We'll Tak' a Cup o' Kindness Yet, For Auld Lang Syne.

May your 2009 be full of love, happiness, joy, peace, and all the good things you're wishing for and deserve.

Happy New Year my friends.

I promise, it's going to be a good one.

Um, Victoria?

Yeah?

You need to post.

I do?

You do.

Oh. But I have nothing to say. My brain's still on do-no-work mode!

Well, just tell them about the bacon grease incident.

No, I already had one of those a week or so ago, if I tell them I had another problem with bacon grease they're going to think I'm really crazy, and they already think I'm a little crazy.

Well, then tell them about the super awesome wind that's going on today.

I could, I guess, but I'd rather spend the time sorting through and uploading my photos in case the power goes out because, yeah, holy windy!

So then what are you going to say today?

I dunno. I guess just something about posts continuing to be light. Or sparse.

Or non existent?

No, I'll try, just not sure when the brain will get back into action.

Well, maybe if you'd stop watching back episodes of Project Runway?

Yeah. Maybe.

Hey Y'all

I hope you're all having, and had, good Christmases and holidays and time with loved ones.

I have sleep to catch up on and calories to burn off family to hang out with and couches to mellow out on so I'll fill you all in on things once I'm around and about more.

Hope all is well and just in case I don't see you before, I wish you all good things for 2009.

I'm now going to attempt to get myself to the gym.

Later skaters!

12/25

Merry Christmas everyone.



Be good to one another.

Travelling Monkeys

So something clicked in my head the other night (Monday night, I think it was) and I realized that although I'd imagined my week to be a lazy one filled with opportunities to write blog entries and post them at my leisure, the fact of the matter was that I was going to be on a ferry boat first thing Wednesday morning.

Um, so yeah. I'm on a ferry. Maybe even as you're reading this.

Or, maybe I'm already off and on the way to my brother's place.

Anyway, wish me good driving and good family time and good eating and I'll wish you all the same.

I should be back in a few days (weather and expanding waist bands permitting) so until then, have a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and a Joyful anything and everything else that you may be enjoying this week.

Lots of hugs,
Victoria (Who, as you're reading this, may already be eating chocolate)

Oh, and? Happy Christmas Eve! I hope Santa's good to you. See you in a few days.

Question

Is it weird that I'd be ok with just sitting on my couch for the next few days?

I mean, considering that it's Christmas this week (which, by the way, how did *that* happen?) I'm guessing I should be looking forward to visiting and family, but all I can really think is how nice it would be to sit on my couch and not have to get up.

I might just be a little bit on the tired side, and the idea of sleeping on a futon in Vancouver for a couple of nights doesn't seem too restful to me. Oh well, as long as there's gravy, it'll be worth it.

(There will be gravy, won't there?)

What are your plans for the .... holy smokes, is tomorrow Christmas EVE????? um, what are your plans for the next couple of days.

Apparently I have to pack.






On a completely different note , I had a not so much with the fun drive last night. Decided to go see some friends who are about to have a baby seriously any day now and got stuck in the snow three times (leaving my apartment, trying to find a place to park, which DUH, why didn't I clue in that I wouldn't find side street parking until I got there and saw all the snow banks, duh, and then trying to get back in to my apartment) and had to constantly spray (non-winter proof because I didn't expect a real winter cuz we didn't have one last year) my windshield because it kept freezing and thereby making it impossible to see. So that was, well, a little on the slightly stressful side. And probably the rest of the country/continent is laughing at me right now, but we have one plow. ONE plow for our whole city. As in, one. Which means that while the roads that get driven on are basically clear, all the side roads (ie. where I live and where my friends live) aren't. At. All. And, in fact, they're this weird mixture of frozen stuff and melty goo, but the real problem is the piles of stuff people have shoveled, or in the case of my driveway, the dip in the road that meant that my tires dipped, but my car hit a bank of snow and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz went the tires and "oh" went the me. But, hey... the fact that I'm writing this means I managed it and got out of it all by myself, which makes me proud and so you can scoff your eyes at us PacNorthWesters, but really, the driving's not....great.

/end slightly freaked out when I wrote it rant.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

So, what am I doing?

Well, perfect that you should ask. I'm sitting in my favourite chair watching (and listening to) the snow fall off the trees as the sun warms things up.

It's the coolest thing, like the trees are dripping, except they're dripping chunks of snow that make the leaves ripple and sound like crunchy rain.

I slept in this morning, which was awesome. It was decided that since the snow hit and the end of the week is holiday time anyway, that the whole week would be mine. All mine, my precious! (Ahem.) So I turned my alarm on to the regular work time just so that I could turn it off and snuggle down into bed and sleep in. Ahhhhhhh.

It's been a nice, mellow morning too. Downloading the photos I look last night as it snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed. Listening to the sound of tires crunching into the parking behind my building. (I love that sound, crrrrunch), eating the candy off of yesterday's gingerbread house (which, I have to say, I don't think is going to last much past this evening, if that!), eating bacon, english muffins and drinking some tea. Awesome.

And it's warm enough too that I've got my windows open, letting in the fresh air and sunshine. And I'll most likely head out for a walk later today, maybe to the gym, and if the roads are doing well, I might head over to a friend's house for dinner. If not, it'll be me and some goodies again for din dins tonight.

I'm catching up on my reading (blogs and books alike) and am really really enjoying time to myself. My plan for today is to finish this one leeeeetle (I keep telling myself that so that it doesn't seem so freaky) assignment I've been given so that I don't have to think about it over Christmas. So if I get it done, it may mean no blog post tomorrow. But that'd be ok, right? Right!

So, a Happy Hanukkah and Winter Solstice from yesterday to everyone. I hope you all enjoy whatever celebrations you're celebrating.

And, yay for the days starting to get longer again!

Just FYI

Not sure I'm going to post today.

Although, I suppose posting this kind of means I did.

Huh.

Update: Change of plans!

Awesome

So it seems that my perfect Sunday from last week was to be followed by another perfect Sunday today!

It started snowing last night as I left the gym, and since we'd been told to expect a bunch of snow, I'd already picked up some goodies (bacon, Avalon chocolate milk, pistachios, you know, all the yummiest stuff!) so I headed home and watched the snow fall all night.

When I woke up this morning it was a winter wonderland, and after making the executive decision to sleep in some more (mmm, toasty warm bed) I got up and lazed around in my pjs and blankie before heading out for a snowy walk to the gym.

Came home feeling suitably exhausted and refreshed (I love going to the gym on snowy winter days, I feel like a superstar cuz I got to the gym in the snow, plus I get some exercise, which means I feel like I can eat more goodies, and I'm always looking for an excuse to bundle up and head out in the snow!) and put on some Christmas music. Then there was hot chocolate to be made, and peppermint oil to be warmed (so my place smells like a candy cane!) and pretty candles to be lit and I sat and candied up a gingerbread house while watching the snow fall in the background.

Can't get much Christmassier than that, can you?

Hope you're having a great Sunday too.

. . .

Holy smokes people. I'm exhausted.

And bushed.

And pooped.

And did I mention being really really tired?

Yeah.

See, as much as I love the snow (and I do really love the snow), it makes my work so much harder. I mean, really, how can you be stealthy and spy like when everyone can see your footprints?

So I'm zonked.

And brain no worky for maky posts.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Good News Bad News

The good news: My smoke detector works!

The bad news: I didn't get to eat the bacon I burned and my whole apartment still smells like slightly burned bacon fat.



The good news: I can type on my iPod touch if I have to. Which, combined with my wireless means I have at least some computer ability even if my laptop isn't working. Which reminds me. . .

The bad news: My laptop charger broke.

The good news: My computer was still under warranty so I got a new one yesterday free of charge!

The bad news: I'm a little behind on my posting (and post reading) because I spent two days trying to make the charger work. (One thought I honestly had? Hmmm, maybe it's not working because it's so cold*. Let me wrap it in a blanket!)

The good news: I know y'all won't mind.





*Seriously. It was -6 and -18 with the windchill. Brrrrr! (That's bizarrely cold for Victoria)

Will Be Missed

In the last book I read (stop reading now if you don't want to have plot points revealed), several characters die.

A couple of them were unexpected, and one hit me really hard. Seriously.

I didn't see it coming and I just didn't think the character wouldn't *not* be around for the whole story.

So, when it did happen, I just lay there in bed sobbing. As in, soak the pillow sobbing. I was so surprised by how sad I was by that character's death, and I still wish the author hadn't had him die.

Anything in a story ever affect you that way?

Saturday Night's Alright

So it snowed Saturday evening, (and yes, this photo is old too, but ain't it pretty?) and although I was enjoying sitting on my couch with the blinds open watching the snow fall, by 10:30 I was starting to think of bed. (After all, I may have left the staff party by midnight, but I didn't actually get to sleep Friday night until close to 3 am. Go figure.) I was a little surprised, then, to get a text message from Dee, my girlfriend / co-worker who lives nearby (and is totally awesome) telling me that her friend, a cute single guy who currently lives in Vancouver but may be moving to Victoria was over visiting with a bunch of other friends and did I want to stop by?

Now, ordinarily it might not have been worth my while to get all dressed up and drive over just to hang out with people, but I looked outside and instantly saw an excuse to go for a walk in the snow! So I put on my new jeans and suited up for the snow and walked in a Winter Wonderland to Dee's place. In fact, she and her friend (insert name here) met me half way and we had a mini snowball fight. It was perfect and what Winter's supposed to be all about!

After I peeled off my waterproof pants and scarf and toque and mittens (etc. etc.) we all hung out for a while; some of the boys playing video games and Dee, (insert name here) and I talking away in the kitchen.

They all were much drunker than I was, and so when they decided to head downtown to the bars, I decided to take myself home. Night time when it's snowing is one of the only times I feel safe walking by myself. It's light out since the snow reflects all the streetlights and I figure most of the crazy people are off hiding somewhere warm. And in this town, most of the people you see out and about walking on a snowy night are excited that it's snowing and want to make the most of it. So it was a nice, if fairly short, walk home.

Plus, it's kind of fun to watch people who aren't used to driving in the snow try to drive.

But anyhow, the weird thing is is that I found myself thinking about Dee's friend and I'm not really sure why. Like, on Sunday, I found myself wondering what he was doing and if he was heading back to Vancouver or not. Which is weird, because I'm not sure I thought much of him one way or the other when we hung out, and I didn't even talk to him for that long, an hour maybe?

I don't really think I'm saying anything here, I'm more just observing. Out loud. I'm sure it'll pass.

I think one of the other thoughts that I had was how easy it would have been to have gone out to the bars with them all and had a few drinks and flirt with and maybe even make out with (insert name here) and that that's what I would have done before. It's certainly what I did with the rest of my exes and isn't what I plan on doing anymore. But maybe there's a part of me that's wondering what it would have been like to wake up to someone else in my bed Sunday morning. Someone I didn't know anything about. Been there, done that, moved on.

Not that that was my reason for not going out with them on Saturday; I didn't *not* go out with them on purpose.

But anyway... it's good to have girlfriends who are still looking out for me when it comes to single guys. And it's good to be able to play in the snow with people who love it as much as I do.

Here's hoping for more.

Snow, that is.

Although, I won't say no to more single guys too if that's in the forecast.

From the Outside

So we had our staff Christmas party this weekend (which is kind of fun when you're a spy, because everyone comes in spy disguise, and you can hardly recognize anyone. I went dressed as me, by the way, which threw everyone off) and I had a great time.

I'm usually not a big fan of Christmas parties, but I've been at this office long enough to really like everyone and we all needed to hang out and have fun together, so I decided to get a ride with someone who wasn't planning on staying that long in case I wanted to leave early.

Turns out I was one of the later leavers; it was so much fun. I don't usually drink around my co-workers, but decided a vodka and cranberry wouldn't hurt. And when I was done that one, I just handed my glass to the (dishy) co-worker I have a kindergarten crush on (unrequited due to his long time girlfriend, but I can still enjoy his company ) and told him that no, I wasn't driving, so it didn't matter how strong he mixed it.

And before I knew it I was kicking some Guitar Hero butt (while dancing and looking like a rock star thank you very much) and losing at pool (except for those five fluke shots in a row) and then singing Christmas carols, having completely forgotten that I tend to be shy and don't like to sing in front of people who might be better than I am.

And as one of my (newer) co-workers was leaving, she looked at me, this big smile on her face and said "Victoria? You're a ton of fun." which was a pretty cute thing to say, since I know exactly what she meant. We have to maintain a certain level of professionalism at work and it's nice to see each other in a different, relaxed light.

And the best part for me was being able to observe myself through their eyes. (I have this weird ability every once in a while to see myself as others see me rather than through my own often insecure thoughts.) And do you know what you guys? I'm pretty awesome.

I'm fun and I'm funny. I'm nice, and I'm pretty, and I'm good at a lot of different things. I sing, I dance, I'm good at sports. Somehow what I got out of the night is that I'm more than a good catch, I'm an awesome catch, and some guy's going to be very very lucky to be with me.

So, all in all, the staff party, for me, was a great success. I had fun, got to have fun with my co-workers and see them as more than just seriously hard working spies, and I got to see myself as the awesome chick I am.







(And in completely unrelated news, apparently this is my seven hundred and seventy seventh post. 777. That's pretty cool if I say so myself. Thanks to those of you who've been around for most of them. You guys rock.)

Best. Morning. Ever

So, yeah, I know this photo is from a couple of years ago, but if you just brush a few flakes off the trees, it's pretty much the same scene I woke up to this morning!

It started snowing last night as I left the gym (slipping on what used to be a puddle and realizing it was ice and then looking up and seeing snowflakes was pretty darn awesome) and didn't let up until after I was in bed (which was past 2am, but I'll save that story for tomorrow I think.)

And then when I woke up this morning I lay in bed, all cozy in a pocket of warm under my duvet and watched the snow fall outside the window for a few minutes before I decided to fall back asleep, all curled up and delicious in my bed while the snow fell and swirled. Awesome.

Fast forward an hour or so and I throw on my bestest warm pj's and head for the couch with some breakfast.

And now I'm sitting on my couch, wrapped in a blankie, feet on a hot water bottle, listening to Christmas carols. It's pretty darn awesome and I haven't even had bacon yet!

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

Best morning ever.

Wire

I've got to head off for a few days . . . spy business. . . but I'll send you a telegram when I get back, kay?

Play nice!

Scent of Childhood

Do you ever stop and think about how weird it is that we can remember smells?

Or that smells can remind us of things?

Maybe "weird" isn't the right word.

Maybe "amazing" is.

Or "awesome".

Every time I look at this picture, it makes me think of Strawberry Shortcake and the one doll I had: Lemon ...something. (Or was it Apricot something. Or, wait, maybe Peach? I just remember she wore white.)

And I can *just about* smell her.

Just from looking at a picture.

Weird. Cool.*


*D'you know the smell I mean? Just a hint of plastic underneath the sweetness?

Just Chillin'

Not a whole lot going on around here, which, frankly, is pretty darn nice.

Things right now just feel mellow and good.

On the guy front, I ran into Huck again and was reminded just how good looking he is and am mulling over the idea of asking him to hang out sometime.

I've had a couple of small dates with a nice fellow, but I'm not sure it's going to go anywhere as he's possibly planning on moving to another country, and, well, yeah. That's probably all you'll hear me say about him.

I also met a man through work who was so handsome and wonderful and amazing and not single, but for a whole day I was madly in love. Like, hearts fluttering out of my eyes in love. It was fun.

So there's your latest update: I'm enjoying the mellow and all is well.

How 'bout you?

Sweeeeeeet

My parents bought a new computer this fall, and were able to take advantage of a deal that allowed them to get a free iPod at the same time.

I strongly suggested they get an iPod touch because it was the highest of the free iPods offered, plus it looked super cool and I thought they'd like it. So they did.

And they liked it.

But they found that they weren't using it as much as they thought they might and asked me the other day if I might like to have it.

DUDE! YES! PLEASE!

And so it was that I came into (holy smokes,because my parents are teh awesome) possession of my very own iPod touch.

And it *is* totally cool.

Except now I find myself trying to touch all sorts of screens that don't touch and trying to move things that don't "flow" in the touch way.

I may need rehab people.

But for now? So totally cool.

My parents rock.

(Plus, I told them they could have it back if they ever wanted. I think my Mom was tempted when she saw all the apps I loaded on to it.)

( She especially liked the fake lighter.)

(Not that I'd ever hold up a fake lighter in a concert, mind you. I have standards, people.)

(But, seriously, this thing is so sweet!)

Dude

If you're in Victoria tonight, try to get to the Lighted Truck Parade.

It's somehow the cutest, most touching Christmassy parade I've ever seen.

I saw it by accident once a few years ago and thought it was just a one off, but now I try to see it somewhere, every year. It kind of kicks off my Christmas season, seeing all those people draping their big ol' trucks with pretty lights to raise money for the Mustard Seed food bank.

It's just an awesome display, very cool and totally fun.

Yay!

So guess what? I graduated from physio yesterday!

No, not physio school, sillies, I told you, I'm a spy, not a physiotherapist.

No, I graduated from my physiotherapist that I was seeing for my back.

See, I'd been seeing this one person for a number of months and things were ok, but then she had to go away for a while and my back (which, if you're following along at home, has been bugging me here and there for a fair bit now) had a little owie session and I suddenly remembered a physio I went to a couple of years ago when I did got whooping cough (yes, as a grownup thank you very much, never as a kid though) and ended up compressing a disc in my (completely unrelated area) upper back.

So I made an appointment to see this fellow and he took a very different approach to what he felt the problem was and once we started working on that, things started improving dramatically.

Some traction, ultrasound, weird electrical thingies and excercises later and I'm good to go. SO much better; know what I'm dealing with and how to take care of it. Unless something goes wrong again, I don't ever have to go back. I'm feeling pretty happy that I've fixed things up so well and it's a reminder that sometimes a different opinion in health matters is a good idea.

Oh, and an unrelated bonus? One of the things I've had to fix was my posture, and fixing that has made all my pants too big so I've ended up going down a pants size. Or two. Without having to diet like a madwoman. In fact, no weight lost at all, but all my pants started sliding off.

Cool, huh?

So, yay me, and yay my physio guy for doing such a good job fixing me up!

Incoming Message

Hi, Victoria?

It's 4:30 calling.

Just wanted to let you know that we'll be taking your light for the rest of the day.

Great. Thanks!

Perspective

I feel like this in some way throughout the year, but I'll say it anyway; this is an interesting time of year.

We've had some pretty pretty pretty sunsets, ones where if you're in one place the sky is golden or pink or just amazing, but if you drive two minutes you can't see it anymore and the sky just looks like sky.

I find myself driving along wondering how many people didn't look up; didn't see the glowing ball of golden sunset that I just saw and sometimes I want to stop my car and stand on the roof just so everyone else can see how pretty it is if they'd just stop and look.

And then, sometimes, I find myself thinking about how life is kind of like the sunsets. If you're in the right place and you look? You can see the amazing, beautiful sunset. But, if you're somewhere else, or you don't look? You'll probably miss it.

And you see more when you're on the top of a hilly street (of which Victoria has a surprising amount if you've never driven around here) than at the bottom.

All this is sort of this grand metaphor for life in it's own strange way...

Because it's all about perspective.

Take that how you will.

Kwa

Have you ever wondered why ducks all over the world sound pretty much the same?



No?




Just me then?

Ha!

I posted every day in November!

I Nablopomo-ed without even planning on doing it!

Without even signing up!

Without.... uh.... without having any idea why I chose to want to post every day for the month of November, especially since I didn't publicly declare I would like way back in oh six.

I may have officially lost my mind, because I had a crap load of work due in November and I decided to post every day. For some reason.

I'm weird.





Speaking of weird...who said it could be December? Wha?