Ripples become Waves

As per my previous post, Ode to Shoppers Drug Mart , I am not really enjoying my summer job. It is a place that makes me very angry. The photo lab is my little world, there is no one else but me that works in there. I am a bit of an anal person, things have to be my way when ever they can. People mess up my stuff, leave me notes like "the photo machine is broken" - no detail, information or who wrote the note. It really makes me angry. Monday was probably the worst day I have had at Shoppers yet. Tuesday was not really that much better. Wednesday I was scheduled with one other person - again. How many times have you gone into a store and only seen one cashier and one other person that is doing something else and you think "you could be over here helping". Well I am that other person. I have other stuff to do, like my job. When there is just the two of us for 8 hours I get very angry and frustrated.

So Wednesday I decided that I would be taking a personal day on Thursday. Because there is no one else around I had to leave a note.
To Whom It May Concern,
I will require/be taking a personal/sick day tomorrow, Aug 30.
I will not being coming in for my 8:30 - 5:00 shift.
Stacey.

I did this because I hate this place and I knew that by me not coming in it would really put the scheduling lady/supervisor in a rough place (she was getting her nails done in the afternoon). I wanted to leave a message because talking about it doesn't seem to do much. I did mean to cause ripples and have the big guys of the store ask questions.

When I came in this morning there were signs all over my lab saying that the photo lab would be closed until further notice. That it would take up to five days to receive your prints. It seems that she told everyone that I had quit. The other cashier that was supposed to be on knew that I was taking the day (I warned her) and she tried to tell her that I wasn't quitting. But she told everyone that I had. When I came in we had a chat about why I needed the day. I told her everything that I felt was necessary.

It seems that my attempt to make ripples made waves.

Finishing Touches

Logan and I have lived in our "new" apartment for just over 5 months. But like most people we have left our bedroom to be the last to decorate. Being an apartment we aren't allowed to make any changes to wall colour etc, so your only choice is what you hang on the wall. For a long time (since we were in our old place) I have had a collection of wedding photos that have not made it on the wall. I wanted to create a collage of frames. On our last trip to Ikea I finally picked up those frames.



Being the organized, anal person that I am, I couldn't just wing it. I couldn't just throw them up on the wall. I had to make scale sized frames and lay then out.



Like this:

Stef and I painted them last weekend.

And today we had the chance to hang them.

Yay Camping UPDATE

I stole some photos off of the other campers and thought some of them should be shared.

Jason, our little Mermaid.
The Build Team
One very fun event of camping was the extreme game of Bocci Ball. We played through our very large camp site, up the bath and into the field just beyond our site. Jason and I vs. Tyler and Stef. Jason and I won by one - 15 to 14.

Great food and great times

On Friday Stef and Dad joined us in Calgary to move Stef back here for the new semester. We spent Saturday at her place moving the last bit of stuff around.

Saturday night Logan's parents rolled in and we had a large feast of teriyaki chicken, corn on the cob and a sweet potato, parsnip, carrot medley. We played some board games and had some drinks while Logan was at work.

Sunday we met up with Andrea and Linda as well as Auntie Shelley and Uncle Gord for breakfast.

After breakfast off to Ikea with Janet, Stef, Logan and Jason.

Monday we wanted to try another new restaurant with the Kotlars. We gambled on The Garlic Clove. It paid in dividends. The food was the best I have ever tasted! Everyone ordered something different and ate every bite! I had Wobbly chops, I have no idea why the name, but it was pork chops topped with a garlic paste and apple syrup and a roasted apple. Oh My was it good! Even Logan's pasta with a tomato sauce and chicken and shrimp was the best I have ever tasted! Wow. If you are coming to Calgary check it out.

Josh Groban and Mercato

After camping we headed back to Calgary, with mom too. Our little caravan hit cow town in time for Mom and I to go see Josh Groban at the dome.

It was great. We had good seats, but both of the Haughey boys were working and were able to move us to better seats. Josh played for a full two hours with a full string orchestra behind him, as well as a regular band of grand piano, bass, cello, violinist, guitar and percussion with timpani. His voice is so rich. And he is so talented - proving it by not just singing but playing the piano and drums. I would see him again in a heartbeat.

Friday was Mom's birthday. So we took her out to a restaurant that we have never been to. We chose Mercato, an Italian restaurant and market. It was a different concept in eating with pasta being served as a first coarse and then the meat listed alone and order the side separate. The waiter suggested sharing. It was a great idea (and cost effective idea) but I think Logan went a little hungry.

An Ode to Shoppers Drug Mart

I hate you for the pants I wear
the grumpy people's nasty stares.
I hate you for the people in need
who don't see the sign, or just don't read.
The shit that happens everyday,
"I did this wrong, I don't wanna pay".
The drumming fingers and rolling eyes,
these people and things I truly despise.
A summer job that makes me say,
I hate you in each and every way.

Yay Camping

We had a great time in Regina and Deifenbaker. The weather didn't co-operate for the most part. It was to windy on Saturday and Sunday to get out on the boat. But we still had a great time. Monday we started packing up - at the same time it started heating up. People were dropping clothes all over the place. As we were putting everything away we decided that we needed to hit the water.



The Cast of Characters:

Jen Cris
Tyler Stef
Nicole Kenn
Jason Logan
Jason Logan
Jason And Me

Long Weekend in Edmonton

I wrote previously about our expedition to Edmonton to celebrate Auntie Alma's 60th Birthday. I got some pictures - so I thought I'd add them.

Two more sleeps till camping

The long weekend was great. Stef and Dad drove here to move some of Stef's stuff back. She is moving into the basement suite of the Haughey's. It is a very cute house. I foresee some great times will be had there.

On Saturday we drove to Edmonton for my Auntie Alma's Surprise 60th Birthday Party. We always have fun with that family. Played with some cute kids, held me a baby and visited loved ones that we wish we could see more.

Sunday we had some drinks, some supper, more drinks and a few more drinks. We had a good time.

Pictures to follow!

This weekend will also be great. We are heading home to go camping at Deifenbaker Lake. There should be a large group of us to enjoy: Logan and I, Jason and Tyler Haughey, Stef, Jason Glass, Jen and Cris and Nicole and Ken. We will have the Kotlar's boat and it should be a good time! Two more sleeps!

Nights at home

When Logan works nights I get to come home to an empty apartment. I am not really a fan. He has the car and I have an evening alone. I am catching up on my tv, and on blog ready. I have also done some misc searches on the net. But I am bored. I guess it is just me and my editing. But I am mad at it right now cause I can't get it to burn onto disc. It is not much use on my computer.

Hotel Kotlar

On the weekend Leah (a friend from University) and her husband Marc checked in. Leah is 7 months pregnant so our outing was to baby consignment stores. We found a ton of great stuff. We played Wii, did some catching up and had a good time. They checked out early Sunday morning. On Monday Nicole checked in. She just stayed over night on her way home from Banff. We went to

It was great. Nicole and I sat with huge smiles on our faces the whole time. And our chairs shook as we danced in our seats.

2 Years

Two Years ago at this very moment 8:30 pm, Saturday, July 23rd, 2005

In two years we have moved to another city, another apartment, both of us have switched jobs (some of us a couple of times), made some great friends and settled into a life together.

And it is just the beginning.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Gardasil

Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine

The HPV Vaccine.

I was at the doctor today regarding my test results. I was a little stressed out about this. He could tell me anything. But in the end he told me nothing new. The results were exactly the same as they were before I went to the specialist and had a painful exam.

But both the gynecologist and the doctor talked about the HPV shot.
Mom's, here is the site for the specific vaccine Gardasil

25

A quarter of a century
25 years
300 months
1300 weeks
9125 days
219,000 hours
1,314,000 minutes
788,400,000 seconds


That is old!


I had a good birthday. I did work - but they let me off at noon.
Logan and I went out mini golfing.







Then we decided to try a new restaurant for dinner. A brand new, swanky place opened up not to far way just a week ago. Blvd was indeed swanky - but their menu was limited. There were four items under main course - beef, chicken and 2 fish. And they were pretty pricey. So we had a glass of wine and had caramel prawns and a pomegranate red pepper dip. It was tasty.


Hawaiian Salt Water Pearls from the Kotlars

Wii Wi-Fi and Nunchuk Stef and Matt


Josh Groban tickets from my parents

Wii Mario Party, LuLuLemon pants from Log


Then, cause we were still hungry, we headed out to Earl's to actually have dinner. Always a good choice and so close to home.



A lovely day.

After work on the 18th Jen and Chris came over for dinner. Steak and baked potatoes and Birthday Cake.




Jen and Cris added to the Wii collection with Brain Academy.

Then we all headed back to Earl's for drinks. Tyler and Jason joined us.
It was nice.

The Core, Stampede, The Bow and Wii

Stef and my cousin Amber drove to Calgary for the weekend. We did a little of everything!

Friday we headed out walking to go shopping. With the weather being in the mid 30s we didn't get far before realizing that we needed air conditioning. We made it to Lulu Lemon on 17th. Amber was a successful shopper there! We tried some stuff on and cooled off a bit. We then walked the couple of blocks to the train and hopped on with the half million other people in the sweaty train. Gross. We spent the afternoon shopping in "The Core" as it is being marketed. TD Square, Eaton Centre and Scotia Centre. We each got new shirts.

Home for a quick supper and then off to sweaty Stampede. The temperatures were well into the 30s all weekend and with hundreds of thousands of people in one place it got pretty gross. But as the sun went down things cooled of to the mid 20s and it was bearable. We checked out the Coke Stage (free entertainment, good bands if you can get close), walked the midway, checked out the dream house, rode some rides, (the Stampede Skylift ,

The Twister , The Swings ) had the midway delicacy of mini doughnuts, watched the fireworks and waited around for the call that would say that Jason could get us into Nashville North - the hot spot of the Stampede. But that didn't happen as it was so busy there - and he was so busy with all the scumb bags that attend Stampede. So we picked up Tyler (who had worked the mainstage concert in the dome) and headed home, where Logan was now home from work.

Saturday we headed out on the Bow. Always a good time.

It was extremely hot! Logan and Stef were brave enough to get in the water. I think it was hot enough that Amber and I would have followed except that the water is mountain run off and freaking freezing - the the two of them screamed and made faces for quiet awhile before they would admit it was nice in the water, and only then because they were numb.

We all got a little bit sunburned. But for the most part it wasn't because of lack of sunscreen. For example, here is my leg: The blotchiness is unexplainable.

After supper I opened 2 Birthday presents.

A Wii Nunchuck. (from Stef and Matt)

We played for a bit. Did a little Boxing.

Then Tyler and Jen came over and I opened up Mario Party 8 from Logan. We played.

Sunday, we woke up late. Tried to go to Nellies for breakfast but it was full. So we settled for Humpty's (which was also full of people and sweaty hot). But the food is always greasy goodness. Then Stef and Amber hit the road for home. I plan on doing a little editing to finish the day - which Logan naps.