Life Changing...(Research or Thesis)...?

There's those moments in life when you think to yourslef, "what the eff am I doing?"..

Near the 2nd week of my graduate degree that was exactly what was going through my head. Why was I torturing myself doing this, why?, why?, why?

It wasn't until near the end of the three week on campus residency that I finally figured out why I'm doing this.

The reason? ...
Because it's exactly what I'm meant to be doing.

I am completely in my element when I'm surrounded by 50-odd people, all who have a passion for the field of communication. I am intrigued, I am happy, I am home!

I went to the three-week residency with a few expectations, but everything that happened surpassed any idea for what I had thought would happen.

It was engaging; it was fun; it felt like a community... and I can truly say that a lot of the people I met I will be friends with for a long time.

Thank you, to my friends and family that always believe in me. To my dad, who said to me a few days before I left for Victoria, "I'm proud of you.". To my mom, who always listens patiently to every frustration I have. To Amber, for taking the time out of her insane schedule to catch me up on what's new. And most of all, thank you to Tyler, who has temporarily perhaps put some of his dreams and goals on hold so that he can be the support pillar for me while I go through the next two years.

Let the fun begin...

New Kid on Campus

Today I arrived in Victoria because tomorrow I start Year 1 residency portion (three weeks) of my MA in Professional Communication.
I am back living on campus, and it is a bit of deja vue (from SAIT). The dorms are decent. I get my own room (bed/desk/closet/sink) but share kitchen amenities and showers/washrooms with the others on my floor.
Day one starts tomorrow and for now I should stop procrastinating and get to the reading!
Yay for being back to school!!!

Royal Roads University
Hatley Castle - 2012

The job

So after three months, likely hundreds of job applications (I didn't actually count the final tally), dozens of interviews, a handful of second interviews, and a few projects as part of the process, I have secured a job.
I accepted a job offer to work as a Community Engagement Coordinator for the non-profit organization of Norwood Child and Family Resource Centre. It is something slightly different than what I am used to, and I am excited for that. I started there on Tuesday and tomorrow will begin week 2!
Tomorrow I also begin my MA in Professional Communication course work!
I'm going to be one very busy person!
See you in two years, Tyler!!! (kisses) ;)

Beetle time ...?

Maybe one day....

sigh....

Back to school we go....

So my best friend Amber likes a good shout-out - so here goes! Today is Amber's first day of her Master of Social Work Degree; September 16th is my first day of my Master of Arts in Professional Communication Degree.
Amber will be doing her degree whilst working and (hopefully) so will I. So, we get to complain to each other :)

Amber, best of luck through all of your work - I know you can do it and I'm so proud of you!!!

<3 br="">

Full-time employment search continues....

I'm not lacking in the interview department. Tuesday I had an interview, and tomorrow I have another. Today I also got a call-back for a second interview.

When will all these interviews turn into full-time employment?

Starting to feel like an emotional rollercoaster of a train-wreck...

DERP!

Weddings, weddings, weddings!

So this weekend was the start of three weddings I'm attending this summer! This first wedding, I was part of the wedding party and despite some horrendous weather it turned out fantastic.

To one of my best friends who got married this weekend; I wish you and Donald all the best!!

Another wedding to come this weekend! :)

"Tyler and I" - August 17th, 2013

I'm in love!!! ;)

Snickers LOVES sleeping in her litter box

So we've had our rabbit Snickers for almost two months and I am happy to announce that I am in love. Although she is a little rat, and a shit disturber she has so many entertaining quirks that make me happy!

Right now we are in the process of landscaping our backyard, so Snickers isn't allowed to go outside, but she does LOVE running up and down our stairs! 

We've added new toys to our bunny "stuff" including a tunnel, extra toys, and an exercise pen.

Snickers runs in and out of the tunnel and thoroughly enjoys climbing on things!

Likely more posts to come on Snickers the lop-eared bunny!

Exercise Pen

Tunnel

Snickers in her harness. She hates it!

Royal Baby

I know it's probably a big deal and all, but if my family in the UK 

thinks people are going ape shit crazy over it, then they must be.

It's even nutty hear in Canada.

Maybe Prince Harry will do something crazier and the 

media will leave Prince William, Princess Catherine and the new babe alone.

Congrats to the Royal Family :)

Luck

So I've been to about an interview a week (sometimes two), but I just haven't been able to close the deal. Perhaps I need luck on my side?!?!?

Snickers - our new bunny

So since I've moved into the new house with my bf I've wanted to get a bunny. On Saturday I finally got to take Snickers, my new bunny, home!

She is ridiculously cute but HATES being caught! Whether she's in her indoor cage or out in the back yard, Snickers is way too, too, too smart for her own good!

She's so smart, that on Monday my friend Amber and I had to chase her around the backyard for an hour and a half before she let us catch her.

Today Snickers didn't go outside (thought I let her run around the bathroom) because it was literally POURING with rain!

Anyways, here's a few pics of Snickers. She is my new friend when Tyler is away!!

Birthday Surprise

Air Canada - getting me to
my destination!

So most people I knew, thought the birthday surprise I kept speaking of was for me. It was not.
On my birthday, June 9, I flew out to Terrace, BC and the rented a car and drove to Kitimat to visit my mom.
She is moving again and is mega stressed and "down in the dumps" and I thought it would be an extremely nice gesture to surprise her.
My mother was soo happy she started crying.
Since I got here (yesterday) we have been packing up her house like crazy, as a moving truck is coming to load everything tomorrow.
My mom is moving to a little place in Terrace.
Glad I made your day, mom!!

A shout out to my BFF!

I talked to my bff today - we were making plans because she is coming back to Alberta next weekend to visit! Yay!!!

Anyways; she says she is super excited that I'm writing on my blog again - so this one is for you Amber!!!

Can't wait to see you on the 15th!!!

<3 div="" nbsp="">

-F-

Day 3...what in the world did I do?

I was trying to remember what I did yesterday - but it seems to all be a blur.
I'm pretty sure I...
1. Slept in
2. Watched more TV
3. Searched for some possible jobs
4. Sent some emails
5. Planted most of the flowers I purchased (yay me!)
6. Watched more TV
7. Got excited because the bf said he'd be home :)
8. Watched the thunderstorm from inside the house
9. Went to ikea to return the shitty coffee table
10. Got extreme pita for supper
11. Assembled the new coffee table
12. Slept...more.

THRILLING...right?!

Death by Ikea!

So, they say a good way to test a relationship is by trying to put Ikea furniture together... I think it may be true!

But hold on a second - I'm ahead of myself. 

Ikea came at the end of Day 2 - what did I get up to for the rest of day 2 ?!?!

Well, here's my thrilling list!

1. Sleep - the bf was around, but I like sleep

2. TV watching - Food Network and home building shows

3. Breakfast - I made some egg mcmuffins - mmmm!

4. Bugged the bf - He had a "working from home" day - lucky me :)

5. Napping - I love naps

6. Plan - When are we leaving for Ikea?

7. Traffic jam - of course we went to Ikea during rush hour traffic

8. 30 min - epicness at finding all the stuff we needed in half an hour

9. Vermicelli Noodles - best supper ever!

10. Shopping spree x2 - purchasing of $90 worth of flowers - (oops!)

11. Gardening - weeding and seeding - derp.

12. Ikea- ohhhh ikea!

So we bought side tables, coffee tables and a bed side table.

The side tables were a breeze. Somewhat frustrating but they all went together,

The coffee table - not so much.

It was epically crooked and wobbly and barely fit together, and then when it did we couldn't even put a cup of coffee on it because it was so wobbly. Needless to say I was P-O'ed. Like A LOT.

Coffee table is still wobbly and later this week we're going to fight with Ikea to get a replacement - that should be fun,

Bedside table - seemed like a breeze.

Sleeeppppppp...zzzzz

Day 1 recap

So I bet you're sitting there on the edge of your chair trying to figure out what I did on my first day of unemployment, right? Trust me, I don't believe that for a second. hahah!

It was a thrilling day of:

1. Laundry - mounds of it in fact

2. Getting the mail - a strenuous walk down the street to the box

3. Unpacking - I moved some furniture around downstairs

4. Trip to get some groceries - a waste-time stroll to spend money

5. TV watching - endless hours of the Food Network and some home building show

6. Electric lawn mower - pain in the ass device, but I did cut the lawn

7. Coffee and food - I kept myself hydrated and energized

8. Hockey - good thing the playoffs are still on

9. Resumes - most important of all; I applied for jobs!

Yup - can't wait for Day 2!

:S

Day One of Unemployment

So it's June 3, 2013 - Day 1 of being unemployed. I have mixed emotions. It's nice to be out of the environment I was stuck in for the last two months, but now I'm not really sure what to do with myself. I have a list of endless things I could be doing, but I'm not sure what to do.
For now, I shall watch TV and look for work!
I'll keep you posted tomorrow on what I actually got up to!!!

Favour

New thought process for today: they did me a favour. 

I can walk away with pride and hold my head high.

And I will.

:)

"I'm fine"

I need people to stop asking me how I'm doing.

My answer will still be "I'm fine."

It's a lie.

I am not fine.

I am devastated; I am angry; I feel betrayed.

I am also one small step away from a nervous breakdown and needing to be on anxiety meds.

I'm scared and I hate feeling this way.

Layoffs

Oh right.

I forgot to give the update.

I got laid off. 

Derp.

It's been about three weeks now. I think I've finally started to come up with a plan.

I'll keep you posted.

The Power of Blogs

I see huge potential in the world of blogging. An individuals thoughts and ideas can be shared to millions through a mouse click and that's a powerful thing (if used in the right way, of course)!

My great friend, Richard Cloutier, is a blogger on hockybuzz.com for the Edmonton Oilers; his latest blog helps me believe in the power of blogs. Richard's readership numbers are extreme and his most recent blog is proof of the good things a single post can do for the world.

Congrats Richard on this great blog. I hope many more people read it!

Hockey and Hate Don't go together

Tomorrow....

It's not something I paid much attention to in the past - the Alberta budget.

This year was a little different. Well much different.

Our entire college was offered the opportunity to sit in on the live announcements from the legislature; it was an experience I will never forget.

What started off prior to the election as a promise to post secondary institutions of a 2% increase in funding has now turned into a 7.8% decrease in funding, which equalizes to about a 10 per cent loss in government funding for our institution.

This also equals substantial job losses.

Yesterday and today executives were giving the bad news to a number of colleagues in our College's regional campuses.

Tomorrow they are in LLB to fill us in on what's going on here.

I'm worried. And sad.

I can move on. I have before. I will again.

I feel terribly sad for the people who have their entire lives built around this community, and even more so this college.

Tomorrow will be the day....

Try

Winter in Alberta

So over the years I've done a pretty reasonable amount of winter driving. This winter is no exception. The only difference is the roads this winter have been complete junk.

With fluctuating temperatures from -20's to above zero, the maintenance crews are having a rather challenging time keeping the roads clear, dry and ice free. Rightfully so. Even the sidewalks are a deathtrap.

This past weekend I headed to Edmonton. Friday night the roads were perfect. When I came home Monday evening they were worse than poor.

I took my usual route through Vegreville, but this time the highway North of Vegreville to Highway 28 was drifted and snow covered It was treacherous to say the least. The howling wind was causing havoc, and even though the crews had likely been out just before the clear the road, the snow blew over (and a lot of it) really fast.

When will spring arrive? I mean I like the winter and snow and everything else that come with it, but not the incredibly poor highways.

A friend in Vancouver just told me it was +11 today. It was snowing all day here and a balmy, windy -20!!

Oh spring, how I miss you!

Happy Valentines Day!

The lovely surprise I got at work today! Heart you babe :)

Will you be my Valentine?

I'm hoping the flowers can persuade you ;)

 Your not so secret admirer.

Pistachio Style.

I think Gangnam Style is great.

This may be even greater.

One of the gems from the Super Bowl Sunday commercials.

Ooooohhhh the wisdom teeth...

A few years ago I had my two bottoms taken out, but my top were left in. Over the weekend I was in serious pain because of my top left wisdom tooth. I knew it was something major as I would take extra strength Advil and still be in ridiculous pain. It was a rough few days.
Anyways, today I had enough and so I was able to get into the local dental office for an emergency appointment. It took no more than two seconds of of the dentist seeing me to determine that I had a soft tissue impaction.
Within a couple minutes I had freezing in my gums and he was prepping me for wisdom tooth extraction.
I went into the dental office at 3:15PM; by 3:45PM my wisdom tooth was out and I was on my way.
Home, in my sweats, watching TV.
Within an instance of the tooth being out, my pain level had dropped and I was surviving with pleasant aching from the extraction area.
Its about 6 hours after the extraction and now I feel 150% better.
Lets hope it stays that way.
I have one more wisdom tooth still in my gums. Hopefully it causes less havoc than my previous three wisdom teeth have.
Here's to hoping.

Post Secret

It's a blog I go to every Sunday, just like millions of others around the world.
People send in their secrets to be shared.
Some are moving, some are sad, some hit home.

It's a site that I think everyone should read on a weekly basis.

http://www.postsecret.com

Belize/Guatemala vacation!

Here's a look at my pictures from Belize and Guatemala. A blog with explanation will come in the next few days!

2012 in review!!!

It has definitely been wayyyy too long since my last blog, but this is going to be a bit of a catch-up. I'm currently still working at Portage College in Lac La Biche, I've been here since October of 2011. LLB (as I call it) is....interesting, but small. I've been lucky to meet a great crowd of friends. A group of people I truly call my close friends. I'm going to do a bit of a drive-by of 2012, but in reality it was one of the busiest years of my life (work and personally). I started off January of 2012 with some great friends playing farm-opoly all night. And by all night, I mean until like 7AM and which point i passed out. Over Christmas of 2011 and into January I was the project coordinator on one of the biggest projects I had worked on to-date. The custom airbrushing of our Heavy Equipment simulator mobile trailer. It turned out to be one of the most amazing artistic displays that I can add to my resume as the lead coordinator, and that is great! The beginning of 2012 saw me getting into the stride of things with my new position at the college. By April I was beginning what would be one of the craziest years of travel I have ever been on. In March I took my first extended vacation, in which i went with Brianna, a former roommate from SAIT, to Puerto Vallarta for a week. We had a blast. (I will be posting photos from that in the near future as well)!! A few days after I returned from that trip I also went to the Lady Antebellum concert with a few of my girlfriend's at Rexall Place in Edmonton. In March, we also celebrated National Water Week, as some of the most recent programming at Portage College is the water resources courses. We put on seven events throughout the week; the same number of events the City of Guelph also put on! That week also kicked off with the ribbon cutting of Portage College's Water Resources Training Centre. (If you want to check out more of what my department does go to www.portagecollege.ca and click on the Continuing Ed. button). At the end of March our college put on their annual Sports n. Ed dinner, where Grant Fuhr was the guest speaker. It is an event which takes place to raise money for our college's athletic scholarships. It was a ridiculously fun evening. In April I went to a number of trade shows to promote the college's Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) program, and also took off to Washington, DC to get some updated website training with our college's website provider Ingeniux. April/May (I can't remember :S) I spend a number of days in Edmonton promoting some of our College's programming a the Provincial/National Trade Skills competition, where students from all over Canada participate/compete against each other in a vast array of trade skills. In mid May, I took a trip to Thunder Bay over a long weekend, where I visited Amber, my bff in Thunder Bay. We caught up as it had been a while since we saw each other (almost a year). We also took a day trip to the states to do some shopping :) Also in May, myself and a number of other colleagues went to Halifax, Nova Scotia to attend the ACCC World Congress - Lindsay, a colleague in my department and myself were speakers at this conference where we spoke on some of the most recent initiatives the college had been working on. In June, one of my great friends, Stephanie graduated from Portage College. It was great to see her walk across the stage (and all of the other graduates) and know that I am part of those people starting their future. June I spent a number of weeks on the road for work, taking part in one of the largest trade shows - the Global Petroleum Show in Calgary. It was huge! In June, I also attended a good friends wedding in Boyle, Alberta. He is a colleague from here at the college, and one of the closest friends. It was fantastic to see him marry Susan, who is also a wonderful person. In July me and a few friends took a road trip to Calgary where we took in the sites and sounds of the 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede. It was the kickoff to one of the greatest summers I have had. Through out July and August I also went camping to Revelstoke (with my great friends from Myrnam), took in an Edmonton Eskimos football game and went to the horse races a number of times. In August my brother and I took a road trip, a rather long one to be honest, to visit mom in Kitimat, BC. We were doing this for a number of reasons 1.) Some much needed one on one bro and sis time 2.) We hadn't seen mom in a while. 3.) We wanted to see the rainforest of northern BC. and 4.) To see just how long of a drive it really was. It was 18 hours. Near the end of August, early September, my local friends from LLB and I went camping. This was another fantastic memory to one of the most enjoyable years in a really long time. September I also took off for work to Davenport, Iowa, the John Deere headquarters, where my boss and I got to take in the sites and sounds of the John Deere facilities. We got some updated information on the John Deere simulators that we have at the college, and also got to see the John Deere manufacturing facility in full swing. That facility was gigantic! When I returned from Iowa, I also managed to get some more Eskimos tickets, so a friend and I took off to that! September also saw me promoting the college at Oil Sands Trade Show in Ft. McMurray and a Pipeline Expo in Calgary. That wrapped up the most insane month of travelling (in September I was gone for three of the four weeks), but for the remainder of 2012 I also took in additional promotional events throughout the stewardship region (including trade shows, and radio spots). For Halloween I dressed up in some crazy neon athletic wear and everyone in the office got a kick out of my ridiculousness (which isn't out of the ordinary). The end of 2012 also saw me take part in the Star Wars: Identity "thing" that was going on in Edmonton, as well as the Metric concert. At the end of October I was introduced to a special someone and we are still together <3 November was a touch month on my body (for some reason). It wrapped up my first season back playing volleyball and also saw me on the last game of the season twist my thumb so far back that my entire thumb became bruised. My thumb is still so weak that I have an awfully hard time even opening a jar or a door sometimes. Oops. December I wrapped up some of my projects and at the beginning of the Christmas break, mom drove out to Alberta, to see me, and the rest of the family, knowing that I was leaving for Belize December 25th. It was great to see her!! December 25th, myself and Lindsay, a colleague from work, flew to Belize. An entire post will be dedicated to that trip. Hope this gives you a bit of an idea of what I've been up to! I will add in photo albums to the post (and future posts) once they are uploaded. They're taking there sweet time! Bye for now <3

Life

This is an apology post. It has been an incredibly long time since I've blogged. but I promise I'm going to get back into it. I have many adventures to tell you too, including my 2012 year - the most travelling I've ever done. 2013 also started off with a bang, celebrating the New Year on Tabacco Caye, just off the coast of Belize. Stay tuned over the coming days/weeks for numerous posts. There is going to be lots!!!! <3