Breakfast

I have decided that breakfast is by far the best meal of the day. I know all the hype about it being the most important meal of the day, and that makes sense. Fuels you for the entire day, gets your brain all fired up and stuff. But really, breakfast also by far has some of the best food out there.

Lunch is one of those meals that is kind of here nor there. You can have a quick sandwich, you can grab a bag of chips, just have a smoothie or skip it entirely. It can be a hot meal, or a cold meal. A coffee and a cookie or an entire entree. I mean really, what's up with lunch?

Then you have dinner. Now dinner is supposed to be the sit down formal meal that tops off your day. But I don't know about you, but when I get home from work, the last thing in the world that I want to do is stand on my feet for yet another hour fixing up a feast. Normally I'm not all that hungry and would really be just as happy just snacking. Now I'm not writing off dinner entirely. My family has a long lasting tradition of Sunday night dinner. And I too am attempting to keep this alive. There is nothing like a big fancy meal to finish your week or start it, depending on how you look at it. But then again, Sunday isn't a working day. So taking that extra time to prepare that big meal is worth it and normally rather enjoyable.

But then there is that special meal, that first meal, that wonderful little thing called breakfast.

I have tons of friends that skip this meal, and I must admit that sometimes I do too. There are mornings when I'm too tired to eat, or to rushed or simply just don't know what I want. But when I say Breakfast, I don't mean a bowl of cereal or a stack of toast. I mean real breakfast. Pancakes, french toast, bacon, fruit salad, bagels, hash browns, croissant....

I think the reason breakfast is so wonderful is that it's a meal you don't have to stress out about. When you're out for breakfast with friends or family it's not about making the "healthy choice". You throw caution to the wind and eat whatever you want. You cover your french toast in maple syrup, you butter those pancakes, you eat that extra piece of bacon. You clear your plate.

There is nothing more satisfying than that full feeling you get from a good breakfast. It can last all day. Sometimes right even up to dinner. It's wonderful....

So to everyone out there, the next chance you get go out there and have a huge breakfast. Eat all you can and enjoy every single last bite.

Weekday Getaway

At the beginning of last month, Nick and I escaped the hum-drum of Red Deer and escaped to the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. We picked up and left our dirty dishes in the sink, our dirty laundry on the floor and my staff without a manager. Sure it was only one night, but it's amazing how many phone calls I can get on my day off. But as per usual, I'm getting slightly ahead of myself.

We went to Banff on monday, but something also happened on the monday that facilitate this road trip. We (or rather Nick) bought a car. Yes that is right we are now the proud owners of a Chevy Cobalt SS. It's lazer blue sporty and fun. Oh did I mention that I still have only driven in about 3 times? And that is mostly because Nick has been around the past month on Spring Break up. But I'm not complaining.

So anyways, we took off in our brand new wheels and headed to Banff. The drive there was less than nice, seeing as that it snowed, rained, sleeted and fogged the entire way to Calgary. The trip thorugh the mountians was slightly less trechorous, but the views were definitely obscured by fog.

We arrived at our hotel and were quickly talked into upgrading our room to a superb moutain view, kingsized, jacuzzi suite. And man was it worth the extra $40. From the feather topped bed to the huge jacuzzi.... heaven. We spent a good portion of the night on the roof top heated pool looking out over the moutains with steam rising around us. The rest of the night I'm not going to write about.

The next morning we explored the town of Banff. Nick even bought me a musk-rat. Ok a musk-rat pelt. But it's fur and it makes me happy.

We went up the gondola, walked around in the snow and generally had an amazing time.

But the true highlight was actually the drive home. We gave ourselves lots of time to get back to Red Deer, even though going the short way (back through Calgary) only takes a little over two hours. Instead we went up through the park and for an awesome moutain drive. We made lots of photo stops. Mostly for glaciers, wildlife and shear beauty.

I say no more, and just share photos. Wait one more thing. Best monday/tuesday ever.

Oh yeah. And we saw 44 deer, 12 mountain goats and 1 wolf.

Sorry for the lack of BLOG

I had no idea it had been over a month since I've blogged. But what a month is has been. Lots of stuff has happened, and I think I shall do several posts to cover it all. So get ready for a reading frenzy as I tell all about April.

Spring is Sprung

Today has been a lovely day weather wise. Health wise, not so much. I started feeling really strange on Wednesday night at work, all day yesterday at work I felt feverish and today it's official I am sick. But not any sort of determinable sick. I can't really tell if I have a cold or what. It just feel like crap, and don't want to do anything.

That aside, I have had the crappiest past couple of days. I don't know where my head has been. It mostly started yesterday morning when I woke up half an hour late... which i didn't actually realise, until I was leaving the house. You see, I have to be at work at 9. The mall opens at 9:30. So I normally get up at 8, leave the house at 8:30, catch the 8:45 bus and get to the mall at 8:55. Right on time.

But yesterday, when I left the house and looked at my watch I suddenly realized it already was 9. And I'm the manager, with the keys, and working alone that morning. I immediately called a taxi, which thankfully only took about 5 minutes to get to the 7-eleven I had called it to (I needed cash). So all in all, I managed to open the store on time. The day went by moderately well, other than feeling feverish.

I left work, caught my bus and instead of going home right away I went to the Real Canadian Super Store and Blockbuster. I did my grocery shopping and called a cab to take me home (it's not that far and only costs about $5) with all my bulky purchases. The moment the cab pulled up in front of my apartment building I realized I had left my keys on the back counter at work. So rather than getting out of the cab, I told the guy to take me to the mall. So $20 later, I was finally home.

Today was slightly less stupid, but still.... things manage to happen. The apartment people came in and did some repairs the other day (? not sure what they fixed...) and afterwards our toilet stopped flushing properly. We've had lots of plumbing issues. So I decided that we needed a plunger. I mean, no household should be without one. In fact, no toilet should be without one. So despite how crappy I was feeling this morning, I got up and went up to Walmart to get a plunger.

I am glad I got out of the house, as the weather was truly beautiful. Big sunny skies, warm breeze. It made me feel better.

When I got back from Walmart, I sat down with my lunch as was going to enjoy one of the movies I rented yesterday at Blockbuster. But when I opened the case to take out "Jesus Camp" - a documentary about born-again christian children's camps in the US- "Stranger than Fiction" starred back at me. I have nothing against that movie... but I've seen it. The world is totally against me. Or at least blockbuster, my alarm clock, my keys and my toilet are.

But all is well, because Spring truly is in the air. I have had my windows open all day, and it is wonderful. On my walk home from the mall, the birds were chirping, the snow was melted and there's nothing like a bit of sunshine to brighten your day. Especially when nothing seems to be going right.

First Computer

I have been haunted by something for quite sometime now. And that is the first computer my household ever had. I remember it so clearly, yet when I describe it to people they look at me blankly. A discussion about old computers the other day resurfaced my questions about that Compaq we had owned so many years ago. And then I remembered why I love the Internet so much. Three simple words put into Google "Compaq Suitcase Computer" and presto! The Compaq Portable.

Look at it! It's tiny black and green screen, it's big-ol' disk drive. But this picture doesn't really give you the whole picture.

Is it is computer? Is it a suitcase? WHO KNOWS? I do

It's a suitcase sized computer!

So many times I have told people about this suitcase portable computer. How the bottoms of it came off to reveal the keyboard and opposite it the screen. How many times people have not had any idea what I was talking about it.

We must have had this computer when i was in grade 1 or 2 (given to my father by my uncle as I recall), because I recall that in grade 3 my father brought it into class so that fellow students could start to learn how to type.

There wasn't much for programs on this old hunker. All I can remember is word processor an pong. But I mean really, what else do you need?

I must say I feel a lot better knowing that I didn't make this up. And that this computer really did exist. And it reconfirms my love of the Internet. World Wide Web, I love you. Is there anything you can't do?

Neighbours

I think something terrible is happening in the apartment below mine at this moment. The "hacky lady" (I normally only ever hear her coughing and hacking... which in itself sounds like she's about to die) is yelling rather loudly and I definitely hear a mans voice as well. And maybe.... slamming cupboards? Lots of stomping around at the very least. I can't make out what they are saying, but they are obviously not happy.

Normally it's not even the hacky lady who we hear. Normally it's the other apartment we share a wall with. And that is normally fighting and crying. The couple who live next door don't have a very good relationship. Sometimes I feel like going over there and telling them to break up.

Hacky lady may have just growled. I must admit I am kind of scared of her. We've only really heard from her once before, and that was frightening enough by itself. It was rather late at night and we were getting ready for bed. She obviously has a TV in her bedroom and it was on really loudly. Both Nick and I had to get up early for work and being able to hear what your neighbours are watching on TV is not cool. It had been happening quite a bit, but Nick had been away... I'd just been putting up with it. In fact, I didn't even really mind it. When I was a child I most of the time fell asleep to the noise of the TV in my parents bedroom.

However, Nick wasn't having any of it. After I showed him how hard I found it was to bang on the floor by stomping, he did a proper job of it. She most definitely heard it. After Nick's rather aggressive stomp, we just were chatting among ourselves when all of the sudden we heard coming from below "I CAN YELL LOUDER!!!" We immediately stopped talking and started listening. That was all we heard. We started whispering then went to sleep.

Either way, I never hear her television anymore. Just her dying and she hacks and heaves in the bathroom every morning.

Things are Bigger In Texas North

It is well known (or at least it should be) that Alberta is Texas North. The Oil is flowing and the money is plentiful. Cars are bigger, people are bigger and portions are bigger. (It is safe to assume the later two are connected).

Drinking in Red Deer is always interesting. Just like any smaller town, there are certain destination throughout the week at which the local choose to get drunk on any given night. Nick was home this past week and we didn't waste anytime. The first night he was back, he took me out for steak, then we went to the bar. $6 dollars later and I got me a drink. I know what your thinking.... that's a pretty standard drink price in Toronto. However, in Red Deer that six bucks gets you a whole lot more. In fact a pitcher more.

The picture above doesn't necessarily pay the size of these drinks justice. Let me give you some perspective.

So that is one normal sized drink, besides the hugely massive pitcher drink (note the straw, they are meant for single consumption). It isn't exactly known how much alcohol one of these pitchers contains. The bartender just kind of starts pouring and keeps pouring and keeps pouring. Pretty exciting really.

Now you are probably thinking, well it's probably only two or three shots, that pitcher doesn't really look all that much bigger than that single. I assure you that is not the case.

There, I think that paints the picture better. They really are quite big. And they do hit you (or me) quite hard, especially when consumed rather quickly.

Or then again, maybe it was that second drink in my hand that did it. Or wait... that was the one that pushed me into vomit realm. Yeah that's right. One pitcher, one single and I was not very well sometime during the wee hours of the night.

So what's the point of all this? Why am I letting you know that I puked up that cranberry vodka pitcher? Because dude, in Red Deer you (me) can get totally shit-faced on $6. Perhaps that isn't your goal for the day. And normally it isn't mine either. But every once and a while I need to get out on that dance floor bust a move or three, stumble home than hug the toilet bowl. I'm still young. I think that's allowed.

The Ugly Sweater Brigade

Sometime ago, a certain sibling of mine inducted her then boyfriend into two exclusive clubs; the ugly tie and t-shirt clubs. Many years later and he has now graduated from these brotherhoods and has now entered the world of business casual. Now he sports funky t-shirts and suave ties, in replace of the free t-shirts and just plain old ugly silk nooses. She has won her battle.

I am just beginning mine.

There comes that time of day when PJs are tossed aside for the more restricting yet more fashionable attire of things such as jeans and sweaters. And so many times, my darling Nick has pulled on a sweater, looked at me and said "This is a nice sweater, right?"

Panic strikes. I don't know what to say. Do I agree? Do I pretend that, yes that thing is acceptable? Or do I tell him the truth? I don't want to hurt his feelings. So I do what every good girlfriend does. I cock my head to the side and go with obviously false agreement.

"Do you think it's a nice sweater?" Always best to answer with a question.

"I did...." The seeds of doubt have been planted.

"Well... if you like it, then you wear it."

The wheels turn in his cute little head. "Ohh...." he whines. "You hate my sweater don't you!"

Again not wanting to be cruel. "I don't hate it..." I lie.

"Fine." His tone reminds me of a child agreeing to eat his broccoli. "I'll wear something different."

I stop paying attention to what he's doing and continue getting ready myself. A few minutes pass and I turn around. He has changed his sweater.

I don't have to say anything. My face speaks for itself.

"You don't like this on either?!" Defeat is near.

"I didn't say that." Remain calm.

"Where's the sweater you bought me?"

"In the drawer." Another battle won, but the war is not over.Thus I bring you the Ugly Sweater Brigade.

One never knows when its soldiers may come over the horizon and into the tender light of day. Each of its members offensive for different, yet similar reasons. It is not going to be an easy task banishing all of its members to the good-will bag. But one day, in the hopefully not too far off future, I will be able to look in the closet and know that the Ugly Sweater Brigade has lost its fight and been defeated.

Whom I look Like (aparently)

Management

As of today, I am now management. I am the new manager of the La Senza Girl, which is just about to open in a mall here. It's actually pretty exciting.

My store (which it is) opens on friday. I have been spending the past few days training my new staff (which I hired). I found out today how much my salary is. Yes, the wonderful world of salary! I will now know exactly how much my pay cheque will be. No more guessing, no more weeks with less than 40 hours. And bonuses...!

Anyways.

I must admit there is a whole lot of responsibility that goes along with this job. I have a lot of paperwork and a lot of procedure to follow. And I'm not sure that I'm actually trained up to scratch yet. However, I met the manager of my sister store in the other mall and if she can do it (which she seems to barely do) I think i'll be ok with one hand tied behind my back. I have faith in myself.

Here's something kind of funny. Most of my staff are teenagers, and when we were training today, they were all making comments on the fashions that are in store at the moment. Which happens to be tunics and leggings. They are all going on about how they wore that when they were kids in the 80s. Ok. I've entered you into the system. You were born in 88 or 89! You do not get to claim you even existed in the 80s if you were wearing diapers the entire time. I can believe that you were forced to wear out-of-date fashions when you where children in the 90s. (Since you weren't even a teenager until the 00s). I mean, you are from Alberta after all. Kinda bugs me, and makes me feel pretty old.

Flashback: Anyone reading this remember how in grade 3 or 4 we all had matching leopard print leggings and shirts from kid and kabbodle? Yeah. That was cool. There were like 10 of us all with the same outfit. I remembering begging my mom to buy it for me, and her not wanting to because she thought I wouldn't wear it and that it was kind of expensive. But oh did I wear it.

Back to the point. I am now in charge of a staff of what currently stands at 7. They all report to me. I am responsible for them and the store. And for pretty much everything else. It's actually somewhat daunting. But I think I'm ready.

The store opens friday. I'll let you know how it goes.

A brief tour of Red Deer

Today I ventured out into the wilds of "downtown" Red Deer. I brought along my trusty camera phone, and snapped some shots as I walked along. Here is Red Deer in all it's daytime glory.

The trees and parking meters that line 53rd Street.

The old Red Deer Court House... which now houses businesses, including a psychic studio.

The "City" of Red Deer, "City" Hall. I'm not sure I can accept the whole city thing.

The bus terminal, where I catch the number 1 to get to work.

I found this banner today. It claims that Red Deer was the 'Cultural Capital of Canada' in 2003. I'm not convinced, and slightly confused by this.

I had to stop taking photos at this point, because not only did I feel really strange taking pictures on the street (it's not like Toronto, there aren't any tourists), but my hands were absolutely freezing. However, I am definitely getting used to the cold. It was minus 20 today, and I was surprised to find out it was that cold. Not sure how I feel about that.

It burns!

The other night I came home from work to Nick making me dinner. Or rather Nick boiling water for pasta, but I guess that counts. On my way home I had to pick up some milk to help quench his insatiable need for the mammary liquid of cows, and I also pick up some garlic bread. I called ahead so that the oven would be nice and up to temperature when I got home. I was pretty tired from my day and also quite hungry.

I decided that I'd shower after dinner, and changed out of my black work clothes (no blazer at the moment... instead we get to wear shirts that are as long as dresses that say "Sexy is Back!" in hot pink across them... try wearing those on your break in the mall!) and into PJs. I oversaw Nick as he cooked the pasta, and when the timer when off I grabbed a tea towel and took the baking tray which the bread was on out of the oven. Unfortunately the cloth was quite wet, and the heat went right through and started to burn my fingertips. In a hurry I threw the tray down on the stove top, and ran my fingers under cold water. I had sort of thrown the tray in a bad place, so Nick moved it to on top of the cutting board on the counter.

After setting the table, Nick went into the fridge to grab a drink, I backed out of his way and directly into the just-out-of-the-over baking tray. I immediately screamed bloody murder. I had managed to burn my skin directly. My shirt was a bit pulled up, and my PJ bottoms low. Perfect.

Initially I didn't think the burn was that bad, and even though my initial reaction was to run the burn under cold water, the placement of the burn made that rather difficult. Looking in the freezer, the only frozen things we had were hamburger buns and bread. No good. So instead I settled for cooling the area with a can of diet Pepsi (the same drink Nick had been getting out of the fridge!). For the first little bit, the Pepsi can worked to numb the area. But then I could feel the burn heating up. Me (already in hysterics, I'll admit it) was very freaked out by our lack of ice. Then Nick, with a shit-happy grin, grabbed a zip-lock bag and a big spoon and went out on to the balcony. It's winter. Who needs ice, when you've got snow?

For the next hour or so I sat on the couch feeling sorry for myself as I iced my hip. But then I had to tackle the next issue. I had to get up early for work the next morning and I wanted to wash my hair that night, to save time and energy. However, as anyone who has had a burn knows (sunburn most definitely applies here), showers can be incredibly painful. I had yet to thaw out the area around my burn and didn't really feel like inflicting any more pain on myself. So, Nick filled me a new baggie of snow and he very kindly held it on my back for me as I sobbed and washed my hair.

Feeling very pathetic, I knew I had to thaw out my burn before I went to bed. So I tossed my baggie of snow, and waited for the pain. And painful it was. Fortunately the pain plateaued before I went to bed, and I managed to sleep ok.

The burn is looking okay now but is still causing some discomfort (especially as my trousers rub against it).

I have learnt several things from this experience.

a) i hate my baking tray

b) burns in strange places are no fun

c) snow is a wonderful thing

You Betcha!

Nick pointed out to me the other day that people in Alberta say "You Bet" and "You Betcha" a whole bunch. I had noticed it myself, but hadn't payed all that much attention to it. But now it's all I freaking hear. Any question can be answered with one of the two. Any query, quandary, wonder, ponder... yeah, they can all be answered with one of those two highly irritating phrases.

"Is it ok if I go on my break?"

"You bet."

"Is that everything for you today?"

"You bet"

"$86.73 on your visa today?"

"You betcha."

"Did you find the size you were looking for?"

"You betcha."

"Do you have a Prestige Card?"

"You bet."

"Did you find all the quasi S&M lingerie you were looking for today?"

"You betcha!"

Am I going to go crazy?

You Bet!

Have I started saying it?

YOU BETCHA!!!

Ode to day light.

I am basking in the glorious light of day. For I have been missing it. I started my new job this week, and so far so good. I'm enjoying it, it's pretty busy and not overly difficult. The girls I work with seem nice enough, and working in a mall has its benefits. There is tons of ways to kill time before and after work when the bus gets me there to early, or I get off before a bus is due. However, I am missing one thing. And that's the sun.

Sure the mall has skylights in the corridors, but I don't spend my time out there. I am in a store, with not a hint of daylight inside. So on those days when I am working for open, I leave home at 8am. The sky is dark, the sun still low beyond where I can see it. The sky is dappled with pink hues. It is beautiful, but also kind of strange. I watch the shades of pink, purple and red change slowly in the sky as I sit on the bus. At the mall, I get off the bus with other mall employees. Upon entering the mall, the only things open yet are the two coffee shops. Yet the mall is already bustling. There are groups of seniors gathered in the food court. There are cleaning staff busy scrubbing tables. There are old ladies hanging up their coats, and going for "mall-walks". I feel as though I've stumbled upon something I shouldn't have. A secret world of after-hours mall life. Soon after my arrival, things begin to change. The mall fills with the sound of the radio, stores open their doors, staff returns from the coffee shops to their places of work, we are open for business.

The day passes, not to slowly nor overly quickly. I do my job. I take my break. I come back and work some more. The time comes when I get to make my way home. The last time I was outdoors, the sky was dark. I leave the mall, and the sky is dark. The sun again is low in the sky, already gone down below the visible horizon. Clouds in the sky form a barrier. Pitch black envelopes most of the world, except for a small band of brilliant green down in the east. It is beautiful. I board the bus, and once again I watch the sky twinkle with the colours of twilight. I am glad that sunsets and sunrises here are beautiful, because it almost makes not having seen the light of day worth it.

Raspberry Ginger Ale: Lost and Found

After years of searching, my quest has come to an end. I have once again found Raspberry Ginger Ale. It has been a long, hard journey.

My love affair with this sweet pink liquid started many years ago Back then I was able to purchase it with ease on Kingston Road in The Beach neighbourhood in Toronto at our local family run grocery store. I had it on special occasions, I had it when i was ill, I had it in the summer over ice cream, I had it when I wanted it.

Years passed, and the memory of my favourite beverage faded. However, they were reawoken in my early teen years when I discovered that my high school cafeteria pop vending machine carried the sweet sweet nectar that I love. For a few years I was happy. I was able to purchase a can of my love whenever I felt the urge. But then my hopes and dreams where taken away in one foul swoop when the schools fizzy beverage provider changed from Pepsi to Coke. Sure I was happy that I no longer had to drink 7-Up and that my other love DietCoke was now purchasable on school premise. But I had lost the Raspberry Ginger Ale-ie goodness.

More years passed, although this time my memories did not fade. I could still remember the sweet taste, the pleasant aroma, the tiny bubbles popping on my tongue and the aesthetically pleasing colour. Whenever I was in the pop aisle I'd look, but I never found my love again. I thought the trail had gone cold.

That was until this summer. I was in Montreal with my friend Ffion, we were heading into the city from Beaconsfield and had to take the subway. And right there, advertised on the subway platform, it was. On paper, towering over me like a Madonna and Child was an add for Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale. It was taunting me! And to add injury to insult the add claimed that the product was NEW! New?!? Were my memories false? I think not.

For the rest of my time in Montreal I scoured stores for my love, only to be disappointed.

I had regained hope. I knew it still existed. I knew I would taste my love again.

Today, when

Then last week, (oh what a glorious day!) I was in the Red Deer Co-op store buying Pepsi for my other love, when my eyes skimmed over a pink bottle. My heart skipped a beat. I glanced back. Yes, there it was, in all its glory! My long lost love. And it was on sale.

drinking my last glass of my love, I had a thought. Why don't I Google my love? After all, I Google just about everything else... and behold

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00061EZNQ/ref=dp_olp_2/104-0238980-7879944

you can actually buy it on amazon.com. I hope that my journey will help others, and that I have perhaps woken a desire deep within your heart and you too will go out and find the sweetest drink I know.

Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale, I love you!

Murphy's Law

We woke up this morning to the phone. Nick's very noisy, very irritating phone. He was being called out to work with a crew that wasn't his own, but he couldn't get ready in time so he didn't go out. Which was nice, because Nick had actually decided to take a day off today and just hang out with me. Then about an hour later, dispatch calls again, decide they still want him. Nick gets up, gets dressed, calls a taxi. The operator of the crew he was supposed to be going out with and calls just as he's about to leave. They no longer need him. Very confusing start to the morning. Although it was bound to happen. You decide to take a day off, all the sudden you are in high demand.

Despite our intentions to sleep in, we were definitely up. And then we looked outside to see this. I realize it isn't that snowy. But it's the first real snow we've had since I've been here. We've had some dustings, but nothing real. Anyways, Nick was glad not to have to head out into the weather. Just after he was called off the job, he decided to go to the grocery store to get milk (which is nearly a daily event in our household... he honestly drink 4 liters every two days...) and as he got to the store he got a call from his operator and was told that they are heading out into the field tomorrow.

Thank god.

Yeah, yeah. I know what you're thinking. You think I can't wait to get him out of the house. But that's not actually the case. Having had him around all this time has been awesome. It's just really good timing, and we are kinda poor right now. Good timing because I start work on Monday, so I'll no longer be just sitting around watching Star Trek all day. Thank god.

Employment

I am no longer among the ranks of the unemployed! Starting monday I am the new assistant manager at LaSenza. Despite the fact that I have re-entered the world of retail, I am actually kind of excited about the job. Not only am I not entering the ranks as the lowest of the low, I am second in command. And it's actual full-time hours, which is something I've never really known. Of course my hours are determined by the malls hours (which are REGULAR!) i.e. 9-9 on weekdays, considerably less on weekends, but with Nick's schedule it doesn't really matter when I work. Heck, I might even get another job.

I think the hardest thing about this job is actually having to adhere to a companies policies. Those who know me, or who have worked with me know that my last job wasn't really policy ridden. Really our only rules were no cut-off shorts, see-through blouses or tube tops. And I know even those rules were slightly bendy. Dress code is relatively simple at the new job. Black pants, black shoes and a black blazer with anything you'd like underneath as long as there is no logo. Sounds easy. Most girls wouldn't have a problem pulling those items out of their closet. Well apparently, I'm not every girl.

The last time I bought black pants was... I'm kind of embarrassed to say... was probably 3 or 4 years ago. The pair before that? Well, they were bought at Eaton's. Luckily I anticipated potentially having to wear black pants, so I brought them both with me, (even if one of the pairs is quite big on me now and the others are slightly short). Ok, so one item down.

Now what about black shoes? Yeah. It's official. I think I am the only girl in the world who doesn't own black shoes of some variety. I'll admit I do have one pair of high-heeled black boots, known to some as either the "witch-boots" or "skates". Not work appropriate and not comfortable enough for standing around. So, I have to buy some black shoes. Which isn't really the biggest hardship, as I do love shoe shopping. Or should I rephrase, I love shoe shopping in Toronto. Red Deer shoe shopping? Hmmm.... There is an Aldo. And a Payless. Help me. Please.

Last item, black blazer. Yeah, I don't own one of those either. Crap. I have to go shopping. Damn it.

Now that my work wardrobe is somewhat sorted, I have to start thinking about the actual job. I am fortunate not just to be sales help for several reasons.
a) I'm not on commission like everyone else
b) there is only one person who can tell me what to do
c) I'm not assigned to just one task like many of the girls
Sounds pretty decent
Other perks to consider:
Good pay and higher earning potential in the near future, benefits, staff discount.

Oh and at the end of February when the current assistant manager comes back from Australia, I might move and become the manger of the LaSenza Girl which is just about to open.

Excellent.

NB: I wanted to post a picture, but all my Google image searches for lingerie and such like, just came up with porn. And I didn't want to go there. Not yet at least.

The Transition

I am going through a major transition. I know what you're thinking, big city to small town, culture to lack there of, house to apartment... but you're wrong. I'm talking motorist to pedestrian.

It's not that I mind walking, 'cause I don't. Those who have travelled with me, would probably vouch that I am not one to bitch about walking long distances (unless in heels...). However, I'm not overly joyed by the prospect of walking everywhere. I'm not even that big a fan of public transport. Ok, I'll admit it. I love driving and think it's "the better way". Perhaps I've been spoiled over the past years having a car at my disposal, but that luxury is gone. For now.

So today I took my second trudge to the Parkland Mall, which is about a half an hour by foot away, up-hill. At least this time it wasn't minus thirty. It was only just close to that. I bundled up, put on my boots and headed out into the great un-walked Red Deer.

I truly believe I am one of maybe a dozen people without a car in this town. As I walk along the moderately snow-cleared sidewalks in my huge parka and sorrels, all the motorists from the warmth of their huge lifted pick-up trucks gawk at my appearance. And truth be told, I don't blame them.

I mean, look at me! I look like I'm out for an arctic expedition. But you know what else? I've decided not to care. And why's that? Because one of the two people that I crossed paths with today was the most inappropriately dressed people I've ever seen. I realize that sometimes not wearing appropriate winter clothing can be a factor of wealth, but I assure you this was just plain stupidity.

A girl, of maybe 18 years was wearing running shoes, black pants, a hoodie and a thin pink jacket over top. Let me take a moment to explain that I fully understand not wanting to compromise fashion for outerwear, but sometimes it's a must. Especially in Red Deer. And lets face it, this girl wasn't strutting around in haute couture. Anyhoo... she spent some time trying to put her hood on, but I guess her un-gloved hands grew to cold when they emerged from her sleeves, that she gave up. She had no hat or scarf, and her face and neck (oh yes, her coat wasn't completely done up) were bright red and sore looking. Whereas I warm and toasty, albeit not overly sexy.

Sorry, back to the point. As I trudge along the snowbanked tracks, I am occasionally sprayed by the snow/mud/slush of the road by those taunting tormentors behind the wheels of their nice warm vehicles. Am I bitter? Only slightly.

When I left the mall today to venture forth on my journey home, I so happened to look at the sidewalk as I went. And I was frightened by what I saw. I could still perfectly see my footprints coming towards me. There was maybe two other sets of prints which overlapped mine. In over two hours, only two other people walked the same path as me!

You know what. I don't have anything else to say about that. I just don't.

2006 in Red Deer

The first week out in Red Deer was full to say the least. Upon arrival to the Calgary airport, Nick and I decided that we couldn't possibly face getting us and all our luggage onto the Greyhound so we rented a car for a week. We didn't waste anytime and the day after our arrival we headed to Edmonton and to Ikea. Despite the extreme exhaustion and a moderate freakout by me in housewares (after Nick confessed not only to having destroyed my pink frying pan...yeah like he wasn't trying...but to having used one of my knives as a can opener) it went well. That is until we tried to fit out purchases into the suzuki swift. Slightly less traumatic than trying to fit a sofa into a chevy cobalt. Slightly. I captured the moment on film.

Fortunetly it was only an hour back to Red Deer smushed under the ikea flat boxes. Oh, yeah did I mention it was New Year's Eve? Nothing like assembling to ring the new year.

The Beginnings

I finally feel I have time to blog, and the reason is simple. It's god damn cold outside and snowing. Up to this point I have been incredibly lucky and spoilt in terms of weather. The days have been full of sunny skies and temperatures hovering around zero. But not today. I keep checking the TV for weather updates. It is currently -17C, with a low of -28. And that doesn' t include windchill. I think i'm going to stay inside today.

So here's the question. The photo to the left looks suspiciously like a sunset or perhaps a sunrise. But i'll let you in on a little secret, it was actually taken at about 10:30 in the morning. Yup, we don't get a whole lotta sunshine here at the 52 parallel. The sun rises at about hmmm...8:30 and sets just after 4pm.

Weather update: just checked the weather network and it is actually -31 right now with the windchill.

However, despite the short days and frigid temperatures things are going very well. All my stuff arrived a few days after I did, so the take-over of the apartment has begun. I have figured out the basic lay of the land, and am actually able to walk to lots of things. They include, grocery store (good), two movies theaters (excellent), library (i don't use those, but ok), shoppers drug mart (handy), red deer buffet (hmmm..), walmart (somewhat depressing) and a walk-in clinic.

Oh yes. That last place? I was there but a few days ago. The "Village Mall Walk-In Clinic" experience differed greatly from previous Toronto expereinces at the Albany Clinic. Instead of waiting several hour amogst people who look near death, I walked into an empty office and was sceen within minutes. Although, I'm not sure how well I was treated. Especially as the nurse who lead me to the room looked me in the eye as asked me in a hushed voice "are you going to require a urine test?". I look at her blankly.

"Why?"

"For pregnancy...?" I smile at her.

"Ah. No. I hope not." Nurse smiles at me.

"You never know what surprises life might hold." I laugh uncomforatbly.

In comes doctor. "What seems to be the problem?"

"My tonsils look bad." In goes tongue depressor.

"Yep. " Hands me a prescription. Tonsilitus it is.

The only good thing to have come from my trip to the clinic was the really nice walk. The weather was gorgeous (unlike current conditions). My coat was open, my hands un-gloved, my head hat-free.

Note: I think the fire alarm in the building might be going off. I'm going to ignore it.

All in all my Red Deer experience thus far has been just fine. The people are friendly, the surroundings are quite beautiful and come summer there will be lots of things to do outside.