Introducing...

TESS!!!

(Also known as Puppy.)

I think Tess should be short for Contessa, which should be short for "Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fana BoBesca the Third... but you can call me Dot." (I heart Animaniacs)

So far the puppy thing is going pretty well! She's really cute until she bites you ;) Belal was a big fan at first, but now he kind of looks at her like "are you still here?" They're getting along for the most part, and he usually has a waggly tail to greet her, but he isn't afraid to tell her off, either :)

Not much new here. Only one of my marks has been posted, and that was for the class I WASN'T worried about ("this is how you save a file in Windows"... I got an A+) so I am obsessively checking SAIT's website about a thousand times a day. I have a place to rent in Calgary, and hopefully a car to buy. I finished watching The X-Files series *cries* and the last episode was so fantastic, but left a lot of things open, so the movie should be GREAT! I can take that off the 101 in 1001 list now. Ummm... I think that's it? Stressed. Tired. The usual.

Love y'all!

Gillian

A Few Updates

You can tell I'm back in Nova Scotia because of the multiple blog posts :P Lonely much?

This time I DO have some news, though!

First things First: The Air Raid Siren is back! YESSSS!!! It went off at noon yesterday, and again today! I am soooo excited! It's been silent for a month and a half, and as I mentioned, it was the best part about Canning, so I'm thrilled that it's back :)

The other news is that I'm officially registered in the first three courses of SAIT's "CADD Operator Certificate of Achievement" program. I will be doing the first three course through correspondence in Nova Scotia, and then will do the last three at SAIT. I have to finish the first three by May 22nd, so I'll be busy doing that and then will come back to Calgary in May/June sometime. I think I'll be staying with Nathan and Sheila until I get a job, which will hopefully not take too long, and unless they change their minds. I AM kind of impossible to live with.

Interestingly, I was looking at the Continuing Education page and I appear to be one course away from the Journalism certificate. Of course, that was about 10 years ago that I took those courses, so I don't know if they would still "count." Meh. It was just a year of soul-killing ambulance-chasing anyway, and I'm not sorry that I didn't go back for the second year. I learned about photography there though, so I'm not sorry I did the first year either. It is what it is, and that's fine. I'm over it.

This decision ticks off a few more "101 in 1001" list items too, such as "seriously look into getting my Art History degree" (not sensible right now) and "decide which city to live in" (Calgary... for now.) I'm not going to commit to Calgary for the rest of my life, because ultimately I want to end up in Vancouver, but we'll just see. We're also going to the Marilyn Monroe exhibit tomorrow, so I'll take that off the list while I'm at it.

K I think that's it for now. I don't think I've posted this video yet, but if I have then I'm sorry! It's classic Warner Brothers, though! Incidentally, I considered a major in Swing-ology, but AutoCad was more promising financially ;)



Gillian

Public Service Announcement and a Dancing Space Girl

Lately I've been feeling pretty naive about the world, especially at 1am when I'm trying to fall asleep. There's just so much that I don't know that has become really important all of a sudden. To be blunt, I was 100% confident that I would be married by now to a man who actually understood these things... unfortunately he hasn't shown up yet. Long story short, I should have gotten on this quite a while ago, but I didn't, and so I've been freaking out.

HOWEVER, that's going to change because today I bought a fantastic book. "The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything" by Melissa Kirsch. It truly is a guide to everything from health, money, etiquette, cleaning, dating, etc. It's remarkably smart and funny and full of relevant, useful information. I just got it a few hours ago and I've already gone on a highlighting-and-page-flagging-spree. For the first time in my life I can honestly say that I understand compound interest. It has an actual chart about how to store different fruits and vegetables, and how long they keep. How to balance your cheque book! Pull-out checklists on everything from stocking your kitchen to buying a house! And much, much more! REMARKABLE! The best part is that it's witty and amusing and understandable. I want to keep reading, rather than pushing the book aside because the complicated math is making my head hurt.

One of my favourite parts (so far) was on how to deal with certain pests that might come with your new place. I laughed out loud when I read this:
"How to Kill a Spider or Other Many-Legged Bug. The secret is in the squint. Once you've ascertained that there is indeed a spider rappelling down the wall on its own silken threads, start squinting. (The Scary Factor is reduced if you can't see it clearly.) With a giant wad of Kleenex, get in close and grab the offender, squeezing him hard in your fist. Run to the toilet."
HAHAHA!!! I want to be Melissa Kirsch's friend!!!

This is good. I'm actually finally feeling good about scary future financial things. I'm discovering that I'm on a pretty good path, that it's not too late, and that I can actually do this stuff on my own. This is miraculous! So thank you for putting up with my little announcement, and you should buy this book for every girl you know who is graduating from university or is 28, scared and alone.

In other news, I bought a book about Ayurveda today and I have a dentist appointment on Monday, so there are two more things I can check off my 101 in 1001 list. I'm also about 1/3 finished a sweater for myself (just started it last week! I hope it fits!) and have ordered the paper for the "recovering the trunk" project. Still no job phone calls, but I applied for some interesting ones today, so maybe Monday... I hope.

Oh, and since I promised a pic or video with every post, and since this post was aimed at the ladies, here's a little video for you fellas of Raquel Welch doing a space girl dance. As "betterlivingthroughscience" commented on BoingBoing.net:

My favorite part of scantily clad ladies back then - that the belly button was the most important part to cover up. "crotch shot? sure, but don't you dare show me that button!"



Have a happy weekend!
Gillian

Updates!

Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia

Yesterday we took a little jaunt to the South Shore to look into getting a jacket for Belal and to re-purchase a few items for Nathan & Sheila's Christmas present (attempt #2.) It was a heavenly 15 degrees Celsius and rainy, so I inquired if we might go to a beach since we were already on the South Shore. Sadly, we got a bit lost and ended up in Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia. We didn't see much of it, but it was such the rustic picturesque sea village and I loved what I saw. I said "why couldn't you have moved HERE?" at the exact second my mum said "I'm glad we don't live HERE."

A-HA... that pretty much sums it up, doesn't it? Perhaps we should have had this discussion back in April!!! Granted a small town is a small town, but at least that one has an ocean view!

I am very, very, very disappointed in the change that the New Year has brought to Canning. The air raid siren that used to sound once daily at noon (except Sundays) and five times consecutively to alert the volunteer fire fighters has suddenly, alas, STOPPED. I'm not sure why it stopped, but I'm eagerly awaiting the next issue of The Canning Gazette, which will surely explain why this travesty has occurred. It's a sad state of affairs, I tell you. I might have to go to the fire hall and see what's happened.

Moving on: Today I managed to check two items off the "101 in 1001" list! I got a copy of "The Magic Flute", although technically I purchased it through my eMusic account in digital form rather than CD, but it still counts. I also made a catalogue of all of the DVDs I own, which at 82 was no small task. Yay me! Only 99 to go :P

Love to all,

Gillian

101 Things in 1001 Days Project!

At last, AT LAST! I finished. MAN that was hard to come up with 101 things, but I did it. Now I have 1001 days to do them. Oh boy. I will add the list to my sidebar (down at the bottom), as well as a "countdown" timer. I will change to a grey font on items as I complete them.

So without further ado, here is the Project and my list.

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My 101 Things in 1001 Days List

1. Get another tattoo: “Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu” ("may all beings everywhere be happy and free." ... it's a yoga mantra.)
2. Do Yoga six days a week!
3. Get my own place again.
4. Try the internet dating thing (yuck!)
5. Make a catalogue of all of the books I own.
6. Make a catalogue of all of the DVDs I own.
7. Actually read all of the books that I have purchased, but never read (even the self-help ones!)
8. Look polished every time I leave the house.
9. Be in a functional, positive relationship (before I’m 30! Ye gods!)
10. Write seriously every weekend.
11. Start teaching Yoga (volunteering or otherwise.)
12. Not buy anymore shirts in unflattering pastels.
13. Do at least one random, positive thing each week to show people that I’m thinking about them (send cards, CDs, photos, emails, etc.)
14. Write in my Yoga Journal whenever I do Yoga.
15. Learn conversational Spanish.
16. Buy a new car.
17. Go to Walt Disney World or Disneyland with Kim.
18. Get a book about Ayurveda.
19. Build up enough shoulder strength to get into Bakasana.
20. Join a choir.
21. Learn the Samba Line Dance.
22. Take Ballroom dance lessons.
23. Take an adult ballet or modern dance class.
24. Do at least 20 things from my “Everyday Activist” book.
25. Quit biting my nails.
26. Touch up the spots of paint on my bedroom ceiling.
27. Knit an item of clothing for myself (not a scarf!)
28. Knit an item of clothing for my mum (not a scarf!)
29. Learn to crochet.
30. Get a job that I enjoy.
31. Create a list of people to contact if something were to happen to me.
32. Knit a sweater or blanket for every future niece or nephew, as announced (no pressure!)
33. Go to San Francisco again.
34. Explore the Old Burying Ground in Halifax.
35. Have Yoga portraits taken.
36. Re-read the Harry Potter series.
37. Go to Oak Island (and hopefully find hidden treasure.)
38. Go to Cape Breton.
39. Read the Yoga Sutras.
40. Re-read my Ashtanga Vinyasa text books.
41. Finish my Nova Scotia scrapbook.
42. Grow my hair down to my waist.
43. Set up a very Zen, permanent Yoga/meditation space.
44. Go to the optometrist.
45. Go to the dentist.
46. Start a wine journal.
47. Try one new recipe a month from my “365 Easy Soups & Stews” book.
48. Write down in my journal and Blog every lovely, inspiring quote I run across.
49. Attempt to find a typewriter ribbon distributor for my ancient typewriter.
50. Bake a cheesecake from scratch.
51. Bake a baguette from scratch.
52. Go to Maine.
53. Buy an unreasonably expensive pair of very girly shoes.
54. Make dinner for promising suitors, a la “Saucepans and the Single Girl.”
55. Add one item to my tool kit every year.
56. Wash my shirts according to directions on the label. Stop being LAZY :P
57. Buy a decent printer/scanner combo.
58. Start collecting antique silverware at antique sales.
59. Start collecting elegant antique tea cups & saucers.
60. Buy a sewing machine.
61. Get a cocktail recipe book and a classy martini shaker.
62. Have a fruit smoothie for lunch every day for one week.
63. Wear red lipstick out in public one day when I feel bold.
64. Fix the holey pockets in my winter coat.
65. Buy one good, vintage item (clothing or accessory.)
66. Make one retro 1950s style dress for myself.
67. Do a painting on a large canvas for my home.
68. Paint inspiring quotes on my bedroom wall (in new home.)
69. Frame photos for a “family and friends gallery” space.
70. Handwrite and mail at least one letter a month to a friend.
71. Write a “song of the month” post on my blog once a month.
72. Write (at least) one poem a month.
73. Sing out loud (at least) once a day.
74. Dance around like fool (at least) once a day.
75. Go to Target (have to be in the US for this.)
76. Go to Bath & Body Works and stock up on shampoo & conditioner (have to be in the US for this.)
77. Get a manicure & pedicure.
78. Go to Death by Chocolate at the Fairmont Palliser... mmm Chocolate buffet.
79. Go to a zoo.
80. Buy Miss Claire McKnight a special 1st Birthday present :)
81. Go on a Haunted Hike/Graveyard tour.
82. Finish watching The X-Files series before the second movie is released.
83. Seriously look into getting an Art History degree.
84. Go to (at least) two operas.
85. Buy four copies of Michael Hearst’s CD “Songs for Ice Cream Trucks” to give to people when they’re feeling blue.
86. Decide which city to live in.
87. Attempt to grill pineapple on my electric grill.
88. Learn something about investments and start some... or whatever you do with investments.
89. Re-read and flag pages in my “Blueprint” magazines. Do cool projects.
90. Re-cover the trunk my mum made for me when I was little.
91. Go the Marilyn Monroe exhibit at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
92. Take swimming lessons.
93. Buy or make a first aid kit.
94. Post a picture or video every time I post on my blog.
95. Buy Dad the complete “Get Smart” series on DVD.
96. Collect ten “cupboard of happiness” lists.
97. Introduce three new people to the joys of “Katamari Damacy.”
98. Get a CD of “The Magic Flute.”
99. Go for a ride on a motorcycle.
100. Learn to play a Hendrix song on the bass.
101. Donate $5 to a charity for every goal I don’t complete.

Wish me luck :)

Love,

Gillian