Wednesday, February 27

Broken Boss

Do you know how hard I work? I'll tell you: I work SO hard that I broke my computer. I give you the Blue Screen of Death:

P365 Day 58 February 27  100_0872 (Medium)

I should have known the clicking from yesterday was the hard drive dying and should have maybe saved some things on the common drive. Hindsight is always 20/20, I know.

In other work news, the coworker that I don't like so much is leaving. I found out last Wednesday and am so happy. Every time I think about her leaving I smile. My workload will increase significantly but I don't care. My work life will be better. SO much better.

And then yesterday I got an email saying that I got into the "developmental program" meaning I get a raise. It's a neat internal program to promote development, learning, career opportunities and all that jazz. Neat in theory, but they've been saying since I started that the program would open. In practice, the program takes forever so we'll see when I actually get any extra money out of the deal. Either way, I get bumped up a level and am happy.

Also, I should find out this week whether I will be the acting boss again for March. Leaving coworker was next in line, but she won't be here to do the job so it should fall to me. My boss is very fair so unless we get a permanent mini-boss, it should be me. That's even more money.

Other than the increased workload and the sometimes eye-twitch, work life is good. Especially with a brand new computer.

Monday, February 25

Tremblant 2008

We spent last weekend in Tremblant. It was beautiful there and a lot of fun on the hill. First, let me tell you about last week. I spent all week feeling like I was getting sick so I stayed home Tuesday and Thursday. Monday was a regular day at work and Wednesday was a full day of training. So there wasn't much working but there was a lot of lying on the couch. And then came the skiing.

Like I said, Tremblant was beautiful.

100_0861 (Medium)

My purple snowpants were hella warm.

218_1870 (Medium)

We started out, me skiing and J snowboarding, on the "bunny hill". I was able to remember how to ski pretty quickly and after a couple runs we were on the chairlift and heading up the mountain. The chairlift went half the way up, and the green run took about 20 minutes to get down. Then we took the gondola. The gondola went right up to the top of the mountain, almost a kilometer up. That run took longer.

It was a rush, but it was freezing. I could hardly have my eyes open, especially once I got going fast. I think I got windburn on my face.

After skiing Friday afternoon, we went back to the chalet. It was a 10 minute walk from the bottom of the mountain. Our friends showed up not too long after that. There were 8 of us all together. Here's a picture of the view from our room:

100_0823 (Medium)

We spent Friday night walking around the village and finally eating and drinking lots of beer at one of the bars.

Saturday was the big day. We spent all day on the mountain. LS took the opportunity to propose to his girlfriend, SM, and thankfully she said yes.

100_0832 (Medium)

Saturday night you might imagine that we were all super tired, so after a huge dinner and some hot tub-ing, we crashed pretty hard. Sunday was hometime and recover time. My shins and calves are killing me so shuffling is the most comfortable way of walking.

All in all, an awesome weekend. And here's a group shot of Tremblant 2008:

218_1808 (Medium)

Monday, February 18

Picture Ketchup

It's been a while since I've posted any pictures and I intend to rectify that.

We got Rock Band a while ago and I've learned that I'm actually decent as a singer. If you know me you probably know that I am terrible with lyrics and don't have a great voice. Rock Band doesn't care! In fact, I rock at rocking!

P365 Day 39 February 8  100_0721 (Medium)

I call my alter ego Pixie. Pixie sings good.

J and his friends tackled the endless set list. On Rock Band, you sit and play all 58-ish songs in one sitting. This takes longer than 6 hours. But they did it and they survived. This picture was taken before the end of the first hour, when I left them.

100_0722 (Medium)

I left because I had a party to attend. It was a girl I went to high school with, A, who invited everyone and their dog to her house. I went and saw people I hadn't seen in a long time, including JH. I used to play hockey and trumpet with JH back in the day. It was nice seeing her and everyone else.

P365 Day 40 February 9  100_0724 (Medium)

I have to admit, I was feeling blah. Very blah, but my friends really helped. I received lots of emails and got out of the house lots over the past two weeks. There are also things coming up, like a skiing/snowboarding trip to Tremblant this weekend and a trip to the Abandoned Mine (my post from the last time we went) the weekend after.

And I should mention that, in honour of our upcoming skiing/snowboarding trip, and because of the fact that J lost my old pair, I got a new pair of snow pants. Two pairs, actually. The first are gray and really nice and expensive. But I felt better, more prepared, once we had purchased them. But when we went to another store yesterday, I found a nice pair for less than one third of the price of the other ones. And get this - they're purple! J says I'm going to be the envy of all the girls at Tremblant. I don't know about that but I do know that I smile just thinking about them. Who has purple snow pants?

Wednesday, February 13

Longer Days

It makes me happy that I can sleep in, not get into work until 9, and it's still sunny when I leave work at 5. I get to sleep in and see the sun for almost an hour after work. Perfect!

I had training Monday and Tuesday so today I was back to my regular day-to-day and I got lots done. That always feels good. Now I just have to get back to the gym.

J went snowboarding last night so I went and saw 27 Dresses with his sister. It was better than I was expecting, which is nice. Tonight he's working late so I'm home with the cats. I don't know what to do with myself, especially not what to make for dinner. It's hopeless!

And that's that. Pretty exciting stuff.

Saturday, February 9

February - The Most Depressing Month

My apologies if your birthday is in February. I took exception to January 24th being called the most depressing day of the year but that's because it's my birthday and so I have something to brighten it up. For me, February is the hard time. It's gray and cold outside and there are no holidays in sight.

I had a particularly rough day at work yesterday for reasons I don't want to discuss. People took one look at me and knew something was bothering me. I didn't realize I was so transparent. My reasons weren't for their ears either so I made up some story about it being a long week - it being Friday, people accepted that. And it was a long week.

But January was a long month and now that January's done I was able to take a day off. Thank goodness for paid sick days. Tuesday I took off as a mental health day and I slept in. For me, sleeping in is incredible. I also had some retail therapy and hardly spent any money so it was perfect. Highs from shopping last only so long though and yesterday was a low day.

I was sitting at my desk, feeling sorry for myself, and I decided that I needed to get out. Get some exercise I mean. I kept true to myself and went for a run after work. I ran outside in the cold and the gray and the snow, but it felt great. I didn't go far or for a long time, but it was exactly what I needed.

Now if only I could take all of my frustrations out on my body (in an exercise way, not in a cutting myself way) I would be set. I think I can do that, but I think I need a little motivation. I'm thinking of signing up for the race in May again to give myself that extra push. I wonder if I could do the half marathon and not hurt myself like last year. Time will tell.

For now, I will get through every day the way I always do and hope that my SAD-like days don't last long. At least February is a short month and who knows what March will bring.

Tuesday, February 5

Playing Hooky

If you read about the eye-twitch then you won't be surprised that I took the day off today. It was a mental-health day that was much needed. I feel better already.

And I took care of some business - I went shopping. I had a gift card that was burning a hole in my wallet so I bought some work pants. Then I swapped a Christmas sweater for a light green button-up shirt, again good for work.

Did I mention that last Monday I was called into a meeting with the public and I was wearing jeans? It wasn't awkward but it made me realize that I should be taking my work (or myself at work) more seriously if I want to move up. So no more jeans except on Fridays for this girl. That means I have to build up my work-appropriate wardrobe, hence the purchases today.

So other than that I've been watching a lot of tv and knitting. J will eventually have a new scarf and my brain will turn to mush. Happy mush.

Monday, February 4

Bosses, Friends and Alcohol

Thanks to my good friends, I had a good time Saturday night.

100_0704 (Medium)

It was Alan and Sylvia's engagement party and it was a lot of fun.

But the best feeling ever was leaving work on Friday. It has been an extremely long month of acting as the boss while keeping up with my own workload. I had to deal with a lot of work issues and people issues. I realized it was all getting to me when my left eye has been twitching for the past three weeks. I'm more stressed than I thought possible.

Even so, January was a good month. I'm just happy it's over. So when I finally got to leave work after an extremely busy day, I walked to the parking lot slowly, in the incredibly thick snow, with a huge smile on my face. I felt relieved.

The alcohol on Saturday night didn't hurt either.

Saturday, February 2

Riverside South Esthetics

Our neighbour, Amy, has started her own business - Riverside South Esthetics - out of her home and I wanted to post the link to her site and tell you that she is very nice and you should check her out.

Her grand opening was this afternoon so she's open and ready for business.

Riverside South Esthetics