Breaking the Ice

"Hi! Nice to meet you."
"You too! Lovely weather we're having..."
"Ya, it's awesome! So.. where do you work? What do you do?"
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For some reason it bothers me that in todays society we are so focused on identifying a person by their profession. As if, what you do for 8 hours a day actually defines who you are. I'm a cook, or I'm a bank teller, or I'm a doctor. What I'd like to think is that who you are defines what you do, although I'm quite certain this would only exist in a more perfect world than we are in now. I believe most of us don't necessarily choose our jobs, we don't. We apply and apply until someone agrees on our suitability and calls us in for an interview. Then we get nervous because we need to be working, and hopefully the interviewer will find you intriguing or intelligent enough to hire you. This may not have been the position you wanted, but it's the one that hopefully will be offered to you and you can take.

Now don't get me wrong, I know people who don't fit this mold. People who are doing what they love, what they have a passion for. These people chose their profession, no doubt about it. Or perhaps they would say their position chose them out of strong affection for a certain hobby or passtime. But I don't think that this is the common thread amongst us. Part of me envies these people, in a strictly non negative way....haha

I've had a few friends ask me lately why I'm not running my own business. You see, as my Dad told me once, business is in our blood. It seems to be something that comes to our family fairly naturally. I even had a good friend of mine recently offer to back me financially if I wanted to start my own business, he was that determined that I would make it work. The issue here is that there's something missing from the equation. It's not my lack of interest, ability or courage, it's my lack of an idea and a passion. All the people that started business, whom I know personally, did so out of a love for something. There was a single focus in their lives that they were driven to, something that moved them and they enjoyed. I just love life, but I've never had that love or that passion for one thing in particular. On the other hand, I'm not certain of something that's missing in our town, a niche I could fill. I haven't ruled owning a business out, and the seed has been planted in my brain, but I'm not going to jump the gun on this idea either. Life is unpredictable, one never knows the decisions we will make in the future.

The other possible explanation for the never-failing occupation question could be unity. When you meet someone new, there are some rather safe conversation openers - like the weather. However, another thing that we as members of society have in common is we all work. So perhaps it is an innocent question to most, and only an accusation to those currently unhappily employed. Asking where you work is just a form of breaking ice, because once you know this detail it might open up an entire floodgate of topics to chat about.... and really that's all you're looking for when you meet someone for the first time - a reason to talk, something in common.

Personally, I'm pretty sure I could be happy doing almost any profession. Life is what you make of it! As long as I can pay my bills then I am more than content to take on anything, but each experience is worth having (as long as it's legal I think lol). It looks like my current employment chapter is coming to a close, which is a little sad for me because I was enjoying my position. However, I'm also excited to think that this opens new doors! Now I will get to do something new! (And hopefully more permanent than the last two positions I've had). So, I'm asking you my friends, if you know of anything you think I might be suited to, or interested in, please let me know about it. I'm happy to know so many great people!

Today is my handsome boyfriend's birthday. The fella is turning 26, and although I may be older I keep maintaining that I'm cuter so it's all ok... hehehe. I love Robert completely, and being with him I'm totally and completely happy. With that said, here's hoping he likes his birthday presents! Here are some pictures from my brother Martin's 4th birthday party, April 22nd 1985.

Also, I never got to plant the seedlings over the weekend. We were on call, and when we went to rent a movie to watch TADA! They had season one of True Blood for rent. Score! So we spent our on call weekend watching the entire 12 episode saga. I was surprised that Robert was as interested as he was, but don't go thinking it is like the book series. Yes, some of it is but alot of it isn't. This at least made it more exciting for me cause I didn't know alot of what was going on. I wonder how the author of the books felt about all the changes? No doubt with the publicity and profits she found a way to accept. LOL

Hope everyone has a fantastic week ahead of them! It's monday which means there are 7 days left of possible good things to happen.

Volcano Bouncing

Cloud of ash eh? Doesn't that sound ominous. I bet it's great for the Eurorail system though! Yet, at the same time I'm thinking chaos at the airport terminals worldwide. Even worse, the cloud continues to grow and take over the entire continent. I'm not exaggerating. They are warning the volcanic ash cloud could continue for another 48hrs. Well, I happened to look this up and saw that the last time this particular volcano errupted was 200 years ago and at that time it continued to spew for 18months. So, imagine the pandemonium if you couldn't fly in and out of the UK for a year! I don't think that is something we would be capable of dealing with very well, as society. We aren't really good with change, especially the unpredictable kind. Volcanic ash takes out airplane engines. Nasty.





Bahaha - The more you unpeel this onion, the more it stinks - that was a quote I just heard on tv in regards to the Guergis matter. That's awesome!

Well, Happy Friday to everyone! After I drove Rob to work this morning, on my way home this cute, catchy little ditty came on the radio and I was enjoying the positive fun. In fact, even once I got home and backed into the driveway I was bopping up and down just sitting in the seat....... until I realized how rediculous I must look. This girl bouncing around in the driver's seat of her truck. So I giggled and got out of the truck and into the house without anymore sillyness but a smile on my face.

As for my painful errand yesterday, I'm happy to report that I survived. It took less than 30 mins and now I'm good to go. A little tenderness and inability to have a bath for the next little while but otherwise we are in the clear and I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief.

When I was getting ready for bed last night, I saw that Rob had left his can of shave gel on the counter. No big deal. But then I saw it and have decided it was the coolest thing I discovered all day. Did you know that shave gel cans now have 'scratch and sniff' on them? Yaha! Ever wonder what something smells like? I mean, there are so many scents (just ask Axe) that you'd be standing in the drug store or grocery store maybe pulling the cap off and trying to sniff. Especially with shave gel, cause unlike shampoo or shower gel, shave gel is compressed and if you try to press the button to smell it you're going to make a mess in your hand. Enter scratch and sniff can!! And you know I had to test it out. Sure enough, I scratched my nail over that little rough spot and I smelled mansmell. Nifty!! Then I put it under the counter where it belongs hehehe.

I hope that everyone has a superfantastic weekend! I'm planning on planting some seeds to leave inside, covered in plastic and hopefully they will turn into seedlings.

Girl with the Tattoo

I saw dandelions! I swear, out walking the dogs in the bit of sunshine we had I definitely saw dandelions and was not hallucinating. Must mean spring is here! Sweet!

Based on some items I had in my freezer, cupboard and fridge I decided yesterday to make beef stew, and do so with a new recipe. I like taking a recipe and using it as a base, a standard by which to change things and make them my own. For me to follow a recipe to the T doesn't happen, but it's important to me when it comes to how long to cook things, what temperature etc. Also, what to put together to get a good flavour. So, new beef stew recipe. Although I was definitely amused when I looked at the details. I always sorta glance at the 'cooking time' that they state, but I've never paid much attention to the 'preparation time'. BAHA now I know why. Apparently that beef stew was supposed to take 15mins to prepare. Well, I don't know who is chopping up all their vegetables for the big pot but honestly! Maybe it's the slapchop guy with his gadget, or some asian chefs with fancy sharp knives. Ya, my kitchen knives suck and I need new ones but that doesn't change the fact that whoever wrote that was full of crap. 15 mins my ass... lol.. ok maybe it was close to 15 mins but it seemed a whole lot longer!

Today, thursday, I have to undergo an unfortunate errand. You see, when I was in a different time and place I had a tattoo done on my right hip. Now, the unfortunate part of having a friend who is an accomplished tattoo artist is if he says something to you like 'do you mind if I try out this new ink technique I've never used before', as a friend you feel inclined to go 'sure, no problem'. My advice to you is, don't. I have put this day off now for what seems like ever. I just don't want to go through it. I'm too happy to punish myself with pain! But it's inevitable, it needs to be fixed. I figure there is no time like the present, and I may as well suck it up. I am a bit whiney because I don't want to but I figure since I already got this far I may as well have it finished properly. I will let you know how it goes, although I'm feeling slightly weak about it.

Finally, I've learned that a book series I'm very fond of has become a movie! The downside is that because we live in the boonies, ahem, excuse me I mean rural newfoundland, we will not get this movie here. No one famous is in it. This doesn't bother me, it just means I will have to wait til dvd. Any of you people in a city, you might wanna check out The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo when it comes to theatres this friday. The book series is amazing, by Stieg Larsson. Honestly, such amazing reading material, I can't speak highly enough of it (but if I remember correctly the first chapter or two hurt a bit). LOVE IT!

Drive Thru Dreaming

While sitting in the drivethru tonight, waiting for Rob's double-double, I saw something thought provoking: black, fuzzy dice hanging from a rearview mirror. Now, I began to think to myself why? Which I followed up with, what kind of car would I have to drive that I would feel motivated to hang fuzzy dice from my rearview mirror? Well, that's the question of the day isn't it.

So what do you think? Corvette? Vintage volkswagen? Old school beater corolla? And what color dice would you want? I mean these I saw were black, but I'm pretty sure they come in all colors. And perhaps, it's more about who you are carrying in the car. If I was a minivan driving soccer mom with a vehicle full of kids, perhaps I'd hang a set for fun and let the youngsters pick the color. Sure they are funky, and I'm all about fun... but I'm not sure I'm gonna buy the next pair of fuzzy dice I see, I'm pretty sure that's not my idea of cute.

While sitting there, in the truck, pondering this furry cubed dilemma, I saw something else mind inspiring: a skateboarder in skinny skinny jeans. I'm not sure even where to start with that visual oxymoron. First of all, skateboarders can't wear skinny jeans, they have to wear abnormally baggy pants with their boxers hanging out and their wallets on chains. This is a very specific, strict stereotype and there's very little room for versatility here. It's textbook. Then there is the skinny jean issue.

First of all, they can't be real jean material because denim would never have such stretching capabilities. These things are glued on to the ankles, ending above the canvas or oversized kicks. Unless they were painted on they stretched. That's where the stretching ends though because the butt hangs loose and flat enough you couldn't determine shape if you even felt inclined to try. WHY is my question, why. There is nothing flattering about this look. About 1 out of 100,000 people look good in these pants, and the population of Corner Brook is significantly smaller than this. Perhaps that is why I have yet to see anyone around here doing themselves a favour by this wardrobe choice.

I've decided Trudy's advice on the potted snow peas is brilliant! Are the seeds you use anything special or just regular Cdn Tire variety? Also, after more discussion with Rob and a few hours of sunshine this morning for lawn charting, I've put together an idea. We are going to build an above-ground box to contain the garden. This will make it neat, self contained and less likely to be urinated on or dug up by animals. He's gung-ho. I also picked up 2 gardening books from the library. They seem quite old, but alas I had no idea which titles would be worth inquiring after so I just randomly grabbed them.

Something like this!

Ok, well this is my wednesday post on a tuesday night because through some fluke scheduling mistake we get to sleep in! YAY! Hope everyone else has a great wednesday morning too!