So much to do..

Man, how do I decide what I am going to do.. and why don't I have more weekends to do them in!

Here is what I have in mind:

-This weekend, Star Trek convention.  No debate there.  That is where I will be.
-Next weekend, possible long weekend if I take Friday off of work.  4 days!  If I do that, do I
               -Go to Kelowna to spend time with my Grandma, cause I am well overdue for that
               -Chill in town and work on the Friday to save that time for a different weekend to take off
-Weekend of July 9-11.  Was going to go to San Fran, but won't now as I can't afford it.  Can go to Seattle for a car drifting event with work and stay in a hotel for free.  But have to find a way down there.... and maybe take *that* Friday off of work?
-Weekend of 16-18.... I know something is going on here but I can't remember what...
-Weekend of 23-25.  Since I joined that Danish Sisterhood.. they are having a members BBQ on the 24th which would be fun BUT I can also go to San Diego for the comicon.. I have places to stay and everything.. and I sure won't get to go to that when I'm in Denmark.. but I will have my share of Danes.. :)
-Weekend of 30-1 I should head over to the island to see my brother and his family, as it is my nephew's birthday the week after but I will be in Hawaii instead! 

Man, I do get around don't I....  Maybe that mystery plan for the 16-18 is just sitting at home and not talking to anybody.. that sounds pretty good... hmmmmmm........

Oh, and after Hawaii I don't have any travel plans really... except for maybe DK on March 10?

if i dont think about it, maybe it wont happen

so, much as im loathe to say it, i leave denmark tomorrow.
i simply cannot believe that 3 weeks has gone by already.
words cannot express how sad i am that its all done for this round, im really in a funk about it.
im being a bad friend right now actually.  everyone is at the new shop getting it ready for opening day tomorrow, and i am here at home (home!!!) reorganizing my suitcases so that they dont go over-weight and just generally feeling sorry for myself. 
i really do not want to leave.

this has been a totally different experience from my last trip in summer 2006.
that was an in/out 3 days extravaganza that was mostly tours and museums.
this was... living.

i could not have done it without amalie and allan.  not for 2 seconds.
truly two of the greatest people ive met in a long time.
not only have they been great and fun friends both online and in person at conventions, but they opened up their home to me and treated me like a roommate.
that has been a major part of my loving being here.  just feeling like i belong.
im going to miss them so much when i get back home.

the apartment itself is just cozy and inviting.  the way my home used to be before i got rid of all my retro and collectable things.  thinking i was somehow 'growing up' or 'maturing' or some crap like that.
like i cant just have a bunch of shit in my house!
clearly i could and i can again.  this place is amazing!

im going to miss my bread and cheese meals.
im going to miss lucifer swimming on the couch.
star trek tng is just never going to be the same anywhere else..

im already looking at my next trip here, and turning the wheels faster to figure out how to move.
it seems so easy in a thought, but there is so much to account for.  sigh.

i have a meeting tomorrow morning with a games studio here in town, but that is just to meet and get aquainted with my skillset.  not job openings right now.
but that could pay off!  keep your fingers crossed that it does.
so with that going on, tomorrow will be crazy.
meeting in the morning, run back home, head to bus station?
i hope there is more time than that, but i should be at the airport for 1230-1 at the latest.
so yeah, its going to be a tight day.   boo.

externally, i probably look like a lump right now.  passive blank face.  just sitting here looking vacant.
internally im having a total heart breaking temper tantrum.  sadly, i will still get on that plane tomorrow.

im sure amsterdam will be fun, but my heart will be here.
then its home to try and get back into the swing of my life there, and figure some things out.

at least i have a ton of new shoes to run around in....

stockholm - a summary

i know i know, i need to just wrap up my whole trip so far.. but i have bits to tell about denmark, and i only have half an hour here in the stockholm central station on the internet (unless i buy more)(i might...), and i just want to yammer.

saw aaron off this morning to his flight in helsinki, and not a moment too soon. 
love him to death but he´s like a brother, so we fight and bicker and i want to kill him.
and three days with just him is waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much.  like whoa.
so i was happy to be on my own again for today.  i totally prefer to travel alone. egads!

wandered over to gamla stan to a couple shops, thought i lost my phone at the hostel, finished up my shopping (not much to do about the phone at that point anyways), walked back to the hostel, found my phone in my inner pocket, felt like a dumbass, remembered that i had forgotten to get something in gamla stan, hauled my suitcase through the snow back over there, got what i needed, hit the train and came downtown.  did i mention the snow?  there is alot of it...

from there, i put my suitcase in a locker and went shopping!  like i need to... maybe i need help.  therapy!
im out of control.
bought a couple tops at h&m cause they were cheaper in sweden, got talked out of trying to scam h&m and the cheaper swedish prices by amalie (she is one smart cookie), and hit a shoe store.  i need to have new shoes.  shoes, not boots.  so what did i get?  boots.  and shoes.  and runners.  but all on sale! honest!
three pairs of shoes, two being leather, for 1000 sek, which works out to about 150 cdn, or about 750 dkr (is that the abbreviation for danish kronne?).  whatever.  a good deal!  go me!

now to see how it all fits in my suitcase and still remains under the weight restrictions.  i have a (strong) feeling that i will be paying extra on my luggage going home.  oh well!  you only live once right!?

after that, i went to a pizza hut for a yummy/greasy lunch, as i hadnt eaten all day long.  bleh.
i also needed to use a washroom as it costs 10 sek to use them in the train station.  and its not like they are nice or anything.  seriously...

and now i have about an hour and a half before my train leaves.  at least its direct to copenhagen, and i can try sleep.  hope i have a window seat.. i should check that... hmmm i *think* it is.. fingers crossed!

i do have pictures from yesterday on my camera, but not on this here public computer.
we went to the vasa museum to see a 300+ year old restore warship.  definitely cool!

but all that later.  when i do real update-type posts with pictures.  once i can have a good sleep and a good shower.
i am soooooo looking forward to being back at my danish home.  i sure my danish family is happy to have me back!  taking over the living room and such as i do... (sorry!) (only a little.. cause i do love it...)
and tomorrow sarah comes to join me in copenhagen for 5 days!  so exciting!!!!!

ok.  thats all i have.  for now...
i could nap right now... or have a morfar?  yes thats it... a morfar.... mmmmmm...
must... stay awake... til .. the train.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

now i have to name my posts?

got the ol date working.  no idea why it never did before but whatever!

yesterday i slept til 4 pm as i was awake til 7 am.  not nice.
but we got outside yesterday, walked to the shop, and then i went for a bit of shopping.
i think the walk did me good.  i was able to sleep last night around 2 am, and now im awake at 930 am!
and the sun is out!

time to get up, get moving, figure out my fancy new camera a bit and maybe take it out on a walk today!

and later

ok so i slept most of the day.
i at least managed to walk to the grocery store to grab some much needed things (cheese.  very important) and come back again.
yep.  big day.
*tomorrow* i will adjust to the time difference and get out of the house!
i feel this cold is on its last legs and should leave me soon..
now to get rid of this nasty ticking cough...

more trek to come?  maybe... just maybe....

this apparently means its a birthday in the building, but im going to pretend its just for me.

feb 9

i lost a day in there somewhere ...

here i am in copenhagen!
flight was good, uneventful.
my six hour layover in amsterdam was nuts.
went through security complete with xrays to get to my gate, found my gate to be small and cold, asked about showers and was told i had to go back to the other end of the terminal, so another passport check and stamp. showered for fifteen euros in a facility that was not worth it (letter to be written), ate some fast food (mayo at mcdonalds in holland is basically tartar sauce?), napped in some 'comfort chairs' and then went through security complete with xrays again, went to my gate, found that it had been switched, spent 25 min finding new gate, read book. phew.

got into copenhagen at 1030 pm, got my suitcase, spent 10 min figuring out the train, bought a ticket, waited. an announcement happened on the platform in danish and everyone around me moved down the platform, so i followed.. got a train, *actually* got off at the right stop! and was found by amalie and allan! and lucifer too!

walked to the homestead, settled a bit and tried to sleep.

the first day was all over. i napped and woke up and napped.
taking a night time flight when you dont sleep well on planes to go to a place that is nine hours ahead will take its toll!

yesterday, once i was up, amalie and i wandered to the pharmacy so she could get some things, then we picked up some snacks and headed back home. we both have colds currently, so there are alot of various drops being taken and tea drank. and kleenex used. and hand sanitizer. good times! i hope we kick these soon.

watched loads of star trek tng as well. always a good remedy.

i think today i am back on track as far as time goes. ill shower eventually here and bundle up and maybe head out to some shops and to explore a bit. either that or ill read the camera manual im currently downloading, as i brought the french version with me. way to go me! .....

Lucifer and I outside the pharmacy

home sweet home

feb 5

all better today. i totally sweat it out last night.

one more day of work tomorrow. i think it will be the most stressful day yet.
knowing that its my last day to get some big things done, cause i cant put them off any longer, making sure that everyone is up to date on what they need to be, and also getting some personal things done, like depositing money into my account, buying euros for my 6 hour stop over in the amsterdam airport, and unlocking my blackberry so i can get a pay as you go sim card in denmark.

christine got her yesterday and we hung out this evening. well, we did last evening too, as she is staying at my house, but last night we were both really tired by the time she got here.
today after work i went to meet her at sacred heart downtown where our friend steph is doing a guest spot while in town for basically the entire time i am gone. awesome.
so said hello steph, made plans for the three of us to go out for some sushi on saturday, and then we went for.... sushi. cant get enough.

we found this place across the street called sushi star, and thought it would be a regular hole in the wall sushi joint like you find all over vancouver. turned out to be a super cute fancy affordable place with awesome staff.
i decided to deviate from the norm and order some special rolls instead of the regulars (avacado roll, tempure yam...) but i was not prepared for how massive they were!
worst part is i thought about taking pictures and didnt. guess im not taking enough notes amalie, sorry. but so good anyways.

the rest of the night has been chilling at home, trying on shoes, packing a bit more and hanging out with christine.

bed time now. have to get up early and mentally prepare for a crazy day.

then its drinking time with the boys after work.

then. its saturday. go time.
make my suitcase pretty. make sure my liquids are packed nicely.
make sure i havent forgotten anything.
airport!
hmmm, i should remember to print out my itinerary/ticket tomorrow.... *sends self email at work*

ok! night!

feb 1

ok i really dont like these date headings... boo.

i think that my dark mood from yesterday has lifted.
actually, i know it has.
it was still with me this morning, but instead of dwelling in it, i started to think about where it ws coming from and what i was really upset about and why i was letting it get to me like that.
i think its just another sign that i need some time away from home and my usual life here.

some time to reflect, to do whatever i want (nothing) for a while, to just think it all over.
and to experience some new stuff!

four more days of work. im doing my best to get through.
ive all but completely checked out, and im trying to care. for the team.
i just cant wait for it to all be done with.
120 hours til my flight leaves. is that bad that ive started counting hours already?
if it is, i dont care, im doing it anyways.

i should be packing right now. yes, still. no, i havent started.
/sigh
but i have the suitcase! at least there is that.
i may try to make a pile of clothes today that i can pack, ones that i wont wear for the rest of the week? kinda hard really... i mean, im going for a month! i can wear alot in a month...

how cold is cold? i can see on the weather network that its around -5C. not too bad.. could be better, but hey, im from alberta. it can sure be a hell of a lot worse..
i guess ill see what all i can fit in this big ol suitcase i was lent, and then see how much it all weighs.

and shoes! how many shoes does a girl bring for four weeks away from home?
i cant wear snow boots all the damn time. am i going to go somewhere where i can wear fun shoes? amalie seems to get to... hmmmmmmmm
maybe i really should have started this a while ago..

really?

ok, i know i have catching up to do. but maybe now it will be more like a surprise to see when the pics appear?
maybe...

the first week back at work was tough. some things changed, and when you like things the way they are, its hard to get used to the change. but ill manage.

finally getting settled in the new place. it will come together for sure.
carpets get shampooed this weekend, so while that is good news, it will be annoying as i wont be able to be home for a while til they dry a bit..

went to a good friends baby shower last sunday. it was so good to see her.
im actually happy that i should be here for when her little girl is born.
she is due in six weeks and i couldnt be happier for her.

it also makes me want to get over to the island to see my nephew soon.
man i love that guy.
if i can figure out how to post videos, i will post some of him.
so damn cute!

at the shower, i ran into my friend euvie, who actually went to denmark to do a year in school in copenhagen.
i asked her how it was, and she said that it was very hard.
she said that danish people were very hard to get to know, and didnt open up very quickly.
that when you opened up to them, they acted like you were crazy. or if they did open up, it was when they were drunk, and the next day acted like it never happened.
i dont know if its because she is russian that she had a different experience?
or maybe ive just met 'different' danes.

help me out here

i sent my resume off to my contact in denmark, who works in sweden.
he had written me to say that something came up in the sweden office.
its a marketing job. ive never done marketing.
but it looks very exciting and definately challenging.
it would be a great experience for sure.
after seeing my resume, they asked if i would be up for a video conference meeting, to say hello and put some faces to names.
we'll see what they say when i get in to work today. when that might happen.
i had to point out that although my resume says i took part in a bachelors degree program for accounting, i dont actually have a bachelors degree.
i dont know if that will matter at all.

i wish i had my vpn still, so i could log into my work email from home.
should have that back soon.

well, its almost 6 am.
ive been up since 3 for some reason.
yay for 4 hours of sleep. ill be a real treat today.
early to bed tonight for sure! right...
might as well get in the shower now and do my hair all nice.
just cause.
if it wasnt still pouring outside id walk to work.
stupid rain...

so tired

i didnt get home til after 2 this morning. i am SO tired!
nothing of any note happened.
it was a fun party, but small.
i waited til the end for my friend to be done, so we could share a cab home in the cold.
everyone was pretty wasted by then, so im sure i was being grumpy.
ah well.

i did get ahold of a company yesterday that can ship my stuff to denmark though!
and for waaaaay cheaper than i thought too!
by sea it will take about 4 weeks.
i just hope i dont run into issues with customs when i go to pick it up..
only one way to find out!!

ok, i have to go to work.
man im tired...

the days, they get crazy

Found out today that some of the guys at work are abusing out OT meal program. Big shock there, I mean really.... so now, to battle it, we get to stay til 8 pm to make sure that whomever ordered dinner, is actually working til 8. Big brother anyone? More time for me to run around and socialize sure, but now I have to police them and I hate it. Blah.

Dentist today was good. Have to wait and see what my benefits will cover for the major work I want done. *le sigh*

My dental hygenist today was Danish. Denmark is flaunting itself in my face, everywhere I turn. There's Denmark, in some way, shape or form. Even star trek last night!
IM COMING ALREADY!! GIVE ME A FEW MONTHS! gah.

new plans?

After a long game of phone tag, I finally spoke with the lady at the Danish consulate yesterday. I think my new 'plan of attack' is going to be to get my Danish working holiday visa now, to start in the beginning of the year as my UK visa does, and get over to Denmark sooner so I can register with the Politi (police) and thus begin my two years living in Denmark.

After that year visa is up, I can then go back to the UK for the second part of my still running visa, and work and travel about there, so long as I maintain my address in Denmark. Or a address at any rate.

Going to print off the forms, again, for that visa today and just do it. The only thing I have to be careful of is sending my passport away, as I need it to go down to Seattle in the beginning of September. And maybe while my Mom is here. I can always send that off after I come back in Sept. Hmmmmmm....

Two more days of work, and then its off to the island to see my brother and sister-in-law, and hopefully meet my new nephew! Also, a day at the spa! (http://www.kingfisherspa.com/). So excited!! We are doing the hydra-path and then I have a warm mud massage. That baby better show up too. More for my Moms sake than mine. I can go back over there anytime, its much more expensive for her.

My firefox has been crashing alot lately. Just now, it froze up and crashed again. Normally, I would have lost everything I had written so far, but with blogger, it saves drafts!!! Thank you blogger!!! lifesaver. love it.

Travelbug

I was up late last night looking at cheap flights around Europe. Man I can't wait. I think I'll hold off until spring to go see places. Even though it might kill me to wait that long. I don't think I ever got around to posting alot of pictures from my trip two years ago. So here are a few, in the spirit of adding pictures to blogs.

Aug 2006:

England. I love castles!











Tricia and I are Warwick castle. She lives in Birmingham.











John and Caroline cutting the cake! I was their maid of honor!














The eye in London = waste of time and money.














Copenhagen! I dont know why its underlining now!
























Woo Denmark! I look so happy don't I?














Lucerne Switzerland!











Myself, Julia from Hungary, Terry from home and Penny who lives in Lucerne now!