Redneck Tank Top

We're going to Bali!

How exciting! Jeremiah & I, soon to be world travelers. Indonesia will be an amazing place to visit; we plan to concentrate on Bali and possibly Lombok, with perhaps a 3 day sailboat tour to Komodo Island to see the Komodo dragons. J's dad has generously purchased scuba diving lessons for us so we will for sure do some of that while we're there, along with snorkeling, an elephant ride, a bike ride down a volcano, plenty of dinners on the beach and a day in Ubud, art central, where hopefully we can pick up some canvases. I want to wake up in the morning and step out of my room onto the beach and greet the sunrise with a yoga class.

We've narrowed this trip down a little, we realize that we need a vacation as it's only for 2wks, and so we plan to experience both the $12 a night on the beach el cheapo route as well as maybe a 2 night stay at a place like the Hanging Gardens Resort. Of course, at $370 a night, we may have to spend several nights in the $12 place but I do think the trade off will be worth it.

In other news, I've started deep water aquafit classes at the community pool near our house and I love it! I know, I am actually in a bathing suit in public, a big step, but I want to be in shape (ie sexy skinny) more than I mind the humiliation. Also, I'm still hoping for a permanent placement at my current job, the people are just so fun to work with. One of my coworkers just got back from her honeymoon in Bali so she's able to give us lots of tips, how much to pay for things, she even lent us a couple of books tagged and highlighted. It's nice to know someone like that, saves us some headaches and will hopefully contribute to the best time we could have.

So, lots to do, lots to plan, lots to buy...

Where will he pick?

Will it be Panama? Bali? Thailand? The Dominican? Brazil? or some other destination? That's right. When you turn 30 in this house, you get a wonderful 2 week vacation to an exotic location of your choice.

What a nice wife I am. I wrapped up a digital camera for him to open. After checking it out for awhile, I told him I had already taken one picture . So, when he found it he got a fantastic surprise: Jeremiahlove, you will need this camera because I'm taking you on a trip! See spreadsheet for more details :)

So, we plan on going around the end of Feb, beginning of March for 2 weeks. Finally, we get a real vacation. And none of this all inclusive stuff either...nope, his idea of a great vacation is to backpack around, stay in great little places on the beach and experience the different cultures. Well, it is his birthday, so I guess we'll let him choose.
For those bored/interested in travelling/ killing time @ work, check out the Lonely Planet dot com.

Why Men Are Not Allowed To Write Advice Columns

Dear Walter:
I hope you can help me here. The other day I set off for work
leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't gone more than a few hundred yards down the road when my engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help. When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was parading in front of the wardrobe mirror dressed in my underwear and high-heel shoes, and he was wearing my make up. I am 32, my husband is 34 and we have been married for twelve years. When I confronted him, he tried to make out that he had dressed in my lingerie because he couldn't find his own underwear. But when I asked him about the make-up, he broke down and admitted that he'd been wearing my clothes for six months. I told him to stop or I would leave him.
He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. I don't feel I can get through to him anymore.
Can you please help?

Sincerely,
Mrs. Sheila Usk

Dear Sheila:
A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the jubilee clips holding the vacuum pipes onto the inlet manifold. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the carburetor float chamber. I hope this helps.
Walter

Randomly counting

My co-worker and I were having a little chat today about how we all (girls) turn out like our mothers. Most of that statement is ok, I love my mom, she's beautiful, caring, funny. Part of that statement however, gives us a little pause. For instance, her mom calls her at least 3 times a week, and when there's nothing to say, reads the Saskatoon Zeller's flyer to her. "Oh look, Zeller's has ketchup!" Lol. That brought to mind a trip to the grocery store last year with my mom. We all talk to ourselves, but I'm afraid she takes it a little farther than that. She counts. As she was unloading the bags from the shopping cart into the back seat of the truck she was counting the bags. Which struck me as really odd, and a little amusing, so I had to ask, "Do you know how many there are supposed to be?" She looked at me blankly, and we burst out laughing. The things you do without realizing. So, is this what I get to look forward to? Randomly counting things? Well, if I get all the other great characteristics my mom has, I'll gladly take it.

I know, I know, it's been forever. I started a new job, Murphy Oil, downtown doing AP, love it so far. The people i work with are really

It's cold out today

I know, I know, it's been forever. I started a new job, Murphy Oil, downtown doing AP, love it so far. The people i work with are really fun, relaxed, cool people and I feel like i fit right in. Even better, i walk home by the river almost everyday...so pretty...then kill myself walking up a giant hill. It'll be worth it.

Had a great visit with PTM last month, nice to have M to myself for a few days :) And wow T, I can't believe you have 2mos left! I guess you'll end up looking like you have a medicine ball in you, rather than the basketball currently going on, lol. It was really nice to go back to p dot g dot last weekend. Whirlwind tour as always! On the way back we stopped at Athabasca Falls, so beautiful, I can't believe we've never stopped before, everyone should. We brought ourselves a little picnic and sat on a little wall with a great view. Felt a little out of place as everyone else was just taking pics or walking or staring at us, not eating. Worth it.

Jeremiah goes to school in a couple of weeks which means my free rides to work in the AM are over. We'll have to ride the bus together instead :)

Oh ya, Sunday morning I woke up, looked in the mirror and screamed. Apparently I've had an eye infection for a couple of months and as I didn't get it checked out sooner, my ducts were plugged up and my right eye was swollen and puffy and horrid looking. Didn't affect my vision at all, just my pride. It did go down by the next day and I hauled myself to the medical clinic which is, sadly enough, right across the alley. I know, I know, your eyes don't grow back and i shall attempt to procrastinate no more.

Ok, well, I will leave you with the excuse that i don't have internet access at work, and by that i mean i have no msnger, no facebook and i can only read blogs but not their comments or update my blog, and so who knows when the next time I actually update will be...

Do fruit flies bite, or are they just disgusting?

Blech! This office is infected with fruit flies! Sick!! Anyways, I'm tired.
So, I'm working at this printing company, fantastic people, lots to learn, and I'm supposed to be here til the end of Aug. Which is great, I have a debt reduction plan n stuff. Then, last week, I get told that they've hired someone new (already aware) and as she starts on the 30th, they will no longer need me after friday the 27th. The original plan was to have me there to help when the other person is gone for a few weeks so the new person doesn't get overwhelmed and die. But, they apparently changed their minds. Then, monday, I get asked to stay for one more week because they realized that the stress levels will be too high and stuff piles up too quickly and with the training going on, they need some help. So, this is good, one more week is really the best for me, so I finish Aug 3rd, then have PTM come for a visit (yay!) the following week where I can happily babysit M whilst the doting parents have fun at stags/stagettes. And really, I'm hopefully only going to miss out on 4 days of work (stat holiday) and have something (hopefully downtown, fingers crossed) for the 13th. But really, can we say disorganized company???
So, it's been really hot and I have no energy but hopefully as it cools off I will feel like cleaning my house again and perhaps exercising or something. Well, I think that's enough of a break and I should get back to work.
C

New shoes, new shoes

This is what I'm thinking: Fluevogs, on sale for $189- SO COMFORTABLE on my little chubby feet, I think i must have these.

28 days

Well, it's been 1 month since my last post. Who knew getting a job would take up so much time! So, what's happened with Carmen in the last month. I started a temp job June 4th at a printing company in the SE; they print things like London Drugs, Canadian Tire, Safeway etc flyers n other stuff. My job is however, the Sales Assistant (read: secretary) and as I just finished 2 years of schooling in accounting, I quickly let them know this job was just not for me. So, I have been helping out the accounting dept, the payroll dept and pretty much whoever needs helping as it's pretty slow right now, regarding my regular duties. I have been offered a permanent job in either accounting or payroll, but I decided I'd really like to work downtown, or for J's co, so I am switching to payroll for the summer as of July 16 (that's where they need the most help) and hopefully something else wonderful and exciting opens up for me. And I must say, although not my dream job, the people are fantastic and I have learned tons of stuff in 3.5wks that I can take along with me.

The family reunion at the beginning of May was so great. Too short, of course, but hey. It was good to catch up with people I haven't seen in years and meet the new additions to the family.

What else happened? I cut all my hair off, as most of you 5 readers know it was at my belt and is now between my chin and my shoulders with layers that hang in my way at work so I put them back with a paper clip, but look fantastic and lovely blond streaks that make my hair colour look so much more interesting. Currently I don't have the pics Megs took of the process, but when I get them, I'll post again.

The love of my life is good, working hard as usual. I convinced him to buy the most wonderful jacket, we (he) found it at an upscale consignment store May long weekend. It's this fantastic (obviously a favourite word of mine) orange colour...kinda pumpkin i guess, but a light pumpkin. Just suits him perfectly. However, when we found it it was $220 which for a second hand jacket seems a little pricey, and who's Cole Haan anyways? But, this past weekend his mom was in town and we went to the Sunfest in Inglewood, popped in to the store, and they were having a 50% off sale! So, we bought it. $110 is worth it.

The Sunfest was great, rained of course. First time having Vietnamese food, super good! got my blood typed, I'm an 0, but I don't know the positive/negative yet..gotta donate blood to find that out. Discovered this absolutely cramped tiny little antique/junk shop, that had a huge basement level just filled with old furniture and stuff. The kind of place where you feel like if you breathe you're gonna topple the stacks of dusty nicknack's over, the old guy just sits behind the counter and watches tv, you feel like you're interrupting if you ask a question, but you just know that you could describe what you want and he'd think a little, and say "bottom of the stairs, turn right, way at the back behind such n such". Such character, we'll have to go back for sure.

Last year J & I bought "Eat Right for your Blood Type", but as we didn't know what we were, we just started to try it out this week. So far it makes a lot of sense, I can relate the things they tell you about yourself ie how to reduce stress, to myself easily. I know, some people think it's just one more fad diet thing, but at this point, whatever I have to trick my mind into thinking to get my butt moving again...works for me! So, we'll try it and see.

Ok, well, I think that's enough of an update for now...

C