Well this should be interesting

There is something wrong with my cell phone. I don't really know how to describe it other than that the screen doesn't always work. This is an issue when you've got a touchscreen phone. So i took it in to Rogers today so that they can send it in for repairs, but of course while I was there the phone worked perfectly fine.

Anyway they did give me a donor phone but it's one of those old late 90s models. At least it's a flip phone. But I have no idea how to use it. But the good thing is I won't be stranded on the highway without a phone. But I guess no texting for me for a while.

The problem started occurring after the bar on Friday night. I suspect they're going to tell me it's water damage but really it's more like perspiration damage. So it won't be covered under warranty, but we'll see. Until then I guess I'll just have to figure out how to use the clunker.

Another Random Sighting

Okay it's been a couple of years since the first one. About 4 in fact but still. Tonight I had another random run in with Jonathan Toews. The first one happened when me and my friend went to the mall, then to River City Sports and finally to Tim Horton's where he was with his family. Kinda strange but it was also a little exciting.

Tonight I was at the club with a couple of friends for a friend's birthday. I haven't been to a bar in about 6 months. Not since the last birthday party I attended. And who should arrive at the bar about 10 minutes later but our favorite Conn Smythe trophy winner. I knew right away that it was him but I didn't care, he's a young guy out on the town, big deal. But all night long you heard whispers of "Jonathan Toews". Then the birthday girl found me on her way to the bathroom and got really excited to tell me he was there.

So if it's not a big deal why am I writing about it? More to keep track of it than anything else. I mean if it keeps happening I have to assume he's stalking me, right? For the record I'm just kidding about the stalking part.

What to do? What to do?

It's been a while I know. But there isn't too much to report. I'm trying to figure out a new career path and finding all sorts or road blocks along the way. As I said before not having taken physics in high school is a problem.

I found a really cool sounding program called Cardiovascular Perfusion. But you have to either be an RN or a Respiratory Therapist first OR have a BSc. with a bunch of specific courses including physics.

I also looked into Clinical Genetics but you have to be a certified MLS (Medical Laboratory Scientist) to get into that program. I've actually thought about taking the MLS program. My mom is a MLS and my younger brother is a Medical Radiological Technologist. So I actually know a lot about Medical Diagnostics and how all of that works and what the job prospects are like. I just don't know if I would love it for the rest of my life.

It's kind of a lot to take in I guess. Stupid quarter life crisis.

Have you found the career of your dreams? Do you have any advice for me?

My Adventures in Golf

So we had a family gathering this weekend. Which is fun for about an hour, then the kids start being kids (loud and well loud), you run out of things to say to your aunts and uncles, and you've already asked all your cousins how their jobs, spouses and children are doing. Then you have to
find something else to entertain yourself. In my family's case it involves pulling out a guitar. Which again gets old real quick, especially if you don't know any of the songs.

So when my cousin and brother were going golfing with his girlfriend and they were looking for a 4th, I said I'd do it. I had been golfing very briefly once in school for gym class but that was the extent of my golfing experience. So at first I kind of chickened out and changed my mind but I ended up going anyway.

Because I was sharing my brother's girlfriend's clubs we had to ride together, which was fine. Except she thought it would be funny to make me drive the golf cart, since her parents own a cart so she's driven one several times. As it turns out the best part of golfing is driving that cart around.

I was so bad that I didn't keep score and we played best ball most of the time, between the two of us girls just so it didn't take as long. Yup, golf is NOT the sport for me. But I did manage to outwit the sun this time. 2 hours on course and no sunburn.

Post Vacay let down

You know that feeling you have when you come back from vacation and you just want to go back? Well I'm experiencing that now. I needed a couple days at home to get myself back in order again but now I'm ready for the next vacation. Lucky for me I already sort of have plans. Although they aren't exactly finalized.

I can't believe how much shopping we did. Seriously it was mostly eat, shop, drive, shop, sleep. I'd like to see the sites and do some stuff the next time and not just shop all the time. But we'll see what happens.

It was a nice trip though. But I'm glad to be back. It felt so good to sleep in my own bed.

Have you every experienced post vacay let down? Where are you planning to go next?

Vacay time

Everyone needs a little summer vacation. So my brother and I are taking ours this weekend in Fargo/Minneapolis. We're mostly going to shop but also there will be food and resting. And a whole whack of driving. Follow along here if you'd like.

A minor change

Just a quick note on the new template. I'm not in love with this one but I felt like it was time for a change. So chances are I'll be changing it in not too long. I've found a couple of templates I liked but when I tried to but it into blogger it kicked it out saying that it was ill formatted. Well until I learn XML I'll have to use the ones that do actually work here.

Let me know what you think.

And we're off

I'm not going to attempt to live blog the World Cup Final because it's soccer and half the time I have no idea what's going on. It would really just be a bunch of "hot guy passes to other hot guy", "hot guys hit the post", "hot guy scores". So instead I'm just going to say that it started and I'm excited.

In case you some how missed it I'm cheering for Spain. Not because I have any Spainish ancestral background, but simply because the Spanish boys are hot. Even if Nando isn't starting today. I suppose I'll just have to focus on Sergio Ramos instead. Definitely an acquired taste that one.

Viva Espana!

How does that even happen?

I must be the most accident prone person ever. Well no that's not true, I've only ever broken one bone in my life. But I do manage to run into things, or scrape myself up on things or step on things everyday. So it should come as no surprise that I would somehow manage to get a sewing needles pierced through my toe.

That's right I didn't just step on it and it got stuck in the fleshy part of my toe. Oh no, It went right from the bottom up through my toe and out right near the side of the nail. Somehow this needle was on my bedroom floor and when I went to go to bed last night, bam! right through the toe.

It hurts like hell too, but it doesn't look infected and my brother wrapped it in gauze for me so I'm sure it will be fine. But really how does stuff like this keep happening to me?

On the Show Road

I know it's been a week since the last time I've done a post and I apologize. It's been a really weird week, full of ups and downs. Capped by today's trip to yet another cattle show.

I got up shortly after 5 this morning to get the animals all packed in the trailer and get out on the road for the 2.5 hour trip. We had to make 2 pit stops along the way. The second where I bought my breakfast of beef jerky and cheddar chips. We got to the show and as always Dad had a bunch of little errands to run and people he needed to talk to, which lead to me washing every animal and fitting most of them for the show. Luckily Dad's not too picky about fitting so really it involves blowing them (with what is essentially an industrial strength blow drier) and spraying them with finishing spray (kind of like shine serum).

The show itself was kind of disappointing but there were some good cattle there. So what can you do? But this is probably the end of the summer show circuit for us (which really just consisted of the two shows). There is one more in Saskatchewan at the end of August that we might go to, but somehow I doubt it. So our next thing with be Agribition in November.

Agribition is a bitch (10 days, most of which are spent sitting around doing nothing) but if you want to be a big player on the cattle scene it's the place to be. At least in Canada. With that said I think it's sleeping time.

A little Musical Number

For those of you that don't know me very well I'm a country girl at heart. I was raised out in the middle of nowhere so naturally my music genre of choice is country.

So I picked some new tunes the other day. Not all that new but new to me. A lot of Johnny Reid. I love Johnny Reid. Seriously who else can get away with using bagpipes in a country song? So awesome! Also he's got a lot of really romantic songs. If I can swing it with whoever I'm marrying I want "A woman like you" as my first dance. I'm considering going to see one of his shows at the Concert Hall when he's in town in October. But I don't really want to go by myself. Anyone want to go or know someone who might?

Need I remind you bagpipes.

My Lack of Physics Bites Me in the Butt Again

Every once in a while I think maybe I should go back to school and take something completely different. One of the things I've thought about a couple of times is Applied Chemistry. I took the intro chem courses as part of my first degree and I didn't do too badly. I also find chemistry kind of interesting. And mixing things to create new things? Awesome.

So I looked into it a little farther, and in order to do the industrial chemistry option I'd have to take physics. I didn't take physics in high school because my high school physics teacher was kind of a jerk. And I didn't take the prep courses in University because well why would I spend $300 for 0 credit courses that prepare you for courses you don't need to take?

So no physics means no Applied Chemistry. I'll just have to come up with something else.

Well at least I'm looking well these days

Over the last couple of weeks I've run into several people who I would have called co-workers if not for the fact that I've been on an extended sick leave. I don't even quite know what to call them.

Anyway I guess it's not a big mystery that I'm not working there at the moment but most of them have asked where I'm working now, which concerns me because I don't know if they just assume that I've left the company or if they've been told that I'm not going to be returning. But that's not something to worry about at the moment. For now I'm just going to focus on the fact that they've said I'm looking well.

There may be several reasons for my looking better (probably more relaxed than anything else) these days. First of all I've been off work for over a year. When you don't have the stress of having to deal with work everyday. You know that look that people have when they come back from 2 weeks vacation? Well multiply that by 26. The second thing is the drugs, once you're on the right combination of things to help deal with your illness you start to feel a lot better and that probably comes out in your actions and mannerisms. The third contributing factor is probably the new man in my life. You know how people in love just have this glow about them, well I don't think we're at that point but there is some definite like going on. Things aren't exactly perfect in this respect, we're still trying to work some things out, but as he reminds me all the time we'll figure it out. But if someone were to make a movie about my life he'd definitely be the love interest.

So yeah there are probably some good reasons I'm looking better these days, even if I don't feel it all the time. Now I just need to gradually add some very mild stressors to my life to try and get things back on track.

Construction, Construction, Oil Spill, Parking Ticket

Today has been a bad day for me and driving. Luckily no actual injury to the car but some definite frustration.

First of all this morning I decided I'd go to the mall to pick up some casual clothes at Old Navy. I like Old Navy because there stuff is comfortable. I got stuck in a construction zone for almost half an hour. That sucked. Then on the way back even more construction.

Then I had a nice hour and a half break to watch soccer , before I had to drive to the hospital for a treatment. A stretch of my usual path to the hospital was closed due to an oil spill so I had to detour. The traffic was so incredibly heavy on the detour that I was very nearly late for my treatment so I parked in the first available spot with an open meter, paid and ran inside. Sadly this spot was handicapped parking only but I was in such a rush and distraught from the terrible drive I didn't read the sign properly. So now I've got a $150 fine to pay.

So next time I take the bus.

First Nando sighting of the World Cup

I haven't been watching as much of the World Cup as I had expected but today I caught part of the Spain-Honduras match, entirely accidentally. I had turned the TV on to watch Wimbledon and it was on CBC, from the last time I had tried to watch soccer. Turned it to TSN it was commericals so I turned back and there was Spain.

Oh good times. Horray for Nando. Though he's a lot less noticeable with short dark hair than his long blonde locks. Also look at the picture above and tell me Spain isn't bringing the hotness to the World Cup. Iker, Yes. Sergio, somedays. Nando, everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

Technological Advancement

I've decided that it's time for me to venture back into the world of cellular phone ownership. I haven't had a cell phone in about 6 years. Not since my dad lost my phone somewhere in the pasture while fixing fences.

The main argument against having a cell phone all these years was a combination of a) you needed a landline to get highspeed internet and b)I'm usually somewhere where I have a phone, you can call me at home or at work and if I'm not in either of those two places then I probably don't need to be talking to someone anyway.

But things have obviously changed. Now we have cable internet which doesn't require a landline at all. I've been off work for a while now (I can't believe it's been this long) and I've suddenly found myself without a phone when I really wished I had one. I've also been driving back and forth to the farm lately (almost every weekend) and you never know when you might need to make an emergency call from the side of the highway. The other big recent life change has been developing a relationship with someone who lives a fair distance away. We spend a lot of time IMing each other and well we could text more easily if I had a cell.

So now the problem is to choose a service provider. I know people who are on MTS and people who are on Rogers and not really a whole lot of complaints for either company. So it's a matter of figuring out what works best for what I intend to do, which is a lot of texting and a little bit of websurfing. Which then brings up the question of Smartphone or Voice Only? I'm still torn here as I don't really get enough e-mail to make it worth it, BUT I would like to have web capability that isn't going to cost me an arm and a leg. Someone recommended waiting for the new iPhone to hit Canada and I was going to take her advice, but what do I need a $700 phone for?

So anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I'm going with Rogers or MTS because come this fall they'll have the best province wide coverage. Which I'll need if I'm out at the farm a lot. Is there anything else I need to consider when looking at what to do here? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Poor, Poor Independant Ice Cream Sellers

I don't know if this is a whole new franchising option or what but the Tim Horton's by our place hooked up with Cold Stone Creamery. Sadly it is right beside one ice cream place and just a block from another.

As much as I like our independant ice cream stores (the one is so punny it hurts, because I'm always laughing you see) I have to say after trying out the Cold Stone ice cream these places are screwed.

Another Fair Complete

There are probably 3 big events in my hometown that bring in a large amount of people from outside of town, the winter carnival, the bull sale, and the Agricultural Fair.

I have strong ties to each of these events. The carnival was the big finale to our figure skating season. The bull sales was more of an opportunity to socialize with people I had either met on the show road or in school when I was at University. And the fair was really THE must see event in our town. For me it meant 4-H achievement and showing cows for mom and dad.

I don't do much showing anymore, it's kind of a combination of I have my own life now and I don't get out to the farm enough. But I realized this weekend that I kind of missed it.

We took 7 head to the show this year. Which means we had a lot of work to do. Lucky for me dad did most of the prep work while I was in the city during the week but I've been home every weekend for a month to help out.

All in all this year was a pretty forgettable show as far as our results go. I don't begrudge the judge for his placements but I am disappointed that maybe our animals weren't quite ready for the show.

But anyway that's another Fair in the books. I don't know if I'll do it again next year but we'll see what happens.

And now to wait for October

In case you missed it the Stanley Cup Finals are over. Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Chicago win is important to me for only one reason, the Cup is coming to town! I probably won't go to see the public viewing but it's nice to know that I could if I wanted to. I also won a little wager I had going with a friend so now I'm just hoping that he pays up. I'm sure he will though. Oh and also Jonathan Toews won the Conn Smythe. Good times.


No more hockey until October, what's a girl to do? My own plan is to check out sexy soccer players during the World Cup.

It's the finals

I've been so distracted this year that I've barely watched any of the French Open, which is my favorite major. It's so bad that I didn't even realize until I got up this morning that the Men's final was today.

I shouldn't really comment here because well frankly I haven't watched much of this year's tourney but Nadal is in tough against Robin Soderling, who you may remember knocked off Rafa last year at the French.

But anyway Vamos Rafa! That is all.