Why oh why oh why do so many organizations group the prairie provinces together? I seriously don't understand that. Yesterday when I was in Tim Horton's they still had displayed their "Roll Up The Rim" rules and regulations in a poster on the wall. The cup distribution table caught my eye as it listed how many winning cups were sent out by province... or more accurately by region. They listed BC as one entity. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, NWT, and Yukon as another (I guess Nunavut doesn't have Tim's because they weren't on there). Ontario as another region, then Quebec, and the maritime provinces were grouped together too. For geographical reasons I can understand why the maritimes are grouped together. But why oh why aren't Alberta, Sask, Manitoba, NWT, and Yukon subcategorized? I can see grouping Sask and Manitoba together for population reasons. Same with NWT and Yukon. I can even see grouping BC and Alberta together as we Albertans have much in common with our neighbours to the west. But for some reason that never happens. BC is always in a class by itself and Alberta gets lumped in with the other prairie provinces.
The same grouping happens in the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club). They list dog shows and trials by region. BC is its own region. Then all the prairies are lumped together. I have never been to a show in Manitoba and don't plan on ever going to one but in order to find my local shows I have to filter through the Manitoba listings in order to find what I'm looking for. BC people don't have to go through this rigmarole. Neither do Ontario people due to Ontario being its own region.
I think its time those of us in Alberta demanded answers to this question. Alberta's economy is booming, as is the population. We are, in many ways, more similar to BC than to Saskatchewan (sadly not in politics but hopefully that will change one day). Yes, the geography is similar to Saskatchewan in some ways (prairies) but we also have some beautiful mountain ranges, forests, and lets not forget the oil and natural gas, which sets us apart from the other prairie provinces.
Am I alone on this? Anyone else wonder why we Albertans aren't given the distinction of our own provincial identity?
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Movin' on up :)
On Tuesday (2 days ago) the "person who knows everything in the Registrar's Office" (also known as Linda, the Registrar's secretary) came up to me in my teeny tiny cubicle and said due to some construction they were going to move me out of my cubicle to a large vacant one nearby. I was happy about this and asked when it would happen. She said on Monday as they needed time to do some shuffling of other desks first and then move some boxes out of the vacant one before it would be ready for me. So I booked some time in my calendar on Friday to straighten out my desk so it would be all ready for the move on Monday.
Then yesterday, Wednesday, Linda came by again (this time with movers following her) and said "are you ready to move now?". Ummmm, not really LOL. I had piles of paper, bottles that need to be recycled, and random instructional manuals (none of which belong to me) scattered all over my desk. So much for my prep time! I asked them for a few minutes to get ready which they needed anyways to get the boxes out of my new cubicle. About an hour later I was moved and settled in my new cubicle. It was by far the fastest a move has ever happened in my entire working career.
My new cubicle is EASILY twice the size of my old one. But strangely, it is in a triangle shape so making efficient use of the space is a challenge. However, it is all worth it because I no longer have to do the sideways shimmy to get behind my desk. That was never fun for me.
Then yesterday, Wednesday, Linda came by again (this time with movers following her) and said "are you ready to move now?". Ummmm, not really LOL. I had piles of paper, bottles that need to be recycled, and random instructional manuals (none of which belong to me) scattered all over my desk. So much for my prep time! I asked them for a few minutes to get ready which they needed anyways to get the boxes out of my new cubicle. About an hour later I was moved and settled in my new cubicle. It was by far the fastest a move has ever happened in my entire working career.
My new cubicle is EASILY twice the size of my old one. But strangely, it is in a triangle shape so making efficient use of the space is a challenge. However, it is all worth it because I no longer have to do the sideways shimmy to get behind my desk. That was never fun for me.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
I'm a bad girl who wants to be good LOL
I haven't been to the gym in weeks! I'm supposed to be an exercise instructor (I finally got certified so I'm all official now) and I can't find the motivation to get off my butt to go to the gym. I don't have a class to teach right now so it's too easy to skip the gym when I really should be going.
I'll be teaching again in the fall and will be substitute teaching over the summer once in a while so I have reasons to stay active and fit. However, that doesn't help me actually get out the door an hour earlier to hit the gym before work.
Once I'm in the habit of it it's not such a big deal but starting to go when it's not part of my regular schedule I really struggle with starting up again. So my question is, how do YOU find the motivation to go to the gym? Help this lazy-ass girl please :)
I'll be teaching again in the fall and will be substitute teaching over the summer once in a while so I have reasons to stay active and fit. However, that doesn't help me actually get out the door an hour earlier to hit the gym before work.
Once I'm in the habit of it it's not such a big deal but starting to go when it's not part of my regular schedule I really struggle with starting up again. So my question is, how do YOU find the motivation to go to the gym? Help this lazy-ass girl please :)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Ya know that feeling when you have to pee?
You know that feeling when you have to pee but you really don't want to waste the time or energy to actually get up, walk all the way to the bathroom, go through the whole routine there, then walk all the way back again? It rarely happens at home but at work I go through it every single day.
When I have to pee at work I just HATE it. The bathroom is far away (relatively speaking), my cubicle is so small that I have to shimmy sideways to get out from behind the desk, and if I stop what I'm doing when I'm in "the zone" I know it will take a while to get back into "the zone" when I get back. So I put off the trip to the bathroom as long as possible... I'm literally doing the fast walking pee-pee dance on the way to the ladies' room most times.
But here's the strange thing.... sometimes my bladder will give me a reprieve. It's like I have to pee SOOOOO badly that I'm doing the pee-pee dance while seated on my desk chair (ladies, you know what I mean LOL). And then a couple of minutes later I don't have to pee so bad anymore. I still need to go but the desperation is gone. Has anyone else experienced that? It's very strange. But of course it is only temporary as within about 10 minutes (I've never timed it... just a guess) I'll have to really pee and quickly. There is no reprieve the second time.
Okay, I know this is a very strange post but I'm going through it so I thought I'd share :)
When I have to pee at work I just HATE it. The bathroom is far away (relatively speaking), my cubicle is so small that I have to shimmy sideways to get out from behind the desk, and if I stop what I'm doing when I'm in "the zone" I know it will take a while to get back into "the zone" when I get back. So I put off the trip to the bathroom as long as possible... I'm literally doing the fast walking pee-pee dance on the way to the ladies' room most times.
But here's the strange thing.... sometimes my bladder will give me a reprieve. It's like I have to pee SOOOOO badly that I'm doing the pee-pee dance while seated on my desk chair (ladies, you know what I mean LOL). And then a couple of minutes later I don't have to pee so bad anymore. I still need to go but the desperation is gone. Has anyone else experienced that? It's very strange. But of course it is only temporary as within about 10 minutes (I've never timed it... just a guess) I'll have to really pee and quickly. There is no reprieve the second time.
Okay, I know this is a very strange post but I'm going through it so I thought I'd share :)
Monday, April 28, 2008
I'm back, baby
I took a week off blogging when I went to Anaheim on a business trip 2 weeks ago. And last week was just so crazy that I never got down to posting.
It's very strange that getting out of a normal routine for just a few days can seem to cause everything to spiral out of control. I still have a few items in my suitcase that need to be put away. I have a few souveniers to give to family. I have some odds and ends that need straightening out. But put them all together and my life feels very out of control.
I wish I had a day off that I could use just to straighten out my life. But honestly, with an extra day off I probably wouldn't use it appropriately... I'd spend some time in the hot tub and the rest messing around on my computer. I have wonderful intentions of being organized but the execution of it always seems just out of my grasp.
It's very strange that getting out of a normal routine for just a few days can seem to cause everything to spiral out of control. I still have a few items in my suitcase that need to be put away. I have a few souveniers to give to family. I have some odds and ends that need straightening out. But put them all together and my life feels very out of control.
I wish I had a day off that I could use just to straighten out my life. But honestly, with an extra day off I probably wouldn't use it appropriately... I'd spend some time in the hot tub and the rest messing around on my computer. I have wonderful intentions of being organized but the execution of it always seems just out of my grasp.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Yeah, I'm offended (rant)
Last night I went to see Spirit Of The Marathon. It was awesome and I was totally inspired to put my shoes on and go for a run.
Now before I go any further in my story let me just say this.... I'm fat! I totally and completely get that and understand that. However, does that really mean that I can't run? I won't be able to complete a marathon tomorrow but I can run a bit! So on with my story....
They had a table set up outside the theater where people could enter their name in a draw for prizes after the show. As I was filling out my ballot one of the organizers came up to me and said "Oh, do you run?". This guy didn't ask ANYONE ELSE AT ALL this question... just me. Maybe I'm being oversensitive about it but it seemed that he not-so-subtly was showing shock that the fat girl came to the running movie.
Then I got home... still totally inspired by the show... and I asked Vince if he would cheer me on at the finish line of a race. He responded "well, yeah" very hesitantly... so I finished the sentence for him "if you don't have to work!". He sheepishly said yes. So I said "if I was in a marathon would you take the day off work to be there at the finish line?". Men, if your wife asks you if you'll be there at the finish line when she is running a marathon the correct answer is a resounding "YES, OF COURSE I WILL, BABY!". Vince however responded with "that's a long ways away so let's not worry about it yet." SIGH!!!!!!
By the way, be sure to rent Spirit Of The Marathon when it comes out on DVD this fall. Yes, it's about marathon runners but specifically about a handful of people in various walks of life from elite Olympic athletes who are in it to win to a single mom who is a first time runner. It's about the people and their stories more than the race itself but the whole thing is awesome. My experiences with the dude at the theater and my husband at home notwithstanding, the show is a definite must see :)
Now before I go any further in my story let me just say this.... I'm fat! I totally and completely get that and understand that. However, does that really mean that I can't run? I won't be able to complete a marathon tomorrow but I can run a bit! So on with my story....
They had a table set up outside the theater where people could enter their name in a draw for prizes after the show. As I was filling out my ballot one of the organizers came up to me and said "Oh, do you run?". This guy didn't ask ANYONE ELSE AT ALL this question... just me. Maybe I'm being oversensitive about it but it seemed that he not-so-subtly was showing shock that the fat girl came to the running movie.
Then I got home... still totally inspired by the show... and I asked Vince if he would cheer me on at the finish line of a race. He responded "well, yeah" very hesitantly... so I finished the sentence for him "if you don't have to work!". He sheepishly said yes. So I said "if I was in a marathon would you take the day off work to be there at the finish line?". Men, if your wife asks you if you'll be there at the finish line when she is running a marathon the correct answer is a resounding "YES, OF COURSE I WILL, BABY!". Vince however responded with "that's a long ways away so let's not worry about it yet." SIGH!!!!!!
By the way, be sure to rent Spirit Of The Marathon when it comes out on DVD this fall. Yes, it's about marathon runners but specifically about a handful of people in various walks of life from elite Olympic athletes who are in it to win to a single mom who is a first time runner. It's about the people and their stories more than the race itself but the whole thing is awesome. My experiences with the dude at the theater and my husband at home notwithstanding, the show is a definite must see :)
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Tagged
Sarah tagged me to do this.....
A- Attached or Single: Attached to a lovely man I call Vince
B- Best friend: Vince cus I share my life with him, Scott cus we've been friends since we were wee, and Louisa cus.... well who wouldn't love Louisa? She's awesome!
C- Cake or Pie: Cake... I'm not so much into pastry.
D- Day of Choice: Friday... usually date night and the weekend is upon us.
E- Essential Item: Water and my laptop!
F- Favorite color: Green or yellow
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Gummi bears... especially the sour ones.
H- Hometown: Lethbridge
I- Indulgence(s): Hoodies... I can never have enough LOL.
J- January or July: Tough call... one is too cold and the other too hot. I guess July since I have air conditioning :)
K-Kids: 4 of the 4 legged kind.... Mercedes (Sadi-bug or munchkin), Gilly (Mr Gilbert), Claire (Claire-a-bell), Star (bad-ass kitty) LOL
L- Life is Incomplete Without: laughter
M-Marriage Date: May 12, 2007
N- Number of Siblings: 1 brother and 1 sister (the aforementioned Louisa who is often very awesome)
O- Oranges or apples: The occasional Golden Delicious Apple.... that's it!
P- Phobias or Fears: bad guys from horror movies. And spiders!
Q- Quotes: "Believe what you want but shut the hell up!"... I want to quote it whenever politics and/or religion start to be debated
R- Reason to Smile: My dogs.
S- Season: Spring
T- Tag Seven: Louisa and any 6 other people who read this and haven't done this already
U- Unknown Fact about Me: I can't stand it when my hair gets so long that it touches my neck (when it was longer did ya ever notice that it was always in a ponytail? That's why LOL)
V- Vegetarian or Meat Lover: Pizza? Veggie but with no mushrooms. That's what I usually order but I'll add a meat... any meat at all... for the protein.
W- Worst Habit: Eating when I'm not hungry just because of opportunity.
X- X Rays or Ultrasounds: X-rays as I don't need to have an uncomfortably full bladder to have it done.
Y- Your Favorite Food: Tuscan Chicken Sandwich from Moxie's
Z-Zodiac: Aries
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