Candice's Musings

Looking forward....

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:53:00 +0000

One of those reflective posts again. I guess if you only write twice a year, that's all you can expect?

This year has been one of the busiest years I've ever had. I keep looking at the calendar and saying to myself 'after [insert event or weekend here], things will slow down'. Of course, that event happens, something else comes up, or something else needs to be done, then I repeat the exercise.

I started a new job in March. It's had a fair share of challenges, but I think I'm getting comfortable in it now. It was consuming alot of energy in the first 6 months, but I've established a balance and have been getting used to performing presentations again. I've made a transition from a technical job to a business based job and I'm really enjoying the business aspect and perspective, which I always held in the technical jobs, but now I have the power to really do things about them, and the skills to back it up.

Our yard is coming along at the house. This year, I was able to keep outdoor flowers alive! We laid sod in the backyard, as well as laid half the patio with patio stones. We planted some trees and bushes later in the year, I'm hoping they survive the winter, but if not, it was a super sale and all we wasted was an afternoon. Next year I hope that we get the driveway done, the other half of the fence and the front patio done. Then all we need to worry about is the one side of the house that's still mud, but it's coming. I can't wait to enjoy the patio and fire pit next year!

From Fall 2011

The animals have both been battling mites this year. I've been cleaning the house, and grooming them constantly. Hopefully when we're on vacation, they'll die out at the house. It seems I can get the animals mite free, but the house is another story.

From Christmas 2011

One of our revenue properties, my old condo, flooded in August. The toilet tank crack and the toilet ran for a few days destroying all the flooring in the unit, as well as some furniture and cabinetry. Since the insurance claims are all backed up due to SKs wacky weather this year, I've spent the last 5 months dealing with contractors and trying to get someone in there to fix it. It's been a very slow process and it's coming to an end. The unit has received a bit of a pro face lift and is pretty close to being a finished spare time project for me.

Speaking of spare time projects, the wedding planning has been a huge undertaking this year. We have all the big stuff booked and done, but there's still alot to do! For the most part it's been fun, I've had my fair share of 'freakouts' over silly stuff, but I suppose it comes with the territory. I can't wait till February, we have a lovely honeymoon booked in Thailand and Cambodia, and then we're off to Jamaica!

From Engagement Photos

And then what? I always have a list of goals that I'd like to strive for. I made a list a few years back of things I'd like to do before I was 32 when I had my 24 year old meltdown. I realized I had to make obtainable goals that didn't have outside interference in order to avoid a meltdown. Also, I couldn't treat my goals like a life plan. For example, you couldn't make a goal to get married, that depends too much on others, and could just make you unhappy, in order to make yourself meet it. There were things on there like 'Travel to Asia', 'Run my Own Business,' and lots of professional goals etc. I've met pretty much all those, with a few years to spare. Maybe I didn't aim high enough? Either way, it's time to take stock and make some new ones with a new deadline. Ryan and I have been discussing a few, one of our on-going goals is to take a large trip each year. We'd also like to be independently wealthy by age 40. <- who knows, it could happen, just need to make it a goal...

It's exciting times. We've accomplished so much and this is just the beginning. Dreaming up where you want to be by what age is just fun. If you get there, that's great! If you don't, you tried, and learned some things along the way. You've at least brought the idea to the forefront of your consciousness, where you can look out and make decisions based on it. So, what now?

From Engagement Photos

What's happening

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:11:00 +0000

Well, it's almost bday time. What do I have to say for myself for the past year? It's been absolutely crazy. Ryan and I got engaged over Christmas time. We're planning a wedding for February next year. All the big stuff is done, now it's just planning the little things and the honeymoon, we're slowly picking away at those. Time working in our favour.

I started a new job in March. It's had its fair share of challenges. It's more of a business position than what I've held previously. I enjoy learning new skills and meeting the new people and learning from new mentors. Being back in a big corporation, I think I'm more suited to own my own business. Once I pick up some more skills here, I think I'm in a good spot to venture out to my own business adventure. I have lots of ideas that would work and I think I have a good network of people to help me get there...it's an idea that seeming more and more attractive. And lets face it, I'm a restless person, the slow periods kill me. Let see where this idea takes me...

There hasn't been too much travel as of late. We were a little overwhelmed with the house and renting out the condos. We did spend Easter long at the Banff Springs Hotel. That was an experience I'll never forget. The architecture, the service, appetizers in the lounge at 4pm, the hiking, the spa, the food. A 5 star resort experience packed into 3 days. We're working with a travel agent to plan our honeymoon in February. South Asia is the general area we've picked, lets see what the agent can do. We're not picky, if it's in our budget we're going there :D We're also going to Montego Bay, Jamaica in March for friends' wedding. We've never been to Jamaica so it was a good fit.

It hasn't been the greatest year for the lakes this year. It's rained alot to get to Ryan's parent cabin and my family cottage has suffered from the flooding in the Qu'appelle lake system and the rain to boot. There's not alot to do until the lake goes down and the weather smartens up.

Plus I want to get into my backyard. It seems to all be conspiring against me right now, but I'll get there and build my Rancho Relaxo in the back, just you wait. I did fancy up the front yard a bit, I'm not completely happy with what's there yet but it's a start.

From Summer2011

Tartanya and Bunnyrat have kept me busy this spring too. They were diagnosed with mites a month ago. It's been cleaning and vacuuming and brushing for me almost everyday. Luckily they both look better now and we should be out of the active mite territory. I need to train Tartanya how to 'stay' and train her to come to me all the time when I ask, not when just she feels like listening. I think I've been treating her too much like a cat in that respect. She can do a pile of tricks that I've taught her, but generally she thinks I have food when I ask her to do those.

From Summer2011

The Big E

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Well I finally have some time to myself to sit in front of the compy. Life changes are abundant right now.

In November we added a member to our family, little Tartanya, she's a 4 pound Black and Tan Pomeranian who just turned 4 years old.

From Fall 2010

She's been a handful to say the least. We've had to potty train her, (we're still in the process of this). I've trained her to sit, stay and shake a paw. She recently just had a surgery and had 11 teeth pulled and is now on anti-biotics, and right now she's in great need of a bath. She gets along with Bunnyrat really well and they play with eachother a bit.

Ryan started a new job at AMEC. They're an engineering consulting firm. He has more potential to move up in this company and has the chance to be mentored by experienced people. It's a great move for him and I'm very proud.

Christmas Vacation was very relaxing and much needed. I had all of our Christmas shopping done and wrapped in the first week of December. As of Dec 20th there were no gifts wrapped for me under the tree. I'm an avid present shaker, this was probably why. Ryan quickly wrapped up gifts before our first stop in Regina to visit my parents. To my dismay, neither of the presents were shakable. They had both been padded with something, my guess was laundry, since the laundry hamper was in the room Ryan wrapped the gifts in.

We went out with my friends from high school for our annual get together supper. It was great to see everyone. I only get to see most of these people once a year. We got back from this gathering quite late and it was then Christmas Eve. Ryan mentioned that it was Christmas Eve and since I didn't get to properly shake my gifts, I should open one now. Of course I knew what was up ;) He handed me one of the unshakable presents. Underneath a pile of sheets in this large box, was a ring box taped to the bottom of the box and a card. I opened the card and it was Christmas card with a rabbit on it and inside was printed, "I love you, will you marry me?" I looked at him and told him I would have to look at the ring first in order to answer. I opened the ring box and inside was the largest clearest diamond I have ever seen and held. It had a yellow gold band ( I love yellow gold for those of you who are crinkling your noses ), and a brilliant round solitaire diamond. I of course said yes.

So we're engaged! Christmas eve morning, I phoned around Regina to get the ring sized and hid it from my Dad and sis, I wanted to wait until my Mom got home from work to tell everyone all at once in person. My Mom got home before we were home from getting the ring sized and put together all the pieces. The empty box, the gift tag and the stray wrapping paper from an open gift and then scolding my Dad and sis for not noticing these things, ha, ha. We celebrated with them Christmas eve. We had a wonderful Christmas. I framed Ryan's Team Canada Softball Jersey from when he pitched on the team in 2001. He was surprised. Then we celebrated our engagement with Ryan's family on boxing day.

I'm so excited for planning a wedding and getting married. There were times when I thought that this wouldn't happen for me, but that was okay with me too. As long as you're happy, what does it matter? We're looking at wedding dates in early 2012, nothing set in stone yet.

So there's the update, there will be lots more to come soon if I can keep up. I'm missing a ton of things in here as it is!

I hope you all had a great holiday!

November Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:55:00 +0000

I'm feeling rather overwhelmed lately so I've decided to make a 'snap out of it' list so I can get back in the game and take back control. It doesn't help that my 'restful' long weekend was hijacked by a cold, but I'm determined to stop feeling overwhelmed.

1. Stay Zen at work - As long as I communicate things are too crazy and what will or won't be done, I think I can accomplish this. I need to remove myself from this situation a little and not let others get me overexcited, I'm only one person, I should be expected to do the work of one person.

2. Go to the gym. As soon as I'm well, it's gym time 1st thing in the morning. I feel weak and sore right now, and the gym always lifts my spirits. It's time to get back into it.

3. Research my career goals. I can't keep running at this pace forever. I need to do some research to see what my options are in Saskatoon and where I want to be. I need some positive focus, instead of 'I don't want to do that'

4. Take more pictures of Ryan. There's lots of me, Bunnyrat and Tartanya but not many of Ryan. As you guessed I'm not very diligent with the picture taking. I need to start doing more.

5. Christmas setup! Get my Christmas tree set up and try not to go crazy with buying new decorations since I have way more space to decorate this year :)

Alright, lets see if this happens now that it's in writing. Wish me luck!

Really? September?

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 04:11:00 +0000

I feel like this year has flown by. The milestones, the ups the downs, the dramas, I feel like it should still be July and not September.

We've been soooo busy with the house and the condos and our summer sports. We got our front lawn in last week with the help of Ryan's family. It looks gorgeous and mother nature has been supplying lots of rain for it. Ryan and I dug out most of the front patio and if it stops raining before October, we'll likely put in the patio stones this year too. I think the plants for the front yard will wait until next year, I'm not sure if they'll have time to take before the fall frost, I feel that chill in the air already.

From Fall 2010

Fall means the end of ball. But we did sign up for the new gym that's a block from our house. So far I'm very impressed with it. It's a little busier than I'm used to and the clientele is way younger than the YWCA but there's actually less waiting and the equiptment is way better and it's the same price. I just don't have access to a pool which I'll have to figure out at a later date. I can't imagine stopping lane swimming.

We did however try hot yoga at the gym. It's actually quite enjoyable and I don't suck at it as much as I thought I would, so I'll most likely keep it up.

I've been thinking about adding another pet to our family but haven't quite figured out what yet. A dog is out right now since we only have 2 sides of the fence in the backyard and the back is still mud. Another rabbit would require a bigger cage for the 2 and there would need to be 2 cages to start with, that's very intensive. Also thinking about the Devon Rex cat but I really like my Chenille furniture. Bunnyrat is actually fairly easy on furniture as long as you watch her. But I guess a dog could be just as destructive. I will probably run into some creature soon that will need a home soon and at that point I'm ready to take something else in, that will probably be the deciding factor. I'm on a real Pomeranian kick right now. My aunt had one that was so cute and friendly. Plus I really liked a miniture toy poodle at one point in time. It seems to fit so well.

Speaking of dogs, my company will be featured in the paper sometime in the next month for our 'take your dog to work fridays' that we have. Some one usually brings in their dog on fridays, I get my dog fix then, and I suppose that's pretty unique.

Not too much to tell to the world. We're busy and I finally got a chance to breathe for a night, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Latest Obsessions

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:11:00 +0000

My head is so wrapped in business right now. So much has happened at my work but there's so many lessons that have come out of it and so many more coming, I can feel it.

Then I come home and there's more business to contend with with our business venture with the condos.

Enough with the business already!

Here are a few of my obsessions besides business right now:

Lake - It's lake time! Y'all know where I am on the weekends.

Jillian Michaels - yes I love her new tv show "Losing It" and I'm reading "Making the Cut". I will be so buff by September, I'm excited!

Ball - I know I can hit a home run this year, just need the rain to stop to give me a chance! Watching ball should go here too. I love watching Ryan play ball at Gordie Howe, it's relaxing, exciting and nostalgic with it's old school concession stand, announcers and iconic stands.

That's all I have time for now. Hooray for Summer!

On the Move....

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Mon, 03 May 2010 04:47:00 +0000

Moving has always been very hard for me. I want to move to the house, I really do, it's just a little sad to say goodbye to everything.

We're renting out my condo as an executive suite, so it needs to be furnished. Alot of furniture is staying where it is. It's a little sad. I picked out everything in here with alot of thought and purpose, and it bugs me that whoever stays here won't appreciate it the same way I do. I know it sounds silly but it's a feeling. No one else will turn on the light in the China cabinet, just to appreciate it. I remember couch shopping with my Dad, sitting on every piece of furniture until I found one that was just right. Sigh.

Stuff is just stuff. Plus eventually we can get new stuff for the house, picked out with just as much thought and probably appreciated even more, and create and even more memories.

I did lots of growing up in this place too. So many life changing events have happened while living here. So many lessons learned. This place was the center of all of that. Contemplating these things looking over the river. It's all very emotional.

There's so much work to still be done. This week, we need to check references for the people that want to rent Ryan's place. It's generated quite of bit of interest which is great. Barbara is helping do the design/redesign of my place to rent out as an executive suite. I've been putting together spreadsheets for that. I still need to book maintenace for this place, the elevator to move, pick up odds and ends for the executive suite not to mention the actual packing. We move Friday. Tomorrow is Monday, did I mention I'm working during the day and I already have an hour blocked out tomorrow for a bank meeting? I'm thinking of taking Thursday off too, I can't see how this will all be done in a week.

I feel like we're a little light on the packing side right now. I know it won't
take that long once we're in full packing mode but being the planner I am, I can't see it visually accounted for right now.

It's exciting times but it is soooo busy. I hope our investments and time pays off. I think it's a pretty solid low risk plan.

My Enchantment with Saskatoon

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:38:00 +0000

It's coming close to springtime. Which means it's close to summer, my favorite time of year. I always equate this time with a renewal, a cleansing, a time to start things.

I'm sitting here happily reading a book on my bed and looking at the lights on the Broadway Bridge. It reminds me of how much I like this city. It's not too big, it's not too small, it's very scenic.

Saskatoon has been a big part of my life. I lived here when I was a kid. Ages 7 - 14. You would think that I wouldn't remember all that much from that time but I do. The family bike rides by the river, riding on the ferry north of town, going to the forestry farm, and the pool in our backyard, the huge treed park that surrounded my elementary school. And of course shopping. How I loved shopping in Saskatoon.

I moved to Regina and lived there for 8 years. And at first I vowed I would move back to Saskatoon. Go to University there, and be there again somehow. Of course we know that didn't happen, and over time, and after living in Calgary for a year, my want to move back to the city of bridges faded and the visits became longer and longer apart.

I'm not sure if fate intervened, but somehow 9 years later I found myself back in this city. For the first few months, I thought the city had it out for me. Telling me to go back, anywhere. My first big career changing day in Saskatoon, I fell into a pothole in the sidewalk on the way to work, broke my shoe, and my bracelet. I really thought it was a sign. But I wouldn't let up, I persisted and made it my own again. Saturday morning coffee, and window shopping downtown, marathon-ish runs around the river, biking until I run out of city, slo-pitch....

I'm not really sure why I like this city so much, surely other cities offer the same. I had recreated a lot of all of this in Regina, lets face it, it's the same city, one has a river, the other has a man made lake. But Saskatoon feels like home. It feels like it's mine.

From Fall 2009

Here and Now

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 05:13:00 +0000

I want to write that there's nothing new.

The fact of the matter is that there's tons new. I just can't keep up with the blog anymore I'm just too busy. It's not even that I'm too busy it's that when I'm home, I would like to not be on the computer, but spending time with family and friends.

It's my first night of vacation. No work for 2 weeks. It feels awesome. Went out of work with a bang with a night at The Keg and everyone from work. It was great. I truly like my job and everyone I work with. In the last 2 years of working there, I've experienced high highs and low lows. There's usually no middle ground. I joke that I'm addicted to the chaos and managing by emergency.

Outside of work, I'm very comfortable. I have a good routine going with gym, friends, Ryan and Bunnyrat. I really can't imagine my life any other way. I'm starting to warm up to the idea that I don't need to live downtown but it sure is convenient. As I'm looking around the Den here, I'm realizing we've outgrown this condo. I know, we probably were outgrown from it when Ryan moved in, but I'm warming up to being okay with that now. I have books on top of books in here, computer equiptment on top of computer equiptment, paper everywhere, guitars an electronic drumset, and did I mention there's the guest bed in here? The room is 8X10 feet. The living room is full, the kitchen is super full, I can't possibly fit another dish or appliance in there. Ah well, lets see what happens.

On Tuesday, Ryan and I are flying to Punta Cana in the Dominican. We have a Loft Suite at a 5 star resort booked for a week. I'm excited beyond belief. I can't wait to be in the sun. I had so much fun in Mexico last year without Ryan, it should be twice as much fun with Ryan. I can't wait.

I'd also like to go to Vegas again this year. Ryan and I had a blast when we were there, I hope we get to go again this year. I'm also keeping my eye out for some cheap European Vacations. There was a fabulous deal we missed out on a week to Portugal. I hope something similar comes up again. I've said it before, I just want to travel, the where part can find me, I'm not picky.

I'm re-reading Oryx and Crake right now by Margaret Atwood. I forgot just how much I love that book. I got Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood for Christmas. It's made it's way into my favorites too. The 2 stories intertwine in places, the social commentary is fantastic and the science is plausible.

I'm also still reading the Sookie Stackhouse series. It's not a particularly deep read, but it's sure entertaining!

I'm also relistening/reading to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. I've just been listening to it on my runs at the gym. I'm getting alot more out of it the second time around.

Speaking of the gym, I'm in the best running shape of my life right now. After having some numbers at a bridesmaid dress fitting that absolutely horrified me, I hit the gym hard. It turns out the girl measured wrong, but still, I had some areas that needed work. I switched my steady state runs of 40 minutes long to 25-30 minutes of 1 minute sprints with 1 minute recovery walks. I cover more distance than my steady state runs, it's more entertaining, and it gets you in shape fast. And I mean fast. I can't wait till it warms up a bit out and I can see what my new running shape will do for me running outside on the trails by the river. Will I be able to do the trails faster? Will I be able to run longer? Time will tell.

Ryan's been really into his photography lately. He's bought 2 new lenses in the last 2 weeks. We have alot of rabbit pictures to show for it ;) We have another collage frame to fill, I still need a theme for it though. I'll be spending some more time going through his pics and framing them and putting them in sets. I want to get them up on the website for curiosities sake. Now that I have a hold on work, I don't mind doing that on my own time anymore. Ryan took Barbara's Convocation photos, and they look really good. He also took a bunch at his cousin's wedding, which he still isn't finished editing. (I think he's a photoshop wizard now), but they turned out good too. It's an interesting hobby for sure.

On the weekend I went to the first symphony performance I've been at in a year. It was Jazz themed and it was awesome. When I get back I'll buy tickets to the last performances of the season. I really missed going, and I really do enjoy it. In the fall, we went to go see the musical "A Chorus Line". I wasn't really enthused with the musical itself at the time. I thought it was so-so. But I'm glad I've seen it now. I'm picking out references and parody of it everywhere now. It really is a good one to know.

I give up internet, I cannot update you all at once. There is too much! I will revisit you at a later date.

From ChristmasHolidays2009

City Sidewalks

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:57:00 +0000

It's that time of year again! I'm going insane with the craziness. The tree is set up, Christmas decorating is done. Gift lists have been made, it's just a matter of picking them up (Thank You Internet). I have a ton of errands I need to do in 3 weeks time too. It never seems to end. I can't see out of the Saturn right now and it needs new tires and an oil change. I need a haircut and dentist appt. I need to take my glasses in, the frames are pretty beat up and need to be tightened and looked over. Christmas cards need to get done. I think I need to take a me day from work in order to be able to do all this since almost none of it is doable on the weekends or afterhours and it's building up, I'm feeling the push!

Bunnyrat has found the new hobby of chewing the beads off of the tree skirt. When the presents go under the tree, the beads will be safe but the corners of any present will have a nip out of them like last year. In fact, if this post makes no sense, it's only because I'm getting up every 5 seconds to shoo her out of the Christmas decorations, beating up Santa Claus, stealing the tinsel off the tiny tree by the tv, etc. (I think the living room becomes a playground for her at Christmas time)

I could really use a vacation. I find it ironic that most of this stuff that needs to get done is so I can go on a vacation over the Christmas break. Ryan and I are going to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic in January. That will be a nice vacation and I'm looking forward to it immensely, it's in my calendar scope, it's creeping up, I don't mind that. :)

I guess there's nothing too exciting to blog about. Same old, same old. I can't believe how fast this year flew by. Time really does fly when you're having fun. That's exactly what the last year was fun. I don't even know how to make next year better. If my life continues as it has been, it'll do it itself without my intervention, it's a good path right now. I have a few professional goals for the next year. But not really any personal. Guess I'll follow along and see how it goes, it's in a good stride right now.

Wedding Envy

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:03:00 +0000

I have intense Wedding Envy at the moment. Last week one of my best friends got engaged and I was asked to be the maid of honour. I'm so excited and so happy to help her with everything. I have ideas for a speech already and I have ideas for the bachelorette party and shower. We found her wedding dress today, it totally suits her. I love dresses and fashion, I just absolutely loved looking at dresses. It's just all falling in place for her, and I'm so happy for her.

At the same time, I'm in this place in my life where it's kind of decision time. And I'm completely jealous and envious of her. What bothers me is that I can see it all fall in place for myself too. I have all the pieces, I'm so lucky.

I've never been one of those girls. I never planned a dream wedding when I was kid. I never really thought about it when I was a kid. (I didn't even know girls did that!) I wasn't that girl. Even when I was engaged, I didn't really want to plan a wedding. Maybe I knew it wasn't right, maybe it just wasn't my personality, I'm not sure. But something's changed. I can't just hole myself away and protect myself forever. Life is much better when you share it with someone.

In essence, right now, I'm planning a wedding with Ryan in the background of my mind, I can see a dress and a venue and shoes and flowers and colours and trinkets. I'm kind of scared, since it isn't like me. Is it all right? Does that mean I've found what I'm looking for and it's all coming naturally? I think I'm certifiably insane at the moment because I've never experienced this want or what I call "craziness" before. Is it just because I'm going through the motions in the background that's bringing this all to the surface. But I've done this before for 2 other friends and the only thing that is different is my partner.

I think I'm just freaking myself out for nothing. I think it's a good thing I'm going through this at this time. If I wasn't, or if I didn't, I think I could be pretty comfortable for a long time without actually thinking that far into the future. I think I'm happy to settle on, let the past be the past, but don't let it affect your future. It's okay to be jealous as long as you're not hiding from your own issues and as long as you're truly happy for the person you're jealous of.

I guess I'm just really scaring myself at the moment. But I think it's good.

Wanderlust

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:48:00 +0000

I'm a little restless these days.

I've finally recovered from the crazy summer and I'm hesitant to schedule my winter, I needed a bit of a break.

I've decided I'm going to go back to the YWCA and continue my workouts replacing running with swimming. It's too cold and icy here to continue running outside. Plus I've been doing so well with my current running plan it'd be a shame to stop the habit. I've also taken to reading on the recumbent bike. If I'm sitting there reading, I may as well be doing some sort of exercise, it really doesn't take much more effort, you end up a little sweaty but I'm fine with that.

Travel plans are filling my head. I went from not knowing where I want to go to having way too many ideas. Ryan and I aren't very picky when it comes to traveling, it comes down to what's on sale and when we want to go. It makes it hard to choose anything when you're comparing the Dominican to Europe, an all inclusive to a book your own everything. The choices are unlimited but we've been through this a couple times now and we're starting to narrow down the wanderlust each time. I want to take at least one warm trip every year and then one big trip every year like a tour of Italy or a Mediterranean Cruise or a tour of New Zealand. We're getting there, we got the warm trip down for next year. We're going to Punta Cana in the Dominican. We're staying at a 5 star resort. There's so many tours and adventures we'd like to do. It's all coming together.

I'm also trying to figure out what to do at lunches now at work. I used to go take a walk or go shopping. It's too cold to do that now. I need to get up and do something. I also want to limit the driving, I don't like driving in the winter. I'm not sure what to do yet. Gym is out, it takes too long to put myself back together after a good work out. Skipping lunch is an option and leaving early, but alot of the times I end up getting sidetracked and out of work at my normal time anyways, so I end up being deprived of my lunch time....What do other people do for lunches?

Asking the hard questions

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:05:00 +0000

Where to start?

This summer has been really crappy weatherwise. I don't think I've seen a summer this rainy and cool. Makes me wonder if I'm wasting time in Sask. Might want to think about somewhere warmer....Mexico or US maybe?

Work is insane. Work is always insane. Work doesn't seem to have very long periods of non insanity. I love it, but it's draining. It's Wednesday, I'm completely mentally exhausted. Does everyone work this hard or is it just me that comes home utterly mentally exhausted? I know for a fact that not everyone works this hard, but can you be passionate and enjoy something and not be mentally exhausted at the end of the day?

Sports. Next summer do I want to play 2 sports? I'm exhausted from running around after them. I'm not digging frisbee this year. I like the strategy of it, and game plan. This year there's not really any of that on this team. I think I'd be happier with 2 slopitch teams. Or just one team and that would give me time to bike and run on my own and still see my non-sporty friends. I'm juggling too much I think.

Weird happenings. 2 ex-boyfriend run ins in the last 2 weeks. One can't look me in the eye to say hi, the other wants to meet to have coffee. Both incidents make me say, What was I thinking back then? And even prompt me to become a bit mad at myself for those. Man, did I not have my head on straight then. Me now would of punched me back then. How could I have been so naive? And thank god I've smartened up to what I really want and what's really important.

Exhausted, might be coming down with a cold. Happy where I am right now lifewise, but always with the questions. :) Don't construe this as complaining. I'm just dumping my brain on the internet for the world to see. Pressing the giant reboot button on my brain....

Take a step back....

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:50:00 +0000

Hectic, hectic. That's all I can describe this gong show as.

I basically haven't stopped since the relay. I keep going and going and going. I got to relax a bit at the lake this weekend, but I drove back in a some crazy thundershowers, that kind of put a damper on the relaxation.

Frisbee, I'm busy finding girls that will play and I absolutely dread every game. It's no fun when you're sprinting the whole time because there has to be 3 girls on the field at all times. Luckily we've had 2 subs the last 2 games. That makes it worthwhile and enjoyable, but still doesn't count out the initial dread.

I lost my ruby necklace. The one Ryan gave me for Christmas. I feel awful. I don't lose things, that's very rare. I usually know where everything is. I've checked everywhere, luggage, floor, jewellery box, car etc. It's haunting my dreams. I've had dreams where I remember taking it off in the bathroom or in the car and putting it there. It's interfering with the reality of where it actually is....

Bunnyrat is getting spayed tomorrow. I'm super nervous for her. It was pretty impromptu. One of the guys at work, his wife is studying to become a vet, she wanted to assist on a rabbit spay and let me know there was an opening tomorrow for today. So I took it. I know it has to be done, but I've been putting it off. I just don't want anything to happen to her...

On top of all this, contractors are coming in and out of the house to repair water damage from a year and a half ago. I'm very skeptical of their work, but then it'll be over with. No more harassing the condo association etc. (I have a sneaky suspicion, that if I left the damage the way it was, it'll be less noticeable than the fixed result.

Ryan and I did reorganize the den. I have to admit it's way more spacious in here now. It's still functional and usable, and I now have access to guitars, a drumset and an amp at an arms reach, and still kept a few toys to tinker with. There's still more to be done but it's a good start. The world didn't end, I didn't throw as big of a temper tantrum as I thought I would. It's all good.

Going to the lake this weekend, and then, next weekend I took a long weekend in lieu of Canada day. I find it funny that my good friends had that weekend cleared for a party for my bday anyways, even though I said it wasn't happening. Boy do they know me. Of course it's happening. On a smaller closer scale. It will be awesome and I will turn 27 in happiness with my Ryan, family and friends. Couldn't ask for anything more.

So that's it. Summer is officially here. I'm trying to hold on to my sanity. Next year, one sport, I swear.......

Humbling Experiences

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:36:00 +0000

Work is insane, what else is new?

My schedule is insane, friends, sports, volunteering and trying to keep up with housework. I haven't done laundry in over a month and Bunnyrats nails really need to be trimmed. Next year, I'm only doing 1 sport! I promise myself this, I don't have time for 2, I feel too rushed and run down.

Ryan and I finally decided to "officially" move in together. I know, I know, he's been living at my place for a year now but not alot of his stuff was. We decided to meld everything into my place since it's in such a convenient location, even though his place is 3 times the size but on the edge of town. We can both walk to work at my place and I love the river for biking and running, and downtown for shopping, nevermind sitting at the comfy patio set reading a book overlooking the river. Especially since he's not around on the weekends anyways, I'd be constantly driving downtown weekends and weekdays.

So this whole experience is turning into me dealing with the issue of "mine". My place, my rooms, my furniture. I'm having alot of trouble with it. Each room I've thought out carefully in the first place, and now it's all being turned upside down trying to meld Ryan's things into it.

My Den is the worst in the whole house. It always has been. It's a spare bedroom and a collection of hobbies that I no longer have time for. Yet trying to give up that space for those hobbies is hard! I know I no longer write much, or putz around with my computer equiptment or do crafts. It's all stuff I'd like to do, and I have the space to do it, I just don't have time. Yet trying to get rid of my space to make it 'Our Space', proves to be daunting. I don't want to. Plain and simple. But it's something I have to do if I do want to accept a life with someone.

On top of it all, I realize it's just 'stuff'. I don't like to think of myself as a 'stuff' person, but lets face it, I hold on to 'stuff' like no one's business unless I'm too lazy to move it, then I seem to have no problems getting rid of 'stuff'.

I seem to have issues with contributions too. Let's face this sad sad fact: I've never seriously dated a guy that could soundly support himself financially. There I said it. I feel dirty that that's the truth. Big purchases and decisions, they've always been up to me. Yet Ryan is offering to purchase a flatscreen monitor to get rid of my giant 19" flat screen CRT, which is 75lbs and takes up so much desk space, and I have issues with that. The monitor may look ancient, but it suits my purposes just fine. It was $400 8 years ago, and I don't see the point of replacing it with a nicer bigger one that takes up less space for $200. I'm not sure if it's my inner frugality, even though I'm not the one shelling out for it, or if it's the fact that I won't be making the purchase. Accepting help from others. I need to learn to accept it. I wouldn't even let him by my headphones for me for my iPod when we were out one day, ($16). My reasoning was, if I needed them I would buy them for me. Yes I can take care of myself quite comfortably, I can take care of myself and someone else and a rabbit quite comfortably, but now I'm being offered help. Why can't I accept the help? Why is my brain wired this way?

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Wed, 20 May 2009 05:19:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've wrote on here.

I've outgrown the blogging a bit. I deal with things a little differently now than I used to. I love having a written record of things to look back on though. Good times and bad all important.

So what's new? I lost one of my favorite Uncles last week. I'm truly going to miss him, and am so glad I went to Mexico with all of them in February. I still can't believe it, it's so surreal that I don't want to believe. It's just not going to be the same without him.

On another note, Ryan and I had planned to take an extra long weekend. We visited Edmonton for 2 days. We checked in late on Wed and we got upgraded to a suite for free. The room was huge!!!!! Almost bigger than my house. I found 4 pairs of pants, also a find, and some other cute outfits.

Ryan and I went watersliding. He got me to go down Nessie's Revenge, I'm surprised I had the courage to do it. It wasn't the one that went straight down but the big one that goes almost straight with humps kind of. I did it, but I don't think I'll do it again! Water goes where it shouldn't when you pick up that speed....not comfy.

We spent 3 days in Jasper. We found a cute sandwich shop/bakery called 'The Other Paw'. We let them pack our lunches for hiking ;) They had cute names for their sandwiches like "The big bad wolf", which had 3 types of pig on it, "The Humpty Dumpty" which was a curried egg salad, and 'Old McDonald's Farm' which had everytype imaginable on it.

We hiked most of the Valley trails. Ryan tried out some photography techniques, I enjoyed the fresh air and the walk. It was so gorgeous there. We could hike until 10 at night and it was still light out. Then we'd find a restaurant to eat, they were still all open, and by the time we were done, the sun was just starting to set. Absolutely amazing.

One night was cold so we stopped hiking early, then it started to rain, so we took a drive to the Miette Hot Springs. They were packed with people! I like the idea, but I like to relax, not fend off kids and get splashed by people. I think I would enjoy them a bit better if it weren't as busy.

Ryan's family babysat Bunnyrat for me. Sometimes when I pick her up from there she doesn't want to come home, she has too much fun. Bunnyrat is chilling out right now, she doesn't seem too upset with me, yet ;) Rabbits are moody.

I got a chance to visit with Sarah and Erika while in Edmonton. It's amazing what your friends remember about you even though you haven't talked for a while. It was great to see them and catch up. It's great to feel like even though some contact has been lost, time doesn't seem to have been lost at all, you know?

I'm happy to be home after the tumultuous time and vacation. I'm happy to be back at work with a clear, rested mind and sunny perspective. I'm happy for how lucky I truly am to have such great friends, coworkers, family, extended family and adopted family.

I don't know how this update turned into one of 'those' posts. But it did. Sometimes it takes huge events to realize how lucky we truly are and that we need to tell and remind the important people our lives how much they mean to us.

What Books Have You Read?

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:50:00 +0000

What books have you read?

The BBC believes most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here. How do your reading habits stack up? Share. (Seriously???People don't read????)

Copy, edit and paste into a note of your own. (stars are what I've read)

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen*
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien*
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee*
6 The Bible - (some of it)
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte*
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell*
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens*
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott*
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare (some)*
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien*
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger*
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger*
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell*
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald*
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy*
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams*
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck*
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll*
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame*
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy*
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens*
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis*
34 Emma - Jane Austen*
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis*
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini*
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden*
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne*
41 Animal Farm - George Orwel*
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown*
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood*
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding*
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan*
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel*
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen*
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens*
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon*
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez*
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck*
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold*
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas*
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville*
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens*
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker*
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett*
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce*
76 The Inferno - Dante
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray*
80 Possession - AS Byatt*
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens*
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker*
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert*
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White*
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom*
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad*
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery*
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas*
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare*
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl*
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo*

57 / 100 Kristen, I know you've read more than you clicked off, heck half of these books are still in a box at the house, the huge heavy book box I left at home....

Pride, Prejudice and Zombies

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:39:00 +0000

I have to read this book next, Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favs. I love that Mr. Darcy.

But now my favorite book has more zombies:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read.

Guilty Pleasures

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:36:00 +0000

I don't like country music, but I really enjoy Taylor Swift's album Fearless.

Yes the pigs are flying....

So tired, clown'll eat me

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:12:00 +0000

Exhausted.

That puts everything in a nushell.

Work has been insanely insanely busy. I show up at 8:30 generally don't take lunch, I eat at my desk, and then I'm there till 5:30 or 6 on an early day or 8 on a late day when supper has been brought in, longer if supper hasn't been brought in. There's been maybe 3 days in the last 3 weeks I've left at my normal time and/or taken a proper lunch.

I get home, I do some chores, and then I'm wiped. I get 8 hours of sleep and wake up to do it all over again, completely exhausted. It doesn't matter how much sleep I get, I'm so tired lately.

I keep on pushing forward, there's so many projects and changes at work that need my attention and I know it won't stay like this forever and that this is a trend at these sorts of companies in Saskatoon right now.

Also this week, Ryan's in San Jose. I've always loved living by myself, I generally love my alone time, but this is different for some reason. I actually miss all the action that goes on around here when he's here. Huh, I'm growing up I guess. Bunnyrat's good company, but I'm finding myself a little bored. It could be that work is eating into my own social life as well. I missed girls night this week because I was at work. I even turned on MSN this week, gasp! Actually it was good, I haven't spoken to far away friends forever and I miss that. But still weird....

I can't wait till the weekend. Sleep, man do I ever need sleep........

Smarten Up Self!

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:37:00 +0000

Dear Self,

It's almost spring time, it's time to smarten up.

Remember those bangs that you got trimmed in the fall, that were straight across and oh so in. You found them cute for a month, but got tired of them and now they don't know what to do. They're not bangs and they aren't grown out.

Remember the hair colour that you couldn't decide what to do with over winter? Well now you have 7 inch roots and perfectly two toned hair. Smarten up and figure out something to do with it. Dark, light, red, streaks, your hair just wants to be a uniform colour.

Also, it's time to get out your spring work attire. Belted sweaters and blouses are starting to look and feel too much like housecoats since they've gotten so much use this year. I know you like comfort, but it's time to be professional.

Also you need to realize that you have to tote around 2 pairs of shoes to work. One pair for walking to and from work, then once you're there, you can wear those oh so cute heels. Your feet are tired of getting killed wearing 4 inch heels for 7 blocks and through a park on the way to work.

You also need to clean your car. It looks like it came from an off roading rally. Is it orange or gray? Also the rabbit litter that was spilled in the back over summer really needs to be vacuumed out.

You've ignored you for too long. It's time to smarten up!

Thanks,

Candice

The cost of going green

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:12:00 +0000

In the last couple years I've made quite a few changes that will help the environment. I think it's a worthy cause and I go along with it. We recycle almost everything at home. Cans, bottles, jars, juice and milk cartons. I use reusable shopping bags most of the time, it's just easier to get stuff up to the condo with a nice sturdy reusable shopping bag than a flimsy grocery store one that doesn't hold much and breaks. We use ShamWow's instead of papertowels. I buy maybe a roll of papertowel a year.

We both walk to work most of the time. In the winter I drive but it's only 7 blocks, I usually fill up with gas once every 7 weeks or so. In fact the lady at Saturn that books oil changes has phoned me once for the last 3 months to book one and I'm not even close to my 5000 kms. She was a little perterbed the last time. "Why do you have a car?" , she asked. "To get groceries", I said.

But then in the newspaper I was reading that most toilet paper is made from absolutely no recycled paper. And toilet paper alone is responsible for 5% of Canada's Forest decrements each year. So I did some research online and sure enough. Ironically, toilet paper is something I spluge on, I buy the expensive Charmin extra soft stuff. It's sooo nice, like pampering your bottom with a pillow. So I did some research on what would be more environmentally friendly. I could only find one brand that I've heard of and seen in stores and that was the PC Green Toilet Paper.

Now, when I first lived on my own in Calgary, I cheaped out on everything, so that I could afford to live there and do stuff and might have some savings when I came back to go to school. One thing I cheaped out on was Toilet Paper. And what was the cheapest toilet paper? You guessed it. Pc Green. It was so hard and scratchy that I vowed I would never ever cheap out on Toilet Paper again.

So I'm at a crossroads. I love the forest, yet, I don't want my butt to hurt. I can rationalize it that we don't use that much toilet paper. Some people go through it like crazy. We both use it responsibly. What's the happy medium so that I don't kill forest and use the bathroom in comfort?

Couples Quiz

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:46:00 +0000

This looked like fun:

1. What are your middle names?:
Dawn and Stephen

2. How long have you been together?:
It'll be a year next month :)

3. How long did you know each other before you started dating?:
Almost 2 years. I was engaged and he was dating someone when we met. I didn't even think he was interested, I thought he was just friendly.

4. Who asked who out?:
I asked him out on the first date, he was trying to guess if it was a date all night. Then he asked to make it official a few weeks later.

5. How old are each of you?:
We're both 26, he's almost a month older than me.

6. Whose siblings do you see the most?:
Ryan's, I see Brittany more than I see Kristen.

7. Do you have any children together?:
Just Bunnyrat.

8. What about pets?:
Ha, ha, I suppose Ryan could be Bunnyrat's Dad. She likes him more than me I think.

9. Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?:
Our current living situation, 2 people a rabbit don't fit comfortably in my condo. We're making do though.

10. Did you go to the same school?:
Nope, not at all. I went to UofR, he went to UofS.

11. Are you from the same home town?:
Nope, I'm from Saskatoon/Regina, he's from Prince Albert.

12. Who is the smartest?:
We're both smart in different ways.

13. Who is the most sensitive?:
I think I am.

14. Where do you eat out most as a couple?:
Pho's, although we don't eat out much, we prefer to order in ;)

15. Where is the furthest you two have travelled together as a couple?:
Las Vegas, it was a blast.

16. Who has the craziest exes?:
Me. I have a whole collection of weirdos for him to marvel at.

17. Who has the worst temper?:
Neither of us really has a temper. We're pretty calm people for the most part.

18. Who does the cooking?:
We both do. It's usually whoever gets home from work starts but we usually cook together.

19. Who is more social?:
Ryan, I'm perfectly happy being a home body and then you have Mr. 500 facebook friends.

20. Who is the neat-freak?:
We both are in different areas, makes for a tidy house most of the time.

21. Who is the more stubborn?:
Probably me.

22. Who hogs the bed?:
After I learned how to use a queen size bed, I now take up the whole bed. If I lie on it diagonally, I can make use of the most space. It drives Ryan crazy.

23. Who wakes up earlier?:
On weekdays Ryan is usually awake before me but he doesn't get up. On weekends I'm usually awake and ready to go way before Ryan.

24. Where was your first date?:
At the Galaxy Theater. We saw Semi Pro with Will Ferrell.

25. Who has the bigger family?:
I think I have a bigger extended family.

26. Do you get flowers often?:
Often enough to appreciate them.

27. How do you spend the holidays?:
Try to book the same amount of time in both cities with both families.

28. Who is more jealous?:
I don't think this is really in our nature.

29. How long did it take to get serious?:
I dunno, are we serious? We never had that discussion. I would say when he started living here so 3 or 4 months?

30. Who eats more?:
Definitely Ryan. I know I've cooked a good meal when the recipe says it feeds 8 and there aren't any left overs.

31. Who does the laundry?:
I think I do the bulk of it, but Ryan will do a load here or there.

32. Who’s better with the computer?:
We're both good. I think I'm better at Windows and Linux and Ryan is way better with a Mac.

From Summer 2008

25 Random Things

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:16:00 +0000

"Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about yourself. Then, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you."

Hmmm, 25 things about me, tagged 3 times, lets see how I do....

1. My trip to Las Vegas in November was my first real vacation in 6 years. Saturday I will be leaving to Mexico for a week :)

2. I'm extremely competitive and for me to keep going, sometimes you have to let me win. But you'll have to do in a way that I don't know you're doing it, otherwise I'd be mad.

3. The events of 2006 have changed my life forever. I learned the most lessons in 2006/2007 than I ever have and am thankful for the wakeup call and experience

4. I love animals, big or small, hair or no hair. I even make Ryan escort spiders or bugs out of the condo without hurting them. ( Mosquitos are the only exception)

5. I never do one thing at a time, I'm always doing 5, sometimes it shows in my absentmindedness.

6. I have a real tough time sitting still, I need to be doing something I deem constructive at all times. 1 hour tv shows are torturous to me. Yet I can sit for 3 hours and play Fable 2....

7. I really enjoy volunteering. I'm doing the 24 Hour Relay again for Camp Easter Seals this year and am having a great time fundraising and planning for it. It's a great cause.

8. I donate to the local SPCA every month. It's a cause I feel strongly about and it's a way I can help.

9. I live with my 2 best friends, Ryan and Bunnyrat, I couldn't be happier.

10. I find technology interesting, but I've lost a little bit of my passion for it. I have a hard time doing it on my own after work. On the other hand, I do what I like at work now, that would be too much at home as well.

11. I'm goal driven. I had a list of things to accomplish before I was 25. I did all of them except for 1. Now I have a list of things to accomplish before I'm 30 and am glad to report I'm on the right track.

12. I'm very close to my family. I miss not seeing them as much as I used to.

13. I want to do lots of travelling and have found a perfect partner in crime to do that with, and a job that will allow it.

14. I don't really like shopping. It may seem like I do but I don't. I don't mind clothes shopping or window shopping, but any other type, I make a list and I get in and out as quick as possible. Sometimes I don't mind the thrill of the hunt for the best deal...

15. I love summer, beaches, pools and the lake. If I could combine those in some sort of way so I get paid, I would be overjoyed.

16. I love exercise. I can't sit still but if I go to the gym or for a swim or a bike etc, I can get myself to settle down for a bit after, like now.

17. Most of my friends are women now. A couple years ago I had way more guy friends than I did girl friends. I learned my lesson the hard way and am happy the way things turned out.

18. I love the CBC, I like the TV channel, I love the news website, I love Radio 3 and the Galaxie radio channels. I can't get enough.

19. I believe that everything happens for a reason and have no regrets for anything. It's all part of something bigger than me.

20. I sometimes forget to take care of myself. I put everyone before me. A good example is I've made sure Bunnyrat is fed in the morning, I make Ryan a sandwich for lunch in the morning and then I forget to make myself one, or I forget mine on the counter.

21. I have a celeb crush on Ben Affleck and have no idea why.

22. My right foot is bigger than my left foot. It's sometimes hard to buy shoes :S

23. My legs are insanely long for a person of my height and torso abnormally short. I usually have to go to a bigger center to buy pants.

24. I hate the radio. Or radio stations in Saskatoon anyways. I find it sexist and offensive most of the time. Yesterday one of our stations was playing "Which celebrity was breastfed" Come on! I prefer listening to Talk Radio.

25. I love music. All different kinds. I'm not a huge fan of the Top 40, but I love rock music.

Puerto Vallarta!

noreply@blogger.com (candygirl25) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:10:00 +0000

It's +28 in Mexico right now, I added the weather to my google desktop. I can see that it's -33 here and +28 in Mexico side by side now. 5 more days!!!!!!