

so yesterday we started our first day of the couch to 5k program.
*sigh*

i would prefer a million times over to climb a mountain through the trees on a steep trail, working my ass off...
but instead i'm punishing my already bad knees on cement.

i'm worried about how long i can do this.
by the end of last night's training... which was only 25 minutes long, my feet hurt so much i could barely walk.
the entire bottom and sides of my feet had gone numb.
i'm not a doctor, but that's not good... it's possible i need new running shoes.

it was insanely frustrating because i felt fine besides the pain from my feet.
i wasn't having a problem breathing or anything... i broke a little sweat, but was totally fine to keep going...
but my feet were just in searing pain.

tonight we take off... and tomorrow we're going again.
3 times a week minimum.

it's so nice to do something like this with my husband, that i'm willing to ignore the fact that i hate running.
and i'm hoping maybe i can use it to bridge into an activity that i like doing too.
but i guess this is the compromise of marriage...
i get a partner to do something active with, which i very much want and need...
he gets to pick the activity.

final goal of this project is the BMO half marathon at the beginning of may.
of course i won't be running it by then... but there's a walker/slow runner division or whatever... so i'm going to do that.
i get discounted entry through my work's 12 week challenge... and it'll keep me on the ball.

at this point, my weight loss is starting to plateau a bit now that i'm around the 30lb mark... and so i need a new (or any) exercise routine to kick start me again...
so running is going to be one of those necessary evils i think.

but i think that with my impending improved fitness... i'd really like to do the grouse grind this summer.
i've never done it before... and it seems like one of those vancouver things that you should do at least once.
so i'd like to.
i know it'll be a frosty day in hell before the hubby will do it with me... so i'm looking for volunteers.

so back to the 12 week challenge...
i want to win.
there's many many prizes to be had... area, nation and even global.
i want them all.
there are many many paid vacations to be taken as a reward...

for the next 12 weeks, i am going to be crazy strict with myself. and that means limiting my booze.
which already makes me want to cry inside.
drinking will only happen 6x per month, max.
saturday nights and 2 fridays. to be allocated as i see fit.
now, that might seem like a lot to some of you... but rest assured, that's cutting back.
pretty drastically, lol.
especially after the liver punishing olympics.

okay, i've rambled for long enough... i leave you with this link to one of my fav weight loss blogs.
it had a funny story that i enjoyed.
How To Get Your Ass Out Of A Hole In The Ground

and also, i leave you with pictures of my hike two weekends ago with my mom.
it's my new favourite spot... we hike up the mountain to the lookout point over the lake.
the pics are from my iphone, so they're not the best quality... but it sure is beautiful in there.

this is the view from the top of where we hike to...

and then on this last picture, see that little open rock part at the top of the hill?
that's where the previous picture was taken from.

closing time

vancityrockgirl — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:55:00 GMT

this weekend i:
watched a lot of amazing hockey.
had some great times with friends and family.
spent an entire day trying to soak up every last bit of olympic love this city had to offer...
saw some awesome bands play live.
got exceedingly drunk.

basically the whole weekend just oozed awesome.
and it included trevor linden!

and now i'm left in some sort of post-olympics haze
a sports hangover of sorts.
i already miss the "i believe" song every 20 seconds.

the closing ceremonies were something...
they wavered between brilliance and shameful for hours.
they finished with shame.
we should have cut the feed after the giant beaver number, like they did in the USA.
the giant beavers were incredible. i LOVED that...
like canada meets vegas.
it was fun, campy and quite the spectacle.
absolutely perfect.

and then they followed it with nickleback.
okay, to be honest, i am not a #1 nickleback hater anymore.
they suck, most certainly... but they actually used to be decent before they became a parody of themselves.
AND they are extremely successful around the world.
but they've become a scapegoat/catch-all answer for bands we love to hate.
hating on nickleback is so trendy, it's pretty much passe.

and really, they are an example of canadian music that people know around the world. like it or not.
so i get why they played last night.
that song, despite it's terrible lyrics, is a current massive hit song, by a band with several platinum albums under its belt.
it made sense, despite your personal musical taste.

but what the fuck was with some of the other selections?
first of all, where did they find avril lavigne?
didn't we trade her to america like 5 years ago?
and isn't her career totally dead? like, they had to cancel a bunch of shows on her last tour because of ticket sales?

i'm not going to hate too hard on alanis... i don't really like her, but it wasn't the most offense selection to my senses that evening...
which brings me to simple plan.
dear Vanoc, what the FUCK?
hedley? (nice guys, but odd selection) and who was that french chick?
i don't think 95% of people in vancouver have ever heard french music beyond mitsou.
or that part in that one sam roberts song where he sings in french.

so... the big question is... where was the GOOD canadian rock?
we have a massive selection to choose from these days...
where the hell were the Tragically Hip?!?
canada's band.
the house band of the north... and no one bothered to secure them to play?
epic epic Vanoc fail.
sam roberts was in town for olympic shows... what about him?
metric? hell, even the arcade fire would have been an okay choice.

anyways... the talk last night amoung the industry folks was that this seemed like a "pay to play" kinda thing.
meaning that the bands were chosen via closed door deals that involved money/consideration.
which seemed pretty obvious to me...
i mean, avril & alanis are prime examples. they used to be highly successful around the world, but both are now seriously struggling (and failing) to remain relevant. their labels and management must be shitting their pants watching their cash cows flounder.

anyways, the hip would have cost major coin, while a lot of these other acts would have just wanted and needed the exposure.
so, it seems we cheaped out... and in turn wasted an amazing opportunity to showcase the best music in canada...
and instead delivered a show that made most of us cringe and apologize.
sorry!
we fucked up.

all good things must end...

vancityrockgirl — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:19:00 GMT

as quickly as it came... it's now about to end.
we have today and tomorrow... and then the final hockey game on sunday.
and the closing ceremonies following the game...
and it's all over.
history turns the page on the vancouver olympics.

i'm going to miss it.
i know it doesn't last forever, but i'm always sad when olympics end.
it's so much fun watching it all tv and having everyone buzzing about how our country is doing.
and even more insane when the early morning alarms to watch hockey games are replaced by actually being able to attend them live in prime time.
...well, almost prime time.
someone tell me how we've been running hockey games to match up with prime time in toronto, when WE'RE the ones hosting and paying for these olympics.
it's balls.

i've missed almost every key game because i'm at work.
at least tonight's game is kinda on our schedule... starting at 6:30pm.

i really want to head downtown tomorrow and try to soak up the last little bit of it all.
i will never see vancouver look like this again in my lifetime.
it's special... and i don't want to miss a bit of it.

i'm thankful that somehow the universe intercepted and derailed my plans of leaving town and missing it all.
i didn't care and didn't want to be a part of it...
but i was thinking about not being able to attend games and overblown transit nightmares.
truth is that i haven't attended any events... and transit is a nightmare of sorts...
but there's a lot i didn't consider.

the intangibles are hard to measure.
and i could have missed them and not thought twice about it because i had a tan from my vacation.
but i would have missed out, whether i knew it or not.

i am a vancouver girl through and through.
this is my home and i not only wear my love for this city on my sleeve, i shout it from every venue possible.
i see it faults and shortcomings easily... and the sheer beauty is undeniable...
but at times i struggle to see it as how outsiders must see it.

i know this city like the back of my hand
inside and out, upside and down
but i've never known it like this.
i've never seen it come so close to realizing its full potential.

it fills me with hope now for the future, instead of fear of the olympic aftermath.
sure, it'll be a financial struggle... and you can bet your ass the government will fuck it up somehow...
but maybe we'll take some good away from this.

we CAN host large events in this city without incident.
people CAN drink and party on city streets peacefully.
we don't have to shut down every event that gathers over a few thousand people...
concerts CAN happen on street corners.
buskers should be allowed to entertain on streets
public art should be all around us

maybe more than anything, these olympics haven't so much let the world in, as we've let ourselves in.
vancouver is ripe with potential
we don't have to be the place known for stupid riots after canceled concerts and failed hockey games...
gang shootings and thugs tagging every surface available.
we've proved to ourselves that we CAN do things better.

and i hope that we remember that next week when it's all over and done.
as the trucks, planes and buses roll out of the city... i sure hope we leave some olympic spirit behind.

sorry

vancityrockgirl — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:42:00 GMT

okay, a few quick things...
i haven't blogged in 11 days.
i know, terrible, right?

but seriously... shit is going down in my city.
and i officially am having like, the best time ever in vancouver!
these olympics are FUN.

there's public drinking, wicked free concerts and smiles as far as the eye can see.

i am having a gay old time right now.
and so i have no time to blog.

also, my computer got a virus last week and spent 3 days in the shop getting nursed back to health.
and i can't update this blog via iphone, so it left me no options.

that's my story and i'm sticking to it.

so, like everyone else in vancouver, i have oodles of pictures and stories about olympic fun.
i have not stopped drinking since the opening ceremonies and don't plan on stopping until the closing ceremonies.
on saturday we drank 140 beers at the cambie.
that is not hyperbole.
that is a real, honest to god number of beers drank.
and i only know because we were ordered rounds of beer 10 at a time, so it was easy to keep count.

i'm getting a little sad that it's almost over.
and i actually had a serious conversation yesterday about going to London in 2 years to see the summer olympics.
i mean... it makes sense.
i have places to stay for free... and i can get cheap flights.
so why not?

so it's on my tentative list of future holidays.
the list grows by the day.

next stop: vegas.
85 days.
it draws near.
and our numbers grow.
the official count is still at 4... but we have 2 other very strong possibilities.
and several other fringe participants.

october may contain a trip to florida.
that harry potter theme park is killing me.
i must go.
they sent me an email with promises of special passes and other frills.
i think they may have sold me.
okay, i was already sold... but i think they sold my hubby.
and i helped with a promise of a night or two in montreal on the way home.
i know the way to his heart.

the final countdown

vancityrockgirl — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:40:00 GMT

well, after 7 years, give or take... the olympics are finally in vancity.
i'll admit,i've gone through a whole range of emotions about it.
mostly on the negative side of the scale.
because i'm not a pessimist, i'm a realist.
and reality is depressing most of the time.

here's what it all comes down to for me...
i have and do enjoy watching the olympics on tv.
i always have, ever since i was a little kid.
my dad's an athlete, and so the olympics, particularly the summer ones, were always a big deal in my home.
the winter olympics were definitely a lesser deal... really just the hockey was the big draw.
and the occasional crazy daredevil event like bobsled or luge or whatever...

but the summer olympics would stop the world when i was growing up.
my dad is still a marathon runner, but he's a former canadian national team swimmer.
we watched almost every single event during the summer olympics.
my dad would set alarms for ungodly hours to see races.
and later, when he moved to a different city, we'd call each other and discus the races long distance.
when he was in beijing in the fall, his first stop was to visit the olympic site and see if he could swim in the water cube.

so when i heard we were getting the olympics, my first feeling was disbelief that we weren't getting SUMMER olympics.
i mean, it's not like vancouver is known for its winters...
but summer olympics would have ruled... world records would have been broken like crazy on account of the manageable heat and altitude...
we would have gotten some new pools and facilities built...
i would have totally gone to every single aquatic event.
i would have been stoked without hesitation.

and at first, i was stoked on getting the olympics... i mean, it is a massive and really neat event.

but then the reality started to shake down.
unfortunately this province has terrible leadership.
over the last 8 years money has been stripped away from social programs and necessary services... and our province is now running on bare bones. if even.
our homeless rate has soared...
our working class poor make up a massive percentage of the young population.
our prices from housing to groceries are some of the highest in north america...
our minimum wage is the lowest in the country.
and now we're in a recession.

this province, quite simply, is fucked.
and the olympics couldn't have come at a worse time.

am i fundamentally opposed to the olympics?
no, i'm definitely not.
am i opposed to our government spending what little money we have and raising our taxes to pay for olympics before healthcare, social programs, homelessness etc... you bet i am.
see, while "the world comes to play" for 2 weeks... and we put on a fancy show and sweep all the problems under the rug... the real problems continue to exist and fester away.
will anything get better because of the olympics?
no, it'll just get worse.

you know how every business and landlord has raised their prices through the roof to cash in on olympic tourists?
well, do you really think those prices are going to drop miraculously after the olympics?
after the olympics, things will be worse than ever.
we'll be left with the debt, the cleanup, the artificially enhanced prices... and the massive surge of tourism dollars will be over and gone.
will some people return to vancouver and visit again? sure, maybe. but there's no guarantee that this event will have a lasting effect on tourism. which is already quite healthy in vancouver... so it's not like we're looking at a new booming industry... we're looking at possibly enhancing something that we already have in place and count on to keep the province afloat.

so, what are the positives of the olympics?
well... for many people they're the intangible experience of being in an olympic city.
which i understand and i get how it's easy to be caught up in the fun that the olympics have to offer... but i do believe that for the damage that will be done in the aftermath, spending all this money is shortsighted and not worth it.

yesterday i had my first real taste of this "olympic spirit"
the torch went by my house in the morning and then a few hours later outside my workplace.
i won't talk about the morning, because quite simply, i will lose my brains if i have to think about it again.
let's just say it involved an hour of waiting in the pouring rain for delayed buses despite Translinks assurances that there were "no delays" in the tri-cities.
oh, and then i was pushed out of the way by someone that worked for the olympics and "had to follow the torch", so she pushed me out of the way, squeezed on to the bus and it drove away, leaving me behind.
the rage, it ensued.

anyways... that bitch aside...
the torch went past my work around 10:45am.
we open at 10am, so the plaza was insane by the time we opened...
we decided to wait until 11am to open and go outside and see the action.

there's an elementary school across the street and all the kids had come outside and lined the street in their olympic gear.
it was pouring rain, but they all had their little flags and were cheering their heads off.

it reminded me of when i was a kid and rick hansen rolled past my school...
i must have been grade 1 or 2, i don't remember it well.
but i remember that we all came out to austin street in coquitlam and cheered when rick came past us.

and to be honest, that's probably the last time i've done something like i did yesterday.

i wasn't sure what to expect... but i expected a little... more, i guess.
i thought there's be something more like a mini-parade.
but in reality, there was 3 corporate vehicles - 2 coke and 1 RBC
and 4 police motorcycles...
and about 6 people running alongside the torch... and torch guy.

and then it was over.
and that dude was running like he had something to prove.
i figured he'd be like jogging along... taking his time so that the kids could wave and people could take pictures, but this guy (whoever he is) just blazed past and was gone.
taking his giant doobie torch with him.

and then it was over.
we stood for 30 minutes in the pouring rain for 10 seconds of action.
totally lame... but the kids seemed stoked, so that's cool.

so i don't know... i'm going to try to enjoy the olympics.
they're here anyways... i'm paying for them, most certainly...
so i may as well try to get some of my moneys worth.

on monday i'm going to some daily closing ceremony/medal thing at bc place...
and next saturday we're going to try to brave downtown to see some concerts.
i must say, there are some wicked awesome concerts happening for free as part of it.
i didn't actually expect to like so many of the bands playing.

so, i'll be live tweeting and trying to blog my adventures in olympic vancouver for you...
and yes, i'll try to keep my happy face on for it. okay?

spring has sprung

vancityrockgirl — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:13:00 GMT

monday monday...
it doesn't really feel like a monday when i had to go to work yesterday.

although, truth be told, yesterday's "work" wasn't really like proper work.
it was a product training day for europe tours.
it was actually super interesting and made me really want to take a europe tour.
plus we got breakfast, lunch and free beer.
and i was thisclose to winning a trip to australia.
like 6 numbers off.

i've never really considered a tour as a way that i might want to see europe... and i know for sure that the giant tour of 50 people isn't the way i'd want to go...
but they're not all like that.
one company in fact, does tours of max 16 people in unmarked vehicles, so you're not really even "touristy"

and really, i haven't seen a lot of europe, and seeing 10 countries in 14 days and actually getting time to see the sights in each would be almost impossible to plan out on your own...
so i think there's a lot of value in doing tours.

anyways, i'm (once again) pondering travel options...
'cause now all i can think of is doing a whirlwind tour of europe... or maybe a food and wine tour of italy...
or maybe the harry potter tour in the uk... or ireland and seeing giants causeway...
and greece... i wanna go to greece...
and actually, i now really want to go to croatia. which is kinda random... but wow. the beaches are stunning and they have 24 hour parties.

the world is so big... and there's so much i haven't seen, i'm finding it really hard to know where to start.
i still have to work for another 5 months before i can actually take vacation days... and that'll put me smack in the middle of high season for europe, so i think i'll wait for a little bit on that... maybe spring of 2011 will be when we make it out to europe.

and speaking of spring, i would like to thank global warming for giving us the most amazing saturday afternoon...
it was actually warm and sunny.
we sat on the patio and had afternoon beers in t-shirts.
i had the patio door wide open until the sun went down.
it was the first official patio day of 2010

it was just wonderful...

i think last weekend was the first in ages where i didn't get drunk.
on friday night we went to bed at 9:30pm... we were both bagged and the husband had to work saturday & sunday...
saturday i was super productive, renegotiated our mortgage, got my eyes tested, cleaned the entire house, got groceries and ordered myself glasses online.

so then i deserved patio beers/vodkas.
but i stopped after about 4 or 5 and went to bed early because i had to be up at 5:30 on sunday morning.

of course yesterday involved a beer at work, then wine and vodka at the baby shower...
but no intoxication.
i was a totally good girl for once.

don't expect it to happen again for a loooooong time.

okay, time to get in the shower and get ready for work...
also have to get the pork chops and mushroom sauce into the slow cooker for dinner tonight.

vegas countdown = 101 days.
*squee*

TGIF

vancityrockgirl — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:06:00 GMT

did you ever see the SNL sketch with the pilots?
where Will Farrell, Chris Parnell and Tobey Maguire are pilots flying a plane...
and they're teaching tobey how to control the plane.
...and they're all named gil.
and they have "quiet time with gil" by patrolling the plane with a baseball bat...
anyways, it's hilarious.

BUT at the very beginning of the sketch it shows a bunch of video of planes from the outside and has a funny little song...
doo-doo-do.. this scene is on an airplane... it takes place on an AIRPLANE! doo doo.
it always makes me laugh because it's such a perfect way to set up the sketch, but at the same time it makes you realize how easily tv shows (and movies) can make you believe in the setting you're about to see.
one or two second of video can do the work of pages of set up in a book.

anyways, i can't remember why i brought that up.

speaking of SNL, i have had natalie's rap stuck in my head for days now.
i totally listened to it on my iphone on the way to work yesterday.
if i had some sort of tv show or radio show, the part where andy samberg is doing backup vocals of "natalie, you are a bad ass bitch..."
that would totally be my theme music.
just sayin.

if you've never heard it or seen the video, you should probably do that.
like, now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpMPFGBtE7Q

i want it to play when i walk into rooms, lol.
especially this part:

what you want natalie?
to drink and fight!
what you need natalie?
to fuck all night!

it's so effing rad.
i love natalie portman.

anyways... wow... i have no idea where this post was supposed to go, but it kinda went on a tangent.
but that's cool... gotta head to work soon anyways.

i made my first booking yesterday. and hit my daily quota, so that's good news.
and i think i've got a few more coming down the pipeline...
mostly i'm looking forward to a beer tonight.
it's been a long week, but a good week.
and now it's time for the weekend... please.
peace mutha fuckas.
(sorry, i told you i've been listening to that song too much)

oh wait! i remembered what else i was going to say...
i was going to make mucho apologies to the bloggers that i have been neglecting.
and i'm going to place blame on porn.
that's right.

usually when i hop on the computer i do the normal rounds...
facebook, twitter, email, blogs...
but lately, i haven't even been checking my email.
because i am very distracted by some totally amazing twilight fan fiction.

i know, loser.
but seriously... it's good.
now, the first story is pretty heavy on the porn... okay, they all are... and that's why they rule...
but after a few chapters of the first "book", she starts developing quite an interesting storyline.
so i recommend it...

it can be found here
and the first story is called "Let Your Light Shine"
and then read "A Life Extraordinary"
i'm now on the third one... "This Hungry World"

it's a lot of reading, like they are quite literally BOOKS...
but they're really quite captivating.
well, i thought so anyways.

so if you've read twilight and wanted to throw breaking dawn through a window because of the lame ass turn it took... read this.
it picks up at the honeymoon and takes a totally different (porno) tangent.
it's pretty much how i wished the books had been written.

also, i really enjoy reading porn...
so this was right up my alley.
i've shared this with a few people already that are loving it... and others have asked and i keep forgetting to send the link out, so now it's posted for you all.
please, read and enjoy.
the lady that wrote it kinda rules my world right now.

love like winter

vancityrockgirl — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:14:00 GMT

on tuesday i went to my first work social type event.
after my second official day of working...

my new company does drunken socials at least once a month... and it's nothing compared to the massive yearly parties and other special events that happen.
i was quite clearly informed by several people that unless i drank excessively and made an ass of myself, i wasn't going to fit in.
open bar isn't a treat, it's damn near mandatory.
smokers are in fine company.

there are no words to describe how hard this warmed the cockles of my heart.
maybe even below the cockles.
maybe in the sub-cockle region.
i don't know.

but i think i've finally found my place in the working world.

my previous place of long term employment gave me an overwhelming sense of not fitting in.
it was a place that frowned openly on smoking... it forbid me to show even a speck of my tattoos... it had people that gave me the stink-eye when i reached for a second glass of wine.
my stories fell flat and eventually were outright ignored.
pretty much no one knew me or cared to. and most people didn't like me.
the stamp "does not fit in" clearly visible on my forehead.

my new place of employment handed me drink tickets when i walked in and made me do shots and tell jokes infront of everyone.

they tell stories of drinking until 5am on work trips and getting up at 8am for a conference and starting it all over again.
they have fun. they laugh and tell crude jokes and stories.
they love their jobs. each and every one of them.

*i* love my job.

i know it's not going to all be drunken fun and gallivanting around the planet...
it's hard work and a lot of stress and knowledge to acquire...
but i'm okay with that.
as long as i know that there's payoff for working my ass off, i will happily do it.
if i get to play my hardest, i'll work my hardest too.

and beyond the mandatory party mentality... i'm just so happy to be surrounded by my people.
people just like me.
people that i can tell inappropriate stories to and hear even better ones back.
people that i don't have to censor for.

the feeling of not having to measure and moderate my words is beyond anything i could say.
after the last few years of hitting rock bottom personally and truly questioning whether there was a place for me where i could ever feel this way... i found it.
i quite literally have found my dream job.
my dream life.

i can't recall ever feeling like everything was going so right for me...
being so sure, without any hesitation that i was in the right place.

it's everything i ever needed.
it's a challenging job that makes me use my brain, my knowledge, my art of bullshitting...
it's the perfect balance of structure and freedom.
i get to converse with people, i laugh and tell stories...
the weeks i've spent laying on beaches have become more than faded tans, they're work experience.
future weeks spent on beaches will be the same.

instead of waking up dreading heading into work... i wake up dreaming about moving up in the company.
i want to work there forever.
be a lifer.
there's a whole lot of them.

so yes, i'm in love with my new job and my company.
there is a reason they are consistently voted in the top companies to work for in canada.
it's because they kick ass.

and if you're interested... there's a referral plan, and i'd be happy to put your name forward so you can adore your job too.

new week and fresh starts

vancityrockgirl — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:14:00 GMT

i'm going to try to type super fast and get this all out before i have to leave for work.
so ignore typos and poor spelling.
thanks.

this weekend was a magnificent blur of alcohol, smoking, punk rock music and friendship.
like so many other weekends.
what made this one different?
well... like last weekend, it featured out of town friends that aren't often in my house drinking.

and it also featured the first ever "show" for my friend's new punk rock band; you big idiot.
it was a friends & family show, so invite only, limited amount of people, blah blah.
basically, it was a house party with a show.

it's been a long time since i was at a proper house party in the suburbs.
and a while since i hung out with this crew.
fun times. lots of hugs and beers.

the show was wicked. and i am not just saying that out of friendship.
my jaw dropped. this band is good.
like really good, melt your face off punk rock.
i felt like a proud mother watching them play.

i can't wait until march... i'm doing a show at the cellar in vancouver on a friday night for them...
details/tickets coming soon.
you should be there.
this new band gives me good tingling feelings. big things could happen.

also awesome about this weekend was a 5 hour turbo mission to america with the bff.
it was great just to spend some time alone.
whenever we hang, there's always at least one or two other people around... which is good, because we're both those people that are like "hey, invite everyone over, let's all play together!"...
but the downside of doing that is that we never have a ton of quality one on one time.
so on saturday we had a great time... shopping (both found some wicked scores!) lunch at my fav, the olive garden (or as g would say; obesity garden) and then home for some hockey.

here's the kicker though... these awesome weekends are starting to really get to me.
while i always have wicked fun and try to have no regrets...
it's really not playing well with my healthy living resolution.
every week, i do so well monday-friday afternoon... and then friday night comes, and the alcohol flows... and i totally derail all my progress for 48 hours straight.
and yes, you absolutely can undo 5 days of work in 48 hours. trust me, i've been on this train for 8 weeks now.

so, once again... here is my lofty promise.
it's a new month and i'm coming at it with new determination.
today is my first day at the office, and starting tomorrow morning, i get up early for the gym.
and february is the month that i make a comeback.

so please... if we're twitter pals... harass me.
if we're friends in real life, send me texts.
make me answer to someone, because apparently answering to myself and this blog isn't working yet, lol.
i mean... it worked... and then i fell off.
and i need a kick in the ass to get restarted.

and i know there's a line up of people that wanna kick my ass, lol.
so here's your chance.

a love letter to vancouver

vancityrockgirl — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:13:00 GMT

worst blogger ever.
but there's a bright side... i hope.
my training is almost done.
tomorrow is the final exam... a pass is 80% or more.
i'm not worried.
my goal is 100% and as long as i get 95% or more, i'll be happy.

the commute has been more enjoyable than i anticipated...
i've enjoyed getting up early (5:20am... yikes)
and when my train pulls into waterfront station at 8:07am, i can take my time and enjoy the city on my way to work.
i have about half an hour to make a 10 minute walk... so slowing down to smell the flowers is important.

i've also enjoyed a new hobby of tweeting comments and photos of the morning commute.
these are some of the pics i've done over the last two weeks...
well, my favourites anyways.
all of them are from different days of my morning commute.

to be brutally honest, and totally lame...
i've been a little drunk on the beauty of my city lately.

maybe it's the early morning air...
maybe it's because its been a while since i was out and about in the morning... or out at all, lol...
maybe it's because it's been a while since i spent a lot of time downtown...
maybe it's because i'm just so damn happy these days...
but i have been soaking up this city like it's my last day on earth.

i can not get enough of vancouver and my heart aches a little when i see breathtaking moments of sheer beauty all around me.
yesterday i was on the train, staring out the window watching the sun rise over the water of the inlet... the fog was hanging low over the water... and a bald eagle flew directly beside my train car about 30 feet away for 30 seconds or so before turning and setting out over the water.
it was a huge WOW moment.

sometimes things like that make me feel small... they make me feel sad and mad for all the days i wasted away.
what else has gone on outside my doors that i've failed to see.

...and even bigger, what goes on outside my city that i fail to see.
the planet gets smaller and bigger every day at my job.
every place is within reach... but there's a million and one places to start.
how do you begin?
and how much can you really expect to see?

i've often said that the more i travel, the more i appreciate vancouver.
it is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet and despite the fuckery of the government and all the things that i hate or wish i could change and make better about it... it's my home.
and no matter where i go, and what i see, it will always be the most beautiful city in my eyes.
and i truly will never leave it. i know this now, more than i've ever known it before.
i will never move from this city.

love these screams like I do

vancityrockgirl — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:22:00 GMT

oh ma god.
last night's afi show?
absolute panty creaming goodness.

confession time... i kinda forgot about this show.
...well, i kinda forgot about how excited i was for it.
i know! surprising, huh?
but it's true.

i was ridiculously pumped when i first bought my tickets, but then my excitement waned...
i blame the fact that g isn't in town and wasn't there with me...
so it's just not the same.

but my husband and i went, and i was medium on the excitement scale until they hit the stage.
and then i kinda exploded.
in the pants.
wait... that sounds gross, lol.

but when they came out on stage, all of a sudden i was like ohmydogiforgothowmuchilovethisbandandi'mfinallyseeingthemplayatthecommodore!
and i was the excite.

they played a totally kickass setlist that was perfection...
old tunes, only 4 off the new album... and a lot of sing the sorrow and decemberunderground.
they dug out some pretty old gems too... (ever and a day!!! and love is a many splendored thing? that one is from 1996. gold!)

anyways... they played an incredible set...
sounded flawless...
and then they played love like winter... and i turned to my husband and said "i don't think they're going to play silver & cold because they played this one... and that makes me sad. even though i also LOVE love like winter... silver & cold is my absolute favourite"
and then... they played it.
and i died.

the best, and i mean THE BEST part of the show was the crowd.
every single person there knew every word...
and the crowd sang backup vocals to the entire set.
it was unreal... i've never heard anything like it.
even my husband was singing at the top of his lungs... something he usually only reserves for tragically hip shows.
he was jacked that they played so much off Sing The Sorrow and stuff even older than that...

davey havoc was pretty impressed... and asked the crowd how long it had been since they played vancouver...
the answer: 7 years since they did a solo show and 3 years ago on warped tour (which i saw)
yep, pretty safe to say that vancity was primed for an AFI show.

on the way home last night, we rocked Sing The Sorrow... and normally i don't listen to music from the band i just saw on the way home... but in this case, we were so jacked that we needed to hear more.
this morning i was still jacked... listed to STS again.
in fact, i got to work and had 3 songs left on the album, so i walked around the block 6 times so i could finish it.
i just couldn't bring myself to shut it off.

yes, i know i'm a music addict.
it's not my fault.
this show, seriously slayed me.

one of my favourite shows ever.
easily top 20.
maybe even top 10.

i love love loved it.
thanks for being so freaking rad afi.
love you.

also, yes i do still want to have davey havoc's vegan babies.
*drool*

weakened by the weekend

vancityrockgirl — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:50:00 GMT

i love the weekend.
i love that the weekend has meaning for me again.

it's no longer the days that my husband is off work...
it's now *my* days off work.

i talked to my new boss on friday evening...
he said that for the first month in the shop, my hours will be monday-friday.
good news.

starting in march, we're going to work out a permanent schedule...
which i hope is monday - friday... but it could end up being tuesday - saturday.
which, is not so terrible.

this weekend, i made the most of it.

friday night we ended up with 4 guests...
and as much as i hardcore love everyone that was there... i was most excited to see the captain who was in from toronto.
our dear friend who lives so far away, only comes into town to play a few times a year.
so when we see him, it's a race to make up for lost time.

so we got wasted.
we drank until 5am.
in the morning, the carnage was clear.
empty 26ers littered the kitchen.
the body count was high.

somehow there was a new piece of furniture in my kitchen that came home with the boys when they went on a "mix & smokes run" at midnight.
my camera is filled with shirtless photos.
all men.

people slept on couches, air mattresses and floors.
carnage.
awesome awesome carnage.

my hangover woke me and so i got to work...
sticky buns were the first order of business.

and not only are they totally delicious... they're dead easy.

that was the appetizer... then i made maple & honey bacon, scrambled eggs and hashbrowns.
we lazed on the couch watching best of SNL dvds and sipping boozy coffees...

the i made tortellini for lunch and we watched hockey.
beers came out and were slowly sipped.
hangover level was still high. very high.

by the time dinner came along, we were feeling better, but had decided not to get drunk again.
so i made pork chops, mashed potatoes and green beans.
delicious...

rosemary mustard pork chops

- 2-4 pork chops
- 2 cups liquid (stock, apple juice etc)

marinade:
- sprig of fresh rosemary
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- salt & pepper

blend (magic bullet is perfect) or grind all ingredients for marinade in a mortar & pestle until it resembles a loose paste.
coat pork chops well, cover and leave to marinade in the fridge.

when you're ready to rock, heat a pan with a drizzle of olive oil in it. brown pork chops on both sides (some of the marinade will stick to the pan, that's okay.)
add liquid to the pan, i used 1 cup chicken stock and 1 cup apple juice because that's what i had handy... will work well with all juice or all stock.
cover and braise until cooked through.

remove chops from pan and let rest, covered.
meanwhile reduce down the sauce and add in a tbsp of cornstarch (dissolved in cold water) to thicken.
optional, but delicious - add in a few tablespoons of sour cream.
taste and season as needed

serve sauce/gravy over pork chops and potatoes.
nom nom nom

we ate (again) and watched harry potter and the half blood prince...
and passed out on the couch.

this morning when i woke up, all the guests were gone and my hubby was curled up on the couch watching hockey.

now, i'd like to say we're going to lay around all day today too...
but we're heading downtown to see AFI tonight at the commodore.

my husband doesn't want to go, but i have no one else to rock with, so he has to come.
i hope it's a great show... and i hope it's an early show.
5am is going to come mighty early tomorrow.

catchup

vancityrockgirl — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:01:00 GMT

you know what's totally my favourite thing about the internet?
< sarcasm >
...when you say your opinion and someone jumps down your throat about it.
it's happened to me twice in the last few days.

...and not that i don't a) deserve it and invite it sometimes... and b) totally expect it, because duh, it's the internet...
but god damn it's annoying sometimes.

because to be brutally honest, i like spouting my opinion on my spaces...
my blog, my twitter, my facebook... wherever i have *my* space.
but just because i give my opinion, doesn't really mean that you need to chime in with yours.

or do you?
i've been off the internet for a few days... maybe i forgot how it worked, lol.

in any event, i've been annoyed by having to defend myself and engage conversations that i don't really find to be worthwhile or worth bandwidth.
does that make sense?

meh. i'm probably just a massive hypocrite, aren't i?
but hey, aren't we all?

sooooo anyways...
let's see what's been going on, besides me picking fights and pissing off people inadvertently.

i went out on sunday night and had a great time with the twi-girls.
we had cheap dinner and delightful drinks and then rocked out at 100 monkeys.
it wasn't the best show i've seen of theirs... but it was alright.

a lot of my company, myself included was dead tired and not really feeling the show or the sunday night outing... so the vibe was pretty chill.
also, the band wasn't as tight as i've seen them in the past.
still pretty good... but you can tell the rock and roll lifestyle is taking its toll.
those dudes need to get their shit in order soon.

they're lacking proper management and promotion... and they're missing out on a lot of opportunities.
the whole twilight link thing isn't going to last forever.
they need to do a little promotion, try to get signed and properly represented...
ya, there's more i could say, but there's really no point.
it is what it is.
but this show had less than half as many people as their last show in vancouver about 5 months ago... so obviously they could have benefited from some promotion.

the band itself is pretty good. they're talented boys with some solid songs... but it's pretty evident they're also doing some solid partying on this tour.
and you know, it's definitely part of the rock star lifestyle... but maybe you should *actually* become stars before you do that.
...just sayin'

anyways, i know i said that i wouldn't let my blogging fall off the planet... and then i did...
ya, sorry about that.
this training for work is doing my head in.
i can not believe i'm only 3 days in.
my brain is quite literally swimming with codes and a million other things that i don't fully understand and most definitely can't explain.

the good news is that i'm one of the fastest in my class in terms of grasping and perfecting the knowledge...
so i'm pretty stoked on that.
but it's not easy.
i'm using brain cells i forgot i had.
i just have to survive 7 more days and then they let me loose.

TGIF

vancityrockgirl — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:26:00 GMT

ooo, i just realized that now i can start getting excited about weekends again...
because they mean something when you work monday - friday.

so, the new job is going well...
i haven't done too much in terms of real "work" yet
i'm still learning things
yesterday i worked at an e-learning course for 3.5 hours about selling travel insurance.
it was really eye opening.
i love travel (as you know) but there's a lot that i have to learn.
including memorizing airport codes.
i only really know the ones i fly in/out of...
YVR, YYZ, LAS, LAX, MBJ etc...
there's about a bazillion more to learn.

i'm kinda scared...
my hard core training starts monday and goes for 2 weeks at the head office.
i've been told that i will be literally assaulted with knowledge and it's sink or swim.
after the first week i will seriously question if this is the right job for me.
and basically i'll either quit or push through.

i'm not going to quit.
many reasons come into play, including my pride and financial situation...
but also the fact that i spent 3 years trying to get this job.
quitting before i even really started would be the ultimate fuck up.

i've been told that i can also look forward to "flight-mares"
...when you wake up in the middle of the night in a panic thinking that you messed up on someone's vacation and they're not going to be able to get on their flight.
it can happen easily... if you even mess up a letter in their name, they won't be allowed to use their plane ticket.
typos are not allowed.
attention to detail is paramount.

despite all the scary things i've been hearing, i'm still excited.
because for every gut-wrenching story i hear, i hear another one about free vacations.
and i like free vacations.

anyways, the people in my shop are nice and i think this is going to be a good job for me.
it's not an easy job... but it'll be rewarding for me.

today i had my first bummer of regular employment though...
already, i know!
a bunch of girls are heading down to twi-con in seattle today and i really wish i could come.
they're staying 2 nights in seattle and then heading home sunday for the 100 monkeys show in vancouver.
so, i'll see them then and get to hear all about it...
but i definitely wish i could go.

not necessarily because i really think i could spend all weekend at a twi-con...
but because it sounds like a super fun girlie trip...
and re: i love vacations.
no matter how small and silly they may be.

in any event, i hope they all have a super time and take oodles of pictures and i can't wait to hear hilarious stories on sunday.
...and i really hope they can find me a sweet r-pattz iphone skin.
because my phone, she needs a new case.

and in any event... i get to see mr jackson rathbone and 100 monkeys on sunday, so that'll be a super fun time.
not to mention pre-show dinner/drinks with about 12-15 of the local twi-girls.
and i get to drool at this for an hour or two...

delightful.
i'll be sure to take new photos on sunday.

have a great weekend friends!

day one

vancityrockgirl — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:05:00 GMT

well, today's the day... i work in just over 2 hours.
sooo... this will be reasonably brief.

i am thankful for the fact that i have to leave my house 50 minutes before i start in order to make it on time.
and i only have to walk 1.5 blocks in the rain on either side of my bus journey.
it's a pretty painless commute.

i have decided however, that i'm going to learn to drive this year.
see, if i could drive my pretty blue car that's sitting in my underground right now, it would only take me 25 minutes to get there.
and there's free parking.
so it's actually cheaper than taking the bus.
and my car is pretty and comfy and dry.
and that means i could wear heels to work instead of bringing them in my purse to change into upon arrival.

so let's throw that goal on my 2010 pile, shall we?
i have to re-get my learner's and have it for a few months before i can do my road test...
and i'm going to get my learner's by the end of the month.
i've written that stupid learner's test 4 times before, so it won't be hard.

the challenge will be the driving part.
i haven't been behind the wheel of a car in 14 years.
and i have fear/anxiety around driving...
but this year is going to be about concurring my remaining fears... so driving is a good place to start me thinks.

i really want to work on setting obtainable goals for myself.
as much as i'm fond of my pie-in-the-sky lofty goals, i'm happier when i actually achieve things.

but, speaking of pie-in-the-sky goals... or maybe this one is an achievable goal...
for 2011.
my husband and i very much want to go to charlie palmer's pigs & pinot festival in california.

this year's festival snuck up on us.
it's in march, and i got the email for ticket and weekend packages yesterday... and then the follow up email less than 3 hours later stating that the packages were sold out.
next year, we'll be ready.

to be honest, the timing for the 2010 one isn't great anyways.
i'll have a brand new job, and taking time off might not be smiled upon...
so waiting until 2011 was going to be a reality anyways.

but next year, we're definitely going to hit up pigs & pinot.
so if you're interested, let's make a show of it.
there's more info on it here
but basically it's a weekend that celebrates charlie palmer's two favourite things... pigs and pinot.
so it's all about the delicious piggy and the wonderful wine of california.
it's seminars, tastings and a gala dinner.

as liz lemon would say... i want to go to there.

okay team, gotta go shower and try to find some business attire... yeesh... maybe should have started earlier, i have zero idea what to wear today...
lastly, i'm going to promise you that i'm going to try not to let my blogging suffer under my employment...
but things will change.
sure i'll be at a computer all day, but i won't be on the internets... for the first time in over 10 years, i won't be surfing the 'net all day.
so that's going to put a damper on my internet showing.
thank god for my iphone... so i'll still be on twitter all the time.
...so hit me up there.
http://twitter.com/vancityrockgirl

getaway

vancityrockgirl — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:32:00 GMT

i'm not even really sure where to start today's blog...
i guess first i'll say thank you to the million people that shared their well wishes and promises of giving me their business in regards to my new found employment.
i'm a lucky bitch to have to many supportive friends.
and i appreciate all of you.

this weekend the reality of going back to work started to sink in...
i've been working from home or not working for almost 2 years...
actually, by the time i start work on wednesday, it will have been 603 days.

that's a long ass time.
so this will be a definite transition for me.

it's been wonderful... i have so loved playing the housewife.
so much so, that at times, i actually considered that getting knocked up wouldn't be that bad, so that i might never have to go back to work again.
i know, dream big, right? lol.

but in all seriousness, my time at home has changed me.
i daresay it's enriched my life more than any office job could have.
it's made me put the microscope to my own life and make changes that weren't always taking the easy road.
it's pushed me mentally to deal with my own failings, depression and dark sides...
and it's made me strive to do better for myself, not because i was scared to lose a job or wanted to impress a boss.

i have never had a clearer picture of who i am and what i can accomplish.

so this new step, going back to full time work, but starting fresh in a new industry...
it couldn't come at a better time.

these last two years, i have been searching for change.
internally and externally.
i've changed everything from my physical appearance to my home, to my friends, to my attitude and my perceptions.
i've spent two years in the cocoon.
sheltered from the outside world, changing everything by myself and for myself...
and now i'm ready to breakout.

wednesday marks a new me.
it signals the end of rebuilding period and the start of a new adventure.
taking everything i've learned about myself and my life and putting it into action.
starting fresh and quite literally having the world at my feet.

i now have 3 vacations on the books for 2010.
and there's potential to have more.

i could go anywhere.
dreams are coming fast and furious...
there's a million cities on this planet that i'd like to visit.

but first, 2010.
we are 129 days away from vegas...
and our official count of friends in attendance has swelled to 4 with the weekend bookings of moonbeam and the captain.
more friends are fence sitting/procrastinating.
but i'll get them there eventually.
my persuasive powers are mighty.

i'm starting to plan the days... loosely, of course.
but there will be a cabana day... and it will be glorious.
the mandalay bay pool area is 11 acres.
it has 2,700 tons of real sand on the ground, a wave pool, a lazy river and 3 swimming pools.

i want to go to there.

also upcoming for 2010... surprise surprise, another vegas trip!
this one is scheduled loosely for october and it's to celebrate the 30th bday of a pal, and the birthday of another friend.
okay, it's totally a twilight girls vegas trip, lol.

when i first heard about it, my instinct was "hells yes"
but then i wasn't sure because of the money, blah blah...
but over the weekend i mentioned it to my husband...
who by the way, is like the best husband ever, and he said "you should go to vegas with your girlfriends. you'll deserve a vacation after being back at work"
this from the man that works physically hard outside 5 days a week in the pouring rain and cold... he thinks i'll need a vacation.
i told you he was the best ever.

so it looks like i'm cleared for vegas in october, providing i still have my job and all is going well.
so great news there.
christy, we're sharing a room.

and lastly... xmas 2010.
it looks like it might be mexico...
at first we were looking at cabo... but now we've found a place in the riviera maya, which i am way more down with.

if you want to drool, check it out here
but basically it looks like paradise.
and it sleeps 10 people... so if you're interested in coming along for a week over xmas, let me know asap.

employment

vancityrockgirl — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:54:00 GMT

things i did today:
i totally got a job.

okay, now i'll back things up a bit.

i had interviewed for a position with a travel agency almost a year ago... they liked me and it all went well, but there were no positions open in stores close to me.
i wanted the job, but to be honest, the pay is kinda crap (i want the job 'cause i want to work in the travel industry, not for the money) so it wasn't going to be worth commuting for over an hour to do...
so i was holding out for a job close to my house.
...for almost a year.

well, they emailed me yesterday and told me that there's a job opening pretty close to my house.
not the super close to my house, 5 minute walk away location i was hoping for...
but a 25 minute express bus ride away location.
so, totally doable.

i went today and met the staff and did another interview/workbook thing for 3 hours...
they called my references (quote from the girl in charge of hiring "wow, your references are really fond of you!" - thanks guys!)
and the staff liked me, so i was offered the position and i accepted.

this means a few things...
first off, my business is still going to happen... but it's on the back burner for a bit.
i'm still taking clients as long as the job is manageable with my new schedule... but i'm not going to actively solicit clients for a bit until i get settled in.
i'm working with a friend's band putting together a show for them... and i still want to do a pre-party for eclipse... so small projects are definitely still a go.

this also means that i'm withdrawing from the government program that's been funding me for the last 9 months.
and they won't be happy about it...
but, there's not much i can do about that.
my business, while awesome, isn't earning me enough money to exist without other funding...
so, this was pretty much inevitable.
sooner or later, it was in the cards for me to return to full time employment.
(well, unless the plan b lotto win happens)

the scary thing for me right now is the lack of safety net.
i have no eligible EI hours banked and no access to any other government money, so if this job doesn't work out, and i haven't been there for a year or so to build back up my EI bank, i am right fucked.

but i'm thinking positive.
i can do this job.
and because it's a tiny base salary and a heavy commission structure, it is what i make of it.
if i'm really good at it, which i think i will be, then the sky's the limit on my salary.
and i like that idea.

i also love that i'm finally cracking into the travel business.
i'm excited about it.
there's only a handful of things that make me excited when it comes to work... and this is definitely one of them.

so please, book your travel through me.
because otherwise i'll get fired, lol.
no, but seriously, if i don't make my goals i'm getting fired, so really use me please.