Piper!!

I had to puppy sit this evening. Well, I didnt *have*, I was asked and I more than graciously accepted.

Piper is a 9 week old bulldog, and holy hell is she cute.
She also has very sharp teeth.

What more can I say?






























Yelling at me to come down off the couch so she could chew on me..









Then sleep time!!












It's tiring work being a puppy!
























I saw this little guy on my way home.
He's actually on the stairs of the house next door to my apartment building!

No faith in the postal service(s)

I got another lovely surprise in the mail today.
A letter from Miss Nicole in Florida!!
Unfortunately, the envelope she sent it in was very thin, and the 'gift' fell out during the post.
(Yes, she should have sent it in something else or reinforced it...)
Or maybe someone even dug it out, thinking it was something of more value.

It was, in fact, a fridge magnet from Seattle. I am bummed that it didnt make it here.

(If you didnt know, I have a large obsession and collection of fridge magnets. From everywhere I go and things I do, as well as ones that people send me from their travels)

what gives

I think that one of my calves is bigger than the other. Is that normal? I dont like it.
Why would it do this? Am I walking differently all of a sudden that I am growing one calf muscle larger than the other? How do I stop it? Be lazy??

What gives body?!

Fun Monday!

First up! Knee high navy argyle socks!












Second up! My flannel spidery-looking octopus that I made for Rigby's 1st birthday.
The rules were to give something reused or recycled. It's new, but it's home made.
I think I did pretty good!





















Third! I got home from work today to find two fun things in the mail!
A postcard from Pennie (Canadian) and Wilco (Dutch), my friends who live in Lucerne, Switzerland. They are travelling in North America right now. Such a nice surprise!
The box is from Leo & Kate of relic stoneworks in Iowa.









I almost died. I've wanted these forever!
Teardrop Mookaite!!!
I love them to bits!!!












And they are reversible!
All dark on one side and two toned burgundy/purple and yellow on the other!









So, for being a crazy and somewhat stressful Monday at work, it turned out pretty good!
Now I have to do a couple chores and eat, before turning in for some sleep!

And yes, I am wearing the plugs already!!

socks

yeah, thats right. socks.

i have pictures of some crafting I did recently to put up, but they are still on my camera and i needed to share this for some reason...

why am i just getting on the knee high sock train now? where have i been? it makes my legs so much warmer when im walking in this chilly fall weather. and when winter is here.. imagine!

i just bought one pair last week. i need to get more.

man. knee high socks. who knew?


oh, they are navy argyle too, just to make them that much better... perhaps a pic? or not...

Emmett the Giraffe!!

I found this outfit last weekend when shopping and it was just so damn cute. Its much too big for him, but whatever! Here he is in it anyways!! SO DAMN CUTE!!

Ugh I heart him so bad!! Can't wait to see him at Christmas!!!!!






























OOH! I just remembered that they are coming to Vancouver next month so I get to see him sooner!!!! Oh, and my brother and sister-in-law too....

countdowns!

Hawaii is booked! I will land in Honolulu on Feb 7 and leave from Maui on Feb 19. Danielle and fam get to Maui on the 12th. So. I have 5 ish days to do what I want and get to Maui. My Mom might actually come for a week and hang out. We want to do Waikiki again, like we did 10 years ago on my way back from Australia. We would also like to hit the big island to see the live lava and the astronomy centre. Well, she wants to see the astronomy centre more than I do, but what the heck. No hotels booked yet. Exciting?

8 days til I get tattooed! Exciting! Then I can actually talk to him face to face about the changes for my appointments since he doesnt call back!

Still working on the itinerary for xmas. If only I could just search travel all day for work, instead of doing actual work. Speaking of which, I am in my housecoat and I should really be on my way to work right now....

the unending planning of travel

part 847...

Looks like I will book my flight to Maui to use up my travel credit. I will go there 5 days before my friend does, so it will be up to me to find things to do. Yikes! I dont even know where i'll stay. But 5 days alone in Hawaii sounds amazing...

As for xmas, the prices of the trains has gone up from Edmonton to Toronto, so it looks like I will be flying to Calgary (sorry Dave!) and then from there, flying to New York. Too bad Toronto. I would love to see my friends there, but I dont care if I dont see Toronto at all.. After New York will be Florida and then Texas, as previously planned.

Just need to decide where I want to spend New Years... probably in Florida with Deidra and her new little guy, Mycah. And Paul of course. Since I dont party much, and I dont care about New Years much anyways... but maybe I will stay in New York. Or maybe I'll head to Boston to see Bill.. who knows...

It's coming so soon so I better get it together!

Iron Man!

Just got home from a Siggraph presentation of iron man. It was mostly for visual and rendering artists.. the sort that make computer generated stuff in movies and on tv, or make video games. But it was still interesting, even if I dont have a clue what any of the programs they used are...

For instance, (**if you havent seen iron man, and hate hearing about it, stop reading now**)

you know the part when he is flying to go blow up the weapons in the town of gulmira? And he gets shot out of the sky, and hits the ground, climbs out of a hole, and blows the tank up? that is all computer generated. everything with the iron man suit from flying to walking away, even the tank. in fact, the back half of the street where the tank is sitting is even computer generated... and i would never have known! not that i thought about it much... but whatever... very cool what they can do.

makes me almost want to take that up....

anywho, off to bed with me. night!

pictures of the magical dressew!

And also of my new shoes!!

But for now... Dressew! The Halloween stuffs (or some of it)









There is so much to look at!









Fabrics galore!









You could seriously spend all day in here..









This is downstairs now.. I'm really only showing you have of the magic..









Zippers in any colour you can imagine!












But moving right along... I introduce you to my new pretty shoes that look awesome with my tattoos!

travels update

So, my trip around the states is somewhat off. Nicole is no longer going to move to Seattle. I had a funny feeling that she would decide that. So, instead, Im going to try to hit New York on or around New Years, fly to Florida to visit said Nicole, as well as Deidra and Paul and their new edition, Mycah, and then fly to Austin, TX to see Tasha.

Turns out that I may be able to get there for the tattoo convention, that a certain reader of mine may also be attending. Perhaps I should make that happen? I guess it will depend on if Tasha wants to take me in for a few days!

Because of this coincidence, I decided to celebrate by spontaneously emailing Nick Baxter to see if he would be tattooing the show and if he had any openings. I havent heard back yet, but I imagine he gets emails like Steve Moore does, so maybe it will take a while. Of course, I should prepare myself to just not hear back as well. Le sigh.

Also, my plans to hit Maui with Danielle and her family are out. They are going in March, and another girl already has the month of March off. The chances of us both being allowed to be away at the same time, even for a week, is very slim. And I need to book now before my travel credit expires at the end of the month. Where the heck will I go? Hrmmm..

I'll have to see if I can book a flight overseas with it for when I move, and then make it so that I can change the date if need be. I wonder...

random rant!

There are two girls from Edmonton who are apparently going down to compete in some Miss Tattoo contest. The one is very pretty, and has rad tattoos/mods. The other is pretty.. but has not great tattoos, and not a ton. I have no idea why she is going or how on earth she thinks she can compete with will most likely be there. She doesnt even stand a chance next to the one she is going down with.

I think *I* have WAY nicer tattoos than her. And more. But I have small boobs and she is much prettier. But its about the tattoos! Right?!?

Ok. That's it for now. Thats been on my mind for a while now... had to get it out.

Dressew!

Kate and I are headed downtown today to check out Dressew for some Halloween bits and maybe just general craftiness. I love Dressew. I'll take some pictures. It's an amazing place.

After that, I may just come home and be crafty. Maybe hit the shop on my street that is only open when I am at work during the week. Jerks.

Tonight, a friend from work is having a party and I am attending. Turns out, through the small world that is, that the guy that rents his basement suite, is the guy that tattooed my stomach and pelvis ages ago. Haven't seen Trevor in like, at least 3 years. Should be interesting. I wonder if I shouldn't make that area.. presentable. haha!

Last night I was supposed to hang out with my friend Cam from work, and check out a new game, Dead Space. His girlfriend was going to join us for pizza. Well, the game itself is super creepy. I couldnt watch long, cause third person and first person shooter games make me car sick. But his girlfriend came over, and his roommate came home, and a buddy came over. And then suddenly Cam and the gf went to his room. Then she comes back out and announces that she has to have a serious talk with Cam and are we staying or leaving. It was very odd. I didnt see Cam again last night. Good thing I am friends with Steve, his roommate, as well. Could have been even more awkward. I hope its all good.

I also hope its not cause she was hanging out with me. I know Crystal as well, and have hung out with them both a few times, and her and I talk. But Ive found in the past that girls get jealous or threatened when I am around. And I am not after anyone's man. I can't think of a worse trait in a guy, than leaving their current girl for me. Who's to say they wouldn't do that to me down the road? For that simple fact alone, I do not EVER try to steal boyfriends/husbands. EVER. What sort of monster am I? I just get along with guys better, and Im usually friends with alot of guys. But nothing is going to happen. Ever.

It's how I got nicknamed Homewrecker back in Calgary. Three long term relationships dissolved around me, while I was just there. Guilt by association. I had nothing active to do with any of it. Maybe I just turned up for them when things werent good. If there isnt trust there to begin with, maybe thats what happens? I dont know. But it sucks. And Ive just realized that Ive gone on this big rant about something I have speculated. So, I'll just stop now and see what Cam has to say about it all.

Now, Im going to get ready to catch the bus for some crafty shopping!!!

Short long days

I dont know where they go.. but at the time, these days seem to drag. But, I have no time!

The trains were down this morning, so it took me ages to get to work.

I did get some good news that my manager might be off on vacation/sabatical for alot of my remaining time at work. I hope that works out for both of us! We shall see. There is also the potential that she is applying for another position in the company. I hope she does and gets it, cause she wont be anywhere near me then. *dreamdreamdream*

The craft shop is only open from 10-5:30 during the week, so I can never go. I need more glass thingers to make more magnets. I've been searching them online but cant find anyone in Canada with them. Arg.

I have a flight credit to use up with Northwest Airlines, but no one to tell me when to go anywhere. I want to go to Calgary at xmas, then hit Toronto for New years, then New York, then Florida, and drive from there to Seattle, through Texas and California. But the girl in Florida moving wont get back to me, and probably cant commit to when she can leave Florida to move. I need to make travel plans soon. So maybe I fly some of those places, and not drive with her.

I also have a friend who wants me to come to Maui in Feb with her. I would like that alot. Time from work? Maybe not so much.

I could put the credit towards my flight when I move. But, I dont know when that is. I cant get a floating ticket. I dont think anyways. I'll ask.

What to do, what to do.

I'll sleep on it. Yes. I have danish homework too. I practice lots of what Ive learned in my head when I walk. So at least I will be able to read it. Speaking and understanding might be harder.

Happy Thanksgiving

So, its Canadian Thanksgiving here this long weekend. I have no family in town. No big deal. Past years some friends have gotten together to make a turkey or whatever and eat together, but not this year. We are all so crazy and whatnot.

So yesterday, I had changed my status on facebook to say that I wanted turkey. I immediately got a text from a friend saying,

"I made some last minute plans to make a turkey cause im also craving it. do you have somewhere to go tonight?"

I replied that I did not, thinking (as im sure most would) that this was in invite to join.

I texted twice more yesterday, and heard nothing back. Ok, thanks for that..

This morning I have a text from the same person, saying that they have leftovers to bring over to me if I want.

I text back saying, "sure that would be great, are you sure?"

I then get a response saying "not too sure, made plans to go shopping with the kids now. Can I bring it to your work tomorrow?"

I say fine. Like, dont offer if you arent going to follow through. Honestly. Sometimes I hate people more than others..

Sunday outings

Got up this morning and had another Danish lesson with Julia this morning over Skype. Hopefully we can keep that up more often now. We will speak again Tuesday night (Wed morning for her).

After that, I met up with Dave and Jael, and we walked down to the flea market to check stuff out. Dave bought some records, and Jael got some fun star trek thing. I picked up these two pins for $7. I didnt notice until I got home that the horses mane is broken, but I think it looks just fine. I filed the jagged edges down and its good to go now!












On my way back to my house I stopped at a craft store just around the corner and bought some different sizes of glass pieces, some magnets and some glue. I am going to cut out some pictures from some books I got from work and make magnets! I hope.. I made two already, the trail ones.. One is of a tree by Ayers Rock in Oz, and the other is of the great wall of China. I'll do something with this dock picture when I perfect my art..

Phones!

I just found out that my phone carrier changed the rules for text messaging in August and I didnt know it. Since 2005, I have paid $10 a month for unlimited text messaging in North America. No matter where I was in North America.

Well, I was just looking over my latest bill, and I see that I have paid over $20 *additionally* for texting. This is because some contract that used to be in place is no longer there, and now I pay $0.60 to send texts when I am in the US. Also, $0.15 to receive them when I am down there. Rubbish!! I hate this country and their stupid phone rates! In the US you can call anywhere in the states and no long distance! Not here...

I need to see how it all works overseas. I bet its better somehow. I sure hope it is..

Nerd Night!

Dave is supposed to get here today. He isnt staying with me, but will be in Vancouver until Wendesday. Tonight we are going to eat and be merry and play my Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail interactive cd-rom game. It is so much fun and sooooo utterly hilarious and ridiculous! It's made for windows 95 so I had to do some stuff to get it to load, but load it did. I cant wait for our nerdiness to start!

Of course, his flight is now delayed so he wont even get into Van until 7 pm now, instead of the earlier scheduled 2:30! Lame! And he has just informed me via text that he doesnt even get compensation for this. What the heck is that? I better get moved soon cause it sure seems that air travel is just going down the tubes these days!!

Passport

I had an interesting thought last night as I was about to go to bed. My current passport expires in April of 2011. So unless I get to Denmark before then, and can complete my full two years there and get my Danish citizenship, I will have to go through the bother of trying to apply for a new passport from abroad. Arg. Luckily I know someone who will sign it for me, but I wonder how that happens...

Iron Man!

I got tickets to this today! Oct 21. Going to go with some friends from work. I'm actually pretty excited.

Awake at 3 am

I guess being awake at this time has its benefits. For some reason I cant sleep anymore. Hopefully, I can go back to bed and get a few more hours before work starts. Although I was able to update my blog here (3 other posts below this one!), load pictures to facebook and catch up on messages there, update the old soon to be obsolete blog, and email pictures to my Grandmother.

I may message one more person on myspace and then try to go back to bed. But at least I got something done.

Oh, and my guests left this morning. Yesterday morning I guess. They took longer than expected to get out, and I was late for work, but oh well. Its nice to have my house back. I had to vaccuum cause it was so gross in here. haha.. I am guessing they made it over the border, because I didnt hear from them yet.

Also, I have decided to take my motorcycle course in the spring, if Im going to do it. Too many other things on the go right now to think about (see next post!)

Ok. Good night. I hope.

Worky

So, today I was told that my contract will for sure be extended into January, hopefully until the end of the month, and at that time, they will push for RFT (Regular Full Time). This, is awesome news for me. It gives me the security of knowing that I will have steady pay until at least the end of Jan, and now for longer.

The only thing that is troubling me (yes, sometimes having a conscience is a burden) is that so many people have gone out of their way to tell them that they love me and want me to stay. And I really do appreciate that. Alot!! But, that means that they have done all this for me, and I get full time and.... quit two months later to move.

Don't get me wrong here. I know that its up to me to look out for me, and if I were to tell them that I was leaving, there is no way I would get full time, let alone my contract extended. But I feel like a real jerk just leaving so soon after. So I have to figure myself out.

Either I leave at the end of Jan to the dismay of my family and friends, and myself cause I have a fun trip planned. Or, I push back my moving date, so I can work a couple more months, make some more money, and alleviate my guilt.

Honest opinions, lets start a discussion. Tell me what you think. All four of you.

Seattle

And completely out of order, a couple shots from Seattle the weekend before...

Nicoles rental got a window smashed in, and her laptop stolen. Quite the night..









Buddy christ, in the stone.
This was in Marks yard, where Nicole was staying.












Cat from the used bookstore. He was so soft and so into sleeping.
Did NOT care that I was there or petting him (her?)












Leslie!!












For some reason I have no pictures of Nicole from this trip. Maybe she has some and I can post them later. I dunno..

Emmett!!

My adorable nephew Emmett! He is two months old now!
These are from my visit to the island last weekend.













Such a wise little face.









Neurotic Maizie, now with haircut.












Proud Aunt!












Probably my fav pic right now of my brother and his son.












Three generations of Madsen men!

CSI Vegas

I got a ride home tonight so I could catch the season premiere of CSI Vegas. I think I had her panicked to get home to see it too. Its halfway through. I've never followed it as it came out, just always watched it whenever. Mostly on Spike when its random reruns. But I caught the season finale last week and knew that I *needed* to watch this. I'm glad I did. I'm not going to lie. I cried even. I love this show.

egad

Holy hell, where does the time go?

So I had an amazing weekend with my family. My Dad picked me up from work and we hit the ferry and drove to my brothers house. My nephew is perfect. I was super emotional all weekend and got really weepy. Mostly at the thought that he will be only 8 months when I move away. Hell, I'm getting teary about it now. I dont know what life gets out of making my life so hard, but I hope its enjoying itself...

I got back home Sunday afternoon, thinking I would shower and relax, but a friend I met at the Calgary Convention was in town with a friend from Texas. They were going to bike down the west coast to Texas, but got turned around in the city and wanted to crash at my house. Of course I said yes, even though I am not very good at sharing my space. Its good for me to learn, since I will be travelling and such in the near future.

They are still here.

They do go tomorrow but its been trying for sure. My house is a disaster. Food crumbs everywhere. Kitchen a mess. I need to vaccuum bad. clean clean clean.

I will select some pics from Seattle and the island tomorrow and post them.