Hmmmm

I know. I suck. I currently have a very dead laptop on my hands, and therefore cannot be bothered to update very often. Especially on the weekends where there are three people competing for one computer. Not that there's a whole lot going on to talk about. Cari - that's crazy about that stingray thing! I'm glad you're okay. Your cruise is coming up soon, so you must be excited! Just remember to look down this time! :o)

I've been getting some subbing. It's hard sometimes, when you're not 100% certain that you're doing what you really want to be doing. But I figure everything happens for a reason, so this must be leading somewhere. And the kids are always good for a laugh. Though I guess we'll see after tomorrow... my first day at a new school. Always a nerve-wracking experience.

Also on the workfront, I should find out tomorrow if I will be getting paid for all services rendered to this point in the year. I was excited when our little news report showed up on Breakfast Television. I also heard it made the radio. Finally some vindication. Keep your fingers crossed for me...

Finally, I thought I'd end with a couple pictures of Halloweens past (to try and spruce this post up a bit). This year Griffin will be dressing up as Syndrome (the villain from The Incredibles). Since this costume doesn't actually exist, Craig and his mother had to get pretty creative. And they did a pretty good job, I must say. Here are a couple of pictures from previous years.


I'll add pictures from this year once I have some. Cari, I'd send you some Halloween candy if it wouldn't be stale by the time it got there! :o)

It's About Time

I can't believe this took as long as it did to show up in the paper:

http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=73682&sc=89

The Latest

So we finally decided on a style and colour for my bridesmaid dress. We actually went for a completely different one than we originally thought. So I appreciate your voting, and the pink one almost won, but then we changed our minds :o) Here it is in all its indigo glory:

On another note, I'm starting to get a little annoyed with the Halifax School Board. It feels like I've been subbing like crazy, and I've only been paid for 2 days so far. On 2 separate pay cheques. I've been calling and e-mailing the school board like crazy, but no one there will answer their phone or return e-mails because it turns out most of the sub paycheques have been screwed up. They now owe me about a thousand dollars, and I can't get ahold of anyone to find out when I'll get it. One lady's answering machine says they hope to have it all worked out by the time Nov 1 paycheques come out. But my issue is about all the people who need to pay rent on Nov 1. I think this whole situation is unacceptable, and someone should be getting fired over this. I bet everyone at the school board got paid this week...

An old friend...

Just wanted to let everyone know that I ran into an old friend the other day - Jen McCulloch! Turns out she lives in my building! She's doing great, working in accounting, and she asked about everybody. She doesn't have internet right now, but plans to get Facebook as soon as she does, so keep an eye out for her! She looks great! And Cari - she was definitely shocked to hear that you were living in Australia! She's also in awe over all the marriages and babies, though sometimes I am too :o) Anyway, just thought that I'd let you know that she says hi to everyone!

The Bright Side...

This post is a little more optimistic than previous ones... Things are actually going pretty good, and I'm actually pretty happy. I mean, who can't be happy with the weather we've been having lately. I had to copy this map off the Weather Network website. Take notice of the east coast. It's 28 degrees and sunny in late September!!! It's amazing! It's hard to stay bummed for too long. It makes it easier to swallow the knowledge that the cold weather is inevitably right around the corner. And the cold weather is going to be easier to swallow by the hours and hours of curling on TV!!!



On the teaching front, I've got lots of subbing days on the go. Substitutes may not be regarded in the best light by the students, but it is what you make it, I guess. I'm trying to have fun with it, and not take it too seriously. And I'm loving having lots of free time. Quite a difference from the last few years! And it's nice actually getting paid to teach!

Some people...

Just in case I forget why I left this business...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6pi-9LBtxs

Still Alive

So I know I've sort of dropped off the face of the earth. But truthfully, I've just been a little blah lately. Summer's over, which is good because it means that I am done at the restaurant (*everybody cheer*). But the school year has just started, and there are no job prospects as of yet. I'm not sure why everyone was constantly saying how easy it was going to be to get a job due to the fact that sooooooooo many teachers were retiring last year. Well, I was only qualified to apply for a total of 10 jobs, none of which I got due to the hundreds of other teachers (with more seniority) who are also competing for the same jobs. So I'm feeling a little discouraged right now. The subbing calls haven't started yet, so I'm a little bored. I'm trying to enjoy the break, but it's hard not knowing what the future holds. I'm glad everyone is doing well, though! Gives me something to focus on. Anyway, hopefully something will come up so I will have some good news to post. In the meantime, I don't really have anything going on that anyone would find terribly interesting. So keep doing interesting things, everyone, and keep posting so I have something to read!

Dress Votes

Well, with Nicole's wedding looming in less than 7 months, we've starting scoping out dresses. I think she's settled on her dress (once she recovers from the sticker shock), so now we're trying to figure out my maid of honour dress. Here are the 2 candidates:
They both look really nice on, so it's a hard choice. We haven't decided colours for sure, but we'll think about that once we decide on style. Any thoughts...?

Big News

Well, it's big news for me, anyway. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and have decided that come September, I'm going to need some more time to myself and to spend with family. So after 8 years, 3 restaurants, thousands of customers, and an infinite number of frustrations, this waitress is hanging up her apron! I have officially given my 2 weeks notice, and am ready to focus on other parts of my life. No, I haven't gotten a fulltime teaching job yet, but I'm going to try my best. And if I don't, I will just sub as much as I can. And I really want to have all my weekends off to enjoy life, not be too exhausted all the time to do anything. It's nerve-wracking because I'm letting go of my safety net. But I've realized that having a little disposable income is not worth losing my sanity. So I will hopefully rediscover my sanity after a very hectic summer at the restaurant, and turn my attention to my career. Wish me luck!

A Day With the Boys

Since summer is winding down, yesterday the three of us decided to drive to Upper Clement's Part for the day. I haven't been there in over 10 years, and we figured Griffin would be the perfect age - not too young to go on the good rides, but still young enough to go on the kiddie rides. We were right. Craig and I were exhausted by the time we got home last night.

Here is Griffin driving the truck ride. Craig had an awful time trying to get this picture. Finally he just clicked at the truck in front of Griffin, and voila! Perfect.
This picture is cool because a dragonfly flew by just as Craig took the picture. The dragonfly actually looks bigger than Griffin.
The flume ride is still pretty good. The day was really hot, so the water fest great. Griffin loved it!
Here are Craig and Griffin coming out on the roller coaster. It was Griffin's first time ever on a roller coaster. They sat right up front, and once again, Griffin loved it!
You can just see them at the front. Craig is in a green shirt.
Griffin on the water slide.

Griffin looking upset that we didn't sit in the very front on the train.
Craig and I actually didn't put Griffin up to this. I don't know if he even realized what he was doing, but it's funny! "Bum Cars". Tee hee.
This is Craig looking all poised to hit the ball...
...and this is Craig and Griffin trying to find the ball in the water. He ended up having to get a new ball.
It was another good Sunday! I'm a little burnt and sleepy, but it was worth it. Now tomorrow it's off to look at wedding dresses with Nicole. Wish me luck!

Natal Day weekend

I had this past weekend off, and it was much needed after working almost 70 hours in 7 days. We mostly just took it easy, went to see the fireworks on Saturday night in honor of Natal Day. I don't think the city really thought things through for these fireworks. There was all this cloud cover, and they were being shot off from the old bridge, which conveniently enough just happened to be hiding directly behind an enourmous military ship. So the low fireworks were blocked by the boat, and the high fireworks got lost in the clouds, looking more like the Northern Lights than anything. I think it would have been a really good show had it not been for these factors. Needless to say, I don't have any pictures.

On Sunday, we traveled up to the valley to visit the Frys. Everyone was home, including the new baby. These pictures are for you, Mom, since you didn't get to be there.

The happy/crazy aunt
Nicole - Mom, are you getting ideas???

Dancing Baby

Staring intently at mommy

All in all it was a really good weekend. Really relaxing. Going back to work today sucked. I have that feeling now that I am so done with customer service. Ready to go out and get a career leaving the restaurant business way behind me. Hopefully come September...

House Guest

We had ourselves a little house guest this week in Shelby the cat. She's gone now and things are a little lonely - I keep expecting her to come around the corner meowing for some attention. I took a few pictures for Shannon, so you can see how relaxed she was all week.



I took a few more, but they're more of the same. I guess she really didn't do too much. But she was cute!

Happy Birthday Blog!

I heard through the grapevine that today was like the tenth birthday of blogging. So I thought I would post something in honour of this wonderful tool with which we can commute with each other around the world. I don't have a lot to say other than this, except that I'm thrilled that summer is finally here! Today might not be the best example of this (it poured all day), but most of the last week has been low to mid thirties and sunny, sunny, sunny! Hopefully August is a continuation of this. So we can start enjoying ourselves and making the most of the summer before job-search time begins.

One last Lunenburg trip

Since Shannon's officially moving to Wisconson in 5 short days, a few of the remaining ladies went to Lunenburg for the day for some lunch and shopping. The weather was perfect, and we had a great day!
We took this picture in the novelty jail in Big Red's. I love the look on Shan and Maur's faces! They actually looked shocked to be behind bars!
Followed by a little jail brawl.
There were tons of people around. We could barely find parking, and there were tons of tourists everywhere. We even ran into a group of traveling teachers in Island Beach. We shared tips and tricks of the biz. One lady suggested putting a jar of sand on your desk and telling the students it's the ashes of a former annoying student. Sounds like a great idea!

If you look closely, you can see where Maureen dribbled her ice cream all over her shirt!


Thanks for a great day ladies!

Happy Birthday Shannon... And good luck in the USA!

In honor of Shannon's birthday, and the fact that she's moving to Wisconsin in a couple weeks, we had a little get together this evening at Mexicali Rosa's. Good food, good company, and good pina coladas equals a great night! Here's Shannon in the birthday sombrero. Maureen is back in NS for the summer! It was good to see her!
Adam, telling one of many detailed stories. This guy has a lot to say!
Yummy cake - the chocolate one is vegan and was really good.

Good luck guys!

Extreme Makeover - Car Edition!

So I know it's been awhile. There's just not that much going on. I'm working all the time, and I'm sure no one wants to hear about that! Plus the weather has been weird and a little depressing. We get one or two hot sunny days a week followed by several chilly and overcast days. Blah. Where's July? But we do have some news. We've got a new toy:

Before
After Before
After
Before
After
We really like our new car. It took long enough to get, but it's really nice. Unfortunately I am not able to drive it yet (ahem - 5 speed - blech). But we wanted this style and colour, and it was only available in 5 speed in Atlantic Canada. So Lorianne's got some learning to do! Here we are with the cars side by side before we left the Accord behind. I was a little sad, but the new car is really cool! By the way, I am overdressed as usual. Craig and Griffin have it right. I look a little silly standing by them. I'll post more soon. I'm sure everyone will be on the edge of their seats wondering how my standard driving is coming along.