On Being A Grown Up

This week has been the most grown up week of my whole life and I have to say, it is SO terrifying and exciting and strange!!!
Last weekend I went to look at a condo that I knew I couldn't afford, and as with MOST things that I can't afford, I fell in love! There was much talk with my parents at this, and lots of "well, maybe" and lots of phone calls.
Of the phone calls, there was one on Monday from ATCO offering me a job, which I gleefully accepted :) So I tried, unsuccessfully, to quit The Deplorable Job on Tuesday, which they refused to accept because APPARENTLY when people yell at you and tell you you're doing things wrong and make you cry, it actually means that they think you're the BEST EMPLOYEE EVER! Well, who knew? And who, actually, cares? So Wednesday I quit again, for real this time. Because this place radiates Evil... Anyway....
Wednesday I also put in an offer on the condo, which was accepted, based on approval of financing and my lawyer approving the paper work.... WELL!!! The bank figures (due to the kind generosity of my family members, and my meager savings) that this financing "won't be a problem." Well, my GOD!
This little condo is so adorable, SO painfully small, and costs more money than my parents paid for their 3 bedroom house, thanks to the market boom in Calgary ;) Oh dear.
So now, it's all down to the waiting, which is awfully hard.
WAITING for the call from the bank saying "you got it!"
WAITING for the paperwork for the lawyer.
WAITING for Friday, which is my last day toiling in the glow of EVIL!
When I have answers, I will update :) And also, post pics from the folk fest this weekend (Thanks to my prime weekend backstage pass!!!!!!!! LOVE my aunt and uncle!!!)
xoxo
~g~

Space Cadet! AKA: TGIF

I've been battling a horrible case of Space Cadet-edness all week, I'm very sorry to say.
I know what I should be doing (like working, for example) but instead I choose to sit and stare at my computer, and maybe blink on occasion, while my brain makes the sound of a skipping record, an engine that won't turn over, or a broken hard drive (it alternates... no, really.)
I don't really know why I have this affliction! So many reasons, I suppose, and all I want to do is go play outside.
The Sister-In-Law-To-Be has a similar post on her blog. Is it the weather? Whatever it is, we need some excitement!
Any advice?
~g~

Post Stress Sleepiness

Ahh, my presentation is over after many late nights and a lot of nerves and now I'm just plain sleepy. Relieved, yes. Proud, yes! But mostly sleepy.
The presentation was a success, and as I blog some random big-wig is reading our 80 page glossy, full colour, bound book of silliness. This makes me slightly nervous, but the sleepiness has mostly taken over and I'm happy to sit at my desk and do barely anything while smiling vaguely. I'm calm in my awareness that my two team members are doing the same thing, and as long as none of us drool and short out our keyboards then I think we'll get away with it.
I'm hoping that Mr. Random Big Wig is moved to tears by the effort of the three young prodigies of the 24th floor, and was not around last Friday to witness our debauchery at the staff Stampede party. I imagine him rushing from his office to tearfully embrace us, and presenting us with a "small token of gratitude" in the form of a $1,000 bonus. ... hey, this is my fantasy.... don't wreck it for me :P
xoxo,
~g~

Institutionalize Me, PLEASE

Alright, I've clearly been working too hard...

I've had a few late nights of taking work home with me, and tonight 2 of the girls and I are staying at work late to finish a project, and I won't be surprised if we're here till 9 at least. Ugh! But that's okay, because I just come home and dream about work anyway, waking up every 15 minutes with panic attacks... so probably best to just fight the demons here after all.

At any rate, I think it's finally caught up with me.
12:10 PM and I'm in the line up at Tim Hortons... Suddenly conscious of two things:
1) I'm not really sure how I got here.... I remember needing coffee, but do not remember actually WALKING to Tim's.
2) I was just swaying along to Pat Benetar in the Tim's line-up. I wasn't even aware that you COULD sway to Pat Benetar, but apparently you can.
"Hmm," I think to myself. "Probably shouldn't work through lunch today."

So I came back to my desk and decided to drink my coffee and read a few blogs while listening to CBC. I became so engrossed in the music and blogs that I actually forgot where I was, and snapped out of the trance all freaked out "wha... where am I?"
... yikes....
So now, all sleep-deprived, head-spinning, I'm not exactly sure that I'm really awake at all, or if this is just another bad-work-dream. I think I can see the piles of paper growing (they're taking over my desk... maybe I'm shrinking like Alice in Wonderland.)
I HAVE to sleep tonight. I have the big project presentation tomorrow AND a meeting at the bank about getting a mortgage on Friday.... and I can't be crazy at EITHER of those. Nor can I cry, or throw things, or nap or ANYTHING like that.
SO I will pay someone good money to hit me over the head with a rubber mallet so that I may sleep.... anyone? Please?
Wishing you dreams about Pat Benetar, Tim's coffee, Alice in Wonderland and Rubber Mallets.
Xoxo,
~g~

Fun With Power Tools!

Yesterday was a busy day! I spent the day helping Nathan and Sheila build their fence. I was told there would be single men there... sadly, they didn't show up! But it was still good. When we started there were only fence posts. I honestly didn't think we'd finish!
It was a hot day and I got a sunburn, but oh well. I got to use a power drill for most of the day, and got to be quite efficient with it! yay me! I also managed to stay behind the camera all day! muahaha! This is when the fence finally started coming together! Doesn't it look nice??
TADA! It's so beautiful! Here's the happy couple in front of their handy work! Great job everyone!
Love,
~g~

Can't a Cowgirl get a break?

Yes it's Stampede time again, Folks! Time to don your hats and jeans and boots and go drinking and partying! haha!

But really, this city sure changes during the Stampede... I only hope that the pile of work I got last week was an indication that the companies I deal with will be too busy this week attending parties to bother with me. Keep your fingers crossed. This is typical Stampede protocol, so I hope they follow suit!

I remembered the three big things I don't like about the Stampede yesterday:
1) The country music.... ick!
2) The traffic!
3) The alcohol-induced idiocy!
I was driving home past the Stampede grounds early Saturday morning after seeing "Pirates of the Caribbean" and this ass-hat was standing in the middle of the road with his bicycle. I braked, I honked (for the first time ever) and he had the gall to wave his hand, as if to say "just go around." What the hell??? Who stands in the middle of the road with their bicycle at 1am??? Well, drunk Stampede idiots, that's who!

Oh well, Friday is our Stampede party for work (yay) so we get to spend the day at a club, which will be fun! Then down to the grounds to see Our Lady Peace.
I guess the Stampede isn't SO bad!

xoxo (you've been branded!)
~g~

The Significance of Song

Wow, two posts in one day!
I should be asleep right now, but it just isn't happening. I've been messing around doing prep work for the DVD slideshows I'm making for Nathan and Sheila's wedding. Sheila's sister and I are in charge of the entertainment on the charter bus to The Retreat, so the slideshows are meant to be part of that entertainment.
The significance of the music is important, I believe, and I've been racking my brain to find songs. For Nathan's slideshow I think I'll be using "On Horseback" (AKA: track3) on Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn. This was an important song growing up... sometimes I loved it, sometimes it made me uncomfortable(not sure why?), but it was one of Nathan's favourites... apparently he would listen to it for hours while playing on our bouncy horse. I'm sure the LP is worn out by now, complete with the hiccups and pops of all well-loved vinyl. Listening to the song now brings back SO many memories, much like James Taylor's "Sun on the Moon", which was a favourite of mine growing up. I loved the part that goes "In line, in line, it's all in a line, my ducks are all in a row, they do not change, they do not move, they have no where to go." I was enamored with the thought of a group of well-behaved ducks standing in a perfectly straight row, and I was always pleased when dad put on the LP during our family game night battles of "National Geographic Pursuit". OH THE HORROR! Being the youngest and the worst at geography, it was a blessing to retreat into the barnyard in my mind and converse with well-mannered ducks. It's funny how these memories just rush back at you, isn't it?
I'll leave you with the lyrics to "On Horseback" so that we all might have interesting, bouncy-horse dreams tonight.
Much love,
~g~

I like beer, and I like cheese
I like the smell of a westerly breeze
But what I like more than all of these
Is to be on horseback.
[ Chorus ]
Hey and away we go
Through the grass, across the snow
Big brown beastie, big brown face
I'd rather be with you than flying through space.
I like thunder, and I like rain
And open fires, and roaring flames.
But if the thunder's in my brain,
I'd like to be on horseback.
Some like the city, some the noise
Some make chaos, and others, toys.
But if I was to have the choice,
I'd rather be on horseback.
[ Repeat Chorus ]
Some find it strange to be here,
On this small planet, and who knows where.
But when it's strange and full of fear,
It's nice to be on horseback.
Some are short, and others tall,
Some hit their heads against the wall.
But it doesn't really matter at all,
When you happen to be on horseback.
[ Repeat Chorus ]
So if you you feel a little glum,
To Hergest Ridge you should come.
In summer, winter, rain or sun,
It's good to be on horseback.
Hmph!
[ Repeat Chorus ]
[ Repeat Chorus ]
I'd rather be on horseback.

I Heart Education: My Love of Books and Sesame Street

For a few months now I've been forced to downsize and keep most of my stuff in a storage facility. With the booming market in Calgary, you have to take what you can get, and my limited space means that I'm living a very basic life. It's been hard, but the worst part is that most of my books are in storage. The books in this picture are pretty much the only ones I kept out. This has been the hardest thing for me. I have bins and bins of books, and I miss them so dearly. I'm very much an "emotional reader", and most of the books in my collection have very personal significance. I re-read certain ones when I'm happy, sad, frustrated, juvenile... I'm ashamed to say that being separated from my books has caused me many outbursts of frustrated tears. It seems I can go without most of my possessions, but my books are like old, trusted friends, with much personal history caught between the covers.

On that happy note, let's move on to other ways to wile away the hours. A few posts ago, during the Chicken Pox Episode of 2006, I mentioned that I was watching a lot of Sesame Street videos on YouTube. Today I found a blog that has a list of links to such videos, to help shuffle through other Truly Bizarre Nonsense on YouTube. Like most people born in the 70s, my life was deeply affected by Sesame Street. I don't think a day goes by without me thinking about SOMETHING from Sesame Street. Obsess much? But that was some damn wonderful, fun, educational television. Check it out, tons of fun! PLEASE let me know if anyone can find a copy of the Bert and Ernie Rhyming Game ("Hey there lamp, that's a nice shade!") or the animated short where a little boy who is lost is helped out by a psychedelic guy in a top hat ("I know I'm lost, I'm definitely lost!")
Until then, here are a few of my ALL TIME FAVES:
- Bert and Ernie "Heeeeeeeere fishy fishy FISHY"
- A-B-C-D-E-F-COOKIEMONSTER
- A loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter
- Bert and Ernie in a pyramid (this was what sparked my love of all things Egyptian.. little known fact about me!)

Have fun everyone :)
~g~

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Welcome to Canada Day indeed! Kim and I went down to Prince's Island today, which was fun, but not very exciting, unless you were five years old, which neither of us are. But the weather was lovely, so we indulged in blue snow cones....
mmmmm, tastes bluuuuuue. Very yummy, and with the additional bonus of blue tongues:
Nyyahhhhh! Happy 139th, dear Canada! Fireworks tonight if it doesn't storm! Yippee!
~g~