Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I am putting that ringtone back on my cellphone. For once its snowing on a weekend...but oh my...wonder what it will be like to go to work tomorrow. It has been a nice weekend. We had a social evening at Kari and Ray's but we didn't stay too late as I have been very tired lately and Darcy just back from Calgary.
It was this morning when it started to really snow like crazy. Speedo loves the snow. Chrissy and I went to shovel the driveway and then we ended up making an Easthill snowgirl with Veronica. Our neighbours are in Hawaii so we took some photos and sent it as a text message to them. Here's a photo of a very wet, cold and bedraggled me with the snow girl.
It was fun playing outside. I had another hot shower, changed into warm clothes and now am playing on the computer with a hot mug of miso soup.

I think it has actually stopped snowing by now.
It was another very busy week. It does seem like the time passes by so quickly from each day to the next. I am getting organized at work and really loving it. We had an after-work get together on Friday with the girls from Dogwood and I do admit I miss Dogwood and everyone there quite dearly so it was fun to eat appetizers and sing karaoke with them. Mary likes hosting parties so she says she will do it again! We need a Glen Pine bonding party soon...will mention that to Helga including all the poor food services staff who have been dealing with so much angst and drama.

Finally watched Brokeback Mountain...it was picturesque and the story was good but really not that ground-breaking...gay men have such turbulent relationships in real life so its good that it was recognized. Also watched The Painted Veil too.
Anyway...I need to catch up on reading now....

Heath Ledger dead??

Some news just shocks and I have no idea why I am so disturbed by the news of this celebrity's death. Maybe its because I have a thing for Aussie-accented guys...maybe I just liked him even though I have not seen all his movies. Came home from work and read this on Hearts in a postng by Deb. Thank goodness she had all the details there and on her blog too. Wow!! How can this happen to a 28 year old whose life seemingly seemed to be going on well...boggles my mind...even more why I am so kerfuffled by this news!!!

Darcy is away in Calgary for a few days this week so its just been me and Chrissy at home...busy at work getting the bus trips into the computer so that it can get into the next newsletter. I must get it finished by tomorrow. With the new schedule I am not sure how I am going to get to WW meetings....and that is not good for me!!!

Grand Openings and Re-Openings

What a crazy couple of weeks since I started the new job..busy but wonderful at the same time. On January 13 we had our Grand Opening. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was done by all the local dignitaries...Mayor Maxine was there and city council and other politicians. We were running around all morning setting up for the appetizers we were serving. We had white and red wine for refreshments. Gary (Food Services Coordinator) did a lovely Asian-themed water feature (see Photo).
Traditional Lion dances came to give good luck to Glen Pine as we will have a huge number of members from the Asian Community...perhaps this will give me a chance to improve my cantonese speaking skills (or not!). Because Glen Pine is so contemporary and trendy, our itinerary was very upbeat. State-of-the-art facility was the tagline and we welcomed the community with flowers, chocolates and great food. Of course at the end of the day, we were all simply exhausted but happy with the success of the event.


But prior to this, we had a pressure surge through our complex which resulted in a busted hot water tank so in all this chaos we were boiling pots of water for baths. It was a very frustrating process getting the hot water tank replaced. We stayed home on Monday, Chrissy's birthday, and it could not get done.

Today, January 19, Helga picked me up around 6:45 a.m. and we went up to Dogwood to help Gary prepare the food for the grand re-opening luncheon. It was lots of fun laughing and eorking together in the kitchen. For me, it was a weird feeling walking back into Dogwood. One part of me misses the comfortable environment but Dogwood is steeped in oldness and tradition. It was wonderful to see all those member who were all rushing to hug me and tell me how much they missed me. Once again, it was crazy busy as we were serving luncheon. But it was fabulous...we made 6 types of sandwiches and wraps, fancy squares and fruit for dessert.

So now...a chance to sit back and relax a little. Darcy was out of town on his birthday on Wednesday, Jan 16 so we have today and tomorrow to spend with him as he leaves again for Calgary on Monday morning until late Wednesday again. Feeling so tired but maybe we should do something fun. There's a few movies that are out I would like to see but we will most likely stay at home in front of the TV.

Chrissy's 18th birthday!

Well, what a emotionally-charged day. It started out so well...Chrissy was in great spirits, got herself ready to school, was even excited that it was her birthday and a school day. However, by 10am she walked in the door wailing and crying her eyes out. I was off today because I had worked yesterday for the grand opening and Darcy worked from home so we could wait for Milani Plumbing to come to figure out our busted water tank situation. She was so upset at first I thought she had been in an accident or someone had died. Well, she walked into keyboarding and was met but some very rude, insulting and derogatory remarks by some girls who took great pleasure in ruining her birthday. I was so upset I called and spoke to Mr. Areshenko who was very sympathetic and also quite outraged. To be called fat, ugly and squinty eyes on your birthday is horrid. He would like to deal with it but she doesn't want to follow up because the girls are already having a good enough laugh...and she is so embarrassed to be the brunt of their jokes.
She spent the whole afternoon up in her room crying about how much she hates her life...that even friends who say they care about her just tell lies and talk about her behind her back. She detests high school so much.
She went to pick up Luis from Douglas and so we took everyone out for dinner at the Banana Leaf restaurant in Kitsilano to try and make up for her awful day. On the way home, she gets a call from Auntie Connie to find out that Alicia's Nono had a mild stroke today as well. She feels like the whole day is jinxed. Our hot water tank did not get fixed so we still have no hot water and keep on boiling pots of water to use for bathing...I am getting very frustrated by this.

Yesterday's grand opening was a huge success. We were all so exhausted at the end of it all but we are sure we had over 500 come. Wine, appetizers all flowed freely and the flowers were lovely and we had all the dignataries there all schmoozing away. I did get my hair re-done...cut, colored and high-lighted ...we all did, Helga, Heather, Karen and I so we would all look fabulous. It was so nice for friends to even come by to check out my new place of work...Kari, Janice, Karen, Theresa, Heather, etc all came by too. I was thrilled to show them my new office. Kari even brought a wonderful gift basket which we will use for a prize during our Open House next week!!! I think we did a great event, and it was so awesome for Helga to be recognized by mayor Maxine for all that she has done. I am really excited about this job now...lots to do but I hope that we will grow in membership significantly!

On Saturday night, we went to Gescan's mardi gras party at the Pacific Palisades Hotel on Robson. The food was good...and the music was awesome by the Hot Wax DJs. The games were fun...we won some candle-holders...not the wonderful prizes that they had. It was a small party but if I did not have to work for the grand opening we could have got a room and spent the night downtown...next year, maybe! They always wait until after Christmas to have the office party...guess its not a bad idea as everyone is so busy before the holidays.

Well, better prep my pots to put on the boil first thing in the morning for bath time.

What happened to our beloved Messageboard?

For almost 8 years, I have been part of a wonderful online community called Hearts Online...real life friends and some online friends congregate there...but today...couldn't even log in...I am so so unhappy and very frustrated with it. Why do they have to make changes like that without some proper warnings and all. I wanted to change the look away from the New Year and I don't even know how to log in to do that...arrghh....mad I am. Perhaps sticking to Facebook might be the way to go.

Counting down to the Grand Opening

I must say...I am busy at my new job...excited, overwhelmingly busy...our grand opening of our new community centre is on Sunday January 13 from 3 - 5pm. Wine, appetizers, all the local dignitaries...

Yes...we are a little stressed out. I worked a full day...couldn't bail on Weightwatchers so I went to the meeting and hooray...I was up only a pound despite Christmas!! Then I had to go back to work until 10pm. Sometimes you just have to go back and finish that last write-up. I have a Bus Trip Committee meeting to chair in the morning and had not updated the budget spreadsheet.

Do I love my job...yes I do...I am happy to finally get that full-time job permanently!!!
So...I will try and take photos of the grand opening. I hope everyone comes to it!!!

Love snow but...

Darcy had to be in Richmond very early and he is gone for a couple of days so I was getting myself to work. At 6am...it looked like it was starting to snow. Very pretty...very white. Chrissy's card is not great in the snow and having her give me a ride on this first day back after the holidays...well wanted to give her a break.
So up I trudged through the snow at 6:45 a.m. up the stairs and by now there was quite a substantial accumalation of the white snow. Well, the C24 commuter bus came by and very precariously we made it through College Park and then down the treacherous Clarke Hill. Well I made it down to the Shell Station on St. John Street...and that was that. No other bus would come down. People were on foot. It usually is a 15 minute bus ride from this point to work...well...left the house at 6:45 am...got to work at 8:45am??? Love the snow but it sure creates havoc on our streets that even what you think is reliable transit doesn't even cut it.

My new office

I posted some photos of Facebook...the grand opening is coming up...lots more to do yet.

It's new...fresh and vibrant!
My already messy looking desk awaiting such shelving for my binders.

The Lemon tree cafe will be serving some wonderful lunches soon. The grand opening is on Sunday, January 13 with lots of hoopla and VIPs coming to rub shoulders with each other. It will be a very busy day but exciting I think. Helga should be pleased when we get it all up and running!!!

The official end of the holiday season

I think that this weekend marks the official end of the holiday season. It will be so rough on all those kids who have been sleeping in until the afternoon and staying up so late. For those of us who have been going to work as usual its no big deal.
Caiti and James left after breakfast at 10am this morning. James is a nonsense person and they were packed and ready though dilly-dallying Caiti tried hard to be ditzy. It was very nice having them both at home. Speedo will miss "sister" very much!!
Last night we had a satay feast and invited Ryan and Robbie over. We meet Ryan's girlfriend, Natasha who seemed very nice. Made a great impression by bringing a box of chocolates...such would be the courteous manners of an asian upbringing!! It was fun having all those young adults around talking, drinking beer and telling silly tales. Watched some football...watched some hockey and then played Mario Party 8 on the Wii.
Now its back to same old routine. My wish that Chrissy gets on with things and we have less drama and issues with her this year.
So much happening at Glen Pine. I am loving the excitement of the grand opening but I have so much to do yo familiarize myself with all my programs and I need to get going on Spring ideas and such. I am very happy to finally be given this chance and I want to make the difference and do a great job!!
Struggling with Weight Watchers though...the holidays were bad and I have no excuses. I even have the gym to use and I NEED to get with it. Well...so much for being OP starting Jan 1.
So...quiet day at home today doing some work and also getting the mind geared to return to Wings as well and the workload there also needs to be factored into my hectic schedule. I know I have to take on Wed. nights at work so that means possibly giving up the Aftergrad Committee...I will discuss with Helga since Karen is not able to switch for Mondays.
Here's to a good week ahead.

Happy New Year - 2008!

Here we go again...another first day of a brand new year. What will this year have in store for us? The hope is for many positive outcomes and memorable experiences to come our way. I do have to make an effort not to get so highly stressed out and I must learn how to accept things that do happen when they are beyond my control.
I must get on track with fitness and eating healthy and I also want to make sure that I have fun as I go through each day.
We didn't really bring in the new year with too much pomp. Just a late visit over to Rob and Theresa's since we had to go up to College Park to pick Chrissy up. She did leave her car and not drive it so that was very responsible of her to not even be tempted to drive any of the kids home. Caiti and James will be home for a few more days tomorrow before they have to get back to Kelowna for their second semester.
Darcy is trying to sort of the mess in the kitchen and bake something healthy. Speedo and Sheba are both snoring away on their beds. Happy New Year!