Weekend away
My girlfriends - Nella (DeeP's new name), HD and I took an extended weekend this past Friday to Monday. We went up north to a tiny town past Flesherton (population 700) to my dad's cottage. It was very windy, very snowy and very cold. But also quite relaxing. We spent most of the weekend in the basement of the cottage where a wood burning stove kept us toasty warm and often drowsy with each of nodding off at various times, then the others who were awake and noticed would either point out loudly "hey so and so is sleeping!" or creep up with the camera and get that always flattering shot of the sleeping person with her mouth open.
We didn't do much except watch tv, eat salty and sweet snacks, drink wine, smoke in the garage, argue about why the tv is on
that channel, read Nella's
OK magazine, read
Shopaholic takes Manhattan (ok that was only me), and play Texas Hold 'em and Crazy Eights - which playing Crazy Eights really brought out HD's competitive side that I didn't know she had! Oh! And we went on a walk one day, I can't remember which one, and had a snow fight - I won.
There aren't that many more weekends left to do things together so I'm glad we were able to go away at least one more time. There might be another chance but who knows. Since I got the visa time seems to be moving much more quickly now - I mean February is almost done - before I know it I'll be on that plane with HD and starting this brand new crazy adventure! What I miss most is already gone and I can't get it back, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other people that are here, that I love, and that I'm going to miss tremendously - so right now it's about enjoying this time with them. Too bad I still have to work!
Chuck Taylor
Speaking of birthdays, (which I was if you were paying attention re: RedCat's birthday below), mine was last week. Previously I'd written I wanted to get new shoes for my trip to England. It was a toss-up between Nine West heels and Chuck Taylor Converse. Guess who won? Well, no one actually, because I got my Converse from Sisy & D & the boyz for my birthday (28 by the way). They're totally wicked! I have yet to wear them due to the weather but will soon once it's nice dry day. And I took some pictures of them before they get all scruffed up. So here, everyone, please ogle my new shoes now.
Love songs
Since today is Valentine's day, at least for a few more minutes, there were lots of love songs on the radio. Some are horrible and cliched, well most are, especially the crap on the "easy listening" stations, however some are very good. So my pick for best love song heard today is Nada Surf's
Always Love - pretty good lyics, here's a sample:
to make a mountain of your life is just a choice/ but i never learned enough to listen to the voice that told me/ always love/ hate will get you ever time/ always love/ don't wait til the finish line.
To balance this out I'm adding a great anti-love song. So, best "I hate all you saliva sucking duos out there" song is Nine Inch Nails'
Only - sample lyrics: there is no you/ there is only me/there is no f**king you/ there is only me / AAAARGH!!!! (AAAARGH!!!! is my addition)Random songs - today's fave song on my iPod: Neverending White Lights'
The Grace - that guy has a fantastic voice! Yesterday's was Interpol's
Evil - why can't we just look the other way?
RedCat's birthday!
Happy birthday to
RedCat! That's him with his party hat. Today he's 4 years old. Well, actually it was 4 years ago that J's mom picked him up and brought him to the hospital so that J could give me something for Valentine's day when I went to visit him that night. Since then,
RedCat has been with me, either sitting atop my computer at my previous workplace, on my tv, or now usually somewhere in my covers. You see, he's like a memory of happy times and he's tangible - he's something I can hold onto because sometimes I need that. Of course, he'll be accompanying me on this new adventure to the UK, good thing he doesn't need a visa. So, happy birthday to him and happy Valentine's day to all of you.
Research
While at work today I did some research into items that I should stock up on here before I leave for the UK. I went to
Boots, the Chemist UK online, to check out their prices for my everyday needs. After a few minutes of browsing it became clear that I'm going to definitely have to buy most of my toiletries here. Let's just say that everything is EXPENSIVE! Yes, yes, I'm doing the "conversion" which I've been told I'll have to get my head out of, but that's once I get there, when
ideally I'm making enough pounds and pence to purchase whatever I want whenever I want (hah!). But right now, all I have are dollars,
Canadian dollars, and the conversion stands right now at 2.01, and even though this fluctuates it's still a big freaking difference.
Here's a sample of some of the items I use on a regular basis and their cost in pounds, the dollar conversion and what I pay for it here (pretend "&" is a pound sign).
- Revlon Colorstay Foundation - &11.99 = $24.15 Here: $15.00
- Dove Shampoo - &1.99 = $4.00 Here: $2.99 on sale (but the one in UK isn't even the same, it's some type of "milk" shampoo)
- L'Oreal Voluminous mascara - &6.99 = $14.07 Here: $6.99
Shoppers Drug Mart, here I come!
I'm going to England!
Approved! Approved! Approved! Yesteday I got an email notification that my application for the visa has been approved. So that means...I'm going to England! When I saw the email I actually felt giddy with excitement - it's really happening.
This morning Sisy called me at work to say that she just signed for a package from the British High Commission. My visa has arrived! She opened it up and read me all the info - apparently it looks nice. It says right on it that I can only work for 12 months - that's the daunting part but then again I don't want to go there and work everyday. It's time to explore and travel and learn!
So that's it - now I get to relax and just step up the fun part of the preparations. You know, buying things - maybe my $100 jeans and high heels! - cancelling things (CAA, car insurance), and telling work I'm outta here. I'll give them 3, maybe 4 weeks. That part might not be so fun - I always feel bad when I'm quitting a job, it's like I'm letting them down or something. Yet, this is for a greater purpose, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and I'm going to take it!
8 days to go...
On Monday I received email notification from the British High Commission in Ottawa that my application and supporting documentation was received. From that point it will take 10 days to process, provided everything is straightforward. So that means there's 8 days to go. No phone calls yet, so I think everything must be in order. It's nerve-wracking, this waiting, but like pain there's no choice but to go through it.
We express our anxieties in different ways. I suppose mine is just to dwell, then keep busy, and tell myself that whatever happens something will work out. HD, on the other hand, told me she's going to hold off on buying anymore toiletries until she gets the visa - because she doesn't want to be left holding a bag full of toothpaste and deoderant if she doesn't get through. I think that's funny. I haven't bought anymore toiletries only because I haven't checked the flyers for good deals yet, but I did spend some money today on a new pair of dress pants, a blue top, and a black sweater. (All things that I can use in both London and, more depressingly, at work here.)
Oh, and today's bizarre encounter goes as follows: I'm on the subway on my way to work, listening to my iPod, Juliet's
Avalon remixed by Jacques Le Conte to be exact, and this guy sits beside me. Blonde, scruffy, and ugly. He asks me if I'm Indian. I said, "what?" He said, "are you Indian?" I said, "no." He said "where are you from?" I said "Canada." He shakes his head as if he's exasperated, "what's your background?" I said "Trinidad." He said "Trinidad." I said "yes." He said, "I watched this movie last night about this Indian girl who married some guy and her father killed her." I said "hmm." He said, "yeah, he just slit her throat at the end." I said, "hmm, that's bad." He said, "I don't have anything against the Indian culture or anything but man, that's just wrong." Finally, it's my stop and I said, "yeah that's crazy, gotta go."
Are people going to do this to me in England? Most likely, but I probably won't understand what they're saying. Hmm.
