Hey, thanks for the comments everyone! I loooove comments. And I looove you! I also may be on painkillers right now. It happens! And also, makes J-Bird a very, very happy girl (wooo no pain!).
I feel like I should explain. For the past...hmm, week, say, I've had increasing discomfort because of something that has not officially been diagnosed. I'm pretty sure I know what it is, but I haven't been to a doctor yet (I know, that is ridiculous, but seriously people, do you have any IDEA how hard it is to get a doctor over the Christmas/New Year week? Do you? I promise I will go to one soon. Also, what I have does not look to be horribly evil. Excuse me, I must knock on some wood.). During this time, I have also come down with a cold/flu/pain in the ass, all of which have combined into demonic choir that sings "Jan gets tired after two hours of light activity and, irony of ironies, Jan cannot sleep properly! Oh no, sleep will not be thine! Ha! Suffer, suffer!" To which I respond by metaphorically cowering in a corner and whimpering.
But today, today I decided I would take pills. I am not normally a fan of pills, I generally figure my body should be able to take the pain, since I am young and in good health (generally). But today, I was wise enough to throw that crap to the side, and swallow me some meds. And can I just tell you, meds are fantastic. I would almost marry them. I really almost would. I looove meds. And they love me. Well, pain meds. Not malaria meds. Malaria meds make me have awful, scary dreams, where everything is crazy and I am doomed. Doomed! So the malaria meds are bad.
Any good/bad medicine stories from you guys? Tell us!
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Thursday, December 28, 2006
2006 In Review
Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah, y'all! Hope you had good ones. I stole this year-in-review quiz from...somewhere, I forget, but here goes:
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? I went to India, Malaysia and Singapore. I graduated from University. I asked for a guy's number and called him.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't really do New Year's Resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? A coworker did, to a tiny adorable girl!
4. Did anyone close to you die? No, and I'm very thankful for that.
5. What places did you visit? Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and if you count airports, LA.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? A happy healthy relationship. If it doesn't happen though, I won't cry over it.
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 24th - Walked across the stage of the Chan Centre for Graduation Ceremony.
June 28th - left for my trip
July 10th- 14th - Anna and Dieter's Wedding
September 2nd - landed in Vancouver
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? God, I graduated, travelled Asia, and developed a backbone, and you want me to pick one? You choose!
9. What was your biggest failure? Um...not hanging on to my camera? And also not growing a backbone earlier. I mean, hell, took me long enough.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I chipped a tooth and lost a toenail because of stupid basketball. Oh, and I wasn't all that mobile after climbing Kinabalu either. No serious illnesses though, thank goodness.
11. What was the best thing you bought? ...My plane ticket.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Lots of people! Anyone who made a decision they knew was a long time coming, including me.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? They know who they are.
14. Where did most of your money go? To Taiwan, India, Singapore and Malaysia.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My trip!
16. What song will always remind you of 2006? Ugh, I hate having to pick just one. Sadly, probably "Promiscuous". It was everywhere.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier (whooo!)
b) thinner or fatter? maybe a little fatter? Not sure.
c) richer or poorer? poorer (boooo)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Saving money
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Spending money, stressing over stupid things.
20. How did you spend Christmas last year? Christmas Eve at Girly's, Christmas Day with the fam.
21. Did you fall in love in 2006? Nope, sadly.
22. How many one-night stands? None. Not my thing.
23. What was your favorite TV program? Why do I have to pick one?! Scrubs.
24. What did you do for your birthday in 2006? Hahaha, me and T had a pole-dancing class with the girls!
25. What was the best book you read? Hmmm...nothing's sticking out.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? That the Scrubs website publishes an episodic songlist
27. What did you want and get? For Christmas? Well the shirt Girly made me was pretty sweet, even if I didn't know I wanted it.
28. What did you want and not get? A winning lottery ticket.
29. What was your favorite film of this year? Um...favourite as in "best" or "most enjoyed"? Cause...most enjoyed = She's the Man. My head hangs in shame.
30. Did you make some new friends this year? If so, who? Yep! They know who they are.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I had a pretty satisfying year so I'm gonna go with nothing.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Same as the year before...relatively simple, nothing too flashy. And since my trip, more pashminas are involved.
33. What kept you sane? Good friends, good books, and YouTube
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Fancy like have a crush on? Jim Halpert, from The Office (US)
35. What political issue stirred you the most? Oh god, so many. In Canada, Gay Marriage and Environmental Conservation
36. Who did you miss? Everyone who left me: J, Girly, Shakey, L.
37. Who was the best new person you met? Ask me again in a month
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
That not doing something because you're scared you won't get the ideal outcome is stupid. Simple, I know. I'm working on it.
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? I went to India, Malaysia and Singapore. I graduated from University. I asked for a guy's number and called him.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't really do New Year's Resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? A coworker did, to a tiny adorable girl!
4. Did anyone close to you die? No, and I'm very thankful for that.
5. What places did you visit? Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and if you count airports, LA.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? A happy healthy relationship. If it doesn't happen though, I won't cry over it.
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 24th - Walked across the stage of the Chan Centre for Graduation Ceremony.
June 28th - left for my trip
July 10th- 14th - Anna and Dieter's Wedding
September 2nd - landed in Vancouver
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? God, I graduated, travelled Asia, and developed a backbone, and you want me to pick one? You choose!
9. What was your biggest failure? Um...not hanging on to my camera? And also not growing a backbone earlier. I mean, hell, took me long enough.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I chipped a tooth and lost a toenail because of stupid basketball. Oh, and I wasn't all that mobile after climbing Kinabalu either. No serious illnesses though, thank goodness.
11. What was the best thing you bought? ...My plane ticket.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Lots of people! Anyone who made a decision they knew was a long time coming, including me.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? They know who they are.
14. Where did most of your money go? To Taiwan, India, Singapore and Malaysia.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My trip!
16. What song will always remind you of 2006? Ugh, I hate having to pick just one. Sadly, probably "Promiscuous". It was everywhere.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier (whooo!)
b) thinner or fatter? maybe a little fatter? Not sure.
c) richer or poorer? poorer (boooo)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Saving money
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Spending money, stressing over stupid things.
20. How did you spend Christmas last year? Christmas Eve at Girly's, Christmas Day with the fam.
21. Did you fall in love in 2006? Nope, sadly.
22. How many one-night stands? None. Not my thing.
23. What was your favorite TV program? Why do I have to pick one?! Scrubs.
24. What did you do for your birthday in 2006? Hahaha, me and T had a pole-dancing class with the girls!
25. What was the best book you read? Hmmm...nothing's sticking out.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? That the Scrubs website publishes an episodic songlist
27. What did you want and get? For Christmas? Well the shirt Girly made me was pretty sweet, even if I didn't know I wanted it.
28. What did you want and not get? A winning lottery ticket.
29. What was your favorite film of this year? Um...favourite as in "best" or "most enjoyed"? Cause...most enjoyed = She's the Man. My head hangs in shame.
30. Did you make some new friends this year? If so, who? Yep! They know who they are.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I had a pretty satisfying year so I'm gonna go with nothing.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Same as the year before...relatively simple, nothing too flashy. And since my trip, more pashminas are involved.
33. What kept you sane? Good friends, good books, and YouTube
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Fancy like have a crush on? Jim Halpert, from The Office (US)
35. What political issue stirred you the most? Oh god, so many. In Canada, Gay Marriage and Environmental Conservation
36. Who did you miss? Everyone who left me: J, Girly, Shakey, L.
37. Who was the best new person you met? Ask me again in a month
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
That not doing something because you're scared you won't get the ideal outcome is stupid. Simple, I know. I'm working on it.
Friday, December 22, 2006
One More Push
There's something about hanging out with new people, or people you don't get to see often enough. It's fun listening to new perspectives and new personalities, watching the dynamics in different groups. And different groups have different bonds, different ways of being supportive. I could not ask for a more perfect core group of friends; they're supportive and understanding and loyal; everything friends should be. I feel safe with them, and I know that I can tell them anything ask them anything, without worrying about what they think of me.
Christmas time, though, is when everyone comes home, everyone sees each other again. It's when you get to reconnect with friends you haven't seen in months, maybe haven't even talked to in so long. And you catch up on each other's lives, make up for lost time.
I don't know if it's because I've forgotten what this is like, it having been so long, or if there's just been something about the past few months, but I have loved this lately. The commiserating, the agreeing, disagreeing, advising from "new" sources, I come away from each brunch, party, and dinner energized. I think it's because these people push me in different directions than the people I see on a more regular basis. They have different priorities, and that bleeds into their personalities, and into me. They force me to look at parts of my life and myself I've been neglecting, push me to get over the fear and just. do. it. I'm terrified of jumping over a cliff, and they're all "look, it's not a cliff. It's like a curb. A tiny one. I do it all the time! It's easy! Just do it, you'll see! Seriously."
Somehow it doesn't seem so scary anymore. I think I will.
Christmas time, though, is when everyone comes home, everyone sees each other again. It's when you get to reconnect with friends you haven't seen in months, maybe haven't even talked to in so long. And you catch up on each other's lives, make up for lost time.
I don't know if it's because I've forgotten what this is like, it having been so long, or if there's just been something about the past few months, but I have loved this lately. The commiserating, the agreeing, disagreeing, advising from "new" sources, I come away from each brunch, party, and dinner energized. I think it's because these people push me in different directions than the people I see on a more regular basis. They have different priorities, and that bleeds into their personalities, and into me. They force me to look at parts of my life and myself I've been neglecting, push me to get over the fear and just. do. it. I'm terrified of jumping over a cliff, and they're all "look, it's not a cliff. It's like a curb. A tiny one. I do it all the time! It's easy! Just do it, you'll see! Seriously."
Somehow it doesn't seem so scary anymore. I think I will.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Recap: Serious Philosophical Discussion
So, as I mentioned, last night was L's welcome back party. We started out at the Cambie, the site of many historically significant conversations, and P and I had one of our own. It went something like:
P: So you look like the type that would get in fights a lot. Have you gotten in a lot of fights? (I should add that P is a hilarious guy, with a cute Aussie accent, and we are both joking. JOKING. We don't condone violence, or me getting into fights. Hi mom!)
J-Bird: All the time! It's like I'm a conflict magnet!
P: Really?
J-Bird: No. Actually, I've never been in a fight. Except you know, with my brother, but that doesn't count.
P: You haven't lived if you haven't been in a fight! You know, if you were to get in a fight tonight, I'd have your back. Just let me know who it is we're fighting.
J-Bird: Oh, yeah, well we wouldn't want you to accidentally hurt an innocent bystander.
P: Exactly. So, as it's your first fight, you want to make sure it's someone you feel confident you could beat.
J-Bird: Good point...let's scout for candidates.
Here are the stipulations we came to:
Not L (I felt it would be rude to beat up the guest of honour)
No couples (the other person might step in...always bad news)
No old guys. On the one hand, they have a lot of life experience. Some of it may be in ass-kicking. Also, if I should actually beat one up, they could need a hip replacement or something! Those are not cheap.
However, fitting candidates include:
People who wear berets unironically (and are not mimes or Green Berets)
Guys who wear disconcertingly fitted, looooow-cut vneck shirts (ew).
That dude that kept bumping into me on the dance floor. What, can you not see me standing right next to you???
I didn't actually get in a fight last night, we started dancing to awesome 50's and 60's music at Shine. But next time, my friends. Next time. After all, I haven't lived yet.
P: So you look like the type that would get in fights a lot. Have you gotten in a lot of fights? (I should add that P is a hilarious guy, with a cute Aussie accent, and we are both joking. JOKING. We don't condone violence, or me getting into fights. Hi mom!)
J-Bird: All the time! It's like I'm a conflict magnet!
P: Really?
J-Bird: No. Actually, I've never been in a fight. Except you know, with my brother, but that doesn't count.
P: You haven't lived if you haven't been in a fight! You know, if you were to get in a fight tonight, I'd have your back. Just let me know who it is we're fighting.
J-Bird: Oh, yeah, well we wouldn't want you to accidentally hurt an innocent bystander.
P: Exactly. So, as it's your first fight, you want to make sure it's someone you feel confident you could beat.
J-Bird: Good point...let's scout for candidates.
Here are the stipulations we came to:
Not L (I felt it would be rude to beat up the guest of honour)
No couples (the other person might step in...always bad news)
No old guys. On the one hand, they have a lot of life experience. Some of it may be in ass-kicking. Also, if I should actually beat one up, they could need a hip replacement or something! Those are not cheap.
However, fitting candidates include:
People who wear berets unironically (and are not mimes or Green Berets)
Guys who wear disconcertingly fitted, looooow-cut vneck shirts (ew).
That dude that kept bumping into me on the dance floor. What, can you not see me standing right next to you???
I didn't actually get in a fight last night, we started dancing to awesome 50's and 60's music at Shine. But next time, my friends. Next time. After all, I haven't lived yet.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Time Management
Oh god, who ever thought Christmas was a "break" was clearly insane. I'm definitely busier now than I was in November. For example, this is a fairly accurate (but not exhaustive) view of my next week:
Monday: Go out for L's welcome back party
Tuesday: Hang out with one or more of Girly, C and Kaisha
Wednesday: Christmas party
Thursday: dim sum w/ L, and then family Christmas dinner
Friday: lunch and shopping w/ Shakey, and then hang out with Jojo
Saturday: pick up Tessa at airport, hang out, and drop her off at ferry terminal
Sunday: work. I know, it's Christmas Eve, and a Sunday. I'm about as impressed as you are.
Now I just need to figure out how to find the time to buy 2 more presents, sleep and shower, and I'll be all set! Yeesh. Stupid Christmas.
Monday: Go out for L's welcome back party
Tuesday: Hang out with one or more of Girly, C and Kaisha
Wednesday: Christmas party
Thursday: dim sum w/ L, and then family Christmas dinner
Friday: lunch and shopping w/ Shakey, and then hang out with Jojo
Saturday: pick up Tessa at airport, hang out, and drop her off at ferry terminal
Sunday: work. I know, it's Christmas Eve, and a Sunday. I'm about as impressed as you are.
Now I just need to figure out how to find the time to buy 2 more presents, sleep and shower, and I'll be all set! Yeesh. Stupid Christmas.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Note: All Christmas Shopping Will Be Done on Weekdays
I haven't actually tried to do any of my shopping on weekends yet; what with my "I work all weekend, every weekend" schedule, I haven't really gotten the chance. However, having tried to bus home from work over the weekend, I now know that shopping is out of the question. Buses are packed, with cranky, been-pushed-around-all-day shoppers lugging 12 bags apiece, all foaming at the mouth to get home. Bus drivers seem to be bearing it relatively well, although I think that's because they traded "packed with students on weekdays" for "packed with shoppers on weekends", so mathematically they've won.
Holiday Shopfest 2006 has affected the cafe though; for one thing, people tend to come in later, which results in me having to stay in longer. More annoyingly, people tend to be more stressed, which means shorter fuses and more complaints about nothing (seriously. Had one lady ask us why our tables were never clean. To which I - rather diplomatically, I thought - did not ask why she insisted upon sitting at the one table that hadn't been cleared, the previous occupants having left 30 seconds ago). On a brighter note, we had three of the happiest babies come in today; they were literally all smiles, and adorable. I love a happy baby.
There's another storm warning for tonight; hurrah inclement weather! Not. Time for me to finish up some wrapping. Catch y'all later!
Holiday Shopfest 2006 has affected the cafe though; for one thing, people tend to come in later, which results in me having to stay in longer. More annoyingly, people tend to be more stressed, which means shorter fuses and more complaints about nothing (seriously. Had one lady ask us why our tables were never clean. To which I - rather diplomatically, I thought - did not ask why she insisted upon sitting at the one table that hadn't been cleared, the previous occupants having left 30 seconds ago). On a brighter note, we had three of the happiest babies come in today; they were literally all smiles, and adorable. I love a happy baby.
There's another storm warning for tonight; hurrah inclement weather! Not. Time for me to finish up some wrapping. Catch y'all later!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Holiday Hodgepodge
Yesterday L and I went to Ikea, to pick up some Christmas-y things. L was trying to find a tiny Christmas tree, and while there weren't any to be found at Ikea (other than a Christmas tree-shaped plant that wasn't even a conifer), across the street at Home Depot, we found a little Norfolk Island Pine (my favourite tree, no less!) that would do the trick. We also found tiny little lights, which along with the tiny Christmas balls that we found at Ikea would go a long way into making the tree festive.
On the way home, we decided to make a project of it, and after picking up L's friend M and some popcorn, we headed back to L's where we made some hot chocolate and proceeded to get crafty. We made snowflakes and popcorn-garlands, and a tiny paper chain. By the end, the tree had a distinctly Christmas-like feel to it, which was exactly what we were aiming for! L dropped M and I off at home, after making plans to go snowshoeing today.
So at 10 am, we drove up to Cypress Mountain and went snowshoeing, which was really fun. Everything was white and winter wonderland-esque. The saplings that were bowed down with the weight of the snow looked like horses or dolphins or anything you wanted them to, and we even had music, thanks to L's phone. As long as we kept moving we were toasty warm, which just goes to show that Columbia snowjackets are efficient at conserving heat, since we were never going faster than a walk. But it was nice to be outside doing something active, and feel kind of like the outdoors is our friend again, as opposed to this thing that just makes us cold and wet. Hurrah for nature!
On the way home, we decided to make a project of it, and after picking up L's friend M and some popcorn, we headed back to L's where we made some hot chocolate and proceeded to get crafty. We made snowflakes and popcorn-garlands, and a tiny paper chain. By the end, the tree had a distinctly Christmas-like feel to it, which was exactly what we were aiming for! L dropped M and I off at home, after making plans to go snowshoeing today.
So at 10 am, we drove up to Cypress Mountain and went snowshoeing, which was really fun. Everything was white and winter wonderland-esque. The saplings that were bowed down with the weight of the snow looked like horses or dolphins or anything you wanted them to, and we even had music, thanks to L's phone. As long as we kept moving we were toasty warm, which just goes to show that Columbia snowjackets are efficient at conserving heat, since we were never going faster than a walk. But it was nice to be outside doing something active, and feel kind of like the outdoors is our friend again, as opposed to this thing that just makes us cold and wet. Hurrah for nature!
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